Chapter 399: I feel like you're insulting me

"How did you know?" Pudu Cihang asked, astonished. Just what were these humans? How did they know everything? Previously, his divine concealment had been seen through, and now, the iron tree outside had also been exposed.

Old Master Xu replied, "It's recorded in ancient books."

"Hahaha…" Pudu Cihang's laughter was sharp. "I never thought my name would be passed down through the ages. What can those bald donkeys do by suppressing me? They've long since vanished into thin air. No one remembers who they were, but my prestigious name is known to everyone. With a centipede as my true form, cultivating to become a dragon, who wouldn't worship me?"

He was incredibly smug, his mood greatly improved.

Old Master Xu poured cold water on his arrogance. "Your name hasn't been passed down. The meaning of the iron tree blooming is precisely to suppress demons and monsters like you."

"Hmm?"

As expected, when Old Master Xu said these words, Pudu Cihang's expression changed drastically. A sinister aura filled the main hall. He was originally a great centipede demon, extremely malevolent. He had once been the national preceptor of a dynasty, possessing immense power, capable of turning the world upside down. He devoured the dynasty's dragon vein to cultivate himself, aiming to transform into a dragon. However, there were countless self-proclaimed righteous individuals in the world.

Because of an insignificant mortal, he was ultimately besieged and killed by the Sloppy Sword Immortal.

Having devoured the dragon vein, his power was far beyond what ordinary people could handle.

But the situation that day was quite unfavorable. During a solar eclipse, while he was fully transforming into a dragon, his power drastically decreased to less than ten percent of its usual strength. Ultimately, his physical body was destroyed, and his primordial spirit fled in all directions. Later, he encountered a centipede with a Buddha nature. Without saying anything, he directly possessed it.

Although that centipede had Buddha nature protecting it, he, Pudu Cihang, was a flying centipede who had already swallowed a dragon vein. His primordial spirit was extremely powerful, and the possession was very easy.

Finally… he cultivated diligently in this temple for nearly a hundred years before fully recovering his strength.

Just as he was preparing to wreak havoc again, a senior monk in the temple discovered his evil nature and joined forces with others to suppress him. He thought he would completely perish, but he didn't expect these bald donkeys to be so stupid. Seeing that he possessed a trace of Buddha nature, they didn't completely destroy him but instead suppressed him here to cleanse the evil in his heart.

After an unknown number of years, he felt the power of the seal gradually weaken and broke free. He discovered the temple was empty, with only him remaining.

Learning from his previous lessons, he kept a low profile this time and didn't act recklessly. Since everyone in the world believed in Buddhism, he would specialize in Buddhist practices, condense a false body, and deceive the world outside.

Centipedes weren't very intelligent; they could only memorize by rote without understanding the meaning.

But as long as he spoke with Buddhist principles, he could deceive the world.

At this moment, Ginseng spoke seriously, "I seem to have heard that the natural enemy of centipedes is chickens, hens. You go on, finish this guy off."

One-Eyed Man said, "That seems reasonable."

Old Master Xu added, "In terms of natural enemies, chickens do indeed restrain centipedes. This is an innate suppression, unrelated to strength. Perhaps the hen can really do it."

The Evil Chicken, ridden by Ginseng, heard these words and its chicken eyes widened, cursing inwardly.

Are you guys even human?

You really think too highly of me.

The Evil Chicken pondered. As a hero among evil creatures, he had to have courage and couldn't lose face. But he knew that as soon as he stood in front of this guy, he would definitely be swallowed without a trace left.

However, Lin Fan was in front of him.

If he encountered danger, Lin Fan would definitely not stand idly by.

Cluck!

The Evil Chicken held its head high, standing proudly in front of Pudu Cihang as if challenging him. Scum, kneel before your chicken grandpa.

"Namo Amitabha. All benefactors, your hostility is too heavy, and the turbid air pollutes your minds. The Tathagata Buddha is here. Why don't you quickly kneel and worship?"

Pudu Cihang put his palms together, and golden light bloomed. Then, a bronze-like Tathagata Buddha appeared. The surrounding clouds were dark, without the golden radiance, but more of Pudu Cihang's inner darkness transformed into an evil light that shone in all directions.

"He's pretty good at this," One-Eyed Man said, dumbfounded.

He had never imagined someone would dare to conjure such a Tathagata image.

To be honest, even if no one cared, he felt panicked, as if he were blaspheming some supreme being.

"I'm not afraid of you."

The Evil Chicken's legs trembled. Who the hell said anything about species suppression? Open your dog eyes and look carefully. The form he's showing isn't a human form, it's this high-end Tathagata image. He's never shown his true centipede form, okay?

Old Sword God Baiyun and the others' perception of the Evil Chicken changed drastically.

Really impressive.

As we thought, how many of the evil creatures that can stay by Lin Fan's side are simple?

When they faced Pudu Cihang, they felt immense pressure, a suppression from his power. Even without fighting, they could clearly understand the huge gap between them.

But look at this Evil Chicken in front of them; it was truly domineering.

It could face such a terrifying enemy without fear, which was enough to show that following Lin Fan was a very important thing.

Pudu Cihang, who had transformed into the Tathagata image, exuded an extremely powerful oppressive aura. His voice was resonant, as if he had a built-in speaker, with a strong stereo effect, like a group of people surrounding you, chattering incessantly.

"The world is blinded by turbidity. Today, the Tathagata has descended. Why don't you all quickly convert to Buddhism?"

"Lay down the butcher knife and become a Buddha on the spot."

The Buddhist chants reverberated, and the deadly Sanskrit chants erupted. If Lin Fan weren't here, they would all have perished here.

Suddenly, a strange situation arose.

A powerful aura swept in from a distant direction and slammed onto Pudu Cihang.

With a cry of pain, Pudu Cihang screamed, the Tathagata image retreated into the darkness, and he reverted to his human form. As if severely injured, he vomited blood and was on the verge of death.

"Lin Fan, you've become stronger again. How did you do that just now?" One-Eyed Man asked in astonishment.

He hadn't even seen Lin Fan make a move, and Pudu Cihang was already severely injured.

Not only One-Eyed Man, but Old Master Xu and the others were also the same, looking bewildered, indicating that they were completely baffled by Lin Fan and didn't know what had happened.

If it wasn't Lin Fan, then who else could have done this?

They could handle some ordinary Starry Sky Clan experts with ease, but Pudu Cihang's strength was obvious for all to see. He was truly powerful, not someone they could deal with.

The Evil Chicken held its head high, looking very proud.

See? This is the confidence of this heroic evil creature. If you dare to touch me, this magnificent human by my side will teach you a lesson and beat you silly… hmm… can "silly" be used to describe this situation?

Lin Fan said, "I didn't do anything to him."

Everyone looked at Lin Fan in confusion.

"You didn't do it?"

They didn't quite believe him. If it wasn't Lin Fan, then who else could have done it?

Lin Fan said, "Yes, it really wasn't me. I didn't do anything just now. But I could feel that the aura just now was very strong, much stronger than him, just like the expert I encountered some time ago. They're both very strong."

"What's going on? What's going on here?"

The severely injured Pudu Cihang wailed, filled with fear and anxiety. The feeling just now was too terrifying; he felt like he was close to death.

Suddenly, the void cracked open, and a giant golden hand reached out from the void, grabbing at the heavily injured Pudu Cihang.

"No…"

Pudu Cihang's face was filled with despair. He had just emerged from his seal not long ago and encountered this situation. He was truly unwilling. Just which big shot disliked him and wanted to deal with him?

Lin Fan intercepted the golden giant hand. "Who are you?"

His eyes glittered. He'd been lucky recently, frequently encountering strong opponents, satisfying his desire to spar with powerful individuals.

"A demonic fiend masquerading as the Tathagata's Dharma Body, utterly disrespectful!"

The voice emanating from the void was more domineering than Puti Cihang's, inspiring a dread that resonated deep within one's soul.

Hearing these words, Puti Cihang's face paled. He prostrated himself on the ground, wailing, "Spare me, spare me! My true form is but a humble centipede. By a stroke of luck, I gained enlightenment in the Buddhist Dharma. This Tathagata Dharma Body is a recent accomplishment, the first time I've manifested it!"

"Hmph, such arrogance! With foul energy permeating your entire being, you dare claim to have cultivated the Tathagata Dharma Form? I shall extinguish your existence, so you may learn the meaning of reverence!"

As soon as the words fell, the opponent launched a deadly attack, clearly intending to end Puti Cihang's life.

But Lin Fan blocked it again.

"Who are you? Why do you interfere with my affairs?"

Lin Fan replied, "Who are you?"

"Hmph, I follow in the footsteps of the ancient Tathagata, inheriting his methods and cultivating the Golden Body of Zhangliu. I am known as Little Tathagata." The voice echoed from the void, seemingly oblivious to any impropriety in his self-proclaimed title.

As if being called Little Tathagata was the highest honor.

One-Eyed Man and the others exchanged glances, recognizing a serious problem. Initially, they had assumed their opponent was just another powerful being from a major interstellar race. But after hearing him announce his name, they realized that figures from their ancient myths might actually exist.

According to their mythological novels, there were many Tathagatas. The Great Sun Tathagata was Lu Ya after converting to Buddhism, and the Prabhutaratna Tathagata was the Daoist Duobao.

But these were just stories. Verifying their authenticity was impossible.

Gradually, One-Eyed Man and the others began to suspect they were losing their minds. Novels were novels; how could they be taken as fact?

Yet, the current situation presented another serious problem. Puti Cihang merely manifested the Tathagata Dharma Body and claimed to be the Tathagata, and this being sensed it. This suggested two possibilities: either mentioning the name alerted him, or there was something wrong with the cultivation technique itself.

Lin Fan said, "I'd like to meet you and spar with you."

Little Tathagata was clearly taken aback. No one had ever spoken to him like this.

Spar? You're worthy?

"Everyone wishes to be close to the Buddha, but the Buddha resides within your hearts. Benefactor, speaking of sparring with the Buddha is disrespectful. I hope you will realize your mistake and not stray from the righteous path." Little Tathagata's words were laced with Buddhist intonations, but upon closer inspection, a clear killing intent could be discerned.

To him, Lin Fan was an ant. An ant challenging him was an utter humiliation.

"It's rude to speak without showing yourself. Come out!"

Lin Fan grabbed the golden giant hand's finger and pulled sharply. His intention was simple: to drag the opponent out and have a proper chat.

In the distant reaches of space, Little Tathagata sat serenely in his grand hall. Auspicious clouds floated around him, bathed in radiant Buddha light. Celestial stars revolved around this realm, and countless Buddhas cultivated beneath his seat.

He had opened a void passage, traversing boundless space and time, to suppress Puti Cihang with absolute power.

But what truly irked him was this strange, inexplicably arrogant fellow.

Suddenly, Little Tathagata shifted slightly. This simple movement caused a great commotion. The countless cultivating Buddhas looked at him in surprise, wondering who could have caused such a reaction. Even the surrounding stars trembled.

"Hmm?"

Little Tathagata felt an immense force pulling at his body. His Buddha eyes widened in anger, and a beam of Buddha light transformed into myriad mantras, slashing through the void.

He sat within his miniature Pure Land, Buddha light enveloping countless celestial stars. No one, regardless of their power, should be able to shake his true body. Yet, the current situation defied his understanding.

"Who is it…?"

He assumed a being of equal power was secretly intervening.

As the force intensified, he had no choice.

"I shall return shortly."

He couldn't let them see he was being forcibly dragged away. He had to maintain the appearance of going willingly. This was a matter of face.

"Respectfully send off our Buddha."

The Buddhas and Arhats bowed in reverence. Their Buddha, personally taking action, must mean some demon had appeared in the depths of the starry sky. Their Buddha would go and convert them, and soon, their ranks would swell with another true powerhouse.

This was their usual experience.

At Mount Putuo, golden light illuminated all things.

Little Tathagata's Dharma Body was truly impressive. Regardless of others' cultivation, his presentation was impeccable. The first impression he gave was that of an extraordinary being.

The heavily injured Puti Cihang, upon seeing Little Tathagata's true form, gazed at him with adoration. His greatest aspiration was to reach such a level.

Protected by Buddha light, every movement exuded profound mysteries.

"Hello," Lin Fan greeted with a smile.

He was the only one present who remained calm.

One-Eyed Man and the others were utterly stunned. This was the very image, the mythical being, with a head full of buns, radiating a peaceful golden light.

"Who are you, Benefactor?" Little Tathagata composed himself and asked calmly.

Lin Fan replied, "My name is Lin Fan, an ordinary person who enjoys cultivation. I like to spar with strong individuals, and you are a strong individual. I'm very interested in you."

"Does the Benefactor know who I am?" Little Tathagata inquired.

Lin Fan shook his head. "I don't. But you can introduce yourself. Once you do, I won't forget, because you are strong, and I have a particularly good memory for strong individuals."

These words were harmless enough. But for some, they were rather hurtful.

For example… Heng Jianqiu. He felt particularly wounded. Why be so blunt? Didn't he know his behavior was excessive? They were acquaintances, yet he had been forgotten, implying his strength was too weak to be noticed.

Little Tathagata maintained his composure, suppressing his anger. The fact that this person had pulled him through a void crack was already preposterous.

One-Eyed Man whispered in Lin Fan's ear, "He's called Little Tathagata."

"Oh, I really didn't catch that earlier." Lin Fan reacted, recalling their previous exchange. The other party had indeed mentioned his name.

"You're called Little Tathagata. I'll remember that."

Hearing this, Little Tathagata felt his head about to explode. The lack of respect was a clear humiliation.

"Little Tathagata or whatever, just one of the followers, someone who gained a bit of inheritance and started cultivating." Ginseng Man, living up to his elder brother status, began to let loose after confirming his current master's strength. Little Tathagata was undeniably strong, a top-tier existence anywhere. But based on Ginseng's assessment, he still felt Lin Fan was superior.

Little Tathagata found these words incredibly grating, filled with an unspeakable anger. Who dared to be so arrogant, to disregard him so completely?

When his gaze landed on Ginseng Man, his normally stable Buddha heart stirred violently.

"A ginseng spirit." Little Tathagata had traversed the starry sky and encountered countless treasures. But even the most precious treasures were merely inanimate objects. A living, nourishing treasure like this was a rare sight, and judging by its appearance, its cultivation was profound. It would be considered extremely valuable even among the celestial stars.

He wanted it. Little Tathagata truly desired it.

Should he just take it by force? The thought crossed his mind.

"Your gaze is filled with naked greed." Ginseng Man saw through Little Tathagata's thoughts at a glance. Riding the Evil Rooster, he moved closer to Lin Fan.

"I, Ginseng Man, am a treasure through and through. Anyone who sees me will be greedy, but I fear nothing. This is my master. Please restrain your covetous gaze, or the consequences will be dire."

"Master!"

Lin Fan smiled. "I will protect you."

Ginseng Man nodded frantically. "I knew it."

At this moment, a powerful aura approached from afar.

"It's him."

Little Tathagata sensed the aura. His expression remained unchanged, but he felt a surge of displeasure.

A golden dragon flew from the distance, transforming into a human form in the blink of an eye.

"What's all the commotion? Mind if I take a look?" The Dragon God appeared in the room, smiling. "Little Tathagata, what are you doing here instead of in your miniature Pure Land?"

Little Tathagata cursed inwardly. Did he want to be here? He was dragged here! Who knew this guy's strength was so terrifying, able to yank him from his Pure Land with a single grip.

"Long time no see," Lin Fan waved, genuinely pleased to see the Dragon God.

The Dragon God replied, "It hasn't been that long."

Lin Fan smiled. "I pulled him here. I realized he's quite strong and wanted to spar with him. I didn't expect you to show up too."

Hearing this, the Dragon God felt a pang of displeasure.

Spar? He wouldn't spar with him in the starry sky, but he'd spar with this baldy? Was that really necessary? It felt like a subtle insult.