Chapter 692: No Other Means

The Silent God King was very glad for his own caution.

Judging from the power fluctuations transmitted, Tang Xuanzang's strength remained extremely terrifying even if injured.

Outside the "weakening domain" formed by crystallized ore, he would absolutely not be his match.

Fortunately, he was clever enough to trick the other party here; in the God Realm, whether dragon or tiger, they had to lie low for him.

"Go, muster the troops!" the Silent God King said. "Also, find Zhu Bajie and the others!"

The crowd of celestial gods all moved into action, and the originally "aloof and cold" God Realm instantly became lively.

In the high sky, the Heavenly Might Divine Lord threw a punch.

Tang Luo, unwilling to be outdone, likewise swung a fist.

Fists collided between the two.

At the moment of collision, ripples spread out, tearing through the cloud layers.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord's fist appeared to be many times larger than Tang Luo's fist.

The result, however, was the Heavenly Might Divine Lord retreating a distance backward.

He glanced at his own fist; the Heavenly Might Divine Lord did not counterattack immediately, but instead lowered his hand and looked at Tang Luo.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord, formerly the Bodhisattva Manjushri.

One of the five Bodhisattvas of the Great Thunderclap Temple on Spirit Mountain.

The five great Bodhisattvas were respectively Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Avalokiteshvara, Ksitigarbha, and Mahasthamaprapta.

These five Bodhisattvas, though Bodhisattvas, surpassed some Buddhas in both strength and status, practically constituting the second tier beneath the Three Buddhas.

Especially Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the Bodhisattva closest to Buddhahood.

The most widely known by comparison is the greatly compassionate Avalokiteshvara.

In contrast, the other three Bodhisattvas appeared much more low-key — actually Ksitigarbha is also low-key, it's just that his vast vow "Hell not empty, I vow not to become Buddha" and his strength make it hard to stay low-key even if he wants to.

Someone always brings him up.

Among the five Bodhisattvas, three were originally not Buddhist disciples.

During the ancient God-Conferring War, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, and Cihang Daoren, the three of them, seemingly moved by the cruelty of sectarian strife.

Thus they left their sect and joined the Buddhist order.

Becoming the Bodhisattvas Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Avalokiteshvara.

Regarding why the three defected to Buddhism, opinions vary wildly.

Some say this was a "plant" the Three Purities placed in Buddhism: you, Tathagata, want Buddhism to flourish, fine, but you must also provide some checks and balances.

Mix some sand into the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Others say the three were actually subverted by the Tathagata long ago, and later returned to Buddhism.

All sorts of messy theories, ultimately none escaping conspiracy theories.

But speaking from actual experience, Tang Luo felt that the Great Thunderclap Temple and the Heavenly Court, these two supreme leaders of Buddhism and Daoism, didn't have all that much opposition between them.

The Tathagata and the Grand Supreme seemed to hold the magnanimous, tolerant attitude of "Buddha originally is Dao," not "different Daos do not conspire together."

On the contrary, they instead cooperated quite a bit.

For instance, the Underworld was jointly established by the Great Thunderclap Temple and the Heavenly Court, creating the "Six Paths of Reincarnation."

The three might even be "exchange students."

But regardless, the three who entered Buddhism from Daoism always remained slightly special within the Buddhist order.

Avalokiteshvara resided at the South Sea Dojo, wholeheartedly guiding sentient beings, leaving behind many legends.

Samantabhadra and Manjushri, by contrast, lived in deep seclusion, rarely appearing before people; compared to Avalokiteshvara, they could be called "shut-ins."

Tang Luo had actually dealt with both Bodhisattvas.

It's just that the process of dealing with them wasn't pleasant.

Because their mounts, one was beaten to death alive, one was beaten half to death and barely escaped.

"Beat the dog, look at the master" — Tang Luo didn't even glance at them, killing without mercy.

Naturally, the two sides wouldn't have any good relationship.

Basically not a word exchanged, a nod counted as the attitude of having greeted each other.

Recalling, the words Tang Luo spoke with Manjushri and Samantabhadra added up probably didn't exceed ten sentences.

Among them were even lines like "I killed your lion, returning the corpse to you."

Manjushri wanting to test Tang Luo's abilities was also within expectations.

"Victorious Fighting Buddha's current appearance — was it from injury when the Mountains and Seas Realm shattered?" Manjushri, the Heavenly Might Divine Lord, asked without continuing his attack.

"Yes." Tang Luo admitted, nodding his forehead; the Merit Jade Lotus floated out, "Thanks to this, I've recovered more than half."

"Merit Jade Lotus. This seat always thought the Victorious Fighting Buddha was unworthy of this treasure." The Heavenly Might Divine Lord said, "Treasures reside with the virtuous; this seat has karmic affinity with this object."

"You joined Buddhism and learned this?" Tang Luo laughed, "Want it? Come snatch it. What excuse are you looking for?"

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord said: "Not an excuse, merely stating a fact."

He extended his hand, right palm spread open, moving horizontally from left to right before him; a sharp sword appeared following his motion.

From blade to hilt, it was like a magic trick.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord's right hand gripped, grasping the sharp sword in hand.

Bodhisattva Manjushri has an "iconography": right hand holding the Sword of Wisdom, symbolizing the wisdom sword severing ignorance and folly — this originates from Manjushri's flying sword dharma treasure.

Now having become the Heavenly Might Divine Lord, this "Wisdom Sword" remains his weapon.

The instant he gripped the hilt, the Heavenly Might Divine Lord had already vanished from his original spot, appearing before Tang Luo, a sword thrusting at Tang Luo's brow center.

Soundless and breathless.

The moment the blade appeared, it was nearly upon him.

The Merit Jade Lotus re-entered the space between his brows, and the Wisdom Sword halted.

Tang Luo had at some point reached out and grasped the sword blade, his right hand from fingertips to mid-forearm wrapped in black armored gauntlets.

The golden patterns on the gauntlets were like magma, seemingly still flowing.

Profound Transformation Fist!

Tang Luo's right hand gripped the Wisdom Sword's blade, preventing it from advancing an inch.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord did not withdraw the sword to stab again; his left hand directly clenched into a fist, smashing down onto Tang Luo's head from above.

The advantage in physique made this punch look like bullying a child.

The instant the fist clenched and fell, heaven and earth seemed to invert, turning upside down, toppling heaven and earth!

Overturning Heaven Seal!

The Overturning Heaven Seal is a famous supreme treasure in *Investiture of the Gods*, and within the Three Pure Ones' lineage, there are also divine abilities and spells imitating the Overturning Heaven Seal.

When a powerhouse uses it, condensing a false Overturning Heaven Seal to smash down, its power approaches that of the original artifact itself.

Now Manjusri has become a Heavenly God; mentioned earlier, Heavenly Gods' combat methods all focus on close-quarters brawling, and the Heavenly Might Divine Lord is no exception.

His fist is the Overturning Heaven Seal!

Heaven-Overturning Earth-Upending Fist!

The fist carried the heavenly might of overturning heaven and earth as it fell; Tang Luo struck upward with a palm, meeting force with force.

The Glazed Nirvana Great Hand Seal this time did not release from the body, but was completely condensed atop the palm.

Collision!

A faint, muffled thunderclap rang out in the high sky.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord's left arm violently whipped upward, emitting a series of "crackling" sounds.

【79】 The Heavenly Might Divine Lord's left arm violently whipped upward, emitting a series of "crackling" sounds.

He took the opportunity to recall the Wisdom Sword, his body retreating rapidly; when he stopped, his left arm was already hanging limp at his side.

"Heavenly Gods don't seem so impressive." Tang Luo looked at the Heavenly Might Divine Lord; before his words fell, the black gauntlet kept magnifying before the Heavenly Might Divine Lord's eyes.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord sharply tilted to the side; the gauntlet grazed past his cheek, the fist wind slicing through, raising a spray of fresh blood.

Seeing a punch miss, Tang Luo instantly changed moves; the advancing fist in a split second shifted from rapid motion to stillness, five fingers spreading into a palm, grabbing toward the Heavenly Might Divine Lord's head.

The Wisdom Sword's cold light flashed; the Heavenly Might Divine Lord used the Wisdom Sword's blade to touch Tang Luo's palm center.

A gigantic sword shadow emerged behind him, arriving along with this strike.

Tang Luo's reverse grab toward the Heavenly Might Divine Lord halted, blocked by the Wisdom Sword; not only that, a crisp sound rang out.

Cracks appeared on the palm of the armored gauntlet.

Tang Luo stepped forward, wrist rotating, deflecting the Heavenly Might Divine Lord's sword; the blade scraped across the gauntlet, leaving a mark.

The two brushed past each other.

In the moment of crossing, fists and palms collided, then each pulled away distance.

"Though injured, the Victorious Fighting Buddha's strength is perhaps even greater than in the past." The Heavenly Might Divine Lord said, raising his left arm, twisting it a few times; it had remarkably already recovered.

He raised his sword pointing at Tang Luo, stepped through the void, leaped up, and countless sword shadows enveloped Tang Luo as they fell.

Every sword shadow is a real sword, a real attack.

Myriad Residual Shadow Swords!

Tang Luo employed the Thousand Hands Cannot Defend to respond; fist shadows, palm shadows blocked every sword, *ding-dang* crisp sounds connecting into a continuous stretch.

Large pearls, small pearls falling on a jade plate.

Suddenly, behind Tang Luo, beneath his feet, endless sword blades likewise appeared.

Simultaneously, palm shadows and fist shadows inexplicably dissipated by more than half; the enveloping sword shadows would break through the defense in the next breath.

"This is..."

Tang Luo's eyes widened a meter; the Brocade Kasaya moved without wind, a faint humanoid illusory figure appeared, enveloping his whole body.

Profound Gold Indestructible Body!

Blocking the attacks from all eight directions.

Tang Luo defended as solid as a rock; unable to break through in a short time, the Heavenly Might Divine Lord withdrew his sword and stood back: "Unexpected, that the Victorious Fighting Buddha in such a predicament still has the power for one battle."

The surrounding sky, including beneath the two's feet, had already turned pitch black just now.

"What is this?" Tang Luo moved his hands and feet, "Feels like being next to crystal ore."

"Heavenly Might Sword Domain." The Heavenly Might Divine Lord said, "This seat's Divine Domain."

"The weakening of Qi Refiners is only slightly less than crystal ore." Tang Luo said, "Speaking of which, you're also Qi Refiners; how exactly did you transform into so-called 'Heavenly Gods'?"

"Pity this world has no Underworld, no Six Paths of Reincarnation." The Heavenly Might Divine Lord said, "Otherwise the Victorious Fighting Buddha could go ask King Yama."

Telling a cold joke, killing intent overflowed in his words.

"As if the Ten Kings of Hell would know." Tang Luo's right hand swept before him, just happening to block a sword flying out from the darkness.

"Victorious Fighting Buddha."

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord placed both hands before him, upper and lower gripping the Wisdom Sword's hilt, the Wisdom Sword stood upright, the Heavenly Might Sword Domain surged.

Countless sharp swords flew out, merging into the Wisdom Sword.

In less than a breath, the Wisdom Sword formed a giant sword in his hand.

"You came at the wrong time; if you had come earlier or later, perhaps you could have shared the Heavenly Gods' glory with us!"

The Heavenly Might Sword, smashing down squarely on the head!

"After becoming Heavenly Gods, your various desires are quite intense."

Tang Luo withdrew the Profound Transformation, extended his index finger, the other fingers slightly curled, raised his hand and pointed out.

Reincarnation Salvation Finger!

The fingertip braced against the descending giant sword; the giant sword stagnated, the Divine Domain · Heavenly Might Sword Domain likewise stagnated.

The eyes of the Heavenly Might Divine Lord widened bit by bit.

Shattered!

The giant sword, the Heavenly Might Sword Domain shattered and vanished, the Wisdom Sword's blade collapsed into scattered powder that gleamed with radiance in the sky.

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord was like a kite with its string cut, tumbling wildly through the sky as he fell, crashing onto a deserted island far in the distance.

The island sank, forming a giant wave vortex that swallowed the Heavenly Might Divine Lord.

A full five minutes later, the Heavenly Might Divine Lord reappeared, barely hovering above the sea surface where waves still surged wildly, unable to calm down.

The Wisdom Sword in his hand had only a useless hilt remaining.

His purple-gold crown had fallen off, his hair hung loose, and even water droplets dripped from his body.

"How is this possible, you weren't affected by the Divine Domain!" He raised his head, looking at Tang Luo who walked on lotuses beneath his feet, stepping through the void as he approached.

"I was affected." Tang Luo said, "Didn't I just say so."

"Impossible!"

The Heavenly Might Divine Lord's face turned ferocious, he violently spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, "You definitely have some other method..."

"Nothing impossible about it, and no other method either." Tang Luo reached out to grab the Heavenly Might Divine Lord, "After being weakened, I'm still stronger than you, it's just that simple."