Ch. 1681Buddha Child Zhuo Yun's Compassion for All
Summary: "Buddha Child Zhuo Yun's Compassion for All"
1. Key Plot Points and Events
- Early Eliminations at the Sky Hunt Assembly: Barely two hours into the competition, two Immortal Lords appear outside Heaven Hunt Demon Mountain, announcing that Senior Brother Jing Feng (the Blue Shirt Man killed earlier by Su Yi near the lava lake) has been murdered by "Shen Mu" (Su Yi's alias). Shortly after, Ma Kun and seven other severely wounded Immortal Lords are also eliminated by the same person.
- Tang Jinhong's Revelation: Tang Lingqi dismisses the outcry as acceptable losses in such a competition. The Taiqing Sect Immortal King Wu Lingkong confronts Tang Jinhong, who publicly praises Shen Mu as a peerless talent of unmatched strength—comparable to an unparalleled Immortal Lord—and reveals that Shen Mu refused the Tang Clan's recruitment efforts. Only Tang Lingqi and the Golden Rainbow Old Ancestor know the truth: Shen Mu is actually Su Yi, and the Tang Clan dares not recruit him.
- Humiliation of the Eliminated: Ma Kun and the others realize they served as foils, unwittingly drawing the Immortal Kings' attention to Shen Mu.
- Su Yi's Loot and Goals: Su Yi examines his spoils: the Nether Fire Ice Lotus and a Demon Core containing the Ba Serpent's true blood (from the black serpent). Both will stabilize his cultivation when he breaks through to the Proof Dao Void Realm.
- Silver Bat Battle: Su Yi encounters tens of thousands of silver bats with soul-shattering sonic attacks. He slares them all through sword Qi, collecting 39 Demon Cores of only ordinary quality. He decides to push deeper into the mountain for better spoils.
- Tang Yuyan's Movement: After a day of travel, Su Yi realizes Tang Yuyan has been moving continuously deeper into Heaven Hunt Demon Mountain—likely seeking a specific opportunity.
- Encounter with Zhuo Yun: Su Yi witnesses a monk holding a group of terrified Immortal Lords captive with a great divine ability. Zhuo Yun, the Buddha Child of Lotus Temple (a Buddhist titan faction), claims he is "begging alms" and demands they donate their Demon Cores.
- The Robbery: When one Immortal Lord curses him as a ruthless bald donkey, Zhuo Yun smashes him with a square treasure seal, then cheerfully demands alms again. After some resistance, each Immortal Lord surrenders their cores. One tries hiding some, but Zhuo Yun sees through it and beats him until he surrenders everything.
- Cliffhanger: Zhuo Yun notices Su Yi, approaches him with lotus flowers blooming beneath his feet, and greets him as a "benefactor"—clearly intending to rob Su Yi of his Demon Cores as well.
2. Character Developments
- Su Yi / "Shen Mu": Demonstrated ruthless efficiency and overwhelming combat power. He eliminates opponents with lethal intent, decimates a swarm of tens of thousands of demonic bats without retreating, and calmly assesses his cultivation resources. His priority remains Tang Yuyan's location while also seeking stronger demon cores.
- Tang Jinhong: An elderly Tang Clan expert with a calm demeanor, publicly praises Shen Mu's strength and laments the Tang Clan cannot recruit him—while the reader knows the real reason (fear).
- Tang Lingqi: Quietly delighted by Su Yi's ferocity, covering for him publicly and citing the assembly's rules to quell calls for revenge.
- Zhuo Yun (New Character Introduction) : A handsome, unworldly-looking Buddhist Child with Peak Perfection in the Saint Realm cultivation. Despite his sacred, compassionate exterior and claims that he "cannot bear to kill even an ant," he is revealed as a shameless, ruthless robbert—smacking people with a treasure seal and demanding "alms." A complete anomaly among Buddhists: ruthless, pragmatic, and hypocritical in theory but honest in action.
3. Significant Themes
- Identity and Deception: Su Yi operates under the alias Shen Mu, with only two Tang Clan members knowing the truth. His false identity allows him to move freely while his action draws public attention and respect.
- The Hypocrisy of Piety: Zhuo Yun embodies this theme perfectly—using Buddhist language, vows of compassion, and "begging alms" as a cover for outright robbery. His brutality contrasts starkly with his sacred appearance, showing that in the cultivation world, appearances and rhetoric often mask self-interest.
- Survival of the Fittest: The Sky Hunt Assembly's rules normalize death and elimination as natural consequences of insufficient strength. The atmosphere of competition is treated as sport, wagers, and entertainment by the Immortal Kings.
- Resources for Power: The chapter emphasizes the importance of demon cores and heavenly treasures for cultivation breakthroughs, driving conflict and character motivation.
4. Character Interactions
- Tang Lingqi vs. Outraged Immortal Lords: Tang Lingqi sharply rebukes those demanding vengeance, citing the competition's rules.
- Wu Lingkong vs. Tang Jinhong: A pointed interrogation about Shen Mu's origins, defused by Tang Jinhong's calm, respectable reply—though it only increases curiosity about Shen Mu's identity.
- Zhuo Yun vs. The Immortal Lords: A comedic-but-violent interaction. Zhuo Yun's "gentle" request for alms, the Immortal Lords' resistance and curses, and Zhuo Yun's swift, brutal retributions with his treasure seal. His defeat of an objecting Immortal Lord quiets the rest, who surrender their cores in defeat.
- Zhuo Yun vs. Su Yi: The chapter ends with Zhuo Yun approaching Su Yi with a gentle smile, calling him "benefactor"—signaling Su Yi is next on the robber's list, setting up an anticipated confrontation.