The fearsome fiend, Rat Kalan, once renowned for his might, now seemed devoid of his former prestige.

The elegant Deer Seven Lang, who typically carried an air of carefree abandon, was no longer so.

Even the notorious Snake Gu Yu bore numerous injuries. Feather Letter was already gone, and Bear Three Thoughts’ body still bore the marks of blood.

In stark contrast, the Peace Ghost Messenger remained utterly untouched, his clothing intact, his mask clean, not a single strand of hair out of place. If not for extraordinarily high cultivation, how could one tread through such peril with such ease?

Therefore, though his tone was presently brusque, Rat Kalan, after deep contemplation, chose to endure it. He had contemplated striking against this Peace Ghost Messenger multiple times, yet the opponent’s repeated displays of actual combat prowess had instilled a profound dread, leaving him hesitant to make a move.

However, to retreat without accomplishing anything was also unacceptable. “Supreme I Buddha, capable of tolerating the world’s demons, I shall endure!”

“Very well, Young Master Deer, I shall stay further back and clear a path for you.”

With that, the monk from Black Lotus Temple directly retreated a full twenty zhang. Deer Seven Lang had no objections. With his sword slung across his back, he leisurely stepped out of the dense forest.

He had sensed the danger emanating from the Peace Ghost Messenger early on, thus he wasn’t particularly surprised by the dual-wielding fat demon’s performance. Of course, if the difficulty of all six paths were the same, then Chai A Si, still capable of chatting and laughing with Ape Dream Extreme, and Spider Lan If, who emerged with Spider Yin utterly unstained, clearly demonstrated a higher level of skill in this particular trial.

Though not entirely convinced, he, Deer so-and-so, would remain vigilant for the time being.

This spring…

A sudden spiritual awareness surged, almost overwhelming all other sensations.

The Undying Spring!

His heart fixated on that legendary supreme treasure, Deer Seven Lang’s steps were elegant as he contained a smile and asked, “Who was the first to arrive?”

Bear Three Thoughts glanced at Spider Lan If but remained silent.

Spider Yin declared, “This humble one was fortunate enough to draw the first prize!”

“Impressive!” Deer Seven Lang offered a word of praise, then turned his head to look to the side. Sheep Yu and Dog Xi Hua emerged one after another. Both were injured. Dog Xi Hua looked particularly miserable, a section of the black evil pattern on his left face having been scraped off, making him appear as if he were bleeding, but he was alive nonetheless.

Looking back, among the twelve demons who entered the Divine Sky Place to compete, only one, Feather Letter, bearing the bloodline of the Feather Race, who had personally opened the secret vault, was missing.

Spider Yin’s gaze towards Bear Three Thoughts held a hint of playfulness. Though it was true that as the secret vault approached its crucial stage, various competitors in the field held more or less a killing intent towards Feather Letter, nothing had been seen yet. It wasn’t a festive occasion, so why slaughter the pig at the very beginning?

Or perhaps Feather Letter had already obtained something?

“Unexpectedly, this poor monk was the last to emerge from the forest.”

Rat Kalan’s mentality was quite good. He laughed heartily as he walked out. “As the saying goes, a good meal is worth waiting for, and fortune favors the fated demon. It is only right that Grandpa Buddha enjoys good luck and treads this grand path!”

No one commented on his act of seeking good fortune. Chai A Si even flattered him with a remark, “You truly possess the demeanor of a high monk!”

This, however, made Rat Kalan somewhat uncomfortable. What scheme was this enigmatic fellow playing now, why was he so warm towards every demon?

But at that moment, Master Sheep Yu, who had just emerged from the forest without a word, suddenly took a step forward and began chanting incantations. “Rat Kalan, you were originally a talented individual, but you believed in the wrong Buddha and took a wrong step. The wrong path is already far, and the abyss lies ahead. I hope you realize your error and turn back!”

His voice was not loud, yet upon hearing it, one’s heart was like a great bell tolling, its resonance growing stronger and stronger. The winding mountain path, the unseen deep mountains, even the secluded and dense forest, were instantly enveloped by golden Buddha light. Ancient Sanskrit chants echoed through time.

Compared to Rat Kalan’s burly physique, Master Sheep Yu appeared truly thin and fragile. But with a single step, he had already stepped into the black Buddha light, and with a single palm strike, his palm covered the heavenly spirit!

Among the many heaven-level demon seeds and demon race talents participating in the Divine Sky Place, it was the seemingly warmest and most benevolent Sheep Yu Dharma King who made the first move, and with a single strike, he intended to expel Rat Kalan from the competition.

The ancient bell on the summit of the difficult mountain rang out, repeatedly awakening the demons lost in their dreams!

…The sound patterns rippled in the air, spreading in all directions, not without the intention of probing the other demons.

The first peal of the bell signified ‘lost way’. This was the heart bell.

The second peal signified ‘know hear’. This was the bell from outside of heaven.

That Know Hear Bell, hanging outside the Divine Sky secret vault, above Mo Cloud City, had actually been awakened once again, and power descended from the air to assist Sheep Yu in sweeping away his opponent!

The darkness above Mo Cloud City surged like an angry sea. Deer Sex Empty roared, “Old bald donkey! I wondered why you were so insistent on taking the Know Hear Bell with you, it was to cheat from outside the field! The conduct of the Ancient Difficult Mountain sect is always like this, truly shameless!”

Boundless darkness rapidly gathered towards the floating Cicada Law Edge. Within it, living beings were concealed, seeking to tear the darkness apart. Tiger Tai Sui, Deer West Ming, and Spider Yi all retreated their forms with unchanged expressions, clearing the battlefield for the two great Bodhisattvas to fight, as if afraid they wouldn’t find the killing exciting enough.

Cicada Law Edge merely chuckled, “Buddha says, fate has arrived! Deer Sex Empty, do you still deny it!”

He reversed his palm, supporting the Know Hear Bell, its sound echoing through the long night. His entire body radiated brilliant light, his Buddha body like a golden sun crossing the sky, illuminating the dark night as if it were daylight.

Buddha sees eighty-four thousand insects in a bowl of water. Insects in the air, insects in the water, insects in the heart, insects in the void, insects in the night, the five insects of the evil world. Deer Sex Empty had cultivated the Evil Insects View to the highest realm of ‘one wisp of turbid gas, thirty thousand insects’, achieving an extremely powerful technique. He would not have used such a killing move without true great anger.

But the strength of the Evil Insects View lies in its subtle observation, in its undetectability. With the ringing of the Know Hear Bell, who could remain ignorant? Under the illumination of the Buddha light, the darkness gathered by Deer Sex Empty was almost compressed into a curtain. The curtain of night constantly bulged with bubbles, which were then constantly pressed down. In an instant, thirty thousand insects arose, yet not a single one could face the world. Every single tiny insect was illuminated clearly!

With a brilliant smile, he simultaneously suppressed Deer Sex Empty and transmitted power to the Divine Sky secret place, providing Sheep Yu with vast and boundless support.

Inside the Divine Sky Place. Cloud-shrouded divine mountain, a road winding around a treasure spring. Sheep Yu, during the process of enduring the Divine Sky Place’s test, had been constantly communicating with the Know Hear Bell. Dog Xi Hua being injured in this manner was not due to his carelessness, but because he fundamentally couldn’t spare the effort to care.

The timing he chose was unexpected. Who would begin competing at such a point when nothing had yet been gained? At the gambling table, who wouldn’t weigh the gains and losses a little before deciding how much blood capital to invest?

Although it wasn’t to say that he could catch Rat Kalan, who had just emerged from the forest, completely off guard, he had already gained the advantage of the first move. Rat Kalan and Deer Seven Lang had been overtly and covertly fighting each other along the way, and their consumption was definitely not small. He, on the other hand, had only relied on himself and the Know Hear Bell, being in a much better state. It was exactly suitable for chasing the remaining defeated enemy.

At this moment, the heart bell and the bell outside of heaven rang together. The long-lost sound confused the path of the heart, and the Know Hear sound intimidated righteousness and courage. The main attack was on Rat Kalan, but it also affected the other demons in the field.

Spider Lan If’s beautiful eyes held flowing light and shadow. Her jade hand moved slightly, plucking a single string. The battlefield’s banner unfurled, and the iron horse and golden spear appeared. The sharp zither sound directly cut through the approaching bell sound! From beginning to end, Spider Yin stood behind Spider Lan If, not moving an inch, not even a hair damaged.

Deer Seven Lang merely twisted his foot, and the fine sword at his waist was already out of its sheath with a clang! Although he wasn’t as deeply researched in the way of sound as Spider Lan If, and his sword sound wasn’t as powerful as Spider Lan If’s zither sound, it naturally followed a kind of innate spiritual awareness, like Cook Ding dismembering an ox, his sword sound dismembered the bell sound.

Snake Gu Yu at this moment held her dual knives in a reverse grip, the red patterns even crawling up to her chin. Her aura was completely restrained. Her body still existed within the viewer’s vision, yet her breath was no longer within the perception of the other demons. She had also temporarily escaped from the world of sound! Both the heart bell and the bell outside of heaven failed to find her.

The demon kings in the field, with the exception of Rat Kalan, each used their own methods to cope with this probing-type range offensive, and none found it difficult. Only Bear Three Thoughts let out a muffled grunt, not moving at all, and actually endured it!

The most relaxed, of course, was Ape Dream Extreme. With the heart bell and the bell outside of heaven ringing before him, this fellow still hadn’t reacted to what was happening, but a path of golden light had already enveloped him, protecting him from all threats. He looked left and right, suddenly his brow furrowed and his eyes squinted in a smile.

Sheep Yu’s single Sanskrit chant and two bell rings revealed various techniques. However, the busiest person in the entire field still had to be Jiang Hope, who was hiding in the mirror world. He had to protect both the Peace Ghost Messenger Pig Powerful and guard against Swift Wind Kill Sword Chai A Si, all while paying attention to concealment. He truly was constantly working hard, not idle for a moment.

Let it be said that at that time, Chai A Si, who greeted demons with a three-point smile, was still dedicated to building multi-party friendly relations, preparing for win-win cooperation, and peacefully passing through the Divine Sky Place. With a single glance, he happened to see Sheep Yu stepping forward and chanting Buddha sounds. This made the demon kings in the field aware, and they had to pay more attention to their methods. Protecting Pig Powerful and protecting Chai A Si couldn’t be done in the same way. His heart cursed loudly, calling out in secret that it was a bitter ordeal!

He was about to rub against Ape Dream Extreme, thick-facedly trying to get a protective golden light. A familiar voice suddenly rang in his ear: “Do not be alarmed.”

The Venerable One had finally appeared! A wisp of mysterious power emanated from the Red Heart God Seal. He felt as if there was a deep abyss and a prison in his ears. The sound from outside fell directly into it, fundamentally unable to reach his auditory consciousness. His original heart felt only stability, actually possessing an immortal feeling.

The bell outside of heaven fell into the prison of his ears, and the heart bell could not shake the Red Heart Seal. He suddenly stood still, looking left and right, his eyes arrogant. “Though the various heavens are proud, who can compare to this old Chai, so light as a cloud and gentle as the wind?”

“Hmm, that Peace Ghost Messenger fellow actually performed quite well. He chopped several knives into the air, completely incomprehensible, yet he also resisted the Buddha sound bell ringing. If there’s an opportunity, I can try to contact this Peace Path, perhaps I can utilize it for myself.”

Sheep Yu’s method of ringing the heart bell and the bell outside of heaven together, borrowing the power of the Know Hear Bell, even affected a crowd of heaven-level demon seeds, all of whom had to treat it seriously. The initial encounter with Rat Kalan, moreover, sent him directly into Avici on the spot! His sense of hearing was destroyed, and his Buddha awareness was shattered. The moment he stepped out of the dense forest, he had stepped into the abyss.

However, what is the Black Lotus? It is a flower that blooms in desperate situations! It is a Buddha Lotus born amidst the five turbidities and seven impurities when the heavenly way is not prosperous and the Dharma descends to its end. In the midst of extreme evil, it gives rise to a compassionate intent. In times of destruction, it nurtures the Bodhi heart.

He took a large step forward, directly facing Sheep Yu. His face was ferocious, covered with a compassionate light. The black Buddha light was quiet, bringing peace, harmony, and stillness. He lifted his pair of large hands, instantly becoming both extremely quiet and extremely dynamic. His ten fingers shuttled, seemingly weaving a kasaya. With the skill of an ordinary devout believer, he quickly formed the Reverse Lotus Flower Seal. His mouth also chanted Sanskrit: “From self without delusion, knot Bodhi; other hearts not proven, the Lotus Flower does not open!”

This was a Buddha verse left by Demon Master Tathagata, a classic inherited for ten thousand generations by the Black Lotus Temple. Above Rat Kalan’s head, a crystal-clear black lotus bloomed, and the texture on his bald head appeared black and peaceful, soothing the restlessness of all viewers. The flower petals were like glazed carvings, linked to each other, resembling a black jade bowl, holding up the moon…

The lotus echoed, each petal corresponding to another. The black lotus, virtually hanging high in the air, possessed a kind of vast significance. The Divine Sky Place originally had no sun or moon. Now, it seemed to. The black Buddha light hung down like a waterfall, effectively preventing wind and rain from entering, protecting the world’s devout believers.

At this moment, Rat Kalan also erupted with full force to escape the crisis of extinction. But Sheep Yu, ranked fifth among the new kings on the Heavenly List, had made his move, had moved the Know Hear Bell, how could he allow him to escape so easily? He formed the Treasure Bottle Seal with his left hand and the Lion Seal with his right. With kind eyes and a compassionate face, he opened his mouth and said: “Clang!”

It was as if a naughty child innocently imitated the sound of a bell. The connection in the dimness was already established by Know Hear. His Buddha awareness and Buddha thoughts had already formed the illusion of the Know Hear Bell, descending upon the Divine Sky Place, covering the air above the divine mountain. With a single press, it shattered the crystal-clear black lotus! The shattered pieces of the lotus were like flying jade, scattered on the ground and unseen. Rat Kalan sprayed fresh blood, raised his head, and then fell.

And Sheep Yu, feeling the power of the Know Hear Bell, sought even more. That bell sound, upon ringing, compelled all demons in the field to react. Their various methods received and processed the sound they heard. While coping with the aftershocks of the bell sound, they also had to understand through the Know Hear Bell.

Sheep Yu was simultaneously suppressing and killing Rat Kalan while grasping information about all his competitors, probing their respective truths and falsehoods. Thus, “Heaven above, earth below, only I am honored!” He did indeed grasp too much at this moment. Spider Lan If was indeed extremely powerful, her sound killing technique overbearing. Deer Seven Lang was not ordinary, his sword intent sharp and unbeatable.

Ape Dream Extreme was protected by the means of the heaven-level demon, not usable many times, not worth mentioning. Bear Three Thoughts seemed to have skin of copper and bones of iron, a heart of stone and guts of steel, having suffered who knows what hardships, already extremely difficult to shake. That Peace Ghost Messenger and Chai A Si, while appearing profound and mysterious, were actually relying on external forces. Especially that Peace Ghost Messenger, the random knives he chopped fundamentally did not target the key of the Buddha sound.

The key lay in another kind of power within his body, which took over his auditory consciousness and filled the sound into formlessness. No! There was actually a faint connection between this Peace Ghost Messenger and Chai A Si.

Just as Sheep Yu was leveraging the power of the Know Hear Bell and gaining insight, a sudden change occurred. That Rat Kalan, who had raised his head and fallen, who should have already been suppressed and killed, suddenly opened his round eyes. His eyes, which had previously shown only compassion, now turned to eyes of fury. The fresh blood he spat from his mouth actually formed into blood lotus flowers.

Vajra’s angry eyes subdue outer paths. Blood lotus descends to the world, eradicating all beings from the Dharma! This Dharma did not manifest any outward phenomena, and it didn’t seem to cause any influence on the Know Hear Bell. But Master Sheep Yu’s kind and compassionate face gradually became covered with blood patterns. The blood patterns twisted like spiritual insects, giving Sheep Yu’s face a strange charm. He was falling!

Could it be that the precious bell is motionless, but the monk is not? Is the golden body motionless, but the clay sculpture is not? The Black Lotus Temple is not recognized by the Ancient Imperial City, but Rat Kalan is absolutely an undeniable strong contender among the new kings on the Heavenly List. In a true life-and-death struggle, it was not certain that he would lose to Sheep Yu. At this moment, with life and death at stake, with blood karma as a pattern, he was exactly dragging Sheep Yu along to escape the influence of the Know Hear Bell… forever falling into the long night.

But Sheep Yu just stood there, not moving a single step. He clasped his hands together and lightly said, “Namo Light King Tathagata!”

In the void, faintly, a bell sound rang. The Know Hear Bell, wrapped in Sanskrit sound, rang out once more. Not in this place, yet also in this place. It was the sound expounded by the great Bodhisattva Cicada Law Edge in Mo Cloud City, penetrating the distance of time and space, falling to this place.

It said—

“Buddha says, fate has arrived!”

That Swift Wind Kill Sword Chai A Si, who had been standing to the side happily watching the show, suddenly burst into ten thousand rays of splendid light!

…