Chapter 1188 - 1187: One Domain, One Ghost God

No one knows that the Eight-faced Buddha existed in the same era as the Yi Ancestral Master of the Cyan Flame Sect. Back then, the two sides fought over the Demon Fire Furnace, causing the Eight-faced Buddha to be defeated and flee to the Western Wilderness.

The latter founded the Cyan Flame Sect, one of the Thirty-Six Sects of the Celestial South, while the former established the Netherworld Sect in the Western Wilderness.

In several battles between good and evil, the Eight-faced Buddha claimed the lives of the Cyan Flame Sect's Yi Ancestral Master, several Sect Leaders, and nearly half of the high-ranking officials. Yet he was never satisfied, and destroying the Cyan Flame Sect remained his primary goal.

Under the leadership of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm Ghost God, Ji Xiuling finally entered Holy Spirit Mountain.

This mountain, once beautiful and revered as one of the Seventy-Two Buddhist Sacred Lands like Vajra Temple, was now devoid of its former sanctity, littered with discarded corpses and blood, where countless vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts roamed freely, resembling a giant Ghost Realm.

"Lord Buddha is inside!" The half-man, half-snake Ghost God pointed to the mountaintop and spoke to Ji Xiuling.

"Alright!"

Ji Xiuling slightly raised her head, looking towards the mountaintop.

What she saw.

The vast expanse of Holy Spirit Mountain was completely shrouded by dark clouds, with an endless torrent of black mist pouring down from the summit like Hell's entrance wide open. Having reached this point alone, Ji Xiuling climbed to the top.

At the top, there was nothing but a massive stone chair. Sitting there, cloaked entirely in a black robe, was the Eight-faced Buddha, with a water tank about seven or eight zhang in size at his feet, seemingly as insignificant as a clay pot.

The Eight-faced Buddha was truly immense!

He stood about a hundred zhang tall, seated there like a small mountain. Beneath the black robe, his face was obscured, yet eight faces grew from the cloak—some old, some young, some male, some female, appearing to be asleep.

As Ji Xiuling approached, the Eight-faced Buddha was in the midst of grabbing a fist-sized black jade from the water tank with one large hand. Within the jade was conspicuously the face of an Elder from the Cyan Flame Sect.

Ji Xiuling recognized that it contained the spirit of a Cultivator.

"Ghost Shadow Ji Xiuling greets the Eight-faced Buddha!" Ji Xiuling said respectfully.

Swish!

In that instant, the eight faces on the Eight-faced Buddha seemed to be suddenly awakened, their sixteen eyes staring directly at Ji Xiuling. No matter how many times she had met the Eight-faced Buddha, Ji Xiuling always felt a bone-chilling fear in such a situation.

"So it's little Ling'er!" The eight faces slowly spoke, "The last time you saw me, you asked how to subdue a second Ghost God. Now upon meeting again, you've already controlled eight Ghost Gods! Truly remarkable talent!"

While speaking, the Eight-faced Buddha tossed the black jade into his indistinct mouth. Amidst a shriek, the spirit inside was swallowed, as he leisurely said:

"Why have you come to see me?"

Though Ji Xiuling knelt on the ground, the eight ghostly shadows beneath her feet remained distinctly visible, each one a Celestial Immortal. These Ghost Gods showed no fear like when facing Ye Qingchen, glaring intently at the Eight-faced Buddha.

Several ghostly shadows looked greedily at the clay pot beneath the Eight-faced Buddha, with one shadow eyeing the Buddha himself cautiously, sensing his formidable strength, contemplating the immense benefits of devouring him!

'Can the Eight-faced Buddha actually match Ye the Demon?' Ji Xiuling wondered silently, noting her shadows' stark contrast in demeanor compared to when they confronted Ye Qingchen.

Despite her thoughts, she spoke honestly:

"I encountered Ye Qingchen when I went to the Cyan Flame Sect earlier!"

"Ye Qingchen?" The eight faces collectively furrowed their brows, "Wasn't he said to have been trapped in the Sacred Land? How has he returned, appearing at the Cyan Flame Sect!"

Indeed!

Upon seeing the Eight-faced Buddha's reaction, Ji Xiuling sighed inwardly.

Even such a legendary demon as the Eight-faced Buddha shows a diminished aura when confronted with the Celestial South Fierce God.

"I don't know what happened to him in the Sacred Land, but he has indeed returned. I, along with Nether Fire Ancestor, Ghost Sword Immortal, Ghost-faced Blade Master, and others, encountered him."

"Nether Fire Ancestor was slain by a single sword before even meeting him. The Ghost Eyes fared no better, with their spirit torn instantly. Though I teamed up with Ghost Sword Immortal and four others, he dispatched four of us with a mere flick of his finger."

Ji Xiuling could only recount the events slowly.

"Oh?"

The Eight-faced Buddha hummed in surprise:

"Ye the Demon's power seems to have strengthened! These individuals may not rival Yi Tianli or the masters of the Thirty-Six Sects, but they are notable demons with many survival methods. To think he could obliterate them so easily!"

Consider this.

In the Western Wilderness, these evildoers rely not just on bizarre techniques, but primarily on survival tactics like a Second Primordial Spirit, Substitute Death Demon Spirit...

Yet against Ye Qingchen, these proved completely ineffective, indicating their vast disparity in power!

"Something's amiss!" The Eight-faced Buddha seemed puzzled, scrutinizing Ji Xiuling: "According to you, Ye the Demon is terrifyingly strong. So how did you manage to return? From what I know, he's not one to be merciful!"

Eight faces, some showing confusion, others pondering, no longer fixed on Ji Xiuling. Instead, they regarded each other, seemingly in discussion. Such a scene felt incredibly eerie.

"Ye the Demon allowed me to return!" Ji Xiuling hung her head and said solemnly: "He instructed me to announce to the world, demanding that the Twelve Demon Sects retreat to the Western Wilderness within three days, or he'll personally ensure our complete annihilation!"

"What?"

With her words, a furious voice boomed from the central, indistinct face of the Eight-faced Buddha.

Simultaneously.

Previously unassuming, his aura explosively surged, akin to a tumultuous abyss and ocean. Ji Xiuling was startled, then shocked to discover the eight Ghost Gods within her shadow suddenly petrified, mirroring the terror they exhibited before Ye Qingchen.

Even more.

It was a greater fear than when facing Ye Qingchen!

As if.

Standing before her was a true deity!

At this moment, Ji Xiuling realized that this figure was indeed the invincible Ghost God ruling over the Western Wilderness.

"Good!"

"Very well, Ye the Demon! Very well, Celestial South Fierce God! Such boldness!"

The Eight-faced Buddha abruptly stood, his laughter echoing wildly, shaking the heavens, while countless fierce ghosts shrieked in unison. Instantly, the sky turned from cloudy to a dark night.

Enveloping all within, his might rivaled the scene when Ye Qingchen effortlessly sealed the Cyan Flame Sect.

"I had been lamenting his downfall in the Sacred Land, not expecting his survival and return! Since so, I shall personally meet this Celestial South Fierce God!"

Within a day.

An explosive message burst forth from Holy Spirit Mountain, rapidly sweeping across the Celestial South and Western Wilderness.

The Eight-faced Buddha challenged Ye Qingchen to a duel at Holy Spirit Mountain in seven days!

For a time.

The Celestial South trembled!