Chapter 1109 - 1108: Emergence from Seclusion

After the news spread that the Thirty-Six Sects had joined forces and sworn a blood alliance, all of Southern Heaven was in an uproar.

Just when everyone thought.

That after forming the alliance, the Thirty-Six Sects would mobilize millions of troops, press down on Vajra Temple, and crush Ye Qingchen, the Thirty-Six Sects instead fell into silence at the same time, as if nothing at all had happened.

Just as everyone was utterly puzzled.

Within Vajra Temple.

Ye Qingchen's cultivation had already reached its final stage.

"Boom!"

A vast aura surged straight out from within the Treasure Pavilion. In the face of this aura, even Elder Bai Mei felt he could not withstand it and involuntarily retreated step by step.

"It rose again!"

Feeling this power, Elder Bai Mei was aghast.

During Ye Qingchen's closed-door training these few days, he had been sitting in town as Guardian, personally sensing exactly in what terrifying manner Ye Qingchen's cultivation and strength were crazily rising.

He looked around to either side.

He saw that with the Treasure Pavilion as the center, the originally vast and boundless complex of countless exquisite and luxurious temples, side halls, and chambers had now been entirely crushed to powder. Even the Great Hero Hall had collapsed by more than half; that giant Buddha eight thousand zhang tall now had only half its body left, utterly ruined.

And this was merely the aura unconsciously spilling out as Ye Qingchen cultivated.

"Bang!"

But this was only the beginning.

Immediately after, an even more shocking scene unfolded.

They saw.

Within the Treasure Pavilion, endless manifestations suddenly emerged.

"Roar!"

A dragon's roar that shook heaven and earth rang out from the void without the slightest warning. Amid the thunderous surging formed by Qi Blood, they saw a colossal Ancient Dragon Elephant sweep out of the void. Its enormous body coiled around the Treasure Pavilion, looping like dragon and serpent, head supporting the heavens, feet trampling the earth.

Next, boundless True Qi transformed into a vast sea of stars that shrouded a portion of the world. When everyone looked up, the star sea was brilliant and grand, incomparably mysterious, stretching beyond the reach of the eye.

At the same time.

Outside the Treasure Pavilion, a towering figure appeared.

This figure was clad in black battle armor and contained the Five Elements within, clearly the Heaven Mending Dharma Aspect! But under Elder Bai Mei's terrified gaze, it slowly transformed into a figure wearing a Heaven-Reaching Jade Crown, draped in an Emperor's Robe, indescribably majestic, as if treading upon time and space, manifesting a mystery beyond words!

"So this is the Cultivation Technique Ye the Demon commands?"

Elder Bai Mei drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

He had only ever seen, during Fuhong's seclusion, the manifestation of the Great Sun Buddha, which drew countless disciples of the Buddhist sect to worship. But Ye Qingchen could manifest three visions at once, each one far surpassing Fuhong's—it was simply terrifying to the extreme!

As this ran through his mind, he saw those manifestations hanging in the sky quietly merge back into the Treasure Pavilion, and Ye Qingchen's constantly rising aura gradually leveled off.

The old monk quickly stepped into the Treasure Pavilion.

As expected, everything inside the Treasure Pavilion had completely collapsed, turned to dust. The many Heavenly and Earthly Treasures had already been exhausted; all that remained was that string of Relic Beads, but they had lost their original appearance, turned pale and transparent, covered in cracks.

"Mr. Ye!"

The old monk stepped forward to pay his respects.

He saw Ye Qingchen sitting cross-legged there, like an ordinary man, yet in his eyes Ye Qingchen's figure was tens of thousands of zhang tall, filling him with a reverence like beholding a Divine Demon.

"How long have I been in seclusion?"

Ye Qingchen slowly opened his eyes.

"Seven days!"

The old monk lowered his brows and eyes, though within his heart waves surged like a stormy sea.

One should know.

When ordinary people go into seclusion, which of them does not spend several years? To seek a breakthrough, decades or even centuries are not uncommon. Yet Ye Qingchen had taken only seven days.

How terrifying was this?

"Then during these seven days, what has happened?"

Ye Qingchen asked calmly.

The old monk hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke: "During your seclusion, the Sect Leaders of the Thirty-Six Sects gathered at Celestial Immortal Tower, and the news of their blood alliance was spread!"

"So that happened as well?"

A cold gleam flashed in Ye Qingchen's eyes.

He had long guessed that the Thirty-Six Sects would not sit and wait for death; even joining hands was within his expectations. But in this seclusion, he had not only pushed the Ancient Dragon Elephant Technique to the fifth chapter, he had also stepped into the Celestial Immortal Second Layer, allowing the Dharma Aspect of the Heaven-Repairing Fragment to reach minor completion!

It could be said his strength had multiplied several times over, and more.

Even if they all came together, Ye Qingchen felt no fear.

Of course.

This was thanks to the thousands of years of accumulation in Vajra Temple and this string of Relics. Otherwise, to achieve this, he would have needed at least three years.

"What a pity. This seclusion has drained all the vitality from these hundred or so Relics…" Ye Qingchen flicked his fingers, and the beads in his hand instantly exploded, turning into white light that vanished into the void.

Seeing this, the old monk lowered his head even more in fear.

"And then?"

Ye Qingchen continued asking.

"That I do not know!" The old monk hurriedly bowed his head, speaking cautiously: "After that day's blood alliance, there was no more news from the Thirty-Six Sects! But some reports say they seem to be searching for a divine artifact that can deal with you! And that Li Huo Palace is going to open soon…"

"Is that so?"

Ye Qingchen nodded slightly at these words.

Since the Thirty-Six Sects had sat down together, it proved they had resolved to join forces. No wonder they hadn't marched here in great fanfare!

"What is Li Huo Palace, and what divine artifact are the Thirty-Six Sects searching for?" Ye Qingchen asked casually.

"As for Li Huo Palace, it's said to be a Celestial Immortal Palace; the precise secrets are known only to the Cyan Flame Sect." The old monk, fearful, lowered his head and peeked at Ye Qingchen: "As for what divine artifact the Thirty-Six Sects are seeking, I truly do not know…"

"Enough." Ye Qingchen did not press further on that topic; instead his gaze shifted to the old monk: "What I said to you before—did you remember it?"

"Mr. Ye, I remembered!"

The old monk hurriedly knelt on the ground and swore to the heavens:

"From this day forth, there will be no more Vajra Temple, not even a thousand years from now! If there is the slightest violation, let me fall into Avici Hell and never be reborn!"

"Since that is so, then I shall temporarily leave a single lineage for your Buddhist sect." Only then did Ye Qingchen withdraw his gaze; with hands clasped behind his back, he slowly rose. "If there is any betrayal, I will personally destroy it."

"Many thanks, Mr. Ye!"

At these words, the old monk was torn between sorrow and joy, and he prostrated himself in full body reverence. He grieved that Vajra Temple was utterly no more, yet rejoiced that the Buddhist lineage still remained, preserving the last bloodline!

There would still be hope of rising again in days to come.

He remained kneeling there until the sound completely faded, then finally raised his head, only to find that Ye Qingchen had already left.

"Ye the Demon has emerged from seclusion! And his strength is even greater than before! I wonder if the Thirty-Six Sects can withstand his sweeping onslaught!"

Gazing at the devastated Treasure Pavilion and the vanished figure, the old monk lowered his head deeply. He knew that though Ye Qingchen's seclusion had lasted but seven short days, the grandeur he now exuded would be even more terrifying than before!

...

Vajra Temple!

Before the ruined temple, a youthful figure appeared—refined, scholarly, dressed in wide-sleeved robes.

It was Ye Qingchen.

"What exactly do the Thirty-Six Sects intend to do?"

Hands clasped behind his back, Ye Qingchen was faintly puzzled. But then, a cold smile surfaced on his face, and a killing intent had already risen from within his body.

"No matter what schemes you're plotting, it's time we settled the account for besieging me once and for all!"