Chapter 312: Fighting the Black Dragon

The young monk formed seals with his hands again, the golden light over his entire body becoming even more dazzling, as if the whole sky were illuminated by his Buddha light. His figure moved, rushing toward the river surface like lightning, the dharma staff in his hand transforming into a beam of golden light, striking directly at the black dragon's vital spot.

Seeing this, the black dragon roared, and the surrounding river water surged toward the monk in the form of pillars.

At the same time, it opened its blood-red maw, spewing out a stream of black poisonous mist that lunged straight at the monk's physical body.

Seeing the black mist approaching, the young monk hurriedly dodged; no sooner said than done, the young monk sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the black water pillars and the poisonous mist.

The black dragon did not give up; dodging the incoming dharma staff, it used the momentum of the water to soar into the air, waving its massive tail to launch an attack at the monk.

Seeing this, the monk leaped rapidly into mid-air. He chanted words, and his Buddhist Beads suddenly flew out, circling around him. Each bead shone with light, forming a protective barrier.

The black dragon's tail slammed fiercely against the protective barrier, emitting a loud noise. The monk used the recoil to leap backward, simultaneously pressing his palms together to condense the Spirit Qi within his body into a ball of light, which he shot toward the black dragon.

The black dragon sensed danger and tried to dodge, but it was too late. The ball of light struck the black dragon's body, triggering an explosion. The black dragon roared in pain and plunged into the river, kicking up huge waves.

The monk was still catching his breath, but his gaze was firm as he watched the black dragon disappear beneath the water.

He knew the previous attack was not enough to kill the black dragon, only causing it heavy damage for the moment. He had to seize this opportunity to finish the job completely.

"Amitabha, good and evil will eventually have their retribution; today is the time for your karmic debts to be repaid." The young monk murmured, his hands forming seals again, and the golden light over his body condensed once more, becoming even more dazzling than before.

He spread his form like a great roc spreading its wings and rushed toward the river surface again. This time, he did not attack the black dragon directly, but instead circled the river at high speed, his hands constantly waving the dharma staff, the golden beams of light weaving into a giant net in the air, shrouding the entire river surface within it.

"Vajra Demon-Subduing Array!" the monk shouted in a low voice, and the golden net tightened instantly, binding the black dragon in the river water firmly. The black dragon struggled frantically in the net, but no matter how hard it tried, it could not break free from the constraints of the Vajra Demon-Subduing Array.

"Wicked beast, do you still not know to repent?" The young monk's voice echoed over the river like thunder. He landed slowly on the riverbank, his gaze fixed like a torch on the black dragon in the net.

The black dragon gradually quieted down in the net, and a trace of regret seemed to appear in those crimson eyes. It lowered its head and let out a low whimper, as if recounting its own sins and pain.

Seeing this, the young monk sighed slightly. He knew that although this black dragon was a demon, it also possessed spirituality and emotions. He closed his eyes to contemplate for a moment and finally decided to give it a chance.

"Amitabha, the Buddha saves those with affinity. If you truly repent and are willing to abandon evil for good, I will accept you," the young monk said in a gentle voice.

Hearing this, the black dragon's body shuddered; it raised its head to look at the monk, and a glimmer of hope seemed to appear in its eyes. It slowly lowered its head, seemingly expressing submission and repentance to the monk.

Just as the black dragon appeared to show remorse and lowered its head in submission, a look of cunning flashed through its eyes like lightning, its movement so fast it caught one off guard.

It exerted force suddenly, actually forcing one of its own flesh horns out from its head, transforming it into a black bolt of lightning that shot straight at the young monk.

Although the young monk's cultivation was profound, this turn of events happened too suddenly, and he was also slightly startled in his heart.

Facing this sudden change, even with his profound cultivation, the young monk failed to fully dodge the black dragon's unexpected strike. The Dragon Horn, like a black bolt of lightning, carried the sound of tearing through the air and instantly struck his body.

The monk's waist was pierced through, leaving a large hole, visible from front to back.

And that Dragon Horn leaped through space, rushing toward the horizon.

Pain surged like a tide, but the young monk gritted his teeth and did not make a single sound.

The Dragon Horn still carried a deep, dark light, and the monk had no time to think.

He quickly adjusted his breathing, steadied his mind, and condensed the Buddha Power surging within his body toward the struck area. The golden Buddha light flowed across his skin, forming a stark contrast with that black Demon Power.

Seeing this, a trace of triumph flashed in the black dragon's eyes; it thought this strike was enough to severely wound or even kill the young monk. However, it soon discovered it was wrong.

The young monk's Buddha Power was tough and powerful; it not only resisted the Dragon Horn's attack but also began to gradually erode that black Demon Power.

A look of terror appeared in the black dragon's eyes; it began to struggle frantically, trying to break free from the constraints of the Vajra Demon-Subduing Array, but it was already too late.

"Wicked beast! You dare to deceive me!" The young monk shouted angrily, a flash of severity in his eyes. He realized that this black dragon was not truly repenting, but trying to take the opportunity to escape or even counterattack.

The young monk took a deep breath, formed seals with his hands again, and chanted a devout Buddhist mantra in a low voice.

"All Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas should thus subdue their minds."

Golden Buddha light gathered in his palms, forming a powerful energy fluctuation.

As the mantra sounded, the Buddha light on his body became even more dazzling, as if the entire world were illuminated by this golden radiance.

He spread his form and rushed toward the black dragon like lightning, the dharma staff in his hand transforming into a beam of golden light, striking directly at the black dragon's vital point.

Before the monk could catch his breath, the four people of the Triangular Array who had been watching coldly from the side flew over.

The man in green drew his Sword and released Sword Qi, while the two women scattered flying flowers, intercepting the monk's final strike from a distance.

Facing the sudden change, the young monk's figure paused, the golden beam of light stopping abruptly in mid-air, forming a delicate standoff with the attacks of the green-clad swordsman and the two women.

He furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with both surprise and confusion, and asked in a deep voice, "What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoists?"

The green-clad swordsman stood tall, holding his Long Sword, the tip of the sword lightly touching the air, holding the monk's golden light at bay. His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion: "Monk, we do not intend to hinder you from eliminating the demon, but this black dragon has some history with us; we cannot watch it be destroyed."

A woman beside him parted her red lips slightly, her voice soft yet carrying unquestionable firmness: "Master, all things in the world have cause and effect. Although the black dragon is a demon, it also has its reason for existing. Perhaps we can try to guide it toward good, rather than blindly destroying it."

The other woman danced with flying flowers, circling around the monk, her eyes revealing a touch of sympathy and pity: "Yes, Master. You possess compassion and should know that life is precious. Perhaps giving the black dragon a chance to reform is also a test for our own cultivation."

The man who had not yet acted stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the green-clad swordsman, his tone calm and powerful: "Master, we are not enemies. We are willing to work with you to find a solution that allows the black dragon to receive the punishment it deserves while avoiding needless slaughter."