Chapter 124: The Name Of Ten Thousand Tribulations, Bountiful Harvest
This face was ferocious and terrifying, without a trace of seductive charm. At first glance, it resembled a malevolent ghost; upon closer inspection, it seemed pieced together from many women’s faces.
These faces all showed pain, distorted expressions, shrieking in unison. The sharp howling turned into arrows with soul-seizing power.
Temple monks standing a bit closer heard the sound enter their ears and immediately turned pale, as if their souls were struck by arrows, the world spinning as they staggered and fell.
Some unlucky ones even plunged directly into the raging flames, swiftly turning into burning figures.
“So noisy!”
Hong Yuan frowned deeply. The shrieking couldn’t shake his mind, but it was like hundreds of flies buzzing incessantly by his ears, extremely irritating.
Force surged between his fingers and palm, the dense cutting power becoming as heavy as a mountain. Hong Lian’s muscles and bones exploded with noise, emitting overburdened cracking sounds.
The wide black robe covering her body was torn open by the force, revealing pale, cold skin without a drop of blood. Immediately after, her body cracked like porcelain shards, ka-ka resounding.
Hong Lian’s aura plummeted. She screamed and collapsed to the ground, only to be stepped on the head by Hong Yuan’s foot.
Six Void Force poured out from his sole, swiftly invading the opponent’s body, disrupting and sealing her qi and blood flow. Hong Yuan then soared upward, shooting out like a sharp arrow.
Dharma King Baosheng was fleeing for his life.
His somewhat plump face could no longer smile. His eyes were filled with horror, not even caring about Dharma King Qingjing’s corpse. He mustered all his strength and retreated in panic.
But one foot had been severely injured earlier, so he limped while fleeing, like a fat rabbit with a lame leg, not only slowing his speed but also looking somewhat comical.
Dharma King Baosheng didn’t care at all, with only one word in his mind.
Escape!
A storm of shock surged in his heart, feeling unprecedented astonishment and absurdity.
This Red Lotus Sect operation had gathered two Dharma Kings…
Oh! If counting Song Yinglong, who had become a corpse puppet, that made three kings.
Three Red Lotus Sect Dharma Kings, plus the goddess Hong Lian serving Great Desire Heaven, Illuminating Envoy—five top masters mobilized. Such a powerful lineup matched Vajra Temple’s four-hundred-year prestige.
Who could have foreseen such an outcome?
Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities…
Dharma King Baosheng had never heard this name before, yet his martial arts were unbelievably powerful. Not only did he act against their Red Lotus Sect, he also dragged the three Huis into the fray.
With one man’s power, clashing against eight top masters.
In mere moments, he killed Qingjing and Huitong, suppressed Hong Lian, and effortlessly forced the unfathomable great master Illuminating Envoy to abandon the Nirvana Dharma Eye and leave decisively.
Such combat prowess was too astonishing.
Did Red Lotus Holy Lord have this kind of strength?
The thought involuntarily flashed through Dharma King Baosheng’s mind.
In Red Lotus Sect teachings, the Holy Lord was the embodiment of Great Desire Heaven in the human realm. Ordinary followers revered as a god and believed in omnipotence.
But as a core member, Dharma King Baosheng wouldn’t blindly believe in gods…
The thought just arose when Dharma King Baosheng suddenly heard a light laugh in his ear, followed by a flash of clear light. Ahead, sleeves seemed to flutter, then a cold gleam appeared.
At first faint and almost invisible, like a thin arc of light cracking in the boundless sky, in an instant it became a dazzling great star, rumbling crashing down. Dharma King Baosheng dared not slack, slamming his foot down, force rising from the ground. Force crisscrossed between his palms, qi waves parting the air, forming layers of defensive walls.
Dharma King Baosheng also saw clearly it was a finger.
One finger like a falling heavenly star, rumbling crashing down.
Pop pop pop!
Sounds like bursting bubbles rang out. The defenses laid by Dharma King Baosheng were utterly useless, shattered in an instant. He watched wide-eyed as that finger turned into a heavenly pillar, stabbing straight at his glabella. He hurriedly crossed his palms to block.
The next moment, Dharma King Baosheng felt his palms empty. A wisp of sharp aura pierced out, landing between his brows and eyes, bringing an icy, piercing sensation.
Dharma King Baosheng’s liver and gallbladder trembled, thinking doom inevitable. Suddenly, that plain voice rang out again: “Stay still and I’ll spare your life. Remember to thank me!”
As the words echoed, a gale rose beside him, that figure brushing past.
Only then did Dharma King Baosheng feel intense pain surging, from his palms.
His pair of thick fleshy palms had been pierced through by invisible qi energy, leaving deep holes. The chill on his face was from splattered blood.
Hong Yuan had already drifted down before Huiming and Huizhi, expression leisurely.
The two Huiming monks had their hearts in their throats, expressions grim. They heard Hong Yuan say slowly: “Two masters, does your earlier ‘fight to the death’ still count?”
“Why hasn’t he attacked yet?”
Gales whirled, mixed with rising heat from flames. All around was clamor and cries of alarm, but Huiming and Huizhi couldn’t utter a word.
About half a shichen later.
Vajra Temple’s fire was finally extinguished. Besides the temple monks’ full efforts, many believers and city noble clans also contributed.
Though the flames were put out, dark currents surged beneath the surface.
Secret Treasure Pagoda destroyed, large areas of Vajra Temple burned to scorched earth, disciples and followers suffering heavy casualties. Hui-generation high monks wounded, Huitong dead on the spot.
The news couldn’t be concealed.
Vajra Temple dominated Songyang Prefecture alone, so many noble clans sent their nephews and confidants into the temple as monks, both to attach themselves and express submission.
This was the noble clans’ way of survival.
If Vajra Temple remained strong, they would always bow subserviently. But once Vajra Temple showed signs of decline, these people became the noble clans’ eyes and ears.
Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities!
This name hadn’t yet spread through Jianghu, but it had become the focus of attention for Songyang Prefecture’s noble clans and major gangs.
One man alone suppressing Red Lotus Sect and Vajra Temple’s many top masters.
And now, that Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities hadn’t left Vajra Temple yet?
The big shots among the noble clans and gangs felt both uneasy, unsure how to respond to this drastic change, and gleeful at others’ misfortune.
Vajra Temple monks acted domineeringly, but after this sect-crippling blow, with even Huitong dead, they still had to swallow it?
Inside Vajra Temple, in a neat courtyard, spacious and quiet all around.
Huiming and Huizhi stood bowed, one holding a stack of silk books. Whatever they thought inside, their faces showed utter deference.
As for ‘fight to the death,’ before Buddha they wouldn’t lie—when did they ever say that?
Hong Yuan sat in the stone pavilion, glanced at them, and smiled: “Two masters, you didn’t tamper with the contents, right?”
Huiming kept his gaze lowered, not meeting Hong Yuan’s eyes, and smiled bitterly: “Before a great man like Layman, this monk dares not do such sneaky things. I only beg Layman to be satisfied and not trouble our temple further.”
Hong Yuan neither confirmed nor denied, beckoning: “Bring them over!”
Soon all silk books were before Hong Yuan, including force methods and true skills, even two gang body methods.
Ink still fresh, all newly transcribed, hidden phrases removed.
Hong Yuan looked at these silk books and couldn’t help sighing at a great sect’s foundation, especially Vajra Temple, inherited nearly four hundred years, first in foundation among Mingzhou’s three major sects.
Nearly twenty ordinary force methods. Hong Yuan flipped through casually, browsing extremely fast. Pages turned, all memorized in his heart.
Six microscopic level force techniques, three of which even made Hong Yuan raise his brows in pleasant surprise.
Vajra Vehicle Force: This force could be used for attack and defense, treating the flesh as a precious raft crossing the sea of suffering. Once cultivated, muscles and bones, qi and blood fused as one, firm as diamond.
Chakravyuha Dharani Force: This was an extremely special spiral force, its wondrous uses even surpassing Whale Swallowing Repaying Strength.
The opening explained: Dharani means total holding, thus this force totally holds all methods!
Why call it a special spiral force? Because it didn’t pierce through but formed a rounded, circulating qi field around the body, endlessly encircling like chanting sutras.
Its ultimate goal was to harmonize all kinds of forces.
“Harmonize all forces, unified and rounded…”
Hong Yuan studied this Chakravyuha Dharani Force, feeling this Vajra Temple trip was truly worthwhile. This force’s goal aligned with his next cultivation step, Eight Forces Merged.
The creator must have had the grand ambition to merge forces, but unfortunately only achieved a prototype.
But that was enough. Absorbing its method, Hong Yuan gained much, advancing his Eight Forces Merged plan a big step.
Hong Yuan fused Chakravyuha Dharani Force with his insights, sparking many inspirations in his mind, eager to try.
He held back and opened the last force method volume.
Prajna Void Force!
Prajna means wisdom, using wisdom to control the void.
This was an extremely brilliant lightness skill, its concepts on lightness even surpassing Hong Yuan’s current level by much.
Its key was ‘turning to void,’ dissolving all bindings between heaven and earth, approaching void, reaching unbound void realm.
“Flight…”
From this force method, Hong Yuan saw the creator’s ambition: to fly, not brief sorcery levitation, but soaring nine heavens with personal force.
Yin Book records Dragon Emperor created force methods, spreading to the world.
That was six hundred years ago.
In these six hundred years, force methods developed greatly. Countless talents poured heart and blood, birthing myriad wondrous force techniques.
Not to be underestimated.
Hong Yuan sighed briefly, turning attention to true skills.
Force methods realized his vast potential, boosting combat power, while true skills grew root bone, increasing potential.
Vajra Temple had three true skills, the most exquisite being Huiming’s Great Sun Vajra Body!
This method mainly cultivated spleen and bone marrow, closely binding strange force with flesh.
Vajra Vehicle Force and Great Sun Vajra Body were complementary, using Vajra Vehicle Force to permeate spleen and bones, transforming into strange force.
Besides Great Sun Vajra Body, there were Mount Sumeru Palm and Great Strength Vajra Palm!
Overall, all heavy, powerful, fierce and domineering paths. After reading, Hong Yuan again felt ‘this suits me.’
But he quickly realized it wasn’t these force methods and true skills suiting him—as if every one fit perfectly—but his stats too well-rounded.
Any method supplemented him.
Hong Yuan opened the gang body methods, asking while reading: “Does your temple have masters cultivating gang body?”
While Hong Yuan immersed in studying the methods, Huiming and Huizhi didn’t leave, standing bowed motionless.
Faces expressionless, hearts extremely tormented, suffering great agony.
As if stripped naked, pinned on the chopping block, at others’ mercy.
So many methods were Vajra Temple’s centuries accumulation, handed over like flesh carved by a thousand cuts.
Helpless, man is the knife and board. Without this, Vajra Temple’s survival was uncertain.
Huiming’s heart bled, head lowered: “None. These two gang body methods were obtained by chance, stored in our temple.”
Hong Yuan nodded, not surprised.
True skill, Dan Dao, gang body—three paths.
Gang body most perilous and unpredictable, once altered leading to demon path neither man nor ghost. A deep-foundation great sect like Vajra Temple naturally unwilling.
Red Lotus Sect, steeped in depraved god and evil sacrifices, didn’t care.
“【Incinerating City Fire Soul Gang】…”
Hong Yuan looked at a gang body method in hand, recalling Hong Lian. After suppressing her, he hadn’t planned to kill immediately but interrogate secrets.
Who knew, once her gang body broke, when he turned to look, she was already lifeless.
“What was the method that Red Lotus Sect demoness used earlier, 【Empty Flower Painted Skin Gang】? Is that also gang body? Why does it seem so different from inner gang and outer gang?”
A strange glint flashed in Huiming’s eyes. He slightly raised his gaze to Hong Yuan, then lowered it.
He hadn’t expected such a powerhouse unaware of this. While secretly probing his background, he answered: “What the Red Lotus Demoness used is indeed gang body, named Void Soul Gang, also called ghost gang!”
“This method is ancient, legendarily existing before Great Yin Dynasty, from Dark Tribulation Era, left by those evil god worshippers.”
“Inner and outer gang methods appeared after Dragon Emperor. Some guess inner-outer gang bodies also created by Dragon Emperor, naming borrowed from Void Soul Gang!”
Huiming paused, eyes flickering, continuing: “Inner-outer gang bodies transform flesh with sorcery, becoming demon-like, while Void Soul Gang refines spirit, turning into ghost god, legendarily a longevity method.”
“Refine spirit?”
Hong Yuan recalled what he saw pulled into illusion by Hong Lian, thoughtful, then glanced at Huiming.
Though words respectful, Hong Yuan sensed malice. Mentioning ‘longevity method’ what for?
Just to tempt him toward Void Soul Gang?
Whether clashing with Red Lotus Sect or other evil god sects, or truly cultivating Void Soul Gang—as seen in Hong Lian’s state—it was a huge pit.
Hong Yuan chuckled lightly, not minding. After all, he’d killed, arsoned, looted, bullied so much in Vajra Temple—couldn’t allow a little scheming?
