Chapter 699

After refining the Twelve-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus, Luo Fu immediately split it into two lotuses.

After being split in half, the Twelve-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus was left with only nine petals.

The Twelve-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus was far too conspicuous, easily evoking thoughts of the Demon Ancestor Luo Hou.

In comparison, the Nine-Petal Black Lotus was not nearly so striking.

Such spiritual treasures as lotuses were not unique in the Primordial Chaos.

The Buddhist sect, for instance, possessed numerous three-petal and six-petal Golden Lotuses.

Although the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus in Luo Fu's hands was uncommon, it was not necessarily absent from the Primordial Chaos.

"This is the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus!"

Daoist Randeng, the Ancient Buddha, had no lack of knowledge—he recognized the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus at a glance.

This left Daoist Randeng even more at a loss for how to answer Luo Fu.

As one of Buddhism's few Saint Zhunti, Daoist Randeng well understood the significance of the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus to the Yuxifang Sect.

The purpose of this Journey to the West, beyond allowing Buddhism to flourish in the East, was foremost to dispel the demonic qi within the western earth veins.

Even if the Journey to the West succeeded completely, it might still fail to fully dispel the demonic qi within the western earth veins.

If Buddhism could obtain the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus, it would be different—without even the Journey to the West, Buddhism could dispel the demonic qi within the western earth veins in an extremely short time, relying solely on the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus.

To Buddhism, its importance might not be less than that of the Journey to the West.

In truth, Buddhism had long been searching for the Twelve-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus, merely without ever finding it.

"Of course, aside from the Journey to the West, I have one small condition: if I win, your Buddhist sect must release all human believers."

Ignoring Daoist Randeng's silence, Luo Fu proposed another condition.

This condition was something Luo Fu intended to do; as a human, seeing so many humans forcibly converted into believers, he could not remain unmoved.

He raised it here solely to confuse the Two Western Saints, making it difficult for them to discern his true intent.

After stating all his conditions, Luo Fu did not look at Daoist Randeng, but kept his gaze locked on the Nine-Petal Jin Lian beneath Daoist Randeng's feet.

All his words were spoken for the Two Western Saints, not for Daoist Randeng.

Daoist Randeng could not make decisions on such major matters.

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Mount Sumeru Heaven

"Seizing our Buddhist heritage? Luo Fu dares to dream such a thing. Elder Brother, let me act—give this arrogant man a lesson."

Upon hearing Luo Fu's words, Saint Zhunti, usually bearing a sorrowful expression, revealed a rare flash of anger.

To openly declare intent to seize one's heritage—even a stone would grow angry.

Heritage is the foundation of any sect, more important than anything else.

"The Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus—I never expected Luo Fu to possess this."

Compared to Saint Zhunti, Saint Jieyin was slightly more composed; he did not respond to Saint Zhunti's words but chose to listen further.

Only when he saw the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus in Luo Fu's hand did Saint Jieyin's face finally show a rare flicker of emotion.

"The Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus! Elder Brother, we must obtain it—possessing it, the Western Ox Continent will soon return to normal."

Like Saint Jieyin, the moment Saint Zhunti saw the Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus, his anger vanished entirely, replaced only by fervent desire to possess it.

"Elder Brother, what should we do? Should we agree to them?"

Saint Zhunti turned to Saint Jieyin, awaiting his decision.

On matters of such magnitude, Saint Zhunti generally deferred to Saint Jieyin's judgment.

"Agree! To ensure the Journey to the West proceeds smoothly, we cannot allow Luo Fu to interfere. The Nine-Petal World-Annihilating Black Lotus is also something we must obtain. We have planned this Journey to the West for a long time. As long as Luo Fu does not act, capturing the scripture-seeker will be no difficulty."

After brief consideration, Saint Jieyin decided to accept Luo Fu's conditions.

Luo Fu's conditions were, in fact, highly advantageous to the Two Western Saints.

What the Two Western Saints most feared was Luo Fu personally intervening in the Journey to the West.

Luo Fu's power was truly beyond measure; from how he just defeated Daoist Randeng, his strength already surpassed even the other Pre-Saints.

In the eyes of the Two Western Saints and other great transcendents, Luo Fu had been equated with Ancestor Minghe.

Although Luo Fu had not demonstrated any means to challenge a Saint, based on his current displays, no great transcendents in the Three Realms could be certain of defeating him.

Such a supreme transcendental being, if he personally intervened in the Journey to the West, even the Two Western Saints would have no way to counter him.

Within the Three Realms, Pre-Saints might intervene slightly, but Saints were absolutely forbidden from acting.

The Two Western Saints dared not defy Ancestor Hongjun's edict.

Most importantly, Luo Fu was far too mysterious—even the Two Western Saints could not be certain they could fully subdue him.

Unable to directly subdue him, and with no subordinate strong enough to match Luo Fu.