The golden lion’s expression was complex, a mix of envy and jealousy as it stared at Shi Hao, sighing inwardly.
It saw Shi Hao’s solemn and majestic bearing, like the mightiest Battle Buddha, with a radiant halo behind his head, illuminating divine splendor. Instantly, it understood—he had obtained the supreme inheritance.
The lineage of the golden lion was deeply intertwined with that of the ancient monks, having once been disciples of the Buddha themselves. Naturally, they knew many secrets.
Upon seeing Shi Hao’s demeanor, it recognized the awe-inspiring presence of one who had comprehended the ancient Buddhist demon-subduing divine art—a demeanor that shook the world, unique to the Battle Buddha lineage.
*Thwack!*
Shi Hao gave it a slap, loosening some of its restraints, allowing it to speak and transmit sound.
“Did you obtain the divine abilities of the Battle Buddha lineage?” the golden lion asked, its voice trembling.
The ancient monks were divided into several clans, and the Battle Buddha lineage was among the most formidable, renowned for their combat prowess and profound dharma.
“What Battle Buddha? I only obtained the Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms,” Shi Hao frowned but still revealed it, hoping to learn more about this divine art from the golden lion.
“What?!” The golden lion’s heart trembled, its expression growing even more complicated.
The so-called Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms were the supreme divine art of the Battle Buddha lineage. It had heard rumors that the Eighteen Ancient Buddha Palms were derived from it.
Most of the so-called Battle Buddha lineage originally did not belong to the ancient monks but were outsiders who converted to Buddhism, with the highest achievers among them being called Battle Buddhas.
Thus, the Battle Buddha lineage was terrifyingly powerful, proficient in Buddhist dharma as well as other ancient arts, merging them into an invincible technique.
“The Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms are the supreme technique of the Battle Buddha lineage,” the golden lion sighed, revealing the truth.
The term “dispersed” was used because the Battle Buddhas were originally outsiders, unbound and wandering the world like free spirits.
Hence, they were sometimes called the Dispersed Buddhas.
Shi Hao questioned the golden lion in detail, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This was indeed an unparalleled technique.
The scripture consisted of only eight pages—one gesture and a segment of mental cultivation per page—simple in form but devastating in power, an ancient offensive art unrivaled in the world.
“Hmm? What happened over there? Why is there a mist of blood?” Shi Hao asked in surprise.
Though the blood mist had mostly dissipated, traces of it lingered in the distant mountains, a faint yet eerie crimson.
The golden lion was speechless, feeling even more pity for the fallen great cultivators. To think that the very person they had sought remained oblivious to their desperate, tragic efforts.
They had come with great fanfare, their momentum like a tidal wave, only to be utterly ignored!
“Speak. What exactly happened?” Shi Hao demanded.
The golden lion felt helpless, a sense of powerlessness washing over it. Though resentful, it still explained the situation.
“Hahaha…” Shi Hao burst into laughter, utterly unexpected. So many experts from the foreign realm had died, filling his heart with boundless joy.
Though he knew this withered tree was sinister and that he would be safe as long as he harbored no killing intent while meditating here, he never imagined it would slay so many enemies.
His laughter was loud, grating to the golden lion’s ears, but there was nothing it could do.
“My heart is at ease. If they dare come, let them,” Shi Hao stood up. “What a pity they’re all dead. Otherwise, I could have tested the might of the Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms.”
“A hero with no battlefield to prove himself,” Shi Hao mused narcissistically.
These words deeply irritated the golden lion.
But at this moment, Shi Hao was strong and confident, eager to challenge the experts of the foreign realm. He had advanced to the Severing Self Realm and stabilized his cultivation.
Moreover, his breakthrough was not ordinary—he had soared straight to the mid-stage of the Severing Self Realm!
The greater the suppression, the fiercer the breakthrough. This time, his gains were immense. Having endured the tempering and baptism of the Blood Bodhi, he had fully consolidated his realm.
On top of that, he had obtained the Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms. His confidence was unshakable, and he longed to fight his way out.
“I also wish to meditate here and comprehend the Dao. Can you release all my seals?” the golden lion asked. This time, it wasn’t trying to escape but was envious of Shi Hao’s strength and gains, hoping to use the Blood Bodhi to temper itself and awaken the inherited imprints within the tree.
“Fine!” Shi Hao agreed readily, though a strange glint flickered in his eyes.
*Boom!*
Not long after, the golden lion convulsed violently, coughing up blood. A massive golden hand, stained with blood, materialized behind it and struck down, nearly shattering its body.
The golden lion immediately revived, rolling away while vomiting blood repeatedly, its spirit greatly diminished. It had suffered severe injuries.
Its face alternated between green and pale. It had hoped to meditate like Shi Hao but realized it couldn’t endure. Though it had triggered the inherited imprints within the tree, it had been repelled.
That golden hand, though formidable, was surely inferior to the Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms. Yet, it still couldn’t withstand it.
“Not everyone can meditate here,” Shi Hao said calmly.
For once, the golden lion fell silent, offering no retort or anger. It reflected—there truly was a significant gap between itself and Shi Hao.
“Come, let’s take a walk,” Shi Hao patted the golden lion’s head as if it were a pet, then mounted it and rode out.
The Fearless Lion lineage had always been mighty since ancient times, yet now it had become someone’s mount. The lion’s pupils gleamed with cold fury.
But in the end, it restrained itself—partly due to its injuries, partly because it had already submitted temporarily. It didn’t want to provoke a fight now and risk death.
“Good,” Shi Hao nodded, instructing it to shrink to a manageable size of about ten feet before riding it out of the withered tree’s domain.
He couldn’t stay in the Heavenly Beast Forest forever. It was time to find a way out.
Outside the forest, the few survivors who had escaped the ancient tree’s vicinity trembled as they recounted their ordeal.
“That scene… it was horrifying. Everyone who attacked died. That withered ancient tree slew every great cultivator!”
These words caused a great stir. Even the supreme beings seated in the void opened their eyes, wary.
“What about Shi Hao?” someone asked.
“He was meditating… never woke up,” one survivor said shamefully, unable to meet their gazes.
As expected, an uproar ensued. So many had died, so many experts sacrificed, yet they hadn’t even touched a hair on Shi Hao’s head. Worse, he hadn’t even awakened throughout the ordeal. It was absurd!
Many wanted to curse aloud, their frustration boiling over.
But what could they say? Complain? Thousands had perished. Harsh words were useless now, only further dampening morale.
“That bastard! He should be torn apart by five beasts and burned as a lantern!” someone snarled.
“Keep watch. I refuse to believe he’ll stay by that tree forever. The moment he emerges, surround and kill him!” an elder roared, issuing a command.
Inside the Heavenly Beast Forest, Shi Hao rode leisurely on the golden lion.
“Hmm? There are cultivators over there. Let’s go,” Shi Hao pointed.
Though reluctant, the golden lion let out a low growl and transformed into a golden streak, charging forward.
*Whoosh!*
The wind howled through the mountains as the lion’s speed whipped up a tempest in its wake.
“Eh? Shi Hao! He’s actually come out!”
“Hahaha! Truly, heaven has no path, yet you walk into hell!” A burly man laughed maniacally, killing intent surging as he advanced.
This group was small, only six or seven strong, led by the burly man, who had recently reached the Escape Unity Realm. Confident in his superior cultivation, he believed he could easily crush Shi Hao.
Unfortunately, he had kicked an iron plate. Shi Hao had already broken through to the mid-stage of the Severing Self Realm and was eager to test his newly acquired divine art.
*Boom!*
The moment they clashed, Shi Hao unleashed the first form of the Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms. Golden light surged violently.
The Eight Dispersed Buddha Forms were peculiar—they focused on exploiting weaknesses, amplifying the opponent’s flaws to deliver a fatal blow.
This ancient art was terrifying. Once an opening was found, it posed a lethal threat.
Sure enough, the burly man was careless, while Shi Hao was fully prepared. The first strike’s effect surpassed all expectations.
Seated atop the golden lion, Shi Hao swayed violently but didn’t fall. The burly man, however, roared in pain, vomiting blood as his arm twisted grotesquely, sending him flying.
The onlookers were stunned. This was an Escape Unity Realm expert, yet he had been repelled and grievously wounded by a youth in his twenties.
How had Shi Hao grown so fearsome? Not long ago, he had been hunted by Escape Unity Realm experts. Now, he could fight back!
*Rumble!*
The mountains shook as the foreign realm’s expert was slain amidst roars and blood rain.
The impact was immense. The survivors paled, while Shi Hao was thrilled. His combat power had entered a new stage—stronger than ever!
“What? Shi Hao has emerged and is hunting our realm’s cultivators?”
When the news reached the experts outside the Heavenly Beast Forest, they were dumbfounded.
“Damn it! How dare he take the initiative? Surround and kill him!” someone bellowed in rage.
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