The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 119 is a body like flames
Gao Lishi protected Li Longji. When he saw Li Longji stop, the loyal eunuch was so anxious that he almost jumped up and down, saying urgently, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, hurry up! It's dangerous here. We can't stop here!"

Li Longji took two more steps.

Then, with a struggle on his face, he suddenly turned around and ran towards the child, grabbed him, and picked him up. An old monk swung his staff and smashed it down on the elderly Li Longji with a loud clang.

Chen Xuanli's blade blocked the heavy blow, and the Beacon Fire ignited, slaying the insect-demon-transformed old monk. He had only used the Beacon Fire Slash, a technique that consumed little to no energy for a fifth-rank Xuan official, thus preserving his own magical power. He said:

"Saburo!"

Under such circumstances, he instinctively called out the name he used when he was young.

Li Longji held the child and calmly said, "Retreat together with the people!"

Chen Xuanli gave the veterans a deep look and said, "Good..." He slashed horizontally with his sword. The Dragon Martial Army General personally covered the rear. Li Longji clenched his fist, sensed the last of the purple energy in his body, and finally lowered his hand without using it.

Using his control over the fate of humanity, Pei Angju led the people to retreat to avoid pushing and trampling. He first saw Pei Xuanbao's death, and then saw the demon incident. Without hesitation, he ran to the front.

Li Longji looked at the young man's back and said, "That guy runs faster than I do."

"who is it?"

Chen Xuanli glanced at him twice, recognized his identity, and said:
"The Pei family of Hedong, main branch, Pei Angju."

Li Longji hoisted the child onto his shoulders and laughed, "What a fine Pei family steed! It is indeed a swift and spirited steed, running ahead of me. Impressive, impressive."

"When we get back, we'll talk to Heng'er about it."

"The main branch of the Pei family has some talented people."

The group of veterans, despite their injuries, formed a battle formation to resist the insect demons. However, they were just ordinary retired soldiers, and their bodies were injured and incomplete. Soon, they suffered losses. The rest of the Pei family members were also mixed in with the other groups and were retreating one by one.

When Pei Xuan Niao first saw such a scene, he was immediately overcome with panic.

As he mingled among the civilians and walked away, he witnessed the veterans fighting.

Pei Xuan Niao's steps slowed down, and a struggle flickered in his arrogant eyes.

An old, wounded soldier, unable to stop the demon monk controlled by the insect demon, watched as the iron staff smashed towards his head, only to find a horizontal sword blocking the staff, and then a burst of flames erupted.

boom! ! !
The monk's staff was blasted aside, and the old soldier saw that it was a young man, only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pale face, panting heavily, and tightly gripping the expensive-looking sword. He hadn't actually fled.

Veteran Luo Zhengdao: "Who are you?!"

Pei Xuan Niao said, "The Pei family, Pei Xuan Niao."

The veteran spat out a cold laugh: "Young master of the Pei family, instead of retreating, what are you doing standing here?"

An unnamed fire rose in Pei Xuanniao's heart.

Seeing an enemy approaching, he took half a step forward, and the hilt of his sword slammed into the head of a demon. The power of the Xuan Guan erupted, shattering the demon's brain. His heart was pounding wildly. He then slashed and cleaved with his sword, clearing the way ahead.

He was certainly not stupid. The incident at Wofo Temple, the killing of Pei Xuanbao, the abbot's demonization, and the family's teachings and the secret knowledge passed down through generations told him that this meant Wofo Temple itself was a den of demons, and that the Taoist priest who descended from the sky must have killed a demon leader.

Demons are mostly extreme; one cannot be called a demon if one is not extreme and persistent.

This is after the plan failed, and the demon went mad.

In this situation, Pei Xuanniao knew that staying here to cover the rear meant certain death.

He struggled internally, but eventually calmed down. He pointed his weapon ahead, looking at the blood-stained temple. The sky lowered, and before he knew it, the clouds had become thick, the wind was strong, and the rain was pouring down.

Pei Xuan Niao said, slowly and deliberately:
"The Pei family of Hedong, descendants of Lord Pei, and all my fellow clansmen..."

He stared ahead, at the certain death of his rearguard mission, filled with fear and dread, yet also with arrogance and disdain. He gripped the steel in his hand, gritted his teeth, and forcefully said:

"Has my Pei family ever taught you to betray your comrades?!"

"How dare the Pei family members dishonor their ancestors?!"

His voice gradually hardened, and he exhaled, shouting:

“A member of the Pei family.”

"Step forward!"

Luo Zheng cursed, "What's the use of that? Just this one sentence, who..."

Footsteps sounded.

In silence, more than twenty members of the Pei family stepped forward, their brocade robes billowing, their swords drawn. Before the old soldier, they formed another passage to intercept the insect demons. They would stop the demonized monks, let the insects pass through, and hand them over to the rear for another interception.

Pei Angju and a few other main disciples simply cursed and fled in front of the common people.

Pei Xuan Niao gripped his knife, standing at the very front. Looking ahead at the temple and the peaceful scene shrouded in rain, he thought of his father's silence before he set off, and his mother's tears streaming down her face. He held the knife tightly.

Reality and fate had already been laid bare before him.

"Father, Mother, your son is unfilial, but..."

Pei Xuan Niao's eyes gradually hardened.

"Our ancestors are above us."

"We will certainly not disgrace the name of the Pei family of Hedong!"

..............................

Zhou Yan and Li Zhenyue formed the first line of defense, the Pei family of Hedong formed the second line of defense, the veterans served as the last line of defense, and Chen Xuanli covered the rear of the civilians and guided these thousands of people to leave.

Zhou Yan slashed down a demon, his breathing becoming slightly rapid. Looking at the temple gradually darkening in the rain, he raised his sword, flames climbing and swirling on its blade—this time, the flames of humanity were burning.

Drought Demon Fire is specifically designed to attack flesh and blood, while Buddhist Fire can slay vengeful spirits burdened by karma.

This golden flame of human destiny will be restrained and attacked to a considerable extent by anyone who harbors hostility or attacks the concept of humanity itself. The use of these three flames will put pressure on Zhou Yan himself.

Instead of forcibly expending energy and spirit, use all three fires together.

It's better to choose the option that best suits the current situation.

As he expected, the real crisis did not lie with the abbot.

It's not the entire temple.

After being killed by Zhou Yan, the abbot did not revive. His life force was only a faint wisp, and once severed, his soul dissipated. Thus, it seems that the abbot's obsessive and extreme days and nights were merely a link in the demon's plan. If the longevity ceremony at the Reclining Buddha Temple was intended to use sentient beings and incense offerings as fuel...

So, the abbot who was obsessed with immortality, who went from being a Buddhist disciple to pursuing the method of corpse liberation and immortality through the molting techniques of spirits and insects, was at best just a relatively robust member of the demon race's plan.

Zhou Yan saw it amidst the spreading, bloody traces.

The abbot's body, dressed in a simple yet elegant kasaya, knelt there, with an almost endless flow of blood gushing from his neck, soaking the ground and staining his robes red.

The neck and arms were covered in wrinkles, with blood pooling in the wrinkles like candle tears flowing down after a fire.

It looks like a red candle.

The temple became his body, and his remains were turned into candles.

This body is like a flame.

Seeking thirst and loving life...

This body is like a flame, thirsting and loving life.

This place is becoming increasingly eerie. Zhou Yan thought about the two lotus flowers, the giant golden cicada whose origins were unknown, the method of human skin shedding and molting, the Weaver Girl, and Li Zhiwei's mother.

The Reclining Buddha Temple, shrouded in layers of dark clouds and bathed in the aftermath of a heavy rain, appeared even more secluded and mysterious.

Zhou Yan was worried about Shen Cangming and Zhi Xuan.

Uncle Shen, you must be alright.

Beneath the Reclining Buddha Temple, Shen Cangming and Zhixuan fought side by side, successfully delaying Zhou Yan until he killed the abbot and ended the Dharma assembly. After he killed the abbot, the movements of these monsters, some of which had transformed into insects, some that had grown fangs, and some that had six arms, froze for a moment.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhixuan and Shen Cangming quickly broke through the encirclement.

Just like back then, Zhi Xuan raised his 'shield' while Shen Cangming followed behind, tearing Shen Cangming apart like a meat grinder. With the combined force of the horizontal sword and the demon-subduing pestle, the problems caused by Shen Cangming's serious injuries were largely concealed.

They were comrades-in-arms who had gone through thick and thin together for twenty years.

They were each other's saviors, and each had shielded the other from swords and spears.

At this stage of the relationship, words are no longer needed. A subtle gesture or a simple conversation is enough for both parties to fully understand each other and achieve perfect cooperation.

The two rushed out, and Zhixuan quickly said, "Be careful, Shen Cangming."

"These monsters are under the control of the abbot."

"With the abbot dead, these insect demons are out of control and will likely go berserk. The insect demons that were hiding will also reveal their true forms. This is our chance. This way."

The two worked in perfect harmony and broke through again. They originally planned to find a secret passage and rush out to leave this dark and secluded chamber, but at the entrance of the secret passage, they suddenly heard low sobs and cries. The two looked at each other.

someone!

Zhi Xuan said, "I knew there must be something wrong with such a big space down there..." He went over with Shen Cangming and heard a wailing sound from inside the wall. He gave Shen Cangming a look.

Shen Cangming drew his sword in alertness, while Zhixuan gripped the Vajra Pestle.

He slammed his head against the wall with all his might.

With a muffled thud, a huge opening was smashed through the wall, and rubble rained down. Shen Cangming and Zhixuan saw wooden stakes inside, with Buddhist scriptures engraved on them. However, the scriptures seemed to have been splashed with blood, giving them a dark red hue.

Each wooden stake had a person tied to it with a rope.

Shen Cangming used his sword to cut the rope open. Zhixuan said, "Be careful, we need to check them one by one. Insects are good at disguising themselves, so it's hard to guarantee that there are no monsters inside!" While keeping a watchful eye on him, he threw a string of Buddhist beads to Shen Cangming.

Shen Cangming grasped the prayer beads and poured his magical power into them, causing the beads to glow slightly.

Zhi Xuan's expression was somewhat solemn.

There are monsters in here.

Shen Cangming exhaled. With his warrior's senses, he could feel faint sounds coming from the walls of the passageway below the Reclining Buddha Temple, indicating that a monster was rapidly approaching.

Zhi Xuan said, "Quickly!"

Shen Cangming quickly conducted an examination. He saw that some of the wooden stakes even had bones bound with ropes, and there were tattered clothes stained with blood. Based on his experience and combat skills, Shen Cangming understood without thinking what kind of torture this represented.

Is this a testing ground for transforming humans into insectoid demons?!
There were still a dozen or so people alive. Shen Cangming quickly examined them and found that none of them were demons. However, when he poured his magic power into the prayer beads, the beads still emitted a faint glow.

The light flickered, as if giving a warning.

Zhi Xuan asked, "Is it not ready yet, Cang Ming?"

Shen Cangming said, "I'll examine it again!"

Zhi Xuan said, "These monsters are coming soon. Be careful, be very careful. There is an insect demon mixed in with them. If you rescue it, it will kill hundreds of people!" He glanced at the secret passage exit, which was only a dozen steps away.

Zhi Xuan brandished the vajra, smashing the surrounding walls and sending rubble flying to form a defensive position. Then, carrying the vajra, he quickly turned around, grabbed the prayer beads from Shen Cangming's hand, and said, "Don't you know how to use it?!"

"I'll come, you guard the place!"

After the Buddhist beads were infused with magical power, they emitted light. When Zhixuan grabbed the Buddhist beads with one hand, Shen Cangming had not yet withdrawn the magical power he had infused. The Buddhist light flowing through the beads paused for a moment, and then suddenly emitted a strong Buddhist light.

We've found the monster.

But why...?

Shen Cangming's eyes froze.

If fate truly exists, then fate has once again dealt this stubborn man a heavy and fatal blow.

Zhi Xuan's smile froze.

An Renjun's staff officer opened his mouth, looking at the Buddha's light that had become exceptionally intense after touching his palm. He felt an almost stinging pain under this light, like the agony of putting his hand into fire. He almost murmured, "..."

"Am I a monster?"

"I am a monster?"

boom! ! !
Accompanied by the rumble of rubble and the swirling of dense demonic energy, the whispers of insects echoed from the outer passageway.

The monster is coming.

(End of this chapter)