Chapter 1062: Chapter 292: What Is Long Remembered Will Surely Echo (Evolved Version)

"It seems the Heavenly Monarch is inevitably going to ascend."

On this side, upon knowing the Heavenly Monarch’s divine skills, Jiang Li also confirmed that the Heavenly Monarch was prepared to ascend, and it could be said that he was already ready, just waiting for the right moment.

And this right moment, originally meant to be the occupation of the Buddha Country, has now turned into the activation of the Six Souls Banner, weakening the true spirit within the Jade Emperor Dao Fruit.

All those third grade officials, especially the supreme ones at the very top, look forward to opportunities for ascension. Having reached the peak, they have more time to prepare and stronger power to secure beneficial conditions.

However, in terms of preparation, Jiang is no less competent.

’Sending Lord Sheng as an undercover was indeed the right move,’ Jiang Li deeply felt his own foresight in his heart.

He wasn’t particularly afraid of the Heavenly Monarch’s impending ascension.

Thirty years of the east river, thirty years of the west river, now Jiang Sikong is no longer the weakling of the past, all are supreme, who fears whom?

Moreover, it truly is time to decide life and death.

"It seems Jiang Tanyue is well-prepared," 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Ye Ru said, shaking his head with a smile, "Even though Jiang Tanyue is young, when it comes to mind games, he makes us old fellows blush with shame."

Those words...

If someone else had said them, it wouldn’t be anything special, but coming from Ye Ru, this old cunning guy, it was Jiang Li who felt embarrassed.

In this battle, it was this old guy who was the most cunning.

Of course, the Heavenly Monarch, Great Venerable, and Daoist Lord also held their own, especially the Heavenly Monarch, who had hidden such a divine skill.

Jiang Li couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, but he didn’t say it out loud. Although the Awakened was magnanimous, he was the carrier of the Bodhi Dao Fruit now, who knows if he’d be petty.

"Benefactor’s praise is misplaced."

Jiang Li gave an awkward smile and changed the topic, "The Great Venerable might seek Ye Ru out, if possible, I hope Benefactor will probe his intentions for me."

The elder brother was full of mischief, and having collaborated with Ye Ru for many years, now becoming the Fourth King of the Fire House Buddha Hell, he would surely utilize such power.

Ye Ru heard this and immediately responded, "It’s my duty. I too want to know what kind of plan this Fourth King holds in his heart."

"Hmm?"

Just then, Ye Ru suddenly made a puzzled sound, then laughed silently, "Speaking of the Great Venerable, here he is. Jiang Tanyue, I’ll go and meet the Great Venerable now."

Jiang Li was naturally pleased to see Ye Ru talk with the elder brother, and replied, "Please, Benefactor."

"After you."

Ye Ru nodded slightly to everyone, then disappeared into nothingness along with the Bodhi Tree and Guanyin.

Even with the perception of Jiang Li and Sun Wukong, there was no trace of his coming and going.

The abilities of the second grade are indeed formidable, especially the Heavenly Demon Devaputra, famous for his cunning.

After Ye Ru left, the surrounding demon realm didn’t disperse, still isolating itself from the outside world to prevent others from knowing what happened here. But everything that needed discussing had been discussed, and there’s no need for further words.

"You two, remember, the Awakened has already perished." Ksitigarbha reminded in the end.

"I understand, my old Sun won’t reveal the connection between Ye Ru and the Awakened," Sun Wukong waved his hand, "Don’t worry, my old Sun keeps his mouth tightly shut. You, old monk, and I, my old Sun, are old acquaintances, don’t you trust my old Sun?"

It’s precisely because they are old acquaintances that trust isn’t so easily given.

After all, this one boasted about his exploits of causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace to everyone he met on the Western Tour Road, even turning his stories into poetic verses, only to be countered with "So you’re the Horses’ Fortune" and turning red in embarrassment.

He’s not a bad person, just retains some monkey-like nature, unwilling to change. Even after becoming a Buddha, he remains true to himself, not becoming one of those empty-minded Buddhas.

Of course, Ksitigarbha wouldn’t voice these thoughts.

"Naturally, this humble monk trusts the Great Saint." Ksitigarbha said with a smile.

As for Jiang Li, Ksitigarbha didn’t need to worry much. Jiang Sikong was full of black water; if he were to spill any secrets, it’d certainly be with ill intent.

Jiang Sikong was naturally unaware of Ksitigarbha silently criticizing him in his heart. He merely nodded with a smile, indicating he understood, then said, "I’ll need to traverse through Ksitigarbha’s domain soon, to journey to the Yin World, the Divine Capital needs to know the battle’s outcome early."

The situation here in the Buddha Country needs to be reported to Jiang Li’s people in the court and the Princess to prepare Jiang Sikong’s ascension to the throne.

’Round and round, it still comes down to this position.’

Jiang Li also felt a sense of poignancy.

This throne of the Great Zhou Emperor, Jiang Li would indeed have to sit upon it.

"Jiang Shizhu, you’re too polite, the Yin World is also a part of the Buddha Country, there’s no place in the Buddha Country unreachable by Jiang Shizhu."

Although Ksitigarbha is detached from material concerns, he isn’t ignorant of worldly affairs. He even sensed from Jiang Li’s words that Jiang Li intends to take control of Great Zhou next. Thus, Ksitigarbha said, "Once I succeed to Chief, the national letter of the Buddha Country will also be sent to the Great Zhou Divine Capital, to fulfill the friendship between the two nations."

"Good." Jiang Li said.

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The once dark palace now glowed with bright hues, even the dark walls revealed a golden tint, bathed in a layer of warmth by the soft light.

The man with the Asura Ghost Mask entered the hall, chuckling softly, and said, "This style doesn’t match our Fire House Buddha Hell at all."

"Great Venerable, what do you think the style of Fire House Buddha Hell should be?"

The voice came from the end of the palace.

There stood a shadowy figure, clad in a black magic robe, adorned with strange demon patterns. A hood concealed the upper half of his face, yet frost-white hair spilled from its edge. He was none other than the Fire House Buddha Hell Master, Karma Tathagata.

This Heavenly Demon of the present age stood tall like a pine tree, stringing prayer beads through his fingers. Though his attire exuded a sense of demonhood, his aura was serene and harmonious, more akin to the tranquility of a monk.

On his left and right stood Luo Hou and Lou Shuangying, two Asura Kings. Their Asura’s evil qi was also neutralized by this purity and tranquility, making them appear peaceful and calm.

However, when Karma Tathagata spoke, the atmosphere changed suddenly. Although still the same scene, there was an impending sense of inversion, as if the peaceful aura masked an underlying chill, and the soft light fractured into a kaleidoscope of illusions.

"Is that so?" Karma Tathagata smiled.

The rainbow-hued light wove a bizarre scene, and invisible devil thoughts seeped directly into the Asura Ghost Mask man’s body and mind, tracing a bond.

Yet in the next instant, as a pair of enormous dragon eyes appeared behind the ghost-faced man, gentle ripples reversed those invisible devil thoughts, helping him break free from the sudden confusion.

"Not coming in your true form is not the way of a guest."

Karma Tathagata didn’t further exert devil thoughts but instead let the surroundings return to the previous peace, speaking softly.

"The one who came is the Fourth King of the Fire House Buddha Hell, not the Great Venerable, so how can he be considered a guest."

The Great Venerable laughed and congratulated, "Congratulations on the Worldly Venerable’s promotion to the Second Grade, attaining the Awakened’s physical body, finally reaching perfection."

"I shall accept these congratulations."

Hearing this, Karma Tathagata did not refuse the Great Venerable’s goodwill and accepted it directly, but then said, "However, the Fourth King doesn’t come to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing. His visit today mustn’t just be for congratulations, right?"

This Fourth King of the Fire House Buddha Hell is a veritable unofficial member. Every appearance represents the will of the Great Venerable, and without any matters, he wouldn’t appear in the Fire House Buddha Hell.

"There indeed are matters, which also benefit the affairs of Buddha Prison."

The Great Venerable was honest, saying directly, "The Buddha Country and the Great Zhou are forming an alliance, and Buddhist Law will spread in the Great Zhou. Thus, as Buddha’s enemy, the Fire House Buddha Hell shouldn’t remain confined to the Western Land. Moreover, the Dao Fruit interpretation of the Worldly Venerable is also related to Buddhist Law, and entering the Great Zhou will benefit the Worldly Venerable’s progress."

As Buddha’s enemy, Devaputra is closely related to Buddhist Law. Opposing Buddhist Law aids in further integrating the Devaputra Dao Fruit. The Fire House Buddha Hell’s entry into the Great Zhou is beneficial without harm.

Karma Tathagata agreed with the Great Venerable’s words, saying, "The Fourth King’s words are correct. The Buddha Prison indeed should step out of the Western Land, but—"

He changed the topic, "I want to know what aspect of interest to the Great Venerable does this action of Buddha Prison fulfill."

The suggestion is a good one, but unless it concerns the other party’s interest, it shouldn’t be proposed by the Great Venerable.

The Great Venerable, hearing this, had a slight change in eyes and said, "This seems unrelated to Buddha Prison?"

"But I want to know."

Karma Tathagata’s answer was simple, yet inherently justified.

Nothing else mattered, just the desire to know.

So, should he reveal it?

After all, the aim was to incite Karma Tathagata to deal with Jiang Li, thereby...

When this thought echoed in his heart, the Great Venerable’s avatar suddenly felt a sensation of tremor, as if an invisible demon eye was fixated on his mind.

’Not good, I’ve been tricked.’

The desires of all beings are the abode of demons. Where there are beings, there are demons. Devaputra, as the legendary origin of demons in the Buddhist lore, is profoundly aware of the desires of beings, relishing in the thoughts of others, existing at the pinnacle of this path.

Even though the Great Venerable was on guard, it was only now that he realized his defenses were still inadequate.

He immediately severed that thought in his heart, cleansing his mind, yet the leaked thought had already been discerned by Karma Tathagata.

"Persistent thoughts will surely have an echo."

The Great Venerable looked at Karma Tathagata deeply, saying, "The Worldly Venerable’s abilities have already surpassed those of an Awakened."

When others utter the name Zhen Ru, they can be perceived by the Awakened, but Karma Tathagata is a step beyond.

Even if not spoken, the thought of "Karma Tathagata" in the heart can be sensed by him.

The combination of Devaputra Dao Fruit and the Way of Cause and Effect of the Awakened made Karma Tathagata’s perception even more extraordinary.

Though the Great Venerable could control his mind, never did he expect Karma Tathagata to possess such an ability. Simply thinking about it in the heart could be sensed, even the Supreme, if careless, might fall for this, just like the Great Venerable.

Fortunately, Karma Tathagata hasn’t reached a level of silence and invisibility. Though he can use the name "Karma Tathagata" to spy on thoughts, even against the Supreme, it would still raise their vigilance. Otherwise, the Great Venerable’s secret might have been completely exposed.

"I gained the skills of the Awakened, acquired the body of the Awakened, surpassing him is only natural." Karma Tathagata responded with a smile, calm and unruffled.