Chapter 346: Firefighter Prepares, Saint's Heart Trembles?!

"This matter... we two cannot agree to it!"

Hou Yi's response fell.

Instantly, Zhu Rong and the others were all stunned.

Such a response completely exceeded their expectations.

In an instant, Zhu Rong furrowed his brow tightly, somewhat displeased, and said:

"Two brothers!"

"You must not forget, we Wu Clan are one body."

"Could it be... you two today wish to side with those like Di Zang?!"

Zhu Rong spoke thus, his words carrying a tone of questioning.

In the view of Zhu Rong and the others, Hou Yi and Ku Fu's unreserved agreement was only natural.

After all, one must know, this matter originally stemmed from Xiang Liu's death first, and our side also sought revenge and to vent hatred.

Moreover, even without this matter, in the ancient Wu Clan, there was no reason to protect shortsightedness; anyone would stand with their own people.

Could it be that Hou Yi and Ku Fu, having stayed long in the underworld, have been brainwashed by those like Di Zang?!

But unexpectedly, upon hearing Zhu Rong's words, Ku Fu gave a bitter laugh and responded:

"Ancestor Wu, we are of Wu Clan descent, naturally we will not forget."

"However, grievances have heads and debts have owners; this matter was not done by Di Zang and the others, so why provoke them?!"

"Furthermore, since the establishment of the underworld, Di Zang Daoist has wholeheartedly guided vengeful souls and purified resentment, truly a great merit."

"And the Asura clan also guards the Asura Dao, maintaining the stability of the six paths of reincarnation."

"They have all made great contributions to the underworld."

"Please, all Ancestor Wu, do not direct all blame toward them."

Ku Fu's words made Zhu Rong and the others' expressions even more strange.

Well then!

Our great Wu, now even speaks in favor of Di Zang and the others.

Even, is he pleading for them?!

However, when Ku Fu spoke, his face full of solemnity, also showed they were not speaking recklessly.

In other words, this is what Di Zang and the Asura and others have consistently done, truly convincing the two of them.

Those of great merit are indeed worthy of admiration!

Xing Tian remained silent, somewhat troubled and hesitant.

But Zhu Rong did not consider so much at all.

He simply waved his hand directly.

"No need to say so much!"

"Xiang Liu is my subordinate; he was killed by that Ying Long; if I do not avenge him."

"Then in the future, what face would I have to call myself Ancestor Wu? And what face would I have to govern the Wu Clan's living beings?!"

"Two brothers, if you insist on blocking me, then do not blame me for acting forcefully."

By the end of his words, Zhu Rong had already assumed an undeniable mighty dignity.

Of course, also because by this time, Ping Xin Niang Niang had not yet appeared.

This allowed Zhu Rong to act recklessly and do as he pleased, with no consequence.

But this thought was shattered in the next moment.

Just as Hou Yi and Ku Fu were in difficulty.

Suddenly, a wondrous and unparalleled figure finally manifested.

Ping Xin Niang Niang appeared!

Seeing this, Zhu Rong and the others' expressions tightened, and they hastily paid respects.

"We pay respects to Ping Xin Niang Niang!"

Although Zhu Rong and the others were formerly elder brothers of Hou Tu.

But now facing the earth path sage, respect is indispensable.

Seeing Zhu Rong and the others pay respects, Ping Xin also had a complex expression.

Her gaze, calm and indifferent, fell upon Zhu Rong, Xiang Shu, and the others.

"You all... elder brothers, no need for this!"

Ping Xin responded thus in a sentence.

Although she orally called them "elder brothers," her expression was also quite strange.

Evidently, the relationship between the two sides now is indeed somewhat strange, indescribable.

And this response, however, greatly uplifted the Wu Clan's hearts.

Ping Xin.... is she still remembering old feelings?!

If so, today's matter becomes easily resolved.

Xing Tian, blunt and straightforward, immediately continued speaking:

"Ping Xin Niang Niang, the full story, surely Ping Xin Niang Niang already knows."

"We hope daughter Niang will uphold justice for us and hand over Di Zang, the Asura clan, and the others."

"We doing so is also not to harm them, merely to exchange with the Western Buddhist sect for the murderer who killed Xiang Liu."

Xing Tian also revealed a rare shrewdness.

He directly stated that we are not to act against Di Zang and the others, hoping thereby to exchange for Ping Xin handing them over.

However, upon hearing these words.

On her perfectly serene face, there was no ripple, no wave.

She calmly shook her head.

"As for Dizang, Ashura, and others, this palace cannot entrust them to you all."

Upon saying this.

The faces of Zhurong and the others froze instantly.

To refuse so bluntly?!

Did Pingxin Niangniang appear just to speak on behalf of Dizang and others?!

Just as everyone had this thought, they heard Pingxin continue:

"Everything that happened before, this palace is fully aware of."

"However, this matter indeed has nothing to do with Dizang and others."

"This palace knows your unwillingness; how about this......"

"From now on, this palace can allow the Wu Clan to enter the underworld, take up divine offices, and thus compensate the Wu Clan's fortune and so on."

Pingxin's words remained calm and undisturbed.

As a former ancestral Wu, he also clearly understood the temperaments of Zhurong and others.

Once their anger flares, they will surely act recklessly, not knowing what trouble they might cause.

Therefore, her appearance was not to speak for Dizang and others, nor to let Zhurong and others act recklessly.

What Pingxin sought was merely to mediate the conflict between both sides, to calm this matter— that would be enough.

In other words, it was equivalent to compensating the Wu Clan this way and dispelling the anger of Zhurong and others.

There was no choice; no matter how you say it, she is also a transformation of Hou Tu.

That bit of affection with the Wu Clan still needs to be acknowledged.

Otherwise, if it were the Demon Race's Di Jun and Taiyi who came, she would have likely slapped these people away long ago.

Upon hearing Pingxin's words, Zhurong and the others furrowed their brows tightly, silent and speechless.

To take up divine offices, manage the underworld?!

This is fundamentally opposite to their purpose in coming— like sailing south while aiming north.

For a moment, several people couldn't react, and didn't know how to respond.

At this moment.

Suddenly, another calm voice spoke.

"This seat is Dizang; I have greeted you, fellow Daoists of the Wu Clan."

"Yet I do not know why you all are so aggressive, sworn to take down this seat?!"

Indeed!

At this moment, Dizang descended.

Dizang's sacred appearance was solemn, his entire body enveloped in golden light of merit.

And behind him, his mount, Tingting, followed.

Tingting is originally Dizang's divine beast of spiritual communication, capable of discerning all things in the world through listening.

Earlier, it was Tingting who, in the darkness, heard the impending crisis and thus informed Dizang.

And Dizang's Buddhist nature is profound; he has no fear, no dread.

Therefore, despite knowing that Zhurong and others came with ill intent, he still chose to appear actively.

Seeing this, Zhurong's eyebrows shot up, his anger unceasing.

What a Dizang!

At this moment, you dare to appear so fearlessly— do you think we dare not act against you?!

Zhurong coldly stared at Dizang, speaking in a deep voice:

"Dizang, you dare to appear— you do have some courage!"

"However, the Yinglong among your Buddhist sect earlier killed our Wu Clan's Chilian."

"Today, this seat will capture you, demon general, and demand an explanation from the Buddhist sect, handing over that Yinglong and others."

Facing Dizang, Zhurong needs no restraint whatsoever.

He is overwhelmingly fierce, repeatedly shouting in anger.

Yet, upon hearing these words, Dizang's face showed no ripple.

No surprise!

Nor any expression of fear!

On the contrary, he merely pressed his palms together, as if chanting Buddhist sounds, and spoke:

"Good, good......"

"Matters of life and death have their own fixed numbers!"

"Chilian's fall into such a state is merely his destined fate."

"This seat wishes to chant the wondrous Dharma for him, to guide his departed soul!"

It can be said that since appearing, Dizang has not adopted a confrontational stance toward Zhurong and others.

He is one of the few enlightened beings in the Buddhist sect.

Just as he once said: "If hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha."

Now, in Dizang's heart, there is no thought of contending fiercely.

Guiding departed souls is his sole path.

Moreover, this kind of salvation makes no distinction between good and evil, nor between friend and foe.

Even if Zhu Rong and the others glare angrily and speak coldly.

But the dead are gone, and have nothing to do with all this.

Yet Ksitigarbha still wishes to sincerely perform the liberation for them.

If Chen Ku were here, he would surely be greatly satisfied and praise repeatedly.

The Ksitigarbha now is truly the embodiment of the great benevolence of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's "universal salvation of all beings."

However, Ksitigarbha's words are sincere and heartfelt.

These words falling into the ears of Zhu Rong and the others, however, mean something else entirely.

Life and death are predestined by fate?!

This is simply Xiang Liu's destiny?!

In other words, isn't this saying that Xiang Liu deserves to die?!

Moreover... you brat, what do you mean by liberation?!

To Zhu Rong and the others, this seems even more like idle talk.

Zhu Rong grows increasingly furious, jumping with rage.

He stares at Ksitigarbha with icy eyes and coldly says:

"Ksitigarbha, you are seeking death!"

Before his words even finished, Zhu Rong's entire body surged with qi, rolling upward to the heavens.

As if he could no longer restrain himself, wanting to act rashly.

Seeing this, Ping Xin's face is full of helplessness.

She knows that Zhu Rong and the others misunderstand Ksitigarbha's good intentions.

After all, Ksitigarbha's realm is not something everyone can attain, or even comprehend.

Sighing softly, Ping Xin was just about to speak a few words of mediation.

But immediately after, another sudden change occurred.

"Zhu Rong, do not act arrogantly!"

"The words spoken by Ksitigarbha's junior disciple are all from good heart, and are the manifestation of our Mahayana Buddhist Dharma."

"You judge a gentleman's belly with a petty heart, yet dare to speak shamelessly?!"

As these words rang out, Zhunti likewise descended fiercely into the underworld.

Obviously!

The sage is omniscient and omnipotent, and had already sensed the anomaly in the underworld earlier.

Furthermore, Ksitigarbha's liberation of countless wandering souls has also greatly flourished the Buddhist fate.

Therefore, Zhunti is like a firefighter, rushing hurriedly to the underworld to stop Zhu Rong and the others from causing trouble.

Zhunti appeared, his whole body enveloped in holy light.

Yet his two eyes fell upon Zhu Rong, carrying an indescribable icy chill.

"Zhu Rong, I have already given you ample face before."

"You still harbor treacherous intentions, dare to target Ksitigarbha's junior disciple?!"

"Do you really think I have no temper?!"

"Or are you determined to wage war against my Buddhist gate?!"

Zhunti shouted sternly, at this moment unable to conceal his anger.

After all, Zhu Rong and the others had already retreated before, but now they are scheming again, intending to trouble the innocent Ksitigarbha.

Even a clay figure has three points of fire!

How could Zhunti possibly endure Zhu Rong and the others' endless entanglements?!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Rong also sank his face like water.

"Zhunti, do not put on the airs of a sage."

"Since Yinglong could act against Xiang Liu, why should I not act against your Buddhist disciples?!"

"Today, you must either hand over Yinglong, or... I will surely take Ksitigarbha and the others away!"

Zhu Rong is also formidable.

He firmly believes that at this moment, we are in the underworld, not the Western realm.

Even Zhunti must necessarily have some reservations.

More accurately, Zhu Rong is thus, unknowingly, borrowing Ping Xin's influence to angrily rebuke Zhunti.

Upon hearing this, Zhunti's gaze became even colder and more solemn.

"If that is the case.... then only strength can speak."

The words fell.

Whoosh!

The Seven Treasure Wondrous Tree reappeared, hovering above Zhunti's head.

Seven-colored radiance burst forth, misty and floating, rising and intertwining, indescribably brilliant and splendid.

For a moment, the originally dark and gloomy underworld was illuminated, bright and peaceful beyond measure.

The tense atmosphere of drawn swords and bent bows spread!

Between the two sides, astonishing battle intent surged, making one's scalp tingle and body turn cold.

Ping Xin's gaze drooped low, as if thinking of something.

However, just at this moment.

Zhunti's body suddenly trembled.

Under the holy light, no one saw, his pupils suddenly contracted at this moment.

"This is..."

"How could this be? Could there still be secret calculations at this moment?!"

Zhunti had such a thought arise in his heart.

The reason was none other than this!

At this moment, his sage's divine sense surged greatly, and he actually felt an inexplicable palpitation.

Unease!

A deep unease welled up.

Know that every trace of a sage's perception is never without cause.

Moreover, Zhunti had also cultivated the Purple Star Astrology Great Divine Ability that Chen Ku had comprehended.

Therefore, such a divine sense palpitation appearing made it all the more unusual.

More importantly, upon careful perception, he discovered that all heavenly secrets seemed to be obscured.

Zhunti's heart then sank further.

Could it be... that he cannot act against Zhu Rong and others?!

Zhunti instantly understood somewhat.

This perception, he did not know whether it came from Ping Xin Niang Niang beside him, or whether there were hidden mysteries in the dark.

He glanced at Ping Xin without leaving a trace.

After a long while, Zhunti still restrained his breath somewhat, then turned and spoke:

"Ping Xin Dao Friend, since this matter occurred in the underworld."

"Then please let Ping Xin Dao Friend decide."

Zhunti, taking a lesser course, let Ping Xin handle this matter.

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise appeared in Ping Xin's beautiful eyes.

Zhunti's attitude, why did it change so quickly?!

Earlier, even she had thought that Zhunti could not help but act forcefully.

After all, earlier Zhu Rong had repeatedly angrily retorted, even threatening face to face, which was originally an offense against the sage.

Even if Zhunti lowered his sage's might to intimidate Zhu Rong, it would be reasonable and blameless.

To make a sage instantly change his mindset and withdraw his battle intent.

This matter... truly strange!

In Ping Xin's heart, a great doubt also arose!