Spirit Mountain Holy Land:
Jiang Gautama held his palms together as he watched Vairocana return to a courtyard, intensely curious about Vairocana. As he surveyed the courtyard, he noticed a hall there.
“The Hall of Great Strength?” Jiang Gautama glared.
“Lord Buddha, what’s wrong?” the Past Buddha asked in confusion.
Jiang Gautama raised his head to look at the hall behind him. This hall was also called the Hall of Great Strength.
“That monk? The Hall of Great Strength? He wants to replace me?” Jiang Gautama’s expression turned cold.
“Fully investigate this monk. Find out where he came from. Check every book and record, even if you have to look up the ancient buddhas. Investigate thoroughly!” Jiang Gautama said as he looked at the bodhisattvas before him.
“Yes!” the bodhisattvas answered.
“Jiang Gautama, do you believe me now?” Lifespan Chunshen said with a cold smile.
“Gu Hai is not in Borderless Heavenly Capital, but he might not be in the Corpse Mound World. Let’s go. We will check the nether realm!” Jiang Gautama said.
“Excellent!”
Lifespan Chunshen extended his hand and swiped down, creating a spatial tear that gave off negative energy.
Then Jiang Gautama stepped in.
The Past Buddha, some other buddhas, and some bodhisattvas followed him inside.
After the group entered the nether realm, it headed straight for the Corpse Mound World.
------
Outside the Corpse Mound World, Gu Hai’s group had just stepped out and was preparing to leave.
“Wait!” Gu Hai frowned slightly.
“Your Reverence, what’s wrong?” the Mosquito Daoist asked, feeling confused.
“Although I laid a ritual array, we cannot just leave. Didn’t Kong Xuan say Lifespan Chunshen escaped?” Gu Hai looked at Kong Xuan.
“Yes. He should have run to the land of the living,” Kong Xuan said.
“Lifespan Chunshen escaping is problematic. Mosquito Daoist, does the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon have any special methods of communicating with the eight hundred cities outside?” Gu Hai looked at the Mosquito Daoist.
“The Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon normally does not bother with the eight hundred cities. He simply collects the taxed spirit stones from the eight hundred cities in one go every decade. He does not have a fixed method of communication and is very casual about it. Perhaps he might send someone, he might go himself, or project his voice,” the Mosquito Daoist explained.
“That’s good. Wait for a while.” Gu Hai returned to the Corpse Mound World.
Buzz!
A large image of the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon appeared outside the Corpse Mound World.
“His Reverence used the Go Dao ritual array to manifest a Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon cloud beast?” the Unborn Man said, puzzled.
That image suddenly said, “Everyone, listen up!”
The ritual array amplified the voice, making the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon’s voice spread to all the cities. The citizenry in all the cities immediately looked in the Corpse Mound World’s direction.
“This sect master is entering closed-door cultivation. During this time, every city is to send a group of guards to protect the Corpse Mound World. Kill anyone who dares to approach without mercy, no matter who it is. No one is permitted into the Corpse Mound World. Otherwise, die!”
The loud voice reached all eight hundred cities.
“Yes!” all the city lords responded loudly.
Although the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon did not care about these cities, these city lords understood they fell under the Corpse Mound World; hence, the surrounding factions did not dare to target them. Now that the peak master issued this command, they did not dare to disobey.
Every city quickly sent people to guard the Corpse Mound World.
Gu Hai came back out from the Corpse Mound World.
“Alright, we can leave now,” Gu Hai said.
“Will that do?” the Unborn Man asked worriedly.
“There’s no need to make it too intentional. It’s time to go.” Gu Hai smiled.
“Yes!” everyone answered.
“Chang Ming, you are responsible for the matters in the nether realm. Remain in the nether realm. If anything happens, use the lifespan talisman from the Unborn Man to contact him,” Gu Hai instructed.
“Yes!” Chang Ming answered.
“The three of you follow us to the Southern Sea’s Purple Bamboo Forest to bring back Shangguan Hen and the others.” Gu Hai looked at the Unborn Man, Kong Xuan, and the Mosquito Daoist.
“Yes!” Everyone nodded.
The Unborn Man extended his hand and swiped down in the air.
Buzz!
A spatial tear immediately opened in space.
“Your Reverence, take care!” Chang Ming said respectfully.
After Chang Ming said that, he shot towards the nether realm’s north.
Gu Hai led the other three into the land of the living before the spatial tear vanished.
------
Four hours after Gu Hai’s group parted with Chang Ming and left:
Whoosh!
Jiang Gautama arrived outside the Corpse Mound World with many Spirit Mountain Holy Land disciples.
Many soldiers immediately rushed over outside the Corpse Mound World.
“Halt! Who is it?!” a soldier shouted.
“Something must have happened. We should enter immediately!” Lifespan Chunshen said sullenly.
“Halt! The peak master commanded that no one was to enter the Corpse Mound World. All who disobey shall die!” a man who looked like a general shouted, blocking the group.
“Oh? The Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon commanded it?” Jiang Gautama said, feeling confused.
Now, many soldiers surrounded the group that wanted to barge into the Corpse Mound World.
Suddenly, someone recognized Jiang Gautama.
That man immediately ran over. “How audacious! What are you doing? Why are you blocking the Lord Gautama Buddha? Scram! Scram!”
“City Lord!” the soldiers greeted respectfully.
“Alright, alright, you are dismissed. I will handle this!” the city lord said.
“Yes!” The soldiers left, still somewhat cautious.
Jiang Gautama looked at that city lord. Although he did not know this city lord, it was great that this city lord knew him.
“What’s happening? Why are there so many soldiers?” Jiang Gautama asked, feeling confused.
“Reporting to Lord Buddha, the peak master issued a command to prevent anyone from entering the Corpse Mound World four hours ago. He is entering closed-door cultivation, so no one is permitted in,” that city lord replied respectfully.
“Oh?” Jiang Gautama’s expression changed slightly.
“How could the peak master be in closed-door cultivation? Something must have happened inside. Jiang Gautama, it must be Gu Hai and the others. You know they are not in Borderless Heavenly Capital. They must be in there!” Lifespan Chunshen said anxiously.
The Past Buddha said, “Lord Buddha, Lifespan Chunshen’s words might not be entirely trustworthy.”
“Past Buddha, how excellent of you! To think you still don’t believe me?!” Lifespan Chunshen roared, feeling depressed.
Suddenly, Jiang Gautama’s pupils gave off a faint, golden light, his eyes looking like they could penetrate the black fog to peer into the Corpse Mound World.
However, he frowned after a while. “It is all chaotic in there. I can’t see clearly?”
“Jiang Gautama, even you cannot see clearly. Something must have happened in there!” Lifespan Chunshen said anxiously.
“The peak master is in closed-door cultivation and would have put up defenses. Who are you? Why do you keep asking the Lord Gautama Buddha to barge into the Corpse Mound World?” that city lord demanded while glaring.
“Jiang Gautama!” Lifespan Chunshen looked at Jiang Gautama.
Jiang Gautama frowned slightly as he took out two jade talismans—one golden and one black.
The jade talismans were crystalline and flashed with golden or black light.
“Lord Buddha, are these…” The Past Buddha looked at Jiang Gautama with misgivings.
“The golden jade talisman is connected to the chains on Gu Han. If the chains are fine, it will flash when they are near,” Jiang Gautama said indifferently.
“Gu Han is in there!” The Past Buddha released his held breath.
“That’s right. Furthermore, this proves that the chains are intact. Next, the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon gave me the black jade talisman. He once told me that if I could not meet him, not to interrupt him. If this jade talisman flashes, it means he is near and fine,” Jiang Gautama said.
“The Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon is in there in a closed-door session?” the Past Buddha said with a frown.
“He should be.” Jiang Gautama nodded.
The Past Buddha suddenly looked coldly at Lifespan Chunshen.
“What’s wrong? You doubt me?” Lifespan Chunshen glared.
“We do not doubt you. However, we still do not know how Gu Hai found this location. Your previous actions make it hard for us to trust you. For my Spirit Mountain Holy Land, it is enough that Gu Han is there. Furthermore, the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon is also there. He is in the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. What is there to worry about?” the Past Buddha said.
“You are already here. Why don’t you look? Just one step away! It’s just one step away!” Lifespan Chunshen said anxiously.
“There’s no need. I don’t want to interrupt the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon,” Jiang Gautama said indifferently.
“Why? Why? Just one step!” Lifespan Chunshen said anxiously.
Jiang Gautama ignored Lifespan Chunshen. Instead, he handed the two jade talismans to a bodhisattva.
“Remain in a nearby city and monitor these two jade talismans. If anything strange happens to the jade talismans, immediately report to me,” Jiang Gautama instructed.
“Yes, Lord Buddha!” that bodhisattva said respectfully.
“Let’s return!” Jiang Gautama said indifferently.
“Don’t! Jiang Gautama, can’t you take just one step in?” Lifespan Chunshen pleaded anxiously.
“The peak master commanded that no one was to enter during his closed-door session!” the city lord yelled.
“You…! Humph!” Lifespan Chunshen felt frustrated to death.
Ignoring Lifespan Chunshen, Jiang Gautama led the Past Buddha and the others into the distance.
“Lord Buddha, why did Lifespan Chunshen lie to us again?” the Past Buddha asked with an unsightly expression.
“He might not have. Perhaps he was telling the truth!” Jiang Gautama replied after pondering this.
“Oh? He was telling the truth? Gu Hai entered? But why did Lord Buddha…,” the Past Buddha said in shock.
“Did Gu Hai’s group come? If they did not come, we do not have to go in. If they came, I don’t want to go in,” Jiang Gautama said seriously.
“Oh?”
“We just need Gu Han to remain in there and be fine. If Gu Hai had entered, he would have faced the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon. The best would be if Gu Hai could not beat the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon and died. However, he might have used the Go Dao laws to trap the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon. Of course, the odds of that are low. Even so, so what? Does it cause us any loss? That would only inspire an overwhelming hatred for Gu Hai in the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon. You don’t think Gu Hai can kill the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon, right?” Jiang Gautama smiled.
“That is impossible. The Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon is a consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator.”
“Then that will do. If the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon suffered a loss, his hatred for Gu Hai would be deeper, the greater his loss. Perhaps we don’t even have to do anything, and the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon will have a relentless grudge against the Han Imperial Dynasty,” Jiang Gautama said.
“Oh! Lord Buddha is far-sighted!” The Past Buddha’s eyes lit up.
“If we enter, we will only divert the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon’s hatred for Gu Hai to us. After all, Gu Hai came because of Gu Han. So, I won’t go in. If Gu Hai is not in there, it does not matter. If he is, the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon will deal with him,” Jiang Gautama said.
“Yes! Lord Buddha is right. As long as the Corpse Worm Heavenly Demon is alive and Gu Han is still in there, there’s nothing to worry about.” The Past Buddha smiled.
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