Chapter 372: Chapter 265: Ridiculous! So Damn Ridiculous

’How strange!’

Facing Qing Xin, Yang An wondered to himself, ’How did this guy show up here?’

If he were to answer, his voice would likely be recognized by Qing Xin. So, he simply pointed to his mouth and then waved his hand dismissively.

Qing Xin’s brow furrowed for a moment, but his expression quickly smoothed over.

Maimed or mute individuals were not uncommon among Cultivators. Such conditions were usually the result of paying a price for power and were hardly a rare sight.

’It doesn’t matter if he can’t speak. I can’t find any other living Cultivators right now. I finally found one, so I absolutely cannot let him go.’

"Patron, do not be afraid. This humble monk merely has a deal to discuss with you. Would you be so kind as to come with me?"

’A deal?’

Qing Xin had no intention of being polite. He called it a deal, but his tone was a command, leaving no room for refusal.

Yang An was all too familiar with the disposition of these people.

Since Qing Xin hadn’t recognized his identity, he was treating him like an ordinary Cultivator. It was obvious he was up to no good, trying to take him away. And in a place like this... Yang An guessed Qing Xin’s intentions almost instantly.

’He definitely wants to use me as a pathfinder!’

Refusing was out of the question. Right now... there was only one option: run!

A massive burst of light flared from Yang An’s body as he used the Light and Shadow Escape Technique to instantly teleport a kilometer away.

In front of Qing Xin, he couldn’t reveal any abilities related to his identity as the Buddha’s Son, including Buddhist Sect techniques like the Buddha’s Radiant Wheel or the Great Brightness Buddha Golden Zen Spell.

Using these techniques might give him away, but he didn’t need to hold back with any of his other abilities.

Relying on the Light and Shadow Escape Technique, Yang An rapidly put distance between himself and Qing Xin. In the blink of an eye, Qing Xin was out of sight.

But several kilometers away, the sky filled with a Scripture Mantra, which instantly coalesced into a gigantic palm that descended from above, locking onto Yang An.

Qing Xin’s figure appeared in front of him in a flash.

"Amitabha! Patron, you’d best come with this humble monk obediently!"

Yang An remained silent. The giant palm slammed down, but he had already used the Light and Shadow Escape Technique again to change direction, reappearing a kilometer away.

But just then, a mysterious Sanskrit character suddenly appeared on his body, and Qing Xin materialized behind him in the blink of an eye.

"No-Self Void Smell, Great Compassion Palm!"

A sky full of Scripture Mantra appeared and surged toward him.

A blinding light abruptly erupted from Yang An’s body—a fusion of white, cyan, and Golden Radiance that exploded in an instant.

’Chase me?’

’You die!’

The light instantly engulfed Qing Xin, annihilating the surrounding Scripture Mantra.

A kilometer away, Yang An’s figure flickered into existence again. He glanced back at the lingering radiance before swiftly vanishing once more.

He knew this attack probably wouldn’t be enough to kill Qing Xin, so it was best to leave as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Qing Xin’s figure reappeared several hundred meters away. He was charred black from head to toe. His monk’s robes and Kasaya had been reduced to ash, and most of the flesh on his body had melted away in that instant, revealing stark white bone.

He watched as the massive, sun-like radiance destroyed everything it touched before rapidly dissipating.

"A Light Category... Forbidden Technique!"

Qing Xin’s charred face was incapable of showing any expression, but his heart was filled with utter shock.

’To think that the one guy I finally run into would be a practitioner of a Light Forbidden Technique. What rotten luck!’

’Once a Light Forbidden Technique is used, as expected, the user will likely die from the backlash before long. There’s no need to chase him anymore.’

His melted flesh regenerated rapidly, returning to its original state within the span of a single breath. Qing Xin’s expression turned grim.

He could be certain that the Cultivators who had entered the Immortal Origin Land were mostly dead. Any who survived had probably already left.

To survive under such a bizarre Power of Rules, one’s only hope was to stay on the outskirts, where its influence was weakest.

He had been searching for a long time without finding any living Cultivators. The one he finally managed to find was a suicidal fool who practiced a Light Forbidden Technique.

This complicated things.

Without someone to use, the plan couldn’t be executed. They wouldn’t be able to enter the altar in the depths and retrieve the Forbidden Artifact Fragment within.

At this thought, Qing Xin’s resolve hardened.

’If I can’t get the Forbidden Artifact Fragment, then no one can.’

He raised his hand. One by one, bloody finger bones burst through the flesh of his fingertips and flew out.

"I can no longer find anyone to carry out the plan. Retreat from the Immortal Origin Land immediately and destroy the entrance!"

He imbued the finger bones with this message. A Scripture Mantra emerged, enveloping the bones, which then shot from his hand in different directions to notify the other Zen Masters.

Having done this, Qing Xin headed toward the entrance on the outskirts without hesitation.

Even if he couldn’t get the Forbidden Artifact Fragment, many Zombie God Great Demon Fiends had entered the Immortal Origin Land. If he could trap these Demon Fiends here until the next time the entrance opened, it would still be a great accomplishment.

’Let these Demon Fiends slowly wear themselves out against the Power of Rules here.’

’With these Great Demon Fiends trapped here, the Demon Fiends in the Four Buddha States outside will be leaderless—ripe for a decisive strike!’

...

Yang An used the Light and Shadow Escape Technique repeatedly, traveling nearly a hundred li before finally stopping. Seeing that no one was pursuing him, he allowed himself a slight gasp for breath.

’That old bald donkey Qing Xin actually didn’t follow me. That’s unexpected.’

’It’s good that he didn’t give chase. The Concealment Seal on my body isn’t fully removed, and Bow Lady isn’t with me. A real fight with Qing Xin would have been a huge hassle.’

Besides, Qing Xin wasn’t the only one who had entered the Immortal Origin Land; there were many other Zen Masters. If he had attracted their attention, it would have been difficult to escape while besieged by numerous Zombie Gods.

He was safe for now, but...

He glanced around. ’Where am I?’

He had fled so quickly without paying attention to his direction that he had no idea where he was in the Immortal Origin Land.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with no sign of any living creature. A sudden chill ran down Yang An’s spine. He spun around and looked down, only to see that he was standing on a massive altar.

Eight thick pillars stood around the altar. A constant stream of blood flowed from each pillar, falling into the crevices on the altar’s surface.

At the center of the altar lay an irregular, palm-sized object that looked like an ordinary piece of scrap iron.

The Forbidden Artifact Fragment!!

Yang An recognized it at a glance, and his heart jolted.

But the moment he saw it, alarm bells screamed in his mind, and a sense of immense danger washed over him.

’For a Forbidden Artifact Fragment to be here... doesn’t that mean I’ve stumbled right into the core of this place by accident?’

’In that case...’

WHOOSH!

Yang An’s figure instantly flashed a kilometer away. Just as he used the Light and Shadow Escape Technique to leave his spot, an earth-shattering sound erupted as a colossal shadow descended from the sky, blotting out the sun.

It was covered in heavy armor and stood a hundred zhang tall. Its two massive arms alone were as intimidating as mountains, and on its back was a pair of long steel wings fitted with two gigantic turbines.

"Crap! Don’t tell me that’s a Titan?!"

The massive steel figure’s landing alone caused the earth to crack and mountains to crumble, creating a monumental impact.

A cold sweat immediately beaded on Yang An’s forehead, his expression one of utter disbelief.