Chapter 178: Spiritual Opportunity
Those three short words made heaven and earth fall silent.
Everyone looked up at White Mountain Old Daoist, only feeling that his aged face was filled with an indescribable domineering aura.
He smiled warmly, but his eyes carried a condescending gaze.
As if to say, you are not worthy to travel with me.
Baoshu Buddha’s expression gradually calmed, without the slightest fluctuation, but everyone could feel it.
He was angry.
White Mountain Old Daoist had broken his defenses with just three short words. He had thought of all the reasons White Mountain Old Daoist might refuse, but he had never imagined something so simple and brutal. In his view, any matter or conflict paled in comparison to future opportunities.
For people of their level, simply standing here was a promise; everything else was trivial. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to ally with White Mountain Old Daoist while deliberately sending a Heavenly Crane Tree to vent, precisely because these things were unimportant.
He thought.
The only reason White Mountain Old Daoist refused him was that he believed he wasn’t strong enough.
A long time passed.
He sighed softly:
“It seems that after enduring the ages, old friend, your strength has made a great breakthrough?”
White Mountain Old Daoist’s gaze gradually turned cold:
“What? Want to make a move?”
Buddhist chants gradually arose around Baoshu Buddha, golden light permeated, and faintly, Arhats and Bodhisattvas could be seen chanting softly. Those voices gathered together, forming a vast sound. Some martial artists with lower cultivation unknowingly became benevolent in expression, showing signs of being assimilated, only awakening in shock when forcibly roused by their companions beside them, looking at Baoshu Buddha with horror.
Baoshu Buddha held the Glazed Buddha Tree, becoming increasingly sacred:
“Please grant instruction.”
The Buddha Tree bloomed with light, strands of power never seen by the congregation flowing out from it, sometimes turning into golden lotuses, sometimes into Bodhisattvas, carrying an astonishing aura as they suppressed toward White Mountain Old Daoist.
The congregation held their breath, gazes shocked.
Some elders had already guessed.
Martial Saint power!
Their hearts were shocked and immensely excited. They never expected such a turn at today’s Heavenly Human Ceremony. Two legendary Martial Saint experts had emerged from history, the impact already unparalleled, and now they were about to clash directly!
White Mountain Old Daoist smiled faintly:
“Baoshu, after so many years, you still haven’t improved. This Glazed Treasure Tree isn’t enough.”
Facing that boundless Buddha light, his Daoist robe fluttered without wind. He reached out and drew in, and an ancient seal engraved with profound Dao patterns appeared in his hand. The moment the ancient seal appeared, it drew all eyes. Plain and unadorned, yet carrying immeasurable Dao might.
The ancient seal grew with the wind, like a mountain peak. Faintly, immortal cranes cried long, heavenly flowers danced. Strands of profound power mercilessly suppressed toward Baoshu Buddha.
In an instant.
Dao surged, Buddha waned. Golden lotuses were crushed, Buddhist chants infinitely compressed. Those influenced by assimilation awoke in horror.
White Elephant True Person’s old tears flowed with excitement:
“It’s True Monarch’s True Xuan Seal!”
Seeing the legend walk out before his eyes, the realization of that faith made his heart surge.
The battle of the two ancient saints couldn’t be called earth-shattering.
But all Heavenly Human Realm experts felt their hearts tremble. Dragon Mountain Daoist felt this was the most terrifying existence he had ever seen. That day his disciple battled the Blade Demon had been dazzling to the extreme, but compared to these two, it was probably far inferior.
At this moment, strands of profound power impacted, visibly tearing at the edges fine black cracks that constantly appeared, healing at extreme speed.
Heavenly Human Realm experts were horrified one by one.
This was power so great it tore space!
“Is this the power of the Martial Saint Realm?” The congregation’s hearts shook, filled with reverence and longing.
But one person was the exception.
Ning Qi’s gaze held slight surprise.
He admitted Baoshu Buddha and True Profound True Monarch were very strong. Those strands of profound power were indeed Martial Saint power without doubt, but far from reaching the level he had imagined. He even felt he could exchange moves with the two.
Ning Qi’s gaze fixed on the sky.
He saw the Glazed Treasure Tree and True Xuan Seal standing apart in the void, strands of profound power pouring from the two treasures, intertwining and tearing spatial rifts.
But Ning Qi focused more on the two treasures themselves. As for tearing spatial rifts, he could do that now too.
After stepping into Heavenly Human Perfection, his strength was even greater than before.
“This Glazed Treasure Tree and True Xuan Seal should also be Martial Saint secret treasures. If I see correctly, the Martial Saint power used by Baoshu Buddha and White Mountain Old Daoist is also converted through these two secret treasures!”
Golden light permeated Ning Qi’s eyes as he observed the flow of their power.
He was surprised to discover that these two were no different from King Yu Bead. The only difference was perhaps being slightly stronger than King Yu Bead.
“Why is this? Do they themselves not possess Martial Saint power? Is it that the power hasn’t revived yet, or some reason they can’t use it?”
His heart shook.
But this also explained to some extent why the two weren’t as powerful as Ning Qi had imagined.
Otherwise, two Martial Saint Realm experts preserved from the long distant past absolutely couldn’t have only this level of strength.
Ning Qi watched intently. Any more guesses now were futile.
The best way was to ask these firsthand witnesses. Perhaps White Mountain Old Daoist was a breakthrough. Before knowing White Mountain Old Daoist was True Profound True Monarch, his relationship with him had been decent. But now knowing he was True Profound True Monarch, Ning Qi couldn’t gauge what White Mountain Old Daoist’s previous actions meant.
In his contemplation.
The two Martial Saint secret treasures in the void already showed anomalies.
Baoshu Buddha chanted a Buddhist chant, the Glazed Treasure Tree’s light growing fiercer. His expression serious. In contrast, White Mountain Old Daoist remained relaxed.
“This is your limit?” He smiled calmly, then flicked his sleeve, the ancient seal swelling again.
Mountains crushed, heavens seemed to topple. The rumbling made everyone fearful.
The ancient seal pressed step by step toward the Glazed Treasure Tree. Boundless Buddha light showed fine cracks. The Treasure Tree emitted overburdened cracking sounds, as if about to shatter completely the next instant. Faintly, Buddha platforms collapsed, Bodhisattvas showed fear.
Strands of Dao patterns wielded wondrous power, sealing the Glazed Treasure Tree in the void, preventing him from recalling it.
Baoshu Buddha’s expression finally changed.
His eyes shook, with some defeat. He hadn’t expected that after so many years, he still wasn’t True Profound True Monarch’s opponent.
“True Xuan, do you truly disregard our past ties? Since you refuse alliance, so be it!”
White Mountain Old Daoist’s voice resounded through True Profound Mountain:
“In the past, you fought me for the Heavenly Crane Tree. Out of old ties, I spared you, merely a small punishment and warning. But now you come to insult my Daoist Lineage. Truly courting death. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll truly think White Mountain is a pushover!”
His voice was cold.
True Xuan Seal’s light intensified, heaven and earth power swept in, gale roared, but all was confined to that space.
Crack, crack.
Fine cracks appeared on the Glazed Treasure Tree. Baoshu Buddha was somewhat exasperated.
“True Xuan, stop! Do you truly think you’ve got me pinned? If not for spiritual energy not revived, who would win is unknown!”
He urged the Glazed Treasure Tree with all his might, but the decline didn’t lessen.
Even his own body suffered backlash, his face paling, losing its previous sacred solemnity. He glared angrily at White Mountain, somewhat fierce.
“Broken defenses already? So petty. Even if spiritual energy revives, with you like this, this Daoist would let you have one hand!”
White Mountain Old Daoist chuckled, infuriating beyond measure.
Golden light flashed in Ning Qi’s eyes.
“Spiritual energy?”
He vaguely understood something.
Baoshu Buddha’s face clearly darkened further.
But he didn’t dare retort. The pressure mounted. If his secret treasure truly suffered damage, causing disadvantage in future opportunities, he would regret endlessly.
With this thought.
Baoshu Buddha finally cast aside face. He shouted:
“Savage Emperor, why not strike quickly and take down this mad old Daoist together!”
The congregation was all stunned.
One treated so by Baoshu Buddha must be an expert of the same level.
White Mountain Old Daoist’s pupils contracted, sinking voice:
“Savage Emperor has come too?”
Ning Qi’s gaze searched constantly, faintly detecting movement. He looked to the sky, finally sensing a ethereal aura approaching from afar. He now knew this ethereal aura seemed a unique trait of such people.
A hearty laugh resounded through the sky:
“Never thought True Profound True Monarch still remembers this emperor. Truly an honor.”
All gazes followed.
An immensely burly iron-tower giant stepped through the air. Unknown black beast hide tied at his waist and abdomen, emanating a shocking aura. His exposed half-chest was balanced and aesthetically full.
His wild hair flew, hands behind back, like a king inspecting territory, filled with dominance. None dared meet his eyes.
White Mountain Old Daoist eased the force urging True Xuan Seal, wary of the newcomer. Baoshu Buddha breathed a sigh of relief.
White Mountain Old Daoist stared at the iron-tower giant:
“This Daoist naturally remembers a hero like Savage Emperor, but mixing with an old bald donkey like Baoshu, it tarnishes your status.”
Savage Emperor laughed and waved:
“True Profound True Monarch, you are mistaken. The misunderstanding between Baoshu Buddha and True Monarch is just that—a misunderstanding. The Buddhist Sect now belongs to my Barbarians, so we are family. Today, Baoshu Buddha and I come not to offend, but sincerely invite True Monarch to discuss great matters together.”
The congregation perked up, understanding this Savage Emperor’s origins.
Emperor of the Northern Barbarians!
This identity was sensitive, instantly making everyone find it inconceivable. The Northern Barbarians had always been suppressed by Great Yan; how could such a powerful Savage Emperor suddenly appear?
Never heard of before.
From White Mountain Old Daoist’s attitude alone, this Savage Emperor was no simple figure.
Savage Emperor’s words fell, he waved lightly.
Strands of profound power condensed into a Dark Black Heavenly Wolf, emanating ferocious aura, making the congregation tremble slightly, as if beholding a Beast Emperor.
The Dark Black Heavenly Wolf howled to the sky, pouncing toward True Xuan Seal.
In an instant.
It formed a two-on-one situation.
White Mountain Old Daoist’s expression changed slightly. True Xuan Seal withdrew all suppressive power, merely shielding the congregation. The ancient seal floated and sank, flickering faintly, as if sensing the unfavorable situation.
The originally heavily pressured Glazed Treasure Tree fully relaxed, strands of golden light surging, all fine cracks instantly vanishing.
The Dark Black Heavenly Wolf didn’t pursue, merely confronting Glazed Treasure Tree and True Xuan Seal.
White Mountain Old Daoist’s gaze gradually turned stern:
“So you’ve found a helper. No wonder you dare come provoke today, you bald donkey Baoshu.”
Savage Emperor said seriously:
“True Monarch, calm your anger. Baoshu Buddha’s prior actions were merely testing if True Monarch had revived. Any impropriety, please forgive. Today we come to invite True Monarch to lead the world’s Daoist Sect into my Barbarians, to become our national religion together henceforth, and seek opportunities as one.”
Waves rose in the congregation’s hearts.
This Savage Emperor had grand ambitions!
To take Daoist Sect and Buddhist Sect both under his wing.
A slight calculation told them why. Northern Barbarians and Great Yan had long been at odds. If he subsumed both sects, the balance would shift dramatically, likely causing astonishing changes. Linking to recent Northern Barbarians suddenly advancing south, the congregation’s scalps tingled.
Dragon Mountain Daoist felt the same. He wanted to turn and speak to Ning Qi, but suddenly froze, realizing his disciple was no longer in place. He instinctively searched but couldn’t find him, tightening his heart. But in this situation, he could only hold position.
Savage Emperor’s attitude was extremely sincere:
“True Monarch, consider carefully. Any conditions, feel free to state.”
White Mountain Old Daoist merely pointed east, toward Yan Province:
“Savage Emperor does this, unafraid of that one?”
The congregation held breath.
Understanding who that referred to.
Great Yan Martial Saint!
Savage Emperor’s expression turned slightly serious, then confidently smiled:
“Since we have returned, some things must change. This emperor thinks not only for himself, but for future generations and people.”
“As for him, he chose a different path. Whether he can retain peak is uncertain. Even if he can, this emperor fears not. In some days, he must give this emperor an accounting!”
His eyes brimmed with abundant dominance.
Everyone’s blood boiled, feeling a great era was about to arrive.
All Saints returning?
Did it foreshadow something?
Even Dragon Mountain Daoist was somewhat excited.
White Mountain Old Daoist seemed infected by Savage Emperor’s dominance, falling silent. Savage Emperor stood waiting patiently, unhurried. Baoshu Buddha lowered brows, silent. Even if displeased inwardly, he wouldn’t contradict now.
But moments later, White Mountain Old Daoist still shook his head:
“I have no intent to meddle in your affairs. The Daoist Sect isn’t mine alone to command. Please return, Savage Emperor.”
His words fell.
Silence.
The congregation felt the atmosphere grow heavy.
Savage Emperor’s expression calm, staring at White Mountain Old Daoist. In the void, Dark Black Heavenly Wolf low-growled. Baoshu Buddha suddenly raised head, eyes with a hard-to-discern delight.
“Truly not considering?” Savage Emperor said.
White Mountain Old Daoist calmly replied:
“Please leave.”
Savage Emperor laughed, laughter shaking heaven and earth.
“Fine then. Long heard of True Monarch’s fame, never had chance to meet. Today, just right to witness. Baoshu Buddha is my Barbarians’ great Buddha. Today True Monarch insults him, insults this emperor.”
He stared at White Mountain Old Daoist.
Ferocious baleful aura gradually gathered in his eyes.
