Hustling and stumbling along. Barely managing to set foot after foot. Everyone will just have to make do with what’s shown. More will follow tomorrow! Connect quickly!
Master Wuguo fled, wounded, transforming into a streak of golden Buddhist light, heading toward Mount Song.
He had never intended to play any significant role in the conflict between the Zhou and Tang dynasties. As a Zen Buddhist, devoted to purity and non-action, he had only intervened because someone had asked him to.
But this time, he returned utterly defeated. Even with his steadfast Zen heart, he was steeped in bitterness and sorrow.
First, his disciple was killed, and then he lost Mount Song. The ancient, long-treasured Purple Gold Alms Bowl was ultimately lost, despite him fully unleashing the One Hundred and Eight Mad Demon Techniques and divine powers. Worse, he was severely injured, leaving him disheartened.
“Senior Brother was right; the waves behind push the waves ahead.”
Master Wuguo shook his head and coughed lightly. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Feng Zikang’s strength far exceeded his expectations. Whether from hearsay or from the Master’s own explanations, this young disciple from Mount Longhu’s Military School, though possessing astonishing talent equal to the foremost General Lu of the past, was ultimately a junior. There was no way he should be placed in the same league as them.
But his cultivation level had vastly surpassed Master Wuguo’s predictions; at such a young age, he had already broken through the Core Condensation Stage.
Even that might have been acceptable, but the most terrifying thing was that this young man could actually withstand the One Hundred and Eight Mad Demon Techniques and divine powers! Master Wuguo knew clearly that this Mad Demon Technique was a great divine power used by the Buddha to subdue demons, possessing infinite might. It harmed the user first before harming the enemy; even someone with a higher cultivation level might not withstand it.
Yet this young man, with only the cultivation of an initial Core Condensation Stage, managed to endure that barrage of attacks!
Especially the final eight strikes!
Thinking of those last eight techniques, Master Wuguo’s expression shifted slightly, then softened into a smile.
“I never expected Feng Zikang to have such a fortunate encounter, actually obtaining my Buddha’s Undying Golden Body divine power.”
If the Divine Dragon and Golden Phoenix earlier had only surprised him, Feng Zikang’s defense against the last eight strikes was utterly beyond his expectation.
With every strike, the man’s physical body should have been shattered, yet immediately afterward, a golden light would flash, and he would be restored as before. Before the residual power had even faded, he could be smashed again, only to recover again. This repeated more than ten times.
When that golden light flickered, Master Wuguo sensed a faint trace of Buddhahood. Seeing this miraculous sight, his heart constricted, and he mistook Feng Zikang’s demonic body forging for the Buddha’s Undying Golden Body divine power!
After all, the Undying Golden Body divine power was only heard of; no one had ever truly witnessed it.
Master Wuguo simply accepted it as fact. Who knew that the golden light was merely a feint employed by Feng Zikang? He knew that directly demonstrating the forging of the demonic body would be too shocking; he thus used the Golden Net Indestructible divine ability. Although that was shattered by one mighty blow, every time it was broken and reformed, a golden light would shine, making it look as if a Buddhist divine power was restoring his body.
It was unimaginable to Master Wuguo that he would mistake it for the Undying Golden Body, one of the highest divine powers in Buddhism.
“To master the Undying Golden Body divine power at such a young age—could it be that, as ancient scriptures suggest, an emissary of the Buddha walks the earth? This is a matter of utmost importance; I must hurry to report this to Senior Martial Uncle Yuanyuan.”
The misunderstanding having taken root, Master Wuguo was both alarmed and delighted. He planned to return to Mount Song to recuperate, and once he had recovered slightly, he would find a way to report this matter to Master Yuanyuan for a final decision.
While walking and contemplating this, his heart suddenly gave a jolt. He looked up and saw that ahead, a baleful aura of blood-lust was soaring to the heavens, and a sense of malice pressed in on him.
“Who goes there?”
Master Wuguo shouted, “In broad daylight, daring to stir up such blood-lust—are you not afraid of heavenly retribution?”
The blood-lust aura was exceedingly dense; who knew how many lives had been taken to accumulate such potent strength? Master Wuguo dared not treat it lightly. He recited true mantras, forcibly suppressing his injuries, and stood ready for battle.
“Hahahaha!”
From within the blood-lust ahead, someone let out a cackling laugh, and a figure bathed in crimson emerged.
“Master Wuguo, still putting on airs when death is at your door? Truly, the eminent monks of Buddhism are now a thing of the past, aren't they?”
Master Wuguo’s face changed slightly. This blood-lust was not an accidental encounter but something deliberately waiting for him?
“Benefactor, who are you? Why do you block the path of this old monk?”
He roared, his cassock swirling, and golden light surged around him, guarding his body.
The figure laughed broadly, “Master, you need not trouble yourself with my identity. Just know that I am the one who wants your life!” He coldly scanned Master Wuguo’s protective golden light and sneered, “I have long heard that Master Wuguo’s protective Buddha Light is formidable; seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation. Unfortunately, you are severely wounded—how can you possibly withstand my Blood God Great Law!”
“Blood God Great Law?”
Master Wuguo’s brow furrowed tightly, and his face instantly turned pale.
This extremely evil divine power was a wicked art cultivated by a great demon in the borderlands. This person’s cultivation was exceptionally high; seniority-wise, he should be of the same generation as Master Yuanyuan.
Even if this person had never broken through to the Soul Transformation Stage, he was still an old monster of the Nascent Soul Stage!
If this person were here, today would certainly mean disaster! But Master Wuguo scanned the sky full of blood-lust and felt the imposing power was far from sufficient, which slightly calmed his heart.
“How does the Benefactor refer to the Blood God Elder of the borderlands?”
This person must be a disciple or successor of the Blood God Elder. If so, Master Wuguo need not fear him so much.
“Hah!”
The crimson figure let out a cold laugh, “Master is indeed knowledgeable. I did not expect you to even know my master’s name…”
“The Blood God Elder’s notorious reputation precedes him. Though I don’t know him well, I am aware of his past wager with my Senior Martial Uncle Yuanyuan.” Master Wuguo pressed his palms together and nodded calmly.
The crimson figure shuddered visibly, clearly enraged to the extreme!
The Blood God Elder had once engaged in a wager with Master Yuanyuan and returned in crushing defeat, after which he retreated to the borderlands, never setting foot in the Central Plains again.
This was the Blood God Elder’s lifelong humiliation. As his disciple, this crimson figure was naturally aware of it, making him even angrier, “Hmph, that old bald donkey Yuanyuan only succeeded through trickery. If it had been a true fight, who would have fallen remains uncertain!”
Master Yuanyuan was a High Immortal of the Primordial Spirit Stage. No matter how arrogant the Blood God Elder was, he couldn't claim that with his Nascent Soul cultivation, he could have surely won. Even the phrase “who would have fallen” was an arrogant boast.
Master Wuguo smiled faintly, naturally not dwelling on such matters.
“Then may I ask the Benefactor’s noble name?”
The crimson figure roared with laughter, “Old monk, are you senile? I am here to kill you now; when would I have time for introductions? Take this!”
He shouted in anger, his body shaking, and the vast blood-lust rushed viciously toward Master Wuguo!
The golden light around Master Wuguo dimmed, actually being corroded by the blood-lust. He was greatly alarmed, retreating repeatedly.
This blood-lust actually possessed an inherent ability to restrain Buddhist divine powers. At this moment, Master Wuguo was already severely wounded, unable to resist. He was swept up by the blood-lust, lost his footing, and stumbled backward. In an instant, the flesh and blood on his body were corroded, revealing gleaming white bones.
“Ah! Yie!”
Master Wuguo retreated rapidly. In a moment of confusion, he stumbled off a cliff and plummeted down!