Chapter 90: Chapter 79: Buddha's Light, The Holy Child
"Master, please accept us!" the white-haired elder and the others said respectfully.
"I am merely of a medium-grade spiritual root. Do you really think I am capable of becoming the true successor?" Yang Ji looked at the crowd indifferently, suddenly asking in return.
The white-haired elder and the others exchanged glances, and said, "Master, with your unparalleled insight, it's only a matter of time before you become the true successor."
"It is an honor and a stroke of luck for us to undertake a task with a genius like the Master. We are aware of our inferior talents, and if it were any other time, we would definitely not have the courage to express our desire to follow the Master."
"We know this is the only chance to get close to the Master. If we miss it, the Master and us will be as distant as the stars in the sky and stones on the earth, never to intersect."
"Therefore, we muster our courage, hoping to seize this one opportunity. We implore the Master to show mercy and accept us."
All of them bowed their heads deeply, paying their respects.
Yang Ji looked at them indifferently. Seeing no unusual information appear above their heads, he paused for three breaths before speaking in a contemplative tone:
"Through all these years of cultivation, this is indeed the first time I've encountered people who wish to follow me. Well then, I will ask you, do you truly wish to follow me?"
"Our lives were saved by the Master. We swear to follow the Master to the death, without any second thoughts," the white-haired elder and others stated firmly.
"Perhaps this is a preordained fate. Since you all have this intention, then on the road to longevity, we shall support each other!" Yang Ji looked at the people and said so.
"Thank you, Master. We are willing to toil like dogs and horses for the Master," the white-haired elder and the others exchanged glances, their faces filled with joy as they bowed deeply once again.
Yang Ji nodded, readily accepting them.
Times were different now; as one's strength grew, one had to learn to adapt to the halo and benefits that came with being a "genius." Yang Ji would not feign modesty to avoid it.
This was the confidence of the strong, and it was also his duty to live up to the title "Master."
"Alright, rise," Yang Ji said indifferently.
"Thank you, Master," the crowd slowly stood up straight.
At this moment, the white-haired elder said, "Master, the Lord of Baxuan City is dead. How shall we deal with the evil Minor Holy Medicine that they have cultivated?"
"It has disappeared," the warrior-dressed girl suddenly said.
"Disappeared?" The crowd looked at the altar and discovered that there was nothing left upon it.
The warrior-dressed girl slowly floated up, her eyes emitting two divine beams that swept every corner of the secret chamber.
Yang Ji was also moving around the secret chamber, his eyes bright and intent, looking around to locate the traces of the Demon Mushroom.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a sharp sound of cutting through the air arose.
The crowd turned their heads, only to see a palm-sized shadow darting from under a piece of torn cloth and fleeing at high speed, its velocity matching that of an average Golden Core Realm.
"Thinking of escaping? It won't be that easy!"
With a few swift movements, Yang Ji left a trail of afterimages, eerily appearing at the entrance to the secret chamber, blocking the runaway shadow.
The shadow was indeed the Demon Mushroom. Seeing its path blocked, a child's face full of fear appeared on its cap.
Facing Yang Ji, its expression was filled with indescribable terror. Its stem morphed into legs, and it immediately started running away again.
Whoo!
Its speed was so fast that one could barely see a black line, it seemed that in a bid to save its life, it was giving its all.
"Where do you think you're going? Come here obediently!"
Yang Ji extended one hand, his True Qi transformed into a giant hand, reaching for the Demon Mushroom.
The Demon Mushroom let out a whining sound, fleeing while occasionally glancing back, its eyes surprisingly showing a plea for mercy, revealing cunning during its terror, almost human-like.
It moved with a swaying motion, as if drifting, perfectly dodging the palm made of True Qi that Yang Ji had extended.
"Hm? This fellow knows body techniques?" Yang Ji said, slightly surprised, and then the Sword Domain burst forth, countless swords formed from air charging forward, trapping the Demon Mushroom within.
The Demon Mushroom felt the endless Sword Intent and its very soul shattered.
It wanted to escape, but a powerful Sword Intent had already enveloped it, the Flying Swords in the air pressuring it from all sides, its legs twisted in place making intricate patterns, yet it dared not break through even a step forward.
One should know, this terrifying Sword Intent was even capable of killing the Dao Child of the Demon Sect, a scene it had personally witnessed.
Fear came as expected, the Sword Domain quickly shrank, thoroughly trapping it.
Yang Ji timely extended his hand made of True Qi and captured it.
The mushroom, knowing it could not escape, stopped struggling and its body shrank slightly, its eyes showing deep pity.
"This Demon Mushroom possesses strong spiritual wisdom," the white-haired elder said, approaching with surprise.
"Minor Holy Medicines can communicate with people through thoughts, naturally, they have spiritual wisdom," the young girl dressed in a tight outfit said, not surprised.
"Although this Yin-natured Minor Holy Medicine is a bit evil, it's excellent material for refining the Yin Eclipse Pill, which is a great Medicine Pill for advancing cultivation. If our esteemed master refines it into a Medicine Pill and consumes it, his cultivation will surely improve significantly," the white-haired elder said.
"Your granddaddy, you're the evil one, your great granddaddy, you're the excellent material for refining the 'Yin Eclipse Pill,'" the Demon Mushroom suddenly spouted, leaving everyone stunned for a moment, "It can talk, is it a Divine Medicine with spiritual wisdom?"
"No, it's not a Divine Medicine," Yang Ji looked closely, it was indeed a Minor Holy Medicine, and as it spoke, he saw the words [Absorbed countless fragments of cultivator souls to birth an extremely strong spiritual wisdom.] at the top of its head.
"Looks like the Blood Refining Grand Array not only refined the blood essence of cultivators but also their soul wisdom, hence creating its extremely strong spiritual wisdom," Yang Ji said indifferently.
"No wonder, how could a Minor Holy Medicine talk? With such spiritual wisdom and Yin nature, refining it into a Medicine Pill would surely yield even better effects," the white-haired elder suddenly said, his eyes lighting up.
"You old crock, look closely, I am not a Yin-natured Minor Holy Medicine, nor an evil Minor Holy Medicine. Amitabha, Buddha's mercy!"
The resentful look in the Demon Mushroom's eyes instantly became serene, resembling an old monk in meditation, without a ripple, its demeanor changing profoundly.
Golden Buddhist light began to emanate from the top of its head, mysterious and yet exuding simplicity and majesty, dignified and solemn.
At this moment, there was not a trace of "demon" about the Demon Mushroom, as it transformed into a tiny child surrounded by Buddha's light.
Its fierceness had disappeared, replaced by smooth and lovely features, bright eyes and white teeth, its whole body enveloped in sacred light, supremely holy.
At this instant, the creature had lost all semblance of a demon. Its otherworldly aura surpassed everyone present.
It gently brought its hands together, enveloped in Buddha's light, showing a gentle smile, and addressed Yang Ji and the others, "Greetings to all benefactors."
That calm demeanor, that dignified air, it was as if it were indeed a Buddha who had attained realization.
"Incredible, this guy can even transform and use illusions to deceive us," the white-haired elder and others were amazed, clucking their tongues in wonder.
Only Yang Ji, witnessing this scene, had his pupils shrink; atop the transformed youth's head, he saw the words [Buddhist Scriptures], this was clearly not any illusion, but indeed the Buddhist Scriptures.
"Could it be that the Blood Refining Grand Array not only refined cultivators' blood and soul wisdom but also unwittingly allowed it to cultivate others' cultivation techniques? This Demon Mushroom has such a tremendous fortune," Yang Ji thought to himself in amazement.