375: Yaochi Holy Lord erupts

The old monk was like a withered stone, perfectly integrating his aura with the surrounding environment.

Deep within his half-closed eyes, there was not a single ripple, only a cold scrutiny and calculation slowly sweeping across the scene.

His gaze passed extremely obscurely over Wang Zhan, the newly promoted Saint who was currently consolidating his Realm, pausing for a brief moment as a flicker of hard-to-detect solemnity flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"Heavenly Azure Sacred Body, to actually be the first to achieve Sainthood here? This boy's Luck and Heart-Nature are both top-tier; he will surely be a great enemy of the Buddhist Sect in the future."

Immediately after, he ignored Wang Zhan and flipped his withered palm, revealing a Jade Slip.

This was precisely the Soul Jade Slip of the Buddha Son, Fakong.

Faint golden Buddhist essence flowed from Ku Xuan's fingertips as he cautiously tapped the Jade Slip. Simultaneously, the Wisdom Eye Buddhist light swirled deep in his eyes as he performed the supreme Buddhist secret technique, Karma Source Tracing.

He attempted to follow this faint connection to trace the aura Fakong last touched before his death, hoping to find a clue about the killer.

However, a moment later, Ku Xuan's brow furrowed tightly, and for the first time, a look of disbelief appeared in his eyes.

Empty!

A total void!

Not only had the aura at the place of Fakong's fall been wiped completely clean, but even the faint karmic connection that should have existed between this Soul Jade Slip and the killer seemed to have been thoroughly severed and erased by an incomprehensible power! It was clean to a heart-palpitating degree!

"How is this possible?!"

Stormy waves surged within Ku Xuan's heart.

"To not even leave a trace of Karma? Could it be that the person who killed Fakong is not even here right now? Or..."

His expression shifted rapidly as he thought of an even more terrifying possibility.

To be able to annihilate Karma so thoroughly that even he could not trace it in the slightest—this was absolutely no ordinary method!

His gaze involuntarily drifted toward the battle group high in the sky that was fiercely contesting for the Emperor's Scripture, precisely locking onto a figure surrounded by thick Buddhist light who was currently clashing with Ling Canglan and the others.

It was one of the overt leaders of the Western Regions Buddhist Sect for this trip, Buddha Liao Chen.

Ku Xuan condensed an extremely subtle strand of Divine Thought and quietly sent a transmission over: "Liao Chen, do you know the inside story regarding Fakong's matter? Who exactly is the killer?"

Buddha Liao Chen, who was fighting with all his might for the Emperor's Scripture, felt his mind jolt. His offensive involuntarily slowed by half a beat, narrowly avoiding a sharp sword finger from Ling Canglan.

He was shocked: "Junior Martial Uncle Ku Xuan? He actually came in person!"

Liao Chen did not dare to be negligent. While dealing with the siege, he quickly transmitted back: "Reporting to Junior Martial Uncle, this Disciple is also unclear about the specific situation."

But Junior Brother Liao Yin had briefly sent a message to me before, only mentioning that they encountered Battle Asura's group, and then there was no further news."

He paused, his tone carrying deep wariness and speculation.

"Nephew Fakong had previously formed a grudge with Battle Asura. This Disciple suspects that this matter is very likely inseparable from Battle Asura or the unfathomable Protector behind him!"

"Battle Asura and the person behind him?"

The old monk Ku Xuan's gaze instantly became like the coldest blade, suddenly turning toward Xiao Ruobai, who was quietly meditating below.

His expression shifted erratically as thoughts raced through his mind.

"That's right. If Liao Yin and Fakong encountered Battle Asura's group and were then instantly killed with even their Karma erased..."

"To be able to do it so cleanly and without future trouble, I'm afraid it could only be that terrifying existence behind Battle Asura, the one who could flatten the Glazed Holy Land with a flick of a finger!"

Thinking of that mysterious figure whom even the Buddhist Sect was tight-lipped about—speculating that his strength might have reached the Quasi-Emperor Realm or even higher—Ku Xuan's heart couldn't help but sink.

"If it really was that person who acted, this matter is truly troublesome!"

To directly go to his door to demand accountability? That would be no different from seeking death!

It might even bring a catastrophic disaster upon the Western Regions Buddhist Sect!

But with the death of the Buddha Son and a Saint King Realm Protector, and the interruption of the Ancient Buddha's Reincarnation, how could such a great enmity be left at that?

Ku Xuan's eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Ruobai, his withered fingers slowly twisting inside his sleeve, his eyes a mix of coldness and killing intent.

Right at this moment, a sudden change occurred!

High in the sky, the long-stagnant battle for the Emperor's Scripture suddenly shifted!

The Holy Master of the Lingxiao Holy Land, Ling Canglan, who had been maneuvering with exquisite sword Dao and maintaining his aura at the Peak of the Saint King Realm, seemed to have completely lost his patience.

"Hmph! A mere volume of an Emperor's Scripture is worth such entanglement? This seat has no more time to play with you all!"

With a cold shout, Ling Canglan's originally restrained aura erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years!

"BOOM—!!!"

A terrifying pressure, far more vast and profound than before, soared into the sky!

His blood-qi was like a Dragon and his Dao Rhyme was deep, stirring the winds and clouds in all directions!

"What?! Great Saint Realm! Ling Canglan, you have actually already stepped into the Great Saint Realm!!"

The Demon Lord of the Southern Domain was the first to lose his voice in horror, his demonic pupils filled with disbelief.

"Hidden so deep! Lingxiao Holy Land's ambitions are not small!"

The Imperial Lord of Great Zhou's face changed drastically, his surrounding Imperial Dragon Qi suppressed to the point of swaying violently.

A flash of extreme solemnity also crossed the eyes of Holy Mistress Ji Qingyi of Jade Pool.

All the Holy Master-level figures were shocked by this sudden turn of events!

Ling Canglan had actually been hiding a cultivation of the Great Saint Realm!

Ever since Ling Canglan was controlled by Gu Changge, he had already broken through to the Great Saint Realm under Gu Changge's guidance, and it was even the Middle Stage of the Great Saint Realm.

"The Emperor's Scripture belongs to me!"

Ling Canglan's long hair danced wildly, his gaze disdainful. No longer concealing his strength, his monstrous Great Saint Realm magic power surged out, transforming into a giant hand that blotted out the sky, grabbing directly for that volume of dark-gold Emperor's Scripture!

He intended to forcibly seize the treasure with absolute strength!

"Don't even think about it!"

"Join forces to stop him!"

After the shock came overwhelming fury and determination!

Though startled, the several Holy Masters, including the Demon Lord of the Southern Domain and the Imperial Lord of Great Zhou, did not panic. Amidst their sharp shouts, they all unleashed their strongest methods!

Demonic Qi, Imperial Dragon Qi, and heaven-shaking sword light—several terrifying attacks capable of destroying heaven and earth—pelted toward Ling Canglan like a storm, attempting to stop him!

At the same time, "Amitabha!"

An aged Buddhist chant exploded like a clap of thunder!

The old monk Ku Xuan, who had been hiding in the shadows, had a flash of brilliance in his eyes. Heaven is helping me!

His figure flickered, appearing at the edge of the battle group like a ghost, as he similarly erupted with a vast Great Saint pressure!

His strike was incomparably ruthless; a massive golden Buddhist palm condensed, skillfully forming a pincer movement with the attacks of the Demon Lord of the Southern Domain and the others!

"Great Saint Realm? And the Late Stage of the Great Saint Realm at that. Where did this bald donkey come from?"

Ling Canglan's pupils constricted. Facing the siege of a Great Saint and several Holy Masters, even with his formidable strength, he did not dare to take it head-on.

He had no choice but to withdraw the hand reaching for the Emperor's Scripture, his figure retreating violently as both palms struck out, his vast Sword Qi transforming into a sword curtain to protect himself!

"BOOM—!!!"

The full-force strikes of several Great Saints and Holy Masters collided fiercely!

An indescribable storm of destructive energy exploded instantly!

The entire core area of the Emperor's Tomb trembled violently, and the Void Realm collapsed in patches! Had it not been for the protection of the Emperor's Array, this world would have long since turned into nothingness!

At the center of the energy storm, Ling Canglan groaned as his blood-qi surged, and he was knocked back repeatedly.

Under Ku Xuan's intentional guidance, the energy from the fierce collision exploded into an extremely violent turbulence that condensed Ling Canglan's Sword Qi sharpness, the Demon Lord's malevolent demonic power, and the Imperial Lord's Dragon Qi.

A small portion of this turbulence was coincidentally deflected, its trajectory unexpectedly striking toward Xiao Ruobai, who was meditating before the stone wall below, with the speed of a lightning bolt!

Although this energy turbulence was only a small part of the explosion's aftermath, it contained the Dao fragments of several Great Saints and Holy Masters; its power was already terrifying to the extreme.

Let alone the King Realm, even an ordinary Saint King Realm would be heavily injured or even killed if hit head-on!

"Not good!!"

"Watch out for the out-of-control energy!"

A Cultivator cried out in alarm!

"Hmm?!"

Ling Canglan, who was currently resisting the recoil force, was the first to notice the abnormality in this energy trajectory. His gaze suddenly became sharp as a sword as it swept toward Ku Xuan, a hint of suspicion and coldness flashing in his eyes.

He faintly felt that this accident was far too coincidental!

The face of Holy Mistress Ji Qingyi of Jade Pool changed drastically the moment the energy turbulence deflected!

Her mind went blank for an instant. All calculations, all hiding, and even the Emperor's Scripture were all thrown to the back of her mind!

Only one thought exploded like an instinct:

"The benefactor's Disciple must not come to any harm!"

As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion!

She even forgot to consider how that mysteriously powerful benefactor would let his Disciple fall into danger so easily. How could he not have a backup plan?

"Buzz—!"

A cold and vast pressure, not at all inferior to that of Ling Canglan and Ku Xuan, erupted from her body like a moonlight tide!

Yet another terrifying aura of the Great Saint Realm swept across the scene!

Adding one chapter first, still owe two chapters, will make them up later.