“Are you plotting to use the demons’ hands to replace Gan Tao Palace?”
Li Hao narrowed his eyes, staring at the other party. Piecing together various pieces of information, he knew that although the demon invasion of Dayu was a major trend, the Buddha Lord had clearly also played a role in fueling the situation.
Thus, using Feng to influence him also made sense.
In his youth, the other used that mother and child as pawns, attempting to control the Divine General Mansion, with him becoming a small stumbling stone, barely significant enough to disrupt the Poison Pill’s effectiveness.
Now that he had the power to defend Dayu, becoming a major obstacle to them, they sought to use Feng to disrupt his relationship with the royal court, their true target always being the entire Divine Dynasty.
What the Dayu Divine Dynasty reveres as its national religion is the Daoist Sect, led by Gan Tao Palace, the foremost among all Daoist views in the world, while Buddhism had to settle for second place.
It seemed as though they had no quarrel with the world, but in fact, they were struggling for the greatest spot.
Hearing Li Hao’s words, the Buddha Lord smiled and did not answer.
“Get out of the way, bald donkey!”
Just then, an angry voice came from outside, along with an intense Sword Intent emerging, and the disheveled figure of Ninth Prince Jiang Lichen rushed into the Buddhist Hall.
When he saw the Buddha Lord sitting on the Purple Gold Lotus Platform, his eyes narrowed, and he let out a cold laugh, then turned his gaze to Li Hao:
“If you need help from this old man, just say the word. I’ve never had the chance to spar with him before, so why not let me have a go first?”
The Buddha Lord’s smile faded slightly upon seeing Jiang Lichen, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
“Who are you, to barge into the Buddhist Hall, do you have a death wish?”
A Bodhisattva, chasing after him, angrily said his face turning red with rage. It was one thing for Li Hao to suppress them since after all, he belonged to the Grand Tao of Peace Realm.
But this madman, who had suddenly appeared, dared to storm Mount Wuliang, an insult that Buddhism hadn’t suffered in hundreds of years.
“You chicken-neck, you’re not even worthy to drink from my sword, scram!”
Jiang Lichen merely glanced at him and ignored him completely, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed on the Buddha Lord:
“The second highest expert in the world, I’ve long wanted to see what you’re made of, a pity that before I was imprisoned, I didn’t even have the qualifications to draw my sword in your presence, but now I do!”
“Ninth Prince, you should preserve your dignity. If you draw your sword here, it will be very difficult for His Majesty.”
The Buddha Lord said with a concentrated voice.
Jiang Lichen scoffed, “Their difficulties are their own business, what does it have to do with me? I only take care of myself, who cares about this world?”
The Buddha Lord’s eyes flickered slightly, and he chose not to speak further. He had long heard that this Ninth Prince was a sword-frenzy, who had fallen into the Demonic Path, and had once caused a bloodbath in the Imperial Capital, leading to the tragic deaths of many civilians caught in the crossfire; his actions were unpredictable.
“Why don’t you make a move, what are you waiting for?” Jiang Lichen looked at Li Hao, seemingly eager to stir Li Hao into action.
He wasn’t there to help in the fight, but rather seemed to relish the chaos.
Li Hao remained silent. He was waiting for Feng to arrive.
If he acted recklessly before seeing Feng, he might likely cause trouble for Feng.
After all, the other side was prepared and waiting for him to fall into their trap.
Suddenly, Li Hao’s expression changed, and he swiftly turned and rushed out of the Buddhist Hall.
On a hillside of Spirit Mountain, a group of figures clad in luxurious brocade and precious jade ornaments approached, men and women, young and old, all chatting and laughing with each other.
In front of them, Lin Wujing gripped a chain covered in fresh blood, and dragged behind him a mutilated corpse.
The corpse was bathed in Chi Guang, gaunt with two bloody holes where the eyes should be, its face covered in blood and its breath faint.
With an explosive sound, Li Hao’s mind went blank as if thunder had struck.
“Haotian General, this is the little thief. Do you really intend to acquit him of his crimes?” Lin Wujing called out upon seeing Li Hao in front of the Buddhist Hall.
The many men and women who had been laughing before halted their conversation, their smiles fading as they looked at the young man in front of the Buddhist Hall.
They knew they were there to be witnesses; if the young man truly tried to absolve this great thief, they would have to report it to the royal court.
“Is that the Haotian General? He looks so young.”
“Haotian General, you must think thrice…”
Bang bang bang bang!!
Before the second noble could finish speaking, his head exploded suddenly, followed by a chain of bursts!
In a moment, the dozens of previously laughing people all turned into a mist of blood and plasma!
The rest hadn’t even had the chance to speak, nor to react.
Their Divine Souls shot out in shock and bewilderedness, even forgetting to run, but there was no chance for them to escape as their Divine Souls extinguished suddenly, as if snuffed out by a great hand!
Ahead, Lin Wujing, who was dragging the chains, became stunned, staring at Li Hao in disbelief as the blood splattered on him, instantly dyeing his kasaya a crimson red, and coloring his bald head the same hue.
By the time he regained his senses, he was horrified and wanted to escape, but in the next moment, his body also suddenly ripped apart!
“Buddha Lord, save…”
Lin Wujing’s divine soul rushed out, attempting to flee and seek help, but in the next instant, it too was torn to shreds and pulverized!
On that blue stone pavement, in an instant, only the figure of that elder remained.
The two Bodhisattvas left at the entrance of the Buddhist Hall were stunned, their eyes quickly narrowing with horror as they watched the silhouette of the young man.
The young man’s body was trembling as he walked toward the old man.
With each step, it seemed as though the entire Spirit Mountain sunk down an inch.
The terrifying might emanating from his body was simply from his oppressive presence, making it difficult for them to breathe, their pores contracting, hearts as though leaping into their throats.
It was as if a ferocious beast from the Barbaric Wilds was passing by, making people hold their breath.
“Feng…”
Li Hao’s voice trembled, hoarse as though his throat was choked with molten lava, with crimson tears suddenly rolling from his eyes.
That once carefree Thief Saint, at this moment, had actually come to such a pass, without even a hint of dignity left!
When Li Hao came before Feng, he saw that apart from the eyes, Feng’s ears, nose, and mouth seemed to be destroyed, leaving him unable to speak or to hear.
Li Hao was shaking all over, and with a trembling effort, he crouched down, lifted the elder’s body, and simultaneously tore off his own clothes to cover him.
“Feng…”
Li Hao’s voice was choked, as if blocked by searing magma.
Feng’s body responded slightly, as if sensing something, lifting his head to look at Li Hao’s face, but his eyes were just bloody cavities.
He raised his hand, gently touching Li Hao’s cheek, seemingly discerning the identity of the youth by touch.
His movement paused for a second; then, his mouth opened, and all his teeth fell out, no tongue present, his pitch-black mouth calling out to Li Hao with something.
The shape of his mouth seemed to say, flee quickly…
Li Hao noticed that Feng’s body was covered with wounds, and from these wounds, mixed with the blood, was some dark purple substance, which was preventing Feng’s injuries from healing. It seemed to have sealed Feng’s divine soul, cutting off all his perception of the outside world.
The cruelty of the method was rarely seen even within the Ministry of Punishment!
“Candle Flame God!”
Li Hao felt his blood rushing to his head, as if his brain might explode, but his voice was pressed down to a low, gravelly rasp.
Outside the Buddhist Hall, the Candle Flame God swiftly rushed over, standing by Li Hao’s side.
“Xiyan, take care of the old man for me,” Li Hao said, his body trembling slightly.
A red ring on his wrist shifted, and Xiyan descended from Li Hao’s wrist, seemingly aware of what would happen next, that she would hinder Li Hao.
She expressed her concern, “Be careful.”
Li Hao did not answer but slowly stood up.
As he moved, the gales that filled the world seemed to have calmed.
The Candle Flame God did not say much, carrying Feng Boping on his back, and Xiyan also ascended to the Candle Flame God’s back, lifting off to the exterior of Spirit Mountain to avoid being affected by the battle.
Li Hao lifted his head, the blood tears in his eyes having stopped, and he looked towards the majestic Spiritual Buddha Hall.
As he lifted his head, a vast and mighty force suddenly swept out, striking directly at the Buddha Hall!
The two Bodhisattvas at the entrance of the Buddha Hall narrowed their eyes in shock, retreating hastily, feeling the chill of death, faced with the fear of confronting their demise.
“Buddha, Lord!!”
Li Hao’s hair flew wildly, and he suddenly erupted in a roar: “Come out, now!!”
The Nine-layer Dao Domain burst forth instantaneously, ripping through the void, pressing down with a speed beyond imagination.
The two Bodhisattvas, caught in its path, were about to be torn apart by this Dao Domain, but in the next instant, another powerful Dao Domain suddenly extended from within the Buddha Hall, colliding with Li Hao’s Nine-layer Dao Domain.
The moment they clashed, two different phenomena tore through the void; under these forces, the ground in front of the Buddha Hall shattered, yet the Buddha Hall itself remained unshaken.
The Nine-layer Dao Domain was actually held back!
But in the next moment, the Tenth Layer Domain pressed down!
Inside the Lingyuan Pavilion of the Xia Family in Youzhou, having absorbed many secret manuals of cultivation techniques, Li Hao had deduced even more Unparalleled Skills, which could be cultivated into Dao Domains.
Bang!!
The vast power within the Buddha Hall was suddenly engulfed, and as Li Hao stepped forward, this Buddhist Hall, which had stood for a thousand years, violently exploded!
The Buddha Hall, majestic and magnificent, was torn apart, revealing the fog-enshrouded Spirit Realm inside, with the Buddha Lord seated on the Purple Gold Lotus Platform, a hint of surprise in his eyes, calmly saying,
“It seems you have fallen into the Demonic Path.”