Even a Daoist Transformation Expert who could truly walk in the world might not necessarily gain any advantage, let alone the three of them, who were in the throes of rapid decline in the Ultimate Happiness Realm?
Staying meant certain death.
In the Cancer Secret Realm, where Gao Huan, wounded by his three unworthy descendants, let out a painful howl.
He was furious and intended to punish the three, even contemplating devouring them.
Fortunately, his Mind remained intact, and what the three said was true.
If Gao Huan wished to recover slowly, he indeed needed the efforts of these three to continue his bloodline.
He had no choice but to let out cryptic roars infused with hidden meanings, accept his descendants, and retract back into the Secret Realm.
However, just before the opening in the sky closed, Tao Qian, who had always activated his "Innate Spiritual Vision," caught a brief glimpse of it and couldn't help but smile.
Others could not see it, but he saw it clearly.
Outside the significantly shrunk Cancer Secret Realm suddenly appeared about twelve massive, twisted shadows.
Almost immediately, Tao Qian thought of the fate of Emperor Taizong of the Zhu Dynasty.
Yuan Gong, who also noticed it, sent a telepathic message in amazement:
"What a clever boy, playing the double agent quite excellently."
"Gao Huan is severely injured, and his death along with his cultivation disappearing are not far off. Without the minions of the Gao Family, he cannot only not heal, but he will also decline at an even faster rate, paying a steeper price, not to mention those twelve short-sighted old monsters from the Fortuneteller Gathering inside, plotting to devour him."
"In a few days, Gao Huan will undoubtedly die."
"Tsk tsk, including that unfortunate fellow from the Zhu Family, this is already the second Daoist Transformation Realm destroyed by your hands."
"Though not by your direct action, it was all certainly driven by you."
"Such extremes are not unheard of in the Cultivation World. However, none came from the Spirit Treasure Sect; most were from the Primordial Sect, or the Dharma Cakra Temple, or the Free Temple."
"These major sects, skilled and suitable for such manipulations, involving the Spirit Treasure Sect does indeed bring about the risk of decline."
"You have repeatedly faced dangers and refused to ask for help, probably aware of this, not wanting the Spirit Treasure Sect to be tainted by fortune poison or the sin of the Human World."
After saying all this, Yuan Gong paused.
This time, he unusually did not offer further advice, seemingly understanding that Tao Qian's mind was already made up.
After pondering for a moment, he instructed:
"My Secret Demon Sect does not fear these."
"If your plot cannot succeed this time, you may choose to reveal your identity as the Secret Demon Child."
"I will cast a spell to summon the ancestral spirits of our sect. They might not have divine skills or mana to save your life, but it doesn't matter. Once the ancestral spirits appear, if those old monsters have any sense left, they will likely choose to escort you out of the territory."
Upon hearing this, Tao Qian was quite moved.
He, Master Tao, also possessed some wisdom. How could he not perceive that Yuan Gong was preparing a way to save his life beforehand?
The ancestors of the Secret Demon Sect were most likely equivalent to including the Sect Master and a whole group of second-generation ancestors of the Spirit Treasure Sect.
To have them stand by his side!
The implication was clear and evident.
Yuan Gong had already decided that Tao Qian, still officially a Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, had entered the list of candidates for "future Sect Master seeds" of the Secret Demon Sect.
This promise was far too significant.
Tao Qian initially wanted to refuse right away, but after Yuan Gong finished speaking, there was silence, and no matter how much he called, Yuan Gong did not respond.
It was also at this time, in the territory of Han Mountain.
A change that shocked and frightened many people from the seventy-two provinces was occurring.
With the destruction of the Gao Family, even the old ancestor was heavily injured and retreated to the Outer Realm.
In that war, naturally, the Demon Buddha Temple had won.
What was left behind by Gao Huan, the half [Ten Thousand Marvelous Treasure Banner], along with the alchemist's immortal ointment, fell in Han Mountain, instantly forming an extremely large pool full of ointment.
Eighteen Mechanical Bodhisattvas immediately surrounded the pool.
Eighteen thousand arms all transformed into Dharma Cakras, Scripture Banners, chanting Buddhist mechanisms, etc.
Accompanied by the Cyber Buddha Sound that compelled one's divine soul and flesh to surrender, the half banner was also refined in the pool.
At once, the Bodhisattvas started one by one to enter the pool.
Seeing this, the three Arhats of the Demon Buddha Temple revealed joyful smiles.
"With billions of Source Qi combined with the fat of humans refined into this Merit Pool, which is clear, cool, sweet, gentle, moisturizing, and harmonious, relieving hunger and thirst, nurturing all roots... perfectly suitable for the birth of our Buddha, today, as the merit is completed, can be considered a new Buddha's birthday, deserves great celebration."
"Good!"
"It should indeed be so!"
After finishing his words, Shipi abruptly turned his head to look at the people in the city of Qiantang Province.
Especially the Long Meng Arhat, who said with a hint of regret, "You are fortunate indeed, according to my original plan, you all should have been in the pool, aiding in the birth of Buddha in this world."
Kongchan glanced at the Outer Realm and the Spirit Mirror Crystal Ball, smiling as he said, "To achieve such great merit, we must thank the Gao Family and all the Daoist friends for making this possible, otherwise the necessary resources could never have been gathered."
Lian Sha Arhat, being more straightforward, specifically turned to Tao Qian Yunrong and sincerely thanked them, "This plan succeeded thanks to the great contributions of my fellow disciple and the Qingjing Daoist friend, but in the future, we will all be one family, so there is no need to be polite."
...
The actions of the Three Arhats of the Demon Buddha Temple at this time were both a show of strength and a form of intimidation.
It was clear to anyone who saw it that the eighteen statues of the Great Compassionate and Merciful Transcendent Bodhisattva were merging.
According to what the three had said, they would unite these Bodhisattvas into one true Mechanical Buddha.
Or more accurately, a mechanical avatar of the Nirvana Demon Buddha—a Tribulation Immortal-level powerhouse of the Demon Buddha Temple in this realm.
Once the transformation was complete, everyone understood how powerful its supernatural abilities would be.
Sweeping across the Northern Land might pose some difficulty.
But, if combined with a large-scale mobilization from the Demon Buddha Temple, conquering ten or eight major provinces in a short time would likely be extremely easy.
At that moment, panic set in, not just in the north but throughout all the provinces.
Tao Qian was perhaps the person in the world most sensitive to public opinion.
Even if he wasn't intentionally listening, a multitude of thoughts were being projected deep into his spirit.
"Someone, please stop these three bald dead men; if they succeed, wouldn't this so-called Earthly Buddha Country expand many times over, perhaps by tenfold or more?"
"Who doesn't know the true colors of the Earthly Buddha Country? I don't want to become a Human Incense Buddha Candle and burn myself to fuel these bald demon monks."
"Is there any good person among the demon monks of the Demon Buddha Temple? If they gain power, their methods might be even more ruthless and disgusting than those dog emperors."
"If choosing a ruler, not to mention Yu Yanshi, Zhang Jinluan, Hong Fu, Si Xixin from the south... who among them wouldn't be better than a demon monk?"
"Haven't you heard what that demon monk said? Their plan succeeded also because of that damned Wu Gou Buddha Son and his despicable master, the Qingjing Monk."
"The Heterodox Buddhist Practitioner from the South Sea, in trying to curry favor with the Demon Buddha Temple, orchestrated all this from behind..."
As the rage of the seventy-two provinces slowly set fire even to himself,
Tao Qian was not at all surprised.
The two statements by Lian Sha Arhat were both a genuine thanks and a public confirmation of their collusion.
From the perspective of the Three Arhats, these "mysterious master and disciple" were already for sure on their side.
Even if there were still some conspiracies, it wasn't a major concern anymore.
The three had a whispered consensus: Wu Gou and Qingjing simply wanted greater merit and fame. Providing them with these, even the plan to send Wu Gou Buddha Son to the Ultimate Happiness Realm after everything was settled was already considered, binding them closer.
Their sect's power could then increase once more—a win-win situation.
But it must be said!
The plans and ideas of the Three Arhats were quite perfect.
Unfortunately, their starting point was wrong, so naturally, everything following it went even more astray.
Having already witnessed round after round of "Transcendent Wars," seen the land shattered and the sky pierced, Tao Qian's eyes now fixed on the vast Merit Pool.
In the waters, vaster than the whole of Qiantang Province City, there emerged a giant cocoon of black and gold fetal membrane.
The eighteen Bodhisattvas were merging within it.
A Mechanical Buddha, with life and profound Buddhist principles, was gestating.
None could have anticipated that such a grand scheme, a grand conspiracy, would actually be accomplished by the Three Arhats of the Demon Buddha Temple.
A twist of fate? Or destiny determined?
Just when the seventy-two provinces were shocked and outraged but unable to prevent it,
Tao Qian was resonating with an "alien" entity within the Mechanical Buddha through the presence of Lian Jing'er in the People Species Bag.
The mechanical voice of Lian Jing'er transmitted the message:
"Brother Tao!"
"Should we activate the 'Creation Poison'?"
"It would be very difficult to seize the body, as the Nirvana Demon Buddha is watching from the Outer Realm, but if we act now, there's a high chance of preventing the birth of the Mechanical Demon Buddha."