226 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

### Chapter 226: At That Time, You Will Become the Buddha Revered Across the Western Regions (4000 Words, Part 1) In the early morning, the dawn light broke through the night clouds, as the eastern sky took on a grayish-white hue, gradually thinning to reveal a strip of pale azure. Leaves knocked down by raindrops lay scattered on the wet earth, as droplets dripped from leaf tips into small puddles, making soft sounds. Distant mountains were still shrouded in a light mist, their outlines unclear, appearing in varying shades of gray. Above the eaves of a dilapidated temple, accumulated water dripped intermittently, creating tiny splashes on the bluish stone steps. The air was filled with the scents of soil and green grass, a coolness wafting gently on the breeze. The temple gates opened as Xiao Mo raised his head to the sky. The clouded sky permitted a touch of pale golden light, slanting onto the damp ground and casting blurred patches of illumination. Inside the temple. Wangxin lifted her gaze, staring at the laughing Maitreya Buddha seated at the center, beside the fierce protector Weituo. Since Xiao Mo had cut down those mountain bandits with one swift stroke the previous night, Wangxin had remained in front of the Buddha statue. The girl's eyes remained clear, though a hint of confusion seemed to flicker within them. Upon seeing the sunlight outside the temple, Han Zi and his family finally came to grips with the events of the previous night. Han Zi glanced at the temple’s stone floor, and if not for the bloodstains, he might have dismissed it all as a mere dream. Even though Xiao Mo had saved his family, Han Zi's feelings toward him were not solely of gratitude; there was a significant amount of fear. The moment Xiao Mo drew his sword, the murderous aura was so intense that Han Zi felt he might be cut down. Moreover, Han Zi sensed Xiao Mo's act of saving them was a mere act of convenience. It seemed the true purpose behind Xia Mo cutting down those bandits wasn’t to rescue them. Their lives seemed less important to Xiao Mo than a single finger of this young nun. Xiao Mo stepped forward, knife in hand, leaving the temple, his steps splashing through shallow puddles. Wangxin retracted her gaze from the Buddha statue and resumed following beside Xiao Mo. “Xiao Gongzi, may we not travel with you?” “Xiao Gongzi, I am willing to pay, and wouldn’t wish to trouble you without reason.” “Xiao Gongzi—” As Han Zi collected himself, he ran forward calling out, hoping to travel together. But Xiao Mo walked on without turning, ignoring the plea. On the path down the mountain, Xiao Mo and Wangxin resumed their earlier state of silent companionship. The girl seemed preoccupied, her head always bowed. Xiao Mo did not concern himself with her. Buddhism is not confined merely to scriptures. Kongnian Temple’s sending her down the mountain to experience life was a journey of self-discovery. If she could resolve her doubts, her understanding of Buddhism would deepen. But if not, it could only mean that perhaps she’d reach her limits. However, after Xiao Mo dispatched those bandits, he did feel something amiss with his body. He had killed far too many people recently. All the 4,563 cultivators at Wangchuan Sect perished by Xiao Mo’s hand, leaving him overwhelmed with blood fiend energy nearing his control limits. Normally, Xiao Mo needed to retreat, suppress the blood fiend energy within, and recuperate. Yet along his journey, Xiao Mo killed numerous cultivators, His blood fiend energy had only grown denser. Those few bandits were like the last straw breaking the camel’s back, pushing the blood fiend energy to the brink of uncontrollability. Xiao Mo thought it fortunate that his mental fortitude wasn't ordinary. Had the Blood Fiend discovered the extent of his slaughter after using Heaven and Earth Void Red, slaying over 4,000 cultivators in a day, only to continue killing in the days following, it would surely dub him mad. Three days later. As Xiao Mo and Wangxin journeyed toward Heilong Sect, They tensed suddenly. Soon, three Nascent Soul cultivators leapt from the woods, encircling Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo required just one swing of his knife; the three cultivators were obliterated, leaving no trace behind. But these attacks were merely precursors. Afterward, more and more cultivators attempted to kill Xiao Mo. Some hid in the woods, arranging formations in his path. Some lay hidden in rivers, waiting to ambush from beneath the surface as Xiao Mo crossed. Some disguised themselves as roadside vendors, attempting to poison Xiao Mo. Others pretended to be lost young women, aiming to seduce Xiao Mo into lowering his guard for a lethal blow. Yet Xiao Mo would grant them no such chance. If Xiao Mo were truly so easily deceived, he’d have been lured into rooms countless times by female disciples of Wanhua Peak. Even Yuyun Wei, to keep their senior brother from those disciples’ clutches, frequently warned Xiao Mo of deceitful tactics, inoculating him against manipulative approaches. Thus, all these cultivators failed, dying under Xiao Mo’s Na Ling knife. Before killing them, Xiao Mo would search their souls. Through their memories, he understood their motivations for trying to kill him. Some belonged to assassin organizations, fulfilling contracts. Xiao Mo couldn’t discover from their memories the identity of the employer, but he could guess: merely prospective successors to Wandao Sect’s Holy Son. Too timid to confront him directly, they resorted to hiring killers. Ordinarily, those Holy Son candidates couldn’t afford Nascent Soul assassins. Their backing elders likely intervened. But this was expected. When selecting ten Holy Son candidates, not only their original masters but also numerous peak lords from Wandao Sect would place their bets. Some wished to back Xiao Mo, but he had Blood Fiend reject all of them. Such investments would require repaying favors, and sharing the spoils later. But once Xiao Mo became sect master, his plan was to wholly reform Wandao Sect. “Nothing remains,” Xiao Mo muttered, decapitating an assassin after soul searching. Upon returning to the sect, he would have Blood Fiend investigate, dealing with the implicated elders and peak lords. But aside from these assassins, others sought vengeance. As Xiao Mo often concealed his cultivation, many attempted to intercept him. Most faced their end at Xiao Mo's hand. Occasionally, Xiao Mo spared a few, crippling their cultivation to return and report to their sect. Xiao Mo anticipated that sects seeking vengeance would serve as a trial. After all, sects couldn’t let errant punishment undermine their credibility. Without defending disciples, what allure would they hold? Amusingly, some sects hadn’t grasped the true identity of the man who killed their disciples. Having misjudged Xia Mo's real cultivation level, deeming him below Longmen realm. Once sect casualties escalated, even Nascent Soul elders failed to return, they realized they had tangled with a formidable foe and played deaf. In addition to those seeking Xiao Mo, several targeted Wangxin. News of Wangxin's departure from Kongnian Temple spread, prompting many demon sects to eliminate her. Rumors circulated about her owning the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart. Not only would her maturation disadvantage demonic paths, but refining elixirs with such a heart greatly aided cultivators in breaking through the Yu Pu realm up to the Immortal realm. However, when facing Xiao Mo armed with his Na Ling knife, regret was too late. If demon sects resided nearby, Xiao Mo even opted for “house calls.” Xiao Mo’s “house calls” were often exterminations. After eradicating a demon sect, Xiao Mo’s blood fiend energy increasingly surged, elevating his cultivation level. As Xiao Mo continued his journey, the corrosive influence of the blood fiend energy grew more severe. Throughout his travels, Xiao Mo had lost count of how many lives he had claimed. "Xiao Mo of Wandao Sect, a Nascent Soul cultivator, slaying those of the Jade Heart realm." "Xiao Mo of Wandao Sect, massacring entire sects." "A madman more insane than the Blood Fiend." Xiao Mo's reputation was growing larger by the day. Gradually, many assassin organizations abandoned their contracts to kill him. Even Jade Heart realm cultivators couldn't defeat Xiao Mo, and fleeing too late meant a swift end under his blade. Hiring those in the Immortal realm was improbable; such cultivators were scarce, and most sect leaders were only at the Jade Heart level. Moreover, if the Blood Fiend were protecting Xiao Mo, even Immortal realm cultivators might falter against his wild blood blade. While journeying to Heilong Sect, Xiao Mo also sought information on other Wandao Sect Holy Son candidates from various intelligence networks across the Western Regions. En route, Xiao Mo eliminated two Holy Son candidates. Three months passed. One morning, as Xiao Mo was circulating his energy for meditation, his eyes snapped open. The ferocious blood energy burst around him. The blood fiend energy condensed around Xiao Mo, enveloping him as if in a blood-red cloak. His crimson eyes shifted wildly between sanity and madness. "Xiao Mo." Having just returned with gathered fruit, Wangxin was startled by Xiao Mo’s appearance, dropping the fruit in her haste to reach him. "Stay back!" Xiao Mo roared at Wangxin. He panted heavily, fists clenched tight. Sweat drenched his hair, and the Na Ling knife by his side, affected by the killing aura, began unsheathing itself, its shiny blade half-exposed! Beneath Xiao Mo’s skin, the black veins coursed with what seemed like red liquid. Seeing his agony, there was no way Wangxin could just stand idly by. Ignoring Xiao Mo’s scolding, Wangxin resolutely stepped forward, sitting before him, clutching his calloused hand tightly. The moment Wangxin touched Xiao Mo, the blood fiend energy pounced onto her, invading her consciousness, spiritual veins, and muscles. "It hurts..." Wangxin bit her lip firmly, feeling her body being sliced from the inside out. But she endured, chanting Buddhist scriptures. Verse by verse, the words flowed from Wangxin’s lips. Around Xiao Mo, the blood fiend energy slowly dissipated, some of it transferred into Wangxin, who used her Buddhanature to neutralize Xiao Mo's malevolent energy. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Mo's blood energy settled, while Wangxin's palm was covered in sweat. Xiao Mo opened his eyes again. "How are you feeling?" Wangxin asked worriedly. "Are you alright?" "I told you not to come over." Xiao Mo replied coldly. "But you were in pain." Wangxin looked down, her expression filled with guilt. "I could handle it myself." Xiao Mo's voice was almost reprimanding. "I... I'm sorry. Please don't be angry," Wangxin pleaded softly, tugging at Xiao Mo’s sleeve. Seeing Wangxin's remorseful eyes, Xiao Mo sighed, shaking his head: "Wangxin, in practicing Buddhism, you must have clarity of mind. For disciples like you, my blood fiend energy is tantamount to a deadly poison. Your cultivation, your inner clarity, could very well be ruined by my energy. Didn't you consider this when you used your body to absorb my blood fiend energy?" "Xiao Mo... I did think about it," Wangxin said earnestly. "But Xiao Mo, I fear more for your safety." "." "Xiao Mo, during this time, you must refrain from killing." Wangxin’s voice was almost imploring, "Your body is nearing its limit. If this continues, you will lose control." "Limit?" Xiao Mo paused, then laughed. "All these years of cultivation, I've lived like this. If I can't overcome this phase, then so be it. Besides, do you think if I refrain from killing, others won't try to kill me?" Releasing Wangxin's soft hand, Xiao Mo said coolly: "In this place, the Western Regions, it's only life and death. I've killed too many cultivators; too many people have set their sights on me, wishing for my end. But I do not regret it. What I must do is continue killing! Kill until no one dares to trouble me again. Kill until everyone shivers at the mention of my name. Kill until everything I say becomes an oracle to them. At that point, only then will they understand—oh, so there are rules in the Western Regions, after all." Calmly facing the girl before him, Xiao Mo said: "You want me not to kill? Then tell me, Wangxin, unless they die, won’t they keep coming for me? Will you help me kill them?" Wangxin: "." Gripping his long knife, Xiao Mo stood and walked step by step out of the cave, his tread crushing the fruit Wangxin had just collected: "Wangxin, stop following me. The demonic influence in me is too strong; I cannot and do not want to turn back." I will become the demon feared by the entire Western Regions. At that time. You will become the Buddha revered across the Western Regions. (End of Chapter)