Chapter 281: Settling Karma

"Aren't you going to slaughter them all?"

Jiang Licheng raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise and disappointment in his eyes as he noticed Li Hao's hesitation.

Li Hao shook his head slightly, excluding those with exceptional strength who might act malevolently under the Buddha's command. There was no point in killing these ordinary disciples with their meager cultivation levels.

The Buddhist sect had stood for two millennia, and it was impossible to eradicate them all, especially since there were countless Buddhist disciples beyond the bounds of Wuliang Mountain in the Ten Continents.

How could one even speak of killing them all?

If he recalled correctly, the elderly woman from the Shenjiang Mansion was also a Buddhist believer who ate vegetarian meals.

Li Hao had come to slaughter the Buddha, but he was targeting the embodiment of the Buddha—the Buddha who had fallen into demonic ways. He was not here to destroy the Buddha in people's hearts.

After all, for many suffering people, the "Buddha" was a source of faith and solace, providing peace and tranquility to their troubled minds. How could one slaughter that?

"You're still too soft-hearted."

Jiang Licheng perceived the kindness in Li Hao's heart and shook his head. "However, slaughtering these pig- and dog-like mortals is also meaningless. The weak do not deserve to drink from the sword."

Li Hao glanced at him. This prince always spoke in a startling manner, and it was no wonder he had been imprisoned.

"You might find life much smoother if you spoke less," Li Hao said.

"Some speak little but do much," Jiang Licheng replied. "I'm just speaking the truth. The common folk are mere stepping stones for the powerful, whether they live or die makes no difference."

Li Hao shook his head slightly, not bothering to argue. Instead, he looked toward a certain direction and, with a flicker of his figure, disappeared in an instant.

Outside the mountain peaks, a sea of people surged.

Numerous disciples, having discarded their monk robes, fled like swarming ants along the mountain paths beneath the peaks, escaping beyond the Pure Land of Brahma.

Meanwhile, those who had cultivated to the fifteen-li realm took to the skies and fled at full speed.

Li Qianfeng, clad in coarse clothing, was among the fleeing crowd. He smeared mud on his face, making himself look dirty as if he had just tumbled down the mountainside.

He had forsaken the guards of the Shenjiang Mansion, keeping only the old monk by his side. The two of them drew little attention in the crowd.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a figure appeared as if by teleportation, blocking the path of the fleeing crowd.

The overwhelming might sent the fleeing people tumbling, and they all turned toward the young man, their faces filled with fear.

Some hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, begging for mercy.

As a large group of people knelt, Li Qianfeng's expression turned ugly, but he obediently followed suit and knelt as well.

Thinking of how he, the young master of the Shenjiang Mansion and a personal disciple of the Buddha, had to endure such humiliation, he felt a surge of anger. However, he dared not show it and could only recall the words of his elders: "A man must know when to yield and when to stand firm."

Enduring temporary humiliation was not a big deal.

There had been ancestors in his family who had suffered humiliation under the hooves of horses, only to turn the tables and bring vital intelligence back to the main army. How could he not bear this brief moment of kneeling?

Li Hao's gaze, sharp as a sword, fell upon the young man in the crowd. The youth had concealed his aura well, but with Li Hao's current attainment of the Taiping Dao realm, such attempts at hiding were futile.

"Li Qianfeng, aren't you a personal disciple of the Buddha? Don't you plan to avenge your master?" Li Hao asked coldly.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Li Qianfeng's heart skipped a beat, and his face paled as he looked at Li Hao in shock.

Apparently, his disguise had been seen through.

"Young Master, run!"

The old monk beside him reacted swiftly, shouting loudly as he stepped in front of Li Qianfeng to protect him.

He had once been a general under Li Qianfeng's father, and he had long ago entrusted his life to this orphaned family. He was determined to defend them to his death.

Bang!

Before the old monk could even unleash his might, his body suddenly exploded.

Blood splattered onto Li Qianfeng, who was just about to get up, staining his clothes red.

The scalding hot blood startled Li Qianfeng, and his knee, which had just started to lift, slowly softened.

"Spare me…"

Li Qianfeng hurriedly kowtowed, kneeling on the ground.

When the others heard Li Qianfeng's name, they quickly crawled away on their knees, not daring to get close to him.

A personal disciple of the Buddha?

That made him a noble Buddhist disciple. How dare he mix with us? Were they trying to get us killed? Many people cursed inwardly, cursing Li Qianfeng's ancestors for several generations. They hadn't gained much from him during peaceful times, and now he was holding them back during their escape. Was he trying to get them all killed?

"The rest of you, scram!"

Li Hao frowned at the pleading cries for mercy.

Hearing Li Hao's words, the crowd felt as if they had heard the voice of a celestial being. They were so grateful that tears streamed down their faces as they quickly kowtowed a few times before fleeing.

In the blink of an eye, only Li Qianfeng remained.

"Spare me… Although I bowed to the Buddha as my master, I am of the Li family from the Shenjiang Mansion. Our alliance with Wuliang Mountain is only one of mutual benefit, not genuine…"

Li Qianfeng's face was pale, and he realized that he was in grave danger. He could only bring up the Shenjiang Mansion, hoping to intimidate Li Hao.

"Can't you recognize me?" Li Hao asked indifferently.

Li Qianfeng was taken aback, lifting his head to look at Li Hao. Only then did he realize that Li Hao's appearance seemed somewhat familiar yet foreign.

So young… Li Qianfeng's pupils suddenly contracted, and he stared at Li Hao in astonishment. "Y-You… It's you?!"

"It seems you've remembered," Li Hao nodded. He then raised his hand, and a wave of power pressed down, grabbing Li Qianfeng and crushing his bones.

The other party was only twenty years old and had not yet reached the Three Immortals realm. Without that attainment, his physical body could only rely on divine pills and elixirs to heal his broken bones.

The intense pain throughout his body could not mask the shock in Li Qianfeng's heart. He stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what he was witnessing.

"It's you? How is that possible? My master was killed by you?!" Li Qianfeng roared, his voice hoarse with fear or pain.

The person he hated and wanted to get rid of at all costs was the same person his master had repeatedly assured him he would eventually catch up to? How could this person have killed his master?!

He knew Li Hao was strong, having gained fame in the battle in Liangzhou, but he never expected him to be strong enough to kill his master.

His status in Li Qianfeng's heart could even be compared to that of the Li family's ancestor. How could such a figure die at Li Hao's hands?!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!!!"

Li Qianfeng roared, blood tears streaming from his eyes, a result of his ruptured internal organs, as well as his pain and madness.

His pride as a genius was completely shattered at this moment.

Coughing up blood and fragments of his organs, Li Qianfeng felt a sense of despair, as if he had been abandoned by the heavens. If he was a genius, then what was the young man before him? A monster?!

"My master couldn't have lost. He's the second strongest under the heavens. Aside from that immortal, he's invincible..."

Li Qianfeng gritted his teeth, sounding slightly unhinged.

Li Hao didn't bother with idle chatter and crushed Li Qianfeng's limbs before storing him in the Heaven and Earth Space.

That young boy who displayed unwavering determination while practicing the sword at the age of five, achieving the status of a genius, had now come to such an end. Perhaps their fates had changed from the moment that noblewoman fed him the poisonous pill.

Now, his opponent was crippled, and he had also left that God General Mansion.

All of this cause and effect started and ended with a single pill.

Li Hao turned around and returned to Candlelight Divine, consuming the pill. Aside from his missing soul, Wind's physical body had recovered thanks to the pill.

"Then, let's head back..."

Li Hao spoke softly.

Looking at the devastated Spirit Mountain, with traces of the intense battle everywhere, Mount Wuliang was practically destroyed.

Without the Buddha Lord, even if countless believers gathered in the future, it would be difficult for them to regain their former glory.

As Li Hao prepared to leave, a figure rushed over from outside Mount Wuliang.

Soon, the figure arrived directly in front of Li Hao.

"Hao'er!"

The person who had rushed over was none other than LiMuxiu. He had rushed over from the Li family at full speed, but when he arrived outside the Brahma Pure Land world and saw the scattered figures fleeing, he immediately realized the situation inside.

Li Hao recognized the voice and instantly identified the person as Second Grandpa.

"Where's the Buddha Lord, Old Wind..."

LiMuxiu scanned the surroundings and when he saw the split Spirit Mountain, his pupils contracted, and he was shocked.

He had abandoned his identity and rushed over not only to try and rescue Wind but also because he expected that once this news spread, Li Hao would also come to the rescue.

Although he knew Li Hao was strong, he also knew that the Buddha Lord was unfathomable, and Li Hao had just risen to his current position. All of this had been hard-won, and he felt that Li Hao had already endured enough and didn't want to see his achievements affected.

If he could rescue Wind with his own Half-step Invincible Dao realm, then everything would be resolved. If not, he could still keep the promise he had made to Wind:

"If we can't share riches and honor, then we'll share life and death!"

"The Buddha Lord is dead."

When Li Hao saw LiMuxiu wearing a mask and with a completely different aura, he immediately understood his intention for coming here, but he felt a sense of sadness in his heart.

"Dead?"

LiMuxiu's heart trembled, and he turned to look at Wind, only to see him looking foolish and a bit strange. He quickly asked, "What happened to Old Wind?"

"His soul is missing," Li Hao said softly.

LiMuxiu was stunned and immediately examined Wind's body, finding that it was indeed as Li Hao had said.

His expression turned ugly, and he clenched his fists.

Li Hao knew he was feeling distressed and said softly, "I will find and retrieve the missing part of Wind's soul, Second Grandpa. This place is not suitable for you, so you should leave as well."

LiMuxiu looked at Li Hao, feeling heartbroken, and said, "Child, you shouldn't have to bear all of this. I should have been the one to come."

He felt pain in his heart and a sense of defeat. When his eldest brother fell in Dragon City, he hadn't been able to make it in time, and now, he had missed it again.

Although he seemed to have lived a carefree life, he felt that he had failed in many ways.

"Wind was captured by the Buddha's followers because of me, so it's only right that I take care of it."

Li Hao comforted him with a few words.

LiMuxiu's mood improved slightly, and he immediately asked Li Hao about what had happened, to which Li Hao briefly explained.

After listening, LiMuxiu's expression became complex as he said, "Child, the Buddha Lord has countless believers, including members of various noble families and officials. Your actions this time will likely..."

"It's fine." Li Hao smiled.

LiMuxiu looked at his calm expression and felt even more heartbroken. He said, "Why don't you return to the God General Mansion? With the thousand years of glory of the God General Mansion, along with your own abilities, you can..."

Li Hao shook his head slightly, "If His Majesty wants to take away this glory, then so be it. It's just a return to how it was before, and I'll still have delicious food to eat and chess to play. It won't affect me."

"But..."

Li Hao smiled slightly and bid farewell to the old man before mounting the Candlelight Divine and beginning their return journey.

This time, although they had won, they had also lost, at least in fulfilling the Buddha Lord's wish.

The news of what happened here would likely spread to the imperial city and reach the ears of that emperor. He didn't know if that old man would understand, but regardless, it would likely cause trouble for him...

"I've caused trouble for him..." Li Hao sighed inwardly.

As Li Hao left, Jiang Licheng also chased after him, but before leaving, he glanced at LiMuxiu and laughed, "It seems that your Li family's audacity is growing. The young and the old are all the same, hahaha..."

LiMuxiu had long recognized this insane Ninth Prince, and he had heard of his many antics, so he didn't pay much attention to such a crazy person.

Looking at the departing figure, his eyes were filled with sorrow, and there was a question he didn't voice.

Would there be another opportunity for the three of them to gather together in the future...

Time is relentless, always moving forward, never stopping for anyone, and never reversing...