CHAPTER 302: THE CALAMITY OF SLAUGHTER! THE THIRD REALM YANG SPIRIT BATTLE!

Unlike the kindly, benevolent-looking old monks, Master Wuse was so young he seemed like an ordinary low-ranking disciple.

And he was not a handsome monk, either. He was a stout, slightly plump young man with a bitter gourd face[1], always carrying an expression of sorrow and worry. If one had not seen him, no one would imagine that the young abbot of Jinguang Temple would look like this.

At this moment, Master Wuse sat cross-legged, and from within his body came incessant shrill howls. At times his eyes closed, at times they snapped open. Now and then he even pinched his throat to speak, a completely unfamiliar voice spilling out.

Among common folk, if something like this happened, they would normally summon a shaman, or monks and Daoists, to exorcise the spirit.

But for such a scene to appear in the body of Master Wuse was truly terrifying. He was, after all, the clearest and most transparent Buddha-heart to appear in Jinguang Temple in centuries. At any moment, he could condense his Yang Spirit and achieve the third realm!

Compared to him, those so-called “Buddha's Sons” or “Dao’s Sons” paled in comparison.

Ordinarily, Master Wuse was gentle, without malice or intent to kill. But tragically, something had gone wrong with this youth, the pillar of Jinguang Temple who was brimming with promise and seemed the least likely to ever go astray.

And what had gone wrong was his state of mind. He had fallen prey to a heart demon!

It nearly shook the very foundation of Jinguang Temple. What was meant to be a dual-Yang Spirit lineage, destined to elevate Jinguang Temple’s Dao heritage, had instead been marred by this dire misfortune.

The Buddhist relics of the high monks of ages past had been placed on the third level, providing Master Wuse with strength to suppress his heart demon. The strength of the entire temple was being poured into this, including one genuine third realm Yang Spirit realm master.

Even so, Master Wuse’s heart demon was terrifying.

“Well, well... bald donkey, so you’ve come. Long time no see!”

Another voice emerged from within Master Wuse’s body, and in that instant, mocking amusement flickered in his eyes.

“Brazen demon! Withdraw from the abbot’s body at once!” Master Yushu bellowed in fury.

Just then, a blast of Buddhist magical power surged forward. Master Wuse’s body began to sway, as though something within him could not withstand the Buddhist power contained in that divine spell. He struggled for half the time it took for a stick of incense to burn.

Then, suddenly, Master Wuse jerked his head up, and the expression of pain vanished from his face.

With a mocking sneer, he said, “Heh heh, fooled you all. A bunch of old bastards thinking you can enlighten me? What utter delusion!”

Not only Master Yushu, but several of the elder monks furrowed their brows at once. A monk cursing monks as “old bastards!” This fellow’s temperament was truly vile!

At this time, anger surfaced on Master Yushu’s face, and a Buddha seal formed upon his palm.

But then Master Wuse’s expression suddenly shifted. “I’m in pain, save me! Save me!”

His face was twisted with unbearable agony, as though he could no longer endure it. And this voice was unmistakably that of the young abbot, the true Master Wuse.

Master Yushu sighed inwardly. He continued preparing to reinforce the Arhat Demon-Subduing Formation to help Master Wuse.

All of a sudden, a powerful aura erupted, and it was chilling and terrifying. Master Yushu snapped his head around, his eyes seeming to pierce through the thick stone walls.

This aura was cold, sinister, and evil. And yet... somewhat familiar.

At this time, Master Yushu’s brow tightened.

“How can this be? He actually broke free!?” He cast one last glance at Master Wuse, trapped within his heart demon, and let out a sigh.

“Hold steady the Arhat Demon-Subduing Formation. Under no circumstances must Wuse fall into the Demonic Dao!”

“Yes!”

Master Yushu soared into the air as his entire body radiated dazzling Buddha light, and his gaze swept into the distance.

There, in the night sky stood a young man with slanted brows reaching his temples. He had his arms crossed, and he had a cold smile upon his face.

He floated midair effortlessly. “Bald donkeys of Jinguang Temple, come out and die!”

The young man’s cold shout exploded out, echoing clearly instantly in the ears of every single person in Jinguang Temple. At the same time, a mighty aura surged forth, and demonic qi soared to the heavens, so much so that it made one’s body tremble in terror.

If earlier, when Shangguan Jin fought Li Yanchu in the rear mountain, people only heard the noise and felt some curiosity, then this momentum now cast everyone into sheer dread. Figures darted out one after another, landing on rooftops.

“Gasp!”

“Gasp!”

At a single glance, everyone gasped.

“Damn! What the hell is that?!”

“How can there be a dragon!?”

In the sky loomed a flood dragon dozens of zhang long, and its scales were gleaming with a metallic sheen. It was ferocious, hideous, and blood-chilling; just looking at it seemed enough to freeze one’s very blood.

“Wretched beast! You dare provoke the sacred grounds of Buddhism!?”

“Hehehe... such big words from a bald donkey! Do you take yourself for that old bastard Jinguang reborn!?”

“Insolent! To speak so brazenly, you’re courting death!”

In an instant, a golden body manifested. It was a towering Buddhist Vajra ten zhang tall and broad as a mountain, its form radiating immense Buddhist might.

It was the Dharma form of the primordial spirit, a Yang Spirit of the third realm!

Boom!

The Vajra Dharma form’s hands formed a Buddhist fist seal and struck heavily toward the flood dragon. Its momentum was like wind and thunder, devouring heaven and earth!

The flood dragon’s eyes glinted coldly as it opened its maw and spat forth a streak of chilling light.

Boom!

The clash erupted in a shockwave, bursting into a vast ring of radiance in the sky. In an instant, it was as bright as daylight!

Cultivators of lower realms instantly felt their eyes sting, and tears streamed uncontrollably.

The Yang Spirit realm! Crossing this threshold changed everything.

Two Dharma forms collided, and its grand momentum was as though ancient myth had revived, shaking the soul. The heaven-rending, earth-destroying clash of divine arts was utterly terrifying.

Above Jinguang Temple, a faint golden radiance unfurled to envelop and shield the entire temple. This was the mountain-guarding formation drawing upon the land’s geomantic power and the flourishing incense of Buddhism to shield the temple’s disciples.

Otherwise, when two third-realm experts clashed, the terrifying aftermath would likely destroy half of Jinguang Temple’s buildings.

At this time, cultivators all around stared wide-eyed, feeling utterly shocked.

“To think we would witness two Yang Spirit realm powerhouses battling at Jinguang Temple, this trip is worth it for this sight alone! A true man should be like this!” a brash young man with twin sabers at his waist exclaimed in awe.

The people around him immediately cast him strange looks. Duanmu Xuan, Ding Rou, the Daoist of the Fire Virtue Sect, and various wandering cultivators all watched nervously, their gazes fixed upon this earth-shaking battle.

Boom!

Boom!

The explosions were deafening. On one side was the fierce and unyielding Buddhist Vajra guardian, wielding a monk’s staff and prayer beads.

On the other was Ao Lie, the thousand-year-old great demon and bearer of true dragon bloodline in the body of a flood dragon. His demonic arts were tyrannical.

Both were third realm powerhouses, and the might of their spells could only be described as world-shattering!

Boom!

The Vajra Dharma form formed a fist seal and smashed it down directly onto the flood dragon’s back. Waves of transparent ripples spread across heaven and earth. The roar made all present briefly lose their hearing, and their minds were shaken to the core.

“Who would have thought that just a small gap in realms could make such a vast difference!” the Daoist of the Fire Virtue Sect exclaimed in astonishment.

The third realm, this was the realm every cultivator longed for. A third-realm cultivator harnessed the power of heaven and earth, and could split mountains and crack stone.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The two colossal Dharma forms shone with dazzling divine light, their battle shaking heaven and earth. In an instant, they had exchanged a thousand blows.

And yet, to everyone’s surprise, the Buddhist Vajra Dharma form, which seemed so upright and unyielding, was actually falling behind. The golden Buddha light upon its body grew dimmer and dimmer.

Defeat seemed imminent!

1. The Chinese expression 苦瓜脸 literally translates to “bitter gourd face,” drawing on the long, wrinkled, drooping look of a bitter gourd. Figuratively, it describes someone whose face is drawn with misery, worry, or gloom, as if they are perpetually unhappy. In everyday use, it can carry a slightly mocking or humorous tone, suggesting not just sadness but also a comically pitiful appearance, like someone who can’t help but wear their troubles on their face. The closest equivalents would be “a long face,” “looking sour,” or “wearing a look of constant misery,” though 苦瓜脸 has a more vivid and colorful imagery rooted in Chinese culture. ☜