CHAPTER 432: DROP THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IMMEDIATELY

Chapter 432: Drop Those Opportunities Immediately

...

Void Abyss.

Behind Peach Blossom Island stood a mountain, atop which sat a temple housing a small Buddhist hall. Before the altar in this hall sat not any heavenly Buddha, but a withered old monk.

His diminutive frame resembled that of a child, his skin aged like patches of tree bark stitched together. Yet his back remained ramrod straight, sitting motionless as an ancient bell. Were it not for the slowly rotating prayer beads between his fingers, one might mistake him for a statue.

The dim hall remained silent as the old monk kept his eyes closed. Suddenly, a sinister wind blew through, making the candle flames flicker wildly on the altar.

The monk's fingers paused briefly on his beads as he cracked open one eye. In the candlelight knelt a blurred, distorted shadow vaguely resembling a monk - except its form appeared tattered like shredded cloth, leaking wisps of darkness everywhere.

An eerie silence filled the hall.

After a long pause, the old monk spoke first. "Burning Karma, how have you been reduced to this wretched state? Just a remnant of your soul? When I left Burning Purity Holy Land for the Void Abyss, aside from Zhang Yibai, you were the greatest Mahayana cultivator in the world. Who could have possibly..."

"Master, it was Real Person Yuyao!" The shadow of Monk Burning Karma trembled violently. "She's gone completely mad! She's cultivated some demonic technique that lets her absorb any cultivator's power. She'll stop at nothing to achieve immortality!"

"Yuyao?" The monk called Burning Heaven widened his narrowed eyes slightly. "I remember that girl having decent character, nothing like you describe. And her strength shouldn't be enough to kill you... It's been two millennia since I last visited Cangyun Realm. Has something happened?"

Monk Burning Karma hesitated.

Something happened? That was an understatement.

How could he explain the human pill refining to Burning Heaven? His master was a genuine Buddhist cultivator - though not the merciful sort - who would never condone such atrocities.

"Burning Karma, you shouldn't hide things from me." Burning Heaven's aged yellow eyes seemed to pierce through souls. He'd watched Burning Karma grow from a novice monk into a Mahayana powerhouse. Even the slightest tells betrayed his disciple's thoughts now.

Burning Karma was afraid. Guilty.

"You're hiding something! Speak truthfully!" Burning Heaven's voice boomed like thunder, shaking the entire hall. Those last four words carried hellish fury, making Burning Karma's already tattered soul flicker weakly.

"Master... I'll tell you everything..."

And so Monk Burning Karma confessed - his schemes with Real Person Yuyao, their betrayal of Zhang Yibai, their division of True Martial Holy Land's resources, all their sins laid bare.

With each revelation, Burning Heaven's expression darkened further. His tree-bark-like face flushed crimson with rage. When the confession ended, he suddenly grabbed a candlestick and hurled it at Burning Karma.

The flames instantly engulfed the spectral monk in holy fire.

"I have no disciple like you! You're no better than demons!" Burning Heaven roared. "How many times must I say it? Evil begets destruction! I've spent lifetimes accumulating virtue without Heavenly Dao's acknowledgment, while you and that bitch Yuyao commit atrocities inviting divine retribution!"

"Under heavenly punishment lightning, no cultivation can save you!"

Closing his eyes, Burning Heaven took a deep breath. Ultimately, he couldn't bear to burn his disciple to nothingness. With a wave, the purifying flames tormenting Burning Karma dissipated.

"I'll handle this matter. In your current state, immortality is likely beyond reach. Stay in Void Abyss with me, study Buddhist teachings. You'll spend your remaining existence atoning."

Monk Burning Karma kowtowed repeatedly. "This disciple obeys! And thanks Master for avenging me!"

Burning Heaven snorted. "Wrong. I seek no vengeance for you. That Yuyao has become Cangyun Realm's calamity. I simply cannot stand by while she destroys it."

"With such compassion, Master will surely achieve Buddhahood." Burning Karma fell back on familiar flattery. Regardless, Yuyao would suffer while his soul survived - more than he deserved.

"This is a Soul Nurturing Lantern, a relic from my travels." Burning Heaven's anger faded into pity as he produced a lantern glowing with pale blue flames. "Dwell within it."

Entering the lantern, Burning Karma immediately felt his dissipating soul stabilize.

"I've reached Mahayana Third Tribulation's peak. Leaving Void Abyss would attract heavenly tribulation immediately. I must suppress my cultivation first."

"But Master, doesn't suppression fail against tribulation?" Burning Karma asked.

"It does." Burning Heaven sighed, clasping hands. "But it buys time... Amitabha."

That Buddhist chant carried profound bitterness - the resignation of one who realized Heaven could never be overcome.

...

Jade Pool Holy Land.

Before the treasure vault of Ten Thousand Flowers Palace, gathered disciples peered eagerly at the opened doors.

"To think our Real Person was such a monster!"

"Exactly! We thought she only refined outsiders into human pills to steal their talents, but even our own elders weren't spared..."

"Listen! With Yuyao gone to Golden Buddha Sea, this is our chance! The holy land's resources are limited - let's divide them by cultivation level and go our separate ways!"

The rallying cry was met with cheers. The remaining resources were vast indeed. Yuyao had only absorbed her victims' souls, leaving their treasures untouched - now free for the taking.

Especially for Nascent Soul disciples. By targeting only Divine Transformation, Unity and Void Comprehension cultivators, Yuyao had unwittingly benefited them.

"So many spirit crystals!"

"Hah! Superior spiritual artifacts? I've never even seen one before!"

"Heavens! These are supreme-grade pills! So many!"

The dazzling treasures momentarily blinded the eager disciples. But just as they prepared to rush in...

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Countless sword glows filled the sky above Jade Pool Holy Land like locusts. At their forefront flew a black-robed, white-haired swordsman of striking handsomeness.

His thunderous voice shook the vault before he even landed:

"Juniors! Drop those opportunities immediately!"

...