Chapter 476

From "Dare to ask, where is the road?" it became "Patron, the poor monk seeks a karmic connection."

Tang Luo and Zhu Bajie leisurely left the Black Emperor Temple, found a nearby restaurant, sat down, and all the signature dishes were served; they ate while waiting for Ao Yulie to arrive.

Zhu Bajie used an illusion technique to conceal their appearances.

To ensure they wouldn't be disturbed by minor characters, as for the incarnations formed by incense power when deities descend, or those who have cultivated to some degree or received considerable incense power, they could still see through the disguise.

This is also what Tang Luo and his group wanted.

They wanted to be like fireflies in the night—among some people, they wanted to be that conspicuous, that outstanding, that eye-catching.

So as to better find people to "ask for directions."

Secretly investigating things does not suit Tang Luo and his group's style.

I, Tang Xuanzang, act openly and aboveboard; even when fishing, I use myself as bait, standing there openly and uprightly waiting for the fish to bite.

On the table by the street-side window on the second floor, piled high with various dishes, this seat offered a broad view, allowing them to see the outside scene.

They could see that the atmosphere on the outside street was not particularly right.

The events that happened at the Black Emperor Temple had already spread; many people were discussing it, wanting to know what had occurred.

Did monsters intrude into the Black Emperor Temple and cause chaos?

If it were an ordinary small temple, it would be fine, but this is the Black Emperor Temple!

Moreover, it's such a large Black Emperor Temple—how could monsters come in and cause trouble? Could this not make people panic?

Many Daoist priests in black robes at the Black Emperor Temple were calming the people; Tang Luo and his group could feel that the incense power had slightly thinned, no longer as thick as before.

"Truly a group of pragmatic believers." Zhu Bajie said with a smile.

"If you can't protect me, I won't believe in you."

The uncertainty of incense power is also why many people do not follow the "Gods' Path."

"But this weakness is utterly insignificant— not even a hair on nine oxen." After picking up a piece of meat with chopsticks, Zhu Bajie continued.

Although the incense power had slightly thinned.

But after a few days, once things calm down for a while, it will surely recover.

To truly weaken these deities, such minor skirmishes are basically useless—effective only against some minor deities.

"Smashing it all would have a significant impact." Tang Luo glanced at the distant grand temple, spoke lightly, a standard troublemaker.

Of course, this is a conservative measure postponed for later.

Zhu Bajie was about to say something more, but suddenly glanced sideways and smiled at a diner on the other side.

That diner frowned strangely, withdrew his gaze, lowered his head to eat, behaving normally.

"What's wrong?" Tang Luo asked.

"He's been staring at us for a while—I don't know who he is." Zhu Bajie said.

"Let's ask after we finish eating." Tang Luo said.

Eat first, then talk after finishing—these dishes taste quite good.

After Zhu Bajie smiled at that diner, the diner sped up his eating and soon stood up to leave.

As he went downstairs, he still subtly glanced at Tang Luo and Zhu Bajie.

After a while, Ao Yulie ran upstairs: "Master."

"Any discoveries?" Tang Luo called the waiter to bring a set of bowls and chopsticks.

Ao Yulie lowered his voice, mysteriously saying: "I've discovered some people who are quite dissatisfied with those deities."

"Cultivators?"

"Yes, just a few cultivators." Ao Yulie said.

"It seems that earlier, that person was thinking he had met like-minded companions?" Zhu Bajie said.

"Earlier?" Ao Yulie asked.

Zhu Bajie briefly recounted the incident.

"Master entrusted this to me!" Ao Yulie clenched his fists, rubbed his palms: "I guarantee I'll get some information out."

"Good, you go with the dog." Tang Luo said.

The Heavenly Howling Dog lying on the table lifted its head, its ears twitched, and jumped onto Ao Yulie's head.

Without doubt, the Heavenly Howling Dog had already memorized that person's scent earlier.

"Then I'm off now." Ao Yulie said.

"Not eating a bit more?" Tang Luo asked.

"No." Ao Yulie felt he also needed to contribute; otherwise, his standing in Master's heart might drop, which would be bad.

After one incense stick's time.

Tang Luo and Zhu Bajie entered the Gray Mist Realm.

Ao Yulie said: "Master, I've found out clearly—some cultivators are dissatisfied with deities lording over them, treating common people like livestock, forbidding them from cultivating, monopolizing everything, and have always been opposing these deities."

"Oh, no wonder—aside from a few Daoists, I haven't seen any other cultivators with ability." Zhu Bajie suddenly understood.

This region has abundant heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, and since it formed from the shattered Mountain-Sea Realm, it should be a fairly complete small world, so there should be quite a few inheritances.

Yet along the way, the number of cultivators seen was sparse—just a handful, all Daoists.

Now we know the root cause.

It's only natural—if there were many cultivators, monsters would no longer be a disaster.

How could incense power then be so prosperous?

"They've formed an organization called the God-Overturning Society, gathering all those dissatisfied with deities to jointly oppose them, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing those deities." Ao Yulie continued.

The Five Directional Heavenly Emperors cannot possibly fully control this world, monopolizing all cultivation methods and severing all inheritances completely.

There will certainly be various cultivation inheritances passed down.

Unexpectedly obtaining some ancient sect's inheritance, or that of a deceased cultivator, has never been anything new.

Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.

"He took your master and you as dissatisfied rogue cultivators against the immortals, thinking you might be related to the recent anomaly at the Black Emperor Temple, or perhaps like-minded people who could be recruited into the God-Slaying Society. He planned to secretly observe you first, but ended up flustered by your second senior brother's laughter and retreated a step." Ao Yulie laughed "hehehe".

So-called rogue cultivators are simply those who, apart from the God-Slaying Society, unexpectedly obtained cultivation inheritances—easy to understand.

As for those Daoists, they are the lackeys of the immortals, irreconcilable enemies.

Part of those Daoists' cultivation comes from the immortals' "bestowal," and another part is from inheritances they obtained themselves and cultivated.

Not every cultivator thinks the immortals are bad and plans to rebel.

Joining the immortals' camp is not unheard of; there are even traitors who were originally in the God-Slaying Society but later defected to the immortals.

The God-Slaying Society's creed is: as long as you fight the immortals, you are all good brothers.

Not "as long as you have cultivation, everyone is good brothers"; recruiting people is not about pulling in just anyone.

"I see." Tang Luo said.

Zhu Bajie said: "It's very similar to the situation with the Li family father and son, Master! I understand! This God-Slaying Society must have been founded by Liu Shenxiang!"

"Yang Jian locked up his mother, and Shenxiang, alone, couldn't handle his uncle, so he found people to gang up on his uncle."

"Makes sense!" Ao Yulie slapped his hand hard.

"Have you asked who the leader of the God-Slaying Society is?" Tang Luo asked.

"I asked, but he won't say." Ao Yulie said, "Master, have you finished eating?"

"Well, I'll ask myself." Tang Luo's figure vanished into the gray mist.

Ao Yulie also "left," and, facing the immobile man before him, earnestly advised: "Look, you've said so much already—why not just tell us who the leader of your God-Slaying Society is too? I, Prince Yulong, am truly not a bad person. You saw what happened at the Black Emperor Temple—that was my master and my second senior brother."

"I'm not targeting that whatever Black Emperor; I'm saying the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors are all trash. If necessary, we can help you overthrow the immortals—but only if you cooperate."

"How am I supposed to trust you?" the man said.

The man before them truly is strong, but strength and trustworthiness are not the same thing.

What if it's a trap?

To those lofty immortals, the God-Slaying Society is not a grave concern, nor does it pose any real major threat.

But their existence makes the immortals quite uncomfortable—understandable as a minor ailment like nasal inflammation or back pain.

If there's a chance, naturally being able to eradicate them completely would be best.

The God-Slaying Society has been struck more than once or twice.

"Look at my sincere eyes, believe me." Ao Yulie said.

"I believe in ghosts!" Luo Ze nearly spat blood, giving a furious glare, "You look down on the Black Emperor so much—if you're capable, go smash the Black Emperor Temple!"

"Sigh..." Ao Yulie sighed, "I truly mean well for you. My master is coming soon, and he's not as easy to talk to as I am. Let me tell you: when my master hits people, it really hurts!"

Luo Ze fell silent.

He realized these people are indeed rogue cultivators dissatisfied with the immortals—no mistake there.

But their minds are problematic; they're not suitable for joining the God-Slaying Society.

"When you're crying from a beating later, don't say Prince Yulong didn't warn you." Ao Yulie said.

Luo Ze closed his eyes completely this time.

"You say smash the Black Emperor Temple and I'll tell you who the leader of the God-Slaying Society is?" Suddenly, he heard a voice.

Luo Ze snapped his eyes open.

He is no ordinary person; despite being on the Black Emperor's territory, he deliberately suppresses himself, but as a cultivator, it doesn't mean he can't detect someone approaching.

When this Prince Yulong seized him earlier, he had sensed it—well, he merely sensed it.

Luo Ze, eyes open, saw two men already standing before him.

One with white hair, one a fat man.

Exactly the ones he had seen and observed at the wine tower.

"Right." Luo Ze steadied his mind, "If..."

"Fine, if you don't speak then, the God-Slaying Society might as well not exist." Tang Luo said, moved his body, and performed the Ghost Shadow Step to leave.

Luo Ze could only see a black shadow flash past, vanishing instantly.

"Black Emperor! Poor monk gives you one last chance—come out, or else your Black Emperor Temple will cease to exist!"

Then Luo Ze heard a loud voice echoing through the clouds.

"... You guys really came?" Luo Ze looked at Ao Yulie, unable to believe it.

To openly provoke the Black Emperor on his own turf with such arrogance—he had never seen such a thing in his life.

"Have you heard those two words 'poor monk'? My master is a monk, I am a monk—monks don't lie." Ao Yulie said, "Saying the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors are trash—they really are trash."

"What the hell! What the hell! Isn't it already died down!"

In the Black Xuan Emperor Palace.

The Black Emperor, whose attention had been fixed on the Black Emperor Temple, saw his face darken, nearly rising from his throne.

He was still pondering who to send to observe and test Tang Xuanzang.

This choice is hard to find—first, it cannot be an "old man," for if an old man is captured, the identities of the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors would be exposed.

Then the advantage of secrecy would be lost.

Second, the strength cannot be weak—if weak, they'd just be delivering themselves as food; facing that monk and his disciples, even mere observation or slight probing requires sufficient strength from a strong expert.

Otherwise, they truly wouldn't even have the qualification to "take a glance."

Before the person could be chosen, Tang Xuanzang suddenly came knocking again?

Not even this much time has passed!

Can't patience not be this poor?

The Black Emperor suddenly realized that home-field advantage wasn't entirely an advantage either — at the very least, their various temples sat right there.

Others could flip them whenever they wanted, and they couldn't even get angry about it.

The monk can run, but the temple can't!