Chapter 234

As the flames on the green lotus continued to burn, Li Zhuiyuan lost his previous calm and composure, and a look of pain gradually appeared on his face.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "I offered you a chance at destiny, but you didn't know how to cherish it. Those with great karma can easily achieve the ultimate path, but they are also prone to sudden calamities and early demise."

Li Zhuiyuan's body swayed, and his eyes showed confusion and bewilderment. Yet, as if by some inertia, the young man's voice remained firm, carrying the same mocking tone as before:

"Before, I simply didn't want to gamble my life on your compassion. Now, for you to say these things to me again, don't you find it utterly ridiculous?"

Pudu Zhenjun clasped his hands together, and the green lotus fire intensified.

Li Zhuiyuan let out a muffled groan, collapsing to his knees, his left hand clamped tightly over his face, his chest heaving.

This was an illusion, but Pudu Zhenjun's illusions were so convincing they could be mistaken for reality; every manifestation was an exact projection of the truth.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "You yourself still need to bury all traces here to conceal your presence from Him. How then could you possibly let me leave alive?"

Pudu Zhenjun chanted a Buddhist name: "Amitābha."

The green lotus bloomed, each petal intricately carved with complex Buddhist patterns, embodying profound truths.

Li Zhuiyuan braced himself against the ground with both hands, his body wracked with convulsions. Wisps of black energy emanated from him, and his body gradually began to appear as a double image, as if something were about to separate from him.

Despite the young man's immense pain, he stubbornly continued to speak:

"You're so skilled at this process, have you encountered the same thing before?"

Pudu Zhenjun closed his eyes and recited scriptures.

The green lotus petals first detached from the main body, then revolved around it, scattering sparks.

"Ah..."

Li Zhuiyuan wailed, clutching the hard black stones on the ground with both hands, his body trembling violently. Another figure, almost identical to him, was trying to separate from his body.

However, no matter how hard this figure struggled, it could not break free, always falling just short.

Pudu Zhenjun opened his eyes and said, "A person of great fortitude."

A person of great fortitude can transcend the seven emotions and six desires, endure worldly calamities, and possess a pure, clear mind. What others seek as their life's ultimate goal is merely his starting point, making it easier for him to grasp the true essence of the world.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "If not for your deep-seated obsession, I might have taken you as an emissary in the world. Even if you couldn't truly enter Buddhism, you could still propagate the Dharma."

Li Zhuiyuan suddenly lifted his head, his face streaming with cold sweat. The distortion and struggle in his expression were real and nuanced, utterly devoid of any pretense.

The young man laboriously raised a hand, pointing at the scattered green lotus:

"How dare you say such a thing? I just asked you if you had also been through this ordeal. Now it seems this green lotus is perhaps your true form, and you yourself are the heart demon split off in this manner by that supreme being?"

The black earth beneath their feet began to tremble, and the wailing of ghosts in the distance grew more intense. One could even see specters flying across the sky.

This was Pudu Zhenjun's illusionary domain, and the changes in his state of mind directly affected the environment.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "So this is your Buddhist 'severing the old self'?"

"I committed these dirty deeds, but not through my clone; it was my heart demon acting wantonly outside. I'm also looking for my heart demon, but it's hiding from me. As soon as I discover its existence, I will certainly eliminate it. This is my tribulation, and I am enduring it. Once I pass it, I will still be myself, a better version of myself, having shed old shackles."

Even Li Zhuiyuan had to marvel at the profound subtlety of this method; it was like getting countless uses out of one fish.

What's more, the most interesting part was that Pudu Zhenjun before him and the true Bodhisattva were not enemies; they had an unspoken understanding. They had truly cultivated Buddhism to an inconceivable degree, able to convert even their own heart demons and use them for their own ends.

Pudu Zhenjun, seeing the young man, though tottering, still maintaining his final resilience, couldn't help but sigh and point his finger at the young man.

"Crack..."

A lotus petal flew towards the young man, entering directly into his glabella.

The figure that had been constantly swaying on the young man instantly solidified and began to break free outwards.

Soon, it emerged, but as it was only halfway out, the young man reached out and firmly grasped it.

"You... get back here!"

The situation worsened, but a new stalemate emerged once more.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "Yin and Yang cycle, a principle of nature. One cannot force it, nor should one interfere."

The Zhenjun pointed at the young man again, and another lotus petal flew out, entering his chest.

The separated figure further detached. The young man still clutched it, but this time, it was no longer a one-sided restraint, but an evenly matched tug-of-war.

Pudu Zhenjun frowned slightly. He was genuinely starting to regret this now. Ordinarily, those with resolute minds would awaken their heart demons upon seeing the green lotus. But this young man, not only caused the green lotus to ignite, but also received two lotus petals, yet still hadn't truly brought forth his heart demon. Even for someone of great fortitude, it shouldn't be this difficult.

If he had known the boy's character was this strong, he truly should have dealt with him differently. To destroy such a person would be an immense pity. However, the green lotus was already burning, two petals had already been absorbed, and the situation in the outside reality was not entirely secure; there was still a sliver of uncertainty. Therefore, within this illusion, he had to destroy this young man.

"Never mind, let's proceed as originally planned. I will completely bury this place, use its merits to cleanse my karma, then secretly travel the human world, reshape my fruit status, and finally seek out my main body to reunite."

Pudu Zhenjun pointed again, and another lotus petal flew out, entering the young man's body.

The separated entity greatly invigorated, not only ending the stalemate with the young man but also pressing him down, gaining control. The heart demon had emerged, and it had gained momentum.

Pudu Zhenjun was very satisfied.

However, this satisfaction did not last long. Although the heart demon had the upper hand, it failed to achieve the desired backlash. Instead, it formed a new kind of stalemate, still holding the advantage.

The green lotus originally had twelve petals. From its inception, one was deliberately removed, leaving it incomplete for its existence. Later, due to various unforeseen circumstances, three more were shed to avoid disaster, leaving eight. Today, three petals had entered this young man's mind, leaving only five in his hand. Granting one more petal would surely complete the heart demon's backlash, but this would mean he would only have four petals left.

A faint unease began to stir in Zhenjun's heart. His unique existence made him more sensitive to internal warnings. However, as the opponent was a 'River Walker' whose destiny was obscured and could not be divined, he could only attribute it to too many petals being shed, leading to an unstable Buddhist heart.

There was no other way. Sometimes, what drives you to continue investing is not the current reality, but the sunk cost you cannot accept.

The Zhenjun pointed again, and a fourth lotus petal flew out, entering the young man's body.

The next moment, the young man was completely pinned to the ground.

Next, the heart demon's backlash and assimilation should begin.

It had indeed begun.

However, this assimilation did not proceed as Zhenjun had intended. Instead, the heart demon, which he had nurtured and encouraged, voluntarily melted and completely merged into the young man's body.

Li Zhuiyuan, who had been lying on the ground, clapped his hands, stood up, and showed no trace of pain on his face.

The young man looked up at the green lotus in the sky, which now had only four petals remaining, and a look of regret appeared in his eyes. If possible, he would naturally hope to trick the remaining four petals over as well, but he couldn't treat the other party as a fool. In his previous estimation, four was already their limit, as they only had eight to begin with, and he had already taken half.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "You..."

In an instant, the black earth began to crack, and the sound of surging waves came from the distance, as if a river had overflowed its banks and was sweeping down.

Pudu Zhenjun looked up at the four-petaled green lotus in the air, then at the young man in front of him, and asked:

"Why?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Because I am, by nature, a heart demon."

Although the young man was skilled at acting, his previous pain was not entirely feigned. The other party intended to use the green lotus to strengthen his heart demon, but he himself was a heart demon. What just happened was akin to him constantly opening his mouth to swallow the tonic the other party willingly offered. Eating too much of this tonic at once caused uncomfortable bloating and difficult digestion. Fortunately, he eventually overcame it.

Now, Li Zhuiyuan felt his consciousness was exceptionally solid and his mind remarkably clear. The exact effects would require a detailed examination and comparison later. But for now, at least one thing was certain: in the future, he would no longer get nosebleeds from slight overthinking as he used to.

Pudu Zhenjun raised his hands, and the eerie hellish scene vanished, reverting to the previous serene rural landscape.

"How could you possibly be a heart demon? After a heart demon backlashes its host, can it leave behind such tenderness and beauty deep within the mind? Moreover, as a heart demon, how could it possibly cleanse its inner self so thoroughly, leaving no trace of weakness?"

Li Zhuiyuan said, "In most people's eyes, they wouldn't expect you to be that one either."

Pudu Zhenjun clasped his hands together again: "Boundless Buddhist Dharma, lotus return to place."

Four lotus petal imprints appeared on the young man's body, as if they were about to detach, and the energy he had previously absorbed seemed as if it was about to be re-extracted.

"How can something that has already been eaten be vomited out again?"

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, and karmic flames above him surged upwards, burning through the sky, then falling like meteors, scorching everything in the area into distortion.

The young man had no intention of continuing this power struggle with Zhenjun in the illusion. All he needed to do was break the illusion, and then the transaction would be over, with both parties settling their accounts.

"Boom!"

A loud crash echoed, and the illusion collapsed.

Both awoke simultaneously, but white light still enveloped them, preventing the outside world from perceiving them, and them from perceiving the outside world.

The young man's eyes were sharp; not only was he not tired, but his spirit had become even more refined. This sensation far surpassed waking after a full sleep, because the reservoir of his spirit had not only been expanded and enlarged but was also thoughtfully filled to the brim. This was the first time Li Zhuiyuan had ever felt more invigorated the more he fought during a crisis.

In contrast, Pudu Zhenjun remained in his original posture, holding a scroll and reciting Sun Baishen's transgressions. However, blood began to trickle from the corners of Zhenjun's eyes. After their exchange, there was no one-sided crushing defeat, nor mutual destruction, but rather a dynamic of mutual gain and loss.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "This is my tribulation."

Li Zhuiyuan retorted, "If you're blind, you're blind. Don't make excuses for yourself."

The karmic flames in the young man's hand continuously scorched the surrounding white light, but the white light seemed endless; Li Zhuiyuan burned as much as Zhenjun replenished. Even though he had escaped the illusion, the young man was still unable to break free from the Zhenjun, remaining constrained by him. The only change was that after the white light was consumed here, the elevated brightness within the hall dimmed considerably, returning to its previous dim, grayscale feel.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "After passing this tribulation, I will still be myself, and you will be nothing but ashes under the calamity."

Li Zhuiyuan deliberately closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, lotus petals swirled within both. When Li Zhuiyuan was small, a high lama from the Esoteric Sect had said that the boy was destined for Buddhism. If that lama were to see the young man now, he would probably exclaim on the spot that this was the reincarnation of a spiritual child.

Li Zhuiyuan was intentionally putting on a show for Pudu Zhenjun. Since he couldn't do anything else right now, he might as well tease him. In the past, Li Zhuiyuan wouldn't have had this interest or understood this kind of joy. Now, he did. After all, his heart demon had surged. Li Zhuiyuan had even already planned how, once he returned, he would sit on the rattan chair on the second-floor balcony and recount this amusing incident to Ah Li in more vivid language.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "One with deep-rooted demonic nature who obtains Buddhist objects will inevitably suffer a backlash."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "You and I are both heart demons. What are you pretending to be so lofty about?"

Pudu Zhenjun said, "When my merits are complete in the future, I will return to 'myself'."

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Then you truly have no ambition. After becoming a heart demon, all I think about is how to completely erase the main body in the future." The existence of the main body was a deeply buried bomb within him; "he" would grow stronger as Li Zhuiyuan grew. Wei Zhengdao had already demonstrated this point to him. However, after this incident, his heart demon had significantly improved, and for a considerable period, it would gain a dominant suppressive advantage over the main body. This would also make it easier, upon returning, to feed "him" emotional garbage. In short, a heart demon that doesn't want to become the main body is not a good heart demon.

After closer contact, the Zhenjun's prestige in his eyes was steadily declining. However, the sense of deterrence from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the young man's heart was gradually increasing. How could an existence capable of "waste utilization" to such an extent not be startling? No matter the final outcome here, the Bodhisattva had long since secured a win-win situation. A new system of 'Guān Jiāngshǒu' (official general heads) had been established by Him, and merits continuously converged upon Him. If he dealt with Pudu Zhenjun here, the Bodhisattva's heart demon would be removed, elevating him to a higher level. If he were killed by Pudu Zhenjun, and Pudu Zhenjun later returned from cultivation and voluntarily merged, the Bodhisattva could still watch the scenery from above. Perhaps, when the Bodhisattva first laid out the plan here, he had already foreseen this very day. Therefore, compared to the current situation, how he should "interact" with the Bodhisattva in the future became an even trickier problem.

Pudu Zhenjun said, "You already know my identity, yet you haven't called out my Dharma name. Deep down, you are still afraid."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Don't worry, I'll be shouting it out soon enough."

Pudu Zhenjun said, "He, you know, can hear."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Yes, I'm genuinely afraid He won't hear."

"You won't get that chance, because your people can't stop the ape."

"Not necessarily. Do you think you're the only one with helpers?"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The monkey, now entirely serious, was even more terrifying than before. Under three consecutive heavy blows, Run Sheng endured, but after the monkey withdrew its staff, Run Sheng himself collapsed to his knees, his right hand clutching his chest tightly. Having all 'qi gates' open was already pushing the body to its limit. If the energy were normally released, it would be fine, but under these circumstances, being suppressed and attacked, his heart's endurance had reached its breaking point. Now, every heartbeat carried a discordant sound, like a broken bellows. The bellows by Uncle Shan's stove had been patched up many times, and Run Sheng always had to use it carefully when he returned. His heart was now similar, on the verge of falling apart.

After Run Sheng barely managed to hold on, Tan Wenbin naturally entered the fray, hoping to buy Run Sheng a little more time to catch his breath. The monkey showed extreme disdain for such sneaky tricks. With a roar, it tore through the miasma Tan Wenbin and his two adopted sons had conjured, then brought its staff down with a sweeping motion.

"Thud!"

The miasma did have some effect; the staff didn't hit Tan Wenbin directly but landed precisely on a pile of bottles and jars in front of him. Yin Meng's leather whip had encircled Tan Wenbin's waist, pulling him back with force. It was almost at the last possible second that Tan Wenbin was pulled out of the poison mist explosion zone. A moment sooner, the monkey wouldn't have been lured; a moment later, Tan Wenbin would have died by his own comrades' hand. Yin Meng exhaled in relief. Without Little Yuan's timely reminders, managing the timing on her own was truly stressful. Fortunately, this time, she nailed it precisely.

After Tan Wenbin landed, blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, and the two children on his shoulders also became dispirited. It was truly not easy to confuse that monkey. While it was merely performing normally, they had to go all out from the very beginning. Fortunately, the ambush succeeded. Tan Wenbin couldn't strategize and calculate precisely like Little Yuan. He could only rely on his cunning and immense risk to seize an opportunity.

In the poison mist, the monkey's body began to melt.

Yin Meng's face lit up with surprise: "It worked?"

Tan Wenbin sighed, "It doesn't have its staff."

As the poison mist gradually dispersed, a damaged, bloody monkey flopped onto the ground with a "thud," completely collapsing. But in the back, in the area the poison mist hadn't reached, the monkey with its staff was still standing perfectly fine. Tan Wenbin felt a hint of reluctance. The monkey probably hadn't seen through it in time, but its speed and reactions allowed it to respond swiftly. If Little Yuan had been in command, he would have first laid the groundwork to shorten the monkey's reaction time. Even if the poison jars couldn't kill the monkey, they would have at least wounded it. Indeed, the stronger the opponent, the less effective cunning tricks become.

Tan Wenbin turned to look at Run Sheng beside him, seeing him still clutching his chest, his face pale, lips blue. He knew that Run Sheng was probably out of commission.

"Children, cheer up! The three of us, let's give it another shot!"

The two vengeful infants, so tired they were almost nodding off, forcefully lifted their heads and once again injected their remaining ghostly qi and resentment into Tan Wenbin's body. Yin Meng, who had been supporting Tan Wenbin, hissed and withdrew her hand. Her wrist, where she had touched Tan Wenbin, was actually frostbitten.

Over by the pillar, Lin Shuyou continuously rubbed the soles of his feet against the ground, his back pressed against the pillar, until he finally managed to stand up again. His twin maces gripped tightly, he staggered two steps forward. His body swayed, but he finally regained his balance. He raised the mace in his right hand and pointed it towards Yin Meng.

The monkey, staff in hand, advanced again. If the first time was underestimation, then the second time, the opponent had genuinely stopped him. It was fortunate that the other Zhenjuns were still sealed and couldn't see anything inside the hall. If they knew he had been stalled for two rounds by a group of slightly larger ants, he would surely be ridiculed. The staff dragged on the ground, and the monkey's speed increased. Tan Wenbin charged at the monkey, once again condensing his spiritual power. He knew the monkey wasn't afraid of this, but it was the only technique he could use again at this moment. Yin Meng's leather whip wrapped around Lin Shuyou, and with a swing, she hurled Lin Shuyou sideways towards the monkey. The two maces crossed in Ah You's hands; he wanted to use their properties to inflict some damage on the monkey, or at least create more opportunities for Brother Bin.

After throwing Lin Shuyou, Yin Meng flicked open the stopper of a silver poison jar with her finger. She intended to drink it, turning herself into the last dose of poison. She didn't know if this would produce a better effect, but... why not try? It was certainly better than standing still and having her head smashed in by the monkey's staff, one by one.

In truth, at this point, there was no talk of genuine teamwork or facing death unflinchingly. Primarily, everyone was too busy to think about such things, completely consumed by the battle, with only one thought in their minds: Even if it costs my life, I'll take another piece of your flesh!

The monkey's lips curved into a disdainful smile. In the past, it had greatly enjoyed the death throes of its prey, and now, it was still intoxicated by it. The weak and helpless malevolent spirits would offer their last mental frenzy as a dessert for him.

The monkey's eyes narrowed, and its aura swept around it. First, with a roar, it dispelled the spiritual power Tan Wenbin had released, then it raised its left hand and made a grabbing motion forward. Before Lin Shuyou could even get close to the monkey, he was seized from a distance and held captive in mid-air. Just as the monkey was about to pick up its staff and smash heads one by one, a flicker of confusion suddenly appeared in its eyes.

The area where Run Sheng was kneeling suddenly became bright. The original color scheme of the hall was gray, a blend of black and white. The sudden brightening of that area meant that the black in that region had disappeared. Or perhaps... it was absorbed.

The monkey no longer cared about smashing heads. It immediately turned to look at Sun Baishen, who was seated on the lotus platform. The venom in the monkey's eyes intensified at this moment:

"How dare you help him and not me?"

A betrayer is so brazen because, even after betrayal, it still believes itself to be the favored one, thus daring to charge ahead without fear or hesitation, as it acts with impunity. On the way, Li Zhuiyuan had mocked the monkey, saying that anyone could betray "him," except for the monkey. Yet, paradoxically, the monkey's betrayal was the most extreme and most committed. In this world, there are indeed many people like this; the kinder you are to them, the more easily they take advantage. Wei Zhengdao had once reminded Sun Baishen not to raise a beast as if it were a human. Beasts are inherently more loyal to their masters and better adapted to that way of existence. If you raise it as a human, you must endure its betrayal, just as a human would betray you.

"Ah..."

Run Sheng slowly stood up, hunched over, his arms hanging and swaying. All sixteen qi gates collectively inhaled and exhaled, forming a cycle. However, this time what was inhaled and exhaled was no longer mere breath, but malevolent energy (sha). Run Sheng's heart had just stopped. He raised his head, his eyes completely covered in white.

"Drip... drip... drip..."

The circulation of malevolent energy condensed into thick droplets of water, which continuously dripped from Run Sheng's body onto the ground.

"Roar!"

Run Sheng let out an inhuman roar, then scrambled towards the monkey on all fours, moving faster than before. Yin Meng's eyes widened. She found the current Run Sheng so unfamiliar, as if he had completely transformed. Lowering her head, she looked at the silver poison jar already close to her mouth, and immediately capped it. As long as there were still comrades capable of fighting, she needed to provide support and coordination.

Run Sheng charged at the monkey like a beast. The monkey's body jolted, and Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin were both sent flying backward by the surge of energy. Yin Meng swiftly whipped out two leather whips, catching both of them in mid-air. By this time, Run Sheng was already upon the monkey. The monkey swung its staff, but Run Sheng dodged with an incredible sidestep, then punched the monkey's chest.

"Thump!"

Earlier, to enter the hall, the monkey's armor had already shattered and fallen off. Now, this punch left a significant mark on its body. The monkey pulled its staff back, intending to fend off Run Sheng, but Run Sheng suddenly darted, appearing behind the monkey. The monkey swung its staff, striking backwards. Run Sheng raised his arm and clamped onto the staff. Although he took the blow, which caused a large area of his ribs to indent, Run Sheng still clung to the staff, preventing the monkey from creating distance.

"Rip..."

Seizing this opportunity, Run Sheng opened his mouth and bit the monkey's neck. The monkey's black fur pricked Run Sheng, leaving his face covered in blood, but Run Sheng's teeth were firmly embedded in the monkey's flesh, and he began to tear at it fiercely. For a moment, it was truly impossible to tell which was human and which was beast.

The monkey reached out and threw Run Sheng off its back. Run Sheng was slammed hard onto the ground, but he quickly bounced up again, scrambling on all fours, circling rapidly around the monkey. The monkey reached back and touched the back of its neck. It had entered with severe injuries, but just now, Run Sheng had ripped off a large chunk of its flesh. The monkey opened its mouth, revealing its fangs. Both sides transformed into beastly forms and tore into each other.

Gradually, Run Sheng began to falter. He was caught and thrown by the monkey again and again, then caught and thrown again, and finally, kicked away violently. But Run Sheng, though severely wounded, still got back up. Multiple bones in his body were fractured, and several joints in his limbs were dislocated, but he seemed to feel no pain. In fact, Run Sheng had no idea what he was doing in reality. What appeared in his mind was a scene he had long forgotten. In the scene, he was in a pitch-black area, facing an unknown entity, repeatedly charging forward to bite, being thrown, then charging again to bite, and being thrown again. He only knew he was hungry, very, very hungry. He wasn't afraid of death; he was afraid of hunger.

Tan Wenbin didn't know what was happening to Run Sheng, but undoubtedly, Run Sheng's "madness" bought time for everyone, especially for Little Yuan.

"How did he do it? How did Run Sheng do this?"

There couldn't be a sudden surge of power without reason; there must be an underlying cause. At this moment, the two children on his shoulders suddenly grew excited. They opened their mouths and began to absorb rapidly. Soon, Tan Wenbin noticed the pressure on his shoulders growing heavier. Every breath felt like inhaling countless ice shards, as if he were enduring torture. His brain, too, became muddled under this rapidly dropping temperature, gradually losing clear thought. Seeing this, the two children instinctively stopped their joyful feasting, turning their heads to look at their godfather's face. They were both afraid that if they continued to absorb, they would freeze their godfather to death.

"Don't stop, continue, don't stop!"

What a joke! How could they stop when they could gain extra power at this moment? They were all fighting for their lives; he couldn't possibly cling to his. The two children hesitated. Tan Wenbin grew angry: "Obey, absorb!" The two children continued to absorb. Tan Wenbin's body temperature began to drop further. On his shoulders, two talisman slips symbolizing the seal fell off, meaning that the two vengeful infants would no longer be suppressed by Tan Wenbin. The three of them, father and sons, were completely defenseless.

Finally, Tan Wenbin's consciousness plunged into an icy state, like hibernation, and even his heartbeat became extremely faint. Tan Wenbin's body stiffened and he fell backward. Just before the back of his head could hit the ground, he suddenly stopped, then rose up again. Tan Wenbin's eyes turned red, one looking left and one looking right. As if realizing something was wrong, they immediately changed direction, both converging towards his nose, forming crossed eyes. Then, his eyes rotated rapidly, and when they finally stopped again, they achieved a normal, balanced appearance. Bending at the waist, leaning forward, and charging, Tan Wenbin, filled with dense ghostly qi and resentment, lunged at the monkey.

On this side, the monkey had just kicked Run Sheng away again, and as it turned, it saw Tan Wenbin charging towards it. The monkey threw a punch. Tan Wenbin dodged around it, opened his mouth, and released spiritual power. The monkey's head shook. Immediately, it opened its mouth and roared, dispelling the spiritual power, and at the same time, reached out again. This time, it finally grabbed Tan Wenbin. But then, Run Sheng climbed onto the monkey's back again.

"Roar!"

The monkey completely lost control, not hesitating to burn its own blood, forming flames around itself. However, Run Sheng completely ignored the flames burning on him, opened his mouth again, and bit into the back of the monkey's neck. This fighting style clearly had no intention of surviving. To be precise, facing such a powerful monkey, it was precisely because they started with a death-defying approach that they managed to stall the monkey for so long. Had there been any more thought or hesitation, the monkey would have broken through this situation long ago.

The monkey had no choice but to reach back to grab Run Sheng. Meanwhile, Tan Wenbin, clutched in its other hand, was also being scorched by the flames. Yet, instead of wailing or begging for mercy, the two children seemed to have completely unleashed the ferocity deep within them. They proactively wrapped their hands around the monkey's furry arm, injecting spiritual power mixed with their godfather's blood into the monkey's body. The monkey was already wounded, and with its blood burning, the spiritual power actually seeped in. Soon, the wrist in that area began to turn black.

In the distance, Lin Shuyou's breathing quickened. Brother Bin's two children were putting everything on the line; he couldn't just stand by. But what filled him with resentment was that when the 'boy spirit' wouldn't descend, his martial arts, which were excellent for a normal person, were simply not qualified to participate in this level of combat. He couldn't even manage to offer a bit of assistance. Scenes from the past quickly flashed through Ah You's mind. There were scenes of him kneeling before Yin god statues with his teachers and elders since childhood, scenes of his first time lighting incense and sensing a presence, and scenes of him, at a young age, successfully performing a seance to invite down the 'boy spirit' and being surrounded by teachers and senior disciples, hailed as a genius.

So, without the descent of a Yin God, unable to perform a seance... I am just a useless person!

Suddenly, Lin Shuyou seemed to think of something. He turned to look at Sun Baishen, who was seated on the lotus platform. This place was the Guanshiju Temple of the previous era. If the current Yin God couldn't be summoned now, could he perhaps summon the previous generation's Guanshiju? Who could he summon? The Punishing Evil Zhenjun was dead, the Gate-Guardian Zhenjun was also dead, and the other Zhenjuns were all betrayers. So, the only one he could summon now was the one sitting on the lotus platform.

Lin Shuyou shakily stood up, his left hand open, his right hand clenched into a fist, and he stomped one foot.

"I, young Lin Shuyou, respectfully invite you to possess me... to slay demons and banish evil!"

Sun Baishen on the lotus platform remained seated with his eyes closed, unmoving. There was no movement from Lin Shuyou either. It failed; there was no effect. Lin Shuyou suddenly recalled that the previous generation of Zhenjuns relied on bloodline as a link for their spirit medium succession. He had no bloodline and simply couldn't summon the Zhenjun here. Moreover, the one sitting on the lotus platform before him wasn't Lord Zhenjun; he might not even have the ability to descend.

"Sigh..."

The hope that had just ignited was as fragile as thin paper, easily shattered by a poke from reality. Lin Shuyou turned his head and glanced at Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin, who were still entangled in a losing battle with the monkey. Then, he looked towards Little Yuan, who was enveloped in white light. No matter what the final outcome today, whether he died here or Little Yuan emerged from the white light to turn the tide, he truly no longer wanted to be this kind of Guanshiju.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Lin Shuyou's mind—the voice of the 'Boy Spirit':

"Sigh, you can't win, truly. You don't know who you've encountered."

Lin Shuyou: "Does Little Yuan know?"

The Boy Spirit was silent for a moment, then replied, "He... probably knows." The Boy Spirit believed Li Zhuiyuan knew because this time, the young man hadn't cursed him; he actually understood him! Putting himself in his shoes, the young man would surely understand why he dared not descend this time.

Lin Shuyou: "Since Little Yuan has done this, then we can definitely win."

Boy Spirit: "You can't win."

Lin Shuyou: "Boy Spirit, if you were truly so certain, you wouldn't have come out to talk to me."

Boy Spirit: "I sensed that you intend to abandon your lineage."

Lin Shuyou: "Yes."

Boy Spirit: "As a Yin God in the Guanshiju sequence, I cannot descend in His presence. Descending to the Gate-Guardian Zhenjun's place was already my limit, but..."

Lin Shuyou: "Hm?"

Boy Spirit: "If I am no longer a Yin God in the Guanshiju sequence, then I can."

Lin Shuyou's eyes widened; he understood what the Boy Spirit meant.

Ah You: "Why?"

Boy Spirit: "You're right, I'm not certain. If you die here, so be it. But if you don't die and you win... I can't accept that disparity." The Boy Spirit felt that even if he didn't descend this time, the young man would still tolerate him in the future. After all, he would be kept around to continue doing odd jobs; it wasn't every time that they would encounter that supreme being. The young man was very rational and lacked much emotion. But the Boy Spirit could sense Lin Shuyou the spirit medium's emotions, just as Lin Shuyou could sense him. The young man could tolerate him, but if this spirit medium survived, he would never attempt another seance with him and would surely sever ties completely. He could feel the spirit medium's recent torment: the spirit medium would rather die in battle than die ignominiously. He would absolutely not allow himself to experience this ordeal again in the future, nor even dare to revisit it in his mind. Compared to the young man's rationality, his own spirit medium was full of emotion! A deep regret brewed in the Boy Spirit's heart. He had a premonition that if he gave up this time, he would forever regret it, with no chance of making amends.

Lin Shuyou: "Boy Spirit, are you truly unable to let go of this outcome?"

Boy Spirit: "Do you believe me? I think I'm finding it hard to let go of you."

Lin Shuyou nodded: "I believe you."

Boy Spirit: "Then, let's gamble."

Lin Shuyou: "Yes, let's!"

Immediately, Lin Shuyou knelt on one knee facing the lotus platform, his gaze firm, and said sincerely:

"I, young Lin Shuyou, humbly request to enter the Bodhisattva's lineage, to slay demons and banish evil, and to protect the human realm!"

From the depths of Sun Baishen's glabella on the lotus platform, a golden light was released, entering Lin Shuyou's glabella. Lin Shuyou's aura gradually began to change, becoming steady and majestic. The power of the White Crane Boy Spirit also quietly flowed in at this moment. He knew very well that after this descent, he would only be able to sleep within this body, unable to leave again. This was the choice he had made; he had placed himself on the gambling table.

Lin Shuyou's eyes gradually transformed into vertical pupils. A white mark appeared on Lin Shuyou's glabella, first spinning and flashing, then finally solidifying. Immediately after, a majestic voice resonated throughout the grand hall:

"Today, I hereby bestow upon you the title of—White Crane Zhenjun!"