Chapter 2280: Encountering Luo Hou, Cundi, and Receiva, the Divine Thunder Drum Peak
Chu Kuangren, Ye Zhu, and the others were exploring the Human Ancestral Land.
They walked through various primitive settlements, visited villages, and saw many traces of human civilization along the way before eventually arriving at a city.
It was a city that was already in ruins.
However, judging from the various medicinal pills, weaponsmithing tools, and other shops on the streets, one could tell that humanity had developed into quite an advanced cultivation civilization during that time.
Just then, a roar sounded from nearby.
The sky was covered in golden light and demonic qi. The sense of purity and peace in the golden light made it seem like Buddhist Lights.
The way the Buddhist Light intertwined in the void with the demonic qi was astonishing.
From the energy fluctuations spreading everywhere, it was at least the level of a Grand Dao cultivator.
"This aura seems familiar."
Chu Kuangren's eyes lit up as he recalled something, and he dashed toward the source of the energy collision.
There, he saw three figures in a battle.
What surprised everyone was that none of those three figures were humans.
One was holding a black demonic spear, possessing a very fierce aura. He waved his demonic spear, sending surges of demonic qi everywhere and forcing the two monks to step back.
"It's them."
Chu Kuangren immediately identified the three of them, who were all familiar faces to him.
They were Luo Hou, Cundi, and Receiva.
"A bunch of old familiar faces, it seems."
Nuwa was also surprised when she recognized those three.
"Oh no!"
Seemingly having noticed Chu Kuangren's arrival, Luo Hou turned into a black ray of light without a moment's hesitation and fled at lightning speed.
He did not even dare to face Chu Kuangren in battle.
It was obvious that he knew how terrifying Chu Kuangren was. If he battled Chu Kuangren, he would surely lose terribly; he might even die.
A mischievous glint flashed in Chu Kuangren's eyes as he watched Luo Hou escape. For some reason, he did not stop the latter.
Cundi and Receiva also wanted to leave when they saw Chu Kuangren.
However, the next instant, the surrounding space was enveloped by some sort of energy.
They were frozen in mid-air, and it was hard for them to move.
Both of them knew who was responsible for that act, so they looked at Chu Kuangren and smiled bitterly. "It's been a while, Honorable Immortal King. How have you been?"
Immortal King was Chu Kuangren's title back in the Pan Gu Universe.
They were initially going to address him as "Daoist Brother", but upon further thought, they admitted that they were not friends with Chu Kuangren. Addressing him as "Daoist Brother" would only raise suspicion that they were trying to befriend him.
Hence, they decided it was better to address him as "Immortal King" as a sign of respect.
After all, he was several times stronger than the both of them now.
"Well, hello, the two leaders of the West." Chu Kuangren looked at them with a wry smile and a hint of coldness glinting from his eyes.
He had not forgotten that they once schemed against the Firmament Empire.
With his current capabilities, it would be effortless to kill them both.
"Honorable Immortal King, my Senior Brother and I have offended you in the past. And for that, we apologize. Please forgive us, Immortal King," Cundi quickly said after noticing the cold look in Chu Kuangren's eyes.
Chu Kuangren did not attack immediately either. Instead, he asked, "How did the two of you enter the Human Ancestral Land?"
Logically speaking, Cundi, Receiva, and Luo Hou were not human, so they should not be able to enter the Human Ancestral Land.
"In the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land, there's a person named Gu Chan, who's the current Monarch Seed. He possesses one of the Nine Human Treasures, the Violet Golden Bowl, which contains a hidden dimension. We entered the Violet Golden Bowl and relied on its power to come here," Cundi replied honestly.
As for why they started a fight with Luo Huo, it was because the three of them had their sights on the same treasure.
That treasure was a divine herb, and Cundi immediately took it out. Chu Kuangren did not even bat an eye at it before tossing it to Shang Honghua.
That divine herb was nothing in the eyes of someone like him.
Both Cundi and Receiva's mouths twitched. They had fought hard to get that treasure, yet Chu Kuangren tossed it aside like a useless item.
Comparison was truly the thief of joy.
"Since you guys followed Gu Chan and the others here, why are the both of you alone? Where are the others?"
"They've headed somewhere else to explore. Honestly speaking, my Senior Brother and I don't have a great relationship with them."
"Oh, is it because the two of you are from the Pan Gu Universe?"
Chu Kuangren chuckled. He could already guess why.
In recent years, the Pan Gu Sect, which Chu Kuangren established, had become well-known on the Divine Hongmeng Leaderboards. Hence, plenty of people disliked them.
As Cundi and Receiva were from the Pan Gu Universe, it was no surprise that they were not entirely welcomed in the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land.
The two of them did not even try to retort either.
It meant Chu Kuangren had hit the nail on that one.
The two of them even had to present many treasures to Gu Chan just to get the opportunity to enter and explore the Human Ancestral Land.
They looked at Ye Zhu and the others behind Chu Kuangren. Seeing each of them exuding formidable levels of aura and carrying shiny treasures, the two felt envious.
All of them came from the Pan Gu Universe.
However, the others had followed Chu Kuangren and flourished, while the two of them were down and out.
The thought of it filled them with regret.
If they had not opposed Chu Kuangren back then, life would have been so much better.
Nevertheless, their lives were in Chu Kuangren's hands now. He could end their lives with a single thought, and it made the two of them nervous.
"Do you guys want to live?" Chu Kuangren asked indifferently.
"Of course."
"In that case, cooperate with me," Chu Kuangren said calmly.
Killing Cundi and Receiva was too easy for him.
Moreover, doing so would not gain him any substantial benefit. He wanted to keep those two alive for the time being, so he placed them as spies in the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land.
As of now, he was not on great terms with the Human Sanctuaries.
Even though his relationship with the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land was still pretty alright, who could tell what would happen in the future?
It would be better to make early preparations.
"I can tell that both of you are not welcomed or treated well in the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land, and rising through their ranks will be impossible. Why don't we cooperate? With my help, you might even become the Buddhist Leader of the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land in the future," Chu Kuangren suggested.
Cundi and Receiva were tempted by the offer.
Eventually, they agreed to Chu Kuangren's terms.
With their background and capabilities, the only chance they had to progress in the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land was to cooperate with Chu Kuangren.
"Very well."
"Honorable Immortal King, from what I know, Gu Chan and the others have an objective for coming to the Human Ancestral Land this time. They are currently heading west, toward the Divine Thunder Drum Peak. As it is one of the places where Buddhism originated, there are valuable treasures hidden there," Cundi said.
Since they were now cooperating, he did not mind showing a sign of his loyalty.
"The Divine Thunder Drum Peak, huh? Interesting. Let's head over there then."
...
As the masters of the universe, humanity possessed numerous brilliant cultivation civilizations, such as the Buddhist civilizations, Daoist technique civilizations, weaponsmith civilizations, and more.
The origin of Buddhism was shrouded in mystery, with its beginnings unknown.
However, it was one of the oldest cultivation civilizations of the human race, and the Divine Thunder Drum Peak was one of the places where cultivation civilizations originated.
When the Human Ancestral Land opened, the Heavenly Buddhist Pure Land's Monarch Seed, Gu Chan, led a group of Buddhist cultivators there.
A majestic divine peak towered above the clouds.
It was surrounded by a pure and sacred atmosphere, and on top of the peak was a massive drum!
Gu Chan raised his hand, channeled a Buddhist technique, and struck it with his palm. When his Buddhist Light landed on the huge drum, a drum sound as loud as thunder echoed in the sky!
As Buddhist Lights swirled in the surroundings, a majestic grand hall suddenly emerged on the divine peak. Inside it were thousands of Buddhist statues that exuded a solemn yet sacred aura.
As pilgrims themselves, Gu Chan and the others put their palms together and entered the grand hall.