Chapter 4109: Treasure Pearl and Compassionate Voyage
"When the entropy flare erupted, Ksitigarbha King gazed toward the Heavenly Wasteland with a sorrowful expression, muttering to himself, 'Rules shatter, the Heavenly Dao is without justice, gray seas stir with waves, the consciousness of ten thousand flows fades. This day has finally arrived!' Not long after, the elder entered nirvana in the ancestral court."
This was the secret revealed by Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha before her departure.
To other cultivators, this so-called secret held no value whatsoever.
Some could not even grasp its meaning.
But Zhang Ruochen discovered two astonishing things from it.
First, when the entropy flare erupted, something momentous occurred in the Gray Sea. The cause lay in the shattering of rules and the chaos of the Heavenly Dao brought about by the entropy flare.
Second, the events in the Gray Sea went completely unnoticed by the strong ones of the Heavenly Court, Hell, and the Sword Realm. Yet Ksitigarbha King, far away in the Earth Wasteland, perceived them clearly.
Was it because Ksitigarbha King's divine soul was more powerful than the half-ancestors of the Heavenly Court, Hell, and the Sword Realm?
Or was it because Ksitigarbha King had some special connection to the Gray Sea? One thing was certain: Ksitigarbha King had long known that the Gray Sea was extraordinary, aware that it concealed great terror. How had he come to know this?
"During the entropy flare, the Gray Sea... or rather, Bìluò Pass, what exactly happened there?"
As Zhang Ruochen uttered this sentence, the Heavenly Dragon Ship trembled slightly, passing through the next space wormhole, moving farther away from the Hell Realm.
Standing at the ship's stern, he could see the blurred outline of the Yellow Spring Star River. The past seemed to be slowly receding, fading into memory.
"Can I still return to the Hell Realm?" The infinite distance of space gave rise to such a thought in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Below the cliff.
The mortal monk Fan Chen led someone up the Cloud Mist Sacred Mountain.
The dwelling of Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha was a hundred-acre meditation temple for artifact forging. This temple itself was a divine artifact, portable, named "Momentary Permanence," combining defense and attack into one.
The Momentary Permanence Temple was Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's comfort zone. Only here did he feel a sense of security.
Too many things had happened tonight. Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha sensed danger and had many doubts to sort through.
Candlelight flickered all around, each flame seemingly still, not swaying in the slightest, much like Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's gradually calming heart.
He sat cross-legged at the center of a one-zhang-wide seal Buddha lotus cushion, holding the Fearless Seal, eyes tightly shut.
"Why did the Nether Envoy erase our memories? What exactly happened in that mansion?"
"Who is the Nether Envoy? Why hide their identity? And how high is their cultivation? Two Indestructible Infinite cultivators had no resistance before them, their consciousness seas shattered instantly."
"After taking the Lamp of Life and Death, they vanished without a trace, but soon Xuanyuan the Second arrived. Was that their doing? Probably not. If they wanted to silence everyone, why go through such trouble?"
"If it wasn't the Nether Envoy who notified Xuanyuan the Second, then who? Could it really be that so-called half-god Taoist?"
"Who attacked Elder Meng? Why claim it was an unknown Buddhist cultivator from the Earth Wasteland?"
The more Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha thought, the more alarmed he became. He felt as if an invisible hand was controlling everything from the shadows, playing everyone like pawns.
The Nether Ancestor Faction was the strongest, but not invincible. It too had enemies!
Around him, the candle flames swayed.
Outside, rows of prayer flags rustled in the wind, making a "swishing" sound.
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha suddenly opened his eyes.
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha, holding a tin staff and wearing a swastika hooded cloak, appeared in the open space outside the Buddha altar. She walked forward step by step, her jade legs occasionally visible.
"Where is the master uncle? Why isn't he here?"
The bright pearl on Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha's slender, soft waist shone, and behind her was a dense, dark mist, like thousands of yin souls dancing.
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha suppressed his fierce glare, a smile spreading across his fleshy face. "Ah, it's the junior sister! Master Uncle Tantuo went to Elder Meng's place to find out who attacked him. He absolutely refuses to believe it was the work of a Buddhist cultivator from the Earth Wasteland. Did the junior sister come looking for the master uncle?"
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha had long heard of the scandal between Tantuo Ksitigarbha and Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha, and he couldn't help but feel jealous.
Legend had it that Tantuo Ksitigarbha was so emaciated because he was drained nightly by Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha like a medicinal Buddha herb. This was also why her cultivation had caught up and reached the middle stage of Indestructible Infinite.
A peerless seductress like Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha, every inch of her skin worth coveting—how could Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha not have been tempted?
The Buddhist cultivators of the Earth Wasteland were not forbidden from the seven emotions and six desires.
However, Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha had always wanted but dared not, still holding some hope for the Great Dao, afraid of sinking into lust and desire, losing his soul and wasting away.
But after having his spiritual will shattered by the Three Reflection Heavens, Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha felt his ability to resist beauty weakening more and more.
The more he had restrained himself before, the fiercer the backlash now. With his spiritual will damaged, his cultivation was destined to advance no further. In recent years, Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha had indulged himself greatly, taking in thousands of Bright Consorts. Yet even so, he still kept his distance from Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha, not daring to provoke her easily.
The envy and jealousy toward Tantuo Ksitigarbha he felt now was an eruption of emotions accumulated over many years.
"No, I came specifically to find you, senior brother."
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha had already stepped onto the Buddha altar, standing at the edge of the lotus cushion. "I wonder, where did senior brother Treasure Seal and master uncle Tantuo go during their time away from the Earth Wasteland?"
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha grew wary. "Why does the junior sister ask about this? Have you heard some rumors?"
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha lifted her swastika hooded cloak, revealing her holy, immaculate jade face, then removed her wide monk's robe and undergarments.
The garments fell to the ground, exposing large swaths of fragrant, snow-white skin. Inside, she wore a half-draped cicada robe, slanting from her right shoulder to below her left, leaving her entire left shoulder and arm bare, fully displaying her sexy collarbone and slender jade neck before Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's eyes. Even her left breast was mostly exposed like an inverted jade bowl, its shocking curve stirring infinite fantasies.
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha had never seen Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha in such bold attire. Holding his breath, his gaze drifted downward. The cicada robe seemed empty inside, fluttering slightly in the wind, revealing her creamy white slender waist and beautiful legs beneath.
He knew that Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha cultivated the "Endless Six Desires Soul" internally and the "Ice Soul Jade Glass Body" externally.
Revealing her skin was soul-stealing. A glance from her eyes was desire-summoning.
The evil fire within Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha was about to consume his body. His eyes were no longer as clear and firm as before, staring straight at her. This was a fatal attraction—she seemed so ethereal, pure, and holy.
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha's voice was soul-enticing. "What does senior brother think of the Compassionate Voyage Venerable?"
The image of the Compassionate Voyage Venerable appeared in Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's mind. "Why does the junior sister mention her? Did she tell you something?"
"She is truly annoying and infuriating. Let's join forces to capture her and make her your Bright Consort... I will also be your Bright Consort."
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha was now barefoot, stepping onto the one-zhang-wide lotus cushion.
Her laughter was like silver bells, charming and stirring.
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's mind was completely overtaken by the Endless Six Desires. Illusions stripped the Compassionate Voyage Venerable and Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha naked, placing them on the lotus cushion for him to ravish.
Suddenly, the Buddha fire in his heart blazed like a lamp, dispelling the six desires, trying to clear the lascivious scenes.
After all, he was an Indestructible Infinite-level Buddhist cultivator. Even with his spiritual will damaged, he still had the power to resist, not easily lost to delusion.
Seeing his eyes gradually clearing, Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha struck immediately. "Heart Confusion!" "Mind Chaos!" "Soul Shock!" "Uninterrupted Seal!"
She unleashed four divine abilities in succession, as if she had a thousand hands, striking at Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's heart, brow, and crown.
The final Uninterrupted Seal struck the ground.
Instantly, the time rules and space rules of heaven and earth within several zhang were cleared, entering a "Uninterrupted" moment of stillness.
"Whoosh!"
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha's finger broke through Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's divine realm world, seeing the burly figure locked among the mountains. A flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"In a moment's pause, the stone sound slays gods."
Though Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's eyes were dazed, they were fierce and ferocious. He let out a long roar, pressed his palms together, and activated the power of the Momentary Permanence Temple.
Instantly, the candles, prayer flags, tiles, beams—everything in the temple—surged with Buddha patterns, attacking Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha.
Without time to think, Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha grabbed her fallen monk's robe and undergarments, transforming into a ball of Buddha light, vanishing at lightning speed.
Only her intoxicating fragrance remained in the temple.
Seeing the Compassionate Voyage Venerable arriving with Fan Chen, Zhang Ruochen's head throbbed. He shot a questioning glare.
Fan Chen looked unconcerned. "Before passing through the space wormhole, the Second Garuda Heavenly King left the Heavenly Dragon Ship and returned to the Hell Realm. Don't worry, as a middle-stage Indestructible Infinite, as long as he's careful, he can definitely avoid the Nether Ancestor Faction's pursuit."
Zhang Ruochen was furious but had to restrain himself, not letting the Compassionate Voyage Venerable see through anything.
He spoke calmly, "With the Second Garuda Heavenly King's cultivation, returning to the Hell Realm for help is already overkill. But why didn't this Compassionate Voyage Venerable go back with him?"
Zhang Ruochen felt sure Fan Chen hadn't explained the danger of this journey to the Compassionate Voyage Venerable.
Both the Compassionate Voyage Venerable and Xuanyuan the Second should leave; otherwise, life and death were uncertain.
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable could see the restraint in the Taoist's expression. Clearly, Fan Chen bringing her here had displeased him.
She still looked like a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, just as when Zhang Ruochen first met her. Time had left no trace on her. She had an auspicious cinnabar mark on her brow, and her eyes were naturally clear and watery.
Though the cliff was ordinary, her arrival infused it with a captivating spiritual essence, as if transforming it into a fairyland.
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable was the complete opposite of Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha in personality and temperament—serene and indifferent, untouched by worldly dust, not inspiring any improper thoughts.
"Taoist, please don't blame Master Fan Chen. I insisted on meeting you, elder," said the Compassionate Voyage Venerable.
"Elder? Is this poor Taoist very old?" Zhang Ruochen touched his right sideburn.
Though the Compassionate Voyage Venerable was reserved and sacred, she was by no means rigid or dull. She smiled slightly. "Senior's cultivation is completely unfathomable to this junior. I imagine you must be some ancient worthy or great power."
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to waste words on this matter, so he adopted an old and experienced tone. "Fan Chen must have told you, right? The Heavenly Dragon Ship won't go to the Meng family, nor to the Ten Thousand Flows Realm, but to a deathly realm. All cultivators on board are sacrifices. The Venerable shouldn't have stayed!"
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable said, "Since the Taoist and Master Fan Chen dare to stay, why should I, Compassionate Voyage, fear? Rest assured, Taoist, I will not hold you two back. On the contrary, I might be able to help."
"How so?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable held nothing back. "I have a special ability: I can track the Saha World and the Ultimate Bliss World."
Zhang Ruochen knew this well.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "That has little to do with us. We have no great interest in the Saha World or the Ultimate Bliss World. We stayed on the Heavenly Dragon Ship purely out of curiosity, wanting to see where this vessel would sail."
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable's expression turned slightly strange, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.
Fan Chen said, "Well... Saint Thought Taoist, I've already told the Compassionate Voyage Venerable about the Bìluò Pass and the Gray Sea. Also, the secret of the Nether Envoy taking the Saha World, the Ultimate Bliss World, and the Lamp of Life and Death. And... ahem, you, elder, don't need to hide it anymore!"
Zhang Ruochen's head felt like it was about to explode. He said through gritted teeth, "Then what else haven't you said?"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't say what shouldn't be said." Seeing Zhang Ruochen's unfriendly gaze, Fan Chen quickly explained, "The Compassionate Voyage Venerable is a cultivator worth trusting. You don't need to guard against her like a thief. Trust is mutual. She believed my words without doubt."
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable said, "The mysterious existence that left the paper figurine—do you know its origin, Taoist? It might be our greatest ally!"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently. "Our opponent's cultivation is extremely high. How can we speculate about such things?"
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable said, "Then our top priority now is to join forces to capture Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha and Tantuo Ksitigarbha. As for Elder Meng, someone must stay by his side to prevent him from contacting the outside world."
Fan Chen said, "The best way to save the cultivators on the Heavenly Dragon Ship is to turn the ship around and return to the Hell Realm. Going to the Gray Sea and Bìluò Pass gives us no chance of victory."
Zhang Ruochen clapped his hands. "Good idea! That's settled. First, deal with Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha and Tantuo Ksitigarbha. Then you two steer the Heavenly Dragon Ship back. I'll take Elder Meng and follow the imprint left by the paper figurine's owner to the Gray Sea."
"The Taoist truly fears neither life nor death, earning immense admiration. It seems the Compassionate Voyage Venerable from the Western Buddha Realm is afraid. Then hurry and leave with the little monk. Don't delay our important matters."
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha appeared out of thin air, dozens of zhang away from the three of them.
The three turned to look at her simultaneously.
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable was clearly surprised and spoke first. "Where did Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha see that I was afraid?"
"Since you're not afraid, come with me to the Momentary Permanence Temple to suppress Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha and first rescue that hall master of the Stone Divine Temple."
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha said.
While the Compassionate Voyage Venerable and Fan Chen were bewildered,
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha laughed out loud. "So Saint Thought Taoist didn't tell you. That Stone Divine Temple hall master is suppressed in Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's divine realm world. It seems Saint Thought Taoist trusts this poor nun the most."
The Compassionate Voyage Venerable said, "Desolate Heaven?"
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha nodded with some pride, carrying a hint of provocation and instigation.
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly. "You entered Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's divine realm world?"
"Of course," said Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Was it that easy?"
"For others, certainly not that easy. But I am different. I have peerless beauty and can trade with my body. As long as I satisfy his desires, not only will he let me into his divine realm world, but even if I asked him to dig out his divine source relic for me to see, he wouldn't hesitate. If the Compassionate Voyage Venerable is willing, she could do the same."
Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha grew bolder, removing her outer monk's robe, revealing the half-draped cicada robe beneath. Her snow-white skin added infinite beauty to the night.
"Amitabha! Sin, sin." Fan Chen immediately closed his eyes, chanting sutras incessantly.
"Little monk, do you think I did wrong? But for a strong one like Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha, only this method will make him willingly open his divine realm world. That wonderful taste, no man can resist. Do you want to try? I'm very curious about what secrets you hide inside," said Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha.
Fan Chen immediately stepped back, hiding behind Zhang Ruochen and the Compassionate Voyage Venerable.
Zhang Ruochen couldn't tell truth from falsehood in her words. "Those who can cultivate to Indestructible Infinite are no fools. Nun, you've alerted the snake."
"That's right, so we must act immediately, or the consequences will be dire. Once Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha, Tantuo Ksitigarbha, and Elder Meng join forces, or if they send word to notify the Nether Ancestor Faction, we'll have no chance at all!" said Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha.
"Roar!"
Treasure Seal Ksitigarbha's high-pitched Buddha chant resounded across the Heavenly Dragon Ship, having already broken through Treasure Pearl Ksitigarbha's four divine abilities.