<h4>Chapter 1696 (Raw 1708): Earthen Fire Golden Lotus</h4>


    This time, Yang Qing was truly shocked. As she met Xiao Chen’s sincere gaze, she spoke after being silent for a while. “Thank you. However, there is definitely no conflict of interest between us. I just want to retrieve something from the back mountain of the Buddha Seeking tform, and I will leave after that.”


    “It’s fine. I believe you.”


    The two exchanged nces and continued towards the summit.


    The group of monks from the Pot Mountain regrouped after Xiao Chen and Yang Qing were far away.


    “Senior Brother Yan, what should we do? Are we just going to watch as he empties out all the rare nts on this Buddha Seeking Mountain?”


    “If this continues, that might really happen. Even Senior Brother Yan lost to him. Who else can stop him?”


    Although Yan Feng’s strength was not at the peak among the three blessednds’ true inheritors, he could not be underestimated, either. While he did not rank among the top ten, he was still within the top thirty.


    Being able to defeat Yan Feng was already sufficient for Xiao Chen to reign in this ce. After all, the truly powerful true inheritors would go to the Ten Thousand Weapon Pavilion, the Ten Thousand Flower Garden, or the Ten Thousand Book Library—the three most popr areas. They would rarelye to the Buddha Seeking Mountain.


    People like Shangguan Lei, Zhen Yuan, and Wang Yueming definitely would note here but seek out even more bountifulnds of fortuitous encounters.


    “There’s no rush. My senior brother Zhen Xuan will be arrivingter. We made arrangements long ago. When the timees, with my senior brother making a move, we will definitely take down this white-d desman.”


    Yan Feng admitted wholeheartedly that he was notparable to Xiao Chen. However, it was impossible for him to give up on the Buddha Seeking Mountain. This was especially so for a rare nt like the White Jasmine Flower of Buddhism’s five trees and six flowers.


    A Buddha-like heart was extremely important for a Buddhist’s cultivation. It helped with the understanding of the various ancient Buddhist scriptures and enhancing their wisdom. In fact, many Buddhist Martial Techniques specifically required a Buddha-like heart. If one’s Buddha-like heart was not strong, the might of Buddhist Martial Techniques would weaken as well.


    The rare nts in this Buddha Seeking Mountain all had the effect of strengthening the Buddha-like heart. This was especially so after one consumed a certain amount, which would result in a qualitative change.


    For the people of the Buddhist sect, Xiao Chen’s monopoly of so many of these rare nts was beyond endurance.


    However, this Yan Feng also forgot Xiao Chen’sst warning. If there was a next time, Xiao Chen would not show any more mercy.


    —


    At this moment, a white-d monk frowned heavily while standing on a hill some distance from the Buddha Seeking Mountain. He showed a confused expression.


    “Strange. To think that the ck lotus mark that Master left actually weakened so much.”


    This white-d monk was none other than the ck Lotus Church’s Holy Son, Ming Xuan. Right now, he had another identity, the Profound Light Temple’s new disciple Yan She.


    Due to Xiao Chen’s consumption of the Snow Lotus, the ck lotus mark on him was already extremely faint.


    The Holy Son Ming Xuan had thought that he could easily find Xiao Chen through the ck lotus mark after he entered the Fiendish Demon Battlefield. He now found this task somewhat tricky.


    The ck lotus mark was very weak, flickering in and out of existence. This made it very hard for Ming Xuan to determine Xiao Chen’s location.


    “Fortunately, it did not disappearpletely. I still can sense the rough direction.


    The Holy Son Ming Xuan nced in the direction of the Buddha Seeking Mountain. A light shed in his eyes, and his figure vanished in the next moment.


    —


    On the mountain path ascending the Buddha Seeking Mountain, Xiao Chen and Yang Qing continued walking. asionally, he sensed something from the Buddhist ?arīra Pearls and would make a trip into the jungle.


    When he came out, there would definitely be a rare Buddhist nt in his hand.


    “Earthen Fire Golden Lotus!”


    This time, when Xiao Chen sensed something from the Buddhist ?arīra Pearls, he immediately followed what he sensed and discovered a golden lotus that seemed to be on fire.


    Xiao Chen revealed joy on his face. The Earthen Fire Golden Lotus was one of the six flowers of Buddhism’s five trees and six flowers and was a higher level than the White Jasmine Flower.


    More importantly, the Earthen Fire Golden Lotus was very rare. It did not grow inrge numbers like the White Jasmine Flower. The Earthen Fire Golden Lotus had exceptionally high requirements for its environment, able to flourish only in special areas.


    However, it seemed like this Earthen Fire Golden Lotus was not quite mature yet.


    The petals of the Earthen Fire Golden Lotus still had not opened up, like a shy girl covering her face with her ten fingers.


    Xiao Chen could not care. If it was immature, then so be it. It was better than letting another take it away.


    He took out a brocade box and carefully moved his body. Right after he put away the Earthen Fire Golden Lotus, he sensed a dangerous aura.


    His face sank as he quickly took a few steps back. Then, he leaped into the air andnded on top of a tree branch.


    Xiao Chen looked over and saw a ck “wall” appear. When he shifted his gaze up, he discovered that it was a ck Iron Demon Ape over thirty meters tall.


    It had silentlynded in front of him at some point in time.


    Damn! How can this ck Iron Demon Ape be so nimble? To think that it can even hide its aura so well.


    Xiao Chen suspected that he ran into a mutated ck Iron Demon Ape.


    He pushed off with his feet, springing up and disappearing from the tree branch.


    “Bang!”


    Xiao Chen’s figure had just disappeared when ck Iron Demon Ape smashed the tree that he had been standing on into powder with one palm strike.


    This also happened silently just like before—the result of absolute control of force.


    How scary!


    Xiao Chen’s heart sank. He knew that he guessed right. This was a mutated ck Iron Demon Ape.


    This ck Iron Demon Ape’s strength definitely surpassed that of an early-stage Major Primal Core cultivator. It might even be at the level of a peak Major Primal Core cultivator.


    Xiao Chen knew that this Earthen Fire Golden Lotus would not be easy to obtain.


    He did not dare to fight in the depths of this jungle. Who knew whether the battle would draw another ridiculously strong ferocious beast?


    Relying on the new Fish Dragon Art, Xiao Chen made a mad dash for the mountain path, evading the various attacks of the ck Iron Demon Ape.


    Xiao Chen dodged strike after strike. This mutated ck Iron Demon Ape was ridiculously strong. Even if there were no other factors, he would not be willing to fight such a ferocious beast. That would just be asking for trouble.


    Although he focused fully on fleeing, after a while, he felt somewhat tired from being chased.


    He had to keep his guard up at all times. Every time he leaped up, he had to n it carefully and execute it at full power to dodge the attack of that ck Iron Demon Ape.


    While the actions appeared simple, the drain on his mind and body was enormous.


    Fortunately, the mountain path was no longer far away.


    “Whoosh!”


    Xiao Chen made one final leap, and ayer of faint purple mes covered his body before he managed to dodge thest attack of the ck Iron Demon Ape. Once hended firmly, he would be able to catch a breather.


    The mountain path was an absolute safe zone. Along the way, there had not been any sightings of a ferocious beast daring to step on it.


    The mountain was like a pool of electricity intimidating all sorts of ferocious beasts in the jungle.


    “Young Master Xiao, be careful!”


    However, the expression of Yang Qing, who was at the side, changed drastically. Her fine ck hair all suddenly turned white. The ambient temperature plummeted, and snow fell in the air.


    Yang Qing’s palm strike at the air looked like a sh of fiery light amid the snowkes. In the time it took for a spark to fly, the snowkes in the air also burst forth with light.


    The snowkes turned crystal-clear and appeared perfect.


    “Bang!” Xiao Chen looked over his shoulder and saw a frightening scene. The ck Iron Demon Ape had actually silently followed him and was just right above his head.


    For some strange reason, this mutated ck Iron Demon Ape had ignored the taboo and gone over to the mountain path.


    After the loud report, ice sealed the ck Iron Demon Ape’s entire body. Yang Qing’s peak palm strike sent it flying back into the jungle.


    “Young Master Xiao, are you alright?” Yang Qing’s face paled slightly, and her voice sounded weak. Clearly, the rebound from that powerful palm strike just now was somewhat unbearable.


    Xiao Chen nodded. That was really dangerous earlier. That ck Iron Demon Ape was too nimble. Every time it leaped, it was silent. This was simply too incredible.


    Just as he was about to say something, a loud howl suddenly resounded. The thirty-odd-meter-tall ck Iron Demon Ape got up once more.


    The ck Iron Demon Ape turned berserk, and all the ice on its body fell off.


    “Peak Major Primal Core Realm...Young Master Xiao, how did you manage to escape it uninjured?”


    Suddenly, the ck Iron Demon Ape’s aura skyrocketed to a horrifying level, startling both Xiao Chen and Yang Qing.


    “Unbendable Might!”


    Just as Xiao Chen was about to make a move, a few voices rang out in an orderly fashion. Righteous Qi spread out in all directions, soaring into the air.