Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest-Chapter 793 - 41 Subterranean Buddhist Kingdom

If someone had explored the entire mysterious realm, they would have discovered that this subterranean secret realm was vast, spanning about 700 kilometers. The total length of various caves and chambers exceeded 300 kilometers.

The caverns were largely divided into four areas: the sparse cavern group in the high terrain of the northwest, the karst caves in the lower terrain of the southwest, the upper reaches of the Dark River in the northeast, and the lower reaches of the Dark River in the southeast. The four areas were connected by a massive underground river, surrounded by many tributaries and dried-up old riverbeds (now passable cave channels). Some formed loops, while others led to dead ends; ordinary people could easily become disoriented within.

Yan Yu and Li Minghu were transported to a high spot directly north and then proceeded westward. Here, they encountered Li Zhaojiang and Xu Jin. After the four of them regrouped and rested, they prepared to continue exploring the sparse cavern group in the northwest.

Lin Ning was transported to a large cave in the direct south of the mysterious realm and, following the guidance of the so-called "Mirror Immortal," began to move northward along a tributary.

Chen Lingyun and Zhao Yuanzhen were transported to the riverbank of the northeast, where they followed the main Dark River downstream. They brushed past Lin Ning, who was exploring northward—at the closest point, only over 200 meters of rock separated them—yet they ultimately failed to detect each other’s presence.

In the southeast direction, the Dark River converged into an enormous underground lake, covering more than 30 square kilometers. The lakebed was the lowest point in the entire mysterious realm, fed by at least thirty rivers, and thus became the final destination for many who sought to explore the secret realm.

Close to the lake surface, mist curled around, limiting visibility to only within a 10-meter range. There was a large complex of aquatic buildings in the middle of the lake, with the tops piercing through the mist to reach the cavern ceiling, clearly visible even from afar.

The ascetics somehow obtained a large boat and sailed to the waters near this complex, beginning to circle in search of a suitable mooring spot.

However, due to the dense fog and low visibility, which made their search fruitless after half a day, they didn’t dare approach too close without finding a dock. As they were about to continue circling, several Yin Ghosts suddenly flew out from the outer fog, knocking down the ascetics patrolling the deck in an instant.

Following that, numerous canoes charged out of the fog, almost all manned by Tattooed Charm Masters who activated their whole-body Dharma Seals with spiritual power, using their Vajra Bodies to withstand the firepower of the ascetics while they climbed up the side of the vessel.

An intense battle quickly ensued. The ascetics, outnumbering their enemies and having the high ground, covered the sorcerers below with relative ease. The latter’s repeated attempts to board the side of the ship were repelled and ended in failure.

The fog made it difficult for both sides to tally their casualties, and as a result, the battle grew even fiercer. Seeing that ascending the ship’s deck was impossible, the sorcerers gathered a multitude of Curse Technique Masters to directly attack the vessel with spells.

Soon, multiple compartments in the ship were breached, leaving the ascetics no choice but to forcibly steer towards a nearby building for collision.

Some of the ascetics fell into the lake amidst the violent shaking and were quickly finished off by the sorcerers. The rest leaped swiftly from the deck, seeking refuge within the buildings. The sorcerers immediately rowed their canoes to shore, and the Dark Sorcerers released numerous Yin Ghosts to pursue and attack through the gaps in the buildings.

Not far away, atop a tall tower, Xie Ruoxi watched them rush into the plaza, asking anxiously,

"Yun Jin, they’re all coming in, aren’t we evacuating now?"

"Just give me a few more minutes," replied Su Yunjin, retrieving another Jade Slip from the shelf behind and delving into its contents with Divine Sense.

The lake’s buildings within this part of the mysterious realm were the base of a sect known as the "Pure Land Zen Sect."

Su Yunjin remembered clearly that the "Mahaparinirvana Sutra" once said: Devil will gradually ruin My true law, letting the Devil’s sons and grandsons don monk’s robes, infiltrate the Buddhist temples, distort the scriptures, and break the precepts.

The Pure Land Zen Sect of this world was one of the four great evil sects. The Red Lotus Sect refined people with Karmic Fire, the Suppressing Devil Sect consumed people with Heavenly Demons, the Joy Sect corrupted people with desire, while the Pure Land Sect altered humans with Secret Techniques, absurdly trying to "create an untainted body from a tainted form."

Simply put, if my Cultivation Realm is insufficient to become a Buddha and I cannot ascend to the Western Paradise before the Era of Dharma Extinction begins, then I will transform my body into an Arhat and refine my soul into a Bodhisattva. Then I will turn the sect base into the Western Pure Land—hoping to withstand the devastation of the Era of Dharma Extinction with this approach.

The outcome was obviously a failure, as the current base of the Pure Land Sect was left with various mad, false Bodhisattvas and grotesque corruption of Arhats.

Considering the vastness of the base, searching it entirely would take an unknown amount of time, so the pair first sought out this Scripture Pavilion, hoping to find clues to the core of the secret realm and plan accordingly.

But who would have expected the ascetics of Tianzhu and the sorcerers of the Southern Border to arrive so swiftly!

Xie Ruoxi feared that if they were discovered, they would be greatly outnumbered and the situation could turn perilous.

However, Su Yunjin insisted on staying to continue searching for information, as both of them were Magic Cultivators possessing Taoism Methods capable of dealing with many enemies—the Southern Dipper Galaxy Secret Art for offense and the Wave-Propelling Transverse Flute for defense. Why panic at the first sight of approaching enemies?

Xie Ruoxi, always indecisive, thought to herself that Yun Jin was sharper than her, so she decided to heed her companion’s judgment.

They were determined to hold their ground!

At the same time, to the northeast, a huge bowl-shaped vessel crashed down a waterfall with a thunderous roar.