Chapter 524: The Buddha Saves All Beings

On the ancient tower battlefield of Tianji Shengyu, the flames of battle, like indestructible stars, illuminated the entire night sky.

The cultivators of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes, originally full of confidence, felt unprecedented shock and panic before the peculiar tactics of the Xiguangsi monks.

They never imagined that those seemingly peaceful bald-headed monks could, in such a clever way, restrain the power they prided themselves on.

As the battle deepened, the strong ones of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes realized the gravity of the situation.

They had originally locked their target onto the Huanyu cultivators, intending to crush the opposition with overwhelming force in one strike.

However, the appearance of the Xiguangsi monks completely disrupted their plans.

These monks did not engage them head-on but adopted a guerrilla tactic, consuming their strength.

The Eight Tribes' strong ones roared angrily, deciding to shift their target and direct their attack at the Xiguangsi monks.

They believed that only by exterminating these monks could they regain the initiative on the battlefield.

"Shameless monks, today is your doom!" a Nine Wheels cultivator shouted, his face turning livid with rage, brandishing his long saber as he led his tribesmen in a charge against the monks.

However, the Xiguangsi monks were not frightened by this; they chanted sutras with their mouths, and their eyes flashed with determined light.

Under the leadership of Master Huiguang, they moved in a near-dance posture, weaving through the battlefield.

"Amitabha Buddha, to save all beings, the time to accumulate merit has come!" Master Huiguang chanted loudly, his voice echoing across the battlefield, inspiring every monk's heart.

Faced with the encirclement of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators, the monks did not choose to resist head-on.

They dispersed flexibly in small groups, like streaks of light and shadow, moving through the enemy's encirclement.

Whenever they spotted an isolated Nine Wheels cultivator, they would quickly gather and, using a many-to-one approach, swiftly subdue him.

This tactic made the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators feel extremely stifled.

They were accustomed to frontal clashes, but had no counter to this guerrilla tactic.

Whenever they prepared to concentrate their forces to encircle and annihilate the monks, they found the other side had already vanished into the battlefield's mist.

What further infuriated the Nine Wheels cultivators was that, whenever they prepared to pursue, the monks would surge forth from all directions to launch a surprise attack.

This tactic left the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators exhausted from running, yet they could do nothing about it.

"These monks are utterly shameless!" a Nine Wheels cultivator bellowed in exasperation, his face filled with anger and helplessness.

However, the Xiguangsi monks understood this differently; the battle was not merely for victory, but also to reduce slaughter and save all beings.

Each of their strikes was meant to alleviate the suffering brought by war.

"Our actions may not be understood, but our purpose is correct." Master Huiguang said to his disciples during a lull in the battle, "We will bring peace to this battle in our own way."

As the battle continued, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to feel fatigued.

Although their attacks were fierce, they struggled to exert their full power in the face of the monks' guerrilla tactics.

On the contrary, the monks grew braver with each fight, and their Buddhist Dharma power exerted a tremendous effect on the battlefield.

In a fierce clash, a Nine Wheels cultivator was surrounded by several monks; his body gradually turned illusory under the Buddha's light, eventually becoming a wisp of green smoke that dissipated into the air.

"No!" a strong one of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes witnessed this, his eyes filled with anger and grief.

He waved his weapon wildly, launching a frenzied attack at the monks.

However, the monks were not intimidated by his anger; they continued to evade his attacks with agile movements, while seeking opportunities to counterattack.

The battle grew ever more intense, and the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to feel despair.

They realized that no matter how hard they tried, they could not break the monks' tactics.

These monks were like ghosts on the battlefield, always delivering a fatal blow when they were most exhausted and vulnerable.

"Amitabha Buddha, may your souls find rest." Master Huiguang would chant sutras after each battle, performing liberation rites for the fallen cultivators.

As the battle deepened, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators gradually realized that perhaps they truly could not defeat these monks.

The monks' Buddhist Dharma power and their unique tactics made them feel utterly powerless.

"We… can we really win?" a Nine Wheels cultivator asked, panting, during a lull in the battle.

His eyes were filled with confusion and fear; he began to doubt whether they could truly defeat these monks, or truly win this battle.

However, just as they sank into despair, a deafening roar suddenly came from the battlefield's sky; golden rays of light poured down from heaven, illuminating the entire battlefield.

"Reinforcements have arrived!" a Nine Wheels cultivator shouted indignantly, hope rekindling in his eyes.

With the arrival of reinforcements, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to rally again.

"" They knew that as long as they could persevere, there was still hope for victory.

Boom—rumble…

The battle grew ever fiercer, both sides exerting their utmost, striving to seize the final victory in this clash that determined the fate of Tianji Shengyu.

Meanwhile, the Xiguangsi monks continued to weave through the battlefield; their Buddhist Dharma power and unique tactics became a force that could not be ignored on the battlefield.

Their goal was not personal glory, but the peace of all beings.

"Amitabha Buddha, may this battle end soon, may all beings find peace." Under the Buddha's light, Master Huiguang chanted sutras; his voice echoed across the battlefield, bringing a hint of tranquility to the conflict.

Bang—bang—bang…

The ancient tower battlefield of Tianji Shengyu was shrouded in gunpowder smoke; the showdown between the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators and the Huanyu cultivators had already entered a white-hot phase.

"If you don't go to hell, who will? May the Buddha bless us, may the Demon Master bless us!" the Xiguangsi monks shouted, their voices carrying a strange mix of resolve and pity.

In their eyes, these Nine Wheels cultivators were not merely enemies, but beings in need of salvation.

The monks' conduct left the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators feeling unprecedented confusion and panic.

They acted like hooligans, specifically attacking the Nine Wheels cultivators' hair, using a special flame to scorch it completely clean, leaving their scalps bald and their entire garments charred black.

"What is going on? What are they doing?" a Nine Wheels cultivator shouted in exasperation, his hair just burned off by a monk's flame, his face filled with anger and bewilderment.

"They are saving us, making us into monks like them." another cultivator said with a wry smile, his clothes also burnt to rags, looking quite disheveled.

As the monks acted, a peculiar scene appeared on the battlefield.

The Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators one by one turned bald, their garments burnt to tatters, while the Xiguangsi monks blended into the crowd, soon no one could spot their traces.

"This… this is utterly disgraceful!" a senior cultivator of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes turned livid with rage, watching his clansmen shaved bald, feeling intense anger and humiliation.

"We must counterattack, we cannot let them act wantonly!" another high-level cultivator said angrily, his eyes flashing with vengeful light.

However, just as the cultivators of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes were preparing to counterattack, they discovered that those monks had already infiltrated their ranks and began carrying out ambushes.

These monks had shaved their heads, wore tattered clothing, mingled among the Nine Wheels cultivators, and were hard to distinguish.

"Look, that monk is right there!" a Nine Wheels cultivator pointed at a bald cultivator and shouted, having just seen that "cultivator" secretly chanting sutras.

"Kill!" With a command, the Nine Wheels cultivators all launched an attack on that "cultivator".

However, when they approached, they discovered that the "cultivator" suddenly turned into a monk, his body emanating golden Buddhist light, easily blocking the Nine Wheels cultivators' attack.

"How... how is this possible?" a Nine Wheels cultivator shouted in terror, unable to believe his own eyes.

"Amitabha, lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha instantly." The monk chanted the sutra, his voice carrying a strange power that rendered the Nine Wheels cultivators' attacks weak and ineffective.

As the battle continued, more and more Nine Wheels cultivators were troubled by the monks' tactics.

They discovered they could not distinguish friend from foe, each attack possibly harming their own comrades.

"What's going on? Why are our people dwindling?" a high-level cultivator of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes shouted in terror, watching his tribesmen fall one by one, feeling great panic.

"We must withdraw, we can't continue like this!" another high-level cultivator said anxiously, his eyes filled with fear.

"Withdraw? How can we withdraw? Our tribesmen are being slaughtered!" a high-level cultivator shouted angrily, unable to accept the decision to retreat.

"If we don't withdraw, our losses will be greater. Those monks are too cunning; we simply cannot deal with them." another high-level cultivator analyzed calmly, his eyes flashing with rational light.

As the high-level cultivators argued, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to waver.

Their confidence began to collapse, and their will to fight also began to weaken.

Meanwhile, the Huanyu cultivators were also stunned by this sight.

They watched as the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators were shaved bald one by one, feeling an inexplicable fear.

"These monks are too terrifying." a Huanyu cultivator said tremblingly, his voice tinged with fear.

"Their methods may be somewhat unscrupulous, but the effect is surprisingly good." another Huanyu cultivator said softly, his eyes flashing with admiration.

"You go ahead, your life is at stake, what else is there to be arbitrary?" a Huanyu cultivator retorted, his eyes showing a hint of determination.

As the discussion deepened, more and more Huanyu cultivators began to accept the tactics of the Xiguangsi monks.

They began to imitate the monks' practices, shaving their heads, wearing tattered clothes, and infiltrating the Nine Wheels cultivators to carry out ambushes.

"Amitabha, may your souls find peace." Whenever a Nine Wheels cultivator fell, a monk would chant sutras to perform liberation for them.

As the battle continued, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to feel despair.

They realized they could no longer control the battlefield's situation, comrades falling one by one, while those monks were like ghosts, everywhere.

"We must retreat, otherwise our people will all die here." a high-level cultivator of the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes shouted desperately, his eyes filled with fear.

"Retreat? How can we retreat? We finally entered this place after countless schemes; are we to let it all go to waste?" another high-level cultivator shouted angrily, unable to accept the decision to retreat.

"What is this compared to life? Only by living is there hope." a high-level cultivator said calmly, his eyes flashing with rational light.

As the argument continued, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to split.

Some cultivators chose to retreat, while others chose to continue fighting.

"You cowards, dare to retreat!" a high-level cultivator who chose to keep fighting shouted angrily, his eyes full of rage.

"We are not cowards; we just want to survive." a high-level cultivator who chose to retreat replied calmly, his eyes flashing with determination.

With the division among the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators, the battlefield situation became even more chaotic.

Some cultivators began to retreat, while others continued to fight the monks.

"Amitabha, may this battle end soon, may all beings find peace." Huiguang Dashi chanted sutras under the Buddha's light, his voice echoing across the battlefield, bringing a hint of harmony to the battle.

Under the monks' universal salvation and the Huanyu cultivators' counterattack, the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators began to gradually retreat; this battle had already surpassed their control, they must retreat to preserve their strength.

As the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators withdrew, the battlefield gradually returned to calm.

The monks and Huanyu cultivators stood on the battlefield, their eyes flashing with the light of victory.

"Amitabha, may those who sacrificed in this battle find peace." Huiguang Dashi chanted sutras, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

In the ancient pagoda battlefield of the Tianji Shengyu, the battle's aftermath gradually subsided; the Nine Wheels Eight Tribes cultivators retreated to the pagoda amid chaos, leaving a mess all over the ground.

The Huanyu cultivators stood on the battlefield, faces full of shock; they could not believe that those seemingly peaceful Xiguangsi monks, using wisdom and Divine Ability, had changed the situation.

"How did these monks manage that?" a Huanyu cultivator exclaimed, his eyes filled with admiration and disbelief.

"Not only is their Buddhist doctrine profound, but their tactics are also exquisitely clever, truly admirable." another cultivator remarked, his heart full of respect for the Xiguangsi monks.

"Look, not only is their combat style unique, but even that composed demeanor commands respect." an elder Huanyu cultivator praised, his eyes flashing with deep reverence for the monks.

As the discussion deepened, more and more Huanyu cultivators developed a strong interest in the Xiguangsi monks.

They began to consider whether they could join those monks' ranks and learn their Divine Ability.

"Master, may we join you and study your Buddhist doctrine and Divine Ability?" a Huanyu cultivator mustered courage and asked Huiguang Dashi.

Huiguang Dashi smiled and nodded, his eyes bearing a hint of approval: "Welcome, everyone; the Buddhist gate is vast, delivering all beings; if you sincerely turn to the Buddha, you are naturally welcome."

However, when the Huanyu cultivators heard that they needed to shave their heads and renounce the seven emotions and six desires, they were stunned speechless.

This was the first time they had heard such a doctrine; many felt an unprecedented challenge.

"Shave heads and leave home? Renounce the seven emotions and six desires?" a Huanyu cultivator stammered, his face full of disbelief.

"Yes, as Buddhist disciples, one must sever all worldly ties, focus on cultivation, only then can one attain proper fruition." Huiguang Dashi explained calmly, his voice carrying a tranquil power.

The Huanyu cultivators looked at each other, never having imagined that joining the Buddhist gate required such great sacrifice.

Many of them had deep family backgrounds and complicated emotional entanglements; to ask them to abandon everything at once was undoubtedly a huge challenge.

"Master, this... this is really too difficult." a Huanyu cultivator said with difficulty, his face showing a hint of bitterness.

Huiguang Dashi smiled and shook his head: "The path of cultivation is never easy; without determination, how can one achieve the Great Dao? If you truly aspire, you might first begin by understanding the Buddhist doctrine; there's no need to rush."

With Huiguang Dashi's words, the Huanyu cultivators began to calm down.

They began to consider whether they were truly willing to give up everything to learn the Buddhist doctrine and Divine Ability.

Some cultivators began to silently chant sutras, trying to find answers within.

"Master, I want to give it a try." A young Huanyu cultivator stepped forward, his eyes shining with determination, "I wish to shave my head and leave home, to follow the master and study the Dharma."

His words were like a stone tossed into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

More and more Huanyu cultivators began to respond, won over by the wisdom and Divine Ability of the Xiguangsi monks, eager to try this new path.

"Amitabha, to have such a heart is already rare and precious." Huiguang intoned, a satisfied smile on his face, "The gate of my Buddhist Dharma stands ever open for those who sincerely turn toward the Buddha."

As time passed, some Huanyu cultivators gradually adapted to the monastic life.

They shaved their heads, donned monastic robes, and began studying the Dharma and meditation.

Although the process was full of challenges and difficulties, their eyes gradually gleamed with a light of tranquility and wisdom.

"Master, I never imagined that after letting go of everything, my heart would be so calm." A former Huanyu cultivator, now a monk, remarked with a peaceful smile.

Huiguang smiled and nodded: "Lay down the butcher's knife, and become a Buddha right here. You have taken the first step; though the road ahead is long, perseverance will bring achievement."

Under Huiguang's guidance, these newly ordained monks began to engage in the work of delivering all beings.

They used their own experiences and insights to influence and help more people, letting the wisdom of the Dharma spread to every corner.

"Amitabha, may all beings find peace." These former Huanyu cultivators, now monks, chanted in unison, their voices echoing through the sky, bringing a hint of peace and hope to the world.

As time went on, more and more Huanyu cultivators were moved by the words and deeds of the Xiguangsi monks, gathering around Huiguang to listen to the Dharma and seek solace for their minds.

These former warriors now seek a new direction for life here.

"Master, although I have laid down my weapons, the confusion in my heart has not faded." A newly ordained monk said, his eyes flickering with uncertainty about the future.

Huiguang gently nodded, understanding these cultivators' doubts: "The Dharma is like a lamp, able to dispel the fog in your hearts. Practice is not merely renouncing the external world, but also exploring the inner world."

His voice was calm and powerful, like a clear spring nourishing everyone's hearts.

Under Huiguang's guidance, these newly ordained monks began their path of cultivation.

They studied meditation, sat in contemplation, seeking the self in silence, while also taking part in the monastery's daily chores—from sweeping floors and cooking to copying sutras—each seemingly mundane task becoming part of their practice.

"I once thought that power and combat were the entirety of practice. Now I realize that every small matter in life can become a path of cultivation." A former Huanyu cultivator remarked, now in charge of the temple's vegetable garden, daily accompanied by soil and plants, yet feeling an unprecedented satisfaction.

As their practice deepened, these newly ordained monks began to appreciate the profundity of the Dharma.

Their minds gradually grew calm, able to maintain a peaceful attitude amid external disturbances and temptations.

"Master, I now find I can better control my emotions. Previously a trifle could anger me; now I can meet things with a peaceful heart." A monk shared his insight, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

Huiguang smiled and nodded: "This is the power of the Dharma. It not only helps you control your emotions, but also lets you see the truth of things, with a resolute heart."

Behind the monastery lies a tranquil bamboo grove that has become a sacred site for the monks' practice.

In the bamboo grove they sit in meditation, listening to the wind rustle through the leaves, feeling the harmonious unity of nature and the Dharma.

"Here, I almost feel the presence of the Buddha." A monk closed his eyes in meditation in the bamboo grove, his voice tinged with reverence.

As time passed, the monks' influence also began to gradually expand.

They not only practiced in the monastery, but also ventured out to help nearby villagers resolve difficulties and spread the wisdom of the Dharma.

"These monks are truly amazing; they not only teach us how to plant, but also how to face life's difficulties." A villager remarked, his eyes shining with respect for the monks.

At a Dharma assembly, Huiguang stood on a high platform facing many monks and villagers, his voice loud and strong.

"The Dharma is boundless; it not only delivers all beings, but also illuminates the darkness within our hearts. May we all become propagators of the Dharma, so that this world may be filled with love and peace."

Under Huiguang's leadership, the monks began their journey of spreading the Dharma.

"Amitabha, although we cannot change the whole world, we can change one person's world." A monk said while spreading the Dharma, his eyes shining with determination.

With the monks' efforts, the influence of the Dharma began to spread in the Tianji Shengyu.