Grrr!
The star power generated from the fall of more than thirty rebel kings, combined with the bloodlust of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, formed into a mighty dragon centered around the Wenqu and Wuqu stars. Under the guidance of Taoist Yuqing, it lunged toward the Xuan Niao, the celestial pillar of the Shang Dynasty, displaying an extremely fierce demeanor.
In the imperial palace of Shengjing, moments earlier:
“Amitabha, Your Majesty, we are ready to begin!”
Three elderly monks kowtowed to a middle-aged man who bore the appearance of an emperor.
This man was naturally Shang Jie. He wore ceremonial robes embroidered with sun, moon, stars, celestial bodies, mountains, rivers, plants, and trees. On his head was a crown adorned with twelve strings of pearls in front and behind. His face radiated majesty, embodying the supreme authority of the Son of Heaven, with the power to command the nation and decide life and death.
“This imperial decree is entrusted to you. Upon the success of this mission, I shall confer upon you the title of National Masters and recognize your Buddhism as the State Religion!”
With a wave of his hand, Shang Jie signaled for the eunuch Gao to immediately present an imperial scroll.
“We obey!”
The three monks kowtowed again, then received the scroll kneeling before slowly exiting to the courtyard in front of the Twelve Golden Men.
The scroll was three chi long and one chi wide, with a black background adorned with red auspicious cloud patterns and golden characters. An observer of auras could immediately perceive the blue and purple fortune radiating from it.
“Begin!”
In the plaza, three hundred monks were already seated cross-legged, holding sacred seals.
An elder monk placed the imperial edict in the center of the formation and solemnly announced.
“We obey the sacred command!”
In unison, the three hundred monks responded, their voices resonating in a deep hum. Each was an accomplished master of internal cultivation.
In addition to these three hundred key monks, if viewed from above, thousands more monks in saffron robes were densely seated around the Twelve Golden Men, silently chanting sutras. Thin strands of golden wish-power even condensed into tangible forms, manifesting as celestial flowers and golden lotuses descending from the sky.
The three elder monks entered the formation and sat cross-legged in meditation.
They were using the “Three Realms Eye” technique to monitor the heavens and earth.
“It’s coming!”
Suddenly, one elder monk opened his eyes and saw in the early morning light a surging wave of red approaching from afar, accompanied by the roars of dragons and tigers, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle.
“The blood sacrifice of the rebel kings to destroy the celestial pillar and the dragon energy of Shang is originally the will of heaven!”
“But only through destruction can new creation arise! The very soul that the Twelve Golden Men lack is precisely this Xuan Niao of the Great Shang!”
“How else can the heavenly mandate reside within the Golden Men if it does not enter them?”
“This collapse of the celestial pillar also presents the best opportunity for the Great Shang’s heavenly mandate and dragon energy to break free!”
“Esteemed brothers, the prosperity of our sect hinges on this single endeavor!”
…
Through the power of shared consciousness, the elder monk’s words clearly echoed in the minds of the more than three thousand monks.
“Amitabha!”
All the monks loudly proclaimed the name of the Buddha, clasped their hands in prayer, and their chanting grew louder. Countless golden Sanskrit characters floated into the air, densely covering the entire sky.
Inside the palace, Shang Jie and his trusted ministers and generals watched the scene with tense anticipation.
“Grrr!”
A thunderclap erupted from the ground!
In the morning light, suddenly lightning flashed and thunder roared as the blood dragon tore through the air, carrying an irresistible force. With a single impact, the previously wobbling black celestial pillar snapped and collapsed in a devastating manner.
“My Great Shang’s heavenly mandate…”
Shang Jie’s face turned pale as he took a step back, his eyes burning with fire: “It shall never be severed during my reign!!!”
“Jiu!!”
A piercing cry that pierced the clouds rang out.
From within the celestial pillar, the Xuan Niao, the embodiment of the heavenly mandate, spread its wings and leaped forth, joyfully crying out.
The blood dragon and the Xuan Niao faced each other, ready to engage in a decisive battle!
The celestial pillar was both protection and bondage!
The heavenly mandate, hidden within the pillar, was naturally impervious to any harm before the pillar’s destruction, but it also prevented further action. Now, however, it could be influenced.
“What are we waiting for?!”
The elder monk at the center of the formation nearly screamed in desperation: “Form the seal!”
Three thousand monks acted in unison. The Sanskrit characters in the sky suddenly transformed into a colossal golden Buddha, towering between heaven and earth, with a compassionate expression. One hand radiated light, while the other exuded darkness. The Buddha joined its palms together, pressing down on the Xuan Niao.
“Light-Dark Womb Mandala Great Sealing Barrier! Seal it!!!”
This was the most powerful sealing technique of the Buddhist sect, combining the Buddhist power and wishes of three thousand monks. When the palms joined, even the Xuan Niao of the Great Shang was captured and immobilized within the Buddha’s hands, sealed in an instant!
Grrr!
Unfazed, the blood dragon rushed directly toward the seal.
“Form the Six-Syllable Mantra Vajra Immovable Barrier!”
Another elder monk took the lead, chanting the six-syllable mantra:
“Om! Ma! Ni! Ba! Mi! Hong!”
The six sacred syllables rotated, seemingly transforming into a Mount Sumeru of golden light, blocking the blood dragon’s path.
Bang!
The blood dragon crashed headlong into the barrier, causing a violent explosion that swept across the sky and fell upon the palace. However, it was blocked by a golden barrier.
Pupu!
At the edge of the formation, hundreds of monks were instantly turned into blood mist, their spirits completely scattered and unable to enter reincarnation due to the shockwave!
…
On the golden pond stone platform.
“It’s indeed the Buddhist sect!”
Taoist Yuqing’s eyes were bloodshot with rage: “Still trying to protect the heavenly mandate of the Great Shang?”
He slashed his wooden sword, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood: “By the authority of Yuqing, kill!”
“Grrr!”
Above the palace of the Great Shang, the blood dragon swung its tail furiously, shattering the Mount Sumeru barrier into scattered six-syllable mantras. At least eight hundred monks were instantly reduced to ashes.
Buzz!
A terrifying vibration came, sweeping black qi across the golden pond stone platform. Several Taoists at the periphery changed expression, filled with infinite fear. Suddenly their hair and beards turned white, their bodies hunched and rapidly shrank before losing all vitality, becoming mummified corpses!
“Heavenly punishment?!”
The Taoists were greatly alarmed but dared not stop their efforts.
If they stopped now, they would immediately suffer a retaliatory attack from the six-syllable mantra of thousands of monks, dying a miserable death. Thus, each of them projected their yuan shen and redoubled their efforts.
Although these few Taoists, even with Yuqing being a revered earthly immortal, could not match the terrifying number of Buddhist disciples, they were acting in accordance with the will of heaven by using the blood sacrifice to break the Zhou dynasty’s dragon energy, drawing power from the starlight and bloodlust of heaven, thus gaining the advantage.
…
Above the palace of the Great Shang:
The Mount Sumeru exploded, and the blood dragon also shook, being flung more than ten miles away before charging again, claws and fangs bared.
At this moment, the monks were scattered and could never again form a united attack!
“Amitabha! The great task is accomplished!”
At this moment, the three senior monks were overjoyed. Under their control, the golden Buddha riding the Garbhadhātu Mandala Sealing Barrier had already reached the front of the Twelve Golden Men, ready to completely seal the Great Shang’s Mystical Bird within them. From then on, the Twelve Golden Men would replace the Celestial Pillar, eternally stabilizing the land!
“Present the imperial decree!”
The imperial scroll placed at the center of the Buddhist array was immediately unfurled. Naturally, it was not a decree merely appointing the Buddhist sect; rather, it was an article personally written by Shang Jie, signifying his approval of the Buddhist sect’s actions, complete with the imperial jade seal.
Without this, the Buddhist sect would face a double attack from both the Xuan Niao and the blood dragon, certain to perish without a doubt!
Boom!
At this moment, the imperial scroll melted within the golden light, transforming into a beam of light that pierced into the Light-Dark Sealing Barrier.
“Jiu jiu!”
The Xuan Niao cried out a few times, seemingly dissatisfied yet also pleased, before diving toward the Twelve Golden Men at the front of the palace.
Boom!
Dense clouds appeared, transforming into bluish-purple lightning that wildly danced across the heavens!
Crack! Sizzle!
Bolt after bolt of dragon-like lightning fell, all being absorbed by the Twelve Golden Men. Bathed in electric light, the Golden Men gradually shed their ancient bronze luster, turning into a crimson gold. An overwhelming aura continuously intensified, as if ancient primordial beasts had returned to the world!
“Zha!!!”
Suddenly, the twelve towering Golden Men opened their mouths in unison, uttering a single word.
This word “Zha” carried an inconceivable power, as if Pangu were once again separating heaven and earth, instantly shaking the universe, even tearing through the clouds, driving away the electric snakes, and allowing sunlight to pour down.
“Haha! The Twelve Golden Men!”
“My Twelve Golden Men have finally been forged!”
Shang Jie burst into ecstatic laughter, nearly dancing with delight.
“Your Majesty! Although the Golden Men are complete, the great calamity has not passed. Please quickly enter the formation, using the body of the Son of Heaven, the descendant of the Xuan Niao, to control the Twelve Golden Men and kill the blood dragon!”
The three elder monks roared like lions.
“Correct!”
Shang Jie strode forward, entering the center of the Buddhist array. After a moment of contemplation, he assumed a posture of worship and prayer.
“Zha!!!”
The Twelve Golden Men trembled, roaring in unison again, ready to join forces and tear apart the blood dragon!
“Ahh! Rather shatter like jade than survive as tile. I’ll go all out! Decree! Explode!”
From the blood dragon came the voice of Taoist Yuqing.
The blood dragon suddenly contracted, forming an enormous crimson sphere as large as the sun, then exploded violently. Starlight and blood qi swept across the sky, rising into a mushroom cloud that lifted the earth outside the palace grounds who knows how many feet into the air.
“Stabilize!”
Without hesitation, Shang Jie immediately commanded the Twelve Golden Men and the monks to work together to stabilize the palace.
“Your Majesty… this is the blood qi formed from hundreds of thousands of soldiers combined with the baleful star. It is deadly to living beings! If not dealt with quickly, Shengjing will become barren for centuries!”
An elder monk advised.
“Haha… mere blood qi? The Twelve Golden Men are specifically designed to counter this!”
Shang Jie laughed heartily. The Twelve Golden Men opened their mouths and inhaled fiercely, creating twelve whirlwind vortexes in the void, which proceeded to swallow all the blood qi in the sky.
However, after this wave of attack, the Twelve Golden Men were also left with numerous scars, clearly showing that the blood dragon’s assault had not been entirely ineffective.
In fact, the light on their bodies had begun to dim, and they seemed to have lost their vitality, becoming lifeless statues once more, motionless.
“What’s going on?!”
Shang Jie roared in fury.
“Your Majesty, please calm down. The Twelve Golden Men are too powerful. Previously splitting thunder and breaking the blood dragon were great expenditures. They are simply exhausted now… and have suffered damage that needs repairing!”
“How do we repair them?”
Shang Jie immediately furrowed his brow.
“Your Majesty, though the Twelve Golden Men have been completed, each movement consumes a large amount of dragon energy. They must be refined for forty-nine days, fusing with the dragon veins of the land. Once connected to the dragon veins, they will be unstoppable and can eternally subdue the dragons!”
An elder monk immediately clasped his palms together and said: “As for how to repair them, my brothers and I have already devised a plan. We can even take this opportunity to enhance the Twelve Golden Men’s powers further!”
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