Chapter 261: The Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife Displays Divine Might; A Single Miscalculated Move and the True Spirit Escapes

Golden light floats in the air, and auspicious Qi condenses into clouds.

As Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva gradually incorporates the Six-Syllable Mantra into his body, his aura surpasses that of any Golden Immortal.

Above his Dharma body, a thick layer of brilliant golden Buddhist light has accumulated, far exceeding what it was before, permeated with profound Buddhist principles.

These Buddhist principles far surpass what he himself has comprehended; they originate from the Dàluó Zhēnyì, expounding the method of transcendence and the wonders of ultimate bliss.

Constantly rising, brewing, and accumulating, it seeps bit by bit into the true body of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva. Beyond bringing him immense pressure, it is also continuously elevating his power.

For a time, Buddhist light rises, and Brahma sounds and Buddhist chants become the only things in this realm.

In the end, various phantom images of Brahma light emerge around Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva.

Above ten thousand Golden Lotuses sit either Bodhisattvas or Buddhas, each with heavy Merit Golden Wheels behind them, all chanting scriptures in unison.

Brahma sounds ring out, and ten thousand Buddhas rain down fragrance.

Guoshi Wang's aura becomes overbearing, far exceeding the level of a Golden Immortal.

Sensing it, it is actually even more lofty and unfathomable than that of Lv Wen, the successor to the Plague Ancestor, whom Fang Longye encountered before.

"Good fellow, a handwritten note from a Dàluó is actually this formidable~"

In the starry sky, Fang Longye echoes the movements of the Water Ape Great Sage beside him, attacking the Cángtāi Màntúluó Fǎjiè in a leisurely manner.

Feeling the now lofty and superior aura of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, his brows twitch.

Even though he had already anticipated that the Six-Syllable Mantra of a Dàluó's handwritten note would inevitably possess immense power.

Yet this kind of divine might still exceeds his imagination.

"Dragon Lord~" The Water Ape Great Sage beside him tightens his grip on the Yǔhuáng Yuè and says apologetically: "Today, I have dragged the Dragon Lord down with me~"

"I still have some trump cards; while this old bald donkey is still building up his momentum, I will help you, Dragon Lord, escape this place!"

Yet, do not look at Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva as if he is trying his best to incorporate the Six-Syllable Mantra into his body and has no energy to pay attention to them.

In reality, the spatial nodes all around have already been filled to the brim with his Buddhist light and aura. At this moment, wanting to escape this realm has become as difficult as ascending to heaven.

It is easy to understand.

As far as Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva is concerned—

Laozi has spent such a great price, risking five labors and seven injuries, how could I let you pat your butts and leave the moment you see things are going wrong? Isn't that nonsense? Facing the sincerity of the Water Ape Great Sage, Fang Longye waves his hand and chuckles: "Do not panic, fellow Daoist has trump cards, could it be that I do not?"

Seeing Fang Longye so calm and composed, with an air of full confidence.

The Water Ape Great Sage half-believingly withdraws the means he was secretly preparing to activate.

"Hmph!"

"Since the benefactor is so confident, then let us see whose skills are superior!"

While the two were talking, Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva had also completely incorporated the Six-Syllable Mantra from the Dàluó's handwritten note into his true body.

He endures the pain, sneers, and then dares not hesitate in the slightest.

He immediately throws out the Merit Golden Lotus, operates his Dharma methods, and drives all his divine abilities and means, fusing them all together, with the thrown Merit Golden Lotus as the coordinator.

He unleashes a peak strike! The reason he is so impatient is that his current state cannot be maintained for too long.

The Dàluó Zhēnyì surpasses everything; forcibly incorporating it into one's body causes too much damage.

If this state were maintained for too long, let alone his true body, even his True Spirit would be damaged and have its nature eroded by the Dàluó Zhēnyì.

This is just like low-level cultivators inviting a god to possess their body.

Once the god possesses the body for too long, the light result is losing oneself and becoming a fanatic believer of this Divine Immortal, and the heavy result is directly becoming an incarnation or response-body of this Divine Immortal, with the whole person ceasing to exist.

Therefore, the moment Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva incorporated the Six-Syllable Mantra, he poured out all his strength to unleash this strike.

"Om, Mani, Padme, Hum!"

The Six-Syllable Mantra hangs in the air, with the sun and moon passing through the sky.

Accompanied by the murmurs of the Six-Syllable Mantra, the Merit Golden Lotus thrown by Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva spins, appearing slow but actually fast.

It falls directly toward the position of Fang Longye and the Water Ape Great Sage, as if parting time and space, suddenly growing larger, and instantly occupying their field of vision.

One can see that on the pistil, ten thousand Brahma scriptures rise and leap, every word a pearl of wisdom, expounding Buddhist principles.

Under the immeasurable wonderful sounds, one can faintly smell the Brahma Buddhist incense that one recognizes from the bottom of one's heart.

Hearing its sound, smelling its fragrance, the heart becomes pure, shedding the filth of the mortal world, and heading straight into the Western ultimate bliss.

The Merit Golden Lotus is truly a treasure that every high-level figure in Fomen must possess.

It indeed possesses infinite wonders.

In the hands of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, who has now climbed to a level surpassing a Golden Immortal, once it is offered up, it possesses immeasurable great power.

……

At this moment, whether it is Fang Longye or the Water Ape Great Sage, both see a Pure Land of ultimate bliss different from any other place in the world.

In this Pure Land of ultimate bliss, the ground is paved with glaze everywhere, the cities are all decorated with gold and silver, and immeasurable light permeates the Merit Pool.

Around the Merit Pool, Sarira Trees are crystal clear, with colorful ribbons hanging from the branches, and the bells hanging down sway without wind, playing a wonderful movement.

Expounding on Brahma purity, compassion, karma, transcendence,... and so on and so forth, all are contained within.

Rare flowers and jade grasses, Relic Lotuses.

White cranes sit and discuss the Dao, and immortal apes listen to scriptures under the trees.

A fragrant scent, rich and thick, comes from nowhere, or rather, fills the inside and outside of time and space. Being in it, worries are all gone, wisdom rises, and one can see through the delusions and understand the Brahma Great Dao.

The Merit Golden Lotus gathers everything Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva has, and under the blessing of the Six-Syllable Mantra, it suddenly evolves into a Pure Land of ultimate bliss, covering everything.

It incorporates both Fang Longye and the Water Ape Great Sage into it.

Buddhist light, golden color, and Zen intent all strike them at once, wanting to convert them into the empty gate and see the Western ultimate bliss.

Not to mention Fang Longye, just look at the Water Ape Great Sage, whose eyes are already in a dazed state, clearly having been deeply influenced.

Standing in this Pure Land of ultimate bliss, the Water Ape Great Sage develops a feeling that he should let go of everything, contemplate Buddhist principles here, and seek great liberation, great freedom, great ease, and great ultimate bliss.

Take refuge in Fomen and seek the true scriptures.

Isn't that wonderful?

The Water Ape Great Sage did not know that the moment this thought arose in him, in reality, countless sandalwood incense emerged from thin air in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, transforming into lotus flowers of the Buddhist faith that fell in a scattered, drifting shower.

His white fur, illuminated by the Buddha-light and soaked in the fragrance of the lotuses, became magnificent and exquisite, as if crafted from meticulously forged golden silk.

His ferocious ape face actually took on a compassionate appearance, completely devoid of the great demon image he had at the start.

As for Fang Longye, he was faring much better than the Water Ape Great Sage.

He was seen observing the golden radiance within his own spiritual platform, neither alarmed nor flustered.

He even stirred his own power with great interest, countering the Buddhist Dharma that had permeated his spiritual platform.

Clang, clang, clang—

Amidst the Brahma sounds and Buddhist chants, thousands of Buddha or Bodhisattva phantoms stepped on lotus pedestals, their hands forming various Dharma seals as they struck down.

His own power, manifesting as a divine dragon, or a human head with a dragon body, or a human body with a dragon tail, took on a thousand postures, battling against this overwhelming Brahma-gate Buddhist Dharma.

In a single instant, they collided a million times.

Naturally, he was no match.

However, he had only intended to feel how formidable this attack from Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was.

He did not expect to truly block this strike from Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva on his own.

"So it's not just conversion; there is a terrifying murderous intent hidden within!"

Having understood this, Fang Longye felt no fear; the corners of his mouth merely curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

He immediately offered up the 'Zhanxian Gourd' he had been holding back for a long time, revealing a ray of light that held up an object seven inches long, with eyebrows and eyes.

He bowed and said: "Please turn around, precious treasure!"

Instantly, with a metallic clang, an unparalleled sharpness leaped out, reaching the brow of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva in a mere instant.

In that split second—

All Buddha-light, all Brahma-principles, all phantoms of ten thousand Buddhas, all supernatural powers, all of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—all sounds and all colors vanished completely.

Everything was wiped away into nothingness.

In the sky of this realm, only a monotonous gray-white remained, sweeping across everything.

Even the original appearance of this realm had become unrecognizable.

The essence of existence after annihilation was chilling.

"Slashing Immortal Flying Knife?!"

Just as Fang Longye's words "Please turn around, precious treasure" had not yet faded, Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva let out a cry of alarm and hurriedly retracted his Merit Golden Lotus to protect himself.

How could he not have heard of the fame of the Innate Spiritual Treasure that was the Zhanxian Gourd?

But it was not enough. No matter how he employed his methods, shifting and moving, or throwing out all kinds of Spirit Treasures to block it, nothing worked.

The blade light that had been slashed out followed relentlessly, annihilating everything.

The patterns trembled, as if thousands of crane cries had gathered, constantly vibrating and echoing within the spiritual platform of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva.

At the same time, the flying knife circled to strike; its blade was like frost, unstained by dust, but before it even fell, it induced in him a sense of total annihilation of vitality.

All manner of Spirit Treasures, destroyed!

Merit Golden Lotus, broken!

Six-Syllable Mantra, scattered!

Seeing this, Fang Longye, who was holding the Zhanxian Gourd, felt a pang of heartache.

This damn thing should have been his spoils of war!

In the end, a streak of blood appeared on the neck of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, his head fell on the spot, and Buddhist blood gushed out like a fountain.

Golden and brilliant, it soaked the four corners of the realm.

However, Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva did not enter Nirvana just like that.

As the remaining power of the Slashing Immortal Flying Knife aimed directly at his True Spirit, some residual Dàluó Zhēnyì protected his trembling True Spirit.

Ultimately, it was because Fang Longye's own cultivation realm and strength were insufficient, and since the Zhanxian Gourd was borrowed from another and never refined, he had not unleashed the true power of this Innate killing treasure.

"Go!"

Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva's consciousness awoke from the Chaos; without another word, he did not even bother to restore his true form, instead entrusting his True Spirit directly to his Primordial One Qi, drawing all the power from his true form to merge into it.

For a moment, golden Nièpán Fóyàn erupted from his true form, surrounded by halos.

It seemed neither virtual nor real, neither illusory nor substantial.

He intended to abandon this body, entrust his True Spirit to the Primordial One Qi, and escape into the darkness to make a comeback later.

An Innate killing treasure as renowned as the Zhanxian Gourd had appeared!

As a small Bodhisattva who had not even attained the Taiyi realm, how could he possibly fight it? However, he did not flee immediately; he wanted to take away his accumulations as much as possible.

After all, this was his true body, forged through countless trials and tribulations.

Even if he had arrangements outside and his True Spirit remained intact, assisted by the Primordial One Qi, he could make a comeback.

But to start over from scratch—how easy would it be to restore his current strength?

When it came down to it, his background in the Buddhist sect was limited and his backing was insufficient; where would he find so many resources to restore himself?

Especially since his mission to Nanzhan Buzhou this time could be considered a failure. Who knew how much effort and social maneuvering it would take upon his return to avoid punishment!

He naturally had to buy time and take the risk to take away the accumulations on his true body as much as possible.

"Want to leave?"

Before Fang Longye could even act, the Water Ape Great Sage awoke from his obsession, instantly filled with shame and rage. He had almost been converted by that vast Buddhist Dharma, losing his self and becoming a guardian king of the Buddhist sect, reduced to an obedient dog!

In his shame and rage, he roared, raised the Yǔhuáng Yuè, and swept it out, stirring up the wind and clouds with an unstoppable momentum.

A series of sonic booms erupted, sweeping across the surroundings.

Boom—

The great axe carried the momentum of wind and thunder, thick with a dense power of destruction, as it smashed toward Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva.

Yet before it could reach him, thousands of painted scrolls emerged, swirling left and right, dispersing, refracting, and shifting the force.

In the end, it vanished without a trace.

"A change in space-time?"

Water Ape Great Sage rolled his eyes, seeing through the reality of the situation, and grew even more furious.

It was Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, who, in order to buy himself time, had burned his power to disrupt the space-time around him.

He found it difficult to break through for the moment.

Do not be fooled by these cultivators; when they are at the Loose Immortal or Origin Immortal realms, they use the Pot Heaven Technique to open up space as if it were nothing, making it seem as though they are highly proficient in the path of space-time.

In truth, that is merely a divine ability, a Dharma, a technique, but not the Dao.

It is akin to a formula for solving problems; ordinary cultivators can use it, but when they want to be like those who specialize in this field—drawing inferences and grasping the broader picture—they lack the strength to do so.

Facing the space-time that Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva had disrupted by destroying his own essence, Water Ape Great Sage truly had no corresponding technique at present.

He could only rely on brute force to break through.

Like him, those who have not specifically devoted effort to studying the path of space-time can only attain a high-level perspective and manipulate space-time once they reach the Taiyi Realm.

"If Ming'er were here, it would be good. I remember he has delved quite deeply into the path of space-time."

Water Ape Great Sage sighed to himself.

"Hmph!"

Seeing that several sarira had already emerged within the Nièpán Fóyàn that Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva had ignited.

Fang Longye sneered: "Truly, your greed is insatiable! Is it not enough that I let you escape with your life? You still want to take things with you?"

"Since that is the case, then don't leave at all!"

"Leave your life behind!"

He saw his true form undergo a series of gatherings and dispersions, and in the end, his entire person was enveloped in a cluster of brilliant divine radiance.

Then, with a wave of his hand, a beam of divine light shot straight into where Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was.

It was empty and hazy, with no discernible color.

"Impossible!"

"What kind of divine ability is this? You are only a Golden Immortal!"

Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was shocked and pale! Yet he saw this divine light strike straight into where Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was, spilling outward, causing the space-time around him to be peeled away layer by layer as if peeling an onion. Segments of space separated, time twisted...

This method was astonishing, and the effect was also very significant.

No sooner had Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva let out a cry of alarm than he was affected by the twisted and chaotic space-time.

Having been only slightly touched by it, his entire person was instantly sliced into countless pieces.

Every version of him maintained the posture of being decapitated, only the fallen heads were all filled with an expression of terror.

These were versions of him in different fragments of time and space; each one was him, yet none of them could escape the range of this twisted space-time.

After that, in just a single breath, Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was gone.

Yes, not even a shadow remained.

It was not some space-time displacement or space-time banishment, but rather he was directly erased by the chaotic space-time as if wiping away dust~ Fang Longye's complexion was somewhat pale, yet his eyes revealed a look of excitement.

This was the prototype of the divine ability he had initially conceived from the Zhu Long Dragon Pearl, which had transformed and perfected after he smelted the Wu Clan Essence Blood of both time and space attributes several times.

Initially, it only involved the path of the universe's light, but now it had blended the powers of time and space.

This Great Divine Ability involving space-time could currently be called his trump card.

It was just that the consumption was too great, so even though he knew the power of this divine ability was terrifying, he had not used it at the first opportunity when facing the enemy this time.

After all, if he failed to eliminate the opponent but ended up exhausted himself, that would truly be a joke.

Just then—

Before he could even laugh out loud, he saw a point of shimmering Buddhist light emerge, flowing with brilliant colors.

Carrying the True Spirit of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, it shot up into the sky, escaped into the void, and vanished.

"Eight Treasures Merit Pool?"

Fang Longye's expression turned gloomy.

But it was only for an instant, and then it cleared up again.

That was the protective power of the 'Eight Treasures Merit Pool'! He had forgotten that those in the Fomen, once they achieve the Golden Immortal realm, can obtain the opportunity to leave a trace in the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

As long as they die, their True Spirit does not enter reincarnation but goes straight into the Eight Treasures Merit Pool; as long as they consume merit, they can obtain a chance to make a comeback.

It is the same principle as the Conferring of the Gods list of the Heavenly Court.

And that he could completely erase the Hunyuan One Qi of Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva under the protection of the 'Eight Treasures Merit Pool', a supreme treasure of the Fomen, which was equivalent to knocking him down a realm, was enough to be proud of!

Moreover, if he had not seen it wrong.

Not only was the Hunyuan One Qi completely worn away.

Even with the protective power of the 'Eight Treasures Merit Pool', the True Spirit of that Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was somewhat broken and dilapidated.

"I wonder if the 'Eight Treasures Merit Pool', this supreme treasure of the Fomen, can repair the True Spirit of that old bald donkey, Guoshi Wang?" (End of chapter)