Chapter 655: Clay Statues Become Reality

The bell tolls in unison, the sound of Sanskrit chants rises in waves, golden light shines for ten thousand zhang, and the momentum is magnificent.

The disciples of Tianyin Temple raise their heads, looking toward the direction of the Great Hero Treasure Hall with complex expressions.

The White-robed Divine Monk they once took pride in has become the Demon Sect Leader, sweeping through the major cultivation sects of the Central Plains, and now he has even set foot in Tianyin Temple.

Yu Liancheng stands with his hands behind his back, as immovable as a mountain within the Great Hero Treasure Hall, exuding a powerful sense of presence that fills the entire hall, as if he were on par with the Buddhas inside, or even a head taller; it is almost impossible to connect him with that White-robed Divine Monk who smiled while holding a flower.

But looking closely, one discovers that he seems to have undergone no changes at all, his pair of sparkling eyes carrying a smile, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.

Master Puhong presses his palms together, his expression solemn: "Amitabha, Jade Tower Master has graced us with his presence, and Puhong of Tianyin Temple has failed to welcome you from afar; I hope you will not take offense."

"Abbot Puhong, I believe you are very clear about my purpose in coming here. Whether to fight or to surrender is merely a matter of a single word." Yu Liancheng takes a step forward, which actually emits a "Boom" sound like a heavy drum being struck; his entire aura surges layer by layer like an avalanche, stirring up a gale within the entire Great Hero Treasure Hall.

Puhong's eyes are like deep, bottomless pools, his expression not changing in the slightest: "I hope Jade Tower Master will explain in detail: how to fight, and how to surrender?"

Yu Liancheng says: "If you want to fight, it matters not whether it is you, Master Puhong, alone, or the Four Great Divine Monks together, or even the entire temple swarming up at once; there are no such formalities, we shall see whose ability is greater. The weak are prey to the strong—this is the most basic rule of the cultivation world. If you want to surrender, it is naturally to turn weapons into silk, and for Tianyin Temple to become one of the factions under the Changsheng Tower."

"Presumptuous! Puzhen, have you gone mad!?"

"Can the thousand-year foundation of Tianyin Temple be ruined in the hands of a traitor like you?!"

"Puzhen, you are a rare talent born to our Buddhist sect once in a thousand years; the sea of suffering is boundless, turn back and the shore is near."

Before Master Puhong can speak, the various Peak Masters are already unable to sit still. Some scold sternly, others offer gentle admonitions. But the attitude of all the monks is very firm.

If Tianyin Temple truly belongs to the Changsheng Tower, then is Tianyin Temple still Tianyin Temple?

If the thousand-year Buddhist foundation is ruined, even if one passes away in the future, I fear one will not be able to enter the Western Paradise.

Puhong sighs: "Among the major sects of the Central Plains today, only Tianyin Temple and Qingyun Sect are still barely holding on under the offensive of the Changsheng Tower. From now on, my Tianyin Temple is willing to close its mountain gates, completely sever ties with the cultivation world, and only save the believers of one region."

According to Puhong's intention, he is neither willing to join the Changsheng Tower nor willing to fight Yu Liancheng to the death.

The Changsheng Tower has now swept across the entire Central Plains with an unparalleled posture, and even Fenxiang Valley has been merged into it, becoming a behemoth that the Demon Sect of the past could never compare to. If they really wanted to deal with Tianyin Temple, they would only need to surround it without attacking; over the years and months, it would be enough to cause Tianyin Temple to collapse and its lineage to be severed.

Yu Liancheng shakes his head: "Master Puhong, you are too attached. Formation, existence, destruction, and emptiness—all things are like this. Let alone Tianyin Temple, even my Changsheng Tower may one day be ground into dust in history; why be attached, pointlessly increasing slaughter, pointlessly increasing death?"

"With a heart spanning a hundred thousand zhang and a vision stretching ten thousand miles, you can afford to cast your gaze further. Although Tianyin Temple is one of the three major sects of the righteous path, apart from a few wandering monks, what Tianyin Temple can truly influence is merely a radius of a few dozen miles."

"But if you join the Changsheng Tower, you will be able to spread the Dharma widely and truly save all living beings. A thousand years from now, in the eyes of Buddhist believers, you might be the true Buddha."

Puhong frowns, revealing a trace of hesitation, as if he has been swayed.

The other monks also show looks of contemplation on their brows; although Tianyin Temple is one of the three major sects of the righteous path, its influence on the secular world is far from enough. If they could borrow this behemoth of the Changsheng Tower, perhaps they could spread the Dharma widely and save all sentient beings.

A few Peak Masters are actually swayed by Yu Liancheng.

After a moment of hesitation, Master Puhong's aged face once again reveals a look of firmness.

He raises his brows, eyes wide with anger, assuming the wrathful appearance of a Wisdom King, and emits a thunderous roar: "Evil obstacle, confusing sentient beings and wreaking havoc in the human world; not only have you entered the Demon path, you are the Demon among Demons. Fellow monks, please strike."

The other monks, as if struck by a Head-On Stick Shout, immediately become solemn and release their Qi.

"As expected, in the end, it still comes down to whose fist is bigger?" Yu Liancheng stands with his hands behind his back, waiting quietly for the monks to strike.

He stayed at Tianyin Temple for several years and knows all the methods of Tianyin Temple like the back of his hand; no method can threaten him. Abbot Puhong must understand this point, yet he does not know why he still insists on going his own way.

Under the gaze of Yu Liancheng, he sees golden light erupting from these Peak Masters, each one filled with a sense of holiness. This is the symbol of pushing the Great Brahma Prajna to the extreme; at the same time, behind them, various Dharma Aspects emerge one after another: Heavenly King Aspect, Battle Aspect, Medicine Master Aspect, Glazed Appearance, Heavenly Human Aspect...

In an instant, the Great Hero Treasure Hall is packed full, even appearing somewhat crowded.

"Great Brahma Prajna plus the Thirty-Two Appearances? But I am already proficient in the Great Brahma Prajna, and the Thirty-Two Appearances were even created by me; just like this, wanting to defeat me is no different from a fool's dream." Yu Liancheng seems to be whispering to himself.

Then, a scene he did not expect happens: those Dharma Aspects do not attack Yu Liancheng, but slowly float toward the clay and stone statues throughout the hall and slowly merge into them.

Hum, hum, hum!

The next moment, the entire Great Hero Treasure Hall begins to tremble, as if an earth dragon is turning over.

The clay and stone statues that were worshipped by people shake off the dust on their bodies, suddenly open their eyes, and stare at Yu Liancheng, revealing a vast and solemn feeling.

Then, they slowly stand up, incomparably tall.

Their bodies shine with golden light; the appearance of clay is gone, and they are lifelike, holy, and majestic.

In an instant, the entire Great Hero Treasure Hall seems to have turned into a Buddha Kingdom on earth, rippling in boundless golden Buddha light.

"Is this Faith Power?" Yu Liancheng raises his brows slightly, having his own guesses about these clay statues being able to stand up.

Tianyin Temple has a long history, and the clay Bodhisattvas in the temple have always been worshipped by monks. Later, after opening the mountain gates wide, countless believers came to worship and burn incense to the Buddha every day. Over time, these Buddha statues seemed to have acquired some kind of strange energy, perhaps it could be called "Faith Power" or "Vow Power"?

"Junior brother, the sea of suffering is boundless; you can still turn back now." Master Puhong speaks slowly. Behind him is the tallest and most solemn Tathagata Aspect.

Perhaps because he is driving the Dharma Aspect at this moment, Puhong's voice carries a vast and boundless feeling.

Yu Liancheng smiles slightly, says nothing, and merely extends his right hand, making a gesture of "please."

"Stubborn and unrepentant."

Master Puhong snorts coldly, his Qi becoming even more solemn and vast, and he takes a step forward.

The palms of the Tathagata Dharma Aspect behind him, which were pressed together, open slightly, and golden light suddenly blooms from the center of the palms, shooting straight into the clouds.

And within the golden light, a Dharma treasure in the shape of a disc-like golden wheel is slowly raised; it is brilliant with golden light, entirely golden, one foot in diameter, and the edge is engraved with all the Lohans, while in the center is the Buddha, who is pressing his palms together to save all living beings.

"The Abbot brings out the Great Compassion Golden Wheel as soon as he strikes, so this seat need not be polite either." Yu Liancheng's lips move, chanting the Six-Syllable Mantra, and six ancient golden runes emerge from the void to defend in front of him.

Boom, boom!

On this day, Yu Liancheng fights the Buddhas of the sky alone.