Demon Cultivator in Abyssal Era-Chapter 433 - 221: Celestial Dragon 2

"A twenty-meter-thick steel armor, this damn thing could withstand a nuclear blast," Chu Xiu couldn’t help but remark.

At the end of the tunnel was the pitch-black "wall" that Chu Xiu had seen from afar before.

Chu Xiu approached it, feeling a chill hit him in the face. He touched it, and it felt cold. He couldn’t tell what it was made of. He tried to cut it with his perfect-level long knife that could slice through steel, but it didn’t leave a scratch on this "wall."

"Is this thing the Celestial Dragon..."

Chu Xiu looked around. The massive entity, whether it was the body of the Celestial Dragon or something else, almost filled the tunnel, leaving a distance of less than a meter, just enough for one person to pass through.

He jumped in, and immediately felt a chill envelop his entire body. The temperature inside the tunnel was extremely low, probably below minus ten degrees, and it got colder the further he went. The air also seemed incredibly thin. After taking a few steps, he began to feel shortness of breath.

"If it were an ordinary person, they would likely succumb to hypoxia or hypothermia within minutes."

"I really have no idea where this tunnel leads."

Chu Xiu rubbed his chin, feeling more and more headache-inducing thoughts the more he thought about it.

Whether it was any of the Gods or Liang Zhan and his group, they all said the Celestial Dragon was the only way to the outer world, which means, for now, it seems there’s only one path to leave, through this tunnel.

However, this tunnel shoots straight up like a rocket, and right now, I have no idea how long it is.

Trying to send over twenty thousand people into the sky, Chu Xiu didn’t have that ability yet.

"But the trial won’t present a dead end without a solution. The key should still lie with this ’Celestial Dragon.’

With that thought in mind, Chu Xiu retraced his steps and exited the tunnel.

After regrouping with Liang Zhan, the two of them set off with the Buddhist Sect overseer for the Buddhist Sect.

As for the few personal guards, they lurked nearby, waiting to provide support.

The Buddhist Sect was located far from the central industrial area, right in the middle of the eastern wealthy district. Even from a distance, a magnificent Buddhist Tower stood on the ground, and compared to it, the mansions of the city’s nobility looked like shabby straw huts.

Around the Buddhist Tower were four large courtyards, accommodating a total of five hundred members of the Buddhist Sect. Most of these were Buddhist disciples still undergoing training. After a certain level of study, these disciples would become martial monks or temple monks, assigned to different positions. Those who performed well or whose cultivation advanced could become mages, holding higher positions, such as the Buddhist Sect overseers in the army, who were among the elite mages.

Beyond that, one could become an elder. Currently, there were eleven elders in the sect. Only by becoming an elder could one learn the divine techniques of the Buddhist Sect and receive the core inheritance.

Finally, there was the supreme and transcendent Reincarnated Saint Monk. It was said that the Saint Monk was the reincarnation of the Buddha, possessing the divine powers of immortality and world-altering abilities, making him the absolute and sole ruler of this Peach Blossom Spring.

"If you wish to harness the power of the Celestial Dragon, you must come into contact with the Saint Monk. Some unknown secrets are known only to the Saint Monk," Liang Zhan said.

Chu Xiu nodded and continued forward. The three of them quickly passed through the noble district and arrived at the entrance of the grand courtyard where the Buddhist Sect was located.

Unlike usual, there were dozens of martial monks holding various weapons at the entrance of the courtyard. Some held firearms, others heavy crossbows, and some carried great shields, glaring at the three of them as if they had long been aware of their arrival.

"It seems that the Third Elder is swift in reporting," Chu Xiu thought to himself, without taking any action. Only Liang Zhan stepped forward and said, "Respected masters, I am Liang Zhan. I have important military matters to report to the Saint Monk."

The martial monks exchanged a glance, and the leading mage stepped forward and said, "Please follow me, the three of you."

The martial monks made way, and as Chu Xiu and the others followed, they closed in around them.

Chu Xiu didn’t mind. These martial monks were indeed rare martial artists, even the weakest had warrior-tier strength, and with modern weapons, they were a formidable force in this world. But in Chu Xiu’s eyes, they were nothing but cannon fodder.

Standing still and letting them attack would be hard to penetrate his [Treasure] General-tier armor.

However, as they got closer to the Buddhist Tower, Chu Xiu’s expression gradually became serious. He saw a statue with its hair and beard bristling, holding a long staff and a face full of anger. It was vividly carved and seemed like it could come to life at any moment. Chu Xiu felt a powerful energy fluctuating from it.

Around the Buddhist Tower, there were also four statues of Vajras, each twenty meters tall. They seemed to connect to the Buddhist Tower through some special means, and the aura from them was even more astonishing.

"The Eighteen Arhats and the Four Great Vajras are the main protective forces of the Buddhist Sect. Each Arhat is equivalent to the most top-tier martial artist. Combined with indestructible bodies, even a hundred-strong elite squad equipped with Vajra Hand Cannons would struggle to defeat them."

"The Vajras possess immense strength. The only time I saw them in action was when the Hungry Ghost tide was greater than ever. The Saint Monk specifically dispatched two Vajras to assist. The scene was truly breathtaking; a single palm from a Vajra was like hundreds of cannons exploding simultaneously, absolutely beyond human capability."

"In addition, the Buddhist Sect has many Buddhist artifacts, notably the Buddhist Tower at the center. Within its enveloping range, all temple monks and protective forces are greatly enhanced," Liang Zhan explained in a low voice beside him.

Chu Xiu nodded silently.

These Arhats were comparable to General-tier Awakened individuals, and the power of the Vajras had at least achieved King-tier. With the blessing of the Buddhist Tower, even his main body would face some challenges.

The Buddhist Sect had maintained a high-pressure rule for seven hundred years, indeed possessing overwhelming power.

Fortunately, it seemed that they didn’t intend to subdue Chu Xiu and his companions. The martial monks merely led them to a luxuriously adorned hall, then withdrew.

"Please wait here for a moment, the elders will arrive shortly." The leading mage left this message and then left.

Almost as soon as he left, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, although they didn’t go out entirely, leaving a faint, dim glow.

In the hazy light, a dozen dancers filed in. They wore veils and only thin silk undergarments, concealing key parts of their bodies. A thin layer of golden gauze draped their shoulders and backs, revealing their enchanting figures.

The dancers walked gracefully to the center of the hall, performing a seductive and enticing dance. Some boldly leaned on the front of the table in front of the three of them, intentionally revealing their full, white thighs, with their jewel-like feet resting on the table, swaying slightly in front of the three with captivating eyes behind the veils, as if trying to ensnare their souls.

The face of the Buddhist Sect overseer turned slightly red. Liang Zhan, however, remained calm, even showing a hint of compassion in his eyes. He turned to Chu Xiu and said, "These dancers are from noble families, some chosen from a young age and came willingly, while others were forcibly taken by members of the Buddhist Sect. They remain within the Buddhist Institute, allowed out only once a month, and even then must be veiled and obscured. Their existence is to serve the monks of the Buddhist Sect."

Chu Xiu nodded and said, "Rest assured, once we leave this world, no one will force them any longer."

Liang Zhan breathed a sigh of relief, said no more, and watched the dance in silence while Chu Xiu remained unmoved. Although he was not indifferent to beauty, he would not let it disturb his focus. To him, only the endless pursuit of power mattered, and all else were roadside flowers and grass, a diversion for the mood but never at the expense of important matters.

Seeing that the two were not affected, the dancer trying to entice them flashed a trace of an inexplicable expression in her eyes, gently covering her thigh with her gauze skirt and returned to the center of the hall.

After another quarter of an hour, the sound of a bell came from outside the hall, and the dancers, as if having received a command, left in an orderly manner. The lights in the hall then brightened, the door opened, and several figures in bright red robes strode in.

At the forefront was a short, kindly-looking fat monk. He held a string of prayer beads and greeted Chu Xiu:

"Amitabha Buddha, I am Dunxin, temporarily filling the role of the Great Elder of the Buddhist Sect, managing sect affairs. Greetings, sir."

"I wonder what brings you to us today?"