Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Ridiculously Strong
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This demon had been chanted Buddha scriptures at by the monks of the Great National Protection Temple every day, until it was driven dumb!
The old beggar flew into a rage. He dodged the Golden Body Buddha's attack in a flash and shouted,
"You were originally a demon. Why chant Buddha scriptures? Why ascend to bliss?"
His bamboo staff whipped out. The bamboo staff suddenly transformed into a green dragon that shuttled through the air, locking around the thick leg that the Golden Body Buddha was stomping down with.
The old beggar yanked hard, and that enormous Golden Body Buddha actually staggered.
The Golden Body Buddha immediately steadied itself and smashed a fist over. Behind the old beggar, his Wei'e primordial spirit emerged, roughly as tall and massive as the Golden Body Buddha. It raised a hand to meet the blow.
The old beggar retreated a step at the same time. The instant his body made contact with his primordial spirit, his fleshly body surged explosively. In the next moment, his frame had grown to match the size of his primordial spirit, his muscles grotesque and bulging.
The primordial spirit was forged from divine power, while the fleshly body was made of blood and meat. The moment the two fused, the fleshly body actually began transforming toward the divine power body of the primordial spirit, containing inconceivable mysteries.
The Great Prosperity Zen Temple shuddered faintly. Then, one palace after another shattered into pieces. A scorching hurricane swept in all directions, and those mushroom giants that the monks had turned into evaporated completely in the terrifying gale.
Blood trickled from the corner of the old beggar's mouth, his face flushed red.
He had taken Granny Sha's strike to his primordial spirit and endured two charges from Azure Goat, yet remained unscathed. Though Granny Sha and Azure Goat had no intent to kill, they hadn't held back either. The fact that he wasn't injured showed just how formidable his cultivation was.
Yet, after merely clashing once with this demon seed in the form of the Golden Body Buddha, he was wounded!
This demon seed was ridiculously strong!
The old beggar grunted. The Golden Body Buddha moved with astonishing agility, whipping a leg around in a sweep that was like Gonggong crashing headfirst into Mount Buzhou, carrying an immense sense of oppression as it assaulted him!
The bamboo staff in the old beggar's hand fully transformed into a green dragon that coiled around his body. He mobilized his divine power and met the strike head-on.
Granny Sha watched from the foot of the mountain, accompanied by a goat and a fox, observing from afar. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help being startled.
"This stinking beggar is so strong. Has he severed the three corpses? He can actually fight the demon seed head-on."
Granny Sha said in shock,
"He's probably already at the Refining God Realm, a higher realm than ours!"
Severing the three corpses was also called expelling the yin spirit. Once achieved, the primordial spirit became purely yang, known as a yang spirit. Even traveling in thunderous storms posed no risk of being struck by lightning.
Azure Goat was also peering over and said, "That demon seed's body is made from Bitter Bamboo's golden body. Without a golden body at the Great Vehicle Realm, the stinking beggar definitely can't win. Surviving one or two moves and not being beaten to death is already impressive."
The Golden Body Buddha's fleshly body was too strong, and its path was one of close-quarters combat techniques. With each fist and leg, it inflicted continuous wounds on the old beggar!
The fox transformed into a bearded giant and tossed the broken bowl in his hand into the air. "This broken bowl needs to be returned to him, lest he gets beaten to death."
He had been the one to take the broken bowl earlier, coveting its power. But seeing the old beggar wouldn't last much longer, he immediately returned it.
With his suppression lifted, the broken bowl flew straight toward the old beggar.
The old beggar spat blood and was forced to retreat repeatedly. Suddenly sensing his broken bowl, he was overjoyed and hurriedly summoned it back.
The broken bowl flew over, spinning as it pressed down on the Golden Body Buddha. It grew larger and larger until in an instant it dwarfed the mountain peak where the Great Prosperity Zen Temple stood by many times. The bowl truly seemed to contain an entire sea.
Simply pressing down on the mushroom head of the Golden Body Buddha nearly forced it to its knees.
Golden light surged from the top of the Golden Body Buddha's head, pushing the broken bowl upward. A halo of golden light formed behind its head, its aura exploding outward. It threw a punch, and with a crack, a corner of the broken bowl broke off!
The old beggar felt heartbroken.
Granny Sha, Azure Goat, and the bearded giant all looked grave.
Bitter Bamboo Zen Master had been schemed against by Little Ten and rashly burrowed into Little Ten's brow. He deserved death for that. But the headless corpse he left behind had become the seed, nurturing an extraordinary demon.
Granny Sha said, "Bitter Bamboo was a Great Vehicle Realm existence, one of the strongest cultivators of this era, and he cultivated a golden body.
With his golden body as the demon seed, who could possibly defeat it?"
Azure Goat said, "This demon seed is still growing. Its demon domain will demonize all things in heaven and earth that it envelops, strengthening the demonic path.
Once the area of a hundred li is fully demonized, it can grow into a true demon god! The longer we delay, old lady, the harder it will be to deal with."
Once it becomes a demon god, no matter how many scattered cultivators come, it won't be enough for it to kill.
The bearded giant said,
"If it becomes a demon god, only the gaze of a true god from beyond the heavens can erase it.
Back then, the monks of华夏 Divine Continent carried the golden body Bodhisattva across the oceans to West Ox New Continent, using the golden body Bodhisattva's power to refine demons and suppress those demons beneath the Great National Protection Temple.
After years of Buddhist salvation, the demons are far weaker than before. To become a demon now, it must demonize worldly beings and absorb the demonic path of the world.
Ordinary demons, the old beggar could handle with his strength. But Bitter Bamboo suppressed this demon in his own golden body. When Bitter Bamboo died, the golden body became part of the demon, immeasurably boosting its power and making the old beggar no match!"
Granny Sha's eyes flickered as she said, "If the other scattered cultivators in the city see this, will they make a move? If they do, they won't have time to target Little Ten."
Azure Goat sighed.
Back then, Chen Yindu had brought Chen Shi to visit them, asking them to become Chen Shi's godmothers. They feared the trouble, and more so that Chen Shi might lose control and backlash against them, so they all refused.
Who would have thought that without becoming godmothers, they'd end up doing even more than godmothers would.
"When can I return to Xinduo and continue being my rich man?" the bearded giant murmured.
"I miss the days when I was an evil spirit in the mountains," Azure Goat said.
In Gongzhou City, at the Baixiang Pavilion teahouse, the shop assistants and owner had long turned to stone. But surprisingly, someone was still drinking tea on the top floor. Low pipa strings drifted from the pavilion, light and cheerful.
Lady Hua Li's pipa floated in the air, playing on its own, each note pleasing to the ear.
Ding Ding brewed the tea and carried the stone teapot forward. He first poured for the man in青衣 opposite Lady Hua Li, then for her.
The man in青衣 lightly tapped the table in rhythm with the pipa, gazing out the window. He had a perfect view of the situation at Great Prosperity Zen Temple, taking in the entire battle between the old beggar and the Golden Body Buddha.
"The beggar is about to take a loss."
The man in青衣 smiled. His temples were streaked with white amid the black hair. He said to Lady Hua Li,
"The beggar is indeed formidable. Bitter Bamboo's fleshly body is so mighty, yet he can still clash head-on with it. Impressive.
His realm has advanced even further than ten years ago. He's already at the Refining God Realm.
Madam, you're no slouch either. Your mastery of music theory has improved greatly."
Lady Hua Li smiled. "Thank you for your guidance, Music Master."
The blue-clothed music master shook his head. "You have the talent; this path was meant for you. I merely helped you avoid some detours."
His eyes flickered as he said, "The Five Lakes Scattered Person died, but the Five Lakes Scattered Person succeeded.
The dead can truly resurrect."
Seeing his expression, Lady Hua Li smiled. "If you're interested in the Water-Fire Tempering Art, sir, I can obtain it for you."
The blue-clothed music master said, "I am interested in the Water-Fire Tempering Art, but what intrigues me more is that someone truly died eight years ago and came back to life."
Ding Ding knew he was referring to Chen Shi and couldn't help feeling tense.
Lady Hua Li smiled and said, "This demon poses a greater threat. If it gains momentum, with Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's golden body, it could sweep everything away.
Shouldn't you deal with this demon first, sir?"
The blue-clothed music master said, "I'm not interested in it."
Lady Hua Li sipped her tea.
Scattered persons often acted on whims. Some things, even if right, they wouldn't do without interest, no matter the benefits.
Other things might be wrong, invite infamy, but if interest struck, they'd dive in eagerly, heedless even if the world ended.
That was the way of scattered persons.
The blue-clothed music master suddenly looked into the distance, narrowing his eyes. "A few old acquaintances have arrived as well.
Are they watching this battle, or watching the living corpse-disassembled immortal?"
Lady Hua Li looked that way but saw nothing unusual, nor sensed any abnormal auras. Her heart chilled. "The Music Master's cultivation is still far above mine."
No sooner had she thought this than a dust-covered carriage passed below the building. A handsome man sat inside. Seeming to sense their gazes, he looked up toward them.
Young Master Xiao? He's here too.
He must have rushed here from outside the city. This is clearly demon domain, yet he dares enter. Quite bold.
Lady Hua Li was slightly stunned, sighing inwardly. She said softly,
"There are no Zhu surnames in the world today."
The blue-clothed music master watched Young Master Xiao and said, "Even if there were, who would dare claim it? Suicidal? Nothing but hiding one's name."
The carriage passed by. Young Master Xiao didn't come upstairs but went to an inn. The assistants and owner there had also turned to stone, and everyone in the shop had become stone. No one minded the store.
Young Master Xiao went to the front desk, took out a money pouch, picked out a piece of broken silver, and placed it on the counter. "Owner, one upper room, three days."
He took out another piece of broken silver and tossed it into the stone assistant's lap. "Put my carriage in the back yard. My horse needs plenty of fodder, an extra meal at night. Can't let it go hungry."
He went to the upstairs room, set down his luggage, pushed open the window, and looked out—just in time to see the battle at Great Prosperity Zen Temple.
He watched quietly, saying nothing.
These past days, he'd been hunted by Jin Hongying. First he fled to Lingnan, then to Xijing. Finally shaking her off, he heard of the Gongzhou demon domain outbreak and proactively entered, enjoying the peace.
"There are many familiar faces in the city."
He murmured to himself.
Rustling footsteps came from around the inn. On a nearby rooftop, a freak appeared, squatting on the ridge like a giant monkey. Its two ears rapidly enlarged, flapping like sails, directed toward Young Master Xiao's room, listening intently.
In other directions, another six or seven Heavenly Listeners were also listening in on the room.
Young Master Xiao was long accustomed to this. His gaze merely flicked over before withdrawing.
Since childhood, he'd had many Heavenly Listeners around him, eavesdropping on his words.
From then on, he'd become taciturn, only chatty when he'd shaken them off.
Chen Shi and the others returned to Red Mountain Hall. Red Mountain Lady hurriedly brought a water basin. Chen Shi took a bit of Blackie Pot's blood and drew a Taotie Devouring Heaven talisman on the back of the basin. He fetched another basin of water and placed the Min River Granny inside to recuperate.
The black carp dragon swam in the small water basin, but an old woman with a cane rose slowly from its head. She landed and thanked Chen Shi. "Many thanks for the rescue, young brother. Otherwise, this old one would have ended up in someone's belly."
Chen Shi was about to speak when Red Mountain Lady whispered, "Scholar, are you planning to eat her?"
Chen Shi shook his head.
Red Mountain Lady sighed regretfully.
"Any past offenses, forgive me, Lady."
The old woman hurriedly apologized to the red-clothed girl.
Red Mountain Lady was straightforward and laughed. "You teamed up with others to hit me before, but I don't hold grudges—because I hit you too."
She cast aside old hatreds, squatting by the basin to tease the Min River Granny's true form.
Chen Shi said, "It was just righting a wrong on the road. No need to take it to heart, Granny."
Min River Granny said, "Where's Hall Master Cao? Did he escape?"
Chen Shi shook his head.
Min River Granny sat on a stone bench in the corridor, lost in a daze. Suddenly, tears fell as she said, "When he was little, he often played in the river—swimming, diving, catching fish.
He nearly drowned several times. I lifted him up and sent him to shore, watching his parents take him home.
Later, his parents brought him back, scattering food in the river, kowtowing, burning incense, asking him to take me as godmother.
I didn't like that food.
Like an elderly person, she rambled on about the past:
"...I watched him grow up slowly. He passed the scholar exam and was thrilled, telling me by the river that he'd placed first in the county. But a big official's son also took the exam, bumping him down.
I was happy for him too.
Later he married, bringing his wife to the river to meet me. I didn't like her, but if he did, that was fine.
Later he placed in the provincial exam, even happier. But gradually, the smile faded from his face.
He waited years, but the court never appointed him. That year, the floods killed many. He decided to form the Ca Lao Society and go to the provincial capital.
I told him, we're from the waters, not the city."
Here, her tears fell like rain.
"He wouldn't listen, insisting on going. Said a real man must forge his own career..."
Red Mountain Lady squatted beside her, consoling softly and patting her back.
Chen Shi said to Li Tianqing, "Tianqing, after we place in the provincial exam, will we also be sidelined for years?"
Li Tianqing said helplessly, "Do you think there'll even be an autumn provincial exam this year? Even if there is, your name's still on the wanted list."
The robust rabbit Yu Tiancheng came to Chen Shi's side and asked, "Scholar, could Red Mountain Lady's true form also be stored in the vessel?"
He paused, then said, "I just feel it's not safe leaving her here."
Chen Shi's eyes lit up. "Worth a try."
Yu Tiancheng immediately fetched another water basin. Chen Shi took more of Blackie Pot's blood and drew the talisman on the back.
Red Mountain Lady's true form was a blood agarwood, a mountain of flesh.
Chen Shi held up the water basin, circulating his qi and blood to activate the talisman. The water hovered in the air above the blood agarwood. The talisman on the back blazed with light, shining down on the blood agarwood. It shrank smaller and smaller until it fit beneath the water basin.
Chen Shi flipped the basin over. The blood agarwood lay quietly inside.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Suddenly, Yu Tiancheng said, "Scholar, talismans and spells have never been separate. A talisman is just a spell.
You understand talismans like this, so can you cast them as spells?"
Chen Shi was stunned. An entirely unimagined path exploded open in his mind, unfolding before him.
End of Chapter.