Chapter 1257: Get Lost

“They have... become another... who isn’t themselves? I don’t understand, scion. Who else could they be if they’re not themselves?” The boatman looked utterly confused.

“Their physical bodies are the same, but the human has become inhuman,” Ye Qing replied thoughtfully.

It was at this moment a bell chimed from the temple once more. The next moment, golden lapis lazuli light burst out of the temple like a sun.

The golden lapis lazuli light seemed to be imbued with some sort of mysterious, profound sound of the Buddha. One by one, the people who had shed their worries and entered the temple appeared amidst the light. A Buddhist mark automatically appeared on their forehead, Buddhist discipline appeared on their skull, and Buddhist patterns appeared around their clothes. Their expressions grew increasingly solemn, and their presences terrifying.

In just a dozen breaths or so, the warriors—originally Spirit Purifiers and Spirit Masters only—had transformed into Truemen and Grandmasters.

The golden lapis lazuli light faded, and the group suddenly appeared in the sky, floating. There were eighteen of them in total. Their heads were emitting a Buddhist light, their eyes were burning with spiritual flames, and their brows were marked by Buddhist patterns like a Golden Body Arhat or a divine protector. They looked mighty impressive.

“They’re out!”

“They became Truemen. They actually became Truemen!”

Amidst countless envious looks, the eighteen warriors descended to the river and landed firmly on its surface like it was solid ground, lotuses growing underneath their feet.

“Namo Lapis Lazuli Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva...”

The eighteen warriors then turned to face the mountain temple. They made a moonlight mudra and chanted the Bodhisattva’s title.

The next moment, lapis lazuli golden lotuses floated down from the sky, and radiance enveloped the entire area. It was like a Kingdom of Buddha had descended.

Basking in the Buddhist light and feeling the golden lotuses inside the Kingdom of Buddha, everyone felt their souls becoming as clear as crystals, and the burdens of their physical bodies washed away in an instant. It was an indescribably comfortable feeling.

“Namo Lapis Lazuli Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva...”

“Namo Lapis Lazuli Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva...”

“Namo Lapis Lazuli Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva...”

Everyone began clasping their hands in prayer and chanting “Lapis Lazuli Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva” with pious looks as well. It was as if they had all been converted into pious believers of Buddhism in an instant.

Ye Qing was the only one still sitting inside the gondola with a playful look on his face.

It would seem that the Anomaly was plotting to convert everyone on Red Moon River into believers of Lapis Lazuli Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.

“I knew that this so-called opportunity is fake.”

Ye Qing let out a sigh and set down his cup on the table, causing a soft but clear

clink

.

The sound was soft, but it created thick, strong ripples across the entire area like someone had chuck a rock into a calm lake.

The ripples destroyed the golden lotuses and darkened the golden light. The Kingdom of Buddha began disintegrating bit by bit like a mirage as well.

When the Kingdom of Buddha was completely gone, the people chanting the Bodhisattva’s title abruptly jolted back to reality and regained their wits.

“Huh... I... Did something happen to me just now? I feel like I’ve forgotten something...”

The boatman ferrying Ye QIng also jolted back to reality, and he felt as if his mind was a mess. He could not remember what happened just now at all.

“It’s nothing. Let’s continue on our way, shall we?” Ye Qing gave him a smile.

“O-oh! Right!”

The boatman nodded and tried to return to his work. It was at this moment the eighteen converted warriors suddenly ran up to them and surrounded the gondola completely.

“W-what?”

The boatman was shocked to say the least. The terrifying auras the eighteen warriors were emitting caused him to turn as white as a sheet and tremble like a leaf. “I-is something wrong, m-masters?”

The eighteen warriors did not respond to him. They simply stared at Ye Qing and chanted the Bodhisattva’s title.

“Masters... masters...? Can you please open the way?” The boatman stammered, but the eighteen warriors still ignored him like he didn’t exist.

“Allow me.”

Just when the boatman was completely out of his wits, a gentle voice rang beside his ear and chased away the terror in his heart instantly.

“He’s here for me.”

After walking to the bow of the gondola, Ye Qing met the eighteen warriors’ gazes and asked, “Why are you blocking my way?”

Ye Qing specifically said “He”, not “They”. That was because all eighteen warriors were really one person.

“You are destined with my Buddha, benefactor. You should enter our temple and meet him.”

The eighteen people stopped chanting the Bodhisattva’s title and answered in perfect unison. Not only that, their voices and expressions were perfectly identical. It was as if one person was speaking through them.

Ye Qing rejected them immediately, “Sorry, I don’t have the time to entertain him.”

“You possess profound talent and great Buddhist nature, benefactor. You are destined with my Buddha. If you convert into my Buddhism, you will surely become a Buddha Lord. You will become boundless and endless, and your light shall illuminate for a thousand autumns,” the eighteen warriors said.

“Sorry, not interested.” Ye Qing remained unmoved.

A moment of silence later, the eighteen warriors tried again, “If you convert into my Buddhism, I can grant you great fortunes and opportunities. I can make you eternal and immortal like the heavens.”

“Sorry, I don’t wanna.” Ye Qing shook his head calmly.

“Why?” The eighteen warriors asked. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the boatman thought he saw a hint of savagery on their faces.

“Because I don’t want to be a monk,” Ye Qing replied simply.

This time, the eighteen warriors fell into a longer silence. Then, they wore the expression of an angry Vajra and shouted in unison, “Relinquish your obsession and convert into Buddhism!”

“Relinquish your obsession and convert into Buddhism!”

“Relinquish your obsession and convert into Buddhism!”

The voices were so loud that they eventually spread across the entire river. Once again, the people lost their minds and chanted together with the warriors,“Relinquish your obsession and convert into Buddhism!”

The sound waves joined into a massive flood that threatened to corrupt Ye Qing’s mind and soul.

“So, you’re the type to use brute force when persuasion doesn’t work, huh? Tsk tsk... there is not an ounce of martial virtue in you!”

Ye Qing let out a cold chuckle before raising his voice all of a sudden.

“Get

lost

, you bald donkey!”

Rumble!

It was as if a divine being had summoned a thunderclap. His shout pierced the nine heavens, and the sound flood was dispelled in an instant.

Everyone on Red Moon River shook like they were struck by lightning and bled from every orifice. The weaker ones fainted outright.

Still, none looked as bad as the eighteen warriors surrounding the gondola. Not only were they bleeding from all orifices, their bodies were broken like tattered pieces of cloth.

“Relinquish your obsession and convert into Buddhism!”

It was at this moment a withered hand reached out from the temple on the mountaintop.

The palm of the hand was shriveled and bony. The back of the hand was covered in liver spots.

Seemingly infinite lapis lazuli golden light gushed out of the withered hand and combined into a Buddha palm that encompassed the entire sky.

Nine dragons were entrenched on the Buddha palm, and Buddhas were standing on top of it. Then, the Buddha palm made a grab for Ye Qing.

“Hah... a mere Anomaly thinks he can make me convert? Who do you think you are?”

Ye Qing scoffed and threw a punch in response.

“Break Hammer”

All arts were void before the power of Break Hammer. His punch easily pierced through the gigantic Buddha palm. Not only that, the unending fist intent grew stronger and kicked up a splash that was hundreds of meters long, easily bigger and taller than the mountain.

The next moment, the river crashed down on the mountain.