Buddhist light shone everywhere, golden radiance permeated the air.
In the Buddhist light, peace, harmony, and contentment filled the hearts of all present.
Except for the giant corpse!
It discovered its connection to the Netherworld had been severed. The Buddhist light isolated the link between the yang world and Netherworld near the Yin-Yang path.
“This old monk courts death!”
The giant corpse suppressed the palpitations in its heart. Its form rose another three chi. Its massive hand swung up, slapping towards the old monk’s head.
The giant corpse’s hideous hand was like a door, its momentum like a mountain, whipping up howling winds. The old monk before it appeared frail, swaying unsteadily in the gusts from its giant hand alone, as if about to be smashed into a meat patty by that single palm.
However…
“Amitabha!”
The old monk proclaimed the Buddha’s name. His pressed palms gently parted. His left hand remained in salute, while his right slowly extended forward.
An unremarkable Buddhist light great hand emerged from his right palm. It grew with the wind, expanding larger and larger. In breaths, it became over a zhang in size, colliding squarely with the giant corpse’s hand.
“Boom!”
A tremendous crash resounded. The Buddhist palm backhanded the giant corpse into the ground.
Then, in a flash, the Buddhist palm transformed into a golden banner, trapping the giant corpse within. The banner emitted waves of Buddhist light from top to bottom, eroding the giant corpse’s corpse qi with that light.
“Aaah!” The giant corpse roared in fury, attempting to burst out of the golden banner. It struck ripples across the banner but could not affect its overall structure.
Moreover, the golden banner isolated most sounds and sights. Everyone could only hear the faint howls of the giant corpse within and the intense ripples on the banner’s surface, but they could not see the details inside.
Then, the old monk’s hand seals changed. The golden banner began to slowly contract from several zhang in size.
Two zhang… one zhang…
Five chi… three chi…
Finally, it shrank to half a chi tall, resembling a real golden banner ornament, returning to the old monk’s right hand. Within the golden surface, a black shadow still rushed left and right.
“Amitabha!”
…
Lu Zheng could not help swallowing. Damn, this giant corpse with at least a thousand years of dao was subdued in one move by this old monk?
Just how strong was this old monk? No wonder he could never see through him.
“Thank you, Master!”
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying flew down together, coming before the old monk and saluting in unison.
Yue Honghai also realised the fear and quietly positioned himself behind Lu Zheng.
On the other side, seeing the battle ended, Liu Qingyan stopped with the three women, then hurried back towards them.
Xin Zhanting directed his yin soldiers to clean up the battlefield, then joined the group himself.
“Thank you, Master, for lending aid. Otherwise, if this giant corpse had caused havoc, the entire Tonglin County would likely have suffered disaster.”
“No, no!”
The old monk finally spoke. A smile appeared on his wrinkled face. “Peach Blossom Fairy’s trapping array is unrivalled under heaven. This young master’s dao is profound, his attacks extraordinary. No matter how capable this giant corpse, it could never have stepped beyond the city god temple.
Even if the giant corpse escaped this time, as long as you all prepare properly, if it dares return next time, it is destined not to escape. This poor monk merely happened to be present and lent a hand.”
Lu Zheng hurriedly returned the salute. “The Master overpraises. Lu Zheng is unworthy!”
“Baiyun Temple’s Lu Zheng greets the Master!”
“Peach Blossom Shen Ying greets the Master!”
“East Sea’s Yue Honghai greets the Master!”
Then Liu Qingyan also brought Du Yueyao and the three women forward to salute and express thanks.
The old monk smiled and returned the salutes. “Amitabha! This poor monk is Dejie of Fahua Temple. Greetings to the benefactors.”
Fahua Temple!
Located outside the central capital, it stood alongside Chixiao Temple as one Buddhist and one Daoist, absolutely one of the foremost in Buddhism.
No wonder he was so powerful: a senior eminent monk from Fahua Temple.
Lu Zheng had never visited Fahua Temple and did not know the current abbot’s dharma name. Otherwise, hearing the “De” generation would have revealed the old monk’s terrifying status.
“Sister! Brother-in-law!”
“You are alright!”
Old Liu appeared at the city god temple gate with Liu Qingquan and Ao Qian. The two little girls had finished their lessons and come out to play, happening upon the great battle at the city god temple. Boldly wanting to watch the excitement, they were caught by Old Liu, who had come to scout news. They hid aside until the battle ended, only then revealing themselves.
“This master is so powerful!”
“Much stronger than that Guangyue monk!”
“Eh?”
Seeing Ao Qian, Zen Master Dejie could not help a soft exclamation. His eyes flickered, sensing the surroundings. A smile appeared.
He gently shifted aside, bowing slightly in salute towards a certain direction, then smiled at Liu Qingquan. “This old monk may have cultivated a few years more than that Guangyue monk. Just as your sister is stronger than you, right?”
Liu Qingquan’s eyes rolled. “That is not something a few years of cultivation can catch up to. I am not a child anymore. I am not foolish!”
“This battle relied greatly on the Master’s aid. It is now the you hour. Please, Master, come with us. This junior will prepare a vegetarian feast.” Lu Zheng said.
Zen Master Dejie nodded, then shook his head. “More fellow daoists have arrived.”
“Amitabha!”
Three proclamations of the Buddha’s name rang out. Three young monks appeared in the city god temple.
“Vitu (Shang Kun, Hongjue) of Daliuli Temple (Dalong Temple, Luosha Temple) greets the Master!”
“Amitabha!”
Another three proclamations. Three older monks appeared together.
“Huinan (Wuxin, Zong’ai) of Daliuli Temple (Dalong Temple, Luosha Temple) greets the Master!”
Good heavens, was this a grand Buddhist gathering?
In the years Lu Zheng had been here, he had never seen so many monks gathered.
“Just outside Tonglin County, we saw the Master’s Buddhist light illuminating all, subduing demons. We did not wish to disturb. Please forgive us.”
The eldest-appearing Huinan from Daliuli Temple said. “Master Dejie’s mana is boundless. It has greatly opened our eyes.”
Zen Master Dejie pressed palms in salute. “You have travelled far to the Central Plains. It must have been arduous.”
“Not arduous! The Central Plains abound in outstanding people and talents emerging in waves. It truly makes us envious!” Zong’ai from Luosha Temple looked at Lu Zheng with heated eyes.
He had previously hidden to protect Hongjue and seen Lu Zheng at Jiming Temple. At that time, he only sensed Lu Zheng was not weak, but had not realised that at such a young age, Lu Zheng possessed such profound cultivation. Moreover, as a Baiyun Temple disciple also practising thunder methods, his combat power was extraordinary.
Lu Zheng stepped forward, saluted. “Baiyun Temple’s Lu Zheng greets the Masters!”
“Greetings to Daoist Friend Lu!”
Though Lu Zheng’s generational rank was not high, he now possessed a thousand years of dao. Though far from matching Zen Master Dejie and still lagging behind Huinan and the others, he could fully uphold the face of Central Plains Daoism here.
Thus, Huinan and the others pressed palms together in unison, their etiquette impeccable.
However…
“Eh?”
Wuxin from Dalong Temple looked up, as if suddenly discovering something. His eyes fixed intently on Ao Qian in the crowd, his expression shaken.
“I did not notice before. Unexpectedly, there is actually a pure-blooded true dragon here?”
