Tianlong Mountain

Without the protection of their sects, the rogue cultivators who fought their way up were indeed all shrewd and capable. Li Fan only gave a slight hint that the warm-up was over and that it was time to get serious. Those who were exhausted and burdened should be sent away.

Li Wugou immediately understood his meaning, and instead of continuing to nag him, she simply turned and left.

... Of course, it's also possible that she didn't actually notice? Oh well, it's all the same anyway.

Li Fan glanced at Li Wugou's retreating figure, then turned back without looking back. He tossed the Tiger Tally in his hand, saying, "This is what you wanted to steal, isn't it?"

Fajing glanced at the Tiger Tally, breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help but look again at Li Wugou's departing figure. "Senior brother, that grumpy old woman is so ungrateful. How about I help you tie up the medicine? I guarantee she'll be obedient."

Li Fan glanced at him, smiled, and said nothing.

Fa Ding quickly smiled obsequiously, "Junior brother, you're just worried she'll spread rumors Fourth Department..."

"Would you believe what the Ghost-Faced Witch says?" Li Fan chuckled, pointing to the towering malevolent energy beside him. "Besides, you've already made such a grand display, are you afraid others won't see through your origins? Oh, you northerners think you're so great, don't you? What! Your Highness's master has already mastered divine skills and can now rival Yuntai Peak? Fine! Let's invite the immortals from Gen Province to congratulate him! Call over all those old monsters from Guyeshan Kongsang Mountain, and Wangwu Mountain, and we'll all be thrown into the same pot, making a great comeback for my Death Gate Dao!"

Fa Zhang forced a smile and wiped his sweat, "Senior Brother! You've misunderstood us. We were too busy hiding to set up the Gate of Life and Death right at our doorstep... Alright, we did choose Tianlong Mountain because of its auspicious feng shui, but this wasn't our plan at all. It was all a scheme by the Ten Absolutes Sect!"

Li Fan frowned. "The Ten Absolutes God Sect? So they really made this Tiger Tally?"

Fazhi nodded repeatedly, saying, "As expected, nothing can escape your discerning eyes, Senior Brother! Back then, the Divine Sect deliberately came to our door with the two mountains, forcing the Sect Master to assist in setting up this Gate of Life and Death. They were using this as leverage to control us. If we don't take action, our secrets will probably be exposed on the spot!"

Therefore, we were forced into this situation and have no choice but to act according to circumstances. If the matter of the cult can be accomplished, that would be for the best, since we are all in the same boat...

Li Fan chuckled and pointed to the Daoist's corpse on the ground, "If things don't work out, then we'll turn around and kill the Gushe and Kongsang families, and then kick them off the ship?"

Fajing chuckled, "We all think the same thing. By the way, weren't there originally many people guarding this place? And my sect's fellow disciples too, I wonder..."

"Oh, so there were some. I saw them causing all this trouble, and even framing me for the Death Gate Dao, so I was indignant and killed them all on a whim," Li Fan nodded, taking out the Jue Ming from his sleeve and showing it to himself. "Is this it? The others were scattered to the winds. It was all a misunderstanding. Junior Brother, you don't mind, do you?"

Fa Jing was dumbfounded, swallowed hard, and stared fearfully at Jue Ming's remnant soul, shrinking his neck and trembling, "No, no, no, I dare not mind, I dare not mind... Senior Brother's divine skills are unparalleled! His magical power is boundless! Junior Brother admires you, admires you, admires you..."

Li Fan smiled and flashed over, patting Fa Jing's shoulder, making his round head twitch. "Alright, enough talk, lead the way, let's go pay homage to Tianlong Mountain!"

How could the authorities dare to refuse? So, with a forced smile, he led the way, flying northwest with Li Fan while explaining the situation of the Death Gate Dao in the north.

It turns out that the northern vassal state had been destroyed, and years of warlord conflicts had left not only the common people displaced, but even smaller powerful clans could not withstand the ravages of war and bandits. The weak and powerless were simply unable to protect themselves. Therefore, they had to seek refuge with those immortal and demonic forces and pay tribute in order to obtain protection and barely survive.

If you want to find a powerful backer, the Gen Country is the best choice, as it has the strongest backing. However, not just anyone can curry favor with the people in the mountains. Without the middleman, the Gen Kingdom's court, taking a cut, and being Heavenly Treasure land in the Central Plains, Gen Province are already living very comfortably. The Xuanmen has fewer people, and most of them are focused on cultivating immortality and are too lazy to leave the mountains to manage affairs, so they don't need to create so many vassal forces.

Therefore, even Nine Great Xuan Sects and aristocratic families would beg for refuge in places like Wangwu Mountain, yet there was no way to enter. Even warlords like the Heng Hai Army could only pay homage to a lesser immortal sect like Kongsang Mountain. As for the common people who had nothing, they could only seek protection by joining demonic sects like Yellow Heaven and Hei Lian.

Tianlong Mountain was the largest gathering place for Buddhism cultivators in Gen Province. After all, the world was the territory of the Three Great Sects, Buddhism were powerless to intervene in the core of the Central Plains. They could only choose to develop in chaotic places like Gen Province or rural areas like Li Country. A large number of believers gathered and attached themselves to Tianlong Mountain, all of whom voluntarily sold themselves to work for the temple, cultivate the land for the temple, and serve as monk soldiers to resist the rebel army. Even the surrounding Jiedushi had to give Tianlong Mountain face and dared not send troops to invade rashly. In fact, it could be regarded as a standard separatist force of regional warlords.

There are countless monks and nuns here, and it's not just the Death Gate Dao sect; in fact, the Iron Buddha Temple lineage that Li Fan saw before also has one. Similar to the distinction between inner and outer sects in the Xuanmen sect, Tianlong Mountain also has temple gates and mountain gates. Temple gates are specifically responsible for managing secular affairs, such as estates and land. Mountain gates are for dedicated practitioners. The head of the mountain gate of Tianlong Mountain is the leader of the Buddhism in Gen Province, who can oversee the abbots of different lineages of various temples in the north, issue the position of Sangha Director, and appoint the abbots of various prefectures and counties.

Therefore, to be precise, the Death Gate Dao is not a disguise for Tianlong Mountain, but rather a disguise for the Tianzang Sect, which currently controls the Tianlong Mountain gate. This sect is considered a branch of Esoteric Buddhism. Esoteric Buddhism adheres strictly to its teachings, prohibiting the transmission of knowledge to non-Esoteric Buddhists without proper instruction. Outsiders are unaware of the specific teachings being transmitted, which facilitates the Death Gate Dao's concealment. Ordinary Buddhism cultivators are no match for an ancient demonic sect like the Death Gate Dao, and since the Death Gate Dao has been in seclusion for so long, few in the Xuanmen (Daoist) world remember it. Thus, the position of the Tianlong Mountain has naturally been held by Dao Ci Godly Monarch of the Death Gate Dao for a long time.

"Oh, Divine Lord? I thought the Master had already attained enlightenment. How many Divine Lords do you have now?" Li Fan asked, picking his nose.

With a forced smile, he said, "Right now, there's only the Sect Master; there are six of us fellow disciples of the same generation in the Inner Sect..."

"Oh, this thing mentioned someone named Fa Yin, is he your senior brother? Yes? Then there are five now. I easily defeated him. It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, I already said it's a misunderstanding, he didn't have 'Death Gate Dao' written on his face!" Li Fan patted Fayin's shoulder, "But with so few of you, you're no match for the Kongsang Mountain Guyeshan, right?"

Fajing couldn't help but turn to look at the cassock, and could only force a smile, saying, "Senior brother is joking. It's just a misunderstanding. It's nothing, nothing. We can just call him back if he dies."

Kindness?

Li Fan glanced at the legal document, smiled, and said, "I see, that makes sense, hahaha."

What does this mean? Can the dead be brought back? Resurrection? Reincarnation? Disintegration? But then again, that skull-headed Wu Lian Godly Monarch was also preparing for resurrection! This Death Gate Dao, could it really be a way to revive teammates!

Li Fan was momentarily surprised. He didn't take five Nascent Soul Stage and one Divine Lord seriously. Now he had two flowers, a bunch of Dao bodies, two hundred Donghua Changchun Pill, and four flying swords in his hands, making him practically invincible. He gritted his teeth and cleared the dungeon by himself. But this Death Gate Dao not only had the Sword Sect's inheritance but also a demonic art of resurrection. He really wanted to see what was going on.

So Li Fan held back for the time being and followed Fa Ding into Tianlong Mountain.

You know what, at first glance, it really does have the feel of a Buddhist paradise. The vast plains surrounding the mountains are all farmland, and tens of thousands of people live in the towns outside the mountains. Each village and town has Buddhist halls, pagodas, stele forests, temples, and monasteries. Up the mountain, there are rows and rows of Buddhist statues and temples, with incense burning brightly.

Li Fan was somewhat surprised, "You actually still have quite a few survivors?"

Fajing laughed and said, "Senior brother is joking again. The more living people there are, the more dead people there will be. Our sect's dojo is in the back mountain. Please follow me."

At first, Li Fan didn't quite understand what this guy meant, until he followed Fajing over those glittering Buddhist temples and landed at the bottom of the cliff behind the mountain, then he understood.

Below is a Cemetery Forest.

The Cemetery Forest is a cemetery for monks, a place where corpses are abandoned. Flesh fills the forest beneath the corpses, while the souls stand at the gates of hell. At the foot of this cliff, skeletons rise like mountains, and bones form a forest. It is truly a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, indeed stinking and unbearable. But in reality, it cannot be considered a demonic path, because Buddhism has always had this custom. It is said that bodhisattvas give alms, risking their lives, and after death, they give their bones and flesh to the crows in the sky and the wild dogs on the ground, which can be considered as returning to the natural cycle of reincarnation.

The Cemetery Forest itself is also a Buddhism practice, a way to see through the impermanence of life and death, to see through the attachment to the constant arising of illusions, and to seek the great bliss of wisdom and transcendence. The bodies of many believers from Tianlong Mountain were brought here for burial.

At this moment, outside the Cemetery Forest, some masked monks were using knives to skin and dismember the skeletons, arranging the bloodless and fleshless human figures into dancing men and women. There were a total of eight men and eight women, sixteen skeletons arranged in eight formations, placed on a shrine made of conch shells and seashells on a lotus and moon disc. When they saw Li Fan and Fading flying over, they knelt down and worshipped.

Knowing that Li Fan had never seen this before, Fazhi explained, "This is the Corpse Forest Protector. They are a branch of Tantric Buddhism. Although they also inquire about the gate of life and death and practice the contemplation of white bones, they cultivate the karma of the next life, which is similar to but quite different from our way."

Li Fan nodded without saying anything, but he was somewhat surprised.

It seems that the branch of the Corpse Forest Protector on the outskirts is also using this place for cultivation, and has nothing to do with the Death Gate Dao. However, Li Fan can sense that the Cemetery Forest has been set up with a magic array by these Tantric monks, guarded by eight Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, each with unfathomable cultivation levels, which is probably very troublesome.

Moreover, it wasn't just them. When the two of them flew over from outside Tianlong Mountain, Li Fan was also secretly Jue Ming that many of the temples and Buddhist halls they passed along the way had Nascent Soul Stage level cultivators in charge. Even if most of them were trash like Jueming with only average cultivation, there were still some powerful experts. The Death Gate Dao Sect might not have many true disciples, but the entire Tianlong Mountain as a whole couldn't really be called weak.

With so many people inside and out, getting out of there might be a problem. Maybe I'll just have to force my way out...

Li Fan followed Fading deep into the Cemetery Forest and landed in front of a meditation hall.

The master clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Master, a senior brother has come from afar to pay his respects at the mountain."

A gust of cold wind blew the door of the meditation hall open.

Facing the bow, he said, "Please, senior brother."

Li Fan didn't stand on ceremony. He had seen all sorts of situations and could chat and laugh with those who had attained enlightenment. What was a mere Divine Lord compared to him? Besides, he didn't sense any killing intent behind his neck, so he entered without hesitation.

Li Fan never expected that he would meet the person in question so easily.

There was only one monk in the meditation hall, sitting facing the wall with his back to the door, seemingly looking at some painting. It's a pity; it seems we can't capture them all this time. But that's alright, assassinate the old ones first, then wipe out the younger ones.

Li Fan guessed that the other party was Dao Ci, the master of Tianlong Mountain, so he sat down on the futon, placed the Tiger Tally in front of him, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Master."

The master didn't turn around, but said calmly, "Where do you come from, fellow Daoist?"

Li Fan was also prepared, "Leaving Tiantai Mountain in the prefecture."

The host then asked, "How is Faji?"

Li Fan replied, "They were killed."

The host's voice remained completely unchanged as he asked again, "What about Wu Lian?"

Li Fan took out the golden skull from his sleeve. "It's been made into this state by the manifestation of Penglai."

The master finally turned his head, revealing an ordinary old face. To be honest, among the several Divine Transformation Li Fan had seen, his appearance was quite low-key; you couldn't find the kind of hidden monk among a group of bald heads.

The master remained expressionless. "... You really did snatch Wu Lian back from the manifestation?"

Li Fan calmly replied, "It wasn't exactly robbery. I just killed a few people of the Cheng generation, and he gave it to me voluntarily."

The master stared at Li Fan for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "... What nonsense are you spouting? Would you dare say that to the face of the manifester?"

Li Fan chuckled, "If you don't believe me, just go and ask around in Penglai."

The master and Li Fan exchanged glances for a moment. With a wave of his hand, without touching the Tiger Tally, he simply grabbed the golden skull, then turned and stroked it for a while. "Since you've brought Wu Lian back, it doesn't matter what your background is..."

Li Fan smiled and put his hands in his sleeves, touching the brick and the Golden Dragon White Star. "What else would you like to ask, Master?"

The sect leader sighed, "No need. You keep your promise to bring Wu Lian back, and I will naturally honor the agreement and hand over the sect's secret teachings."

"So... um??" Li Fan was taken aback, vaguely feeling that things had developed in a way that was somewhat unexpected.

But the master had already raised his hand and put away the painting in front of him. The painting scroll and a jade Buddha statue flew down in front of Li Fan.

"I keep my promise and entrust Tianlong Mountain to your command. With this jade Buddha, you can order the monks of Tianlong Mountain to act. As for the secret treasures of my sect, they are all stored in the Ancestral Hall on the ancestral mountain, which is full of traps and dangers. If you want them so much, take this token and go find them yourselves."

Holy crap? What's going on?

Li Fan was somewhat surprised, looking at the scroll, jade Buddha, Tiger Tally in front of him, unable to figure out the other party's true intentions. Strangely, the other party really showed no killing intent throughout the entire process.

The host stared at him expressionlessly. "What else do you want?"

Li Fan thought for a moment, "I heard that the Master acquired quite a few things from Nine Yin Mountain..."

The master, however, seemed to understand. "The Sword Sect's treasures are all stored in the Scripture Pavilion. Have Fazhi lead you to retrieve them."

After he finished speaking, he turned his head to face the wall, presumably to see the guest out.

Li Fan had a moment of understanding, but another moment of confusion. Before he knew it, he had walked out of the meditation room with the scroll in his hand. Looking up, he saw Fading waiting outside, staring at him with eyes as wide as a goldfish, completely shocked.

"What?" Li Fan asked, puzzled.

Fa Ding quickly put away his petition, stopped joking, and knelt down solemnly before Li Fan, bowing deeply. "Greetings, Senior Brother. I will now take you to see Dao Ci Zuozhu."

"Huh? Who was that just now?" Li Fan turned his head and was also surprised.

The meditation hall behind them had vanished, leaving only a grave mound and a blank stone tablet on the ground.

The official said in a low voice, "It is my master, Da Hui, the sect leader of our sect and the previous head of Tianlong Mountain. He passed away many years ago. It is truly a blessing that you were able to meet him!"

Li Fan suddenly realized what was happening, and in a flash, he lunged forward, grabbing Fa Jing's shoulder blade. He glared at him angrily and said, "You dare to trick me!"

"No, no! Master, Master is cultivating on the other side! I... I never expected him to see you in person!"

A gust of cold wind blew, Li Fan immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Damn it, how is this Death Gate Dao? Is it really possible to cultivate 'over there'? And be able to come back anytime?! How am I supposed to kill anyone like this?!

Fa Ding swallowed hard, looking at the scroll in Li Fan's hand, and said, "Senior Brother doesn't even recognize the Sect Leader, yet he calls himself a disciple of the Death Gate Dao... You're not actually a true disciple of our sect, are you?"

Li Fan stared at him coldly, his murderous intent fully revealed.

With his collarbone gripped, Fazhi was in so much pain that cold sweat rolled down his forehead like soybeans. He repeatedly said, "No, it doesn't matter how you obtained the inheritance! You were able to pass through the Xuanmen Sect! And you even received the <Mysterious Scripture Meaning> personally from the Sect Leader, so you are the senior brother of my Tai Xuan Dao!"

"The Mysterious Scripture..." Li Fan turned his head to look at the scroll in his hand, and saw that it clearly read "The Great Evolution Diagram." His heart skipped a beat, "What did you just say you belong to?"

The shoulder bone that was being pinched cracked and shattered, causing him to scream in agony, "My Inner Sect's secret teaching, the <<Tai Xuan Scripture>>! It is naturally the Tai Xuan Dao!!"