Chapter 12657 Behind the End

Chapter 12657 Behind the End
"Discovered!"

Ye Chen's heart tightened, and he immediately mobilized the remaining sacrificial power of the Deceitful Talisman. A wisp of chaotic blood light enveloped his body, and he hid behind a large tree.

Brush brush!
Soon, streaks of light shot from all directions into the sky above Mount Yongjiu. These were all powerful figures from the high-ranking members of the Temple of the End.

Ye Chen saw that the Nightmare Lord, the End Light Lord, Gui Long Ji, and others had all arrived, as had Jing Li Yue!

Jing Liyue frowned slightly as she looked down. She knew that Ye Chen had entered the Eternal Silence Finger Mountain, which was a forbidden area of ​​the Temple of the End.

If Ye Chen is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable!

"Has someone trespassed into the forbidden area?"

The Nightmare Lord's face was gloomy as he scanned the Eternal Silence Finger Mountain, vaguely sensing that the aura within the forbidden area was disturbed and unusual fluctuations were occurring.

"Yes, I did sense something amiss!"

An elder reported to the Great Lord of Nightmare.

The Nightmare Lord looked at the Eternal Silence Finger Mountain, but instead of going down to investigate, he calculated the secrets of heaven with his fingers.

For the higher-ups of the Temple of the End, Mount Eternal Silence is a forbidden area; no one wants to step into it unless it is absolutely necessary.

"Hmm? A blank page?"

"Could it just be ordinary fluctuations in the earth's veins?"

After calculating for a while, the Nightmare Lord frowned deeply.

Something is not right.

He hadn't anticipated anything unusual; everything seemed calm and peaceful.

However, based on his strong intuition, he felt uneasy, as if a venomous snake had entered his house. Although he couldn't find it no matter how hard he looked, it didn't mean the snake didn't exist!
"Could it be the Lord of Reincarnation?"

Gui Longji whispered from the side.

Ye Chen's past reputation was so great that wherever he went, turmoil and upheaval would occur. Many people regarded him as a major cancer!

At this moment, Gui Longji also guessed that the change in the aura of Yongji Finger Mountain might be related to Ye Chen!

Ye Chen has trespassed into the forbidden area!

"Impossible! The Lord of Reincarnation is still in my celestial realm! How could he have trespassed into the forbidden area? Don't try to slander me out of thin air!"

Jing Liyue reacted quickly and immediately stood up to refute. With a flick of her slender hand, a mirror appeared, reflecting the scene inside her cave.

Sure enough, a young man was seen sitting cross-legged, concentrating on his cultivation.

It was Ye Chen.

In fact, this scene was created by Jing Liyue.

However, her illusionary mirror technique was extremely advanced. Those around her felt that the heavenly secrets and cause and effect were perfectly aligned and without any flaws, and that Ye Chen was indeed in her cave.

Furthermore, Jing Liyue is a guest elder of the Temple of the End, with an extremely high status and strength. She is a Heavenly Demon who can reflect the Dao Ancestor of No End, yet no one dares to easily question her words.

"Isn't he the Lord of Reincarnation?"

The Nightmare Lord frowned even more deeply as he looked at the Eternal Silence Pointing Mountain. He wanted to go down and investigate, but he was also wary of the pollution and dangers within.

At this moment, Ye Chen was hiding in the Eternal Silence Finger Mountain. With the help of the Deceitful Heaven Talisman, he completely concealed himself. Even if the Nightmare Venerable Great Heavenly Lord deduced the secrets of heaven, he could only glimpse a blank space.

"Goddess, is the Lord of Reincarnation truly in your territory?"

Just then, an old and indifferent voice came.

Amidst the dark clouds on the horizon, a hunched figure, leaning on a wooden cane, slowly rode the clouds. He wore a red cloak with the hood pulled up, obscuring his face.

The face that was revealed below was skeletal, with only some rotting flesh and tendons hanging from it. A wisp of dark, chaotic, and evil energy emanated from his body, hissing and coiling like a venomous snake, making him look quite eerie and terrifying.

The wooden staff he was holding also had a skull on it, exuding a strong sense of yin energy.

"Sir, Deputy Palace Master!"

Upon seeing the cloaked figure arrive, the Great Lord of Nightmare, the Lord of Endless Light, Princess Guilong, and others present immediately showed expressions of awe and bowed in respect.

"Sir, Deputy Palace Master."

Jing Liyue bowed slightly in greeting.

“Goddess, there’s no need for such formalities. Just call me ‘shepherd’.”

The cloaked figure spoke in a kind tone, but his voice sounded extremely sinister and eerie. He slightly raised his head, and in the sunlight, his entire face resembled a skull, with rotting flesh and tendons hanging from it, from which worms had already sprouted and were slowly wriggling, a horrifying sight.

Jing Liyue felt a chill in her heart and bent down slightly.

This cloaked figure was none other than the deputy temple master of the Temple of the End, who had no name, only a code name:
shepherd!
The meaning of "shepherd" is that all beings in the heavens are like lost lambs, and they need someone to guide them back to the right path and onto the smooth road to the new world.

The seemingly simple and ordinary code name actually contains extreme arrogance and domineering spirit, aiming to guide all beings and point out the path for them!

Even Jing Liyue dared not be arrogant or presumptuous in front of the "shepherd".

"Goddess, the Lord of Reincarnation is not in your territory, is he?"

The "shepherd" looked calmly at Jing Liyue. After he finished speaking, with a crack, the mirror that Jing Liyue had just released shattered, and the image of Ye Chen meditating inside also shattered.

Jing Liyue felt a chill in her heart and was filled with fear. When she met the "shepherd's" gaze, she felt as if insects were crawling all over her body. She froze on the spot, not daring to move and speechless.

All the elders present remained silent.

The shepherd was silent for a moment, then said, "You all leave, I will handle this matter."

Upon hearing this, the elders felt relieved and as if they had been granted a pardon. They bowed respectfully and then left.

Jing Liyue's heart tightened, and she secretly transmitted her voice to Ye Chen:

"Ye Chen, run!"

"If the 'shepherd' finds you, you're dead!"

She had previously given Ye Chen a Primal Mirror, so even though they were separated by the forbidden area, she could still transmit her voice to Ye Chen.

After transmitting her voice, Jing Liyue left. Although she was extremely worried, she dared not be presumptuous in front of the "shepherd".

Soon, only the "shepherd" remained above Mount Yongji.

"shepherd……"

As Ye Chen muttered the code name, he suddenly felt a bit dizzy, as if he had become a lost lamb, about to kneel down and submit to the shepherd, submitting to his guidance and enslavement.

He was startled; the words "shepherd" clearly implied a profound cause and effect.

This deputy hall master is definitely not simple!
Ye Chen looked at the skull face under the hood of the "shepherd's" cloak and the skull-headed wooden staff, and felt a sense of solemnity.

The shepherd stretched out his wooden staff, the tip of which lightly touched the Eternal Silence Finger Mountain below. An invisible ripple spread outwards, probing the various signs of the Eternal Silence Finger Mountain.

Mount Yongji is shrouded in chaotic energy and mysterious abyssal energy, forming a mist that makes it difficult to see or understand.

But the shepherd proceeded slowly and deliberately, the two will-o'-the-wisps in the skull's eyes flickering gently as he patiently investigated and pursued the matter.

A ripple of probe swept over Ye Chen, and his heart tightened. Thanks to the concealment of the Deceitful Talisman, he was not discovered for the time being.

However, he sensed an extremely dangerous aura. If he didn't find a way to leave soon, he would be completely exposed!
Ye Chen looked at what was in front of him. Five stone pillars stood like pillars of heaven. These were the original stone pillars of Yongji Finger Mountain. In addition, there was a sixth stone pillar, which protruded to the side and looked very abrupt. It resonated with the Yang God Heavenly Pearl. It seemed to be a section of the corpse of the female Yang God, such as an arm or a finger.

Ye Chen wanted to take the severed limb, but under the shepherd's surveillance, he dared not make any rash moves.

He couldn't even escape unscathed.

If he were to leave the Everlasting Pointing Mountain, as the shepherd had been scouting him, his presence would be immediately exposed.

Hiding in the mountains, they could also use the Heaven-Deceiving Talisman and the mountain forest environment for cover.

But this kind of cover-up will probably be exposed eventually!
"Lord of Reincarnation, over here, here..."

Just then, an extremely weak voice entered Ye Chen's soul.

It didn't just reach the ears, it entered the soul.

The speaker seemed to have used tremendous strength to transmit the sound, preventing the shepherd from detecting it.

"Is there anyone here?"

Ye Chen's heart stirred, and he vaguely glimpsed an opportunity to break the deadlock. He cautiously followed the sound.

The Eternal Silence Points Mountain is filled with chaotic abyss mists, and his figure is hidden in the mists, so he will not be exposed for the time being.

Before long, Ye Chen arrived at the foot of the five stone pillars of Yongji Finger Mountain.

These five stone pillars are like five fingers, and beneath these five fingers, someone is being suppressed!

The man was disheveled and filthy, suppressed by the Five-Finger Stone Pillar. His face was haggard, his breath weak, and his eyes were filled with a lifeless and dull look. Only after seeing Ye Chen did a glimmer of light appear in his eyes.

Seeing the dense chaotic mist around him, and knowing that the concealment effect of his Heaven-Deceiving Talisman hadn't dissipated yet and he wouldn't be exposed for the time being, Ye Chen cautiously looked at the man and asked:

"who are you?"

He had a vague feeling that this man might be the key to breaking the deadlock!
The man's lips twitched into a complex smile, and he said:
"Me? I'm a butcher."

"Butcher?" Ye Chen murmured, looking at the man's miserable state of being suppressed, yet calling him "butcher," which was somewhat ironic and bizarre.

"Yes, my junior brother is the 'shepherd,' and I am the 'butcher.'"

The man nodded slightly and explained to Ye Chen in a very serious manner.

"This 'shepherd' is actually your junior brother? Could you be the Grand Master of the Temple of the End?"

Ye Chen looked at the "shepherd" in the sky, then at the "butcher," and felt a sense of strangeness.

"No, I am also a deputy hall master."

"There are actually two deputy hall masters."

“My junior brother is a shepherd who brings the lost lambs to me, and I, the butcher, slaughter them all!”

"In this way, the world can be marked with the sign of its end."

"At that time, the Grand Master, the Future Buddha, will create a perfect new world."

The butcher slowly began to speak, his tone surprisingly philosophical, as he discussed the concept of "the end times."

Although he was suppressed and reduced to a prisoner, he now speaks of the Way of the End with great enthusiasm, as if explaining the mission he is so proud of.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen was deeply shaken and murmured to himself:

"Shepherd, butcher, future Buddha..."

The butcher said, "Yes, this is the mission I was born for in the Temple of the End."

Ye Chen subconsciously asked, "Is your Grand Master called the Future Buddha?"

The Temple of the End is very mysterious. In the past, the identities of the Grand Temple Master and the Deputy Temple Master were kept secret and unknown to outsiders.

The daily affairs within the temple are also managed by the true disciples of the eight branch temples. Recently, the divine trials are approaching, and the gods of each branch temple have also come forward one after another.

However, the deputy hall master and the main hall master remain in secrecy.

Only now did Ye Chen realize that the Grand Master of the Temple of the End was called the "Future Buddha," and that there were two Vice Masters.

Besides the shepherd, the other one was the butcher who was suppressed here!
The shepherd sees all living beings as lambs, and he will drive them together and then hand them over to the butcher to slaughter!

Once there are no more lost sheep in the world, the future Buddha will create a new world and build a brand new future!

This is the scheme of the Temple of the End!
"You are far too arrogant. How could the Temple of the End, a single force, possibly slaughter all living beings?"

Ye Chen shook his head, feeling that the End God Temple's plan was too far-fetched and impossible to realize.

The butcher smiled bitterly and said, "That's natural, it's a great vow, a great wish."

“A vow is not something that can be easily fulfilled.”

“My junior brother, the Grand Hall Master, and I, the entire Temple of the End, were all born in accordance with the Dao. Our origins were not something we chose.”

Ye Chen said, "Everyone's birth is not a choice they make themselves."

woohoo hoo...

At this moment, a wind rose on Yongji Mountain, and the chaotic mist seemed to dissipate somewhat. This was the shepherd's exploration; his divine sense triggered the mountain wind to dispel the mist and reveal the truth.

The butcher said, "Ah, it was I who acted on impulse and said too many irrelevant things. Lord of Reincarnation, your junior brother is about to find out about you!"

Ye Chen wanted to say that what the butcher had just said was not unrelated.

At least it let him know about the plans and mission of the Temple of the End.

But the situation was dangerous, and Ye Chen only wanted to leave, so he asked the butcher, "Senior Butcher, you summoned me here, surely you have a way to help me escape?"

A hint of hesitation and difficulty flashed in the butcher's eyes. After a moment's thought, he said:
"I can help you escape, but in the future, if you have enough strength, please come back and save me."

"Lord of Reincarnation, I am willing to follow you!"

"No, I should call you... the Last King!"

He looked at Ye Chen with sincere eyes, no longer addressing him as the Lord of Reincarnation, but as the Last King.

Upon hearing the words "Last King," Ye Chen felt a jolt in his heart.

But the butcher's eyes held reverence as he said, "You bear the fate of the end, while I, a butcher, am burdened with the mission of slaughtering lambs. It is truly laughable."

“I know myself well and do not possess such abilities.”

"But I believe that there is a king who will lead me and the Temple of the End to the end of the world and create a perfect new world."

"I believe……"

By the end, the butcher's voice had become hurried and quite agitated.

"You think it's me?" Ye Chen remained silent.

The butcher said, "Yes! Lord of Reincarnation, you are the Last King!"

"Besides you, who else can wield the Sword of Doom?"

Hearing the butcher's words, Ye Chen felt a long-lost surge of passion welling up inside him.

Yes, I am the last king.

I will wield the Sword of Doom and end this chaotic and strife-ridden world.

A new world will be created in my hands!
"Go ahead, pierce my body with your sword. My blood will gush out and obscure the heavens, preventing my junior brother from discovering your presence."

The butcher stared intently at Ye Chen. His method to help Ye Chen escape was simple: as long as he bled, the blood would obscure the heavenly secrets and naturally cover Ye Chen's retreat.

Ye Chen hesitated for a moment. Seeing that he was already very weak after being suppressed under the Five Fingers Stone Pillar, he wondered if he could withstand another sword strike.

The butcher smiled and said, "Don't worry, my king, I can handle it."

Ye Chen nodded silently, slowly drawing the Heavenly Emperor Divine Sword, but still couldn't bring himself to do it, saying:
"How...did you get suppressed here?"

"Well..." The butcher grinned, seemingly hesitant about whether to tell Ye Chen the truth.

"Tell me." Ye Chen looked up at the sky again. The shepherd was probing more closely, and the chaotic mist in the mountains and forests was constantly dissipating and fading. If he didn't leave soon, he would be exposed.

But he vaguely sensed that the cause and effect surrounding the butcher was very important for the future, and he would regret it if he didn't find out.

The butcher said, "Stab me first, and then we'll talk about it after my blood has obscured the truth."

Time is of the essence, otherwise Ye Chen will be exposed.

Ye Chen paused for a moment, then extended his longsword, stabbed it into the butcher's shoulder, and then pulled the sword out.

With a soft "plop," a spurt of blood spurted out. The butcher gritted his teeth and used his fingers to pick at the wound, causing the blood to gush out.

Then, he closed his eyes and whispered an obscure incantation, and the blood turned into a blood mist that rolled and spread rapidly, quickly enveloping the surroundings.

The chaotic mist that had just been dispersed by the shepherd was now obscured by a large cloud of blood mist, and the entire Eternal Silence Mountain became a chaotic mess again, making it difficult to discern the scenery within.

"Huh, this blood..."

"Senior brother, do you still want to struggle and escape?"

The shepherd in the sky, seeing the blood mist rising from the mountains and forests, his eyes glowing with ghostly fire, became complicated. His expression was filled with sorrow, pity, and hesitation, with a hint of murderous intent, yet he remained uncertain and unable to make a decision.