Chapter 328: Chapter 224: Jiang Shan Takes Action, the Destruction of the White Lotus Ancient Sect, Ceding the Relic, and Public Opinion in the Imperial Capital

’This voice...’

The moment the Buddha’s Voice enveloped them,

Lu Mingyuan recognized who it was.

The White-robed Monk, Jiang Shan.

The situation was dire, and Jiang Shan had arrived just in time.

’Could he be here to save the day?’

"This aura from these Buddha Beads... it belongs to a Nirvana Realm Arhat. When did our White Lotus Ancient Sect provoke such a Great Buddha?"

A cold glint flashed in Duanmu Lian’s eyes. She took out a jade White Lotus Talisman and thrust it toward the sky.

It was meant to resist the corrosion of the Buddha’s Light.

As dazzling Taoist Qi poured into it, the talisman grew larger and larger. Streaks of Spiritual Patterns emerged, transforming into a blinding black cloud that collided with the Arhat’s Buddha Beads.

The twelve Buddha Beads hanging in the sky were blocked, but rays of golden Buddha’s Light shot through the cracks in the black cloud and fell to the ground.

"HISS HISS."

The faces of the Nobility from the Drunken Flower Tower showed looks of obsession, but the moment they came into contact with the Buddha’s Light, they were instantly purified, and black smoke rose from their bodies.

Some of the robed cult members screamed as their bodies burst into flames. Yet, within the fire, they remained unharmed, as if they were being purified.

Luo Ying was the first to act. Using the Taoist Sect’s Sword Control Skill, she sent out an Emerald Amber Flying Sword.

Tens of thousands of Spiritual Patterns, characteristic of an Innate Treasure, emerged on the sword’s body. It erupted with a terrifyingly boundless Destructive Force, striking the bottom of the large lake in the center of the estate’s rear courtyard.

"Trying to hide it? Not so easy!"

Luo Ying excelled at disguise and was extremely knowledgeable about the various Demon Daos. She had long since noticed these people loitering around this area.

It was clearly something of great importance.

It was obviously the eye of the Grand Array.

These members of the White Lotus Ancient Sect used a profound array to disguise the rear courtyard with a peaceful appearance, but behind it lay the sect’s true nature.

The Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus, fed with human hearts.

Such a demonic creature, born from absorbing the wicked thoughts and desires of countless incense offerings, was a first-rate evil entity capable of easily bewitching people’s minds.

Seeing this, the Corpse-Driving Elder, who had been recuperating on the side, had no choice but to intervene.

"BOOM."

In an instant, the bottom of the lake was blown to pieces, riddled with countless cracks.

A massive, blooming white lotus appeared. At first glance, it looked mysterious and sacred.

In reality, ancient Heart-devouring Worms grew on every wisp of its glow. These worms were as beautiful as fireflies, with glowing tails, but their nature was vastly different—and far more dangerous.

They were parasites of the Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus and also possessed the ability to control human minds.

They could directly invade a Cultivator’s Sea of Consciousness.

In sufficient numbers, they could easily turn a person into a mindless fool, a Puppet, who would then obediently become a servant of the Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus.

"You secretly raised such a demonic creature and still claim you’re not an Evil Cult? Then what is this?"

The moment he saw the Demon Lotus, a look of shock appeared in Lin Xiangyun’s eyes. He said,

"Normally, the Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus only grows in the Holy Netherworld. It often lures passing Cultivators to try and pick it, only for them to become its Puppets. The strange thing is, how is it growing in the lake at the Drunken Flower Tower?"

Lin Xiangyun looked at Huo Hongling and said, "Young Mistress, who exactly is that black-robed woman? She’s so domineering. Is she planning to destroy the White Lotus Ancient Sect and the Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus all by herself?"

"Knowing too much won’t do you any good. You just need to activate the array for this city district and prevent too many outsiders from finding out about the battle here," Huo Hongling said frostily.

Lu Mingyuan, who was at the side, also saw the Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus and was equally astonished.

The Buddha’s Relics on his chest glowed faintly, a soft, pulsating light that made his entire being seem incredibly holy.

The people standing around him were unaffected by the Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus.

He hadn’t expected the White Lotus Ancient Sect to be so audacious.

But what he found even stranger was why Jiang Shan had come here.

At this thought, his gaze turned to the handsome, White-robed Monk slowly descending from the sky.

"Amitabha Buddha. I sensed the Relic’s repellent nature being activated and was worried there might be some trouble, so I came to take a look. I never expected to find such an evil creature here."

Jiang Shan said with a faint smile.

These words served as an explanation for Lu Mingyuan.

The Nine-leaf Night Nether Lotus had triggered a response from the Buddha’s Relics.

The Relic was a pure object of the Supreme Yang and naturally couldn’t tolerate the presence of an evil creature. This caused a reaction of repulsion, which in turn attracted Jiang Shan’s attention, bringing him here.

By sheer coincidence, he had also broken through the disguise array set up by the White Lotus Ancient Sect.

However, the moment the Buddha’s Relics were mentioned, Lu Mingyuan’s expression became rather peculiar.

"Zen Master Jiang Shan, it seems you’ve known for a long time."

Jiang Shan smiled without speaking, his hands pressed together. His monk robes were immaculate, and his handsome face was filled with scrutiny as he sized up Lu Mingyuan.

It was a rare opportunity for him to observe the new master chosen by the Buddha’s Relics up close.

When the Buddha’s Relics first went missing, he had said,

The Relic would choose its own master.

When the time came, if a true master wasn’t found, the Relic would return on its own.

In the end, the Buddha’s Relics ended up in Lu Mingyuan’s hands.

Regarding this matter, Jiang Shan’s public statement was that if the Relic acknowledged a master, he would be unable to track its owner, as the connection would be severed.

In reality, he had lied.

He was the Relic’s former master. How could he possibly be unable to sense its presence?

It is said that monks do not tell lies and never deceive, but that isn’t entirely true.

Sometimes, the best liars are the monks themselves—that bunch of bald donkeys from the Buddhist Sect.