The Mysterious Woman
The Bone Devil Seed was the same one that Hu Mang had seen before; when put together, it was a large bone ball, and when opened, it resembled a strange creature called a blood-dripping guillotine.
At this moment, the rainwater spun wildly along with the saw teeth of the other side, shooting out in all directions like steel balls.
One of the raindrops brushed against the Hu Mang's cheek, leaving a fleeting red mark.
The next moment, the Hu Mang moved, its figure bursting forth. It wasn't holding a spear, but instead, it inserted its bare palm between the bone spikes, forming the "Lin" hand Lin Character Instruction, and seemingly casually patted them.
The Buddha's light flashed and disappeared in an instant.
The next moment, the Bone Devil Seed shattered into pieces.
The Hu Mang did the same with its other hand, shattering another Bone Devil Seed into pieces.
This commotion was far less significant than that of the previous user of the "Lin Character Instruction, but the Hu Mang now knew that the other party's "treatment of the three poisons" had at most broken the precepts and cultivated Pure Body, and even that Pure Body cultivation was very difficult.
Because the Zen meaning corresponding to the "Lin Character Instruction" character is "peace of mind and body, without distracting thoughts", external storms, sounds and sights, fears and troubles cannot shake the mind, just like a rock sitting in the middle of raging waves.
As the old saying goes, a powerful skill with a wind-up animation isn't a true powerful skill.
On the other hand, Hu Mang casually patted his hands as if kneading dough, and in the blink of an eye, he had cut through to the other end of the alley. Wherever he went, Buddhist light flashed, and more than a dozen Bone Devil Seed were instantly torn to pieces.
Before the demonic shadows that surrounded them from all sides could even react, the Hu Mang had already carved a path through them.
The air in the alley suddenly became heavy. The originally thick and dark Demonic Qi seemed to have been ignited, surging upwards violently. Black smoke billowed out from the cracks in the walls, ditches, and sewer openings like boiling water, so thick that it was impossible to disperse.
Within the smoke, countless twisted, demonic figures stretched and formed, layer upon layer. Some crawled along the walls, while others hovered in mid-air, like masks torn apart, ferocious and restless.
The Hu Mang turned around amidst the billowing demonic smoke.
The movements were neither hurried nor slow; the right hand formed a mudra, the knuckles steady and powerful—it was the Vajra Seal, so upright it was almost rigid.
His gaze sharpened, and an invisible inscription seemed to light up between his brows—
The two words "fight" and "the one" subtly switched in my mind.
In an instant, he seemed to have transformed completely.
No longer a mere body of flesh and blood, but like an ancient Buddha awakened, exuding an unyielding will.
The Dou Character Instruction circulated in his mind, and all fear, wavering, and distracting thoughts settled like dust, leaving not a trace.
The Zhe Character Instruction was activated, and the chaotic demonic shadows, eerie atmosphere, and illusions before his eyes were suddenly stripped of their disguise, leaving only their naked essence—illusion, fragility, and vulnerability.
He raised his arm and produced the seal.
There was no roar, no explosive gale, only a single Vajra Seal strike, delivered evenly.
The next moment--
The entire alleyway of the Demon Path was bathed in a bright light.
When the light faded, the alley was strangely quiet.
All that remains are the clean stone-paved road, the desolate shadows of the walls, and the Hu Mang standing at the entrance of the alley.
"That bald monk's methods are perfect for clearing out mobs."
Hu Mang retracted his fist, swept his sleeve upwards, revealing a "watch" on which the numbers began to jump.
The final value was 8000 Law Power, and a location popped up: Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
That is, the level at which one can condense Golden Core at any time.
"The Law Power output is 8000. I remember the minimum standard for Golden Core is 10000. That means that a monk from the Form Realm who has completed the 'Cure of the Three Poisons' is positioned as Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator within the Heavenly Gate?"
"So, even in terms of Buddhist cultivation alone, I'm now equivalent to my previous peak state?"
"No, that's not how you calculate it—"
As a half-monk, Hu Mang didn't know what level his "cyber monk" skills in curing the three poisons were in the Azure Mysterious Realm.
But he understood one thing very well: at least six or seven tenths of the monk's skill lay in getting beaten up.
With Pure Body, Body-Protecting Buddha Light, and Immaculate Body, it offers triple protection. Despite the terrifying initial impression—like sticking your arm into a blender—if you actually crash into it, it's hard to say who will be blended first.
Hu Mang clenched his fist; the fist, which looked clean and white, was actually harder than when it was fierce and covered in blood.
After measuring the "Law Power output", Hu Mang then tucked his sleeves into his sleeve, putting away the "industrial-grade Law Power detector" that he had bought for tens of thousands of dollars.
"It's definitely the high-end version; it has built-in rain protection and a time display. A worthwhile purchase."
Just as Hu Mang was confirming his Law Power output, he glanced at the time.
"The Thunder God's Shrine will open in half an hour, right? I'll go take a look and see if Old Chen and the others are still alive."
Amidst the raging wind and rain, Hu Mang squinted to discern the direction, then patted his Storage Bag, summoning a 4,000-dollar spirit shuttle. It instantly transformed from the size of a willow leaf into a size large enough for one person to step on, while the root of the "willow leaf" curled upwards, transforming into a handle.
Like the "shared flying sword," this thing is a common magical Law Artifact used by Heavenly Gate cultivators for urban travel, called the "Wind-Riding Spirit Shuttle." Although it also has "wind-riding runes," it can only fly no more than three feet and can only travel close to the ground. Because a rechargeable version has recently been developed, it is also known as the "electric donkey."
Hu Mang stepped on it and then sped off toward Thunder God's Shrine.
On the way, Hu Mang tried to activate the "Heavenly Soldier Divine Office" several times, but the effect was not good.
It seems this thing is undergoing a system reboot after crossing over from Heavenly Gate?
However, Hu Mang had a premonition that this thing was not far from being fully activated.
As it turns out, flying is indeed faster than running.
Although Heavenly Gate 99% of lethal magical Law Artifact, Heavenly Gate has a wide variety of Artifact Spirit Law Artifact to buy, and even custom-made magical Law Artifact are quite convenient.
The Earth Star Law Artifact Factory is no joke.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Hu Mang's figure was already standing in front of the Thunder God's Shrine.
Before the rain arrived, thunder had already thundered.
A deafening roar erupted, and the world was bathed in white light. He squinted slightly, facing the blinding flash of electricity, and surveyed the abruptly erected ancestral hall.
The temple gate is neither made of wood nor stone, but is constructed of thunder-patterned spiritual gold and thousand-year-old thunderwood.
A plaque with flowing light floats above the doorway, the three characters "Lei Gong Ci" (Thunder God's Shrine) formed by lightning, alternating between light and shadow, never extinguished.
Instead of stone lions, there are two stone statues of thunder gods on either side of the gate. The statues are surrounded by tiny electric sparks, and their eyes can distinguish between good and evil. When a stranger approaches, a micro-current flows through them, which deters evil spirits.
With a deafening roar, the world was suddenly illuminated by the lightning, and the faces of the two stone statues even appeared somewhat sinister amidst the flashes of light.
It's not an angry look, not a stern look, but a kind of...
It was an eerie expression, as if it were both smiling and waiting for someone to offer a sacrifice.
The rain was still falling, and the Hu Mang stood there in the rain, neither retreating nor advancing.
Rainwater streamed down his brow bone and jawline, making him feel even colder and harder.
The thunder gradually faded into the distance, leaving only its echoes lingering in the air above the open space in front of the shrine.
The two lightning general statues returned to their eternally solemn appearance, as if the slight eeriness they had shown in the lightning was merely a trick of light and shadow.
Hu Mang didn't move.
One minute, two minutes...
Rainwater gathered into trickles on the stone steps and gurgled away down the drainage ditch.
The gate remained tightly shut, showing no sign of being opened to anyone.
The Hu Mang finally moved.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he exhaled a long breath, the warm air dissipating into a white mist in the cold rain.
He turned around, took a step, and did so decisively and without hesitation, as if he had expected this outcome.
Just as his right foot was about to step off the stone steps in front of the shrine—
"Squeak--"
A very faint, old sound of a wooden axle turning abruptly broke the sound of rain.
Hu Mang paused, then suddenly turned around.
The main gate of Thunder God's Shrine remained tightly closed, but the inconspicuous little window on one side had been pushed open halfway at some point.
A woman's face appeared behind the window.
Pale, indifferent, like paper that has never seen the light of day.
Rain dripped down the windowsill, a few drops splashing on her cheek, but she didn't even flinch.
Hu Mang's gaze lingered on her face for a moment.
The triangular shape conceals its sharpness, the three white lines reveal its power, the eyes gleam with golden light, and its nature is fierce and ruthless.
The woman is destined to bring misfortune to her husband and children, and she holds power and authority.
--It's her.
Gong Lei.
The woman whose origins are shrouded in mystery, whom He Chang left in the Demon-Subduing City.
The rain was still falling, and the two people looked at each other through a gap about the width of a hand.
No one spoke.
Only the rain, in silence, pattered against the ground.
The sky grew increasingly dark, and the lightning seemed to gradually disappear.
Just as Hu Mang was about to move, his eye suddenly twitched violently, because he was shocked to find that he couldn't move his body at all.
As the surrounding lightning disappeared, the surrounding darkness, under the gaze of this woman's face, pressed in inch by inch towards the Hu Mang.
Hu Mang felt a heightened sense of unease, for he had a premonition that the moment his physical body was completely enveloped in darkness would be the moment his life force was extinguished.
The Heavenly Soldier Divine Office jumped suddenly!
The woman is destined to bring misfortune to her husband and children, and she holds power and authority.
The same sentence popped into Hu Mang's mind again.
The next moment, he closed his eyes tightly.
At the same time, a faint Buddhist light emanated from his body.
Pure Body, Immaculate Body
In an instant, both the Zen and Buddhist schools appeared on his body, making his physical form resemble jade and crystal.
In the instant darkness enveloped him, the Hu Mang opened its eyes again, but this time, they were murky, demonic pupils.
Ferocity revealed
With a flick of his wrist, the Shattering Thunder appeared out of thin air, its shaft as hot as red-hot iron. The flesh at the base of his hand rolled back, transforming into a dark, demonic hand that gripped the spear shaft tightly.
With a press and a lift, the spear tip pierced the darkness before him like a thunderbolt.
The "Wisdom King Fire" exploded with a deafening roar!
Flames collided with darkness, producing a muffled sound that was almost inaudible.
The fire went out.
The darkness dissipated.
The place was deserted.
Only the mysterious woman named Gong Lei remained, still standing by the window, a faint smile finally appearing on her usually blank expression.
Beside the stone steps in front of the shrine, the Wind-Riding Spirit Shuttle, which had only been ridden once, still sat crookedly in its original spot.
The national subsidy is gone.