Chapter 790

Dongzhou, Nanping Fucheng.

Compared to other ruined lands, this city seized by the Sanxian Sect still looks somewhat presentable.

It wasn't because the Immortals were kind, but because they had just arrived and needed to build a grand hall, enshrine the Three Pure Ones, so the refugees here would know Nanping Fucheng now had new masters.

The place where the Three Pure Ones were enshrined naturally couldn't be too crude.

But now, this newly built grand hall was lifeless, tinged with gloom.

No more wandering Immortals came and went; only three or five disciples sat slumped in the main hall, their once splendid robes torn, bloodstains still not fully dried.

Amid the faint stench, they exchanged glances, silent, yet each saw the resolve in the other's eyes.

Nanping Fucheng was the first major city the Sanxian Sect seized in Dongzhou; under the leadership of Brother Chu Xi from Elder Chi Yun Cave, the disciples had surged forward like a flood, catching the monks off guard with no chance to resist.

When the grand hall was built in this fucheng, nearly every disciple who had come to Dongzhou had been brimming with fighting spirit, finally venting their pent-up rage.

But good fortune didn't last: first, the many prodigies of Dong Xumí woke up and joined forces to block the Sanxian Sect's advance; then, during the fighting, those of the Great Freedom faction frequently aided secretly.

Yet no matter how many of their occupied Dao halls they lost, as long as Nanping Fucheng remained, the disciples wouldn't lose heart.

Until, in the battle between Brother Chu Xi and Master Miaoyin—whose prestige was no lesser than his—Master Miaoyin's master, the Great Freedom Lotus Pearl Bodhisattva of Dong Xumí, suddenly struck, killing Brother Chu Xi with a single palm.

From then on, the Sanxian Sect's disciples became like dogs without homes, suffering heavy casualties, with no strength left to fight back.

Even this last stronghold, Nanping Fucheng, was on the brink of collapse.

"Brother Xiang Ming."

The only female disciple among them wiped the crimson from her lips, raised her head toward the hall's entrance—she had already heard the steady, heavy footsteps—and softly called out to the most respected elder present: "They've come."

"..."

The middle-aged man in dark green robes, clearly the most severely wounded, his chest rising and falling erratically, slowly opened his eyes; a flicker of despair vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, ferocious gleam.

The hall fell into Tianyan Siji again, no one spoke, only heavy breathing remained.

No retreat possible—only death battle.

The Puti Sect has abandoned all rules; then let us pay with our lives, so when our elders arrive in Dongzhou to demand justice from Xumí Mountain, we'll have more charges to add!

When they first came to Dongzhou, most disciples claimed they wanted to avenge their senior brothers and sisters from Elder Chi Yun Cave and Lingxu Cave, but deep down, they mostly sought to gather some incense offerings.

After this period of humiliation and injustice, their anger and hatred had become real.

Even if we perish in Nanping, we'll tear off a piece of flesh from those monks!

Tap-tap-tap—

The footsteps that had been outside the city now echoed all around.

A thousand Arhats, each carrying long staves, marched solemnly down the long street, then halted in perfect unison, surrounding the grand hall completely.

The refugees hid in every corner of the fucheng, staring at the towering Buddhist light, blindingly bright and scorching like the sun; they were nearly blinded, tears thick and cloudy pooling in their eyes, daring not to lift their gaze, curling up like filthy, lowly maggots.

This was the battle of Immortals—how could mortals dare to witness it?

"..."

Deep in the heavens, Monk Zhikong watched this scene, his heart suddenly trembled.

He finally understood why the future World Honored One said all this had nothing to do with him.

Da Nanzhou always made grand displays—first Bodhisattva Qibao preaching, then several Great Arhats transmitting sutras—but upon reflection, only a handful of individuals were ever truly dispatched.

Now, to merely besiege one fucheng, they deployed a thousand Arhats—this was the true face of Xumí Mountain when it went all out.

The Puti Sect may lack many wondrous techniques, and their array arts may be crude and simple compared to the Sanxian Sect's intricate and obscure methods.

But simple does not mean weak.

As the thousand Arhats simultaneously drove their staves into the ground, the vast Buddhist light suddenly condensed into a single beam, engulfing the entire hall.

Then, they parted evenly, clearing a path.

Several Bodhisattvas walked calmly to the hall's front; the leader stepped forward gently, fingers twirling his prayer beads.

Master Miaoyin, due to the earlier incident, could not involve himself in Nanping Fucheng's affairs, but these Immortals had invaded Dongzhou without warning, struck with brutality, causing Dong Xumí to lose so many fellow disciples—this could not be overlooked.

"I gave you all ample time."

The lead Bodhisattva smiled faintly, voice cold: "But now it seems you refuse to leave... then you must wish to die."

The words ended.

A scoff suddenly echoed from within the hall.

The next instant, several tall Immortals stepped out side by side; though their robes were filthy, their aura remained unbroken.

"You know how you won—deep inside."

True Person Xiang Ming slightly lifted his chin, looking down with contempt at the assembly of monks.

To their surprise, the Bodhisattvas didn't feel ashamed; instead, they chuckled among themselves, then regarded the Sanxian Sect disciples with seriousness: "How we won doesn't matter—it's still a win."

"This is Dongzhou. Above your heads sits the Buddha."

The lead Bodhisattva stopped twirling his beads, lips curling into a cruel grin: "If you disagree, summon your elders. See if they dare come."

"You!" The female disciple drew her sword in fury, trembling all over with rage.

True Person Xiang Ming's face darkened; he raised a hand to stop his sister's curse, speaking coldly: "No need for more words. When the fighting starts... kill him first."

At this, the lead Bodhisattva's expression froze slightly.

These people were cornered beasts, faces etched with death, waiting only to bite off a piece of flesh before they fell—and now he was that piece of flesh.

But in an instant, his smile returned; he stepped back quietly into the crowd and sneered: "With your current state—dogs without homes—how could you kill anyone?"

With that, he waved his hand: "Activate the array!"

The several Bodhisattvas rose into the air, each taking a position, using their own spiritual positions to mobilize the thousand Arhats' array; the Buddhist light enveloping the hall instantly transformed into a golden bell, inverted and crashing down.

Even with such overwhelming advantage, they still had no intention of direct combat with the Sanxian Sect disciples.

After trapping them, the Bodhisattvas sat cross-legged in midair, palms joined, eyes slightly lowered, lips rapidly moving as they chanted the Great Sutra.

Amid the deep, resonant Buddhist chants, the Sanxian Sect disciples' faces changed drastically; they watched as golden rivers rose silently around them, their cultivation power rapidly draining away.

True Person Xiang Ming reacted fastest, reaching out to grab a banner a zhang long and smashing it fiercely against the Golden Bell.

Boom!

The surface of the Golden Bell rippled like water; the surging Jinhe reversed its flow, wrapping around his body and blasting him straight back to the front of the main hall.

True Person Xiang Ming rolled clumsily on the ground several times. Already heavily injured, he now pushed hard against the ground with his arms several times, trying multiple times but failing to stand up again.

He suddenly turned his head, looking outside the Golden Bell. His pupils contracted slightly, settling on that group of Arhats.

He saw that on the right arms of these people, several strokes of vermilion scripture had been added as if casually by someone... It was the work of that group of Great Self-Buddhas again!

Even though they killed Zhu Shixiong Chu Xi in broad daylight, already breaking the rules, before their elders descend upon the Eastern Continent, these old thieves still refuse to restrain themselves.

A sorrowful expression appeared on True Person Xiang Ming's face. He spat out blood from his mouth and shouted sternly, "Do not approach this Golden Bell! Protect yourselves! They intend to refine us alive! As long as you hold out a bit longer, you must survive until reinforcements arrive from the Northern Continent!"

"..."

The remaining disciples obediently sat down directly, mobilizing Tribulation Power to protect their bodies. Although this slowed the rate at which the Tribulation Power dissipated, despair surged in their eyes one after another.

How incredibly distant is the space between the Northern Continent and the Eastern Continent.

By the time fellow disciples bring the message back, the situation there is equally complex; the elders in the sect may not be able to make a decision immediately. If there is even a slight delay, where is the possibility of survival for us?

"Rats! If you have the guts, withdraw the formation and fight me with real swords and spears!"

That female disciple had obviously seen through everything; it was merely a difference between dying early or dying late. She gripped her Immortal Sword tightly and let out a low roar.

"..."

Several Bodhisattvas glanced at her coldly, their faces showing contemptuous laughter.

Amidst the turmoil of Tribulation Power, the outlines of five Golden Body Dharma Images appeared above the clouds. These towering Golden Bodies of Bodhisattvas all pressed their palms together, gazing indifferently at the main hall.

Their bodies connected, forming an unbreakable cage.

"You had better stay put. Do not die too uglily."

With the Buddha above your head and Mount Nan Xumi backing you up, you dare talk of fighting with real swords and spears? Do you even deserve it!

"Ah—"

The female disciple felt that most of the Tribulation Power throughout her body had already dissolved. She let out a sharp, piercing shriek. She could accept losing a duel to these monks, accepting death or dismemberment without complaint, but she could absolutely not accept having learned nothing useful, sitting idly waiting for death, and being defeated miserably by the methods of those Great Self-Buddhas.

She mobilized her remaining Tribulation Power. The Immortal Sword in her hand erupted with Bai Mang, and the whole person leaped into the air, flying toward the Golden Bell.

"Sigh."

In another part of the clouds, Monk Zhikong sighed lightly.

He did not pity the disciples of the Sanxian Sect; after all, for the human world, the two sects were the greatest calamities of demons, so there was nothing good about them.

Monk Zhikong was merely somewhat emotional. In the face of this worldly incense and fire, the gods, Buddhas, and Immortal Venerables who once stood so high above were not even willing to keep basic dignity, making such a scene, no different from beasts fighting over meat.

"That's about enough."

The Future World Venerable said indifferently, "Whether it is the Puti Sect or the Sanxian Sect, none of their followers dare to affect the Great Tribulation. These few people did not die in vain; at least, when negotiations occur, they can exchange for a few more Dharma Fields for the Sanxian Sect."

As one of the six most noble Sect Patriarchs in heaven and earth, he saw far more clearly than ordinary people.

Do not look at the current situation as if it were a great life-and-death grudge; the Jin Xian and Great Self-Bodhisattvas on both sides absolutely do not have the courage to let the situation spiral out of control. Reconciliation is inevitable, and it should not be far off.

At most, they will let the Sanxian Sect disciples vent their anger, followed by a handshake of friendship, then discussing how to divide the Dharma Fields, and finally selecting an Immortal Emperor.

Under the manipulation of numerous First-Rank giants, this is merely a grand play.

During the brief exchange between the two, that sharp, long shriek had already pierced the sky. The sword light was like a rainbow; it should have pierced the firmament, but now, like a trapped dragon, it could only bend within the Golden Bell, looking somewhat pitiful.

Several disciples of the Sanxian Sect stared blankly upward, seeing their junior sister crash into the Golden Bell like a moth flying into a flame.

The sword shriek in their ears seemed about to stop abruptly in the next moment.

Several Bodhisattvas did not even bother to lift their eyelids. If it were a proper death match, they might have feared it a bit, but in the face of the trapping and killing situation Mount Nan Xumi had long prepared, today was merely going through the motions; no accident could possibly occur.

Within at most three days, all the Sanxian Sect disciples in Nanping Prefecture would turn into thick water, serving as a warning to those Immortals who still dare to remain on the Eastern Continent.

However, just then, the sword shriek that should have fallen silent did not stop; instead, it became a hundred times more grating, filled with solemn killing intent.

Sword light, like a white dragon and silver waterfall, fell from the Tianhe.

It descended from among the five Golden Bodies of Bodhisattvas into the human world. Where it passed, those pairs of majestic, indescribable golden eyes suddenly lost their luster, and heads as massive as peaks slid off their shoulders with a boom.

Instantly, the towering, muscular bodies were covered in dense, countless cracks.

In the instant the Bai Hong swept past, even the blinding Buddha-light sun dimmed.

Boom—

Amidst the thunderous turmoil, the Golden Body Dharma Images all shattered.

That huge Golden Bell erupted with continuous crackling sounds; it did not even last one breath before completely turning into nothingness.

"..."

The female disciple stared blankly at the sword in her hand, while the other disciples stared at her in shock.

Several Bodhisattvas spat blood in unison, their eyes filling with a degree of horror. Over a thousand Arhats were all blasted backward, collapsing on the ground in disbelief.

But soon, everyone's gaze shifted away from that female disciple, looking toward the front of the main hall.

On those stone steps, an ancient Immortal Sword was planted.

"Who comes? Dare to run wild on the Eastern Continent!"

The leading Bodhisattva, his face scarlet, looked up with a ferocious expression.

"What is this situation?" Monk Zhikong, far away in the sky, also looked completely bewildered. Even with the blessings of the Golden Cicada Seat, he could not detect the slightest clue.

Such a terrifying sword strike could certainly not have come from that female disciple.

The Future World Venerable raised an eyebrow and helplessly extended his cane to prop up Monk Zhikong's chin, lifting the little monk's head so he could look north.

Under everyone's gaze.

In the faintly visible clouds, a Bai Yu carriage pulled by a dragon and phoenix calmly sank into the human world.

On the carriage, a Daoist with a golden hairpin and dark robes sat quietly, supporting his handsome profile with one hand. Laziness hung in his eyebrows and eyes as he indifferently looked down upon this great prefecture.

Before him, Shenxu Laozu had transformed into a young boy with red lips and white teeth. In the next moment, his childish voice resounded throughout Nanping Prefecture.

"The Sanxian Sect's Taixu Zhenjun has arrived at the Eastern Continent." The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he looked down at the monks below, making no effort to hide the contempt in his eyes:

"You may kneel to welcome me."

(End of chapter)