Chapter 198: My Virtue is Immense

Chapter 198: My Virtue is ImmenseMoments later, Bai Changyuan's eyes bulged grotesquely like those of a goldfish, and he died, blood streaming from all his orifices.

Qin Huan's chest was pierced by Miaoxin's fist, blood pouring out like a fountain. Clutching at Miaoxin's fist, blood spewed from his mouth as he gasped, "Monks of the Celestial Sound Zen Temple... why... do you also harbor ghosts..."

Miaoxin casually tore off Qin Huan's arm, his expression unchanging, "I am not harboring ghosts; I am liberating them. If I do not, demonic cultivators will eventually discover this being and capture it, and a formidable demon would then arise in this world. My actions are righteous and meritorious."

Thud.

Qin Huan's lifeless body hit the ground, and his soul was cleanly devoured by the ghost infant cultivated by Miaoxin.

"Return," Miaoxin commanded casually.

The ferocious ghost infant seemed eager to consume more, almost as if it wanted to break free from his control.

Miaoxin's brows furrowed as he murmured an incantation under his breath. The ghost infant immediately began to squeal miserably, but ultimately, it obediently returned to his sleeve.

"Good child, there will be more souls for you to consume shortly, be patient," Miaoxin said, his rough fingers gently caressing the ghost infant's head.

Suddenly, the ghost infant fixed its gaze in a specific direction. Miaoxin raised his thick eyebrows and turned around, "Who's there? Why skulk in the shadows?"

A figure emerged from the darkness—Chu Xuan.

He observed the ghost infant in Miaoxin's sleeve and smiled slightly, "Huikong from the Golden Dragon Temple, I have long admired Master Miaoxin's renown."

Miaoxin sized up Chu Xuan and said flatly, "Golden Dragon Temple? I remember now, you are the one Yuanming mentioned."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly.

Miaoxin remained calm, "You not only don't flee but also show yourself before me. What makes you so confident?"

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, "No particular reason, I just wish to request something from Master Miaoxin."

"What is it?" Miaoxin asked.

"Your life."

As the words fell, the two struck out at the same time.

The sounds fell from Miaoxin's mouth, forming intricate Sanskrit Buddha characters. This is a unique method of the Celestial Sound Zen Temple.

Miaoxin was uncertain of how long Chu Xuan had been watching from the shadows. He had utilized his kasaya and prayer beads earlier, leaving his sound wave magic as the yet unseen technique.

However, he was not overly concerned about Huikong; as Yuanming had informed him, Huikong of the Golden Dragon Temple was merely a minor Golden Core cultivator.

Besides a layer of merit wheel, he seemed unremarkable. Miaoxin thought he could spare Huikong's life temporarily, erasing his merits before eventually executing him, thereby reducing the backlash of negative karma he would face. The Celestial Sound Zen Temple had numerous methods to silently diminish one's merits.

As the sound waves burst forth, the ghost infant also suddenly swept out, aiming for Chu Xuan's groin like a bat skimming the ground.

However, as it neared Chu Xuan's feet, a ferocious and strong hand suddenly appeared, grabbing the ghost infant by the throat. With a fierce tear, the ghost infant was ripped in two, then stuffed into a gaping maw, and chewed with satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the sonic wave attack Miaoxin had launched had not yet reached Chu Xuan, as it was intercepted by four sinister ghost artifacts.

Miaoxin stared, disbelieving, "Two Ghost Kings!" Sёarᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Wasn't Huikong supposed to be a Golden Core monk like him? How could he possibly have nurtured two Ghost Kings? Wasn't he afraid of being devoured by them?

"Kill," Chu Xuan said nonchalantly.

"Woof woof!" responded the four-armed ghost king.

"Alright!" replied the two-armed one.

The two Ghost Kings swiftly moved into action, while a total of five ghost instruments hammered down on Miaoxin.

Miaoxin's pupils shrank. Instinctively, he deployed a defensive spell. A golden shield formed of light suddenly appeared but was instantly shattered by the ghost instruments' assault.

Even though his merits had the power to counteract yin evil spirits, they could not withstand a full-force attack from two Ghost Kings, especially when combined with five lifebound ghost artifacts.

Crack!

The golden light shattered, and Miaoxin was blown back, blood spraying in mid-air. Filled with terror, he hesitated no further and attempted to flee using his Nascent Soul, which sparkled with golden light and was surrounded by a merit wheel.

"Thinking of escaping?" Chu Xuan scoffed coldly.

He pointed his finger, and Four Arms and Two Arms charged fiercely toward Miaoxin.

As the two ghost kings swiftly blocked Miaoxin's Nascent Soul from escaping, the little soul pleaded in panic, "Don't kill me, I have accrued a lot of merit, killing me will bring you great karmic retribution!"

Chu Xuan scoffed, "My merits are slightly greater than yours, I fear no retribution."

With a crisp snap, the Nascent Soul was torn in two, each half gulped down by Four Arms and Two Arms ghost kings. Two Arms seemed to relish the feast, while Four Arms ate with some reluctance.

Chu Xuan frowned as he watched.

"Damn it. Even eating a Nascent Soul seems to distress you. What use are you!" He thought, deciding to keep using them for now, nonetheless.

Casually, Chu Xuan collected Miaoxin's corpse into his Corpse Nurturing Tower and took the storage bag, preparing to vanish from the scene.

"Huh? More from the Celestial Sound Zen Temple coming? Perfect, I'll send them all to meet their Buddha."

Chu Xuan sneered as Yuanming and two other monks arrived, having heard Miaoxin's distress call and coming to assist their uncle master. However, upon arriving, they found only signs of a battle and bloodstains—neither Miaoxin nor Bai Changyuan and Qin Huan were anywhere to be seen.

"What are you looking at?" a voice suddenly rang out behind them.

Yuanming and his companions whirled around to face the newcomer—an unexpected figure. Huikong from the Golden Dragon Temple!

Yuanming's brow furrowed instinctively. Something felt very off. The other two monks from the Celestial Sound Zen Temple, however, didn't share this feeling and looked at Chu Xuan with derision.

"Golden Dragon Temple's Huikong? You're still alive?" one taunted.

"Pfft, looks like you've been hiding in the cave all this time, avoiding Yuanzhi and Yuanyi's attack," the other mocked.

"Now you've walked right into our arms. You're really seeking death," they jeered. "That thing you worship, what's it called, the Dragon Buddha? We'll send you to meet him!"

The unease in Yuanming's heart deepened. He couldn't help but ask, "Where's our uncle master?"

Chu Xuan grinned broadly, lifting the Corpse Nurturing Tower, "He's inside, waiting for you."

Yuanming's heart raced, and he instinctively stepped back. "Junior brothers, retreat! Something's wrong with this one!"

But as he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, he saw a massive ghostly shadow yank the souls right out of his junior brothers' bodies!

Yuanming tried to flee, only to feel himself becoming ethereal. Looking down, he saw a grotesque, bald figure standing on the ground—it was his own body! His last thought vanished as he too was swiftly turned into hundreds of pieces and consumed by Two Arms.

After slaying Miaoxin and Yuanming among others, Chu Xuan felt no backlash of negative karma. Upon introspecting, he found his three layers of merit wheels still intact. "It seems the merit wheels don't just add up; they multiply exponentially... Killing two with a single layer of merit wheels is nothing to me."

Chu Xuan smacked his lips. He recalled Four Arms and the Two Arms, disappearing back into the dark night.

The hunt was far from over.