Chapter 2208 - 1191: Martyr_3

Secondly, I’m a person from the Patrol Defense Office, and quite a high-ranking cadre, the Esoteric Sect has no reason to target me.

Yang Xiao entered the venue and calmly observed. Apart from the Cannibal Buddha at the forefront, there were a total of 7 low wooden tables in the scene, one near the side of the Cannibal Buddha, but it was unoccupied.

The remaining 6 tables were positioned below, divided into two columns, three tables per column, corresponding one-to-one left and right.

Among these 6 tables, 5 were occupied, one of them by a familiar face to Yang Xiao, Elder Kunpa, whom he saw last night. His position was very near the front, just below the left hand of the Cannibal Buddha in the first row.

Another elder familiar to Yang Xiao, whose name he couldn’t recall, sat in the lower second row. This elder nodded slightly to Yang Xiao, signaling a greeting without any expression.

There were only two vacant seats, one near the Cannibal Buddha, and the other in the lower third row on the left side. Yang Xiao didn’t have to think much, knowing he wasn’t qualified to sit next to the Cannibal Buddha, the spot in the lower third row was reserved for him.

Moreover, seated opposite on the right side of the third-row vacancy was a relatively young man. He was burly, with dark skin, a circle of what appeared to be either tiger or leopard fur wrapped around his head, and a large beast tooth hanging from his right ear, making him look very fierce.

This man’s strength was formidable, and Yang Xiao judged that even if he hadn’t reached the Peak of Ghost Level, he was not far from it.

People from Myanmar and Thailand appear older, this man seemed to be around 35, but was likely younger in reality, meaning he wasn’t much older than Yang Xiao. Being this strong at this age was quite commendable.

This man’s attire was notably different from others, somewhat similar to the Cannibal Buddha’s, leading Yang Xiao to judge him as one of the remaining two young priests surviving in the Esoteric Sect.

Although these observations seemed to have taken quite some time, it was actually just a blink of an eye. When the Cannibal Buddha’s gaze fell upon him, Yang Xiao strode forward and respectfully cupped his fists in salute, just as Elder Kunpa taught him last night.

As Yang Xiao spoke, the Cannibal Buddha clapped his hands with satisfaction, and a few seconds later, Yang Xiao heard a cacophony of clanging metal emanating from behind him.

When Yang Xiao entered the room, he found it odd that it seemed smaller inside compared to its outside appearance, at least half as small, with darkness lurking behind the Cannibal Buddha.

The noise came from within that darkness.

Based on Yang Xiao’s eyesight, even faint candlelight shouldn’t render things entirely invisible; it felt as if some invisible force was obscuring the view.

Yang Xiao knew there was something hidden within that darkness.

Until someone emerged from it, Yang Xiao’s pupils slightly dilated; it wasn’t anyone else, it was the martyr.

He wore heavy shackles, barefoot, with iron chains wrapped around his ankles; the clanging noises were from the chains rubbing together, and he was escorted out by an elder-like old man.

A gust of wind blew by, causing the candlelight to flicker a few times. The next moment, Yang Xiao vaguely saw some shadows emerging from the darkness the martyr had walked out of.

Silhouettes of people were sitting cross-legged, facing away from them, yet terrifyingly, each silhouette appeared to have a grotesquely swollen body, reminiscent of bloated, decomposing corpses.

The martyr, upon seeing Yang Xiao, suddenly had some color appear on his previously emotionless face, and his muddied eyes slowly widened, as if he saw something extraordinary.

Originally, in the martyr’s prophecy, Yang Xiao was supposed to die, but over the past year, not only did he survive, he thrived. The martyr’s prophecy was completely shattered, meaning his authority was challenged.

Following a hint from Elder Kunpa, Yang Xiao began his performance for the day. He first boasted in front of the Cannibal Buddha, bluntly stating that if not for the High Priest’s guidance, he wouldn’t have survived till now. The High Priest was a chosen one, a savior for Yang Xiao.

"Yang Xiao, you are destined to be with our Esoteric Sect, I like you very much. Do you want to acknowledge me as Tanpo Ben, become my Ata Hui?" The Cannibal Buddha, sitting formally at the top, asked solemnly.

"Thanks to the High Priest not abandoning me, I, Yang Xiao, am willing."

Yang Xiao dropped to his knees with a thud, full of devotion, reciting: "The High Priest is a person of divine mandate and virtue, guided by the Holy Temple Spirit, freeing me from the bonds of death and bringing me back to your side."

Next, Yang Xiao gave an emotionally driven performance, attributing his escape from the martyr’s death prophecy entirely to the Cannibal Buddha, saying it was the Holy Temple Spirit he dreamed of the previous night, with a deity guiding him, showing a vision of the deity patting the High Priest’s forehead in the Holy Temple. It was because of his heartfelt respect for the High Priest that he received the Holy Temple Spirit’s protection.

Originally, these words seemed like obvious lies, but firstly, Yang Xiao truly did break the death prophecy, and secondly, his acting was incredibly convincing.

His masterful performance even led Elder Kunpa, who taught him every word the previous night, to self-doubt, wondering if Yang Xiao might have genuinely dreamed of the Holy Temple Spirit protecting their Esoteric Sect.

"Father!"

Yang Xiao, reaching a heartfelt moment, stumbled forward, knelt in front of the High Priest Cannibal Buddha, and without a word, began fervently bowing.

"Boom"

"Boom"

"Boom"

...

If there was any hesitation before, the resounding head bangs directly shattered the martyr’s inner resolve.