[Wuxia] Long Hui's Male Concubine (Complete) - 19

Chapter Twenty-Four: Bloodshed Across the Bitter Sea -

Poisonous Serpents Devour Lives. The ground subsequently caved in, and the ballistae became stuck in the pits, unable to advance or retreat. More than ten enormous scorpions emerged from the ground, their massive tails flashing as they stabbed the enemy soldiers, either piercing their chests with their hooks or inflicting scorpion venom. The ballistae soldiers suffered heavy casualties.

The scorpions were venomous. Tian Zhong's face darkened, and after a moment's thought, he shouted, "Sound the retreat!"

The Western Region army, upon receiving the order to retreat, orderly withdrew from the battlefield. Bai Zhan and Zhi Guan were about to give chase when they heard a crisp shout behind them: "Don't pursue a desperate enemy, lest you fall into a trap."

A woman in a green dress and emerald skirt, Lu Mingluan, slowly emerged from the forest, accompanied by a beautiful young woman—it was Lianyi.

Bai Zhan said, "What's there to fear about those good-for-nothings? I can wipe them out with just a hundred brothers."

Lu Mingluan raised an eyebrow and sneered, "If you can withstand their artillery fire, I'll let you go."

Bai Zhan was taken aback. If Lu Mingluan hadn't unleashed her Seven-Colored Divine Light, that round of artillery fire would have been unbearable for them.

Lu Mingluan said, "Yi'er, have your Sparrow Shadows scout out the enemy's marching route."

Lianyi nodded and gave the order to the Sparrow Shadows hidden in the woods. Several figures darted out and secretly kept an eye on the Western Regions army.

After a moment, Poison Fang reported: "The enemy is stationed thirty miles away and has not retreated."

Lu Mingluan said: "Everyone, continue to be vigilant and hold your posts to prevent the enemy from launching a counterattack!"

Bai Zhan and Zhi Guan led three hundred warriors to defend the front, Teng Ji's Poison Fang troops hid in the shadows to launch a sneak attack, Xian Huo led one hundred scorpion demons to infiltrate underground, Mo Yun laid spider silk on the dangerous road, Xie Ao dismantled the traps, Ming Xue used her Ice Marrow Strength to freeze the soil into sharp ice crystals and bury them inside the traps, while Lu Mingluan and Yuan Qitian guarded the center to ensure everything was in order.

While preparing for battle, Lianyi continuously sent out Sparrow Shadows to scout the enemy's situation. Each time, the information received was that the enemy was holding back, waiting until sunset. Lu Mingluan felt extremely uneasy and frowned, saying, "Something's wrong. The enemy is using a trap! Yi'er, quickly have Sparrow Shadows check the enemy's numbers."

Lianyi was startled and ordered Sparrow Shadows to scout again, instructing them to observe the enemy's troop movements. However, the report came back: "The number of troops has basically remained unchanged."

The calmer things seemed, the more uneasy Lu Mingluan became. She said directly, "Yi'er, this time you will go yourself. Remember to use your snake eyes to check the total number of living enemies!"

She deliberately emphasized the words "living enemies." Lianyi nodded and set off.

Half an hour later, Lianyi rushed back, her face grave. "Aunt Lu, something terrible has happened! Five thousand enemy soldiers are missing! The heads that Queying saw just now were just scarecrows in armor."

Lu Mingluan's beautiful face stiffened, and she gritted her teeth. "Damn it! The enemy is using this as a feint, but in reality, they're using it to launch a surprise attack on the beacon towers!"

The Heavenly Army deliberately pushed the enemy to a distance of thirty miles, then sent out elite troops in batches. Each time a force was sent out, an equal number of scarecrows dressed in military uniforms were mixed into the crowd to replace the troops. Not everyone in Queying's group had the Snake Eye ability, so they could only count the heads silently. And since these scarecrows in military uniforms were all wearing helmets, they were difficult to identify.

Having been tricked, Lu Mingluan immediately rushed to the central route, only to find the smoke of battle barely visible, and Yu Xiuting and her daughter still appearing unharmed. She asked, "Sister Yu, are you alright?"

Yu Xiuting replied, "I'm fine. I just fought the enemy this morning, but they retreated thirty miles away without gaining any advantage. I was worried they might turn back, so I've been guarding this place."

Lu Mingluan felt another pang of unease, stamping her foot and sighing, "Oh no, we've probably all fallen into their trap!"

Yu Xiuting was slightly taken aback, asking for the reason. Hearing Lu Mingluan's explanation, her expression changed drastically.

The enemy forces on both the left and central routes were using this tactic of covert maneuvering, meaning the withdrawn troops must have been concentrated on the right flank. An ominous premonition filled her heart.

As dawn broke, Bai Lingyu personally led 1,500 Dragonscale Army soldiers, along with 300 Taoist masters, to deploy on the right flank.

Suddenly, the thunderous sound of hooves filled the air, and a large, well-organized enemy army rapidly approached.

Bai Lingyu's face darkened, and she shouted, "Form infantry squares!"

Two hundred armored soldiers formed a defensive line, one hundred Divine Fire Battalion artillerymen prepared for battle, three hundred archers followed to provide support, and four hundred Mo Dao (a type of

long-handled sword) and three hundred hook spears were positioned in the rear, ready for close combat at any moment. With Jue Tian leading a massive army of ten thousand men pressing in, Bai Lingyu knew this would be the most arduous battle of her life. She needed to remain calm, so she gritted her teeth, waiting for the enemy to enter artillery range before retaliating.

The sound of footsteps suddenly stopped; the entire Western Region army halted, their orderly formation exuding an invisible pressure.

The enemy's vanguard slowly dispersed, with several plumes of white mist rising continuously, like boiling oil. These plumes of mist came from the rear of the chariots, which were equipped with cannons. The chariots were not pulled by horses, as if they were moving automatically. The cannons had extremely large recoil and were longer than usual, which meant that the cannons had a longer range and a larger coverage area. The shape of these cannons was quite similar to the Ironclad Thunder God.

Bai Lingyu looked on curiously, but then saw Yu Wuhen's beautiful face darken, and she opened her mouth to say, "A self-propelled chariot, could it be..."

Lin Birou, understanding her thoughts, nodded and said, "It's quite similar to the heat flow chariot of the Panlong Sacred Vein."

Bai Lingyu asked curiously, "What is a heat flow chariot?"

Lin Birou said, "The Tianji Academy of the Panlong Sacred Vein created a clever device. It ignites firewood and coal, sealing the heat within a container. Various ingenious mechanisms connect the container, and the heat inside impacts these mechanisms, causing them to move on their own, thus driving wheels, axles, and other components. Its power is in no way inferior to that of a fine horse or a strong ox. Although this chariot doesn't resemble a heat flow chariot, at most the materials used to generate the heat are different. Its fundamental principle should be..." "Same as above!"

Bai Lingyu was also taken aback: "The range of the Ironclad Divine Thunder is longer than that of ordinary cannons, but it is too cumbersome, so it is placed on the city wall. Now that we have this strange vehicle, won't it be able to run rampant without restraint!"

Lin Birou said: "Lingyu, quickly tell the soldiers to retreat..."

Before she finished speaking, several steel spikes with red flames shot out powerfully. The thick shields and armor of the Ironclad Battalion soldiers could not withstand them at all. They were pierced through along with the soldiers and shields. Moreover, the steel spikes continued to move forward and directly hit the cannons behind them. The high-powered gunpowder inside the steel spikes exploded and ignited various fireballs at the same time. With a loud bang, the Dragonscale Army suffered heavy casualties. The Ironclad and Divine Fire soldiers were almost completely wiped out, and the crossbowmen battalion suffered more than half of its casualties. Only the hook spears, long swords, and cavalry were far away and escaped the disaster.

Two major troop types were destroyed in a single encounter. Bai Lingyu, filled with grief and rage, roared, "All troops, scatter!" Gathering together would make them too conspicuous; dispersing and flanking would minimize the damage from the Ironclad Thunder.

The Western Region army then used chariots to lead the way, their horses advancing steadily. Though slow, their formation was solid and unbreakable. Ten thousand men simultaneously taking a step caused the earth to tremble with each step, their imposing presence instilling a sense of despair.

Bai Lingyu knew things were going badly. His forces were already at a significant disadvantage, and now they faced these strange chariots. The battle was hanging by a thread, and annihilation was imminent.

The only way forward was to destroy the chariots! Bai Lingyu focused his mind, mounted his horse, and personally led five hundred cavalry to flank the enemy, using their mobility to avoid the Ironclad Thunder's onslaught.

Unexpectedly, the Ironclad Thunder Cannon, propelled by the chariots, was surprisingly nimble. With a turn of its muzzle, it aimed directly at the White Feather Cavalry, unleashing a barrage of over ten fiery steel spikes. Although the knights skillfully evaded the initial attack, the exploding spikes scattered fragments everywhere, injuring both horses and riders.

With over a hundred of the five hundred cavalrymen lost, White Feather's heart ached. Using the power of the Qilin, he drew his powerful bow and unleashed three volleys of arrows at the Ironclad Thunder Cannon, each shot hitting its mark. The arrows, imbued with divine power, were fired after a brief moment of concealment, exploding the moment they pierced the cannon barrel, rendering all three chariots and their cannons obsolete.

Just as Bai Lingyu was about to fire another arrow, a volley of arrows swept in, forcing her to dodge left and right, leaving her no time to draw her bow.

In this critical moment, she heard the familiar incantations of Lin Birou and Yu Wuhen, followed by a misty white fog that instantly enveloped the Western Region army, throwing them into chaos.

Bai Lingyu secretly exclaimed "Brilliant!" and, using the fog as cover, spurred her horse at breakneck speed, determined to destroy the Ironclad Divine Thunders one by one.

She channeled her true energy into her eyes, aiming directly at the source of the fog, and the remaining Ironclad Divine Thunders came into view. Drawing her bow again, she unleashed a nine-arrow volley in one go, destroying all the Ironclad Divine Thunders. The fog arrived quickly, and the arrows flew fiercely; the Western Region army had no time to react, watching helplessly as their siege weapons turned to scrap metal.

"Kill these traitors and avenge our fallen brothers!"

Bai Lingyu shouted, and the remaining cavalry immediately charged forward. However, instead of directly charging into the enemy formation, they took advantage of the fog and launched a series of mounted archery attacks around the enemy lines. The Western Region army, unable to see their targets, could only fire arrows haphazardly, but the Dragonscale Army cavalry were highly skilled riders, and their chaotic arrows couldn't even touch the hem of the Dragonscale Army's uniform.

Just as they gained a slight advantage, suddenly, the cry of a crane echoed from beyond the blue sky, resounding across the wilderness. A crane soared, and Yi Chen sat cross-legged on its back, holding a jade seal, his Taoist robes fluttering. He looked down at the chaotic world and couldn't help but laugh. He took out a command flag from his sleeve and casually tossed it down. The flag struck precisely seven steps away from the southeast corner of the fog, and instantly, green grass sprouted and flowers bloomed in all colors, bringing a touch of life to the desolate autumn. Strangely, the fog around the Western Region army dissipated the instant the flowers and grass bloomed.

The two jade maidens immediately sensed something was wrong. They realized that a command flag had been placed precisely at the earth's vein point, drawing water from all directions underground, thus nourishing wood and creating the unusual phenomenon of autumn winds bringing forth red and green foliage. However, the Mist Concealment Spell relied on water; without it, the spell would fail.

The Crane-Riding Daoist looked at the two jade maidens and chuckled, "Little girls, it's too early for you to try and use your magic in front of me. You'd better retreat obediently to avoid being killed!"

Hongjun asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you the Purple Crane Immortal of Qingfeng Mountain?"

The Crane-Riding Daoist nodded, "Indeed!"

Hongjun said, "Is the Immortal always cultivating in the Immortal Abode? Why have you also become tainted by this worldly dust?"

The Purple Crane Immortal coldly replied, "Since you have inherited the Daoist lineage, why do you still choose to engage in the mortal world's killing calamities? Why not return to the Xuanmen to cultivate your character? " For personal gain, he shielded heretics, allied with demons, disgraced the Daoist sect, and pushed all Daoists into the abyss!

Hongjun said, "The truth is hard to discern; I only believe the innocent will clear themselves!"

Master Zihe sneered, "Nonsense! Although you once held the Daoist leadership, your cultivation is far from sufficient. Quickly summon that white-haired thief Jingchen; I want to question him face-to-face about why he committed such a heinous act!" Hongjun laughed, "Uncle-Master Jingchen still has the key; this place is entirely under his jurisdiction." "I will take responsibility. If you have any guidance or advice, fellow Daoist, I, Hongjun, will accept it all!"

Master Zihe rolled his eyes, disdainfully saying coldly, "Since you have willingly fallen so low, I have nothing more to say. I will let your lives end at the hands of the imperial army!"

Hongjun laughed, "Uncle-Master Jingchen once said that there are no more than three people in the world who can discern the Twelve Earthly Branches Formation: one is my late master, another is the missing Yuanding, and the third is Master Zihe. I learned the formation from my late master's last records, so please..." "Master Zihe, I'd like to learn a thing or two!"

Master Zihe snorted and coldly said, "Show me what you've got. I'd like to see just how much skill you've learned from the Immortal Sect, and whether you're qualified to inherit my Xuanmen's great treasure!"

Hongjun shouted, "Excuse me!"

He raised his palm to the sky and pointed his arm to the ground, and the Innate Absolute Hexagram appeared. The three hundred Daoists around him simultaneously channeled their energy, and the Qi-Gathering-Earth Array was instantly activated. Countless mounds and rocks rose from the ground, forming a complex and intricate pattern, blocking thousands of soldiers outside the Thunder Pool.

Master Zihe flicked his sleeve and flipped his seal. His magic weapon suddenly rose, gathering the power of wind and clouds, and drawing in the Xuanhuang Thunder. With a thunderous roar, dozens of thunderbolts as thick as buckets struck the array. However, the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams circulated, and the power of the thunderbolts was absorbed into the Zhen trigram, disappearing without a trace.

Master Zihe observed intently for a while, and saw that the formation was based on the Eight Trigrams. When it transformed into myriad forms, it contained the Nine Palaces and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Then it transformed into the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, and the myriad stars in the sky. When it returned to its original state, the Seven Stars, Six Yangs, Five Elements, Four Symbols, Three Powers, Two Forms, and Unity took turns to merge, making it difficult for people to see the truth.

Zihe was momentarily stumped by the formation, but then heard Tianjue call out, "Master, please come down and speak."

Knowing he was being given a way out, Zihe descended on his crane and bowed to Tianjue, saying, "General, what instructions do you have?"

Tianjue asked, "Does the Master have a way to break this formation?"

Zihe replied, "This formation is extremely sophisticated, and its secrets are difficult to uncover in a short time. However, its deployment was hasty, and its power is not yet at its full potential. I observe that this formation only blocks the front. If we can bypass it from the side and launch a strong attack on Hongjun and his three hundred disciples, this formation will not be able to maintain its strength, but..."

Tianjue said, "Master, please speak frankly about your hidden meaning."

Zihe sighed, "This formation covers a width of five or six li. If the army wants to bypass it, it will have to make large-scale changes in formation. Those enemy troops are watching from one side, and rashly changing formation might give them an opportunity." Tianjue

said, "Master's concerns are very reasonable. The Iron Wall Pass cavalry is extremely fierce, with strong bows and fast horses..." "A few hundred men can throw an army of ten thousand into chaos; I, the general, will not take such a risk."

Zihe frowned and said, "Alas, let me, this humble Taoist, enter the formation and investigate, to get a glimpse of their strength."

Tianjue stopped him, saying, "Taoist Master, you must not risk your life. Before we set out, I received a secret order from Commander Qiu. Commander Qiu has already devised a brilliant strategy to defeat the enemy."

Zihe asked curiously, "General, you are a subordinate of the Western Regions army, and Commander Qiu is the Governor-General of Jiangnan. Why would he give orders to you?" Tianjue said, "Our army is merely here to cooperate with the Jiangnan army in battle. Commander Qiu is the supreme commander, and of course we must obey his orders. If we are arrogant and disobey Commander Qiu's orders, we will likely suffer greatly today!"

Zihe became more and more intrigued, thinking to himself, "The Jiangnan army has been defeated several times by the rebels, and their face has been completely lost. I wonder what strategy Qiu Baifei has to make these arrogant Western Regions generals obedient?" (Advertisement break: Still relying on your own hands? How can that be satisfying?) Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain the feeling of ejaculation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint. Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.

Tianjue saw Zihe's doubts and whispered, "General Qiu secretly gave us a note. It says, 'Advance on three fronts, lure the enemy into dividing their forces, win if possible, retreat if difficult, feign a feint, use decoys to fill the gaps, and then the elite troops will meet to break through one of their lines!'"

Bai Lingyu led the remaining troops to retreat behind the formation and asked, "Master Hongjun, what exactly is this formation? How can it withstand thousands of enemy troops?"

Hongjun said, "This is the Eight Trigrams Formless Formation, which is..." Based on the number eight, it derives to various variations, hence it is also called the Formless Formation. It is a formation written by my late master. If there is enough time and materials, its coverage area can reach a hundred miles. Now, in the haste of setting up the formation, it is only six miles wide.

Bai Lingyu said, "It doesn't matter, six miles is enough. If those bandits want to bypass the formation, they will definitely change their formation on a large scale. At that time, I can lead my elite cavalry to ambush them and make them suffer a great defeat!"

Suddenly, the earth trembled again, and fast and loud footsteps came from afar. Bai Lingyu was secretly startled. Could it be that the enemy had already begun to move? She subconsciously looked ahead and saw that the opposing army was motionless. Then she heard Lin Birou exclaim, "Lingyu, the enemy is coming from the flank!"

Bai Lingyu turned her head and saw two armies rushing in from the flank. The generals leading them were unfamiliar faces, but they should be strong generals from the Tiger and Leopard Camp. These two generals were two important figures in the Haotian Sect. One was the vice sect leader Cang Shihai, and the other was the leader of the Eight Divisions, Tianzhong. Each of them led five thousand elite soldiers to attack the Dragon Scale Army.

Jue Tian laughed loudly, "Wonderful, wonderful! My two brothers have arrived just in time! Quickly, help me defeat those demonic cultivators and break this formation!"

The Heavenly Clan, utterly defeated by the demon race, now had a chance to vent their pent-up anger upon encountering Bai Lingyu's wounded and battered troops. They swung their spiked clubs at Hongjun. Faced

with the overwhelming force of the opponent, Hongjun dared not be careless. He could only raise his energy to meet the attack, drawing his sword and using the "Kan Yue Yan Shui" technique. The sword concealed the essence of water, using softness to overcome hardness, first dissipating seventy percent of the heavy club's force. Then, he used the Dui Yao Wang Ze technique, the Ze hexagram's long and skillful power to neutralize the remaining thirty percent, while simultaneously counteracting the opponent's energy channels.

The Heavenly Clan, their arms bound by the power of the Ze hexagram, felt a surge of annoyance. With a roar, they unleashed their full power, forcefully breaking the enemy's defenses and shattering the Ze hexagram's power. They then struck again with their staffs. Hongjun, employing another Daoist technique, raised his sword to the Xun hexagram, riding the wind to kill. The Heavenly Clan's staff was heavy and powerful, while Hongjun's attacks were light and skillful. The two exchanged blows, neither gaining the upper hand for a time.

Cang Shihai personally surrounded and attacked the Daoist who had set up the formation. Although the Daoist's martial arts were refined, the enemy's archers were strong, their horses fast, their blades sharp, and their numbers overwhelming. In no time, their Daoist robes were stained with blood, suffering heavy casualties. At the same time, their Daoist energy was running low, and the power of the Eight Trigrams Formless Formation was waning. Seeing this, Zihe drew a talisman, shouting, "Break the formation!"

Instantly, the earth crumbled, the Eight Trigrams shattered, and smoke billowed, returning to chaos.

Seeing that the opportunity was too good to miss, Jue Tian immediately ordered his army to advance. Bai Lingyu, knowing there was no turning back, led his troops to the battlefield. Seeing their commander's bravery, the Dragon Scale Army soldiers were all ready to die, undaunted by overwhelming odds, and charged forward with their weapons.

Bai Lingyu rode his horse across the battlefield, his spear sweeping in all directions. Despite being outnumbered, he showed no sign of weakness, slaughtering enemy soldiers until their blood stained the yellow sand, their corpses lying in foreign lands. Wherever the Qilin's divine power passed, destruction was swift and devastating, and cries of agony filled the air.

"You vile woman, cease your arrogance! I shall face you!"

Jue Tian drew his sword and roared in response. Bai Lingyu's brows furrowed in anger, and her spear slashed down from the sky. Jue Tian dared not meet her head-on, instead using a soft, yin-like force to counter. Spear and sword clashed, each taking a hit. Jue Tian felt a sharp pain in his arm, his tiger's mouth splitting open. He muttered, "What a shrew! Her strength is astounding!"

Bai Lingyu was also invaded by her opponent's yin-like force. The evil technique, like fine needles and cotton threads, constantly disturbed her energy channels, causing her body to ache. She immediately used her Qilin divine power to expel the evil force.

"This internal force is truly vicious! You are the assassin who plotted against Prince Jin that day!"

Bai Lingyu recognized Jue Tian's identity and was even more enraged. With a sharp cry, she raised her spear to fight again. Jue Tian

channeled his energy to alleviate his pain and swung his sword to meet her attack. Knowing Bai Lingyu's divine strength and ferocity, he immediately abandoned his horse and switched to foot combat. He used a strange, elusive step to avoid the spear's charge, then hid in a blind spot on his warhorse and severed its leg with his sword.

Bai Lingyu, agile and nimble, though her warhorse fell, deftly flipped over to avoid the fall, and using the momentum of her leap, swung her spear down from her high position.

Tian Jue deflected the force with his sword, drawing a circle and redirecting the Qilin's divine power to one side.

The two armies clashed, their only thought being to kill each other, but their commanders harbored their own ambitions: one sought to forge a lasting imperial dynasty, the other to avenge his father and mother. At this moment, who cared about right or wrong? The sounds of battle filled the air, the fighting fierce and dazzling, leaving everyone breathless.

On the other side, Yu Wuhen unleashed the Fish-Dragon Silk, crafted from dragon scales and deep-sea whale veins, its softness concealing its strength. Combined with his Ocean Wave Technique, it made it impossible for hundreds of Western Region soldiers to approach within ten paces.

Lin Birou's palm strikes were powerful, each concealing multiple waves of force, leaving those touched dead or wounded. Simultaneously, she activated the Scroll of the Underworld, her Yin-Yang Yuan Gong drawing the corpses of the fallen Western Region soldiers aloft. Infused with Yin energy, they instantly transformed into eighteen Underworld Soldiers, who charged at their fallen comrades with weapons. An

unprecedentedly fierce battle ensued, a clash of unparalleled strength. The two sides fought from noon until sunset, exchanging countless blows, their familiarity and skill unknown. In such a brutal confrontation, survival was paramount.

While Bai Lingyu and other experts displayed their individual prowess, the enemy consistently outnumbered them. Although the Dragon Scale Army was elite, the relentless advance of the enemy army gradually wore them down, their strength waning, blood gushing forth as they collapsed onto the yellow earth.

Watching his soldiers fall one by one, Bai Lingyu was frantic, but the evil general before him was relentless, threatening to kill him at any moment.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out

in the rear camp of the Western Regions army, giving the heavily wounded Dragonscale Army a chance to catch their breath. Tian Jue was taken aback and used a feint to avoid Bai Lingyu as he rushed back to investigate. He saw a soaring Buddhist light pressing in, and behind him, six hundred martial monks wielding staffs entered the battle. Although the staffs were not sharp, their strength was immense; a single blow could easily shatter iron armor and shields. In addition, these martial monks fought in formation, advancing and retreating with precision, and quickly tore a gap in the rear camp.

"Not good! If these bald monks rejoin the rebels, it will definitely increase the variables!"

Tian Jue gritted his teeth and led three hundred cavalrymen to charge back, determined to block the more than a thousand martial monks in the rear.

In a head-on confrontation, a mere three hundred cavalrymen had no chance of winning, but as long as Tian Jue could hinder the enemy's advance and allow the rear camp to recover, he could surround and kill these bald monks. After all, the rear camp still had five thousand troops, and with various tactics, these bald monks would be nothing more than prey.

Unexpectedly, two beams of Buddhist light came rushing towards him. One was a simple, unadorned palm strike that transformed into a five-fingered mountain, pressing down with deadly force. The other was a display of transformation techniques, with hands forming seventy-two hand seals, none other than Jieyin and Zhunti. Jue Tian was immediately caught in the crossfire of the two Buddhas. He stretched out his hands, trying to block the solemn Buddhist might, but Jieyin and Zhunti were clever enough to strike him simultaneously with a soft palm, sticking to Jue Tian's hands and leaving his defenses wide open. Then came the ultimate Buddhist technique:

the five-fingered mountain and eight or nine transformations striking him at the same time. Jue Tian was unable to resist, coughing up a mouthful of blood and falling off his horse. His personal guards immediately rescued him and took him away from the front lines.

Despite his severe injuries, Jue Tian retreated while directing his troops: "The cavalry will use the Three Flowers technique to break through the enemy formation and engage them. The rear guard with hook spears will attack from both flanks, and the crossbowmen will fire from the front. I want all these bald monks to die here!"

The three infantry units advanced simultaneously, intending to trap and kill the warrior monks' formation. At the same time, golden Buddhist light scattered and fell, and a fierce blade of light appeared in the mortal world. The Demon-Suppressing Ring Blade, receiving the decree of all Buddhas and intended to eradicate sin and evil, roared from the boundless sea of suffering. In an instant, the chanting of Sanskrit was swift, and the Zen mind severed the punishment! The sacred weapon was drawn, cleaving in two with a single stroke. Before the Western Region army could even form its formation, it was shattered by the magnificent blade energy. The Bitter Sea, wielding the Brahma Temple Zen Punishment, transformed into the Vajra King, clearing a path with a single blade.

The encirclement was broken before it could be formed. Jue Tian, enraged, spat out another mouthful of blood and ordered the musketeers to aim at the Bitter Sea monks. The Bitter Sea's Buddha eyes suddenly opened, and the Brahma Temple Zen Punishment once again displayed its majesty. Only then did the blade emit light, reflecting a radiant glow, and suddenly a raging sea demon appeared, wielding the blade to slay karma.

The moment the wrathful Vajra appeared, the muskets and other weapons fell silent, as if subdued by its supreme majesty, daring not to act rashly.

Tianjue cried out that this was eerie, and the other soldiers were even more terrified, as if they had witnessed the Buddha's descent into the world. If it weren't for their military orders, they would have already knelt and worshipped.

Kuhai cleaved a bloody path, leaped high, and activated his pure Buddhist energy, resolute in his determination to quell the chaos. Instantly, man and sword became one, and the magnificent Buddha's form appeared solemnly, causing auspicious omens to descend from the sky. Colorful clouds surged and transformed into various forms, sometimes appearing as a compassionate Bodhisattva, sometimes as a wrathful Vajra, and finally as the World Honored One walking alone, the Tathagata preaching the Dharma.

"Buddha!"

Many believers in Buddhism among the Western Region army firmly believe in karma and reincarnation, that evil deeds in this life will be punished in the next. Upon seeing ten thousand Buddhas paying homage, how could they dare to act rashly? They were so frightened that they dropped their weapons and fell to the ground in worship.

Seeing the soldiers' morale shattered, the Heavenly Clan could not tolerate defeat. They abandoned their own, and Hongjun, raising his spiked club, leaped into the air, pressing down on Kuhai: "What gods, what Buddhas, I believe in none of them!"

Kuhai calmly replied, "The Buddha's teachings are boundless, never demanding anything. Those with affinity will be guided, but you have recklessly waged war, wreaking havoc on the land. The Buddha's teachings will not tolerate you!" "

Bullshit!"

The Heavenly Clan swung their spiked clubs at Kuhai with immense force, their power capable of uprooting mountains and rivers. Kuhai, however, remained calm and composed. He parried with his precept knife, drawing upon supreme Buddhist power. The spiked club shattered with a single blow. The Heavenly Clan's hands were split open, blood gushing forth, their internal organs invaded by the blade's energy. Their injuries were severe, and they collapsed to the ground.

Cang Shihai hurriedly leaped up and caught him, bringing him back to the formation. He thought to himself, "Both of the Heavenly Realm have been severely injured by these bald monks, and our soldiers have been subdued by the Buddha's image. It's unlikely we can defeat the enemy in today's battle. The only option is to retreat to Cangcheng to preserve our forces and wait until the main force arrives next year to fight the rebels to the death!"

With that thought, he immediately sounded the retreat. Although the Western Region Army had lost all fighting spirit, the Dragon Scale Army was also too badly wounded to pursue them and could only watch helplessly as they left.

Not long after the Western Region Army withdrew, Luan Yin's sword energy rapidly approached. Lu Mingluan and Yu Xiuting had already arrived, but the sight of the carnage before them brought another wave of desolation.

The smoke of battle subsided, and blood stained the wilderness. The Dragon Scale Army guarding the right flank had suffered more than half its casualties, with over a thousand men lost. No more than three hundred remained who could still move independently. It was arguably the most devastating battle since entering Jiangnan. The Buddhist monks helped care for the wounded, move the corpses, and chant sutras for the deceased.

After counting the number of people, Bai Lingyu felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, and her jade-like hand, which had been gripping the spear tightly, felt weak.

Lu Mingluan walked up to her and said, "This time it was my miscalculation, Your Highness. If you must blame someone, blame me alone."

Bai Lingyu bit her lip and said, "Sister Lu, I have always listened to the Commander's teachings since I was a child. Those who suffer setbacks must look for their own shortcomings. To shift the blame to others is the act of a coward!"

Lu Mingluan sighed softly and said, "Lingyu, if you don't mind, let me guard this road with you tonight." Bai Lingyu was slightly taken aback, then smiled gratefully, "Thank you."

"Amitabha!"

The Buddhist chant rang out, and Ku Hai slowly approached, saying, "Esteemed benefactors, if you trust this humble monk, then let me guard the beacon tower at the rear!"

Bai Lingyu nodded and said, "If it weren't for the Master's assistance, we would have perished long ago. Since the Master is willing, this last line of defense will be entrusted to the Master!"

Ku Hai clasped his hands together, bowed, and went back to speak with Jieyin and Zhunti. After the three reached an agreement, they bid farewell to Bai Lingyu and the others and hurried to the beacon tower at the rear to set up defenses.

When the monks arrived at their destination, they saw that the beacon tower had only been built two stories and was still some time away from completion, but at night, a cold wind surged and an evil atmosphere lurked.

Zhunti glanced around and said, "This is the beacon tower that Master Hongjun mentioned. It is the key to suppressing the evil spirit Po Jun. However, after a day of bloody battle, there are still lingering wronged souls within a fifty-mile radius. Their resentment has made the evil spirit Po Jun even more severe. At this rate, it is unknown when this beacon tower will be completed."

Jieyin said, "We can use the essence of the hundred monks' chanting to eliminate the karmic power of these wronged souls, but the evil spirit energy of the earth's veins still needs to be eliminated by the beacon tower."

Zhunti nodded and said to Kuhai, "Junior Brother Kuhai, everyone must chant the sutras with a calm mind and not be disturbed by external forces. I will trouble you to protect us during this period!"

Kuhai nodded and said, "Please rest assured, senior brothers, Kuhai will do his best to ensure the formation is intact."

Jieyin and Zhunti ordered the monks to set up a Sanskrit Buddhist formation around the beacon tower. Then, they led the monks to sit cross-legged and chant sutras to activate the formation. Instantly, the beacon tower was enveloped by a vast Buddhist power.

The beacon tower was originally built using Taoist mystical techniques, specifically to suppress the malevolent energy of the Po Jun star. The malevolent force deep within the earth's veins seemed to sense the impending doom and thus launched a fierce counterattack. Otherwise, Jingchen wouldn't have needed to rely on the midday yang energy to suppress it. Now, with the aid of Buddhist teachings, the malevolent energy of the earth's veins, influenced by the vengeful spirits, gradually subsided.

Suddenly, the malevolent energy of the earth's veins, which should have subsided, changed again, with countless gloomy and evil energies surging from the ground.

Seeing this, the monks again urged their Buddhist power to suppress the evil energy, striving to ensure the safety of the twelve earthly branches.

Ku Hai felt a strange restlessness in his back, as if drawn by a predetermined destiny, and was about to step forward to face it.

An uneasy feeling welled up in Ku Hai's heart. He focused his Buddhist energy in his eyes, gazing at the surrounding activity, and saw vengeful spirits crying out in the distance, and demonic energy surging.

"Damn it, if this person gets close, the lives of all the monks will be in danger!"

Ku Hai knew the key to the Buddhist formation, and immediately stepped forward to shield himself, rushing towards the demonic energy rushing towards him.

Ahead in the forest, a solitary, otherworldly figure of sin slowly approached. With each step, the mournful cries of wronged souls echoed, as if lamenting their inability to reincarnate. His eyes, shrouded in a hazy, malevolent light, coldly surveyed the land ravaged by war. His robe, imbued with unforgivable sins, fluttered in the wind, and the crimson cleaver in his hand seemed to drip with fresh blood. The figure,

seemingly both Buddha and demon, murmured in meditation, as if unable to articulate its inner doubts: "The masses are ignorant, the sea of blood is boundless, can my cleaver eradicate all sin… A Buddha who breaks his vows, how is he different from a demon? To kill or not to kill?"

The sinful Buddha-monk walked steadily, his cold eyes filled with murderous intent. The distant stench of blood drew him in, and he gripped his cleaver, ready to pave another bloody path of sin.

In an instant, a solemn Buddha image stood guard, and Ku Hai, wielding his precept knife, forcefully descended, coldly shouting, "Halt! Your steps cannot proceed any further!"

The wicked monk glanced at him indifferently and said, "My path is unstoppable. You—are destined to become yet another soul lost under the blood-stained blade of slaughter!"

The image was not a Buddha image, but rather one of slaughter and sin before him. Ku Hai felt a tightness in his chest, an unbearable pressure, but to protect his fellow disciples behind him, he could not retreat. His resolve hardened.

Just as Ku Hai's resolve solidified, the precept knife behind him subtly emanated power, and a warm Buddhist energy flowed into his body. Ku Hai felt his senses clear, experiencing an indescribable comfort. With the blessing of the Buddhist energy, Ku Hai's eyesight improved again, and where his gaze fell, he saw a compassionate image appearing within the wicked monk's sinful body.

Witnessing the Buddha's image still intact, the bitter sea of suffering and Zen mind became even clearer.

He said calmly, "The realm is clear; the sea of suffering is boundless, but the other shore is just a turn away!" The wicked monk sneered, "You, the Buddha wielding the knife, can't even distinguish the forms of the Buddha and the sinful Buddha?"

His cold words added three more points of murderous intent to the demonic Buddha.

The Bitter Sea said, "The myriad forms of the Dharma are but illusions. The suffering of the Buddha lies in severing attachments and sins. Why not lay down the butcher's knife, rediscover your original heart, and regain your freedom?"

The wicked monk said, "Slaying sins through killing is attachment, so why isn't laying down the butcher's knife also an attachment? You're deluded!"

As they spoke, the blood-red knife was raised, its sharp edge sweeping out. Seeing this, the Bitter Sea drew his own knife to defend, deflecting the demonic blade's force.

The monk Qian exclaimed, "This sword was broken by me that day, but it has been reforged. This must be your doing. It seems you have grasped the Dao of the sword, otherwise how could this sword possess such a solemn aura?"

Knowing a fierce battle was inevitable, Ku Hai's eyes narrowed, his fingers gripping the hilt tightly, the blade pointing at Qian Hai: "Ku Hai here invites you with this sword to join me in the Avici Hell!"

Qian Hai drew his sword horizontally, coldly saying, "Ignorant brat, I will grant you eternal damnation!"

The desolate mountain path, overgrown with withered grass, a chilling atmosphere filled the night sky. The cycle of Avici Hell was about to begin, and one of the two would be eternally condemned to the Avici Hell, never to be reborn.

In their cold confrontation, Qian Hai sneered, "Your Dharma name is Ku Hai, destined to be eternally condemned to the Hell of Ku Hai, never to be reincarnated!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the blood-red blade flashed, unleashing a torrent of demonic energy and karmic force that tore through the air.

"My late master named me Bitter Sea, hoping that I could save all sentient beings from the sea of suffering and be the last to leave it!"

Bitter Sea lowered his shoulders, bent his knees, and took a swift Buddhist step. With agile movements, he dodged the wicked monk's blade, circled behind him, and slashed at the sinful Buddha and demon.

The wicked monk remained as steady as a rock, protected by his true energy. The Buddhist ritual could not harm him in the slightest. This was the ultimate protective technique of the Chan-Nirvana Sutra—the World-Honored One's Wicked Body.

The protective true energy, no less powerful than the Bodhi Golden Body, repelled the monk's blade. The wicked monk parried and struck, then turned and delivered an elbow strike to Bitter Sea's heart. Bitter Sea groaned and coughed up blood.

He retreated several steps, using the opportunity to deflect the power of the demon and Buddha, while simultaneously channeling the supreme Buddhist power of the monk's blade to suppress his injury.

The monk sneered, "To ferry all beings across the sea of suffering—what a grand ambition! Do you have the ability?"

The Sea of Suffering replied, "If I cannot ferry them across today, I will ferry them across tomorrow; if I cannot ferry them across tomorrow, I will ferry them across the day after. If the Sea of Suffering remains unsettled, I will forever remain here!"

The resolute words and the unexpected Zen-like mind resonated with the Brahma Temple's Zen Master. This blade was originally a sacred weapon, receiving the decree of a thousand Buddhas to vanquish demons and sever karmic ties. The wielder was innocent of killing. The unwavering Zen mind amidst suffering caused the inner Buddhist power to rise once more, instantly illuminating the world with Buddhist light. The two were suddenly placed in different locations, surrounded by the thousand Buddha images, divine scriptures echoing in the clear sky.

This place was the realm formed by the spiritual power of the thousand Buddhas within the Brahma Temple's Zen Master—the Thousand Buddhas' Bright Realm.

The monk Qian was slightly taken aback. Upon closer inspection, he saw the figures of his former master and senior brother among the thousand Buddha images. A pang of sorrow gripped his heart, but his murderous intent remained undiminished. He sneered, "Even if all the past Buddhist leaders were to appear together, they could not stop my determination to slaughter the world. Let alone a mere illusion! To think you can win with such a trick is utterly foolish!"

His blade flashed downwards, and he lowered his eyes, saying, "I do not wish to defeat you, but only to guide you back to the right path."

Qian said, "How utterly laughable! You juniors truly know nothing. However, seeing your commendable courage, I will make an exception and spare you this time." "I have ordered you to report to Bodhisattva Lilou and ask him to come and save me!"

Ku Hai said, "Bodhisattva Lilou is busy working to dispel the calamity of the Blessed Kalpa and has no time to attend to other matters. I will guide you through your sins!"

Qian Seng said, "In the past, there was the Glorious Kalpa; now, the Blessed Kalpa; and in the future, the Star Kalpa. Each calamity presents the danger of being killed by a thousand Buddhas. Since Lilou wants to dispel this calamity, why doesn't he come to me? If he can eliminate me, the great calamity of Buddhism will naturally dissipate."

Ku Hai sighed, "You are not the source of the Blessed Kalpa of a thousand Buddhas. You are just a pitiful person who is lost in the sea of suffering and cannot find your way home!"

"Shut up!"

Since transforming into a demon, Qian Seng has rarely been angry. Now, he angrily swung his blood-red blade and shattered several Buddha statues with a single strike.

Ku Hai's blade swirled, using softness to overcome hardness, unleashing a move called "Endless Reincarnation." This move, characterized by its gentle, circular movements, caused the Sinful Monk's blade to deflect to one side. Ku Hai immediately launched a swift and powerful attack, slashing at the Sinful Body with "Wrathful Thunder Buddha Form."

Although the Sinful Monk's blade was unable to parry, his foundation was solid, and with his true energy infused, the Sinful Monk's robe was as hard as metal. With a flick of his sleeve, he shattered the Buddha's light and thunderous energy with a crack.

Ku Hai's exquisite and unparalleled movement locked onto the Sinful Monk's change of attack in an instant. A flash of blade light, sparks flying

everywhere, and the Sinful Monk's robe shattered instantly. The Sinful Monk grunted, wielding his demonic blade, controlling the weapon with his energy. In the solemn Buddhist realm, only a streak of crimson could be seen flying around, shattering Buddha statues and dissipating scriptures wherever it passed.

"Buddha, you have destroyed my robe of sin, I praise you!"

The wicked monk's sword, heavy and powerful, unleashed a "Ten Thousand Buddhas Demon Barrier," a boundless rain of blood and sharp light attacking the Bitter Sea, leaving him no chance to breathe.

The Bitter Sea dodged several blows, then, seizing the opportunity of the sword's trajectory, used the "Rebirth Refining Fire" technique to forcefully block the blood-stained blade, saying, "This is not enough to praise you. Today, I am guiding you back to the right path. Destroying a mere robe of sin is not enough!"

As he spoke, he channeled his energy, and the Brahma Zen Blade burst forth with solemn radiance, its immense Buddhist power forcefully repelling the wicked monk's blood-stained sword.

The Bitter Sea said, "With the next strike, I will destroy the string of evil skull beads around your neck!"

With that, he channeled his fiery Buddhist sword again, and the Brahma Zen Blade emitted a crimson lotus of holy fire, echoing the Buddha images in all directions. Intense Buddhist power was once again added to the Buddha's body, helping him to unleash his Buddhist might.

Flames and blazing light swept across the sky, engulfing and shrouding the wicked monk. A series of clinking sounds

rang out as the evil skull beads scattered across the ground. Suddenly, a vast, restless Yama energy surged forth. Within the crimson flames, only an indestructible sinful body could be seen, like a demon emerging from hell. The wicked monk's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "Foolish Buddha—hear my judgment! I grant you rebirth in hell!"

The Blood-Slaying Blade unleashed a strange, malevolent light, its massive blade slashing down. Ku Hai, fearless, gripped the blade with both hands. The Brahma Temple's Zen Master, wielding the power of Buddha, met the demonic Buddha's blade head-on.

The two blades clashed, shaking heaven and earth. However, the difference in their foundations was laid bare at that moment. Ku Hai felt his internal organs churning, and a mouthful of blood gushed out. But then, the Thousand Buddhas simultaneously emitted Buddhist light, bathing Ku Hai in it. His pain lessened considerably, and within a few breaths, he was mostly healed.

Knowing his opponent's sword aura was powerful and heavy, Ku Hai devised a strategy of speed over slowness. However, Qian Seng, being in the Thousand Buddha Realm, was inexplicably restrained and unable to defeat Ku Hai for the time being.

Ku Hai lowered his waist and used a "Brahma Slash," slashing horizontally at Qian Seng's waist.

Qian Seng struck downwards with his elbow, hitting the back of the blade. The powerful force deflected the Brahma Slash, and then, with a combination of parrying and striking, the blood-red blade aimed at Ku Hai's forehead.

Ku Hai reacted extremely quickly, leaping backwards and kicking at the hilt of the blood-red blade. Before Qian Seng could even unleash his attack, he was kicked back by Ku Hai, feeling extremely frustrated.

Ku Hai kicked away the blade and simultaneously slammed his palm into the ground, using the force to bounce back. His body spun in mid-air, incorporating the Brahma Zen technique, and the golden monk's blade began to spiral and slash. The moves were fast and ruthless, forcing Qian Seng to show signs of disarray. In his shock and anger, Qian Seng couldn't help but marvel—so this is how a sword can be!

The battle commenced with a resounding clash of blades, the opposing holy and demonic swords symbolizing the sins and redemption of Buddhism, shaking the entire Thousand Buddha Realm.

While their techniques were evenly matched, the fundamental difference in their strength subtly shifted the stalemate.

Sensing Ku Hai's weakened state, the Seng Monk unleashed a thunderous "Hellish Mountain of Blades," a move with an extremely wide range, leaving Ku Hai nowhere to dodge but to parry. The intense blade energy left his arm numb and sore, and after blocking all the attacks, blood flowed freely from his tiger's mouth. The Seng Monk pressed his advantage, lunging forward with lightning speed. Ku Hai instinctively

swung his sword to defend, but the Bloodthirsty Blade had undergone a transformation; its energy was now soft and sticky, causing the Brahma Chan Xing to lose its aim. Ku Hai's defenses were wide open, and the Seng Monk, without hesitation, struck Ku Hai's chest with a Demonic Buddhist Seal, instantly causing blood to spill from his mouth and nose, a severe injury.

Bitter Sea was injured, and the power of the Thousand Buddhas immediately healed him. But how could the Sang Seng allow him to recover his strength? Like a leech, he relentlessly pursued and killed him, followed by the "Demon Buddha's Brahma Fire," where the blood-red blade ignited with demonic flames and plunged straight into his opponent's chest.

Bitter Sea struggled to shield his chest with the back of the blade, blocking the fatal blow, but he was still burned all over, his body covered in new red marks. Suffering

repeated blows, the power of the Thousand Buddhas couldn't even repair his injuries. Bitter Sea steeled his heart, ignoring his wounds, and forcefully channeled his Buddhist energy, vowing to fight to the death, gambling with his life.

The Sang Seng laughed loudly: "Foolish Buddha, the next strike will be your final journey!"

His sinister laughter symbolized that his original intentions had been extinguished, leaving only the slaughter of demons and gods.

The face before him could never be relived. Since it could not be called back, he would sever his karmic obstacles. Bitter Sea sacrificed his compassionate face, transforming into a wrathful king, wielding the highest power of the Buddhist realm, and unleashing Vajra Thunderfire, vowing to refine his demonic and sinful body.

The wicked monk scoffed, "Mere thunder and fire are nothing to fear! Before the blood blade, even gods and Buddhas must behead!"

As he spoke, he braced his hand against the blade, pulling it horizontally. Blood gushed forth like a spring, staining the executioner's blade with sinful blood. A glint of evil light appeared, and sinful runes and Sanskrit characters were drawn, slaughtering countless lives. A massive aura pierced through the Thousand Buddhas' Bright Realm, instantly silencing gods and Buddhas, and extinguishing all righteousness.

Facing the evil power of the demonic Buddha, Ku Hai pushed his cultivation to its limit. He stood with his sword held horizontally, gripping it with one hand, gathering all his Buddhist power. His blood surged throughout his body, and then Ku Hai slowly closed his eyes. His already limitful power increased by another thirty percent, awaiting the moment he would open his eyes.

At this moment, the wicked monk's vital energy was fully gathered, and he unleashed his ultimate killing move—the final move of the Zen Demon Sutra—Ten Thousand Sins Sanskrit Chant! The sinful Buddha saves the world, the Sanskrit Chant is sung by demons, both wailing in unison, vowing to devour the great vow of the saints. Just then, Ku Hai's eyes suddenly opened, and a vast Buddhist power surged forth. The Chan Monk of the Brahma Temple raised his head and slashed at karma.

The spiritual power of a thousand Buddhas, the demon-suppressing precept knife, and the Zen mind of the holy monk resonated with each other. The sacred land sensed the merit, opening and closing in response. The wrathful Vajra cut through karma, fulfilling its vows, while the Buddhist temple's Zen punishment severed cause and effect.

The demonic and Buddhist blades clashed, the two different forces intertwined, neither able to retreat, only able to advance. The Sea of Bitterness endured the excruciating pain, urging his inner energy once more. A magnificent Buddhist power pierced through the transgressing monk's entire body, attempting to break his bound soul.

The sinful monk, enduring the agony of divine punishment, raised his free left hand and, with unparalleled strength, unleashed a powerful move—the Demonic Image Buddha Seal—sweeping it towards Ku Hai's crown. At the very moment of life and death, the illuminating Dharma image appeared, shouting "No!" and forcefully shifting the palm that was already aimed at Ku Hai three inches away, redirecting its force elsewhere.

Success! The sinful Buddha had finally turned back! Ku Hai was overjoyed, but unexpectedly, the illuminating Dharma image vanished again, and the demonic image returned. The sinful monk roared in anger, suddenly unleashing his power, forcefully breaking free from the constraints of the Brahma Temple's Zen Punishment. Then, his knife-wielding hand advanced three feet, the sharp blade piercing Ku Hai's chest. The Buddha's warm, crimson blood splattered across the sinful monk's face, making his already sinister appearance even more ferocious.

Blood gushed forth, heart and lungs shattered. Ku Hai clutched his chest, staggering back several steps. Knowing his life was over, he sighed bitterly, "May there be a way to save you in the future..."

Before he finished speaking, the Thousand Buddhas' Bright Realm, deprived of Ku Hai's Zen-like support, vanished, and the two returned to the mortal world.

The hot blood splattered on his face evoked long-forgotten images in Qian Seng's mind: the sincere faces of Ah Ying and her brother appeared before him. A sudden, inexplicable heartache welled up, and his eyes became warm. Suddenly, he saw the Buddha's image begin to crumble, its weary body slowly collapsing. Qian Seng instinctively lunged forward, wanting to catch Ku Hai, but it was too late. The Buddha's image had already vanished from the world. He desperately tried to grasp it, but only emptiness remained—the severing karmic sword lying on the ground.

His great vow shattered, yet he did not abandon his initial aspiration to save the world. Though the sea of suffering was boundless, the Buddha had no regrets in this life.

The compassionate Buddha's passing into Nirvana marks the beginning of the Thousand Blessings Tribulation. However, the steadfast Demon Buddha wavers, his once unwavering bloodlust no longer holding firm. His Buddha-like and demonic forms shift between reality and illusion, sometimes reverting to the pure and holy Dharma form, sometimes displaying the sinful and malevolent countenance of a transgressing monk…

He fails to save the demon and sinks into the sea of suffering. Yet, the Thousand Blessings Tribulation does not cease—the Bodhisattva Lilou, having perused ancient Buddhist texts, learns the secret of the Tathagata's sacred body. He knows the fake Weituo is not dead, but must find the ancient Buddha's treasure to unleash the true power of the sacred body. To prevent the false Buddha from rising again, the Bodhisattva Lilou leads the Water and Fire Venerables and the Four Bright Kings in pursuit.

The disciples of Heavenly Sword Valley arrive just in time, their powerful thousand-man sword formation blocking the Cangcheng army, but bringing with them perplexing information.

With the formation completed, Long Hui had a chance to catch his breath. Resources from the Panlong Sacred Vein were transported to Jiangnan, and the righteous army grew stronger once more. However, the following spring, the entire army of the evil gods assembled, numbering a staggering 800,000. Faced with this overwhelming enemy force, how could Long Hui and his men possibly hold out?

Du Hongchen, riding a ferocious beast, wreaked havoc on the battlefield. This beast was not only exceptionally ferocious but also possessed sentience, able to eavesdrop on sounds from afar. The Longlin army could barely advance. At this critical moment, a familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared—a celestial being adorned with a jeweled crown, heavenly robes, and necklaces, who uttered a compassionate vow: "Until hell is empty, I vow not to become a Buddha. Only after all sentient beings are liberated will I attain enlightenment!"

Episode 17:

The First Chapter of the Avici Hell

. A sudden, torrential autumn rain washed away the bloodstains on the Jiangnan soil, cleansing the stench of decaying corpses, but could not purify the turbulent world of mortals.

The pagoda bell tolled, its sound unusually muffled, like a hoarse sob, a silent lament. The Buddhist temples of Jinling were shrouded in chanting, the mantras for rebirth echoing in succession.

Another loved one had departed. Long Hui's face was somber, his mind a jumble of emotions. He walked slowly down the street, neither using an umbrella nor practicing his inner energy, letting the autumn rain soak him. He looked up at the misty rain, the familiar moon-white monk's robes seemingly just ahead, but when he tried to approach, he realized it was all an illusion.

Unconsciously, he reached the entrance of an alley. The deep alley exuded a tranquility in the rain and mist. A thought stirred within Long Hui, and he slowly stepped inside. At the end of the alley stood an elegant courtyard, its gate ajar, the plaque bearing three large characters—"Yanliu Residence."

Pushing open the gate, he found the large courtyard deserted. Fallen leaves lay in the rain. Ahead stood an elegant rain pavilion, its glazed tiles and vermilion pillars and beams gleaming. Raindrops trickled down the tiles, creating a melodious tinkling sound.

The pavilion was shrouded in gauze curtains, and a figure seemed to sit within, with wisps of white smoke drifting out, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance.

"You've arrived!"

A delicate, ethereal voice rang out from within the pavilion, seemingly ethereal and otherworldly, like a celestial melody, as if a long-awaited friend had come to greet him.

Long Hui paused slightly, gave a wry smile, and said, "Valley Master, I've come to bother you."

"Come in and we'll talk. Look at you, soaked to the bone,"

Yu Xiuting's melodious voice called out. Long Hui nodded involuntarily and slowly entered the pavilion. As soon as he lifted the gauze curtain, a graceful, ethereal figure came into view.

Inside the pavilion sat a tea table. Yu Xiuting knelt on a futon, her serene and poetic face free of makeup. Like Luo Qingyan, she disliked wearing jewelry, simply tying her hair up with a jade hairpin. Dressed in a black robe and skirt, her fair skin, bright eyes, and white teeth were accentuated, adding to her composed and elegant charm. A pot of hot tea sat on the tea table, with two teacups beside it. Opposite her was a pure white futon, like a touch of snow. Yu

Xiuting, with her delicate eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, gazed intently at the teapot in her hands.

Her red lips seemed to hold a hint of otherworldly joy in her smile.

Long Hui held his breath, afraid of disturbing the beauty's enjoyment of tea; he dared not speak loudly, lest he startle this celestial being.

Yu Xiuting simply said, "Sit down!"

Long Hui was about to sit on the futon when he heard Yu Xiuting's coquettish voice: "Are you trying to get my things wet with all that water on you? Quickly use your internal energy to evaporate the moisture, or you'll be standing!"

Long Hui was slightly taken aback, then awkwardly apologized, "I was being reckless!"

He then circulated his fiery true energy, creating a surge of heat to evaporate the water from his body. Afraid that the mud on his body would stain the white silk futon, he checked his clothes again, making sure they were clean before taking off his boots and kneeling down.

Yu Xiuting lightly rolled up her sleeves, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Her fair hands held a purple clay teapot, pouring two cups of tea. The amber-colored tea filled half the cups, its aroma wafting around them.

Long Hui was about to pick up the teacup to taste the elegant fragrance when Yu Xiuting glared at him, made a sword gesture, flicked her finger, and said, "Drinking tea requires a calm mind. Your mind is not calm. Rather than letting you gnaw on a peony, it's better to let this tea return to dust."

Long Hui poured his energy into the cup, held the porcelain cup amidst the sword energy, and said, "Valley Master's words are strange. If the mind is not calm, one must find a way to calm it. This tea has a wonderful fragrance, and it was brewed by a sword immortal. It must have a calming and tranquilizing effect."

Yu Xiuting's beautiful eyes narrowed, a half-smile on her face, and she asked lightly, "That sounds nice, but do you know what kind of tea this is?"

Long Hui was speechless, smiled awkwardly, lowered his head to taste the tea, and immediately felt a lingering fragrance in his mouth and a refreshed mind. He exclaimed, "Good tea! I wonder what the origin of this tea is. I would like to get half a pound to take back for Bing'er and the others to taste."

Yu Xiuting glanced at him and said, "This kind of tea is only produced once a year..." "A yield of only three or four ounces, and you still want half a pound?"

Long Hui stuck out his tongue, incredulously saying, "This tea... is it really that precious?"

Yu Xiuting said, "This tea is called Tea Source, which, as the name suggests, is the origin of all teas in the world. It has a sweet taste and a fragrant aroma, which is concentrated and does not dissipate. It seems light but is strong. A single leaf can be brewed into a sweet and fragrant tea."

Long Hui took a breath and said, "What a wonderful Tea Source... I really am ignorant."

Yu Xiuting picked up her teacup, her snow-white skin and the plain jade porcelain cup complementing each other. She took a small sip, leaving a faint lip print on the plain porcelain cup, and then slowly put down the porcelain cup, refilling Long Hui's

cup with tea, saying, "This is the second brew of tea. The aroma of the leaves is just right, but only those with a calm mind can taste its flavor." Long Hui took a deep breath, slowly calming his mind, and took a small sip of tea. Sure enough, there was a fragrance that permeated his heart and spleen, flowing through his entire body.

Yu Xiuting said, "The reason why this tea is so precious is not only because of its unique taste, but also because of its rarity. This tea comes from the leaves of a tree that is usually in a dead state. Only on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month each year will tender buds sprout in the winter snow. These tender buds are fleeting, comparable to the blooming of the night-blooming cereus."

Long Hui said, "Things are valued for their rarity; no wonder this tea is so special."

Yu Xiuting said, "Everything has a beginning and an end. The tea leaves only sprout in a single day, and the ephemeral beauty of the night-blooming cereus is fleeting, yet it leaves its fragrance for the world. It is truly worthwhile."

Long Hui sensed a deeper meaning in her words. Yu Xiuting slowly rose gracefully, placed her hands behind her back, and gazed at the rain outside the pavilion with her beautiful eyes. She said softly, "The path of Buddhism is arduous and difficult, yet in the end, one never abandons one's original intention. Even if it means falling into the sea of suffering, one will still pull the lost back to the other shore. With a compassionate heart to save the world, heaven and earth can bear witness. What regrets could one have in this life!"

Long Hui knew that she was using the tea as a pretext. Having cleared his mind, he rose gratefully to bow, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Valley Master!"

Yu Xiuting smiled and said, "Now that you have calmed your mind, please have another cup! However, since you are enjoying tea, you must know about tea-related matters, otherwise it would be a great disrespect to this fragrant tea." Long Hui asked, "This humble son-in-law is unaware of the origins and history of tea. May I ask the Valley Master's mother-in-law for guidance?"

His last phrase, "Valley Master's mother-in-law," was rather awkward, which made Yu Xiuting smile. She gathered her thoughts and gently opened her mouth, saying, "Back then, during the Great War of the Primordial Era, the three races and three religions each displayed their divine power, fighting fiercely and causing chaos. Who would have thought that the Buddhist realm would encounter..." In the past, during the glorious calamity, the Buddha's teachings were weak, entering the Dharma-ending Age. Buddhist sages knew that destiny could not be defied, and that rise and fall were predetermined by the laws of Heaven, impossible to force. However, to preserve the flame of the Buddhist lineage, they devised countermeasures. Unexpectedly, the demonic and evil races seized the opportunity to attack. The Buddhists fought a desperate battle, but their Buddhist power was weakened and unable to withstand the evil forces. At the critical moment, they were fortunate to be saved by the Sage Kunpeng, thus preserving the flame of the Buddhist lineage.”

Long Hui asked curiously, “What is the connection between this ancient secret and Yu Xiuting?”

Yu Xiuting replied, “Legend has it that after saving the flame of the Buddhist lineage, the Sage Kunpeng used wood spirits to preserve the fire, as the saying goes, wood generates fire, and…” After the Wood Spirit protected the fire, it separated a strand of its primordial energy, which transformed into this wondrous tree, the Tea Origin Tree. "

I never imagined that a cup of fragrant tea would lead to such a story," Long Hui sighed.

The sound of rain outside the pavilion gradually subsided. Yu Xiuting gazed at the rain and mist with her beautiful eyes and said, "This rain carries a chill; winter must be approaching."

Long Hui followed her words and said, "Winter will come and it will snow. I wonder what the difference is between the winter snow in Jiangnan and that in the Northern Frontier?"

Yu Xiuting said, "The snow in the Northern Frontier is fierce and domineering, while the snow in Jiangnan is gentle and lingering."

As she spoke, a strange light shone in her eyes.

Long Hui asked, "Valley Master, do you enjoy watching snow?"

Yu Xiuting was slightly surprised and asked, "How did you know I like watching snow?"

Long Hui replied, "Xue Xin's birthday is in summer, but it happens to contain the character for snow, so I made a wild guess." Yu Xiuting nodded with a smile, "You're quite accurate. I do indeed enjoy watching snow scenes. When I was little, I would sit by the window to watch the snow every winter. As I grew up, I would travel to various places to see snow scenes whenever I had the chance."

The celestial music stopped, the autumn rain ceased, and snowflakes began to fall. Yu Xiuting looked up at the sky, her beautiful eyes revealing a complex expression, a mixture of joy and worry: "It's snowing? Something's not right... According to the solar terms, there shouldn't be snow in Jinling at this time of year."

Long Hui also felt strange, his heart inexplicably restless. He felt that this snow was extremely unusual, as if it were a farewell to the Sea of Bitterness, or an ominous sign.

On the other side, Yu Xiuting looked at Jianxin again, her eyes gleaming, piercing the heavens. She saw a strange, ominous cloud rapidly passing by, chilling to the bone, concealing three thousand sins, and even the blood of Buddhas and the tears of monks. The sight made her heart tremble.

"It is said that ominous clouds passed by when the Solemn Calamity arrived in the past… Could it be that the Wise Calamity is truly coming now?"

Yu Xiuting murmured to herself. Decades ago, the blood was forged in the blood of the transgressing monks, and the decisive battle in the Fiend Domain first saw the White Lotus Nirvana, then the Heavenly Buddha's demise, and now, the flames of war in Jiangnan have brought the Sea of Bitterness to its knees, with numerous Buddhist calamities appearing one after another. This curse of a thousand Buddhas' destruction seems to be a predetermined fate, unavoidable.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in no time, the entire Jinling became a crystal world. Yanliu Residence was already spotless, its snowy beauty captivating, but Yu Xiuting felt no joy; her brows were furrowed.

Long Hui said, "Valley Master, there's no need to worry about a mere snowfall. What calamity or hardship can't be stopped if it comes? Instead of worrying unnecessarily, we should strive to strengthen ourselves. Even if there are calamities in the future, we can face them calmly!"

Yu Xiuting said, "I was trying to comfort you earlier, but I didn't expect you to turn around like this!"

Long Hui said, "Valley Master, you flatter me. Since the snow has fallen, why not calmly observe it?"

He emphasized the word "calmly" slightly, and Yu Xiuting couldn't help but smile and say with a hint of reproach, "So you still remember that, and you actually used it to get back at me. What a petty little man!"

Long Hui laughed and said, "I

call this applying what I've learned!" Yu Xiuting was both amused and exasperated. Her usually calm sword heart suddenly stirred with a hint of revenge. She immediately said, "Very well, then, General Long who applies what he's learned, do you dare to take my sword?"

Before she finished speaking, her sword finger flashed out like lightning. Long Hui blocked the sword with a backhand, but because he had lost the initiative, he was forced out of the pavilion by the sword.

"Valley Master, sneak attacks are not the orthodox way of the sword!"

Long Hui protested.

Yu Xiuting smiled, "The sword takes an unorthodox approach, its speed is not for offense. Just now you kept talking about self-improvement, so why would you fear sneak attacks and assassinations!"

As she spoke, a graceful figure floated down, a black robe slowly descending, the dark silk dress contrasting sharply with the surrounding white.

The elegant and serene beauty stood on the snow, her slender waist standing upright, her dark skirt covering the snow, like a piece of black jade crystal standing proudly from the snow, dignified and otherworldly.

Yu Xiuting made a sword-finger seal, and snowflakes swirled and gathered into a crystal snow sword, which she held in her palm.

Long Hui laughed, "The snow scene is delightful, and the swordplay is exquisite. With such refined tastes from the Valley Master, how could I, your humble son-in-law, not respect it!"

Yu Xiuting smiled, "Then let's make our move!"

Once upon a time, when she was still a young girl, she would stand amidst the falling snowflakes, sword in hand, dancing in the wind. As she grew older, her swordsmanship reached its peak, and she longed for someone to spar with her in the snow. But few in the world could rival her at the pinnacle. Her heart stirred with the sudden encounter with a kindred spirit, and her sword frosted over at the sudden clash with a formidable opponent. Long Hui gathered his energy, his two fingers forming the essence of sword spirit, opening the prelude to the duel, stirring up a towering wave of snow, a release from the grief of his friend's passing.

Yu Xiuting's black skirt swayed gently, her sword flashing lightly, like drifting snowflakes, yet as still as a mirror lake, undisturbed. The snow waves stirred by Long Hui's energy instantly subsided, restoring the tranquil snowscape of yesteryear.

One still, one dynamic; two contrasting martial styles unfolded a breathtaking swordplay on the snow-covered ground. Long Hui's sword moved with agility, his finger pointing to unleash a myriad of snowflakes of ice into a sharp edge. Yu Xiuting, however, remained steadfast and still, her beautiful eyes locking onto her opponent, searching for an opening.

In the blink of an eye, a supreme artistic conception, exquisitely beautiful yet poignant, emerged. Snowflakes swirled, ice shards tumbled, and the moment they met, sword energy surged. The first move of their exchange saw the powerful energy churning the snow into rolling waves.

The more violently the snow waves rolled, the more Long Hui's inner strength surged, pressing his opponent with swift, flying sword strokes. Yet, imperceptibly, the churning snow waves gradually subsided, and the snow-covered ground returned to its stillness, untouched by dust. This phenomenon was actually Yu Xiuting's sword intent countering Long Hui's swift sword.

Long Hui focused his inner energy, his sword finger condensing into qi, unleashing another powerful strike. The rapid airflow stirred up a cloud of snow dust, like a raging tide threatening to engulf his opponent. Yu Xiuting remained calm, her gleaming white sword flashing with light, calming the raging snow tide once more. At the same time, her sword pointed diagonally, seemingly without form or style, yet directly targeting the blind spot in Long Hui's swordsmanship. With this

sharp edge pressing in, Long Hui unleashed another ultimate technique, his sword moving with lightness and agility, aiming to break through the Heavenly Sword's deadly strike. Unexpectedly, Yu Xiuting's sword strike was silent and stealthy, possessing both the lightness of a sword wave and the weight of a sword without a sharp edge, along with the manifestations of countless celestial laws. It was no longer just a sword, but the ultimate expression of the Dao, a sword spirit that perfectly embodied the essence of swordsmanship, yet it was shattered in a single blow. In desperation, Long Hui abandoned his adherence to swordsmanship, directly activating the Myriad Worlds Weapon Soul. Snowflakes condensed into weapons, and only by combining the power of ten thousand weapons could he stop this exquisitely powerful sword intent.

The swordsmanship of Tianjian Valley was passed down to Mo Yang, whose swordsmanship was transformed from the "Sword Spirit" in the Yanwu Heavenly Book. It was somewhat limited, but Yu Xiuting's seemingly still yet dynamic sword strike had already glimpsed the essence of the Great Dao, completely exceeding the scope of the Sword Spirit, and was unique, becoming a unique immortal sword technique.

The exchange of blows had ended, and both sides stopped short of defeat. Long Hui praised, "Valley Master's sword strike was truly masterful. I wonder what kind of exquisite swordsmanship it was?"

Yu Xiuting replied, "This is something I suddenly realized. There are no fixed moves in the sword, yet the sword intent subtly aligns with the understanding that 'no moves are better than moves.'"

Long Hui muttered, "No moves are better than moves..."

Seeing him deep in thought, Yu Xiuting couldn't help but say, "Don't be fooled by everyone saying those five words; how many can truly grasp their meaning?"

Long Hui hurriedly said, "Valley Master, you misunderstand. I don't mean those words are old-fashioned, but I feel they're still somewhat lacking."

Yu Xiuting raised an eyebrow and asked, "Then what do you think is a sword intent even more profound than 'no moves are better than moves'?"

Long Hui said, "I observe that Valley Master's sword intent is calm and peaceful, no longer bound by victory or defeat. But the key lies in the word 'victory.' The word 'victory' makes the sword heart too fixated on winning and losing, inevitably losing some of its essence."

Yu Xiuting paused slightly, seemingly understanding but unable to articulate it. But then Long Hui said, "Why not change the character 'victory' to 'crossing'? 'No moves

cross over moves,' 'Sword of Emptiness and No Thought.'" Yu Xiuting pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said, "What a wonderful 'No moves cross over moves,' 'Sword of Emptiness and No Thought.' I, Yu Xiuting, have been immersed in the way of the sword for many years, yet I knew there was such an insight in the world.

" Long Hui cupped his hands and said, "I was just talking nonsense, please

don't take offense, Valley

Master." Yu Xiuting dispersed her sword intent, the snow sword in her hand vanished without a trace, and she smiled, "You are too modest. Today I should thank you more; your few words have broadened my horizons." The sword intent that enveloped the surroundings dissipated, and Long Hui relaxed. Only then did he realize that the sharp airflow generated by the previous fight had torn Yu Xiuting's skirt. The tear moved with the snow wind, revealing her left leg, which was completely free of any excess fat. Yu Xiuting was not wearing shoes; her flawless, delicate jade feet gently stepped on the snow, her crystal-clear toenails like mica and jade, her alabaster skin seemingly blending into the snow.

Yu Xiuting's pretty face flushed slightly. She lightly brushed her skirt aside as if flicking away non-existent dust, then took a small step back, subtly concealing the exposed skin and smoothly easing the awkwardness between them.

"Long Hui, you've been out for a long time. Go back quickly, lest Xue Xin worry."

Yu Xiuting's face quickly regained its composure, the blush fleeting like a momentary glimpse.

Long Hui cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I've troubled you for a long time. I'll take my leave now and visit again another day!"

Upon returning home, he was greeted by the fragrant aroma of tea. Long Hui went inside and saw Xue Xin bowing her head as she brewed tea. Seeing him enter, she lifted her skirt and ran towards him, exclaiming, "Big brother, you're finally back!"

As the young woman ran, her two delicate white feet crossed—Xue Xin wasn't wearing shoes.

Long Hui coughed lightly and said, "Xue Xin, aren't you afraid of hurting your feet running around barefoot?"

Wei Xue Xin's pretty face flushed slightly, and she said, "I was making tea just now, and I forgot to put on my shoes when I saw you come back, brother."

Long Hui asked in surprise, "You have to take off your shoes and socks to make tea?"

Wei Xue Xin said, "My mother taught me this. Making and brewing tea is a kind of practice, and it requires sincerity, so you have to take off your shoes and socks. I saw that you were still sad about Brother Ku Hai's matter, so I wanted to make you a pot of calming tea so that you could let go of it sooner." "My mood!"

Long Hui was taken aback, reached out and pulled her into his arms, and said softly, "Xuexin, thank you."

Wei Xuexin hummed in agreement, snuggled in his arms for a moment, and said, "Big brother, the tea will go bad if we don't drink it soon!"

Long Hui picked up the teacup and took a sip. The fragrance lingered on his tongue, lingering and not dissipating. He couldn't help but secretly praise, "This girl's cooking skills are terrible, but her tea skills are on par with her mother's." The

fierce battle in Jinling came to an end. The Buddha failed to save the demons and instead fell into the sea of suffering. At this moment, the Yunshan Gorge was even more turbulent.

Above the sky, the Bodhisattva of the Glass Pavilion stood on the wind and clouds, looking down and gazing. Then, with a deep thought, his Dharma Eye suddenly opened. He saw that Leifeng was dead silent, the Zen temple was dilapidated, the mountain gate was dark, and the Buddhist lineage was destroyed. The holy land where ten thousand Buddhas once shone was now devoid of light.

Li Lou originally intended to return to the main altar while the fake Wei Tuo was severely injured, to expose his evil deeds. However, the more he looked around, the more something seemed amiss—how could the dignified Buddhist main altar be in such a state? Even if it were disturbed by demonic energy, the Buddhist lineage would rise up and fight back. How could it be so deathly silent? Moreover, the Buddhist aura in the mountain had completely disappeared.

Li Lou frowned and pondered, his heart filled with worry: "The fake Wei Tuo should have no chance of survival after being struck by Valley Master Yu's Life-Locking Sword, but why do I still feel uneasy?"

Thinking of this, Li Lou moved and landed on the Cloud Sea Buddhist Mountain. As soon as he stepped on it, his unease intensified, because the temple was deserted. Not only were the nighttime chanting sounds gone, but even the night patrolling monks were nowhere to be seen. The entire Leifeng Zen Temple had become a ghost town.

Li Lou held her breath and slowly stepped onto the former paradise of Buddha, but a deathly aura surged from the earth's veins, causing her to be secretly startled: "The veins of Buddha Mountain are completely lifeless. Who could have destroyed all the vital energy of the Buddha veins?"

In a flash, Li Lou Bodhisattva channeled Buddhist light into her palm and slammed it onto the ground, using Buddhist energy to test the condition of the Buddha Mountain's veins. The Buddhist spiritual power seeped into the mountain range and flowed smoothly without any obstruction, showing no signs of damage.

"The Buddha veins are not destroyed, but the spiritual energy is lost. There is only one possibility—"

Li Lou Bodhisattva immediately understood, "The spiritual energy of Buddha Mountain has been sucked away!"

Just as she was wondering, a violent explosion came from within, the source of which was the main hall of the Zen temple, the Mahavira Hall.

The Bodhisattva of the Crystal Pavilion immediately rushed over, only to find upon entering that the Buddha statues were in ruins, the monks' corpses littered the ground, and a blood-soaked hellscape unfolded—a truly horrifying sight. Beside the main hall, however, seven figures were engaged in fierce combat; it was the Water and Fire Venerables, along with the Four Great Wisdom Kings, besieging one person.

The Four Great Wisdom Kings were the Precious Tree Wisdom King, the Fixed-Rank Wisdom King, the Great Wheel Wisdom King,

and the Cloud Drum Wisdom King. The four began with a display of Buddhist light praising merit, attempting to eliminate the heretical Buddha before them. Their four streams of Buddhist power combined, striking directly at the core heretic, only to find the heretic's form with thousands of skulls atop its head, bloodshot and ferocious eyes, its palms wielding demonic power, easily deflecting the four Buddhas' combined attack with a flick of its sleeve.

Seeing this, the Water and Fire Venerables unleashed their full power: one formed a mudra to summon the Great Compassion Samadhi Water to purify the demonic aura, while the other swept out the Vajra Fire of Burning Karma to refine the evil.

The six powerful beings sealed their six senses. The monk Qian, his brows furrowed in anger, unleashed the Bloodthirsty Blade, forcefully shattering the combined attack of the six Buddhas. However, already wounded, his blade was far less potent, and he was instead injured in the shock, coughing up blood. Yet, the blood only fueled Qian's murderous rage. His blood-soaked blade danced wildly, attacking relentlessly, forcing a sliver of space into the Buddhist formation.

Qian's cold gaze locked onto the Precious Tree King, his demonic heart urging him to kill. The crimson blade aimed straight for his head, but in the nick of time, the Bodhisattva Lilou stepped forward, striking the back of the blade with a palm, deflecting its force.

Seeing the appearance of the Bodhisattva Lilou, the monks felt relieved. The Fire Venerable said, "Bodhisattva, this wicked creature has massacred the main altar of Buddha Mountain! Don't let him go!"

The Bodhisattva Lilou waved his hand, saying, "The monks have already perished; anger and murderous intent are useless. Let's find out the reason before making any plans!"

The Fire Venerable said, "We were ordered by the Bodhisattva to return to the mountain to expose the fake Weituo Zhengxiang, but upon arriving at Buddha Mountain, we found the ground littered with corpses, and this wicked creature was inside the Great Buddha Hall..."

The Bodhisattva Lilou frowned, "Did you see him kill anyone?"

The six monks were slightly taken aback and shook their heads, saying, "No, we didn't."

The Great Wheel King said, "This demonic monk is full of killing karma; who else could it be but his hands?"

The Bodhisattva Lilou said, "King, you are attached to appearances. I observe that the monks were not killed by the butcher's knife, but rather drained of their life essence."

The six monks glanced at the corpses on the ground. Indeed, there were no external injuries; instead, the skin was wrinkled and dry. Bodhisattva Lilou said again, "The dead monks were either very close to us or remained neutral, detached from worldly affairs. There are no disciples of the Wei Tuo lineage among them."

Venerable Shui nodded and said, "Bodhisattva is right. If it was the work of the wicked monk, he would have killed them without distinguishing between the dead and the innocent."

Just then, a contemptuous and sinister laugh rang out: "I came here to massacre the Zen temple and kill all the bald monks in the world to drive out the Buddha in their hearts. What difference does it make whether I killed these people or not!"

Bodhisattva Lilou said, "Let's stick to the facts. Since the monks did not die at your hands, regardless of whether you had murderous intent, this crime cannot be pinned on you!"

The wicked monk laughed loudly: "My existence is to commit sinful killing. I am evil, I am sin. What difference does it make if I add one more or one less!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the demonic monk's madness flared up again, and he swung his blood-red blade straight at Bodhisattva Lilou.

With a flick of his sleeve, the Bodhisattva of the Lilou unleashed the swastika technique, the Annihilation of All Heavens.

Abundant Buddhist power flowed into his robe, making it comparable to the Heavenly Silkworm Robe, a blend of strength and gentleness, a fearless and sharp blood-red blade, its killing intent completely concealed. The sinful monk's eyes flashed with evil again, the evil power of the Chan-Nirvana Sutra activated once more, unleashing the "Blood Pool Hellscape," instantly transforming the Great Buddha Hall into a boundless sea of blood. He commanded the inner energy of countless ghosts, swirling the blade, forcefully shredding the Bodhisattva of the Lilou's robe.

He had once entered the mortal world for the sake of all humanity, undeterred by a thousand slanders, but the world's cruel hand had torn him apart. Witnessing the humiliation of the common people, his pure heart was lost. Only the butcher's knife remained to slay countless sins. Where was the Buddha now? Where was the demon now? He heard nothing but the thrill of slaughter, only the sinful Buddha wielding his blade, forcefully attempting to shatter the Bodhisattva's golden body.

With a three-finger mudra, the Bodhisattva Lilou unleashed the "Heavenly Net of Myriad Flowers Hand," first deflecting five-tenths of the opponent's blade force. Then, she switched to the "Mind-Observing Freedom Finger," aiming for the monk Qianseng's Tanzhong acupoint. A blow to the Tanzhong acupoint meant certain death or serious injury, and the Bodhisattva Lilou intended to force Qianseng to withdraw and defend.

Unexpectedly, Qianseng, blinded by bloodlust, disregarded his own survival, single-mindedly focused on killing the Buddha before him. His Bloodthirsty Blade, instead of retreating, advanced, slashing towards the Bodhisattva Lilou.

This strike would be a suicidal attack. Unwilling to fight head-on, the Bodhisattva Lilou immediately withdrew her finger force, but the hastily withdrawn attack caused her internal energy to surge back, injuring her body by three-tenths. At the same time, Qianseng's blade was already upon her, its chilling aura striking her face.

At the critical moment, a golden light flashed, followed by a resounding clang of weapons. A solemn Buddhist dagger blocked the Bloodthirsty Blade—it was the Brahma Temple's Executioner, and the wielder was none other than the Sangha Monk himself. He held the dagger in his left hand and the Bloodthirsty Blade in his right; the opposing blades of Buddha and demon were simultaneously wielded by one man.

"The Brahma Temple's Executioner? Ku Hai, he…"

Upon seeing the Demon-Suppressing dagger, the Fire Venerable felt a sense of foreboding and flew into a rage. He slammed his palms repeatedly at the Sangha Monk's back, the fiery energy piercing through his body, threatening to kill him. Instinctively, the Sangha Monk used his internal energy to defend himself, but the Bloodthirsty Blade turned and sliced through the Buddhist fire, aiming straight for the Fire Venerable's chest.

The fatal blow was inexplicably interfered with by his consciousness, altering the blade's trajectory and allowing the Fire Venerable to escape. The other five Buddhas, having already guessed that Ku Hai was in dire straits, were overcome with grief and rage and once again joined forces to trap and kill the heretical Buddha.

The conflicting Buddhist and demonic consciousnesses within his body caused the monk's internal energy to become chaotic, yet his killing intent vanished, and he fearlessly faced the group of Buddhas alone.

The Precious Tree King unleashed profound Zen techniques, the Fixed Grade King transformed his fist into a fierce Buddhist strike, and the Great Wheel King's palm struck with the power of thunder and fire, forming a triangular encirclement.

The monk's power was reduced to half its former strength, and his blade energy was no longer sharp. First, the Precious Tree King's sleeve caught his blade, then the Fixed Grade King struck him in the back with a punch. He felt a sweet taste in his throat, and blood gushed from his mouth. In his rage, he raised the World Honored One's body, forcefully pushing the two away. But the Great Wheel King seized the opportunity when the monk's true energy was depleted, unleashing a "Buddha Wheel Flame Blade" strike towards the monk's chest.

The scorching Buddhist fire instantly pierced through his protective energy, and the monk vomited blood again. The Great Wheel King pressed his advantage, unleashing a barrage of fiery Buddhist palm strikes.

Despite the excruciating pain, the monk Qian Seng activated the evil skull prayer beads in his hand, forcefully binding the wrist of the Great Wheel King. Using softness to overcome hardness, he redirected the force of the blows, violently flinging the Great Wheel King away and deflecting the continuous Buddhist palm strikes.

The three Buddhas retreated, and the three Buddhas attacked. The Water and Fire Venerables attacked from both sides, combining water and fire, simultaneously binding the Sinful Punishment Twin Blades. At the same time, the Cloud Drum King pounced on Qian Seng's empty gate with lightning speed, alternating between palm and fist strikes, delivering several blows to his chest and abdomen. The immense Buddhist power surged into his body, and Qian Seng, who had already lost half of his power, could not withstand it. He immediately fell to the ground like a kite with a broken string, his twin blades also slipping from his hands and ending up stuck upside down in the ground.

Suffering repeated blows, the sinister monk's bloodlust was pushed to its limit. His eyes turned bloodshot, making him resemble a demon from hell. He opened his mouth and let out a series of eerie laughs: "Come on, kill! Compassionate Buddha, Buddha who saves all beings, the demon is right before you, come and kill!"

As he spoke, his demonic energy and evil power reached their peak. The majestic Buddhist mountain was instantly shrouded in a sinister chant, and within a ten-mile radius, wailing ghosts could be heard. This was the final move of the Chan-Nirvana Sutra—the Ten Thousand Sins Chant.

"If you want to kill me, you will also have to pay with your lives!"

The sinister monk's eyes flashed with evil light. He raised his hand, and the eerie ghostly energy instantly condensed into a sharp blade. A blade of energy capable of killing gods and Buddhas pierced through the roof of the Great Buddha Hall and shot straight into the sky.

Suddenly, the condensed evil energy inexplicably surged and collapsed. In a daze, the sinister monk's appearance transformed into a solemn Dharma image.

The Venerable Water and Fire recognized this Dharma form and exclaimed in surprise, "Jieming?"

Before he finished speaking, the Dharma form of Jieming instantly collapsed, transforming back into the body of a sinful Buddha and a demon. However, the Dharma form of Jieming once again replaced the demonic body, and after a moment, the demonic form suppressed the Buddha's body. Thus, the two opposing consciousnesses, one righteous and one evil, engaged in a tug-of-war, each striving to overwhelm the other and seize control of the physical body.

"You are a scourge to the world, a sinner; I cannot allow you to wreak havoc on living beings!"

The Great Wheel King, determined to eliminate the demon, concentrated his energy in his Buddha palm, ready to shatter the heretic that was neither Buddha nor demon with a single strike. Unexpectedly, before he could unleash his power, he was suppressed by a powerful surge of Buddhist energy. His wrist, which was only halfway extended, was grasped. Turning around, he saw it was the Bodhisattva of the Glass Pavilion.

"Bodhisattva, why is this?"

the Great Wheel King asked, puzzled.

The Bodhisattva Lilou sighed, "If he hadn't held back in all his ways, you would all be either dead or seriously injured. You should stop now!"

The Great Wheel King said, "Bodhisattva, you must not be merciful now. If you don't eradicate evil completely, there will be endless trouble later!"

The Bodhisattva Lilou sighed, "The Buddha's teachings are compassionate and universally save all sentient beings. Although the demon before us is a calamity, he is still one of the sentient beings. Since he still retains a trace of Buddha-nature, the Buddha's teachings should open the door of expediency."

The Great Wheel King stamped his feet anxiously, "Bodhisattva, he is now a Buddha hidden within a demon. Who knows when he will turn back into a demon? We should take this opportunity to resolve the calamity and prevent future troubles!"

The Bodhisattva Lilou said sternly, "Great Wheel King, what difference is there between your actions and 'better to kill than let go'! You have cultivated Buddhism for many years, yet you are still so confused!"

Hearing the Bodhisattva's rebuke, the Great Wheel King dared not say anything more and could only close his eyes and chant sutras, repeating his sins.

With a flick of her sleeve, the Bodhisattva Lilou conjured two weapons simultaneously before the monk Qianseng, saying, "I do not know how the Brahma Temple Zen Blade came into your hands, but since this blade is willing to serve you, it means that you possess qualities that the divine blade acknowledges. The Brahma Temple Zen Blade and the Bloodthirsty Sin Blade, two different weapons, are now before you. From now on, whether you are a Buddha or a demon is up to you to choose!"

Then, the Bodhisattva Lilou cut a branch from the courtyard and placed it before Qianseng, saying, "This Demon-Suppressing Blade was forged in the sea of suffering; it is both a means of cutting off sins and a way to transcend calamity. I hope you can awaken to this truth soon. A thousand years ago, an ascetic monk traveled across mountains and rivers with a withered branch as his staff, teaching sentient beings in the six realms. Now, the Thousand Buddhas' Blessed Kalpa is about to arrive..." "Even the most enlightened beings cannot escape this calamity, but you are neither Buddha nor demon, and are not within its grasp. Perhaps you are the only hope in this Dharma-ending Age. If you can achieve enlightenment one day, please help all sentient beings and resolve all kinds of misfortunes during this period of Buddhalessness!" After saying these words, Bodhisattva Lilou said, "The loss of spiritual energy from Buddha Mountain must have been absorbed by someone with ulterior motives. We must give chase immediately and intercept the culprit before their conspiracy is completed!"

Venerable Huo said, "How can a flesh and blood body withstand such immense spiritual power?"

Bodhisattva Lilou said, "The false Buddha went to great lengths to seize the body of Bodhisattva Weituo, surely not merely for rejuvenation. The mysteries hidden within the Tathagata's body are not as simple as they appear on the surface."

The Water Venerable said, "Since the Bodhisattva has spoken, we should naturally follow the decree, but..."

His gaze involuntarily fell on the Sangha.

The Vajra Bodhisattva said, "Whether one is a Buddha or a demon is only a thought away. Today's cause, tomorrow's effect; let fate decide!"

With that, she turned and left. The six sighed, abandoning the Sangha, and followed the Vajra Bodhisattva.

A fierce battle ensued, the power of the Buddha and demon ravaging the Great Buddha Hall, leaving it in ruins. The hundreds of monks' remains scattered on the ground seemed to herald the coming of the Dharma-ending Age.

The crumbling temple, the flickering candles, concealing broken figures—the heretics, lost in silence, seemed like lifeless corpses, motionless, indistinguishable from the surrounding carcasses.

The former place of cultivation is now a slaughterhouse. The sinful monk murmurs in meditation: "Good roots, Dharma forms, cause and effect, like dreams, like illusions; sins, five aggregates, countless eons, like dew, like lightning..." With each

low murmur, the images of Buddha and demon simultaneously reappear, manifesting an unusual Dharma form: a skull relic atop his head, his face seemingly shattered, half pure and solemn, half malevolent and sinister. In the abyss of consciousness, the battle between Buddha and demon re-emerges.

At the edge of the void, the Dharma form of Jieming appears, his majestic Buddha-like power illuminating the sinful Buddha-demon body. Jieming, using illusory steps, entangles his opponent's lower body. He hooks a foot around the sinful monk's ankle, twisting it to bend the monk's knee to the ground. The sinful monk straightens his legs, forcefully breaking free of Jieming's grasp, while simultaneously striking at him with his palm.

Jieming forms a hand seal at his chest, locking the sinful monk's killing move, while simultaneously unleashing a surge of Buddhist energy, vowing to destroy any non-Buddhist thoughts.

The Seng Monk, unable to withstand defeat, retaliated with demonic energy, resisting the power of Buddhism.

Both pasts were his own; the Buddha and the demon were his own creations. A single, persistent thought created cause and effect, and the redemption of sins was also cause and effect. Buddha and demon were

indistinguishable, their repulsions inseparable. Consciousnesses originating from the same source should be inseparable, yet before the arrival of the Thousand Buddhas' Blessed Tribulation, an unprecedented tug-of-war emerged. Jie Ming waved his hand, unleashing the Brahma Temple Zen Punishment; the Seng Monk raised his sleeve, recalling the Bloodthirsty Sin Blade. They clashed once more, punishment and sin engaging in a mental battle.

The Seng Monk raised his blade to strike, Jie Ming parried with his own, their blades darting back and forth.

"Do you want to kill me?"

The Seng Monk twisted his wrist, creating a soft yet strange blade technique that entangled the Brahma Temple Zen Punishment, coldly demanding the question.

Jieming, unleashing a fierce and relentless attack, shattered the Bloodthirsty Blade's blockade, replying, "It's not about killing, but about salvation!"

His words trailed off, and Jieming's blade gained even more power, striking with a resounding clang that forced Qian Seng back several steps.

Qian Seng, his blade pointing diagonally at the ground, sneered, "I am you! Trying to fight me will only lead to your own destruction!"

Jieming slowly closed his eyes, silently chanting Buddhist mantras.

Qian Seng raised an angry brow, scoffing, "Instead of closing your eyes to chant sutras, open your broken eyes and see this broken world!"

Jieming calmly replied, "What is brokenness in this world? It's caused by the struggle for power and profit, by unfulfilled greed, but ultimately, it must return to nothingness!"

Qian Seng coldly laughed, "Since it must return to nothingness, why did I appear? Don't forget that the fruit of my birth is the cause of your past life!"

Jieming said, "Your appearance is because I once questioned Buddhism, clinging to the idea of washing the world with blood to cleanse all evil, unaware that you yourself are the greatest evil consequence." "It is the demons that disturb my mind. You were my past and my future, but now we coexist!"

The monk said, "Since we coexist, why do you reappear? Isn't that redundant?"

Jieming slowly opened his eyes and said, "In the past, I rejected sins; now I acknowledge them. One wrong step and Buddha becomes demon; if one is willing to turn back, even demon can become Buddha. Let us clear away doubts, get rid of our demonic obstacles, and return to emptiness and clarity!"

Before the Buddhist chanting stopped, Jieming held a knife that transformed into three thousand forms, and brilliant golden light poured down. Suddenly, a thousand Buddhas chanted, and a solemn aura enveloped the void.

The monk's expression changed slightly, and he sneered, "Thousand Buddhas' Bright Realm? You think you can defeat me with this illusion? You're as naive as the Sea of Bitterness!"

Jieming said, "I've also said it before, it's not about defeating, but about crossing over. I neither deny nor exclude. You and I were born from the same source; there's no question of who wins or loses!"

The Mind Battle Realm reopened the Thousand Buddhas' Dharma Image, regaining the clarity of the Buddha's image. He began with the Radiant Light Praise of Merit, intending to cross over the sins of Buddhism before him. The monk swung his butcher's knife again, meeting the punishment of the Brahma Temple.

The two swords clashed, and the monk suddenly felt the powerful force of his other self's sword, forcing his arm to go numb and his demonic arts to be difficult to unleash. He was forced to retreat step by step by the rapid sword strikes.

But the monk clearly saw Jieming's intention for the next move, which was a three-illusion-seven-real movement. So he adjusted his moves, using a three-real-seven-illusion sword path to dismantle it.

"Hmph, I know all your martial arts. You think you can defeat me? Na?ve!"

Before the words were finished, the monk's blade pointed straight at the sky. Instantly, a cacophony of chanting and demonic power erupted—the most powerful move—the Ten Thousand Sins Chant.

"Good deeds are my own, evil consequences are my own. Through trials in the mortal world, I will be reborn in Nirvana!"

Jie Ming slowly closed his eyes. The Brahma Temple Chan Xing rose into the air, its precious light radiant. It was a move without form or style, outside the three religions, and beyond the boundaries of Buddhist teachings.

This move, transcending the three religions, clashed with the ultimate move of the demon and the Buddha. The two, existing in opposition, were about to sever their entangled destiny. In the real world, the images of Buddha and demon began to crumble as the battle in the illusion of consciousness intensified. The two opposing forces of demonic energy and Buddhist light began to dissipate. Suddenly, a beam of light shot into the sky, and the corpses on the ground turned into smoke and vanished into nothingness.

When the radiance faded, there was no trace of the demon or the Buddha in the original spot. The demon and Buddha's twin swords had also vanished without a trace. The withered branch had transformed on its own into a simple and unadorned Zen staff!

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