Agreeing to Lend Aid

Unfortunately, his idea was quickly shattered. Fahong explained, "This is the Great Teleportation Formation, which our ancestors obtained by chance. Although we have been sending people to study it, we have gained nothing. We don't understand its operating principle, nor do we know what materials were used to create it. After all, we only have this one pair, and we dare not risk disassembling and refining it."

Hongdou suddenly asked, "Can I draw a picture for it?"

Although Fahong found it strange, he did not refuse. "Madam Hong, please make yourself at home."

Si Ming knew that Hongdou's cultivation technique, the "Scroll of Space," focused on space, and he suspected she might have gleaned something from the array. However, there was no need to explain, so he changed the subject and asked, "Where is this?"

"The northern part of the Barbarian Continent, specifically, is north of the Northern Desert, near the direction of the Divine Continent of the Central Land. Please look ahead, Alliance Leader."

Si Ming turned his head and saw a towering hexagonal tower that reached into the clouds. It had a total of sixty-four floors, each engraved with different patterns. Six fist-thick chains hung down from the top of the tower, as if sealing something. Even from a distance, one could feel the powerful force contained within the tower, as if it could easily suppress even the most powerful primordial demons.

"This is the Tower of Sealing? You originally intended to use it to seal the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King?"

Si Ming felt his mouth was dry. Even a modern skyscraper could not have such an impact on him. At the same time, he felt that Xilai had been lying to him. With the power emanating from this tower, even ten Purple-Pupiled Spirit Kings would be suppressed. How could he not be confident?

Fahong shook his head and said, "It is not the Tower of Sealing, but the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. The Tower of Sealing was built based on it, so we have no confidence in its power."

Si Ming discovered that a large number of elderly monks, nearly a thousand in total, were sitting cross-legged at the bottom of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. They were scattered in a circle, chanting scriptures, and their powerful True Qi was surging, transforming into Buddhist Power and being sent up to the top of the pagoda along the chains.

What is the purpose of this tower?

"Alliance Leader, please wait a moment, he will be here shortly."

Fahong didn't say what it was that was coming, so Si Ming patiently waited.

A moment later, a sudden gale arose on the distant horizon, and an unusual phenomenon appeared. Black mist rolled in, like locusts swallowing up all living things. The few remaining weeds that came into contact with the black mist immediately lost all vitality, and the earth became even more barren. From a distance, the black mist looked like a giant ghost face, and the howling wind was its eerie sound.

"What the hell is this thing? Is it alive or dead?"

"It's unclear. We call it the Black Tide and suspect it came from the Divine Continent. Large swathes of land in the Barbarian Continent are unusable, trapping us in a corner. This is what caused our downfall."

"It's coming closer!"

As they spoke, the Black Tide approached the spot where they stood, threatening to engulf them. Suddenly, the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda behind them shone with golden light, and a melodious bell rang from its top. A swastika symbol rose into the air, transforming into a dazzling halo that spread outwards. The radiant Buddhist power spread out, causing the earth within a hundred miles to tremble. The vast and boundless power swept away the black Black Tide that covered the sky and the earth. Wherever it passed, the blackness that had stained the heavens and the earth melted away like snow, retreating rapidly all the way to more than a hundred miles away.

Fahong said, "Although we don't know who built this tower or why it's left here unguarded, there's no doubt that it can suppress the Black Tide and prevent it from devouring the Central Plains. That's why our temple has guarded it until now."

Who are those monks?

"They are all senior members of the Ling generation, who volunteered to guard this place in order to resist the Black Tide... Activating the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda consumes not only True Qi, but also life itself. Therefore, people here usually do not live for more than five years before passing away, and then the next batch of people will take over."

Si Ming suddenly realized, "No wonder there isn't a single person of the 'Ling' generation at Glazed Temple. Logically speaking, even if the 'Fa' generation were to take over the affairs, there should be retired seniors..."

Xilai said, "They are the last surviving members of the Ling generation. After they pass away, it will be the Fa generation's turn to take over—if we don't die at the hands of the Monster Race."

Si Ming watched silently, his expression a mixture of respect and indescribable sorrow, feeling a heavy weight in his heart, an oppressive weight that was hard to bear.

Hongdou also showed a sad expression, biting her lip as she asked, "Why would you be willing to sacrifice yourselves?"

Fahong smiled fearlessly, put his hands together, and said, "The Buddha said, 'If I don't go to hell, who will?'"

Chapter 374 Agreeing to Provide Assistance

As Si Ming approached the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, he noticed that the monks of the Ling generation all had aged faces and an indelible weariness. Although their age was a factor, given their cultivation levels, even in their seventies or eighties they should be vigorous and have bright eyes. However, most of them had begun to show signs of decline, giving the impression of a setting sun struggling to stay afloat and desperately slowing its descent down the mountain.

"What happens if someone enters the Black Tide? Will they also lose their life?" Si Ming asked.

Fahong said, "Yes, neither humans nor animals are spared. Although one can resist with True Qi, the Black Tide not only erodes the physical body but also the spirit. Staying in the Black Tide for too long will drive a person to madness and cause them to lose their reason."

Xilai said, "I once used the Golden Bell Cover Shield to protect myself when I entered the Black Tide, but it was desolate inside. The scenery was all the same, except for the withered yellow earth. There wasn't even a small animal, not even a breath of wind. It felt extremely oppressive and hopeless, as if the whole world had stopped moving forward and time had stopped at that moment. Even though I have the Glazed Pure Body and am not afraid of spiritual erosion, I still couldn't stay inside for long. After running around in the Black Tide for half a day, I had to retreat. After returning, I was exhausted in body and mind and it took me half a month to recover my Primal Qi."

Si Ming looked into the distance and saw that the Black Tide had been driven to the horizon by the Buddha's light. Only a faint line of black could be seen, but he could feel that the opponent was still slowly approaching. Obviously, the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda could only resist, not eliminate, the Black Tide.

"Simply treating the symptoms is tantamount to continuous bleeding. Has the master not considered addressing the root cause? The story of Yu Gong moving mountains continues endlessly generation after generation, provided that each generation can reduce the size of the mountain. Otherwise, even with countless descendants, it will be of no use."

Fahong said, "Even if we have this idea, we must wait until the Monster Race is eliminated. Even if the Black Tide brings destruction, it will be a long time from now. If we don't eliminate the Monster Race, we are in danger of annihilation right now, so how can we talk about the future?"

Si Ming nodded and said, "I admit I've only been talking theory on paper."

Although he believed that the Black Tide would destroy all living beings, including the Monster Race, considering the blood feud between the Glazed Temple and the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King, he probably would rather perish together with the other party than put aside his hatred and cooperate.

On the other hand, if the Glazed Temple were to fall at the hands of the Monster Race, what choice would the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King make after learning the secret of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda?

The Monster Race is not Devil Race; they pursue distortion and chaos rather than destruction. They also know how to cherish life. If they do not want to be swallowed by the Black Tide, they will probably have to take up the banner of resisting the Black Tide and fight to protect the martial arts world of the Barbarian Continent. Just thinking about that scene is beautiful.

Among the four races of Ghostly Monsters, monsters, and ghosts, demons and monsters are independent races with their own civilizations and do not need to be subservient to humans. Ghosts and monsters, on the other hand, are races that depend on humans for survival. To be precise, these two races must rely on intelligent beings, and among intelligent beings, humans are the most intelligent of all.

The fertility rate of the Monster Race is extremely low, or rather, reproduction is not part of their instincts. Only a very small number of them are interested in having offspring, and the pure-blooded offspring of the Monster Race are mostly products of passion.

When a person falls into extreme negative emotions, such as sadness, despair, or chaos, and even affects the surrounding environment, there is a certain chance that monsters will be born. Therefore, monsters exist because of humans. When all of humanity perishes, monsters will also gradually become extinct due to the loss of fresh blood. Even for their own survival, they must protect humanity.

The Monster Race don't actually want to destroy humanity; they just want to use humans as objects of bullying. For example, in the Southern Martial World, which is controlled by the Monster Race, humans still live their lives as usual. There are still martial arts sects and feudal kingdoms. However, Monster Race frequently appear there, and "supernatural" events often occur. Some people are scared to death, some are killed after encountering Monster Race in the wild, and some are mistakenly taken to the Monster Race's Otherworld Domain and lose their minds due to various illusions.

In short, that land is prone to spiritual pollution, most people suffer from mental illness, and they are easily provoked into hysteria and madness.

But no matter what, they can still make a living. The Monster Race will not stand openly in the public eye; they will remain hidden in the background. In addition, their numbers are small, and many people who do not travel far may never encounter the Monster Race in their entire lives.

Hongdou walked up to an old monk and asked, "Is it worth it?"

The old monk said, "There is no such thing as worthwhile or not worthwhile, only what should and shouldn't be done. Before us, there were thirteen generations of predecessors who passed away here. If they had any selfish motives, we wouldn't exist. In the end, it's nothing more than the predecessors planting trees so that the successors can enjoy the shade. And now, it's our turn to plant trees for the successors."

Their words were plain, yet they carried an unshakable and powerful will. Although their physical bodies were beginning to decay, in spirit they remained giants worthy of admiration.

Fahong sighed, "Namo Glazed Medicine Buddha, passed down from generation to generation, this is the spirit of Glazed Temple. Even if the temple is razed to the ground, the Buddhist scriptures are burned, and the body is destroyed, as long as this spirit remains, Glazed Temple can continue to exist."

Hongdou asked, "Don't you regret it?"

"Only after something is done can a person have the right to regret it. We haven't finished this matter yet, so how can we talk about regret? If you have any questions, you might as well ask us after we finish this matter, and then you will get the answer," the old monk said magnanimously.