Compared to the “Kong Wen” impersonated by Han Guang, the real Kong Wen appeared much older, his face increasingly gaunt. Only those two long white eyebrows drooping down his cheeks and the faint golden hue hidden within his face remained identical.
Indeed, the time flow rate differed between this fragment of cosmic light and the external world. One year outside equated to roughly three years here. The real Abbot Kong Wen had been trapped here for over a decade, likely consuming forty to fifty years of his lifespan. Originally, he had been a venerable Dharma Body who dominated the martial arts world for more than a hundred years. His actual age was probably over two hundred… Meng Qi was initially startled, then quickly understood.
However, this had no impact on a Dharma Body’s power. They wouldn’t decay until death. Moreover, as a major martial cultivation sect, Shaolin should possess certain longevity-enhancing pills. Otherwise, Meng Qi’s Dongji Changsheng Pill would sell far better to Dharma Bodies than to Exteriors, yielding greater profit!
The sixth-level formation disintegrated under Lu Da Xiansheng’s sword strike, revealing the mountain’s original form, allowing Meng Qi a faint glimpse of the seventh level’s condition.
The seventh level bore no traces of formations, yet destruction was evident everywhere. Were it not for the indestructible Pure Land and uncollapsing mountain peaks, the enormous craters and gaping fissures Meng Qi saw would have long since caused the place to collapse in a thunderous crash!
It seemed Han Guang had exerted considerable effort when passing through the seventh-level formation… Comparing this to the previous levels’ ease, Meng Qi reached this obvious conclusion.
“Amitabha, since the formation has been destroyed, why don’t we ascend the peak to see if there are any clues?” Kong Wen also noticed the seventh level’s anomaly and suggested.
Lu Da Xiansheng nodded indifferently, gazing forward, stepping forward, and instantly appearing atop the peak. With his sword qi sweeping, Meng Qi also arrived instantly. However, Kong Wen lagged behind by two beats.
“Amitabha, being trapped for many years has somewhat affected me,” Kong Wen spoke calmly, showing no trace of discouragement or resentment, as if discussing someone else’s matter.
Lu Da Xiansheng and Meng Qi could understand. Who could remain unscathed after decades of entrapment?
The peak wasn’t broad, only about ten zhang in diameter. The spring water had dried up, and the once-planted golden lotus and exotic plants had long withered into pitiful states, seemingly turning to ashes at the slightest touch.
Besides this, nothing special existed, except the central Eight Treasures Merit Pool bore signs of deliberate destruction. Its surroundings remained intact, as if someone intentionally erased certain traces.
“Amitabha, Master Han was cautious and left no clues,” Kong Wen sighed.
Even knowing this place’s secrecy and rarity of outsiders entering, Han Guang still took precautions, destroying the peak’s traces to prevent deducing the “main world” Shaolin’s rear mountain secret.
Lu Da Xiansheng held his sword, gazing intently, unbothered by the erased clues. His green robe slightly loose, flapping in the wind.
Suddenly, he stepped forward, reaching the cliff’s edge atop the peak, standing midair, half-closing his eyes, seemingly sensing something.
Noticing Lu Da Xiansheng’s anomaly, Kong Wen also softly exclaimed in surprise, following.
Meng Qi, unaware, puzzled, hurried over in two or three steps, imitating Lu Da Xiansheng, closing his eyes to sense.
Body and mind merged with heaven and earth, extending infinitely with the Yuanqi ocean. Meng Qi’s spiritual platform shone like a mirror, reflecting everything nearby.
Drops of minuscule, scattered aura in midair were detected by him, and a towering figure naturally emerged in his mind.
Clad in black armor, wielding a pitch-black long blade, his figure towering and majestic, long hair disheveled, dancing in the wind. Surrounding him were writhing purple lightning arcs, crackling and roaring, seemingly repelling any approach.
Merely standing there, he exuded an aura of utmost yang, utmost might, utmost ferocity, utmost intensity—graceful, domineering, arrogant!
This aura, Meng Qi had encountered before, leaving a deep impression:
“Overlord!”
The one who slaughtered mid-ancient Dharma Bodies!
Lu Da Xiansheng opened his eyes, focusing on the cloud sea ahead, his tone unhurried: “The Overlord was here once.”
After confirmation, Meng Qi furrowed his brows. Why would the Overlord come here?
Could it be for the peak’s treasure?
Yet Han Guang’s elaborate scheming indicated the peak’s treasure still existed!
“Amitabha, Master Overlord truly reached the ‘Legend’ realm,” Kong Wen murmured a Buddhist chant.
Unique to oneself, leaving only traces and stories across various cosmic light fragments and Pure Lands, this is “Legend”!
Meng Qi had heard Kong Wen explain this before, now curious: “What fruit must one attain to qualify as ‘Legend’?”
Since Kong Wen was a Buddhist Arhat, Meng Qi naturally asked about fruits.
Kong Wen kindly replied: “At minimum, a Great Arhat or Great Bodhisattva fruit, approaching the Buddha infinitely.”
This was “All Buddhas Unique”… Meng Qi seemed to understand yet remained uncertain.
Apart from the traces left by the Overlord, the trio found nothing else. Mr. Lu Da withdrew his gaze and looked at Kong Wen and Meng Qi: “The formation has been broken; Han Guang must have sensed it. He might launch a sudden attack during the struggle for the General Outline of the Divine Palm. We must act swiftly and return immediately.”
…
Above the Yuhai Sea, a mighty Vajra manifested from relic particles was opening the formation’s eye. A feather-robed, star-crowned figure with white hair concealing his face and no sign of life, and the “Great Asura” Nanmeng, a four-legged, three-armed monster, guarded nearby, preventing other Dharma Bodies from seizing it.
The three Demon Kings, together with Chonghe, Cui Qinghe, He Qi, and Abbot Kong Wen, the four human Dharma Bodies, faced Nanmeng’s group across the Yuhai Sea.
Upon hearing Chonghe’s agreement to cooperate in expelling the demon kings, the “Kong Wen” began secretly contacting He Qi and Cui Qinghe.
Suddenly, his expression changed slightly, his eyes flickering. He tightened his grip on the nine-ringed tin staff.
The ancient talisman shattered; the real Kong Wen had broken free!
Was it due to someone’s rescue, or did Kong Wen breakthrough and escape the formation himself?
Numerous questions arose, yet none affected his decision:
If so, there was no need for further concealment. Shaolin would likely become untenable, necessitating activating the contingency plan. Now, he must strike a heavy blow against Chonghe and others before they learned of this.
Especially Chonghe, ranked second on the Tianbang, powerful and formidable, a major obstacle for future plans. He must be eliminated early!
Moreover, there was a 30% chance he was the “Lord Lingbao Tianzun”!
At that moment, a grand Buddhist melody resounded. Clear springs gushed from the ground, blooming golden lotuses. Numerous golden-bodied Buddha images appeared midair, circling around a slowly rising object at Yuhai’s center, each chanting their vows.
Myriad Buddhas Pay Homage to the Ancestral Master!
The “Furious Vajra” desperately lifted was a Bodhi tree, half-withered and half-lush, half-alive and half-dead. Its trunk was indented, seemingly sculpting a cross-legged monk, existing yet non-existent, filled with Nirvana and transcendence.
The Bodhi Buddha Tree, withering and flourishing, beneath which the Buddha attained enlightenment!
As the Divine Palm’s General Outline emerged, the tense atmosphere ignited instantly. Baihu Demon King reacted fastest, emitting a long roar that made the earth tremble and everyone seem momentarily sluggish.
At this moment, it resembled both a human and a purely white-furred tiger, its palms transformed into swords, cleaving toward the awe-inspiring sixteen-foot Vajra!
Simultaneously, as it struck, metal qi gathered near Yuhai, condensing into countless sharp swords rushing from all directions, densely covering the sky.
Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect, capable of destroying heaven and earth!
The pale-haired man, devoid of life and exuding terror, advanced with a step, obstructing the path of the Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect. His right hand tightened into a fist, delivering a forceful strike.
Bang!
The void emitted a cracking sound. A needle-point-sized “chaotic hole” appeared before the white-haired man’s fist, emitting infinite suction force tearing the earth, the Yuhai Sea, and the sky-filling swords, drawing them all in. The surrounding area seemed to transform into nothingness, reaching the apocalypse!
The Kongque Demon King “Taili” also flapped his wings, rushing toward the mighty Vajra to prevent it from obtaining the Withering and Flourishing Bodhi. However, the four-legged, three-armed monster blocked his path.
Taili seemed to transform into human form again, yet his Kongque true form remained. His right hand raised, displaying five colors—red, yellow, blue, white, black—while his tail feathers continuously shifted, demonstrating the wondrous transformations of the Five Elements, altering nearby principles.
His right palm descended, black light sweeping. The four-legged, three-armed monster was instantly brushed into the five heavy rays emanating from Taili’s tail feathers!
Seeing this, Great Asura Nanmeng unleashed all six arms, striking Tai Li with blades, spears, swords, and pearls—no frills, only pure destruction, slaughter, and bloodshed.
Simultaneously, his six eyes spewed black flames, burning toward Tai Li. Anyone touched by these flames vanished silently.
Tai Li expanded his Five-Color Divine Palm, sometimes brushing away flames, sometimes deflecting spears. While suppressing the four-legged monster, he surprisingly fought Nanmeng evenly!
Truly the number one Demon King!
Cui Qinghe manifested his Dharma Body, tall and solemn, surrounded by purple qi, radiating light, with a purple sun hanging behind his head!
He swung his long sword, halting the flames, the sword light, and the suction force.
The sword stroke reached the “Sixteen-foot Vajra,” forcing him to temporarily abandon the “Withering and Flourishing Bodhi.” Roaring, he vertically split his precept knife, severing everything, eliminating demons and defending the righteous!
Dang! Sword qi and blade light collided, filling the sky with dazzling purple and golden light.
Suddenly, a formless and shapeless sword beam silently appeared beside the Withering and Flourishing Bodhi, enveloping it and swiftly carrying it away.
Boom!
Azure-purple lightning, like a colossal tree, struck the formless sword beam, forcing “it” to evade with a spiraling turn.
The Kuiniu Demon King stood on one foot, grew arms, swung a giant hammer entwined with thunder dragons, transforming the surrounding thousand-mile area into a thunderforest!
At this moment, a gray-robed nun floated midair, her face filled with compassion. Her right hand held a willow branch, gently waving, extinguishing flames and dissipating thunderlight.
With her left hand trembling, black and white qi surged, and the primordial magnetic force pulled the “Withering and Flourishing Bodhi” upward!
The current abbess of Shuiyue Nunnery came to seize it with divine weapons!
Giggling, a coquettish laughter suddenly rang midair. The void cracked, a nine-tiered lotus throne flew out, upon which sat a female Bodhisattva, beautiful and fair, skin like snow, half-revealed, seemingly about to bestow blessings upon all beings.
She bent her finger, the Yin and Yang transformed, the poles of the primordial magnetic force suddenly reversed, and the “Withering and Flourishing Bodhi” was instantly repelled toward her!
As the General Outline appeared, all factions displayed their ultimate techniques!
Chonghe drew his sword, seemingly aiming at the “Bodhi,” but the Kong Wen behind him suddenly struck his back!
As he struck, Kong Wen’s aura drastically changed, manifesting a towering, dark Dharma Body, wearing an imperial robe, crowned with a heavenly crown, exuding a lofty and awe-inspiring aura, as if the master of heaven and earth, the controller of life and death, the common emperor of immortals and evil spirits!
As this palm struck, the thousand-mile radius instantly showed signs of solidification, leaving only black and white, as if heaven and earth were destroyed, time shattered!
Within the six directions, past and present, all beings are my subjects!
With my single word, life and death are decided; to destroy or to create is mine to command!
“Master of Demons” Han Guang reappeared in the martial world!
Simultaneously, Tai Li’s five tail feathers transformed into divine light, shaking off the four-legged, three-armed monster, pushing back Great Asura Nanmeng, and rushing toward Chonghe. His palm pressed, five colors—red, yellow, blue, white, black—flowing.
Their coordination was exceptionally seamless, forming a deadly trap!
Pa! Han Guang struck Chonghe, but his body shattered like crystal. Tai Li’s Five-Color Divine Light only brushed an illusion!
Not good! As soon as this thought arose in Han Guang’s mind, he saw Chonghe materialize not far away, manifesting his true form.
This was an image of a lofty, transcendent Daoist, wearing a tall crown, youthful-faced, seemingly symbolizing “existence” and “being” in heaven and earth.
His right hand held a crimson long sword. His left pushed his Daoist cap, releasing pure qi, transforming into three Daoists!
One had an ancient, simple face, holding a pure white long sword, lightly pointing, sending destructive sword qi toward Han Guang.
One appeared aged, calmly wielding a pitch-black long sword.
One looked refined and thin, cleaving downward with an azure treasure sword.
The “One Qi Manifesting Three Purity” technique? The supreme martial art of the Chunyang Sect? Han Guang and Taili were instantly surrounded by four Daoists!
Chonghe’s true self thrust his sword, altering the hues of heaven and earth. Cyan, red, white, and black sword energy crisscrossed, annihilating all things until only black and white remained. The void collapsed, reverting to destruction!
He had single-handedly deployed the “Zhu Xian Sword Formation”!
This was the Dao of Chonghe!
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