The Demon with Holy Radiance

The moment Hai Shu spoke, the entire Ten Thousand Buddha Hall shuddered. A malevolent aura suddenly intensified, filling the air. It was even more bizarre than the black miasma seeping from the fissure in the ground.

Golden Buddha Statues toppled one after another with a series of THUDS. The ground behind Hai Shu began to swell upward, as if something were about to burst forth from below.

Guang’an, still trembling with fear etched on his face, instinctively stumbled backward at the sight.

The next moment, his eyes widened, and his breath seemed to catch in his throat.

The ground cracked open as a massive mound swelled up from it. The surface was riddled with holes, like a honeycomb.

A thick scent of incense wafted from the large holes, followed by a torrent of blue smoke. Then, a large amount of a black, viscous substance spewed out.

A hand reached out from one of the holes, gripping the edge.

Strings of Buddhist Beads were embedded in the arm’s flesh, and even its fingernails had turned black.

Then, a face slowly peered out from the hole. Its jet-black eyes met Guang’an’s terrified gaze.

The sight terrified Guang’an so much that he collapsed to the ground. His mouth hung open, but not a sound escaped as his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Only when that horrifying gaze slowly moved away did Guang’an feel as if a mountain had been lifted off him, leaving him completely drained of strength.

SQUELCH.

The man stepped out of the hole, shaking off the countless strands of the black, sticky substance clinging to him and revealing his full appearance.

He was tall and burly. He wore a Kasaya but no monk’s robes underneath. His face showed piety, but it was overshadowed by an inexplicable madness, giving one the impression of a snake flicking a black tongue.

His feet landed on the floor, sending out a ripple of black energy. The ripple spread outward, sweeping over everyone present—sparing only Hai Shu—before continuing to expand beyond the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall.

As Hai Yun emerged, the honeycomb-like mound rapidly melted, receding back into Hai Shu’s body.

"Senior Brother, why the rush? This junior brother was at a critical juncture in his seclusion. Couldn’t you have found someone else?"

Although Hai Yun was smiling, his words were laced with dissatisfaction toward Hai Shu.

"The Sea of True Essence is of utmost importance. It is for our mutual benefit. If you don’t wish to go, I would be more than happy to see someone else take your place."

Hai Shu didn’t move or even glance at Hai Yun. More flesh sloughed off his half-skeletal face.

"Fine. This junior brother accepts."

Hai Yun had no more objections. His gaze suddenly snapped back to Guang’an.

Guang’an instantly knew something was wrong, but he was completely powerless to resist. In the blink of an eye, Hai Yun was before him, his hand gently stroking Guang’an’s head.

The next moment, Guang’an’s body seemed to have been hollowed out. Only a soft husk of skin collapsed to the floor. In Hai Yun’s hand, a black Prayer Bead had appeared.

He casually tossed the Prayer Bead into his mouth, seemingly savoring it as the smile on his face widened.

"This offering you prepared for me is quite good, Senior Brother. My thanks."

"Go, and return quickly."

Hai Shu said flatly. It was only an Attendant Monk, after all. He would have been glad to sacrifice everything for a Bodhisattva.

Hai Yun chuckled, transformed into a black lotus, and sped away.

...

Guang’an was dead.

That was the news from inside the Great Virtue Temple.

In the Golden Thread Pavilion, Elder Zhuan Yu’s expression was grim. He had been summoned again by Pavilion Master Thirty Flow, who had informed him of this news.

Others might not have known, but Zhuan Yu knew perfectly well that his own disciple had entered the Great Virtue Temple with the dharma name Guang’an to serve as the new Buddha’s Son’s Attendant Monk.

But now the Pavilion Master was telling him that Guang’an had entered the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall and never came out, his aura having vanished completely.

"That’s impossible. The Rule Seal is clearly still active..."

As he spoke, Zhuan Yu trailed off.

A possibility suddenly occurred to him.

’Perhaps that Guang’an was a fake, just a decoy.’

’The real Yang An had already shed his cicada shell and slipped away unnoticed.’

’But if the Rule Seal can’t connect with Yang An, does that mean someone has tampered with it?’

Aside from those scoundrels at the Great Virtue Temple, he couldn’t believe Yang An knew any other Great Powers.

The whole affair was becoming more and more inscrutable.

Just then, Pavilion Master Thirty Flow brought up another piece of news.

"I’ve heard the Joyful Shrine Association ended long ago, but the new Buddha’s Son of Great Virtue Temple has yet to return..."

Zhuan Yu’s eyes narrowed. His grim expression instantly twisted with rage, and the sea of blood in his chest churned violently, stirring up boundless, bloody waves.

The Pavilion Master’s words were a sudden wake-up call.

’A Great Power really *did* tamper with the Rule Seal on Yang An! My disciple, Yang An, has defected!’

’His identity wasn’t some Attendant Monk named Guang’an—it’s the new Buddha’s Son of Great Virtue Temple! I’ve been deceived from the very beginning, led around by the nose by a mere kid!’

At the same time, Elder Zhuan Yu had another realization, and the tension in his face eased slightly.

"Since the Great Virtue Temple has let this news out, it must mean the Buddha’s Son has defected. The temple won’t just stand by and do nothing."

"So, even in defecting, your disciple has done us one last favor. At the very least, he’s managed to lure a Bodhisattva away from the Great Virtue Temple for a time."

Thirty Flow chuckled. It was the only silver lining.

If that was the case, their plan could be moved up.

"The Insect Dao? Does he truly have that kind of power?"

Elder Zhuan Yu was skeptical. If they could really lure away someone from the Insect Dao, it would indeed be a great boon for the Golden Thread Pavilion.