Chapter 997: The Helpless Lingshan, the Defecting Battle Holy Buddha (3/5, Requesting Subscriptions)

Hearing Nezha's words, Buddha was utterly speechless.

I'm still the lord of Lingshan, and you've already let Guanyin betray me—how dare you disregard me, the master of Lingshan?

"Nezha, are you too going to wade into this mess?" Buddha asked in a deep voice.

In the past, Buddha would never waste words with Nezha.

But this moment was different.

He realized he could not see through Nezha's true strength, and combined with that spear thrust from the Pure Land, he understood—one—the strongest in the Pure Land was Nezha.

When did Nezha become a Jin Xian?

"Buddha, there is no Nezha here—only the Bright Battle Heavenly Sovereign!" Nezha's battle aura blazed, his spear pointing to the sky, "I am the Guardian Heavenly Sovereign of the Pure Land—how can you say I'm wading into a mess?"

"Battle Heavenly Sovereign?"

Among the Buddhas of Lingshan, Sun Wukong was speechless.

You've stolen my title.

Battle Heavenly Sovereign—isn't that just the Battle Holy Buddha of Lingshan?

Yet, he had no intention of lending a hand.

Whether it was the scripture journey or becoming the Battle Holy Buddha, his own will was minimal.

It felt as if a hand behind him pushed him forward, his fate not his own.

Though he could not resist, he could at least do the bare minimum.

Watching Yang Jian and Nezha stand against Lingshan, he felt a quiet sense of schadenfreude.

"Since you refuse to awaken, do not blame me for the Fomen's methods."

Buddha's fury surged instantly.

As the lord of Lingshan, a Jin Xian.

He had been a Jin Xian for many years—he naturally had no fear of Nezha, this newly elevated Jin Xian.

Saying this, he reached out and grabbed toward Nezha.

His palm did not grow larger, yet it evoked a sensation of blotting out heaven and earth—as if the sky had suddenly darkened.

This was the spatial law technique.

Nezha chuckled: "A trivial trick."

For an ordinary Jin Xian, facing such a technique would mean no defense at all.

Buddha's palm-world was famed throughout all realms—it was no exaggeration.

But Nezha had just undergone the purification of the Changhe, and his understanding of time-space surpassed Buddha's.

Though these understandings had not yet crystallized into techniques, dismantling Buddha's technique was effortless.

He thrust his spear toward the sky—and instantly, the heavens split open, sunlight pouring down, the sensation of blotting out heaven and earth vanishing.

Splash!

A drop of golden blood fell, landing in the Merit Pure Land, transforming into a golden pool that nourished countless lotuses, making the Merit Pure Land even more sacred and extraordinary.

"This…"

The Buddhas of Lingshan were stunned—they never imagined the World-Honored One had been defeated in a single strike.

Especially Sun Wukong.

He knew Buddha's techniques best.

That palm-world had made him suffer terribly—and yet Nezha had shattered it with one blow.

"When did Nezha become so terrifying?"

Sun Wukong's scalp prickled, "If I had faced today's Nezha during my rebellion in Tiangong, wouldn't I have been humiliated?"

In the void, Nezha's avatar watched his true body unleash his power, eyes blazing.

He too had undergone the purification of the Changhe and gained his own understanding of time-space.

But to face Buddha himself, he could never have done it so easily.

In fact, due to the realm gap, he could only guarantee he would not lose.

"Indeed, you have some skill!" Buddha retracted his hand, fixing his gaze on Nezha, "No wonder you dared to divide the Fomen's destiny. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas—unite with me to subdue this demon!"

As he spoke, the prepared Lingshan assembly activated their techniques, channeling their magic power and destiny to bolster Buddha.

Instantly, Buddha's Buddhist light illuminated the Three Realms and Six Paths.

Nezha saw this, turned to Yang Jian, and said, "Second brother, let us settle this once and for all."

"Agreed."

Yang Jian nodded—and behind him, the boundless light of the Pure Land responded, flowing onto Yang Jian.

Nezha and Yang Chan also channeled their magic power into Yang Jian.

In an instant, Yang Jian's aura reached its peak; he swung his three-pronged, two-edged blade and slashed toward Buddha.

This strike was less a battle between Buddha and Yang Jian, and more a clash between Tiangong and Lingshan.

Originally, Lingshan and Tiangong were nearly evenly matched.

After the scripture journey, the Dao itself favored Lingshan.

In this war, Lingshan's victory was already assured.

But then—Nezha became a Jin Xian, Tiangong preemptively proclaimed it to heaven and earth, making the Merit Pure Land the orthodox.

Suddenly, the tide reversed.

Boom—

The light clashed with Buddhist radiance; Yang Jian was pushed back miles, landing within the Merit Pure Land, seated upon a lotus throne, his expression solemn—as if pushed by Buddha into his rightful place, his position now legitimate and justified.

He sat upon the Bright Heavenly Sovereign's throne.

But the side of the Buddha did not fare so well.

The Arhats and Bodhisattvas coughed up blood; the Buddha's face turned pale.

He looked up at the sky, beginning to doubt his own existence.

"Has the great flourishing of the Fomen really been cut short?"

"In ancient times it was so, and today it is the same. Oh heavens, is it not said that the Dao of Heaven is perfectly fair? Why is the rise of my Fomen so difficult!"

Of course, the Buddha could only say such things in his heart.

He was no ordinary being, but a Taiyi Jin Xian.

When ordinary mortals question the Dao of Heaven, the Dao of Heaven deigns not to respond.

A Taiyi Jin Xian's voice can reach the Dao of Heaven directly.

If he dared speak thus, it would be questioning the Dao of Heaven—and then, not only would he suffer, but even Lingshan would share in the calamity.

Now, the Merit Pure Land was no weak force, and had received the Dao of Heaven's affirmation.

If Lingshan fell, the Fomen's fortune would flow entirely to the Merit Pure Land—would that not be sewing clothes for Er Lang Shen and Nezha?

"Since Heaven's will is thus, this seat will no longer force the matter."

The Buddha drew a deep breath, suppressed his injuries, and his expression regained its solemnity: "All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, let us return to the Western Heaven Lingshan."

"Yes, World Honored One."

The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were shrewd souls; when the matter was hopeless, they had no wish to die. Seeing the Buddha retreat, they breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, a beam of Jin Guang shot forth and landed upon the Merit Pure Land.

"World Honored One, Old Sun thinks this Merit Pure Land is quite fine—I shall stay here today. What do you and the Radiant Heaven Lord think?"

The Buddha, seeing Sun Wukong flee, wore a grim expression.

Yang Jian, however, was delighted: "I am overjoyed."

The Buddha glanced at Sun Wukong, said nothing more, closed his eyes and counted breaths, suppressing his inner rage, then led the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas into the void and vanished.