Great Black Heaven War God
An elderly man at the tenth level of Foundation Establishment looked cautious and slowly said, "The appearance of the Black Lotus may be an ominous sign. Since ancient times, black has been associated with night, death, and evil. Should we retreat first to avoid unnecessary trouble?"
Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.
We are all independent cultivators, and our journey of cultivation has been arduous and difficult. Even though this ancient ruin is full of fortuitous opportunity, we do not want to be involved in unknown risks and lose our lives here.
Chen Changming stared at the Black Lotus, his brows furrowing slightly, when suddenly it seemed familiar.
The Holy Mother Wusheng of the Black Lotus Sect once used a Black Lotus Law Artifact, but Law Artifact are inanimate objects, while the Black Lotus in this pool are living things.
Fellow Daoists.
Master Yuanjue looked around and continued, "The lotus flower has an affinity with Buddhism; perhaps this place is a Buddhist relic. I have decided to explore further and seek its secrets. If anyone wishes to travel with me, I am naturally welcome; if anyone chooses to leave, I understand."
Jiang Chenggu nodded and said, "Master is right. We cultivators should rise to the challenge. I am willing to follow you and explore the secrets behind this Black Lotus."
The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
Jiang Chenggu and Master Yuanjue are acting in concert, are they trying to make fools of them?
After so many days of effort in breaking the formation, everyone has contributed greatly. The fortuitous opportunity is about to be revealed, and these two want everyone to leave so they can monopolize fortuitous opportunity?
"Master Yuanjue, I'll accompany you to investigate this matter."
A middle-aged man said.
He was also at the tenth level of Foundation Establishment, the same level as Master Yuanjue, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
If fortuitous opportunity truly arises, then everyone will fight for it using their own means.
I'll go too.
Others also expressed their opinions; not a single person withdrew.
Master Yuanjue smiled slightly, then flew alone across the Black Lotus Pool and entered the Black Mist.
Jiang Chenggu was the second to enter.
Seeing that the two seemed to be in no danger, the others also flew inside.
"Fellow Daoists, this is an illusion array. Do not wander off."
Master Yuanjue stood in the Black Mist, holding a string of black Buddha Bead, constantly calculating something.
Everyone waited quietly.
Chen Changming glanced at the Black Buddha Beads and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Break!"
One hundred and eight Buddha Bead flew out and entered the Black Mist. Immediately, a slight sound was heard, and the Black Mist that filled the sky suddenly disappeared.
After the Black Mist dissipated, the group discovered that they were standing at the bottom of an underground valley. In the distance, in the valley, stood a black, nameless temple. A gust of cold wind blew, and the large bell in the bell tower rang silently on its own.
Ding ding...
The clear, melodious sound of bells echoed through the valley.
"Master Yuanjue, I never imagined this place was a Buddhist relic..."
Jiang Chenggu smiled.
Master Yuanjue slowly walked towards the temple, saying calmly, "It's alright. This is a place where all fellow cultivators can work together to break the formation; the fortuitous opportunity belongs to everyone."
Seeing that Yuanjue was very particular, the group of independent cultivators didn't say much.
As the group arrived at the square outside the temple, their expressions suddenly changed.
In the square, skeletons lay scattered on the ground, some weathered to grayish-white, others mottled and fragmented by the erosion of time.
Dark red bloodstains were visible on the ground, reflecting an eerie sheen in the dim light, sending chills down one's spine.
A cold wind blew gently, stirring up wisps of dust, as if even the air was filled with an ancient, bloody scent. A strange sense of unease rose in everyone's hearts; they knew that what had happened here was anything but ordinary.
Master Yuanjue gazed at the remains and bloodstains, his expression becoming unusually solemn. He slowly stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and began to chant scriptures in a low voice, praying for the souls of the departed.
So many people have died outside this temple...
Song Xi frowned. He roughly calculated that the death toll was at least several hundred. He turned around and said, "Fellow Daoist Ning, are you feeling anything unusual or uncomfortable?"
In his view, Fellow Daoist Ning Jin had the lowest cultivation level and should be the first among everyone present to sense the ominous aura.
"A little."
Chen Changming gave an ambiguous answer.
In fact, he was physically strong and had abundant Qi and Blood, so he was unaffected by the cold and damp environment.
Seeing Master Yuanjue chanting sutras, everyone could only wait silently.
After an incense stick has burned.
After Master Yuanjue, he entered the temple.
The temple is not large, with only two courtyards.
As the group slowly entered the first main hall of the temple, a heavy, weathered atmosphere enveloped them.
A black statue is enshrined in the main hall.
The statue was clad in solemn black armor, covered with intricate runes that shimmered with a faint, eerie light. Its face was resolute, its eyes like lightning, seemingly able to see into the depths of the human heart. It held a massive Black Pestle, its shaft bound with black chains.
Around the statue, a group of small black Little Ghosts of various shapes and sizes knelt in worship. These Little Ghosts had distorted faces, their expressions filled with terror and despair. Their postures varied, but without exception, they all revealed fear and awe towards the statue.
On the walls of the main hall are murals depicting the battles between this black-armored deity and various demons and monsters. The deity in the murals is brave and fearless, and every swing of his Black Pestle is accompanied by lightning, as if he can shake the heavens and the earth. The demons who are defeated by him are all hideous and seriously injured, some of them even turned to ashes.
A somber atmosphere permeated the entire hall, making people feel an involuntary sense of oppression.
"Master Yuanjue, what kind of guardian deity is this in your Buddhist sect?"
An old man frowned and asked.
"Buddhism has two guardian deities, one of light and one of darkness. This one must be the guardian deity of darkness. This deity is brave and skilled in battle, and is invincible. We Buddhists respectfully call him the Great Black Heaven War God."
Master Yuanjue thought for a moment and then said.
"Master Yuanjue, have we gone through all this trouble just to visit a temple?"
A man at the tenth level of Foundation Establishment, uninterested in the statue, suddenly began to mock it coldly.
Perhaps there's fortuitous opportunity in the backyard.
Yuanjue smiled awkwardly, clasped his hands together in front of the statue of Great Black Heaven, chanted a Buddhist mantra, and then walked out of the main hall and headed towards the main hall behind it.
There are two side halls on each side of the two main halls.
Master Yuanjue did not enter the side hall, but went directly into the main hall, and everyone followed him into the hall.
At the deepest part of the main hall, a Black Buddha statue stands in the center of the field of vision. The Black Buddha's face is rigid and cold, with its eyes closed. Its black skin appears even more profound in the dim light, as if it can absorb all the light.
The most striking feature is the Altar at the foot of the Black Buddha. The surface of the Altar is covered with dark red spots that look as if it has been soaked in blood. At the edge of the Altar, dark red liquid seems to have flowed there and solidified into cracks.
Looking at the Black Buddha, Chen Chang's expression suddenly changed slightly.
This Black Buddha looks all too familiar.
There was also a similar Black Buddha in his Storage Ring, except it had no head.
"This is the ruins of the Black Buddha Sect!"
Chen Changming became wary. His expression turned solemn, and he slowly took two steps back, distancing himself from the rogue cultivators of Yellow Sprout Mountain.