Chapter 1166: Shameless

“I am not. If you desire to accompany us on our journey, then you are more than welcome to join us. Of course, my offer extends to the rest of you, householders!”

Devi Ruyi was smiling, but her words caught everyone—including Ye Qing—by surprise.

“Devi Ruyi! You cannot!”

Both the old woman and Jinpeng Moyun exclaimed in astonishment, “The Buddha Emperor Mountain and the Mara inheritance must not fall into an outsider’s hands!”

“Kalpitatva has captivated you both, it seems.”

Devi Ruyi said smilingly, “The Buddha Emperor did not discriminate when he imparts his teachings upon the living, did he? Anyone possessing a Buddhist heart and Buddhist potential may pass through the sacred road, enter the sacred mountain, receive the Buddha Emperor’s blessings, and accept his inheritance.”

“If they could cross over the sacred road and enter the sacred mountain, that is the greatest proof that they are destined with our Mara Sect, no? We should be welcoming them with open arms, not reject them!”

“But—”

The old woman wanted to say something more, but Devi Ruyi shushed her commandingly.

Ye Qing asked curiously, “Aren’t you worried that the Buddha Emperor Mountain would fall into my hands?”

Devi Ruyi answered, “Mara is boundless, and the Buddha Emperor is aware. No one can take the Buddha Emperor Mountain. If you happen to be the one to receive the Buddha Emperor Mountain, that simply means that you are the Buddha Emperor’s chosen and the Mara Sect’s destined one.”

“I see. I respect your magnanimity, Devi Ruyi,” Ye Qing replied understandingly with a salute.

That was what she said, but it was clear that Devi Ruyi did not believe for a second that Ye Qing would be able to obtain the Buddha Emperor Mountain.

Jinpeng Moyun and the old woman exchanged glances with each other and thought that they had overreacted as well. As Devi Ruyi said, the Buddha Emperor Mountain was the Mara Sect’s sacred artifact. How could it easily fall into an outsider’s hands?

“Since you’re so magnanimous, you don’t mind telling us what requirements we need to meet, or what items we need to look out for when we’re crossing the Mara Sacred Road and entering the Buddha Emperor Mountain, do you?”

Ye Qing beamed at Devi Ruyi. “Surely you wouldn’t reject such a simple request, would you?”

Jinpeng Moyun and the old woman were speechless.

Devi Ruyi chose not to kill you and even allowed you to walk the Mara Sacred Road and enter the Buddha Emperor Mountain with us, and your immediate response is to take advantage of her magnanimity and push for further demands?

Where is your shame, man?! Your morals?

“According to our scriptures, the Mara Sacred Road is both a training opportunity and a trial the Mara Buddha Emperor set for his disciples. Those who wish to cross the Mara Sacred Road and enter the Buddha Emperor Sect must possess sufficient Buddhist potential and heart. The stronger one’s potential, and the more devoted their Buddhist heart, the easier and faster it was for them to pass through the Buddhist Emperor Mountain. The blessing and rewards they receive would increase proportionally as well.”

Surprisingly, Devi Ruyi did not try to hide the information. She offered it both generously and candidly. “On the other hand, those who do not possess the potential or the heart will find it very difficult to walk the Mara Sacred Road. If they try to force the issue, they would suffer the sacred flames of the Mara Sect, the Mara Sacred Flame.”

“The Mara Sacred Flame?” Ye Qing asked curiously. “What’s so special about it?”

Devi Ruyi explained, “The Sacred flames of the Mara Sect is the supreme Buddhist flame created by the Mara Buddha Emperor using his boundless power. There is no celestial, Buddha, god or demon it cannot burn, just as there is no heaven, earth, mountain or river that it cannot scorch. The Mara Sacred Flame burns all those who are found lacking in their Buddhist potential or heart, breaking their flesh, scattering their true qi, and shattering their consciousness until their flesh is withered, their qi is spent, and their will is snuffed out. Their souls would plunge into primal chaos, neither dead nor alive, yet aware and existing just enough to suffer for all eternity.”

Ye Qing fell silent for a moment, and the old woman could not help but taunt him, “What’s wrong? Are you scared?”

“Yes, I’m so scared I could die,” Ye Qing replied without any sincerity whatsoever before smiling at Devi Ruyi. “Is there a way to resolve it?”

“Of course. If you don’t walk the Mara Sacred Road, then the flames wouldn’t harm you one bit.”

Devi Ruyi returned the smile, holy and blossoming like a snow lotus.

“Hahaha… You’ve learned how to crack jokes, Devi.”

Ye Qing laughed. “I love it.”

“Silence! You will not blaspheme against the Devi!” The old woman immediately rebuked him.

“Sorry, sorry. Slip of the tongue, it is!” Ye Qing shrugged uncaringly.

Again, Devi Ruyi did not take offense. “Anyway, we should walk the Mara Sacred Road now. To dilly-dally any longer would be to disrespect the Buddha Emperor. Scion, householders, this way!”

“Ahem… You first.” Ye Qing gestured for her to go ahead. “We’ll follow if you don’t burn into a crisp. I’m sure you understand.”

Why would I take the lead after everything you told me?

“......”

His words were so blatant, so rude, that the group was speechless for a time.

How could someone be so shameless as to utter such shameless things outright?

“We’re leaving then. May fortune favor you when you walk the Mara Sacred Road and enter the Buddha Emperor Mountain.”

Devi Ruyi paid Ye Qing’s rude comment no heed and bade them goodbye. After bowing once to the black bull, she floated up to the Mara Sacred Road like a feather and landed on its golden tiles without a sound.

As soon as Devi Ruyi landed, melodious sounds rang, and lotus flowers fell from the sky. At the same time, the images of countless Buddha appeared and painted the woman in a noble, divine light.

“Profound sound rises, lotus flowers fall, and all Buddhas manifest. Ruyi truly is a Bodhisattva incarnate and the Devi of our Mara Sect. Her Buddhist heart is equal to the heavens’ heart.”

Eyes blazing, Jinpeng Moyun also leaped into the air and landed on the Mara Sacred Road. The old woman was right behind him.

When the duo landed on the Mara Sacred Road, golden light flashed, and profound sounds resounded throughout the area as well. Of course, the illusions they produced were far less impressive compared to Devi Ruyi’s.

The trio then walked forward in unison.

As Devi Ruyi walked, white lotuses bloomed underneath her feet, and colorful clouds floated around her. She truly looked like a goddess.

Jinpeng Moyun was surrounded by golden light with a pair of wings behind his back.

Dragons and serpents were circling the old woman’s feet while breathing clouds.

Something was strange, however. The trio looked like they were moving in tandem, and neither person had employed a secret art or a Magia. And yet, their travel speeds were different from each other.

Devi Ruyi was the fastest among the trio, followed by Jinpeng Moyun and the old woman.

Devi Ruyi especially was way faster than Jinpeng Moyun and the old woman. It took her but the blink of an eye to overtake the duo, and the gap between her and her two companions were widening by the second.

“Looks like Devi Ruyi was telling the truth. The greater your Buddhist potential, and the more devoted your Buddhist heart is, the faster you’ll be able to travel the Mara Sacred Road,” Yi Pin murmured while looking at the trio.

“Do you think she’s telling the truth about the Mara Sacred Flame then?” Ye Qing asked. His Yin Yang Spell Eyes and demonic thought were telling him that the Mara Sacred Road was shrouded in mystery and overflowing with untold power. He did not think it would be wise to underestimate it.

“It’s hard to say.” Yi Pin shook his head while stroking his beard. “We’ll need someone to test it!”

“No! Please, senior! Mercy!” Xu Kailu immediately turned white and begged for dear life.

“Stop screaming. No one said we’re going to use you as a test subject. Do we look like villains to you?” Ye Qing rolled his eyes at the young man.

“Er… of course not.” Xu Kailu hurriedly answered. “You’re all good people. This junior’s the one who judged you unfairly by his lowly standards. Do forgive this junior.”

Old Man of Snowy Mountain offered himself, “I can give it a try, young master.”

“It’s fine.”

Ye Qing opened his mouth and breathed out a black and white breath. It transformed into another Ye Qing as soon as it landed on the ground.

The new Ye Qing created from his Yin Yang Qi looked identical to the original be it in terms of appearance or aura. It was almost impossible to tell if it was real or fake.