Chapter 558

Chapter 558

The drought demon's face took the brunt of the sword strike.

She lowered her head, her hair disheveled.

Even so, she still exudes a broken and mottled beauty, but before you can feel any pity for her, a terrifying feeling that makes your soul tremble will sweep over you first.

But just as she was gathering her strength, before she could even savor it, she was interrupted by that delicate shout.

"What, you're not convinced?"

Without pausing, Miss Liu unleashed another sword strike, dispersing the demonic barrier above. The azure light descended swiftly, striking once more the magnificent face that was trying to lift its head.

The drought demon's face was once again suppressed.

Even when she was young, Miss Liu's knowledge and insight were unmatched by ordinary people, and this was the period when Liu Yumei's self-confidence was at its peak.

Even if I recognize you as a figure from mythology, I won't tolerate it. I'll slap you across the face!
The drought demon raised its head again, and this time, the entire Demon Suppression Tower trembled. It could not accept this humiliation.

"Still not convinced, huh?"

A new sword technique emerges, first stirring up all directions, causing radiant light to bloom, then instantly converging at a single point—the face of the drought demon.

"boom!"

One after another, the drought demon's head could not be lifted, as if someone was stepping on the back of its head with the sole of a boot, stomping it into the mud again and again.

At this moment, a golden seal hovered in the air, its vast power and blazing white light dissolving all sight and perception above.

Needless to say, it was the head of the Tao family who made the move.

Li Zhuiyuan frowned slightly.

If Grandma Liu truly wanted to seek the power of sword techniques and deal with the current situation in her strongest form, she should go back to middle age, when her body and mind were at their peak of integration and her strength was at its strongest.

But Grandma didn't do that. Instead, she chose to go back to her youth. Her intention wasn't to break the deadlock, or rather, from Grandma Liu's perspective, she could only maintain the status quo but couldn't break it.

Just a wall away, there is a whole new world.

Although Li Zhuiyuan entered the demonic realm, he did not go deep inside. Even though he sensed the chaotic fighting inside, he could not witness the specific situation firsthand.

Previously, Miss Liu had unleashed three sword strikes, each of which caused the air above to circulate, like a mirror, allowing Li Zhuiyuan to look up and see what was happening in the courtyard through the reflection of the mirror.

In the first sword strike, Li Zhuiyuan saw a large number of martial arts elders fighting below. Some had already fallen into demonic possession with bloodshot eyes, some were not completely possessed but were showing signs of demonic possession, and others were struggling to maintain their clarity of mind. This large group of people were attacking and fighting each other.

These people all bear the marks of chains, and their battles with the possessed are not for the purpose of eliminating demons, but rather a desperate act of self-preservation.

In the second sword strike, Li Zhuiyuan saw the high monk who appeared in his memory sitting cross-legged on the opposite side of the Demon Suppression Tower. His body radiated golden light, resembling a small human-shaped pagoda. He used the temple's protective formation and his control over the Demon Suppression Tower to engage in a struggle with the drought demon.

In the third sword strike, Li Zhuiyuan saw the chaotic outer perimeter. Beside the youthful and beautiful Miss Liu stood the white-haired Tao Yunhe and the elderly Jiang Xiuzhi. Behind the three of them was a group of guests, none of whom bore the marks of chains.

Grandma sensed my arrival and deliberately sent me a message in this way.

There was also a layer of concern here. Grandma knew that this was just a wave on the river, and the nature of the wave had changed. Thinking back to the Yu family back then, those old people who stayed behind and blocked the door with the lamplighters either died or went back to their homes to live in seclusion. Returning to the state of "young and ignorant" was a wonderful way to avoid the backlash of cause and effect.

Tao Yunhe lit the lamp twice when he traveled along the river, but failed to go deep enough; in recent years he has not participated in the dirty tricks of his competitors on the river, he has been too clean, which has led to his lack of experience in this area. He failed to understand Liu Yumei's deep meaning at the first time, so he took action without authorization.

"Clang!"

The sword slashed again, this time not at the drought demon, but at the golden seal.

The golden seal was struck but remained unmoved. It did not resist but obediently retreated and fell back down.

Liu Yumei's dissatisfied voice came:

"Why should I, this young lady, need to interfere with what you, this old man from the Tao family who appeared out of nowhere?"

Tao Yunhe: "..."

The white moonlight is an indelible mark in one's heart, one that cannot be erased even by countless acts of self-deception. Even if the white moonlight herself were to appear in the future, it would not be as beautiful as it was back then.

But what if she were young again?
When Tao Yunhe witnessed Miss Liu, whom he remembered from the depths of his memory, "step out" again, he was first stunned, then overwhelmed with emotion.

That's why she couldn't help but take action. Whoever she wanted to deal with or fight, Tao Yunhe would help her.

Inevitably, there's also a bit of a desire to show off how amazing I am now.

However, when Miss Liu asked, "Where did this old man from the Tao family come from?" his heart was once again shaken.

Both of them came from the Dragon King's family and met when they were young during a visit from their elders. She recognized her younger self at that age, but she couldn't recognize her older self.

This shows that, in her eyes, I had no presence whatsoever from beginning to end.

Miss Liu had no interest in an old man wallowing in self-pity. The moment she appeared, she saw the aloof and arrogant drought demon. Before she could even grasp the current situation, the sword technique was unleashed without warning.

After removing the obstructive golden seal, Miss Liu unleashed her fourth sword strike at the drought demon.

The trembling of the Demon-Suppressing Tower intensified further, and the demonic barrier enveloping the area seemed to boil over.

The fourth sword strike first pierced through the demonic barrier, then overcame the Demon-Suppressing Tower, and finally broke through the aura surrounding the drought demon, still striking its face.

From these four swords, one can glimpse the astonishing talent that Grandma Liu possessed in her youth, a talent that was almost overflowing.

Although its offensive power is not strong, its application and understanding of feng shui and weather are almost innate and unstoppable.

Instead of breaking through the wall barrier to enter the Demon Suppression Tower's area, Li Zhuiyuan retreated.

Grandma Liu's actions also had another underlying meaning: Xiao Yuan, don't come in.

After emerging from the demonic illusion, Li Zhuiyuan pieced together a rough and reasonable account of the events by combining the memories of the old man Huhe.

Originally, the high monk opened the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda and pulled out chains from inside, marking each guest with their seals, intending to take them into the pagoda with him.

As the one in charge of the temple's protective formation, he possessed unparalleled power within the temple. Moreover, he not only didn't care about the subsequent retaliation and reckoning against Qinglong Temple by the various martial arts forces behind them, but he was even eager to use this to sweep away the chaos within the temple.

The appearance of the drought demon disrupted the high monk's plans, but this premature emergence was a mishap. It was a way of suppressing these Jianghu guests, and it was also a way of suppressing the drought demon!
Next, a bizarre scene unfolded: the guests marked by the high monk were forced to be sucked into the tower by the combined pull of the temple's protective formation and the Demon-Suppressing Tower itself; while the power of the drought demon was released from the Demon-Suppressing Tower, preferring to let these guests become demons and break free of their restraints rather than let them enter the Demon-Suppressing Tower to reinforce the seal.

One moment the guests were high and mighty, the next they were lambs being driven by both sides, and there was even a disease of madness in the flock, with those who were possessed instinctively attacking those around them.

Liu Yumei is unharmed. Even if the high monk were to strike her with the chain mark, she would have the ability to break free. The Liu family is most skilled in this kind of method.

Moreover, the high monk did not do that, and Tao Yunhe, Jiang Xiuzhi, and the other guests who were simply there to observe the ceremony and did not participate in the arrangement were not blessed by the high monk.

The old monk was quite particular about his actions; the appearance of that pond of golden lotuses was not for watching a show, but rather for him to make a selection.

However, this stalemate will not last forever, just as Miss Liu's sword can strike the drought demon's face time and time again, but cannot cause any real damage.

This large group of guests are none other than Yayoi, who used to enter the tower to absorb demonic energy. Their continuous absorption of demonic energy will cause the demonic energy inside the Demon Suppression Tower to continuously overflow, bringing the drought demon closer and closer to escaping.

The best course of action now is to suppress the drought demon back into the tower.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and looked at the Buddhist pagoda closest to the Demon Suppression Pagoda.

That pagoda was built there specifically to deal with the strange movements of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda at critical moments. If nothing unexpected happens, the high monk of the Kong generation in the Suzhou scenic area was placing his eyeball there and pouring evil power into the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Li Zhuiyuan decided to first go to the tower to activate the old layout of Qinglong Temple and provide assistance from a distance. Then, he would wait for the other two teams to dismantle the Holy Monk Ancestral Temple and summon the Dragon King's spirit to take action. With this two-pronged approach, the situation should be stabilized.

Just as the boy was about to give the order, he saw a woman's figure emerge from within the demonic barrier ahead. She stood behind Runsheng, as if she were staring at him.

Golden threads were released and intertwined with it, but Li Zhuiyuan ruthlessly severed the overflowing gaze.

"Everyone, hand over all the talismans except for the Thunder Talisman to Runsheng."

Everyone did as instructed, and Runsheng put stacks of talismans into his bag.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Runsheng, if you suddenly feel unwell, stick these talismans on your body."

Runsheng nodded.

The drought demon was very interested in Runsheng, and she paid extra attention to him.

For an evil spirit about to break free, what she desires most is a suitable physical body.

At present, all the guests in Qinglong Temple, no matter what dirty things they do in private, at least appear to be decent people on the surface. Only Runsheng is the most suitable person for her to stay.

In short, if she dares to lay a hand on Runsheng, Li Zhuiyuan will make her regret it.

The group left the Demon Suppression Tower area and headed towards the nearest Buddhist pagoda.

Previously, when traveling, we always chose the easy paths and didn't have time to visit the buildings. The architectural layout here is very similar to other ancestral homes of the Dragon King, with each courtyard being an independent area.

Li Zhuiyuan broke through the gate's restrictions and entered; the pagoda stood in the courtyard.

Besides the tower, there is also a reclining Buddha statue inside the courtyard.

The statue is very large. If this courtyard were a bed, the reclining Buddha would be almost at the head and foot of the bed. However, because it is lying on its side, its height is not obvious and it is hidden by the courtyard wall, so it cannot be seen from the outside.

The statue's coloring is quite interesting; the lower third of the area gleams with gold, as if it were deliberately painted with gold lacquer, while the upper two-thirds are rough, exposed stone.

Given Qinglong Temple's resources, it's impossible that they couldn't even afford to sculpt a golden statue, let alone leave behind any unfinished projects.

Li Zhuiyuan approached the reclining Buddha and looked at the golden part below. This was not gold, but the remnants of Buddhist aura, like the polished surface sculpted by flowing water.

This indicates that for a very long time in the past, the Dharma body of Buddha was attached to this reclining Buddha statue.

One-third of the color is gold, representing the incompleteness of the Dharma body.

Qinglong Temple once sent people to Fengdu in an attempt to take away part of the Bodhisattva's Dharma body back to the temple, which means that Qinglong Temple has done this kind of thing more than once or twice.

They gathered all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who guide others to enlightenment and brought them together in the temple. The latter needed the incense offerings from Qinglong Temple, while Qinglong Temple needed their protection and inheritance, and at the same time, they drew on their experience of attaining Buddhahood. It can be said that each got what they needed.

After all, not every family can be like the Qin Liu ancestral home, which has turned the evil spirits suppressed by the Dragon Kings of past generations into caretakers and instructors for its own children.

However, the evil spirits in Qin Liu's ancestral home continued to linger in the trance, and would eventually dissipate. Apart from a sense of spiritual acceptance, Qin Liu did not engage in any business dealings with the evil spirits.

Qinglong Temple's actions were clearly a violation of the law. No wonder they had to seal off the ancestral temple of the holy monks layer by layer. If the spirits of the holy monks of all generations were to discover that the temple was hiding and enshrining so many demons and monsters, they would probably take action against them immediately.

Yayoi had also mentioned this to Li Zhuiyuan, saying that there were many Buddhas in Qinglong Temple in the literal sense.

The head monks at Qinglong Temple are blind, and Li Zhuiyuan doesn't believe that all the Dharma bodies here are blind and can't see through Yayoi's identity as a Buddhist disciple.

They are deliberately pretending to be blind.

If Qinglong Temple were to produce a true Buddhist disciple who would later become a true Buddha, how could these guys continue to leave a portion of their Dharma bodies here to receive offerings and feasts?

Before setting up a trap for itself, Qinglong Temple made a relocation in advance to avoid karmic consequences. Not only did the eminent monks in the temple move away, but the Dharma bodies of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas that were once enshrined there were also asked to leave.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the statue, his eyes filled with thought.

Then, the boy turned around, broke through the restrictions at the bottom of the tower, and stepped into the tower.

The tower was quiet. Runsheng led the way, and Li Zhuiyuan followed behind. They easily reached the top of the tower.

The good news is that everything is in place and the hardware is complete and in good working order, like the tractor in my grandfather's house that has been wiped clean and maintained until it's shiny. The bad news is that it's out of gas.

The key to the protective array of Qinglong Temple is in the hands of that high monk. The high monk is currently suppressing the drought demon in the Demon Suppression Tower. Even with Li Zhuiyuan's mastery of array formations, it would be extremely difficult for him to fight the other party for control of the array with his bare hands. Moreover, he is helping the high monk suppress it. What is the point of robbing Peter to pay Paul if it only causes the dam to collapse?
If Li Zhuiyuan were a true Bodhisattva, sitting here and amplifying his Buddhist power through this pagoda, he could provide strong assistance to the other side. But unfortunately, Li Zhuiyuan only has the status of a Bodhisattva.

If Yayoi were here, a large amount of her Buddha-nature could be extracted from her body. However, if she did this, she would also become possessed and lose control, like drinking poison to quench her thirst.

We must introduce new Buddhist power and draw in living water from the outside.

The boy standing on the top floor lowered his gaze and it fell once again on the reclining Buddha statue in the courtyard.

Li Zhuiyuan sat down, took out paper and pen, and began to draw a sketch.

Lin Shuyou leaned over for a look and realized he didn't understand it; it was much more complex than the array diagrams that Brother Xiaoyuan usually drew for them.

After finishing the drawing, Li Zhuiyuan handed the sketch to Tan Wenbin:
“Brother Binbin, you stay here and make some changes to the structure inside this pagoda.”

"clear."

The sketch wasn't broken down into as many details as before because Tan Wenbin had a foundation in formations and could understand it.

Leaving Tan Wenbin inside the tower, Li Zhuiyuan led the rest of the group out of the tower and out of the courtyard. The restrictions on the courtyard gate were then repaired by Li Zhuiyuan.

A small number of demon-possessed individuals manage to escape the Demon-Suppressing Tower's area by sheer luck. Under normal circumstances, these "lucky ones" have no motivation to search each courtyard. Even in the event of an extreme accident where a demon-possessed individual enters, Tan Wenbin can "hide" and play a game of hide-and-seek.

Next, under the protection of his companions, Li Zhuiyuan, like a first-time visitor, frequently broke through the architectural restrictions in various areas and entered various courtyards to investigate.

There are quite a few statues like that reclining Buddha in Qinglong Temple, varying in their shades of gold.

It's no wonder this is a Buddhist orthodox sect; so many Buddhas come here to visit from time to time.

Li Zhuiyuan disassembled the evil book and pasted a piece of paper covering each Buddha statue.

The whole process went very smoothly. Li Zhuiyuan had traveled to so many places and been active for so long, yet he hadn't encountered a single demonic being. This showed that the two teams were still playing a role, drawing away all the unexpected events and risks.

"boom!"

A violent tremor came from the direction of the Demon Suppression Tower, indicating that the stalemate there had entered a new phase, and the demonic barrier had become even stronger.

Li Zhuiyuan turned his head and looked towards the location of the Holy Monk's Ancestral Temple.

With his grandmother around, Li Zhuiyuan felt at ease. It was as if he had someone to rely on before the situation completely collapsed. However, the boy did not want his grandmother to actually do that, even if she herself was very willing.

He invited his grandmother to come here to watch the show. After watching one performance, she could watch a second one without buying a ticket and have double the fun. After leaving the theater, she should go back to drinking tea, playing cards, and enjoying her retirement. There was no need for her to die here; it was not worth it.

Therefore, if the other teams cannot unseal the Dragon King's spirit and relieve the pressure there in time, even though splitting up the forces is a big no-no, Li Zhuiyuan will have to consider sending A Li with Run Sheng or A You to provide support.

Well, Ah Li has plenty of experience dealing with the spirit of the Dragon King anyway.

Inside the Demon Suppression Tower, Liu Yumei "returns" to her younger self.

I'm a bit tired, but fortunately, in my younger days, aside from having pretty moves, I didn't put in too much strain, so I could suppress these side effects.

Looking at Liu Yumei, whose temples were gray, Tao Yunhe felt a pang of heartache again.

Liu Yumei sat down.

Beside her, Jiang Xiuzhi had brewed some tea and handed her a cup.

The water was taken from the water tank in the sweeping monk's room, and the tea was some steward's private stash, which was countless times coarser than the tea drunk in the Bixi Pavilion. But with the scene of fighting in front of us, it tasted quite different.

Sure enough, the play was more interesting with some twists and turns. After the main performance, the audience members who were originally in the audience rushed onto the stage and continued to perform for them.

The acting wasn't great, but the fact that all the characters were his enemies made it very relatable and enjoyable to watch.

Tao Yunhe was flattered to receive a cup from Jiang Xiuzhi as well.

Then he saw Jiang Xiuzhi beckoning to the others behind her, telling them to help themselves if they were thirsty.

Tao Yunhe coughed lightly and asked, "When do we make our move?"

The guests behind them also turned their attention here, waiting for instructions.

Whenever there is trouble in the martial arts world, the Dragon King Sect should take the lead, especially since there are representatives from three Dragon King Sects present.

It's not that no one wants to run away, but they know that being confined here, the probability of breaking through the demonic barrier without falling into demonic possession is very low. Rather than falling into demonic possession, it's better to stay here and seek a heroic death.

Liu Yumei glanced at Kong Yi, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, with golden Buddhist light still flowing out.

"No rush, he hasn't exhausted himself yet, he can hold on a little longer." As soon as he finished speaking, the golden light flowing from Kong Yi's body stopped flowing, it dried up.

Liu Yumei's lips curled up slightly, and she sighed, "Ah, my mouth."

Kong opened his eyes, first looking at Liu Yumei, then at the group of guests behind him.

Although not explicitly stated, the meaning was clear: he could find a way to get Liu Yumei and the others to leave.

Liu Yumei cursed, "Bald monk."

In the past, if something went wrong at Qinglong Temple, leading to its collapse, she would simply clap her hands in approval while holding the letter and drinking a few more cups of rice wine with dinner.

But the temple was empty at the moment; those damned monks had long since disappeared. If the drought demon were allowed to escape, its demonic energy would overflow, causing widespread suffering to the surrounding creatures.

It wasn't out of compassion on her part. Whether you're physically present or not makes a huge difference in your mindset. More importantly, this was a big surprise for her own Xiaoyuan. She'd never had the chance to come in and lend a hand before, so how could she possibly give up now that she was able to get in?
Kong Yi smiled.

The old monk nodded. The golden light stopped flowing, but blood began to gush out.

Tao Yunhe reminded him, "He can indeed hold on for a while longer before he bleeds out."

Liu Yumei: "Well, then let's wait until he bleeds out."

The old monk had intended to sacrifice himself anyway, so he died a worthy death and there's nothing to be sad about.

Tao Yunhe: "Anyway, when it's time to make a move, let me go first. I can find a way to smash a crack in the Demon Suppression Tower, and then you can follow up. We'll have a chance."

Liu Yumei: "We're both getting on in years, and we know the consequences of doing this."

Tao Yunhe asked, puzzled, "I thought you would be more anxious and reckless than me..."

Liu Yumei: "I'm not in a hurry. I can't bear to ruin my health so early. I still need to live a good life and wait to hold my great-grandchildren in the future."

Tao Yunhe suddenly realized and turned to look at the barrier: "I understand, so that's what it means. You really have faith in that child."

Liu Yumei: "That child? He's your peer."

Tao Yunhe: "I think, given how long we've known each other, there's no need to hold a grudge about this privately anymore, right?"

Liu Yumei: "Have we known each other for a long time? Sigh, it really is. I've forgotten what you looked like when you were young."

Tao Yunhe nodded, his face showing bitterness once again.

Liu Yumei turned back to the group of guests behind her and reassured them:
"This world is in turmoil, and it is only right that someone should be in charge of handling it. Everyone, please do not be impatient, and wait with me for the Dragon King's decree."

Liu Yumei's words were a double entendre; the Dragon King's court could also issue Dragon King's decrees, but this group of people knew that she was clearly not referring to that.

Perhaps it's the lingering arrogance of being "young" again, or perhaps it's a return to a more relaxed mindset, and I'm too lazy to pretend anymore. Even if it's just a loan shark indulging in some empty talk to make myself happy, what's wrong with that?

My son, Xiao Yuan, is the Dragon King of this generation!

With the suppression of Mantang Jinlian as a prelude, and this crisis and turmoil following, this group of people genuinely hope that the "Dragon King" will step in to resolve the situation. Even if the Dragon King requires them to do something dangerous or sacrifice themselves, at least they can ensure that their deaths are worthwhile.

No one deliberately took the lead; given the urgent need in reality, there was no need to ask for favors; almost everyone spontaneously responded to Liu Yumei's words:
"We await the Dragon King's command!"

……

Tao Zhuming's team was in top form, but they kept encountering possessed individuals, fighting intermittently without much rest, which slowed down their progress.

Seeing this, Tao Zhuming simply stopped moving forward, to avoid having to stop and set up the formation again after walking a short distance. He might as well stay where he was and act as a light bulb to attract fireflies, which would also relieve some pressure on other aspects.

The Five Elements team was in a very bad state. There was nothing they could do about it, since they encountered their own elders right at the start, which almost left them all seriously injured. However, their progress was relatively smooth afterward. Although they encountered a few more old guys along the way, they were all low-class characters sitting by the stream. With Chen Xiyuan leading the charge with her flute, and the remaining four injured members cooperating, they were able to take them down one by one.

Xu Mofan: "We've arrived."

The ancestral temple of the holy monks of Qinglong Temple was right in front of the five people.

Unlike other ancestral homes where the ancestral halls enshrine the spirit of the Dragon King exude an auspicious atmosphere, this ancestral temple, when viewed from the outside, gives off a gloomy and oppressive feeling.

Luo Xiaoyu: "Just how many layers did these monks add to this place? It's so airtight, as if they're afraid the holy monks inside might even have a chance to breathe outside."

Ling Wuxing: "My family is also building one, but it's not this exaggerated."

This is like exposing one's own dirty laundry.

The Ling family's ancestral hall has recently undergone some new renovations that were not present before.

The main reason is the previous incident involving the Ming family. When that person descended upon the Ming family through the power of the Fengdu Emperor, the Dragon King spirit of the Ming family did not put up a serious fight, choosing instead to abandon its family and give back to the martial world.

Chen Xiyuan: "Covering this up is worse than turning it off."

Miss Chen felt no regret or heartache over the extinguishing of the spirits of her three Dragon Kings.

No matter how later generations try to "comfort the spirits of their ancestors in heaven," nothing can compare to the ancestors themselves "coming back to life" and enjoying themselves to the fullest.

Ling Wuxing: "Hmm."

Between each wave, the Five Elements would return to their ancestral home, sit on the artificial hill opposite the ancestral hall, and watch the additions that appeared outside their own ancestral hall.

The higher the layer added, the lower his feelings and loyalty to the Ling family.

Many of his family members shared the same idea, but these opinions were suppressed by his grandfather.

As a successor of the Dragon King's lineage, not being able to face one's own ancestors with equanimity is tantamount to stifling one's greatest glory.

Commander Wu Xing: "How long will it take to break through?"

Luo Xiaoyu: "It won't take too long. The main problem is that it's closed off internally. It's not difficult to break through from the outside."

Ling Wuxing said, "We don't need to break it open completely. Leave a gap large enough for us to enter. We'll go and invite them ourselves; that will be faster."

Luo Xiaoyu: "Understood."

Luo Xiaoyu opened the chessboard, which had no pieces, and placed a piece with his bare hand, immediately creating a series of phantom images of chess pieces.

The rest of the people remained on guard around the perimeter, fearing that another possessed person might cause trouble.

The tense and anxious time passed by, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief after Luo Xiaoyu said "It's done".

Although it is not the spirit of your own Dragon King, the Dragon King will always be the Dragon King. Even just being under his gaze can give you a great sense of security.

The temple gates opened.

The Five Elements were instructed to enter first, followed by the others.

As he walked, Ling Wuxing didn't forget to tidy up his clothes. It would have been better if he hadn't, because as he did, even more of the charred black residue came off. So he simply tore off a strip of cloth from his upper body, exposing his upper body.

Qinglong Temple merely covered up the ancestral temple; it did not go insane and make any haphazard alterations to the interior, thus preserving its original appearance.

The inner walls are covered with murals depicting the life of the holy monk, and there are also stone tablets with inscriptions on both sides of the path.

As soon as you step into the inner room, candles automatically light up, providing a soft glow. There is no incense or sandalwood, and the air is exceptionally fresh.

The first thing that catches the eye is a statue on the altar. Even the most ordinary temples in the countryside have a more Buddhist feel than this statue.

Because the statue in front of us is not a Buddha, but an old man with hair. He has hair, looks like an old farmer, and is squatting there with a smile on his face and kind eyes.

This was once a holy monk, and also the Dragon King of the martial arts world in that era.

The second statue looks very much like a monk, with a kasaya and prayer beads carved on it, and the ordination scars on his head are very clear. Logically speaking, this should be a statue with a dignified look or a solemn expression, but instead, he leans back, sticks out his belly, and grins happily.

It didn't match his reserved demeanor, nor was it the unrestrained yet dignified smile of Maitreya. He genuinely seemed to have heard a hilarious joke and was laughing so hard his stomach hurt. You could even see a snot bubble coming out of his nose from laughing.

The third statue of the holy monk depicts him sitting on the ground, holding a skewer of grilled meat, drooling as he anxiously and warily observes his surroundings, fearing he might be discovered breaking his vow of vegetarianism by secretly eating meat.

The other statues of holy monks also didn't look like holy monks at all.

Even those familiar with the image of the Dragon King, such as Chen Xiyuan and Ling Wuxing, felt somewhat lost upon seeing them, as their ancestors were always depicted as very dignified.

The holy monks here, far from lacking in dignity, actually give people a deep sense of closeness. If you stare at their statues for a while, you will unconsciously empathize with their state of mind, sharing their tension and joy.

Ling Wuxing said: "There was an inscription on a stele that said these statues were carved by the holy monk himself before his death, and they were based on the most unforgettable experiences of his life."

Their most unforgettable experience was learning how to be a person.

The holy monks who can become Dragon Kings are only one step away from becoming so-called "Buddhas," and that step is not difficult at all, with no obstacles in front of them; it is just that they are too lazy to take that step.

I only wish to be a monk in this world, not a Buddha for all eternity.

Ling Wuxing subconsciously prepared to perform the Ling family ceremony, hesitated for a moment, and then simply knelt down, ready to kowtow. But just as he was about to open his mouth and say "Junior Dragon King Ling family...", he closed his mouth again, caught in a brief moment of awkwardness.

Chen Xiyuan's eyes were drawn to the skewers of grilled meat in the statue of the holy monk. They looked delicious, and she could almost smell the aroma. They were so lifelike.

Miss Chen tiptoed and reached out to touch the altar. Hmm? It's soft!
He pulled his hand back; there was oil on his fingertips.

"These are actually real barbecue skewers!"

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the skewer of grilled meat being held by the statue of the holy monk was not part of the entire statue, indicating that it could be replaced.

He must have left a will, requesting that future monks replace his cigarette with a fresh one every so often.

There's a small array on the altar that works perfectly on the skewers, helping to prolong their flavor.

After all, Heaven cherishes life. If eating meat is not good, then let the meat skewers stay fresh for a while, and the frequency of changing offerings can also be reduced. That can be considered merciful.

Chen Xiyuan reached out and took a skewer of grilled meat, took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up:
Wow, this is delicious!

As if hearing these words, the eyes of the holy monk statue glowed with a soft white light.

Chen Xiyuan noticed, but she wasn't afraid, nor did she think she had been disrespectful. Instead, she asked sincerely:

"Can you move the whole thing back to Nantong for me, just so you can grill the meat?"

The soft light intensified, clearly touching the heart of the holy monk.

He is already dead, and his spirit cannot eat. His original intention in leaving this design was to make it convenient for monks of later generations to secretly break the precepts and eat meat when they come to the ancestral temple to worship him.

Ironically, nowadays, monks are not allowed to enter this place except for a very few people, such as the abbot.

The suppression of the ancestral temple has not been completely broken; now it is necessary to allow the spirit of the holy monk to awaken on its own.

In fact, Chen Xiyuan was almost able to awaken one of them, but that was thanks to the resonance among foodies.

To awaken the whole, one must possess the aura of a dragon king, not relying on bloodline or origin. As long as one has that divine charm, even a commoner can succeed.

Ling Wuxing stood up again. His descendants were unfilial, not ancestors. Having resolved his inner turmoil, he performed the Ling Family Ceremony and proclaimed loudly:

"Ling Wuxing, a descendant of the Dragon King of the Ling family, enters the Azure Dragon Ancestral Temple, begging all the holy monks to open their eyes and witness the filth and miasma within this temple, to suppress the evil spirits and purify the demonic atmosphere!"

His words were resounding and carried a hint of thunder, while subtle purple patterns flowed across his body.

"Buzz!"

The first "old farmer" statue lit up, followed by the second, third, fourth...

Behind Chen Xiyuan, the light seemed to bend over, smiling as it watched the girl eat with grease dripping from her mouth.

The next moment, these figures of light and shadow all became solemn, abandoning their relaxed demeanor, and clasped their hands together. From the depths of their being, a solemn Buddhist chant resounded:
"My Buddha is merciful."

"Boom!"

As the outer covering gradually peeled away, the spirits of all the holy monks rose into the air.

Inside Qinglong Temple, the demonic energy thinned out, and even within the Demon Suppression Tower, the demonic barrier was severely compressed. The drought demon on the top floor closed its eyes.

Outside the Demon Suppression Tower, the crowds who were imprisoned and fighting, and those who had fallen into demonic possession, became somewhat more peaceful, and the intensity of the fighting suddenly decreased.

Liu Yumei, Tao Yunhe, and Jiang Xiuzhi led the guests behind them in bowing to the spirit of the holy monk in the air:

"Greetings, Dragon King!"

"Greetings, Dragon King!"

In Buddhism, he can be called a holy monk, but in the martial arts world, he is only known as the Dragon King.

Kong Yi, already covered in blood, murmured, "Greetings, Holy Monk..."

Looking at his current appearance, and then at the tragic scene of people forced to fight each other because of his mark, Kong Yi revealed a look of bewilderment. He was afraid that the spirit of the holy monk in the temple would affect his plans, so he did not go to dismantle the ancestral temple's seal. But now, under the illumination of the holy monk's spirit, he began to wonder if his actions were no different from those of a demon.
As a result, the holy monk who had been casting his spell on this battlefield looked away, the demon-possessed continued to fall deeper, and the intensity of the fighting that had just subsided returned.

Kong smiled, his gaze hardening once more.

Seeing the dragon king's spirits rising above, Li Zhuiyuan knew that the situation had stabilized for the time being, and he could focus on his own business.

All the Buddha statues were built around the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, which explains why Yayoi said he often saw them; it just so happened to be the area where the Sweeping Monk was active.

After making a round and posting notices, Li Zhuiyuan returned to the starting point, entered the hospital and tower, and met up with Tan Wenbin.

"Brother Xiaoyuan, I've made all the changes according to the blueprints."

"Ah."

Li Zhuiyuan arrived at the top floor, sat on the platform, and faced the Demon Suppression Tower.

While the Dragon King's spirit is still exerting its suppressive effect, introducing "living water" to add more power now would naturally yield the best results, but it also carries certain risks.

Well, let's take the risk if we have to.

Li Zhuiyuan held up the compass with his left hand, and the evil dragon appeared, activating the formation of the Buddhist pagoda where he was located.

A muffled thud came from inside the stupa, indicating that preparations were complete.

A lotus mark appeared between Li Zhuiyuan's eyebrows.

Suddenly, the spirits of the Dragon King in the sky all trembled.

When the "holy monks" sensed the presence of the Bodhisattva within the temple, they showed no piety whatsoever, nor any intention to worship. On the contrary...

At this moment, what Li Zhuiyuan, this Bodhisattva, felt was many clear and straightforward killing intent coming from above!
The spirit of the holy monk not only revealed itself in this way, but also acted in this way, drawing half of the holy monk's spirit out of the Demon-Suppressing Tower, preparing to attack Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan sensed this risk, but the boy didn't expect it to come so directly.

The lotus mark remains, and the young man opens his soul to reveal his destiny in a unique way.

Two ancient and imposing altars appeared behind the boy, filled with cracked memorial tablets.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up and addressed the spirit of the holy monk in the sky:

"Long Wang Qin, Long Wang Liu, and Li Zhuiyuan, the current head of the family, uphold the will of their ancestors and are here to suppress evil spirits!"

The gazes of all the holy monks lingered on the illusory image of the cracked memorial tablet behind Li Zhuiyuan, and then, the killing intent dissipated.

No longer suppressed by the spirit of the holy monk, Li Zhuiyuan could confidently and boldly begin to do his own thing. He now needed Buddhist power, a great deal of Buddhist power, to suppress the drought demon that was still resisting.

The boy made a hand seal, and the paper on each Buddha statue changed color into an array, carrying Li Zhuiyuan's voice transmission, or rather, a "calling for companions" in the guise of a Bodhisattva.

"Gentlemen, now that this matter is settled, please return to Qinglong!"

(End of this chapter)