The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple-Chapter 871 - 278: Buddhist Combat of Wits and Chan Questions
Various colors of divine techniques were shooting out chaotically.
However, in the next moment, a withered black shadow engulfed in a foul wind suddenly pounced over.
It was a decaying humanoid corpse, with cracked skin peeling away, revealing the ghastly white bones inside. In its hollow eye sockets, eerie green ghost fire burned.
It let out an inhuman howl, shaking the air with a buzzing sound.
Then, the imaging stone was directly knocked to the ground, the angle tilted, only to see the dry corpse’s sharp claws effortlessly piercing through the chest of a Golden Core disciple.
Afterwards, it gouged out the still-beating Golden Core, swallowed it whole, and then savagely bit off the disciple’s neck, causing blood to splatter.
At this moment, others angrily attacked, and the dry corpse leaped away to another place.
"Up to now, thirteen mineral veins have been ambushed, with as many as a thousand disciples dead, including six Nascent Soul Realm ones."
Cao Zhengyang’s voice was deep, his eyes full of pain.
"Moreover, judging from the sequence of the mineral veins attacked and the cultivation level of the stationed disciples, the strength of this dry corpse is continuously improving."
Mo Xingjian looked at Zhou Qing and slowly added, "Almost all disciples in the mines had their essence blood drained, their Golden Cores and Nascent Souls used as nourishing fuel."
Zhou Qing’s expression was grave, "What about the mineral veins of other sects?"
The Peak Master of Dragon Ridge Peak shook his head with a wry smile, "The other four sects, and even some smaller sects are completely unharmed. It’s clear they’re targeting our Taiqing Sect."
After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Qing said in a deep voice, "Can I see the bodies of the dead disciples?"
Cao Zhengyang handed over another imaging stone, "All bodies have been transported back for burial, but this one is from two days ago."
Zhou Qing took the imaging stone and activated it again.
In the projected image, incomplete corpses lay scattered on the ground, some with twisted limbs, others with sunken chests and missing entrails, all their faces universally filled with terror and resentment.
Seeing this, Zhou Qing’s eyes were filled with killing intent.
These, were all his fellow disciples and junior martial brothers and sisters from Taiqing Sect.
Looking again, almost all the corpse surfaces were covered in a layer of dark purple slime, as if the decaying flesh was fermenting.
"At that, all corpses carried an indescribable stench." Cao Zhengyang suddenly spoke up, "Like decay, with an air of malevolence."
Zhou Qing’s gaze sharpened, focusing on the image, "All their bodies have been brought back?"
Cao Zhengyang looked to the Peak Master of Yunmeng Peak, as she was in charge of this matter.
The Peak Master of Yunmeng Peak took out an identity token for inquiry, and then said, "Back to Junior Sect Leader, in two hours, the bodies of disciples from the Spirit Sand mineral vein will be transported back for burial."
Zhou Qing decisively said, "I will take a look then. Moreover, I’d like to bring Shen Yunzhou along, he seems to be particularly sensitive to the smell aspect, perhaps he’ll discover some clues."
"Sure!" Cao Zhengyang nodded in agreement, "At present, it’s unclear who exactly did this, we can’t even fully trust Cyan Feather Immortal Sect."
"Speaking of Cyan Feather Immortal Sect, which brings us to the second issue!"
Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing and said, "I’m afraid Immortal Xuan You doesn’t have long to live."
Zhou Qing raised his head in surprise, "So soon?"
Cao Zhengyang sneered, "She mistakenly judged you to have the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown physique, attempted to forcibly cultivate dual cultivation. But the outcome? Delusion leads to demise."
"Logically, she should have seven or eight years of life left, but evidently still unfulfilled, recently accelerating her decline."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing felt indifferent, just a bit of regret.
Afterwards, Cao Zhengyang discussed with other Peak Masters the upcoming matters regarding Cyan Feather Immortal Sect.
Speculating that the other side, like Phecda Sect, probably won’t rush to appoint a new Sect Leader, leaving room to handle potential sudden changes leisurely.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qing kept studying the images on the two imaging stones.
Until shortly after, Cao Zhengyang spoke again, "By the way, there’s something you don’t know yet."
Zhou Qing looked up in response, eyes full of doubt, "What?"
Cao Zhengyang’s expression was grave, "While you were at the border, during our secret investigation into what Golden Thunder Sect was up to in the desert cave, we found a big and a small monk appeared there."
"Monks?" Zhou Qing’s expression changed slightly at the mention, his mind instantly flashing to the figures of two monks who stood by when he killed the third Elder of the Mixed Element Sect, Ma Cheng.
Seeing Zhou Qing in thought, Cao Zhengyang continued, "After entering Golden Thunder Sect, they seemed to be searching for someone, but no one knew who exactly. Yet, they did pose three questions to Golden Thunder Sect."
Saying this, he handed over a piece of paper.
Zhou Qing took the paper and glanced over the writing.
[Obsession like a lock, how to resolve?]
[Where is the other shore?]
[All beings suffer, how can they be saved?]
"Is this a Buddhist koan?" Zhou Qing thought aloud.
Cao Zhengyang nodded, "Yes, after discussion, we suspect the person they’re looking for might also be a monk, but this monk might have lost his memory after a great battle."
"There’s a high probability he joined one of our Five Sects, after all, post-Canglan Mountain battle, the Eastern Domain suffered great losses, all sects widely recruited Outer Sect disciples to replenish their strength, including our Taiqing Sect."
"Last time, when we were about to fiercely confront Cyan Feather Immortal Sect, thirty thousand people were screened and secretly departed, many still remain."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing watched his uncle with some surprise.
Quite a wild assumption.
If the person lost their memory, even if they grew hair or something, those two monks should be able to recognize them, right?
