Chapter 54: Wild Power
\n“Qianxin Temple in the west city suddenly became popular these days. Many people went there to pray. I never knew Suzhou had so many Buddhists.” Inside the government courtyard, Zhi Hua chatted idly with Zhang Tu and others.
\nSince joining the Dragon Guards, they’d become largely idle. The Tianya Pavilion opposition had solidified into an organized force, making random clashes impossible without risking Si Mo’s displeasure. Staying home seemed safest.
\n“That temple has problems.”
\nZhang Tu’s Buddhist background sharpened his instincts. Though he couldn’t identify the source, his monk-trained senses tingled with warning.
\n“It’s the white-robed demon monk from Cold Mountain Temple.”
\nSi Mo strode through the doorway.
\n“The white-robed demon? One of Cold Mountain Temple’s Four Great Lords?”
\nEveryone knew the infamous Four Lords. Zhang Tu’s fingers tightened around his prayer beads.
\n“If you know he’s here, why not arrest him? Letting him deceive people like this…” Li Yuanyuan protested. The governor’s daughter tapped the stone bench, her magistrate’s blood demanding action.
\n“The demon’s cultivation runs deep. He vanished after appearing at Qianxin Temple two days back.”
\nSi Mo’s clenched jaw revealed more than his words. His failed pursuit of Lord Wu Fa clearly rankled.
\n“So you came here for that?”
\nYu Ruyi’s quiet voice cut through. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Tu as she recalled Si Mo’s warnings – how Demon Monk Jie Ming erased his past, how Zhang Tu had been senior to Jie Ming before leaving monastic life…
\n“Exactly. Lord Wu Fa acts under Jie Ming’s orders. You’re the target, Zhang Tu.”
\nSi Mo poured bitter tea, swallowing before continuing. “We moved Cold Mountain Temple’s monks to the capital. Now you’re Wu Fa’s only remaining link to Jie Ming.”
\nDemon Monk Jie Ming.
\nZhang Tu’s beads clicked faster. That bright junior brother who’d shared rice porridge and sutras… when did he become this self-proclaimed Buddha devouring the land?
\n“Dragon Guards surround this compound. When Wu Fa comes, we’ll end him.” Si Mo made no apologies for using Zhang Tu as bait.
\n“Perhaps.”
\nZhang Tu stood abruptly, needing air. Sleep had abandoned him since learning of his brother’s monstrous transformation.
\n“Elder Zhang Tu! Just who I needed!”
\nA black-clad Immortal Palace member hurried in, face lighting up.
\n“Wu San? What is it?”
\nZhang Tu paused. This efficient Foundation Establishment cultivator had handled logistics during the Tianya Pavilion conflicts – their most capable non-elder.
\n“Someone forced this upon me yesterday. Demanded you receive it personally.”
\nWu San produced a lacquered box from his sleeve.
\n“Careful! He’s not Wu San!”
\nYu Ruyi, sitting at the back, suddenly shouted. The cup in her hand instantly filled with True Essence, transforming into a streak of light that shot toward the box in Wu San’s hands.
\nBoom!!
\nA pattern abruptly surfaced on the black box’s exterior. The darkness brightened as a massive translucent salamander head erupted from within. Condensed True Essence reached its breaking point and detonated. Zhang Tu, standing nearest, took the full blast. However, Yu Linglong struck the box at the critical moment, diverting the deadliest force. Even so, Zhang Tu suffered grave injuries, tumbling backward with blood streaking his face.
\n“Totem?!”
\nApart from Yu Ruyi, neither Zhi Hua nor Li Yuanyuan had grasped what happened.
\n“Who are you?!”
\n“As expected of Buddha’s senior brother\u2014always aided by timely rescuers. Yet wouldn’t journeying directly to Western Paradise have been simpler?” ‘Wu San’ slowly lifted his head. His robes faded to immaculate white, his features shifting from Wu San’s visage to that of a delicate young monk.
\nThe demon monk Wu Fa!
\n“A demon monk indeed! Slaying Dragon Guards affiliates before my eyes\u2014you court death!”
\nTrue Essence surged violently around Si Mo. His perfected Golden Core cultivation unleashed a crushing blow, conjuring a terrifying storm. The others gasped, their breaths stifled by his overwhelming aura. Yet Wu Fa stood unaffected, his own power rising undiminished.
\n“So it’s Lord Si of the Dragon Guards.”
\nWu Fa briefly glanced at Si Mo before refocusing on Zhang Tu.
\n“Senior Jie Nian, for Buddha’s grand vision… please ascend to Western Paradise.” Without allowing Zhang Tu to respond, the salamander totem behind him lunged forward, jaws gaping to swallow Zhang Tu whole.
\n“Insolence!”
\nSi Mo’s fury erupted. This demon monk dared kill in his presence, utterly disregarding his authority.
\nEnraged, Si Mo clawed at Wu Fa’s totem.
\nA colossal ape totem materialized behind him. As a Dragon Guards elite, Si Mo seldom summoned his totem\u2014not even during the Dog Demon suppression. Yet against Wu Fa, he held nothing back.
\nThe ape totem roared, mountain-sized paws slamming onto the salamander’s head.
\nThe collision’s shockwave flattened surrounding structures. Fortunately, the inner courtyard’s vast space contained the devastation. Zhi Hua and the others simultaneously summoned their totems, launching combined assaults on Wu Fa’s manifestation.
\n“Amitabha.”
\nWu Fa murmured the Buddhist chant. Golden radiance enveloped him as a staff materialized in his grip.
\n“Devil Suppression Seal.”
\nAn alien force, starkly different from totemic energy, emanated from the staff’s tip.
\n“Wild Power?”
\nSi Mo’s face tightened.
\nThe ape totem’s free hand clenched into a fist, hammering against the Sealing Technique.
\nKA-BOOM!
\nRaging energy detonated. Zhang Tu vomited blood, his wounds deepening\u2014this despite the totem’s protection. A heartbeat slower would’ve ended him, sending his soul westward.
\n“Consorting with Ask Immortal Pavilion scum\u2014truly you walk the wicked path!”
\nSi Mo hadn’t anticipated this demon monk wielding dual powers. Few knew of Wild Power\u2014primordial energy older than totems. The royal family had clashed with such strong individuals before, their records archived by Dragon Guards. Thus Si Mo recognized it instantly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chapter 54: Wild Power “Qianxin Temple in the west city suddenly became popular these days. Many people went there to pray. I never knew Suzhou had so many Buddhists.” Inside the government courtyard, Zhi Hua chatted idly with Zhang Tu and others. Since joining the Dragon Guards, they’d become largely idle. The Tianya Pavilion opposition had solidified into an organized force, making random clashes\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[3],"tags":[],"fcn_genre":[],"fcn_fandom":[],"fcn_character":[],"fcn_content_warning":[],"class_list":["post-1433","fcn_chapter","type-fcn_chapter","status-publish","hentry","category-dreaming-to-become-a-creator"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter\/1433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/fcn_chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter\/1433\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_genre","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_genre?post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_fandom?post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_character","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_character?post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_content_warning","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_content_warning?post=1433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}