Chapter 276: Tearing Apart the Buddha Hall
"So, you are plotting to use the demons' hands to replace the Qiandao Palace?"
Li Hao squinted, staring at the Buddha Lord. Piecing together various pieces of information, it was evident that although the demon invasion of Da Yu was a grand scheme, this Buddha Lord had undoubtedly played a significant role in fanning the flames.
By using Feng Lao to influence him, Li Hao could understand the reasoning. As a child, the Buddha Lord had used his mother and son as pawns, trying to control the God General's Mansion. Li Hao, a small obstacle, had been poisoned to nullify his potential. Now, he had the power to guard Da Yu, becoming a significant hindrance. Hence, the Buddha Lord aimed to disrupt his relationship with the court, with the ultimate goal always being the entire kingdom.
The Da Yu Dynasty revered the Daoist sects, with the Qiandao Palace leading the nation's temples, while the Buddhist sect could only rank second. Though they appeared indifferent, their true intention was to claim the top spot.
Hearing Li Hao's words, the Buddha Lord merely smiled without answering.
"Don't block my way, bald donkey!"
At this moment, an angry shout came from outside. Following it, a sharp sword aura appeared, and the disheveled figure of the Ninth Prince, Jiang Lichen, rushed into the Buddha hall.
Seeing the Buddha Lord sitting on the purple-gold lotus platform, Jiang Lichen sneered and glanced at Li Hao:
"If you need help, just say the word. I haven't had the chance to spar with him yet. How about I go first?"
The Buddha Lord's smile slightly faded upon seeing Jiang Lichen. He frowned almost imperceptibly.
"Who are you? Trespassing in the Buddha hall, do you want to die?!"
A Bodhisattva who had chased after him shouted angrily, his face red with fury. Being suppressed by Li Hao was one thing, given Li Hao's realm. But this madman, who had appeared out of nowhere, also barged into Mount Wuliang, bringing unprecedented humiliation to their sect in centuries.
"Chicken neck, you're not worthy of my sword. Scram!"
Jiang Lichen merely glanced at him and dismissed him, placing his hand on his sword hilt and staring at the Buddha Lord:
"I've wanted to see the so-called second-best in the world for a long time. Unfortunately, before I was imprisoned, I didn't even qualify to draw my sword before you. But now I do!"
"Ninth Prince, you must respect your status. If you draw your sword here, His Majesty will be in a difficult position."
The Buddha Lord said sternly.
Jiang Lichen chuckled, "His difficulties are his business, not mine. I only care about myself. Who cares about this world?"
The Buddha Lord's eyes flickered but he said no more. He had long heard that this Ninth Prince was a sword-crazed maniac, fallen into the demonic path, who once caused a massacre in the capital, leading to many civilian casualties. His actions were unpredictable.
"Why haven't you acted yet? What are you waiting for?" Jiang Lichen looked at Li Hao, eager to stir him into action. He wasn't here to help, but rather to revel in the chaos.
Li Hao didn't respond. He was waiting, waiting for Feng Lao to arrive. If he acted rashly before seeing Feng Lao, it might result in Feng Lao being harmed. The opponent had prepared in advance, waiting for him to step into the trap.
Suddenly, Li Hao's face changed. He turned abruptly and rushed out of the Buddha hall. On a hillside of the spiritual mountain, a group of people approached. They were dressed in luxurious silk and adorned with precious jade, laughing and chatting.
At the front, Lin Wujiang held a blood-stained chain. Dragging behind it was a broken, corpse-like body. The body was thin, blood-soaked, and eyeless, exuding a faint aura.
With a loud bang, Li Hao felt his mind go blank, as if it had exploded.
"General Hao Tian, this is the thief. Do you truly wish to exonerate him?"
Lin Wujiang looked at Li Hao at the Buddha hall's entrance and spoke loudly.
The men and women behind him stopped their conversations, their smiles fading as they looked at the young man in front of the hall. They knew they were there to witness and, if the young man defended the thief, to report it to the court.
"Is that General Hao Tian? So young."
"General Hao Tian, please reconsider..."
Boom, boom, boom, boom!! Before the second noble could finish speaking, their heads exploded, followed by a series of explosions! In an instant, the previously laughing group turned into a mist of blood! The rest didn't have time to speak or react. Their souls, shocked and confused, had no chance to escape and were extinguished like fireflies!
In front, Lin Wujiang, holding the chain, was stunned, staring in disbelief at Li Hao. Blood splattered on him, dyeing his monk robe and bald head red.
When he recovered, he tried to escape, but the next moment, his body was torn apart! "Lord Buddha, save..."
Lin Wujiang's soul tried to flee and call for help, but it was immediately crushed! On the stone-paved path, only the old man's figure remained.
The two Bodhisattvas at the Buddha hall entrance were stunned, their eyes wide with terror as they watched the young man's back.
His body trembled as he walked towards the old man. Each step seemed to press the entire spiritual mountain an inch deeper.
A terrifying aura emanated from him. The pressure alone made it hard for them to breathe, their pores contracted, and their hearts seemed to jump into their throats.
It was like a prehistoric beast walking by, making them hold their breath.
"Feng Lao..."
Li Hao's voice trembled, hoarse and choking, with red tears streaming from his eyes.
The once carefree Saint of Thieves was now in such a state, devoid of dignity!
When Li Hao reached Feng Lao, he saw that the old man's ears, nose, and mouth were also destroyed, rendering him unable to speak or hear.
Li Hao's whole body shook as he knelt down, gently cradling the old man and tearing his own clothes to cover him.
"Feng Lao..."
Li Hao's throat felt blocked with molten lava, his voice choked.
Feng Lao's body reacted slightly, sensing something. He lifted his head, trying to see Li Hao's face, but his eyes were bloodied holes. He raised his hand, touching Li Hao's cheek, identifying him by touch.
His movements paused, then he opened his mouth, revealing toothless gums and a tongueless, blackened mouth, silently mouthing something.
The shape of his mouth seemed to say, "Run..."
Li Hao noticed that Feng Lao's body was covered in wounds, and the blood mixed with a dark purple substance, preventing healing and sealing his soul, cutting off his senses from the outside world.
Such cruelty was rare even in the punishment division!
"Zhu Huoshen!"
Li Hao's blood boiled, his brain seemed about to explode, but his voice was low and hoarse.
Zhu Huoshen quickly flew to Li Hao's side.
"Xiyan, take care of the old man," Li Hao's body trembled slightly.
Xiyan, from Li Hao's wrist, seemed to understand what was about to happen and that she might hinder Li Hao. She worriedly said, "Be careful."
Li Hao didn't answer, slowly standing up. As he moved, the wind around him seemed to stop.
Zhu Huoshen said nothing, carrying Feng Bo Ping on its back. Xiyan also got on Zhu Huoshen, flying outside the spiritual mountain to avoid the impending battle.
Li Hao raised his head, blood tears stopped, and looked at the solemn Buddha hall. With his head raised, a vast pressure surged, rushing towards the hall!
The two Bodhisattvas at the entrance shrank their pupils, terrified, quickly retreating, feeling a fear of death.
"Buddha, come out!!"
Li Hao's hair flew wildly as he roared. Nine layers of domain exploded, tearing through space, killing with unimaginable speed.
The two Bodhisattvas bore the brunt, about to be torn apart, but a powerful domain extended from the hall, clashing with Li Hao's nine-layered domain.
As they collided, two phenomena appeared in the void, rules clashing. The ground in front of the hall cracked, but the hall remained standing.
Nine layers of domain were blocked! But the next moment, the tenth layer of domain descended!
In the Linyuan Pavilion of the Xia family in Youzhou, absorbing numerous Xia family martial arts, Li Hao had deduced more ultimate skills, and these ultimate skills could be cultivated into domains.
Boom!!
The vast power from the hall was covered. As Li Hao stepped forward, the thousand-year-old hall exploded!
The solemn Buddha hall was torn apart, revealing the misty spiritual realm inside. The Buddha Lord sat on the purple-gold lotus platform, a hint of surprise in his calm eyes, and said:
"It seems you have fallen into the demonic path."