Buddha's Realm in the Palm, Are They Making Plans

"What has the Divine Monk discerned?"

Little Li the Heavenly Serpent felt a slight chill in his heart.

Hmm...

Actually, the question mark at the end could be removed.

If Divine Monk Huaikong couldn’t detect even a hint of something amiss, he wouldn’t deserve his reputation as a Sage.

But then again...

Weren’t those who came to vie for the Celestial Jade all demonic beasts from the Southern Border?

Had he ever stipulated that humans couldn’t compete for the jade? He couldn’t recall...

If he couldn’t remember, then it probably meant there was no such rule.

Divine Monk Huaikong had one flaw—forgetfulness.

"Apologies for keeping you all waiting. The Celestial Jade is..."

Divine Monk Huaikong’s words abruptly stopped halfway as he turned to look beside him.

Hengyuan, who had taken a vow of silence, sighed lightly and gestured.

"Oh... it’s in this old monk’s Palm Buddha Realm."

Divine Monk Huaikong nodded, then froze for a moment, as if only just remembering how to use the Palm Buddha Realm.

He produced an alms bowl and tossed it lightly into the air.

The bowl suddenly expanded, its dark interior radiating a dazzling light as countless wondrous landscapes emerged within, as though it could contain the sun, moon, and the cosmos itself.

"The Dao of Mustard Seed and Sumeru?"

Li Mo recalled hearing about this from the "Ice Block" before.

The reason the Seventh Realm was called "Palm Profundity" was because its greatest distinction from the Sixth Realm lay in embodying a single 'Dao.'

No wonder every hall and side chamber of the Suspended Temple seemed like a world of its own—akin to spatial treasures but far more advanced, even capable of sustaining living beings within.

It was likely all the work of this very Divine Monk Huaikong.

Yet when Li Mo looked up, he couldn’t help but feel his mental image of a Palm Profundity Sage crumbling a little.

"Did I put it here?"

"Elder Abbot, this is the Sea of Yakshas—a realm formed from the remains of a fourth-tier demon king you once subdued."

"Oh, right... then..."

"This is the Fire Prison, used to punish disaster beasts that cause trouble in the temple!"

Divine Monk Huaikong’s Palm Buddha Realm encompassed all things.

The problem was his terrible memory.

Li Mo even wondered if the old monk might forget he had already eaten right after a meal and go for another round.

The gathered demonic beasts: "..."

"Ah, I must have placed it in the Five Elements Realm."

After searching for a long while, Divine Monk Huaikong finally located where the Celestial Jade was stored.

A faint glimpse could be seen through the alms bowl.

On the other side was a breathtaking landscape—golden mineral veins, boundless forests, raging waters, volcanic lava, and desert wastelands coexisting yet remaining distinct.

At the center of these five regions stood an impossibly tall solitary peak, shimmering with resplendent divine light.

The Celestial Jade!

The expressions of the demonic beasts present varied—some greedy, some yearning, some lost in thought.

For any demonic beast, even a single glance at that divine light stirred an indescribable tremor deep within their souls.

Even Li Mo was no exception.

Even though he had merely taken the form of a Heavenly Serpent.

"Jade Phoenix Divine..."

Ying Bing exhaled softly.

The Jade Phoenix Divine could trigger ancestral reversion in many demonic beasts, but this was merely its most superficial marvel. It embodied the divine will of the Nine-Colored Primordial Phoenix, representing its profound mysteries and the wisdom of nurturing all things.

The answer to the question she sought most might lie within it.

Could the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths permit two individuals to ascend as immortals simultaneously?

And if so, how?

"The Ice Block is dead set on obtaining the Jade Phoenix Divine..."

Li Mo noticed the growing intensity in the young woman’s beautiful eyes.

He, too, steeled himself.

The demonic beasts around them were equally eager, each determined to claim the divine jade for themselves.

"Honored guests, please prepare yourselves before entering the bowl."

A senior monk at the Dharma Body Realm spoke up.

Every time the jade was contested, the young geniuses of the demonic beast clans would make preparations and employ certain methods before entering the Buddha Realm.

The Suspended Temple never interfered with such practices.

"Children, it’s time to bring out our thirty-year-aged monkey wine!"

Not far away, an elderly white-furred macaque seemed pained but still retrieved a tree stump, carefully cracking it open to release a crisp, intoxicating aroma.

Just the scent alone sent a surge of warmth through the body—its potency was undeniable.

Several younger white-faced macaques drank the wine and then stepped into the alms bowl.

"Hehe... hehehe..."

Shang Qinqing’s gaze kept shifting between her Qingluan Goddess and the Heavenly Serpent clan’s peerless genius, occasionally letting out an auntie-like chuckle until a clansman nudged her.

Clearing her throat, she adopted a solemn tone.

"I shall play a tune for you, to ensure your unstoppable advance."

With that, she produced an ancient zither and began plucking its strings with delicate fingers.

The melody carried an ancient charm—ethereal and profound.

"Listening to celestial music must feel like this..."

As Li Mo listened, he noticed something miraculous.

The flow of his true essence had accelerated, and even the rotation of his seven profound cores had become smoother and more natural.

Marvelous.

"The Qingluan clan’s music Dao greatly enhances one’s strength."

"Huh? Really?" Wu Dameng looked puzzled.

"You can’t hear it?"

Li Mo was taken aback, but when he glanced up, the Qingluan clan leader winked at him, her eyes brimming with amusement.

Little Li instantly understood.

Her mastery over music had reached the point where only those she permitted could hear it.

Aside from her own clansmen, he was the only one among the gathered beasts who could listen—a special privilege just for him...

She was surprisingly kind.

In truth, Li Mo had just hatched a brilliant idea.

If music Dao could enhance those who listened to it...

And if the enhanced individuals could then play even more potent music for others...

Couldn’t they create an endless loop?

Person A plays for B, B plays for C, C plays for A—each cycle amplifying the effect until they spiraled into the heavens?

He’d share this thought with her later...

"Aunt Wu, did our clan prepare anything special?"

Li Mo turned to ask.

"Of course, though it’s a bit... stimulating. Bear with it."

Wu Qing smiled and summoned a stream of water, enveloping the five aquatic clansmen about to enter the bowl.

Stimulating?

How so?

Little Li the Heavenly Serpent, submerged in water, was clueless.

"Man, it’s up to you now."

"Mmm~~"

A slender woman with a glossy sheen to her skin, clad in a seaweed skirt, stepped forward.

Li Mo recognized her.

Well, her speech made it obvious.

"I~~~~’m~~~~~ go~~~~ing~~~~ to~~~~~ start~~~~ (electric hum)."

Her true form was a Violet Electric Eel, also a fifth-tier great demon.

She snapped her fingers.

Zap—

A bolt of violet lightning struck down, electrifying the water in an instant and spreading through it.

The five aquatic beings convulsed, their pores flaring open. Wu Dameng even rolled his eyes.

"It’s the electric shock method~~~!"

"We’re done for~~~!"

"This~~~~ mmm~~~?"

Little Li the Heavenly Serpent shuddered violently. When the current subsided, he exhaled a puff of white smoke.

It was indeed thrilling, but for his robust physique, enduring it wasn’t painful.

After the electric stimulation, his reflexes seemed to have sharpened.

But...

Why the hell is my voice now sounding like autotune?!

Give me back my deep, sexy, gravelly voice!

Pfft—

The Qingluan clansmen nearby couldn’t help but laugh, though only Shang Qinqing actually burst out laughing.

Even the icy-faced one couldn’t suppress a faint smirk.

Before stepping into the alms bowl, she turned back and whispered softly:

"I’ll be waiting for you at the Divine Jade Solitary Peak."

"Good, I’ll definitely come!"

Hearing their promise, the demons couldn’t help but feel a restless itch in their hearts.

A duel’s been set.

The True Phoenix bloodline and the True Dragon bloodline—sworn enemies of the avian and aquatic clans—are openly arranging a fight!

Are they planning to settle their rivalry before the Celestial Divine Jade?

Excellent, excellent.

Even if just to witness their earth-shattering battle and see who comes out on top, we’ll have to push ourselves to reach the Divine Jade Solitary Peak!

......

Charge me up, charge me up! Since you’re already here, dear audience, won’t you spare a little charge before leaving? Ehe~