Hunting God Era

Chapter 222 Red Lotus Karmic Fire
The rusty sea breeze, carrying a heavy stench of blood, passed through the dilapidated vermilion gate of the Torii Shrine, dispersing the lingering smoke and the last trace of tainted spiritual energy left by the vanquished demons.

Xuanjin, now the Great Master Honglian, climbed the stone steps, which seemed to be stained with black marks, perhaps from dried blood.

His steps were steady and resolute, each step carrying the weight of a thousand pounds, as if he were about to utterly crush the cursed land beneath his feet.

The dark chains wrapped around his arms were no longer cold; instead, they faintly exuded a scorching sense of judgment, occasionally revealing a crimson hue.

He did not come alone; closely following behind was Saotome Yuko, whom he had rescued from the clutches of the demon child.

Her face was still wet with tears, and she was still in shock, but deep within her eyes, which had once been filled with despair, now shone with a light, as if some strange flame was burning.

It was a flame ignited by immense shock and a thirst for revenge. She witnessed the Crimson Lotus Mage, like a descended deity, wielding those eerie chains, instantly ripping out souls and sending those high-ranking priests, monks, and gangster thugs, along with that filthy ghost child, to hell.

That was a power beyond her comprehension, and even more beyond her understanding—the power to annihilate those people.

Yes, people can be killed, no matter how high or mighty they may be.

She was an ordinary person who accidentally stumbled into the path of cultivation and invigorated her qi and blood. Such people were not uncommon in Japan, and she would also be the subject of attention. If nothing unexpected happened, she would either join the Dark Side or be appreciated and enter a shrine as a shrine maiden.

This is the key to the upper class.

But that was just a dream. She realized that the only thing people at the bottom could be was consumables, tools for seizing profits.

But she couldn't resist. Not only were these people stronger than her, but the deep-rooted influence of their prestigious families also made it impossible for her to fight back.

It wasn't until the monk arrived and killed them all that his merciless judgment left an indelible mark on her heart.

She wasn't powerless to resist; she simply lacked the courage.

The value of life may change, but the essence of life remains the same.

A person dies when they are killed, regardless of who it is.

So she came along too.

As the monk Guren ascended the steps, they arrived at the front of the shrine.

Just a short distance down the steps, in front of the shrine, Li Ye stood with his hands behind his back, while Erica stood silently beside him like a statue.

His gaze calmly fell on the monk who had come up, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

That wasn't praise, but rather the calm acceptance a craftsman feels when his meticulously crafted work finally reveals the expected sharp edges.

It became.

"Are you finding the chains easy to use?"

Li Ye's voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the wind and reached the monk's ears.

He stood on the platform in front of the palace, without bowing, but stared directly at Li Ye with his eyes burning with karmic fire, devoid of any peace.

"It went so smoothly that I changed my name. From this day forward, my name is Grand Master Red Lotus, burning away all karma!"

His voice was low and hoarse, containing a suppressed rage: "Only by burning this world clean can we achieve purity!"

Li Ye laughed and said, "I told you, once you see through it, you won't hold my scheme against you."

Master Honglian nodded, without denying it.

He now understood that Li Ye was doing it on purpose; he wasn't stupid, he just lacked experience.

But there's no need to dwell on this deliberate act, because it's all real.

It is true that powerful and wealthy families are indeed raising demons.

It's true that the gangsters they employ might even be colluding with the underworld.

Ordinary people who should be protected are being used like consumables, which is also true.

These are all true, so there is no difference between intentional and unintentional actions. On the contrary, it is precisely because of this intention that he may awaken even earlier!
"This is the true nature of Japan!"

Master Honglian gritted his teeth and let out a low growl. The chains on his arms seemed to sense his will and emitted a faint hum.

"Hypocritical shrines, decadent temples, wealthy families who suck the lives of ordinary people, raise demons, and treat their own people as sustenance! All of this should be burned to the ground!"

He pointed sharply at Saotome Yuko behind him: "How many people like her are there on this land?! Used as vessels to breed demons, as bargaining chips to pay off debts, as playthings to please those nobles! Their pain, their despair, are the nourishment that feeds this rotten country!"

Li Ye's gaze shifted to Saotome Yuko. The girl trembled slightly, but under the protection of the tangible anger of the Crimson Lotus Mage, she mustered her courage, met Li Ye's deep gaze, and nodded vigorously.

"My lord, I also want to do my part. I don't want things to continue like this!"

I don't want to be sacrificed at will, I don't want to be sold like merchandise, especially without being paid!

Li Ye nodded slightly. What he wanted was this furious outburst of complete rupture, this awareness of directing the criticism at the entire corrupt system.

A compassionate monk who tries to mend things has limited value.

But a 'Red Lotus Grand Master' who is thoroughly enraged and determined to reshape order with slaughter and karmic fire can become the best pawn to stir up the stagnant waters of Japan.

"Anger is power; you can keep these chains for now."

Li Ye slowly spoke, "You want to burn away the filth and cleanse the world, but you alone, with these chains, can't do much. What you're facing is a colossal entity that has been entrenched here for countless years, deeply rooted and entrenched."

"The Shimazu family, as you should know, are the true tyrants of Satsuma. Let's start by uprooting this place. You should know how to do it."

"Yes!"

Master Honglian said, "I will gather others, I will form an organization, and I will declare my revenge on this place!"

First, stir things up in Samoa, then take it slow.

He was not facing a local tyrant.

He knew that the Shimazu family was the most prestigious family in the area, but this was only a part of the iceberg.

Nijo Castle, Edo Castle, and those hidden deeper within, those powerful families that have passed down their legacy for generations—these are the targets he needs to deal with.

If they are not completely crushed, even the ten or a hundred Saotome Yukos that are saved will not be enough, because new victims will soon fill their places.

This man is very strong, and you could rely on him, but that would only be a temporary solution, not a permanent one.

If you want to burn everything away, you still need to rely on yourself.

Otherwise, those people would be eager for someone to storm the mansion so they could rightfully suppress it and serve as a warning to others.

Only by gathering people like Yuko Saotome, gathering other ambitious individuals, and gathering all the forces that can be gathered—whether it be hatred, ambition, or anything else—can we transform pain, anger, conflict, and hatred into the sharpest spears and pierce every corner of Satsuma.

Attack those shrines that are affiliated with the Shimazu family and destroy their dens where they raise demons!

Only by hunting down those monks and gang leaders who act as accomplices to evil, instilling fear in them, and burning down the order and its foundations, can a new order be created.

Trouble!
The bigger the commotion, the better!

"What is your purpose?" asked the Grand Master Honglian.

But there was one more thing. He figured out this man's purpose. If it was to destroy Japan, then after burning everything down, he would find a way to kill this man, even if it meant risking his life to take him down with him.

But if not, then it's a huge help.

Li Ye knew what he was asking and didn't care what he was thinking. He said directly, "Complete the Divine Continent Plan and lead the entire nation of Divine Continent to ascension. You obtained many Primordial Cores from us back then. I will take them back or destroy them one by one. Only in this way can ascension be possible."

There's no point in hiding it. He doesn't think the Red Lotus Grand Master will reveal this, as long as their goals are aligned.

As for the saying that there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests.
The Western standard of greedy dining is no longer effective.

Friendships can last forever, and interests can be mutually beneficial!

Eating cake alone will cause you to choke to death.

The purposes are different, but the results are similar, so there is a basis for cooperation.

"I see. How magnificent! It truly lives up to its reputation as a celestial empire. Do we have a chance?" asked Grand Master Honglian.

"Let's talk about it after you've done what you want to do," Li Ye said with a smile.

"understood."

His voice was strong and resolute, filled with unprecedented determination: "Then I will use these chains as my witness and the red lotus as my symbol to summon all the oppressed! The filth will be cleansed with blood and fire!"

"Go do it. I'll be waiting for you. That chain is very useful. Make a name for yourself."

Li Ye nodded in satisfaction, his gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, seeing the raging fire that would soon engulf the land of Satsuma.

The High Priestess Crimson turned around, and the girl hurriedly followed behind, walking down the stone steps of the Torii Shrine together, their figures quickly blending into the deep and sinful sky of Satsuma.

"Whether it's a raging fire or a tiny flame depends on your ability."

Li Ye watched them leave and chuckled softly, "Don't disappoint me."

“What if that doesn’t work?” Erica asked.

"Just choose another one."

Li Ye said, "If there is only one person like this in all of Japan, then this rotten place is not qualified to fight us in the East China Sea. Even with the help of the West, it is still not qualified."

"The macro-level is determined by the top, but the battles are fought by the people below. When the numbers are brought to life, they become vivid examples and lives. People like monks may not be many, but it's unlikely that they are so rare as to be extremely rare."

"Besides, I'm not just looking at him. Even if he succeeds, I'll find other people to distribute the chains."

Under the power of Ruyi, it is as simple as lending the power of impermanence to others temporarily.

This thing is enough to wipe out all the martial artists in the world.

The five realms within the Primordial Beginning are the targets he needs to deal with.

But now is not the time; let's wait and see.
"Time won't be too slow. This monk and that girl are both from the lowest rungs of society. You can find similar people at the grassroots level, especially that woman. She must know others who have had similar experiences to hers but are probably still alive."

"With the help of the Red Lotus, my authority will be rapidly expanded, and in just a few days, a great fire will be ignited."

ready?

People blinded by anger, those who only think of revenge and purification, no matter how well they prepare, need several examples to demonstrate their actions.

The purification of the land of Samo won't be long, and the core vortex of this great fire...
Li Ye stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the massive silhouette of the castle tower that could be seen from here, his cold smile growing even more icy.

"There must be a reason for this. Raising demons in this way is also a way of consolidating their own power. They wish that demon domains could grow everywhere on their territory and that demons could multiply. Besides resources, these higher-ups must have something they want to do."

Expanding the Yuan Dynasty is a method that aristocratic families and sects are best at. They have to do it even when they are suppressed in China, so they should do it even more in Japan when they are not suppressed.

When he sealed off the Shimazu clan's Yuan Chu, he had a strange feeling that the Yuan Chu was no larger than the Yuan Chu in Shenzhou, and was definitely not a simple 'biographical' level Yuan Chu.

"The Shimazu family had better give me a surprise."

He muttered to himself, his figure disappearing silently like sand scattered by the wind, leaving only the torii shrine sobbing in the night wind, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.

Honglian was indeed very fast; in just three days, there were already victims.

The two shrines and temples that had previously targeted him were suddenly swept away. All the people there were chained up, killed by him, and then burned to the ground.

This was like setting off a firecracker, creating a karmic fire.

Wherever they went, shrines and temples affiliated with the Shimazu family were destroyed, important chains of interest were severed, and low- and middle-level henchmen who acted as accomplices were hunted down.

Panic spread like a plague among the vassal states of the Shimazu clan. Accustomed to oppressing the lower classes from their superior position, they had never witnessed such an organized, fearless, and strangely powerful attack.

In particular, the Red Lotus Mage's method of 'soul extraction and spirit stealing' became a legend among the survivors, and was even described as having the power of ghosts and gods, which made people shudder.

The Satsuma region, especially Kagoshima City, has descended into unprecedented chaos.

During the day, they are filled with anxious citizens and overwhelmed ordinary members of the secret service.

The shrines, temples, and secret police were busy searching for these people, but they couldn't find them anywhere. Even when they did find some, they were simply declared missing, and when they were found again, they were just corpses.

At night, it becomes a battlefield for the Crimson Lotus Mage to hunt.

One shrine and temple after another, one gang hideout after another, all that remains are empty corpses, devoid of any spirit.

Apart from the fire, everyone who died was first rendered unable to resist before being killed.

Demons, high-ranking officials—everything related to Japanese martial artists was completely burned to ashes, leaving everyone in a state of panic.

The land of Satsuma is in complete chaos.

The Shimazu family is in chaos too.

(End of this chapter)