Chapter 1489 (Raw 1469):
"Big Brother Ying, why did we just let him go? With the two of us, we would definitely have been able to push him back," Xiao Chen asked, disgruntled. Since Zhuang Zhenghe ran to the Ghost Domain, he had to have an indisputable connection to the East Mountain Ghost Monarch.
A good trail of clues broken off like that, Xiao Chen simply felt dissatisfied with such a conclusion.
Ying Zongtian smiled and replied, "It's not that simple. The strength of a Prime is even greater than you imagine. If you really fought, you would definitely be the one to suffer. Furthermore, you are in the Ghost Domain. He holds the home-ground advantage. Also, the Ghost Race's experts could come to help at any time.
"Even if you add me into the equation, if we fought, both sides would just sustain damage."
Upon hearing Ying Zongtian's explanation, Xiao Chen slowly calmed down and analyzed the situation. Indeed, it was as Ying Zongtian said.
Naturally, Xiao Chen understood this logic too. However, his anxiety had blinded him to this rational.
There was still a great difference in strength between Xiao Chen and a Prime. Currently, he would just be able to retreat safely.
However, that was already quite incredible. For so many years, no one had been able to challenge the prestige of a Prime. Even a Ninth Heaven Martial Emperor was just an ordinary existence before a Prime.
Being able to easily receive the palm strike of the East Mountain Ghost Monarch and confront him clearly demonstrated Xiao Chen's improvements.
"Big Brother, many thanks. I was indeed too hasty earlier. However…"
Xiao Chen had never been one to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem. After he thought through the issue, he immediately thanked Ying Zongtian.
Ying Zongtian smiled amiably. "Even if I did not come, nothing would happen to you. However, what happened for you to become this anxious? It must be something extraordinary."
Xiao Chen nodded and explained his encounter in the bloody graveyard as well as the details regarding the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva in one go.
"To think there is actually such a thing! Then it truly would have been worth taking a risk earlier!"
After Ying Zongtian heard Xiao Chen's explanation, he regretted letting the East Mountain Ghost Monarch go scotfree. In hindsight, the East Mountain Ghost Monarch held the home-ground advantage yet still retreated so readily. Clearly, there was more behind this.
Xiao Chen did not harp on the issue. Instead, he smiled and said, "It is still better to think about this and come up with a long-term solution. Since you are here already, Big Brother Ying, you should invite me over to the Supreme Sky Sect."
Ying Zongtian appeared rather carefree. He continued smiling and nodded. "Let's go. We should have a few drinks as you explain the Dao to me. You are not allowed to hide anything."
"Naturally, that goes without saying. However, we need to make a trip to the bloody graveyard first. I have a friend waiting for me there."
"Right, let's go."
The two soared into the air and rapidly disappeared, quickly leaving the Ghost Domain.
—
On the other side, after leaving, the East Mountain Ghost Monarch met up with Zhuang Zhenghe with a sullen expression.
"I already told you many times not to call me out casually. It is not time for our connection to be exposed yet," the East Mountain Ghost Monarch lectured.
Zhuang Zhenghe appeared somewhat startled and did not dare to rebut. He whispered, "I did not expect this fellow to grow so fast. I thought you would be able to deal with him easily with your means."
"Utter rubbish! If I could handle him just like that, do you think I would permit him to live until now? Let me tell you this, even if the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign wanted to kill him now, he would have to expend a lot of effort."
The East Mountain Ghost Monarch's earlier palm strike had not actually forced Xiao Chen back. Hence, this Prime was angry in his heart and not in a good mood.
If not for needing to hide his connection with the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, the East Mountain Ghost Monarch would not have that many concerns. He would definitely not have been so magnanimous to Xiao Chen.
"Since he is so strong, why not kill him? Isn't this just letting him grow further and cause problems for you in the future?" Zhuang Zhenghe urged, feeling lingering fears from discovering that he really nearly died at the hands of the other party.
Fortunately, Zhuang Zhenghe did not waste any time, fleeing the moment he noticed that something was wrong. Otherwise, he might have become a pile of white bones already.
The East Mountain Ghost Monarch glared at Zhuang Zhenghe. Then he said indifferently, "There is no need for you to know this. Bring me to meet the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva."
Before a Prime, Zhuang Zhenghe did not put on any airs. He, lowering his head and obeying every command promptly. Thus, he quickly brought the East Mountain Ghost Monarch to the Yellow Springs Road.
Right now, the Yellow Springs Road was already a forbidden land that was not open to others. Furthermore, after the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's head merged with his body, his control over this hell became very strong. Unless he willed it, even a Prime would have difficulty meeting him.
With Zhuang Zhenghe leading the way, the East Mountain Ghost Monarch arrived at the Gates of Hell without any obstruction.
Past the Gates of Hell was the Yellow Springs Road, where the six paths of reincarnation were.
"Wait here," the East Mountain Ghost Monarch said and walked in alone.
In this world, even a Prime could see only black and white.
Aside from many years ago, when a certain person left behind a strand of saber light, no one could bring color to this place.
However, right now, the situation seemed to be somewhat different.
Extremely far away, at the end of the Yellow Springs Road, one could vaguely see some iridescent Buddhist light rising and falling like the waves of the sea, appearing indistinct.
When one listened carefully, one would hear Buddhist chanting floating in the air.
The chanting buzzed like mosquitoes. There was not just one person chanting but many people's voices layered over each other.
The Sanskrit words overlapped, bringing a heavy Buddhist Might, which set one's heart at ease as they marveled at the Buddhist Might.
The East Mountain Ghost Monarch moved quickly on the Yellow Springs Road. Soon, he reached the Underworld River that was deep inside. The sea of bitterness was right across the river.
Countless aggrieved spirits filled the sea of bitterness.
A large bodhisattva hovered over the surface of the sea, the aggrieved spirits and evil ghosts struggling there looking like ants in comparison.
There were eight hundred arhats around the bodhisattva, chanting with their eyes closed. The layered Sanskrit chanting came from these people.
Occasionally, a large number of aggrieved spirits and evil ghosts was purified. Then, they became like thousands of fireflies flying onto the body of the large bodhisattva.
Naturally, the bodhisattva was the mysterious Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. He opened his eyes and withdrew his Dharmic Incarnation. Then, his body returned to its normal state. After that, he leaped over the Underworld River and arrived before the East Mountain Ghost Monarch.
"That disciple of yours seems to be rather unlucky. Not long after he started refining those sins for you, Xiao Chen discovered him," the East Mountain Ghost Monarch said, dissatisfaction in his tone. "He even called me out and revealed the connection between us."
The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's mortal body was that of an old man in a kasaya. He held a staff and had a long beard and long eyebrows. He had the appearance of a high-ranked monk from head to toe.
"It has not reached that point yet. He does not know what's going on, much less my strength. Even if he has discovered some clues, he cannot do anything about them. You are not here, looking for me, because of this minor matter, right?"
The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's deep eyes revealed boundless wisdom and an unfathomable Buddhist light.
"That's right. The Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign estimates that Xiao Chen will go to the Azure Dragon Palace very soon. Tell me everything you know about the Azure Dragon Palace."
The East Mountain Ghost Monarch did not believe in Buddhism. The Kunlun Realm did not have any Buddhist teachings, either. Hence, he was not interested in the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's identity, nor did he show much respect for him.
The East Mountain Ghost Monarch only took the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva as an expert, one whose strength was on par with his, a peak expert that he could cooperate with.
In the East Mountain Ghost Monarch's eyes, strength reigned supreme. To him, all faiths, including that of the Deity Race, were mere fabrications.
"I have never heard of the Azure Dragon Palace. However, during my time, the Azure Dragon already existed. It was one of the Seven Colored Divine Dragons. The bloodline was very noble, only under the three great Ancestor Dragons among the Dragon Race."
When the East Mountain Ghost Monarch heard that, greed flashed in his eyes. He looked at the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and said, "I need you to help me. Ultimately, the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign is very selfish. I do not believe he will split much of the benefits with me. I still have to rely on myself."
The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva thought for a long time. Then, he said, "Sure. However, you have to think of a way to help me refine the sins in the bloody graveyard."
"This is rather difficult. Xiao Chen is already on his guard, and that place is Ying Zongtian's territory…" the East Mountain Ghost Monarch muttered with a frown, balancing the pros and cons.
"Think about it yourself. This bodhisattva needs to empty out this hell of its aggrieved spirits. I swore not to become a Buddha until hell is empty."
Before the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva muttered his Buddhist name, a strange light flashed in his eyes. Then, he resumed the form of his Dharmic Incarnation and continued to purify the aggrieved spirits and evil ghosts in the boundless sea of bitterness.
When the East Mountain Ghost Monarch saw this, he thought to himself, This bald old monk is as difficult to deal with as the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign. They are both troublesome characters.
The East Mountain Ghost Monarch flung his sleeves and left, thinking about how to satisfy the other party's conditions.
The Yellow Springs Road and the boundless sea of bitterness were still there. Only the saber light left by the Azure Emperor was gone.
