Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains
Chapter 846 - 846: 370. The Two Great World-Honored Ones of the Chan Sect

New Yu Era, year 1322, ninth day of the seventh month.

It was still a quarter of an hour before Zishi, past which it would be the tenth day.

Jianye Prefecture City was silent, but around the abode of Leiyin Temple, it was not so peaceful. Under the night sky, the chanting of the monks was exceptionally clear, yet not noisy at all. Instead, it gave an impression of tranquility and peace, a time of quietude, enabling a more restful sleep.

Outside that small temple, the Abbot Wuxing sat cross-legged. His once serene face suddenly darkened, seemingly having sensed something. He abruptly opened his eyes to gaze at the pitch-black night, a faint glimmer of fire emerging in his pupils.

"Abbot, the five cities of Jiuchi County have fallen, and both the prefectural city of Pengkang County and Qingzhi County have been captured by Hexi. In just two days, even before our temple's army could arrive, the seven cities were lost. It cannot continue like this!"

The Deputy Abbot Wufa came hurriedly, his words filled with urgency, his face full of anxiety, evidently in a state of agitation.

"We have reinforcements from three counties and fourteen prefectures. Sending them in haste is necessary, but they must first be unified. Otherwise, going individually would be handing them over to Hexi. Losing the seven cities is already done, we can retake them later."

Wufa was momentarily stunned, then urgently said, "The reinforcements from three counties and fourteen prefectures total only 2.2 million, of which 700,000 are Earthshade Monastic Soldiers and 1.5 million Huang Chan Army. According to the current reports, Hexi's forces amount to 2.3 million, including a million elite Red Flame Army. They suffered minimal losses capturing the seven cities, leaving them with a 2 million strong army. Can our 2.2 million troops reclaim two counties from Hexi?"

The final sentence Wufa spoke was in a rhetorical tone.

Earthshade Monastic Soldiers are not on par with the elite Red Flame Army of Hexi, not to mention being fewer by 300,000. In comparing elite forces, Leiyin Temple is already at a disadvantage. The remaining Huang Chan Army does not have an edge over Hexi's regular forces, let alone when they become the attacking side.

Not to mention, Hexi now carries the momentum of a major victory, their morale is high.

Is it possible for this 2.2 million strong army to reclaim Pengkang and Jiuchi Counties from Hexi?

"What do you intend to do?"

Wuxing suddenly turned his head, looking at Wufa as he asked.

"Request the World-Honored One and other honored ones to take action; the elite from the prefectural city must also be dispatched. Otherwise, there is no chance of reclaiming Pengkang and Jiuchi Counties. More so, if the three counties and fourteen prefectures' reinforcements are defeated, Hexi will advance even further, pressing upon the remaining three counties. Should the prefectural city become surrounded, our Leiyin Temple will become a laughingstock throughout the world!"

Wuxing turned his gaze towards the small temple behind him, a deep concern flashing in his eyes. After a long while, he still shook his head slightly. His expression gradually returned to calmness as he softly said, "Hexi is but a minor concern. There is no need to take this so seriously. The 2.2 million troops are sufficient to hold them off. Once the Buddha emerges from seclusion, reclaiming Pengkang and Jiuchi Counties will be a simple task."

"This...…"

Wufa wanted to persuade further, but before he could finish speaking, he noticed three familiar auras rushing swiftly from the east. He quickly turned with Wuxing to gaze at the eastern sky.

The ones coming were the Southern Medicine Master, Pagoda, and Qian Cheng, three honored ones. At this moment, the three great Buddhas' faces were pale, their breaths disordered, and various parts of their bodies were entangled with black mist. Among them, the Southern Medicine Master was the most severely afflicted, with the most concentrated black mist on his chest and forehead. Furthermore, he was being supported by the other two as they flew over.

The countenances of the three great Buddhas were filled with panic and fear, nowhere near the confidence they had when departing for Pengkang County.

"Greetings to the three great honored ones!"

Seeing the dire state of the three great Buddhas, both Wuxing and Wufa had made their guesses, and their expressions immediately darkened.

"Hou Yuxiao has already attained the Sub-Saint of Martial Dao cultivation, and his strength is unfathomable. Qian Cheng and Ping Yuan were slain, and the three of us nearly lost our lives. Hexi's Red Flame Army is extremely formidable, and the Earthshade Monastic Soldiers simply cannot resist them. Wuxing, quickly inform the World-Honored One and the Buddha, our temple is in grave danger of being toppled!"

The Southern Medicine Master's face was withered, and his tone was filled with panic. As if recalling Hou Yuxiao's immense power, his face showed indescribable fear, absent were any signs of the bearing of a peak master. His eyes only urgently looked at the Abbot Wuxing, prompting him to quickly notify the Shitian Buddha and the three World-Honored Ones.

Although his cultivation was higher than Wuxing's, the strict rules of Leiyin Temple meant that the duties of the Abbot took precedence over his. The most critical element was that only the Abbot could enter Leiyin Temple to meet the Buddha and the World-Honored Ones. So even if he wanted to alert them, it had to be through Wuxing.

Wufa beside him wore a look of both anger and shock, anger at Hou Yuxiao having slain the two respected ones, Qian Cheng and Ping Yuan; shock at how Hou Yuxiao's strength had grown so tremendously without anyone realizing it.

Rumors of Hou Yuxiao single-handedly fighting against the Fahai World-Honored One from Wanglong Mountain had circulated. Others might not know, but they were aware. The Fahai World-Honored One had relayed that Hou Yuxiao's cultivation was only at the Fragment Realm and that he had used a special method to elevate himself to fight against him for so long. In time, Hou Yuxiao was still defeated.

At Longxiang Ferry, Wufa had directly faced Hou Yuxiao. At that time, Hou Yuxiao was only at the peak of the Xuanyin Realm. Though stronger than himself, against Southern Medicine Master's Buddha's honor, he needed the support of the army's vitality. But now...

Seeing the heavily injured Southern Medicine Master, Wufa could hold back no longer. He turned to look at Wuxing and urgently said, "Abbot, we must not underestimate this Hou Yuxiao any longer. Without the Buddha and World-Honored Ones, no one can counter him. Relying solely on the three counties' and fourteen prefectures' armies stands no chance of driving them away!"