At this moment, sword hums reverberated throughout Jiangdong.
From spirit treasures to mortal iron, anything possessing the form of a "sword" echoed in unison. The crisp sword hums turned into an earth-shaking roar.
Everything focused on the man who suddenly appeared in Jiangdong.
He wasn't handsome, nor imposing. Dressed in a black robe, unshaven, he looked like a down-and-out wandering hero commonly seen in the mortal world.
But no one cared about the man's appearance or temperament. Their gazes were only fixed on the sword in the man's hand. Completely different from the man's ordinariness, that sword was extremly brilliant. Just looking at the blade would create illusions of being cut.
On the other side, Lu Yang widened his eyes even more.
Because he was all too familiar with this sword.
Master Vanquishing-Demon!
At this time, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, Ye Guangji, should be in seclusion in Jiangnan, focused on stalling for time to void attain the Sword Dao, completely ignoring the outside world.
Why did Master come here...
As soon as this thought arose, Lu Yang slapped his head, secretly thinking he had dealt with bad people for too long and couldn't shift his mindset immediately.
Why did Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon appear?
The reason couldn't be simpler— Because Buddha Child Guang Ming entered Jiangdong, exterminating all humans and animals along the way... In this situation, how could Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon not come?
He had to come!
Not only did Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon come, but he came wrapped in furious rage. At this moment, he didn't give Buddha Child Guang Ming a chance to speak at all, raising the [No-Kill Sword] and slashing fiercely!
Buddha Child Guang Ming's face darkened upon seeing this, laughing in anger:
"This little monk didn't go to trouble you, but you came to ruin this little monk's good deed. You really don't know how to appreciate kindness. You must know, no matter how powerful a Foundation Establishment is, it's still just Foundation Establishment!"
As his voice fell, Buddha Child Guang Ming immediately put his palms together. His movements completely overlapped with the dilapidated Buddha statue behind him, their connection instantly becoming tightly linked. Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's sword light fell on him, all swallowed by the dilapidated Buddha statue just like before, causing not even a ripple.
"Amitabha."
Seeing this scene, Buddha Child Guang Ming chuckled lightly: "Fine. Taking in one is taking in, taking in two is also taking in. Today, this little monk will guide both of you into the Pure Land..."
Clang!
Before Buddha Child Guang Ming finished speaking, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's sword light fell on him again. But this time, the divine wonder in the sword light was completely different.
For all living beings, [No-Kill] comes first.
For evil demons and heretics, [All-Slaying] without pardon!
Boom!
The next second, Buddha Child Guang Ming's smile froze on his face. He looked back in horror, only to see the connection between him and the dilapidated Buddha statue behind him was actually cut off out of thin air!
And in this instant.
A fair palm stretched out from unknown whereabouts, passing through Buddha Child Guang Ming's protective buddhist light out of thin air, pressing silently on the back of his heart.
—Chong Guang!
Ever since his divine ability failed, Chong Guang had concealed his aura, silently waiting... until this moment of opportunity appeared!
In an instant, blazing light spat forth.
[Jade Platform Blooming with Luminous Light!]
This light was not grand but flickering like candlelight. It was the True Technique corresponding to [Overturned Lamp Flame], fire born from light, instantly igniting Buddha Child Guang Ming!
This is called [Golden Lamp Fire].
Seemingly weak, it was actually like maggots in the bone, treating the cultivator's spiritual power and divine abilities as candles. Once ignited, it couldn't be driven away or extinguished, and was hard to wear down.
Seeing this scene, even Lu Yang was astonished. After all, this was also his first time seeing Chong Guang fight someone. His methods were indeed extraordinarily cruel. More importantly, this fighting style was completely different from Chong Guang's openly majestic appearance. It was simply insidious and vicious to the extreme!
Don't strike unless necessary; strike to kill the enemy!
At this moment, Buddha Child Guang Ming's whole body was flowing with fierce fire. His kasaya was burned to flying ash instantly, spiritual light collapsing, revealing a sturdy upper body.
Looking out, his skin was like poured copper and cast gold.
However, such a flawless golden body was now covered with dense cracks, as if turning from solid metal into fragile porcelain.
Through these cracks, one could even see his internal organs, which were also being roasted by the fierce fire at this moment. The five viscera and six bowels, heart and lungs, all turned into fuel for the flame. It was like turning him into a human-shaped candlestick. Before burning him completely into flying ash, the flame wouldn't stop!
Buddha Child Guang Ming pressed his lips tightly together.
Clearly, he was enduring tremendous pain at this moment. Yet, as if disregarding life and death, he looked straight towards Lu Yang's direction.
He had only one purpose for this trip— to convert Lu Yang.
For this, he could make any sacrifice.
Anyway, he was just one of thousands of Buddhist cultivators. Buddhist cultivators like him were countless. The World Honored One would just enlighten another Buddha Child.
Therefore, his life and death were not important.
What was important was whether the five Dharma Aspects bestowed by the World Honored One could land on Lu Yang. As long as they landed, his mission for this trip would be considered a complete success.
Therefore, approaching the crisis of life and death, Buddha Child Guang Ming had absolutely no intention of suppressing his injuries, retreating, or trying to defend. Instead, he mobilized all his divine abilities and spiritual power, pouring them into those five Dharma Aspects. Like Mount Tai pressing down, they smashed towards Lu Yang's location!
The next second, Buddhist light submerged everything.
"Fellow Daoist... you underestimate me too much."
Accompanied by the sudden voice ringing in his ears, Buddha Child Guang Ming's pupils shrank. His originally hopeful eyes suddenly dimmed, revealing a look of dejection.
Failed... how could it fail?
He didn't understand. Those were five Dharma Aspects, falling on one person together, like Mount Tai crushing an egg. How could a mere Foundation Establishment block such a formation?
However, he had no spare energy to think anymore, because Lu Yang didn't waste time with him at all. While speaking, the sword edge of [Tribulation Wave] had already pierced into his chest, like the last straw that broke the camel's back. On the sword edge, the light of five divine abilities circulated impressively!
[Heaven-Severing Sword Technique], [Heartless Annihilation Slash].
[Lawless and Thoughtless], [Dust-Cleaving Form-Severing Cut].
[One Thought Divine Blade].
Five divine abilities wove into a [Gilded Gold Commanding-Arms Talisman], plus the [Proclaim Might] wonder of [Tribulation Wave] itself, pushing the power of the sword light to the peak!
Like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves.
Gone in a blink of an eye.
When the brilliant light dispersed, Guang Ming's figure was gone from the spot. The entire golden body shattered, flesh and viscera burned to ashes in the firelight.
Buddha Child has fallen!
However, seeing this scene, Lu Yang didn't relax in the slightest. On the other side, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon and Chong Guang also frowned tightly, their aura becoming increasingly intense.
Was it over?
No... this is just the beginning.
Lu Yang held [Tribulation Wave] in reverse, looking at the dilapidated Buddha statue standing on the wilderness: This is the World Honored One's hidden move. The Buddha Child was just a cover...
A cover used to trick out his false holding of the Golden Stature.
However, what Lu Yang didn't expect was that the five Dharma Aspects, which just missed and from which Lu Yang escaped in the nick of time, appeared again, landing around the Buddha statue.
"Amitabha!"
The five Dharma Aspects spoke in unison: "Benefactor, you have Buddhist affinity, far surpassing the Buddha Child. Since you can preside over the Daoist court, why not preside over the Pure Land?"
"This Buddha statue is prepared for the benefactor."
"The [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] can verify the truth of our words. The World Honored One is above; this Buddha statue is the True Buddha in the hearts of billions of Buddhist cultivators in the Pure Land."
"With this Buddha present, there is [One Mind]."
"At this moment, the World Honored One has actively abandoned this Buddha, discarding and destroying it. If the benefactor can cultivate this Buddha with your own strength, you can replace the World Honored One to preside over the Pure Land."
"[One Mind], all returning to the benefactor."
"At that time, the benefactor won't need to spend half a bit of effort. The billions of Buddhist cultivators in Jiangxi will also be at the benefactor's command. Attaining [Heavenly Fire] will be as easy as turning over your hand!"
After the words were spoken, the five dharma aspect simultaneously lowered their heads, prostrating themselves fully to the ground as they performed a grand rite of obeisance:
"May we invite the benefactor to preside over the Pure Land, guide all suffering karma to deliverance, attain unsurpassed perfect and complete enlightenment, become One Perfect in Wisdom and Conduct, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One—
the Great Sun Tathāgata whose radiance illuminates all!"