https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-667-General-Nan-Yang-s-First-Expedition/13009007/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-669-Long-Hu-Lohan-Where-s-Your-Dragon-Tiger-/13009011/
Chapter 668: The Last Chance
Chapter 668: The Last Chance
In a grand hall, akin to an imperial palace,
The lights shone brightly, and the golden and jade decorations glittered.
If not for its location in the mountains, no one would guess that this was a demon's lair.
"Buddha Lord!"
At this moment, in the center of the hall, a large figure with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, clad in a bright yellow robe, knelt on the ground, offering a grand bow to the figure above.
Above, a slender middle-aged man sat calmly, his plain clothes contrasting with the grandeur of the hall. With rough palms holding a string of prayer beads, he gazed indifferently at the burly man below, "You stole my sect's precious sutra."
"I picked it up! I found it by chance!" The burly man quickly raised his head and clenched his fists in respect.
"Have you read it?" The middle-aged monk asked without elaborating.
Hearing this, the burly man's face turned slightly pale, and his heart sank. He hesitated for a moment before whispering, "I've read it."
"How much have you learned?"
"Five parts, Buddha Lord," the burly man replied, lowering his head again, not daring to meet the monk's gaze.
"Why did you learn it so quickly?" The monk's expression remained unreadable.
"It's all thanks to my descendants' diligence in gathering the Imperial Aura from the mortal realm..."
As he spoke, the burly man's face turned ashen. As a powerful demon, it was obvious that he hadn't obtained the Fruit Position Sutra by chance.
Knowing that the renegade disciple was a member of the Bodhimanda Sect, he was only at the Seventh Stage of cultivation yet possessed such a valuable treasure. He couldn't resist his greed and sought an opportunity to kill.
He had planned to gather the Imperial Aura with all his might, quickly attaining the fruit position and becoming a Great Arhat, thus gaining freedom in the vast heavens and earth.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to venture so deep into the Divine Dynasty's territory, risking his life for a chance at opportunity.
But the Bodhimanda Sect had found him so quickly.
Now, caught red-handed, he wanted to talk his way out, a fool's dream.
Just then, a voice by his ear made this old evil dragon's eyes widen in surprise.
"If you found it, it's fate."
"Since you have a connection with my sect and are diligent, you've grasped this fate. When your cultivation reaches a certain level, you must visit and pay respects to the sect."
The slender monk stopped fingering the prayer beads and silently observed the evil dragon.
"Buddha Lord, I will certainly visit and pay my respects. I dare not forget, even at the cost of a thousand deaths!"
The evil dragon was so excited that he almost revealed his true form, bowing repeatedly.
He had thought his life was over, but instead, he had found the thickest tree in the world.
This was a reminder to himself that after learning the Fruit Position Sutra, he must not forget his identity.
And what identity was that?
Of course, a member of the Bodhimanda Sect!
"There are many tribulations in the mortal realm. You must be extremely cautious and avoid being entangled by them. Travel widely and observe carefully to prevent being trapped in one place."
Each of the monk's words carried a hidden meaning.
Cold sweat formed on the evil dragon's forehead. It was clear that the Divine Dynasty had their eyes on them.
He must seize this last chance to grab some benefits and run.
"Thank you, Buddha Lord."
The monk waved his hand, interrupting the evil dragon's gratitude as if he didn't understand a word. He glanced to both sides, "You, born in poverty, know not the rules. The temple you built is merely a facade, lacking the devotion it should have. Look, how empty it is."
The evil dragon was stunned for a moment but quickly responded, "Yes, yes! I almost forgot to pay respects to the elders of the sect. I deserve a thousand deaths, please forgive me, Buddha Lord."
"From now on, no matter where you go, you must place the Buddha Lord in the highest position, so that the ignorant mortals may receive the Buddha Lord's blessings."
The monk remained silent.
With a calm expression, he finally stood up and slowly walked out of the hall.
The evil dragon hurriedly followed, respectfully escorting him out of the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, another monk had been waiting for a long time.
"Elder Huizhen, did it go well?"
Master Zhikong looked at the distant mountain, confusion in his eyes.
The demonic aura still soared into the sky, showing no signs of weakening.
After seeing Elder Huizhen casually handing over the Fruit Position Sutra, the confusion on Master Zhikong's face deepened.
"It's also fate. Letting it go shows the compassion of our Buddha." Elder Huizhen explained briefly and continued walking forward.
"Compassion?!"
Master Zhikong was stunned for a moment, finding it hard to believe, "Its demon soldiers and generals, in their greed for the Imperial Aura, have stopped at nothing, causing countless innocent deaths. Judging by their skilled methods, Xishan Prefecture is definitely not the first place they've wreaked havoc. It..."
"That's the responsibility of the Divine Dynasty. We, as outsiders, should not interfere."
Elder Huizhen glanced sideways, emphasizing his words, "You accompanied me to experience the mortal realm on the Bodhisattva's orders. Few words and more observations will teach you how to avoid tribulations."
He knew the methods the evil dragon used, far surpassing the alms-seeking and doing good deeds he and others had done in the past, causing even him to feel a hint of envy.
With his status, it was indeed inappropriate to resort to the demons' methods.
But there was no need to go begging and doing good deeds like before.
This was, after all, the intention of the Tri-Immortal Sect.
"..."
Master Zhi Kong clenched his fists tightly, feeling frustrated yet helpless. After a moment, he sighed, "Then I'll go back to the county town to remind the Divine Dynasty, so that this evil creature doesn't escape due to our actions."
"Follow me first, there's something else to do. You can go after we're done."
Venerable Huizhen didn't argue, but instead stopped the other party and led Master Zhi Kong in the opposite direction.
This foolish junior, lacking any Buddha nature, will probably remain at this level for life.
...
"We're here, Miss Jiang."
River Beauty slowed her pace.
Even without her reminder, Shen Yi could already see the rampant demon energy raging between the mountain ranges with his naked eyes.
If it weren't for the Ape Demon of the Jade Pool Immortal Sect, causing damage to both the Demon Slayer Commandery and the court, it would be hard to imagine such a situation occurring within the Divine Dynasty's jurisdiction.
The demons had become so rampant that even the newly arrived Zhao brothers, standing at the foot of the mountain, couldn't bring themselves to say the word "wait."
"Miss Jiang, now..."
As River Beauty spoke, she turned her head towards the horizon.
Even without considering the Bodhimanda Sect, just clearing this vast number of demons required careful planning to maintain stability in the surrounding county towns, prevent panic among the people, and avoid the spread of the demon infestation.
However, before they could finish speaking, the three of them saw Shen Yi take a light step forward.
The next moment, an invisible Heartfire spread from the bottom of his boots.
As Shen Yi slowly walked up the mountain path, the Heartfire surged against the wind, transforming from a turbulent stream into an overwhelming ocean in an instant, flooding the vast and boundless mountain range with an unstoppable force.
The plants and trees swayed but remained unaffected.
But in the pitch-black night, a continuous heart-wrenching wail suddenly echoed through the darkness!
"Roar!"
Such a domineering technique, combined with Shen Yi's profound cultivation, made the howls in the mountains even more piercing, causing River Beauty and the others' eyelids to twitch uncontrollably.
When the entire mountain range was enveloped in Heartfire, the three of them felt a hint of palpitations as they looked at Shen Yi's back.
This Southern Capital General's ruthless move seemed to contradict his gentle appearance.
However, River Beauty's expression became complex.
With such a commotion, it would be fine if it alerted the Demon King, as they could simply chase after it. But if it disturbed the dead monks of the Bodhimanda Sect, unnecessary conflicts might arise.
She hoped it was just her overthinking.
Rank has its privileges, and this Southern Capital General had already taken action. River Beauty could only console herself in her heart.
"..."
Since leaving Hongze, Shen Yi hadn't had the opportunity to let loose like this for a long time.
Although ordinary demons had limited lifespans, their numbers were impressive, and notifications of their deaths kept popping up one after another without stopping.
Of course, he wasn't as indiscriminate as these Demon Slayers, burning all living beings without distinction.
This Heartfire was his innate divine ability, and Shen Yi's control over it was meticulous. He wouldn't harm non-demonic beings, not even if they were bathing in it.
In less than half an hour, a roar finally sounded from the mountaintop, distinct from the previous howls.
"You're asking for death!"
Upon hearing this, River Beauty's expression turned solemn, and the Zhao brothers also held their hand seals tightly.
Although the Demon Slayer Commandery had already investigated this demon's details, unexpected situations could arise when dealing with such matters. It was always better to be cautious.
In an instant, a dragon-like shadow rose into the sky.
Just as the three of them were about to cooperate with the general to surround the demon, they saw that the figure in the shadow had no intention of escaping. Instead, it charged towards the cliff where they were standing.
This scene startled even the most experienced River Beauty.
This was the territory of the Divine Dynasty. Where did this evil creature get the audacity to act so boldly?
In the blink of an eye, the three of them received their answer.
A robust man in a bright yellow robe appeared, flying through the air. The energy emanating from his entire body wasn't demonic energy but instead a golden light that flowed like a river, overwhelming the Heartfire.
The Heartfire couldn't get close to him at all.
The intensity of the golden light indicated that he wasn't an ordinary cultivator; he had clearly unleashed the power of a Fruit Position Sutra!
An Arhat?!
The three of them weren't very familiar with the Bodhimanda Sect's sutra, but this scene alone was enough to set off alarm bells in their minds, making them feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"I knew it! It's those thief monks!"
"Don't let him get close!"
In this urgent situation, River Beauty instinctively trusted her own judgment.
The Bodhimanda Sect's close-quarters combat ability is unparalleled in the world. Even if a cultivator's cultivation is higher, they can easily be defeated if they're not careful.
"Who dares to destroy my temple, you thief!" The Old Crocodile Dragon, clad in a yellow robe, roared with anger. Usually, within the Divine Dynasty's territory, it would be impossible for the Evil Dragon to act so boldly. But now, having just joined the Bodhimanda Sect, it was no longer the wild demon it once was.
More importantly, these descendants were its tools for collecting Imperial Aura from the mortal realm. Now, in an instant, half of them were destroyed, and without their assistance, how could it establish itself in the sect?
Regardless of whether the opponent was from the Divine Dynasty or a meddling Immortal Sect cultivator, it had to first intimidate them with its reputation to buy some time for its descendants to escape.
"Die!" The Old Crocodile Dragon's yellow robe billowed as it clenched its fist, which was enveloped in dense golden light, ready to strike like two mountains colliding.
After cultivating half of the Fruit Position Sutra, its strength was far beyond what it used to be. In the face of the surging golden light, even the Side Sect Wild Art would be ineffective, and even the Tri-Religion True Art would be significantly suppressed.
It intended to force this person to retreat, but to its surprise, the youth below showed no intention of dodging.
"Hiss!" Jiang Mei was about to speak when she suddenly widened her eyes in shock.
She saw the fists wrapped in golden light collide with Shen Yi's body, but it was as if they had struck the air.
"..." Shen Yi calmly observed the bewildered fat face before him. He casually extended his finger, gathering a strand of heavenly energy at its tip.
Then, he directly stabbed his finger into the Evil Dragon's heart.
With the support of the Fruit Position Sutra and being a demon by origin, the Evil Dragon's physical body, illuminated by golden light, was terrifying. Yet, the white palm effortlessly penetrated its chest without encountering any resistance.
It didn't even get injured; its skin remained intact.
It was as if that palm had grown from within its heart.
Shen Yi gently released the strand of heavenly energy from his finger, causing it to explode within the Evil Dragon's body!
The three Demon Slayers heard a thunderous roar in their ears, and upon closer inspection, they realized the sound came from the yellow-robed man's body.
A continuous tearing sound followed.
The man's eyes widened in fury, and the golden light on his body shattered, revealing horrifying cracks.
He slowly raised his fists, intending to strike again, but he had no strength left. He fell to his knees before the youth.
Facing a Taiyi Immortal, who had just touched upon the Fruit Position Sutra, the Evil Dragon still couldn't comprehend its defeat.
It struggled to swallow the blood in its throat and weakly collapsed to the ground.
Just one move..."
Shen Yi, expressionless, leaned forward, opened his palm, and pressed it against the man's head.
"As expected, one who holds a title..." The two brothers who had just arrived couldn't help but swallow, finding this challenging situation for ordinary cultivators to be as easy as eating and drinking for these fierce individuals.
Jiang Mei exhaled lightly, a hint of embarrassment on her charming face.
She was aware of her own experience.
How could she have forgotten that these were individuals personally promoted by the Southern Governor General?
However, the sound of the man's head exploding was delayed.
Shen Yi maintained his leaning posture, his palm just three inches away from the demon's head, with an iron rod horizontally blocking the way.
"Layman, before you take action, may I ask the reason?" Venerable Huizhen stood with one hand on his chest, a gentle smile on his face.
He didn't introduce himself.
The palms that had just penetrated the Evil Dragon's body couldn't penetrate this iron rod.
Although the Void Dao Fruit hadn't fully formed and he couldn't enter the Taiyi Immortal Realm, it still indicated that his cultivation was at least at the Fifth Rank, and the fruit position he cultivated was also highly ranked.
"The Divine Dynasty's Demon Slayer orders you to disperse." Shen Yi didn't raise his head, his pitch-black eyes fixed on the head before him.
"Senior Monk, no!" Zhi Kong, recognizing Shen Yi, was anxious to advise, "This person is an official of the Divine Dynasty!"
"May I, a monk, speak a word?" Venerable Huizhen's smile remained gentle, "This person stole our sect's precious sutra and must be taken back for punishment. I hope you'll allow me to take him away, as a contribution from our sect to the Divine Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi paused for a moment. He glanced at Zhi Kong and then turned his gaze to Venerable Huizhen, his eyes clear and his tone calm.
"I'll give you one last chance."
(End of Chapter)
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