Chapter 1377: Forbidden Entry to Deification, Sages Halt

Even Bodhisattvas, typically as serene as an ancient well, were rapidly changing their expressions. In each expression, their eyes were wide with shock.

The middle-aged man with lightning wings felt his heart skip a beat, and a chill ran down his spine, as if some terrifying presence was silently watching him from behind. The feeling was akin to a small frog being fixated upon by a venomous snake. A sense of dread, which he hadn't felt in decades, surged into his heart.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly turned his head to look behind him. The void behind him had, at some unknown point, split open into a massive rift that spanned the heavens and earth. Inside the rift, a pair of faint golden eyes silently watched him.

With just one glance, the middle-aged man with lightning wings felt all the hair on his body stand on end. The divine halo behind his head instantly shattered into dust. The middle-aged man, whose mind was connected to the halo, spat out a mouthful of blood, and his face rapidly turned a faint golden hue. A terror stemming from the depths of his soul made this peerless expert, who had reached the Three Declines of Heaven and Man, tremble uncontrollably.

From within the rift, the owner of the golden eyes spoke in a calm, unruffled voice:"Gods are forbidden entry; Sages halt.""Violate the ancient prohibition, and even Buddhas cannot save you."

The middle-aged man's pupils contracted sharply, and he pleaded with a trembling voice:"I did not intentionally set foot on the continent!""It was Jiang Fan who framed me!""He framed me..."

While his words still hung in the air, the middle-aged man with lightning wings, under the gaze of the golden eyes, exploded on the spot into a swirling mist of blood. His clothes, spirit artifacts, spatial storage device, and all his lightning power were obliterated. Everything vanished in an instant. Nothing was left behind!

The rift closed thereafter, and the golden eyes slowly receded into the endless darkness. A deadly silence fell over the sea. Only the reddish, terrifying waves crashed against the sandy beach, making a rushing sound.

Jiang Fan, the monks, and even the Bodhisattva were all so awestruck they dared not breathe. Just one glance was enough to crush a peerless venerable who had reached the Three Declines of Heaven and Man? Who exactly was the owner of those golden eyes? Judging by the voice, it was a woman. Could it be that mysterious woman from long ago who whimsically renamed Spirit Pearl Island to "Continent," forcing Taicang Great State to revise its map names overnight?

After a long time, Jiang Fan finally came back to his senses. He gasped sharply! So, the legend of "Gods forbidden entry" was false! Because it was only half a saying. The complete version should be: "Gods are forbidden entry; Sages halt!" Not only are Gods forbidden from coming to the continent, even Sages are not allowed to easily set foot on the continent!

Jiang Fan felt the world spin around him; the barren continent before him, which he knew so well, now gave him an unprecedented sense of unfamiliarity. What secrets did this continent hold? Why were all powerful beings forbidden from entering?

Even the Bodhisattva was startled, gazing at the continent, speechless for a long time. The rumor of "Gods forbidden entry" had existed for so long that he couldn't even say from which era it originated. He had once doubted the rumor's authenticity. Unexpectedly, today he had witnessed the rumor being confirmed with his own eyes! And had also seen an indescribable abyssal existence! He had no doubt that if those golden eyes had looked at him, he would have likewise vanished into thin air, erased from existence.

"Amitabha, blessed be," he murmured. It took him a while to recover. He pressed his palms together and bowed towards the continent. Then he turned to Jiang Fan and said, "Benefactor Jiang, please take out the Sutra of Suppressing Hell and Resting Souls. I will personally open it." He just wanted to quickly make a copy of the Sutra of Suppressing Hell and Resting Souls, and then quickly get away from the continent, never to approach it again in this life.

The place where the Sage of Misfortune fell back then was known as the most ominous place in Taicang Great State. Now it seemed the continent was the true most ominous place!

Jiang Fan pondered for a moment, then looked at Reverend Six Paths and said, "Alright. But first, release him."

The Bodhisattva didn't hesitate, nodding slightly, "Very well." For the sake of the Sutra of Suppressing Hell and Resting Souls, he had even given up on converting Jiang Fan, much less Reverend Six Paths. He immediately raised a hand, and a wisp of Buddha light was drawn from Reverend Six Paths' body. Just like the Sky Demon Emperor who was forced to renounce his vows back then, Reverend Six Paths, who moments ago had a solemn and dignified expression, briefly looked confused, then exclaimed:

"Ah! Bodhisattva, please spare me! This has nothing to do with me. It was that little scoundrel Jiang Fan who haphazardly claimed I was your lay disciple. You have a clear target for grievances and debts; if you want to convert someone, convert him! Oh, and quietly, I'll tell you, the Bodhi tree is on that little scoundrel. You must not let him go! Of course, when you convert him, don't say I told you."

The Bodhisattva remained silent. The monks were also rendered speechless.

Jiang Fan nodded, "Mmm, I promise on behalf of the Bodhisattva that the Bodhisattva won't tell Jiang Fan."

Reverend Six Paths quickly cupped his hands in a bow, "Thank you, thank you, this... huh...""Why does that voice sound so familiar?"

He turned his head to look and saw it was a middle-aged monk. He couldn't help but roll his eyes and say, "Who are you to interrupt? How dare you interrupt me while I'm speaking?"

Jiang Fan chuckled, reached up, and pulled off the mask on his face, revealing a handsome, youthful face. It was Jiang Fan! Reverend Six Paths was instantly embarrassed. His old face flushed red as he stammered, "Cough, cough, cough, Bro... Brother Jiang, what a coincidence? Are you also taking a walk here? Have you had dinner?"

Jiang Fan's face darkened, the veins on his forehead throbbing. He said:"Bodhisattva, it's better if you keep this old guy locked up in your Buddhist sect. Please, don't ever let him out."

Only then did Reverend Six Paths realize that the reason he could return to secular life was because Jiang Fan had convinced the Bodhisattva. He slapped his thigh and quickly, with an ingratiating expression, said:"Oh dear, Brother Jiang, my good brother whom I'd go through hell for. I knew you would save me."

Jiang Fan scoffed, "I'd go through hell for you, and you, in return, stab me in the back! You dared to leak the secret about the Bodhi tree!"

Reverend Six Paths looked sheepish, but then quickly remembered something. Pointing at his bald head, he said angrily:"And you're talking about me? Look at what you've done! You framed me as the Bodhisattva's lay disciple, and the Bodhisattva came directly to verify it with me!"

Hearing this, Jiang Fan felt a pang of guilt. He had indeed put Reverend Six Paths in a terrible situation. If he hadn't held the Sutra of Suppressing Hell and Resting Souls in his hand, he and Reverend Six Paths, this pair of unfortunate brothers, would likely be bald monks together at White Horse Temple. Reverend Six Paths was an old bald monk. Jiang Fan would be a young bald monk.

He cleared his throat and said, "The pot shouldn't call the kettle black; let's call it even!"

The Bodhisattva looked at the old and young monks with a smile in his eyes and said, "Both benefactors are truly interesting. How about you both become my lay disciples?"

Reverend Six Paths was truly scared, shaking his head like a rattle drum, "No, no, no, let Jiang Fan be one. I've already been one."

Jiang Fan glared at him and said to the Bodhisattva:"Bodhisattva, you should pick this old guy instead. He has work experience; he should be given priority."

The Bodhisattva smiled and said, "Alright, since neither of you wishes to, I won't force it. Take out the Sutra of Suppressing Hell and Resting Souls, and let's view it together."

Jiang Fan was puzzled and asked:"Bodhisattva, aren't you surprised at all that the Bodhi tree is on me?"