Chapter 581 — The Eccentric Guests Around the Cult Leader

Just then, a burly man wearing a bronze mask walked out of the Spirit-Energy Transference Bridge, panting heavily. He gasped for breath and said, "You all run too fast. I risked my old life to barely catch up. I can't run anymore... Huh? Xing'an is here too?"

Xing'an's expression changed drastically. He grabbed his chest and fled far away. With a thunderous boom, his form tore through the air, leaving behind a trail of cloud vapor. Before anyone could react, he had already run a hundred li away. His speed was astonishing.

The Alchemist touched the mask on his face and said in surprise, "Why did he run so fast? I hadn't even had time to make my move..."

"Teacher Heaven Blade—"

From the Spirit-Energy Transference Bridge, a heavy, resounding voice came from the desolate ruins, deafening: "I see you! Don't run! Qingniu, run faster! Teacher, I have so many things to say to you—say—say—"

The Butcher's face turned ashen. He said in a panic, "Bashan has caught up! Let's go, quickly!"

Grandmother Zhu and the others hurriedly departed. After a moment, a green ox strongman over ten zhang tall descended from the sky, a peony flower held in his mouth, his muscles bulging and twitching, extremely excited as he walked out from the light. Then another burly man walked out, looked around, and said joyfully, "Teacher's blade-light is conspicuous—it can't hide from me! Qingniu, reveal your form!"

The green ox strongman let out a loud bellow and transformed into a green ox over forty zhang from head to tail, covered in green mane and dragon scales. The burly man leaped onto the ox's back, and the green ox stepped through the air and departed.

The guards of the Spirit-Energy Transference Bridge looked at each other. The chief exhaled a breath of turbid air and said, "So many eccentrics came today..."

Before his voice faded, light suddenly flickered. From the bridge's radiance walked three monks—one old and two young. The white-browed monk had a solemn, dignified countenance. Behind him manifested twenty heavens, and within those twenty heavens sat hundreds of eminent monks, old and young, great and small, both demons and humans.

Of the two young monks, one had a face like a full moon, dignified and solemn, while the other was as sturdy as a black pagoda, holding a Zen staff.

The white-browed monk said, "Zhankong, ask the way."

The hairy monk like a black pagoda stepped forward, pressed his palms together in greeting with one hand, and asked the guard chief, "Way?"

The chief was utterly bewildered. He ventured, "Good? Evil?"

The black monk said, "Good."

"There!" The guard chief raised his hand, pointing toward Li City.

The white-browed monk stepped forward, leading the two young monks down from the Transference Bridge. Mingyue praised, "Tathagata, Senior Brother Zhankong's way-asking was truly concise and comprehensive. With just two words he asked for the road. This disciple has gained much."

Ma Rulai nodded and said, "He has great wisdom."

The many guards watched them depart in a daze. Before they could recover, a group of old Daoists and old nuns surrounded a young Daoist and walked out from the bridge.

"So this is the Spirit-Energy Transference Bridge built by Old Demon Shen? Old Demon Shen's mastery of the arts of calculation is truly at its peak!"

The many old Daoists and old nuns ignored the guards completely. They took out various calculation tools, eyes fixed only on their work, and directly measured and calculated the various runes and imprints on the Transference Bridge, exchanging excited conversation.

The many guards looked at each other. They were about to approach and question the young Daoist when they saw that the young Daoist was even more excited than the old Daoists, measuring and calculating while muttering to himself, utterly fanatical, intoxicated.

"The people of Jingping are all eccentrics!"

While these Daoists were still measuring and calculating, several old men with the air of immortals, accompanied by a few young men and women, walked over. Seeing this scene, they laughed and said, "Daoist Master Lin Xuan, what are you doing?"

"So it's the seniors of Little Jade Capital, and Senior Brother Muran!"

Daoist Master Lin Xuan looked up and said excitedly, "The arts of calculation Cult Leader Shen applied to this bridge are truly astonishing. We are measuring and calculating!"

Wang Muran laughed and said, "Daoist Master, even if you measure and calculate, you may not be able to derive all the knowledge within. Why not go ask Cult Leader Shen and have him give your Daoist sect a set of blueprints?"

Daoist Master Lin Xuan suddenly understood. He called over the many Daoists and said with a laugh, "The moment we saw this Transference Bridge, we forgot there was a shortcut. By the way, has Senior Brother Xu Shenghua arrived?"

Mu Qingdai said, "After he returned from Shangcang, he went to Taihuang Heaven. He should have arrived long ago. Most likely he went to the Town God Pagoda to see whether he can pass the trial of the Youthful True God."

The crowd bustled as they walked toward Li City. Clearly, some disciples had been here before and knew the route well, leaving behind only the bewildered guards.

"Are all these people friends of Cult Leader Shen? They're all eccentrics!"

The guard chief murmured, "Cult Leader Shen is such a normal, good man—how did he come to befriend all these eccentrics?"