Nameless Gatling Bodhisattva, three thousand six hundred rotations per breath, with great compassion and mercy, saves all beings!
Firearms might be a bit lacking against immortals, but against demons and monsters, they deal true damage, literally sweeping away large swathes. The principle behind it is simply the interplay of Yin and Yang, with everything remaining within its fundamental essence.
Moreover, this "Zhuanlun Cannon" is not only the world's first in its weapon form but also the first Wish Treasure to be blessed by a complete firearm treatise. Master Zhang further inscribed the Great Dipper Divine Incantation onto it with true immortal power. As long as it is fired, it can, in the unseen, draw upon the might of firearms worldwide, while also communicating with the power of the Heavenly Dipper Great Sage!
The old abbot, watching the sky demons being mowed down by gunfire before him, was utterly dumbfounded. He was told there was no magic power, yet the demon qi was still dug up. He initially thought the other party intended to devour both incense and demon qi, as they were also a sky demon. Later, he realized the other party knew Buddhist teachings, thinking that a demonic Buddha was still a Buddha, and perhaps the demon qi would be purified. He never expected this kind of purification method!
This doesn't seem right! What kind of weapon is that? I, this old man, have cultivated Buddhism for decades. Although I wasn't present at the Honnō-ji Incident, I've seen ordinary firearms. How have I never seen a firearm of this style!
What advanced weaponry from the Ming Dynasty!
"You, are you subduing demons?"
"What else? This thing works much better than spells!"
As Ji Xiang was having a blast, he casually responded to the old abbot's question: "The means to subdue demons are all inconsequential. If Buddhism cannot subdue them, use Daoist magic. If Daoist magic cannot subdue them, use demonic paths. If demonic paths cannot subdue them, use firearms."
The front barrels of the Zhuanlun Cannon emitted a fierce glow, destroying a large amount of demon qi. In its place was the pungent smell of sulfur fully burning. The demonization of the old abbot's one eye gradually receded, and the areas of his physical body eroded by demon qi also returned to normal. This made him sigh with emotion. The smell of gunpowder, which usually represented war, now seemed so pleasant!
However, while his demonization was lifted, the Buddhist disciples who remained outside were not so fortunate. Corrupted by the external demon qi, they had completely transformed into ferocious Yaksha monsters!
Measuring over ten feet long, with extremely strange appearances, they had two pairs of huge fleshy wings on their backs, fiery mouths, electric eyes, disheveled red hair, green faces, hairy bodies, two fleshy horns, and four teeth like sharp blades.
"Flying Yaksha!"
The old abbot's heart bled. The Yaksha monsters, who were originally holding ordinary Buddhist ritual implements or even brooms for sweeping and wooden staffs for training, were all tainted by demon qi. Their flesh and blood writhed, entwining these implements, and in an instant, they transformed into terrifying demonic weapons!
Wooden staffs became bone-and-flesh blood forks, alms bowls turned into human-head meat hammers, even sprouting mouths and growing eyes that rolled around, emitting sounds of pain and agony! In an instant, demonic sounds continuously echoed within Honnō-ji!
The Yakshas flapped their wings, some flying into the air, some smashing down, all with a single target: Ji Xiang's location!
"Flying Yaksha, they emit light when they move. They die when struck by lightning magic or firearms!"
"You things that are just selling your heads, I see you don't want to live."
Ji Xiang adjusted the gun's aim!
He had killed dozens of Flying Yakshas with firearms before at the Milong Casino. How dare these low-class demonic monsters from Buddhism act presumptuously in front of him?
"Your Buddhist cultivation is not profound, which is such a pity, leading to your corruption into these hairy-faced, horned, and egg-born creatures!"
"This humble Daoist will now ferry you and relieve your suffering!"
The firearms swept through, and all the Yakshas that charged forward were blown to pieces! Ji Xiang then aimed the Zhuanlun Cannon at the sky. Thunder roared, and with the continuous bombardment of the Zhuanlun Cannon, blood sprayed from the sky like vast oceans and gushing springs, raining down flesh and blood throughout Honnō-ji!
Ji Xiang, getting into the rhythm, held the Zhuanlun Cannon in one hand and drew the Five Thunder Divine Machine inserted at his waist with the other, firing supplementary shots at places the Zhuanlun Cannon couldn't reach. The sounds of "bang bang" were incessant, and many Yakshas were shot in the head by the Five Thunder Divine Machine!
Fortunately, most of the high-ranking monks in Honnō-ji had already fled, ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to search for Ji Xiang's whereabouts. Otherwise, those high-ranking monks would have also fallen into demonic possession at this time, which might have made it more difficult for Ji Xiang.
After all, these common Yakshas could be headshot with one shot, but if they were Yakshas transformed from high-ranking monks, it would probably take two shots.
If this headshotting took too long, it would easily expose weaknesses.
"Seven stars of the Big Dipper, divine energy governs the heavens, Heavenly Dipper Great Sage, with boundless might!"
Ji Xiang also began chanting the Great Dipper Divine Incantation. With the little magic power he had just recovered, he shook his sleeves, and a pile of firearms fell out.
Under the blessing of the divine incantation, these firearms suddenly flew into the air and fired fiercely in all directions!
The entire Honnō-ji was almost blown into the sky. This single barrage swept everything clean. Even the scattered rotten flesh on the ground was scorched black. The firearms, having lost their magical support, fell to the ground one by one, prompting Ji Xiang to lament that they were all cheap goods after all.
A small portion of these firearms were brought by Ji Xiang from the Ming army, while most were confiscated during attacks on various Japanese cities.
Matchlocks, Sihai Bo, Hand Cannons, Zhong Tong, Bao Shi Da Tong... a messy collection of weapons, many of which were also destroyed. But for Ji Xiang, as long as they were inscribed with the Five Thunder Spell, they were all good disposable consumables.
The old abbot was also stunned.
What kind of ghost had so many weapons and equipment fall out of its sleeves?
No, this is a divine ability! Is it the great divine ability of "Sleeve Universe"?
Similar divine abilities were circulated in various countries, with different grades. The powerful ones could contain heaven and earth within them, and with a turn of their large sleeves, they could transform people into another realm to trap them. The weaker ones could carry seven or eight thousand catties of grain. Thus, such divine abilities, whether in combat or practicality, were top-notch and powerful, and not easy to learn.
The old abbot watched for several tens of seconds before finally coming to his senses and realizing something, his face turning pale and green, filled with both anger and sorrow!
He had been too focused on the outrageous sky demon wielding guns and fighting monsters. Only now did he remember that the Yakshas he was killing were his own disciples!
"They're all dead! These are all the Buddhist sons and grandsons of my Honnō-ji!"
The old abbot cried without tears!
"They're dead, so they're dead. They've turned into Yakshas, and you still want to save them? Save your energy. You yourself almost became a great Yaksha, and you still want to save them? With such immense demon qi, once a Buddhist disciple is changed, they cannot be saved."
Ji Xiang had swept away these Yakshas, but the demon qi had not been completely eliminated. The previous barrage had depleted a batch of firearms, and the lightning spells had also consumed a lot, along with the little magic power Ji Xiang had just recovered.
Fortunately, although the demon qi was not completely eliminated, it had been suppressed, and the world had become slightly cleaner. Ji Xiang walked to the location of the Buddha statue where Akechi Mitsuhide was held and then stomped on it, lifting a large section of the ground, along with a quarter of the entire hall's architecture!
If he had no magic power, he still had his physical body!
His primordial spirit-level physical body was already at the peak of Golden Core Dao cultivation. He could directly blast open a small hill and tear apart a demon king who had cultivated an inner core with his bare hands. Demolishing a hall was nothing.
Ji Xiang lifted all the objects pressing down on the ground, revealing a giant standing corpse below. This was no longer an ordinary human corpse, but a product with Oda Nobunaga's corpse as the core, with the bodies of other mortal generals sewn into it.
It was a mountain of flesh, but Ji Xiang had seen it a few times and was not particularly surprised. He fired two shots at it with the Five Thunder Divine Machine.
This demonic god's physical body was impervious to blades and spears, and even firearms could not harm it. Gunpowder and thunder talismans only caused sparks and lightning to burst upon hitting it, as if its body were cast from steel and iron, indestructible. The massive incense power was sealed within the demonic corpse, with only a little leaking out from its seven orifices.
"Although it's an ordinary demonic god, not yet reaching the level of Pajun, my magic power is depleted, and firearms cannot harm it. This physical body is likely top-tier in the mortal realm. To injure it, one can only rely on immortal means."
"Although I have a few immortal artifacts, I cannot activate them without magic power..."
Ji Xiang touched the many swords inserted at his waist. Would a single sword strike be enough to cleave this thing?
"Ksitigarbha, won't you lend me some magic power?"
Ji Xiang mentally sought help from the Vow Bodhisattva, who responded with a wry smile: "These past few days, battle after battle, you haven't rested. From Korea, you used shadow spirit magic, sneaking everywhere, inciting the hearts of those Japanese generals to rebel, and also maintaining the existence of shadow soldiers. Now you've crossed the sea to Japan. Your magic power should have been exhausted long ago!"
"Moreover, this is not a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. Upon arriving on enemy soil, the recovery of magic power is naturally slow. Even I have been suppressed."
"Although I do not distinguish between nations, my true form is in the human realm of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. If I do not belong to any particular nation, no nation will actively help me. Therefore, I am suppressed wherever I go. Your current state is very poor, and mine is even worse."
"If I were to use more magic power, I fear even this manifestation of the Vow Bodhisattva would dissipate."
Ji Xiang scratched his head, looking somewhat confused: "Don't you have Ksitigarbha faith here in Japan?"
Vow Bodhisattva: "You caused such a commotion in the Eastern Yellow Springs. Where is my faith now? The Ksitigarbha statues by the roadside have all been toppled. If you don't believe me, ask that old monk."
Ji Xiang immediately turned to ask the abbot. Upon hearing Ji Xiang's question, the latter looked somewhat surprised: "This humble monk sees that the great demon uses Ksitigarbha's methods. Is there some connection? However, since the great demon is an enemy of our country, it is understandable that the order issued by the Grand Minister some time ago to destroy all Ksitigarbha statues makes sense."
"Damn it."
Only now did Ji Xiang understand why the Vow Bodhisattva's condition was even worse here. Moreover, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva here is the protector of children. However, for Hideyoshi, what did it matter about protecting children now? He wished he could magically transform all children into adults and send them to the front lines as soldiers.
A mere Ksitigarbha faith, abolishing it was not unprecedented. Such things had happened before. In the end, if a faith interfered with the authorities' rule, it would be eradicated without mercy.
Ji Xiang thought about it. The Central Land also had the "Three Martial Arts and One宗" (a period of persecution of Buddhism), which caused a great impact on destroyed faiths. For those gods and Buddhas, it was a huge shock. After all, although the power of these gods was inherited by cultivators, since they inherited the divine positions, they were equivalent to the living manifestations of those gods. Changes made by worldly dynasties would also have an impact on their condition.
However, at this moment, a voice suddenly came from the void, emanating from the ghost face of the Huiji Vajra.
"I will lend you my divine weapon to kill this demonic god. If you don't hurry, this thing will wake up. You must first break its physical body to restore your strength and obtain that incense... I will help you, but there's a condition!"
"My name is Tanmira!"
It was a great ghost from the Avici Hell speaking, not the Peacock King of Glorious Wisdom this time!
Tanmira, like Chandala, initially began as a personal name, and later referred to a great sin. Tanmira, however, was one who wielded a sword to kill Buddhas!
Ji Xiang was puzzled. He had just closed the ghost face and hadn't used the black finger, so why was a holy being from hell contacting him?
"Heh heh, no need to be surprised! That hungry ghost just now was too fierce. In fact, there's a connection between it and the ghost face on your left hand. It hasn't completely eaten that hungry ghost yet!"
"There's a trace of aura from that hungry ghost that has pierced the barriers between hell and the human world, connecting to the outside..."
Ji Xiang extended his left hand and found that the ghost face was indeed not smiling.
This ghostly thing usually smiled happily. If it suddenly became unhappy, there must be a problem.
"My magic power is exhausted, and I cannot sense such an aura... Well, let's assume this statement is true. And who are you? Do you also want to chop off a hand for me to use?"
The great ghost of hell let out a loud laugh: "I wouldn't dare! Only the Peacock King of Glorious Wisdom dared to use his hand to pry open the gates of Avici Hell! Even then, he lost a finger. I don't have that much courage. I wouldn't dare to pry with my hand, but I can send things across hell to their deaths!"
"The hungry ghost realm is closest to the human world. Using the Broken True Word Hell Spell, I can send items over. Moreover, haven't you always been able to use this ghost face to call out to us for Yamabhudana gold... Why don't you catch another monster and send it in, and I'll give you a weapon..."
Ji Xiang: "The Great King of Glorious Wisdom once taught me a spell to break poison and harm, requiring me to release him in the future. Are your requests also the same?"
"No... no need to come out... I was also a Bodhisattva... but now I can't remember many things. I want you to go see someone..."
"Wait..."
Before he could finish speaking, the ghost face suddenly smiled, interrupting their conversation. This guy seemed to have completely devoured the hungry ghost transformed from Akechi Mitsuhide, making Ji Xiang look at this ghostly thing's smiling face and wish he could punch it.
But punching it would be like his right hand punching his left hand...
Ji Xiang's face was filled with displeasure. There was a demonic corpse beneath the temple grounds, but he couldn't grab it. Ji Xiang went outside to search. The previous Yakshas had all been killed by firearms. Now, when he wanted to catch a monster, there was nothing to catch!
"They said there were eight million gods and a hundred ghosts walking at night, but now there are no demons to kill. When that overwhelming demonic qi rose just now, I should have kept a couple of small Yakshas."
"Now that I cannot recover my strength, it seems I have to flee first and find a safe place."
The commotion at Honnō-ji was so great that this place, being a large town, could not possibly avoid causing a stir.
As Ji Xiang spoke, he started to walk outside. At this moment, the old abbot hurried out, actually offering to guide Ji Xiang, which Ji Xiang found incomprehensible, stating:
"You should report this matter to Toyotomi Hideyoshi now, and then have someone come to kill me, right?"
The old abbot quickly said: "What is the great demon saying! This Honnō-ji cultivates a demonic god beneath it. The humble monk's many years of cultivation were all for the demonic god's sacrifices. In the past, I did not know the truth of the matter. Now that I have learned of it, if the Grand Minister finds out, I might not survive. How could I still go to report to the Grand Minister?"
"You are an enemy from overseas, but this humble monk does not wish to die like this! This humble monk is not afraid of death, but afraid of being turned into such a demonic monster!"
Death was not frightening; Buddhist cultivation was for the afterlife. But to be turned into a demonic monster after death, this lifetime of cultivation would become the foundation for a demonic head, and one would never be reborn. Who could endure that!
The old abbot thought that he was not defecting to the enemy, at most he was fleeing for his life. Anyway, all the people in this temple had turned into Yakshas. If he ran away now, who would know if he was alive or dead? Whether they were Yakshas, Buddhist disciples, or hungry ghosts, they were all killed by this sky demon before him. It had nothing to do with him. He was merely a spectator throughout the entire process. Now that he had obtained Yamabhudana gold, it was a good time to advance his cultivation. Double the joy, how could he lose it at this moment!
"This is Kyoto, where the Emperor resides. However, some changes occurred a few days ago. It is said that the Emperor has turned into rotten flesh..."
"If you want incense, there is actually another good place..."
"Shinto shrines!"
May my fellow Daoists die, but not this monk! Shintoism has shown signs of resurgence in recent years, while Buddhism has begun to decline. Now that he has found a sky demon, he can not only suppress the arrogance of Shintoism but also rob them, without taking responsibility, and be happy about it. Where else could he find such a good thing!
"There is the largest shrine here... no, a Jingu! It is said that this Jingu was built during the Great Tang Dynasty of China, and its name is—"
"Heian Jingu!"
Kyoto is vast, and it is far from where Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his group are located. Coupled with Ji Xiang's temporary depletion of magic power, it is difficult for the other party to track Ji Xiang's whereabouts.
And this Heian Jingu, its architecture and style are all learned from the Great Tang Dynasty, and it is precisely because of this Jingu's presence that Kyoto has another name—Heian-kyo.