21st Century Necromancer
Chapter 832 - 828: The Ming King's Furious Gaze

The sky gradually darkened, yet Monk Xinyuan's Rebirth Mantra did not cease.

In ancient times, Monk Xinyuan's cultivation would have already been worthy of being called a Vajra or a Bodhisattva. With such a high monk chanting sutras to liberate souls, even the heroic spirits of the Beiyang Fleet, who had been trapped for a century, could find release.

From an angle imperceptible to ordinary people, the lingering resentment on the heroic spirits inhabiting Dingyuan Pavilion—no, more accurately, the remains of The Dingyuan—was being dispelled. Their grudges from dying in war, their unwillingness due to the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, and their century-long hatred bound to this site were all dissolved bit by bit with Monk Xinyuan's devout chanting of the Rebirth Mantra.

Wisps of animosity dissipated like green smoke fading into the sky, leaving Dingyuan Pavilion, washed gently by the drizzling rain, cleansed as though the dust accumulated over a hundred years had been wiped away, emitting a fresh, transparent purity.

This was not something that any refurbishment or reconstruction could have achieved. The annex built by the invaders using the remains of The Dingyuan had been shrouded in gloom since its construction, due to the vengeful spirits of the fallen soldiers of the Beiyang Fleet confined within. Even with Tenmangu Shrine's suppression over the past century, this gloom only thickened, growing increasingly forbidding to all who approached.

But now, this century-old resentment and gloom finally dissipated under the cleansing rain, leaving behind a haven of clarity and tranquility.

Just as those heroic spirits of the Beiyang Fleet, once bound by their grudges, found release under the Rebirth Mantra and attained reincarnation.

As Chen Yu gazed at the heroic spirits of the Beiyang Fleet achieving liberation before him, his eyes shifted toward the restriction rising from Tenmangu Shrine in the distance, attempting to continue suppressing the spirits. His brow furrowed, his heart ignited with anger, and in a mere thought, he cast a spell that struck the restriction forming above Tenmangu Shrine.

Though Tenmangu Shrine was renowned in Japan as a site dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, Sugawara no Michizane, being essentially no more than a grudge spirit, was elevated to divinity only because of the chaos he caused after death. Such a deity was unworthy of Chen Yu's regard.

The restriction rising over Tenmangu Shrine was mediocre at best. With one spell, Chen Yu tore it apart entirely, granting the Beiyang Fleet's heroic spirits unobstructed passage to reincarnation.

Watching the heroic spirits of the Beiyang Fleet ascend to reincarnation, Chen Yu maintained his earlier solemnity, bowing deeply in heartfelt tribute to these ancestors who had fought for their nation a century ago.

At that moment, a powerful aura rose from within Tenmangu Shrine, infused with its accumulated Power of Faith, as if attempting to manifest a certain presence.

Witnessing this scene, Chen Yu, already angered by the shrine's previous attempt to suppress the Beiyang Fleet's heroic spirits, prepared to obliterate Tenmangu Shrine entirely. However, Monk Xinyuan, having ended his chanting, stood up and extended a hand to stop him.

"Even a Vajra may show wrathful eyes, and a Wisdom King bears the Prison-Suppressing Aspect. Perhaps you would allow this one to handle this matter?" Though a man of the cloth, Monk Xinyuan clearly was not one to be bound by excessive compassion. Besides, even Buddhas can have their tempers stirred.

Hearing this, Chen Yu paused in consideration before stepping back half a step and gesturing for Monk Xinyuan to proceed.

"Amitabha!" Monk Xinyuan chanted another Buddha name aloud. This time, however, the sound of his chant resonated like the toll of a grand bell, reverberating throughout the darkened sky above Tenmangu Shrine.

Simultaneously, a golden Dharma Aspect of Acala, towering and six-armed, rose behind Monk Xinyuan. Its wrathful gaze radiated dominance, and its tremendous aura instantly overshadowed the presence attempting to manifest within Tenmangu Shrine.

Acala, one of the Five Great Wisdom Kings, is the Vajra manifestation of Vairocana Buddha, tasked with subjugating both internal and external demons.

Practicing the Five Great Wisdom Kings' teachings is a common path in Buddhist cultivation, but the Prison-Suppressing Dharma Aspect of Acala was a core inheritance of the Great Mercy Temple. With Monk Xinyuan's Demigod Cultivation Level, he wielded it with an authority rivaling the True Body of Acala itself.

"Vajra's Wrathful Gaze! King Acala Suppresses the Prison! Root Mudra of Acala, exorcise demons and subjugate evils!" Monk Xinyuan roared as two of the six arms of the Dharma Aspect formed the Acala Mudra, unleashing a single palm strike that landed squarely on Tenmangu Shrine.

The entity within Tenmangu Shrine, infused with the Power of Faith and on the verge of manifesting, let out a shriek as the Buddha Palm struck, instantly obliterated. The shrine's accumulated Power of Faith was nearly entirely dispersed by the strike.

Seeing this, Chen Yu chuckled softly, snapping his fingers. A faint green light flickered in the sky, subtly adding some finishing touches.

Having dispelled the manifesting presence, Monk Xinyuan also withdrew his Dharma Aspect of Acala. While ordinary people could not see it, he had no intention or habit of parading such an enormous manifestation unnecessarily.

"A truly magnificent Dharma Aspect of Acala, resplendent and boundless in the power of Buddhist Law," Chen Yu complimented Monk Xinyuan as the latter retracted his Dharma Aspect.

But Monk Xinyuan, unmoved by the praise, merely chanted a Buddha name humbly and replied, "You overpraise me, benefactor. It is but a rudimentary skill, unworthy of displaying. However, that final touch of yours, benefactor, might have truly challenged the one behind Tenmangu Shrine."

"Hahaha, just a minor curse." Chen Yu, noticing that Monk Xinyuan had discerned his finishing move, admitted candidly, "If they dared to suppress the heroic spirits of the Beiyang Fleet, then they must be prepared to pay the price."

Monk Xinyuan found nothing objectionable in Chen Yu's words; after all, those who harm China deserve retribution, no matter how distant. Whereas the past saw a nation too weak to retaliate, now… they had come, and with time to spare, such matters were easily settled.

The duo set aside the incident, turning their attention to what remained of Dingyuan Pavilion, which now housed only the remains of The Dingyuan. It was time to proceed with their true task for the day.

"Benefactor, would you require assistance in drawing the Magic Array?" Monk Xinyuan asked as he watched Chen Yu pull out a staff crafted from bone and begin sketching on the ground.

The original plan was for Monk Xinyuan to guard against interference from Tenmangu Shrine. But with its forces dispersed earlier, Monk Xinyuan found himself free to lend a hand.

However, Chen Yu merely shook his head and said, "Master, just keep watch and ensure no one disrupts the process."

With those words, Chen Yu tapped the Bone Staff in his hand once, causing it to move on its own, etching runes into the ground. At the same time, Chen Yu retrieved another identical staff and began drawing a separate set of runes.

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