Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 213 The Return of the Two Monks: What Sorrow?
The enormous commotion and noise from the Tongtian Pillar naturally did not escape the notice of the group of martial arts practitioners below. Hearing the noise and seeing the strange phenomenon, more people began to shout and rush towards the Tongtian Pillar.

The quota had already been used up, and Bai San Niang and He Yuan'er had disappeared without a trace. A group of martial arts practitioners looked on expectantly, but because they had no ability to climb the peak, they could only scratch their heads and shout and discuss in place.

"Could it be that a divine artifact is really going to be unveiled today?"

"The two eminent monks from Wansheng Rock have returned together. The Buddhist community has reaped a great harvest. Alas."

"What are you sighing for? All you do is sigh all day. Even if those two monks each get one, we still have at least three chances."

"You're wrong. Didn't you see there's also Lian Emei up there, as well as that terrifying expert from earlier?"

……

People were talking amongst themselves, while at the top of the Tongtian Pillar, Lian Emei and Wolongxing watched the door that was flashing violently and appearing and disappearing in front of them, each observing cautiously.

Wolongxing also learned from Lian Emei that a high-ranking monk had entered an illusion and failed to escape.

"Judging from the looks of it, could it be that someone is about to escape?" Wolongxing said.

Before Lian Emei could answer, a deafening roar erupted, and the light gate on the left shattered like glass. A blinding golden light burst forth, and an overwhelming Buddhist aura forced Lian Emei and Wolongxing to simultaneously take a half-step back. A figure in apricot-yellow robe flew out like a kite with a broken string, spun in mid-air, and landed firmly on the edge of the rock—it was the Holy Venerable One Step Lotus. The golden threads on his robe shimmered in the afterglow, but a deep sorrow clouded his brow. He gazed at the dissipating light gate and sighed softly, the prayer beads in his sleeve rolling unconsciously.

“A lone boat crosses the river with a single sail…” Yibu Lianhua murmured to herself, the debate in the illusion reappearing before her eyes.

A Buddhist practitioner whose Buddhist teachings and martial arts are equally unfathomable. Yi Bu Lian Hua had never heard of this person before. However, within the illusion, in terms of both Buddhism and martial arts, Yi Bu Lian Hua was only on par with him. Although he also felt that the Earth Gate's philosophy was inappropriate, the Bitter Realm Buddhist Sect also had the reputation of the Buddhist Dharma Sect's Samadhi of Salvation for the Destruction of the Brahma World. Compared with the Earth Gate's great wisdom, although it also had its flaws, it could not be completely denied.

Then the two sides competed in martial arts, and the other side proved to be exceptionally skilled. With the two evenly matched, the final outcome was naturally a defeat for the former.

But it is unknown whether such Buddhist practitioners truly exist in the world, or whether it is merely a fabrication by the pawnshop owner.

However, before Yi Bu Lianhua could even feel regret, another portal on the other side kept flashing, attracting the attention of Lian Emei, Wolongxing, and Li Xuanxiao in the air.

"Yunren, I didn't expect you to be here too."

"I never expected that the Holy Walker would take such a risk."

The intelligence Qin Jiaxian brought back only mentioned the Good Law Emperor. Lian Emei never expected that even the Holy Venerable of Wansheng Rock would personally come out of the mountain.

"The Emperor is my friend, and I, Yibu Lianhua, cannot stand idly by while he faces such danger. It's just a pity..." Yibu Lianhua sighed again. A lone boat crosses the river...

No sooner had Yibu Lianhua finished speaking than the anomaly intensified at the right-side portal. Lian Emei's delicate brows furrowed sharply, and Wolongxing stepped forward, raising his hand to block the entire wave of energy. Yibu Lianhua looked up and saw the portal ripple like water, a beam of golden light cascading down like a waterfall, carrying a familiar aura. A figure in blue robes flew out, seemingly oblivious to the commotion.

"Your Majesty!" Yibu Lianhua exclaimed as she flew out, her palms transforming into invisible lotus platforms to catch the figure thrown out of the light gate.

The robes of the Good Dharma Emperor remained neat and his face was as peaceful as if he were asleep. However, when the Lotus Flower touched his wrist, she was struck by lightning and withdrew her hand abruptly. The pulse that should have been as steady as a bell was now as thin as a thread. Even more terrifying was that the Buddhist foundation in the other party's body, which was powerful enough to shake mountains, had disappeared without a trace!
"This... how is this possible?" Yibu Lianhua's voice trembled as she carefully laid Shanfa Tianzi flat on the rock surface. She brushed her fingertips across his brow, trying to infuse him with a trace of Zen power, but only touched a deathly silence.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze at that moment. Wolongxing stepped forward quickly, placed her fair hand on the side of Shanfa Tianzi's neck, and said in a hoarse voice after a long while, "The breath is still there, but... the spiritual consciousness seems to have been drawn away."

“Hey, Holy Venerable, please don’t be angry. It was all the choice of the Good Law Emperor himself.” Li Xuanxiao said slowly, “He failed many times in the illusion. Each time he started over, he burned himself. In his last attempt, his soul and consciousness were completely pawned. But how much of what he planned can you take advantage of?”

Upon hearing Li Xuanxiao's words, Yibu Lianhua noticed the bulging object in Shanfa Tianzi's arms. When she opened it, she found it was a huge piece of silk cloth, densely covered with writings about the state, rules, people, and things within the illusion.

“Every time the illusion resets, he loses what he has prepared, so he prepares a new set because he doesn’t know if this will be his last time playing the game,” Li Xuanxiao said leisurely as he floated in the air.

“Even though he knows that you who enter the illusion again may not encounter the same problems as him, he still repeats this cycle. He is truly an admirable benevolent deity.”

"Ah!" Clutching the silk cloth in her hand, Yibu Lianhua was filled with grief. She picked up Shanfa Tianzi and looked at Li Xuanxiao in the air, "Pawnshop owner, what price do I need to pay to save Tianzi?"

"The price?" Li Xuanxiao smiled slightly. "The soul is always the most precious pawned item in any pawnshop, especially the soul of a benevolent emperor. If the Holy Venerable wants to save it, he can only exchange souls for souls."

Exchanging souls...

“Holy Venerable One…” Lian Emei began, but did not say anything more. She could not stop someone from sacrificing themselves to rescue their friend, even if that person was the Holy Venerable One Step Lotus.

“I understand, this is not the time for momentary anger.” Yibu Lianhua forcibly suppressed the excitement in her heart. The silk cloth she was holding kept deforming. After years of meditation, her heart, which had been as calm as a still well, was unusually turbulent at this moment.

Xi Mie Tianlai is still alive, and the Otherworldly Demon Realm continues to wreak havoc. This should never be the time for sacrifice, yet… he was forced to watch his friend perish…

At that moment, Li Xuanxiao in the air slowly said, "I have suddenly thought of a method. Would you like to give it a try?"

He then looked at Lian Emei River Crouching Dragon and said, "Or rather, would you all be interested in participating? The prizes are exceptionally generous."

(End of this chapter)