Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chapter 150 Be Grateful for Blessings

When Zhu Tong came in, he had already been eavesdropping for a while. Although he didn't know the whole story, he could guess about 60-70% of the reason based on his experience.

Under normal circumstances, she would never get involved in such a situation. Even if she lost her valuables there, she would just have to suffer in silence. But thinking that Chu Mingkong and the others were there to take care of her, she felt a little more at ease.

Zhu Tong's gaze secretly swept over the monks. These old monks appeared to be saints whose physical bodies were slightly inferior to their divine souls, but he could vaguely sense that they had a connection with the various Buddha statues in the temple.

The relics they held in their hands put immense pressure on the demons.

Standing in the temple, it was as if invisible eyes were staring at them, looking into every corner of their hearts, making the demons not even dare to have any thoughts of resisting the old monks who stayed behind.

This is something the demon tribe didn't sense when they migrated here.

The demon leader was cautious and timid. He only dared to stay because he thought these monks were not as strong as him. He did not expect that these monks had hidden their strength and even opened a black market, raising prices on the spot.

"Who harmed your guards? I didn't have their demon cores on me. While I was unconscious, who secretly took me out of the temple and carried me outside the forbidden area of ​​the Illusion Palace, intending to take my life?" Zhu Tong showed no fear.

Among the demons, the old flower demon woman who acted as a healer felt ashamed and guilty. She had tried to stop them, but she couldn't stop the guards.

"You still say it wasn't your fault? You lot, get her, take her demon core, and your share will be much less!" the demon leader Jian Guotu shouted, but he himself showed no intention of making a move.

Because he was suspicious of Zhu Tong; this woman's behavior was unusual and illogical.

Regardless of how she managed to counter her four personal guards after being infected by the demonic miasma, her behavior of returning after escaping danger is highly suspicious.

Jian Guotu was afraid to take the initiative himself, preferring to let others test the waters first.

However, among the demon tribe, Zhu Tong's cultivation level is second only to the leader. How can someone else take the lead?

The scene was at a standstill for a moment, with the monks still holding the relics and watching indifferently from the side.

They didn't care how chaotic the demon tribe was; they only cared about the demon cores they could get in the end.

“Leader Jian Guotu, you keep using the term 'you all,' which completely absolves yourself of responsibility. The high monks want to collect more demon cores, so why don't you offer any contribution? We've completely handed over our cultivation, while you can rest easy and cultivate without any loss?”

"If my cultivation level is greatly reduced, how will I be able to protect the people of the Demon Tribe in the future? This is a matter of weighing the pros and cons! After my personal guards were killed by you, the fighting strength of my Demon Tribe was already greatly reduced. If I become weaker, won't the Demon Tribe become a rabble in the future?" Jian Guotu said without any guilt.

"The demon tribe respects you as their leader and indeed relies on your protection. But now you're helping outsiders weaken everyone's cultivation. What if you do it again tomorrow? Continue to help the high monks take our demon cores? Will we just become completely powerless little demons like this?"

"Now that I've left, I can still survive on my own, but if I lose my cultivation again next time, I'll have to avoid even the smallest beast I encounter on the road!"

Small forces like the Demon Clan are essentially weaklings banding together for mutual support and to jointly seize good cultivation sites.

In most cases, the members of the demon tribe are happy for their leaders to become stronger, as this would make the tribe's high-end combat force more formidable and increase their chances of winning battles in other areas in the future. Therefore, in most cases, the demon tribe members understand that the leaders should receive more benefits in the distribution of spoils, and they even help the leaders search for various spiritual herbs and precious materials. Even if they are greedy, resentful, or have grievances in their hearts, they can endure it for the sake of the greater good.

However, there are many things that the lower-level members have seen. So what is the current situation of the Demon Tribe?

The leader, Jian Guotu, was living a better and better life, but he was taking more and more of the spoils. When he occasionally saw someone's cultivation level improve by leaps and bounds, he was both wary and secretly suppressed them.

He seemed to feel uneasy whenever his subordinates' lives improved even slightly.

You're already living a very comfortable life, so why can't you stand to see us even slightly more comfortable?

Initially, the leader Jian Guosa was just a slightly outstanding demon cultivator in the demon tribe, not far behind others in terms of cultivation level. But now, look at how big that gap has become.

Now, in order to remain in this sacred temple, Jian Guosa even demands that the lower-level demons give up most of their cultivation to pay the monks.

So, after following their leader Jian Guosa for so long, their cultivation level has actually regressed?

Seeing the hesitation and wavering of these lowly demons, Jian Guosa's anger rose on his dark brown face, and he shouted once more:

"What are you all standing there for? Take her down!"

The white fox spirit Zhu Tong glanced at her former companions out of the corner of her eye, then returned her gaze to Jian Guosa, and coldly snorted:

"I'm sorry, I won't help everyone with the temple's accounts. I'm leaving the demon tribe to find another place to make a living and cultivate."

It is true that you have many inconveniences with your families and children, and you are not in control of your own lives. But you can still make a living by leaving now. But what if you lose your cultivation completely?

Since Chief Jian Guosa is so drawn to this tranquil temple, then you should personally pay the high monks for the demon cores!

Zhu Tong used her magic to send her stolen storage artifact flying out of a room and back into her hand, before she was reincarnated and ready to leave.

That was one of the guards' rooms, which almost confirmed that the leader had ordered someone to frame a member of the demon tribe.

The demon clan members, who had previously hesitated due to concerns about external dangers, no longer hesitated upon seeing this.

Jian Guotu can harm Zhu Tong now, and he will harm any of them in the future if they see any improvement in their situation!

"Leader Jian Guotu, until we meet again..."

"Miss Zhu Tong was seriously ill at the time and would have had no chance of resisting the guards. Did you kill them?"

"Could it be that you, leader, took the demon cores of the four guards, and now you want us to pay such a heavy price?"

They bowed to the demon leader and then turned to leave.

Jian Guotu's expression was ferocious and twisted, with strong blue veins bulging on his dark brown skin. He never expected that these weak, lowly demons would dare to disobey him!

His body swelled up, transforming into a behemoth five or six meters tall, emanating a palpable killing intent. With a shove of his massive claws into the ground, huge tree roots extending from his thick arms pierced through the earth, reaching out to grab the departing members of the demon tribe.

"Who gave you permission to leave? It's an honor for you to work for me! I'm giving you an opportunity to be grateful, not a choice to decide whether to stay or leave!"

Several members of the demon tribe were captured and brought back, but were instantly killed by Jian Guotu, who seized their demon cores. However, he did not give them to the monks, but absorbed them himself.

Jian Guotu's strength had increased slightly. His tree root tentacles continued to capture and absorb the members of the demon tribe. At the same time, his focus also shifted to the monks. Jian Guotu felt that with his increased strength, he could deal with these monks.

The monks sighed, and the relics in their hands shimmered with golden light.

"If you want the temple to be lively and have more incense offerings for a few more days, it seems you'll have to give the celestial demons a big advantage."

Chapter 151 Common Faith and Eloquence

Give the celestial demons a bargain?

Chu Mingkong was surprised. He had only wanted to hear if there was anything strange about the monks in the temple, but he never expected to hear the name of the Heavenly Demon.

Is it common practice in the Heavenly Realm for monks to collect demon cores on a large scale, or is it a rare occurrence?

"I'll kill you monks, devour your flesh and blood, and see how much you can help me increase my power!"

The behemoth, resembling a wolf but not quite, Jian Guotu pointed its spear at the monk. Monks from powerful Buddhist sects were not to be trifled with, but there were only these two monks here, something Jian Guotu had secretly confirmed over the past few days.

The pillar-like tree roots twisted and coiled, splitting off dozens of dragon whiskers from the roots. These whiskers scattered and rushed towards the fleeing members of the demon tribe.

Those that could be killed in one blow were killed directly, allowing the tree roots to absorb nutrients from the flesh and blood demon core, continuously replenishing Jian Guotu.

After killing more than ten members of the demon tribe, the remaining members gathered together and formed a united defense, barely managing to block the tree roots' attack.

This is only the situation in the rear.

Ahead, the killing intent emanating from Jian Guotu transformed into hundreds and thousands of black ghostly figures, filling the sky and blotting out the sun. The shrill screams of these ghostly figures shattered temple buildings one after another.

His claws pierced toward the monk's heart, and as the tree roots continued to absorb energy, Jian Guotu's aura and size continued to grow.

The demon tribe members, who were desperately defending, were horrified and desperate. They felt the oppressive force emanating from their leader and recalled his cultivation level when they first joined forces. They realized that the gap between them had become so large without them even noticing, while they themselves had almost been standing still.

After those monks die, it will most likely be their turn; the only winner in the end will be Jian Guotu.

"Don't give up yet!" Zhu Tong encouraged his companions inside the barrier.

She believed that Chu Mingkong and the others would protect her, but they might not necessarily lend a hand to protect these demons. If they gave up resisting now, then they would truly have no hope!

"Now that Jian Guotu has grown to this level, I truly feel foolish for believing he could lead us forward. Now we have no way to defeat him..."

"I only hate that I'm dragging my wife and daughter into this futile suffering. If I keep going, it will only delay our tragic deaths!"

"I'd rather self-destruct than let him absorb my demon core. I won't let him succeed again!"

Zhu Tongjiao drank, temporarily shattering their despair and sorrow:

"Hang in there a little longer, things are about to turn around!"

She had barely finished speaking when a turning point arrived, though not in the way Zhu Tong had imagined.

Just as the giant beast was about to pounce on the monks, the relics in their hands suddenly emitted a strong golden Buddhist light. The terrifying light spread outwards, and wherever it reached, all ghosts vanished. The immense power within the Buddhist light was too dazzling to look at directly, and the extreme yang energy within it further enhanced the power of the Buddhist light.

Because the tree roots and tentacles were shattered by the light, the pressure on the demons within the barrier immediately eased.

But soon they discovered that the Buddha's light was still spreading and expanding, and it seemed to be planning to wipe them all out in one fell swoop, leaving no survivors!

"Zhu Tong, is this the turning point you were talking about?!"

"You might as well let me self-destruct and die!"

The white fox Zhu Tong was speechless. She hadn't expected that the two monks would become so powerful after using the relic.

Judging from the pressure that was just relieved, was Jian Guotu instantly killed by this Buddha's light?!

Even though she trusted Chu Mingkong and the others, a sense of despair arose in her heart at this moment. She felt that he might not be able to rescue and provide support in time. The Buddhist monk's counterattack came too suddenly and was too powerful!

Just when the demons thought I was doomed, a huge, towering sword appeared before them, blocking the Buddha's light.

"Junior Brother Puxin, I'll trouble you to collect the demon cores of those lesser demons." The golden-skinned monk held the demon core of Jian Guotu in his hand.

“Brother Dabian, there’s no need to give any instructions. These small matters will naturally be handled by your junior brother. However, the demon core of Jian Guotu is already enough to meet the requirements of the Heavenly Demons. In addition, other temples will also provide some support to the Heavenly Demons. If we are so generous, I’m afraid the Heavenly Demons will not remember our kindness in the future.”

"That's true. Although it's a favor, the Heavenly Demons might not appreciate it. They've secretly hidden the egg of an ancient demon prince, and they might want to use it to retaliate against us in the future. So, we shouldn't give the Heavenly Demons so many demon cores."

If the celestial demons within the Jianmu tree are truly so lacking in demon cores, let their holy beings squeeze out the demon cores themselves.

"Alright, but why can't I sense the presence of those lesser demons? Even if they were dead, they shouldn't be like this. Could it be that some rare and precious treasure saved their lives...?"

Monk Puxin flew into the Buddha's light, preparing to deliver the demons who had survived the great calamity, but a woman of unparalleled beauty rushed over with a heavy sword, the sword crackling with flames and slashing down in his face.

"The Immortal Meteor Sword Technique!"

The sword struck Monk Puxin, whose protective golden bell emitted a loud sound, but fortunately it did not shatter.

However, Zuo Qiuchi's second and third swords followed closely behind, each one more powerful than the previous one, as if she had inexhaustible strength, and the sword shadows she unleashed became increasingly solid.

At first, it was just a flash of sword light, but later it turned into a sword shadow no less large than the Xuan Nu Giant Sword. Zuo Qiuchi's figure did not change, but it seemed as if he was wielding a hundred-foot giant sword and slashing wildly.

Meanwhile, one flying sword after another silently attacked during Zuo Qiuchi's sword dance.

Although Jin Zhong gave Monk Puxin ample time to react, the combined attack came far too quickly.

"The intent within this sword is so powerful, it cannot be an ordinary swordsman. You are from Sword Tyrant Mountain?! Senior Brother!" With Monk Puxin's angry shout, his protective golden bell was completely shattered.

The monk Dabian had long been prepared to help his junior brother, but he was also being watched.