Chapter 134 - 118: A Sword Strike Slays Bodhi, True Flame Refines the Dao Realm

On Fangcun Mountain.

Zen Master Kong Ming’s voice rang out.

His tone was perfectly calm, but his words shook every Dao Realm expert present.

"In this world, I ask, who decides its fate?!"

In an instant, all the Dao Realm experts understood his meaning.

’He wants to challenge the Great Hao Divine Emperor!’

It was common knowledge.

The Great Hao Divine Dynasty had always been the dominant power in this world.

Even the major Daoist Sects, despite having their own Dao Realm experts, had to outwardly submit to the Great Hao Divine Dynasty.

It was simply because the Great Hao Divine Dynasty was too powerful.

So powerful, it drove all others to despair.

Besides the Great Hao Divine Emperor, Zhao Yin, the Great Hao Divine Dynasty boasted a full eight other Dao Realm experts!

What’s more, this Divine Emperor, Zhao Yin, had even killed a Dao Realm expert in the past.

Even Dao Realm experts dared not lightly provoke such a power.

And now, with this question, it was obvious that Zen Master Kong Ming had other designs.

They all knew exactly what those designs were.

The authority of the Underworld!

The Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth had arrived. The Underworld was out of control, and ghosts now walked in broad daylight.

Moreover, Celestial Demons were reawakening to devour all living souls!

Yet, this also presented a heaven-sent opportunity.

The authority of the Underworld, held within the bodies of the Celestial Demons.

Legend had it that by sealing a Celestial Demon, one could claim the authority of the Underworld from within it, thus gaining control over the Underworld and becoming its Lord of the Mansion.

Once one became the Lord of the Mansion, they could break through the bottleneck of the Dao Realm and become the sole existence above it in all of Heaven and Earth.

Furthermore, their lifespan would increase by another twelve thousand, nine hundred and sixty years!

For any Dao Realm expert, this was an irresistible allure.

This was especially true for Zen Master Kong Ming.

Because he was about to die.

The lifespan of a Dao Realm expert could not exceed nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine years.

And Zen Master Kong Ming was already nine thousand, nine hundred years old!

The authority of the Underworld was his only hope for survival.

Therefore, he coveted the authority of the Underworld more than any other Dao Realm expert.

Unfortunately, the Great Hao Divine Emperor stood before him like an almost insurmountable mountain.

If he wanted to obtain the authority of the Underworld, he would have to confront the Great Hao Divine Emperor head-on.

Thus, he had to rally the other Dao Realm experts to his cause.

Aside from Wang Xiao, every Dao Realm expert present was a figure who had cultivated for four or five thousand years.

With age comes cunning.

They all feigned ignorance of the Zen Master’s words, and not one of them responded.

After all, ever since Divine Emperor Zhao Yin had burst onto the scene, the Great Hao Divine Dynasty had dominated the world for millennia.

Even as Dao Realm experts, they didn’t dare help Zen Master Kong Ming oppose the Great Hao Divine Dynasty and seize the authority of the Underworld.

Zen Master Kong Ming seemed to have anticipated their reaction. He said calmly:

"Amitabha. Everyone present is a person of astonishing talent. Otherwise, you would never have reached your current Realm."

"However, if I may be so bold, I would say that only three people in this world have the true ability to rule it."

"The Great Hao Divine Dynasty’s Divine Emperor, Zhao Yin, is one. The Master of Linlang Academy is another. And the last one, naturally, is this humble monk!"

"Does anyone object?"

His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on Wang Xiao.

It was true that he was astonished by Wang Xiao’s talent for cultivation.

Given time, he could very well surpass everyone here.

Unfortunately, he was born at the wrong time.

With the Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth imminent, there simply wasn’t enough time for Wang Xiao to accumulate the foundation needed to contend for the authority of the Underworld.

Wang Xiao paid no heed to Zen Master Kong Ming’s gaze. He sat cross-legged upon the Dharma Platform, listening silently without a word.

As for the other Dao Realm experts, none voiced any objections to Kong Ming’s words.

There was no need to speak of Divine Emperor Zhao Yin; he was universally acknowledged as the strongest in the Dao Realm.

As for the Master of Linlang Academy, he had achieved Dao Entry seven thousand years ago.

He roamed the world, spreading his teachings on the classics, and his disciples were everywhere.

He had even trained a student who went on to become a Dao Realm expert.

Among all the Dao Realm experts, his strength was definitely considered one of the very best.

And as for Zen Master Kong Ming, the longest-lived of all Dao Realm experts, his power was even more unfathomable.

His mastery of Buddhist Techniques was vast, and with his Bodhi Dharma Seal, not even other Dao Realm experts could hope to match him in a direct confrontation.

These three were indeed the most powerful contenders for the authority of the Underworld.

Seeing no objections, Zen Master Kong Ming continued, "Since you all agree with me, I will not beat around the bush. During this Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth, I intend to vie with Divine Emperor Zhao Yin for the authority of the Underworld. When the time comes, I hope you will all lend me your strength and help me hold back the other Dao Realm experts of the Great Hao Divine Dynasty. As for Zhao Yin, I will deal with him myself."

"My friends, for thousands of years, have you not been so oppressed by the Great Hao Divine Dynasty that you can barely raise your heads? We Cultivators should be free to roam Heaven and Earth, yet now we must submit to their rule. Are you all truly content with that?"

Hearing this, a flicker of emotion passed through the eyes of the Dao Realm experts.

They had undergone thousands of years of cultivation, endured countless tribulations and life-or-death trials, all to attain their current skill and Magical Power.

Who among them, given the choice, would be willing to be shackled and forced to bow to another?!

Zen Master Kong Ming’s simple words had struck a chord with them all.

However, mere words were not enough to sway them.

Zen Master Kong Ming knew this, of course. His gaze fell upon each of the Dao Realm experts in turn.

"Brother Wandering Cloud, you’ve spent years scouring the lands for Ghostly Holy Grass, hoping to refine a Celestial Roaming Soul Reviving Pill and heal your daughter’s damaged Yin Spirit. Have you found it yet?"

A man in white robes with a wine gourd at his waist heard this, and his gaze sharpened. "Zen Master Kong Ming, do you have the Ghostly Holy Grass?!"