I was just making up techniques... how did all of you become Emperors?

Chapter 246: The Battle Begins

"Rise."

A voice full of charm and influence echoed from within the palanquin.

"Thank you, Grand Preceptor."

Tens of thousands of soldiers rose to their feet.

Whoosh...

A gust of wind blew open the curtain of the palanquin. Chu Feng and his companions looked toward it and saw an old monk clad in a pale yellow kasaya and wearing a white Buddhist cap, his face kind and serene.

With a wave of his hand, the wind ceased instantly. The old monk slowly stepped out from the palanquin. Sweeping his divine sense across all present beings, he spoke calmly, "This Grand Preceptor comes today only to resolve an old grudge with Nanwu Temple. All unrelated parties must leave at once—otherwise, you will be considered allies of Nanwu Temple."

As his words fell, a brilliant Buddha light radiated from his body, and he began chanting a sutra.

His chanting echoed for a hundred li in all directions.

Those who had come to profit from the chaos never expected that the Centipede King would target them first.

The quick fled without a trace, while the slower ones howled in agony. Those with weaker cultivation collapsed outright; stronger ones revealed their true forms and twisted on the ground in pain.

Chu Feng and his group remained standing, completely unaffected by the Centipede King's chant.

The Golden-Winged Eagle King waved his hand and summoned a cloud to obscure their presence.

Bingyan frowned slightly. "So that's the Centipede King? He feels completely off—not at all like a proper demon cultivator."

Chu Feng smiled. "He cultivates both the Buddhist and demon paths—Buddha body, demon heart. Among the demon race, he's an anomaly. His strength is formidable; unless facing a Nirvana expert from a Holy Land, few in the same realm can match him."

The Golden-Winged Eagle King sneered. "He's nothing but a long worm. If I wanted, I could swallow him in a single bite."

A moment later, the chanting ceased.

Within a hundred li radius, few opportunists remained.

At that moment, five figures descended beside the Centipede King.

"Eldest Brother, your cultivation grows ever more unfathomable. This time, Nanwu Temple is as good as ours," said a monkey demon wielding a long staff.

The Centipede King smiled. "When two tigers fight, it's best to devour the monkeys watching the show first. Otherwise, letting them profit from our fight would be unacceptable."

"Elder Brother is wise," said a seductive female demon with a human body and a serpent's tail, flashing two sharp fangs.

The Centipede King asked, "Who among you will go challenge the enemy for me?"

The monkey demon said, "Eldest Brother, I've always had a grudge against Nanwu Temple. Let me smash those bald donkeys out of hiding with a single strike!"

The Centipede King nodded. "Very well, it's yours."

"I'll go!"

The monkey demon stepped onto a demon cloud and flew toward the mountaintop. As he flew, his body expanded hundreds of times over, transforming into a colossal giant ape. With a roar, he swung his long staff down toward Nanwu Temple.

"Bald donkeys, take this strike from your king!"

That strike held the force to shake mountains and overturn seas. Even before it landed, the demonic wind it stirred sent chills down spines.

Just as the staff was about to strike, a massive Buddha palm emerged from Nanwu Temple and blocked the blow.

Boom!

A thunderous crash echoed in all directions.

The cultivators who had previously fled in fear now crept back to watch the battle from afar.

"Amitabha."

A deep, aged voice came from within Nanwu Temple. "Tongbi King, such fierce hostility. May I ask what grievance Nanwu Temple has caused the honored demon kings?"

"Old Xuancheng, I didn't expect you to still be alive. Since you've spoken, I'll be frank. Hand over the relic of your sect's great sage. If you do, we'll spare your lives—and my elder brother will even offer Nanwu Temple protection, allowing you to continue spreading your teachings here."

The voice of the Tongbi Demon King was loud and clear, spreading dozens of li in every direction.

The hidden observers began whispering among themselves.

"Looks like the Centipede King truly intends to enter the Dao through Buddhism—using Nanwu Temple's relic to become a demon sage."

"If he becomes a great sage, Ten Thousand Demons Mountain will be in an uproar."

"..."

Xuancheng, hearing this, replied without emotion, "Amitabha. Patriarch Zongming is the founder of Nanwu Temple. Your Majesty's request is something our temple cannot fulfill.

If Your Majesty intends to force it, then Nanwu Temple has no choice but to perish alongside you."

Though his voice was not loud, every word rang with strength—resolute and unyielding, ready to be shattered like jade rather than survive like tile.

"Hahaha…"

The Tongbi King burst into loud laughter. "Perish alongside us? Do you lowly Nanwu monks even deserve such honor?

Since you refuse to hand over the relic, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

"Do as you wish."

Just as Xuancheng finished speaking, nine bell tolls echoed from within Nanwu Temple.

In the next moment, a brilliant Buddha light enveloped the entire mountain.

Seeing this, the Tongbi King didn't hesitate—he raised his massive staff and slammed it toward the protective formation.

Boom!

A deafening impact resounded, yet the Buddha light didn't budge an inch. Instead, the massive body of the Tongbi King was blasted backward, instantly shrinking midair and crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

The entire army of one hundred thousand watching the scene instinctively gasped.

The Centipede King narrowed his eyes and muttered, "As expected of a Half-Saint's legacy. Even without the Half-Saint present, the defenses left behind are not something Nirvana cultivators can break."

"Amitabha."

Xuancheng said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Centipede has sharp eyes. Nanwu Temple's Mountain-Guarding Array cannot be broken by any but a Half-Saint. All of you, please return."

"You…!"

The Tongbi King, hearing this, clenched his teeth against the pain and leapt up again, gripping his staff with the intent to continue the fight.

"Stand down."

The Centipede King stopped him and said, "How many times have I told you not to rely solely on brute force? Use your brain. Think."

The Tongbi Demon King scratched his head in embarrassment. "Big brother, I was wrong."

The Centipede King said, "No matter. Send the order—have the troops deploy the Ten Thousand Demons Grand Array!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the Tongbi King's face lit up with excitement. His gaze toward Nanwu Temple turned fiercer.

Those bald monks dared to humiliate him—once he broke their turtle shell, he would make sure they all became his blood offerings!

"Transmit my command—activate the Ten Thousand Demons Grand Array!"

"Understood!"

The demon generals responded in unison, immediately directing their demon soldiers.

"Begin the formation!"

The order was passed down swiftly: "Begin the formation!"

In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of demon soldiers moved into position.

In no time at all, the formation was completed.

In that instant, demonic energy surged, blotting out the sky. What was once a clear, cloudless sky turned pitch black as if storm clouds loomed above the city, ready to crush it.

Within Nanwu Temple, the gathered monks' expressions changed drastically at the sight.

All eyes turned toward the four senior Luohan whose names bore the character "Xuan."

Xuancheng turned to an elderly monk who had been chanting the whole time and asked, "Abbot, what should we do now?"

Abbot Xuanbei replied, "Order all warrior monks to form the battle formation. Have Duokong prepare to take the relic and the reincarnated spiritual child and be ready to leave via the teleportation array at any moment."

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