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Chapter 769: Who Can Stand Up for the North Continent Disciples
Chapter 769: Who Can Stand Up for the North Continent Disciples
Clear Ripple Pool.
The gaunt white-robed monk quietly squatted by the pool, scooping up the bone-chilling cold water and tirelessly washing his beautiful, slender hands, over and over again.
Soon, several flashes of light silently approached and materialized into human forms behind him.
"How is it going?" The white-robed monk shook off the water droplets from his fingertips, stood up calmly, and turned to face the Bodhisattvas.
"Venerable..." The Bodhisattvas looked uneasy, lowering their heads in unison.
The North Continent was under the jurisdiction of the Three Immortals Sect, with three great Patriarchs at the top and the Hundred Caves and Thousand Tributaries passing down their legacy. Not to mention, the Five Regents of the Immortal Court would occasionally come to preach.
In the past, they could disguise themselves and gather some information, more or less.
However, since the Great Freedom Purifying Bodhisattva had slain several Immortal Sect disciples, the entire North Continent had become extremely vigilant against unfamiliar faces. This change was as bizarre as the events that transpired when Sumeru Mountain broke through the continent.
Worse still, they had heard that the True Person Yao You of Clear Light Cave had suffered a setback in the competition for a Daoist ground and was now determined to regain her prestige by taking their heads.
On their way back to meet the Pure World Bodhisattva today, they had almost been caught by the Three Immortals Sect disciples. At this rate, they would not only fail to gather any information but would also find it impossible to move freely in the North Continent.
While the Great Freedom Purifying Bodhisattva's realm was profound, they were now deep in the territory of the Three Immortals Sect, under the watchful eyes of countless others. Any move they made, if discovered, would confirm the accusation of bullying the weak, escalating the conflict between the two sects to an irreparable level.
"It really does seem that way." The Venerable World Purification wrung out his hands and gently rubbed his palms.
"Venerable, what seems that way?" The Bodhisattvas looked up, puzzled.
"This Grand Emptiness True Lord, who once was as renowned as our Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva."
The Venerable World Purification's lips curled slightly as he gazed into the distance. "He came from the South Continent to this unfamiliar place, first keeping a low profile and remaining unknown. Once he was ready, he acted swiftly, rising to prominence at an unimaginable speed, attracting the attention of a senior in his sect, and then joining a great sect..."
"Don't you think he is very similar to Ling Xu and the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva?"
Whether it's a Wanderer or a deity, every action has a certain inertia. A person instinctively repeats what has brought them success in the past.
The Grand Emptiness True Lord was now the most prominent figure in the North Continent, and even the Bodhi Sect's members had heard of him.
Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattvas finally realized that their investigation into the disappearance of their fellow disciples in the North Continent would inevitably lead to this Grand Emptiness True Lord, who had suddenly left the South Continent. If he had not come to seek the protection of the Three Immortals Sect, he must know a great deal about the situation.
"But now that he has joined the Three Immortals Sect, he has a powerful backing and no longer fears Sumeru Mountain. Even if we privately seek him out, how would he be willing to reveal the truth?"
"Then we must strip him of his protection."
The Pure World Bodhisattva's smile faded, and his eyes grew cold. "Go and capture him. I will wait for you outside the North Continent."
He had a feeling that this person was the key to unraveling everything.
Before the Bodhisattvas could respond, their expressions turned extremely odd.
They understood why the Venerable World Purification couldn't act himself, but the idea of a few Ascetics with Six-Six Transformations capturing the Grand Emptiness True Lord in broad daylight in Kaiyuan Prefecture, before the Three Immortals Sect could react, seemed absurd.
Fortunately, the Pure World Bodhisattva didn't give them a chance to speak. He slightly turned his palm, and a dark golden Demon Subduing Zen Staff emerged.
"A Five-Refined Buddha Treasure..."
Upon seeing the staff, the Bodhisattvas' eyes widened.
Only now did they realize that the Venerable World Purification was not joking and that he took this matter more seriously than they had anticipated.
This Zen Staff was not a trinket given to juniors for protection. It was one of his most frequently used Buddha Treasures, a weapon for battling peers, almost like an extension of his own body.
"Go."
The white-robed monk gently tossed the Zen Staff and turned to leave the North Continent.
Once the Zen Staff appeared, he could no longer stay, or the Golden Immortals would come in full force, leaving him no chance to escape.
The Bodhisattvas caught the Zen Staff together, their hands trembling as they caressed the cold, precious staff. Having undergone five refinements, it contained a total of five hundred thousand Cataclysmic Powers. Even if they could only harness a fraction of its power, it far exceeded the foundation of a Nine-Nine Transformation Wanderer.
With this item by his side, capturing a Third-Rank Cultivator should be no challenge.
...
North Continent, Kaiyuan Prefecture.
From the initial coldness to the current bustling traffic of cultivators, it has only been a month.
The reason for this lies with Daoist Priestess Yao You.
Everyone wanted to know how this conflict would end, and whether the sudden appearance of Daoist Priest Ling Xu indicated a dispute among the elders.
But in the end, Daoist Priestess Yao You, after suffering heavy losses, unexpectedly turned her attention to the monks of the Bodhi Sect.
This meant that the matter had ended rather abruptly.
True Lord Tai Xu became the first among the North Continent’s fellow disciples to snatch a prize from Daoist Priestess Yao You’s grasp, thus effectively claiming Kaiyuan Prefecture as a Daoist ground.
In the Three Immortals Sect, those who could claim an entire prefecture were always the top disciples of each lineage, revered by many fellow disciples. It was even more impressive that Kaiyuan Prefecture was won in such a significant manner.
Now that Daoist Priestess Yao You no longer intended to pursue the matter, Shen Yi naturally became a hot commodity in the eyes of many disciples.
"Senior Brother Tai Xu, a humble gift, specially brought to congratulate you."
A disciple approached with a smile, only to find it difficult to squeeze through the crowd.
By custom, disciples within a lineage addressed each other based on the order of their entry into the sect. Even if they were from different lineages, most still followed this etiquette.
But many disciples seemed to have forgotten this rule, all addressing him as Senior Brother.
"Tai Xu... Senior Brother Tai Xu."
Daoist Priest Hao Ming pushed his way through the crowd. Despite having prepared himself mentally, he still felt a bit embarrassed, his face flushed as he called out "Senior Brother."
"Quickly, apologize to Senior Brother for your earlier rudeness!"
After bowing, Hao Ming pulled the hesitant Hua Ming out from behind him and pushed him to his knees.
Hua Ming had lost his earlier arrogance. He stared dumbfounded at the figure sitting quietly on the cliff's edge, finding it hard to believe that the lofty and commanding Daoist Priestess Yao You, who could suppress his senior brother with just a glance, had been humbled by this person.
"Senior Brother Tai Xu!"
In the next moment, he quickly bowed and began to kowtow heavily.
The other disciples fell silent, standing still and glancing at Daoist Priest Hao Ming.
True Lord Tai Xu’s original Daoist ground was Heavenly Tower Mountain, and Hao Ming was the closest to him. They must have had a conflict over the Daoist ground, and now, seeing the situation, Hao Ming had come to mend relations.
This was a common occurrence in the North Continent and was not considered shameful.
However, not coming forward himself and instead pushing his junior brother to take the blame was somewhat unsavory.
"It’s a minor matter, let it go."
Shen Yi glanced over, his pale face showing no signs of arrogance from his recent success. He simply glanced at the two disciples and then looked away.
Seeing this, the other disciples stepped forward and echoed, "Senior Brother Tai Xu’s magnanimity is truly admirable!"
Compared to their earlier forced flattery, this statement seemed more sincere.
Everything was about comparison. In the same conflict over a Daoist ground, Daoist Priestess Yao You had been the one to suffer a loss, and she had even tried to kill her opponent afterward.
In contrast, Senior Brother Tai Xu, with both of them right there, had simply dismissed the matter with a light sentence.
This was how Daoist grounds should be contested, to demonstrate the grandeur of a great sect.
One must understand that this senior brother had just arrived from the South Continent and acted more in accordance with the rules than even the North Continent’s prodigies.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. We’ll take our leave now."
Daoist Priest Hao Ming felt his face burning with embarrassment, quickly pulling Hua Ming away and flying off Heavenly Tower Mountain.
The other disciples, seeing that Shen Yi preferred solitude, did not want to disturb him further and began to bow and take their leave.
"Seniors, this way."
A few of the younger disciples from Ling Xu Cave stood straight, smiling and courteously escorting the guests.
Since this great calamity began, when had their lineage ever had such a face? Not only did the other disciples think so, but even they felt that this new junior uncle was much stronger than the senior uncle.
Just as everyone was about to leave, one of the higher-ranking disciples suddenly frowned and looked up at the sky. "Hmm?"
Soon, the others also reacted, their voices sharp. "Who is spying from above!"
The aura emanating from above was clearly different from that of the Three Immortals Sect.
One disciple waved his hand, his sleeve expanding to a thousand feet wide, sweeping across the sky like a surging silver waterfall. "Come out, you cowards!"
The sweep did not cause much damage, but as the clouds dissipated, revealing several shiny bald heads, almost everyone was stunned.
They had never imagined that the wanted monks of the Bodhi Sect, whom the sect had been pursuing, would suddenly appear in Kaiyuan Prefecture.
"Senior Brother Tai Xu, these bandits dare to invade your Daoist ground. Let me help you deal with them."
Upon seeing the Six-Six Transformations cultivation of the Bodhisattvas, several figures immediately shot out from Heavenly Tower Mountain, all of them accomplished in their realms.
In the eyes of the Three Immortals Sect, these monks were not just heads but great achievements and the source of long-suppressed anger.
“……”
Several Bodhisattvas watched the flashes of light before them, their eyes narrowing slightly. Without a moment's hesitation, they collectively summoned the Golden River to surge forth. On the crest of the river, a dark golden Zen staff was lifted high, radiating a dazzling light that nearly covered the entire sky.
“A Buddha Treasure!”
In the instant the light descended, the few who had just taken flight, along with the numerous cultivators on the mountain, instinctively scattered like startled birds.
They stared intently at the Zen staff, their faces filled with shock.
When had Sumeru Mountain become so wealthy that such a terrifying Buddha Treasure could be entrusted to a few ordinary monks?
Such a valuable item, even as disciples of a great sect, figures like Li Shan and Yao You might not possess one.
Before the crowd could recover, the already highly tense Bodhisattvas roared angrily, “Everyone, we are here for Tai Xu. All irrelevant parties must leave immediately; we will not cause unnecessary trouble!”
The North Continent was the territory of the Three Immortals Sect. Even with the Zen staff, if the Great Immortals were to react, they would find it impossible to escape with their lives.
Thus, their first move was a lethal strike, aiming to immediately drive these cultivators back.
“……”
The crowd snapped back to reality, and many faces showed a strange expression.
While it was true that good things often came with difficulties, this Tai Xu senior brother seemed to be particularly unlucky. First, he was targeted by Senior Sister Yao You, and just when things had finally calmed down, he was immediately surrounded by these monks.
Even summoning such a terrifying Buddha Treasure, they were determined to take him down.
“Senior Brother, don't worry. The North Continent isn't a place for these monks to act recklessly!”
Though they had only a shallow relationship, many disciples shouted these words, but they still instinctively moved out of the light's range. Some hurried back to report to their elders, while others, feeling awkward about leaving, could only watch from a distance, silently mourning for this new disciple.
“Phew.”
The Bodhisattvas, seeing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking down, their expressions froze. The young man in the white robe, though he had stood up, remained at the edge of the cliff, showing no intention of fleeing.
The Bodhisattvas' eyelids twitched. Truly, this was someone who could match Senior Sister Yao You. To see a Buddha Treasure and still remain calm was indeed remarkable.
“Tai Xu True Lord, don't resist. You might still have a chance to live... Don't force our hand!”
Even as they said these words, they lacked confidence. They were here to question him, but even if they found no connection, the fact that he had seen the true form of the Great Freedom Purifying Bodhisattva meant they could not let him leave alive.
Before the words had even finished, the golden rings on the Zen staff began to jingle, the piercing sound causing everyone's faces to contort. Even mobilizing the Cataclysmic Power became difficult.
The Dharma sound dispels evil!
In the hands of these Bodhisattvas, it could still have such an effect, making it hard to imagine what would happen if a Venerable of Great Liberation held this staff. They would likely lose even the ability to escape.
In an instant, the entire Zen staff slowly rose, its length increasing a thousandfold, like a pillar hanging in the sky. It then forcefully descended upon Heavenly Tower Mountain.
Feeling the tumultuous Cataclysmic Power, the numerous disciples, already far away, fled in terror once more.
This time, they didn't even bother to offer words of comfort to Shen Yi.
After all, those words were meant for the living, and among Third-Grade cultivators, few would survive this attack.
If this strike landed solidly on Heavenly Tower Mountain, there would likely be no survivors left in Kaiyuan Prefecture.
“……”
Shen Yi stood within the light, the piercing Dharma sound seemingly having little effect on him.
He raised his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the descending Zen staff.
Behind him, strands of black clouds spread out, rapidly forming a colossal shadow as tall as the sky. The surging black clouds, like ink-stained flames, rose fiercely, creating a burning sky.
“Void Entity, disperse!”
The Bodhisattvas immediately recognized the massive, intangible shadow, which aligned with the impression that the Tai Xu Dao Fruit was not suitable for direct combat.
If this was all he could do, one strike from the Zen staff should be enough to subdue him.
The monks' faces showed a hint of joy.
However, in an instant, the black cloud shadow extended a vague hand, slowly grasping the Zen staff.
The black clouds, though violently disturbed, did not truly disperse.
Holding the Zen staff, it gently tapped the end of the staff against the mountain peak.
Clang.
A crisp sound reverberated like an invisible wave, stopping the fleeing disciples, stunning the Bodhisattvas in the air, and causing the bewildered and dazed civilians to widen their eyes.
Before the small shrine, on the high cliff where the mountain wind howled,
Shen Yi stood calmly, his clothes fluttering in the wind. Behind him, the giant shadow held the Zen staff, its indifferent gaze fixed on the few monks in front.
“Us...”
The five Bodhisattvas, enveloped by the massive shadow, felt their mouths dry and their breaths stifled, almost to the point of suffocation.
(End of Chapter)
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