Chapter 618: The Black Lotus Chides the Praying Mat

The black lotus flashed forward, instantly appearing before a superior draconic vein and thrusting a finger through the center of the dragon's forehead. A hole was blasted through the dragon's head as it slumped down and lost consciousness.

"Defeating a superior draconic vein with a single blow?" Ao Zhou exclaimed. "That's ridiculous..."

"No!" the other two superior draconic veins shouted, so panicked they immediately attempted to flee.

However, the black lotus was even faster than they were. It quickly flashed up toward another superior draconic vein and blasted a hole through its forehead with a finger. The second superior draconic vein fell to the ground, unconscious.

By then, the third superior draconic vein had already made it all the way to the horizon, but even so, the black lotus easily caught up.

"Please calm down, Senior! I know what I've done wrong!" the superior draconic vein exclaimed.

The black lotus pointed a finger at its forehead. With a muted explosion, it lost consciousness and slumped to the ground.

The black lotus flashed back to Zhang Lingjun's side.

"Don't hurt us! We'll cooperate!" the two suppressed superior draconic veins exclaimed.

However, the black lotus ignored them. It flashed forward and took them both down with two more of its fingers. They too collapsed to the ground.

Everyone gaped in shock at the black lotus.

"How ridiculous... No, as expected of an elder of the Qitian Alliance!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

"Bring the superior draconic veins to that island over there," Xiao Nanfeng commanded his subordinates.

"Understood!"

The cultivators quickly made their move, dragging the five superior draconic veins toward the island on which the Buddha Mahaksyapa was located.

"Thank you for your assistance, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said, flying up to the black lotus.

"How did the situation in Dayin go?"

Xiao Nanfeng pulled out a gourd. "Senior, let's talk over there."

The black lotus nodded. Everyone followed Xiao Nanfeng to the island in the distance.

Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the six shattered Buddha's Grottos, two bodhisattvas, and a large quantity of arhats from the gourd. As for the victims, he kept them within at the moment.

With a wave of its hand, golden light exuded from the black lotus as it sealed the Buddha Mahakasyapa, the two bodhisattvas, and the group of arhats.

"Senior, aren't you going to devour them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"I'll wait. I can help you deal with these first."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"These five superior draconic veins won't help your cultivation much, but the fragments of these Buddha's Grottos can help you break through."

"These Buddha's Grottos?" Xiao Nanfeng cocked his head curiously.

Just then, flashes of red light emanated from the praying mat and shot toward the fragments of the Buddha's Grottos, as though intending to devour them.

The black lotus frowned coldly and waved an arm at the praying mat.

Threatened, the praying mat was forced to defend itself with a barrier of red light. It was forced to retreat; though it remained unhurt, it was interrupted from absorbing the fragments of the Buddha's Grottos.

"Taiqing Grandmaster, I might not be able to see your appearance, and I don't know what you're playing at, but your actions are entirely inappropriate," the black lotus criticized.

The praying mat hummed with red light, clearly dissatisfied with the black lotus' comments.

"When Xiao Nanfeng was being chased by that roc, regardless of how Zhang Lingjun begged you, you refused to save Xiao Nanfeng. You're prejudiced against him, aren't you? In that case, what right do you have to claim his spoils of battle? Do you think it makes sense for you to do so just because Xiao Nanfeng is a Taiqing disciple himself? You're purportedly the Taiqing Grandmaster, but you've never once done anything to protect the Taiqing Immortal Sect. What right do you have to Xiao Nanfeng's possessions?"

The praying mat vibrated as it grew even more upset.

"In the past, I wasn't strong enough to prevent your thick-skinned behavior, but I'm able to do so now. Don't touch what doesn't belong to you. Though you did play a part in acquiring these six Buddha's Grottos, you didn't provide any key support, and neither did you take the lead in acquiring them. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun deserve to claim these fragments for themselves. You can have whatever chaotic portions they can't absorb," the black lotus said coldly.

The praying mat vibrated again, still fuming, but made no further disturbance beyond that. Clearly, it was agreeing to the black lotus' proposal.

"Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun," the black lotus began.

The two cultivators walked forward.

"These Buddha's Grottos will aid you tremendously in your growth. The praying mat absorbed them last time around, but only diverted a small portion of it to Zhang Lingjun. Don't feel too indebted to it," the black lotus said.

Zhang Lingjun gave the black lotus a complex look. She nodded faintly.

"Xiao Nanfeng, I'll help you both absorb these fragments of the Buddha's Grottos later. As for these five superior draconic veins, they won't help your cultivation much. How do you intend to split them up?" the black lotus asked.

"Give one each to Blue Lantern, Zhao Yuanjiao, Ao Zhou, Croak, and You Jiu."

"Very well!"

Then, the black lotus sent the fragments of the six Buddha's Grottos flying into the air.

"Golden lotuses, bloom! Let all things revert to their origin!"

The image of a golden lotus appeared in the void, blooming as it encapsulated the fragments of the six Buddha's Grottos. Three pillars of light shot out of the lotus. A golden one surged into Xiao Nanfeng's body, a red one into Zhang Lingjun's body, and a turbid black one into the praying mat.

Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun hurriedly sat cross-legged in meditation as they absorbed the potent beams of energy.

Meanwhile, the black lotus turned to the five cultivators that Xiao Nanfeng had designated.

"These superior draconic veins are too large for you to absorb all at once, and it's easy to generate waste. The five of you, start to meditate. I'll help you absorb these superior draconic veins. The rest of you, stay on guard," the black lotus said.

"Understood!" The cultivators did as they were told.

With a wave of the black lotus' hands, a golden lotus appeared underneath each of the five cultivators. The black lotus absorbed all five superior draconic veins and had them revolve around the ring of the five cultivators.

"Golden lotuses, close up. Let all approach their origin." The black lotus waved a hand.

The five golden lotuses' petals quickly snapped shut, enclosing the five figures within them. They shone with golden light.

Warble wasn't able to share in the superior draconic veins, but it wasn't upset because Croak would stand to benefit. Along with the other cultivators and spirits, it stood guard around the ring of golden lotuses.

A layer of fog surrounded the island, blocking it from sight.

Booms resounded from within the golden lotuses as the cultivators within quickly broke through.

Zhang Lingjun continued to advance rapidly as well. Only Xiao Nanfeng's lotus remained placid.

It took Xiao Nanfeng an incredible quantity of energy to advance, and it was little wonder that the black lotus had told him that the superior draconic veins would be all but useless to him. In an hour alone, he had already absorbed enough energy from the fragments of the Buddha's Grottos to rival five superior draconic veins.

After four more hours, Blue Lantern's golden lotus shriveled up, then vanished. He was the first to have finished absorbing his superior draconic vein in its entirety, and his cultivation had advanced to late-stage True Immortal.

"Thank you, Senior." Blue Lantern bowed.

The black lotus nodded. "Stay here and remain on guard."

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.

After some time, Ao Zhou's golden lotus shriveled up. He was the second to finish. He cried out in excitement upon feeling the power surging through his body.

"Shush," Blue Lantern warned. "The others are still meditating."

Ao Zhou turned to Blue Lantern in shock. "You finished absorbing the superior draconic vein even before I did?"

"Don't waste time talking nonsense here. You'll disturb the others. Guard them from the skies," Blue Lantern continued.

With a flick of his arms, he tossed Ao Zhou out of the island.

Ao Zhou splashed into the sea in the distance, gasping in shock. "How could this be? Blue Lantern's stronger than I am? That's impossible. I have the ancestral dragon's inheritance. What does he possess?"

Before long, Croak, You Jiu, and Zhao Yuanjiao finished absorbing their respective superior draconic veins as well. They had all become late-stage True Immortals.

"Thank you, Senior." The three cultivators bowed toward the black lotus in gratitude.

The black lotus nodded. "Guard the meditating cultivators.

"Understood!"

They flew out of the island, leaving only Blue Lantern behind.

After some more time, the gigantic golden lotus that encased the six Buddha's Grottos likewise shrank and withered until it finally vanished, the essence of the fragments entirely consumed.

The praying mat trembled as it flew toward Zhang Lingjun's hands.

A huge wave of energy emanated from Zhang Lingjun as she awakened.

"Senior, is Xiao Nanfeng still meditating?" she asked in worry.

"He cultivates a different path," the black lotus told her.

After even more time, a wave of flaming energy finally emanated from Xiao Nanfeng's body, so intense it caused everyone's robes to flutter wildly.

"The second stage of the True Immortal realm..." Blue Lantern murmured.

He could see that the black lotus had channeled the majority of the essence from the fragments of the six Buddha's Grottos into Xiao Nanfeng. Even so, whereas Zhang Lingjun had already become a late-stage True Immortal, Xiao Nanfeng had only advanced by one minor step in cultivation.

"Did you see that, Blue Lantern? Xiao Nanfeng's foundation is sturdier and stabler than anyone else's here, and he will surely ascend to greatness. Your joining his service in Dazheng benefits not him, but yourself. I hope you'll remember this moment. When you have to make a decision, be certain you know what you can give up and what you can't." The black lotus suddenly stared grimly at Blue Lantern.

Blue Lantern blanched, as though the black lotus had seen through his secrets. He took a deep breath. "I understand, Senior."

The black lotus nodded. "I spoke in warning because you seek the same goal that I do."

"Understood!" Blue Lantern bowed.

Just then, Xiao Nanfeng stood up and blinked. "Senior, what were you discussing?"

"You don't have to worry about it. Focus on your affairs," the black lotus said.

Xiao Nanfeng cocked his head in confusion. Was there some secret between the black lotus and Blue Lantern?

The black lotus dropped its visage as the Past Buddha and transformed back into a black lotus. Then, it absorbed the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats before flying back into Xiao Nanfeng's mindscape.

Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, dispelling the fog all around him and revealing the cultivators guarding the island.

"We shouldn't stay here long. Let's leave!" he said.

"Understood!" everyone replied.