Transformation Ritual

At this thought, Li Xuanxiao immediately felt how thorny the situation was.

Worthy of the Demon Slayer Division—one casually assigned task for Extreme Realm martial artists...

Was actually of this caliber. Damn impressive!

Only by going through one grueling mission after another like this could martial artists grow stronger, perhaps.

Li Xuanxiao sighed, then swiftly darted through Pure Land Temple, searching for the magistrate.

Only now did he realize just how useful that "Silent Heart Sutra" was!

Relying on the Silent Heart Sutra's control over his aura, he evaded wave after wave of Monk Soldiers searching for him and successfully infiltrated the depths of Pure Land Temple.

The halls here suddenly became far more solemn, and even the simplest furnishings seemed imposing.

Even the Buddha statue at the center was far more exquisitely crafted!

Li Xuanxiao entered one of the halls and searched around, only to be drawn in by a faint unusual sound.

From a corner of the side hall came an incessant "mmph, mmph, mmph."

He narrowed his eyes and approached softly, silently, pushing the Silent Heart Sutra to its limits.

So long as their realm was not higher than his, it would be practically impossible for them to notice his presence.

As he drew near, Li Xuanxiao tilted his head slightly and found an angle to look over.

There, he saw a Little Monk tied tightly to a pillar, with a wad of cotton stuffed into his mouth.

The muffled sounds came from his struggles.

What was going on with this guy?

Li Xuanxiao had intended to leave, but after a moment's thought, he turned back.

Maybe he could pry some information out of him?

That was better than running around like a headless fly and crashing into walls everywhere.

So he stopped concealing his tracks and walked straight up to the monk.

The Little Monk's face immediately lit up with excitement upon seeing Li Xuanxiao.

His muffled cries grew louder.

Li Xuanxiao made a shushing gesture. "I ask, you answer. Don't say anything unnecessary, and don't shout."

"Otherwise, I'll make sure you can never cry out again!"

"Understand?"

The Little Monk stared at Li Xuanxiao with wide eyes, then nodded.

Good!

Li Xuanxiao removed the cotton from his mouth and asked quietly, "Who are you, and why are you tied up here?"

After coughing several times, the Little Monk gradually caught his breath. "This humble monk is Jingshan, an ordinary monk of Pure Land Temple."

"I was tied here because I refused to take part in the Transformation Ritual."

Transformation Ritual?

Li Xuanxiao asked again, "What exactly has happened to Pure Land Temple? And what is this Transformation Ritual?"

Fear flashed through Jingshan's eyes as he began to speak in a trembling voice.

"This Pure Land Temple has already strayed from the Buddha's teachings."

"Everyone has abandoned a monk's proper duty and become obsessed with seeking immortality."

"The so-called Transformation Ritual is the method of attaining immortality."

Li Xuanxiao's expression shifted. What the hell?

People could actually become immortal?

If immortality were real, then I'd like to give it a try too!

"So, can this Transformation Ritual truly make someone immortal?"

Jingshan shook his head repeatedly. "Of course not! So-called immortality always comes at a price!"

"Everyone who takes part in the Transformation Ritual will ultimately become a monster, neither human nor ghost!"

"Immortality twists the very way humans live!"

"Benefactor, this humble monk advises you to leave at once."

"If you are captured, who knows what they might do to you."

Naturally, Li Xuanxiao could not leave just like that. "Do you know where the magistrate of Faxuan City is?"

Jingshan scratched his little shaved head. "That lord who came from the city?"

"He is likely... likely already being forced to take part in the Transformation Ritual!"

Li Xuanxiao narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, where is the Transformation Ritual being held?"

"At Qingyan Treasure Hall, on the rear mountain of Pure Land Temple."

The moment he finished listening to Jingshan, Li Xuanxiao swung his blade down!

Jingshan turned deathly pale and reflexively shut his eyes.

Yet he suddenly felt his body loosen. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the ropes binding him had already been severed.

"Th... thank you."

Jingshan thanked him nervously. He had thought Li Xuanxiao was going to cut him down.

"Can you escape this place by yourself?"

"Huh?"

"If you can get out on your own, then run. I still have things to do!"

"If you can't escape, stay here and wait for me. Once I've settled everything, I'll come back and take you out!"

Jingshan froze for a moment. "Th... thank you, Benefactor. I will stay here and pray for your safety!"

Li Xuanxiao smiled. This Little Monk was rather interesting. "I'm leaving!"

Now that he had a target, there was no need to waste any more time.

After adjusting his direction, he headed straight for Qingyan Treasure Hall on the rear mountain!

The instant he drew close, alarm bells rang wildly in Li Xuanxiao's heart!

This aura...

It was the Profound Realm!

Li Xuanxiao froze. Damn it, hadn't the mission handbook marked this as an Extreme Realm-level mission?

Why was someone at the Profound Realm involved too?!

Was the Demon Slayer Division really this hardcore?

A random mission, and he was expected to challenge someone across realms?

Pei Province, Demon Slayer Division, Law Enforcement Hall.

Liu Gelin sat in the main hall, flipping through the roster of martial artists who had recently committed offenses.

Then one of his subordinates suddenly came to report.

"My lord, a letter has arrived from Flying Eagle Hall. They say it was previously overlooked."

"Please examine it, my lord."

The subordinate respectfully presented the letter with both hands.

"What is wrong with those Flying Eagle Hall bastards? How do they keep making these mistakes?"

After grumbling, Liu Gelin casually tore it open without paying much attention.

Yet the moment he saw the first few words of the letter, he abruptly sprang to his feet!

"Pure Land Temple has colluded with demons!"

"...Those monks have gone completely mad! They are not human at all!"

"...Even after their heads are cut off, they can still stand back up..."

"We must... must dispatch high-ranking martial artists!"

"At least Profound Realm Third Layer or above!"

"Quickly! Quickly!"

After reading the letter, Liu Gelin's expression became grave.

He remembered that this mission had been assigned to the little fellow Si Miaoyin had brought over.

His name seemed to be... Li Xuanxiao?

According to Si Miaoyin, Li Xuanxiao's cultivation was only in the middle to late stages of the Extreme Realm.

Liu Gelin inwardly cursed.

He had planned to do that girl a favor. Now this was great—don't get the kid killed outright.

He summoned a subordinate. "Immediately revise the mission rating, and in the name of the Law Enforcement Hall, issue it again and assign it to a..."

After thinking it over, he shook his head.

"Forget it. I'll go myself."

After a brief consideration, Li Xuanxiao did not retreat.

After all, he too was in the Profound Realm. Even if he could not win, he should still be able to escape.

So he concealed his aura and cautiously approached.

Before long, he entered the grand and solemn hall.

Inside, the Buddha statue was majestic, while sandalwood incense curled around the offering table.

Beneath the statue, more than a hundred monks sat cross-legged on the ground in orderly rows.

Their faces wore peaceful, intoxicated expressions, and none noticed Li Xuanxiao's arrival.

Li Xuanxiao frowned. Their expressions inexplicably gave off a sickly, eerie air.

The more he looked, the more it resembled a cult gathering!

At the very front of the many monks, a middle-aged man in official robes also sat cross-legged on the floor.

His gaze was vacant and his expression dull, as though he were a walking corpse.

Li Xuanxiao narrowed his eyes. That should be the magistrate.

Just then, a deep, resounding bell rang out!

Booooom—

The instant the monks heard the bell, they opened their eyes almost simultaneously.

Their faces filled with a sickly, fanatical devotion.

The Transformation Ritual had begun!