Jiangxi.
As the masses of commoners kowtowed in unison, melodious bell chimes instantly came from the horizon. Wherever they passed, golden rosy clouds gushed like springs, and various strange phenomena appeared one after another.
At the distant horizon, thousands of auspicious clouds piled up. Within the clouds, a magnificent temple as large as a mountain emerged. Inside the temple, countless monks came and went, chanting Buddhist scriptures, discussing Dharma and Dao. The melodious Buddhist sounds mixed with the bell chimes, falling into Lu Yang's ears and beside Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon.
Boom!
The bell chimed eighty-one times in succession. Each strike was like a blow to the head, falling into Lu Yang's ears, even making him uncontrollably give birth to bizarre thoughts—
Amitabha... holy shit.
Clang!
The next second, [Sword Intent] revived, dispelling the Buddhist sounds echoing in his mind. It also made Lu Yang sober up, cold sweat instantly streaming down.
Such an evil thing!
If it were a Foundation Establishment Perfected One with weaker cultivation here, they would probably have converted to the Pure Land with great joy at this moment, becoming a Guardian Arhat within the Pure Land.
And this wasn't even the full power of the Buddhist sound... Ninety percent of the terrifying "converting" divine wonder poured onto Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon. However, even so, Lu Yang looked sideways and saw Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's expression remained as calm as an ancient well, showing not the slightest change.
At this time, the old monk leading the commoners in kowtowing also stood up tremblingly.
Putting his palms together, he said respectfully: "[Veda Heaven Vanquishing-Demon Arhat], the Buddha Child has been waiting for you for a long time. Please follow this little monk into the Great Buddha Hall."
"Lead the way."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon nodded. Lu Yang followed closely behind. The three of them walked into the Pure Land. Along the way, what they passed was impressively a scene of peace and prosperity.
Everyone observed etiquette and restrained themselves; every family had a house and fields.
Monks discussed dharma, novice monks talked about scriptures—harmonious and happy. There were no disputes between each other; everyone enjoyed themselves, not needing to worry about daily livelihood hardships.
Such a scene was simply unimaginable in other places. After all, mortals were mortals, and cultivators were cultivators. The two had always been shepherds and livestock; how could they treat each other equally? Yet in the Pure Land, everyone was equal. Even an Arhat would discuss buddhist dharma and scriptural meanings with a commoner from the marketplace.
"Amitabha!"
Finally, in the center of Jiangxi, a majestic divine mountain rose from the ground. Buddhist light became many times more blazing here, truly illuminating the ten directions with brightness.
At the top of the divine mountain, an ancient temple stood tall.
[Supreme Truth Enlightenment Monastery]!
Dong—!
Melodious bell chimes came from within the monastery, a scene of auspiciousness. Behind the wide-open gates was a magnificent main hall. Inside the hall stood a Golden Body Buddha statue.
On both sides of the Buddha statue were Pure Land Arhats. Lu Yang even saw a few acquaintances among them. These Arhats all looked solemn and majestic, guarding around the Golden Body Buddha statue. With Buddhist light reflecting behind their heads, countless pairs of eyes sized up Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon.
Under the Golden Body Buddha statue.
Buddha Child Guang Ming, with red lips and white teeth, looking like a novice monk, put his palms together. With a smile on his face, he looked down at Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, as if looking at fish meat in a pot.
"Excellent, excellent."
Buddha Child Guang Ming nodded gently: "Since Veda Heaven Vanquishing-Demon Arhat has come here in person, you should have understood the past. Today you deserve to return to your position and became an Arhat."
"..."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon didn't respond but looked beside Buddha Child Guang Ming. There stood a youth with refined appearance and composed temperament.
It was precisely the mortal close friend who taught him [No-Kill] back then.
At this moment, the other party also revealed a nostalgic smile, nodding slightly at him. The gaze looking at him held gratification, appreciation, and full of closeness.
However, seeing this, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon sighed faintly.
"Why does Benefactor sigh?"
Buddha Child Guang Ming smiled upon seeing this: "Could it be there is still unresolved resentment in your heart? No matter; you can vent it to your heart's content. All the Arhats today came for this."
He didn't care about Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's attitude at all.
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon was now an arrow on the bowstring, having to be fired. Sacrificing his body to the sword and attaining the [Sword Dao Fruit] was already a foregone conclusion. The only difference lay in how he would attain it.
If Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon gave up resistance, naturally, everyone would be happy. From then on, the Pure Land would gain another Arhat and harvest a [No-Kill Sword Intent] tempered to the limit. Given time, perhaps there was hope to cultivate a [Sword Dao Fruit] belonging to their own.
If Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon took the opportunity to go on a killing spree, he would also be happy to see it happen.
I have three thousand monks and countless believers!
All prepared for you, letting you slaughter at will!
The more you kill, the more ruthless you are, the cleaner the venting of killing intent, the purer the [No-Kill Sword Intent] recovered afterward! And the higher the quality!
From the beginning, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon had no right to choose.
Even whether he came to the Pure Land or not wouldn't affect this result. The only difference was: if he came, the Pure Land would sit back and enjoy the result; if he didn't, the Pure Land would actively guide him over.
Whatever he choice, it was wrong!
"Amitabha!"
Buddha Child Guang Ming chanted a Buddhist name again, an excitement flashed in his eyes: Vanquishing-Demon... with such aptitude and possessing sword intent, he is more suitable than that Immortal Spirit!
Thinking of this, he glanced at Perfected One Warding-Evil beside him again.
"..."
This Foundation Establishment Perfection from the Sword Pavilion had completely lost his mind at this moment. thoroughly bewitched by the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier], he was almost reduced to a puppet.
Buddha Child Guang Ming pondered in his heart upon seeing this— to activate the [Buddha Kingdom on Earth] ritual requires four disciples. I still lack three. If I take Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, Sky-Shrouding's incarnation, and that Immortal Spirit Shangzhang as disciples, the final achieved ritual will inevitably be of the highest class!
This was his plan.
As for asking Sky-Shrouding to help deal with Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon before, it was purely a ruse. After all, he couldn't possibly count on a Saint Sect Perfected Lord.
From beginning to end, what he wanted was Sky-Shrouding himself.
Helping Sky-Shrouding seize [White Wax Gold] was fake; taking the opportunity to lure Sky-Shrouding into descending an incarnation, then converting him into a disciple was his goal!
Vanquishing-Demon has fallen into the trap. Without Vanquishing-Demon, the Sword Pavilion is half-crippled. That Immortal Spirit Shangzhang also can't escape my palm... only Sky-Shrouding is left.
"Senior Sky-Shrouding, the time has come."
Buddha Child Guang Ming spoke faintly, calling out in a low voice according to the previous agreement, and wait for [Sky-Shrouding] to take the bait and fall into his trap.
However, as time passed—
"..."
—Nothing happened.
Perfected One Warding-Evil still stood dazed on the spot without any movement. Sky-Shrouding completely didn't appear using his move to seize [White Wax Gold].
"...Hmm?"
Buddha Child Guang Ming gradually frowned.
"Senior?"
"..."
Still no response.
In an instant, Buddha Child Guang Ming's expression changed. The [Supreme Truth Enlightenment Tuoluo Heaven Manifestation] behind him shone brightly with Buddhist light, illuminating a clear thought—
What did I forget?
...
Jiangnan, Sword Pavilion heavy ground.
On the chaotic battlefield, an old man with his hands behind his back and a leisurely smile in his eyes, walked into the Ye Family clan land as if entering an uninhabited land.
"Haven't seen you for decades; Fellow Daoist's elegance remains the same."
The old man walked into the Ye Family, glanced at the mountain of corpses and sea of blood on the ground without changing his expression, then looked directly at Lu Yang's main body clustered by countless bannersSpirits.
Lu Yang, however, faced a formidable enemy.
The Ancestor of the Yun Family...
This was the person forgotten by Buddha Child Guang Ming. Perfected One Warding-Evil was just a smoke bomb thrown out by Sky-Shrouding; the Ancestor of the Yun Family was his true target!
...Sure enough!
Lu Yang lowered his eyelids. Previously, he spied on the conversation between Sky-Shrouding and Buddha Child Guang Ming through the Ancestor of the Yun Family, but in the end, he did nothing.
Because afterward, he suddenly remembered something, something he almost forgot: Back in the Mystic Spirit World Realm, at the [Southern Heavenly Gate], Sky-Shrouding had actually seen the Ancestor of the Yun Family! The other party followed by his side at the time, witnessing him manipulating the Ancestor of the Yun Family with his own eyes!
He knows I have a relationship with the Ancestor of the Yun Family!
So he cooperated with Buddha Child Guang Ming. On the surface, it was to fish for Perfected One Warding-Evil, wanting to plot for [White Wax Gold]. In reality, the true target is probably me!
Thinking to this point, Lu Yang exhaled a deep breath of turbid air... he is not flustered either. Today was different from the past; he already had the confidence to talk with [Sky-Shrouding].
"Nameless pawn pays respects to Senior."
Lu Yang cupped his hands, taking the initiative to salute.
However, what he didn't expect was that Sky-Shrouding, borrowing the body of the Ancestor of the Yun Family at this moment, frowned slightly upon hearing this, then chuckled lightly:
"Now that things have come to this, why bother with pretense, fellow Daoist?"
"Hongyun! It's you, isn't it!"
Lu Yang: "...?"