Chapter 1028: Triple Net

“Great Wisdom Holy Monk invites the lay devotee to return to Cold Cicada Temple for a discussion.”

As Hai Jing spoke loudly, six monks each manifested their Bodhisattva Golden Bodies and used the Divine Foot Passage to appear around Meng Qi—in his upper, lower, left, right, front, and back positions. Their right hands opened, and the six Sanskrit syllables “Om,” “Ma,” “Ni,” “Pad,” “Me,” and “Hum” simultaneously lit up from their palms, emitting boundless pure light, within which numerous golden Swastikas floated and sank.

Within the pure light, the “Om” symbol suddenly transformed into a golden-white Buddha. Sitting cross-legged, this Buddha possessed all beautiful features, wore a crown of Five Buddhas, and was adorned with exquisite jewels and necklaces. His right hand gripped the index finger of his left hand at his chest, forming the Mudra of Wisdom. Behind his head was a halo resembling a pure moon, perfectly illuminating heaven and earth—an unmistakable vision of the Vairocana Buddha.

The other five Sanskrit syllables each manifested a Buddha form. One was entirely blue, crystalline and translucent, forming the Mudra of Immovable Wrath, embodying the non-duality of Buddha and self, subduing the three realms—this was Akshobhya Buddha of the East. Another had a golden body; his left hand was clenched, while his right hand was open, naturally hanging down with fingers extended, forming the Mudra of Wish-Granting—it was Ratnasambhava Buddha of the South. A third had an iron-green hue; his left hand held the corner of his robe while his right hand was raised forward, level with his shoulders and outward, resembling the motion of pushing a door, yet with naturally extended fingers, forming the Mudra of Fearlessness—it was Amoghasiddhi Buddha of the North. Another golden Buddha radiated boundless light, sitting cross-legged on a nine-tiered lotus throne, embodying immeasurable perfection—this was Amitabha Buddha, ruler of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The final “Hum” transformed into a colossal golden Buddha figure. His face was indistinct, varying with the observer, filled with an indescribable and ineffable aura. He seemed to be the ancient ruler of Vulture Peak, the Buddha who subdued the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, the writer of the Six-Syllable Mantra, and one of only two transcendent beings who had attained the ultimate Dao in heaven and earth!

The six Buddha visions, each occupying a cardinal direction, surrounded Meng Qi. Their right hands extended forth—some manifesting the “Pure Land of the Palm,” others radiating Vajra light, severing all attachments without exception. Some formed the Wish-Granting Mudra, universally saving all beings; others displayed the Mudra of Impermanence, illuminating past, present, and future lives, subtly influencing time itself. Some embodied Nirvana’s stillness, perfect and complete, while others entered meditation and dreamlike states, birthing heaven and earth anew.

Above, below, left, right, front, and back, the six Buddhas simultaneously opened their mouths and uttered a solemn, majestic voice:

“Om! Ma! Ni! Pad! Me! Hum!”

The sound vibrated the true spirit, and six different palm seals descended simultaneously. Pure light merged, as the dreamlike universe fused with the Pure Land of the Palm, seemingly uniting to trap Meng Qi within.

Though puzzled about why he was coveted by Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, Meng Qi remained vigilant. As soon as the six Buddha visions appeared, he shook his body, transforming into the “Indestructible Yuanshi.” He stood on the winds of earth, fire, water, and wind, surrounded by golden lotuses of metal and earth. Behind him lay endless voids, above him the Yuanshi Celebration Cloud of Supreme Non-Being, and in his hand, the Five-Colored Li Xian Sword.

Within the chaotic celebration cloud sat a Daoist figure, formless and timeless, neither above nor below, neither past nor future—existing solely as a paradox, both existing and non-existing. This was the true “Yuanshi Daoist,” the essence of Meng Qi’s True Spirit, the pinnacle of the Indestructible Yuanshi Body. Suddenly, his eyes opened, and the world instantly darkened, the boundless light and perfect radiance of the six Buddhas unable to penetrate.

Seizing the moment, the chaotic dark light from the celebration cloud merged into the Five-Colored Li Xian Sword. Meng Qi stepped forward, and the sword light suddenly slashed out—light and hazy, merging with the emerging illusory river, sweeping forward, backward, and toward every Buddha, completely defying normal sword techniques.

If the Ultimate Seal reached perfection, it would disregard logic and reason!

Darkness deepened. Where the Ultimate Sword light of Annihilation swept, everything slowed abruptly. Before the six Buddhas could fully encircle him, a tiny gap appeared in their seals. Meng Qi leaped through the fleeting opening, escaping the suppression of the Six-Syllable Mantra.

Without his recent breakthrough to the Earth Immortal realm, the enhancement of the Ultimate Seal, and the mastery of the Sword of Annihilation techniques, he would never have discovered a flaw. Once the Six-Syllable Mantra was fully manifested, even with only remnants of its power, escape would have been impossible without awakening the legendary-level Divine Blade. Just as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven had once been subdued!

The escaping light pierced through the golden Swastika barrier. Before Meng Qi could entertain other thoughts, he saw a luminous, pure great Bodhisattva sitting atop white clouds—the unmistakable Great Wisdom Holy Monk. Smiling gently, the monk said, “Lay devotee, please wait.”

Before the words faded, his right hand descended from above. Instantly, Meng Qi felt the surroundings transform into a world of merit pools, Bodhi trees, and white lotuses—sacred and pure.

Meng Qi expanded his spiritual perception but had yet to take action when white lotuses blossomed, forming lotus thrones. Upon each throne sat an identical radiant Great Bodhisattva, their voices resounding with profound and ethereal resonance:

“Flowers bloom, revealing me!”

At this moment, Meng Qi’s heart stirred. He turned his spiritual awareness behind him, seeing a majestic Mount Sumeri surrounded by white lotuses. Atop it sat a smiling, plump golden Buddha, right thumb and index finger forming a mudra of flower-picking, smiling gently, saying, “I see that person!”

The voice was vast and filled with Zen, striking Meng Qi’s soul. His dharma body’s chest thumped violently, the purple bell shook violently, nearly causing his mind to falter.

The Maitreya lineage had combined the “Pure Land of the Palm” and the “Flower-Picking Smile” into the uniquely styled “Flowers Bloom, Reveal Me; I See That Person.” Meng Qi had nearly fallen into their trap—the Great Wisdom Holy Monk truly possessed formidable skills!

White lotus thrones spread far and wide, as the great Bodhisattvas proclaimed their voices to subdue demons and vanquish evil.

“Still not lay down your sword? When else?”

“When else?”

The voice echoed. The golden Buddha atop Mount Sumeri extended its right palm—the heavens and earth contracted, lotus thrones forming a Vajra formation.

Meng Qi employed the same tactic, channeling Ultimate Intent into the Sword of Annihilation. The five-colored sword light swept out, disrupting time, slowing transformations, darkening heaven and earth, withering the white lotuses.

Yet the barriers layered upon each other, the Pure Lands continuously reinforcing. The slowness and chaos could not match their recovery speed—the might of the great Bodhisattva was evident.

But Meng Qi only needed to divert attention. At this moment, above him, the celebration cloud formed an ancient, tattered banner’s vision.

As the banner appeared, heaven and earth trembled, as if crying like humans.

Meng Qi’s left hand glowed faintly golden, transforming into a palm-blade, merging with the banner vision, and slashing violently upward.

Everything turned pitch black. Suddenly, a pure light flashed, cleaving all things.

Boom!

As the crack appeared, a terrifying explosion followed, tearing through layers of barriers and Pure Lands, dissolving Mount Sumeri and the lotus thrones.

Following the explosion, Meng Qi escaped the Great Wisdom Holy Monk’s Pure Land of the Palm. Just as he soared into the clouds, his vision suddenly darkened, revealing a tattered sack—empty and boundless, spreading across ten directions!

The Bag of Maitreya!

The sack opened and closed, instantly swallowing Meng Qi inside.

The Great Wisdom Holy Monk smiled faintly, grasping the sack’s mouth, turning his auspicious cloud, and heading back to Cold Cicada Temple. This mission had already received the highest honor from Cold Cicada Temple, except for not personally inviting Maitreya Buddha.

Suddenly, his expression changed. He opened the sack and lightly shook it, only to see a single black hair drift out on the wind, turning to dust.

“Pursue!” the Great Wisdom Holy Monk commanded gravely.

Though puzzled why Maitreya wanted Su Meng, this was the command of Maitreya Buddha himself!

Above the Nine Heavens’ violent winds, Meng Qi felt lingering fear. Perhaps upon seeing the Six-Syllable Mantra, which he had once rejected, he sensed something strange and remained cautious. Upon seeing the tattered sack, he transformed instantly without hesitation. Had he delayed even a moment, he would now be trapped within the sack!

Meng Qi harbored no grudges with Maitreya. Why would he target him?

Even if he had rejected Maitreya’s “kindness” through the monk Jie Du in the future, Maitreya wouldn’t know that yet. And Meng Qi’s display of the Four Swords of Annihilation and the backing of legendary beings shouldn’t concern Maitreya either. Why would he target him?

Filled with confusion, Meng Qi now faced an enemy at least at the legendary level, making Zhonggu almost uninhabitable.

Fortunately, Maitreya couldn’t easily intervene. Sighing in relief, Meng Qi realized that without his recent ascension to Earth Immortal, he would have been trapped in the three-layered formation like a net from which there was no escape!

Taking a deep breath, Meng Qi decided to continue toward the Sword-Cleansing Pavilion and the tomb of Master Chunyang to establish karmic connections, then quickly reunite with Master Da and others to find a way back.

He must remain extremely cautious along the way.

As for where to go first, Meng Qi instinctively chose Master Chunyang’s tomb.

…

At Master Chunyang’s tomb, Master Da sat before the Dragon-Blocking Stone.

Ba Wang raised his left hand, signaling Gu’erde and Su Daji not to act, and proudly declared, “You have potential. Why insist on this futile resistance? Step aside, and I shall spare your life, allowing you to grow and challenge the Sword of Annihilation again.”

Master Da gently touched the Sword of Single-Mindedness beside him and calmly replied, “Retreating means death. I’d rather die defending.”

Ba Wang said nothing further, glancing at Gu’erde and Su Daji. “Stay out of this.”

His right hand clenched the Sword of Annihilation, radiating an overwhelming and domineering aura. Though his physical form remained unchanged, in the eyes of Gu’erde and Su Daji, he suddenly appeared to tower between heaven and earth, reducing them to the insignificance of ants. Trembling with terror, they could barely summon the will to resist.

The aura surged like a tide, bending stones and shaking the earth. Victory seemed assured without even drawing the sword.

Master Da looked at Ba Wang. His Indestructible Metal Body reacted instinctively, initially trembling, but soon forgotten in his single-minded focus.

“Pity… pity…” Ba Wang rarely expressed regret twice. Suddenly, the Sword of Annihilation leapt from its sheath, transforming into a thunderous dragon, lunging at Master Da’s chest.

Behind him, multiple Ba Wang figures emerged, each unleashing thunderous dragons. Like rivers merging into the sea, they combined into a single unstoppable force—no techniques, only pure power.

Clang!

Master Da drew his sword. Sword light split into singular threads, forming tiny arrays. These arrays combined into larger formations, evolving into grand sword arrays. Four different forces intertwined, seemingly destined to evolve into ultimate chaos, unstoppable and endless.

Watching this, Gu’erde felt a pang of jealousy. Though he had always surpassed Master Da, after his body’s destruction, he had fallen far behind, now relying solely on the Axe of Heaven’s Punishment.

Purple lightning dragons clawed and snapped, their electric sparks darting through the sword array, breaking it apart layer by layer.

Light illuminated the area first, followed by a thunderous boom.

In the explosion, both the sword array and the terrifying thunder dragon dissipated. The tomb trembled, activating its protective enchantments to prevent collapse. Master Da stood, having taken a slight step back.

No panic showed on his face. Suddenly, he appeared deeply devout—devout to emotions, to swordsmanship, to himself. His sense of self grew stronger, increasingly distinct from the world, as if he belonged to a higher realm beyond mortal and immortal.

Ba Wang’s proud expression faded slightly, replaced by excitement. He raised his sword before his chest, solemnly declaring, “The next strike is ‘Slaying the Spirit Mountain, All Buddhas Enter Nirvana.'”

Only now did he intend to use the “Six Cuts of the Overlord.”