Chapter 565

Chapter 565: Slaying Ming Kong

"Ah—" Everyone watched in confusion as Monk Ming Kong screamed helplessly in agony, completely baffled by what was happening!

They frowned and began speculating.

"Is this some special karmic divine skill?"

"Nonsense! Even Semi-Immortals barely grasp fragments of the Law of Cause and Effect. Fang Lie’s just a Qi Sea cultivator—how could he master so many karmic divine skills? Perhaps it’s a karmic treasure instead."

"But we’ve never heard of such a thing!"

"That just proves how sly Fang Lie is—secretly undermining the Great Thunder Sound Temple! Master Tianlong staked everything on this scoundrel. If he loses now, how will Master Tianlong face the temple’s high monks?"

"Exactly! Without his extreme pressure, why would Thunder Tribulation Immortals sacrifice their primordial purple energy to empower another’s treasure? If Ming Kong had won, all would be forgiven. But since he lost, Master Tianlong will face condemnation!"

As they spoke, Master Tianlong’s face turned sickly green. What should’ve been a certain victory had collapsed into ruin—how could he endure this shame?

To boost Ming Kong’s odds, he’d not only used the temple’s treasured Innate Constructed Wood Nascent Fetus but also forced two Thunder Tribulation Immortal monks to donate primordial purple energy. This drained their essence, robbing them of any hope for advancement.

Though those monks were near their cultivation limits with dwindling lifespans, they’d resisted bitterly. Only Master Tianlong’s extreme pressure made them comply.

If Master Tianlong failed now, those monks would revolt. Worse, he’d sworn to Mo Qianxun that after this battle, he’d cease harassing Fang Lie—a formal vow even the Great Thunder Sound Temple’s abbot couldn’t break without risking the Mo Sect’s wrath and other sects’ interference.

Desperate, Master Tianlong barked, "Ming Kong! You know this battle’s importance! Understand what defeat means? If not now, when will you sacrifice yourself to vanquish this demon?"

Ming Kong’s fire-scorched face twisted with resentment, yet he dared not disobey. Gritting his teeth, he roared, "Fang Lie! This monk will end you! Witness my Salvation of All Beings!"

Buddhist light erupted from his body as his aura tripled, momentarily suppressing the flames on his face.

The crowd gasped. "Madness! The Great Thunder Sound Temple’s gone mad!"

"‘Salvation of All Beings’ sounds virtuous but burns body, cultivation, and soul. Whether it harms enemies is uncertain, but the user suffers permanent heavy injuries and ruined potential!"

Core Inner Gate disciples like Ming Kong usually reached late-stage Thunder Tribulation. After this move, even becoming a Fire Tribulation Immortal seemed doubtful.

Yet he’d bought mere seconds of respite.

Dozens of Fang Lie clones sneered in unison. "Self-mutilation contest? Bring it! Let’s see who’s more ruthless!"

They shouted, "Explosion Qi Technique! Blood Ignition Technique!"

Their auras exploded twentyfold. Chanting in unison, they reignited the flames—now fiercer than before.

This was Fang Lie’s upgraded divine skill: Ever-Burning Soul Flame, unlocked when his Qi Sea surpassed six thousand li. Unlike his old Ever-Burning Flame that only weaker foes couldn’t resist, this new fire devoured both flesh and soul. Unless an opponent’s Magic doubled Fang Lie’s, they couldn’t suppress it.

Ming Kong’s Magic had matched Fang Lie’s initially. Only after self-mutilation’s temporary boost could he briefly resist—but no longer.

But at this moment, Fang Lie also wounded himself, unleashing two self-harming Dao magics simultaneously to multiply his Magic power by twentyfold—far surpassing Ming Kong’s enhancements.

Under these conditions, Fang Lie’s Ever-Burning Soul Flame ignited effortlessly, rapidly consuming blood essence and soul energy!

Ming Kong emitted a heart-wrenching scream as his body visibly shrank and aged. The dual assault of self-inflicted wounds and soul-scorching flames drained his essence at terrifying speed.

Had he not been the Core Inner disciple regularly consuming heavenly treasures to strengthen body and soul, he would have perished instantly.

Even the dullest observers now recognized Ming Kong’s inevitable defeat.

Master Tianlong stood powerless, forced to watch his prized disciple crumble to ashes.

After reducing Ming Kong to cinders, Fang Lie swiftly recalled his clones and seized all possessions from the smoldering remains. He then confronted the Buddhist master: "Victory is mine. Pay your debt."

Before countless witnesses, the Semi-Immortal cultivator had no choice but to toss the wooden stump to Fang Lie, though his hand trembled with reluctance.

The moment Fang Lie grasped the object, torrents of vital energy surged through his arm, bringing unprecedented comfort.

Within his consciousness sea, the old bird confirmed: "This is indeed the treasure."

"Excellent!" Fang Lie grinned at Master Tianlong before flying directly to Mo Qianxun’s Glorious Heavenly Palace without backward glance.

The Buddhist master’s composure shattered. "Return Ming Kong’s artifacts!" he bellowed.

"By what right?" Fang Lie retorted from within the floating palace. "Celestial Platform Competition rules grant the victor all spoils of war. Or have Buddhist traditions changed?"

Master Tianlong gaped speechless. For generations, righteous sects had quietly returned defeated opponents’ belongings through unspoken courtesy—a custom Fang Lie now blatantly ignored.

Evil faction cultivators seized the opportunity to jeer: "The boy speaks truth! Claiming rightful spoils breaks no rules!"

"Shameful behavior from a Semi-Immortal!"

"Since when does Great Thunder Sound Temple scorn its own traditions?"

Master Tianlong’s face purpled with rage. Turning to Mo Sect’s leader, he demanded: "Does Mo Sect renounce righteous sect protocols?"

Mo Qianxun’s gaze shifted to Fang Lie, seeking guidance.

The young cultivator shrugged. "I’d return treasures from other righteous sects—Mo Sect honors agreements. But when Buddhist ‘allies’ employ Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword in secret attempts to destroy me? Why show courtesy to murderers?"

Evil faction cheers erupted. "Well argued!"

"Great Thunder Sound Temple reaps what it sowed!"

Neutral observers shook their heads at Master Tianlong’s predicament—the architect of his sect’s humiliation.

"Insolent whelp!" The Buddhist master spat. "You overstep!"

"My actions comply with written rules," Fang Lie countered. "Your unwritten ones hold no power here."

Defeated, Master Tianlong turned to fellow Buddhist elders. "Brothers! Shall we permit this theft of sacred relics?"