Chapter 71: Chapter 56: Knocking on the Door

"Damn, a bunch of useless fools, scared out of their wits by a monk!" cursed the leading middle-aged Taoist as he hopped around in anger.

He pulled a talisman from his bosom, muttered an incantation into the air, and the talisman spontaneously ignited. A phantom ice dragon appeared in the sky, baring its teeth and claws, lunging toward Faming.

Seeing this, Faming slightly furrowed his brow, "A Cold Dragon illusion."

Cold Dragons are unique to the Northern Sea. That a Taoist here would have such a trick up his sleeve, could it be there’s a shadow of the Buddhist Sect behind this?

Though devoted to Buddhism, Faming, having resided in Mount Ling for a long time, knew quite a lot about the affairs of the Three Realms.

The Dragon Clan of the Three Realms is generally divided into three camps. One allied with the Heavenly Court, notably the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas and various other Dragon Kings ruling over rivers and lakes.

Another allied with the Buddhist Sect and became its protectors, and the last preferred to live freely, secluded from the world.

And these Cold Dragons belonged to the Northern Sea, under the jurisdiction of the Northern Sea Dragon King. It was unexpected to encounter one here.

While Faming contemplated, the Cold Dragon illusion had already charged at him. With both hands, he pressed the dragon onto the ground. Intense cold emanated from his hands, forming a layer of ice on his arms.

However, golden light flowed over Faming’s body, rendering the cold unable to inflict any real damage.

With a loud shout, he firmly pressed the Cold Dragon illusion down, and with a bang, the phantom dispersed.

Faming rose to his feet and looked at the middle-aged Taoist. The previously arrogant Taoist who had been scolding others was now panicked, retreating continuously in fear.

Stuttering, he said, "D-don’t come any closer!"

His voice was filled with fear and weakness, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.

"I wish to see the State Preceptor," Faming stated coldly.

"The State Preceptor went to the out-of-town Three Purity Temples to recite sutras today. He should be back after a while," the middle-aged Taoist hurriedly replied.

Upon hearing this, Faming sat cross-legged in the courtyard of the National Master Mansion and silently chanted sutras.

The Three Purity Temples, the largest Daoist temple in Chechi Kingdom, houses the deities of the Three Pure Ones. Ever since the appearance of the Three National Masters, this place has almost become a sacred site for the entire kingdom, with countless believers and citizens flocking here to offer incense.

And the Three National Masters would lead their favored disciples here to chant sutras from time to time, praying for the blessings of the Venerated Way of the Three Pure Ones.

Today, as usual, the Three National Masters sat in meditation in the great hall, while outside the hall, countless Daoists who were disciples collected from Chechi Kingdom sat encircling them.

Right now, everyone was chanting the "Dao De Jing" in unison. The thriving incense cloaked the entire Three Purity Temples in smoke, and the resonant sound of the Giant Bell struck from time to time, creating a solemn atmosphere.

As the last toll of the bell sounded, the Three Immortals finished the final passage of the sutra and opened their tightly closed eyes, disappointment flickering within. This time, they had once again failed to receive a response from the Three Pure Ones. They wondered why, despite nearly eradicating the Buddhist Sect, they had not received a response—could it be because they, the three brothers, were not sincere enough in their efforts.

The hopes of the Three Immortals, now dashed once more, left them irrationally irritable, but with all their disciples around, they were reluctant to show their anger here and thus suppressed their turbulent emotions fiercely.

In the midst of this, a Daoist rushed in, visibly flustered.

Great Immortal Hu Li immediately roared furiously, "How many times have I told you to maintain decorum? What’s with all this panic and haste!"

"Master, it’s terrible, someone has attacked our abode!"

"Someone has attacked us? Who is it, and where?"

"A monk calling himself Monk Faming, he’s right at the National Master Mansion."

"A single monk has frightened you all to this extent? What about Qing Xuan? Isn’t he staying in the mansion? Didn’t he take action?" Great Immortal Hu Li frowned deeply, speaking with extreme displeasure.

Yet in his heart, he was contemplating that if he found Qing Xuan had deserted his post, he must be taught a severe lesson upon his return.

"Master Qing Xuan did take action, even using the Talismans of the Three National Masters, but he was no match for the monk. Now, all the brothers who were at the National Master Mansion have been defeated!"

"Damn it, where did this monk come from, taking things too far? Second Brother, Third Brother, let’s go back and take a look." Great Immortal Hu Li roared with rage and was the first to soar into the clouds.

Great Immortals Lu Li and Yang Li followed closely behind; the rage in their hearts now had a place to be fully vented.

Descending from the clouds, they were met with the sight of disciples lying on the ground, wailing, and Monk Faming sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, chanting sutras.

Great Immortal Hu Li revealed a cruel smile, "Where did this wild monk come from, daring to run wild in my abode!"

Monk Faming opened his eyes, and from them shot forth two beams of golden light, shining onto Great Immortal Hu Li’s face.

"Audacious monster, to dare create havoc in the Mortal World and disrupt the order of the Buddhist Sect!" Monk Faming saw through Great Immortal Hu Li’s true form and immediately realized that these three venerated State Preceptors had transformed from monsters.

With this revelation, the negotiations he had prepared for were thrown to the back of his mind. To him, all monsters deserved death.

"Where did this mad monk come from, daring to tarnish our brother’s reputations!" Having recovered from the initial shock, Great Immortal Lu Li spoke with a venomous tone while deciding in his heart that this detestable baldy must be killed.

"You still dare to deceive others? I could tell with one glance that you are not human." Monk Faming suddenly leaped into the air, his kasaya flying up, obscuring the heavens, and attempting to bind the three Great Immortals.

"Seeking death!" Great Immortal Yang Li, exhaling a breath of cold air, turned it into a snowstorm, hindering the flying kasaya.

Great Immortal Lu Li chanted incantations, and countless small insects emerged, frantically assaulting where Monk Faming stood.

Monk Faming bellowed, and a giant figure of Buddha appeared behind him. The Buddha’s Palm descended from the sky, smashing countless insects with one slap. However, it was but a drop in the ocean as more insects poured forth from the ground.

The loud voice of Great Immortal Hu Li roared in their ears, "Let thunder strike!"

Suddenly, lightning fell from the sky, striking precisely at the top of Monk Faming’s head. Monk Faming’s body radiated golden light that coalesced into a Giant Bell, blocking the lightning.

The immense sound swept through the surroundings, the Golden Bell dispelling along with the lightning. Meanwhile, the insects controlled by Great Immortal Lu Li transformed into a ferocious beast, lunging at Monk Faming.

Monk Faming immediately sensed the difficulty of the creature and took out the Purple Gold Alms Bowl, tossing it into the sky. Instantly, a powerful suction force erupted from it, trying to pull the beast inside.

Seeing this, Great Immortal Lu Li was startled; this move seemed familiar, yet its power was considerably weaker. Ever since his defeat to Lin Fang, he had been pondering over a countermeasure to such a technique. Upon encountering such a similar move again, he lightly stroked his beard and a smug smile appeared on his face.