Chapter 195

"Mó Fó Jiā Yè!!"

Zhāng Jiān's gaze fell toward the depths of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Hé Yīng had mentioned to him the demon kings on each of the twelve layers of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

The Mó Fó Jiā Yè on the tenth layer was one of the formidable ones.

The Buddhist lineages prominent in Dōng Xuán Shén Zhōu were few, and they had long been disfavored by the state religions of the major nations of Shén Zhōu, thus enduring suppression.

Only a few Buddhist lineages relied on strong inheritances to establish their foundation, such as Líng Shān Temple and Cháoyīn Temple, etc.

But the name Mó Fó Jiā Yè was extraordinarily famous six hundred years ago; he once rose to prominence, and at a young age received the true transmission of the Líng Shān Temple lineage, mastered its supreme secret, and had already been recognized as the next abbot of Líng Shān Temple.

He was also among the most promising young disciples in the Buddhist lineage to achieve the Golden Body of an Arhat.

Yet who could have foreseen that this person would deviate from the orthodox path midway, enter the demonic path, and become a demon Buddha of an era?

Upon entering the demonic path and establishing his own lineage, he originally had hopes of attaining revered status as a progenitor.

But in the end, for unknown reasons, he was suppressed by the ancestor of the Dòng Shén Jiào within the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

The emergence of such a figure is truly terrifying.

Boundless Buddhist resonance appeared, and in an instant, vast golden light like overturning mountains and seas surged, seeking to pierce the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Yet several magical treasures around the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda began to manifest divine power.

First was the pearl atop his head, covered in countless purple thunderbolts.

It was a Nine Apertures Thunder Origin Pearl, containing nine kinds of divine thunder; once the demons within the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda attempted to assault it, it would release the nine divine thunders, forming a thunder net to alternately punish the demons.

Only to see the thunder net, just formed, instantly pierced by that Buddhist resonance golden light, directly torn apart.

Furthermore, a bell on one of the eaves of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda trembled.

It was the Soul-Suppressing Bell.

The walls of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda also displayed the diagram of the Eight Trigrams.

It was the Eight Trigrams Mirror.

The mirror's light shone, inverting space.

The existence of this treasure could isolate the positions of many demons within the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Zhāng Jiān furrowed his brows at this moment.

He had learned about it.

Originally, the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda possessed six extremely powerful magical treasures; these six treasures could form a special spell array known as the Liù Hé Dòng Shén Zhuǎn Líng Great Array, capable of inverting positions and enhancing the pagoda's endurance.

But this time, the Pure Bright Daoist led the elders of the Dòng Shén Guān on campaign, and to reduce losses, he had taken several powerful treasures with him.

These demons had clearly been gathering strength beforehand.

"Esteemed ones, if you do not exert yourselves now, when will you?"

From within the golden light came the voice of the demon Buddha, resonant as gold and stone.

His voice was like the great bell of Huáng Lǚ, directly piercing through many illusory spaces within the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

At this moment, demons responded with angry roars.

"Seize the opportunity, break through the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda's seal together, escape, and exterminate the Dòng Shén Dao Tong!"

Within the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, surging demonic qi permeated; many demons within became restless, and countless waves of demonic qi continually assaulted the pagoda's seals.

Many formidable figures were secretly gathering strength.

"Not good!"

At this moment, deep within the Observation Heaven Terrace, a distant figure witnessed this scene and immediately prepared to rush out.

It was Dòng Xiāo Dao Ren.

He had remained in Gāo Jīng Chéng, acting in place of Jìng Míng Dao Ren to operate the various Dòng Shén branch observatories, overseeing the whole, while also assisting Zhāng Jiān and guarding the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Seeing the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda undergo such an anomaly, he could no longer remain seated.

He was about to act when a hand pressed down on him, and he laughed.

"Stay calm, do not be agitated!"

Upon seeing this figure, Dòng Xiāo Dao Ren's expression froze for a moment, then he slightly bowed his head in respect.

Zhāng Jiān, seeing this, kept his composure, merely lifting his brush and writing a character in the void.

"Seal!"

Vast and righteous qi flowed from his surroundings, as if the righteous qi of heaven and earth condensed at his brush tip, forming the character "Seal" which merged into the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Rolling righteous qi condensed on the pagoda walls, forming a great net enveloping the entire tower.

The righteous qi merged into the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, instantly causing many demons to suffer, as if boundless righteous fire burned them.

Many demons tainted by the righteous fire immediately wailed, their cultivation diminished, and even weaker ones were directly reverted to their original forms.

"Righteous qi?"

At this moment, on the tenth layer of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, a figure surrounded by boundless majestic golden light gazed upon the approaching righteous fire, eyes filled with astonishment.

That righteous fire swirled like a blazing sun in clear skies, illuminating the depths of the soul.

Even with his cultivation, he felt a trace of fear.

That heavy flame seemed specifically designed to counter his innate true scripture.

"Buddha Venerable, save us!"

Meanwhile, seated on his lotus platform, some of the weaker demons on the tenth layer could not help but wail; under the righteous light, many lost cultivation and manifested beast forms.

This demon Buddha also felt a sting in his soul, could not help but roar angrily:

"Líng Shān Dharma Realm Seal, Wrathful Buddha Lord!"

He formed a seal with his hand; in an instant, Buddhist light burst across his body, as if he could communicate with a supreme existence in the dark, and boundless Buddhist light erupted from his body, forming a vast Buddhist light Dharma Realm.

This is one of the most powerful hand seals of Líng Shān Temple, containing boundless profound power; such a seal, even those called reincarnated Buddhist sons who have cultivated across lifetimes and attained Arhatship may not necessarily comprehend this supreme seal.

This can be said to be one of the most peak dharma seals of the Buddhist lineage.

The demon Buddha Jia Ye back then also comprehended this dharma seal, and the eminent monks of Ling Shan Temple regarded him as a reincarnated Buddha son, making him the top candidate for the next abbot.

As this dharma seal took shape, it seemed as if a Buddha was born from the void dharma realm; a single punch sent forth, and even the boundless righteous qi above his head involuntarily surged outward.

The entire Demon-Suppressing Tower began to shake, as if on the verge of collapse.

At this moment, the demon Buddha's eyes were compassionate, as if a true Buddha had descended, possessing the boundless mighty power of a Buddha subduing demons.

In his eyes lay a calm tranquility.

Back then, he made a wager with the founder of the Dongshen Sect; losing meant he would voluntarily enter this Demon-Suppressing Tower, but it was also aided by the tower's power to restrain his demonic nature, merging Buddhist and demonic arts; now that Buddhist and demonic are united, today he seeks to use this opportunity to escape the tower.

And he also aims to achieve the demon Buddha's primordial spirit in the process.

Inside the Demon-Suppressing Tower, other demons sensed the boundless force pushing back the righteous qi, and their spirits were instantly uplifted.

"Stinking monk, although I don't like you, I will still lend you a hand today!"

At this moment, on the seventh floor, the nine-tailed fox demon wore a pink palace attire; her true form was more beautiful than her human illusion, and her seven snow-white fox tails, in the dim tower chamber, seemed to fill heaven and earth, instantly transforming into seven sky-supporting pillars, as demonic energy surged outward to strike the surrounding tower walls.

The rolling demonic energy was like a mountain range.

On the Observing Heaven Platform, the altar beneath it suddenly emitted boundless spiritual energy, as if starlight from the heavens above was attracted and fell, pouring into the Demon-Suppressing Tower, continuously repairing the cracks on its walls.

Zhang Jian also saw that incredibly fierce punch.

Such a punch seal was grand and vast, certainly not inferior to the two primordial spirit true beings fighting above the Chengguang Sect.

"Truly wondrous Buddhist dharma!"

Zhang Jian had never before encountered such a special Buddhist marvel, yet his eyes remained calm.

After a moment's thought, he picked up his brush and wrote a line.

"The Master does not speak of strange forces and chaotic spirits!"

Only then did this line of characters appear, transforming into a white stream of light that rose to meet the fist seal sweeping through multiple void dharma realms within the Demon-Suppressing Tower; the white stream of light seemed to contain the power to rend the void, and it actually caused that unmatched Buddha light to completely dissipate into nothingness.

Moreover, the white righteous qi fell like a sword into the depths of the Demon-Suppressing Tower, dispelling the impact of many demonic qi, and once again causing some demons to revert to their original forms.

The Way of the Sages possesses a certain strange power, as if it could comprehend the source of the great Dao of heaven and earth, bursting forth power from the origin; thus, whenever something manifests as the great Dao of heaven and earth, it holds such strange power.

Of course, this also requires vast amounts of righteous qi and accumulated erudition in perceiving the essence of all things as a foundation, so that these characters can truly burst forth with divine power.

Possessing the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, Zhang Jian now felt its beating speed was somewhat abnormal, as it accelerated drawing in righteous qi from heaven and earth, swiftly restoring the consumed righteous fire.

In Zhang Jian's view, the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart now resembled a key, capable of helping him unlock the depths of time, the righteous qi left by countless sage predecessors between heaven and earth, transforming it into power to suppress the mortal world.

The demon Buddha Jia Ye's Ling Shan dharma seal could connect with the Buddhas of the void in the Buddhist lineage; likewise, he could similarly rely on the righteous qi of heaven and earth to manifest the dharma.

In the darkness, the Dongxu Daoist witnessed this scene and could not help but be startled and moved.

"To have comprehended the Sage's Great Dao to such an extent—thousands of years ago, the Jade Saint holding the heavenly book could only achieve this much!"

Gazing at the boundless righteous qi, his expression shifted continuously, and he could not help but speak again.

"No wonder Master Jingming's nephew holds Zhang Xiuzhu in such high regard; Zhang Xiuzhu truly has the potential to be ennobled as a sage!"

Another figure's expression also showed some astonishment.

Seeing his own Ling Shan dharma realm seal suppressed by the righteous qi, the demon Buddha Jia Ye's ever-smiling face now bore a trace of solemnity.

Meanwhile, in the void, taking advantage of the righteous qi dispersing that grand Buddha dharma seal, Zhang Jian waved his brush once more.

"Suppress!"

A single character appeared at the brush tip, and immediately two more characters shone brightly in the light.

"Imprison, bind!"

Strands of righteous and noble qi burst forth, as if charging straight into heaven and earth; the three characters successively rushed into the Demon-Suppressing Tower, instantly reinforcing the tower's magical seal once more.

At this moment, countless Buddha lights flowed around the demon Buddha Jia Ye's body; the void received the irradiation of the Brahma sound, as if all powers of the void dharma realms were continuously gathering in his fist seal.

Beneath his feet, another eight-petaled Buddha lotus blossomed, though this lotus was half gold and half black—half sacred, half like the deepest darkness—and two golden bodies appeared around him.

Gazing at the three radiant characters above his head transformed into a prison, this demon Buddha finally could no longer restrain himself; yet at this moment, he glanced at the eleventh and twelfth layers, which had remained motionless, and though Buddhist and demonic spiritual light flowed in his eyes, a hint of anger appeared.

From beginning to end, the demon kings of the eleventh and twelfth layers seemed never to have made a move.

At this time, he spoke in a deep voice.

"Mad Daoist, Taiyin, you still do not act—do you truly wish to miss this opportunity?"

At this moment, deep in the eleventh layer, a figure was hung in midair, wearing a Daoist robe, though it was now tattered, countless spider webs crisscrossing, he resembled a zongzi suspended by a spider silk, still swaying, and at this moment he muttered, yet completely ignored the sound coming from the tenth layer.

He appeared to have gone mad!

Meanwhile, deep in the twelfth layer, a vast expanse of Xuan Yin black mist enveloped an area, within which lay hidden the darkest evil between heaven and earth.

At this moment, upon hearing the demon Buddha Jia Ye's voice, a voice indistinguishable as male or female emerged from within.

"What are you shouting about? The time has not come; I advise you to just stay put and not cause trouble!"

"Such fine days—why go out and do anything?"

That voice carried not a trace of emotion.

However, upon hearing this, the demon Buddha Jia Ye's brows furrowed.

Those two fellows' cultivation was not inferior to his, and in fact even more dangerous and terrifying.

But these two had always refused to act; relying solely on him leading the other demons, it was indeed uncertain whether they could break through the blockade of that outsider.

The opposing righteous qi was overwhelmingly strong, very difficult to deal with.

To expose one's trump card prematurely, yet fail to break out—this was undoubtedly the worst possible situation.

"It seems we must still wait for the right moment!"

The demon Buddha Jia Ye glanced outside the Demon-Suppressing Tower; his Buddha-eye seemed to pierce the void, and he saw a towering figure formed from righteous qi.

By his wisdom-eye, he still could not discern the other's footsteps, nor could he calculate any heavenly secrets.

The demon Buddha Jia Ye slightly furrowed his brows; those who cultivate the Sage's Great Dao as scholars are the most troublesome, and he felt a bit gloomy.

According to his knowledge, the transmission of the Sage's Great Dao should have been severed long ago.

A thousand years after the Jade Saint departed, all books concerning the Way of the Sages, even records of it, were destroyed; there should no longer be any practitioners of the Sages' Way born.

The Magic Buddha Jia Ye ultimately chose to lay down his arms and silence his drums; the boundless Buddhist chants and golden light dissipated, merely merging into the tenth layer, where a layer of inky Buddhist light was born from the golden Buddhist light, enveloping this area.

"This baldy is truly incapable!"

In the seventh layer, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox also retracted her majestic Heavenly Fox Dharma Form; her water-colored eyes held a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Fame is not small, yet under great renown it is actually difficult to live up to!"

The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox could sense that, at the critical moment, the Magic Buddha Jia Ye had obviously held back.

Before the altar, countless stars blazed fiercely, streaks of starlight sprinkling down upon the altar; the Demon-Suppressing Tower absorbed streaks of starlight, and the countless permeating fissures gradually healed.

"It's suppressed!"

At this moment, the Daoist of Dongxiao gazed upon this scene and also breathed a great sigh of relief, but his eyes falling upon Zhang Jian were astonished to the point of being stunned.

Zhang Jian actually withstood the tumult caused by the Magic Buddha Jia Ye and the demons acting in concert; this truly shocked people.

At this moment, Zhang Jian slowly lowered the ink brush in his hand, his expression calm.

His spirit-pupils focused, and he also saw the Magic Buddha Jia Ye suddenly cease movement.

His gaze then fell upon the eleventh and twelfth layers of the Demon-Suppressing Tower.

In his perception, the deep qi mechanism emitted by the sealed demons in the eleventh and twelfth layers became even more terrifying.

But strangely, the demon kings in the eleventh and twelfth layers actually chose to remain indifferent?

This made him somewhat strange.

He had originally already prepared to consume the essence.

However, this transaction, he still ended up losing money on.

Had he known earlier that the Demon-Suppressing Tower contained so many formidable beings, even if the reward given by the Daoist of Jingming were these, it would still be utterly insufficient!

At the same time, Zhang Jian's gaze glanced toward the depths of the Observatory Terrace.

Those two qi mechanisms in his eyes were likewise exceptionally clear.

However, another qi mechanism made him feel quite surprised.

That qi mechanism was filled with barbarism and antiquity.

It was very similar to the qi mechanism of Feng Ling, Xuan Jiu, Bai Nu, and others.

It was that of a mighty divine beast, or rather, a demon god.