Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 457 Kill without mercy, destroy Buddhism?
They colluded with the Mongol Yuan dynasty and engaged in treasonous trade with foreign countries.

This alone would make it impossible for Shaolin Temple to continue existing.

Perhaps it wasn't serious enough to warrant the suppression of Buddhism.

However, Shaolin Temple must be removed from the list.

The matter cannot be resolved simply by the death of a few Grandmasters of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

Dark clouds loomed over the city at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain.

Yue Buqun, dressed in a purple robe, with a white face and no beard, held a sword in his right hand, gazing at the Shaolin Temple gate, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Shaolin has colluded with the Mongol Yuan dynasty, wreaked havoc on the Ming dynasty, and committed treason. The Ministry of Justice's investigation has confirmed this." Yue Buqun's voice clearly echoed through the mountains and fields, carrying a chilling killing intent: "Today, the Eastern Depot is ordered to investigate Shaolin."

"All Shaolin disciples are to feign cooperation. If anyone resists, they will be killed without exception."

The last few words were both a warning to the Shaolin disciples and a message from Yue Buqun to the Eastern Depot masters, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the Heavenly and Earthly Fiends of the Dragon Guard Manor behind him.

The mountain gate was silent, save for the howling mountain wind.

Baihu, dressed in a flying fish robe, stood with his sword drawn, his cold eyes fixed on the commotion within Shaolin Temple. He said in a cold voice, "Why must you say more, Chief Supervisor Yue? Colluding with the enemy and betraying the country is an unforgivable crime. Anyone who dares to defy the law will be executed!"

Gui Haiyi stood silently to one side, dressed in black and masked. Behind him, one hundred and eight Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends stood still like statues, their murderous aura already permeating the surrounding area.

Suddenly, the Shaolin Temple bell rang out, one after another, striking eighteen times in total, each sound rapid and distinct.

Abbot Kongwen led the monks out, their hands clasped together in prayer.

"Amitabha. Shaolin is a pure Buddhist sanctuary, never involved in court politics, and has never had any dealings with the Mongol Yuan dynasty. How can there be any talk of treason? I urge you, esteemed officials, to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

People have to bow their heads under the eaves.

Yue Buqun and his men came with great force. The encirclement of Shaolin by nearly three hundred masters at the Finger Profound Realm was only the surface. At the foot of Shaolin Mountain, there was also a Cangyun Army of one thousand men ready to go at any time.

In secret, a terrestrial immortal was personally overseeing the operation.

The Shaolin Temple cannot be allowed to refuse to bow down.

Yue Buqun chuckled: "Abbot Kongwen, let's not beat around the bush. The evidence is conclusive that Master Sandu and Elder Kongxing colluded with the Mongols to assassinate His Majesty Su.

"The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review have verified that this matter is correct and there is absolutely no false accusation by others. You cannot afford to make excuses."

Kong Wen's long eyebrows trembled slightly, and he was about to speak when he suddenly heard a Buddhist chant behind him.

"Amitabha! If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext!"

Several figures drifted over; they were elderly monks of the Liao generation.

Behind them, Shaolin masters from the Dharma Hall strode out, their eyes wide with anger.

Yue Buqun's face darkened. He looked down at the blood-drinking longsword and a sneer appeared on his lips: "Whether it's a fabricated charge or not, you all know perfectly well. If you think that just because you are a few Grandmasters of Celestial Phenomena, you can evade this crime by sophistry, then you are wrong."

"Then all we can say is that you... are dreaming."

Yue Buqun's sword flashed, and the 120 Eastern Depot experts behind him responded in unison, their voices echoing through the valley. These men were all Grandmasters of the Zhixuan Realm, possessing the strength of a sect leader in the martial world. Now, gathered at Shaoshi Mountain, their killing intent soared to the heavens.

The White Tiger Blade was drawn, and a hundred Imperial Guards, like wolves and tigers, were poised to strike.

Guihai Yidao slowly raised his hand, and the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends instantly dispersed, occupying key positions and sealing off all of Shaolin's escape routes.

Abbot Kongwen sighed deeply: "Shaolin Temple has stood for a thousand years and has endured countless calamities. Today is probably the greatest calamity yet. Disciples, heed my command: form the Arhat Formation!"

Hundreds of monks responded in unison and quickly formed a battle formation.

Under the sunlight, the shadows of sticks were numerous, and the Buddha's light shone brightly.

This Shaolin formation, renowned throughout the world, unleashed astonishing power. The formation, composed of 108 Shaolin monks, even posed a slight threat to a grandmaster like Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun sneered, "A mere Arhat Formation dares to try and stop us? Kill!" Eastern Depot experts surged forward like a tide, clashing with the Arhat Formation. The true energy of a Finger Profound Realm Grandmaster could extend a hundred paces outwards; their fists, palms, fingers, and legs all carried the force of wind and thunder. Although the martial monks formed a defensive formation, they were already retreating steadily after just one exchange.

With a flick of Baihu's blade, the Imperial Guards, like swords drawn from their sheaths, plunged straight into the heart of the formation.

These elite guards were seasoned warriors, their teamwork seamless, and where their blades flashed, blood splattered everywhere.

Guihai Yidao remained standing still, and neither Tiangang Disha made a move, only coldly watching the battlefield, as if waiting for something.

Suddenly, eighteen monks emerged from the temple, each wielding a staff, forming a small formation—the very same eighteen bronze men of Shaolin.

"These are the Eighteen Bronze Men?"

"His physical body is so refined that it rivals that of a cultivator at the Finger Profound Realm."

"Even a Grandmaster of Celestial Phenomena would find it difficult to break the formation if the eighteen people joined forces."

The eighteen members of the same group, their staffs like mountains, temporarily halted the combined offensive of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard as they joined the battle.

However, their addition did not bring much advantage.

"Dominate the world!"

Guihai's sword momentum reached its peak, and a sword beam tens of feet long slashed across the sky. Whether it was the Shaolin Eighteen Bronze Men Formation, the One Hundred and Eight Arhats Formation, or those Shaolin experts above the Finger Profound Realm, they all changed color.

"Grandmaster of the Way of the Sword!"

"Amitabha Buddha, compassionate and merciful to all beings!"

A Buddhist chant rang out, accompanied by dazzling golden light. An old monk draped in a kasaya suddenly appeared beneath Xiong Batianxia's sword aura, raised his hand and unleashed a massive palm print that collided with Xiong Batianxia's.

Guihai Yidao felt an overwhelming force coming towards him. In disbelief, he gripped his sword and staggered back a few steps before looking at his opponent with lingering fear: "Shaolin, Master Liaojie, peak Celestial Phenomenon?"

"It's not a celestial phenomenon at its peak, it's a terrestrial deity."

"Of course, according to their Buddhist teachings, he could be considered an Arhat in the human world."

Two figures appeared in front of Guihai Yidao like ghosts.

A terrifying aura immediately filled the heavens and earth, as if two divine mountains had fallen from the sky and crashed down. The terrifying aura instantly made everyone's hearts pound wildly. Even the East Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard experts who were fighting, as well as the monks of Shaolin Temple, subconsciously stopped fighting.

In the Shaolin Temple, all beings above the Celestial Phenomenon level are plunged into darkness.

Two terrestrial deities made a personal appearance.

Moreover, the opponent's cultivation level made Liao Jie's heart pound with fear after just one exchange.

The other Shaolin monks seemed to sense the approaching death.

"These two benefactors are so young, how can their cultivation be so profound? Compared with them, my inner energy is like a small stream compared with a great river and ocean. They are truly geniuses!"

Master Liaojie gathered his thoughts, put his hands together in prayer, and uttered a Buddhist chant.

"Amitabha!"

“The disciples have violated Buddhist precepts and should be punished. But the other disciples are all innocent. Could you please show leniency, or report to His Majesty the Emperor and only punish the ringleaders?”

One of the two guards stepped forward and said to Master Liaojie, "The great monk is compassionate and has mastered the art of compassion for all beings to a degree no less than the Buddha's Palm. He truly has a heart of great compassion."

"It's a pity that Shaolin Temple can break any precept, but it shouldn't have colluded with foreign enemies and committed such a traitorous act."

"To exterminate Shaolin is already an act of great mercy from His Majesty."

"Otherwise, the orders we received today would not be to destroy Shaolin, but rather..."

"Slay Buddhism!!"

(End of this chapter)