Chapter 279: Revealing One’s True Colors

“Spiritual Plant Formation, activate!”
Only Old Five could activate the formation—otherwise, Lord Heishan wouldn’t have bothered splitting his focus to control him.
While distracted, he had already taken several hits from Daoist Tongchen.
One by one, the spiritual plants glowed faintly, extending down into their roots. In Daoist Tongchen’s divine sense, the soil and rocks disappeared, replaced by a network of interwoven plant roots—like formation patterns covering the entire mountain.
The protective formation had been purchased by Daoist Tongchen from a chamber of commerce. He didn’t understand formations himself, so he had no idea what the Spiritual Plant Formation actually did.
“How is this formation so incomplete? I gave that traitorous disciple seven years—what the hll was he doing?” Lord Heishan frowned. After seven years, it should’ve been 80-90%, maybe even 100% complete.
Only now did he realize—it was barely 30%.
Old Five muttered inwardly, what else could it be? It was because Old Four forcefully took the formation cores and used them for alchemy.
“Even 30% is better than nothing.”
Once activated, the nearby spiritual energy became murky and difficult to harness. No matter how skilled someone was in the Dao of Talismans, they still needed spiritual energy to draw the runes.
The Spiritual Plant Formation weakened Daoist Tongchen’s talisman arts.
But only slightly—enough to make him just a notch below Lord Heishan and Monk Jingguang. The two still struggled to gain the upper hand.
“These monks in the Tongu World really go wild. How can they still claim to follow Buddha like this?”
Bai Hongtu watched Monk Jingguang, clad in a robe stitched from human faces, wearing a necklace made from child skulls, wielding a Nine-Ring Monk Staff formed from curved human fingers, and chanting sutras that summoned vengeful spirits.
This was the most sinister monk Bai Hongtu had ever seen.
Buddha should be majestic, dignified, and compassionate—never harboring thoughts of taking lives. Those who enter the Buddhist path were supposed to follow that example, cleanse their spiritual minds, and seek enlightenment through the Dharma.
So how could such a twisted monk even exist?
“Because he doesn’t believe in Buddha. He believes in the Arhat of Great Freedom,” Jiang Li explained. Bai Hongtu could only see the scene before him, but Jiang Li, through divine sense, saw far more.
“Arhat of Great Freedom? What kind of bllsht title is that?”
“There are eight Fusion-stage cultivators in the Tongu World. One of them is from the Buddhist Sect, known as the Arhat of Great Freedom. All Buddhist practitioners in this world follow him.”
“This Arhat believes in acting on one’s desires—if you want to kill, then kill; if you want to save, then save. Only through such freedom can the Buddhist mind reach clarity and the spirit be purified.”
“…Alright then.” Bai Hongtu was speechless. Even someone like that could become an Arhat.
He suspected that more people died in a day in the Tongu World than pigs in the Nine Provinces.
“F** it, can’t keep hiding anymore. If I keep hiding, I’ll die here today.” Lord Heishan tore off his clothes, his aura erupting.
Daoist Tongchen braced himself, muttering, “Mid-stage Nascent Soul… Mid-stage perfection… late-stage… peak of Nascent Soul!”
“This your ideal version of realm classifications?” Jiang Li rolled his eyes and displayed Lord Heishan’s stage for Bai Hongtu.
Monk Jingguang looked at Lord Heishan in surprise—he hadn’t expected him to hide his cultivation level.
The reason for hiding it was obvious—to backstab him during the division of Daoist Tongchen’s treasures.
Such ruthless intent!
Monk Jingguang also surged to peak Nascent Soul, drawing Lord Heishan’s attention.
This monk wasn’t honest either.
The two exchanged glances—no awkwardness, only resolve.
Their enemy right now was Daoist Tongchen. There was no point in arguing. Deal with Daoist Tongchen first!
Now that all three were at the same level, Daoist Tongchen struggled and was pushed onto the defensive.
“Huh? The medicinal liquid Yu Feng gave me had other effects?” Daoist Tongchen was startled to discover that the liquid he’d been drinking for three and a half years had not only healed his old wounds, but its residual medicinal power had now been triggered in battle, helping him break through from late-stage to peak Nascent Soul!
“Peak Nascent Soul!” Lord Heishan and Monk Jingguang were stunned. They had just caught up—only to fall behind again.
But peak Nascent Soul was still within the same stage—just closer to the Soul Formation Stage. It wasn’t as big a leap as theirs had been.
“Master, let me help!” Wu Lian tried to step in again, but Yu Feng held her back.
“Senior Sister, there’s no point. Better to destroy the Spiritual Plant Formation.”
Wu Lian asked anxiously, “But I don’t understand formations. I don’t even know where the cores are—how can I destroy it?”
“I do.”
Two simple words—yet filled with confidence.
Wu Lian suddenly felt that Junior Brother had grown up, become reliable. No longer the little boy who clung to her for protection.
“My little boyfriend’s grown into a big boyfriend,” she muttered softly, chuckling to herself.
The two split up. Wu Lian followed Yu Feng’s directions and pulled out the formation cores.
Lord Heishan wanted to use Old Five to stop them, but after activating the formation, Old Five’s soul had vanished. He was truly dead.
“Well done!” Daoist Tongchen was overjoyed. He felt his talismans returning to full strength—and with the boost from his peak-level breakthrough, they were more powerful than ever.
This spelled trouble for Lord Heishan and Monk Jingguang. Gritting their teeth, they used the trump cards they had originally prepared to betray each other—now all thrown at Daoist Tongchen.
Daoist Tongchen hadn’t expected them to have so many hidden moves and had no choice but to fight like a man with nothing to lose.
After a bloody battle, he achieved a hard-fought victory—barely standing, swaying on his feet.
Lord Heishan and Monk Jingguang were utterly obliterated—not even bones remained.
Daoist Tongchen staggered over to Wu Lian and Yu Feng, gasping for air, his aura chaotic.
“Master, are you okay?” Wu Lian stepped up to support him.
Daoist Tongchen gave a bitter smile. “Okay? How could I be okay? I’m completely wrecked.”
“My old wounds had just healed—and now this battle has reopened them.”
Wu Lian quickly comforted him, “Junior Brother is amazing—he can make medicine…”
Daoist Tongchen shook his head. “No need for that trouble. If I break through to Soul Formation, the wounds will heal on their own.”
“Soul Formation? But Master, you’re still injured. How could you possibly reach Soul Formation?”
“Who says I can’t? Don’t I still have you?”
Wu Lian froze. Her hands unconsciously let go of Daoist Tongchen’s arm. A wave of unknown terror rose in her heart.
“Master, what… do you mean?”
“You have an Innate Constitution. If I refine you into a Human Pill, I can ascend in one leap—break through to the Soul Formation Stage!”
Daoist Tongchen revealed a greedy smile. “It’s been too long—I’ve waited far too long for this moment. I should really thank Yu Feng. His medicinal liquid not only healed me but helped me break through to peak Nascent Soul.”
Wu Lian turned and ran.
“Junior Brother, run too!”
Daoist Tongchen sneered. “Run? Do you think you can?”
Yu Feng’s expression turned cold. He pulled Wu Lian behind him. “Sister Wu Lian, no need to run.”
Yu Feng gave a chilling smile. “Master, next time, maybe learn how to set up a formation.”
He stepped forward. Hidden deep within the mountain, a formation quietly activated—like an ancient beast awakening, shaking the heavens and the earth.
Daoist Tongchen’s blood ran cold.