Chapter 979: Buddhism’s Most Wanted Criminal

A short while later.

Immortal Realm.

Fuliu Palace.

Ji Fan, having returned from Immortal Lord Tai Hao's place, walked with a heavy expression into a secret chamber heavily guarded by Restrictions and shielded from heavenly secrets.

In the center of the secret chamber, a young monk in Buddhist robes sat cross-legged on a lotus cushion, looking solemn and dignified.

His eyes were lowered and his expression was serene. He emitted a faint aura of compassionate Buddhist intent. Behind his head, thirty-six layers of light halos overlapped like illusory bubbles, as if countless profound truths were flickering in and out of existence within them.

Pure and untainted, exceptionally wise—he was clearly a powerful Buddha who had condensed a Miaodao Dharma Body.

As Ji Fan stepped into the room, the young monk, who had been in meditative dhyana with closed eyes, opened them. His gaze seemed to hold surging galaxies, clear and ethereal, making it impossible to look at him directly.

"Amitabha. This poor monk observes that the Benefactor's mind is in turmoil and his spirit is unsettled. Has some change occurred in the outside world?"

Ji Fan let out a soft sigh. After hesitating for a moment, he solemnly revealed the news that "Immortal Lord Tai Hao" was about to be enthroned as the Immortal Emperor, finally adding:

"Since his Breakthrough to the Daluo Realm, Xuanyuan Hao's personality has changed drastically. Although he appears the same as before on the surface, he has become ruthless and bloodthirsty in secret."

"His subordinates follow his example, framing the innocent and eliminating dissidents whenever they have the chance. If such a sinister and tyrannical person becomes the Immortal Emperor, I fear it will not be a blessing for all living beings…"

After listening to Ji Fan's narration, the young monk's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly:

"Although the Benefactor was born with a demon body, you have always maintained a heart of mercy and compassion. This is truly commendable."

Saying this, the young monk rose from the cushion and bowed to Ji Fan with palms pressed together:

"From the moment the Benefactor risked everything to take in this poor monk, I knew you had not forgotten Chief Helmsman Chen's teachings. If there is a need, I am willing to lend the Benefactor a helping hand."

Hearing this, Ji Fan showed a moved expression and bowed deeply to the other:

"Thank you, Great Master Kong Ding."

The young monk in the secret chamber was none other than the culprit who had recently incited a great tribulation on Spirit Mountain, the man who was now Buddhism's most wanted criminal, Namo Guangde Buddha, dharma name… Kong Ding.

In the face of Ji Fan's thanks, Kong Ding's expression remained calm as he analyzed in a low voice:

"Tai Hao is the Reincarnation of the Chaos Heavenly Demon Rahu. The reason he did not commit evil before was merely because his demonic nature was suppressed by certain things. Now that his demonic nature has undergone an Awakening, it will only become more intense, bringing chaos to the world."

"More importantly, Tai Hao's momentum is now established. In terms of authority, he far exceeds the previous Immortal Emperor… Furthermore, he is currently favored by Calamity Luck and is completely unrestrained; he is at his absolute peak…"

Speaking to this point, he took a deep breath and suddenly said to Kong Ding:

"Do you know why this poor monk openly resisted the Buddha Lord in the Spirit Mountain Pure Land, not hesitating to incite a great Buddhist war that turned the beautiful Spirit Mountain Pure Land into a river of blood and severely depleted its Origin Qi?"

Hearing this, Ji Fan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly held his breath and looked at Kong Ding, waiting for him to continue.

In fact, he was also very curious. As the dignified Namo Guangde Buddha, Kong Ding was considered below only the Buddha Lord and above all other Buddhas; he was even a strong contender to be the next Buddha Lord.

Such a being had personally incited a massive rebellion, turning the vast Buddhist sect upside down. After his failure, he was wanted by the Buddhist sect and was personally declared an 'enemy of the buddha' by the Buddha Lord, becoming like a rat crossing the street.

Even the Immortal Court had issued a massive bounty specifically for him.

If Ji Fan hadn't lent a hand for the sake of their past friendship, this Namo Guangde Buddha would likely have fallen long ago under the encirclement and suppression…

While Ji Fan's thoughts were racing, Kong Ding's gaze narrowed, and his expression became more serious than ever before:

"The reason this poor monk risked the condemnation of the world and did not hesitate to trigger a rebellion affecting the entire Buddhist sect was nothing more than a desire to… take a gamble. Unfortunately, I still underestimated the Mastermind's layout and lost everything."

"Mastermind?"

Ji Fan's whole body shook, and he blurted out involuntarily:

"The Mastermind you mentioned… it couldn't be Tai Hao, could it?"

"To tell you the truth, the Buddha Lord in the Great Thunder Sound Temple on Spirit Mountain… is a fake!"

Kong Ding nodded and said gloomily:

"His true identity is actually Tai Hao's top general, the Devil Head Papiyas, who also originates as a Chaos Demon God!"

"In other words, the entire Buddhist sect is being ruled by an utterly evil existence. After accidentally discovering this secret, this poor monk decided to take advantage of Tai Hao's secluded cultivation to make a stand, at least to reveal Papiyas's true face to the world and secure a glimmer of hope for the Buddhist sect…"

"I didn't expect to underestimate the opponent's strength. Papiyas didn't even need the Immortal Court to act; he simply invited the army under the Ghost Emperor from the Northern Nether Ghost Prison and easily suppressed my resistance."

"It was only then that this poor monk learned that the so-called Ghost Emperor is also Tai Hao's Puppet, and the one impersonating the Ghost Emperor is none other than Tai Hao's other subordinate, Mara!"

Hearing this, Ji Fan was horrified, hardly able to believe his ears.

Not just the Immortal Court, but even the Buddha Lord of the Buddhist sect and the Ghost Emperor of the Ghost Prison… were all Puppets disguised by Chaos Demon Gods under Tai Hao's command!

Didn't this mean that the current Immortal Realm was no longer a paradise for Cultivators, but a purgatory overrun by Demon Gods?

Thinking of this, Ji Fan felt his scalp tingle and a chill run through his entire body.

No wonder Kong Ding advised him not to act rashly. With the opponent's strength at such a level, his own insignificant methods to stop the other's enthronement would be like a mantis trying to stop a carriage; he would be crushed to pieces in an instant.

Faced with such an absolute gap in strength, 'dying together' was just a false proposition. Most likely, the jade would shatter while the stone remained perfectly fine—in other words, it would be a pointless sacrifice.

Although he didn't care for Tai Hao's actions, he wasn't willing to throw his life away for nothing…

After hearing this shocking secret from Kong Ding, Ji Fan walked out of the secret chamber drenched in sweat, intending to think carefully about where he should go from here.

Before he could calm his emotions, the jade pendant hanging from his waist began to flash and glow.

What's going on?

Ji Fan frowned, but he still picked up the jade pendant and activated it.

Soon, a respectful voice sounded from the jade pendant:

"Reporting to the Old Ancestor, there is a newly ascended True Immortal named Qi Da outside the estate asking for an audience. He says he is an old acquaintance of yours and hopes to catch up with you in person…"

"Qi Da?"

"Old acquaintance?"

Ji Fan was slightly stunned; he really had no impression of this name.

Moreover, he had been ascended for millions of years. Even if his so-called old friends from the Lower Realm could break through to the Mahayana Realm, they should have died of old age long ago. How could there be a Cultivator who only achieved Immortal Ascension after millions of years?

Thinking of this, Ji Fan assumed it was some Immortal trying to claim a connection. Coupled with his current heavy mood, he gave an impatient order:

"This Immortal Lord does not know this person. I will not see him!"

Before he could hang up, a familiar male voice came from the other side of the jade pendant:

"Ji Fan, you kid became an Immortal Lord and now you don't even recognize your big brother?"

Hearing this voice, Ji Fan was instantly struck as if by lightning. He was completely stunned, frozen in place like a statue.

On the other side.

"Fine, so you're just a fraud…"

The Ji Clan members guarding the Immortal Lords Estate changed their expressions as soon as they heard their Old Ancestor didn't know this guy. Just as they were about to drive this uninvited guest away, their Old Ancestor's voice, trembling with excitement, reached their ears:

"Ben… Benefactor? You're actually still alive?!"