Chapter 253
"Look at her, she's staring at the ink-black sky!"
"Arch-nemesis, it must be an arch-nemesis. How else could one spot the other in a crowd of monsters so easily?"
The other creatures lowered their voices, murmuring among themselves.
Tianjiao Xiao Li's gaze drifted downward.
There, between her fair ankles, he caught a glimpse of her silk stockings, and Li Mo couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Hmph..."
The cold and aloof Qingluan goddess let out a soft snort.
To outsiders, she seemed clearly upset. With her noble beauty, as pristine as a lotus meant only for distant admiration, that single cold huff made the air around them feel frigid.
Yet, to Tianjiao Xiao Li, she was undeniably captivating.
To be honest, in the past, he would have found her frosty, snow-like visage too intimidating to approach.
But who could resist the allure of the stockings he had gifted her?
Meanwhile, the half-demons led by Zhi Duo Luo couldn't help but smirk.
A fight was definitely brewing.
When the time came, they would stir up trouble...
Hehehe!
"Amitabha."
With a chant, a group of monks emerged from the main hall, led by Hengyuan and several others clad in patchy monk robes.
The elder monk at the front had white eyebrows and tattered robes. If he stood on the street, he would blend in with beggars, only appearing to be the cleanest among them.
However, all the creatures present bowed their heads in respect; no one dared to underestimate the abbot of Xuankong Temple.
Huai Kong, the holy monk, seventh rank in the realm of enlightenment.
This was why the celestial jade from beyond the heavens had to be contested according to the rules of Xuankong Temple.
At that moment, the gaze of the enlightened master suddenly fell upon the pair of young men and women at the front of the crowd.
Huai Kong paused for a moment.
Chapter 272: The Buddha Kingdom in His Palm, Are They Meeting Up?
"What did the holy monk see?"
Tianjiao Xiao Li felt a chill in his heart.
Well...
Actually, the question mark could be omitted.
If Huai Kong couldn't discern something, he wouldn't deserve the title of a holy master.
But...
Aren't all the creatures here from the southern regions?
Did he ever specify that humans couldn't compete for the celestial jade? He couldn't recall...
If he couldn't remember, then it didn't exist.
Huai Kong had a flaw—he was forgetful.
"Thank you for your patience, the celestial jade is located in..."
Huai Kong began to speak but suddenly stopped, glancing to the side.
Hengyuan, who had been practicing silent meditation beside him, sighed slightly and gestured.
"Oh... it's in the Buddha Kingdom in my palm."
Huai Kong nodded, then seemed to come to a realization, as if he had just remembered how to use the Buddha Kingdom.
He took out a bowl and gently tossed it.
The bowl suddenly expanded from small to large, its dark interior radiating a brilliant light, revealing countless wondrous realms, as if it could contain the sun, moon, and universe.
"The mustard seed and Mount Meru principle?"
Li Mo recalled hearing about it from Bing Tuozi.
The seventh realm, known as the realm of enlightenment, was distinguished from the sixth realm by the presence of a 'principle.'
No wonder every hall and chamber in Xuankong Temple had its own unique wonders, resembling Mount Meru yet surpassing it, even allowing living beings to thrive within.
It must have originated from this Huai Kong.
However, as Li Mo raised his head, he felt the image of the enlightened master in his heart begin to crumble.
"Is this where you put it?"
"Abbot, this is the Yasha Sea, transformed from a fourth-rank demon king you once captured after his death."
"Oh, oh, then..."
"This is the Hell of Fire, used to punish the disaster beasts that cause trouble in the temple!"
Huai Kong's Buddha Kingdom was all-encompassing.
The problem was, he had a poor memory.
Li Mo even suspected that the old monk might eat a meal and immediately forget he had already eaten, then go for another.
The other creatures: "..."
"Right, I should have placed it in the Five Elements Realm."
After searching for a while, Huai Kong finally found the location of the celestial jade.
He could vaguely see the scene on the other side of the bowl.
It was a wondrous sight composed of gold and stone veins, vast forests, surging waters, volcanic lava, and desert wastelands, each region intersecting yet remaining unaffected by the others.
At the center of these five areas stood an extremely tall solitary peak, shimmering with magnificent divine light.
The celestial jade!
The expressions of the creatures present varied—some were greedy, some were yearning, and some were lost in thought.
For any demon, even a distant glance at that divine light could evoke an indescribable stirring in their souls.
Li Mo was no exception.
Even though he had transformed into a Mingjiao.
"Jade Phoenix God..."
Ying Bing let out a soft breath.
The Jade Phoenix God could lead many beasts to return to their ancestral forms, but that was merely its most superficial miracle. It represented the divine will of the Nine-Colored Yuan Phoenix, embodying its profound wisdom and the ability to nurture all things.
What she most wanted to know might also be found within.
Could the heavens and earth allow two people to ascend to immortality at the same time?
If so, how could it be achieved?
"Bing Tuozi is determined to obtain the Jade Phoenix God..."
Li Mo noticed the light gradually igniting in the beautiful eyes of the girl.
He too felt invigorated.
Among the many demons present, each one was eager to try their luck, determined to claim the celestial jade.
"Please, everyone, prepare yourselves and enter the bowl."
A monk of the same high realm spoke.
Every time the celestial jade was contested, the young talents of the demon clans would make preparations and employ various means before entering the Buddha Kingdom.
Xuankong Temple wouldn't interfere too much.
"Kids, it's time to bring out the monkey wine we've been brewing for thirty years!"
Not far away, a white-haired old macaque seemed to be in pain but still produced a tree stump, carefully breaking it open, releasing a refreshing aroma of wine.
Just the scent made one feel a warm current surge within, clearly potent.
A few younger white-faced macaques shared the wine before entering the bowl.
"Hehe... hehehe..."
Shang Qin Qing had been glancing back and forth between her Qingluan goddess and the unparalleled Tianjiao of the Mingjiao, occasionally letting out an auntie laugh. It was only when her clan members reminded her that she cleared her throat.
She solemnly coughed lightly and said:
"I will play a tune for you, to aid you in your endeavors."
With that, she took out an ancient zither and began to play with her delicate fingers.
The melody was ancient and ethereal, resonating through the air.
"Listening to this feels like hearing celestial music..."
As Li Mo listened to the zither, he discovered something miraculous.
The flow of his true essence quickened, and even the operation of the seven Xuan Dan became smoother.
Wonderful.
"The Qingluan clan's musical path greatly enhances strength."
"Ah, really?" Wu Da Meng looked puzzled.
"Didn't you hear?"
Li Mo was taken aback, looking up to see the Qingluan clan leader winking at him, her eyes clearly filled with mirth.
Xiao Li suddenly understood.
The control she had over the music was such that only those she wanted to hear could hear it.
Aside from the Qingluan clan, he was the only one present who could hear it; it was a special treat just for him...
She was quite nice, after all.
In fact, Li Mo had just come up with a brilliant idea.
If the musical path could enhance those who listened to the zither, then those who were enhanced would play even better tunes, with greater effects.
Could A play for B, B for C, and C for A?
Wouldn't that create an endless cycle of enhancement, spiraling upwards?
He'd tell her when he had the chance...
"Aunt Wu, do we have any tricks prepared?"
Li Mo turned to ask.
"Of course, but it's a bit intense, so bear with it."
Wu Qing smiled, extending her hand to summon a stream of water, wrapping around the five water creatures about to enter the bowl.
Intense?
What kind of intensity?
Tianjiao Xiao Li, submerged in the water, was puzzled.
"Man, I'm counting on you."
"Mm~~"
A woman, her skin seemingly oozing with oil yet possessing a slender figure, wearing a seaweed skirt, stepped forward.
Li Mo recognized her.
Well, it was clear from the way she spoke.
"I~~~~ am~~~~ going~~~~ to~~~~ start~~~~ now (electronic music)."
Her true form was a purple electric eel, also a fifth-rank demon.
She snapped her fingers.
Sizzle—
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