The tail of Ethan Shu's Purple-Gold Monk's Staff touched the ground, and in that instant, an invisible wave, imbued with vast Buddhist power, surged forth like a massive tidal wave, spreading outward.
Accompanying the spread of the Buddhist power, the golden rings on the staff's head trembled, producing a resounding sound akin to the toll of morning bells and evening drums.
A thunderous boom echoed.
The protectors swarming in from all directions were swept away by the invisible wave, utterly defenseless, and sent flying back.
With several loud "bang" sounds, white waves burst forth as they were forced back to their original forms, falling to the ground as spiders, centipedes, fleas, and other insects.
At the same time…
A large crack extended from the tail of Ethan Shu's Purple-Gold Monk's Staff, spreading from the mountain gate all the way down to the foot of the mountain.
The grand, imposing white marble steps were split in two, with the central section, adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes, giving way, while the sides, used by the devout ascending and descending, remained intact, sparing any harm.
"So, just a few demonic insects dared to masquerade as Buddhist protectors to obstruct me? How audacious."
Ethan Shu's gaze glinted coldly as he stepped forward, entering the hall of the Pudu Cihang Monastery.
"Those who trespass upon this sacred Buddhist land, kill them!"
"This is the domain of the Holy Monk of Pudu Cihang, and you dare act so brazenly? Kill! Kill! Kill!"
A group of protectors in white robes streamed out from Pudu Cihang Monastery, surrounding Ethan Shu.
Ethan Shu kept his gaze steady, seeing no "human" in his eyes, and walked straight forward.
The protectors in white robes encircled him, forming multiple layers around him, yet for a moment, none dared to approach.
"Everyone, attack together!"
"Capture him! The Holy Monk of Pudu Cihang will reward us handsomely."
"Kill!"
The protectors in white robes summoned their courage and charged with swords raised.
Ethan Shu took another step forward, raising the Purple-Gold Monk's Staff in one hand and then striking it down.
Another "boom" resounded as a tsunami-like invisible wave spread out.
The protectors charging forward were swept by the overwhelming force, sent flying back one after another with loud "bangs," reverting to their true forms.
As he walked onward, none could stop him!
The devout, long entranced by demonic sounds, were now like puppets, with blank expressions, worshiping and offering incense, oblivious to the ongoing battle.
"Ding-dong! Congratulations to the Host for killing the Spider Demon, earning 100 cultivation points!"
"Ding-dong! Congratulations to the Host for killing the Flea Demon, earning 80 cultivation points!"
"Ding-dong! Congratulations to the Host for killing the Centipede Demon, earning 200 cultivation points!"
The system notifications rang ceaselessly as wave after wave of demonic monks disguised as protectors were eliminated.
Ethan Shu reached the main hall of the temple. It was grand and majestic, with high platforms all around, each occupied by court ministers, seemingly in devout prayer or deep meditation, absorbed in Zen.
"What an audacious monster, abducting the entire imperial court to this place."
Ethan Shu snorted coldly, his face like an angry vajra, his eyes flashing with lightning as he scanned the surroundings.
"Where did this rogue monk come from!"
"This is the sacred land of the Yan Kingdom; only officials of the fifth rank and above may enter!"
"Get out of here immediately!"
"Get out!"
"Leave!"
The grand, empty, and resplendent hall echoed with angry shouts.
Ethan Shu raised his sword-like brows and laughed loudly, shouting angrily, "Audacious fiends! Disguising yourselves as court ministers, meddling in government affairs, wreaking havoc upon the world, making the people of Yan suffer—I see at a glance that you are not human!"
Ethan Shu's voice boomed like thunder, his sound waves overpowering the scolding voices of the "ministers."
"Enough talk! Strike together and subdue this rogue monk!"
"Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!"
"Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!"
"Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!"
Chants of Buddhist mantras filled the air.
What should have been sacred and serene now resounded like demonic sounds, overlapping continuously, as if trying to split one's mind.
Standing in the middle of the hall, Ethan Shu faced the torrent of demonic sounds directed at him.
Draped in a brocade kasaya, he stood motionless, like an immovable statue of Acala, entirely unaffected by the demonic sounds.
"The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra?"
"What a pity. Such supreme, unparalleled mantras hold no power in the mouths of you demons."
"Attempting Buddhist mantras in front of me is mere posturing. Watch as I collect you all!"
With one hand on his Purple-Gold Monk's Staff, Ethan Shu raised the Great Golden Alms Bowl high and tossed it into the air.
The Great Golden Alms Bowl soared to the highest point of the temple, flipping over so that its opening faced downward.
Standing below, Ethan Shu formed a hand seal and shouted, "Mighty Heavenly Dragon, Venerable Ksitigarbha, Prajna Buddhas, Prajna Pama Kong, Great Golden Alms Bowl, capture them for me!"
From the opening of the Great Golden Alms Bowl, endless golden Buddhist light poured out, enveloping the entire hall.
Vast Buddhist power erupted from the bowl, forming an unimaginable suction force targeting only demons, drawing out the demons hidden within the ministers' bodies.
"Ah!"
"Pudu Cihang, save me!"
"Help! Holy Monk, I won't dare again."
"This rogue monk's Buddhist power is profound; we can't resist."
Within the golden light from the Great Golden Alms Bowl, the demons reverted to their true forms.
Various insects rose under the golden beams, struggling futilely as they were drawn into the Great Golden Alms Bowl's confinement.
In an instant, dozens to hundreds of insect demons were all absorbed into the Great Golden Alms Bowl.
The Great Golden Alms Bowl seemed to contain an entire universe within, easily holding all these demons without reaching its limit.
"Great Golden Alms Bowl, return!"
With a stretch of his hand, Ethan Shu caught the Great Golden Alms Bowl as it flipped back and descended gently into his palm.
He glanced inside the bowl, seeing the demons thrashing about within a vast golden sea of Buddhist power, being swiftly refined.
While the system's notifications of cultivation points gained sounded in his ear, Ethan Shu paid no attention, stepping forward to examine the ministers seated on the meditation cushions.
He found that each minister had a gruesome wound on their back, with flesh torn open, completely devoid of life.
"The bodies of these ministers were long hollowed out, used as vessels by these demons, manipulated into becoming so-called 'traitors.'"
"The governance of the Yan Kingdom has already fallen entirely into the hands of demons!"
"The vile Pudu Cihang must have committed countless sins, yet… he's not here in the monastery?"
Ethan Shu's heart sank as he realized the gravity of the situation.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。