Fake.
So fake that Shen Bai was left speechless.
Like fifty-cent special effects.
Yet for Wuhua, it seemed to be an immense pressure.
"Strange. Such a fake illusion shouldn't be able to affect anyone at all."
Shen Bai stroked his chin and thought to himself.
After pondering carefully for a moment, Shen Bai understood the reason.
—Heart-Cleansing Incantation.
This divine ability possessed the two traits of cleansing the heart and calming the mind.
And the Sophora Tree Bizarre Entity attacked through illusions.
In other words, Shen Bai's divine ability rendered the Sophora Tree Bizarre Entity ineffective against him.
Of course, it still had some effect, such as these things that looked fake at a glance.
As Shen Bai was thinking this, those utterly fake phantoms lunged at him in unison.
To others, they might have been terrifying, but with a casual wave of Shen Bai's hand, the phantoms vanished in an instant.
The surroundings fell silent once more, leaving only the enormous sophora tree swaying endlessly.
Shen Bai turned his head, his brows slightly furrowed.
Wuhua still wore that conflicted expression, muttering to himself.
"Beast, beast!"
"This little monk shall become a Wrathful Vajra today and slay demons, eliminate evil!"
"If Heaven had not brought forth Wuhua, the Buddhist path would be a long night!"
"Hahaha, you flatter me, you flatter me. This little monk merely studies the Buddhist teachings from time to time; I am unworthy of the title of master."
Shen Bai: "?"
I seem to have discovered something incredible. This young monk is apparently the quietly flamboyant type.
Sure enough, everyone in this world had two sides to their personality.
As Shen Bai thought this, he felt that if Wuhua kept going like this, things were about to become serious.
At this moment, Wuhua's aura was becoming increasingly unstable.
After a brief consideration, Shen Bai placed a hand on Wuhua's shoulder.
The next moment, an ancient incantation flowed from Shen Bai's lips.
As the ancient incantation emerged, an ethereal, otherworldly aura appeared around Shen Bai, as though he were a banished immortal walking among mortals.
And as the incantation continued, Wuhua, who had been somewhat crazed, gradually regained his calm.
The conflict in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by composure.
"This little monk fell into an illusion?"
"Benefactor Shen was the one who pulled this little monk out?"
"Th-this... what scripture is this, to possess such miraculous effects?"
Wuhua voiced three questions from the depths of his soul, feeling Shen Bai become even more mysterious in his eyes.
He could fight, he was clever, and he even knew mysterious scriptures.
In Maple Forest Province, someone like this would have countless factions fighting until their heads bled to recruit him, especially given how young he was.
Shen Bai smiled. "Just a minor trick."
The Heart-Cleansing Incantation could be used not only on himself, but on others as well, though its effects were slightly weakened.
Wuhua gave a bitter smile. "Benefactor, this little monk cannot compare to you. You are the true young prodigy. This little monk is unworthy of being considered one of Xuanxin Temple's younger generation of experts."
Shen Bai patted Wuhua's shoulder. "There are countless experts in this world. If you think like this every time you encounter one, it will be difficult for you to improve."
Wuhua nodded and pressed his palms together. "This little monk has become fixated on appearances."
Shen Bai said no more. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Wuhua and walked toward the sophora tree.
The closer they drew to the tree, the more real the illusions became.
But to Shen Bai, the illusions were still far too fake.
The Heart-Cleansing Incantation was like sacred words from Heaven, spreading ceaselessly across the island.
Following behind Shen Bai, Wuhua unconsciously swallowed.
As he watched Shen Bai recite the incantation, he felt as though ten thousand immortals surrounded him—mysterious and terrifying.
What had originally been a thorny mission now seemed as simple as eating and drinking.
After several breaths, the two arrived before the sophora tree.
The sophora tree weakly stretched out its branches, exerting all its strength to activate its illusion ability, yet before Shen Bai, it was utterly powerless.
"It should end now."
Shen Bai drew the longsword at his waist.
Sword light flashed, and resplendent righteous energy shone like a blazing sun.
Shen Bai slashed with his sword, and a colossal wound appeared upon the sophora tree.
The entire sophora tree trembled, quivering feebly beneath that single strike.
A wisp of ash surfaced from the tree's crown. Gradually, beneath Shen Bai's longsword, the entire sophora tree turned into embers that filled the sky.
Two strands of Killing Intent drifted through the air before entering Shen Bai's body.
Shen Bai's face remained expressionless, but his heart was bursting with joy.
He had thought this trip would yield, at most, one strand of Killing Intent. He had not expected to receive two in the end.
Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. This sophora tree had come from Xuanxin Temple and counted as an exceptionally powerful bizarre entity. Obtaining two strands of Killing Intent was only natural.
It could only be said that Shen Bai was the sophora tree's natural nemesis.
The mangled corpse of the Hundred Healers Valley female disciple remained on the ground.
However, after the sophora tree was destroyed, the pain on the corpse's features turned to peace.
Wuhua stepped forward to inspect it, then pressed his palms together. "No resentment has arisen. Even after suffering such a fate, her heart remained clear as a mirror after death. As expected of a Hundred Healers Valley disciple."
Shen Bai gazed at the corpse. "Bury her."
Wuhua nodded. "Benefactor, wait while this little monk recites scriptures to guide her soul onward."
Passages of Buddhist scripture flowed from Wuhua's mouth, suffused with a sacred air.
Only after roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn did Wuhua stop.
Together, the two buried the body at the center of the island.
Wuhua extended his hand, offering the Buddhist bead to Shen Bai.
Shen Bai asked, "What does this mean?"
Wuhua smiled. "Without you on this journey, Benefactor, this little monk would have been in grave danger. The abbot once said that monks are people too, and should remember kindness. This Buddhist bead is a gift for you."
Shen Bai raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you afraid the temple will blame you? This Buddhist bead was given to you by the abbot."
Wuhua shook his head. "It was meant to be used in the first place, and there is only one chance left in it. The sophora tree has been dealt with, so the Buddhist bead has fulfilled its mission as well."
After considering it for a moment, Shen Bai accepted the Buddhist bead.
He needed Bizarre Items. Since Wuhua was giving it to him, there was no reason to refuse.
"Let's go. It's time to set off and return," Shen Bai said.
On this trip, he had not only gained two strands of Killing Intent, but also acquired a Bizarre Item. For Shen Bai, it was an absolute windfall.
Once he returned, he could rapidly increase his strength.
Especially when he thought of how he could soon transform the Heart-Cleansing Incantation qualitatively, and could use a strand of Killing Intent to appraise the Buddhist bead, Shen Bai wished he could sprint back immediately.
Wuhua nodded in agreement, then suddenly recalled something and asked, "Benefactor, you should be more careful for a while."
Shen Bai was already preparing to leave. Hearing Wuhua's words, he asked curiously, "Is something major happening soon?"
Wuhua nodded. "The Heavenly Oversight Bureau's inspection is imminent. That is a major matter."
Shen Bai was slightly puzzled. "They are inspecting officials. What does that have to do with me?"
The Heavenly Oversight Bureau's inspection was indeed important, but the county magistrate should be the one most worried. Shen Bai was merely an ordinary commoner—just one who could fight rather well. It had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
Wuhua sighed. "Xuanxin Temple works with the Heavenly Oversight Bureau to eradicate bizarre entities and has a good relationship with them. We learned some news from the Maple Forest Province Heavenly Oversight Bureau."
"On this inspection tour, every other place is simply being inspected. Maple Forest Province alone is different."
"Besides the inspection, there is one more matter..."
Before you continue