14: Demon and Buddha in one

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangchen frowned.

The person before him had actually died three hundred years ago.

Then how could Huanghuai Village be explained?

And how had the Huai Kong before him managed to linger on until now?

Seeming to perceive the doubt in Li Jiangchen's heart, Abbot Huai Kong spoke: "Three hundred years ago, demons invaded, and This Old Monk led the monks of Lanfo Temple in demon slaying, turning this place into a battlefield."

In that battle, both the invading demons and Lanfo Temple were completely annihilated.

This place was subsequently sealed as a tomb by later generations, isolated from the world.

Who would have thought that a yellow locust tree demon was only critically injured and secretly used Daoist Magic to control this Ancient Tomb underground.

Under the influence of this Daoist Magic, the remaining souls here became Puppets; This Old Monk's Buddha nature has not yet been extinguished, so I can only regain consciousness at night."

"So that's how it is." Li Jiangchen nodded.

If what the Huai Kong before him said was true, then this demon's Daoist Magic was truly remarkable, capable of passing off the fake as real, summoning souls, and turning them into Puppets.

"Then, Great Master Huai Kong, how can this demon's Daoist Magic be broken?"

"In the yellow locust forest outside the village, the tallest locust tree is the main body of the yellow locust demon.

That yellow locust tree demon is severely injured and must maintain its Daoist Magic during the day; you can go then and dig up its roots.

Buried beneath the roots are the ash urns of the people and a golden buddha statue of a demon; take out the sarira. The sarira contains Buddhist power and can suppress the demon's Daoist Magic.

At that time, combine the power of Buddhism with Sword Intent to destroy that golden buddha of the demon, and this Daoist Magic can be broken.

This Old Monk and the living beings of Huanghuai Village will also be able to find liberation."

As he spoke to the end, Huai Kong's tone gradually became somewhat hurried.

At this moment, a rooster crowed from outside, the day ascended, and light shone into the room. Huai Kong immediately fell to the ground, drool flowing from his mouth, and once again became deranged, leaving in a foolish and dazed state.

Li Jiangchen watched Huai Kong's departing back and muttered: "The ash urns under the yellow locust tree..."

Now that it was daytime, it was the perfect time to go out and investigate.

He had just stepped out of the room and was about to leave when a voice came from behind him.

"Guest, did you rest well last night?"

Li Jiangchen turned his head and his pupils constricted. He saw Gu Chang, hair tied up and leaning on a crutch, looking at him with a smiling face.

'Killed at night, but resurrected during the day? However, he seems to have no memory of what happened last night.' Li Jiangchen nodded and smiled: "Thank you for your hospitality yesterday, old man. This Li has matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."

Walking through the village, amidst the barking of a few dogs, villagers in twos and threes carried hoes into the fields to work, and the sound of looms resounded from the houses once again.

Men plowing and women weaving; it was a scene of peace and harmony.

"If what Huai Kong said is true, with three hundred years of Reincarnation, this Daoist Magic is truly formidable." Li Jiangchen felt a faint sense of anticipation in his heart and immediately strode toward the outside of the village.

But the further he walked, the stranger he felt it was.

Yesterday, walking from the yellow locust forest to the village felt like it took no time at all, but this time, returning, he walked for a long time without arriving, even though the yellow locust forest was clearly right before his eyes.

"Is it the yellow locust demon's Daoist Magic affecting my perception..." Li Jiangchen thought of what Huai Kong had said last night and took out the buddha-bone sarira from his bosom.

The sarira emitted a gentle Buddhist light; the moment he touched it, the True Qi that had been stagnant in his body began to circulate slowly.

"Huai Kong was not wrong. The buddha-bone sarira can briefly suppress the demon's Daoist Magic..."

Holding the sarira, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the yellow locust forest appeared before him.

At this moment, the yellow locust forest was drifting with a hazy floral fragrance, as if draped in a layer of misty sand.

In the center, that yellow locust tree, thick enough to be embraced, was particularly conspicuous.

"According to Huai Kong, that is the demon's main body."

The moment he stepped into the yellow locust forest, the ground trembled, and countless roots burst from the soil, rushing at him like mad pythons.

Li Jiangchen's figure tilted slightly, his body turning into nine shadows. He stepped several times in succession; although he was only a hair's breadth away from being entangled, he dodged by a fraction of an inch, continuously approaching the central yellow locust.

At this moment.

The roots filling the sky intertwined, turning into a net, completely locking off all retreat paths.

Seeing this, Li Jiangchen remained expressionless. The Wind Demon light cluster in his mind trembled, and a cyan mysterious light emanated from his side. The next moment, he suddenly disappeared from where he was and appeared fifty zhang away.

Void Flash!

After several consecutive Void Flashes, he arrived in front of the central yellow locust tree.

Before him, the yellow locust tree bark was mottled, and the roots had a large number of aerial roots that wriggled like living things. Vaguely, he could see the black-brown urns covered within them.

"This is it..."

Li Jiangchen's gaze turned cold. Astral Essence covered his fist, and 120,000 jin of force exploded as he struck the tree trunk. The tree trunk merely trembled slightly, showing no reaction at all.

He pointed a finger, unleashing Sword Qi, and slashed at the aerial roots. It erupted with the sound of clashing metal, sparks flying, but it still could not be destroyed.

"Even the tree bark is this hard; no wonder Huai Kong stated directly that it requires Sword Intent to slay it." Li Jiangchen was lost in thought.

"Immortal Sword Intent, slash!"

The Immortal Sword Intent contained within the Sword Qi erupted. Immediately, the tree roots broke, and bright red blood seeped from the severed sections. The residual roots wriggled frantically like living things, and then, inch by inch, they rapidly vanished like flying ash, revealing the ash urns stacked together underneath.

On the ash urns were pasted strips of yellowed paper.

Li Jiangchen walked forward to examine them.

"demon slaying Captain Wu Ding."

"Demon Suppressing Deputy General Wang Cai."

"Head of the Martial Arts Academy of Lanfo Temple, Gu Chang."

...

There was actually a string of names on them.

"Gu Chang... As expected, the villagers of Huanghuai Village were all people who perished in that great battle." Li Jiangchen moved the ash urns aside, and a flash of golden light shot out from the center, revealing a golden buddha.

However, the appearance of this golden buddha was eerie; although it had a solemn appearance, it was actually in the true form of a demon.

"This is the golden buddha of the demon that Huai Kong spoke of. Destroying it will break the Daoist Magic..."

Li Jiangchen took the sarira out from his bosom.

Along the way, the sarira's power had been consumed quite a bit, and it had now shrunk by a circle.

The next moment, the corners of Li Jiangchen's mouth curled up slightly. He put away the sarira and looked coldly to the side.

"Great Master Huai Kong, why not show yourself?"

After a moment of silence, from the side, where the shadows of a yellow locust tree were mottled, a figure walked out. It was none other than the deranged Huai Kong from the daytime.

At this moment, his gaze was cold and his expression complex; there was no sign of madness at all.

"How did you discover it?" Huai Kong said coldly.

"The sarira left in the dungeon was too deliberate.

I suppose you left the passage in the meditation room because I possess a Sword Body and can use Sword Intent to break the Seal here.

Furthermore, this journey was too smooth.

Everything was too coincidental.

So, should I call you Huai Kong, or... the yellow locust tree demon?"

"Amitabha, it seems This Old Monk was too impatient." Huai Kong pressed his palms together, his body blossoming with Buddhist light. The surrounding tree roots rapidly coiled and connected to him, his body transforming into a demon, his face becoming half Buddha and half demon.

"This Old Monk is a unity of Demon and Buddha; I am both a tree demon and Huai Kong. If you, Benefactor, help me break the Seal here, This Old Monk might spare your life."

Clang—

The demon slaying sword was unsheathed, and a crescent-moon Sword Qi swept across the Void Realm, turning into a thin line.

Immediately after, the Sword Qi erupted, vines filling the sky scattered, and a head fell to the ground, with a look of shock still remaining on its face.