Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Musong (5)
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“……?!”
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon had intended to ignore all other attacks, to pierce through and kill Liu Zhangming first.
But the sword’s cry that had just rung out from Severing Manifestation was impossible to ignore.
As the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon whipped his head around, Ouyang Jue recalled what the Omniscient One had once told him.
That Severing Manifestation was a divine weapon, forged by a blacksmith from the old Demonic Cult to combat the Eight Evils.
*I don’t know why it’s crying out now… but this is the perfect time!*
With the Buddha's Shadow Gate suppressing the demonic energy and a master from Shaolin like Great Monk Munjeong assisting, this was the chance to kill the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon.
*Thud!*
Stepping forward with his left foot, Ouyang Jue swung Severing Manifestation in a straight line with all his might.
*CRACK!*
Severing Manifestation clashed with the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s Jade-Shattering Fist, sending black sparks flying.
The clash of demonic energy, fire energy, and Purple Mist True Energy created a noise that threatened to tear his eardrums apart.
More importantly, materialized force energy now coated Severing Manifestation’s blade.
Seeing it, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s eyes widened in shock.
“You little brat, you were hiding a trick up your sleeve!”
“……”
But Ouyang Jue said nothing, swallowing the blood that rose in his throat.
If a martial artist who had achieved the Lesser Heavenly Circulation could only wield force energy, the Greater Heavenly Circulation was the realm where one could materialize that energy and shape it at will.
However, to handle such power, one’s body had to be fully developed.
In other words, it was not a power that Ouyang Jue, who had not yet come of age, should be wielding.
Hadn’t the Omniscient One warned him?
*Do not use it before you come of age.*
*‘He said my body would be ruined…’*
Ouyang Jue recalled the worried look in the Omniscient One’s eyes and let out a wry chuckle.
Before he could even dismiss it as an unavoidable circumstance, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s relentless attacks rained down.
*Clang, clang!*
Amidst the incessant pounding in his chest, Great Monk Munjeong’s voice cut through the noise.
“All orthodox Arhats, enter the Buddha's Shadow Gate formation!”
A thunderous roar of footsteps followed, and the pressure converging at the center intensified.
Most of it was focused on sealing the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s movements, but a slight pressure was also added to Ouyang Jue and Liu Zhangming.
*Drip—*
Sweat trickled down the side of Ouyang Jue’s face.
*What a monster!*
To think he could fight like this against the combined assault of himself, Liu Zhangming, and Great Monk Munjeong, all while under the effects of the Buddha's Shadow Gate.
Were all of the Eight Evils like this?
Ouyang Jue felt goosebumps rise as he looked at the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon, the whites of his eyes stained black.
But he did not retreat.
He couldn't break the precarious balance created by their three-way assault.
Moreover, Liu Zhangming, who was lacking in both stamina and internal energy, was holding his ground.
*To think his martial prowess is similar to mine, when I've grown so quickly thanks to the memories of my past life. Senior Brother, just what are you…?*
The very fact that he was facing the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon head-on was an incredible feat.
Wondering when he had become so strong again, Ouyang Jue inwardly clicked his tongue and swung Severing Manifestation.
*Fwoosh!*
As if in response, the hem of the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s robe whipped through the air with a rough sound.
But it didn’t end there.
“Your sword is the most irritating thing here!”
*Whip.*
As the cloth instantly wrapped around Severing Manifestation’s blade, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon let out a sharp grunt and pulled his hand back toward his body.
“……!”
*Is he trying to take my sword?*
Ouyang Jue struck out with his other hand, using the Crane Palm to slam into the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s chest.
But all he got in return was the rebounding force of a protective aura and an unbearable muscle pain.
“Kugh!”
The force with which the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon was pulling was too strong!
Ouyang Jue stomped his foot down hard, continuing the struggle of strength.
Seeing this, Great Monk Munjeong immediately unleashed more than sixty percent of his internal energy.
“This is not a technique meant to be used on someone’s back, but…!”
“I know, just do it!”
As Ouyang Jue answered through gritted teeth, a brilliant light erupted from Great Monk Munjeong’s palms.
It was the Great Strength Diamond Palm, known as one of the most powerful techniques in the martial world.
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon frowned and swirled demonic energy around his entire body.
With nothing more than a simple protective aura, hardly a martial art, he neutralized the Great Strength Diamond Palm that Great Monk Munjeong had unleashed.
“…Unbelievable.”
Great Monk Munjeong’s beard trembled with humiliation. But he didn’t just stand there foolishly.
From the Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands to the Guanyin's Blue Steel Hand.
Great Monk Munjeong relentlessly targeted the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s back, restricting his movements.
Then, suddenly, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s gaze shifted to Liu Zhangming.
*From the very beginning… I’ve sensed some kind of unfathomable power from this one.*
Severing Manifestation also felt strange, but not as incomprehensible as Liu Zhangming.
If Severing Manifestation was merely dangerous, Liu Zhangming possessed something that instilled fear even in him, a being who had lived for hundreds of years.
It was a feeling akin to a beast pretending to be human, and it made the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon extremely uncomfortable.
*But if I leave this one alone, Munjeong and Ouyang Jue will be a nuisance.*
Ouyang Jue’s sword, in particular, was easily cutting through his demonic energy.
And what of the gauntlets he wore?
He hadn’t had time to look closely, but they were clearly no ordinary divine items.
Since when had the martial world become so full of fortuitous encounters? And why now, of all times?
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon ground his teeth, wondering who could have possibly swapped the message.
*I will tear that bastard to shreds!*
*Grind.*
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon scowled as he watched the Buddha's Shadow Gate formation gradually closing in.
If this dragged on any longer, he would surely die a dog’s death.
Sensing the danger, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon decided to escape Shaolin Temple.
It was a task given by King Yama, but with the plan having gone so completely awry, there was nothing he could do.
“Hmph, you bastards.”
Suppressing his rage, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon unleashed his demonic energy in a single burst.
“……?!”
Sensing something was wrong, Ouyang Jue and Liu Zhangming unleashed their ultimate techniques, but…
*Boom!*
Watching the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon use the Heavenly Ascent to flee, Ouyang Jue couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
“To think one of the Eight Evils would reveal his identity and then run away.”
He seemed to be a different breed of demon from the Black Dragon in many ways.
However, the advantages to be gained from this turn of events were now significantly greater.
Ouyang Jue looked at the crestfallen Great Monk Munjeong and spoke.
“Abbot, isn’t it time we discussed something other than a friendly spar?”
At his words, the eyes of the radical faction monks forming the Buddha's Shadow Gate lit up.
Just then, Cheol Pung-gae arrived at the mountain gate with welcome news.
The bodies of the high monks, said to have achieved ascension, had been found in Great Monk Musong’s hideout.
As a last resort, Great Monk Munjeong tried to use his authority to brand Cheol Pung-gae a liar, but an uninvited guest followed right behind him.
“Abbot, are you intending to slander the Beggars' Sect as liars?”
The Beggars' Sect Leader, Cheon Wa-gae.
He cast an amused glance at Ouyang Jue.
***
“...Damn it, I’m a mess.”
Having shed his monk’s robes for a set of hidden clothes, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon let out a deep sigh.
Not only had he lost the influence he had built over a century, but he had also exposed the existence of the Eight Evils to the entire martial world.
If he returned like this, he would surely face severe restrictions from not only King Yama, but also from Asura.
He might even be excluded when the Eight Evils finally made their move.
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon considered the worst-case scenario as he descended Mount Song.
“Where are you going?”
“……?”
Just then, the Demonic Doctor appeared from between the trees.
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s face hardened.
“Were you watching me?”
“Of course not. I just happened to be passing by.”
As always, the Demonic Doctor's expression was so devoid of emotion that it was impossible to read.
After a moment of suspicion, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon spoke frankly.
“Where are Asura and the Crow now?”
“They have set up a separate base in Huguang Province.”
The Demonic Doctor then stared at him intently, causing the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s face to contort.
*Damn him.*
Since the truth would come out anyway, what was the point in hiding it?
As the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon recounted everything that had just happened, a rare smile graced the Demonic Doctor’s lips.
He seemed particularly interested in Liu Zhangming.
“What was the level of his martial arts?”
“Quite high, even among the peak masters. His internal energy and constitution are still weak, but in terms of enlightenment alone, he could be compared to an elder of the Nine Great Sects.”
“…Is that so.”
Seeing the Demonic Doctor trail off, the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon immediately pressed him.
“You seem to know something about Liu Zhangming, don’t you?”
“Not particularly. I merely watch what he does as a hobby.”
“He isn’t a spy you planted in the Mount Hua Sect?”
At that, the Demonic Doctor shook his head.
“Heavens, no. If I had such an ability, I wouldn’t have joined the Eight Evils.”
“You’re an honest one.”
“Most people say that’s what they like about me.”
After a brief silence, the Demonic Doctor asked candidly.
“By the way, why did you ask about Asura and the Crow?”
“I’ve lost my power base, so what choice do I have? I’ll have to rely on them and wait until all my restrictions are lifted.”
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon repeatedly struck his mask with his fist, as if he wanted to shatter it that very moment.
Yet, despite his skin swelling and his nose bleeding, the mask remained, making his appearance all the more grotesque.
“I don’t know who swapped the message, but because of them, the grand plan is completely ruined.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“If only the Black Dragon were here, we could have conquered Shaolin with his body alone.”
The Demonic Doctor gave a simple nod at his words.
The restriction on the Black Dragon’s mask was the loss of his own body, so unlike the other Eight Evils, he didn’t lose his power.
If the Black Dragon had been there, he could have easily suppressed Shaolin Temple even if the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon’s identity had been revealed.
The Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon expressed his great regret as he added.
“Who knew that Omniscient One was so strong? Who would have thought the great Black Dragon would lose to a mere sorcerer?”
“…Indeed.”
The Demonic Doctor smiled enigmatically.
***
The events at Shaolin Temple were resolved in less than a day.
Most impactful of all was the personal arrival of the Beggars' Sect Leader, Cheon Wa-gae.
*He said he had to come himself to make effective use of the information Cheol Pung-gae brought.*
Ouyang Jue tried to discern Cheon Wa-gae’s true intentions for telling him this, but it was far from easy.
He was just a martial artist from the wanderer's path, while Cheon Wa-gae was a veteran who had dedicated all forty-four years of his life to the Beggars' Sect.
His abilities were just as outstanding.
*To think he would completely make a fool out of Shaolin Temple…*
*We will ensure that everything concerning Great Monk Musong is kept a secret history, so you will accept our terms.*
It was framed as a deal, but the content was nothing short of blackmail.
However, for Shaolin Temple, it was an absolutely unacceptable situation.
The previous Guardian Monk was actually a demon—it was obvious what kind of chaos would erupt in the martial world if that truth were to spread.
In the midst of this, the Mount Hua Sect was also able to put Shaolin Temple in its debt, killing two birds with one stone. No, it was even better than that.
*It seems Shaolin also viewed the Eight Evils as just another group of demonic practitioners.*
That meant the Heavenly Escape was not connected to Shaolin.
Still, he had learned for certain this time that Shaolin’s ultimate arts, like the Buddha's Shadow Gate, were effective against the Eight Evils.
*That must be why the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon tried to infiltrate Shaolin, to either destroy them or make them his servants.*
Ouyang Jue briefly recalled Cheon Wa-gae’s words.
The high monks had been completely shriveled up, as if they had been subjected to the legendary Star-Absorbing Great Art.
Since he was a demon, he couldn’t be judged by human standards. He must have used some kind of energy absorption art to suck out only their fire energy.
As he was organizing his thoughts, Liu Zhangming spoke to him.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I’ll report to the Sect Leader, then I plan to look around a few other places.”
To be precise, he planned to discuss this matter with the Omniscient One, but Ouyang Jue swallowed the latter half of his sentence.
“…Hmm.”
Liu Zhangming frowned for a moment before making a suggestion.
“Could Hun and I come along with you?”
“Pardon?”
“Every time you go out, you come back stronger. I’d like to travel with you for once and see for myself.”
At those words, Ouyang Jue thought of the Forgetting Sword back at the Sword Immortal’s Cave and readily nodded his head.