Chapter 672: Demonic Conspiracy

Of all the spiritual traditions, the Northern Buddhist sect was the most abhorrent to Li Ximing.

His grandfather, Li Xuanxuan, had recounted the affairs of his ancestors, Li Xuanling and Li Tongya, hundreds of times, leaving a persistent knot of resentment. Li Xuanfeng had also died under siege by Buddhist cultivators, and even Li Xijun had nearly perished at their hands.

It was the same during the North-South Water Mound dispute; after cultivating for a while, a Buddhist cultivator would urgently arrive at his door:

"That time, you nearly caused my family to perish! What do you intend to do now?"

Kong Heng, rendered immobile by the old monk's white light, looked strikingly similar to how he had appeared on that day!

"The Wei-Li era was a time of glorious prosperity, yet it was overthrown by the Northern Buddhist barbarians. Since then, involving Golden Core cultivators and Honored Ones, fate has become intertwined as a natural law: wherever glorious prosperity flourishes, a Master will follow..."

Li Ximing, of course, knew the reasons behind all this, but he could not suppress the burning resentment in his heart. From a distance, he heard the monk's aggressive tone, aware that Buddhist cultivators' words often possessed an unsettling power. He let their words go in one ear and out the other, then raised the Shining Origin Pass and slammed it down.

Fu Xia, caught off guard, was struck by the brilliant light. His face darkened, and he raised one hand, propping up the formidable Shining Pass. The scorching white bricks burned his bronze-colored hand a glowing red. The old monk instantly recognized it and said coldly:

"Indeed, it is the Way of Mingyang's hierarchy, distinction, and cardinal principles!"

As he finished speaking, Kong Heng managed to free himself. The six-armed Vajra behind him stared with furious eyes, and numerous gleaming golden chains simultaneously shot out, locking onto Fu Xia. Only then did Kong Heng have the leisure to catch his breath.

As Kong Heng seized the moment to regulate his breathing, Li Ximing’s attack finally landed. It felt as if he had slammed into a cold, hard stone, his chest tightened, and he felt nauseous, almost spitting blood.

"Good bald monk!"

Fu Xia seemed unconcerned, his two hands already braced. A single punch from him caused the immortal foundation to tremble violently. He narrowed his eyes, recognized the figure after a moment, and muttered to himself:

"This is Li Ximing!"

Kong Heng finally had a chance to speak, using his magic to gather the scattered chains back together. He had just been violently struck by the white light, leaving his voice slightly hoarse, yet he maintained his calm composure as he softly said:

"Elder! You say suffering leads to becoming a Honored One, but have the temple tenants, who toil year-round, truly become Honored Ones? And which Honored One have they become? Without cultivation opportunities, without karmic wisdom, achieving enlightenment merely through hardship and chanting, tens of thousands starving to death... yet I have never seen any scripture mention a Honored One of suffering and compassion, or one named Maha!"

"Is the Buddhist Land in the Yan and Zhao regions not a colossal lie?"

Although his voice was soft, it was imbued with an equally deafening magical power. An expression of disbelief appeared on Fu Xia's face; he was so stunned by Kong Heng's single sentence that he remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.

Seeing his chance, Li Ximing's eyes gleamed with celestial light. The Shining Pass, constructed of white bricks, featured exquisite battlements. All seventy-two ridges on its corner towers shone brightly, resembling a celestial gate, with numerous patterns on its white base, radiating dazzling light.

Fu Xia, overconfident, supported the Shining Origin Pass with just one hand. However, this pass was renowned for its oppressive refining power. Li Ximing, not only skilled in his cultivation techniques, but also having practiced two secret arts, now exerted his utmost effort, making it seem as if a sun were rising over Moon-Gazing Lake.

"Boom!"

Amidst a thunderous roar, Fu Xia held up his hands, bracing against the pass, engulfed in the immense celestial light. The brilliant light reflected from his body pierced the lake, evaporating the water and sending up countless plumes of white steam.

"Clang..."

The golden chains on Kong Heng's body shot out, coiling densely around the monk. The six-armed Vajra behind him tugged at the chains, causing a shower of sparks to explode from the white light. The cultivators on the lake quickly turned and fled, frantically searching for defensive formations to save themselves.

The old monk's voice, like rolling thunder, erupted from beneath the pass, a mix of shock and rage, almost a roar:

"You... you actually doubt the fundamental law of my righteous sect! You actually doubt the fundamental law of my righteous sect!"

The monk beneath the pass had transformed into a gleaming golden statue, its eyes unnaturally large, the whites like jade, the pupils like bronze, inspiring terror in those who gazed upon them. His body gradually expanded, he gritted his teeth, and exerted power through his arms.

"Boom!"

Li Ximing felt his magic power diminish like a whale devouring water, and the Shining Origin Pass swayed precariously. In all his years of cultivation, he had rarely worried about magic power during battles, as his replenishment always outpaced his expenditure. Now, he became resolute, swallowed two elixirs, and murmured:

"Come on, then!"

Although Kong Heng engaged in debate with him verbally, his spells were anything but polite. Taking advantage of Fu Xia being pinned by the pass, the golden chains overlapped, coiling around him, and even more chains appeared out of thin air, binding him.

Fu Xia, however, paid no attention. He stared blankly at Kong Heng and gritted his teeth, saying:

"How did your master teach you?! These people cannot cultivate; after a lifetime of cultivating through suffering, they naturally go to the Buddhist Land on Maha's body... they only need to enjoy ultimate bliss!"

Kong Heng displayed an extremely complex expression and, for a moment, couldn't respond. Li Ximing, feeling frustrated, cursed:

"If this ultimate bliss is so wonderful, why don't you go enjoy it?! Why do you remain in this world?! If being a temple tenant is so good, why do you still cultivate?"

Fu Xia sneered, his face obscured by the dazzling light. Only his loud cry was heard:

"How do you know I wasn't a temple tenant in my youth?! My ancestors, generation after generation, were all temple tenants and entered the Buddhist Land long ago. Back then, the Four Wrathful Demon Emperors hadn't been destroyed... I even went and met my ancestors... but now they've all been harmed by you devils!"

"As for why I don't go to ultimate bliss... you devils and heretics, how could you know our aspirations? If we cultivators are found to possess roots of wisdom, it is a decree from the Honored One; we cannot go to the Buddhist Land to enjoy bliss like ordinary mortals. We are forced to cultivate and remain in this mortal world, enduring suffering, precisely to prevent you devils and heretics from invading the Buddhist Land!"

Li Ximing paused, unable to discern if Fu Xia's words were truth or pretense. He turned to look at Kong Heng, only to find the monk's eyes tightly closed, his mouth humming, focused solely on chanting scriptures and casting spells, no longer responding to him!

'This... this ancient Buddhist lineage, a renowned righteous sect, actually can't out-debate him! Kong Heng often judges others by his own heart; he's still too naive...'

Li Ximing, however, did not know that while Kong Heng showed no reaction on the surface, his heart was already in turmoil. This was still in the midst of battle; otherwise, he would have been drenched in sweat.

Kong Heng's spiritual lineage was extraordinary. Although Liaoriver Temple, of the Northern Honored One's Way, was dilapidated, it was a place where Honored Ones cultivated, and its status in the Great Desert was not low. When his master was alive, not to mention compassion... he even had dealings with Maha.

Kong Heng himself had entered the Pure Land, which contained gleaming treasure pools, glazed steps, lotus palanquins, thousands of birds and beasts, and countless people enjoying themselves. With a summons, one could even travel outside... He was young at the time, profoundly shocked, and even secretly began to doubt his own lineage.

'I've had mind-reading abilities since childhood, able to perceive the emotions of others. Each of those people was filled with joy... Fu Xia is also sincerely devout... this...'

After Liaoriver Temple collapsed, Kong Heng traveled south, witnessing thousands of tragic sights across the Yan and Zhao lands. It was then that he truly felt something about his master's Buddhist teachings. Yet, Fu Xia's words undoubtedly stirred up his inner unease once more, creating an inexpressible knot in his chest.

'They simply act too extreme and overbearing... If all seven paths had the same restraint as the Great Admiration Dharma Realm and the Precepts Path...'

The Great Admiration Dharma Realm and the Precepts Path did not cultivate bliss within themselves, but rather adopted the method of salvation through dharma light. They often chanted scriptures and preached, only admitting people one by one when the populace's merits were complete and their hearts were full of longing, thus being called the righteous path.

It was the other five paths that often disregarded the common people, swallowing them whole into their 'bellies,' which seemed extremely cruel. This was why Kong Heng had some doubts; otherwise, he would have wavered long ago...

"Kong Heng!"

Li Ximing's shout abruptly pulled the narrow-eyed monk back to reality. The golden chains in his hand had long since stretched taut, and the Shining Origin Pass was swaying.

Kong Heng was dispirited, but Li Ximing's mind was racing.

Li Ximing was very clear about his current strength. While his fighting prowess was hard to gauge, the refining suppression of the Shining Pass was no joke. If he fully unleashed its power, even the direct descendants of the three major sects would be in trouble.

Even if Li Qinghong were to fight him, the best approach would be to avoid entering the pass's influence, let alone with Kong Heng by his side? This monk's Buddhist teachings were never simple!

'We can team up, yet we're being openly suppressed like this, entangled by countless Buddhist golden chains. Which Foundation Establishment cultivator could endure this?'

The pass in his hand had been pushed to its limit, yet the old bald monk remained completely still. Although his body was burning hot and red from the brilliant light, he propped up the Shining Pass and endured the scorching, seemingly cultivating through suffering.

Li Ximing's magic power surged, and his voice entered Kong Heng's ear:

"Master... this bald monk is incredibly powerful... can you discern anything?"

Kong Heng mumbled, transmitting his voice via a secret art:

"He's likely the previous Bodhisattva of Compassion. With the fall of the Wrathful Maha, this entity has no more divine powers to borrow, only this Compassionate Dharma Body remaining..."

"A Compassionate Dharma Body!"

Li Ximing had considered this possibility, but the confirmed news still startled him.

No matter what, a Compassionate Dharma Body was not something at the Foundation Establishment level. Although its divine powers were lost, how could ordinary methods suppress it? Perhaps this person was still intent on his own cultivation, otherwise, he would have long since overthrown the Shining Pass and struck them with his staff!

The two men paused, and then Fu Xia exhaled, turning into a surging golden light, his voice low:

"Kong Heng! Wake up! Your wisdom root is unparalleled, why do you lead yourself astray? I remained unmoved by your suppression because I wanted to persuade you further!"

His body erupted in golden light, shooting straight into the sky. The golden chains had already encased him in a golden sphere, yet the old monk was utterly fearless. He formed his fingers into a lotus gesture, sprayed out a pink mist from his mouth, and shouted:

"Go!"

His deep yellow kasaya suddenly came alive, swirling like Xuan paper caught in a gale. After two turns, the monk vanished from beneath the pass. The golden light flared violently, blinding both men.

"It's over!"

Kong Heng also practiced Buddhist magic, making it much easier for him to deal with such spells. His eyes flashed, and his vision returned. The six-armed Vajra behind him stepped forward, temporarily restraining the long staff sweeping down from mid-air. The two collided in a burst of light, causing Kong Heng to cough up some blood.

Kong Heng cast his gaze around, and beneath the brightly patterned city gate, a powerfully built tiger with dark black markings was being suppressed.

This fierce tiger was agile, its fur deep yellow with patterns as dark as ink. Its eyebrows were white, and its two pupils, like Fu Xia's, were bronze-colored. A short black horn grew between its brows, emitting bursts of arcane light.

"Horned Tiger..."

Kong Heng's face paled, and his voice acquired a mix of helplessness and bitterness as he quietly said:

"Elder, you were a Protector in the Northern Demon-Subduing Temple... Now that our lineage is in peril, you should be guarding the temple gate and educating the people. Why travel thousands of miles to come here... If anything were to happen, what would Abbot Fu Yan do?"

Both men had temporarily lost their sight and spiritual perception. Fu Xia's long staff was already in mid-air, a single strike capable of causing death or severe injury, but Kong Heng's words made him pause. He said in a deep voice:

"You indeed have a deep connection with my Northern Demon-Subduing Temple..."

As Li Ximing's vision gradually returned, Fu Xia stood shirtless to one side. Although the tiger beneath the Shining Pass wasn't struggling, the arcane light from its single horn already made Li Ximing's mouth taste bitter.

"Damn it..."

One Fu Xia was already difficult enough to deal with; now that he had escaped and stood nearby, staff in hand, glaring, how could Li Ximing and Kong Heng continue to suppress the tiger? The gleaming Shining Pass flew up and returned to his hand.

As soon as the Shining Pass loosened, the Horned Tiger immediately leapt up, landing beneath Fu Xia. The old monk, astride the tiger, was covered in golden lacquer, his eyes bronze-colored. He held his long staff quietly, his gaze fixed on Kong Heng.

The entire great lake was silent, a powder keg waiting to explode. Li Ximing narrowed his eyes, watching Fu Xia, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

Kong Heng was an honest monk, young in age, with too many precepts to follow, and usually didn't entertain thoughts of conspiracy. But Li Ximing had witnessed many conspiracies, and his childhood education was extensive; he was already suspicious.

'He's taking advantage of Kong Heng's honesty, constantly moving him with words... he must have an ulterior motive.'

'According to Kong Heng, the Northern Demon-Subduing Temple's lineage is in peril, so why would he bother coming here? I don't believe he'd be in the mood to wander around outside if Maha is dead... He must have a reason for coming to my home.'

The young man vigilantly watched Fu Xia. The old monk only looked at Kong Heng, his tone calm:

"Kong Heng, since you know my temple's abbot and understand that my lineage is righteous, this old monk does not wish to kill, which is why I allowed you to attack."

Kong Heng finally opened his eyes and whispered:

"I understand, Elder..."

Fu Xia nodded, sitting astride the tiger, and quietly said:

"Leave this place, join my sect's lineage, and return to the temple with me."

'So, it's for this matter?'

Li Ximing lowered his gaze, observing Fu Xia's demeanor carefully. After recalling events, he sensed something was amiss. Kong Heng already looked hesitant, but Li Ximing transmitted his voice with magic:

"Kong Heng, this bald monk talks too much. I suspect something is wrong with this old fellow."

Kong Heng, however, didn't feel anything was amiss. While silently considering how to appease the other party, he transmitted his voice:

"He wants to persuade me to join his lineage; it certainly requires much talk to convince. If I don't agree, I might cause harm to someone..."

'No... the Wrathful lineage is now like a rat scurrying across the street... how could they be so arrogant? His previous actions are highly suspicious. Did he really endure all our spells just to experience suffering?'

Li Ximing found Fu Xia highly suspicious, but his mind was hazy and he couldn't think clearly. He secretly cursed:

'If only Xijun were here! This old fellow wouldn't stand a chance in front of him! Xijun would see right through him!'

Li Xijun was dead, and Li Ximing had no retreat. The young man coldly watched the monk, his magic power flowing, and transmitted his voice via a secret art:

"Since this bald monk says that, he's ostensibly here for you. He definitely won't harm you. We've only exchanged a couple of moves with him; how can we surrender so easily? Let's try again, it's not too late!"