Once Bewitched an Enlightened High Monk—If Their Mind Is Clouded, They're Easy to Fool
Once Bewitched an Enlightened High Monk—If Their Mind Is Clouded, They’re Easy to Fool
Early in the morning, on a mountain peak outside the Floating Buddhist Temple, Gu Changge, Jiang Chuchu, Jin Chan the Chosen Monk, and the others stood there, gazing into the distance at the abyss surging with Demonic Qi.
The deep purple Demonic Qi billowed vast and boundless, blotting out the sky like dark clouds. That place resembled a world of darkness, with scarcely any light visible.
Though called the Demon-Burying Abyss, it was actually more like a gateway.
That terrifying giant maw was like an enormous wound slashed across heaven and earth, and from within came a hair-raising aura, as if stepping inside meant entering another world of eternal, silent darkness.
At the mouth of the abyss, many horrifying corpses could be seen, some as massive as mountains.
Some, even in death, still shone with brilliant divine radiance, like little suns, radiating scorching divine light.
However, tainted by the Demonic Qi, these corpses were covered in scars and riddled with withered holes of all sizes.
Around the Demon-Burying Abyss there were also many world-shaking formations, erupting with sky-piercing divine beams that transformed into divine swords, heavenly blades, and great halberds... slashing into the abyss to prevent the many creatures within from charging out.
Beyond that, many Cultivators could be seen around the Demon-Burying Abyss.
Though they dared not get too close, they were still battling the great demons within, their blood qi surging, their strength formidable.
They had not come here to safeguard the peace of the world, but because slaying those great demons yielded materials containing crystallized concentrations of mana.
Things like Demonic Cores, skulls, and hand bones often fetched high prices in outside markets and stalls.
This was because these Demonic Cores could be used not only to refine artifacts but also to set up formations, and they could only be found near the Demon-Burying Abyss, making them extremely rare.
So there were often many bold and highly skilled Cultivators who came here to take their chances.
These Cultivators had now all noticed Gu Changge’s party and were quite shocked, never expecting that besides themselves, anyone else would dare come to this place.
Soon, however, some of them recognized Gu Changge, and were even more shaken—and puzzled.
With Gu Changge’s esteemed status, why would he come to such a dangerous place?
“Young Master Changge, what is he doing here?”
“Could he be planning to resolve the calamity within the Demon-Burying Abyss?”
“As expected of Young Master Changge!”
At this thought, the expressions of many of them changed, becoming incomparably reverent, filled with respect.
Among the younger generation of the Beyond today, how many would willingly risk their lives to come to a place like this?
This courage, this dedication to all living beings under heaven, filled them with admiration.
If not forced by the circumstances of survival, they would never have come within half a step of this place. Yet Gu Changge, knowing full well there were tigers on the mountain, still chose to walk toward the tiger’s den.
“Ahead lies the entrance to the Demon-Burying Abyss. There are formations laid down by the high monks of my Buddhist Mountain that can stop the demonic creatures within from charging out...”
“Brother Gu, all of you follow me closely. Do not stray into the formations.”
Jin Chan the Chosen Monk spoke. After his conversation with the White-Browed Elderly Monk last night, his heart had settled into tranquility.
With that, he led the people of Buddhist Mountain forward, transforming into divine rainbows, streaks of golden light flashing as they rose from the mountain peaks.
Vast Demonic Qi surged toward them from ahead, but it was all resisted and scattered by the hazy Buddhist light radiating from the string of prayer beads in his hand.
At the same time, behind him appeared the phantom of a Buddha, solemn and majestic, glittering with golden light. With a furious Buddhist roar, ripples sharp as blades blasted apart the many demonic creatures ahead—truly powerful.
Gu Changge, Jiang Chuchu, and the others followed behind him, keeping some distance. Since Jin Chan the Chosen Monk wanted to clear the path, Gu Changge was happy to save himself the trouble.
His gaze turned somewhat peculiar as he recalled the conversation he had overheard last night.
He had nearly been discovered by that White-Browed Elderly Monk at the time, which had genuinely surprised him. Fortunately, he had left early, and nothing had gone wrong.
That White-Browed Elderly Monk’s cultivation was at least at the Quasi-Nirvana Realm—an ancient creature who had lived for who knows how long.
Moreover, the Transcendent techniques he cultivated were closely tied to perception, to the point where he could even discern the profound shifts of space itself.
Still, what surprised Gu Changge the most was Jin Chan the Chosen Monk’s identity.
He had previously only known that Jin Chan possessed the Buddha Heart and Buddhist Bones; he had not known that the monk was actually the reincarnation of a high monk of Buddhist Mountain.
“Zen Robe?”
“It seems it must have fallen into the Demon-Burying Abyss back then, which is why Jin Chan intends to retrieve it.”
Gu Changge had developed considerable interest in that Zen Robe.
If his guess was right, it should be the Buddhist treasure that was brought down into the Demon-Burying Abyss back then to suppress the Demonic Qi within.
Only, for some unknown reason, it had ended up lost inside.
Furthermore, upon arriving here, Gu Changge felt not the slightest discomfort from this Demonic Qi. On the contrary, there was a rich sense of familiarity and naturalness about it. Even within his blood, Grand Runes surfaced one after another, flickering in and out of existence as if cheering.
As if this aura shared the same origin as him.
This feeling was very familiar to him—it was the sealed memories of the past continuously awakening, countless fragments flashing by, many new things appearing in his mind.
Like pushing aside the clouds and mist to see the clear sky.
“The Demonic Qi here is already very intense. Even Sacred Realm Cultivators must tread carefully when approaching, lest they be corroded by it...”
A faint layer of immortal light appeared over Jiang Chuchu’s body, resisting the Demonic Qi of this place. Her brows furrowed as she murmured softly to herself.
Gu Changge glanced at her, then waved his sleeve. A terrifying shockwave spread out, dispersing the Demonic Qi around her.
“Why don’t you just stay outside? With your cultivation, going in would only cause trouble,” he said with a slight frown.
Jiang Chuchu looked at him and shook her head. “No. I’m going in with you. You don’t need to worry about me—I have my own means.”
This whole matter had dragged Gu Changge in because of her. How could she stay outside and let him go in alone?
Seeing her persistence, Gu Changge said nothing more.
Anyway, if anything went wrong later, he could just toss her into his Inner Universe all the same.
Jin Chan the Chosen Monk led the way at the front, but the journey was far from peaceful. Not only did they have to watch out for the Array Patterns laid down, they also had to slay the creatures here whose minds had been corroded and tainted by Demonic Qi.
However, he had experts of Buddhist Mountain at his side—the weakest among them at the Sacred Noble Realm, profound in Buddhist dharma and highly skilled at dispelling Demonic Qi—so he was kept quite safe.
And so, after traversing several hundred li, the mouth of the abyss finally drew near.
A suffocating, oppressive aura washed over them. Everyone’s expression turned grave, their souls trembling.
It was as if they faced some great terror; they could barely resist the urge to fall to their knees and prostrate themselves before the mouth of the abyss.
Here, the Demonic Qi had even reached the point of liquefaction, pooling on the ground into small lakes.
Within the small lakes, runes flickered, and scattered deep purple demonic stones lay about—exceedingly rare and precious, exuding the aura of Source.
“Gongzi, over there...”
Behind Gu Changge, a Sacred Lord Realm expert pointed with astonishment at a lotus in the distance.
It was a deep purple lotus, rooted in a small lake formed of gathered Demonic Qi. Though the lake was less than a hundred li across, it was richly fragrant, as if cast from immortal purple gold.
“What is that thing?”
Someone, curious, walked over—but before he could even get close, he was enveloped by the deep purple mist spreading from the small lake.
He didn’t even have time to scream before he dissolved into a mist of blood. The sheer horror of it made many turn pale and involuntarily retreat several steps.
“That is a Soul-Exterminating Lotus. Do not approach it.”
Jin Chan the Chosen Monk’s brows furrowed, then relaxed as he explained to everyone, “These things grow near the Demon-Burying Abyss and feed specifically on living beings and Demonic Qi. Though beautiful to behold, they harbor great terror and must not be carelessly approached or picked.”
His words made everyone’s expressions grow wary. They now understood how sinister this place was—the closer to the mouth of the abyss, the greater the dangers.
“A Soul-Exterminating Lotus.”
“Its age should already exceed ten million years. It has formed its own domain in the vicinity.”
Gu Changge, however, was rather intrigued, and walked straight toward it.
Everyone’s expression changed. The monks of Buddhist Mountain frowned but did not stop him. Jin Chan the Chosen Monk had already given his warning; if Gu Changge refused to listen, whatever he suffered would be his own fault.
But the next moment, to everyone’s astonishment, as Gu Changge approached, that Soul-Exterminating Lotus actually began to tremble slightly, as if in fear.
Then its roots shifted, and it actually walked out of the lake on its own, purple radiance shimmering beneath it, a hazy purple mist rising—mysterious beyond measure.
This sight left everyone’s eyes wide, nearly dumbstruck, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Even Jiang Chuchu’s expression shook before quickly returning to normal. She looked at Gu Changge, remembering his identity.
Could it be that this Soul-Exterminating Lotus was so sentient that it actually feared him?
At that moment, everyone could even see it splitting its roots into the shape of little feet, walking itself over to stop at Gu Changge’s feet.
Gu Changge paid no mind to everyone’s expressions. He simply grabbed the Soul-Exterminating Lotus and tossed it into his Storage Ring.
The thing was sentient; knowing it could not escape his grasp, it had simply submitted of its own accord.
“What use do you have for a Soul-Exterminating Lotus?”
Jiang Chuchu was somewhat curious. As far as she knew, apart from its dangerous nature, the Soul-Exterminating Lotus had no medicinal applications whatsoever.
Gu Changge smiled. “I’ll keep it as a pet. A ten-million-year-old Soul-Exterminating Lotus is truly rare. Perhaps before long it will take physical form.”
Due to its special nature, if a Soul-Exterminating Lotus manifested physically, it would possess Transcendent abilities that specifically countered Primordial Spirits.
And even if it couldn’t take form, devouring it himself would still let him temper his Primordial Spirit.
What others feared as poison, in his eyes was a tonic.
“Raising a Soul-Exterminating Lotus?” Jiang Chuchu nodded and said nothing more. The Soul-Exterminating Lotus fed only on flesh, blood, and Demonic Qi, and...
It was still a vast, overwhelming amount.
With Gu Changge’s methods, this was nothing to him. Although Gu Changge’s attitude toward her had improved considerably lately, she had not forgotten Gu Changge’s true face and original nature.
“Let’s go.”
Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, withdrew his gaze, and the wariness he held toward Gu Changge in his heart rose yet another level. After arriving here, everyone grew even more cautious. Even Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk leading the way, was extremely careful, terrified of taking a single wrong step.
Everywhere, one could see vein-like patterns of the Great Dao emerging, radiating dazzling brilliance. Moreover, the number of great demons here was even greater, coming from the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss, their strength heaven-defying, incomparably savage. There was not the slightest trace of intelligence in their eyes, only slaughter and brutality. After passing through yet another region, the group finally arrived at the mouth of the Demon-Burying Abyss. The surging, boundless Demonic Qi rushed right at their faces, as if it could drown heaven and earth.
Even beings of the Sacred Lord Realm were trembling, their faces pale, without the slightest trace of color. Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, came to a halt and turned back to address everyone, “Those whose cultivation has not reached the Sacred Lord Realm, remain here for now. I will inscribe a spatial formation. If anything unexpected happens within, you can quickly return to this place and then flee.”
“At the same time, we need people to guard this place.” As he spoke, he took out a purple-golden Buddhist vajra and began setting up the formation here, laying down many materials, extremely careful and cautious.
The monks of Buddhist Mountain had long known the arrangements, so they quickly split into two groups—one group following Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, and one group remaining here.
“Then you stay here.” Gu Changge looked at Jiang Chuchu.
Her cultivation was lacking, but she still had other means that could make up for her deficiency in cultivation.
Gu Changge’s brows furrowed, and sensing that he seemed about to grow angry, Jiang Chuchu instantly lost some of her confidence. Still, she raised her eyes, mustered her courage, and met his gaze, saying, “I don’t want to stay here.”
“This is my own matter.”
Gu Changge sighed softly, seemingly not blaming her, and instead asked, “Then isn’t your matter my matter? What difference is there?” If Jiang Chuchu followed him down, it would make his upcoming plans difficult to carry out, and it would also bring him considerable trouble.
“I...” Jiang Chuchu was slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected Gu Changge to suddenly say such a thing. Warmth welled up in her heart, and for a moment she didn’t know how to refuse. But she quickly reacted—Gu Changge had said such words in front of everyone. Wasn’t that tantamount to admitting the relationship between the two of them?
This truly made the thin-skinned her somewhat embarrassed. Of course, as the Saintess of Mortal Palace, her usual composure in front of others was well-honed, and in the blink of an eye she returned to normal.
“Then you must be careful. I’ll be waiting for you here the whole time.” After that, she agreed. Gu Changge nodded, his expression returning to normal, and then instructed the people behind him, selecting a portion to follow him down while the rest remained here.
Soon, once the Array Patterns were inscribed, Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, glanced back at Gu Changge and said, “Brother Gu, we can go down now.” With that, Buddhist light faintly shimmered around him, his bearing solemn and majestic, and he directly tore through the onrushing Demonic Qi before him, heading into the Demon-Burying Abyss.
A strange gleam flashed through Gu Changge’s eyes. The void blurred, and the vast Demonic Qi parted of its own accord before him. He too stepped forward to follow, and before long he vanished into the dense Demonic Qi, descending toward the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss.
The Demon-Burying Abyss was enormous—one could say it was a world unto itself. Terrifying auras ran rampant, and one could see countless demonic creatures slaughtering one another within, seemingly never tiring. All living beings here, whether in Physique or in divine soul, would suffer horrifying corruption, fighting to the death without regard for their lives.
Gu Changge could well imagine what kind of torment it must be for the demoness in red, Chan Hongyi, to have been sealed here for countless years—one could even say countless epochs.
The demonic creatures here, even the great demons with heaven-defying strength comparable to a Perfect Prodigy, had not the slightest shred of sentience. They knew only war and slaughter—either killing others or being killed by others. If anyone else were kept in such a sunless, lightless place, they would probably go mad. Once such beings emerged into the world, they would inevitably cause unimaginable catastrophe.
Bathing all realms in blood—this was probably no mere figure of speech.
“Brother Gu, what do you make of the strange changes in the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss?” Just as Gu Changge was pondering, Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, who was clearing the path ahead, suddenly had a flicker in his eyes and turned back to ask with a smile.
“It should be that whatever sealed this place back then has broken open, or rather, the great ominous thing of this place is about to emerge into the world.” Gu Changge said with a composed expression.
He had been planning to make a move against Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, but the other’s words had given him a reminder.
Before laying eyes on the so-called Zen Robe, it was better not to act for now. Hearing this, Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, didn’t seem surprised and continued asking, “This place has erupted into turmoil, and all the great demons are fleeing outward. It strikes one as rather strange. I wonder what Brother Gu’s view on this is?”
He intended to probe Gu Changge’s purpose, to see how much he knew about the affairs of the Demon-Burying Abyss. If he had also come for the Zen Robe, then he could only employ some means to make Gu Changge stay here forever.
Gu Changge’s strength was terrifying, but in the Demon-Burying Abyss, he was far less familiar with it than himself. “These demonic creatures should be fearing something. Rather than calling it a riot, in my view it’s more like a so-called flight for their lives.” Gu Changge seemed to see through what was in his heart at a glance and said breezily, “Could it be that before coming here, Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, didn’t scout ahead first?”
“Then what are Brother Gu’s plans?” Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk’s heart pounded violently, and he asked again. Buddhist light faintly appeared on his monk’s robes, contending against the terrifying Demonic Qi of this place.
The many monks at his side were also fighting here, clearing the path ahead, all of them bearing wounds. Gu Changge said casually, “I came here naturally because I was worried about Chuchu falling into danger, yet I couldn’t dissuade her. Could it be that Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, thinks I would be interested in resolving the calamity of the Demon-Burying Abyss?”
“If so, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”
At the end, he couldn’t help laughing, seemingly quite candid, yet with a hint of mockery. Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Gu Changge to be so frank at this moment—he was just short of outright saying, “I’m only here to farm some favorability points; I never planned to bother with the Demon-Burying Abyss’s affairs at all.”
But this also matched his understanding of Gu Changge. How could a fellow like this care about the lives and deaths of others?
It seemed he had designs on Saintess Chuchu, which was why he had risked his life to accompany the fair lady to this place.
This made him breathe a sigh of relief to some degree, feeling that matters would be much easier.
“I see. Brother Gu is indeed a candid man.” He smiled. Since Gu Changge didn’t plan to interfere in the Demon-Burying Abyss’s affairs, then he certainly didn’t know about the Zen Robe.
“Then what is Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk’s purpose in coming here? Gu is rather curious.”
Gu Changge asked with great interest. Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk’s expression had already returned to normal. At this point, he didn’t dare lie or brush him off, because once Gu Changge realized he was being placated, he would inevitably suspect his purpose.
That would make Gu Changge interested in the Zen Robe, and if he made a move to snatch it, wouldn’t that ruin his grand plan?
So he decided to be frank—though some matters still had to be concealed.
“Actually, this humble monk has come to retrieve a Buddhist treasure that was lost here back then.” He began to explain. Seeing that Gu Changge seemed somewhat unconvinced, he continued, “Speaking of it is shameful. This matter involves a scandal of my Buddhist Mountain. Back then, an enlightened monk of my Buddhist Mountain harbored a grand aspiration, vowing to pacify the Demon-Burying Abyss. As a result, after entering it, he was bewitched by a demoness of overwhelming ferocity from the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss. Beguiled by her, he stole Buddhist Mountain’s treasure, hoping to alleviate the torment and pain upon her. Alas, that demoness was ruthless and cruel...”
At this point, he sighed. Speaking of which, this matter was his own doing in his previous life, but he had not fully awakened his past-life wisdom, so he could only regard it as a bystander. To bewitch an enlightened high monk with her countenance alone—how terrifying and inconceivable a thing was that?
Yet it had happened just like that.
“And then he was killed by her here?”
Gu Changge asked with a calm expression, though inwardly he felt the matter was somewhat thorny and troublesome.
It would be fine if Chan Hongyi’s mind was unclear. But if her mind was clear, wouldn’t all the pain and torment she had suffered over the years be repaid to him in full the instant she saw him? Not to mention the matters from before she was struck down into the Demon-Burying Abyss—many grudges, in Gu Changge’s view, were not so easily resolved.
Hatred born of love—such hatred could not be erased even in the deepest depths of the Nether.
From the looks of it now, it still came down to the two methods he had thought of before.
This would need to be slowly worn down, or he would have to find a way to utterly annihilate her, once and for all. However, the one thing Gu Changge could be thankful for was that although Chan Hongyi had survived taking his strike head-on, she herself had not come away unscathed. Even if there had been a possibility he held back then, the injuries caused by a world-destroying blow would likely take an immeasurably long time to heal.
That was why Gu Changge sought out the Sanctuary of Resurrection.
If her mind was unclear, she would be easy to fool; if her mind was clear, he would have to devise another plan.
“Therefore, this matter is a scandal of my Buddhist Mountain, and even now, few ever mention it.” Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk’s face showed a trace of a bitter smile, seemingly quite sentimental. He then continued clearing the path ahead, using the Buddhist Bone on his body to sense the location of the Zen Robe. Meanwhile, as they went deeper and deeper, Gu Changge felt a stirring from his Demonic Heart even more strongly. The Eight Barren Demon Halberd also seemed to be reviving, no longer as quiet as usual.
The terrifying aura of the entire Demon-Burying Abyss abruptly felt like the heavens themselves were crashing down, pressing down until one could suffocate, unable to move.
The aura sealed within made one feel as if they were facing an existence that surpassed Emperors, surpassed Immortals.
“The Demon-Burying Abyss was caused by a drop of my True Blood falling here back when I was the Demon Lord...” However, Gu Changge’s gaze was deep and distant. He sensed that in the very deepest reaches of the Demon-Burying Abyss, there was an aura incomparably familiar to him.
It was not Chan Hongyi, but another aura, at the source deeper still, deeper beyond measure.