Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 105

Boom!

The air exploded, vibrant shockwaves rolling and shaking hearts to their core.

The Middle-aged Monk threw a punch with explosive force, like a storm hitting land.

Swish, swish, swish! Murong City Lord met the attack, his sword flickering like crazy, the wind from his strikes cutting sharp.

Both were at the Nascent Soul Stage, locked in a back-and-forth brawl.

“Benefactor, I advise against foolishness! Gather eight hundred young boys and girls, and you can keep this city safe for years. You’ll keep your position as City Lord. Otherwise, I won’t be able to handle things, and the mountain lord will unleash his wrath on Joyful Kindness Nation!” the monk warned coldly.

The Middle-aged Monk sneered, “Think about the fates of the previous City Lords! The common folk are like ants; why care about their lives?”

Murong City Lord roared, “Twisted logic! If I were afraid of your Hanging Mountain, would I even take on this City Lord position? You, a Buddhist, have fallen so low; you’re worse than pigs and dogs!”

“Too stubborn to see the truth! I’ll release you from your delusions now!” The monk’s forehead bulged with veins, face twisted in anger.

His fist wrapped in a golden glow surged forward like a fierce dragon, leaving trails of attack everywhere.

“Bi You Sword Technique!” sword traced intricate patterns, as Murong City Lord brought forth a wave of water-like sword intent to counter the brute force.

The battle raged on intensely, neither side giving ground.

“City Lord, I’m here to help!”

A thunderous shout split the air!

A muscular man in black armor barged in, each hand wielding a heavy hammer, his killing intent pouring out.

“Captain Yang, you came just in time!” Murong City Lord exclaimed, filled with hope.

Yang, the City Lord’s personal guard leader, though slightly weaker, was pivotal at this moment.

Once Yang joined the fray, the tide shifted, the Middle-aged Monk getting pinned down hard.

“Foul monk, just surrender already!” Murong City Lord shouted.

“Yang, how long do you plan to hide?” the monk replied, calm as ever, his tone dripping with meaning.

Yang’s eyes gleamed; he seized the chance and aimed for Murong City Lord’s back.

Boom!

Murong City Lord was sent flying, crashing through multiple buildings, landing heavily in the rubble, dust swirling around.

He struggled to stand, blood bursting from his mouth mixed with remnants of his internal organs.

“Yang, you…”

Murong City Lord clenched his teeth, glaring at this man who was usually bold and loyal. Anger simmered from betrayal.

Swish~

Two figures appeared before him.

“Amitabha Buddha, Murong Benefactor, you look quite surprised,” the monk taunted, palms pressed together.

“Murong Hai, you brought this upon yourself by opposing the high monk of Hanging Mountain!” Yang sneered, shedding his disguise.

“You colluded with Hanging Mountain to kill a City Lord. If the court investigates, you won’t escape blame!” Murong City Lord seethed.

“Hahaha, how naive! Joyful Kindness Nation has long been infiltrated by Hanging Mountain’s forces. Even the national leader has to turn a blind eye. Only thick-headed fools like you think they’re out there to do justice. If the mountain lord takes offense, it’ll spell disaster for Joyful Kindness Nation!”

Yang chuckled coldly, “Let me tell you, all previous City Lords fell because of their stubbornness, taken out by me and Hanging Mountain. But to this day, the court hasn’t found a trace of me. Want to guess why?”

Hearing this, Murong City Lord felt a chill run down his spine.

Turns out, it had all been planned, and he was merely a sacrificial lamb.

“Benefactor, this monk warned you long ago, yet you insisted on opposing Hanging Mountain and insulted me. For this alone, your death is justified!”

“Murong Hai, take your own life. It’s your only dignified way out! I hope the next City Lord has a bit more sense!”

At this moment, Murong City Lord felt hollow, trembling as he raised his sword to his neck, blood dripping down.

Just as he was about to do it, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky.

In an instant, an overwhelming force swept over, wrenching fear deep in everyone’s hearts, as if their very souls trembled.

The city fell silent, the once-chaotic ambiance vanishing into stillness.

Even the wicked monks shuddered, collapsing to the ground, trembling.

A massive creature, resembling a giant whale, soared through the air with wings that shaded the sun, riding on powerful air currents.

A loud voice boomed from its mouth, resounding through the heavens.

“Is that… an unparalleled Tribulation Stage monster?!”

The Middle-aged Monk and Captain Yang were frozen in terror, feeling like they’d fallen into an ice pit.

Tribulation Stage, known as a Virtual Immortal, possessing abilities that could equal the sun and moon, able to sweep across the realms.

And this giant creature, if it wanted, could swallow the entire Joyful Kindness Nation whole!

“Is this… Kunpeng?!” Shock flashed through Murong City Lord’s eyes as he recognized it as a long-lost ancient divine beast of the demon tribe from Kunlun Realm.

“Ah Kun, have that bunch of bald donkeys down there devoured,” a youthful voice came from the Kunpeng.

Boom!

Everyone felt like they’d been struck by lightning.

This Tribulation Stage beast was actually someone’s mount?

Virtual Immortal-level mount? What kind of joke was this?!

Kunpeng opened its abyss-like jaws and started to suck in the chaos below.

Many were bewildered to find themselves untouched, while the yellow-clad monks were swept away, faces contorted with fear.

“Spare us! Senior, spare us!” the Middle-aged Monk screamed, horrified, as he too was sucked into the skies, struggling futilely.

Before the stunned crowd, the vile monks vanished into the abyss, swallowed whole.

Kunpeng hovered in the vast sky, casting a shadow over the sun, plunging half the city into darkness.

Captain Yang stood there, mouth agape, his blood frozen in his veins, trembling uncontrollably.

He felt an unprecedented fear!

Murong City Lord’s mind shook, swallowing hard, a scene he’d never forget unfolding before his eyes.

Swish!

The two suddenly felt the world spin, and when they opened their eyes, they found themselves on Kunpeng’s back.

Before them was a beautiful sight, akin to a tropical island.

A young man donned in a black robe embroidered with gold sat lazily on a chair, silver hair flowing loosely, sparkling and bright, sporting a carefree grin.

Around him were several figures standing in respect, clearly all deferential to him.

“Now, what happened here? Why were those bald donkeys burning and looting?”

“Senior, I’m the City Lord of U City in Joyful Kindness Nation. Those demon monks were minions of Hanging Mountain, here to forcibly abduct eight hundred boys and girls for the mountain lord’s use!”

Murong City Lord barely held his composure, speaking with a tremor.

“Hanging Mountain?”

Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow, pondering if this was linked to Hanging Temple.

“Tell me the origins of this Hanging Temple!”

“Yes!”

Seeing the big shot’s interest piqued, Murong City Lord continued, “Hanging Mountain was established two hundred years ago in the far west. On the surface, it’s a Buddhist force, but internally, it’s manipulated by demons. The mountain lord is rumored to be a Black Bear Essence, with four great kings under him, all demon kin, commanding forty-eight thousand lesser demons.”

“Moreover, this Black Bear Essence recruits many wanted criminals under the guise of ‘laying down the butcher’s knife to become a Buddha’, promising them enlightenment if they join Hanging Mountain. This has drawn numerous malicious cultivators seeking refuge.”

“Every few years, Hanging Mountain sends people to scour young boys and girls from the thirty-six nations in the far west, including Joyful Kindness Nation, with increasing frequency lately. Those monks who’ve aligned with Hanging Mountain run wild, engaging in un-Buddhist activities!”

Upon hearing this, Li Wujie was furious, “Damn it! These scoundrels are actually serving beasts!”

Ye Junlin’s eyes flickered. “All these years, the thirty-six nations have let Hanging Mountain run rampant? Didn’t anyone think to unite and resist?”

Joyful Kindness Nation, as an ancient cultivation country, although not on par with the Great Zhou Dynasty, had at least some foundation. If the nations united, their combined strength would be significant.

“Well, guess what? Why do you think the Black Bear Essence established his own mountain, calling it Hanging Mountain? The answer is pretty obvious!”

Murong City Lord sighed bitterly, “It has connections, doesn’t it?!”