As the World Honored One's voice fell, everything became silent. Even the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] fell into a brief stagnation, and the heaven and earth were filled with brimming Buddhist light.
In a trance, Lu Yang seemed to see the vast Jiangxi from the Buddhist light, seeing a boundless zen forest, ancient monasteries and temples, and dense crowds of Arhats and monks gathering together, kowtowing to him, chanting the same honorific title: "Praise to the Great Sun Tathāgata whose radiance illuminates all!"
Dong—.
A melodious bell sound followed, making Lu Yang raise his eyebrows. His gaze fell on the dilapidated Buddha statue and the five dharma aspects guarding around it.
They weren't lying.
With the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] above, if what they said wasn't the truth, Lu Yang would definitely receive a warning, and his own divine ability wonder would also sense it.
They are serious...
No deception, no concealment, sincerely asking him to preside the Pure Land and command billions of Buddhist cultivators. As long as he agreed, a bright future was inevitable.
There would be no manipulation, no traps.
As long as he agreed to the request of the five dharma aspects, he could immediately take control of Jiangxi, becoming the "One" in [One Mind], becoming the most special one.
Controlling Jiangxi, yet not being an incarnation of the World Honored One.
This was an opportunity countless cultivators begged for but couldn't get. If word got out, let alone Foundation Establishment, even Perfected Lords would probably fight tooth and nail for this.
Even the Dao Court's Dao Lord had no intention of objecting.
At this moment, the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] just hovered in the air, quietly waiting for Lu Yang's response, which also made Lu Yang understand the implied metaphor:
That's right, what would the Dao Court's Dao Lord be unwilling about? If I drive Jiangxi, the Dao Court is also a beneficiary. This is a mutually beneficial matter... Worthy of being the World Honored One, doing things so flawlessly, always mutually beneficial with others, never truly driving things to a dead end.
Lu Yang had to admit that he was somewhat tempted.
After all, this was a great opportunity to ascend to heaven in one step. As long as he nodded, the Jiangxi Buddhist cultivators would submit immediately, and he could try to seek the Golden Core and ascend to the throne right away!
At that time, he would possess the Dao Court and have the Pure Land as backing.
With two Dao Lords supporting him, plus the might of the supreme Dao Fruit, even if he was only at the early stage of Golden Core, he could still become a big shot standing at the peak!
"Benefactor, what concerns do you still have?"
The five dharma aspects spoke again, looking sincere: "We absolutely speak no falsehoods. The World Honored One is also sincere. Please, benefactor, preside over the Pure Land. We are willing to be at your command!"
Clang!
Answering them was a clear sword hum. It was Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, seen holding the [No-Kill Sword], the expression on his face completely solemn.
Different from the previous life, in this life Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon displayed the [All-Slaying] Sword Intent ahead of time. At this moment, dual sword intents intertwined on his body, like Yin and Yang, water and fire flowing together, constantly pushing his aura upwards. His movements were slow, but no one could react.
Time seemed to stop flowing at this moment.
Everyone present could only watch helplessly as Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon stepped out, raised his sword, and slashed, passing through the middle of the five dharma aspects with extreme calmness.
The sword light cut through the body of each dharma aspect equally.
The next second, the concept of time stagnation shattered, and everything resumed flowing. The five dharma aspects were cut in half at the waist simultaneously, revealing looks of shock and anger on their faces!
"Presumptuous!"
In an instant, Buddhist light surged. The five dharma aspects that had just been cut off actually glued back together, restoring their original state in an instant, then opened their mouths simultaneously:
"Prajñā Pāramitā!"
The five dharma aspects each chanted a single word. In an instant, they triggered thousands of golden lights, causing the color of heaven and earth to change, and all things to collapse.
In the Buddhist scriptures, Prajñā represents "wisdom," Pāramitā points to the "other shore." Therefore, these words together mean "wisdom reaching the other shore." It is the supreme great mantra of the Pure Land. Chanted by the five dharma aspects at this moment, it immediately manifested extraordinary phenomena.
This change didn't involve spiritual power, nor did it interfere with divine abilities.
Instead, it pointed directly to "stature"!
At this moment, only the stature of the five dharma aspects was constantly climbing, while the stature of all other things was falling. As one fell, the other rose, as if interpreting—
"In heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one!"
Stature opened up an absolute gap. Even Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon became insignificant in the face of this stature gap, no longer posing the slightest threat.
However, seeing this, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's expression remained as calm as an ancient well, and he took a step forward indifferently.
[Upholding Dao and Severing Karma Sword Art]!
Cold sword light emerged, carrying extreme sharpness and extreme killing intent, even instantly dyeing Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's originally clean clothes red.
[All-Slaying]!
Under this sword, nothing could not be cut. The peerless sharpness instantly destroyed the "Prajñā Pāramitā" mantra mobilized jointly by the five Dharma Aspects.
With a flash of sword light, the distorted and collapsing concept returned to calm. The heaven-and-earth-like stature gap was pulled back for nothing... Ultimately, it wasn't true stature but created through dao arts. Anything not naturally formed had flaws, and if there were flaws, [All-Slaying] could cut them!
But even so, the five Dharma Aspects smiled:
"Amitabha... Benefactor Vanquishing-Demon, give up. You cannot kill us!"
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon didn't speak, just raised his sword again.
Seeing this scene, the expressions of the five Dharma Aspects changed slightly. They paused, then changed the subject: "Even if you really kill us, what can you change?"
"All decisions lie with Benefactor Huan Ming."
They had already seen through Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's mind: Obviously, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon didn't want Lu Yang to preside over the Pure Land, so he wanted to cut off the five Dharma Aspects!
"Pure Land..."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon stood holding his sword, whispering, "Using one person's heart to seize the hearts of people under heaven. Using the discomfort of the myriad people of Jiangdong to seek the great freedom of the World Honored One alone... In terms of evil demons, Jiangbei is secondary; Jiangxi is the first! Casting oneself into the Pure Land, even if becoming a Perfected Lord, what is the meaning?"
This wasn't said to the five Dharma Aspects.
Although Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon didn't turn back when speaking, Lu Yang knew very well that this sentence was said to him, and it was also Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's heartfelt words.
However, seeing this, the five Dharma Aspects didn't panic at all; instead, they laughed:
"What evil demons... Benefactor Vanquishing-Demon is attached to appearances."
"Mortals? Qi Refining cultivators? Nothing but illusion. Although Foundation Establishment can be called people, if one wants to achieve great deeds, what does killing a few people count for?"
"Moreover, that is [Heavenly Fire], a Perfected Lord of the Supreme Dao Fruit! Does Benefactor Vanquishing-Demon know that a Perfected Lord achieved through this has hope for Nascent Soul?"
The next second, Lu Yang's voice came faintly:
"This junior agrees with what senior said..."
"Really!?"
Hearing this, the five Dharma Aspects were instantly ecstatic. Without saying another word, they knelt on one knee directly, prostrating themselves in grand obeisance towards Lu Yang's direction.
Seeing this scene, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon sighed in his heart. He knew he was an anomaly. Just as the five Dharma Aspects said, mortals, Qi Refining cultivators—if they died, they died. Soul reincarnation meant a new life, like leeks in a field; cut a batch, and another will grow.
Who would care?
In the world today, could it be that only I will not compromise for these illusory things?
Never mind, it's nothing more than one more great enemy in the future.
With this thought, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon actively put away the sword light.
Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.
Moreover, when he has accumulated enough to attain the [Sword Dao Fruit], if Lu Yang had already oreside over the Pure Land, they would still be enemies then.
At this moment, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon suddenly felt somewhat helpless.
That was a helplessness of being all alone without a single fellow daoist despite the world being vast.. However, he was a sword cultivator. Once the sword was drawn, he wouldn't turn back.
Thinking of this, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon planned to turn and leave.
However, the next second, he heard Lu Yang's voice continue, words sonorous:
"...But I refuse!"
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon was stunned. Turning back, he found Lu Yang smiling at him, the smile very brilliant. Then Lu Yang reached out and pointed at the five dharma aspects:
"Fellow Daoist, what are you standing there for?"
"Let's kill them!"