The grand hall was everywhere inlaid with gold foil, reflecting the light into dazzling colors, further highlighting the sanctity of the white petals and the mercy of the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire, illuminating her pink skin with a lustrous and tempting glow.
Meng Qi secretly clenched the Samsara Talisman in his hand, his hands clasped behind his back. His blue robe slightly stirred as he stood tall and proud, exuding an air of quiet confidence, profound and weathered, revealing not the slightest hint of surprise.
Such words could not be casually accepted. He himself was not truly the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord, and he had no idea what had happened in the past. Perhaps the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire was merely testing him. If he pretended to know her and exchanged a few words of greeting, he would immediately fall into a trap!
However, if he remained noncommittal and adopted a cold attitude, he might risk raising suspicion if they actually did know each other.
Therefore, at this moment, the most natural approach was to remain vague—neither confirming recognition nor revealing unfamiliarity!
His thoughts raced as Meng Qi took two steps forward with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression a half-smile: “This old man has always been unfathomable.”
The Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire immediately burst into a trembling, eye-catching laugh: “You Poisonous Hand are still as conceited as ever. Pity though, back then you came and went in such a hurry, never giving us the chance to walk side by side and travel together.”
Her eyes, moist and glistening, gazed at Meng Qi with hidden greed, as if staring at a miraculous elixir.
According to Wan Shou’s “letter,” even if the Poisonous Hand had not yet reached the Grandmaster level, he was very close and could break through at any moment.
Never had the chance to walk side by side? In other words, they probably didn’t have any real relationship after all? Meng Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it wasn’t a past romantic entanglement, the matter would be easier to handle. Thinking about it, it made sense. If the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord had truly been the Bodhisattva’s old lover, he would likely have already been drained into the condition of the “Three-Eyed Arrow God” outside the hall, never having the strength to offend both the righteous and evil paths and end up with enemies across the world, hiding away in Bomi?
“What a fortunate indulgence—this old man fears he cannot afford such luxury,” Meng Qi replied with an air of ease, fully embodying the demeanor of an old demonic master.
The Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire smiled, glancing at the two men kneeling beside her feet who were intently kneading and caressing: “Would you two dare to refuse such fortune?”
“Wouldn’t dare!” Not only the two kneeling at her feet, but also the four men flanking and standing behind the Bodhisattva responded in unison, their expressions ecstatic and entranced, as if they had already attained the ultimate bliss of the mortal world.
“Poisonous Hand, see for yourself—these men don’t think the same as you,” the Bodhisattva sighed, her beauty instantly shifting into a delicate and moving expression. “You and I belong to the same generation, but those who once rivaled us before you fled into Bomi—now, I fear fewer than one in ten of them still survive.”
Twenty years was not a long time for someone who had reached the External Scenery level, but the Left Path was more brutal than the Right. Under relentless suppression, betrayed and killed by friends, and hunted by stronger cultivators for treasures and bodies, those whose techniques allowed rapid progress could never accumulate an advantage in numbers of External Scenery adepts. Thus, twenty years was enough for many External Scenery cultivators to perish. Of course, it wasn’t nearly to the extent of ten dying for every one surviving. What the Bodhisattva meant was that those still alive were not truly “alive”—those unable to break through and stuck at the bottom of the External Scenery ranks, only capable of bullying newly opened acupoint novices, clearly did not count as “living well.”
For them, if one belonged to a major sect and held a core position, one could not compare to the Bodhisattva. If not part of a major sect, one would become prey for powerful figures like the Bodhisattva, constantly living in fear.
“What of it? The world is full of suffering. Without strength, it is better to seek early liberation,” Meng Qi replied coldly, deliberately adopting a tone of false compassion.
The Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire giggled, and the entire hall brightened as if illuminated by her laughter: “Wan Shou said you used Buddhist techniques to supplement your demonic foundation. I originally did not believe it, but now I see it is true. This is quite similar to our own Joyful Sect’s approach, except we seek the Buddha within the demon, while you transform the Buddha into a demon. We complement each other perfectly.”
As she said “complement,” she suddenly winked, and for a fleeting moment, the playful charm she displayed added a refreshing new allure to her already enchanting presence.
Meng Qi suddenly felt like he was back in his previous life, listening to vulgar jokes at a banquet. He barely managed to suppress the ripples in his heart and smiled faintly: “Buddha or demon, it’s all about pursuing the ‘Dao’ within one’s heart. In any case, Li Wending’s path is not my own.”
“Have you truly attained great enlightenment?” The Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire hesitated slightly before continuing, her expression once again turning compassionate. “Do you think Li Wending is pitiful?”
“In these twenty years, countless External Scenery cultivators have perished—some in the struggle between righteousness and evil, others betrayed and murdered for greed, some blinded by desire, failing to know when to stop when plundering ancient ruins or opening hidden chambers, only to be killed for their treasures. Others were caught in the crossfire of experts’ battles, dying senselessly. And still others fell into madness from cultivation mishaps, constantly facing the threat of death.”
“Even those still alive mostly live in suffering—worried about sources of rare treasures, fearful of enemies’ pursuit, frustrated by stagnant cultivation, jealous of newcomers surpassing them, and terrified of aging day by day, living in constant anxiety.”
“This old man’s compassion tells me the world is full of suffering, all things are illusory—better to destroy it all,” Meng Qi replied simply.
A radiant, holy light appeared on the Bodhisattva’s face: “Indeed, the world is full of suffering, filled with troubles. Most people live mundane, repetitive lives, constantly plagued by illness, the sorrow of parting, the oppression of parents, the discrimination of others, and the torment of unrequited love. They can only grasp fleeting moments of happiness before their lives end and their bodies turn to dust. If life is so difficult, why not abandon all burdens and indulge in ultimate bliss?”
“I give them my body, allowing them to constantly experience the ultimate joy of spiritual and physical union, forgetting all their sorrows and immersing themselves in pleasure until death arrives peacefully. Compared to you, who toils endlessly in schemes and battles, uncertain of success, and suffers more pain than joy, I am infinitely more fortunate. Do you still think Li Wending is pitiable?”
What a master of twisted logic… Considering he himself was also a heretic, Meng Qi had no desire to argue and simply smiled leisurely: “You are not the fish. How can you know the joy of the fish?”
“Is that so?” The Bodhisattva’s eyes sparkled with a moist, glistening light. “But how can you claim not to desire the ultimate bliss of spiritual and physical union if you’ve never experienced it yourself?”
She paused briefly, then continued with a soft laugh: “Back then, I always wanted to spar with you, but never got the chance. Now that we’ve finally met, how can I not fulfill this long-held wish?”
“You are my guest, so it would be inappropriate to fight, lest you misunderstand and think us insincere, attempting to forcefully drain your essence. Instead, let me show you my ‘Compassion and Desire Bodhisattva Manifestation,’ so you won’t remain ignorant of ultimate bliss, and perhaps even provoke you into revealing your own Dharma Form.”
Without waiting for Meng Qi’s response, she hastily sat cross-legged, and the white petals surrounding her began to flutter, swirling in the air.
The reason she refrained from forcefully draining his essence was mainly due to limitations in her own power, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t tempt him into willingly surrendering. If she could seduce the Poisonous Hand into willingly giving himself to her, and drain the essence of a Grandmaster—or someone close to that level—she could immediately break through her long-standing bottleneck and approach Grandmaster status herself!
All that she had said earlier was precisely to unsettle the Poisonous Hand and shake his convictions!
A pure light emanated from the Bodhisattva’s body, and behind her, a Bodhisattva image solidified—a white-robed, holy figure with a right hand holding a lotus, her face bearing a slight resemblance to the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire but even more sacred and merciful. Her attire was partially exposed, her chest faintly visible, her skin seemingly woven from Dharma principles, solid yet incredibly alluring. Her lips parted slightly, her left hand resting on her chest, as if about to undress, evoking endless fantasies.
This paradoxical blend of holiness and seduction exuded an indescribable charm, directly imprinting itself onto Meng Qi’s Yuan Shen!
White petals drifted, a faint pink mist filled the air, and soft moans floated like whispers.
Thump, thump, thump—Meng Qi felt his heart pounding like a drum, his blood surging, his breath growing heavy and uncontrollable.
This temptation, as if woven into the very laws of heaven and earth, was nearly irresistible, as if she embodied the very essence of desire and the manifestation of his innermost cravings!
Thump, thump, thump—the men within the hall dropped to their knees, their expressions wild and enraptured, torn between the desire for purity and the fear of defiling sanctity.
Thump, thump, thump—Meng Qi barely held on, activating the heart technique of the A-nan Breaking Precepts Blade, forcibly suppressing his lustful thoughts and retaining a sliver of clarity.
At the same time, within the ancestral gateway between his brows, darkness reigned—no top, no bottom, no front, no back, no past, no future. The Unyielding Primordial Manifestation emerged from within, resisting the strange Dharma influences.
With both techniques working in tandem, Meng Qi seized a brief window of opportunity. Deep within his Yuan Shen, he visualized the true essence of the “Tathagata’s Divine Palm,” and a golden Buddha appeared upon the ocean of his mind, one finger pointing to the heavens, one hand touching the earth, its voice booming:
“In heaven and on earth, I alone am honored!”
The voice of the Buddha thundered like a storm, and the “I” within it rose above all desires, merging with the Unyielding Yuan Shen, subduing all temptations.
His blood flow slowed, his heartbeat calmed, and his breathing became deep and steady. Meng Qi had already shaken off the influence of the entwined Dharma principles. Sensing his surroundings, he discovered that even the two female disciples, Ying Ning and Le Huan, had been drawn in, their faces flushed, softly moaning, while the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire remained unaware that Meng Qi’s eyes had already cleared, continuing to channel her Dharma Form.
Meng Qi was about to laugh heartily, turn around with his hands clasped behind his back, and leave in a grand Left Path master’s style, when a better idea struck him. Earlier, hadn’t he obtained a single drop of “Sage Demon’s Blood”? Perfect—he could use it to shock them and prove the truth of his claim about using Buddhist techniques to supplement his demonic foundation!
A streak of dark purple blood flew from his Ji Zi Ring into Meng Qi’s hand, and a sinister, devouring aura surged from his palm into his body, merging with the golden Buddha aura simulated by the Eight-Nine Technique.
The Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire was fully manifesting her Dharma Form, preparing to unleash her full power, when suddenly she sensed an overwhelming, malevolent aura that sent a chill through her soul. It reeked of destruction, consumption, and corruption, yet was unified within a strange, detached serenity and a Buddhist aura of compassion. It was a cold, indifferent gaze upon the mortal world!
Within the hall, golden light turned black, demonic energy churned, and ancient, sinister thoughts pierced through space, as if a true demon were about to manifest in the mortal realm. Meng Qi, his temples streaked with frost-white, stood amidst it all, hands clasped behind his back, resembling both a Buddha and a god!
The Bodhisattva’s gaze froze, her heart stirred, and the image of the Bodhisattva behind her wavered slightly.
The Poisonous Hand had truly become a Left Path Overlord!
She couldn’t even force him to reveal his Dharma Form!
“Compassion and Desire, shall I continue the demonstration?” Meng Qi asked with a faint smile.
At his words, the people in the hall finally regained their senses, their gazes upon Meng Qi like those staring at a true Demon King!
The Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire smiled and retracted her Dharma Form, showing no sign of defeat: “Poisonous Hand, you have lived up to the title of Demon Lord, possessing the strength of the Black List. I am no match for you. Let’s rest for today. I shall report to the Sect Leader Bodhisattva, and tomorrow we should be able to meet and finalize our agreement.”
Tomorrow? Meng Qi’s heart tightened. Did that mean he had to make the “Poisonous Hand” disappear tonight, assume another identity, and lie low on the island, waiting for an opportunity to become a male disciple with access to the ultimate blade?
But what identity should he assume?
After bidding farewell to the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Desire, Le Huan led Meng Qi and Ying Ning toward the guest quarters.
From what he had observed along the way, Meng Qi realized that many spirit beasts were kept here, feeding on wild animals. If he transformed into a rat or similar creature, he would have to be wary of their attacks, lest he be exposed. As for insects or other tiny creatures, he would need to wait until the time of the Earthly Numerals’ transformation.
What should he transform into?
And under what pretext could he make the Poisonous Hand vanish without arousing suspicion or prompting a full-scale search of the island?
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage