Chapter 674: Chapter 439: The Ugly Monk Shenxiu Issues a Challenge, Who is Righteous and Who is Evil
However, last time, Master Tao manifested the Three-Headed Hundred-Armed True Buddha Dharma Image and first captured Gao Tianci, the Blood Soul Demon Lord, along with his army of one hundred thousand soldiers, then employed the Five-Finger Mountain Divine Power to suppress the Devil Eyes General Yelü Baoshan beneath his palm, flaunting his formidable might.
For a moment, all eyes were on him.
Invisible and visible, numerous cultivators could not help but submit.
Meanwhile, Yelü Baoshan, who was being suppressed, found himself somewhat envious of Gao Tianci, who had been taken into the People Species Bag.
At least that fellow had not lost face as severely as him.
What made Yelü Baoshan even more anxious was the growing sense of impending danger in his mind—feeling that at any moment this monk might play a foul trick on him.
Even though this monk, known as the Wu Gou Buddha Son, appeared righteous, Yelü Baoshan dared not take the risk.
His face was ashen, and in his mind, he frantically thought:
"The more righteous a monk appears, the more likely he is to be an Intermediary."
"This bald thief with a thick face and black heart, so petty, yet with strong supernatural powers, I have offended him in front of everyone. Now that I’ve been captured, could I possibly meet a good end?"
"I’ve heard that within the Buddhist Sect, there are numerous Enlightenment Methods, capable of refining a person into something like a Buddha Slave..."
The more Yelü Baoshan thought about it, the more intense his sense of foreboding became.
Soon, his gaze was filled with panic, his body sweating profusely.
Of course, he was overthinking it, scaring himself with his own suspicions.
The effect was quite evident, without Master Tao needing to say anything, everyone heard Yelü Baoshan shout:
"Venerable monk spare my life, Yelü Baoshan surrenders."
"It was I who was blind and ignorant, I failed to recognize the venerable monk’s capabilities, my words have been offensive, please allow me to make amends."
"If the Venerable Monk wishes, Yelü Baoshan is willing to call you ’Father.’"
After he finished shouting, the territory fell into dead silence.
Including the enemy Zhu Xun, all cultivators stared at Yelü Baoshan with astonished eyes.
There was no mockery on their faces, quite the reverse, there was a hint of wariness.
"It is said that Yelü Baoshan is exceptionally good at biding his time. Now it seems to be true."
"Not only is he a great general in Desert North Province, but he also possesses Cavernous Mystery Cultivation and commands an army of one hundred thousand... Such an existence is willing to call a fellow cultivator ’Father,’ truly considering face as worthless."
Suddenly a father, Master Tao also glanced at this sudden ’son’ and said, "He’s a character."
Then, he planned to actually lay some dark tricks to prevent sparing the guy only to be backstabbed or sneak-attacked later on.
However, just at that moment, Master Tao sensed something and abruptly looked towards the Void ahead.
The next instant, the territory burst into cicada sounds.
Though the owner of the sounds had yet to appear, from every direction, behind every corner, between the white clouds, within the breeze, from deep inside the mountains, from the cities below, many cultivators of varying appearances revealed themselves, their sheer number causing even Master Tao to secretly purse his lips. Were they all peeping toms?
After hearing that cicada sound, these cultivators had no choice but to reveal themselves, exposing not only their looks but also the Source Qi mechanism within them.
In Master Tao’s mind, a familiar Record burst forth:
"Listening to the Kongchan Buddha’s voice, it can enhance mana and mental state cultivation, but the cost is one cannot conceal their own origin, foundation and so on... Exemption granted!"
Following his perception, he saw a Buddha Light paving the way ahead and a rainbow bridge suddenly forming.
An old monk with kind eyes and a good-natured appearance approached, holding a Seven-forked Bodhi Branch.
With his chest bare and eyes wide, a high nose, and his head covered with fleshly protuberances, even the least discerning person would realize: this is an Arhat.
"Amitabha!"
"This humble monk, Kongchan, greets everyone present."
With this greeting from the old monk, all cultivators became frantic as they returned his greeting.
It was without question that Kongchan was a demon monk.
But for those in the Cultivation World, he was a genuine Arhat, an existence of the Perfect Realm of Ultimate Happiness capable of killing everyone present in a short period of time.
"Greetings, Arhat!"
"Greetings, Kongchan Arhat!"
"Greetings, Elder!"
...
Master Tao, mixed among them, also performed a Buddhist salute and said with respect, "Junior Wu Gou greets the Arhat."
Everyone here had obviously been invited to attend the upcoming Buddha Birth Ceremony in the provincial city. As host, Kongchan maintained a smile on his face, greeting each guest individually.
Then, he turned to Master Tao with a serious look.
After a good look, the smile on his face widened, and the cicada sound became even more joyous.
This sign was so evident that everyone thought to themselves: it seems that Kongchan Arhat is quite fond of this Buddha’s son from the South Sea. Is the lineage of Qingjing Zen Master joining the Demon Buddha Temple all but certain?
As everyone was speculating, they saw Kongchan Arhat speak to Wu Gou Buddha Son:
"No need for such formalities, Wu Gou nephew. The humble monk and Qingjing Daoist hit it off at first sight; truthfully speaking, you should be considered my close junior."
"This Gao Tianci, as well as this Yelü Baoshan, are both guests at my Demon Buddha Temple."
"Could you please do me a favor and release them?"
As soon as Kongchan appeared, Master Tao naturally slipped into his role.
Hearing this, he laughed and replied:
"How could Wu Gou dare not comply with the Arhat’s instructions?"
Having said that, he first withdrew the Five-Finger Mountain.
Then he took off the People Species Bag and released Gao Tianci and his army of one hundred thousand soldiers.
Immediately, ten thousand and one tumbling gourds appeared on the ground.
After that, a series of shocking events unfolded:
The army of ten thousand, consisting of magicians and soldier demons, as they came out of their daze, seemed to have a moment of enlightenment, regret evident on their faces as they sat down, simultaneously bringing their hands to the tops of their heads and striking down.
Together, they shouted, "For all the misdeeds of the past, I bear the karmic consequences, may my soul return to the void."
Accompanied by a series of thudding sounds, not a single one of the ten thousand soldiers was left alive, all met their demise.
Gao Tianci, having stronger cultivation, resisted a bit longer, using the Ten Thousand Soul Banner for support, while with one hand, he held the Blood Pus Blade at his own neck, hesitating.