Chapter 360: Awakening or Not

The flying staff attack gave Lu Shan Jun a deeper understanding of the temple's protective barrier. It was clear that items imbued with Buddhist power could indeed pass through it.

In fact, the temple's barrier was far from ordinary. The first time he approached, he genuinely intended to enter and wait for tea, only to be unexpectedly repelled.

When the elder monks later realized the gravity of the situation, they retreated behind the barrier to chant scriptures, clearly confident in its protective power.

Even when Lu Shan Jun had made a symbolic attempt to breach the temple earlier, he knew it wouldn't be easily accomplished. Naturally, he hadn't intended to reveal his true form back then.

Lu Shan Jun, however, underestimated the elder monks' fervent dedication to subduing demons. His cautious probing was met with an immediate, all-out assault from them. A torrent of Buddhist spells ensnared him, suppressing his demonic energy and magical power with extreme precision, highly effective against demonic beings.

Their decisive action, apart from their apparent animosity towards demons, also revealed to Lu Shan Jun that these monks were absolutely determined to prevent him from seeing Zhao Long.

Given this, he decided it was simpler and more direct to reveal his true form and shatter the encircling Buddhist light.

Now, Lu Shan Jun used the staff to discern a weakness in the temple's barrier. He understood that while the barrier was indeed formidable, its variations were quite limited, relying on brute force rather than sophisticated techniques. It was rigid and inflexible, unlike the intricate, wondrous spells of immortal dwellings that harnessed the powers of mountains, water, sky, and earth.

Lu Shan Jun glanced at the elder monk spitting blood outside the temple gate, then at the two other monks who had been thrown even farther back by the blast.

Although all three were injured and appeared gravely so, they were actually not in critical condition, protected by the power of the Ming Wang.

Naturally, the three elder monks' resistance had significantly waned. If Lu Shan Jun were to press his advantage, they would be unable to retaliate, effectively eliminating three nuisances.

Lu Shan Jun sneered inwardly, choosing not to deliver a killing blow. He rode the wind, lifting his enormous demonic form high above Daming Temple, from where he surveyed the entire compound.

Demonic energy ignited the sky, spreading across half the horizon with the swirling demonic wind, casting an immense oppressive shadow over the monks in the temple.

"Zhao Long, aren't you going to show yourself? The monks of Daming Temple are protecting you so fiercely; it seems you are indeed extraordinary. Do you wish to see them die because of you?"

Lu Shan Jun's voice reverberated throughout Daming Temple, its thunderous echoes rumbling. His colossal demonic form slowly began to descend directly onto the temple.

A layer of bright yellow light, like a shimmering shield, appeared above the temple. This was the very barrier that had previously repelled Lu Shan Jun.

But now, as Lu Shan Jun's demonic form slowly descended, one of his massive palms, tipped with sharp claws, settled onto the barrier. Though the barrier glowed intensely, it had no discernible effect on his demonic body.

A peculiar light emanated from his razor-sharp claws. The barrier, which should have been utterly impenetrable, was slowly carved into by the claws as if they were slicing through butter. Then, demonic energy began to seep through from the points of contact.

"Crack... crackle, crackle, crackle..."

As Lu Shan Jun's clawed palm tightened its grip, a sound like cracking porcelain emanated, and the internal formation of the barrier began to destabilize.

All the monks in the temple anxiously watched the barrier above. They stared at the demon's black and amber eyes, a sight they had never before witnessed nor even heard described. These eyes seemed to possess an eerie power, capable of captivating souls, plunging onlookers into a paralyzing fear.

"Crash..."

With the sound, all the monks flinched. The temple's barrier, as fragile as a thin glass lamp, shattered completely.

Many monks wore expressions of utter disbelief, unable to fathom how the temple's barrier could be so fragile. Logic suggested that even if this demon was incredibly powerful, it shouldn't have been able to breach the defenses with such ease.

Nevertheless, the fact remained that the barrier withstood Lu Shan Jun's claws for less than ten breaths. Now, a demonic wind, laden with dense demonic energy, swept into the temple. A massive demonic claw landed on the temple ground, followed by a second, then a third, and a fourth.

"Demon, fiend... how dare you trespass upon the serene abode of our Buddha Ming Wang... Monks of Daming Temple, together, subdue this demon—!"

The elder monk at the temple gate was incandescent with rage, feeling that the sacred pure land where he had cultivated for most of his life had been desecrated by a demonic entity. Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, he roared at the top of his lungs.

However, the elder monk's furious cry received no response. All the monks stared at Lu Shan Jun's eyes as if mesmerized, unable to speak or move. Those who were ordinary monks or had only superficial understanding of Buddhist teachings trembled uncontrollably, and many had even fainted.

Lu Shan Jun looked towards the elder monk outside the temple.

"You old monk, if you wish to fight, so be it, but why send these young monks to their certain doom, like mantises trying to stop a chariot?"

As he spoke, Lu Shan Jun scanned the entire temple. Even with the barrier gone, he still couldn't perceive what lay hidden within.

"Zhao Long, stop hiding. You and I are destined to meet, and sooner is better than later, today is better than tomorrow. Since I am a wicked creature and a demonic fiend, it's hard to say whether I'll devour these monks or lay waste to everything around here in a moment. Are you still not coming out?"

Lu Shan Jun roared again, his voice tinged with impatience. If he truly couldn't find Zhao Long, he'd simply dismantle Daming Temple and dig three feet deep; he was confident he'd find him then.

High above the clouds, Ji Yuan stood amidst the swirling mist, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the ravaged Daming Temple and Lu Shan Jun's immense demonic form below. He pondered whether to intervene.

Ji Yuan knew that Lu Shan Jun had been remarkably restrained, but patience, whether for humans or demons, always has its limits. While devouring the monks was out of the question, it wouldn't be long before Lu Shan Jun might yield to the urge to destroy Daming Temple entirely.

Although Daming Temple was far from comparable to sacred cultivation sites or the mountain gates of immortal dwellings, it was certainly no ordinary secular temple. A statue of the Ming Wang (Vidyaraja) resided there, and though the Ming Wang's avatar had not yet manifested, that didn't mean it wouldn't.

The various Ming Wangs of Buddhism possessed considerable hidden power. The absence of prominent Buddhist teachings in Dazhen did not imply powerlessness for Buddhism itself. If Daming Temple truly faced a life-or-death crisis, a Ming Wang avatar would very likely appear.

At that point, the situation would escalate beyond Lu Shan Jun's control.

Neither the temple's destruction nor a full-scale confrontation was something Ji Yuan wished to see, nor, he believed, did the monks, or even Lu Shan Jun himself.

Only two individuals could prevent this: Ji Yuan in the clouds, and Zhao Long. However, given the present circumstances, Zhao Long seemed unlikely to emerge, regardless of whether he knew what was happening outside.

Lu Shan Jun's roar once again met with no response. A cold sneer formed on the face of his demonic form as he scanned the terrified monks around him, as well as the three elder monks, all with differing injuries, who had reassembled at the temple entrance and re-entered the courtyard.

"Master Jue Ming, your dharma name is quite ironic!"

Though Lu Shan Jun's words still permeated the temple, his voice was very low, imbued with a palpable sense of danger.

Ji Yuan's eyes snapped open. He knew he could wait no longer. His unexpected disciple was truly enraged now; even his demonic energy had subtly shifted, and killing intent was beginning to emanate from him.

Yet, just as he prepared to transmit a message to Lu Shan Jun, a not-so-resounding Buddhist chant echoed from the direction of the temple's main hall.

"Namo Amitabha Ming Wang Buddha, Benefactor Lu, Zhao Long is here!"

The great doors of the temple's main hall swung open from within, revealing the ten-foot-tall seated Ming Wang statue. Standing solemnly at the entrance was a bald, middle-aged monk, none other than the former Zhao Long, now known as Jue Ming.

At that moment, Jue Ming held his hands together, his eyes slightly closed. His trembling eyelids betrayed an inner turmoil. He took a deep breath before opening his eyes and looking towards the colossal demonic form in the temple plaza.

Leaping into the air, Jue Ming, employing his lightness skill, reached the plaza in a few bounds. He was now only twenty *zhang* from Lu Shan Jun's nearest claw – a distance close enough for Lu Shan Jun to strike him dead with a single blow.

"Jue Ming, why did you come out? There was no need for you to appear! Don't you trust Master Hui Tong?"

The leading elder monk appeared deeply agitated. Along with the other two elder monks, he rushed to Jue Ming's side, positioning himself in front of him. They gazed with extreme apprehension at the colossal demon, now almost within arm's reach.

In contrast, the human-like face of Lu Shan Jun's demonic form bore a subtle expression. He fixed his gaze on Monk Jue Ming. From his current perception, the monk's vital energy was robust, and his fluctuating heart rate and bodily energy indicated profound nervousness. His Buddhist aura was weak, yet at first glance, he appeared devoid of malice or resentment.

However, this was Daming Temple, a place of earnest Buddhist practice, and Buddhist teachings are renowned for dispelling resentment and malice. Therefore, it couldn't be definitively stated that Zhao Long was truly blameless.

But Lu Shan Jun was not concerned by this. He figured that once he captured Zhao Long, he could take him to his home and other relevant places, and the truth would surely be uncovered.

It was at this moment that Monk Jue Ming spoke again.

"Master Hui Tong did indeed say that if a calamity were to occur, no matter what transpired, I must never reveal myself. He said if I could endure for a time, this calamity would pass, hehehe..."

Jue Ming managed a strained smile, looking at the elder monk beside him.

"But Abbot, I am not a high monk like you. I cannot see through or comprehend this situation. I cannot fathom how to resolve this predicament. Even if I were safe hiding beneath the Ming Wang statue, who would come to save you? I hesitated and I struggled, but ultimately, I came out."

Ji Yuan listened to these words with a rather peculiar feeling, pondering. Could it be him? Was that Master Hui Tong the one he knew?

Below, Jue Ming looked up at Lu Shan Jun. He had anticipated a tiger demon, but he never imagined such an inconceivable form, one far more majestic and terrifying than the fierce tiger from his memory.

"Lu Shan Jun, Zhao Long is here. I truly committed an unforgivable crime. In the past, I was manipulated by villains and mistakenly killed a group of righteous individuals... After learning the truth, I was consumed by overwhelming remorse and drank to drown my sorrows. Unbeknownst to me, my drunken words were overheard by others. My mind was in turmoil then, and I committed even more heinous acts. Fearing exposure and utter ruin, I tracked down those individuals and, after interrogation, eliminated them all..."

As Lu Shan Jun listened, his eyes narrowed, and a subtle killing intent glinted within the slits of his eyelids.

"After that, I constantly awoke from nightmares, felt disoriented during the day, and found it impossible to sleep at night. Only by chanting scriptures beneath the Ming Wang statue in the Buddhist temple could I finally find rest!"

Ji Yuan, observing Zhao Long from the clouds, surmised that he was likely already plagued by profound resentment at that time, which was why he could only find peace beneath the Ming Wang statue. As for ordinary ghost and deity temples, their residents would have had no interest in Zhao Long's plight back then.

"One night, I was intoxicated beneath the Ming Wang statue, and I spoke to myself, 'If there is immeasurable life, I wish to repay with immeasurable fruit.' I had intended to end my life, but I was saved by a master..."

Jue Ming recounted all these painful past events in one breath, seemingly feeling some relief afterwards. Then, looking at the colossal demon, which resembled a tiger yet was unlike any tiger, he suddenly could not help but ask:

"Lu Shan Jun, when you devoured humans, how did you rid yourself of the guilt?"

Lu Shan Jun looked at Zhao Long, recognizing that his tone was not one of provocation but genuine inquiry. Suppressing his anger and killing intent, Lu Shan Jun considered the question carefully before answering.

"When I first gained sentience, humans hunted me for my fur, so I, in turn, preyed on their flesh and skin. Later, by consuming humans, I gained *chang* ghosts. Some of these *chang* ghosts offered to bring living people to me, whether five or ten, in exchange for their own liberation, and I agreed. It was only after meeting Mister that I understood the meaning of 'sentient beings' and achieved sudden enlightenment. To this day, I, Lu, can distinguish right from wrong, but if guilt is as painful as you describe, I truly have never experienced it."

What Lu Shan Jun said was the truth, but it was clearly not the answer Zhao Long sought. He sighed, wiped the sweat from his face, and his heartbeat, surprisingly, steadied.

"All these years, except when practicing martial arts or chanting scriptures, the tormenting ill feelings in my heart never dissipated. That vast, bitter wellspring of remorse gathered into an ocean, boundless and without end. Now, however, I feel liberated. Kill me or flay me, Mountain Lord; I am at your mercy."