135: Chapter 135 The Figure That Pierced Through the Sky

Dharma Master Yan Jue turned around abruptly, his gaze falling upon the temple door that had been kicked open.

However, what he saw was not the figure he feared, but Ye Xiaoqing, who stood at the doorway, covered in blood, gasping for breath, and bracing himself against his knees.

At this moment, Ye Xiaoqing's clothes were soaked through with blood, with dark red stains covering his cuffs, collar, and trouser legs.

Yet, those wounds were not left by a struggle with anyone.

Ye Xiaoqing lifted his head and, upon seeing Dharma Master Yan Jue, raised an eyebrow: "Dharma Master Yan Jue, why are you here? So, it turns out you are the one pulling the strings behind all of this."

Dharma Master Yan Jue narrowed his eyes slightly. Judging by the injuries on Ye Xiaoqing, this Jiantian Bureau team leader had actually endured extreme pain to cut himself just to break free from the True World False Realm.

He was truly ruthless.

Dharma Master Yan Jue did not respond, offering only a cold smile. The next instant, his figure vanished suddenly, as if he had never existed.

Ye Xiaoqing had been gathering his strength secretly while asking his question, but since Dharma Master Yan Jue had disappeared almost instantly, Ye Xiaoqing's efforts were in vain, and he struck at empty air.

"Little monk, are you alright?" After confirming that Dharma Master Yan Jue's figure was no longer in the hall, Ye Xiaoqing walked over to Jingxin and asked.

"This monk is unharmed, but Benefactor Ye, you have a heavy scent of blood on you. Are you injured?" Jingxin asked.

Ye Xiaoqing said: "Just flesh wounds, nothing to worry about. We need to find a way to leave; this place is far too sinister."

Although Li Xiuyuan had previously instructed them not to run around, the situation was very dangerous now, and since Li Xiuyuan had not returned, staying here would only mean waiting for death if they did not find a way out.

The temple door behind him, which should have been kicked open by Ye Xiaoqing, was closed at some point. When Ye Xiaoqing pushed it open, the scene outside made him stop in his tracks.

It was dawn.

The sunlight was blinding, falling like ten thousand golden needles, and the bluestone pavement shimmered with a bright white light.

The Dharma Transmission Ceremony was underway; the plaza was packed with people, the Dharma platform was raised high, golden banners were fluttering, pilgrims were lining up to offer incense, and monks were chanting in formation.

Everything was as usual, as if the experiences of last night had never happened.

As soon as Ye Xiaoqing and Jingxin stepped out of the side hall, they were shocked to discover that their clothes had been changed into patched monk robes, and a mysterious force was pushing them forward.

During this time, neither Ye Xiaoqing nor Jingxin could speak.

The surrounding pilgrims were chatting and laughing, and no one noticed the two of them, simply taking them for ordinary monks of Guoqing Temple.

In the plaza outside the Mahavira Hall, the crowd was surging.

Through the gaps in the crowd, Ye Xiaoqing saw the representatives of the Twelve Ancient Families, saw Deputy Director Guo Lin of the Mysterious Investigation Bureau, and saw his own team members.

They were dressed in plain clothes, standing near the VIP seats, and whispering to each other.

"Where is Captain Ye?"

"I don't know. I looked for him several times last night but couldn't find him."

"I asked Deputy Director Guo Lin, and he said he was looking for him too, and he even called several times, but Captain Ye never answered."

All the team members were present, even Little Wang, who had disappeared, was among them. Moreover, judging by their demeanor, they seemed completely unaware of the fact that Little Wang had disappeared yesterday.

Ye Xiaoqing wanted to shout at them, but that invisible force pressed him down firmly, leaving him unable to move.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Guo Lin in the distance suddenly felt a sense of intuition. He looked around but could not find the thing that had triggered his intuition, and his gaze did not linger on Ye Xiaoqing.

On the Dharma platform, Dharma Master Yan Jue was wearing a brand-new red cassock, holding a tin staff, and facing the monks and believers below.

He wore the compassion and serenity characteristic of a high-achieving monk, pressing his palms together and bowing slightly.

"Respected masters, lay practitioners, and faithful believers. Today, this monk has an important matter to announce."

The whispering below the platform gradually died down.

Dharma Master Yan Jue raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears: "Abbot Huiyun is about to enter Nirvana."

The venue immediately fell into an eerie silence.

Then, wailing erupted instantly; all the monks present began to cry in utter grief, and even the monks from other temples who were visiting could not control their crying.

Conversely, the representatives of the Twelve Ancient Families, the members of the Jiantian Bureau, and the people from the Mysterious Investigation Bureau were all looking confused and bewildered.

Deputy Director Guo Lin frowned, watching this strange and eerie scene before him: "What is going on? Didn't Abbot Huiyun pass into Nirvana a long time ago? What kind of play is this?"

Those who remained clear-headed all had the same thoughts as Deputy Director Guo Lin.

On the Dharma platform, Dharma Master Yan Jue shifted his gaze away from the weeping monks.

"Abbot Huiyun has practiced his whole life, and his merit is complete. Today, at the Dharma Transmission Ceremony, he will personally select a predestined person to inherit his mantle."

Dharma Master Yan Jue's voice carried an unquestionable certainty.

"Now, the candidate has been chosen."

As he said this, Dharma Master Yan Jue set his gaze upon Jingxin. At this moment, Jingxin was wearing the monk robes of Guoqing Temple, and upon being watched by Dharma Master Yan Jue, Jingxin was driven by that invisible force to walk out.

Everything seemed to have been strictly rehearsed, orderly and methodical.

"Dharma Master Yan Jue!"

Just as Jingxin stepped onto the Dharma platform, an old voice erupted from the edge of the plaza.

Yiyun rushed out from the crowd. His monk robes were disheveled, and his face still bore the cold sweat left from suppressing the evil ghosts within him. He stumbled to the front of Jingxin and spread his arms to block him.

"No matter what you intend to do, he possesses supreme compassionate karma; you cannot touch him!"

"It is precisely because he possesses supreme compassionate karma that he is the most suitable to inherit Abbot Huiyun's mantle. Do not cause trouble, step back."

With that, a force blasted Yiyun away.

At the same time, the supernatural ability of the True World False Realm further influenced those who were still clear-headed, making them begin to accept Dharma Master Yan Jue's words.

Deputy Director Guo Lin, who had already sensed that something was wrong, had secretly tried to contact the outside world, but there was no signal at all. Thus, he could only quietly crush his jade pendant; it was an emergency contact magical artifact issued by the Mysterious Investigation Bureau, and once crushed, headquarters would immediately receive a signal.

On the Dharma platform, Dharma Master Yan Jue had already brought out the portrait of Abbot Huiyun. Jingxin had walked onto the Dharma platform. He could feel that a force was attempting to extract his Spiritual Sense, a sensation that was extremely painful.

He gritted his teeth and recited the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra in his heart. The scriptures echoed in his Spiritual Sense, contending with the extracting force.

Seeing this, Dharma Master Yan Jue's eyes suddenly brightened. He sensed that opposing force, which carried a majesty that could not be violated.

"A great opportunity! Truly a great opportunity!"

There was a hint of uncontrollable excitement in Dharma Master Yan Jue's voice. This was simply the most perfect human True Buddha body!

He began to increase the supernatural power of the True World False Realm; the monks below the platform had already had their physical bodies taken over by the ghosts within them.

Dharma Master Yan Jue's chanting grew faster and faster. Jingxin felt that he was about to collapse; a chill swept through his entire body, and his Spiritual Sense had already begun to be extracted.

But just at this moment, a deafening roar resounded through the sky, 'BOOM!!!'

A tiny crack appeared in the sky. Behind that crack was pitch-black darkness. The crack grew larger and larger, and everyone saw that at the end of that crack stood a figure.

Behind him was that small courtyard.

The old man lay on the ground, his body slowly turning into powder and drifting away with the wind.

Li Xiuyuan lowered his eyes, looking down at Dharma Master Yan Jue on the Dharma platform.

His moonlight-colored robe hung down, fluttering in the wind, and his long, dark hair danced wildly.

In those golden pupils, a reflection of extreme coldness and monstrous, overwhelming rage was visible.