# Chapter 2319: Where Is Everyone
The collision between the Ancient Realm Clan and the Flame Temple was witnessed by the Fengxu Clan's experts. Now, the people of the Fengxu Clan felt quite displeased. The Evil God of the Ancient Realm Clan was indeed a remarkable figure—very sinister and powerful—but he was somewhat ungrateful, actually pressing the Flame Temple step by step. This made the Fengxu Clan quite unhappy. After all, because of the subtle relationships between Qionghai Ya and Qing Feng, as well as Huo Xingzi and Jing, they had already vaguely wanted to truly integrate the Fengxu Clan into the Flame Temple's circle.
Of course, there were also those who enjoyed watching the spectacle. For instance, the experts of other temples, seeing the Flame Temple repeatedly lose face before the Ancient Realm Clan, were probably gloating at this moment. After all, the subtle relationships between temples had existed for countless years, but one thing remained constant: competition was eternal. If given the opportunity, they would not hesitate to devour each other to strengthen themselves.
Especially the You Tian Ancient Realm, where the Fengxu Clan and the Ancient Realm Clan were located. It was actually within the Flame Temple's sphere of influence. Of course, it could also be considered a border territory with the Fate Temple. The Nine Heavens Celestial Court was vast and boundless, with various temples occupying their own territories. Although each had only one temple standing there, their influence extended in all directions. This was just like the relationship between the Flame Temple and the Fengxu Clan. Once this marriage alliance was successful, the relationship between the Flame Temple and the Fengxu Clan would advance further, and the Fengxu Clan could be considered part of the temple's sphere of influence. This kind of situation was actually quite common in the Nine Heavens Celestial Court.
The location of the Buddha Temple was biased toward the western part of the Nine Heavens Celestial Court. The Buddha Temple, formerly known as the Hengsha Temple, was one of the most ancient temples. It had stood there since ancient times and rarely contended with the outside world. However, no one had ever dared to question the strength of the Buddha Temple. They simply were not fond of competing with others.
Beneath the Buddha Temple, there was also an ancient realm. This ancient realm city, covering an endless area, was called the Hengsha Ancient Realm, named after the former Hengsha Temple. Within it stood countless Buddhist holy lands. This was truly the sacred soil for Buddhist cultivation, gathering the most flourishing essence of Buddhism.
On this day, beneath the stairs leading to the Buddha Temple, several figures descended. These people had torn clothes, as if they had just experienced a great battle. Yet the aura emanating from them seemed to reveal their formidable strength.
A young monk looked up at the temple high above in the void. Then his footsteps moved forward, walking onto the stairs leading to the Buddhist path. His hands clasped together, his expression solemn, as he slowly ascended the stairs.
But at that moment, in the void, golden light shone brightly. A golden Buddha statue appeared—a Buddha, looking down at the young man below.
"Why have you come?" The voice rumbled, as if the golden Buddha was speaking.
"I have come to seek the Buddha," the young monk replied calmly. Golden light radiated from his body, and behind him, countless ancient Buddhas appeared, as if he too was a powerful Buddha.
"What is the Buddha?" The golden Buddha in the void asked again.
"After many years of cultivation, I still cannot comprehend the true essence of Buddhism. Therefore, I have come to ask the Buddha and seek the Buddha," the young man's voice was clear and pure.
"To seek the Buddha, one must pass through eight kalpas of tribulation and eighty-one difficulties. Can you bear them?" The golden Buddha asked again. The young man simply nodded calmly.
"Very well. First tribulation: the tribulation of slaughter." Suddenly, a cold voice rumbled out. Then a terrifying golden palm print descended from the sky, striking toward the young man, as if intending to destroy and kill him directly.
The young man clasped his hands together. Ten thousand Buddhas paid homage to the ancestor. A huge ancient Buddha thrust forward a terrifying palm print. The void erupted in violent collision, with brilliant Buddha light.
"Why do you block me?" From above, the voice grew colder, its oppressive aura pressing down, enveloping the young man.
"I came to ask the Buddha and seek the Buddha. If I could truly see through the illusions of life and death, why would I need to come here? It would be redundant," the young man looked upward and said calmly. "If one day the Buddha can save me, I will naturally see through life and death."
As his words fell, the golden Buddha above fell silent. Then it slowly disappeared. A monk appeared on the stairs, looking down at this place, and said: "He is a disciple of the Fate Temple. Why was he sent here?"
"The Fate Temple believes in fate. His destiny dictates that the Buddha Temple would suit him better. Our Fate Temple is willing to share outstanding disciples with the Buddha Temple. Even if he enters the Buddha Temple to seek the Buddha and ask the Buddha, it does not conflict with his status as a disciple of the Fate Temple," a person beside the young man said with a smile, looking up at the figure above.
"The Fate Temple is skilled in the art of heavenly fate and can glimpse a thread of heavenly opportunity. Since you say he is suited for Buddhism, it must be correct. Our Buddha Temple is willing to accept him as a disciple," the figure on the stairs clasped his hands together and said with a faint smile.
"In that case, many thanks. The Void Temple has been pursuing him, but now that he is also a disciple of the Buddha Temple, those people probably won't dare to be too presumptuous," the expert from the Fate Temple replied with a smile. Then they looked at the young man and said: "Kong Ming, take care of yourself in the Buddha Temple. We will take our leave now."
"Thank you all," Kong Ming nodded to them. Then those figures flickered and left this place, having escorted Kong Ming to this distant western Hengsha Ancient Realm.
In the distant void, several experts stood there. Their Void-Piercing Eyes broke through all illusions, penetrating space, and saw what had happened on the stairs of the Buddha Temple. Their expressions were quite unpleasant.
"I didn't expect the Fate Temple to have such boldness, sending such a rare genius into the Buddha Temple. From now on, Kong Ming is a disciple of two temples. It will be even harder to touch him. We not only have to be cautious of the Fate Temple but also consider the Buddha Temple," one person slowly spoke, quite frustrated. After pursuing Kong Ming for so long, he was finally sent into the Buddha Temple by the Fate Temple. It was very unwilling.
"It's troublesome. Although the Buddha Temple does not interfere in external affairs, everyone knows that the Buddha Temple specializes in producing madmen. If we kill Kong Ming, we might offend not just one temple."
"And even more troublesome is that the Fate Temple first sent Chu Chunqiu to the Tai Yao Realm, then went all out to protect Lin Feng, and now has sent Kong Ming into the Buddha Temple, giving Kong Ming the honor of being a disciple of two temples. This makes it even more confusing as to who the taboo figure is. It seems like anyone could be. The Fate Temple treats every one of them with great importance," the experts of the Void Temple discussed. In short, they felt this was very tricky.
At the same time, from the Tai Yao Realm, a piece of news came: Chu Chunqiu had entered one of the seven forbidden lands, the Ancient Demon Cave. The Nine Heavens World, including the Nine Heavens Celestial Court and the Tai Yao Realm, had seven forbidden areas that few dared to set foot in. One of them was the Ganges Time, where Chu Chunqiu had been sent by the Fate Temple—a divine forbidden land in the Tai Yao Realm, one of the seven forbidden lands. Of course, Chu Chunqiu had only been in the shallow areas, far from being able to penetrate deeply into the Ganges Time.
But now, as Chu Chunqiu's strength grew greater and greater, he had actually walked into another forbidden land on his own: the Ancient Demon Cave. Without exception, all seven forbidden lands had histories spanning countless years, having existed since ancient times. This Ancient Demon Cave was known as the Divine Demon Forbidden Land. Those who entered would surely die. Even if they came out, they would become madmen, without self-awareness.
There had once been a terrifying genius who stepped into the Ancient Demon Cave. After coming out, he became even more powerful, insufferably arrogant. But he was a madman, knowing only slaughter, causing rivers of blood. He was like a mindless killing demon.
The Ancient Demon Cave was absolutely a forbidden land that made people tremble with fear. That Chu Chunqiu had stepped into it made countless people marvel at his courage and boldness. As a top genius, he was indeed an extraordinary figure.
Just this act of stepping into the Ancient Demon Cave—how many could do it?
Besides Chu Chunqiu, there was another genius from the top few seats of the former Nine Heavens Assembly in the Tai Yao Realm.
Zhou Rongman was alone, walking through a rolling sea of yellow sand in the Tai Yao Realm. This yellow sand seemed to be a relic as well, endless and vast.
"What kind of damn place is this? I, Zhou Rongman, am exhausted," Zhou Rongman said, wiping sweat as he walked through the yellow sand. He let out a frustrated sound. With his formidable strength, he had been traveling through this yellow sand for an entire month, yet he was still trapped in this desert, with no end in sight. He didn't know if he was trapped or if the desert was really this vast. This made Zhou Rongman very annoyed.
Zhou Rongman lay down on the yellow sand, looked up at the sky, and cursed: "Why am I so unlucky? I have the strongest bloodline in the Nine Heavens, yet I'm being hunted everywhere, and I can't even get out of this desert. This godforsaken place doesn't look like it has any ancient ruins. You old fogies aren't messing with me, are you?"
The yellow sand kept rolling, as if it wanted to bury his body in the desert.
"Hmm?" At this moment, Zhou Rongman frowned. He felt something itchy on his hand, so he shook his hand, pulling his arm out of the yellow sand. But at that moment, a drop of blood splashed into the void, making Zhou Rongman's expression freeze. He was bleeding?
"What the hell?" Zhou Rongman suddenly jumped up, looking toward the yellow sand. Then he saw a sharp pincer appear there, like a tentacle. Gradually, a centipede clad in golden armor crawled out of the yellow sand, leaving Zhou Rongman stunned.
But after a moment of being stunned, Zhou Rongman's face suddenly showed an excited expression. Then he suddenly roared: "I finally found you! All of you, get the hell out! My name is Zhou Rongman!"
As he spoke, he let out a furious roar. Terrifying sound waves vibrated downward, his bloodline churning violently. Below, the golden insect couldn't help but prostrate itself. The yellow sand split to both sides, like a river being cut open, revealing an abyss. There, gradually, an ancient relic appeared before Zhou Rongman's eyes, making his breathing become somewhat rapid. Found it! He was going to find those bastards who had been hunting him and take revenge!