Chapter 363: Jiuzhen

His thoughts slowed, his senses dulled, and everything before Meng Qi seemed frozen in time.

Suddenly, a howling wind blew through, as if lifting a sealed curse. The demonic energy surged again, colors returning to the black and white world, and a bloody river began to flow quietly.

Dadada—the dark clouds that had gathered earlier due to the celestial changes continued to weep, raindrops striking the earth.

Papapap—a series of black shadows shrieked in agony before vanishing into smoke and mist, leaving behind only a few.

They gathered together once more, reforming their bodies. Though still mummified, their demonic energy had weakened significantly, with the Buddha light now nearly prevailing.

Above Jiang Zhiwei’s head, her Yuan Shen had burned down to a thin, translucent glow, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

Her Yuan Shen dove back into the Niwan Palace. Her eyes tightly shut, her face pale and fragile like paper, dark red blood seeped from her seven orifices.

She slowly collapsed, her breath growing weaker and weaker. Yet, her sword-wielding hand remained firm, not loosening even slightly.

Meng Qi felt deep concern in his heart. He wanted to rush over, give her the Dahuandan to stabilize her fading life force, and then quickly destroy the passage. But he didn’t move. He hadn’t lost his basic judgment. If he didn’t seize this opportunity to suppress the demonic energy and let the Buddha light prevail, then Jiang Zhiwei’s life-burning strike would be in vain. And if that happened, no one present would survive!

It was time! Meng Qi decided to activate the She Shen Jue once again!

According to the Shaolin secret records, activating She Shen Jue twice without allowing the body to recover could result in immediate death!

Meng Qi knew that his physical body had already transcended the mundane, so he likely wouldn’t die, but he might suffer shattered meridians, leaving him a cripple, beyond even the Dahuandan’s ability to heal, and unable to help destroy the passage afterward. However, if he didn’t resolve the current crisis, there would be no “afterward” at all!

He could only hope that Senior Brother Qi had already revived Old Zhao, and with Zhao’s accumulated wealth, quickly eliminate a half-step “Outer Scenery” demonic cultivator and destroy the passage.

Just as he was about to circulate his technique, a hand suddenly descended from the sky. It was a thin, emaciated hand with little flesh, yet its fingers were long and slender, elegant and beautiful.

The five fingers continuously shifted, forming various mudras, as if illustrating the mystery of life, describing the blooming of a flower, the birth of a baby, the sprouting of a seed.

Faint green light coiled around it. Meng Qi seemed to hear the sound of a seed breaking through soil.

A tiny seed, sprouting and pushing through thick earth—that was the power of life!

This wasn’t an illusion. Within a radius of several miles, sprouts emerged from the ground, fresh and vibrant with new green.

Bixia Yuanjun! A surge of joy rose in Meng Qi’s heart. There was hope!

Without hesitation, he rushed toward Jiang Zhiwei, swiftly discarding Liuhuo with his left hand and pulling out the Dahuandan.

The palm struck the head of the mummified corpse wounded by Jian Niansan, pouring life energy into it.

When Bixia Yuanjun arrived, she had just seen Jiang Zhiwei’s Jian Niansan. Along with shock came an intense desire—an urge to strike!

Earlier, she had known the monsters were terrifying, so she had planned to wait until Guangcheng Tianzun and Yunzhongzi arrived before acting. But now, the monster was much weaker than she had imagined. It had to divide its attention to suppress the Buddha light, and had already been wounded by a group of kids who hadn’t even reached the half-step “Outer Scenery” realm. Its demonic energy was dispersing, nearly overtaken by the Buddha light.

Such an opportunity lay before her—how could she not strike?

If Heaven grants an opportunity and you do not seize it, you will suffer the consequences!

Aaah!

The monster let out an earth-shaking scream. Gush after gush of black qi spewed out, polluting the pale green life energy. Terrifying demonic might surged outward, forcing Bixia Yuanjun to retreat.

“Namo Amituofo.” Seizing the moment, the Buddha light completely suppressed the demonic energy, regaining control. The blackness on its body was pushed back to the torso. Though its head still bore the appearance of a mummy, it now radiated compassion and peace, without a trace of ferocity.

Seeing this, Bixia Yuanjun dared not strike, fearing she might weaken the Buddha light and allow the demonic energy to regain dominance.

Earlier, her full-strength palm strike had only left a shallow imprint on the opponent’s head, causing no serious damage. This alone proved the monster’s terrifying power. If she had to fight both its demonic and Buddha aspects in turns, she feared she wouldn’t escape with her life!

Meng Qi stimulated Jiang Zhiwei’s meridians with his true energy, forcing her mouth open and feeding her the Dahuandan, while helping her absorb its medicinal power.

Jiang Zhiwei’s Yuan Shen dissipated slightly slower now, but still inevitably. Feeling anxious, Meng Qi was about to ask Bixia Yuanjun for help.

At that moment, a glazed Buddha light descended, sealing Jiang Zhiwei’s Primordial Spirit and nearly halting its dissipation entirely.

“Amituofo. This old monk dares not spare too much strength. I can only stabilize this lay devotee’s Yuan Shen. If within seven days you can find a hermit who has refined a golden body, she may yet be saved.” The mummy wore a yellow monk’s robe and a red kasaya, hands clasped in a respectful gesture, exuding the aura of a great monk.

Hearing this, Meng Qi exhaled in relief. With the Master of the Sixfold Samsara present, “this isn’t even a problem!”

When Qi Zhengyan saw the situation improving, he no longer forced himself to keep going. As his tension eased, he collapsed from exhaustion and fainted.

…

Inside the stone chamber, a man in a green robe sat cross-legged on the ground. Though he appeared young, there was an indescribable sense of vicissitude—as if observing him closely would reveal his emptiness, his presence both here and far away.

Zheng! The longsword across his knees slid back into its sheath, having revealed only half an inch of blade earlier.

Wuqu Star God and Queen Mother of the West confirmed that no one remained inside the Extreme Heaven Hall. They simultaneously flew in through the broken window Meng Qi had created.

…

“Amituofo. This old monk is Jiuzhen.” The mummy introduced himself.

Bixia Yuanjun had already roughly guessed the mummy’s identity and state. She waited with curiosity and caution, ready for whatever came next.

Within the fragment of the demonic realm, seeing a mummy in a kasaya, Meng Qi could have figured it out with his toes. He set Jiang Zhiwei down and stood facing Jiuzhen without revealing his thoughts.

Jiuzhen sighed slightly and said, “Long ago, this old monk sought to eliminate the Yuanmo threat. I brought along a Buddhist treasure and ventured deep into this realm. My great task was nearly complete when I overlooked one thing—this realm cannot be destroyed, and Yuanmo cannot truly ‘die.’ He seized the opportunity to infiltrate my body, and since then, we have been entangled, mutually suppressing each other for many years.”

“This old monk should have passed into Nirvana long ago. It is only through Yuanmo’s presence that I have clung to life until today. I have no attachment to this world and have always sought an opportunity to finally resolve this calamity.”

“Just now, this old monk sensed the appearance of a Buddhist treasure connected to the Buddha. I understood that my chance had come, so without hesitation, I summoned you all. Unfortunately, the cost was too great, and Yuanmo regained the upper hand. It nearly cost the lives of all of you. This old monk deeply regrets it.”

Damn it! So it was all because this bald old fool! Thinking of the suffering of Jiang Zhiwei and the others, Meng Qi couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

At the same time, he finally understood why the disaster had occurred—it was because he had used the Qingdeng, the Lamp Before the Buddha!

Bixia Yuanjun nodded slightly, glancing at the Qingdeng hanging from Meng Qi’s chest, finally resolving the mystery in her heart.

“Might this lay devotee be willing to part with this Qingdeng connected to the Buddha, allowing this old monk to use it to destroy Yuanmo?” Chan Master Jiuzhen clasped his hands respectfully and earnestly requested.

Bixia Yuanjun furrowed her brows, sensing something amiss. Yet facing Jiuzhen, she dared not make any excessive moves.

Meng Qi was still considering whether to take this opportunity to demand something in return—the Qingdeng was worth a significant amount of merit. Suddenly, he recalled what the Master of the Sixfold Samsara had said about the Qingdeng: “possibly the continuation of the Cold Jade Buddha Statue!”

“Destroy Yuanmo and restore peace to the world. What do I have to be reluctant about?” Meng Qi’s expression turned solemn and righteous. He solemnly removed the Qingdeng and handed it to Jiuzhen.

A faint, seemingly sinister smile appeared on Jiuzhen’s mummified face. He accepted the Qingdeng with reverence, then performed a single-handed salute and said, “Amituofo. Young lay devotee, your willingness shall surely bring you blessings.”

He sat cross-legged, one hand holding the Qingdeng, the other raised before his chest. With a compassionate and merciful expression, he said, “Throughout your life, you have known only slaughter and flesh, blinded by desire. This old monk has been entangled with you, constantly sensing your presence, understanding your obsession. Through this opportunity, I shall eliminate your evil thoughts and guide you to the Western Paradise.”

“Guan Zizai Bodhisattva, when practicing deep Prajna Paramita, illuminated the emptiness of the five aggregates and crossed all suffering.”

“Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form…”

Verse after verse of sutra recitation echoed gently, pure and solemn, sacred and profound, bringing peace to the heart and prompting contemplation of life.

The Qingdeng in Jiuzhen’s left hand radiated brilliant light, cracks appearing on its surface, and a faint aura of the Buddha emerged.

Infinite Light, Infinite Life, illuminating the ten directions and eight extremes, countless worlds!

The entire demonic realm fragment filled with warm, pure light. All demonic energy melted away like snow under the sun.

Crack after crack echoed continuously, and visible fissures appeared in the pitch-black void.

A demonic shadow struggled and screamed within Jiuzhen’s body, but it could not stop its dissipation and transparency. At the same time, Jiuzhen’s own physical body began emitting golden light, vanishing into the air.

“You hypocritical bald monk! You speak so beautifully, yet you still want to kill me!” Yuanmo roared.

Then he burst into laughter, seemingly giving up all resistance.

“Therefore, Prajna Paramita is the great mantra, the great bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the mantra beyond comparison, capable of eliminating all suffering, true and not false…”

Jiuzhen’s expression remained compassionate and serene. The Buddha light and the light from the Qingdeng suddenly intensified, filling Meng Qi’s vision with pure light.

Within the light, the faint black qi completely vanished, leaving only a mad laughter echoing around:

“Kill me? Kill me? As long as desire exists in the heart, I, the Demon, shall never die!”

As the Buddha light dissipated, the entire demonic realm fragment lost its taint. Cracks spread across the ground, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Wuqu Star God and Queen Mother of the West rushed to the passage entrance, ready to enter, when they suddenly stopped. They noticed that the dark, shadowy passage was already collapsing!

“Did the Immortal Trace take away the Buddhist treasure?” They looked at each other in confusion.

…

Jiuzhen manifested his golden body—an eight-armed Arhat, though dim like a shadow, seemingly ready to vanish at any moment.

“Amituofo. Thanks to the young lay devotee’s help.” Jiuzhen clasped his hands and bowed to Meng Qi, his voice carrying a smile, “This old monk has nothing of value, only one Buddhist treasure, which is already on the verge of destruction. Please do not hold it against me, young lay devotee.”

As soon as he finished speaking, green light surged around Bixia Yuanjun, rushing toward Jiuzhen.

But Jiuzhen was faster. His forehead split open, revealing a vertical eye, from which a pale green Bodhi seed shot forth, striking Meng Qi’s forehead directly.

Before Meng Qi could understand what was happening, his head spun, and darkness enveloped his vision.

Then, from the darkness emerged a colossal golden Buddha, one finger pointing to the heavens, the other to the earth, radiating profound serenity:

“In heaven and on earth, only the ‘self’ is supreme.”

The Buddha light erupted, dispelling the darkness, seemingly containing infinite truths of the Dao. Meng Qi’s head throbbed violently, and he was abruptly pulled out of the state, unable to grasp even a single insight.

At that moment, he just saw Jiuzhen disappearing with a smile, a cloud of green powder scattering before him—the Bodhi seed from earlier.

Had this Buddhist treasure only been able to grant one final insight into the “Supreme Self”?

No, from Jiuzhen’s smile, it seemed he had deliberately destroyed the Bodhi seed…

Meng Qi didn’t feel the joy of a tremendous gain. Instead, his mind was filled with illusions of being relentlessly pursued across heaven and earth, and Bixia Yuanjun’s gaze, filled with ill intent.

Damn! The Divine Palm has drawn attention. With our imminent return, I wonder if the contract still holds…

Even if we successfully return and evade Bixia Yuanjun’s capture, once the “Immortal Trace” spreads the news, I will become an enemy to the entire world…

Even if the Immortal Trace wishes to keep it secret, the “Myth” will surely publicize it, claiming that the “Asura Palm” first stance has been obtained by the Immortal Trace or us…

Thoughts surged through Meng Qi’s mind. Sharply, he seized upon one idea and decisively turned to Bixia Yuanjun with a solemn expression:

“Yuanjun, I wish to join the Immortal Trace!”