Chapter 1288: Satan Tattoo

Deji was now in a furious rage, having determined that he absolutely must go to war with the Pagyi Family.

So he immediately ordered the heads of the Xia Zha and La Min families to return home, muster their troops, and follow him in attacking the Pagyi Family.

Xia Zha Gyatso said worriedly, "The Prayer Festival is about to begin. Will there be any repercussions if we go to war at such a time?"

Deji snorted coldly, but in his heart, he also knew that a full-scale war would yield no results in a short time unless the Lord of the Charnel Ground intervened.

"You each go back and gather your forces. I will speak to the Lord of the Charnel Ground myself!"

Xia Zha Gyatso and La Min Ouzhu immediately felt a chill in their hearts.

If the Lord of the Charnel Ground personally entered the fray, then this battle would hold little suspense.

The two said nothing more and immediately left Sangha Monastery, taking a car back to their respective family territories.

La Min Ouzhu's face remained dark the entire journey.

In her heart, she understood that this time, her family and the Xia Zha Family were being used as pawns by Deji.

Even if they gained benefits from the Pagyi Family, Deji would take them away in the name of Sangha Monastery.

They were just expending effort and resources for nothing.

The moment she returned home, she angrily smashed an antique vase, grinding her teeth as she cursed Deji's shamelessness.

"That whelp of the Yasha Langtai Family dares to order me around like this! One day, I'll make him kneel before me!"

She raised her head and looked at the massive family crest of the La Min Family hanging in the living room.

"Right beneath the La Min Family crest!"

The enraged La Min Ouzhu ranted and raved, while the servants around her didn't dare utter a single word.

At that moment, a magnetic voice sounded from not far away.

"Miss La Min, what has made you so angry?"

La Min Ouzhu took several deep breaths and turned to look at the man on the staircase, who wore an amused expression.

She waved her hand to the side, and her two closest maids immediately understood and left.

"Mr. Lancelot."

La Min Ouzhu stiffened her neck, looking at the tall man before her in her habitual way, with her gaze lowered.

"You promised me you would help our La Min Family become the rulers of the Southwest Region. Does that promise still stand?"

A profound gleam flickered in Lancelot's ice-blue pupils.

He was very handsome, with slightly curly flaxen hair, but the tattoo on his right face ruined the overall harmony of his handsome features.

On his entire right cheek, the black Arabic numerals "666" were tattooed. In the West, this was the codename for the demon Satan, which made it appear extremely eerie.

He walked down the stairs step by step.

"Of course, as long as you uphold our agreement and help me obtain the prehistoric relic beneath the Great Snow Mountain."

"We will fully support your La Min Family. After all, you are our most ideal partner."

Only then did La Min Ouzhu's emotions calm down somewhat.

She sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and began recounting the day's events.

"I no longer want to be beholden to anyone's whims! So this day had better come quickly."

Her face cold, she spoke word by word, "I must become the King of the Snowy Region! I will never again grant anyone the power to order me around."

The corner of Lancelot's mouth lifted. "That day will come. But for now, you still need to be patient. Let them exhaust themselves in internal strife."

La Min slowly reined in her emotions. Then she stood up and immediately summoned members of her personal guard.

"Assemble a force of two thousand men for me! We are heading to Sangha Monastery!"

...

Back at Sangha Monastery.

Deji, unwilling to give up, came to the Great Illumination Hall where the Lord of the Charnel Ground resided.

As the most devout believer, ever since being confirmed as the reincarnation of the Lord of the Charnel Ground at the age of eight, the Lord of the Charnel Ground had been studying Buddhist teachings at Sangha Monastery.

His mind was pure and clear, and the vast majority of his life had been spent studying Buddhist sutras and principles.

If not for the coming of the Apocalypse, which bestowed upon him extraordinary power, his hands would never have engaged in combat with others; they would only have held sutras.

But even so, up to this very moment, he had never killed a single person.

At this time, the Lord of the Charnel Ground was in a side hall of the Great Illumination Hall, earnestly learning the creation of esoteric sect Zen paintings.

Esoteric sect Zen paintings were a tradition of the esoteric sect. Every year before the Prayer Festival was held, forty-nine monks would be gathered. Over forty-nine days, using powders ground from various flowers and gemstones, they would create a massive painting of all beings paying homage to the Buddha.

This painting of all beings paying homage to the Buddha was circular in form, divided into nine layers.

From the highest layer, which was the Buddha at the very center, down through the various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and even the multitudes of ordinary beings.

On the day of the Prayer Festival, the Lord of the Charnel Ground would, before everyone, destroy this esoteric sect Zen painting.

This signified the belief that all beings return to one, and the Buddha has no fixed form.

This was an extremely important ritual, which was why the Lord of the Charnel Ground often came to observe and learn.

Deji made his way there and, seeing the Lord of the Charnel Ground bowing his head to watch the creation of the Zen painting, said in a deep voice,

"Lord of the Charnel Ground, a demon has appeared in the Snowy Plateau Region. As the Dharma-protecting deity of the esoteric sect, will you not take action?"

Hearing this, the Lord of the Charnel Ground slowly turned around.

His eyes clear, he looked at Deji and asked, "What is the matter?"

Deji said, "The person who previously killed the patrol squad led by Loren has been found. He is hiding in the Pagyi Family home."

"I sent Mukawa, Tsangpo, and Ashina to arrest him, intending to guide him toward enlightenment and have him renounce the world."

"But who could have imagined that demon was so vicious and cruel, actually killing all three Dharma-protecting Vajras!"

Hearing this, the Lord of the Charnel Ground's gaze flickered slightly.

Deji said gravely, "The Pagyi Family has already betrayed the esoteric sect. The evidence is now irrefutable. Lord of the Charnel Ground, please act quickly! If you do not act, I fear our esoteric sect itself may be overturned!"

Faced with Deji's words, the Lord of the Charnel Ground lowered his head in thought, then slowly shook his head.

"Khenpo, the Prayer Festival is imminent. Now is not the time for war."

"I hope you can prioritize the greater situation and temporarily set aside your disputes."

Deji was so angry his face turned green.

"Monks from our Sangha Monastery have been killed, and you still refuse to act?"

"Lord of the Charnel Ground, do not show favoritism toward the Pagyi Family!"

Facing this junior, Deji often found himself infuriated.

He possessed such immense power, yet was overly... Buddhist—well, as a monk, being Buddhist seemed appropriate.

But people live in this world; they are not truly deities or Buddhas. How can one be without desire or ambition?

If the Lord of the Charnel Ground were willing to join forces with him, the Southwest Region would have long ago borne the surname Yasha Langtai.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground shook his head.

He simply said calmly, "I will not interfere in the feud between your two great families. Unless a superhuman of Epsilon rank appears on the other side, only then will I make my presence known."

"Epsilon?"

Deji's eyes widened in astonishment, and he stared at the Lord of the Charnel Ground with shock and suspicion. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"How could the Pagyi Family have an Epsilon?"

The Lord of the Charnel Ground smiled without answering, turning back to continue observing the Zen painting.

The reason he refused to act lightly was precisely because he knew that many forces were currently watching this snowy region from behind the scenes.

As the Dharma-protector of the esoteric sect, he absolutely could not act rashly.

He must preserve his strength and wait for the Prayer Festival to commence.

In his eyes, the conflict between Yasha Langtai and the Pagyi Family was nothing more than a minor squabble.

Seeing that he could not persuade the Lord of the Charnel Ground, Deji could only stamp his foot in frustration.

"Even if you won't act, the combined forces of our three families are more than enough to make the Pagyi Family suffer!"

Author's Note