Chapter 79

As a golden core artifact, although the Black Cloud Banner was contaminated by the Blood River True Water and could not exert its true power in battle, its ability to carry people and move through space was still incredibly smooth for Lin Feng to use.

The Black Cloud Banner, as a spatial type artifact, not only allowed for short-range spatial travel but also opened up an independent space.

Two black lights flickered in the space, one of which enveloped Xiao Yan and his three fellow disciples. Lin Feng had checked on them, and Xiao Yan's injuries were relatively stable.

The other black light enveloped the War God Puppet, which was now calm, with the red light in its eyes completely extinguished and its terrifying aura vanished, like a statue.

The War God Puppet's arms still tightly gripped Huikong, and although the puppet had lost its vitality, Huikong's magical power was sealed, leaving him unable to move.

Seeing Lin Feng, Huikong's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Lin Feng appeared indifferent but was secretly observing Huikong.

"Are you also after my disciples?" Lin Feng asked calmly. "I heard from my few disciples that you recognized Huiku's Thunder Zen and were looking for Huiku?"

Huikong raised his head and softly recited a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha, this poor monk is indeed after the rebellious junior monk Huiku. To be precise, this poor monk aims to reclaim the Buddha bone relics of the senior monks that were desecrated by Huiku."

"Huiku has committed a grave offense by refining the relics of senior monks into magical artifacts. This poor monk cannot stand idly by."

Although captured by Lin Feng, Huikong remained calm, not out of fearlessness but due to his firm faith and will.

Lin Feng asked, "What is your dharma name?"

Huikong replied, "This poor monk's dharma name is Huikong."

Lin Feng looked at him and suddenly asked, "If I tell you where Huiku is, what will you do after finding him?"

Huikong's drooping eyelids suddenly flipped up, and his eyes shone brightly: "I will completely ruin his cultivation, and make him recite scriptures before the Buddha for the rest of his life to atone for his sins."

Lin Feng looked into his eyes and knew that the monk was serious.

"Little monk, it's a pity, but you won't be able to do that," Lin Feng said calmly.

Huikong's expression remained unchanged: "Does Senior mean that you will kill this poor monk, so I cannot find Huiku and reclaim the relics?"

"Or has Junior Monk Huiku already been killed by Senior, so I cannot make him recite scriptures before the Buddha to atone for his sins?"

Lin Feng glanced at him: "Overthinking."

Huikong replied, "Please enlighten me, Senior."

Lin Feng waved his sleeve: "Huiku is indeed dead, but not by my hand. He died in a mutual destruction with the cultivators under Zhu Hongwu."

Huikong's gaze sharpened, and his expression became solemn: "Xuanji Marquis, Zhu Hongwu?"

In the past, the Great Zhou Dynasty, along with many forces, destroyed Buddhism, and Xuanji Marquis was the commander. Huikong, also a disciple of the Great Thunder Sound Temple, harbored hatred towards Xuanji Marquis, though not as extreme as Huiku.

Lin Feng sneered slightly: "If they don't offend me, I won't offend them. The two managers under Zhu Hongwu and the Yu family's elders were reduced to ashes by me. When the Yu family's direct descendants dared to step on my disciple, I took one of their legs."

"Do you think I kept you alive and captured you just to be kind?"

Huikong lowered his head: "This poor monk did not truly offend Senior, but only wanted to find out the whereabouts of the relics."

Lin Feng thought, "Of course, it's because the War God Puppet ran out of power." But he wouldn't say that to Huikong. Hearing Huikong's response, Lin Feng nodded slightly: "That's one reason. The other reason is your junior monk, Huiku."

Huikong looked at Lin Feng with surprise, and Lin Feng said calmly: "I was in front of Huiku when he passed away."

"This Thunder Zen was given to me by him before he died," Lin Feng explained. "But the twenty-four relics were destroyed in the Netherworld Blood River beneath the Black Cloud Catacombs."

Huikong's face changed dramatically: "Netherworld Blood River! Is what Senior says true?"

Lin Feng said indifferently: "I only say things once."

Huikong's mind was in turmoil. If the relics really fell into the Netherworld Blood River, they would be thoroughly contaminated by the foul blood and lose all their Buddhist nature.

He calmed himself and said softly: "This poor monk was disrespectful. Please enlighten me, Senior."

Lin Feng suddenly changed his tone and asked: "Are you very dissatisfied with your junior monk Huiku because of the relics?"

Huikong was slightly taken aback but answered frankly: "This poor monk indeed broke the precept of anger because of this, but it is my true intention, and I dare not lie or hide it."

Lin Feng nodded and continued: "Do you know what Huiku said most before he died?" He stared into Huikong's eyes and said slowly: "Huiku said he knew he had betrayed his master and would surely go to hell, but he regretted not seeing the fall of the Great Zhou and the avenging of his master's blood feud."

Huikong fell silent instantly.

In essence, Huiku and he were the same.

Huiku's anger and killing precepts were due to the hatred of his master's destruction, and he even refined the relics of senior monks into magical artifacts to enhance his strength and seek revenge on the Great Zhou.

He knew it was a betrayal of his master, but he couldn't control his anger and hatred.

This was also Huiku's true intention, which could not be denied or concealed.

Lin Feng sighed: "Although your junior monk Huiku was extreme, he was vengeful, and not for personal reasons, but for the blood feud of his master. He acted straightforwardly, and I admire such people."

"Huiku knew you were tracking him. He didn't seek your forgiveness, but hoped that after avenging the great feud, you could deal with him as you wished, and the relics would be re-offered." Lin Feng said indifferently: "Huiku had an epiphany before he died, and his anger and hatred dissipated. His greatest regret was not the unavenged feud, but the loss of the relics in the Netherworld Blood River, which he could not return to you."

Huikong's face gradually turned pale, and his eyes showed pain.

Lin Feng had been paying attention to his every change in expression. Seeing this, he felt more confident and continued: "Huiku always hoped to gain your forgiveness. He gave me this Thunder Zen, hoping I would return it to you and convey his message that he was destined to enter the Avici Hell to atone for his sins, but everything he did was for the Great Thunder Sound Temple, and if there was any selfishness, he would be destroyed by heaven and earth!"

"I previously passed the Thunder Zen to my disciple as a temporary means of protection," Lin Feng said casually. "Since I've met you today, I'll give it to you."

Saying this, Lin Feng handed the Thunder Zen to Huikong, but Huikong did not take it, his face pale, and he muttered: "Junior monk, you took the wrong path, really the wrong path... You, are confused, sigh!"

At this point, Lin Feng was completely clear that Huikong and Huiku, who had studied together at the Great Thunder Sound Temple in the past, must have been very close, possibly taught by the same master and lived together as brothers.

After the Great Thunder Sound Temple was destroyed, the two escaped together. The hot-tempered and extreme Huiku refined the relics of senior monks into magical artifacts to enhance his strength, while the serious and upright Huikong broke ties with him.

Because of their deep past, Huikong could not tolerate Huiku's desecration of the senior monks' remains and was determined to capture Huiku and reclaim the relics.

Understanding the relationship, Lin Feng decisively delivered the final blow: "So, the reason you can escape from me today is partly due to the efforts of your junior monk, whom you have been pursuing. What you do from now on is up to you."

Huikong sighed deeply, tears streaming down his face, and remained silent.

Lin Feng's expression was calm as he watched him without speaking.

After a long time, Huikong's emotions finally stabilized. He took a deep breath and looked at Lin Feng: "Thank you, Senior, for telling me so much and resolving my heartache of over a decade."

"This Thunder Zen was given to Senior by Junior Monk Huiku. Since Senior has already passed it to your disciple, this poor monk will not ask for it. I believe Junior Monk Huiku would agree with my decision."

Lin Feng asked calmly: "If I release you, what will you do?"

Huikong said: "This poor monk intends to go to the capital of the Great Zhou, visit the catacombs, pay respects to Junior Monk Huiku, and try to enter the catacombs to see if I can find a few relics. The hope is slim, but I will do my best."

Lin Feng saw that this monk was a man of his word, so he loosened the War God Puppet's grip and released Huikong.

Huikong clasped his hands in a salute: "I offended Senior and your disciples, and I am grateful for your magnanimity. If we meet again in the future and there is anything I can do, please command me."

Lin Feng nodded indifferently, and Huikong recited a Buddhist chant, unfolded the Great Peng Wind Technique, and disappeared in an instant.

Watching Huikong's retreating figure, Lin Feng let out a long breath.

Because of Zhu Yi, he would inevitably face the Xuanji Marquis and the Great Zhou Dynasty. Planting a few more nails would only be beneficial, not harmful.

"An enemy of my enemy is a friend. Why not use it?"

"Besides... hehe!" Lin Feng smiled and took out a storage bag from his chest, which belonged to Huikong: "A golden core cultivator's storage bag, there should be something in it, right?"

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