"Wukong... What's in front of us?"

Since crossing the Blackwater River, we've been hurrying slowly, and now it's early spring. We finally have a chance to admire the scenery, but suddenly we hear our master asking.

I look around and see the convergence of the three suns in the distance, with the Taishang leading the way and the Gongmeng-Yuceng accompanying.

Just as I'm about to speak, I hear a loud shout!

It's like the shouts of a myriad of people and horses, faintly mingled with the sound of Buddha's chants!

Master nearly fell off the horse in surprise!

"Master, you really have little courage!"

Bajie laughs, supporting the master and saying, "Just the sound of the mountains and the earth shaking. Brother, you've been fighting demons all the way. Why isn't the master used to it?"

"Mountains and the earth shaking?"

I frown slightly. I clearly heard the chanting of thousands of people just now.

But before I could speak, Wujing also laughs and says,

"Second Brother is joking. It's just the sound of thunder, how could there be mountains and earth shaking?"

Upon hearing these words, Bajie is about to argue, but is interrupted by the master,

"Wukong, go ahead and see if there's anything strange in the front!"

I nodded slightly, also feeling a bit curious, and without much thought, I swiftly somersaulted up into the clouds!

Soon, I saw a large group of monks ahead, toiling away, and beside them, two young Taoist priests with solemn faces, working as overseers.

"Interesting."

Just a glance, I already have a rough idea of the situation below, so I casually used a spell to transform into an old Taoist and landed boldly.

"Where does the venerable Taoist come from?"

As soon as they saw me, the two young Taoist priests looked bright-eyed and greeted me warmly.

"I come from the east and have traveled here. I would like to ask for some vegetarian food. I don't know where this is?"

I spoke with a smile and made a slight bow.

Upon hearing my words, the two young Taoist priests suddenly frowned and said,

"We've met the Taoist. This place is called "Chechi Country." Please don't mention the disappointment you expressed earlier!"

Disappointment? I was slightly stunned.

Seeing my confusion, one of the young Taoist priests said,

"The venerable Taoist may not know that this place is fervently devoted to Taoism and the annihilation of Buddhism. This is quite deep. Please don't inquire further."

Annihilation of Buddhism? I was slightly stunned, full of surprise. On my journey here, I have never seen such a strange thing!

But seeing the two young priests avoid the subject, I had no choice but to change the subject and say,

"I see... Could I meet your two masters for a discussion?"

Upon hearing my words, the two young Taoist priests smiled and said,

"Of course, I'll tell my master. Please wait here. We'll be right back!"

I nodded slightly, pondering that I would carefully question their master later, not afraid to ask about the strange reason for this place.

But as I was thinking, one of the young Taoist priests seemed to remember something and solemnly instructed me,

"Please don't idle talk with those monks, venerable Taoist. Those monks are masters at misleading people's hearts!"

I smiled inwardly. I, Sun Wukong, am a monk myself. How can I be afraid of monks?

But despite this thought, I still didn't show any sign on my face, nodded in agreement.

When the two young Taoist priests left, I was about to find a monk to ask.

But to my surprise, all the monks stopped their work at some point and stared straight at me with lifeless eyes!

At the same time, I caught a faint... stench of corpses?

I was shocked! "These monks... could they all be dead?"