Could one temporarily clear one’s mind? Reach out from afar and merely create some hindrance?
Shao Xuan and Xi E instantly felt as though they were listening to an incredible tale. In their view, even if Maitreya had not yet fully restored himself to the legendary peak—merely achieving the return of his original form and reclaiming the realm and power of an ancient great adept—he would still be a far more formidable presence than the Bull Demon King, who had already recovered to the level of Creation. Whether in terms of insight, knowledge, foundation, supernatural abilities, or treasures and divine weapons—even in piercing illusions and cultivating his own Dao—he surpassed the Bull Demon King. Otherwise, he would not have been simultaneously prophesied by both the Buddha and Amitabha as the future leader of all the Pure Lands of Buddhism, nor would he have been revered by all as the Buddha from the East while still holding only the status of a great Bodhisattva.
If even the Bull Demon King was inferior, then how much more so for the remaining great demons like the Serpent Demon King and Roc Demon King, who had been sealed at Ling Mountain for many years.
Even if the demon race had numerical superiority, they shouldn’t completely ignore Maitreya’s side. At least within the terrestrial Buddhist realm, there were two legendary figures—Dharma Groves and Great Sublime Appearance—as well as numerous Bodhisattvas and Arhats capable of forming the Great Buddha Formation and the Womb Realm Sealing Array.
Yuan Huang needed to remain at the center to oversee all directions, frequently activating the sword qi of the Four Sword Formation to entangle enemies. Obviously, he couldn’t concentrate his power as he had previously against the Bull Demon King. What resources would he use to entangle and delay Maitreya until the Emperor summoned reinforcements?
Though numerous doubts surged in their minds, upon seeing Meng Qi sitting calmly atop the Fengtian Platform, as still as a tranquil lake, composed and serene, they eventually chose to believe after countless thoughts. In unison, they said, “We shall depart for the Western Regions immediately!”
“Good!” Meng Qi’s expression turned solemn and dignified as he solemnly said, “Esteemed seniors, please receive the decree!”
He pointed his hand, and the Four Swords of the Sword Formation projected from the Formation’s core erupted with sword qi, forming multiple decrees glowing with chaotic hues. Two of them flew forth and landed upon Shao Xuan and Xi E.
Equally serious, Shao Xuan and Xi E responded, “We accept the decree from Yuan Huang!”
With the decree upon them, the sword formation would not hinder them. Effectively becoming semi-masters of the formation, they could be omnipresent, continuously harassing and obstructing the demon race, preventing them from dividing their forces or advancing hastily. The demons would have to proceed cautiously and methodically, even establishing formations within the core cities of the regions they occupied. Once attacked, they could immediately teleport back, otherwise, even if they captured a province, it might be retaken the moment they left.
And establishing such formations would consume considerable time.
With the decrees in hand, the two great human cultivators departed the Fengtian Platform aboard the End of Days Vessel, directly arriving at the Western Regions’ entrance to the Sword Formation!
At the same time, Meng Qi, acting as the central pivot of the Sword Formation, remotely transmitted the Yuan Huang decrees to Lu Da Xiansheng, Su Wuming, and Jiang Zhiwei. As for the Law Bodies who hadn’t reached the level of Immortal Sovereign, even with the Sword Formation’s shifting advantages and assistance from legendary artifacts, they would still be no match for any legendary expert. Thus, there was no need for them to engage in battle.
Even Jiang Zhiwei, Su Wuming, and Lu Da Xiansheng, without the awakened legendary-level Absolute Blade or the borrowed Light and Shadow Blade, even with the incomplete restriction of the Four Sword Formation, would likely still be no match for any expert.
This was the gap between a legendary expert and an Immortal Sovereign—an extremely difficult gap to bridge. Even as the strongest Immortal Sovereign in history, at that time, even wielding the legendary Absolute Blade, Meng Qi only had the confidence to preserve his life.
In the middle ancient era, if it hadn’t been for the Luo Shu that had awakened to the legendary level, and the ability to use it to set up formations, no matter how many sages had approached the threshold of legend, possessing some of its characteristics, no matter how numerous they were, they would have been cut down in a single strike by the Hegemon, unable to resist at all.
The worlds have now merged into one, everything has changed.
……
Above the vast desert, the Sword of the Sword Formation pierced through heaven and earth, its sword qi intertwining to form a green portal.
“Damn it! They’ve connected the Sword Formation’s pivot with the Fengtian Platform, protected by the Brocade Mountains and Rivers Chart. We’ll have to fight conventionally now,” the Bull Demon King muttered, returning to the front of the demon ranks, spitting in frustration.
Qing Qiu, the little fox from Qingqiu, rubbed the cold yet burning shaft of his Demon Sage Spear, pondering before saying, “It seems we have no choice.”
The Roc Demon King, the Serpent Demon King, and others voiced no objections, instead igniting with fierce battle intent, determined to teach humanity a lesson: trickery and scheming were useless. True power and cultivation would crush all plots and formation restrictions.
“I’ll lead the charge!” the Bull Demon King roared, stepping forward with powerful legs, entering the green portal in one stride.
The ancient sword trembled slightly, emitting ethereal sword qi that seemed to slow everything down, trapping all things like a swamp.
The Bull Demon King now held an iron rod behind his back. Above his head, mist gathered into a massive white bull with iron-like horns and razor-sharp teeth, roaring defiantly and blocking the sword qi, leaving only faint marks.
With him holding back the sword qi, the Serpent Demon King, Roc Demon King, and Qing Qiu followed one after another, only to see ahead a towering warship floating in the air, with Shao Xuan and Xi E standing at the bow.
“Hahaha!” the Bull Demon King laughed heartily, pointing his iron rod at the two human legends, “Only you two? Do you think this is enough to stop me, Old Bull?”
In the twilight of antiquity, he had traversed countless realms as a fearsome demon. How mighty was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? Even he had to address him as “Elder Brother.” How many celestial armies did the Jade Emperor dispatch to apprehend him? How many heads did the Divine General of the Three Altars and Seas sever?
Even if he had declined from his prime, and despite the Sword Formation’s restrictions, he was still not someone two legends not at the peak could stop!
As he roared with laughter, he leapt into the air, his speed barely decreasing.
At that moment, the Bull Demon King suddenly sensed something and turned his gaze sideways. Flames flickered, and a familiar figure appeared nearby. Looking like a youth, delicate like a girl, the figure stood on fiery wheels, wielding a spear ablaze, smiling with neat white teeth: “Long time no see!”
……
Jiang Zhiwei sheathed the Absolute Blade into her acupoint, merely drawing upon its blade intent to manifest as sword light, then sat high above the Southern Province, temporarily without any opposing force.
Her Myriad Realms Awareness Talisman was strapped to her wrist, its screen casting light into her eyes and transmitting sound into her ears.
The Southern Provinces’ bailiffs and spies from the Six Ministries had all mobilized, quietly inspecting cities and towns, monitoring key areas while tracking forum posts to detect anomalies across other regions, then compiling reports for Jiang Zhiwei:
“Ningwu is normal.”
“Jiuluo is normal.”
……
Jiang Zhiwei patiently waited, showing no impatience. After a while, finally came a report:
“There’s a rebellion in the state city, instigated by the Luo Sect, with inside and outside collusion!”
The yellow-clothed figure vanished, already descending upon the state city.
……
Lu Da Xiansheng and Su Wuming arrived at Jade Emperor Mountain, meeting with the Abbot Xu Daoren of the Xuantian Sect, who was on the verge of breaking through to the Law Body stage.
“Esteemed seniors, our Xuantian Sect has always been committed to the path of righteousness. If we can assist, we certainly will. However, the Light and Shadow Blade has only awakened to the Immortal Sovereign level, so it may not be of much help,” Xu Daoren said with a bitter smile.
The Light and Shadow Blade had always been mysterious and unpredictable, even to the Xuantian Sect itself.
Still only at the Immortal Sovereign level? Lu Da Xiansheng and Su Wuming exchanged glances.
……
Maitreya returned among the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, his white lotus seat beneath him suddenly expanding, enveloping all the glazed tiles, and flew into the Jiangdong region. In nearby prefectures and counties, hidden terrestrial Buddhist followers felt a sudden resonance, as if sensing something, and began chanting the honored title of the future Buddha, Maitreya, in unison.
At once, the sound of chanting echoed everywhere:
“Namo Saviour Maitreya Buddha!”
As they chanted, the Reward Body of Maitreya responded, scattering crystal-clear light over many cities and devotees, transforming into countless golden-bodied Buddhas with joyful smiles.
As they linked together into a formation, the suppression arrays in the cities were instantly dissolved, and the collective power of the people in those areas rapidly diminished.
On the Brocade Mountains and Rivers Chart, the corresponding part of the Eastern Sea gradually dimmed, slowly vanishing!
At this moment, four-colored sword beams—red, cyan, black, and white—shot forth from afar, slicing toward Maitreya.
At the same time, atop the Fengtian Platform, Meng Qi, seated in meditation, emitted a halo from his head, splitting into the form of a handsome monk, silently chanting the title of Moonlight Bodhisattva, directly entering the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli Land.
Upon seeing Moonlight Bodhisattva, Meng Qi asked directly, “Venerable, may I inquire where the Medicine Master Buddha is?”
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