Chapter 112

The sky was clear for ten thousand miles, and the scorching sun hung in the air. At the Jingnian Zen Temple outside Luoyang, the steady and melodious bell tolls suddenly became urgent.

The warrior monks inside the temple all held monk staffs, standing before the main gate with fierce and menacing expressions.

Outside the gate, countless people from the martial arts world had gathered.

Most had come to watch the show, for they knew that the Imperial Jade Seal in the Jingnian Zen Temple was not something they could covet.

Ever since Cihang Jingzhai spread the news, countless experts from the entire martial arts world had rushed toward Luoyang.

Whether they were from the righteous path, the Demonic Sect, or were experts from foreign tribes.

Within a short month, they had all gathered in Luoyang, making the originally prosperous city somewhat noisy.

And as the actual master of Luoyang, Wang Shichong was roaring repeatedly in his mansion.

Yang Guang had abdicated, and the Prince of Dai had ascended the throne; the Prince had always been under his control, so the current small Great Sui court was effectively under his command, although some ministers in the court were still plotting.

Unfortunately, the troops in Luoyang were all his men, and military power was firmly in his hands, so even the Dugu Clan was powerless.

As for the Dugu Clan's Grandmaster expert, You Chuhong, he was merely wary, not afraid, because he also had experts by his side, having befriended Ouyang Xiyi and Chao Gongcuo—both of whom were Grandmaster-level experts.

However, these days, Wang Shichong had not been having an easy time; countless martial arts experts had flooded into Luoyang, and these experts did not care about Wang Shichong's face.

They were causing destruction in the city, and some even acted as thieves, reaching his very mansion.

He could not possibly ask Chao Gongcuo and the others to take action for such trivial matters.

More importantly, the common ruler chosen by Cihang Jingzhai and the Buddhist Sect had excluded him entirely.

He had sent people to probe, but unfortunately, that Saintess had not considered him at all.

As for the Imperial Jade Seal, he had thought about seizing it by force; after all, the Jingnian Zen Temple was just outside Luoyang, and his army could attack it directly.

However, the Jingnian Zen Temple and the Buddhist Sect behind it made him afraid to have even the slightest thought; he knew exactly how strong the Buddhist Sect was.

Once he dared to seize it by force, he feared that Chao Gongcuo, whom he had won over, would be the first to turn around and deal with him.

The Imperial Jade Seal was right under his nose, yet he could not even take a look at it—how tragic was that?

Naturally, he was burning with frustration.

"Bald donkey, hand over the Imperial Jade Seal, or today I will level the Jingnian Zen Temple!"

A demonic sound suddenly came from all directions outside the Jingnian Zen Temple.

Those familiar with this voice had their expressions change.

"The Demonic Empress Zhu Yuyan!"

"I didn't expect her to come."

Some experts had their expressions change wildly; they could not discover where this voice was coming from, as if it were in the void itself.

"Could it be that this Demonic Empress has broken through?"

Someone looked shocked; that was a Grandmaster—if the Demonic Empress had truly broken through in cultivation, the Demonic Sect would likely be unified.

Thinking of this, some experts of the righteous path had gloomy expressions.

They knew very well how terrifying a unified Demonic Sect would be.

Some sects with long heritages knew how formidable the Demonic Sect had been during the Jin Dynasty; the Evil Emperor and the Sage Monarch had suppressed the martial arts world until it could barely breathe.

Of course, there were also those who enjoyed watching the chaos.

"Haha! A good show is coming; this Cihang Jingzhai is likely in for trouble. With the Demonic Empress having broken through, let's see if they still dare to be so arrogant."

Clearly, there were many in the martial arts world who were unhappy with Cihang Jingzhai or the Buddhist Sect.

After all, Cihang Jingzhai's emergence this time had shaken the world, intending to select a common ruler for the world.

For this group of nuns not to stay in their own mountain gate to chant sutras but instead want to control the world naturally made many men unhappy.

"Amitabha! I did not expect the Demonic Empress to grace us with her presence; this poor monk has failed to welcome you properly."

A burly warrior monk walked out of the Jingnian Zen Temple, chanting a Buddhist name.

"Bald donkey, let your Liaokong come out; you are not worthy."

In the void, figures walked out rapidly; the leader was naturally the Demonic Empress Zhu Yuyan. She extended a palm, and demonic energy erupted instantly, a terrifying palm force raging outward.

It directly blasted the warrior monk away, slamming him hard against the stone pillar of the mountain gate.

Boom!

The stone pillar collapsed, and the warrior monk's face turned as pale as gold leaf.

"Hiss!"

Watching Zhu Yuyan send the warrior monk of the Jingnian Zen Temple flying with a light palm, causing him severe injury, the martial arts figures not far outside the mountain were even more shocked.

That warrior monk was Buchen, one of the Four Great Vajras of the Jingnian Zen Temple, a super first-class expert of the martial arts world.

Even if a Grandmaster expert came, it would take great effort to take him down.

Yet he could not withstand a single palm from the Demonic Empress Zhu Yuyan.

Now, everyone understood that the Demonic Empress's strength had definitely broken through.

"A fool who overestimates himself."

Zhu Yuyan acted as if she had just swatted away a mosquito, her face full of disdain, and then she turned her gaze toward the few monks who had walked out of the mountain gate.

"I wondered who it was; so it is you old bald donkeys, Jiaxiang, Dixin, and Daoxin. That slut from Cihang Jingzhai has good skills, inviting you old bald donkeys over as well."

"Amitabha! Benefactor Zhu is also a sect leader; why must you speak so harshly?" Jiaxiang chanted a Buddhist name, his expression unchanging.

"Hmph! No matter who comes today, they cannot stop me. I am determined to have the Imperial Jade Seal; otherwise, even if you old bald donkeys are here, I will slaughter this Jingnian Zen Temple!"

Zhu Yuyan had no good feelings toward the Buddhist Sect.

Their Demonic Sect had been suppressed by the Confucianists back in the day, but the ones who had caused the most harm to the Demonic Sect were these bald donkeys; naturally, she was resentful.

Especially Cihang Jingzhai, which was the mortal enemy of their Yinkui Sect; the Jingnian Zen Temple had always helped Cihang Jingzhai, and she naturally had to settle this account properly.

"Amitabha! Benefactor Zhu, this Imperial Jade Seal was entrusted to the Jingnian Zen Temple by Benefactor Fan for protection, to be handed over to the common ruler of the world in the future. This object is precious and cannot be given to Benefactor Zhu; please return!"

Dixin could not help but speak.

"Haha! Handed over to the common ruler of the world—what a joke. The Emperor of the Great Sui is right there in Luoyang; since that is the case, why don't you bald donkeys hurry up and send this jade seal over?"

Zhu Yuyan sneered repeatedly.

With one sentence, the several masters were left speechless.

What could they say? Could they say that the Emperor of the Great Sui was fake, not the emperor recognized by their Buddhist Sect?

Of course, they could not say that.

Cihang Jingzhai wanted to manipulate the world's situation, and although Dixin and the others did not favor it—after all, no emperor would be willing to become someone else's puppet.

But if the person supported by the Buddhist Sect ascended to that throne, it would naturally be a good thing for the Buddhist Sect.

Although the several old monks had no desire for fame or profit, they still hoped their temple would become better.

This was human nature, something even enlightened high monks could not avoid.

And they did not want this Imperial Jade Seal to fall into the hands of petty people.

Especially the Demonic Sect—that was absolutely impossible.