Chapter 41
Shaos.h.i.+ Mountain, on the square in front of the Mahavira Hall.
Everyone present was kneeling on the ground.
Among them were—monks, Daoists, ladies, old people, and children…
These people came from the factions that had gathered here to watch the show. They wanted to see how the conflict between Shaolin Temple and the Yuhua G.o.d Dynasty would be resolved.
But who would have expected such an outcome?
Thousands of people were forced to kneel down, unable to move.
The more they struggled, the more uncomfortable they felt.
That extremely intense fist aura was akin to a raging flame.
It made them feel as if they were burning.
It truly was uncomfortable.
This was a shocking scene.
Beihai took out a mere painting and he instantly suppressed Shaolin Temple. Even those people who came to Shaolin Temple to watch the show were suppressed too.
They felt terrible.
If they knew that something like this was about to happen, then they wouldn't have come here to watch the show. This truly was an unfortunate catastrophe.
The monks of Shaolin Temple were still struggling.
All of them were angry. They felt humiliated.
However, when the old monk spoke, everyone fell silent.
The abbot of Shaolin Temple turned his head in disbelief.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the old monk and cried out, "What did you just say?"
The old monk said with difficulty. "I said this might is… is from a Human G.o.d!"
"Impossible!" The abbot denied vehemently. He shook his head frantically. Although he was still kneeling, his face was full of panic.
"Since the death of the last Human G.o.d 1,500 years ago, there has never been a new Human G.o.d!"
"This might is indeed very powerful, but it's definitely impossible that it's from a Human G.o.d!"
The abbot found an excuse for himself.
He refused to believe that this boundless might belonged to that of a Human G.o.d.
If it was true, then Shaolin Temple would be utterly defeated and unable to resist.
The countless temples and monasteries that Shaolin Temple had acc.u.mulated for hundreds of years, their large number of believers and treasures, all of these things would be taken away.
Therefore, this might must never be from a Human G.o.d!
But there was nothing that he could.
The old monk's words shocked everyone present.
Including Beihai.
He was surprised and delighted.
He was trembling as he held the painting in his hand.
Excitement!
He only had this one feeling welling up his chest at this moment.
A Human G.o.d!
That mysterious Senior was actually a Human G.o.d…
Unbelievable.
"No wonder Emperor Ming was so confident to let Cangshan and me come here all by ourselves." Beihai was so excited that he started to admire Emperor Ming, Lin Tianyuan.
Compared to Beihai's excitement—the others were afraid.
They trembled amidst their shock and disbelief.
As these emotions surfaced in everyone's hearts, their feelings soon became complicated.
"No G.o.d is supposed to exist in this Mortal Realm!" Someone cried out involuntarily.
His expression was both envious and terrified.
They felt proud of breaking through the Martial Sage Realm with the help of that rain.
They thought back then that they had already reached the peak of cultivation.
After all, they had become Martial Sages.
It didn't matter if someone was at the second, third, or at the fourth step of the Martial Sage Realm.
They were still Martial Sages in the end.
Those who were only a level one Martial Sage were also Martial Sages.
If those Martial Sages whose cultivations were at the highest step of the Martial Sage could be considered to be at the peak of cultivation. Then, those who were at the earlier steps of the same Martial Sage Realm should also be considered a member of those at the apex.
But now, only a mere painting was unfolded, yet they were immediately crushed by a boundless pressure coming from the terrifying fist technique contained within the painting.
Even Martial Sages had no other choice but to kneel before this aura.
The Martial Sage realm was no longer the peak of cultivation in this Mortal Realm.
It was because—a Human G.o.d had appeared.
The old monk coughed and stammered. "The paper used for this painting
"But…"
"This painting was drawn by a Human G.o.d. It contains his aura and a wisp of his spiritual consciousness. We are unable to resist it."
"The scriptures told us that Human G.o.ds are terrifying existences that can exist and live as a personification of their spiritual wills. Thus, they would not die even if their bodies are destroyed," the old monk said in despair.
His words caused the abbot of Shaolin Temple to also close his eyes in despair.
Everyone else finally believed him at this moment.
A new Human G.o.d has appeared in this Mortal Realm.
And this Human G.o.d achieved this on his own in this Mortal Realm.
"No wonder the Emperor of the Yuhua G.o.d Dynasty dared to attack the Buddhist Sects."
"Shaolin Temple and Xuankong Temple are in big trouble this time."
"That's right, this is a terrifying catastrophe. But it's their fortune that this Human G.o.d doesn't seem to be planning to start a ma.s.sacre. Otherwise, there would definitely be rivers of blood flowing in front of the Shaolin Temple's Mahavira Hall now."
"Let's kneel properly. We won't be on the losing end by kneeling to a Human G.o.d."
"That's right… I originally thought that after the rain, the Imperial Court would no longer be a threat. But now, it seems like we will still be governed by the Imperial Court as usual."
"We will have to see how the abbot handles this disaster."
The abbot of Shaolin Temple could hear the discussion of the spectators.
He was in a daze.
An old monk who was on his last breath seemed to appear in front of him.
Holy Buddha!
Before he died, he said that there was a great calamity coming its way to Shaolin Temple.
He also told them, ‘don't…'
"Don't…" The abbot of Shaolin Temple laughed bitterly.
They thought it meant, ‘don't be afraid'.
But in reality, it was, ‘don't resist'.
"Holy Buddha, I finally understand…"
The abbot of Shaolin Temple sighed and looked up at Beihai.
Then, he slowly raised the imperial decree in his hand and loudly announced.
"Shaolin Temple will obey the Imperial Decree!"
The crowd in the area fell silent.
The abbot had relented.
And the truth was—he was afraid.
He didn't dare to go against the Yuhua G.o.d Dynasty, nor did he dare to try and endure the wrath of a Human G.o.d.
The monks of Shaolin Temple also knew what would happen if they resisted.
The outcome of their stubborn resistance would definitely be very miserable.
Fortunately, the Yuhua G.o.d Dynasty had left this mountain for them to live.
Beihai looked at the abbot who was still holding up the imperial decree in a respectful bow.
Seeing this, Beihai closed the painting and kept it with satisfaction.
The oppressive might immediately vanished.
Countless people gasped for breath as they crawled up shakily when the oppressive might vanished.
The previous scene felt surreal—almost like a dream to everyone.
But when they touched their backs and felt the cold sweat that drenched their clothes, they couldn't help but look at each other as they saw the bitter smiles and looks of shock in each other's eyes.
A Human G.o.d was too terrifying…
This was just a painting drawn by that Human G.o.d.
It didn't carry any intent to kill nor to attack, yet it managed to suppress them until they became akin to meat on a butcher's chopping block.
What would happen if they saw a Human G.o.d in the flesh?
They might just die on the spot…
Beihai put away the folded painting and then said to the abbot of Shaolin Temple.
"Within three months, demolish all the monasteries other than those on this mountain. Every monk that have committed heinous crimes must renounce Asceticism. Buddhism is not a safe haven for evil. Those monks must be escorted to the authorities. No delays are permitted."
The abbot of Shaolin Temple could no longer be arrogant this time.
He bowed slightly and said with a trembling voice. "I… I understand!"
His heart ached when he was done.
"However, a large portion of those monasteries belongs to the Xuankong Temple. We have no right to dismantle them," the abbot sighed and explained.
"Don't worry. The current Xuankong Temple's feelings must be exactly the same as you lot."
Beihai couldn't help but laugh upon remembering that Cangshan was holding another similar painting to his.
The abbot and the others shuddered at the thought of that terrifying scene.
They didn't want to experience that feeling ever again.
Xuankong Temple!
The originally lively Xuankong Temple.
The arrogant and overbearing Xuankong Temple.
The haughty Xuankong Temple.
At this moment, every monk from Xuankong Temple was kneeling on the ground. They trembled as they gasped for air.
Cangshan had opened the painting he was tasked to carry and a scene of a garden appeared around him.
Green gra.s.s, rivers, trees, distant mountains, slanted hills, villages…
These vivid images appeared before everyone's eyes.
It was serene and profound.
Only the green gra.s.s was emitting a terrifying sword aura as it swayed.
A sword beam suppressed the Headmaster of the Xuankong Temple.
"Do you accept the decree?" Cangshan took out the imperial decree and looked at Xuankong Temple's Headmaster in antic.i.p.ation.
The Headmaster of Xuankong Temple wore a defeated look on his face. Then, he knelt on the ground and said bitterly, "I accept the decree!"
How could he have imagined that there was a Human G.o.d in this Mortal Realm?