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Chapter 401: The Offering

"I am here at someone else's request. The person you seek is inside the valley," Nian Youyou replied, pointing towards the valley ahead.

While others could not extend their divine senses, Zhiguang Arhat could, thanks to the Bodhi seed he possessed, which allowed him to overcome illusions.

Releasing his divine sense, he immediately scanned the valley. Within, there was a grand hall with its doors open, and inside was just one person, Zhong Shan.

Zhiguang Arhat frowned as he looked at Nian Youyou.

"Please," Nian Youyou said with a smile.

Zhiguang Arhat hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. After all, he only sensed Zhong Shan inside, a defeated adversary, so there was nothing to fear. He and Nian Youyou entered the valley together.

Inside the palace, Zhong Shan slowly walked out.

"Zhiguang Arhat, do you remember me?" Zhong Shan asked, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"And you are?" Zhiguang Arhat frowned, staring at Zhong Shan. It was clear he did not recognize him; the previous encounter had been confusing and unclear.

"Please, come in," Zhong Shan gestured invitingly to Zhiguang.

Zhiguang Arhat glanced at Nian Youyou.

"Nian Youyou, please wait outside. This won't take long," Zhong Shan said again.

"Uh? Alright," Nian Youyou replied, looking at Zhong Shan in surprise.

Zhiguang Arhat confirmed that there was only Zhong Shan inside, so he felt no fear and stepped forward.

Zhong Shan performed a spell, and the banners outside activated, isolating the interior from outside sound. Though the formation wasn't strong in defense, it could block divine sense from probing, which made Nian Youyou somewhat annoyed.

Zhiguang Arhat stared at Zhong Shan.

"Please," Zhong Shan repeated.

Zhiguang Arhat squinted at Zhong Shan but still stepped inside.

In the center of the hall was a spirit tablet. On the tablet were engraved the words: "Beloved Wife Wei Kui'er."

Wei Kui'er. Zhiguang Arhat searched his memory but couldn't recall this name.

"Clang～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

The doors of the hall suddenly closed.

"What do you want?" Zhiguang Arhat coldly asked Zhong Shan.

"You must be wondering why I pursued you so relentlessly that day," Zhong Shan said.

Squinting, Zhiguang Arhat responded coldly, "Indeed, we have never met before. Why did you chase me so relentlessly?"

"This is my wife. Do you recognize her?" Zhong Shan walked to the spirit tablet and lit incense.

Zhiguang Arhat looked at the tablet and said, "I believe there is a misunderstanding. Wei Kui'er, this is the first time I've heard this name."

"Misunderstanding? Do you remember Crown Prince Lietian?" Zhong Shan turned to Zhiguang Arhat.

Hearing the name Crown Prince Lietian, Zhiguang Arhat's pupils instinctively shrank.

"Who exactly are you?" Zhiguang Arhat demanded coldly.

"I brought you here today to borrow something from you," Zhong Shan said.

"What?" Zhiguang Arhat asked.

"Your life!" Zhong Shan's eyes turned cold.

Zhiguang Arhat's eyes widened, sensing something amiss.

"Seal～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

With a loud shout from Zhong Shan, he suddenly transformed into a talisman in Zhiguang Arhat's vision.

Then, the entire interior of the grand hall was plastered with the shadows of talismans. One even adhered to Zhiguang Arhat's forehead, rendering him immobile. The Black Jade Talisman, the most powerful artifact Zhong Shan could currently wield, instantly sealed Zhiguang Arhat. What if he was an arhat? He could still be sealed. Zhong Shan walked up to Zhiguang Arhat and raised his blade to sever his head.

Just as the blade was about to fall, a yellow figure emerged from Zhiguang Arhat's body.

Zhiguang's primordial spirit? Zhong Shan's eyes widened. How could this be? Wasn't the Black Jade Talisman supposed to seal even the primordial spirit?

There was no time to ponder. Zhong Shan quickly extended his divine sense towards Zhiguang's primordial spirit, which seemed equally determined to eliminate Zhong Shan and swiftly charged at him.

"Buzz～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

Zhiguang entered Zhong Shan's body. Zhong Shan stood still.

Inside Zhong Shan's Niwan Palace, Zhiguang's primordial spirit hovered, a small white glowing orb atop his head, surveying the surroundings, the spiritual realm of Zhong Shan. Zhong Shan's spirit manifested a form, his spiritual body appearing with the adorable Ba Ji Tian Wei on his shoulder, its eight differently colored tails swaying.

"What was that artifact just now?" Zhiguang's primordial spirit stared at Zhong Shan's manifested spiritual body.

"Bodhi seed? Is that what prevented you from being sealed?" Zhong Shan looked at the white orb atop Zhiguang's primordial spirit.

"Hmph, yes. With the Bodhi seed, I can easily devour your consciousness and then search your entire body," Zhiguang's primordial spirit said coldly, the Bodhi seed on his head shining brightly, sending waves of white light towards Zhong Shan's spiritual body.

"Yiya～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

Ba Ji Tian Wei let out a soft cry, and Zhiguang's primordial spirit was stunned, looking at Ba Ji Tian Wei in terror.

"What is that?" Zhiguang's primordial spirit screamed in horror.

In the instant Ba Ji Tian Wei cried out, the Bodhi seed atop Zhiguang's head disappeared, snatched away by one of Ba Ji Tian Wei's tails.

"Awu～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

Ba Ji Tian Wei swallowed the Bodhi seed in one gulp.

"No, it can't be!" Zhiguang shouted.

"Awu～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

Opening its mouth wide, Ba Ji Tian Wei exaggeratedly devoured Zhiguang's primordial spirit as well.

After swallowing the Bodhi seed, Ba Ji Tian Wei's eight tails swayed rapidly, indicating that the Bodhi seed contained an immense, unexpected energy.

Zhong Shan's spiritual body dispersed abruptly. Outside, Zhong Shan immediately sat cross-legged.

The massive energy from the Bodhi seed, mostly absorbed by Ba Ji Tian Wei, overflowed some into Zhong Shan. Even this small amount was brimming with a powerful energy, directly enhancing Zhong Shan's body and strengthening his Nascent Soul.

The terrifying energy enhanced Zhong Shan's Nascent Soul, refining his body. Outside, Zhong Shan appeared surrounded by a smoky aura of lightning, resembling a deity.

An hour later, Zhong Shan opened his eyes. He looked at himself in mild surprise.

Nascent Soul stage, fourth level? A breakthrough? What exactly was that Bodhi seed? Such potent energy?

Slightly puzzled, Zhong Shan's attention was immediately drawn to Kui'er's spirit tablet in the hall. His initial surprise turned into deep sorrow.

Turning his head to look at Zhiguang's corpse, Zhong Shan severed Zhiguang's head with a single stroke and placed it before the spirit tablet.

"Kui'er, I am sorry for being so powerless. Only today have I avenged you. This is just the first. Wait for me; I will use Crown Prince Lietian's head to honor you someday."

Meanwhile, in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, chaos erupted.

Zhiguang Arhat was dead? His manifestation above the Sea of Merit had suddenly vanished. Was he truly dead? Indeed, he was. Quickly, information came from the entrance of the Pure Land confirming that Zhiguang Arhat had not exited. Thus, he had perished within the Pure Land.

Who had killed Zhiguang Arhat?

Immediately, numerous monks flew in all directions to investigate. Who would dare to kill an arhat within the Pure Land? Such audacity.

After the offering, Zhong Shan dealt with Zhiguang Arhat's corpse. He opened the grand hall and, with a flip of his hand, stored the entire hall into his storage bracelet, then looked at Nian Youyou.

Nian Youyou stared at Zhong Shan with her mouth agape. Two had entered, but only one emerged, and the grand hall was now stored away. Zhiguang Arhat was indeed dead.

"You... you really killed Zhiguang Arhat? How is that possible?" Nian Youyou asked, disbelief etched on her face.

"Why would it be impossible?"

"But your cultivation level is..."

"My cultivation is low, but low cultivation doesn't mean I can't get things done. In the Grand Luo Heavenly Dynasty, there are countless people with higher cultivation than mine, but how many have a higher status than me?" Zhong Shan retorted.

"But, but..." Nian Youyou looked at the former location of the grand hall, then at Zhong Shan, and found herself at a loss for words.

After all, dealing with someone at the Imperial Extremity realm was understandable, given Zhong Shan's command over tens of thousands of troops. But now, he had been alone and had single-handedly killed Zhiguang Arhat?

"By the way, what about the Bodhi seed?" Nian Youyou asked immediately.

"I ate it," Zhong Shan replied honestly.

"Ate it?" Nian Youyou looked at Zhong Shan in disbelief. How could that be possible?

"If I didn't eat it, would my cultivation have increased?" Zhong Shan said.

Only then did Nian Youyou notice that Zhong Shan's cultivation had indeed increased by one level. Had he really eaten it?

Nian Youyou found herself more surprised than ever before. She could not say a word and just stared, speechless, for a moment before muttering, "It's good that you ate it."

"Uh?" Zhong Shan looked at Nian Youyou.

"The Bodhi seed is a spiritual object of the Pure Land. It can't be stored in a storage bracelet and would have been discovered eventually. But how is it possible that after consuming the Bodhi seed, you didn't burst from the energy, and your strength increased by only a little, just one level? Nascent Soul stage, fourth level?" Nian Youyou remarked curiously.

"I'm quite satisfied," Zhong Shan said bluntly.

"Satisfied?" Nian Youyou rolled her eyes at Zhong Shan.

The energy from the Bodhi seed could raise one's level more than just once. If it were someone else at the Nascent Soul stage, they could have risen to the peak of the Integration stage or even the Imperial Extremity realm. Yet, Zhong Shan's progress, just one level, was almost frustrating.

"Alright, regardless, thank you for your help. I'll do my best to catch the 'pet' you're looking for," Zhong Shan said.

"What do you mean by 'do my best'? It has to be certain. I helped you a lot," Nian Youyou said, glaring at him.

"Uh, alright. But you need to tell me what kind of beast it is first. At least let me know its habits so that I can fulfill your request," Zhong Shan said with a wry smile.

"That's more like it," Nian Youyou replied.

"Have you ever had a dream?" Nian Youyou asked again.

Zhong Shan looked at her, speechless. Who hasn't had a dream?

"According to my incomplete conjecture, this Blue Sea of Refining Hearts was either created by this beast or it nurtured the beast. This little beast has a very magical ability; it can lead you into a dream. Then, while you are asleep, it secretly steals your fortune or merit," Nian Youyou explained.

(To be continued.)