Chapter 150: The Destruction of the Hanging Temple

The farce came as quickly as it went.

Everyone returned to the estate, accompanied by Li Chufeng.

He had heard of the Mud Bodhisattva's reputation. Upon learning that the latter had arrived in the city, he naturally sought an acquaintance. Through a few casual encounters, they grew familiar and he learned of Zhou Tian's terrifyingly high cultivation aptitude.

Later, when Yi Tianyan arrived, after a thorough exchange, Li Chufeng was struck with awe: this young man actually possessed the ability to peer into the future.

The three of them frequently gathered to discuss mysterious and profound matters.

As time passed, Liu Ruyan and the others successively found this place, leaving him even more deeply shocked: How could the world produce so many monstrously talented individuals?

He was truly astonished.

Even more unbelievable was that with his mastery of divination, he could scarcely glimpse the future of these few people, which only deepened his desire to forge friendships with them.

And today, that connection came in handy.

In the living room, everyone took their seats as maids served tea.

"I once calculated that a great calamity would descend upon the future. Feeling a sense of foreboding, I joined forces with Daoist Yuan to divine its nature, and it appears a world-destroying catastrophe is approaching, not far off now. Today, the Master offered his guidance as well, which confirms it beyond a doubt," Li Chufeng said with utmost gravity. He paused, glanced at Jiang Ming and the others, and weighed his words carefully, "Fate is profound and unpredictable, yet it leaves traces to follow. And yet, there are always those in this world—whether favored by destiny or overlooked by it—whose paths remain erratic and impossible to peer into. To occasionally find one such person is understandable, but you people..."

"I can see through none of you!"

"This completely defies reason!"

"Could the future calamity be related to you?"

With a grit of his teeth, he finally spoke his mind.

Jiang Ming narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself: As expected, clever people are everywhere.

As for the Daoist Yuan the man mentioned, it was undoubtedly Yuan Tiangang.

Given the achievements of these two, appearing in such a world now, their divination skills were certainly no weaker than the Mud Bodhisattva's, and their cultivation levels were even higher.

The Li Chufeng before them was already in the Terrestrial Immortal realm, having likely broken through just a few years ago.

Yet, a Terrestrial Immortal he truly was, standing firmly at the pinnacle of the mortal world—something the Mud Bodhisattva could never hope to match in that regard.

His thoughts then turned to the Master, who was truly a terrifying figure.

Though separated by ten thousand miles, the commotion here was entirely clear to him. How utterly inconceivable, completely defying all logic.

The Eighth Realm?

Based on his understanding, the Eighth Realm possessed no such capability.

Beyond the Eighth Realm?

Jiang Ming was uncertain.

Yet if it surpassed the Eighth Realm, it would cease to make sense.

After all, this was meant to be a trial ground forged for them, not a slaughterhouse meant for their execution.

"Regardless of whether it is related to us or not, the future calamity is already set in stone. What we must do now is concentrate all our strength to prepare for battle," Jiang Ming said unhurriedly. "When I arrived in Chang'an, I found the military preparedness here lax, without the slightest hint of readiness. Do you truly believe the Chang'an Grand Array can withstand everything? Do you truly believe the Master can suppress the entire world?"

"This..." Li Chufeng fell silent.

"I saw a sea of blood—blood covering countless millions of miles of mountains and rivers," Yi Tianyan said calmly. "I saw many mighty figures plummeting from the sky..."

Pausing, he looked at Li Chufeng and said in a deep voice, "As early as more than half a year ago, I warned you. Unfortunately, until now, I have seen no changes made by the Great Tang. You have been at peace for too long, you have sat high above for too long, and you have been protected by the Master for too long. Have you never considered what would happen if the Master were to fall?"

"If the Master falls, what meaning would any amount of preparation have?" Li Chufeng gave a bitter smile.

"You too have foreseen the future calamity. What does that signify?" Jiang Ming continued. "At the very least, the Master will be held back."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Li Chufeng's expression stiffened.

Just then, Jiang Ming stood up, gazing into the distance with a slightly solemn expression. He sensed a familiar aura entering Chang'an City, though it was erratic and unstable.

"Ren Tianxing is here. Something must have gone wrong—I'll go fetch him!" As the words fell, everyone saw him take a single step, and his figure vanished without a trace.

"This footwork..." Li Chufeng was greatly alarmed.

It was so fast that even he could not react in time.

Zhou Tian and the others stood up one after another, solemn expressions on their faces. Just as they were about to pursue, they saw Jiang Ming already returning.

And he had brought Ren Tianxing with him.

Only, at this moment, the fellow was in a truly wretched state.

His hair was disheveled, his robes tattered, stained with spots of blood.

His face was pale, and he was panting heavily, extremely weak.

"Damn it, I almost kicked the bucket!" Ren Tianxing took a fierce gasp of air, grabbed the nearest teacup, and drained it in a single gulp. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief before plopping down into a seat.

"What happened?" Jiang Ming asked. "With your speed, if you almost kicked the bucket, you must have run into a Terrestrial Immortal."

That guy's speed was peerless under heaven.

Moving with divine foot-speed, even Jiang Ming had once struggled to keep up with him back then. Now that his cultivation was even greater, he was in an even more battered state.

He must have encountered a formidable enemy.

"Jiang Ming, Ye Bai and the other two are trapped at the Suspended Temple. Hurry up and save them, or if you're too late, you'll only be collecting their corpses," Ren Tianxing blurted out.

"The Suspended Temple? Ye Bai and the others clashed with them?" Jiang Ming frowned.

He was well aware that within the territory of the Great Tang, there were three unknowable places: the Academy, the Suspended Temple, and the Back Mountain of the Haotian Taoism.

"With Ye Bai's strength, even if he couldn't win, escaping shouldn't have been a problem, right?" Chen Bei asked.

"The Suspended Temple is immensely powerful. If they were trapped there, it's entirely plausible," Zhou Tian countered. "Since they're already trapped, a little more time won't hurt. Brother Ren, tell us in detail what happened. If they really are enemies, we'll go flatten the Suspended Temple!"

Beside them, Li Chufeng felt a chill run through his heart.

Ye Hongyu narrowed her eyes.

"Tell us the details. With Ye Bai's strength, wanting to die is difficult. Just as Brother Zhou said, a little time doesn't matter!" Jiang Ming said as well.

The others all wore curious expressions.

In reality, however, they were not overly worried.

According to their deductions, even death in this world would not mean true demise.

After all, they were all peerless geniuses.

"Brother Ye is truly miserable, running into unprincipled friends like you lot!" Ren Tianxing couldn't help laughing, and only then did he begin explaining the cause. "I heard the news that within the territory of Great Wu, a peerless expert named Jiang Ming slew a Terrestrial Immortal and simultaneously defeated two others, shaking the entire world. Then came word that this suddenly emerged peerless expert Jiang Ming was heading to Chang'an of the Great Tang to challenge the Master. Hahahaha, the moment I heard that, I knew it was a signal telling us to gather in Chang'an!"

Jiang Ming shot Zhou Tian a look of exasperation.

Zhou Tian grinned sheepishly. "I was the one who had the news spread. Only by broadcasting word of slaying a Terrestrial Immortal and challenging the Master could the news sweep across the world so quickly!"

"And I kept saying Brother Jiang couldn't possibly slay a Terrestrial Immortal so soon," Ren Tianxing remarked. "Turns out I was right!"

"Right my foot!" Zhou Tian scoffed. "Aside from challenging the Master, were the rest of the reports true?"

"It's... it's really true?" Ren Tianxing's eyes widened. "How long has it been, and he's already slain a Terrestrial Immortal?"

"He killed more than just one or two!" Chen Bei added.

"Holy shit, that's insanely badass!" Ren Tianxing gasped in astonishment.

Li Chufeng's pupils shrank to pinpricks.

He finally understood completely why these people showed not the slightest bit of fear earlier outside the estate, even when Grandmaster Yan Se appeared.

Because they had backing!

"I'm impressed!" Ren Tianxing couldn't help giving a thumbs up.

"Alright, alright, hurry up and tell us. Do you want Ye Bai and the others to die of old age waiting?" Ran Xin urged.

Ren Tianxing hurriedly continued his account.

Upon hearing the news, he had cultivated on the move while hurrying toward the territory of the Great Tang.

Along the way, he ran into Luo Feng, and the two traveled together. As they approached Chang'an, they sensed Ye Bai's aura.

A Holy Body was simply too unique.

When the two of them rushed over, they discovered Ye Bai engaged in a fierce battle against a group of monks—a full-out, no-holds-barred life-or-death struggle.

"Jun Qiye was there too!" Ren Tianxing panted, speeding up his narrative. "They were facing a Terrestrial Immortal and several Heavenly Man experts, backed by a Buddhist grand array. The battle shook the heavens and earth, staining the mountains and rivers with blood. When the two of us arrived, we naturally joined the fray. Just as we were about to wipe them all out, another Terrestrial Immortal appeared, along with even more Buddhist powerhouses, who deployed a peerless grand array and trapped us!"

"Jun Qiye unleashed a terrifying Underworld Ghost Domain, transforming it into a domain to hold them off, but if this drags on, it will inevitably be breached!"

"After deliberating, Ye Bai forcefully tore open a corner of the Buddhist array with overwhelming might, and I seized the opportunity to break out and fetch reinforcements!"

"As a result, I took a palm strike and almost lost my life!"

"And so, I rushed over here in a panic!"

Ren Tianxing spilled the entire situation in one breath.

"Ye Bai, Jun Qiye, Luo Feng—you guys joined forces and still got trapped?" Jiang Ming frowned. "Even with a grand array, that shouldn't happen!"

"You think everyone is a freak like you?!" Chen Bei retorted unhappily.

"Brother Jiang, you're simply an exception," Ran Xin agreed wholeheartedly.

Along their journey here, they had come to know just how terrifying Jiang Ming truly was.

He defied the heavens.

"How did they end up crossing paths with the Suspended Temple in the first place?" Jiang Ming asked.

"I don't know, didn't have time to ask. Anyway, it's a blood feud now," Ren Tianxing spread his hands. "Brother Jiang, what do we do?"

"What else is there to do? Naturally, we wipe them out!" Jiang Ming huffed. "I'll head over first, and you guys follow behind. Sound good?"

"Sounds good!" Chen Bei wore a savage grin. "Daring to mess with our brothers means they get exterminated, leave none alive!"

"The Suspended Temple—an unknowable place? Then let's make it truly unknowable forever!" Liu Ruyan's killing intent coalesced.

"Kill!" Zhou Tian was even more decisive.

"Alright, I'll take my leave first!" After inquiring about the general direction, Jiang Ming used the "Earth-shrinking into an inch" and "Heaven at hand" movement techniques, stepping directly out of Chang'an City and speeding toward their destination.

"Brother Yi, Classmate Liu, Classmate Ran, Brother Ren, Classmate Bai—the five of you stay behind. Me, Classmate Wang, and Chen Bei will head over!" Zhou Tian began arranging the roster.

"Looking down on us?" Bai Bing let out a cold huff. "Classmate Zhou, you weren't my match back then, and you might not be my match now either!"

"I excel at area-of-effect attacks," Liu Ruyan said.

"I excel at instant kills," Ran Xin glanced at him with disdain. "I can wipe you out with a single look!"

Zhou Tian was speechless.

"Fine, go if you want!" Zhou Tian sighed in resignation, then looked toward Li Chufeng. "Daoist Brother Li, I leave the Tianwu Estate in your care. Mud Bodhisattva, Ye Hongyu, hold down the fort here; we'll be right back!"

"I want to go take a look too!" Ye Hongyu smiled. "The Suspended Temple—that's an unknowable place. I'd love to see if you guys can really flatten it."

She was the type who loved stirring up trouble.

Especially regarding the Suspended Temple, which she had long wanted to see destroyed.

Only, she hadn't been able to do it!

Li Chufeng frowned. "The great calamity is approaching. Can't we unite against a common foe?"

"Daoist Friend Li," the Mud Bodhisattva smiled. "Fate is wondrous. Perhaps this battle holds a glimmer of a turning point!"

"That is the Suspended Temple, home to countless experts and numerous grand arrays capable of unleashing terrifyingly destructive power," Li Chufeng said gravely. "No matter who wins or loses this battle, for us, it is a loss!"

Chen Bei gave him a cold glance and turned to leave.

"Daoist Brother Li, this is our affair. I hope the Great Tang does not interfere!" Zhou Tian's voice grew several degrees colder.

Liu Ruyan and the others also cast cold glances at him before walking out one after another.

Li Chufeng offered a bitter smile, let out a sigh, and abandoned any further attempts at persuasion.

On the grassland, beside the great river.

A fierce wind swept across, yet it failed to move the small ox-cart and tent.

Sitting there was a white-haired and white-bearded old man, looking with dissatisfaction at the young man cooking nearby: "Slow down, I'm about to starve to death."

"Master, it'll be ready soon," the young man replied in a placid tone.

"You've been at it for nearly an hour," the old man urged further. "If you don't hurry up, the fight over there will already be over."

The young man paused. "Master, you're not going to intervene?"

"Hmph, those destined to die cannot be saved!" The old man shook his head, gazing into the sky as he muttered softly, "Unfathomable, utterly unfathomable! In the past... and now... tangled into a complete mess."

"Eat meat, eat meat!"

"Eating it while it's hot—that's true enjoyment!"

The old man chuckled merrily once more.

"It's almost done!"

"I don't want to hear 'almost,' I want to eat right now!"

...

Like a shooting star chasing the moon, swift as wind and lightning.

Jiang Ming's speed reached the ultimate extreme, cutting through the sky like a meteor, his feet treading the pathways of space as if teleporting.

At the same time, he pushed his perception to the limit so as not to miss anything.

With a thought, he also reviewed his personal status.

Martial Dao Qi Cultivation: Sixth Realm of Heavenly Phenomena.
Having reached the absolute peak of the peak.

Body Refining Path: Seventh Revolution Peak.
Terrifyingly powerful.

Divine Dao Cultivation: Seventh Stage Peak.

Talents: Hundredfold Comprehension, Soul Sovereign, Nirvana Rebirth, Master of Space, Favored by Destiny, Infinite Genes, Immunity to All Poisons.

"My martial cultivation can step into the Seventh Realm at any moment, and my combat power will skyrocket once again!"

"With the Nirvana Rebirth talent, coupled with my genetic evolution, the Eighth Realm won't be able to stump me either."

"As for my Divine Dao cultivation? With a bit of consolidation, I can step into the Eighth Stage whenever I please!"

"With my current strength, suppressing a Terrestrial Immortal is no difficult task!"

"If I were to encounter Emperor Shitian again, even in a head-on clash, I could easily blast him to pieces!"

"However, the Suspended Temple..."

Jiang Ming frowned.

Able to be listed alongside the Academy's Second Story as one of the three unknowable places, it was bound to be extraordinary.

"Just the right time to use them to test what level my true combat power has reached!"

Jiang Ming's blood boiled, his battle intent surging.

His killing intent grew even denser.

He paused his steps, veered to the side, and headed toward another direction.

This was a desolate wasteland.

A thousand miles of desert, ten thousand miles devoid of human life.

Howling sands swept through the air, yellow gales obscuring the heavens—a scene of bleak desolation.

There were barely even any flying birds.

Yet Jiang Ming's gaze suddenly locked onto a giant Buddha, as massive as a mountain, buried deep within an abyss with only its head exposed.

It was located in a massive basin.

Buddhist light flickered, and a towering intent to kill pierced the heavens.

The giant Buddha had been carved directly out of a mountain face.

At this moment, the sounds of battle echoed deafeningly from that direction.

Within moments, Jiang Ming arrived at the scene, just in time to see Ye Bai burning with Holy Blood, shrouded in divine light, yet crying out in grief and agony.

Slung across his back was the unconscious form of Jun Qiye.

Luo Feng was fighting desperately at the rear.