Chapter 45

Amidst the strange fire burning, the cries of agony in the City God Temple were incessant, and the barking of dogs never ceased.

Whether it was human voices or dog barks, they all conveyed pain and despair.

However, the demons of the Black Lotus Sect were laughing maniacally.

This peculiar fire was a trap they had long prepared.

Those who did not understand the mechanism and rashly opened the iron cage, touching the dogs inside, would immediately trigger the trap, burning both the people and the dogs to death!

Xue Qingshan and his companions, who were besieging the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva, were temporarily not affected by the strange flames.

But they were still disturbed by this sudden change, even affecting their fighting spirit.

Especially the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva, who was deliberately guiding them: "Have you seen the plight of your comrades? Have you heard the cries of the children? Are you not going to save them? Do you want to watch them burn to death?"

His words were highly persuasive, affecting many of the Night Watchmen.

Some even subconsciously turned their heads to check on their comrades.

This moment of distraction almost cost one of them his life, but Xue Qingshan timely blocked the fatal blow from the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva with his spear.

Xue Qingshan remained calm and composed amidst the chaos, not panicking.

After deflecting the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva's attack, he sternly ordered, "Do not be distracted! The task of extinguishing the fire and saving people will be handled by others. Our only mission is to kill this impostor Bodhisattva as quickly as possible!"

The Night Watchmen around him hurriedly responded, suppressing their worries and unease, and focused on the battle.

Seeing that his strategy to distract their minds had failed, the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva coldly snorted and formed a hand seal: "Stubborn and arrogant, you all deserve to die!"

As he spoke, a black mist surged from his body, forming a five-zhang-tall Bodhisattva image behind him.

This Bodhisattva image did not resemble the bizarre and terrifying figures of the Black Lotus Sect's Arhats.

It had a full and plump face, long eyebrows, and large eyes, with a serene expression, standing barefoot on a lotus throne, exuding solemnity.

If one did not know the true nature of the Black Lotus Sect, they might have mistaken these demons for living Arhats and Bodhisattvas.

"Put down the butcher's knife, and instantly become a Buddha."

The Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva formed a hand seal and shouted in a strange tone.

The Bodhisattva image behind him emitted a brilliant light.

Xue Qingshan suddenly felt a strange impulse to listen to the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva and drop his weapon.

Fortunately, his self-control was strong, and the sound of the Blood Hand Bronze Bell interfered with the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva's deceptive words, preventing Xue Qingshan from falling for it.

Realizing something was wrong, Xue Qingshan quickly mobilized his blood energy to suppress the inner impulse.

However, he was not the only one affected.

All the Night Watchmen around him were influenced by the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva.

Even two of the weaker Night Watchmen actually dropped their weapons and gave up resistance.

They were instantly enveloped by the strange light emitted by the Bodhisattva image and turned into piles of white bones and blood.

"This is an illusion and deceit, do not be influenced!"

Xue Qingshan shouted, his spear transforming into a streak of light, piercing directly at the Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva's face.

The powerful force tore through the air, creating a dull explosion.

Your mouth can spout deceit and confuse the masses, so I will pierce through your mouth!

Although the situation seemed to be turning against them, Xue Qingshan's fighting spirit remained high.

He was determined to kill this Black Lotus Sect's Bodhisattva!

Meanwhile, the Night Watchmen outside the City God Temple, responsible for reinforcements and support, immediately responded upon seeing the strange fire in the courtyard.

Some rode fast horses to seek the Diving Army to extinguish the fire.

Others rushed to nearby houses to fetch buckets of water.

Still, others carried water-soaked clothes and rushed into the City God Temple, slapping them onto their comrades and the dogs.

The Night Watchmen who were burned by the strange fire did not give up on self-rescue. They rolled on the ground or used other methods to try to extinguish the fire on their bodies.

However, all methods were ineffective. The strange fire could not be extinguished or doused, and it only grew larger!

Moreover, the zombies and demons of the Black Lotus Sect in the courtyard pounced on the Night Watchmen who came to extinguish the fire, trying to stop and kill them.

At the same time, some zombies and demons of the Black Lotus Sect attacked the Night Watchmen who were burning, taking advantage of their pain and weakness to eliminate them as quickly as possible to prevent any unexpected events.

Around Qin Shaoyou, a group of zombies and a fat-faced demon of the Black Lotus Sect appeared.

This was the Smiling Arhat of the Black Lotus Sect.

However, his smile was not joyful but rather eerie and evil.

His mouth, split to his ears, revealed sharp teeth and the wailing souls of several children.

The Smiling Arhat looked at Qin Shaoyou with eyes full of hatred.

"Do you know, the Eight-Armed Arhat you killed was my close friend..."

Qin Shaoyou had just rolled on the ground, but seeing no effect and the demon of the Black Lotus Sect approaching, he quickly got up, enduring the pain and panting heavily, and mocked:

"Why don't you slit your throat and join the Eight-Armed Arhat in the afterlife? Do you feel ashamed of yourself for living on? You don't deserve to call him a close friend!"

The Smiling Arhat did not expect that Qin Shaoyou, even while being burned by the flames, would still be so quick-witted.

Most importantly, he felt that Qin Shaoyou's words made some sense.

If his close friend was dead, he should have died with him, right?

The Smiling Arhat almost slit his throat.

But he quickly suppressed the absurd impulse, glaring at Qin Shaoyou and growling, "Trying to deceive me with your tricks? You are just showing off your skills in front of a master!"

He feared that Qin Shaoyou would continue to deceive him and that he might really fall for it, so he stopped talking and led the zombie army to attack directly.

"Talk tough! You were clearly moved just now, and you still say I'm showing off my skills in front of a master."

"Besides, I'm not using tricks, but my quick tongue!"

Qin Shaoyou cursed inwardly but also felt a bit regretful.

If my tongue were a bit more agile, maybe I could have talked him to death.

Seeing the Smiling Arhat and the zombies approaching, Qin Shaoyou took a deep breath, did not retreat, and charged straight at the Smiling Arhat.

He knew that in this situation, there was no place to hide or retreat.

To survive, he had to kill the demon of the Black Lotus Sect in front of him and then find a way to extinguish the strange fire on his body.

In the blink of an eye, Qin Shaoyou was face-to-face with the Smiling Arhat.

Without waiting for the Smiling Arhat to make a move, he pounced and hugged him, trying to transfer the strange fire to the other.

"Come on, feel the joy of passing the fire!"

The strange fire easily transferred, but the Smiling Arhat's face showed no signs of pain from the burning.

He even mocked, "This is the holy fire of the Black Lotus Sect. You are mistaken if you think it can burn me!"

The Smiling Arhat did not rush to attack Qin Shaoyou. Instead, he let him hug him and chanted loudly, "The blazing holy fire, burns my body, and gives me strength..."

His injuries, which he had, quickly healed under the burning of the strange fire!

The怨气 and death aura in his body were also replenished and even increased under the burning of the strange fire!

Qin Shaoyou's eyes widened: Damn, this strange fire not only does not harm them but also heals and boosts them? This is unfair, this is cheating!

However, in his anger, Qin Shaoyou also thought of a possibility: Since the demons of the Black Lotus Sect are not afraid of the evil fire, could eating them grant me this ability?

Thinking of this, his anger dissipated.

Looking at the Smiling Arhat, his eyes were no longer filled with anger but with desire.

The desire to survive!

The desire to eat him!

The Smiling Arhat saw Qin Shaoyou's eyes.

With the two of them hugging so tightly, almost face-to-face, how could he not see the other's expression and eyes?

The Smiling Arhat's heart stirred: Why is this kid looking at me with such desire? Does he have some ulterior motive?