Chapter 124: Long-Browed Arhat
The golden ‘swastika’ character illuminated the hazy Ox Head Mountain, shattering the giant bull image before a several-meter-long red Kasaya flew out from within.
Upon seeing this, Hua Changxi’s eyes widened. More than twenty people were either standing or lying on the Kasaya. She immediately guessed that those people were very likely the ones trapped in the Soul Devouring Well.
She hadn’t expected them to escape so quickly. Seeing the red Kasaya speeding in her direction, she didn’t hesitate and flew her cloud rapidly towards the green river.
Hua Changxi wanted nothing to do with those cultivators. Such a commotion would surely attract the attention of the demons in Ox Head Mountain, and she didn’t want to be implicated.
“Clang clang clang~”
However, the next moment, a round gong emitting white light flew out from Ox Head Mountain, followed by three consecutive gong sounds that echoed through the sky.
The instant she heard the gong, Hua Changxi felt an invisible force strike her head violently three times, causing her unbearable pain. She fell directly from her Spirit Cloud, crashing heavily onto a street where cultivators gathered for trading.
The cultivators trading on the street also suffered attacks. Some cried out in agony, while others, like Hua Changxi, collapsed on the ground, all experiencing immense suffering.
Hua Changxi lay on the ground for a few minutes before her mind stopped feeling blank and she could think a little. By then, the others on the street had also gradually recovered, followed by widespread panic.
“Not good, Ox Head Mountain has struck the Soul Gong! Everyone quickly get inside and take cover.”
“When the Soul Gong sounds, close your doors.”
“Everyone run!”
“Bang bang bang!”
Before Hua Changxi could even get up from the ground, the trading street, which had been crowded with people, was empty. Everyone had taken shelter in nearby houses and shut their doors tightly.
Watching the street instantly become deserted, Hua Changxi realized danger was approaching. Gritting her teeth, she shakily stood up and walked towards the nearest house.
“Bang bang bang~”
Hua Changxi knocked on several houses consecutively, but no one opened the door for her.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi let out a self-deprecating laugh. She had been implicated for saving the cultivators from the Soul Devouring Well, and now, when she needed help, no one offered a hand.
Just as she was regretting her decision to save them, a black dog suddenly appeared on the street. The black dog dropped a Black Robe in front of Hua Changxi.
“You are wanted by Ox Head Mountain, and no one dares to save you. This is a Magic Robe that can isolate Spiritual Sense detection. Ghost Messengers will arrive soon, so put it on and escape quickly.”
After saying this, the black dog self-immolated. It was a dog made of Talisman Paper.
Upon seeing the Black Robe, the surging Ferocity in Hua Changxi’s heart lessened. She quickly stepped forward, picked up the Black Robe, condensed a Fire Lotus in her hand, and baked the robe. Finding no anomalies, she then put it on.
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your help.”
The black dog had appeared out of nowhere, and she didn’t know who had given her the Black Robe. She could only offer a word of thanks to the empty street before stumbling into the fog illuminated by the skull lanterns lining the street.
She knew there was danger in the fog, but it was her only place to hide.
“Swish~”
Just as Hua Changxi’s figure disappeared into the gray fog, the sound of iron chains dragging on the ground echoed on the street. Soon, two fierce men wielding Iron Claw Chains and two wielding Iron Whips appeared.
The standard equipment of Ghost Market Ghost Messengers: Soul Hooking Claws, Soul Slicing Whips, and Soul Locking Cuffs.
Clearly, these four men were Ghost Messengers from the Ghost Market.
Because the Ghost Messengers had no Spiritual Power on them, Hua Changxi couldn’t detect them in advance by sensing Spiritual Power fluctuations. She could only rely on sounds like footsteps and the clinking of iron chains to narrowly avoid them in the fog.
Fortunately, with each advancement in her Realm, her five senses became more acute. Coupled with her Body Refining, she could not only hear extremely faint sounds but also smell the cold aura emanating from the Ghost Messengers.
Every time she evaded the fierce men, Hua Changxi would silently thank the unknown cultivator who gave her the Black Robe. Without it, she would be a moving target in this Ghost Market.
Soul Attacks were hard to guard against. Even though Vermilion Bird Flame had some damaging effect on people from the Ghost Market, if she were surrounded by too many attackers, or if a strong individual like Huang Niu appeared, she wouldn’t be able to hold on for long.
For a period of time afterward, Hua Changxi cautiously hid in the thick fog, filled with trepidation.
Of course, she wasn’t entirely passive.
The Ghost Messengers weren’t all gathered together; some were alone, and she had opportunities to kill them.
However, she chose not to act. At this moment, all she wanted was to leave the Ghost Market quickly. Killing Ghost Messengers could easily expose her.
But when she finally reached the green river, she found the riverbanks swarming with Ghost Messengers, and the wooden bridge for crossing had been guarded by them.
Hua Changxi’s heart sank. She had considered flying her cloud directly across the green river, but looking at the verdant water, her instincts warned her of danger, and she didn’t rashly attempt it.
Dozens of Ghost Messengers guarded the wooden bridge, armed with either Iron Claw Chains or Iron Whips. Seeing that she couldn’t cross and encountering a lone Ghost Messenger, she decided to act.
Hua Changxi first ‘accidentally’ exposed her whereabouts in the fog, luring a lone Ghost Messenger into an Isolation Array she had set up. Then, she directly unleashed a Fire Lotus, trapping the Ghost Messenger within it.
The Fire Lotus couldn’t burn the Ghost Messenger; only the Vermilion Bird Flame spat by a Fire Bird could kill them.
As the Vermilion Bird Flame attached itself to the Ghost Messenger, white smoke billowed from its body. It took several minutes before the Ghost Messenger completely turned to ash.
Hua Changxi knew that the long duration was due to her weak Soul Power, which was insufficient to unleash the full power of the soul-destroying Vermilion Bird Flame.
Hua Changxi stepped forward and picked up the Iron Claw Chain dropped by the Ghost Messenger. With the Iron Claw Chain, she could now actively hunt Ghost Messengers.
“Bang~”
The Iron Claw Chain could hook onto Hua Changxi’s Soul Body, as well as that of the Ghost Messengers. She hooked a lone Ghost Messenger and dragged it into the Isolation Array, followed by the incineration by Vermilion Bird Flame.
This time, she obtained a Silver White Iron Whip.
Thanks to the Isolation Array, the screams of the Ghost Messengers being burned by Vermilion Bird Flame were not transmitted. Hua Changxi, wielding the Iron Claw Chain, killed ten Ghost Messengers, obtaining four Iron Claw Chains, four Iron Whips, and two Iron Cuffs.
After hunting, Hua Changxi, whose Spiritual Power was largely depleted, was rapidly absorbing Spirit Stones to replenish it. At this moment, the red Kasaya reappeared.
The Kasaya sped rapidly through the air. Before long, a white arrow shot out from Ox Head Mountain, accurately hitting the Kasaya and directly knocking it down.
“Bang~”
Hua Changxi heard the sound of a heavy object landing not far away. Instead of investigating, she quickly retreated in the opposite direction.
She hadn’t run far when two Ghost Messengers descended silently from the sky, directly crossing paths with Hua Changxi.
These two Ghost Messengers were even taller than the ones she had encountered before, estimated to be three to four meters tall. Hua Changxi was startled. With no time to set up an Isolation Array, she directly threw out a Fire Lotus, trapping the two Ghost Messengers within it.
As the Fire Bird appeared, the two Ghost Messengers sensed danger. One of them picked up a white bone hanging around his neck, about to blow it.
At this moment, two golden ‘swastika’ characters flew into the Fire Lotus, directly shattering the two Ghost Messengers.
“Amitabha!”
A middle-aged Monk, clad in a Kasaya with eyebrows that shot up to his temples, emerged from the gray fog.
Hua Changxi looked at him, her expression guarded, and took a few steps back, increasing the distance between them.
Seeing this, the middle-aged Monk smiled and stepped forward to pick up the white bone from the ground: “This is a Soul Bone Whistle. Does the benefactor not want it?”
Hua Changxi: “The Ghost Messengers were killed by you, so the items naturally belong to you.”
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Monk smiled again: “Thank you, benefactor, for your help in the Soul Devouring Well earlier.”
Hua Changxi stated directly: “I regret saving you now.”
The middle-aged Monk smiled: “The benefactor’s act of saving us stemmed from a kind heart. If you regret it, you regret your own kindness.”
Hua Changxi didn’t want to argue with the Monk and asked: “How did you escape so quickly?”
The middle-aged Monk thanked her again: “It’s all thanks to the Spirit-Dispelling Pills and healing pills the benefactor left behind.”
Hua Changxi still felt their actions were too fast, but she was too lazy to inquire further: “Master also helped me kill two Ghost Messengers just now, so we are even.” Saying this, she turned to leave.
Seeing this, the middle-aged Monk quickly called out to her: “Benefactor, please stay. This humble monk is…”
Hua Changxi interrupted him: “We met by chance, there’s no need to exchange names.”
Seeing Hua Changxi’s eagerness to get rid of him, the middle-aged Monk could only say: “If the benefactor wishes to leave here, it will be difficult to do so alone.”
These words indeed made Hua Changxi stop. She knew too little about the Ghost Market and feared stepping into unknown pitfalls. However, she didn’t fully believe him: “What does Master mean?”
The middle-aged Monk: “This humble monk is an Arhat from Xiangguo Temple. The benefactor may call me Changmei.”
Changmei Arhat was surprised that the other party remained indifferent even after he revealed his identity.
Xiangguo Temple was the foremost Buddhist temple in Great Jin, with countless believers. Even if the Young Woman opposite wasn’t a believer, she should have shown respect.
Seeing Hua Changxi’s lack of reaction, Changmei Arhat got straight to the point: “One can only cross the Underworld River by the wooden bridge. Now that the wooden bridge is guarded by Ghost Messengers, crossing it is very difficult.”
Hua Changxi remained silent. She couldn’t reveal her ignorance. If people knew she knew nothing about the Ghost Market, she might be manipulated.
The Underworld River must be that green river.
Seeing Hua Changxi’s lack of reaction, Changmei Arhat continued: “If you can’t cross the river, staying in the Ghost Market is also not an option. Huang Mang will soon use the Mirror of Inspection to search for us.”
Hua Changxi finally reacted: “Not us, but you. That Huang Niu doesn’t know I exist.”
Changmei Arhat smiled: “Benefactor, you might be mistaken. If nothing unexpected happens, Huang Mang’s first target for searching will likely be you.”
Hua Changxi’s brow furrowed: “Is Master trying to intimidate me?”
Changmei Arhat shook his head, his expression serious: “It seems the benefactor does not know what the Demon Race fears most. The Demon Race fears the emergence of a strong individual among humans who inherits the will of the Four Spirits.”
“The Four Spirits suppress all demons and are the existence the Demon Race fears most. And benefactor, in the Soul Devouring Well, you used Vermilion Bird Flame and left behind Vermilion Bird energy.”
Hua Changxi was shaken, but she maintained a disbelieving facade: “There are so many cultivators in the Ghost Market, I don’t believe he can find me.”
Changmei Arhat: “The Magic Robe the benefactor is wearing can defend against ordinary Spiritual Sense detection, but it cannot block the Mirror of Inspection.”
Seeing Hua Changxi’s wavering expression, Changmei Arhat directly took off his Kasaya: “This Kasaya of this humble monk has Buddhist script defenses and can take the benefactor across the Underworld River.”
Hua Changxi looked at the Kasaya: “What does Master want me to do?”
Changmei Arhat clasped his hands: “Amitabha. This humble monk wishes to ask the benefactor to take the other people who escaped from the Soul Devouring Well across the river together. Benefactor, please rest assured, when you cross the river later, this humble monk will stay behind to cover your retreat, ensuring you cross safely.”
Hua Changxi frowned: “Why don’t you take them across yourself?”
Changmei Arhat smiled: “This humble monk was just struck by a Soul Devouring Arrow. After crossing the river, I won’t live much longer, so it’s better to do something useful.”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “Being struck by a Soul Devouring Arrow means you can’t live?”
Changmei Arhat: “If a Fifth Rank Alchemist were to appear immediately, perhaps I might still be saved. But… nowadays, even Second Rank Alchemists are hard to find, so where would we find a Fifth Rank Alchemist?”
Hua Changxi: “Master, aren’t you from Xiangguo Temple? Can’t you seek help from the royal family? The royal family should have high-grade Alchemists, right?”
Changmei Arhat shook his head: “As far as this humble monk knows, the most skilled Alchemist in the royal family can only refine Third Rank Elixirs.”
The royal family indeed had deep foundations, but Alchemists needed Spiritual Plants to refine pills. Centuries ago, Great Jin had seen the gradual emergence of several Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, but limited by the Spiritual Energy concentration, high-grade Spiritual Plants could not grow.
Without Spiritual Plants of the corresponding grade, how could Elixirs of the corresponding grade be refined?
Hua Changxi couldn’t ascertain Changmei Arhat’s sincerity. Although she didn’t sense any malice from him, she was still hesitant about whether to cooperate with him.
Just then, in the dim fog, a skeletal frame radiating intense white light emerged, followed by the appearance of a massive bull’s soul image.
As soon as the skeletal frame and the giant bull appeared, they dispersed the gray fog, significantly improving visibility.
“Not good, Huang Mang has summoned Lady White Bone.”
Changmei Arhat’s expression changed drastically. He held his Kasaya and approached Hua Changxi, placing it directly into her hands and telling her the incantation to control it. Then, he took off the Bodhi Beads he wore around his neck:
“Benefactor, if you have time after you leave, please return my Bodhi Beads to Xiangguo Temple. If they can be enshrined before the Buddha, it will not have been in vain for this humble monk to have lived this life.”
After saying this, without waiting for Hua Changxi’s reaction, he prepared to fly towards Lady White Bone and Huang Mang.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi quickly asked: “Master, you haven’t told me where the others are yet?”
Hearing her question, Changmei Arhat knew she had agreed to take people across the river. His expression relaxed considerably: “Benefactor, take the Kasaya to the riverbank, and someone will naturally come out to meet you.”
“Benefactor, remember, if you enter the Ghost Market in the future, do not come to the Genmen Pass area again.” With that, he left without looking back.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi, holding the Kasaya, gritted her teeth and flew her cloud towards the riverbank.
“Rumble~”
Not long after flying out, a colossal Arhat spiritual image, tens of meters tall and radiating golden light, appeared in the sky, dispelling the fog within a radius of tens of miles.
Hua Changxi was shocked by this sight.
The Arhat spiritual image blocked the path between Lady White Bone and Huang Mang.
Hua Changxi glanced at it and continued flying towards the river. As she neared the bank, more than ten people emerged from various directions.
These people were cultivators capable of fighting Ghost Messengers, some wielding Iron Claw Chains, others Iron Whips.
All their gazes were fixed on the Kasaya in Hua Changxi’s hand.
“Fellow Daoist, did Master Changmei send you to pick us up?”
Hua Changxi surveyed the group. “Whoosh~” She unfurled the Kasaya, which grew larger in the wind. Then, without Hua Changxi needing to say anything, those people quickly boarded the Kasaya.
“Is there anyone else?”
Hua Changxi asked. Seeing no one speak, she waited a moment longer. A few more cultivators arrived successively.
At this moment, the Ghost Messengers had discovered them and were rushing towards them.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi stopped waiting and controlled the Kasaya to fly across the hundreds of meters wide green Underworld River.
As the Kasaya flew over the green river, Changmei Arhat, Lady White Bone, and Huang Mang erupted into a fierce battle, the intensity of which made the air tremble.
“Master Changmei… he burned his Golden Core.”
Someone on the Kasaya cried.
“Master Changmei is saving us.”
Hua Changxi looked back at the towering Arhat spiritual image, her heart also stirred. She found it difficult to comprehend this realm of self-sacrifice.
In her view, even if one were to benefit others, it should be done while preserving oneself. She could never do something like burning oneself to illuminate others.
However, standing on the Kasaya, speeding across the Underworld River, as one of the beneficiaries, she felt respect and gratitude in her heart.
Hua Changxi remained silent, then her expression became serious as she stared at the green river below.
Golden ‘swastika’ characters appeared on the Kasaya. Under their suppression, the originally turbulent green river, churning and creating waves, calmed slightly.
“Nether Dragon, attack!”
Lady White Bone’s sharp voice rang out.
Hua Changxi heard it, and her expression immediately became solemn.
Nether Dragon?
A dragon in the Underworld River?
The next moment, her guess was confirmed. The green river began to churn with waves again, even more violently than before. Soon, a massive vortex appeared in the center of the river.
“Swish~”
A green dragon, formed from the green water, slowly emerged from the vortex.
Upon seeing the green dragon, Hua Changxi and the people on the Kasaya showed expressions of terror. The green dragon exuded a chilling aura that made one’s blood run cold. At this moment, the Kasaya was traveling on the green river, and they could neither advance nor retreat.
“Roar~”
The green dragon roared towards the Kasaya, and a terrifying blast of air struck, causing the Kasaya to become unstable.
“Everyone, channel your Spiritual Power and stabilize the Kasaya! If we fall into the Underworld River, we will all die,” a young Monk shouted urgently.
Hearing this, everyone began channeling their Spiritual Power to stabilize the Kasaya.
Hua Changxi stood at the very front of the Kasaya. She ignored the actions of others, her gaze fixed solely on the green dragon. At this moment, she had only one thought: I cannot die. I must overcome the green dragon’s obstruction and leave alive.
The green dragon roared, as if announcing its presence to everyone. The next moment, its entire body flew out of the river.
Seeing the green dragon flying directly towards the Kasaya, everyone on the Kasaya despaired.
At this moment, the battle between Changmei Arhat, Lady White Bone, and Huang Mang behind them had reached its most intense point.
Seeing Changmei Arhat’s Spiritual Power condense into a giant palm reaching towards the skeletal frame, Hua Changxi’s expression sharpened. Her right hand glowed with Spiritual Light, and then a phantom spiritual hand flew out.
The spiritual hand grew larger and larger over the green river, becoming as vast as a mountain. Finally, as the green dragon charged forward, it fiercely struck towards the dragon’s head.
Upon seeing the giant hand, the green dragon initially paid it no mind. It was a soul beast; Spiritual Power could harm it, but not fatally. Thus, it charged directly towards the giant hand.
However, when the green dragon entered the giant hand’s coverage range, it revealed a look of horror. It felt a powerful suppressing force.
The green dragon was shocked and wanted to escape, but the giant hand had already descended. It also saw the five golden ‘swastika’ characters on the fingers of the giant hand.
“Roar~”
If the previous dragon roar conveyed dominance and might, this roar unmistakably conveyed the green dragon’s current terror and shock.
“Save me~”
The giant hand not only carried immense suppressing power but also had a Fire Lotus blooming in its palm. The green dragon felt an intense crisis and, disregarding its pride, cried out for help.
Hearing the Nether Dragon’s plea, all the demons in Nine Netherworld Genmen Pass were astonished. Even Lady White Bone and Huang Mang, who were in the midst of battle, stopped attacking Changmei Arhat and turned to look.
In the dim sky, a giant green lotus appeared, followed by the sequential appearance of a giant Phoenix, a giant horse, a giant wolf, a giant rat, and a giant tiger.
“Rumble~”
The giant hand directly slapped the green dragon away, causing it to crash heavily into the river. Moreover, the demons saw that the Nether Dragon’s body was engulfed in raging flames. Upon falling into the Underworld River, the flames not only didn’t extinguish but instantly ignited the river, causing ten thousand ghosts within the river to wail mournfully.
“Vermilion Bird Flame!”
“Kill!”
Realizing that the flames on the Nether Dragon were Vermilion Bird Flame, the demons who had been observing all attacked, fiercely rushing towards the Kasaya.
Dealing with the green dragon had nearly exhausted Hua Changxi’s Spiritual Power. Seeing so many demons attacking her now, she despaired.
“Whoosh~”
A golden Arhat spiritual image rushed to the riverbank, blocking all attacks: “Go quickly!”
Seeing this, Hua Changxi quickly controlled the Kasaya and flew towards the opposite bank.
“Boom~”
A violent impact struck from behind, like a strong wind, propelling the Kasaya forward and directly blowing it to the other shore.
“Bang bang bang~”
The Kasaya landed on the shore, and Hua Changxi and the others fell. At this moment, no one cared about the pain; they all looked towards the opposite bank.
Attacks from green lotus petals, tiger claws, phoenix flames, wolf claws, and horse hooves all landed on the Arhat spiritual image, instantly scattering it.
Hua Changxi saw that Changmei Arhat’s physical body on the opposite bank was cracking bit by bit. An overwhelming emotion surged in her chest. Gritting her teeth, she once again controlled the Kasaya and flew into the gray fog without looking back.
