Chapter 124: The Long-Eyed Arhat

A golden "swastika" character illuminated the misty Ox-Head Mountain, and after shattering the giant ox image, a red kasaya several meters long flew out from within the mountain.

Upon seeing this, Hua Changxi's eyes widened; standing or crouching on the kasaya were more than twenty people, nine out of ten of whom must be those trapped in the Soul-Devouring Well.

She had not expected these people to escape so quickly, and seeing that the red kasaya was speeding directly toward her, she said nothing further, immediately mounting her cloud and flying swiftly toward that green river.

Hua Changxi had no desire whatsoever to get entangled with those cultivators; having caused such a massive disturbance, those people would surely be hunted down by the Yellow Ox of Ox-Head Mountain, and she did not wish to be implicated.

"Clang, clang, clang~"

However, the next moment, a round gong emitting white light flew out from Ox-Head Mountain, followed by three consecutive gong strikes that rang through the heavens and entered her ears.

The instant she heard the gong sound, Hua Changxi felt an invisible force strike fiercely at her head three times, causing her unbearable pain; she fell directly from her spiritual cloud, crashing heavily onto a street where cultivators gathered to trade.

The cultivators trading on the street were also attacked; some clutched their heads in agony, while others, like Hua Changxi, lay prostrate on the ground, everyone suffering immense pain.

Hua Changxi lay on the ground for several minutes before her mind ceased to be a blank slate and she could think slightly; by then, the others on the street had gradually recovered, followed by overwhelming panic.

"Not good, Ox-Head Mountain has sounded the Soul Gong; everyone hurry inside to take shelter."

"When the Soul Gong sounds, close your doors."

"Everyone run quickly!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Before Hua Changxi could even rise from the ground, the trading street, once crowded with people, was empty; everyone had taken shelter in the nearest buildings and bolted their doors tight.

Looking at the street that had instantly become deserted, Hua Changxi realized danger was approaching; gritting her teeth, she staggered to her feet and walked toward the nearest house.

"Bang, bang, bang~"

Hua Changxi knocked continuously on several houses, but no one opened the door for her.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi laughed self-mockingly; she had been implicated because she saved those cultivators from the Soul-Devouring Well, yet now that she needed help, no one lent a hand.

Just as she regretted having acted to save others, a black dog suddenly appeared on the street; the black dog held a black robe in its mouth and threw it before Hua Changxi.

"You are the person Ox-Head Mountain seeks to capture; no one dares save you. This is a dharma robe that blocks spiritual sense detection. The ghost officers will arrive shortly; put this on and flee immediately."

After speaking these words, the black dog spontaneously combusted; it was a dog folded from talisman paper.

Seeing the black robe, the surging, boiling resentment rising in Hua Changxi's heart subsided somewhat; she quickly stepped forward, picked up the robe, condensed a fire lotus in her hand, and roasted the robe thoroughly. Finding nothing amiss, she finally draped it over herself.

"Thank you, fellow daoist, for your assistance."

The black dog had appeared out of thin air; not knowing who had sent her the black robe, she could only offer thanks to the empty street before stumbling away into the mist far from the illumination of the skeleton lanterns.

She knew danger lurked within the mist, yet this was the only place she could hide.

"Rustle~"

Just as Hua Changxi's figure vanished into the gray fog, the sound of iron chains grinding against the ground rang out on the street; soon, two fierce men holding iron claw-chains and two holding white whips appeared.

The standard equipment of the Ghost Market's ghost officers: Soul-Hooking Claws, Soul-Shaving Whips, and Soul-Locking Shackles.

Clearly, these four men were all ghost officers of the Ghost Market.

Since the ghost officers possessed no spiritual power, Hua Changxi could not detect them in advance by sensing spiritual fluctuations; she could only rely on the sound of footsteps and the grinding of iron chains to narrowly evade them within the mist.

Fortunately, with every realm advancement, the acuity of the five senses improved by one level; furthermore, since she was cultivating her body, she could not only hear extremely subtle sounds but also smell the cold aura emanating from the ghost officers.

Each time she evaded a fierce man, Hua Changxi would silently thank that unknown cultivator who had given her the black robe; without it, she would have been a moving target in this Ghost Market.

Attacks on the divine soul were hard to guard against; even though the Zhu Que fire possessed some harmful power against the people of the Ghost Market, if too many people surrounded her, or if a powerhouse like the Yellow Ox was drawn out, she would not be able to hold out for long.

For some time afterward, Hua Changxi played a terrified game of hide-and-seek with the ghost officers in the thick fog.

Of course, she was not entirely passive.

The ghost officers were not all grouped together; some were alone, giving her an opportunity to kill them.

However, she chose not to act; at this moment, she simply wished to leave the Ghost Market as quickly as possible, for killing ghost officers would easily expose her.

Yet, when she finally managed to reach the green river, she found ghost officers everywhere along the riverbank; the wooden bridge for crossing had already been secured by them.

Hua Changxi's heart sank; she had considered flying directly over the green river on her cloud, but looking at the eerie green water, her instincts warned her of danger, preventing her from acting rashly.

With dozens of ghost officers guarding the wooden bridge, holding either iron chain-claws or iron whips, and seeing that she could not cross the river, she took action upon encountering another lone ghost officer.

Hua Changxi first "accidentally" revealed herself in the fog, luring the lone ghost officer into an isolation array she had set up, then immediately unleashed the fire lotus, trapping the ghost officer within it.

The fire lotus could not burn the ghost officers; only the Zhu Que flames spat by the fire bird could incinerate them.

Once the Zhu Que flames attached to the ghost officer, white smoke began to rise from their body; it took several full minutes of burning before the ghost officer completely turned to ash.

The reason it took so long, Hua Changxi knew, was that her soul power was too weak; she simply could not unleash the soul-destroying might of the Zhu Que flames.

Hua Changxi stepped forward to pick up the iron chain-claw dropped by the ghost officer; with the iron chain-claw, she could actively hunt ghost officers without revealing herself.

"Thump~"

The iron chain-claw could hook Hua Changxi's soul form, and it could also hook a ghost officer's; she hooked a lone ghost officer, dragged him into the isolation array, and then subjected him to the burning of the Zhu Que flames.

This time, she obtained another silver-white iron whip.

Thanks to the isolation array, the screaming sounds of the ghost officers being burned to death by the Zhu Que flames did not escape; thus, Hua Changxi, wielding the iron chain-claw, burned ten ghost officers to death, acquiring four iron claw-chains, four iron whips, and two iron shackles.

Just as Hua Changxi was absorbing spirit stones to replenish her spiritual energy, that red kasaya appeared again, speeding rapidly through the mid-air; then, a white arrow shot out from Ox-Head Mountain, striking the kasaya with precision and knocking it down.

"Thump~"

Hearing the sound of a heavy object landing nearby, Hua Changxi did not go to investigate; instead, she immediately retreated in the opposite direction.

She had not run far when two ghost officers descended silently from the sky, coming face-to-face with Hua Changxi.

These two ghost officers were even taller than those she had encountered before, estimated at three to four meters high; startled, Hua Changxi had no time to set up an isolation array and directly flung out the fire lotus, trapping the two ghost officers within it.

As soon as the fire bird appeared, the two ghost officers sensed the danger; one of them raised a white bone hanging around his neck to his lips, preparing to blow.

At that moment, two golden "swastika" characters flew into the fire lotus, instantly smashing the two ghost officers into fragments.

"Amitabha!"

A middle-aged monk, draped in a kasaya with eyebrows flying straight back to his temples, walked out from the gray fog.

Hua Changxi looked at him with some wariness, retreating several steps to increase the distance between them.

Seeing this, the middle-aged monk smiled, stepped forward, and picked up the white bone from the ground: "This is a soul-bone whistle; does the benefactor not want it?"

Hua Changxi: "You killed the ghost officers, so naturally the things belong to you."

Hearing this, the middle-aged monk smiled again: "Thank you, benefactor, for stepping in to save us earlier in the Soul-Devouring Well."

Hua Changxi stated directly: "I now regret saving you."

The middle-aged monk laughed: "Benefactor, your act of saving us stemmed from the kindness in your heart; if you regret it, then you regret only yourself for having shown that kindness."

Unwilling to debate with the monk, Hua Changxi asked: "How did you manage to escape so quickly?"

The middle-aged monk thanked her again: "It was all thanks to the Spirit-Resolving Pills and the healing elixirs you left behind."

Hua Changxi still felt their actions were too fast, but she was too lazy to press further: "Just now, Great Master, you also killed two ghost officers for me; let us consider ourselves even." With that, she turned to leave.

Seeing this, the middle-aged monk hurriedly called out to her: "Benefactor, wait! This poor monk is..."

Hua Changxi cut him off: "We are but strangers meeting by chance; there is no need to exchange names."

Seeing Hua Changxi's obvious desire to rid herself of him, the middle-aged monk could only say: "If you wish to leave this place, doing so alone may not be possible."

These words indeed made Hua Changxi halt; she knew too little about the Ghost Market and feared stumbling into traps unknown to her, yet she did not fully trust his claim: "What does Great Master mean?"

The middle-aged monk replied: "This poor monk is an Arhat from Xiangguo Temple; you may call me Longmei."

Seeing that his disclosure of his sect left the other party utterly indifferent, Arhat Longmei was somewhat stunned: "...Crossing the Nine Nether River can only be done via the wooden bridge, but now that bridge is guarded by ghost officers; crossing will be very difficult."

Hua Changxi remained silent; she could not expose her ignorance, for once others realized she knew nothing about the Ghost Market, she might be manipulated or controlled.

The Nine Nether River must be that green river.

Seeing no reaction from Hua Changxi, Arhat Longmei added: "If one cannot cross the river, remaining stranded in the Ghost Market is also untenable; Huang Mang will soon employ the Mirror of the Pass to search for us."

Hua Changxi finally reacted: "Not 'us,' but 'you.' That yellow ox knows nothing of my existence."

Arhat Longmei laughed: "I fear you are mistaken, benefactor. Barring any unexpected developments, Huang Mang's first target in his search should be you."

Hua Changxi furrowed her brows: "Is Great Master trying to intimidate me?"

Arhat Longmei shook his head, his expression serious: "It seems you do not know what the demon races fear most. What they dread above all are the powerful humans who have inherited the Will of the Four Spirits."

"The Four Spirits suppress the myriad demons; they are the existence most feared by the demon races. And you, benefactor, within the Soul-Devouring Well, unleashed the Zhu Que Flame, leaving behind the aura of Zhu Que."

Hua Changxi was shaken inwardly, yet outwardly she maintained an air of disbelief: "With so many cultivators in the Ghost Market, I do not believe he can identify me."

Arhat Longmei said: "The dharma robe on your body can defend against ordinary spiritual sense probes, but it cannot withstand the Mirror of the Pass."

Seeing Hua Changxi's wavering expression, Arhat Longmei directly removed the kasaya from his body: "This poor monk's kasaya bears Buddhist script defenses; it can help you cross the Nine Nether River."

Hua Changxi asked: "What does Great Master want me to do?"

Arhat Longmei pressed his palms together: "Amitabha. This poor monk wishes to ask you to ferry the others who escaped from the Soul-Devouring Well across the river as well. Rest assured, benefactor; while you cross, I will stay behind to cover your retreat, ensuring you all cross safely."

Hua Changxi asked: "Why do you not lead them across yourself?"

Arhat Longmei smiled: "This poor monk was just struck by a Soul-Devouring Arrow; even if I crossed the river, I would not live much longer. It is better to do something useful instead."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Being hit by a Soul-Devouring Arrow means one cannot survive?"

Arhat Longmei replied: "If a fifth-grade Alchemist were to appear immediately, perhaps this poor monk could be saved, but... nowadays even a second-grade Alchemist is hard to find; where could one possibly find a fifth-grade Alchemist?"

Hua Changxi asked: "Is Great Master not from Xiangguo Temple? Could you not seek aid from the Imperial Court? Surely the Imperial Court possesses high-grade Alchemists?"

Arhat Longmei shook his head: "As far as this poor monk knows, the most skilled Alchemist in the Imperial Court can only refine third-grade spirit pills."

The Imperial Court indeed possesses profound foundations, but alchemists require spirit plants to refine pills. Several hundred years ago, the Great Jin did indeed see the gradual emergence of a number of blessed lands and grotto-heavens, yet limited by the density of spiritual energy, high-grade spirit plants could not grow there.

Without spirit plants of the corresponding grade, how can one possibly refine spirit pills of that same grade?

Hua Changxi could not gauge the truth of Arhat Longmei's words; although she indeed sensed no malice from him, she still hesitated over whether to cooperate.

Just then, amidst the dim, misty haze, a skeleton radiating brilliant white light materialized, followed by the massive soul-shadow of a giant ox.

As soon as the skeleton and the giant ox appeared, they dispersed the gray fog, instantly greatly improving visibility.

"Not good! Huang Mang has summoned Lady White Bone."

Arhat Longmei's complexion changed drastically; holding the kasaya, he approached Hua Changxi, placed it directly into her hands, and told her the incantation to control it. Then, he removed the bodhi prayer beads from around his neck:

"When you leave, benefactor, if you have the time, please return this poor monk's bodhi beads to Xiangguo Temple. If they can be enshrined before the Buddha, then this poor monk's journey through this world will not have been in vain."

Without waiting for Hua Changxi to react, he immediately soared forth to confront Lady White Bone and Huang Mang.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi hurriedly asked: "Great Master, you have not yet told me where the others are!"

Hearing her question, a smile surfaced in Arhat Longmei's eyes: "Take the kasaya to the riverside, benefactor, and someone will naturally come out to meet you."

"Remember, in the future when entering the Ghost Market, do not come to the Gen Gate side again."

With that, he departed without looking back.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi looked at the kasaya in her hand, gritted her teeth, and rode her cloud toward the riverbank.

"Boom~"

A dozens-of-meters-tall Arhat spirit shadow, overflowing with golden light, illuminated the sky, dispersing the mist and haze for dozens of li in every direction.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi trembled.

The Arhat spirit shadow positioned itself before Lady White Bone and Huang Mang, and the two sides faced off.

Hua Changxi took one glance before continuing her flight toward the river; as soon as she neared the bank, more than ten people rushed out from various directions.

Some of these people wielded iron chain claws, others iron whips; clearly, they had already engaged the ghost officers in combat.

"Whoosh~"

Hua Changxi flung open the kasaya; it billowed and expanded with the wind. Without Hua Changxi needing to say a word, those people swiftly boarded the kasaya.

"Is anyone else coming?"

Hua Changxi asked once; seeing no one respond, she waited a moment longer, and soon several more cultivators arrived in succession.

By this time, the ghost officers had spotted them and were rushing toward this location.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi waited no longer; controlling the kasaya, she prepared to fly across the green river, which spanned several hundred meters in width.

Just as the kasaya flew over the green river, Arhat Longmei erupted into fierce battle with Lady White Bone and Huang Mang; the combat was so intense that the very air seemed to tremble.

"Great Master Longmei... he has ignited his Golden Core."

The figure on the kasaya wept.

"Master Changmei acted to save us."

Hua Changxi glanced at them, saying nothing, her expression grave as she gazed down at the Green River below.

Upon the kasaya, golden 'wan' characters materialized one by one; under their suppression, the Green River, which had begun to churn and boil, grew slightly calmer.

"Nether Dragon, strike!"

Lady White Bone's shrill voice rang out, and the next moment, the Green River surged once more.

"Crash~"

A long green dragon, coalesced from the emerald waters, slowly emerged.

Seeing the green dragon, Hua Changxi's heart skipped a beat; trapped upon the Green River, unable to advance or retreat, she broke out in a cold sweat from anxiety.

Just then, she saw the spectral giant hand of Arhat Changmei striking toward Lady White Bone.

Upon witnessing this, Hua Changxi's expression brightened; as the green dragon attacked, spiritual light blazed from her right hand, sending forth an illusory spiritual hand that grew larger and larger, crashing down upon the green dragon like a mountain range.

Seeing the giant hand, the green dragon initially paid it no mind, charging straight at it; yet only when its head collided with the hand did it discover that a 'wan' character was carved upon each of the five fingers.

"Boom~"

The tremendous impact of the green dragon colliding with the giant hand resonated simultaneously with Arhat Changmei's final strike against Lady White Bone and Huang Mang.

The violent shock made heaven and earth tremble.