荒墟牧神 - 第478章 巫神叩魂 - 簡牘書房

Little Thunderclap Temple.

Shen Mu looked around. Most of the layout here resembled that of the Great Thunderclap Temple—after all, the Little Thunderclap Temple had existed for only a few hundred years and lacked the Great Thunderclap Temple's deep foundations, so it could only copy wholesale.

Yet the number of demon monks here was no less than that of the Great Thunderclap Temple. The Little Thunderclap Temple was arguably the only holy ground in the Wasteland, with no rival; and since the Wasteland teemed with strange beasts, the Little Thunderclap Temple flourished exceedingly.

Many demon monks came and went, all neatly robed and courteous to others. Shen Mu also saw a flood dragon coiled within the temple grounds, expounding scriptures and preaching to many demon beasts that had not yet taken human form. In other temples, great demon monks were expounding scriptures and teaching the canon to numerous demon monks, instructing them in divine abilities and passing on the methods of refining treasures.

"This is like a civilization of the demon race."

Shen Mu was full of admiration. Whatever one thought of Little Tathagata's conduct, the fact that he had built the Little Thunderclap Temple from nothing to such a state by his own strength alone was worthy of respect.

Little Tathagata and Old Tathagata were fellow disciples, of roughly the same age. Old Tathagata's lifespan had run out, and he had died in battle in the Divine Severance Mountain Range; but Little Tathagata was a great demon who had attained the Way, and his lifespan was very long.

With him there, the Little Thunderclap Temple grew more and more prosperous.

Suddenly, two great demons leaped and bounded like the wind, trading blows. Now they leapt into the clouds, now they plunged into the valley below; their attacks were swift, their moves fierce and formidable.

"These two senior brothers are no weaklings," Xu Shenghua said in surprise, glancing up.

Overjoyed, Shen Mu called out loudly, "Big fellow!"

One of the great demons was a mighty demon monk, all brawn and sinew, with only some black fur left un-shed on his face and hands. He was wielding a Zen staff against his opponent. Hearing the call, he at once knocked his opponent flying with a staff blow, bounded over, and landed with a crash, exclaiming in surprise, "Little bean sprout! Bald—where?"

That last question was meant for Little Tathagata, who could not help but fly into a rage. He slapped the demon monk right on the head and shouted, "Who calls his master a bald donkey? I didn't attain the Way from a donkey!"

Xuanliao the Demon Ape, Zhankong, hastily covered his head and stammered, "Little—where?"

Little Tathagata didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I met him at the foot of the mountain, so I invited him over as a guest."

The Demon Ape grinned, baring his teeth, and was about to give Shen Mu a hug, only to find Shen Mu too short. Shen Mu had actually grown a great deal taller, now on par with the Butcher, only a little shorter than the Alchemist. But the Demon Ape himself was exceedingly burly; even in his youth he had already stood taller than the mountain forests.

Now that he had grown up, if he revealed his true form, he would likely be no less formidable than the Dragon Qilin.

Now, in human form, he stood nearly two zhang tall.

Suddenly, the great demon he had been fighting came charging over with a shout, wanting to resume their battle. "Senior Brother Zhankong, let's go another round!"

The Demon Ape flew into a rage. He reached out one hand and seized the demon monk by the neck. The demon monk immediately lost all his fight; his limbs drooped, and the tail behind his rump hung limp, wagging once in a fawning manner.

The Demon Ape set him down and presented him before Shen Mu, declaring loudly, "Meat, guest!"