Inside the Thousand Rivers, Su He’s consciousness awoke, and he dominated the chat area with large characters: “Senior Nanming, the altar is ready.”

A beam of light fell on Su He’s island and transformed into the real person Nanming. Then, one after another, beams of light descended, and more than thirty people from the Thousand Rivers gathered on Su He’s island.

Real person Nanming had a speech bubble above his head: “Young friend, are you about to start summoning the soul of Fairy Qi?”

The method of summoning had been passed on to Su He along with the construction of the altar by Ji Feixue earlier.

Su He shook his head: “I can’t perform that summoning dance myself; my Jiaoren priests will do the summoning, and I will protect the law on the side.”

“That’s fine!” Real person Nanming nodded. Dragon Turtle was indeed not suitable for summoning souls, his divine abilities were too domineering. The main power of the summoning came from the altar, and the summoner was just a catalyst. A higher cultivation level was naturally better, but reaching the Demon Subduing Realm was sufficient.

Daoist Canchen had a half-destroyed pill furnace above his head, with inscriptions engraved on it: “Could you project the image of the altar into the Thousand Rivers?”

“Sure!” Su He nodded.

The playback was of his own memories, but what was seen naturally remained in the mind as memories. Strictly speaking, playback couldn’t be live broadcast, there was actually a split-second delay, but it was just an imperceptible trifle.

When the playback was used, an image appeared in front of them, showing the scene of the altar, but Su He’s figure was not seen, as it was broadcast from his perspective.

“The Eclipse Soul Altar of the Spirit Race?” Daoist Canchen was taken aback. Among the myriad worlds, if any race’s research on souls was the most thorough, it was undoubtedly the Spirit Race. The Spirit Race itself was akin to a soul-like existence.

Real person Nanming shook his head: “It’s just a reference to the Spirit Race’s Eclipse Altar. Fairy Ji made some modifications to the altar; otherwise, the original Eclipse Altar would take at least nearly sixty years to set up properly.”

Daoist Canchen nodded. At first glance, the altar seemed like one from the Spirit Race, but upon closer inspection, one could see the differences. The Spirit Race’s altar was much more sinister and dark.

After all, it was a race that reigned supreme through curses.

“This altar is better understood by Fairy Ji, it’s a pity she’s not here.”

As soon as the inscription on Daoist Canchen’s pill furnace appeared, everyone looked at Su He. Su He opened his mouth; he didn’t know where Ji Feixue had gone. She had left three months ago and there had been no news since.

Su He looked around and changed the subject: “Master Sanxiang may have not been seen for a long time.”

After learning that Feng Yiju could forcibly convert humans, Master Sanxiang had once enlightened him, but since then, he had rarely been seen. It had been nearly a year since he last appeared.

Daoist Canchen burst into laughter, not making a sound, but the trembling of the pill furnace-shaped bubble above his head showed his inner joy: “That lustful monk made his ninety-sixth vow to cultivate the Immovable King’s body, and this time he also cultivated the Silent Zen, so he can’t show himself now.”

Beside him, a warrior also made a laughing gesture, with a bubble above his head: “Guess how long this old monk can hold out?”

The Immovable King’s body, motionless for thousands of years, that old monk couldn’t bear it.

Fairy Junlan was by his side and laughed: “Three years! No less, Master Sanxiang already lasted three years last time.”

Daoist Canchen hummed twice, the pill furnace above his head turned into a normal bubble: “Last time was special, he fell asleep, this time Master Guiyuan from Gujingzhai is personally watching over him, he can’t sleep, at most two years, no more!”

Su He was full of question marks. He had also learned a bit about the Buddhist cultivation in this realm. Those who needed to make great vows to cultivate were all practicing the heavenly Buddhist Dharma, the truly profound Buddhist Dharma.

And the ninety-sixth vow… Are vows as common as cabbages? This must be a fake monk! Only non-cultivating mortals dare to make vows casually.

Moreover, making vows in Buddhism is very similar to praying to heaven and earth. It’s not that you can make a vow whenever you want and heaven, earth, and all beings will respond. If they don’t respond, you can’t cultivate this Buddhist Dharma, and you will also be punished by heaven.

Daoist Canchen patted Su He’s shell: “Don’t compare yourself with that lustful monk, he was born a Buddha’s son, making vows as easy as drinking water, with immediate responses. He has never followed a single precept, yet Gujingzhai still treasures him, but…”

Daoist Canchen laughed even more joyfully: “He brought it upon himself! That lustful monk entered Buddhism very early and has been forever young, but with each vow, he aged a bit. Three hundred years ago, he was a handsome young monk with the appearance of a teenager, but now he is an old monk with a wrinkled face.”

Everyone chatted and laughed, but their voices gradually lowered, all looking at Su He. They were beings who had been cultivating for who knows how long, even if they were to ascend to immortality in the next moment, they could still laugh heartily. But when it came to the soul of a Dao friend, it was inevitably a bit more solemn.

Real person Nanming was even more somber, having been in Fairy Qi’s Cave Mansion, guarding the Golden Lotus of Dao Protection, he could sense Fairy Qi’s condition more acutely.

At this moment, he was completely silent, his true body operating the formation, ready to cooperate with Su He’s soul summoning at any moment.

Su He nodded, and on the altar, Dragon Turtle let out a long chant, and Long Min came with his staff, bowing to Su He before stepping onto the altar.

Su He stepped down from the altar, fully retracting his own aura to avoid affecting the summoning.

Su Huanian arrived on her sword, landing beside Su He, standing quietly, also concealing her sword aura.

Long Min took the stage, placing a comb on the altar, which was Fairy Qi’s personal belonging, obtained by Real person Nanming from Fairy Qi’s Cave Mansion and transferred to Su He through the Mysterious Realm.

This could be used as a medium to summon Fairy Qi’s soul.

Long Min adjusted his breath, incense burned a foot high, he bowed in all directions, paid respects to heaven and earth, and began to dance and sing, resembling a shaman or a priest.

Especially in combination with Long Min’s aged figure, it was even more reminiscent of the past.

A distant and clear song rose from the altar, not sung by a person but a resonance of heaven and earth caused by Long Min’s shamanic dance.

As the song began, everything around seemed to become subordinate, as if the entire altar existed solely to bring forth this sound.

The people within the Thousand Rivers held their breath and watched the scene projected by Su He, Daoist Canchen with a serious bubble above his head: “Don’t be distracted, remember this sacrificial dance and song thoroughly, it’s best to imprint it in your soul forever! This is Dao speech!”

Human speech speaks of the Dao, hence those without a Dao Body cannot speak human language. Su He had not yet passed the Heavenly Tribulation, and without praying to heaven and earth to receive the Dao’s rhyme, he could not speak human language.

Conversely, the Dao itself might also produce human sounds. Even mortals have encountered such phenomena, where the wind blows through a valley, yet produces the sound of human speech. Even warning him not to enter the valley, or what he should do.

This is a stroke of fate, hearing the voice of the Dao with a mortal body. If one gains insight, their future is boundless, and at the very least, by following the Dao speech, one can turn danger into safety and easily obtain treasures.

The soul summoning ritual modified by Ji Feixue could resonate with the Dao, summoning with the Dao. Remembering this Dao sound would surely lead to great progress on the path of the soul.

As Daoist Canchen reminded, Su Huanian had already transmitted to Su He: “Remember this dance and the lyrics.” In terms of knowledge, she far surpassed her husband.

The Dao sound spread, and the entire altar along with Long Min fell into an illusion, as if space was distorted, not in the same world. The altar gave off a sense of detachment.

Inside the Thousand Rivers, Daoist Canchen looked at the scene and said: “The altar is now between the real and the unreal, half in this world, half using the wooden comb to probe the location of Fairy Qi’s soul.”

Su He nodded, understanding. It was like fishing, with the person on the shore and the fishing line already cast into the water; the wooden comb was the bait.

The bait was cast out, and in just a moment, a blue flame suddenly ignited on the comb, and within the flame, Fairy Qi appeared, with a flash of surprise in her eyes.

Her soul had been found.

As soon as Fairy Qi appeared, she tried to burst out with the flames, but at that moment, a large “卍” symbol appeared in the flames, suppressing Fairy Qi’s soul.

“Presumptuous!”

“Damn it!”

The screens within the Thousand Rivers were filled with scolding, the “卍” symbol was obstructing Fairy Qi’s soul from returning to her body, her soul had been imprisoned!

“Roar!” Su He roared and charged towards the altar. Su Huanian had already teleported onto the altar, with a light wave of her hand, she sent Long Min down from the altar, and with a flick of her Fairy Sword, she struck the “卍” symbol.

The “卍” symbol shone brightly with golden light, repelling the Fairy Sword.

A tremendous force came, and Su Huanian turned and stood in the center of the altar, the flames on the wooden comb weakened instantly, and it seemed they were about to be extinguished.

Su Huanian’s eyes narrowed slightly, she sent the Fairy Sword to one side, and began to dance herself, taking over Long Min’s position, personally summoning. The overwhelming spiritual energy of the second layer of Traverse Heaven surged out.

The gradually fading Dao sound on the altar suddenly became melodious and clear again. The same soul summoning, the same shamanic dance, but when Su Huanian danced, it was completely different from Long Min’s, even the Dao sound carried a bit of cold and quiet.

Su He leaped up, his Divine Sense rapidly sweeping in all directions, while using his utmost gaze, searching in all directions.

Rocks and vegetation could no longer obstruct his vision.

Just as the shamanic dance began, Fairy Qi’s soul was located, ready to be summoned back immediately. Fairy Qi’s soul was not far from here!

Su He searched with all his might, but found nothing.

Below on the altar, the flames reignited, but they could not bring Fairy Qi back. Fairy Qi struggled left and right, always blocked by the “卍” symbol.

But the “卍” symbol couldn’t penetrate Fairy Qi’s soul either, a faint golden light at the center of her forehead completely blocked the “卍” symbol.

Inside the Thousand Rivers, Daoist Canchen abandoned the chat window, his consciousness directly transmitted: “Nanming!”

Real person Nanming’s eyes blazed with anger, his expression solemn: “Don’t worry, I have no problems here.” He was protecting Fairy Qi’s physical body, using the body to protect the soul, and for now, there was no problem.

Moreover, Real person Nanming faintly felt that besides him operating the formation to protect the Golden Lotus, there must be something else protecting Fairy Qi’s soul, otherwise the pressure here would be even greater.

“Find Sanxiang!” Real person Nanming’s consciousness replied.

Even outsiders could see that the suppression of Fairy Qi’s soul was a Buddhist method. Professional matters required professional people.

As he said this, Daoist Canchen had already landed on Master Sanxiang’s island, with a wave of his hand, the small Zen courtyard rose from the ground, thrown aside, revealing an old monk meditating with closed eyes.

Master Sanxiang, cultivating the Immovable King and Silent Zen, had not taken away his consciousness body from the Thousand Rivers, but the consciousness body had also fallen into a state of immobility and silence, not hearing external affairs, synchronized with the main body, just like the Dragon Turtle eggs in the Mountain and Sea Realm.

Daoist Canchen rushed up and slapped the old monk’s face.

“Wake up! You lustful monk, wake up!”

Slap after slap fell, stunning the people of the Thousand Rivers. The method was crude but effective, and in a moment, Master Sanxiang opened his eyes, and the bubble above his head exploded: “Damn it, you, my second uncle Canchen, I just entered meditation, and you’re trying to kill me…”

“Fairy Qi’s soul has been suppressed!” Daoist Canchen’s thought exploded in the monk’s consciousness.

The monk was stunned for a moment, not yet reacting, and had already been dragged by Daoist Canchen to Su He’s island, pointing to the scene projected by Su He.

In the scene, the soul summoning altar was ethereal, the flames danced, and Fairy Qi’s soul collided several times, but could not leap over the “卍” symbol.

The previously furious Master Sanxiang suddenly calmed down and turned to Su He: “Young friend, please give me the address.”

Locating in the Mysterious Realm was not difficult, just sending a strand of one’s consciousness avatar’s aura over would suffice. Taking a bit of Su He’s consciousness aura, Master Sanxiang slowly closed his eyes, as if falling back into the state of the Immovable King.

But in just a moment, a muffled sound suddenly came from the space beside Su He outside the Longyue Mansion, as if a fist was hitting a wall.

“Thud!”

“Thud!”

“Thud!”

Then, with a loud explosion, a red light smashed through the space and fell out.

Master Sanxiang, engulfed in flames, landed beside Su He with a bang, his hands together in a slight Buddhist salute to Su He: “Thank you, young friend, for protecting Fairy Qi.”

He descended from the sky, step by step towards the altar, bowing to Su Huanian: “Thank you, little fairy, leave the rest to this poor monk.”

Inside the Thousand Rivers, Fairy Junlan cautiously spoke with a bubble above her head: “Master Sanxiang… is angry, huh!”

She had never seen such a polite Master Sanxiang before.

Daoist Canchen stroked his beard, his face a bit serious: “You seem to have forgotten the origin of his lustful monk title?”

Three hundred years ago, when Fairy Qi first entered the Thousand Rivers, Master Sanxiang, still a handsome young monk, was smitten at first sight, leaping forward and directly asking Fairy Qi: “Little fairy, if I leave the monastic life, may I marry you?”

Fairy Qi was stunned.

Then, Master Sanxiang’s consciousness body was beaten by Ji Feixue. His physical body was beaten by a master from Gujingzhai.

Master Sanxiang quieted down and behaved.

And now, Fairy Qi’s consciousness was suppressed, and the one suppressing her was a Buddhist method.

One could imagine what Master Sanxiang was feeling.

Politely sending Su Huanian down from the altar, Master Sanxiang took off the Buddhist beads from his neck, threw them into the air, and the flames on the wooden comb, which were about to disperse, reignited in an instant, even more vigorous than when Su Huanian summoned, covering the entire altar in a moment.

Fairy Qi was no longer half-revealed, but fully appeared, as if she could sense this side through space.

“Master Sanxiang, is that you?”

Fairy Qi spoke, but no sound came out, but just from her lips, it was clear what she was saying.The flames on the Tri-Sangha Monk’s body suddenly flared up as he pointed at the summoning image and cursed loudly, “You scoundrel! How dare you harm my Qianjiang Fairy without asking for the Buddha’s permission to wield the demon-subduing staff?!”

The Tri-Sangha Monk, while cursing, swung his fists as if he wished he could smash the swastika symbol to pieces.

“Is the Great Brahma Dust-Free Curse meant for you to imprison the Fairy’s soul? You deserve to be a monk, you deserve to have no descendants!”

The Tri-Sangha Monk looked nothing like a high monk who had attained the Way, cursing vehemently. After cursing, he subconsciously raised his hand to wipe away the bubble above his head, only to suddenly realize that this was not Qianjiang, and his foul language could not be erased so easily. Moreover—why bother erasing curses aimed at these birds?

He wanted to curse them!

Curse their eight generations!

The Tri-Sangha Monk’s curses grew more and more unspeakable, his cursing face too filthy for words!

Su He landed beside Su Huanian, covering the Fairy’s ears with two little sailor hands.

As the curses continued, the swastika in the flames flashed as if it could no longer bear it and retaliated. The Tri-Sangha Monk’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“I’ve found you!”

“Su He, young friend, help me slay the enemy!” The Tri-Sangha Monk called out in a deep voice, leaping southward.

Su He’s expression darkened. The Tri-Sangha Monk had used some method, and at the moment the swastika reacted, Su He also sensed the enemy’s location.

“You guard the home!” Su He whispered to Su Huanian, and with a flip of the water beneath him, he leaped up and headed straight for the Eastern Clouds.

The Tri-Sangha Monk was much faster than him. Before Su He arrived, he saw two different Buddhist lights soaring into the sky ten thousand miles south of Wu Xiang Mountain, with iron chains spanning the void.

The Buddhist Sect, the Feng Huang Palace!

As Su He approached on his boat, he heard the Tri-Sangha Monk’s thunderous shout: “Fugitive! Coward!”

The old monk now had not a trace of compassion on his face; instead, he had cast aside his kasaya, baring his chest, his muscular body and aged face filled with murderous intent.

Opposite him was another old monk, his face full of sorrow, his hands clasped together, clearly a high monk who had attained the Way.

Compared to him, the Tri-Sangha Monk was nothing but a ruffian.

Beside that master, a member of the Feng Huang Palace stood in the air, an iron chain extending from his palm, spanning the entire space, suppressing the Tri-Sangha Monk’s Buddhist light.

Yet the Tri-Sangha Monk stood fearless, his fists clenched and muscles twitching, coldly staring at the monk opposite him: “Fugitive! Back then you dared not face the Feng Huang, and now you collude with the Feng Huang Palace in disgraceful complicity!”

In ancient times, the Mysterious Wasteland was known as the Great Xuanhuang World, the foremost among the heavens, the birthplace of the Dao. The methods of cultivation in all the worlds were born here. The Buddhist and Daoist sects from all worlds paid homage to it.

Until the Great Xuanhuang World was schemed against by the Feng Huang World, which stole its world’s origin. That battle nearly overturned the three thousand great worlds.

Even though the Great Xuanhuang World was caught off guard, it did not fall into disadvantage. If given time to recover, the outcome of who would win or lose was still uncertain.

Unfortunately, at that time, the Buddhist Sect, with nearly sixty percent of its power, was led by a Buddhist disciple into the starry sky to establish the Buddhist Realm, closing its mountain gates and avoiding the great war.

This was the origin of the “fugitive” the Tri-Sangha Monk spoke of. The monk opposite him was not from the Mysterious Wasteland, but from the Buddhist Realm!

From ancient times to the present, countless years have passed, but the Buddhist betrayal and the great war turned the Great Xuanhuang World into the Mysterious Wasteland.

Which top power in the myriad worlds did not know this?

The Buddhists who remained in the Mysterious Wasteland had no face to show. What exactly happened was difficult for later generations to know, only that in that battle, over eighty percent of the Buddhist disciples were killed or injured. After the war settled, several large temples formed the Ancient Quiet Monastery, passing on the Buddhist teachings, but they were almost in seclusion, no longer participating in worldly affairs.

They would occasionally appear in the mortal world, wherever ghosts wreaked havoc, wherever demons disturbed the mortals, the disciples of the Ancient Quiet Monastery would appear.

“Amitabha!” The monk from the Buddhist Realm looked at the Tri-Sangha Monk, clasping his hands and chanting the Buddha’s name.

“The causes and reasons of the past, who among our descendants can speak clearly? Moreover, our Buddha is compassionate, and monks do not involve themselves in worldly affairs. How could I, a true Buddha, partake in such slaughter and carnage?”

The Tri-Sangha Monk jumped up and cursed: “Bullshit! Back then you didn’t stir up the mortal world, but now you, this grandson, come to snatch my Qianjiang girl? Isn’t this involving yourself in worldly affairs?!”

The monk’s face grew even more compassionate: “Monks do not involve themselves in the calamities of the mortal world, yet they must take responsibility. This girl is evil, how can monks stand by and watch? They must suppress evil and exorcise demons!”

“Evil your mother!” Before he could finish speaking, the Tri-Sangha Monk’s figure flashed, and he threw a punch. The punch, glowing with Buddhist light and red flames, smashed into the monk’s protective Buddhist light, causing a loud bell-like sound, and both bald heads changed color.

The person from the Feng Huang Palace, with the iron chain rolling, swung it like a whip straight at the Tri-Sangha Monk.

Su He’s expression changed drastically, and he roared, ready to assist.

But from afar, a sword light shot over, and with a crisp ding, it deflected the iron chain.

A middle-aged man dressed in the attire of the Xuantian Sect landed in the Eastern Cloud Mountains, smiling: “I was invited by the Sect Leader Ying Qingyuan to suppress the two-world battlefield, but I didn’t expect to encounter the scum of the Feng Huang Palace before even reaching the battlefield. My luck isn’t too bad.”

The person from the Feng Huang Palace didn’t speak, his eyes deep and dark. With a swing of the iron chain, he shattered the space and leaped into it, and the Xuantian Sect middle-aged man did not hesitate to chase after him with his sword.

“Tri-Sangha Elder, rest assured, I will slay this villain!”

The Tri-Sangha Monk did not respond, as the two had already moved the battlefield elsewhere through space. To the west was the Yunmeng Marsh, and to the east was the Xuantian Sect; even with ten times the courage, the person from the Feng Huang Palace would not dare to linger here.

The Tri-Sangha Monk turned to glance at Su He and said, “Young friend Su He, the soul of Fairy Qianqian is beneath this underground palace. I’ll have to trouble you.”

Su He retracted his Flying Boat and nodded.

The Tri-Sangha Monk’s gaze fell on the monk opposite him, reminding aloud, “Young friend, be careful. Below there are three levels of the Feng Huang Palace’s Traverse Heaven.”

Just three levels of Traverse Heaven? At the very least, one could remain undefeated.

Su He slowly descended on the water waves.

He saw the monk opposite the Tri-Sangha Monk, hands clasped together: “I am Monk Yuanyi. Fellow monk, when we Buddhists duel, should we not be like ordinary mortals? Let us fight on the Spiritual Mountain!”

After he spoke, he chanted a Buddha’s name, “Amitabha!” and in an instant, his body was bathed in Buddha’s light, clearly showing a dignified treasure-like appearance, with thousands of strands of Buddha’s light. Yet, Su He sensed a great danger from that Buddha’s light.

A duel on the Spiritual Mountain is a unique method among Buddhist disciples, likely a contest of Buddhist methods and charms. They only compare Buddha’s light, and to outsiders, it seems as if they have arrived at the Spiritual Mountain, seeing only the light of Buddha shining everywhere. In reality, it is fraught with danger, killing without shedding blood!

The Tri-Sangha Monk’s eyes were filled with murderous intent, his hands clasped together: “As you wish! Amitabha—”

Seeing the Tri-Sangha Monk agree, Yuanyi’s eyes showed compassion, and he slowly closed them. Compared to the Spiritual Mountain, the monks of the Buddhist Realm never feared the monks of the Mysterious Wasteland, even those from the Ancient Quiet Monastery.

Such a barbaric monk, but I will show you the vastness of my Buddhist teachings! I will make you devoutly enter my Buddhist Realm!

He closed his eyes, and his Buddha’s light shone brightly, fully unfolding.

But he heard the Tri-Sangha Monk finish chanting the Buddha’s name: “—Amitabha your second grandpa!”

The Tri-Sangha Monk suddenly stepped out in the void, landing beside Yuanyi, and delivered a punch to his head.

“Boom!” A sound like a great bell, and Yuanyi’s eyes saw stars, opening them only to see another punch coming. The Tri-Sangha Monk roared furiously, “Do you also deserve to chant Amitabha? Does Buddha teach you to avoid the mortal world unless it benefits you, and to not stand by when it greatly benefits you?!”

Boom!

Another bell rang.

The Tri-Sangha Monk continued to interrogate while punching: “Which evil demon do you worship? Why does my Buddha teach me, if I don’t enter hell, who will?”

Boom!

“Why does my Buddha teach me, if hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha?”

Boom!

“Why does my Buddha teach me, even if I become a Buddha, I should still reverse the compassionate boat and ferry all beings?”

Punch after punch, Yuanyi desperately resisted, but he had already lost the initiative to the Tri-Sangha Monk. A Buddhist bead fixed in the void suppressed his Buddhist power, and each punch hit flesh.

“Your grandpa! Damn it!” The Tri-Sangha Monk cursed with each punch: “You forced me to break my Immovable King’s body, you forced me to break my silent meditation.”

One punch after another.

Yuanyi resisted with all his might, but a glimmer of joy appeared in his eyes.

The underground palace had been discovered, and this mission was bound to fail, but forcing an Ancient Quiet Monastery’s Traverse Heaven sixth level to break his Immovable King’s body was also a great achievement.

Even if he fled in defeat today, it was worth it!

The Immovable King’s body required a great vow to cultivate, and how many vows could a monk make in a lifetime?

With each punch from the Tri-Sangha Monk, his muscles swelled a bit more, and the wrinkles on his face receded a bit. From the appearance of a monk in his seventies or eighties, he began to regress year by year.

With each year younger, his Buddhist power grew stronger. As he fought, Su He was stunned.

The old monk in his seventies or eighties with a wrinkled face was unrecognizable. But as he gradually grew younger, Su He felt that the bald head was becoming more and more familiar.

Mou Wan!

The forthright man who, along with the Witch Mother, was calculated by the White Spirit Talisman to reincarnate into the cycle of rebirth!