"Benson Chu, do you remember what I told you that day about the great undertaking?"
Vincent Swallow nodded, then tilted his head back, a bitter smile on his face.
"Mr. Oblivion, I can't quite agree with what you said. After all, a few rats have managed to sneak in."
As Master Owen spoke, his expression suddenly changed. His voice grew low and he paused before continuing.
"Benson Chu, only humans can kill evil ghosts. Everything I've done has been for what I told you from the start—to eliminate those seven evil Ghost Sovereigns. This great undertaking—you are the one I trust most. Since founding the Renegade Monks, only you have been allowed to break the rules I set. Of all my disciples, Benson Chu, you are the most capable. I've long regarded you as my own son. In the end, how could you blame me?"
Vincent Swallow said nothing. It was clear his heart was bleak. We had seen what his master had done, but Vincent Swallow understood it better than anyone.
"Master, is your so-called great undertaking built on countless sacrifices? Are those ghosts doomed to be devoured by your Shadow Realm? We may be Renegade Monks, but we are still Buddhists. That's what you told me from the beginning: Even on the path of sin, never forget your true heart. But now, Master, your actions have lost their original meaning. How are you any different from those below?"
Suddenly, Vincent Swallow pointed to the bottom of the steps.
"Master Owen, it seems your disciple has a vast chasm separating him from you."
I heard a deep, magnetic male voice, accompanied by the sound of leather boots. I saw him—the Golden Mask Man. He was flanked by two Blue-Faced Men as he walked up.
"Countless sacrifices, endless desires—humans survive only by taking from other lives. Little monk, why take it so seriously?"
The Golden Mask Man was speaking to Vincent Swallow. After he came up, he glanced around, offered a few words of praise, and complimented Master Owen for being meticulous and flawless in his work, as well as for his patience.
Sunny Zhang and I hurried to join the procession of ghost monks and followed them over.
"Master Owen, you must be talking about Ethan Zhang and his group, right? Heh, they're nothing to worry about."
The Golden Mask Man was called Mr. Oblivion. Allen Zhang shot me a look, and I almost stopped, about to burn the yellow paper inscribed with the Buddha Sigil. For now, I could only endure. If it were just Brother Owen, we might not be a match, and with this Golden Mask Man, we were even less so.
"Little monk, you'd better listen to your master. Heh, I heard it was your master who raised you single-handedly. In other words, your adoptive father has done much for you. Are you really going to stand in the way of his reincarnation?"
As Mr. Oblivion spoke, Vincent Swallow glared at him, teeth clenched.
"Shut up. Matters between master and disciple are none of your business."
The Golden Mask Man called Mr. Oblivion shrugged helplessly, then walked over to a decorative stone lion on the square, sat on its base, crossed his legs, and watched with amusement. The two Blue-Faced Men stood behind him.
"Master Owen, I advise you to make your decision soon. If trouble arises at the last moment and you fail, all your efforts over these centuries will have been in vain."
Vincent Swallow folded his arms, bent slightly, and respectfully addressed Master Owen.
"Master, please reconsider. I've noticed—you want the souls of all the ghosts in Jialan City, don't you?"
Master Owen smiled, nodded, and spoke without reservation.
"Benson Chu, everything I do is for all living beings. Kindness alone can't protect anything. So, quietly return to the mortal world and wait for me. I still have much to discuss with you."
Vincent Swallow began to laugh, but there was grief and anger in his smile.
"Master, as your disciple, I have something to say, though I'm not sure if I should."
I had heard the old eccentric say that among the Five Fiends of Desire, Vincent Swallow was the strongest.
"Back then, my wife, my son, and my disciple fell into sleep and couldn't wake up. Was that your doing?"
A hint of displeasure flashed across Master Owen's face.
"Since you already know, why bother asking me directly?"
"Is it true or not?"
Vincent Swallow pressed on, unwavering.
"It was all my doing. Years ago, I sought the Buddha's elephant, so I borrowed the dream-entering technique of the Naraku people. But it needed a vessel, so I used your family and disciple. Centuries have passed, and I know your pain. Yet as monks, Benson Chu, I apologize to you here and now."
I stared in shock as Brother Owen lowered his head, almost kneeling. At that moment, I saw Vincent Swallow's face filled with complexity, anger, sorrow, helplessness, and regret. He knelt and bowed deeply to Brother Owen.
"This bow is for your kindness in raising me, Master."
With a loud thud, Vincent Swallow bowed his head to the ground again.
"This bow is for your teachings, Master."
He then bowed a third time, his head striking the ground.
"This bow is my farewell to you, Master."
With that, Vincent Swallow stood up and performed a fist-and-palm salute—right palm over left fist. I was surprised; this gesture meant he was ready to risk his life.
"Is there nothing left to say, Benson Chu?"
Master Owen asked again.
"Words are pointless, Master Lucian. The bond between master and disciple ends here."
Brother Owen chuckled, then slowly raised his right palm and placed his left fist atop it.
"If that's the case, let me see for myself the boundless strength you've gained in the Forest of Desire."
I had heard the old eccentric say that among the Five Fiends of Desire, Vincent Swallow was the strongest.
"Heh, Master Owen, you'd better be careful. Want me to lend a hand? Your disciple isn't one to be underestimated."
"Can you tell?"
Master Owen countered, his face full of pride.
"Of course. This little monk's spirit, energy, and essence have reached their peak. Those who practice the arcane arts cultivate these three things. If you, Master Owen, could use him, he'd be a powerful asset."
"Shut up."
Vincent Swallow turned and glared fiercely at Mr. Oblivion.
"Immortality? Heh, ridiculous. What good is immortality?"
"The Buddha's body resides within, the fleshly will undying... Heart Sutra... Immovable King Chant..."
"The Buddha's body resides within, the fleshly will undying... Heart Sutra... Immovable King Chant..."
A Sanskrit chant began to echo all around. I vaguely saw a shadow behind Vincent Swallow—a blue-faced, fanged figure wielding a long staff, seated on a lotus platform. Then, gradually, it receded into Vincent Swallow's body.
A humming sound rang out—another wave of chanting that made me drowsy, yet my skin prickled with goosebumps. It came from within Master Owen, accompanied by a shimmering halo. His body emitted green light as waves of fierce, powerful ghost energy poured forth.
Soft golden rays glimmered on Vincent Swallow's skin. The string of black prayer beads on his chest turned gold, scattered, and floated around his body.
"Benson Chu, I never imagined your strength would reach such heights. Heh, revealing your true power right away—looks like I have no choice but to give it my all."
"Inferno Avatar..."
"Seven insects, seven flowers, seven leaves, seven trees, seven grasses, seven worlds..."
With a sudden sweep of his robe, Brother Owen revealed the edge of his kasaya. Instantly, seven dazzling, multicolored vortices appeared in the sky, radiating a terrifying power.
Golden light flashed in Vincent Swallow's eyes. He exhaled a breath of white mist with a sharp sound.
With a gulp, Vincent Swallow drank some wine, then spat it toward Master Owen in the sky. Instantly, a swirling mass of flames transformed into a fiery figure wielding a spear, its armor and round backplate faintly visible.
With a gulp, Vincent Swallow drank some wine, then spat it toward Brother Owen in the sky. Instantly, a swirling mass of flames transformed into a fiery figure wielding a spear, its armor and round backplate faintly visible.
A green plant appeared in front of him, then slowly bloomed. With a thunderous roar, the fiery figure instantly engulfed Master Owen's silhouette.
A green plant appeared in front of him, then slowly bloomed. With a thunderous roar, the fiery figure instantly engulfed Brother Owen's silhouette.
"Heaven-piercing, earth-filling, for my Buddhist law—Kasaya Treasure Bamboo, ha!"
Suddenly, Vincent Swallow raised both hands, and the pale yellow kasaya on his body unfurled, sweeping across the sky and beginning to envelop us.
"Impressive, Benson Chu. This Heaven-piercing Kasaya was passed to you by my own hand. To use it to such a degree—truly, the student surpasses the master."
Master Owen's words drifted down from the sky. At that moment, I noticed the ghost monks began moving a giant incense burner, while others headed toward the Grand Hall.
Sunny Zhang and I hurried to join the procession of ghost monks and followed them over.