"Yan Shouyi, are you not going to help? Do you intend to sit back and watch us fight, then reap the benefits?"
Miao Hua, affected by the Buddha's Lion's Roar of malevolent thoughts, was in extreme pain, and his Golden Bell Shield was on the verge of collapse.
He even suspected Yan Shouyi of betraying him.
Yan Shouyi helplessly spread his hands. "There are no weapons here, and I'm just a conscious entity. I can't bring my external abilities in. How can I help you?"
As soon as he spoke, Master Ben Heng's voice rang out again:
"Yan Shouyi, call your inner demon for help!"
Inner demons were inherently subconscious, making them perfect for the task. However, Yan Shouyi didn't know how to use it.
But upon hearing Master Ben Heng's reminder, Yan Shouyi clenched his fists and tried his best to call out to his inner demon in his heart.
"You old bastard, my inner demon, you're always so arrogant, constantly affecting my state of mind. Why are you a coward at a time like this? Are you afraid of Abbot Yan Song's malevolent thoughts?!"
Miao Hua's Golden Bell Shield was already at the brink of shattering. The shark, a manifestation of the malevolent thoughts, was about to drag Miao Hua into the sea of consciousness.
It was easy to imagine that once Miao Hua's Golden Bell Shield shattered and he was dragged into the sea of consciousness, he would face a storm of attacks from the malevolent thoughts.
At this critical moment, a black light descended from the sky and entered Yan Shouyi's body!
The next second, Yan Shouyi's body was engulfed in crimson flames. The flames burned away his clothes, but they transformed into a real suit of scale armor!
As the scale armor fully appeared, the flames burned to Yan Shouyi's back, transforming into a fiery cloak!
A long sword also appeared in his hand, identical to the one he had in the illusionary world.
The power of the inner demon was the power of the God of Slaughter, the endless killing intent and malevolent aura left by General Qing Jiang within Yan Shouyi's body!
This was why Yan Shouyi's subconscious had not taken the form of an Asura, but instead possessed the attire of General Qing Jiang!
"The sword is here, only one last thing is missing!"
Yan Shouyi laughed wildly, then leaped up, shouting, "Ta Xue!"
The sea of consciousness beneath him surged, and a huge wave rolled up. Ta Xue, clad in armor, charged out of the wave and steadily caught the descending Yan Shouyi!
This was, of course, not the real Ta Xue, but an illusion conjured by Yan Shouyi's subconscious.
However, in the sea of consciousness, even an illusion possessed real destructive power!
"Giddy up!"
Ta Xue let out a neigh, then, carrying Yan Shouyi, charged towards the malevolent thoughts!
It trailed a long plume of fire, instantly reaching the front of the malevolent thoughts. Yan Shouyi swept his sword horizontally, the blade striking the face of the malevolent thoughts squarely!
A huge wound appeared, but instead of blood, black gas leaked out.
The pain-stricken malevolent thoughts were forced to release their grip and retreated back into the sea of consciousness.
Miao Hua, rescued, looked back at Yan Shouyi. He coldly praised, "Is this your inner demon? Heh... or perhaps, this is your true form?"
Beneath Yan Shouyi's gentle exterior, at the deepest core of his heart, hid a bloodthirsty and savage beast, a beast named the God of Slaughter.
Miao Hua suddenly understood why Yan Shouyi had refused Abbot Yan Song's offer to remove his inner demon. Because even the inner demon was a part of Yan Shouyi, merely amplifying his emotions.
If Yan Shouyi were to remove his inner demon, he might have become a benevolent person like Abbot Yan Song.
But in times of chaos, the least needed person was someone like Abbot Yan Song.
There was only one way to end the war: win the war.
Miao Hua suppressed these complex emotions. Yan Shouyi asked at this moment:
"The malevolent thoughts have hidden again. Fighting like this with restraints is not enjoyable. Can you find him?"
"I can."
After all, this was Miao Hua's sea of consciousness. Despite the power of the malevolent thoughts, they were not the master here.
Miao Hua closed his eyes and searched for a moment, then suddenly struck the sea of consciousness with his palm.
A giant palm plunged into the sea of consciousness, and golden Buddhist light poured into it. Immediately, Yan Shouyi saw the Buddhist light converge into a stream of energy, rushing straight towards a nearby point!
Bang!
The sea of consciousness suddenly exploded, and a pillar of water shot into the sky. At the end of the water pillar was the wounded body of the malevolent thoughts!
"I'll take care of him!"
Yan Shouyi was now full of confidence. Empowered by both his inner demon and Abbot Yan Song, he had become the undisputed God of War.
Riding Ta Xue, he charged again. But as he approached, the malevolent thoughts suddenly transformed, changing from a shark into a soaring eagle!
It was clear that the malevolent thoughts had also sensed Yan Shouyi's prowess and decided to engage them slowly.
However, the malevolent thoughts had underestimated Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi suddenly pulled on the reins, and Ta Xue reared up and neighed. Then, circular formations appeared beneath its four hooves, allowing Ta Xue to walk on air as if on solid ground!
Ta Xue's ability to tread on air truly astonished the malevolent thoughts.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Yan Shouyi quickly caught up to the malevolent thoughts and, with a flick of his wrist, cut off one of its wings with a single strike!
The malevolent thoughts let out a scream and fell towards the sea of consciousness, but it had a trick up its sleeve, targeting Miao Hua below!
"I intended to play with you longer, little monk. Since you've invited help against me, you can't blame me!"
The malevolent thoughts revealed its true form, its mouth stretching from ear to ear, as if it were about to swallow Miao Hua whole!
Miao Hua's face showed fear. He knew very well that he was no match for the malevolent thoughts.
"Amitabha, do not harm my junior brother Miao Hua!"
At this moment, another beam of Buddhist light joined in, shielding Miao Hua.
The malevolent thoughts miscalculated, as if biting into a stone, and gained no advantage.
Miao Hua looked up, his face filled with emotion.
He hadn't heard this voice for many years.
But he knew very clearly who the owner of this voice was.
It was Senior Brother Miao Ji...
In his memory, the senior brother who had always protected him and junior brother Miao You.
Why had he returned?
...
In reality, at Hanshan Temple.
The martial monk Miao Ji and Old Jin were actually inside the main hall!
His appearance surprised everyone, but the situation was dire, and no one had time to greet Miao Ji.
Ben Heng and Abbot Yan Song merely glanced at Miao Ji, their eyes filled with a hint of relief.
The martial monk Miao Ji sat on the ground and chanted Buddhist scriptures. The Sanskrit chants of the three flowed through Miao Hua's body and into the sea of consciousness.
"Uncle-Master Miao Ji has also returned..."
Chang Shan stood outside the door, feeling unspeakable relief.
Perhaps, this time Hanshan Temple would benefit from misfortune, and past conflicts could be resolved?
"Ouch!"
Old Jin stood by the side. He couldn't help much in such matters, but seeing the tragic scene, he couldn't help but sigh, "This fighting is too fierce. Abbot Yan Song has lost half his head!"
As he spoke, he took out some medicinal powder he had concocted and sprinkled it on Abbot Yan Song's wound. The powder took effect immediately, and Abbot Yan Song felt his condition improving significantly.