Chapter 287

Mind-Reading, one of the Six Supernatural Powers of Buddhism.

Its full name is "Other-Mind Knowledge Certification" or "Wisdom-Mind Distinction Knowledge Certification"; simply put, it is truly knowing all manner of others' mental states, able to predict human affairs without needing any specialized knowledge.

If evolved into a divine ability, one can know what others are thinking in their hearts, and further, can even influence the thoughts in others' minds.

Tang Luo naturally does not possess Mind-Reading; to him, this supernatural power is like a chicken rib — tasteless to eat, a pity to discard.

Anyone he could use Mind-Reading on doesn't need Mind-Reading at all; a few punches left and right would settle the matter.

Those stronger than Tang Luo might need Mind-Reading to fathom the opponent's thoughts and gain an information advantage — but Mind-Reading won't work on them; even if it did, they would detect it.

Who is the person Tang Luo most wants to use Mind-Reading on?

Naturally, it is the Tathagata; Tang Luo wants to know what this Buddha Ancestor is actually thinking.

But the Tathagata is absolutely not a "person" Tang Luo could use Mind-Reading on; why bother cultivating Mind-Reading — even if he wanted to, not a single one of that group of "people" who went to fetch the Western Scriptures would know it.

Mind-Reading is a Buddhist supernatural power; only those of great perseverance and profound Dharma can cultivate it — how could they possibly have it?

Tang Luo saw at a glance that Wei Cheng'en harbored resentment toward him, even "towering resentment"; as a master actor, Tang Luo still had this much discernment.

More importantly, on the roster of inner and outer disciples of Joy Monastery, there was Wei Cheng'en!

Appearances were all "recorded" by a spell, vivid and lifelike; Tang Luo and the others saw them clearly.

Tang Luo and the others were not the least bit polite, directly putting Wei Cheng'en on the wanted notice, making him a Great You fugitive.

You tell me, could Wei Cheng'en not hate this "Master Xuanzang" whose reputation was gradually rising, who was legendary for being very powerful?

It was him who caused him to end up in such a "plight"; why wouldn't he hate him?

Anyone else in his place would surely hate him too.

Wei Cheng'en's smile was somewhat stiff: "Master... you jest. At most, there is some dissatisfaction." He also had no way to stiffen his neck and declare "I just hate you."

What if a fight really broke out?

For Wei Cheng'en, this mission could be said to be quite unfavorable.

At first, wanting to share in some benefits, he was squeezed out by a group of fake-lofty bastards.

Wei Cheng'en was also very clear in his heart about others' displeasure toward him; therefore, after arriving in the Central Capital, he simply left.

Afterward, he looked for an opportunity to join Joy Monastery.

Originally, Wei Cheng'en's first thought was the Longya Dao Gate; alas, the Longya Dao Gate is now low-key, and even for outer disciples, the screening is extremely strict.

Without a year or half a year, it is impossible to truly join and obtain good cultivation methods.

Thus, Wei Cheng'en chose Joy Monastery.

He is not that kind of blockhead, self-proclaimed lofty person; so what if Joy Monastery uses harvesting and supplementing methods? As long as they can increase strength, that's fine.

Just after joining Joy Monastery, Wei Cheng'en also received no missions, and upon further observation of Joy Monastery's conduct.

Wei Cheng'en could basically confirm that Joy Monastery's existence, for the whole of Great You, already counted as more harm than good.

Him climbing up in Joy Monastery was, for the whole mission, actually unfavorable, unless he climbed to the high levels and carried out a major reform of Joy Monastery.

Wei Cheng'en couldn't do it, had no such interest, and moreover worried that Kong Ming and the others would use this pretext of hindering the mission to make a move on him.

Don't forget, when God-Demon Walkers kill each other, the side that dies has a certain probability of dropping skills.

Wei Cheng'en has two skills on him, both from other God-Demon Walkers.

Having such experience himself, he is naturally extremely cautious.

So he simply left the Central Capital; Great You's territory is vast, far from those people — isn't that the sky high, birds fly free?

On the way to the Central Capital, each person also made moves.

Wei Cheng'en had some judgment on everyone's strength, more or less.

That Fu Fengxue is the strongest; Wei Cheng'en admits he is not his match. Kong Xuan, this person is sinister, and did not act, but judging from Fu Fengxue's attitude, one can infer a thing or two — he is inevitably of the same level.

That spear-user Zhang Xiuping is estimated to be on par with himself.

He Yishan and that A Fei are weaker still.

In such a situation, Wei Cheng'en naturally had no intention of making enemies of Kong Xuan and the others; moreover — he still needed them to complete the mission.

Unexpectedly, just after relying on his status as a Joy Monastery disciple to act arrogantly outside for a short while, "Heaven and Earth underwent a huge change."

He instantly became a wanted fugitive!

When he saw his own wanted notice, Wei Cheng'en almost flipped the table on the spot; the reason he didn't succeed in flipping the table was because there was no table beside him.

This mission can be counted as quite unfavorable.

The reason also stems from a fellow God-Demon Walker.

Now he can't hide it, so Wei Cheng'en can only admit he "has dissatisfaction in his heart."

"Heh." Toward Wei Cheng'en's expression of dissatisfaction, Tang Luo expressed neither agreement nor disagreement. "Benefactor Wei, you should have arrived here earlier than this poor monk, right?"

"Correct." Wei Cheng'en said, "This place is eerie; I have been trapped here for three days already."

Just now his eager, rushing-out appearance, almost shouting "save me," was undoubtedly genuine.

Although there were a few parts of showing off, it also reflects that this place is absolutely not some good land.

"Then do you have any discoveries?" Tang Luo asked.

"This..." Wei Cheng'en narrowed his eyes and said, "There is a discovery, but Master, we don't have a very good relationship, do we?"

This was retreating to advance.

He naturally needed to cooperate with Tang Luo to leave this dangerous ghost place together, but he also couldn't let the other party seize the initiative.

Moreover, a trace of fierce light flashed in Wei Cheng'en's narrowed eyes.

In his heart, he began scheming how to make this monk and this eerie place fight until both were wounded, so he could profit from the middle.

Wei Cheng'en considered his thinking sufficiently clear: the monk before him was absolutely stronger than himself, and should be of the same level as Fu Fengxue and the others.

Even, he might be even stronger.

Whatever rumors came out of the Central Capital — giant hands covering the sky, that kind of nonsense — he absolutely would not believe.

It's only natural that divine and demonic beings walking the world to carry out the same task would have differing strengths, and it's equally natural to find a powerful ally to cling to.

But the gap isn't an unbridgeable chasm.

Strength differences can be compensated through scheming and environment; Wei Cheng'en has also secretly killed those stronger than himself, quite powerful divine and demonic walkers.

The exaggerated rumors about that giant hand were nothing more than deliberate hype by Kong Xuan and his ilk.

Fooling the natives of this world is one thing, but trying to fool "colleagues" is just a joke.

Wei Cheng'en puffed out his chest, his attitude appearing quite stern, waiting for Tang Luo's reply.

"Also." Tang Luo nodded slightly, agreeing with Wei Cheng'en's view.

This left Wei Cheng'en stunned—what did "also" mean?

At this moment, shouldn't both sides be bargaining, setting up a superficial agreement no one would keep?

You say "also" in agreement—I can't respond to that!

"Anyway, we mutually dislike each other." Tang Luo said, "What you say is surely not entirely true; better let this poor monk enlighten you first."

"Hey!" Wei Cheng'en's face changed—what do you mean? What do you mean?

Are we going straight to blows?

Monk, is there something wrong with your head? To start fighting outright in such a strange place—aren't you afraid the demons here will reap the benefits?

Tang Luo naturally isn't afraid.

Ghost Shadow Step—in an instant, he appeared before Wei Cheng'en.

Wei Cheng'en's eyes flashed with killing intent, yet he showed no panic; instead, he threw a backhand punch.

Lightning blazed on his fist, a piercing white radiance instantly filling the small space where the two stood.

Skill, Lightning Fist.

A very plain name, yet it's a quite decent skill—simple and convenient to use, almost no prerequisites or limitations—unless you lose a hand.

The fist carries paralysis and high-temperature burning effects, while the bursting lightning can confuse the opponent's vision without affecting oneself.

It does not increase the force of the punch.

But Wei Cheng'en, having survived six missions as a divine and demonic walker, has trained his fists and feet to be extremely heavy; combined with the lightning's "enchantment effect," it's enough to kill.

It's hardly a flaw.

Seeing the fist about to land on the monk's face, Wei Cheng'en smirked coldly—so arrogant, after one punch he'd immediately disengage and retreat.

Using this place's strangeness, he'd separate from the Xuanzang monk first, letting him become a pawn in crossing the river.

"Pa!"

The fist struck Tang Luo's palm—no surprise to Wei Cheng'en—it was easily caught.

But before Wei Cheng'en could show a hint of joy, immense force transmitted from the fist, making it impossible for him to pull his hand free.

The sound of bones shattering, the Lightning Fist's side effect vanished like a mud cow into the sea, stirring no ripple.

In intense pain, Wei Cheng'en's right fist was kneaded by Tang Luo into a lump, like a chicken claw.

Wei Cheng'en is also a tough man; under excruciating pain, he showed no retreat—his head and body arched back, bent like a bow drawn to its limit, then in the next second he lunged forward to slam his head hard into Tang Luo's face.

During the impact, the color on his face rapidly turned gray, his entire head seeming to become gray stone.

This was another of his skills.

Merely a simple defensive skill, yet in this narrow-road encounter where the brave prevail, it could play a huge role.

Even if the opponent is strong, they likely wouldn't want to clash head-on, ending up with a bloody face.

Especially the strong—such a move lacks prestige and dignity; they'd surely withdraw after.

Raising a hand to block isn't that easy—unless the strength gap isn't huge to a certain degree.

But alas, the strength gap between Tang Luo and Wei Cheng'en had indeed reached "that degree."

He reached out, easily grabbing Wei Cheng'en's "offered" head and pressed it downward.

Cracks appeared on the ground, Wei Cheng'en's head nearly sank into the earth; despite his strengthened defense, he felt dizzy and disoriented, as if struck by lightning.

"Amitabha."

Then Wei Cheng'en heard a Buddhist chant, his body suddenly lightened.

Tang Luo had performed the Soul Salvation.

Shortly after, the "soul returned to its homeland" Wei Cheng'en knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, his other intact hand slapping his own face wildly.

"What exactly happened here? Tell me everything you know." Tang Luo looked at Wei Cheng'en and said.

Such people are relatively easy to soul-salvage—scheming, calculating, ruthless in character, yet somehow always falling short.

Once their mental defense is broken, this is the reaction.

"Yes, Master." Wei Cheng'en dared not conceal anything, recounting what he knew one by one.