Chapter 481: Buddhist Realm The Twenty Layers of Heaven

Star Ghoul carried his box as usual. He still appeared as a youthful, radiant boy in white, much like the Star Ghoul Qin Mu encountered in the fruit orchard of Tian Sheng Academy. However, the current Star Ghoul looked entirely different from the one Qin Mu met back then, almost as if they were two separate individuals.

Qin Mu's heart twitched. In this world, if there was anyone he feared, it was Star Ghoul, besides the Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor.

The Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor was a sage with his own principles; he eliminated anyone who stood in his way. As long as you didn't obstruct him, he would even become a good friend. However, if even a good friend blocked his path, he would turn against them without hesitation.

Star Ghoul, on the other hand, had a different approach.

He collected the physical bodies of powerful individuals who had reached the God-realm in certain aspects.

His peculiar habit was to take what he wanted from you without killing you. Instead, he would "farm" you, hoping for a second harvest later.

Yet, this person was incredibly powerful. At that time, what was not yet Tian Sheng Academy, but was still a gathering place for some of the world's strongest experts, including a significant portion of Eternal Peace's elite and over a dozen Flood Dragons at the Divine Bridge realm, was utterly defeated by him. Ultimately, victory was only achieved using elixirs refined by Qin Mu.

Even so, the former Cult Master of the Heavenly Devil Cult, Li Tianxing, still died in battle, completing the transformation of Granny Si.

After that battle, the severely injured participants were bedridden for over ten days.

Star Ghoul's combat power was something Qin Mu had never witnessed before.

Furthermore, Star Ghoul was incredibly talented, comprehending various divine arts and path techniques to an exceptionally high degree. His Creation Technique was passed down to him by Ban Gongsao, but even Qin Mu hadn't reached Star Ghoul's level of mastery.

Such an existence was truly terrifying.

Qin Mu looked back at the golden summit. Buddha light shot into the sky from the summit, and on the surrounding peaks, numerous demon monks, in various postures—sitting, standing, lying, standing on one leg, or with wings spread—were activating their Buddhist powers. They were collectively working with Little Rulai and other experts on the golden summit to subdue and transform the Witch God Wei.

Above the golden summit, the Buddha light condensed into a tangible form, like a golden tide converging into a brilliant lotus platform. Twenty Heavens appeared on the platform, subtly revealing Buddhas of various sizes and deities surrounding them. The sight was profoundly majestic, the Buddhist power immense, the activity astonishing, and the Buddhist chants vibrated ceaselessly.

"Such magnificent and grand Buddhist power would be utterly vulnerable before Star Ghoul," Qin Mu thought to himself.

The experts of Little Thunderclap Temple were currently preoccupied with suppressing and transforming the Witch God Wei, so they likely had no time to spare for Star Ghoul. Even if they could free themselves, they would be no match for him.

"Although Little Thunderclap Temple has a few grand demons at the Cult Master level, against a terrifying existence like Star Ghoul, they could at best only buy a little time. And judging by Little Rulai's character, he might not even help me."

Qin Mu composed himself and thought, "Now, I can only rely on myself. Poison, the Myriad Gods Nature Technique—will they be enough to deal with him…?"

He truly had no confidence.

Xu Shenghua and the Demon Ape also noticed something was happening and quickly flew over.

"Who is that person carrying the box?"

Xu Shenghua's heart tightened as he whispered, "So incredibly powerful! Is he a god?"

Qin Mu's expression was grim. "He's harder to deal with than a god. Every part of his physical body is at the God-realm, including his blood, his primordial spirit, and his vital qi. Moreover, I still can't find his origin…"

Xu Shenghua was startled. "A true god?"

"No, but close enough," Qin Mu gritted out.

Star Ghoul walked unhurriedly up the mountain with his box. Trailing behind, Ban Gongsao quickly stopped the bleeding from his legs and dashed through the forest with hands flying, trying to keep up with Star Ghoul.

As for the two deer legs, he didn't bother picking them up.

"Brother Star Ghoul, now you know I wasn't lying to you, right?"

Ban Gongsao chuckled, "I sensed it all the way here. These bald donkeys must have captured my master's primordial spirit. Judging by that Buddha light, these lawless fellows are probably preparing to refine my master."

Star Ghoul shook his head. "They aren't refining him; they're trying to convert him. Little Rulai of Little Thunderclap Temple is also a formidable divine arts practitioner, as renowned as Daoist Ling Jing. When I pursued Ling Jing, hoping to obtain his divine blood, Ling Jing mentioned that Little Rulai had already cultivated vital qi comparable to a god's. I thought Little Rulai would also be a worthwhile collection, but at that time, my body had already developed hidden problems, so I didn't make a move on him."

Ban Gongsao followed behind him, hands on the ground. Though Star Ghoul's steps weren't fast, his overall speed was considerable, leaving Ban Gongsao struggling to keep up.

Ban Gongsao chuckled obsequiously, "Now that you've obtained my master's primordial spirit and avenged yourself by killing Grand Physician Qin, shouldn't you fulfill your promise?"

Star Ghoul replied calmly, "Rest assured, I will give you what I promised."

His eyes held a strange glint as he thought, "Once he reattaches his legs, I'll chop them off again. That way, it won't be considered breaking my promise."

Suddenly, the golden summit erupted with brilliant Buddha light. The lotus formed by the light seemed to be lifted by an immense force, and the Buddha light beneath the lotus throne surged outwards like a tide, crashing against imaginary coastal cliffs with deafening roars!

"Bald donkeys, a strong one has come down the mountain! I'm not wasting any more time with you!"

From beneath the lotus throne, the Witch God Wei's voice boomed, shaking heaven and earth. Surging devilish qi rose, pitch black, scattering the Buddha light. The lotus covering the golden summit swayed violently from the impact, and the Twenty Heavens above the lotus also trembled, their illusory Buddhas and deities flickering, on the verge of disappearing.

"Hold your ground!"

Little Rulai's voice rang out. Beneath the lotus, the high-ranking demon monks of Little Thunderclap Temple chanted louder than before, their bodies radiating even more intense Buddha light.

The Buddha light condensed into rings behind them, flowing from these rings towards the brilliant golden lotus in the air. These streams of Buddha light resembled the lotus's roots, floating from the golden summit and other surrounding peaks.

The Witch God Wei roared furiously, guttural and profound demonic sounds emanating from his mouth. The sounds were incredibly difficult to pronounce yet carried a strange rhythm, causing Qin Mu to pause slightly. "This isn't the demonic language I've learned. It sounds somewhat similar to the syllables of Youdu's language! Could the Witch God Wei truly be from Youdu?"

He knew little about the Youdu language, having only learned one phrase taught by the Heavenly Devil King. He couldn't be certain if the sounds coming from the Witch God Wei were indeed the Youdu language.

The demonic sounds from the Witch God Wei's mouth grew louder and more sinister. Suddenly, a portal appeared beside the lotus throne, dark lights swirling around its black frame, directly opposing the Twenty Heavens above the lotus throne.

A creaking sound.

A jarring sound emanated as the portal opened slightly, but it was immediately slammed shut by the onslaught of Buddhist chants.

Boom—

The Witch God Wei's body suddenly expanded, rising from the golden alms bowl, supporting the lotus throne, and roaring, "If it weren't for my good disciple's sneak attack, separating my body from my primordial spirit, how could I be suppressed by you bald donkeys?!"

With neither side yielding, Little Rulai let out a cry. A sarira flew from his brow, hovering above the lotus, and then surged into the illusory projection of the Twenty Heavens.

The Twenty Heavens on the lotus were merely illusions, yet the sarira seemed to travel a great distance upon entering them.

Within the illusory heavens, a Buddha's phantom suddenly reached out for the sarira, grasped it, and then released its hand. The sarira floated, and under its radiance, the lotus throne and the Twenty Heavens seemed to solidify.

The Buddhist chants from the Twenty Heavens instantly became overwhelmingly loud, forcing the Witch God Wei to his knees.

Star Ghoul's eyes brightened, and his breathing quickened. He praised, "Great Venerable, your master is truly remarkable. This primordial spirit is excellent, of extremely high quality—I'll take it! These monks aren't bad either. It seems Little Rulai's vital qi, as Daoist Ling Jing said, has reached the God-mirror realm. His Buddhist power is already so profound it's close to opening the Twenty Heavens."

Ban Gongsao's heart slightly trembled, and he blurted out, "Brother Star Ghoul, are you saying Little Rulai is close to opening the Buddha Realm?"

"I once broke into Great Thunderclap Temple, intending to capture the Old Rulai and seize the Myriad Buddhas Pagoda. Many of the Rulais' physical bodies within that pagoda were already powerful enough to be at the God-realm."

Star Ghoul walked to the golden summit, seemingly oblivious to Qin Mu, Xu Shenghua, the Demon Ape, and the others. He looked up at the lotus throne and the Witch God Wei, then calmly remarked, "However, while the Old Rulai was no match for me, he used Buddhist power to resonate with and activate the physical bodies of past Rulais within the Myriad Buddhas Pagoda, forcibly opening the Twenty Heavens of the Buddha Realm. Tsk tsk, it was truly formidable; I almost couldn't escape. Great Thunderclap Temple and the Dao Sect are both extraordinary, with profound foundations, making a direct assault very difficult. Although Little Rulai's cultivation is high, he lacks the Myriad Buddhas Pagoda. Even with demon monks spread across the mountains, he can't open the Twenty Heavens of the Buddha Realm. Still, sending a sarira into the Buddha Realm to draw the power of true Buddhas is quite remarkable in itself."

Qin Mu bowed to Star Ghoul and asked in surprise, "Great Thunderclap Temple possesses such methods?"

Star Ghoul slowly raised a hand and made a sweeping gesture, severing the streams of Buddha light beneath the lotus. The lotus instantly withered, and the Twenty Heavens of the Buddha Realm gradually turned into nothingness and vanished.

Little Rulai and the monks' hearts jumped. They turned their heads to look at Star Ghoul. Little Rulai rose, motioned for the monks not to act rashly, and then walked towards them.

Star Ghoul remained unfazed. He turned to Qin Mu, returned his bow, and said, "Indeed, Grand Physician Qin."

Despite the deep animosity between him and Qin Mu, he remained perfectly polite and observed all courtesies. This was something even Qin Mu greatly admired.

Ban Gongsao also arrived at the golden summit, hands on the ground, and looked at Qin Mu, chuckling, "Brother Qin, have you been well?"

"By your good graces, I'm excellent."

Qin Mu returned the greeting and said, "Great Venerable, your master, Witch God Wei, is right here. Many of the soul worms within him have been refined. Aren't you afraid that upon seeing an enemy, he'll be enraged and beat you to death?"

Ban Gongsao stood on his two severed legs, bowed back to Qin Mu, and chuckled, "What master bows to his disciple? Right, Master?"

A grinding sound came from the Witch God Wei's mouth.

Little Rulai approached. Star Ghoul bowed and said, "Star Ghoul greets Rulai Yuanding."

Little Rulai's expression subtly changed. He returned the bow and asked, "Brother Star Ghoul, have you come for my life?"

Star Ghoul replied gleefully, "No. I've come for Grand Physician Qin's life, the Witch God Wei's primordial spirit, and Rulai Yuanding's vital qi cultivation. I rarely take lives; apart from this brat who must die, everyone else can live as long as they don't resist."

Qin Mu remained silently disgruntled.