Bitter Realm: My Feet Step Through the Flames of War

The next person to arrive was a face that Ji Xiashang knew best, and his most formidable nemesis.

"Disaster-stricken Lord!"

"Ji Xiashang, you've worked hard. Let the two leaders of the Li Clan bring your difficult life to a regrettable end."

Chi Yue and Ao Tian attacked simultaneously, intending to kill Ji Xia Shang.

Just then, two powerful fist gusts struck, one from the left and one from the right, sending Shan Zhi Li and Lei Zhi Li flying.

The force of the punch continued unabated, shattering half of the mountain range that Gongyangzhanfeng once again.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, Ji Xiashang felt himself fall into a warm embrace, and then, like a flying swan, he vanished from Gongyangzhanfeng in an instant.

A moment later, Ji Xiashang was surprised to find himself standing in Tiandu Square.

"Martial Lord, it was actually you who saved me, uh~"

"No need to be polite. Your injuries are serious. Go to the clinic first."

"Why didn't you kill them just now, Lord Wu?"

"If they die, Li Yuan will return to the Heavenly Fiend. Let's wait until Su Huanzhen has made his plans before killing them."

This trip to help out was like a buy-one-get-one-free deal, making Su Huanzhen a huge winner.

Chapter 169 Emperor Tathagata Investigates the Demon Emperor's Whereabouts

After eliminating Ze Zhili, seeing the unusual activity at Tianfeng, Su Zhenhuan dared not rush forward any further and instead explored the Seven Palaces of Huangji.

During the meeting, the generals handed the tokens to Ze Zhili, saying they were to hide them in the Seven Palaces of Huangji. Now that Ze Zhili is dead, these tokens might be able to be retrieved.

Soon, Su Huanzhen arrived at Cangpo Valley, landed on a nearby peak, and coldly observed the magnificent building before him.

This seven-palace complex is a three-story tower-shaped structure supported by several towering pillars. The pillars are divided into eight inner pillars and eight outer pillars, which, according to the principle of mutual generation and restraint, incorporate the eight innate symbols and eight acquired signs.

At the top is an astronomical instrument; as the sphere rotates, it absorbs the power of the sun, moon, and stars.

If one had not attended this meeting, it would have been difficult to discern that the dignified and imposing Huangji Seven Palaces were actually the life palaces for the Eight Divine Beasts to recuperate and thrive.

Su Huanzhen stretched out his palm and felt the wind in the valley. It was peculiar, harboring filth and impurities.

"Drink~"

Su Huanzhen slightly gathered his energy, stepped onto the mountain peak, and took a step to explore, but it was like throwing a mud ox into the sea.

Just as they were marveling at this, a strange sound suddenly rang out from the valley, and a cloud of mist shot into the sky from the distant mountains. Looking up at the sky, the sun, moon, and stars were in constant motion.

"It seems that the construction of the Seven Star Palace borrowed from the terrain and used the secret method of feng shui to shift the energy of the land and separate the energy of the ground from that of the earth. Such a metaphysical technique could not be created by anyone but a top master."

Su Huanzhen opened the library in his mind, searching for architectural masters in his memories.

The Huazhong family's ancestors inherited the celestial arts of Xi'e, which encompassed mechanisms and astronomy and calendar systems. Judging from the armillary sphere at the top, it should be related to the Huazhong family.

In addition, superb architectural skills are required; looking around the world, there are very few people with such mortise and tenon jointing skills.

"Yes, let's go and investigate the Huazhong family first."

At the same time, a graceful figure stepped onto the Endless Heavenly Peak and landed on the hideous golem.

Affected by the return of Ze Zhi Li's soul essence, a corner of Tian Feng collapsed. Taking advantage of the loosening of the seal, Shui Zhi Li Bing Wu Yi came to awaken Tian Zhi Li's consciousness.

At the moment of Mercury's transit, the starlight can penetrate the seal.

He descended along the giant chain and indeed saw the once invincible Tian Zhi Li, now a stone statue, standing silently in this place.

Bing Wuyi activated the Star Spirit Pointer.

In an instant, three stars converged beyond the nine heavens, the sky and earth changed color, the universe trembled, and an unprecedented burst of extreme light energy crossed a hundred miles and simultaneously shot into the alien strata.

The moment the strange light pierced through the eyes of the stone statue, a continuous stream of fierce energy simultaneously entered the Heavenly Fierce Seal.

The heavens and earth trembled, and the underground space shook violently. Then, the golem's eyes shone with a red light. After countless ages, the Heavenly Ferocity finally awoke.

Just then, a towering figure sped across the distant horizon.

"The fruits of the three bodies originate from the roots of mortals, and the causes and conditions of the six realms leave no trace. The Sugata has never been the true form, and the cycle of birth and death is the gate of emptiness."

It turned out to be the long-lost Emperor Rulai who had reappeared. Bing Wuyi chuckled and retreated.

Entrusted by the Heavenly Buddha's Homeland, Emperor Tathagata came to investigate the seal of the Heavenly Fierce. Seeing a figure escape, he was unable to chase after it and slowly landed on the stone statue.

"The seal has loosened, and Tian Zhi Li has regained consciousness."

Seeing that the situation was more serious than expected, Emperor Tathagata quickly channeled his true essence, pouring out his surging Buddhist power and channeling it into the giant chain.

In an instant, holy light flashed, lotus flowers bloomed, and chants of sacred music filled the heavens and earth.

"what!"

Having just regained consciousness, Tian Zhili let out a miserable scream, his eyes turning to stone once more, and he fell into a deep sleep.

"Reinforcing the seal can temporarily stop the Heavenly Fury. The next step is to ascertain the whereabouts of the Demon Emperor."

In order to solidify his Buddha-heart after separating the consciousness of the demon Buddha, Emperor Buddha has been meditating by the Buddha Pool in the Heavenly Buddha's Original Land.

Following the Black May, a terrifying rumor spread in an instant, implying that the former Demon Emperor possessed the bloodline of the Heavenly Buddha. The rumor reached the Heavenly Buddha's homeland, causing a huge uproar.

Therefore, the Buddha found Emperor Tathagata and told him about the origin of the ancient Buddha-Li War and the causes and consequences of sealing Tianzhili, asking him to come and investigate these two matters.

Emperor Tathagata then left the Heavenly Buddha Homeland and came to the Endless Heavenly Peak, where he indeed saw the Li Clan unseal the Heavenly Li.

After reinforcing the seal, Emperor Tathagata continued forward and arrived at a mysterious and unfamiliar realm, the border between life and death—the Bardo.

Emperor Tathagata clasped his hands together and said gently, "I have been entrusted by the Buddha to see the Lord of the intermediate state."

After these words, the barrier between the realms suddenly opened, and Emperor Tathagata found himself in a magnificent palace, where the majestic figure was none other than the Lord of the Bardo, King Zhou.

"What is the purpose of allowing the Buddha to descend to the intermediate state and arrive at the Buddha's place?"

“King of the Universe, the war between the Holy and the Demon has recently resumed in the Bitter Realm. After the war, rumors have spread, all pointing to the Demon Emperor who should no longer exist in the mortal world.”

"Oh?"

"It seems as if there is a force at work, secretly orchestrating everything, until Buddha entrusted me to investigate the whole story."

King Zhou sneered, "Hmph, how much do you know about what happened to the Supreme Buddha back then?"

"Did Zeus's words seem to have a hidden meaning?"

“When the Buddha built the Wall of Repentance, he alleviated the calamity of the red tide in the intermediate state. After that, the red tide was half in the intermediate state and half in the state of suffering.”

When the Buddha made his request, he introduced the special features of the intermediate state, but did not go into details. It was only when the King of the Universe spoke of the Wall of Repentance that the Buddha realized that this mysterious wall, filled with resentment, was created by the Buddha himself.

Tianfo's original home is located in the Bitter Realm. When the Buddha introduced the Red Tide, was it an exchange of benefits, or was there another reason?

Why did the Buddha build the Wall of Repentance?

"Hahaha! Buddha only built one wall, but I did three things for him. So you guys have come out ahead."

"Ok?"

“I lent the Primordial Qi to the Supreme Buddha and helped him cross realms to seal the Heavenly Ferocity. His upper body was sealed in the Bitter Realm - Endless Heavenly Peak, and his lower body was sealed in the Intermediate Yin Realm - Desperate Great Wall.”

"Is the third one the Demon Emperor?"

The King of the Universe smiled slyly: "Years ago, the Buddha sent me an infant and asked me to deal with it. Later, I learned that this child was the Demon Emperor."

"What will Zeus do?"

"I handed this infant to Ling Shou Duan Junheng, and his answer to me was that the Demon Emperor was no longer alive."

"Thank you for your explanation, King Zhou, but now there are rumors circulating again, and I must investigate. Where is Duan Junheng?"

"He has been exiled to the desolate Great Wall."

The Great Wall of Despair is a place where criminals are exiled from the Underworld. Duan Junheng, as the head of the five major spirit-controlling families in the Underworld, holds a high position and great power. His exile is likely related to the Demon Emperor's affairs.

After deliberating, Emperor Tathagata immediately took his leave from King Zhou and went to the Great Wall of Despair to find Duan Junheng.

The Great Wall of Despair, a gray wall stretching for countless miles, marks the border of the Underworld.

A wall divides the world into two completely different sides: inside the wall lies the prosperous Bardo, while outside the wall lies the dangerous and unknown "Nirvana Hell".

Today, the Buddha of the Bitter Realm holds a meeting to hunt spirits in the Bardo.

"Imperial Tathagata has disturbed you. Please, Spirit Hunter, show yourself."

Soon, a phantom appeared inside the wall: "Holy monk, your presence in this sinner's place of clinging to life is an honor I am deeply flattered."

"If Ling Shou is implicated because of the Demon Emperor's matter that day, Emperor Tathagata is deeply sorry."

"Ha, what does this ancient matter have to do with Buddha's head?"

"I have come here on the orders of the Supreme Buddha to confirm the death of the Demon Emperor."

"Demon Emperor... I remember that time, the Buddha and our king hit it off immediately. On the condition of clearing the red tide in the intermediate realm, the Buddha made an agreement with our king that if the four swords could not kill the Heavenly Fiend, the method of sealing the other realm would be adopted. After that, the Buddha did not hesitate to commit sins himself and build the Wall of Repentance."

"Ah."

Upon hearing again that the Buddha was building a wall of repentance, the Tathagata's mind stirred.

Without much thought, Duan Junheng said, "I apologize, but the long years of imprisonment have made me unable to help but confide in outsiders. Regarding the Demon Emperor, I was unable to completely extract his soul back then because my cultivation was insufficient. Moreover, I did not expect that this boy would be so talented that he secretly learned the art of teleportation and escaped to the Bitter Realm."

The Buddha Tathagata knew everything that followed, but the Buddha suspected that the Demon Emperor was not completely dead.

Thinking of this, Emperor Rulai pleaded, "Spirit Hunter, your spirit control technique is unparalleled in the world. Could you help me investigate the Demon Emperor's soul again?"

"Alas, the Soul Searching and Tracking Technique can indeed be used to track down the remnants of souls in the world, but the Demon Emperor's physique is special, and he must be supplemented with other things to assist in casting the spell."

What do you need?

"Although the Demon Emperor is a pure demon, he possesses a holy aura within him. If he could be aided by sacred artifacts from the three religions or Buddhist essence, the effect would be greatly enhanced."

"Buddha Yuan..."

Emperor Tathagata pondered. The sacred artifacts of the three religions were not easy to obtain, but the Buddha's essence was something he could provide. If he could fulfill the Buddha's request, he would not hesitate to help.

Is there a problem with the Buddha's head?

“Yes, I will come again once the Spirit Hunter is ready.”

"Thank you for your trouble."

"Emperor Tathagata thanks Ling Shou."

After leaving the Great Wall of Despair, Emperor Rulai paused to ponder for a moment and decided to head to the Heavenly Capital. Since the Martial Lord had a son, he should go and offer his congratulations.