Chapter 2199 - 1188: Price (3)

"Jiushan Cangxuan, known as Japan’s top Spiritual Apostle, hasn’t earned his reputation lightly. I know a bit about the other members of the Jiushan Family; none are weaklings. If Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha encounters them, it’s like hitting a steel wall."

Sheng Yanlin’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. He imagined that the group led by Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha, tracking them online, must be baffled, thinking they had been ambushed when the fight began.

"Li Lianyue might not necessarily be at a disadvantage against Jiushan Cangxuan one-on-one, but those she brought along won’t do."

"I’m not saying they’re not strong, but compared to the rest of the Jiushan Family, they’re not on par. Not only is there a gap in strength, but their teamwork is something they can’t match."

"The rebellious Buddhist that Jiushan Family killed, known for lawlessness, I know him. His name is well-known, but his actual combat power is just so-so, approximately on par with Yang Yunluo from Ru Lin Academy, considered decent at the Early Stage of Nether Realm." Sheng Yanlin casually remarked.

His strength truly had grown; Sheng Yanlin’s tone had clearly changed.

There was a time he would say there was a fifty-fifty chance against someone as distinguished as Yang Yunluo, but now he didn’t even consider it.

As Sheng Yanlin mentioned, the head of the Jiushan Family, Jiushan Cangxuan, is an unparalleled expert in this world. On Japan Island, apart from the Ghost Sect Leader, no one could confidently claim to defeat him.

This individual was at least a fierce character who had stepped into the Late-stage Netherworld Realm, comparable in level to the Esoteric Cannibal Buddha and the White Robe Dharma King, vastly outmatching himself when he was at his peak.

As for the other four major experts of the Jiushan Family, they were no weaklings either; the strongest could probably overshadow both Sheng Yanlin at his peak and Yang Qianhe, surpassing the Mid-stage Nether Realm, though not by much. To slay them one-on-one was impossible.

The weaker among the four likely had strength comparable to Yang Yunluo’s, perhaps slightly stronger, but ultimately just Early Stage of Nether Realm strength.

Yet, Apostle combat power isn’t only about individual strength; it heavily relies on teamwork. These five grew up together, knowing each other’s ins and outs, and their level of coordination far exceeds ordinary apostles. Together, they can unleash formidable combat power.

Sheng Yanlin couldn’t help but sigh; if Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha fought until the end, it would mean another Demon from under the Black Buddha Mother would be gone, and the Southwest Branch of Black Buddha Mother Sect would be knocked down.

Of course, this would also inflict irreparable, unrecoverable damage on Japan’s Kusunoki Family.

Jiushan Cangxuan himself would at least drop a realm, and the others inevitably would suffer casualties. After this battle, the Jiushan Family would no longer be a threat to the Ghost Sect.

Thus, after a brief exchange of blows, Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha retreated; this was the best outcome for both sides.

Sheng Yanlin also informed Yang Xiao that with Jiushan Cangxuan’s capabilities, if he didn’t want to let Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha’s group leave, they couldn’t possibly escape. He could directly disrupt Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha’s curse technique and destroy their teleportation gate, leaving them all behind.

Jiushan Cangxuan is Japan’s top Spiritual Apostle, and Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha is a top-level Master of Curse, leaving Yang Xiao curious about Cannibal Buddha’s methods.

"Elder Sheng, what type of apostle is the High Priest Cannibal Buddha?" Yang Xiao asked curiously.

"This one is formidable indeed. Although I haven’t quite figured out the High Priest’s details, I’m certain that this one follows a path of overwhelming power, breaking through with brute force."

"This route requires hard work, continuously honing one’s body and spirit, deeply integrating with a magic artifact, and enduring far more pain than ordinary apostles."

"Apostles of this kind are few because most can’t withstand the hardship, and some die on the path of enlightenment."

"However, those who persevere are unquestionably experts. Imagine this: the two of you have similar strength, but when you hit him, it’s nothing, yet he punches you and knocks your head off—how can you continue fighting?" Sheng Yanlin gave a vivid example.

Recalling the past, Yang Xiao remembered when the High Priest suddenly burst into the domain of the Dharma Sect to rescue him, delivering a punch that lifted the Magic Teaching City Lord, known for his invincible defense, Demon Sect Vajra. That scene profoundly impacted Yang Xiao’s young mind.

"There’s another formidable fellow in this vein." Sheng Yanlin’s eyes held a mysterious gleam.

"Oh, who is it? Do I know them?" Yang Xiao asked with curiosity.

"Of course, you know—it’s the Great Demon, Great Joyful Red Lotus Buddha, who also walks this path, refining its body and power to the utmost under the blessing of its magic artifact."

Speaking of Great Joyful Red Lotus Buddha, Sheng Yanlin’s demeanor grew much more serious: "I remember it was a winter day, and I heard that Great Joyful Red Lotus Buddha attacked your Patrol Defense Office’s northeast provincial bureau."

"At the time, it wasn’t yet the Great Joyful Red Lotus Buddha, just a Buddha’s son under the Black Buddha Mother, who had recently broken through to the Mid-stage Nether Realm."

"It donned a red Kasaya and broke into your provincial bureau. At that time, a Deputy Director from your Headquarters was there for a meeting to assign tasks. This person was consistently hostile toward the Black Buddha Mother Sect, with the agenda to purify and eliminate Black Buddha Mother Sect bases in the northeastern provinces."

"The meeting gathered quite a few experts from your Patrol Defense Office. Besides this Deputy Director, at least two provincial bureau Directors attended, along with many Deputy Directors and provincial bureau General Commanders, and some prominent figures from the world of martial arts were present, each expressing their views."

"Halfway through the meeting, Great Joyful Red Lotus Buddha stormed in, single-handedly defending against at least five or six Netherworld Envoys’ attacks, forcefully taking away the Deputy Director from your Headquarters, without launching a single offensive move."

"After breaking the Deputy Director’s limbs and crippling him, a rope was tied to one of his legs, with the other end around its own foot."

"It dragged him step by step until dragging him to death, leaving behind a pile of bloody bones before departing."

"After this incident, your Patrol General Bureau’s carefully planned operation to eradicate Black Buddha Mother’s northeast bases crumbled."

"Those martial arts forces present were scared witless when they witnessed the sight, and never again dared oppose the Black Buddha Mother Sect; hearing the name Red Lotus Buddha sent shivers down their spines, giving them nightmares at night."

"Mind you, that Deputy Director wasn’t weak either, or he wouldn’t have held that position. He was a solid Mid-stage Nether Realm apostle, considered one of your Patrol Defense Office’s notable experts." Sheng Yanlin added.

"Did they just let it leave like that?" Yang Xiao felt a tightness in his chest.

"What else could they do?" Sheng Yanlin asked rhetorically. "At the scene, there were at least four or five Netherworld Envoys, with nearly twenty at the half-step Netherworld and Peak of Ghost Level, but no one could stop it."

"This was despite it barely making a move, showing its true power only against that Deputy Director. As for the others, it essentially ignored them."

"Not to say it effortlessly crushed everyone, it did suffer some injuries, but nowhere near fatal, not even severe; it appeared covered in blood, but those were just flesh wounds."

"After abandoning that bloody corpse, it departed using Space Power, vanishing without a trace."

"Some apostles at the scene possessed Space Artifacts, but..." Sheng Yanlin paused, sighing, "As you know, everyone was terrified in that state, and none dared pursue, even if they did, it’d be offering their heads, the disparity in strength was too great."

"What happened later? Did they just leave it at that?" Yang Xiao asked, unwilling to let go.

"Of course, it couldn’t end there. Your General Bureau swiftly dispatched several more Deputy Directors, including specialists against these types of apostles, laying a comprehensive trap to capture it, but since it never reappeared, what could they do?"

"After searching for it for half a year, the troops eventually withdrew, but during that time, your people turned the northeast’s wilderness inside out. They discovered numerous secret camps where their disciples practiced in hardship, killing many, avenging the Deputy Director who’d died miserably."

"In the following years, the fellow seemed to vanish, leaving no trace, never seen again."

"When it reappeared, it had become the Great Joyful Red Lotus Buddha, its power elevated to a terrifying extent, fully entering the Late-stage Netherworld Realm."

"Some say it discovered a Secret Realm uniquely suited to it, having extraordinary encounters within; others claim the Black Buddha Mother, satisfied with its performance, rewarded it greatly."

"Why and how, I don’t know. As you know, I’m accustomed to keeping a respectful distance from those of the Black Buddha Mother lineage; I don’t like them." Sheng Yanlin sat up straight, looking righteous.