Tao Qian sensed movement from Master Yuan and initially thought that these two must be old acquaintances of Master Yuan.
However, Master Yuan spoke thus:
"Tsks, Duobao that fellow, wanting both to save your life and keep the second-generation patriarch of the Spirit Treasure Sect from being tainted by karmic miasma, finally is willing to pay a significant price."
"A single Evil God arm is enough to move most of the second-generation patriarchs in your house to action, yet he chooses to seek external help. His vision is indeed vicious, having chosen the most suitable person."
"Tianzhi Gong was an ancient Tribulation Immortal who attained the Dao before the Ancestor Dragon established the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty. He left for the Outer Realm early, settling in the depths of the Great Abyss, making enemies of various Evil Gods and establishing a transcendent Dao lineage. It is said that he has seized not just one Mechanical Evil God's Divine Qi Origin. The Nirvana Demon Buddha, that old meat bangzi, is probably no match for him."
"Sui Chaozi is a junior disciple of this senior, also a strong person in the Daoist Transformation Realm."
"Moreover, Sui Chaozi, unlike other Daoist Transformations residing in the Outer Realm, has many incarnations in this realm. Should he choose to make a move, even if his original body cannot enter, Shipi the bald thief indeed can do nothing about it."
Almost immediately as Master Yuan's voice fell.
There was a turn of events in the scene.
A voice, mysterious and gentle, yet instilling a sense of ancient familiarity in Tao Qian, resounded throughout the place.
"Duobao Daoist, don't wrong a good person; I too just arrived."
"As they say, 'taking a person's money and helping them avert disaster,' since my master covets wealth and has accepted benefits from you, as a disciple, I naturally have to do his bidding."
"Speaking of which, I and Tao Qian, the young friend here, are also old acquaintances. I certainly cannot stand idly by."
Before the last sentence fell, audiences from the seventy-two provinces all saw countless rainbows flying from all directions.
Within the rainbow lights were similar entities.
Books!
Such as bamboo scrolls, grass papers, animal skins, stone steles... and so on, large books made of various materials flying with bizarre speed across provincial boundaries, arriving here.
In each book appeared scenes that drove the world mad.
A tremendous overflow of text and images encompassing all, as if the whole world could be seen within the books.
Countless Secret Books, Lifebound Scriptures!
Secrets of this realm!
Knowledge from the Outer Realm!
It seemed that all doubts in this world could find their answers in these books.
Eventually, all of these glowing texts transformed into figures known as "Book Spirits," emerging from the books.
They varied in appearance and attire.
But their energies originated from the same source.
Finally, merging layer upon layer, they completely integrated together into an old man with an ugly face and a large cranium, yet with eyes of wisdom, standing outside the Merit Pool.
Just so, blocking the path of the Shipi Arhat.
Obviously, facing a fearsome demon monk whose name struck terror across the world, this old man was calm and composed, his eyes showing no fear.
Even had the leisure to turn his head to look at Tao Qian.
The two made eye contact, and Tao Qian was slightly stunned.
Indeed an old acquaintance!
No wonder, when hearing that voice earlier, Tao Qian felt a strangely familiar sensation.
Long ago, before Master Tao had made his mark and started on his cultivation journey, he had gone to Tengshe Square to seek treasures and texts.
In that workshop, there was an Eating Book Elder.
Tao Qian spent a piece of Joyful Money and received advice from the elder.
At that time, Tao Qian knew the Eating Book Elder was a being of the Daoist Transformation Realm, but his true body was hidden in another realm, leaving many similar "Eating Book Elder" incarnations scattered within the many similar workshops across the seventy-two provinces.
Seeing him now, the puzzle was solved.
The true name of the Eating Book Elder was "Sui Chaozi," a strong individual in the Daoist Transformation Realm, his master even being the ancient Tribulation Immortal Tianzhi... truly a powerful support.
Coming back to his senses, Tao Qian quickly bowed and greeted:
"Tao Qian greets the senior!"
"In the workshop years ago, as a disciple, I once received the senior's kindness. I never imagined that upon meeting again, I would still rely on the senior's capabilities to save my life..."
Before he could finish speaking, Sui Chaozi promptly waved his hand to interrupt.
An ugly face revealed a smile, eyes filled with mystery and wisdom sweeping over Tao Qian and Lian Jing'er.
Particularly the latter, seemingly extremely satisfied with Lian Jing'er, Sui Chaozi subtly nodded.
"No need for thanks. You, and this Mechanical Species under your command with us, share not a shallow karma connection."
"Moreover, your master Duobao has already provided benefits in advance. My master has decreed, today no one shall harm you."
"Just quietly do what you must, and leave the Shipi Daoist to me."
With that, Sui Chaozi calmly turned and faced the nearly distorted face of the Shipi Arhat.
It was, speaking strictly, a case of the strong bullying the weak.
After all, Sui Chaozi was a genuine Daoist Transformation Realm, while Shipi was still in the Ultimate Happiness.
The only "variable" was that Sui Chaozi could not come in person, and what was present here was a collection of his avatars.
But even so, Sui Chaozi seemed to believe he had Shipi Arhat thoroughly under control.
He casually raised his hand, gently caressing his irregular head, resembling a large winter melon in the farmland, while chuckling and saying,
"Shipi Daoist, I have been cultivating for more years than you, and my Dao Heng is higher than yours too."
"Even if my true body isn't here, you should know you are no match for me, even if you fully unleash and summon the 'Shipi Buddha' Dharma Image, you will still be suppressed by me."
"Dao doesn't differentiate between high and low, but cultivation does, and as long as you don't enter the Daoist Transformation, you are not my opponent."
"But you also know that I, Sui Chaozi, least enjoy battling and fighting with spells."
"Why not this, let me resolve a cultivation doubt for you, and if you listen, consider it your loss, how about that?"
A piece of advice that sounded naive and laughable came from Sui Chaozi's mouth.
At this critical juncture of life and death, how could a Demon Monk, in all his dignity, easily give up?
Especially since from the other side, Kongchan and Lian Sha were both shouting for Shipi to go all out.
If the 'Mechanical Demon Buddha' was lost, the Nirvana Buddha would certainly be blamed.
Yet everyone made a judgment based on the expression on Shipi Arhat's face: everything Sui Chaozi said was true.
This Demon Arhat displayed a seldom-seen expression of deep conflict.
The speed at which he was cutting his own flesh had significantly slowed.
Tao Qian and Lian Jing'er were using the "Creation Poison" and "Outer Heaven Flame Essence" to forcibly seize the Mechanical Demon Buddha.
Even so, there was still enough leeway to watch the duel.
There was no helping it; it was simply too enticing.
Sui Chaozi! A minor disciple of Tribulation Immortal, a Daoist Transformation Expert.
Shipi Arhat! A disciple of Buddha, Perfect Ultimate Happiness.
Such high-level confrontation was undoubtedly something no one wanted to miss.
Tao Qian was also very curious, wondering what the scene would be like if the two were to engage in battle.
But at that moment, he heard Master Yuan communicating telepathically:
"Forget about it, they won't fight."
"Although Sui Chaozi is a minor disciple of Tianzhi, he has received his true inheritance of the Great Dao and harbors great love, disliking conflicts and battles."
"Good books, good writings, good secrets."
"And even though Shipi the bald thief is naturally despicable, with a personality sticky as a dog-skin plaster, he is devoted to Buddha and aims at becoming Buddha, not minding whether it's right or reversed cultivation. If now a Buddha from Free Temple or Dharma Cakra Temple were to seek him out, directly granting him a Buddha Status, Shipi would certainly sell that old meat, Nirvana Demon Buddha, immediately."
"Sui Chaozi said he wants to resolve his cultivation doubt, equivalent to giving him instruction, a big favor indeed—with Shipi's temperament, how could he refuse? Just watch."
No sooner had Master Yuan finished speaking than the result was apparent.
Shipi Arhat indeed did not make a move.
Just a moment ago, he was raging, ready to unleash his Lifebound Dharma Form, to break into the Merit Pool to ruthlessly kill Master Tao.
But in this instant, he suddenly grinned, not caring that hundreds of millions of viewers were watching, and straightforwardly said:
"It is said that Elder Sui Chaozi is highly favored by Tianzhi, and once wandered through the Great Abyss, knowing the secrets of this world and the Outer Realm."
"Since the elder intends to give guidance, how could a humble monk like me refuse?"
"I just have one question for the elder, how can I break through the tribulations and achieve the Buddha Status?"
The moment the question was asked,
Immediately, everyone who knew the situation or was a peer of Shipi couldn't help but curse.
For instance, Master Yuan, who burst out: "Ha, shameless Shipi, his next realm is clearly Dao Heng, the Bodhisattva Position, but he directly jumps and asks for the Buddha Position, truly greedy."
Hearing the question, everyone thought Sui Chaozi would ignore it and only respond to breaking through the Daoist Transformation Tribulation.
But unexpectedly, the old man actually pointed out the pieces of flesh on Shipi Arhat's body.
Quite seriously, he not only resolved his cultivation doubts but also abruptly revealed a big secret, a massive conspiracy on Shipi.
"Bodhisattva or Buddha, it all depends on a single thought from the Daoist."
"Daoist, you reverse cultivate Buddha's 'Sacrificial Flesh Dharma,' turning your own flesh into a poison of thousands of Buddhas, feeding it to beings around the world, planting Buddha Poison."
"Immortals, ghosts, mountain spirits, tree demons, beastly devils, bird demons, evil spirits, wicked devils... these beings consuming your flesh have all gained tremendous benefits, each with good future prospects, good cultivation, good Buddha Nature."
"Counting up, among the 3800 Buddhist temples, most have Buddha's sons under your command mixed among them."
"This method is much more advanced than that of Kongchan and Lian Sha."
"Daoist Transformation Tribulation is nothing to you; in a few years, you can break through and become Shipi Bodhisattva.stashop