The frontier army was reduced to dust in no time at all. Not a single soldier survived the hordes of beasts. Their commander suffered the same fate.
âAhhh!â Several more groups were attacked in no time at all. They didnât even make it near the entrance before being surrounded by beasts. More than a thousand cultivators were killed.
These groups came from the big powers and had ancestors at the sacred level. This was still far from enough.
The students from Duality finally realized the reason for the carnage and the stench of blood earlier.
âTheyâre so strongâ¦â All cultivators shuddered in horror after seeing the massacre.
The groups earlier were nothing short of impressive, especially the frontier guards. They were battle-hardened but didnât last long.
âWho can actually get in there?â One student murmured.
âIsnât First Senior Sister here?â Another said.
âYouâre right, maybe she can give it a shot.â The first became excited and looked around.
They were talking about the academyâs top genius, Dugu Lan. She might be the strongest there as well, at least among the student body.
âItâs useless.â A teacher who got here early shook his head and said: âStudent Lan managed to escape the beasts but still couldnât get through the powerful defense inside.â
âShe couldnât?â The students shuddered. If Dugu Lan couldnât, no other students had a chance. Even the teachers would find it impossible.
âXiao Lan failed?â Teacher Du was surprised and stared at the valley: âWhat kind of defense is in there?â
âDo you see those steps? The statues to the left and right are just too strong. Student Lan was repelled by them.â The teacher pointed forward.
All eyes turned towards the entrance with the steps leading down the cliff. Numerous statues there were covered in moss.
Prior to this, the students assumed that they were mere decorations. This was no longer the case.
âMaybe the headmaster can do it.â A teacher said: âNo one else but those on his level can obtain this golden divine egg.â
âIs the headmaster here too?â Some students blurted out.
The teachers exchanged glances and didnât answer. However, judging by their expression, the students thought that the headmaster might actually be here.
âMaybe weâll be lucky enough to see the headmasterâs might.â Some became excited.
The current headmaster of Duality was Five-colored Sacred Sovereign, one of the four grandmasters of Buddha Holy Ground. He became a Heavenly Sovereign at a young age and was among the top experts of the south.
His involvement here would naturally shock the entire region.
âWith enough time, the other grandmasters might come too.â One teacher glanced at the sky and said seriously.
The students took a deep breath after hearing this. The four grandmasters were four giants pushing up the sky here. It was hard to find others at this level.
Moreover, they were elusive too and rarely showed up. Their presence meant that something big was happening.
According to the teacher just now, this place warranted the appearance of more than just one.
âFellow officials, itâs time to work together.â One old man suddenly declared: âNo one can enter alone.â
His voice wasnât particularly loud but everyone could hear him. They all stared in his direction.
He wore an official robe and had an impressive stature. His expression was fierce and powerful; he looked more like a general than a court official.
âSenior Defender Shang from the Ministry of War, a general under Minister Sima.â An expert immediately recognized him and became startled.
He didnât come alone and had a valiant group behind him consisting of incredible experts with strong bloodthirst.
âSir Shang is a brutal figure who flattened numerous problems for Minister Sima.â Others shuddered.
The Minister of War was notorious in the holy ground, known for his ruthless and decisive measures. He flattened many obstacles for Vajra. The legions of Vajra became stronger now than at any time in the past.
He was gifted in the military arts. Numerous powers wanted to join him in order to create something great.
Sir Shang was one of his generals. This meant that either the Ministry of War or the dynasty itself desired this golden egg.
In reality, no one ruled forever. This was an accepted fact in the holy ground. Vajra was in charge for now but not in perpetuity. This golden egg had deep ties with Buddhism. It could strengthen their authority and sovereignty so it was crucial
The seniors and elders exchanged glances after hearing him. Some powers didnât care enough to give him face but this wasnât the case for both who were from the noble clans. They were from the dynasty, more or less.
âYouâre right, Sir.â An old man wearing an embroidered robe said: âThese beasts are just too strong. We have no chance without the help of a grandmaster. Itâs better to work together.â
âThe Marquis of South Peak.â Eyes turned towards him.
He was granted a noble title by the court along with hereditary territories, meaning that his son would inherit both the title and his land. He was an important official in the frontier. A thousand experts behind him made his power obvious.
âWho will the egg belong to if we get it?â One person asked.
Everyone wanted this supreme Buddhist treasure for themselves. How would they split it?
âThis egg belongs to the virtuous.â Sir Sheng said: âWho in this land is more virtuous than His Majesty? Thus, when we get it, weâll offer it as a tribute.â Sir Shang said with a serious tone.
People exchanged glances after hearing this.
âI donât know if his cultivation has improved but his sycophantic ability certainly has.â One high elder snorted and spoke among his group.
The powerful ancestors felt the same way but didnât comment on this.
Vajra was currently in charge but it wasnât an iron-clad reign. The ancestors from the five divisions of Buddha Emperor Plateau didnât think much of it. They naturally wouldnât offer the egg to the king.
The conversation came to a lull until a Buddhist chant could be heard: âAmitabha.â