Chapter 265: An Ci Takes Action

"Which Daoist Friend dares to sever my Golden Spirit Mountain's bond?"

Within the Heavenly Dome, a rolling thunderous sound came again.

Lin Chuan found this voice familiar; it was the Great Sun Buddha.

"What is Golden Spirit Mountain anyway?"

"Stay away from Lin Chuan."

"Scram!"

The hidden guardians gave no quarter to Golden Spirit Mountain.

This time Lin Chuan heard clearly; the voice was cold, crisp, and belonged to a woman.

…

In the distant void, twelve figures stood side by side.

The lifeless Burning Lamp Buddha stood silently before the eleven guardians, a terrifying pressure enveloping them, forbidding any further advance.

"Golden Spirit Mountain has matters to discuss in detail with benefactor Lin Chuan; it will not endanger his life, so please rest assured."

"Also, I ask you all to grant this humble monk a little respect."

Since the last battle with the mysterious great power, Fo Men's Merit and Fortune have been diminished, and the Burning Lamp Buddha's lifespan has been reduced by more than half,

Even if he seals himself in sleep again, he cannot live beyond a hundred years.

How could he be content?

Now that a suspected junior of that mysterious great power has appeared, Golden Spirit Mountain will certainly not be satisfied.

"Burning Lamp Buddha, you as an elder, once a founder‑level figure, actually scheming against a junior—do you have any shame?"

The guardian, who came from the Purple Star Emperor Sect, questioned.

"The humble monk said it would not endanger his life."

Burning Lamp Buddha pressed his palms together, his expression calm.

"Are you truly not afraid that the great power behind him will strike again, cutting the foundation of your Golden Spirit Mountain, truly believing that a super force cannot be shaken?"

A guardian coldly shouted.

Burning Lamp Buddha raised an eyebrow, staring at him, "That mysterious great power will have no further chance to act; it has been restrained."

As soon as the words fell, a booming sound that shattered the Heavenly Dome echoed from afar.

A forceful aura shook the heavens and earth.

Although not yet at the Immortal realm, it is only a hair's breadth away, perhaps already a half step forward.

"Who?"

Burning Lamp Buddha's gaze pierced the void, looking there.

He saw a figure that filled him with fear.

"An Ci!"

"How could it be her?"

An Ci once dominated an era, beating the geniuses of all major forces so they could not lift their heads, forcefully seizing the champion position of the generation's talent war.

Born of the Three Teachings, yet she does not practice the path of Merit and Fortune.

Even so, she almost broke into the Immortal realm; once she succeeds, she will certainly surpass contemporary founder‑level figures.

Of course, these are not individuals.

He, Burning Lamp Buddha, has likewise achieved those feats.

What frightens him most is An Ci's identity: a direct disciple of Yang Zu.

Anyone can be unafraid of Golden Spirit Mountain, but none can disregard Yang Zu.

Since the flourishing of the Three Teachings era, as long as Yang Zu is present, Golden Spirit Mountain must stay a step below the Purple Star Emperor Sect.

Successive Fozus have often been beaten up by Yang Zu.

Five thousand years ago, people thought that the already gravely wounded and fallen Yang Zu inexplicably burst into Golden Spirit Mountain, forcefully subduing the Great Sun Buddha, stripping away one of the Three Thousand Buddha Lands, mirroring reality.

The entire Fo Men fell silent; no one dared to say a word against Yang Zu's tyrannical actions.

The fear Yang Zu brought truly penetrated the hearts of the Fo Men monks.

"It is rumored that An Ci has long closed the life‑and‑death gate; now, approaching her end, she still dares such a bold move—who gave her the confidence?"

Burning Lamp Buddha had to ponder deeply.

"The final ultimate transcendence?"

"Or perhaps Yang Zu is about to return, giving An Ci confidence?"

"Why do they protect Lin Chuan, merely because they cannot get along with my Fo Men Golden Spirit Mountain?"

Burning Lamp Buddha's thoughts were tangled.

On the other side, the Great Sun Buddha stared at An Ci, his realm a level above hers, yet he dared not act rashly.

He and An Ci are considered geniuses of the same era.

Before he inherited the founder's Merit and took control of Golden Spirit Mountain, An Ci had constantly suppressed him; had An Ci not chosen to forgo succeeding as head of the Purple Star Emperor Sect, this outcome would still not have changed.

"Great Sun Buddha, bald donkey, long time no see, you have become even more promising."

An Ci coldly looked at the Great Sun Buddha, "As the founder of a great sect, you actually bully a junior? Have you forgotten what my master told you?"

The Great Sun Buddha dared not take another step, "What does this matter have to do with your Purple Star Emperor Sect?"

"Lin Chuan is the person Yang Zu explicitly indicated must be protected."

An Ci coldly said, "Whoever dares to move him should be ready to face Yang Zu's wrath!"

Her voice echoed through heaven and earth, deliberately not evading.

An Ci knows well that those who wish ill upon Lin Chuan are not limited to Golden Spirit Mountain.

Today she steps forward, aiming to have Golden Spirit Mountain take the lead, to intimidate all manner of demons and monsters, and to cut off any thoughts hostile to Lin Chuan.

"Yang Zu has returned?"

Great Sun Buddha is terrified.

"The master has never left; how can one speak of returning? She has always been here."

An Ci replied proudly.

These words struck his heart, completely shattering Great Sun Buddha's thoughts; Golden Spirit Mountain, though unwilling, also knows that regaining fortune is hopeless.

If Yang Zu were truly angered, Golden Spirit Mountain would surely suffer.

He grew increasingly curious about Lin Chuan's identity—what kind of genius, what kind of status—so that even Yang Zu would intervene on his behalf.

"Since Yang Zu has spoken, I, a humble monk, shall depart; this matter was not fully considered by Golden Spirit Mountain, and I hope Yang Zu will be magnanimous."

They came swiftly and left swiftly; the Golden Spirit Mountain group vanished in the blink of an eye.

Lin Chuan merely watched the whole affair.

"An Ci?"

"Yang Zu's disciple?"

"Who is that?"

He has no recollection of that name, but a title means nothing; one must meet and sense the aura to know.

Perhaps it is a cultivator with whom he intersected in some past life?

However, he leans toward another conjecture: he and An Ci never crossed paths; it was arranged by his sister.

"It seems that after sister awakened her memory, her journey has been smooth, far smoother than Ye Xue's path."

The two seem not very comparable.

Yang Zu has been alive for a long time; his influence is enormous, and the later moves left from years of scheming are certainly numerous.

Lin Chuan thought for a moment, then bowed toward the Heavenly Dome,

"Lin Chuan is here, thank you for the senior's protection."

"No need to call me senior."

At his ear, An Ci's voice sounded, "Before Yang Zu exits the realm, I will continue to protect you; whatever you wish to do, be bold and go ahead."

This damned sense of security!

Lin Chuan saluted again, "Thank you, Daoist Friend."

No further sound responded from the Heavenly Dome.

Lin Chuan didn't mind much, looked at Xiao Qingmei, "Fo Men should no longer dare to block us; let's go find Xia Zi Sword Immortal."

"It seems sister's side is progressing smoothly."

Ye Xue walked over, calling her sister more naturally.

"Indeed, once sister completes the inheritance, everything will become clear."

Learning that sister safely completed the plan, Lin Chuan relaxed considerably.

The flying boat continued onward.

Dao Tian Zhou is boundlessly vast; the flying boat's speed was not fast, and after three days they finally reached the place where Xia Zi Sword Immortal resides.

Its name—Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

This sect was not founded by Xia Zi Sword Immortal; it was organized by those disciples who claimed to be Xia Zi Sword Immortal.

Now it has become a marvel of the world.

It has become the only major sect in the world without a sect master, yet still thriving.