Chapter 279: Backfire

Li Tongya frowned and nodded. Minghui, with a serious expression, stared carefully at his face and said gently:

“I studied under Maha. There was once a demon creature who received teachings from my master; at that time, it was merely a demon soldier.”

“My master calculated its fate and learned that this demon creature’s opportunity for Foundation Establishment was in Xu Country. He expended much magic power and karmic connections to calculate further, discovering it was specifically at Bianyan Mountain on the border of Xu Country. So, he dispatched it there to cultivate and await the right moment.”

Monk Minghui shook the monk’s staff in his hand, producing a series of clanging sounds that echoed in the air like the cry of a hawk. He then spoke:

“Later, when I became a monk, my master knew the fated time had come, so he sent me to Bianyan Mountain to take it as my spirit beast mount. To my surprise, I walked for over three years only to find nothing!”

Li Tongya immediately understood. When he went to Bianyan Mountain to hunt down that demon creature years ago, the wolf demon repeatedly claimed that a karmic connection was approaching. This was likely what it was referring to. However, Li Tongya could not be convinced by empty words back then, so he naturally captured and killed it.

Knowing this in his heart, Li Tongya maintained a calm expression and said with a smile:

“Monk, are you actually asking me about this? If Maha calculated its destiny, then it must have been predestined. If an error occurred now, either your esteemed master miscalculated, or that demon creature was restless and lost its own life. Even if it involved us, it was merely fate. How can you question a cultivator like me about it?”

Minghui parted his lips and forced out a laugh. Although he mostly guessed it was related to the Li family, he felt a slight sense of helplessness.

Bianyan Mountain was plagued by numerous Purple Mansion battles, making it difficult to maintain the fabricated destiny. Monk Minghui had originally thought of trying to extort Li Tongya. He hadn’t expected the man to be so eloquent and cunning, using Minghui’s own logic against him, leaving him utterly speechless. Yet, unable to suppress his frustration, he simply chuckled and said:

“The donor’s fate is already set, and it would be improper for me to interfere. However, Wangyue Lake is a place of clear winds and bright moonlight. Should a powerful figure from my sect be reborn there, I kindly ask the donor to offer some care and assistance.”

Li Tongya had also heard of many Buddhist techniques. Once one achieved the Maha Dharmakaya, a sliver of their true spirit could be preserved, allowing them to seek hosts for reincarnation through generations. Buddhism called this the Path of Rebirth, where one would cultivate across generations, beginning from infancy, to attain Maha. It was truly a sinister practice.

Li Tongya had endured repeatedly, but he hadn’t expected the monk to become increasingly shameless, even setting his sights on the future generations of the Li family. He said coldly:

“What kind of generational reincarnation your Buddhist sect practices in the North is none of our concern, but do not even think about involving my descendants! If any Maha Dharmakaya dares to seize the body of a child of my clan, I, Li Tongya, would personally strangle that reincarnated spirit child rather than let you act recklessly using the body of one of my descendants!”

Minghui chuckled, waving his hands repeatedly as he replied:

“The donor has quite a temper! That was merely a jest. My sect has never reincarnated in the South. Even if by chance it were to happen, we would not occupy the bodies of aristocratic immortal clans; it’s an unwritten rule. Moreover, your noble clan is one of Sword Immortals, so we would certainly not dare to transgress.”

Though Minghui spoke respectfully, his expression and actions were deeply contemptuous. Li Tongya had no desire to speak further with him. He simply cupped his hands and said in a low voice:

“Then, let us part ways here!”

Too lazy to speak further with him, he rode the wind and descended back into the mountains.

On his end, Minghui nodded slightly, watching Li Tongya descend back into the mountains. He narrowed his eyes and observed for a moment, colorful light swirling within them as he stared fixedly at the people below. His gaze lingered on Li Qinghong for a while before he murmured:

“Lightning cultivation… it seems to have a deep connection with my Buddhist sect! This girl is beautiful; taking her back as a maid to sweep and serve, perhaps even hold some magical artifacts, is quite tempting.”

Minghui had personally refined a magical artifact: a grand golden hall filled with handsome men and beautiful women, serving as his personal cultivation abode. Now, seeing Li Qinghong’s exceptional and valiant appearance, his heart stirred with desire. After some thought, he mused to himself:

“The South is in great turmoil right now, and that so-called Sword Immortal is far away in the Southern Border. If I perform my magic correctly and abduct this woman, who could say anything?”

At that moment, stirred by desire, he had already prepared his magical incantation, ready to descend and transform, to see if he could abduct the woman. However, a strong premonition suddenly arose in his heart. Monk Minghui hesitated for another moment, pondering:

“I always feel uneasy about this. The Li family, after all, has the reputation of a Sword Immortal. It’s better to calculate a thread of their destiny, even if it takes more time and magical power. It would save me from capsizing in a ditch.”

Monk Minghui raised a finger, and colorful light shimmered in his hand. He stood with eyes closed, calculating for a period, then murmured:

“Still Li Tongya’s direct granddaughter… that’s a bit troublesome. He’ll probably get red-eyed and fight me relentlessly… Oh dear! Qi Cultivation second level, skilled in spear arts…”

As Minghui concentrated on his calculations, he suddenly froze, standing motionless in mid-air like a statue. His plump face became stiff and vacant. He had originally cultivated an immaculate body, which should have rendered him incapable of tears or sweat. Yet, at that moment, he trembled violently, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his large face. The translucent beads grew larger, rolling down his smooth skin.

Minghui’s eyes widened, and the colorful light in his hand grew brighter, floating like a star. Yet, his face was contorted in misery, and he dared not move, feeling a suffocating sense of danger so intense that his legs went numb, and he felt as though he might vomit blood.

“World Honored One, have mercy!! If this humble monk’s finger moves down even one more increment, if I continue to calculate even one more character, I will surely turn to dust! There will be no chance of survival!”

An unseen premonition, a spiritual warning, pulsed ceaselessly in his mind, causing Minghui’s limbs to tremble. He cursed under his breath through gritted teeth:

“It must be connected to some powerful being, at least a Core Formation cultivator! Damn it… how did such a rundown place get involved with a powerful figure like that? This is bad! Being utterly annihilated is no joke!”

Minghui had not yet achieved Maha, but Buddhist cultivators were skilled in matters of the past and future. Normally, retaining a true spirit for reincarnation after death would be no issue. However, he now understood deeply that if this destiny calculation yielded a result, he would instantly turn to dust, utterly annihilated without a single trace of his true spirit remaining. Not to mention a mere monk like himself, even a Maha would be reduced to ashes.

Minghui was drenched in sweat, forcibly suppressing the magic spell in his hand. But the spell was halfway through and difficult to stop. He could only watch as the colorful light in his hand grew more intense, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

“Pfft!”

Minghui had no choice but to reverse the magical incantation, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He forcefully suppressed the spell in his hand, freeing one hand to form a gesture. He then conjured a dazzling golden palace, complete with exquisite pavilions and terraces, handsome men and beautiful women walking barefoot, and specks of colorful light flowing down from it.

“Go!”

Minghui painstakingly activated the magical artifact. Using his palm like a knife, he forcefully chopped off the hand that was forming the colorful light incantation. Inside his body, there was surprisingly no blood or flesh; it was white and sticky like dough, trailing a thin, dough-like tail.

Although the hand had left his body, it remained under his control, still forming the incantation and suppressing it. Monk Minghui, on his end, activated the golden palace. All the doors and windows of the palace opened, drawing in waves of golden clouds and mist, while the severed hand floated into the palace.

“Hoo…”

Only then did Minghui let out a long breath. He looked at the colorful light and the severed hand, which were suppressed within the magical artifact. With a twitch and a stretch, another hand emerged from the severed limb, soft, white, and clean, like dough.

“What in the world is happening?!”