The surrounding corpse monsters were numerous, crawling out of the mire to attack us.
If it were a direct confrontation, we wouldn't fear these corpse monsters.
But now, due to time and terrain, we could only form a single file and rush forward.
The surrounding corpse monsters had no intention of letting us go, constantly crawling out of the mire and pouncing on us with their "howls."
Everyone had to charge forward while simultaneously battling these corpse monsters.
Unfortunately, in our haste to move, coupled with the single-file formation.
Many fellow Taoists were ambushed by the corpse monsters, some were injured, and some were dragged into the mire, losing their lives.
Yet, we couldn't save them.
We couldn't even retrieve their bodies.
We could only kill more demon priests later to avenge them…
We fought our way through as we hurried along.
The mist ahead was thick, and the sounds of battle never ceased.
It took twenty minutes before the attacking corpse monsters decreased, giving us a chance to catch our breath.
But we dared not be careless, and under the guidance of Senior Bai Daozi, we continued to press onward.
Finally, after half an hour, we reached the next phase.
It was still a stone platform, identical to the broken Vermilion Bird phase we had just passed, with little difference.
Everyone quickly leaped onto the stone platform, finally getting a chance to rest.
"Count the numbers!"
Senior Bai Daozi immediately ordered.
The group began reporting their numbers.
The results of the headcount left everyone present in silence.
We had started with forty-eight people, but after passing through the Vermilion Bird phase, only forty-five remained.
This meant three had perished just now.
Among the survivors, six or seven were injured, and one was critically wounded.
Senior Bai Daozi's brow furrowed, and he addressed everyone:
"Everyone, we, as members of the Taoist sect, bear the heavy responsibility of saving all living beings. The road ahead is perilous, and we can only forge ahead bravely."
As soon as Senior Bai Daozi finished speaking, an injured Taoist replied:
"Senior, our kind never fears death for the sake of life. We defend the Tao and die for it."
Upon hearing this, many in the audience raised their arms and shouted:
"We defend the Tao and die for it."
"Good! Then everyone adjust yourselves briefly, and when the path of life appears, we will continue our journey…"
Senior Bai Daozi also shouted, clearly inspired.
In fact, everyone present knew the danger when they set out.
But everyone had come, for a simple reason: responsibility.
Having entered this profession and become a Taoist, everyone had their responsibilities.
They had to be worthy of their ancestors, their profession, and their Taoist arts.
If they were afraid of death or cowardly, no one would have come…
I took a deep breath and adjusted my state.
Thanks to the pills given to me by Xia Qiu Xi, my spiritual energy had recovered considerably.
I was no longer so weak and breathless.
I looked around. The mist was still thick, but here, the corpse energy was not heavy; instead, there was a dense Yin Sha Qi.
Looking at the surrounding mire water, it was as black as ink.
It could be discerned that the water had been contaminated by the Sha Qi and turned black.
This area likely harbored many Yin Sha evil spirits.
Thinking of this, I said to Yun Long and Yun Hu beside me:
"Brothers Yun Long and Yun Hu, is there anything significant about this place?"
Hearing my question, the two, holding their Feng Shui compasses, replied:
"Our current position is in the Azure Dragon position of the Nine Palaces formation, the Wood element, associated with Zhen and Xun directions. The method to break this formation is different from before; we need to sever the dragon's head to reveal the path of life."
"Then where is the dragon's head?"
Old Mo, standing nearby, pressed further.
Many around, having witnessed the abilities of Yun Long and Yun Hu, turned their gazes.
But this time, before the two could answer, Senior Bai Daozi spoke first:
"The dragon's head is beneath this black water!"
Saying this, he pointed to the black water pool not far away.
"Beneath the black water?"
"No way? This water has been contaminated by Sha Qi, how can we break the dragon's head?"
"Yes! Who knows how many Yin Sha are hidden in this black water."
"…"
Everyone spoke in unison.
Just then, a clear Buddhist chant echoed:
"Namo Amitabha, leave this task to this humble monk!"
Everyone turned to look and saw that the speaker was the chief disciple of Shaolin, Kong Ming.
"Kong Ming!"
"…"
Everyone looked at him. Kong Ming, holding his Zen staff, walked forward, his demeanor solemn, truly like an enlightened monk.
Senior Bai Daozi also nodded:
"Nephew Kong Ming, we will be indebted to you for this endeavor."
"Good, good. For the sake of all living beings, what this humble monk can do is but a trifle."
After speaking, Kong Ming directly took off his Kasaya.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Kong Ming, having removed his Kasaya, held his Zen staff in one hand and raised the other hand to his chest.
He began chanting scriptures: "Om Namo Bhagavate…"
As soon as the scripture was uttered, I recognized it immediately.
These were the scriptures of the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra.
This scripture was considered upper-level esoteric Buddhist teaching.
Not only was it obscure and difficult to recite, but its pronunciation was also extremely strict.
However, Kong Ming recited the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra with a flowing and comforting Buddhist melody, which was pleasant to the ear.
It could evoke a sense of clear emptiness…
What's more, as Kong Ming chanted, a faint golden light appeared on his body.
A Swastika symbol appeared on his raised hand.
"Such profound Buddhist cultivation."
"Kong Ming is truly the most outstanding Buddhist disciple of the past hundred years."
"Indeed! With the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, ordinary eminent monks might not be able to achieve this effect!"
"…"
Among the crowd were those knowledgeable about Buddhism, who praised him.
Kong Ming, however, showed no excess emotion.
With a serene expression, and after the Swastika symbol appeared, he walked into the black water pool.
However, as the scripture was chanted, the black water began to churn.
It continuously bubbled with black water, "gurgling."
It was as if monsters were moving within the water.
Everyone stared intently, watching with tension.
Old Mo said nervously beside me:
"Old Qin, there are clearly evil spirits in that pool. Can Kong Ming manage all by himself?"
But I nodded gravely. Reciting the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra to this extent meant ordinary evil spirits couldn't get close to him.
Moreover, for the young monk Kong Ming to dare to go down alone, he must have had confidence.
"Don't worry! Kong Ming will definitely succeed."
As I spoke, Kong Ming had already entered the pool.
As soon as he entered the black water, it surged towards him.
Black shadows appeared in the water, and even clawed hands reached out for Kong Ming.
However, the moment they touched Kong Ming, they were repelled by the golden light.
Kong Ming pressed forward, quickly entering the black water pool.
Although Kong Ming was in the water, his chanting could still be heard from within.
Not only that, but the black water pool churned even more violently.
Wisps of Yin Sha Qi continuously emerged.
Looking around, ghostly heads began to surface on the water.
They then rapidly swam towards where Kong Ming was in the black water pool. One truly didn't know what Kong Ming, beneath the water, was currently experiencing…