Li Huowang was wrapped in a blanket as he kept watch, hiding in the thick bushes. It was already late into the night, making it extremely cold without a campfire, even though it was already March.
However, he didn't dare to light a fire; it would reveal his location to the monks chasing him.
Under the weak moonlight, Li Huowang took out the bronze bell and inspected it. He had already consumed most of the pills that Dan Yangzi had given him, so the bronze bell was the only other card he had.
But whenever he thought back to how easily the abbot had snatched the bronze bell from him, he felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction. The opponent could kill him in so many ways, but all he could do was try to escape. This fact left a bitter taste in his mouth.
In this bizarre world, only strength reigns supreme. If I want to stay alive, I need to become strong! Even someone like Dan Yangzi could become so powerful, so why can't I? So what if everyone has some bizarre method of cultivation? I too need to do it in order to survive. I want to protect myself and those around me. If I can't get it, then I will steal it. If I can't steal it, then I will frame them!
Li Huowang's expression slowly became more twisted.
He had just been thinking about all of these things when he snapped out of it and touched the back of his neck, suddenly realizing something.
"Namo Duo Luo Ye Ye~" The sound of chanting broke the silence of the forest.
At the same time, Li Huowang stood up reflexively and scanned his surroundings. However, it was so dark that he couldn't see anything. Even the simple traps he had set up earlier were not triggered.
"Namo~ Ah Li Ye~ Po Lu Jie Di~ Yao Ti Luo Ye~" The chanting continued in the dark, this time coming from a closer distance.
"Quick! Stand up! We need to run now! Ignore the donkey carts! Simpleton, do as I told you earlier!" shouted Li Huowang.
Just as Bai Lingmiao was about to follow Li Huowang's commands and stand up, Simpleton picked her up and started running away.
At the same time, Li Huowang walked out of the bushes and back onto the road. He clenched his teeth and decided to face them; the monks' target was him. Even if all of them couldn't escape, there was no reason for all of them to die.
Li Huowang kept running in the dark, but the sound of chanting grew louder and closer. For some reason, Li Huowang could smell the smoke from the incense he had lit earlier at the monastery.
Li Huowang suddenly stopped when he saw multiple red dots the size of flies wriggling around in the darkness on the road.
"Pu Tai Ye~ Pu Tai Ye~ Mi Di Li Ye~ Na Luo Jin Xi~" The chanting became louder and closer.
Soon, Li Huowang could make out what was in the darkness; it was a Buddha with a large hat and tall body, but comically skinny legs. The Buddha's belly was swollen as well. The red dots Li Huowang had seen earlier were incense sticks stuck to the Buddha's body. They shivered and shook with every step the giant Buddha took.
The giant Buddha was surrounded by white incense smoke. It was probably meant to appear ethereal, but it looked downright horrific in the dark wilderness of the road.
At the same time, Li Huowang noticed that there was not one, but seven such Buddhas lined up and closing in on him.
They walked like humans, but their expressions were neither smiling nor angry. Their bodies swayed left and right.
Under the moonlight, Li Huowang recognized the face of one of the Buddhas. It was none other than Jian Dun!
"Amitabha! Benefactor, your heart is not calm," said the Buddha with Jian Dun's face.
Li Huowang stared at the Buddhas, each at least 4 meters tall. "So you've finally revealed yourself! Is this your true form, you worshiping freaks?!"
"Benefactor, we have no idea why you are saying this. Please follow us back to the monastery. Dan Yangzi's karma still lingers on you. If you leave with it, you will be in deep trouble; everyone else will suffer as well," said Jian Dun.
Just as Jian Dun said this, he brought his palms together and began praying.
At that moment, Li Huowang heard the sound of flesh ripping as numerous skinless arms appeared from Jian Dun's back and spread out like a peacock's tail. Soon, the seven Buddhas had all transformed into seven Thousand-Armed Buddhas.
Ring!
Li Huowang immediately shook the bronze bell, causing the surroundings to start shifting and twisting. Soon, the edges of everything around them converged and turned into a Wandering God.
However, the ringing bell did not affect the seven Thousand-Armed Buddhas; they remained like rocks in water.
Li Huowang immediately scooped some dirt into his mouth and commanded the Wandering God to attack. Immediately, the Wandering God launched itself toward the seven Buddhas.
Pak!
One of the Buddhas slapped the Wandering God hard, sending dust and rocks flying everywhere.
However, the Wandering God did not have a physical body and thus completely ignored the attack, phasing right through the palm and heading straight for the Buddha's face.
The Wandering God then entered the Buddha's brain, causing the latter to start flailing and using its arms to try to swat the Wandering God off its head.
But it was no use.
Soon, the Buddha fell to the ground, its face melting off. Its body, which had been unaffected by the bell earlier, also began to twist and turn, just like the surroundings.
Peng! Peng! Peng!
At that moment, the remaining six Buddhas formed a circle with their backs to each other. They clapped their hands together and began chanting, "Ru Lai Ah Duo Luo~ San Mo~ San Pu Ti~"
The chanting had just begun when Li Huowang realized something was wrong with the Wandering God. The squiggly lines that made up its body started moving around uncontrollably. He soon realized what was happening and shook the bell even harder, shouting toward the Wandering God in an even louder voice.
Upon hearing that Li Huowang was willing to sacrifice even more of his lifespan, the Wandering God held its body together and rushed toward another Buddha.
Once the second Buddha fell to the ground, the Wandering God had expended its remaining strength; it was reaching its limit.
Amidst the chanting all around them, the Wandering God soon fell to the ground.
Seeing it was futile, Li Huowang stopped ringing the bell. However, even as the surroundings returned to normal, the Wandering God did not disappear.
Soon, the squiggly lines that made up the Wandering God began to lose their color, turning a fleshy pink. The Wandering God, which was supposed to be formless, had gained a physical body through the power of the sutras!
The physical body of the Wandering God resembled a clump of earthworms; it slowly wriggled on the ground.
A palm bearing a swastika symbol then slapped the Wandering God, crushing it into a pile of mush.
The palm was then raised slowly, flesh and blood still clinging to it. Then, the Buddhas once again brought their hands together and approached Li Huowang slowly. "Amitabha! Benefactor, please follow us back."