My aunt had been dead for two days, yet here I was, seeing her spirit.
My aunt wasn't a good person; she was mean and sharp-tongued.
But blood is blood, after all.
Since I'd encountered her today, I had to take her soul with me and release all the other human souls here.
Otherwise, these ghosts wouldn't even have a chance to reincarnate, even if they wanted to.
I continued to watch, waiting for the opportune moment.
The black vortex began to slow down.
As the vortex gradually decelerated, I could clearly see a person sitting inside it.
A gaunt old monk.
This monk, clad in black Buddhist robes, sat cross-legged at the bottom of the river.
Beneath him was a black stone.
The stone emanated a dark glow.
He clasped his hands together, muttering incantations.
"Evil Buddha?"
Those two words instantly flashed in my mind.
I observed him closely.
Having never dealt with such demonic entities before, I needed to be cautious.
The old monk sitting in the center continued his chanting.
My grandmother was a devout Buddhist, so I had heard my fair share of scriptures.
However, I couldn't understand a single word the old monk uttered.
I could only tell that this monk was not human.
Rather, he was some kind of demon that had cultivated into human form.
I didn't possess the Golden-Gaze Fiery-Eyes, so I couldn't discern his true form.
After about five minutes, the old monk stopped chanting.
The vortex surrounding him also disappeared.
The surging currents in the river calmed.
Standing around were over a dozen fish-headed demon spirits, all kneeling on one knee.
They simultaneously called out to the old monk:
"Greetings, Underworld Buddha."
Their voices echoed with a "gurgling" sound in the water.
The surrounding ghost-fish and corpse-fish also collectively bowed towards the old monk in worship.
The gaunt old monk demon, at this moment, opened his eyes.
But when he opened them, I discovered they were like those of a dead fish.
Extremely pale, contrasting sharply with his withered, blackened body.
The old demon placed one palm over his chest and rasped:
"My Buddha is merciful. Leaders, how many living souls have you brought today?"
As soon as the old demon finished speaking.
One of the fish-headed monsters, with clasped hands, respectfully replied:
"Underworld Buddha, we have brought a total of forty-two living souls this time, and they are all here."
Upon hearing this, the old demon's brow visibly twitched.
He looked at the fish-headed monster and said:
"Why only forty-two? We are still short by seven."
The questioned fish-headed monster hastily replied:
"Underworld Buddha, the reason we are short by seven is that the Third Leader was killed by someone.
All the living souls in his charge escaped.
That's why seven are missing."
Hearing this, I narrowed my eyes.
It was likely referring to the fish-headed monster I had killed earlier that day.
"What? Who has such audacity?"
The old demon roared in anger.
The black aura emanating from him surged, creating an invisible pressure that rippled outwards.
The fish-headed monsters were fine, but the surrounding ghosts, corpse-fish, and even the trembling living souls kneeling nearby, all cried out in fear.
"Underworld Buddha, please calm your wrath. Your subordinate will find that person and annihilate his soul."
The leading fish-headed monster spoke.
But the old monk in the center suppressed his anger.
Placing one hand over his chest, he sighed:
"Never mind, never mind!
My Buddha is merciful, so we will not pursue this matter for now.
We, the disciples of the Black Buddha, have been suppressed for over three hundred years.
Now that we have emerged, our vitality is greatly depleted.
Although the world has changed and spiritual energy is scarce,
it seems there are still powerful individuals present.
We are likely already being watched.
For now, let us act discreetly..."
The old demon spoke in a calm tone, giving a sense of peace.
Yet, his appearance was, by all accounts, utterly wicked.
"Yes, Underworld Buddha!"
"Underworld Buddha, the living souls have arrived. Please consume them!"
"Yes, yes, Underworld Buddha! Once you recover, we won't have to be stuck in this small river anymore."
"..."
The fish-headed leaders spoke incessantly.
Urging the old demon to quickly devour the living souls.
The human souls kneeling on the ground trembled in fear.
"No, don't eat me!"
"Great Immortal, I have cows and sheep at home. Release me! I'll give you cows and sheep to eat, plenty to go around."
"Buddha! Buddha! I have money at home. Release me! I'll give you money, buy whatever you want to eat!"
"..."
Most of the forty-odd living souls around were still weeping.
However, some attempted to struggle and beg for mercy.
But the surrounding fish-headed monsters paid them no heed.
The old demon also stood up.
Looking at the pleading living souls with a half-smile.
He let out a sinister chuckle:
"My Buddha is merciful. This Buddha sees your suffering and struggles.
By allowing me to consume you, to become a part of my body.
In this way, you shall live eternally.
And share the longevity of this Buddha, and the heavens."
As he said this, the old monk slightly opened his mouth.
His once withered head suddenly began to transform.
Gradually changing into the head of a toad.
With a pair of white eyeballs, a head covered in bumps, and a wide mouth.
As the mouth opened and closed, a long tongue slowly extended.
Wriggling left and right in the water, it was utterly disgusting...
Upon seeing this, I confirmed the old demon's true form.
He was a toad demon who called himself "Buddha."
And he had gathered a group of fish-headed demon spirits as his subordinates, here to commit evil deeds, catching living souls for this toad demon to consume.
Meeting me today marked the demise of these wicked entities...