https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-739-Only-One-Southern-Emperor-in-the-Southern-Continent/13466024/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-741-Annihilating-the-Bodhisattvas-the-Immortal-Venerables-Flee/13466026/
Chapter 740: Who's on Your Side?
Chapter 740: Who’s on Your Side?
The Lizard Dragon Demon Lord glanced sideways at the hand on its shoulder.
It finally extinguished any last thoughts of escape.
Its expression darkened as it slowly turned around, clasped its hands in front of it, and bowed respectfully to the man. "This lowly demon greets Venerable Jin Chan."
"No need for such formalities."
The young monk smiled warmly. Behind him, the Venerables who had initially escorted the great demons to the Seven Holy Marsh—Unmanifest, Heavenly Net, and the Seven Treasures Bodhisattva—all stood calmly.
According to the teachings passed down in their sect, as Bodhisattvas, they should avoid getting too close to demons and spirits. They were to only stir the waters from behind, avoiding any concrete evidence that the Three Immortals Sect could use against them. If the two sides ever competed for offerings, the cultivators would use these things to stir up trouble in the mortal realm.
But in the Four Great Continents, where else would they encounter such a bizarre situation as the Great Southern Continent?
They had arranged for a demon army far stronger than the imperial forces, yet even now, not a single city had been breached.
The Seven Treasures Bodhisattva had initially planned to return to Mount Sumeru to seek instructions from the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation.
But Venerable Jin Chan suddenly stepped forward.
This was his first mission after reaching the Third Grade, and he would not allow such a significant failure.
Thus, he used his status as a disciple personally chosen by the Future Buddha to seize control, leading a group of Bodhisattvas to stake out outside the Divine Dynasty.
To everyone’s surprise, the Southern Emperor, likely wary of the Bodhi Sect, had deliberately concealed his movements. However, perhaps due to Jin Chan’s genuine Buddhist heart and his great fortune, he managed to find the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord.
Seeing the demon lord’s hasty escape, it was clear that even with the Southern Emperor leading the troops, they had not managed to make any significant breakthrough in the Southern Continent.
"Venerable, please don’t scare me. I admit my mistake. I shouldn’t have fled in the middle of the battle. Please tell me how you wish to punish me."
Surrounded by a group of Bodhisattvas, the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord, despite being a Third Grade entity, had completely abandoned its dignity and was prepared to surrender.
It took a deep breath. "But to be honest, your sect hasn’t left us any other options."
Perhaps due to the influence of the Southern Emperor, the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord had learned a few things on this journey, and its mind had become much clearer.
The group of great demons that had escaped from the True Deity’s grasp and were originally meant to be sacrifices had all been wiped out, leaving only itself and the Southern Emperor. At this point, whether they broke through the Southern Continent or not, what did it matter?
Even if they did break through, compared to the spoils, the two of them would likely be the first to be purged by the major sects.
Therefore, the moment the Southern Emperor entered the government office, the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord turned and fled from the Luliang Prefecture, determined to return to the wilderness and never again involve itself in the affairs of the Four Great Continents.
"How is the Southern Emperor doing?"
Venerable Jin Chan gently twirled the beads in his fingers.
"I don’t know."
The Lizard Dragon Demon Lord turned its head away, resigned to its fate. It would never return to the Four Great Continents.
Seeing this, Venerable Jin Chan’s smile turned cold, but he said nothing. He slowly raised his hand and grabbed the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord’s scaly face, gradually turning its head back.
"I said, you can break through the Southern Continent."
"..."
The Lizard Dragon Demon Lord, despite being in the Six-Six Transformation Realm, could easily shake off this presumptuous junior with a slight movement of its demonic energy.
But as their eyes met, it saw the monk’s slightly sinister gaze and felt a chill run down its spine.
"Putting aside the Southern Emperor, all the great demons the Venerables brought last time have quietly perished in the Great Southern Continent. Now, with just this lowly demon, it’s really... really..."
"Rest assured, after today, you will be the most famous demon in the Southern Continent."
Venerable Jin Chan smiled and interrupted, his wide sleeves fluttering as a beam of Buddha light gathered around the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord’s neck, forming a Binding Golden Ring that then entered its body.
"You!"
The Lizard Dragon Demon Lord finally sensed something was wrong and tried to break free from the monk’s grip, but its eyes turned blood red.
Its arms swelled uncontrollably, and its body rapidly grew, tearing through its armor. In front of everyone, it transformed into its true form, thousands of feet tall.
As beings who had endured countless calamities, the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord understood the monk’s intentions.
This monk... wanted to use it as a shield and personally break through the Southern Continent!
However, the Binding Golden Ring had entered its body, and the Lizard Dragon Demon Lord felt its throat constrict, unable to utter a complete sentence. It stomped its hooves in anger, drool flying, and could only let out a hoarse roar: "Roar!"
"Tsk."
Venerable Jin Chan stood calmly at the foot of the thrashing beast, nodding in satisfaction.
"..."
The Seven Treasures Bodhisattva and the other Venerables watched this scene, their eyebrows slightly raised.
The Binding Golden Ring was clearly a treasure bestowed by the Future Buddha, meant to subdue demons and spirits. It was surprising to see Venerable Jin Chan use it in such a manner.
"The Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation did not instruct us to act personally."
"Perhaps we should go back and seek further instructions?"
Hearing their hesitant words, Jin Chan suddenly turned around, his gaze turning sharp.
He scanned each of them one by one. "Seek instructions?"
Before he finished speaking, Jin Chan Bodhisattva sneered, his eyes settling on Seven Treasures Bodhisattva. "Are you suggesting we follow your example, acting on the sect's orders to conquer the Southern Continent, only to have your radiance stripped away during a sermon on Crane Mountain, and still make no progress to this day?"
Facing this senior, who surpassed him in both seniority and realm, Jin Chan's words were filled with mockery and lacked any trace of respect. "If we leave things to you, by the time the other three continents have divided the incense offerings, the Great Southern Continent will still be at peace, a land of prosperity and tranquility."
"A born sidekick!"
"Jin Chan!"
The other Bodhisattvas finally couldn't hold back and hissed in low voices.
In contrast, Seven Treasures Bodhisattva, who had been nearly scolded to his face, remained calm. After a long silence, he slowly raised his hand. "You are right. I have indeed failed to live up to the sect's expectations. From now on, I will follow your lead in all matters."
He was indeed feeling fatigued.
Moreover, Jin Chan's words made sense. This great calamity had long surpassed its initial form. Judging by the current situation, it was clear that disciples like those of the Buddha were truly the ones destined to face this crisis. As for himself and the others, they were merely sidekicks. It would be better to complete the task quickly and return to Mount Sumeru to meditate in peace.
Hearing this, Jin Chan looked at the agitated dragon lizard with a self-satisfied expression and said calmly, "The Southern Emperor has distracted the Divine Dynasty. We will attack from another direction."
"In seven days, I will break through nine strongholds, leaving three-tenths of the population alive. This will ensure our success."
The matter involved countless lives, but in his mouth, it was just a few simple numbers.
"..."
The Bodhisattvas remained silent for a long time, not uttering a word of objection.
As Jin Chan had said, the progress in the Great Southern Continent was indeed much slower compared to the other three continents. If things continued like this, by the time the Three Immortals Sect had a free hand, this small territory might no longer be under Mount Sumeru's control.
"Of course, before we take action..."
Jin Chan Bodhisattva slowly took a step forward and suddenly punched the empty sky.
Even without manifesting his Dharmic form, a mighty Golden River surged into the sky, roaring and sweeping across the heavens.
"We must first deal with these treacherous scoundrels."
He looked up at the spot where he had punched, his eyes filled with ridicule as he stared at the two figures forced out of their concealment array. "Trying to follow behind the Buddha and pick up the scraps, you Three Immortals Sect are truly regressing."
The two hastily avoided the Golden River and quickly stabilized their positions.
They were none other than Jade Pool Patriarch and Shen Mountain Patriarch of the Three Immortals Sect.
"Haha, the last time I saw you, you were just a Great Arhat. I didn't expect you to become a Bodhisattva so soon."
Jade Pool Patriarch waved his wide sleeves, feigning a playful tone, but deep in his eyes was a profound wariness.
Among the ranks of Mount Sumeru, Jin Chan's name surpassed many Bodhisattvas.
After all, he was a disciple of the Future Buddha. In the Three Immortals Sect, that would be the equivalent of a direct disciple of the Three Pure Ones. This position was usually reserved for those who had achieved Great Liberation, but Jin Chan, with his Buddha's heart, had been chosen from the beginning as a novice monk.
He cultivated one of the two great paths held by the Future Buddha.
Jin Chan's path, having just reached the Third Grade, already demonstrated its profound mysteries. Despite their far superior cultivation, they had been forced to reveal themselves by a single punch.
If he truly achieved Great Liberation, no one below the ranks of the Imperial Lord and True Buddha would be able to subdue him.
"Congratulations, Daoist Jin Chan, on your great advancement. However, your words are a bit harsh."
Shen Mountain Patriarch narrowed his eyes. "We are both members of our respective sects. I often go to Mount Sumeru to listen to the teachings of the elders. We are, after all, half-comrades. To say we are here to pick up scraps is too much of an insult. We merely sensed something unusual here and came to investigate."
"If it causes any displeasure, we will leave immediately."
The Northern Continent intended to wait until the chaos here was in full swing before dividing the spoils from Mount Sumeru.
But nothing had happened in the Southern Continent.
After initially understanding the use of the magical device, Shen Mountain Patriarch grew anxious and contacted Jade Pool Patriarch to come and investigate the Divine Dynasty.
His thinking was simple: instead of watching the demons, it would be better to follow these monks. With the magical device, they had a significant advantage in single combat and wouldn't fear losing to them.
However, he hadn't expected the monks to suddenly gather and find them out.
The best course of action now was to retreat.
"Farewell."
Shen Mountain Patriarch signaled to Jade Pool Patriarch and turned to summon the Auspicious Cloud to escape.
At that moment, Jin Chan Bodhisattva's face twisted into a sinister smile as he lightly waved his sleeve.
In the next instant, Seven Treasures Bodhisattva sighed, clasped his hands, and the seven wheels of radiance behind him suddenly shot out, encircling the two.
"What do you mean by this, everyone?"
Shen Mountain Patriarch’s eyelid twitched as he glanced back down, forcing a smile. "You’re not thinking of keeping us here, are you?"
"The Venerable has no intention of keeping you."
Golden Toad Venerable curled his lips into a smirk, slowly raising his palms. "The Venerable intends to kill you."
As soon as those words were spoken, Shen Mountain Patriarch’s face darkened completely.
Even after receiving the decree from the Northern Continent, his thoughts had revolved around how to secure the incense offerings, never once considering a lethal confrontation.
"Venerable Jin Chan, you jest. The Three Immortals Sect and the Bodhi Sect have always had a friendly relationship..."
"The Venerable has slain True Deities. What are two minor figures from a sect that can’t even secure a seat for their Patriarch’s sermons?"
The instant Jin Chan’s disdainful words rang out, Jade Pool Patriarch, who had been silent for a long time, harbored no further illusions. With a flick of his wrist, a spell was already formed at his fingertips, and he sneered, "As if you can truly keep the old man here."
Though they were outnumbered and faced a formidable opponent like the Seven Treasures Bodhisattva, a Six-Six Number powerhouse, they shouldn’t forget the magic tools bestowed by the Northern Continent.
Winning might be hopeless, given the substantial resources of these monks, but escaping should not be too difficult.
"Attack."
Golden Toad Venerable’s smile faded, and he stood expressionless. In the next moment, a towering, seated Buddha emerged from the radiance, perched atop a toad, towering over the landscape.
In its presence, the agitated dragon lizard seemed insignificant.
"I doubt there’s anyone in Southern Sumeru as arrogant as you, a disciple of the True Buddha!"
With the opponent’s true form revealed, further discussion was pointless.
Shen Mountain Patriarch roared in anger, forming a spell, ready to fight to the death.
"..."
The other Bodhisattvas, upon hearing this, exchanged strange glances, clearly not in agreement.
They recalled a particular figure.
Unfortunately, Jin Chan clearly disliked this person and, given the conflict over the tribulation, deliberately ignored him, isolating him from the other Bodhisattvas.
Otherwise, today’s encounter might have given the Two Elders of the Three Immortals Sect quite a surprise.
Soon, the other Bodhisattvas put aside their thoughts and prepared to manifest their own Buddha forms.
However, just as the radiance illuminated the mountains and rivers, a calm and steady footsteps echoed clearly in the ears of everyone present.
In the forest, a tall young man walked slowly, the dry leaves crunching under his boots.
Clad in a pristine black robe, he quietly approached the scene and stood with his hands hanging by his sides.
"Dragon Subduing Tiger Bodhisattva?"
This unexpected appearance clearly left the Two Elders of the Three Immortals Sect somewhat dazed. Upon hearing the call from the Unmanifest Bodhisattva, Jade Pool Patriarch’s expression darkened considerably.
Not only did they face another Third Grade addition, but this person was no obscure figure.
Jade Pool Patriarch had once met him outside the Northern Flowing River. Back then, he was merely a Great Arhat, yet he had become famous in the Southern Continent for slaying numerous prodigies of the Three Immortals Sect.
Who would have thought that upon meeting again, he had advanced to the same realm as Jin Chan.
Such a ruthless and fierce character, once possessing formidable strength, was far from ordinary.
This was going to be a tough situation!
Golden Toad Venerable instinctively frowned, feeling a sense of foreboding. "Why are you here?"
He had meticulously planned everything, and just when it was time to reap the rewards, this person had stubbornly followed along, like a stubborn plaster.
"Never mind."
Golden Toad Venerable let out a cold snort. As a disciple of the True Buddha, he could be temperamental and violent, but he couldn’t show petty jealousy towards a fellow disciple, or his master would surely reprimand him.
"Since we are of the same path, and you’re here, you can share in the credit."
Upon hearing this, the two elders slowly moved closer, one looking forward and the other backward, both sensing the tension.
However, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Shen Yi did not show any gratitude or joy. He merely lowered his gaze to his shoe tips and said coolly, "Who said we’re on the same path?"
"..."
The other Bodhisattvas were momentarily taken aback, looking at him in confusion.
The Two Elders of the Three Immortals Sect were stunned, wondering if there was still a chance. This Dragon Subduing Tiger Bodhisattva seemed to be at odds with Jin Chan. Could he be here to help them?
Golden Toad Venerable was almost amused. "What do you mean? You’re being ungrateful and disrespectful?"
He had already shown magnanimity. If this person was ungrateful, he couldn’t be blamed.
"Tsk."
Shen Yi adjusted his black robe, unable to suppress a light sigh, as if dealing with a group of incomprehensible fools.
"What is this tribulation for?"
"If I’m not mistaken, it’s to select the so-called Immortal Emperor."
He paused, finally lifting his eyes to the figures before him, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Does an Immortal Emperor need many?"
Before he finished speaking, almost everyone felt a chilling dread under his clear, black gaze.
Of course, an Immortal Emperor, the sovereign of heaven and earth, needed only one.
(End of Chapter)
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