When the entrances to the eighteen layers of hell opened, the Future Buddha headed into its depths with some monks. Soon, they arrived at the entrance to the sixteenth layer.
“Lord Buddha, another round has passed. Could Kong Xuan have endured?” a monk asked worriedly.
“It seemed to be at its limits the last time we saw it. Another round passed, making it another thirty-two million years for it. I hope it did not go mad. Hurry!” the Future Buddha said sullenly.
“I guess it will be eager to join the Spirit Mountain Holy Land this time,” said a monk at the side, smiling.
Although the Future Buddha did not respond to this, a cocky smile appeared on his face.
Then, the group stepped into the sixteenth layer of hell.
Boom!
The moment they entered, a surging, black, demonic aura greeted them even before the flames. The demonic aura was so intense that all the monks trembled.
“Demonic aura? How could it be this intense? It was not this bad the last time!”
“The demonic aura encases the entire sixteenth layer of hell? How can this be?”
“Oh no! Lord Buddha, the chains! The chains have broken!”
“Roar!”
With a ferocious expression, Kong Xuan shook off the chains, then struggled to get out from under the golden mountain manifested by the five large mountains. As it roared, lava splashed into the sky.
It seemed close to escaping the manifested mountain on its back.
The Future Buddha opened his mind’s eye, and his expression changed dramatically.
“Kong Xuan? You dare?” the Future Buddha suddenly exclaimed.
Kong Xuan’s current strength completely surpassed the Future Buddha’s expectations. It is about to break the seal and come out? Once it comes out, it will be bad.
Boom!
The Future Buddha stepped forward and rushed over to stop Kong Xuan.
However, a manifested fist suddenly shot out of the lava and streaked towards the Future Buddha.
When the golden fist appeared, space shuddered.
“What? There is someone else?” The Future Buddha’s expression changed.
The Future Buddha counterpunched, clashing with the golden fist.
Boom!
A loud report rang out when the fists collided. Space heaved.
The Future Buddha stepped back with horror on his face.
A large whirlpool appeared in the lava below, revolving around a glistening, golden man. When that man raised his head, he revealed a ferocious expression.
“Shangguan Hen?” a monk suddenly cried out.
“That’s impossible! That was Shangguan Hen’s fist earlier?” the monks exclaimed in shock.
The Future Buddha’s face sank. “Shangguan Hen? You are alive?”
“Why did you think I was dead?” Shangguan Hen showed a cold smile as he stood in the sky, then flew over to the Future Buddha.
“That earlier punch? No, weren’t you much weaker than Sun Wukong? You are in the early-stage Upper Heavenly Palace Realm, but that was your fist earlier?” the Future Buddha said sullenly.
“There is no need for you to know,” Shangguan Hen sneered.
A thought suddenly occurred to the Future Buddha. “Gu Hai? Where’s Gu Hai? Is he dead?”
“What do you think?” Shangguan Hen said coldly.
“Roar!”
The distant Kong Xuan roared again.
Rumble…!
The five large mountains shook, and many cracks spread through the manifested mountain above.
“Oh no!” The Future Buddha’s expression changed.
“Greatly Compassionate Greatly Sorrowful Thousand Buddha Palms!” The Future Buddha threw a palm strike.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
One thousand golden manifested palms appeared out of nowhere and shot towards Shangguan Hen.
“Humph! Insignificant tricks. I can subdue ten thousand palms with one!” Shangguan Hen shouted while glaring. Then, he threw a punch.
Boom!
One of the golden palms exploded while the remaining nine hundred ninety-nine landed on Shangguan Hen.
However, Shangguan Hen’s body shone golden. Nearly one thousand large manifested palms landed on his indestructible body and merely nudged him back.
“What?” The Future Buddha’s expression changed. Now, Shangguan Hen’s fist arrived before the Future Buddha.
Bong!
A loud sound suggestive of a metal bell rang out. The punch knocked the Future Buddha three hundred meters back before he stopped.
“Shangguan Hen, how did your cultivation increase by so much? What cultivation technique is this? Why is it so similar to Sun Wukong’s? That’s not right. You are even more powerful than Sun Wukong!” the Future Buddha said in shock and rage.
Just at this moment, Kong Xuan brought out its greatest strength.
“Roar!”
As Kong Xuan roared, the demonic aura around it increased over tenfold.
Boom!
The manifested mountain pressing on the gargantuan peacock exploded. The five mountains below changed shape, turning into a glistening, golden Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus. Kong Xuan struggled free of it.
Coo!
The loud cry of freedom resounded throughout the eighteen layers of hell.
“Kong Xuan broke free!”
“The demon broke the Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus Seal!”
“Lord Buddha, save me!”
The monks shouted in horror.
The Future Buddha appeared uncertain. “Kong Xuan, you had better know what’s good for you. Stop being stubborn!”
“Roar!”
An overwhelming demonic aura surrounded Kong Xuan. Ignoring the Future Buddha’s threats, it opened its mouth and sucked.
Boom!
Kong Xuan swallowed the gigantic Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus.
The Future Buddha’s expression changed. “What? How dare you?! That’s my Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus! Spit it out immediately. Otherwise, no one can save you!”
Coo! Kong Xuan let out a ferocious cry as it flapped its wings and flew over.
“Shangguan Hen, you are too kind. There is no need to be merciful with this bald monk. Learn from me!” Kong Xuan shouted ferociously.
As Kong Xuan shouted, it flapped its wings, sending a black wind at the Future Buddha.
“You bastard!” The Future Buddha threw a palm strike at Kong Xuan.
However, Kong Xuan opened its mouth and sucked when the black wind curled around.
Boom!
Kong Xuan swallowed the Future Buddha into its stomach.
The monks in the distance were frightened silly.
“Kong Xuan swallowed the Lord Buddha?”
“Did I see wrong? That is the Future Buddha! Kong Xuan consumed the Future Buddha?!”
The monks cried out in surprise.
“I won’t just consume the Future Buddha but also the Past Buddha, the Present Buddha, and everything of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. I’m going to swallow everything! Swallow them all!” Kong Xuan roared.
Kong Xuan sent out a black wind with its wings again. The black wind curled around the fleeing monks and pulled them into its mouth.
“No! Save me!”
The gargantuan peacock swallowed all the monks in the blink of an eye.
Shangguan Hen’s expression congealed.
Has Kong Xuan turned into a demon? To think that it is so ferocious? That was the Future Buddha, yet it swallowed him?
Kong Xuan was suffused with anger. Although consuming the Future Buddha provided a vent, how could that negate the anger and bloodthirst from close to one hundred million years of incarceration?
Kong Xuan’s eyes blazed with hatred. He wanted to head to the upper layers and continue consuming. He yearned to consume everything.
As Kong Xuan’s fighting spirit flared with boundless hatred, a voice suddenly rang out. “You swallowed them just like that? Aren’t you afraid of indigestion?”
That voice sounded like a challenge to Kong Xuan.
“Who is it?” Kong Xuan turned its head ferociously.
“Your Reverence!” Shangguan Hen’s face lit up in joy.
“Gu Hai?” Kong Xuan’s face stiffened.
“Great Light Sovereign Deity, congratulations on breaking free!” Gu Hai walked over, smiling.
When Kong Xuan saw Gu Hai, its face twitched.
While Shangguan Hen had also been trapped for a long time, he had coped mainly by resorting to tricks. Although Kong Xuan acknowledged him, Kong Xuan would not submit to him. However, Gu Hai was different. Gu Hai did not have the profound tortoise’s innate talent. Gu Hai had lasted two hundred fifty-odd million years without any tricks.
Kong Xuan could not even withstand half of what Gu Hai had endured.
Boom!
Kong Xuan immediately took human form.
“Gu Hai, you are really still alive?” Kong Xuan said with an unsightly expression.
“Indeed. Unfortunately, there is nothing left for me to look forward to here. Otherwise, this is an ideal place for cultivation.” Gu Hai smiled faintly.
Kong Xuan: “…”
“Your Reverence, stop talking already! I feel like vomiting at the thought of this place,” Shangguan Hen said bitterly.
“Shangguan Hen, which layer have you reached?” Gu Hai looked at Shangguan Hen.
“I did alright. I completed the seventh set of nines,” Shangguan Hen said with a bitter smile.
“The sixty-third layer? That’s pretty good, much better than Sun Wukong!” Gu Hai smiled.
“The sixty-fourth layer. However, I am still far from consummation, the seventy-second layer,” Shangguan Hen immediately clarified.
“That’s already pretty good. You are much stronger than before.” Gu Hai smiled.
“That is of course!” Shangguan Hen smiled back.
After Gu Hai said that, he looked at Kong Xuan.
Kong Xuan showed an unsightly expression, remaining silent for a long time.
Gu Hai did not say anything, only gazing at Kong Xuan in silence.
However, Shangguan Hen said, “Kong Xuan, His Reverence saved you, and you made a bet with him. What’s wrong? Are you planning on reneging on your promise?”
Kong Xuan’s face sank at Shangguan Hen’s mockery. “Who said I am reneging?”
“That’s right. Gu Hai, your willpower is stronger than mine. You truly can endure. How incredible! I submit. As agreed, fifty years. I will join your Han Nation for fifty years. Kong Xuan salutes Your Reverence!” Kong Xuan immediately saluted.
Although Kong Xuan sensed that Gu Hai had not reached the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm yet, he no longer looked at cultivation. So what if Gu Hai’s cultivation had not reached the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm yet? Gu Hai was stronger than him. Strength was strength. There was no need to deny this. It was just fifty years, after all.
“Since that is the case, we install Kong Xuan as the Han Imperial Dynasty’s Fifth Corps commander. You may form and lead an army, and you will be given the title of the Light Viscount!” Gu Hai declared solemnly.
Kong Xuan only received the rank of viscount since he had not made any contributions to the Han Imperial Dynasty yet. Ennobling and installing him as the Fifth Corps commander was already making an exception.
“This subject, Kong Xuan, salutes Your Reverence!” Kong Xuan saluted.
Since Gu Hai was stronger, Kong Xuan could salute Gu Hai. Although he felt some discomfort in his heart, he would do what he said.
“Since that is the case, let’s go!” Gu Hai said.
“Your Reverence, I wish to seek revenge on the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s buddhas!” Kong Xuan still brooded over his hatred.
Gu Hai shook his head, rejecting Kong Xuan. “Let’s go out first!”
The group flew toward the first layer of hell.
However, Kong Xuan felt dissatisfied.
“You have grown very powerful in hell. However, are you sure you can beat the Present Buddha? He can rule over the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Do you think he is on the same level as the Future Buddha?” Gu Hai asked.
Kong Xuan remained unconvinced, but he did not argue back.
The group soon arrived in the first layer of hell.
Then, Gu Hai took out the jade bottle from Bodhisattva Lian Sheng.
