Chapter 79

The Divine Positions on the Investiture of the Gods are limited; how many disciples have perished in vain between Heaven and Earth? Even if revived by the Investiture of the Gods, it would be of no avail.

Immortal Dingguang's Joyful Buddha's eyes darted, his face showing embarrassment—was he not also helpless?

Was it not Zhunti the Holy Person who personally met him? How could he refuse?

Surely, before he could even utter his refusal, his soul and spirit would have already scattered?

People die for wealth, birds for food—if cultivators cannot endure, what meaning remains?

"I call this forsaking darkness for light; the Jie Sect aids Zhou in tyranny, against heavenly principle. I follow the Heavenly Dao and my true heart—wherein lies the fault?"

Speaking thus, Long-eared Dingguang Immortal stiffened his neck and continued: "Moreover, Three Skies Facility, this Almsgiving Monk is now the Joyful Buddha of the Buddhist Sect, no longer a proper Long-eared Dingguang Immortal. Dust returns to dust, earth to earth—all is but fleeting clouds and smoke. Facility, you appear thus."

Having spoken, Joyful Buddha Dingguang still wore a calm expression as he performed the Buddhist Salutation toward Three Skies.

"Well said, well said! Joyful Buddha Dingguang speaks true—follow Heaven, and that is what our Buddhist Sect does!"

"Heavenly Compromise, Buddhist Prosperity! You obstruct our Buddhist Sect's Great Prosperity, seeking to defy Heaven—what guilt do you bear?"

All Buddhas nodded.

Though they despised Long-eared's lifestyle and temperament, they still somewhat approved of his actions; if they were in his place, they would surely choose likewise.

Must we truly follow the Jie Sect's path to its end?

To dwell on Ling Mountain as a Buddha revered by myriad people, awaiting the posthumous merit and power boost from the westward journey—would he not find it fragrant?

Qiong Xiao disdainfully glanced at these Buddhas' visages, her eyes fixed rigidly upon Long-eared's form, sneering: "Truly a den of snakes and rats, one virtue, nauseating!"

Before the Buddhas could even begin to blame anything, Qiong Xiao struck directly.

A narrow, heaven-splitting Sword Qi cleaved toward the Buddhas' midst.

The Buddhas' faces instantly changed—Qiong Xiao was an outstanding figure among Great Luo Golden Immortals; they dared not meet her attack head-on.

Hastily dodging to clear space, the Sword Qi pierced through the Buddhas' ranks and boomed upon the ground.

In an instant, the ground cleaved a bottomless Hong Gou, and the great mountain trembled several times.

The keen Sword Qi instantly ground all fervent believers standing firm into Fenfen.

As they died, their fervent eyes gained a trace of doubt: why, when the Buddhas clearly knew these mortals lay behind them, did they still choose to avoid without hesitation?

But this question could only be left for them to ponder in the Underworld.

The tremendous vibration caused the descending monks' bodies to sway; the Old Abbot, even more so, lost balance and sat upon the ground.

Unheeding of pain, the Abbot turned his head toward the temple's direction, his eyes filled with deep concern.

"Abbot..." the Little Novice strained to help the Old Abbot rise.

The Old Abbot shook his head and said: "Continue down the mountain— the farther, the better!"

Three Skies' visage darkened; Qiong Xiao's entire body exuded chill, her target these Buddhas, paying no heed to these mortals whatsoever.

Who would have thought so many gathered together, yet in the end, none dared to receive her sword technique?

Qiong Xiao gripped her Long Sword, her knuckles whitening— a pack of cowardly rats, heedless of life and soul, daring to cultivate!

Naturally, the Buddhas had a few behind them—but what of it?

Ant-like existences—dead is dead; mortals as numerous as Hong Gou's hairs; one death affects the whole not greatly.

Moreover, after all reckoning, it is not their fault!

Manjushri stepped forth, righteous indignation filling his chest, declaring: "Qiong Xiao, you disregard mortal lives, recklessly striking and harming sentient beings—grave sin, extreme evil—what guilt do you bear?"

Upon these words, the Buddhas instantly resonated, each beginning to blame.

What compassion! What justice!

Hearing these ear-filling rebukes, this heavy duty of righteousness, Qiong Xiao's eyes icy cold said: "You,

Have you finished speaking?"

This voice revealed endless killing intent; an indescribable pressure spread from Qiong Xiao's body.

"Not good—she must be laying the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation!" a Buddha pointed at Qiong Xiao, terrified.

The Buddhas' hearts shuddered—this Nine Curves Yellow River Formation was among the most dazzling arrays in the Shen Feng Da Jie.

It can cause gods to lose their immortality, immortals to lose their souls, to be entrapped in form, to lose their qi, to lose their original divine essence, to lose their divine limbs—gods entering become mortals, mortals entering become utter annihilation!

To suppress the Chan Jiao Shi Jin Xian, to cut off three flowers and discard five qi—truly terrifying indeed!

Initially, among the Twelve Golden Immortals were not lacking Great Luo Golden Immortals, yet all were of no avail.

Upon hearing this array's name, the primary victims, the Three Great Bodhisattvas, paled instantly, turning to flee.

Those unacquainted cannot fathom the pain of having three flowers cut off and five qi discarded.

Seeing them thus, Long-eared could not help but anxiously shout: "The Nine Curves Yellow River Formation is not casually laid! She is surely framing us!"

"The Almsgiving Monk long knew—just now, I merely put on a show, letting this demoness lower her guard!"

"Exactly—what are three mere women? How could they resist our boundless Buddhist Dharma?!"

Hearing Long-eared's words, the Buddhas' reactions came one after another, quicker each time, faces of profound mystery, as if the ones who had just feared death were not them.

Besides the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, Qiong Xiao's true concern lay only in Elder Sister Yunxiao's cultivation and their troublesome treasures—the Golden Scorpion Shears and the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron!

With so many of them, they still disbelieved—could they not defeat three?

"Fight you? Why bother with formations!" Qiong Xiao wore a look of contempt.

Boom!

The next instant, an ice-blue flame erupted from her entire body, swiftly spreading toward the Buddhas, like a blue sea of flowers in splendour.

At the moment the flame appeared, all Buddhas shivered—too cold!

What is this situation?!

The Buddhas' pupils contracted sharply—clearly a flame's shape, why such cold?

Those nearby already had white frost on their eyebrows; the Buddha Light protecting them had utterly no effect.

"Demoness, cease your recklessness!" a Buddha, eyes wrathful as a Vajra, formed the Buddhist Seal; a vast golden flame appeared in the heavens.

"It's the wisdom fire!" A Buddha exclaimed in surprise!

Looking toward the Buddha releasing the flames, it turned out to be Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha, and his heart also settled down accordingly.

Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha specializes in the Buddhist Sect's Twelve Fire Methods, and this wisdom fire is precisely the first fire among the Twelve Fire Methods, being the flame of the bodhi mind burning.

Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha can instantly condense so many wisdom fires, which shows his profound study of fire methods.

Even if your fire is more strange, how could it possibly still be a rival to the wisdom fire?

All Buddhas revealed triumphant expressions on their faces, as if Qiong Xiao would be defeated in the next moment!

Flames?!

Just in time!

Qiong Xiao fundamentally had not a trace of fear; she could very well test this divine communication's ability.

With a movement of heart and mind, the ice-devouring cold flame instantly gathered and hurled toward all Buddhas.

"What audacity!" Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha raged inwardly, daring to show off flames before him—it was practically seeking death!

Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha waved his hand, and the wisdom fire likewise surged toward the ice-devouring cold flame.

The two fires collided, instantly erupting in a fierce sound—this was precisely the two fires contending.

Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha let out a cold snort, then struck another Buddha seal into it; the flames instantly expanded several times over, directly enveloping the ice-devouring cold flame.

"No wonder he is the master of our Buddhist Sect's fire methods—this wisdom fire truly is miraculous!" The Buddhas began praising Hui Ju illuminating the Buddha.