Free Web NovelChapter 338: Chapter 126: Fourth Realm, Flesh Spiral, Essence of Life
Holding the Lingyi Sect token, he transformed into a flying insect and darted into the mountain gate.
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Buzz buzz...
Buzz buzz buzz...
The flying insect familiar with the path ascended the lush peaks, circled around the outskirts of Purple Mist Peak, then gradually approached Sunrise Peak.
On Sunrise Peak, as the morning sun rose, an elderly man with white hair wore a stern and serious expression, staring at the lingering clouds rising and falling in the sunlight.
Dimly visible, white tides surged from all directions, making the place seem like a solitary island.
Jin Tianchan sighed lightly.
How could this scene not also reflect the current state of the Lingyi Sect?
Suddenly, a calm voice came from nearby.
"Why does Sect Leader Jin sigh?"
Jin Tianchan turned sharply, only to see a benevolent-looking monk standing behind him.
The mountain wind billowed, lifting the monk’s tattered, casual robe, while his feet were bare, appearing utterly carefree and relaxed.
Without letting Jin Tianchan guess, the monk took out a letter from his bosom, opened it voluntarily, shook it in mid-air, then extended his hand, and the letter seemed to have a life of its own, gently flying out.
Jin Tianchan raised his hand, channeling energy to catch the letter.
However, the letter was powerless; when he caught it, it felt like striking cotton with force.
Jin Tianchan quickly scanned the letter’s content, then looked at the monk with a strange and surprised gaze.
The monk pressed his palms together, smiled, and said, "I am the Arhat Fuhu under the seat of the Buddha."
Jin Tianchan looked at him, filled with doubt and uncertainty.
The letter’s content was enigmatic.
Last year, knowing the Divine Martial Monarch was suppressed by the Buddha, he was overwhelmed with regret, disillusioned to the extreme. If time could be rewound, he would have stopped Li Xuan by all means, never letting him leave.
And now, with Li Xuan’s death and the Buddha’s intervention, Jin Tianchan knew this meant the Lingyi Sect had become a solitary fortress. If they couldn’t hold out for successors or for great fortune, they would likely be eradicated in the upcoming war.
To the north lay the Demon Bear, to the south the Demon Buddha.
The Demon Bear and Demon Buddha seemed to have formed an alliance.
Such terrifying talent as Li Xuan was also unfortunately lost.
Yet now, this letter suddenly informed him that Li Xuan wasn’t dead, and the Buddha was an ally, aiming to kill the Demon Bear.
Jin Tianchan put down the letter, speaking gravely, "One letter isn’t enough. I cannot risk the entire sect."
Arhat Li Xuan said, "That is a Tier Four demon, and a Great Demon reborn. How long does Sect Leader Jin think the sect can hold out?"
Jin Tianchan coldly replied, "As long as I defend fully, no matter who comes, they’ll be suppressed by my sect’s array. I am not afraid."
Arhat Li Xuan said, "There exist methods to move mountains and overturn seas, and poisonous items too. If that Tier Four demon cuts off the sect’s foundation from outside or throws poison into the sect, would Sect Leader still not emerge?"
Jin Tianchan’s expression changed dramatically.
The sect’s array restrained demons, but didn’t guard against water, fire, or poison.
By then, even if sect disciples could wield flying swords within the array to attack outside, it might not be effective.
Arhat Li Xuan continued to pressure him, saying, "Does Sect Leader Jin know about last year’s great fire in the capital?"
Jin Tianchan said, "I’ve heard of it. I assume it was the Demon Bear setting the fire, and then the Buddha summoned the Luo River’s waters to extinguish it. After such a battle, your two sides became allies."
Arhat Li Xuan said, "But what Sect Leader doesn’t know is that the fire was terrifyingly toxic, susceptible only to ice. This was also why Feng Xiongyi chose summer to prepare for his coup, because the Demon Bear carried that kind of poison."
Jin Tianchan’s face grew increasingly grim.
Arhat Li Xuan intimidated him, saying, "The Buddha fears not killing the Demon Bear, thus seeks cooperation with Sect Leader Jin.
If Sect Leader Jin is unwilling to cooperate, the Buddha would have no choice but to partner with the Demon Bear.
Then, the Demon Bear would use fire to poison.
The Buddha would move mountains and overturn seas, bringing East Sea waters into the Lingyi Sect—what then?"
The air suddenly became silent.
Seeing Jin Tianchan still unable to decide, Arhat Li Xuan threw out one last straw.
"Sect Leader, dare I ask, if the Buddha and Li Xuan truly had deep-seated hatred, why does the Li family continue to prosper in Cyan Wood Province?
You should know enough about Li Xuan’s affairs; have you ever found the relationship between Li Xuan and the Buddha to be all thunder and no rain?"
Jin Tianchan’s body shook; he solemnly said, "I want to meet Li Xuan."
Arhat Li Xuan stared at him for a while, then said, "Tomorrow at midnight, west of the Five Peaks, at a gap, a meeting can occur. But only one meeting; if the Demon Bear knows the Divine Martial Monarch is alive, all is lost."
Jin Tianchan pondered for a long time, nodded.
Arhat Li Xuan left without hesitation, and come midnight the next day, under the moonlit sky, he revealed his true form and met Jin Tianchan.
After a round of discussion, Jin Tianchan was finally relieved, wanting to keep Li Xuan in the sect but knowing with eyes watching, matters easily leak; better to wait until the situation settles.
Finally, unable to help himself, he again asked a question, "Li Xuan, when did you and the Buddha become friends?"
Li Xuan replied, "Master, you once said I might be entangled with many karmic causes.
If Buddha Mother as maid, Buddha as enemy is karma, then... why can’t Buddha as friend also be?
When we first met, the Buddha and I never bore resentment because of Buddha Mother; it was just that the world is treacherous, so we staged a play for outsiders.
Now faced with a great crisis, it is fortunate to have the Buddha present; otherwise, the battle would be upon us."
Jin Tianchan looked at him, increasingly satisfied, only feeling that this child’s nature and talent were both incredibly amazing, a choice selection of the time, unable to keep from nodding repeatedly, warmly said, "When the dust settles, return, and I will impart all my skills to you."
