CHAPTER 750: 625 DESPAIR

Actually, when the Seven Treasures Golden Banner was suppressed by Shi Sheng and others such as Li Hong and the two Xies were unable to subdue Shi Pi the Elder, Master Zun Sheng and the other two monks knew that their plan had failed.

Not only had this attempt failed, their entire life’s plans had failed.

Master Zun Sheng knew that he could not enlighten Shi Pi, Bai Mei Zen Master also knew that he could not enlighten Zhu Youmu, and Tian Meng Zen Master knew that he could not enlighten the Xie sisters...

In fact, at that moment, the three of them should have left; they should not have appeared again because to do so would have been futile.

They only wanted to make one last effort, barely trying once more. Additionally, they wanted to collectively subdue the Ruyi Yin Thunder to prevent unnecessary casualties and catastrophe.

Shi Pi the Elder’s reaction was completely within their expectations.

"Amitabha Buddha!" When Master Zun Sheng saw Shi Pi the Elder’s attitude, he did not insist any further, but instead recited the Buddha’s name with deep sorrow, telling Shi Pi the Elder, "You and I have long had a teacher-student relationship, but the karmic connection has not yet matured. You have also had thoughts of turning to the Buddha, and the Vajra Seed has been planted, but that will not be until thousands and hundreds of years in the future! If you convert now, within at most three years, you could ascend to the Pure Land."

Shi Pi the Elder sat upright in the midst of the Blood Lotus, and upon hearing this, he snorted coldly.

Li Hong said loudly and angrily beside him, "You old demon, still deluded at the end of your rope! With three Divine Monks present, do you still think you can escape unscathed? If you do not convert now, we will ensure that both your body and your soul are destroyed, never to be reborn!"

Shi Pi the Elder’s face was as still as water, and he responded with a cold laugh, "What of it if there are three Divine Monks? Did the three Divine Monks foresee today’s situation? Human calculations are inferior to Heaven’s will. Apart from the Buddha, who in your Buddhism can truly know the future? Things have changed today, and though I cannot fight you, it won’t be easy for you to kill me."

Li Hong was so refuted that his face turned red with rage, and he wished he could immediately summon his companions to beat up the old demon once more.

Of course, with three Divine Monks present, it was not his place to take action, nor did he dare to act recklessly before his elders.

Hearing Shi Pi the Elder’s words, the three big monks looked towards Shi Sheng in the distance and sighed deeply once more.

At this time, Shi Sheng was still attacking the Seven Treasures Golden Banner. He saw the three Divine Monks appear, but the distance was still great. Zhu Youmu had been standing by Chen Yan’s side without moving, so Shi Sheng also didn’t move and continued to unleash Purple and Blue Divine Thunder, aiming to knock down the Golden Banner.

The two girls from the Xie family had previously thought that with the three Divine Monks present, they would not allow the Seven Treasures Golden Banner to be taken away. Worried about potential changes with Shi Pi the Elder, they did not immediately go over and continued to block the old demon’s path of escape.

At that moment, Tian Meng Zen Master suddenly made his move. The Seven Treasures Golden Banner, bolstered by his Buddhist Law, instantly shone brilliantly. Buddha Light scattered wildly, dispelling the Purple and Blue Divine Thunder, and then transformed into a beam of golden light that flew into Tian Meng Zen Master’s hand.

Shi Sheng did not follow but continued to stay atop the distant mountain; he still had to wait for Zhu Youmu to leave before going down to save Chen Yan.

Zhu Youmu, however, remained still. Fortunately, he no longer cast spells on Chen Yan but looked towards his master in the distance with a complex expression, his face filled with grief.

Master Zun Sheng said to Shi Pi the Elder, "Since you are unwilling to convert, so be it. However, I will not wait for you any longer; I shall go first to the Pure Land. In a thousand years, when the karmic connection has matured, I will come back to this realm to enlighten you... In the meantime, if you have an epiphany at any time, you may immediately go to the cliff where you imprisoned me in the past. As I did in those days, recite the Buddha’s name, think of the Buddha at all times; if this place is touched, the response will come from there. Just meditate calmly for three years, and I, along with Amitabha Buddha, Guanyin, and other Bodhisattvas will come to guide you to the Western Land."

Having said this, a halo of Buddha Light appeared above his head. His body then dissipated with the wind, and he disappeared, leaving only three greenish Shariuputras that flew into Tian Meng Zen Master’s hands.

And so he entered Nirvana and his true spirit went to the Western Heavenly Bliss World!

Neither Shi Pi the Elder nor Li Hong and others had expected Master Zun Sheng to enter Nirvana and depart at that time.

Now, only Tian Meng Zen Master remained, holding the three Shariputras in his hand and also sighing softly. He called out to Li Hong and the two Xie girls, "Follow me back to the mountain!"

The three of them wanted to say something, and Xie Lin particularly looked towards Shi Pi the Elder, thinking, why leave if the old demon has not been dealt with yet? What should they do if the old demon’s ferociousness arises again with them gone?

Just as she was about to speak, her sister Xie Ying gestured and stopped her. The two sisters and Li Hong followed behind Tian Meng Zen Master.

As they were about to leave, Bai Mei Zen Master suddenly spoke up to stop them, "Tian Meng Brother, give me two of those Shariputras and keep one for yourself," he said.

Tian Meng Zen Master looked troubled, "Your situation here is also not good."

"It’s still better than yours."

Tian Meng Zen Master hesitated but eventually threw two Shariputras to Bai Mei Zen Master, who caught them in his hands, nodded in acknowledgment, and slipped them into his sleeve.

Tian Meng Zen Master then left with Li Hong and the two girls from the Xie Family. Buddha Light swirled around them, transporting them thousands of miles away, vanishing in an instant.

Bai Mei Zen Master went up to a cliff on the northern side and called Zhu Youmu to come over as well.

Zhu Youmu still did not trust Chen Yan and brought him to the cliff top as well.

Shi Sheng was still watching from a distance, and Shi Pi the Elder did not understand what this Big Monk was planning. Seeing that Master Zun Sheng had passed on to rebirth and Tian Meng had left without the Seven Treasures Golden Banner, even if a fight really broke out, he felt he had some confidence and did not leave, continuing to stay and watch.

Bai Mei bowed his head in thought. He called his three disciples over and with a flick of his hand, he broke the Buddha Light that Zhu Youmu had used to imprison Chen Yan, "Amitabha Buddha, young friend, you have suffered an injustice."

Chen Yan finally regained his freedom. He took several quick steps backward, huffing, "Bai Mei, I really didn’t expect you to be able to teach such disciples! My Master once had dealings with you, seeing how your senior disciple treated me, and considering how you set this scene, it must have been your teachings from the start!"

Bai Mei Zen Master sighed deeply, "Indeed, it is my fault. I had instructed him beforehand to merely invite you for a short stay, and had specifically told him not to restore your past life’s memory... Alas, I have taught him for over a thousand years, through several lifetimes, and yet I have not been able to teach him well. Now I have no control over him..."

Chen Yan scoffed, "You can’t control him, and yet you still try to shirk responsibility..."

Although he said it was shirking responsibility, Li Ning and Atong heard what remained unsaid and rushed over to kneel, "Master! Are... are you also departing?"

Bai Mei Zen Master smiled, his face full of kindness, "It is time! It is indeed time! It should have been time long ago! Indeed, aside from the Buddha, no one can predict everything. In the end, human calculations are no match for the divine. My original desire was to take you three to ascend to the Pure Land, to worship under the Bodhi tree beside Amitabha. Truly, everyone has their own fate, and it should not be forced. Now that I am leaving, who among you wishes to accompany me?"

Li Ning and Atong bowed: "Disciple wishes to follow by your side."

After speaking, seeing that Zhu Youmu did not follow, they turned their heads back, looking at him in surprise.

Zhu Youmu was indeed very reluctant to part with Bai Mei, and he also felt Bai Mei’s disappointment in him.

Bai Mei had not directly reproached him with a single word, but it was evident that he was thoroughly disappointed.

But Zhu Youmu was defiant! He did not believe he had erred.

What was wrong with slaying demons and exorcising evil? The Xie sisters had killed the Tian brothers, but the Tian brothers were leaders of the Demon Cult, and they had harassed the Xie sisters first, uttering vulgar and offensive words, deserving death!

Shi Pi the Elder sought revenge, and the Seven Treasures Golden Banner was his nemesis. He needed to merge the Three Lights Divine Water to deal with the Golden Banner, so what was wrong with preventing that Old Demon from obtaining the Divine Water?

He had to get to the Three Lights Divine Water before Shi Pi the Elder!

If Chen Yan’s past life memory was not restored, how could he know where the Divine Water was kept?

What was more infuriating was that after Chen Yan’s memories had been restored, even though Zhu Youmu had informed him that the situation was urgent, he stubbornly refused to say anything!

Li Jingxu had a wide circle of friends in his lifetime, including those from the Demon Cult. He was a predecessor and a powerful figure, not troubled by demons—did his disciple possess such ability? Perhaps he had already fallen into the Demon Path!

Zhu Youmu did not do much to him, merely intending to search his previous life’s memory to find out where the Divine Water was placed.

What fault did he have?!

Seeing his master looking over, he moved forward and knelt repiningly, "Master, your Cultivation is Perfect, which is cause for celebration. Please leave behind all concerns and Ascend to the Western Heavenly Bliss World. As for the chaos of this world, your disciple will shoulder it alone."

Bai Mei Zen Master asked, "Do you truly wish to shoulder it?"

If his master had said something like there was nothing for him to shoulder, Zhu Youmu would have felt unhappy, but since he asked this way, Zhu Youmu felt his master indeed had a task for him and relaxed a bit, "Master delayed hundreds of years of Ascension for me, a deed I shall engrave in my heart, never to forget! I only lament my shallow Dao and weak ability, unable to repay you no matter what I do. If Master has any unfinished wishes or incomplete karma, please entrust them to me. No matter how difficult or perilous the task, your disciple will surely bring them to Perfection."

Bai Mei Zen Master hesitated, "You... might not be able to handle it."

Zhu Youmu felt displeased and was about to speak when Li Ning preempted him, "In that case, your disciple will delay his Ascension for some years, and bear this responsibility for Master."

"You are indeed the best candidate, but... the task is fraught with immense danger, and one misstep could lead you to an irredeemable plight!"

Li Ning said, "Guanyin Bodhisattva observes that the five aggregates are empty, alleviating all suffering. No matter how hard or dangerous, it is but a fleeting dream. As long as your disciple’s heart is clear and pure, what difficulty or danger is there in the world?"

Bai Mei Zen Master nodded appreciatively.

Zhu Youmu couldn’t stand it anymore, "Didn’t you just say you wanted to accompany Master? If you stay, who will serve at Master’s side? Leave it to me to handle this matter. You and the younger brother should follow Master, and in a few years, once I have settled everything, I will go to the Western Heaven and reunite with you."

Li Ning, realizing Bai Mei’s intentions, insisted on staying behind, and Atong followed suit.

In the end, Bai Mei Zen Master handed two Shariputras to Li Ning: "This Shariputra, it seals the Evil Book of the Demon Path, the ’Blood God Scripture,’ which harbors a witch known as Red Flower Princess..."