The Chosen Monk Is Murdered, and Something Stirs the Ancient Buddha

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being did not disappoint Changge. The very day after speaking those words, he resolutely set off for the Absolute Yin Heaven.

The vast, surging Eternal Overcast Fog blew in from distant lands, as if shrouding every corner of the heavens and the universe.

Under the shocked, excited, and horrified gazes of countless Cultivators and living beings—

A divine rainbow pierced through the firmament, as if tearing the universe apart, and crashed directly down upon the Absolute Yin Heaven.

In that moment, it was as if heaven and earth split apart, as if chaos was first being divided.

Countless divine lights and immortal radiances, dazzling and blinding, illuminated the depths of the heavens of the Beyond.

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being appeared at the Absolute Yin Heaven, feathered robes and starry crown, Daoist robes fluttering, with the bearing of an immortal and the bones of the Dao. His Dharma Body stood tens of millions of zhang tall, propping up heaven and earth, reaching everywhere without limit.

He struck. He offered up a Bronze Giant Cauldron, which descended into the depths of the Absolute Yin Heaven, heavy and majestic, wreathed in countless runes as it pressed down to suppress.

Boom!

The cauldron’s roar was vast and boundless, rippling out terrifying waves.

In that moment, countless Cultivators and living beings heard the immense, surging sound, like giant waves crashing against the sky, as if to drown the entire universe.

The Absolute Yin Heaven was collapsing and splitting apart, and immeasurable fog came rushing out from within.

For ordinary Cultivators and living beings, this was an unimaginable catastrophe.

Any wisp of Eternal Overcast Fog was enough to corrode and swallow space itself, burying all vitality.

Yet the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being extinguished that great fog with ease. With a wave of his great sleeve, Chaos Energy came rolling forth.

The great cauldron rose and fell, suspended in the sky, wreathed in sky-piercing divine light. Ancient sacrificial scriptures of the ancestors from primordial times even manifested upon its four walls.

Then, those manifested patterns seemed to come alive, charging into the Absolute Yin Heaven, as if to utterly annihilate the beings within and restore peace and tranquility to heaven and earth.

The fluctuations there were far too terrifying. Even across vast distances, they transmitted outward.

The entire star domain trembled. Every star shuddered, as if about to fall.

From ordinary Cultivators up to True Daoists, all could feel that vast and terrifying aura, enough to make one’s soul sway unceasingly.

“So this is the current strength of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being? Truly terrifying. How exactly did he do it? In this era, how can he wield such power?”

Many True Daoists wore grave expressions, their figures appearing in the depths of the firmament, gazing toward that corner of the universe.

Their hearts churned with monstrous waves, and they gained yet another clear understanding of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being’s power.

“Wonderful! The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being is truly going to resolve the scourge of the Absolute Yin Heaven for us!”

“How many forces has this calamity destroyed, how many living beings has it wiped out? Today, it can finally be brought to a complete end!”

“The great kindness and virtue of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being is enough for us to remember for a lifetime—nay, to pass down to later generations, so that our descendants will remember and be grateful!”

Countless Cultivators and living beings watched all of this in shock and excitement.

Filled with heartfelt gratitude toward the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being, they knelt upon the ground, bowing in worship toward that direction.

The rolling Eternal Overcast Qi was suppressed by the Bronze Giant Cauldron, no longer continuing to spread outward. Instead, it continuously contracted and collapsed, as if pushed by an invisible pair of giant hands, converging toward the depths of the Absolute Yin Heaven.

It was a heart-shaking sight.

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being’s Dharma Body stood tens of millions of zhang tall, as if propping open heaven and earth itself. His great hand descended, spanning boundlessly, once more sealing the Absolute Yin Heaven.

The Bronze Giant Cauldron rose and fell, wreathed in endless divine light, and finally, with a thunderous boom, descended upon the Absolute Yin Heaven.

He had not chosen to erase the Eternal Overcast Qi, but rather used a gentler method to halt its spread.

“This Absolute Yin Heaven is truly mysterious and uncanny. Even this one can only hold it back for a thousand years. If no other method is found after a thousand years, it will likely spread once more.”

“When that time comes, if this one is still around, I can act again and seal it once more. But even that is no long-term solution.”

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being looked at the many Cultivators who had rushed to this place, and sighed softly, as if with some regret, explaining.

Hearing these words, the hearts of everyone present sank, and their expressions grew solemn.

They had thought the scourge of the Absolute Yin Heaven could be completely resolved this time, but they had not expected that even the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being could only seal it once more.

Moreover, this seal could only last a thousand years.

If, after a thousand years, they still could not find a way to break it, the Absolute Yin Heaven would make a comeback and erupt once again.

“We understand. Thank you, Supreme Being, for acting.”

“For the Supreme Being to prevent this calamity from spreading again—this thousand years is already enough for us.”

“We will surely find a way to break it within this thousand years. We will not let the Supreme Being’s efforts go to waste.”

Soon, everyone recovered, understanding that the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being had likely done his utmost, and they cupped their fists in gratitude.

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being’s figure returned to its original form. His once lean and clear face now bore traces of pallor and weakness.

As if sealing the Absolute Yin Heaven before him had consumed a great deal of his strength.

He waved his hand and said, “Fortunately, the Beyond is about to undergo great upheaval, and many fortuitous opportunities are coming. What will happen in these thousand years, no one can say.”

The Eternal Overcast Qi receded, and the vast territory before them finally appeared before the eyes of the world, leaving hearts trembling with fear.

As far as the eye could see, there was only broken, ruined earth, permeated with rolling baleful qi and Death Qi.

Many terrifying great ravines stretched across it, fallen stars littered the ground, devastation everywhere one looked—like an abandoned ancient universe, incomplete and deathly silent.

“The scourge of the Absolute Yin Heaven has finally ceased. Though only for a thousand years, it is enough,” said an elderly Cultivator who had rushed over, his expression complicated, carrying gratitude as he let out a long sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Supreme Being, for acting and easing this calamity for all living beings.”

From other regions as well, many divine rainbows came rushing over. Looking at the shocking scene before them, they cupped their fists in gratitude toward the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being.

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being’s face bore a slightly weakened look. He waved his hand gently and said, “A pity. It could not be completely resolved.”

With that, he did not linger. The void before him blurred, a passage appeared, and his figure stepped into it, quickly vanishing.

The people present watched this scene, deep admiration welling up in their hearts.

This was a true person of virtue and the Dao—seeking no reward, working for the peace of all living beings.

Truly worthy of being the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being. This great righteousness and kindness was just like that of Young Master Changge.

Many people discussed animatedly, quickly sending word of this place back to the sects and forces behind them.

The events of this day spread swiftly, as if growing wings, triggering an enormous earthquake.

The scourge of the Absolute Yin Heaven, which had swept through the Beyond for years, had finally been sealed.

Countless Cultivators and living beings rejoiced and cheered. In various places, they even built temples and statues for the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being, worshipping day and night.

Many sects and forces also immediately dispatched clan members carrying generous gifts to visit and thank the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being.

After all, hearing that he had consumed considerable strength to seal the Absolute Yin Heaven, they wanted to make their faces familiar and, while they were at it, brush up some goodwill.

Gu Changge naturally learned of this news at the first moment.

The so-called thousand-year seal was, in his view, merely a little trick of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being.

He himself had ways to completely resolve this Absolute Yin Heaven calamity.

The Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being’s claim was nothing more than an excuse.

At the end of the day, the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being was simply too shrewd and calculating—on one hand wanting to earn his trust, on the other pretending to have consumed considerable strength. Wasn’t this exactly his own usual trick?

Changge smiled faintly, then crushed a Jade Tablet in his hand, turning it into powder that scattered across the sky.

Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, had already left the Divine City and was on his way back to Buddhist Mountain.

Although he had True Daoists protecting him at his side, that Ancient Buddha was not with him—he remained in the Divine City, seemingly with some matter he intended to ask the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being about.

Without a figure of that caliber protecting him, could he still be considered safe?

After all, regarding the matter of being backstabbed in the Central Great Hall, Changge did not intend to let him off so lightly.

Nor did he plan to send Ah Da or Ah Er to deal with Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk.

Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken? Though this didn’t quite call for a dragon-slaying sword either.

To deal with a single Jin Chan, three True Daoists ought to be more than enough.

Changge quickly passed down the order, dispatching three Dark True Daoists.

Dark Heaven had not been revealed to the world for long, but the number of True Daoists it possessed already numbered over a dozen.

Let alone erasing a single Young Prodigy—even assassinating the leader of a Cult of Immortality would be more than sufficient. Of course, that was provided the target carried no Immortal Grade Artifact on their person.

Naturally, to ensure absolute certainty, Gu Changge also bestowed a secret treasure—a Forbidden Weapon.

After dispatching the three Dark True Daoists, Gu Changge did not stop there. He sent a message to Lan Yifei, the Chosen One of the Immortal Dao Alliance, telling him to find an opportunity to make his move.

There were quite a few Young Prodigies in the Divine City.

At a time like this, how could things be lacking in excitement?

Gu Changge didn’t mind muddying the waters here even further.

However, shortly after, an unexpected visitor suddenly arrived, giving even Gu Changge a bit of a surprise.

Who would it be this time?

At the same time, on the other side of the Divine City.

Lan Yifei, having quickly received the news, looked at the Jade Tablet in his hand with a complicated expression, then gently crushed it.

He did not dare disobey Gu Changge’s orders.

He had thought that this time Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, would produce some important evidence, exposing the truth that Gu Changge was the real Successor of Demonic Arts.

Unfortunately, in the end, he was still one move short—Gu Changge had long prepared a countermeasure.

Even that Ancient Buddha could not determine whether what Gu Changge said was true or false.

The Heavenly Maiden, the King of Six Crowns... none of these were easy to deal with.

It seemed he would have to start with the other prodigies.

Lan Yifei sighed softly, turned, and left the courtyard, quickly vanishing into the Divine Domain.

“Chosen Monk, the Ancient Buddha said that this journey back to Buddhist Mountain will not be smooth.”

“He wishes for us to accompany you back and protect you along the way.”

In the northwest of the Divine City, Buddhist light shone brilliantly, and spatial qi permeated the air.

A Transportation Array stood at this place, spiritual energy dense and hazy, vast fluctuations emanating from within.

As if it connected to another boundless starry sky.

A group of monks with profound auras followed behind Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, pressing their palms together as they explained.

Jin Chan nodded and said, “The Ancient Buddha has told me of this matter. I will be extra careful. I’ll have to trouble the few shishu.”

As he spoke, the hand hidden beneath his monk’s robes was gripping a relic that radiated a hazy, glowing luster.

This was the Forbidden Weapon bestowed by that Ancient Buddha, containing a wisp of the Dharma Body of Ancient Buddha Sha Na.

Its power was supremely mighty.

Jin Chan was, after all, the future hope of Buddhist Mountain.

Ancient Buddha Sha Na had divined that he faced an omen of great misfortune this time, which was why he wanted Jin Chan to return to Buddhist Mountain and be confined there for several years.

This journey back to Buddhist Mountain was also unsafe, its fortune unknown.

Jin Chan felt somewhat uneasy in his heart, always feeling that Gu Changge would not let him off so lightly.

In the Central Great Hall, he had questioned Gu Changge so directly, even provoking him in front of everyone.

Given Gu Changge’s usual temperament, such behavior was something he would absolutely never let slide.

Hopefully, Gu Changge wouldn’t be that bold.

Jin Chan’s eyes were slightly closed, threads of sharp light flickering within, not at all as calm and indifferent as he appeared on the surface.

Soon, the Transportation Array activated, light flashing in waves, spatial fluctuations spreading out.

Jin Chan and the others stepped into it, their figures quickly blurring and vanishing.

This large-scale Transportation Array could cross many star domains, traversing hundreds of millions of li in an instant, as if shuttling through a cosmic tunnel.

However, midway through the teleportation, a terrifying fluctuation suddenly came from the void, as if someone was forcibly tearing this passage apart.

The violent fluctuations caused the expressions of Jin Chan and the others to change drastically.

“Not good—someone is forcibly destroying this Space Tunnel!”

“Quick, protect the Chosen Monk!”

A tall, burly monk spoke, his expression grave—he possessed cultivation at the Sacred Emperor Realm.

But before his words had even finished, the void before them suddenly collapsed, then became covered in countless cracks, exploding apart like a shattered mirror.

The scattering aura was terrifying and sky-flooding, sweeping out in all directions like ocean waves.

Rules broke apart; order dissolved.

Immediately after—

A black great hand pierced through heaven and earth, tearing down fiercely, carrying an overwhelmingly domineering aura, as if it could easily swat down the sun, moon, and stars.

The monk who had just spoken didn’t even have time to react before being smashed into a bloody mist by that black great hand, body and soul utterly destroyed.

This was an attack from a True Daoist!

The expressions of the remaining monks changed drastically. They activated their Buddhist treasures, Buddhist light radiating from their entire bodies, attempting to resist this strike.

But their cultivation was far from reaching that level. The Buddhist light around them shattered in an instant—merely being grazed by a wisp of that aura, they coughed up blood and burst apart, perishing directly within the void, leaving not even bones behind.

The two with the highest cultivation barely managed to preserve their lives, but they too were severely injured, their auras faint and fading.

“By order, we take your life.”

The black great hand tore apart this void passage.

The figure behind it descended, speaking coldly, his entire body shrouded in black mist, impossible to see clearly.

And such figures numbered three in total, like terrifying great mountains standing erect within this starry sky, giving off an immense pressure that was simply suffocating.

Killing intent overturned heaven and earth.

Three True Daoists!

Jin Chan’s steady, indifferent expression could no longer be maintained, faintly revealing an ugly look. Beneath his robes, the veins on his hand bulged and throbbed.

He had known Gu Changge would definitely not let him off.

But he had never imagined that Gu Changge would be deranged enough to dispatch True Daoists to kill him.

And three True Daoists, at that.

How exactly had he done it? And how did he possess so many subordinates?

Facing the scene before him, even the leader of a great sect would despair.

Three black-robed True Daoists stood towering in the starry sky, their crushing pressure surging like furious waves, bearing down until this stretch of heaven itself seemed on the verge of collapse.

It was a sight to drive anyone to despair. Any Cultivator would tremble in endless fear.

Who exactly would go to such lengths to kill the Chosen Monk?

“To think they actually dispatched three whole True Daoists... In today’s Beyond, who else could possibly...”

The two monks who had luckily survived stared at the scene, their faces filled with terror and despair.

At this point, even if the abbot of their own Buddhist Mountain were to appear here, his fate would likely be more grim than fortunate.

Three True Daoists—the aura leaking from them alone was enough to suppress any Cultivator.

“You were sent by Changge, weren’t you?”

Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, forced himself to calm down and asked in a low, heavy voice.

In that moment, he felt his entire body was about to burst apart. Every inch of his skin seemed to be splitting open, blood seeping out.

His divine soul’s flame flickered, on the verge of being snuffed out entirely.

Besides Changge, he could think of no one else who would move against him like this.

What Jin Chan couldn’t fathom was what means Changge had used to dispatch three True Daoists.

Judging by their auras, the three before him didn’t seem like Ancestors of the Family of Immortals either.

If anything, they resembled the figures of the Dark Heaven that had caused such an uproar recently.

Hearing his words, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the three black-robed True Daoists merely gazed at him coldly, not uttering a single word.

As if looking at a dead man.

One of them wasted no words. His aura enveloped this stretch of sky as a giant hand swept across the heavens and descended—like a terrifying continent, wrapped in chains of law and order, annihilating everything.

The vast, surging force felt as if heaven and earth themselves were collapsing, the entire world sinking into ruin.

“Chosen Monk, flee! You cannot die here!”

At that moment, a shout rang out from the void.

An ancient monk wreathed in brilliant Buddhist light appeared, his Quasi-Emperor cultivation on full display. Behind him condensed a thousand-zhang phantom of a Buddha, Buddhist chants rippling outward like waves, moving to block this strike for Jin Chan.

Without a doubt, he was Jin Chan’s secret guardian.

Having witnessed everything from beginning to end, he chose to stake his very life, fighting to carve out a sliver of hope for the Chosen Monk’s escape.

But before a genuine True Daoist, Quasi-Emperor cultivation was far from enough.

Merely facing that overwhelming aura, he could no longer withstand it—blood poured from his body.

His entire being was like shattering porcelain, his flesh splitting open, covered in countless cracks, dyed red with blood.

“A mere ant, and you dream of saving him.”

The attacking True Daoist spoke coldly, his eyes devoid of the slightest emotion.

His palm descended, slamming directly down upon the ancient monk. With a bang, the monk exploded, becoming a sky-filling mist of blood, following in the footsteps of the monks before him—body and soul utterly destroyed, without the slightest power to resist.

All laws and order crumbled, splitting apart into ash that filled the heavens.

Though only a single step separated Quasi-Emperor from True Daoist, the gulf in cultivation was like a chasm between heaven and earth.

One on the ground, one in the sky—there was no comparison.

“Gu Changge really does strike ruthlessly, treating this humble monk so...”

“Sooner or later, he will suffer retribution for this.”

Watching the scene before him, no matter how calm and serene Jin Chan usually was, he now felt boundless unwillingness. He gritted his teeth and growled, his heart filled with despair.

He was absolutely certain—all of this was unquestionably the work of experts sent by Gu Changge.

The many monks tasked with protecting him had all died miserably here, their corpses gone, body and soul annihilated.

Three black-robed True Daoists stood guard in all directions—forget him, not even a fly could hope to escape.

This enmity was irreconcilable.

But he also knew that today, he likely could not escape death, let alone live to take revenge someday.

Ancient Buddha Sha Na’s divination had been correct—he truly faced a great omen of doom, certain death with no chance of survival.

“Do you have any last words you wish to leave behind?”

“This question comes from the Master behind us, who wishes to ask you.”

The attacking black-robed True Daoist looked at Jin Chan, his face cold, his words without the slightest fluctuation of emotion.

“Ha... well played, Gu Changge. It seems everyone in the Beyond has vastly underestimated you.”

“So the Dark Heaven is connected to you as well.”

“As long as you live, the Beyond will never know peace.”

Hearing this, Jin Chan laughed miserably. Now he had seen through to the truth of it all—Gu Changge’s true identity was far from being as simple as some successor of a hidden legacy.

As he spoke, the Sharira clutched in his palm abruptly shattered.

This was the life-saving treasure bestowed by that Ancient Buddha, containing a trace of his Dharma Body.

The instant the Sharira burst apart, a towering Buddhist phantom surged skyward from within, vast Buddhist chants shaking out, sweeping across the Eight Wastelands.

“How dare you run rampant!”

The next moment, a peerless Ancient Buddha manifested at this place—white brows reaching his shoulders, his expression calm and serene, holding a purple-gold alms bowl. With a soft rebuke, it transformed into a terrifying purple mountain, pressing down toward the three black-robed True Daoists ahead.

Seeing the scene before him clearly, his eyes suddenly flared with furious rebuke. His originally withered frame rapidly swelled, transforming into a wrathful Vajra, come to subdue demons.

Though this was not Ancient Buddha Sha Na’s true body appearing here, this trace of Dharma Body still shared a certain connection with his true self.

“Three True Daoists... they really were willing to commit such a force.”

Ancient Buddha Sha Na swept his gaze over the three black-robed True Daoists, all trace of compassion gone from his face, and directly chose to strike.

As a Hidden Expert of Buddhist Mountain, his strength naturally far surpassed that of ordinary True Daoists.

But right now, he was merely a Dharma Body, not his true self.

So he could only do his utmost to carry Jin Chan away from this place.

“Master anticipated this long ago.”

Facing Ancient Buddha Sha Na’s appearance, the three black-robed True Daoists’ expressions remained ice-cold and emotionless, as if they had expected it all along.

One of them even directly brought out an Ancient Mirror mottled with rust, its edges even stained with five-colored blood, wisps of black mist coiling around it.

The Ancient Mirror radiated billions of rays of light, sinking into the void, its brilliance dazzling, laws and order interweaving like a boundless sea.

Gu Changge had long predicted that Ancient Buddha Sha Na would leave Jin Chan a life-saving treasure.

That was why he had given the three of them this Forbidden Weapon.

It was a great weapon of slaughter Gu Changge had obtained during the destruction of Neraka, curses coiling around it.

Some of the bloodstains on it might even have come from a true Immortal.

The Ancient Mirror rose and fell beneath the dome of heaven, shrouded in black mist, turning crystalline and translucent. A single strand of its radiance fell, heavy as Chaos Energy, crushing the very void into collapse.

The next instant, the terrifying shockwaves of a great battle erupted here, as if heaven and earth themselves were being overturned.

The stars in the surrounding starfields trembled, then all collapsed, bursting into dust.

Everything before his eyes plunged Jin Chan into utter despair. He had thought that bringing out the secret treasure left by Ancient Buddha Sha Na would grant him a thread of survival.

But since Gu Changge had resolved to kill him, he would not leave him any chance of escape.

Meanwhile, far away in the Divine City, Changge was sipping his wine, conversing with an entirely unexpected figure.

The Heavenly Ox Demon King was tall and imposing, his face beardless, dressed in the ancient garments of Humans, his blood vitality astonishing—like a walking furnace striding through the mortal world.

He had brought many great demons of Devil Mountain to pay a visit, and was now in the courtyard, speaking with Gu Changge.

“This is the message the Lord of Devil Mountain instructed me to deliver to Young Master Changge.”

The Heavenly Ox Demon King cupped his fists, his attitude neither servile nor overbearing.

As a Hidden Expert on par with the One-Eye Daoist, the Gifted Lady Jin Yang, and Ancient Buddha Sha Na, he dared not put on the slightest airs before Gu Changge.

Moreover, at this moment, only he himself knew just how unsettled his heart truly was—his back was even drenched in cold sweat, and he wanted nothing more than to leave this courtyard quickly.

If not for the demoness in red, Chan Hongyi, personally ordering him to deliver a message to Changge...

He would never have wanted to be alone with Gu Changge.

That invisible pressure was like an unseen hand gripping his throat, nearly suffocating him.

A supreme being of the Forbidden Epoch stood right before him—no one in his place could possibly remain calm.

“I understand. I’ve troubled the Demon King, then.”

Gu Changge set down his wine cup, smiled, and then asked with keen interest, “Though, why do you...”

The Heavenly Ox Demon King’s expression shifted slightly, fine beads of sweat surfacing on his forehead.

Before others, he was cold and emotionless, regarding all living beings as ants, never speaking lightly.

Yet today, not only had he himself noticed it—even the many great demons behind him had sensed his abnormality.

He truly was afraid of Gu Changge.

“Did Chan Hongyi say something to you?”

Seeing the Heavenly Ox Demon King remain silent, Gu Changge didn’t mind. He smiled faintly, then drew from his robes an invitation that seemed to have been prepared long ago.

He knew the Heavenly Ox Demon King’s ancestry was connected to the Forbidden Epoch.

What he didn’t know was that the Demon King’s ancestor had once seen the Demon Lord’s true face, and had even left behind a painted scroll of it.

That was why Gu Changge made this guess.

“In that case, I’ll trouble the Demon King to deliver this invitation to her,” he continued.

This so-called Marriage Agreement invitation—in Gu Changge’s view, would have to be sent to Devil Mountain sooner or later anyway.

Though Chan Hongyi taking the initiative to send someone to request it did surprise him somewhat.

From Su Qingge’s lips, Gu Changge had learned that Chan Hongyi might make her move on the day of his grand wedding with Yue Mingkong.

As for what she would choose to do, Gu Changge couldn’t guess for now—he had merely devised a few countermeasures for it.

“Yes. I will not fail Young Master Changge’s trust. Then, I shall take my leave.”

The Heavenly Ox Demon King dared not say more. After receiving the invitation Gu Changge handed over, he prepared to rise and depart.

He worried that if he stayed any longer, Gu Changge would see through something.

His ancestor was simply too far removed from the present—certain matters had long been severed in the long river of history as secrets, sinking into taboo, not to be spoken of.

And if Gu Changge learned that he had guessed at his identity, what would the consequences be?

But just as the Heavenly Ox Demon King was about to leave the courtyard—

A terrifying fluctuation suddenly erupted from a Buddhist pagoda to the west.

Every Cultivator and living being in the entire Divine City felt this suffocating, dreadful wave, and their faces changed drastically.

Changge raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile of expectation appearing on his face.

Though that smile quickly vanished.

He said with feigned surprise, “That direction... isn’t that where the people of Buddhist Mountain are temporarily residing?”

“Ancient Buddha Sha Na is enraged?”

The Heavenly Ox Demon King frowned, his gaze turning toward the pagoda.

There, a white-browed Ancient Buddha could be seen standing in the void, boundless Buddhist light radiating from his entire body, yet his expression was full of fury—like a wrathful Vajra.

“What happened? Why would Ancient Buddha Sha Na suddenly become like this?”

“Has something major occurred?”

Many Cultivators reacted, utterly shocked, hastily flying into the sky and rushing in that direction.

True Daoists from the various factions also appeared one after another, their eyes filled with astonishment and confusion, hurrying over.

“What could have provoked Ancient Buddha Sha Na to such rage?”

The One-Eye Daoist, the Gifted Lady Jin Yang, and the other Hidden Experts still in the Divine City now appeared in the sky as well, gazing at Ancient Buddha ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sha Na from afar with puzzled expressions.

Their speed was tremendous—arriving around the pagoda almost in an instant, intending to ask aloud.

Changge naturally knew exactly what Ancient Buddha Sha Na’s fury was about.

But at a time like this, he still had to go join the excitement.

After all, no one had any evidence proving he was the one who had moved against Jin Chan.

Seeing Gu Changge hurry over, the Heavenly Ox Demon King hesitated a moment, then followed.

“May we ask what has angered the Ancient Buddha so?”

At Buddhist Mountain’s stationed residence, numerous pagodas stood.

Streaks of divine rainbow light rushed in from all corners of the sky—great figures of the various factions.

Witnessing this scene, they couldn’t help but ask in confusion.

Ancient Buddha Sha Na stood in the void, his hair and beard bristling, all his usual compassion gone.

His eyes burned with raging fury, terrifying visions surfacing within them, enough to make one’s heart palpitate.

Ordinarily he was compassionate and serene, but when angered, he was like a Vajra, capable of slaying all evil.

“Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, was murdered on his way back to Buddhist Mountain.”

He spoke in a heavy voice, killing intent surging, his tone somewhat cold, as if emanating from the nine nether hells.

What especially enraged him was that the other party had utterly destroyed his trace of Dharma Body—no matter how he divined, he could not deduce who was responsible.

And with the Dharma Body destroyed, he had no way of knowing what had happened over there. He could only sense that Jin Chan’s Life Talisman had shattered.

By all reason, Buddhist Mountain had existed to this day with essentially no enemies.

Who would move against Jin Chan out of nowhere?

Though he had previously sensed that Jin Chan’s return journey to Buddhist Mountain would be fraught with peril...

He never imagined it would be dangerous to this degree. He had already bestowed a protective secret treasure, and it had been of no use at all.

The rest of Buddhist Mountain’s accompanying monks had also perished together, body and soul annihilated.

“What? The Chosen Monk Jin Chan was killed?”

“How is that possible? Who would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have such audacity at a time like this? Isn’t this provoking Buddhist Mountain itself?”

Hearing these words, everyone who had rushed over was stunned.

The One-Eye Daoist and the Gifted Lady Jin Yang furrowed their brows tightly.

Jiang Luoshen, the Gifted Lady, the King of Six Crowns, and the others who had followed their elders here nearly wondered if they had misheard.

Not long ago, they had all seen Jin Chan in the Central Great Hall.

Yet in the blink of an eye, he had met a violent end, perishing on the road back to Buddhist Mountain.

It had all happened far too fast—like a dream.

Who held a grudge against Jin Chan? Who would choose this moment to strike him down so viciously?

This question surfaced in everyone’s minds, and then, almost in unison, they all thought of a certain figure—and couldn’t help but shudder.

Ancient Buddha Sha Na’s face was also dark as water. He too instantly thought of someone, and slowly reined in his killing intent.

After all, back in the Central Great Hall, Jin Chan had spoken out to provoke and question that person, sowing enmity between them.

And just then, a figure descended swiftly from not far away.

He wore dark black robes, his figure tall and straight, his countenance handsome and refined, transcendent and otherworldly.

“May I ask what has happened, to alarm the Ancient Buddha into such fury?”

With the perfect expression of one who knew nothing of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what had occurred, he asked with mild astonishment.