Corpse Recovery Diver-Chapter 1255 - 228_5:

When he reached the temple steps, he turned around, facing the crowd, locking eyes with Li Zhiyuan on Run Sheng's back.

"Heh, Gatekeeper, indeed couldn't stop you all."

Li Zhiyuan looked at him, not speaking.

The other slightly tilted his head, saying, "What, can't recognize who I am?"

Li Zhiyuan certainly recognized who he was; this was the guy who wanted to join his team on the island, but ended up losing everything.

It seemed he was also a True Monarch here.

"Come, have a cup of tea in my temple."

After speaking, he walked into the temple, his figure disappearing.

There was only one path continuing inward; he clearly wasn't afraid that they wouldn't enter.

"Let's go in."

The group silently formed a formation and entered the temple.

Upon entering, everyone was stunned by the exquisite furnishings and layout rich with ancient charm.

Earlier along the journey, aside from the Gatekeeper True Monarch's place which was relatively well-preserved, most other True Monarch Temples had become ruins, but this place was almost perfectly preserved.

In terms of style, the Gatekeeper True Monarch Temple couldn't compare to this place.

However, on both sides of the temple, there were no attendant statues, and they weren't made recessed, not even a position reserved.

On the altar, a painting of forest and orchard, appearing ethereal like an Immortal Realm, but lacked a True Monarch statue.

"Rest assured, my body is not here, heh, except for the Gatekeeper, the true bodies of all True Monarchs aren't in each of their temples, all are located deeper inside."

Li Zhiyuan came down from Run Sheng's back, blood not seeping into the temple.

"Tea?" the invitation was extended.

"No," Li Zhiyuan declined.

The other wasn't angry, simply spoke calmly, "The three people on the island before were just some things I casually brought out decades ago, hardly anything.

Even that Gatekeeper, is just a dimwit.

If not for his hard work guarding the door and the Twelve True Monarch positions lacking one at the time, he wouldn't have been filling in."

Li Zhiyuan remained silent.

"What, you think I'm deliberately trying to scare you, bluffing?" The other pointed at Lin Shuyou, "This kid should know best how terrifying the power of the Yin God is, and I am the lord of the Yin God he needs to worship."

Li Zhiyuan spoke: "You said the Gatekeeper True Monarch is just filling numbers."

"Exactly."

Li Zhiyuan: "Then what are you considered?"

The other's gaze sharpened, fur standing on end, lips opening up and down, grinding between teeth.

Li Zhiyuan continued: "The Gatekeeper True Monarch has attendant statues on either side, has a Divination Child, yet you don't need any of these."

"Heh, that's because this monarch, disdains those Divination Children."

"That's because you're not human, just a beast, you can't give birth to a group of monkeys to act as your Divination Monkeys, can you?"

"Ah!!"

Upon hearing this, the other jumped onto the offering table, fiercely staring at Li Zhiyuan, furiously scratching his body.

"You said the Gatekeeper is here to pad numbers. I feel the real one for padding is you, this pet."

"Hehehe..." He let out a sinister laugh, "Provoking me, what good does it do you?"

"Makes me happy."

"This monarch, under Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, is Li Yuan True Monarch."

"Oh, which Bodhisattva?"

"Acting as Bodhisattva naturally makes one a True Bodhisattva of the world!

No matter how outsiders view him, in my heart, he is the supreme existence. Without his guidance and teaching, there wouldn't be the later me."

"Yet you betrayed him?"

Li Yuan True Monarch clenched his fists, shouting, "Who told you that! The Gatekeeper doesn't know what happened inside!"

Li Zhiyuan pointed around: "All other True Monarch Temples were destroyed, yet yours is perfectly intact, doesn't that imply you didn't resist at all back then, even helped lead the way?"

Li Yuan True Monarch sneered: "Heh, who told him to be so daring, actually dare to impersonate a Bodhisattva? What a great sin, he didn't just go mad himself, but also concealed from us all, fooled everyone into madness!"

Li Zhiyuan: "You really have a monkey face, changing so quickly."

Li Yuan True Monarch: "Put you in my position back then, you'd make the same decision I did."

Li Zhiyuan: "Now do you regret it? You betrayed him, ended up imprisoned here forever."

Li Yuan True Monarch: "As you can see, compared to other True Monarchs, I have more freedom."

Li Zhiyuan: "Let me guess, he deliberately spared you?"

Li Yuan True Monarch let out a sigh: "Exactly, he knew my betrayal was forced, so he forgave me, though he shackled my body in the main temple like the others, he still let my consciousness be free."

"You truly think so?"

"What else? There is deep affection between us, you know, he raised me personally."

"I don't believe so."

"Oh?"

"Because only with conscious awareness can one feel the pain of imprisonment."