The legendary Manjusri Bodhisattva, who only appeared in myths and Buddhist scriptures, had now become real, standing far away from Jiang Zhiwei, sword raised and ready to strike. Jiang felt as if she were in a dream, filled with indescribable excitement. As a devoted swordsman, few things could compare to the thrill of facing a mythological figure directly with her sword, especially one as renowned as Manjusri, the “Sword of Wisdom,” famous among the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the mythic era!
The danger of facing such a mighty being was self-evident. Jiang Zhiwei didn’t even think she had any chance of victory, even though the true spirit of Manjusri had long vanished, leaving only the golden body. However, how could the path of sword cultivation ever be smooth sailing? Could an enemy’s strength always fall within a range where victory was assured? That would be a game, not reality!
Only by placing oneself in a desperate situation, abandoning all other concerns, and focusing solely on one’s sword and the enemy could one truly experience the state of “I am the sword, and the sword is me.”
Under normal circumstances, the remains of a Celestial Immortal or Earthly Immortal, if devoid of consciousness and controlled by others, would possess combat power equivalent to a quasi-Dharma Body. For example, the two Earthly Immortal remains from the Cao family in the secondary capital were opponents Jiang Zhiwei could easily handle and even defeat. However, if these remains developed some level of consciousness and could act independently, they would become as formidable as true Earthly Immortals. Just like the corpse of the Northern Pole True Dragon and the innate divine corpse from the Impermanence Sect—if she encountered such enemies, Jiang Zhiwei believed she could only hope to survive and escape.
When it came to the remains of a Celestial Immortal, their power was even more formidable. Because their inner world had transformed into a cave heaven—a true independent realm—their might far surpassed that of Earthly Immortal remains. These remains could be divided into two types.
The first type had long perished, their cave heavens devoid of life. Unless they possessed extraordinary circumstances like the Impermanence Sect’s North Pole True Dragon corpse or the innate divine corpse, they could only rely on raw physical strength, equivalent to the power of a Human Immortal.
The second type still retained a lingering cave heaven, not yet fully extinguished. Such remains could reflect reality and alter natural laws, making them utterly terrifying. Only legendary Earthly Immortals like Master Lu or her own master could hope to contend with them. Facing such foes, even a Grandmaster would be obliterated instantly—just like the remains of the Sage of the Heart, far beyond Jiang Zhiwei’s ability to handle.
If these remains retained some level of consciousness, they would be nearly comparable to a Heaven Immortal.
Right now, before Jiang Zhiwei stood the remains of a legendary great being, a complete set of remains, likely possessing all the characteristics of a legend!
Even more importantly, Manjusri Bodhisattva was one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of the Pure Lands. His past self was the teacher of the ancient Buddha Dipankara, who in turn was the teacher of the Buddha Tathagata. Possessing both merit and wisdom, he was likely already like Ksitigarbha and Avalokitesvara, having transcended legend and attained the realm of Creation.
This was a Remnant of Creation!
Even after countless eons, the “True Realm” (a Heaven Immortal forms a cave heaven, a legendary being develops a cave heaven into a universe, and Creation refines the universe toward the True Realm, until reaching the shore and perfecting an initial True Realm within oneself) contained within Manjusri’s golden body might have perished, unable to reflect reality or communicate with the myriad universes and worlds, and without any reborn consciousness. Yet, even under manipulation, its residual power would likely surpass even Master Lu and her own teacher!
“This is the enemy I must face…” Jiang Zhiwei sighed inwardly, unsure whether it was fear or satisfaction she felt.
Behind her, the image of the Supreme Sword Lord appeared. Sword intent solidified into a body, forming robes, with eyes not devoid of emotion, yet impartial, absorbing all emotions unrelated to battle.
There was still one chance!
No matter how powerful the enemy, it was still a corpse. Without reborn consciousness, it had a natural, unavoidable weakness!
With a single thought, Jiang Zhiwei struck. Her dharma body, mind, physical form, and senses all merged with the White Rainbow Piercing the Sun Sword, unleashing a pure and absolute sword beam.
In the heavens and earth, nothing else existed—only this sword beam and Jiang Zhiwei herself!
The sword beam was brilliant and pure, like a beauty seen only in dreams, tinged with an air of illusion. It traversed a vast distance and struck before Manjusri Bodhisattva, causing his Bodhisattva golden body and the blue lion beneath him to appear translucent and ethereal, as if they and the sword beam belonged to two separate worlds, neither affecting the other.
This sword strike cut through the Dao to affirm the self, bypassing the golden body to strike at the mind. Before the Dharma Body, it was the Yuan Shen; beyond the Dharma Body, it was the True Spirit!
Yet as a corpse with no lingering attachments, where could there be any True Spirit left? Only the manipulator’s consciousness remained!
Jiang Zhiwei’s strike was precisely aimed at avoiding the strongest aspect of Manjusri’s remains, targeting the weakest point—the link between the manipulator and the golden body. Without the manipulator, the remains would truly be a corpse, incapable of reflection or altering principles, and even if it could, it would be unable to act, allowing her to cautiously maneuver around it!
The sword beam, beautiful beyond reality, pierced through the pure golden body, entering Manjusri’s “True Realm,” where it was filled with radiant light of wisdom.
An endless sea of light illuminated the sword beam, exposing it completely, leaving no secrets hidden.
At that moment, Manjusri’s Dharma Body moved. One hand pointed to the heavens, the other downward. The light of wisdom suddenly erupted, surging like a tide toward Jiang Zhiwei’s sword beam, entangling and slowing it!
“Only I Am Supreme” against “Cutting the Dao to Affirm the Self”!
The Tathagata Palm against the Seven Swords of Heaven!
Although Manjusri had no True Spirit, “Only I Am Supreme” summoned the remaining light of wisdom, illuminating the universe, using superior power and cultivation to forcefully dispel Jiang Zhiwei’s sword beam.
This path would not work.
Jiang Zhiwei shifted her focus, and the sword beam transformed. Her body became ethereal, as if burning her Yuan Shen.
A Supreme Sword Lord image holding a long sword emerged in the void, with a faint, mysterious river beneath his feet.
Sword Twenty-Three, enhanced in power but reduced in backlash—Sword Twenty-Three!
The dharma body swung the sword. Light filled the sky, instantly dimming the surroundings, leaving only black and white, as if time had frozen. Looking into the distance, the blooming lotuses and thunderbolts seemed to move slower.
The Manjusri riding the blue lion appeared encased in layers of amber, frozen in place.
With one slash, Jiang Zhiwei dared not disturb Manjusri further and immediately fled into the depths, her face extremely pale.
If she had attacked Manjusri with “Cutting the Dao to Affirm the Self” instead of following up with Sword Twenty-Three, she might have shattered the near-frozen time, causing him to recover. A normal attack would struggle to penetrate the golden body. The brief pause created by Sword Twenty-Three could only be used to escape!
As her radiance of flight surged forth, the five topknots on Manjusri’s head suddenly emitted a pure, crystalline light that pierced through the black-and-white world, solidifying into five golden Buddha images representing the Five Wisdoms: Vairocana Buddha at the center, Amitabha Buddha in the west, Amoghasiddhi Buddha in the north, Ratnasambhava Buddha in the south, and Akshobhya Buddha in the east.
Each golden Buddha chanted their own mantras, forming golden swastikas in the air. A phantom river emerged around Manjusri, flowing slowly and endlessly, washing over his body.
The frozen time dissolved.
Manjusri raised his right hand, and the Sword of Wisdom slashed forth.
Instantly, golden Manjusri bodies appeared in all directions around Jiang Zhiwei, each in a different form—one entirely golden, sword raised high; another with a red Dharma body, seven heads and two arms. All expressionless, mouths opening to emit a mighty sound:
“A, la, bo, zhe, na.”
Jiang Zhiwei’s body and mind were shaken. Her sword could not move as she helplessly watched the Sword of Wisdom descend.
At that moment, the object hidden in her left hand emitted light, radiating countless beams. Each beam seemed to connect to a different universe, manifesting countless Jiang Zhiweis!
The combination of the fragments of the Haotian Mirror and the Dao Transmission of the Universe!
Innumerable Jiang Zhiweis faced the Sword of Wisdom, unleashing infinite light!
Dang!
The collision condensed into a single sound. Jiang Zhiwei was sent flying, blood spewing from her mouth. Her Yuan Shen, dharma body, and physical strength were completely drained.
As she crashed into a broken cliffside, she saw Manjusri’s golden body extend its left hand, fingers spreading wide, enveloping her. Layers of Pure Lands emerged, but all the Buddhas were nowhere to be seen.
The palm descended. Jiang Zhiwei had no strength left to escape. Light after light flared from her body, only to be extinguished by the strike.
The fingers closed, and she was drawn into the Pure Land within the palm.
Manjusri’s golden body, riding the blue lion, turned and slowly walked deeper into the distance…
…
The sound of the qin was pleasant, brimming with vitality. After determining she could not evade the white celestial dragon, Ruan Yushu focused all her attention on playing the “Dragon Turtle Back-Life Melody.”
It could revive the living and bring peace to the dead, making it the perfect choice.
The white celestial dragon listened quietly, its eyes filled with unwillingness and death struggling within.
After intense struggle, it suddenly raised its head and opened its massive mouth.
Roar!
The dragon’s roar echoed far and wide, dispersing the qin music. Ruan Yushu’s eyes, ears, and nose bled, her mind ringing, her Yuan Shen stunned and unresponsive.
A true dragon’s roar, vast and boundless.
A True Dragon at the Heaven Immortal level!
Ding ding dong dong, her internal qin heart naturally activated, resisting the dragon’s roar. Yet wave after wave of icy cold surged from the white dragon, freezing the void, freezing her body.
…
Zhao Heng slashed eight swords, sending forth dragons of fire, white, and black toward the Golden-Winged Peng bird, attempting to counter the terrifying corpse of this monstrous being with the power of the Emperor’s Sword.
However, the several true dragons formed by the Emperor’s Sword techniques hadn’t even approached the Peng bird before suddenly dispersing. These illusory creatures seemed to understand fear.
Zhao Heng gritted his teeth, and points of dark yellow light emerged around him. Each beam reflected an oil lamp, carrying a warm human aura.
The “Ten Thousand Lanterns” of the Earth-Shaking Eight Swords!
The sword slashed forth, lanterns blazing, the human world descending upon the scene, dispelling evil and causing the Golden-Winged Peng bird to writhe in pain.
Seeing this, Zhao Heng turned and fled, moving swiftly.
After flying for a while, just as he was relieved to have escaped, a sharp beak smeared in dragon blood extended forward and seized his neck.
With just one movement, the Golden-Winged Peng bird had caught up!
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