Chapter 351: Tempest of Death and Fury

Killing intent surges like relentless waves!

A roaring tidal surge on the Grand Canal crashes forward—its thunderous bluster merging with heaven and earth!

Within the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, every monk resembled a fragile boat, bobbing on a perilous tidal surge that could engulf them at any moment!

Oppressive. Turbulent. Boiling over!

More terrifying still was the savage Martial Saint aura unleashed—a resolute will of martial might that slammed down like a mountain!

It made every present monk feel as though their very organs were twisting in agony.

A thick stench of blood spread—a signature of the peerless grandmaster slain by a single strike from Divine Monkey’s staff!

This was no ordinary master but a premier grandmaster whose inner flame had reached the peak of the Three Flowers!

Even in Divine Capital he would have commanded fear!

And yet he died so quickly, without even a chance to react!

Faster!

Too fast!

The gap is simply insurmountable!

“Hehehe—”

A crisp sound—like countless wooden beads dropping onto solid ground, bouncing repeatedly!

The Cosmic Chessboard spanned the air, hanging above an inky Mo City whose towering gate bore the word “Shandu” like a grim emblem of death.

The entire Courtyard was shrouded in darkness; even though many warrior monks had long reached a state where they could calmly observe the world without fear of light, this darkness seemed to cast them into an abyss of ink.

Their eyes were smeared in darkness, their pupils completely filled with inky blackness!

They couldn’t see a thing!

Absolutely blind!

Inside the Courtyard, the monks of Xiao Lingyin Courtyard roared in anger!

Suddenly, a dazzling golden light erupted, dispelling the surrounding darkness and illuminating a span of ten zhang!

But it reached only ten zhang.

That light was conjured by another team-leading Elder of Xiao Lingyin Temple—a formidable mage of the Divine Nucleus Cultivator stage with Three God Transformations!

The monk sat cross-legged on the ground, cupping his hands together to push back the darkness as the Buddha light expanded outwards.

Woooooo!!!

Earlier in the pre-banquet clash with Li Che, the valiant Wukong strode forward, loudly chanting the Buddha’s name as his tongue burst forth like spring thunder!

At that moment, his Diamond Fist Manifestation burst forth, swelling and floating around him. His monk’s robe whipped in the wind as his eyes shone with gold before snapping open with fierce determination!

“Demon Monkey!”

“Prepare to die!” roared Wukong, his wrath uncontrollable as the chaos unfolded too quickly for him to fully process.

The Mo City collapsed like a locust swarm, swallowing his master whole—none other than Huang Mei Great Master!

Ranked among the top in the Great Realm and beyond the Heavenly Gate, he stood at the pinnacle!

Their attack was clearly aimed at slaying the great master!

Of course, it might also be that by using this Mo City “Shandu” to pin the master down, Divine Monkey’s true target was—

Them!

Such terrifying killing intent!

Such monstrous bloodlust!

Is Divine Monkey planning to massacre all the monk disciples of Xiao Lingyin Temple who attended this Peachtree Victory Feast?!

Madman!

Wukong felt the overwhelming threat of death—intensely powerful and all-consuming!

Yet, more than that, he felt excitement!

For the assassin before him was none other than the Underworld Divine Monkey!

The legend of Divine Monkey now echoed throughout the Great Realm; nearly every cultivator recognized his name.

After seizing the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff in Daocheng, the Grand Inspector declared that whoever wielded the staff and marched to Qitian City might even claim one of the scarce Three Pure Divine Weapons!

Remember, in the entire Great Realm, the number of Three Pure Divine Weapons is exceedingly few.

Maybe even more powerful Three Pure Divine Weapons are hidden in Bizarre Temple, but for now, the Ruyi Stick of Qitian Temple is enough to rank in the top ten of divine arms!

So when news spread that this monkey had appeared right before them…

Every monk in Xiao Lingyin Courtyard began to breathe rapidly.

BOOM!!!

The Diamond Fist Manifestation roared like an enraged Vajra, soaring to over thirty zhang before launching a mighty punch!

The air itself cracked with explosive force, echoing with shattering sounds!

The thirty-zhang Diamond Fist nearly split the Courtyard apart, yet throughout Divine Capital’s Fourth City, no one stirred—almost as if no one noticed the chaos within Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Wukong’s heart skipped a beat. Within his Manifestation, he looked up at the Cosmic Chessboard and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Had this board severed the link with the natural flow, isolating the Courtyard from the universe’s breath?

Even as the inner Courtyard roiled with chaos—earth trembling, mountains crumbling—the outside world remained oblivious, bathed in peaceful time.

“What a divine monkey!”

A cold glint flashed in Wukong’s eyes.

No news would get out—

and perhaps that was for the best.

For if they were to kill him and claim the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Guts, then under this news blackout, no one would suspect that Xiao Lingyin Temple had obtained the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff!

Divine Monkey—

Too confident!

Though Divine Monkey was indeed a two-stage Qi Hai Martial Saint, which shocked everyone,

within the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, even though Huang Mei Great Master had been dragged into Mo City Shandu, there remained a mighty mage of the Divine Nucleus Cultivator stage, holding the fort!

After suppressing Divine Monkey with his divine seed and aided by his Diamond Fist Manifestation, the mage was set to attack—

Divine Monkey was destined for ruin!

“Demon Monkey!”

“Lay down your butcher’s knife!”

Within the Diamond Fist Manifestation, Buddha light shone gently.

Wukong’s tongue burst forth with Buddha’s chant like spring thunder.

In an instant, the towering Diamond Fist roared and counterattacked, its overwhelming power sealing off the area as it struck at the monkey who had slain the great master!

Buzz, buzz, buzz!!!

A majestic surge of divine power mingled with Buddha light filled the Courtyard, as if a colossal, living countenance of divine might was being forged!

Terrifying compassion surged like a tidal wave, crashing relentlessly.

Two strong warriors quickly joined forces, and not only them—the monk disciples of Xiao Lingyin Temple, led by heroic cultivators, had already set up a Buddha formation!

Sitting cross-legged, the Buddha light ascended into the sky!

Like golden treasure sticks propping up the firmament!

However, the Buddha light was a bit dim, lacking its usual brilliance—mainly because Huang Mei Great Master had absorbed much of its power to recover his wounds.

So now, they all seemed a bit weak.

Li Che, wearing a Divine Monkey Mask, chuckled softly—he did not underestimate the monks of Xiao Lingyin Temple.

After all, these were the genius disciples personally brought by Xiao Lingyin Temple to Divine Capital for the Peachtree Victory Feast.

Whether fledgling or heroic, they were the very top echelon of their age in the temple!

BOOM!!!

The terrifying Diamond Fist roared as it hammered down another punch!

Wukong brought his palms together, his brow parting like an eye as crimson blood veins filled his eyes, from which a thick, golden martial energy flowed!

Then,

that crushing punch suddenly froze mid-air.

Divine Monkey’s black battle attire flapped in the wind while the mask he wore split into a wild, sinister grin. Underneath, his eyes glowed as if they could pierce everything, with wisps of golden smoke trailing like delicate fragrance.

With a mere lift of his hand, his five fingers spread out to block the Diamond Fist as effortlessly as an ant stopping a giant’s blow!

The impact was overwhelmingly intense!

Wukong’s eyes filled with sheer terror!

How can it be—so effortless?!

Divine Monkey exuded the aura of a two-stage Martial Saint, already at the Qi Hai realm!

And although Wukong’s martial saint cultivation was only at the one-stage level, his combined Diamond Fist allowed him to reach the two-stage Qi Hai level, along with his powerful dual divine transformation and goddess seed!

Even among the heroic fighters of the Victory Feast, Wukong was a standout!

So why did Divine Monkey display such an effortless stance?

BOOM!!!

Wukong roared as his body tensed, every vein like a quivering worm, his divine power surging and flooding his Diamond Fist, making every muscle, every pore starkly visible!

A dazzling brilliance nearly drove away all the darkness in the Courtyard!

And thanks to the formation laid out by the other monks of Xiao Lingyin Temple,

streams of Buddha light converged onto Wukong’s Diamond Fist!

It was as if myriad lively Buddhist symbols danced around him!

Wukong’s Diamond Fist aura soared higher and higher!

A contest of will!

Who’s afraid of whom?!

Even if Divine Monkey achieved the peak of Qi Hai Martial Saint, with so many fellow monks of Xiao Lingyin Temple rallying behind him, Wukong would never falter!

BOOM!!!

That fearsome arm—once the Diamond Fist was smashed down and then caught by Divine Monkey’s single hand—began to tremble violently, as if every blood vessel along it expanded then contracted.

Circles of golden rings swirled around that arm!

They looked like golden bands forged from Buddha light!

Clang by clang, they contained a fearsome, world-shattering force!

Suddenly, as all the golden rings collided, shockwaves rippled outward!

They sent a terrifying, wrinkling force through the air, as if determined to crush Divine Monkey completely!

And yet—

In the next moment,

Wukong, suspended within his Diamond Fist aura, felt his face quiver uncontrollably, horror overtaking him!

A dreadful pressure so immense it seemed to freeze the very air spread out slowly.

He saw a golden sea!

It blossomed slowly from behind Divine Monkey, with sounds like rushing water as layers of golden energy, like overlapping fish scales, unveiled themselves!

A golden sea spanning dozens of zhang?!

A golden sea?!

Why was the Qi Sea golden?

“Pure Martial?!”

The monk unleashing divine power with his Three Divine Transformations looked on in shocked awe.

However, the seated monk murmured a quiet “Mami,” and instantly torrents of divine power poured forth like a heavy rain, dousing Divine Monkey!

Each drop of this divine rain seemed to pulse with life.

Li Che, with his Divine Monkey Mask, slowly looked up, his jet-black hair whipping like dark lightning.

He had no intention of getting entangled with the monks of Xiao Lingyin Temple for too long.

Had it not been for Huang Mei and his forced journey into Mo City Shandu, Li Che would have engaged with Wukong and the others to test his full strength—without unleashing his hidden Qimen Divine Seed!

But Li Che was in a hurry now.

He was off to kill Buddha!

So—

He only intended to finish this quickly.

He roared like a Dragon Elephant!

Then, with a synchronized Dragon Elephant Furnace!

A colossal Furnace gleamed in brilliant gold as within it, five divine seeds detonated in succession, their clashing sounds booming like thunder—as though they were five golden pills forged by transcendent immortals, bursting wildly with life!

What was that?!

Wukong felt as if his soul were being scorched into oblivion!

Uncountable raging air currents assaulted him!

Continuous thunderclaps suddenly exploded next to Wukong’s ears, like the deafening toll of an ancient bell atop the highest peak—a sound that shattered everything!

It was the sound of human limits shattering, muscles and bones expanding and rubbing as an extreme, flesh-forged awakening!

A sound not of mortal flesh!

Then Divine Monkey’s five fingers—

It was as if the void itself cracked, splitting into fine lines like lightning across the darkened sky, unceasing and vivid!

In an instant, Wukong lost all connection with his Diamond Fist!

That top-secret Diamond Fist technique was shattered by Divine Monkey’s single strike, exploding into countless fragments of golden light!

At the same time, the mage of Three Divine Transformations unleashed a torrent of falling divine power, shooting at Divine Monkey like arrows!

But within a three-zhang radius of his body, everything froze solid!

Divine Monkey’s jet-black hair seemed to transform into gold—a sign of his boiling, surging blood and constant evolution!

Divine Monkey simply took one step.

In that moment, his blood surged relentlessly!

It was as if the massive, floating Dragon Elephant Furnace behind him had been upended—a terrifying eruption of uncontrolled blood!

The bubbling blood in his Qi Sea Gold Pool roiled suddenly!

At the moment Divine Monkey stepped forward, he vanished.

The entire Courtyard’s ground exploded into countless shattered fragments, trembling and reverberating with the force!

It threw the sitting, formation-bound monks off balance.

Amid the shattered Diamond Fist, Wukong coughed up blood and discovered that Divine Monkey’s body now seemed to blaze with golden flames.

He appeared before him at a speed beyond what his eyes could catch!

A heavy sense of oppression and despair gripped Wukong, as if he were facing an endless, terrifying peak of martial might—an existence so dreadful it brought visions of hell!

The pinnacle!

The final stage of Martial Saint!

No path leads upward—this is the apex, the Heavenly Gate!

Divine Monkey—

Could it be the apex?!

BOOM!!!

A blast of golden light exploded over his body as Wukong felt his flesh shatter into pieces.

His head rotated upward, soaring into the heavens as his shattered body scattered in all directions.

A look of bewilderment spread across his face.

“You—do you even deserve the name Wukong?”

A faint, disdainful voice sneered from beneath Divine Monkey’s mask.

It was as if he’d wanted to say this for a long time.

Then Divine Monkey’s five fingers aimed at his head, and as divine power exploded, Wukong felt the world plunge into darkness.

He was finished.

BOOM!!!

Divine Monkey grinned, his five fingers turning to stone as his gaze fixed on the mage of Three Divine Transformations.

His golden hair, wild like a cape in a storm, and his eyes exuding a disdainful golden smoke spoke volumes!

His fingers clenched.

They now aimed at that mage.

In truth, when the mage realized Divine Monkey had reached the apex, he abandoned resistance.

With palms joined, his divine power coalesced behind him to form a being almost complete in limbs—missing only a head.

Beneath Divine Monkey’s mask, Li Che exhaled as he hovered above the Courtyard; his five fingers clenched and descended mightily!

A terrifying Martial Saint Yuan-Gang erupted, its overpowering, brutal force entangling itself around Divine Monkey’s arm like countless golden, blood-red dragons surging from the depths!

The entire Courtyard was swept away by those blood-dragon silhouettes, their heat and fury as if a series of draconic infernos were sweeping the land!

This punch was none other than the Wanlong Fushen—Ji Mo Li’s legendary Martial Saint Technique!

It came crashing like countless dragons, roaring and writhing!

The overwhelming martial will crushed everything in its path!

Countless dragons erupted simultaneously, like a salvo of cannonballs detonating all across the Courtyard!

Every monk of Xiao Lingyin Temple—be they fledglings, heroes, or even the mage of Three Divine Transformations—was overwhelmed by the monstrous force!

Bang bang bang bang bang!!

The ground trembled as if the mountains themselves were collapsing!

Explosions rocked the land like shells crashing everywhere!

They kept exploding!

For a long time—

Or perhaps just an instant.

Li Che, wearing his Divine Monkey Mask, hovered in midair and slowly raised his hand.

His curved fingers pointed as he stepped on mushroom-cloud-like dust and smoke blasted by the Wanlong Fushen!

His palm faced the sky.

A cry of unbridled, wild, and frantic rage burst from Divine Monkey’s lips!

To Xiao Lingyin Temple’s Buddhist Divine Sect, Li Che treated them as he did the Corpse God Sect.

Now, he maintained a ruthless, kill-at-all-costs attitude!

For even a single monk spared today might one day become the scythe-wielding abomination set on taking his daughter’s life.

Just the thought of it made Li Che’s heart turn to stone!

In the swirling, rampant smoke and dust,

It was as if a gash in hell had opened, releasing tortured souls to wail—a sound twisted, swollen, and piercing!

Then rose the silhouettes of monks, palms together, suspended amid the smoke.

“Oh Soul, come back—O Buddhas!”

“Spiritual Confinement!”

Rumbling and crashing!!!

Ink-black rain poured down relentlessly—giant droplets streaking like saturated wolf-hair brushes, splattering with the stain of thick ink, shattering on impact!

Monk’s robes fluttered, their garments whipping in the wind.

Each ink droplet striking a smooth, scarred head exploded in a burst!

Huang Mei’s long eyebrows flew wildly in the howling storm. With one hand held before his heart, he reached out and pinched a droplet.

The droplet, once jet black, gradually turned transparent as his fingers squeezed it.

“Tao Calamity Sword—”

Huang Mei’s eyes grew deep and contemplative, a rare hint of surprise emerging.

“Is this a remnant of a Minor Cavern of the Heavens left behind in the God Tribulation realm? It doesn’t quite seem so.”

Huang Mei murmured.

He had visited many Minor Caverns of the Heavens at Xiao Lingyin Temple in the Western Buddhist Lands,

but none carried the same aura as this ink-dark city.

As a top apex cultivator, one who had long explored Tao and reached the depths of the Tao Calamity, he could discern the differences.

“Locust swarm—”

Huang Mei’s brows furrowed.

“The Underworld—”

“Is the Underworld targeting this poor monk?”

Huang Mei’s frown softened as he joined his palms and chanted a Buddha name.

“Amitabha…”

“After so many days in Divine Capital, the Underworld has finally revealed itself.”

“Sure enough, wherever Li Che and Li Nuǎnxi go, the Underworld follows.”

A faint smile tugged at Huang Mei’s lips as if he had seen through everything.

He slowly rose from his seated position, his treasure kasaya edged with gold whipping in the wind like intertwined flames of gold and crimson.

Around his neck, clusters of golden Buddhist beads danced in the wind, clashing and ringing out!

“Lü Taibai.”

“I—have sensed your sword aura.”

The venerable Huang Mei stood amidst the raging storm of Mo City Shandu,

as if he might be swept away at any moment by the rain.

He bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the vast expanse of Mo City Shandu.

Golden light burst from his eyes, and Buddha light streamed from his pupils, sweeping across the city until,

his gaze shifted, locking onto a Treasure Tower’s rooftop with its octagonal, double-eaved structure.

There—

stood a lithe figure wearing a starry, radiant Star-Hunting King mask.

Clad in white robes with a head of silver hair like drifting seaweed, every strand seemed to float, sliced by the sharp edge of sword aura as ink-black raindrops fell—

His hands clasped behind him, his wide sleeves billowing continuously.

He stood atop the roof like an exquisitely honed sword planted in place.

As if permanently fixed there, for when Huang Mei’s Buddha true eye swept over, he appeared.

“So it is you, Lü Taibai.”

“They say you, Taibai, are a star killer—but they weren’t wrong in a single word.”

“I told you, the Underworld wouldn’t dare strike a monk—I am ranked among the top titans of the Great Realm and Heavenly Gate, a peerless force among warriors!”

“Yet a petty Underworld, having only exposed that pitiful Yama comparable to an apex cultivator, dares come after me?”

“So it seems—Lü Taibai has joined forces with the Underworld, clutching at the chance to slay me.”

Huang Mei’s eyebrows fluttered in the storm.

He joined his palms, his hands pushing up the beads hanging around his neck.

“Taibai, when killing intent boils over,” he continued,

“you’ve already cut off your three lives, decimating all past and future incarnations—your Buddha source is damaged. So you cannot miss this once-in-a-millennium opportunity, even here in Divine Capital, despite the throngs of powerful foes like the Grand Inspector and the Supreme Governor!”

“It appears—”

Lü Taibai knew well that exposing the Tao Calamity Sword would become a thorn in the eyes of many Divine Sect leaders—a blight that would haunt them!

Huang Mei’s soft laughter resounded with the confidence of someone who had seen through it all.

Beneath the Star-Hunting King mask, Lü Taibai fell silent.

“You know nothing.”

Lü Taibai spat back,

“Do not think that the defamation of a monk is any less damning!

Monks can’t just hurl blood and curses!

It was the Underworld that declared war against you, yet you stubbornly believe it’s your own doing?!

I, Lü Taibai, have cultivated modestly for years with a sword unstained by blood—why must you taint me with prejudice?!”

Lü Taibai’s tone was harsh.

Still, a shadow fell over him as Huang Mei’s words made him realize something.

Exposing the Tao Calamity Sword would indeed sting many Divine Sect leaders’ hearts—

after all, my push for the God Extermination Wind Calamity Dao Position will undoubtedly place me as a prime target!

Among all Divine Sect heads, those practicing the God Extermination Wind Calamity Dao Position certainly won’t let me succeed.

“Taibai, your ambition is staggering. You are a natural wonder—already crystallizing your Tao Calamity Sword.”

“The Wind Calamity Sword you cultivate is for the God Extermination Wind Calamity Dao Position—a path different from mine. But do you know whom you’ve collided with?”

Huang Mei chuckled softly.

Lü Taibai’s five fingers moved, and the inky raindrops around him solidified, stretching into the shape of sword edges.

In an instant, countless raindrop-forged sword edges pointed at Huang Mei as if shouting, “Our sect master cares not who you are.”

Lü Taibai made no effort to hide his identity as the Star-Hunting King.

To kill Huang Mei, he would give his all—though he would still conceal his face afterwards.

For as long as he didn’t expose too much, he could later deny and refuse to acknowledge it, saving himself a world of trouble.

“Hahaha—Amitabha—”

“Taibai, allow me to explain,” said Huang Mei.

“The powerful cultivator who collided with you is none other than the one from the Purple Mansion Divine Sect of the Heavenly Master Dao!”

Huang Mei couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Lü Taibai’s eyes narrowed beneath his Star-Hunting King mask.

Then, with a sudden motion of his five fingers,

the inky rain transformed into countless sword lights that shot skyward, as brilliant silver swords rained down!

It was as if the Milky Way itself cascaded from the heavens!

“You bald fool, trying to let the Purple Mansion Divine Sect disrupt my path!”

Lü Taibai roared, and from within his flowing sleeves, the silver sword light of the Taibai Sword surged upward, illuminating the entire Mo City!

“Hahaha—”

“I never waste words!”

“Taibai, believe it or not, it’s up to you!”

“The Purple Mansion Divine Sect ranks first among the Eleven Divine Sects of the Great Realm—truly mighty and enigmatic!”

“Taibai, your mind is in disarray!”

Disarray—utter disarray!

Huang Mei’s voice exploded like a spring thunder over Mo City Shandu, the rolling thunder echoing throughout!

Crack!

Every bead burst forth, floating in the void of Mo City as if sealing everything off!

A majestic torrent of silver swords came crashing in like a river of stars.

Lü Taibai stood amid the sword aura, his silver hair ringing like chimes!

In that instant when every Buddhist bead sealed the void,

an unimaginable weight crushed on his shoulders, making every blade of sword energy sound with a resounding clang!

Huang Mei’s feet sank into the pooled rain, the falling water nearly covering his boots.

And oblivious to this, Huang Mei continued reciting Buddha’s words.

The solemn, murderous intent was like slashing beams of light, overwhelming Buddhist brilliance intermingled with the Buddha’s voice as if the Buddha himself were clapping down salvation!

“Lay down your butcher’s knife, and you won’t enter hell!”

“Lay down your butcher’s knife, and you won’t enter hell!!”

“Never enter hell!!!!”

Boom, boom, boom!

Standing at the crest of the sword energy tide, Lü Taibai felt as if the Buddhist chants—amplified by the beads—were like the true Buddha himself, calmly with a serene gaze bestowing salvation.

In Lü Taibai’s ears, the recitation washed over him, purifying and absolving sins!

Countless beams of Buddha light erupted from the beads.

Lü Taibai felt as if his entire body had plunged into an endless river of sword energy, as though descending into the deepest parts of purgatory.

In that abyss, countless demons danced wildly, wreaking havoc and slaughtering the innocent!

And Lü Taibai’s Taibai Sword, once resplendent in silver, was now stained with crimson blood—as if the blood’s hue had tainted the sword, polluting his spirit.

His sword heart was no longer pure!

Lü Taibai’s eyes grew distant, his two fingers closed around the Taibai Sword as it hummed, the silver blade gleaming like moonlight pouring down in a cool cascade!

“My sword cuts only for justice, protecting what I hold dear. Every swing is borne of a clear, unburdened conscience!”

“My sword heart is pure and invincible!”

His five fingers gripped the Taibai Sword.

In that moment, it was as if even the abyss split apart at his strike!

In the endless darkness, amidst blood and the anguished screams of life in a hellish purgatory—

a dazzling, pure white sword light surged upward like the glow of moonlight!

The sword light was clear, like crystalline Bodhi glass, a silver river washing away all impurity and corruption!

It stretched for ten zhang, a hundred zhang, a thousand zhang, even ten thousand!

The sword energy flowed like rivers joining the sea!

It pierced through the heavens like a shooting star!

There was a wild wind howling from within the sword light.

A sword so fierce it could exterminate gods!

BOOM!!!!

A colossal spectral Buddha emerged behind Huang Mei. With one mighty palm strike that nearly covered the sky above Mo City Shandu, it collided violently with a sword that hung like an inverted river—an all-out clash!

The great Buddha’s hand of light was severed by a single blow!

Countless shards of Buddha light splattered out like surreal fireworks!

Lü Taibai stood in the void, his Star-Hunting King mask in place, his eyes cold as his sword aura unleashed—a seasoned hunter zeroing in on his prey.

The Taibai Sword in his hand trembled continuously.

Countless sword silhouettes emerged.

The nearly decapitated spectral Buddha, with one arm severed, clutched a flower and hovered behind Huang Mei.

Meanwhile, Huang Mei’s gaze drifted to the distance.

There—

a bizarre, towering structure shot upward!

A rectangular, pitch-black edifice, smooth as a mirror, rising higher and higher—

it had become the tallest building within the vast Mo City!

Beneath that ominous black structure, several shorter black buildings sprouted like mushrooms after rain!

It was as if someone had splashed ink onto a blank sheet!

The building’s door swung open.

Silhouettes emanating black qi slowly emerged one after another.

Huang Mei’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

Because—

he saw the first figure push open the door.

It was his proud disciple—Wukong!

Then he noticed one monk after another, all who should have remained in the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Even the monk of the Three Divine Transformations stepped out with both palms joined.

“Junior Brother—”

What is happening here?!

“Amitabha—”

“Master, lay down your butcher’s knife and embrace hell.”

Wukong pressed his palms together, his expression sincere.

Huang Mei’s eyes blazed with a mix of fury and sorrow, his heart shaken as if struck by a divine wind—

The fledgling disciples of Xiao Lingyin Temple were all dead—

And in the next moment,

Huang Mei’s face was etched with grief as he looked upward.

A hoarse, faint voice suddenly resounded from atop that highest building.

“Buddha said, ‘Who does not go to hell?’”

“Monk…”

“You are already in hell.”

Black and white, yin and yang, forever divided!

A burly figure wearing a black and white mask stood atop that tallest building.

In an instant,

the ruler had returned!

The entire city—

as if in a single moment, had been imbued with a soul!