Chapter 33: Breaking the Array

Five days later, the sky was clear and cloudless for ten thousand miles. Guangchengzi looked at the sky and said, "The weather today is truly excellent. I hope we can successfully break the Buddhism array today."

Kong Xuan looked at the clear sky and continued arrogantly, "As long as the two Saints of Buddhism do not set up the array themselves, no array can stop the advance of our two sects' armies."

Hearing Kong Xuan's words, Guangchengzi was slightly startled. It seemed Kong Xuan had great confidence in his own strength; it appeared the hope of breaking the array today was high.

Kong Xuan, Wudang, Jinling, Duobao, Yunxiao, Zhao Gongming, and the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect walked to the front of the two armies, looking at the great array set up by Buddhism ahead.

"This is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Array meticulously arranged by our Buddhism. If you can break this array, our Buddhism will throw open the gates of Chaoge and accept the attack of your two sects at any time," Maitreya said with a smile from the array eye.

"Good, I would like to see what kind of great array Buddhism has to block the advance of our two sects." After Kong Xuan finished speaking, he was the first to walk into the array. Then, Yunxiao and the others followed into the array.

Upon entering the array, the scenery changed immediately. Inside, golden light shone brilliantly, and swastika symbols flew everywhere. It was divided into countless small spaces, and everyone who entered went into a different space.

Kong Xuan looked at the sky full of monks surrounding him, each with the cultivation of an early-stage Great Luo Golden Immortal. Kong Xuan gave a contemptuous smile. Was this the Ten Thousand Buddhas Array of Buddhism? Was that all the ability they had? Kong Xuan struck out with a Vacuum Fist, and about one-tenth of the monks in the sky vanished, but suddenly, more monks appeared from nowhere, filling the sky again. Kong Xuan's expression darkened slightly. Could these monks be resurrected after being killed? He struck out more than a dozen more Vacuum Fists in succession, and more than half of the monks in the sky disappeared, but in an instant, the sky was full of monks again. Now, Kong Xuan's expression sank. This was likely the profound mystery of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Array; there were endless monks, and they could never be finished off. The monks were not just standing there stupidly either; they charged at Kong Xuan and attacked. Kong Xuan looked at the sky full of attacking monks and calculated slowly in his heart: if it were ten thousand early-stage Great Luo Golden Immortals, it would be a small matter for him; one hundred thousand would be fine, but one million would mean he had to flee. No matter how strong his magic power was, it was not inexhaustible. He would first see if these monks were truly endless, and slowly, he began a war of attrition with the monks.

The other experts from the two sects who entered the Ten Thousand Buddhas Array also had grim expressions as they looked at the sky full of monks and began their endless attacks.

Time passed slowly. Huanglong Zhenren was the first who could not hold on and withdrew from the array. Following that, people gradually withdrew from the array one after another.

One hour later, most had withdrawn from the array. Of the Jie Sect, only Kong Xuan, Duobao, and Yunxiao remained, still persisting in breaking the array. Of the Chan Sect, only Guangchengzi and Yuding remained. Yuding was the most powerful among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect; apart from seclusion, he only fought. He was a cultivation fanatic. During the Investiture of the Gods, he was in a state of seclusion and was only invited out when the decisive battle was about to begin. He had achieved intermediate-level comprehension of the Law of Metal and was the strongest among all the Second Generation Disciples of the Three Pure Ones, aside from Kong Xuan of the Jie Sect.

After two hours passed, only Kong Xuan and Yuding remained inside.

Everyone watched the Ten Thousand Immortals Array ahead anxiously, hoping that one of the two could break the array.

Yuding persisted inside for three hours, but in the end, he still could not hold on and withdrew.

Everyone looked at the withdrawing Yuding Zhenren with disappointment, pinning their hopes on Kong Xuan, the only one who had not yet withdrawn.

Kong Xuan had unspeakable bitterness inside the array; his magic power was already half-depleted. If things continued like this, he would also have to helplessly withdraw from this array. It seemed it was time to reveal his true strength.

Thinking of this, Kong Xuan let out a roar, burning all his magic power, and transformed into a giant peacock. The feathers on his back flashed with five colors, looking extremely majestic. Terrifying flames erupted from the peacock's body and burst out in all directions.

The disciples of the Jie Sect and Chan Sect watching from the outside only saw a burst of fire rise within the array. With a "Boom—", the array was destroyed, and a giant peacock flew out from within.

Seeing this, everyone immediately knew the array had been broken; that giant peacock was Kong Xuan's true form.

The peacock transformed back into human form and walked toward the two sects, saying, "The array is broken, but everyone must have consumed a great deal. Rest for two days first and prepare for the attack."

Hearing Kong Xuan's words, Guangchengzi said to the several Golden Immortals, "Junior brothers, rest well and prepare to officially attack Chaoge the day after tomorrow." After speaking, he said to Maitreya opposite, "Maitreya, you had better prepare well to welcome the attack of our two sects the day after tomorrow. By then, your Buddhism will be finished."

Hearing Guangchengzi's words, Maitreya smiled and said, "Who wins and who loses is not yet certain. You speak too soon. I would like to see what means your two sects have, and by then, I will also let you witness how the Buddha-dharma of my Buddha is." After speaking, he retreated into Chaoge.

The experts of the Jie Sect and Chan Sect also entered the military camp to rest and prepare for the attack the day after tomorrow.

Two days later, the sky was covered with dark clouds, as if to signal that the coming great battle would be extremely tragic.

"Disciples of the Jie Sect, hear my order: Attack!" Following Kong Xuan's order, the Jie Sect disciples charged into Chaoge like a tidal wave.

"Disciples of the Chan Sect, hear my order: Attack!" Guangchengzi also issued the order, and the Chan Sect disciples also charged into Chaoge.

The great battle unfolded. Countless novices and Buddha emerged from within Chaoge to meet the attack of the disciples of the Chan and Jie Sects.

Kong Xuan and the others, as well as the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, stood with their hands behind their backs, preparing to deal with the experts of Buddhism.

Three people flew out from above Chaoge: an old monk with a sallow complexion, a youth whose entire body was emitting firelight, and the other was Maitreya.

"Who are the newcomers? State your names," Kong Xuan asked, seeing that he did not recognize the two people.

"This Buddha is Randeng; you should have heard of me," said the old monk with the sallow complexion.

Upon hearing that this person was actually Randeng, everyone was shocked. Randeng could be said to be a figure from the same era as the Three Pure Ones.

He was a figure whose cultivation was much worse than theirs, but he was absolutely an ancient figure. He had once listened to Hongjun preach at the Purple Heaven Palace. Even if he had not reached the ultimate comprehension of the laws, he was at least at a high level of comprehension. It had been a long time since anyone had heard of him being active on the earth; he had actually defected to Buddhism.

"This deity is Lu Ya," said the youth.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed again. Lu Ya was the tenth prince of the Demon Clan, and after the Lich War, his whereabouts were unknown. They did not expect that he had also gone to Buddhism.

It seemed this battle would not be easy to fight, but after looking at the number of people on their own side, their confidence increased greatly. Guangchengzi said, "No more nonsense, let's do it."

The final decisive battle of the Investiture of the Gods had finally arrived.