Chapter 121: One Palm Strike!
At this moment, the entire ground-traveling boat was practically destroyed.
Rolling yin miasma blotted out the sky, Buddhist power waned. Even mere clashes of qi felt like two towering mountains colliding, producing thunderous explosions.
"Benefactor... what exquisite methods you possess."
As Su Nu appeared, "Guang Hai's" expression turned grave. Clearly, he no longer dared to regard Lü Yang as just any Qi Refining cultivator to be casually handled.
By the rules of the Dao-Seizing War, external Foundation Establishment interference was forbidden.
His ability to display such strength relied entirely on the Pure Land's unique loophole exploitation.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't Fulong Arhat—he was "Guang Hai," merely borrowing Fulong Arhat's status temporarily from the Pure Land.
The reason he could borrow it was that Guang Hai was originally a disciple of [Fulong Temple].
Pure Land cultivation was about enlightenment—realizing that oneself was part of the World-Honored One, that "I" am the World-Honored One, and the World-Honored One is "me." Only when Brahman and self became one could the Great Dao be achieved.
Yet this step wasn't accomplished overnight.
It required a gradual process. For disciples like Guang Hai, realizing "I" as the World-Honored One was impossible—the gap in realms was too vast.
His enlightenment was realizing "I" as "Fulong Arhat."
Countless temples and monasteries in the Pure Land operated this way. Disciples first realized the "I" of their temple's presiding master before progressing to realize the World-Honored One's "I."
Such cultivation methods were truly bizarre.
Especially in their exploitation of Qi Refining disciples—they were no less ruthless than the Saint Sect. If not for this, the Pure Land wouldn't have been called the Pure Land Heretic Sect in the past.
Yet it was undeniable that this cultivation method provided many conveniences for junior disciples.
Because, in essence, he was still "Guang Hai" and not truly external assistance, its use in the Dao-Seizing War was beyond reproach—it was Guang Hai's greatest trump card.
However, what "Guang Hai" found hard to accept was that he had risked losing himself to barely borrow a fraction of Fulong Arhat's status, yet what was up with this demon before him? Why did he have a complete Foundation Establishment True Person!? What price had he paid?
Could it be... none at all?
Watching Lü Yang's relaxed expression, "Guang Hai's" lips trembled slightly as a surge of anger rose within him. In an instant, endless gales whirled into existence.
Seeing this, Lü Yang scoffed: "Getting impatient?"
Boom!
Before his words faded, "Guang Hai" stepped forward. With that single step, the earth shook and mountains trembled. Buddhist light poured forth, instantly piercing through the yin miasma clouds overhead.
Just from this forward step, "Guang Hai's" qi surged dramatically. As his lips parted, thunderous, boundless Buddhist chants erupted: "If, when I attain Buddhahood, my light should be limited and fail to illuminate even a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha-lands, may I not attain perfect enlightenment!"
In an instant, Buddhist radiance illuminated everything.
All that met the eye was a pillar of infinite light, towering into the heavens—resplendent, dazzling, stretching endlessly upward and downward with no end in sight.
The Great Mantra of Boundless Light!
This mantra's infinite radiance claimed to illuminate all demonic obstacles in the world. It was the most powerful mantra Guang Hai possessed.
"Demonic obstacles" weren't strictly about good and evil—they were subjective. Anything one deemed a "demon" fell within its scope.
"Today, this humble monk shall vanquish demons to uphold righteousness and propagate the true dharma!"
With solemn dignity, "Guang Hai" directed the infinite divine light downward, sweeping toward Lü Yang with a momentum like the heavens collapsing!
Where it passed, vast swathes of yin miasma ignited, burning into nothingness.
Even Su Nu showed signs of discomfort—clearly, this mantra clashed severely with her nature. While not enough to harm her, avoiding injury would be difficult.
As for the Saint Sect's true disciples watching from afar, their faces paled with tension.
Even at such a distance, that infinite light made them feel as if they were being scorched—a divine ability potent enough to severely injure them!
Yet Lü Yang laughed heartily at the sight:
"Vanquish demons to uphold righteousness?"
Then, with a mocking grin, he said: "Calling me a demon... Very well. Today, let's see who the real demon is!"
As his words fell, Lü Yang pressed his palms together.
Whoosh—!
Behind him, the Myriad Spirits Banner unfurled as Ancestor Nether Whisper appeared with a sigh: "Took some effort, but I've mostly completed it..."
In the next moment, figures emerged behind Ancestor Nether Whisper—without exception, these were all Buddhist cultivators who had died by Lü Yang's hand and been absorbed into the Myriad Spirits Banner. Even now, fallen monks from outside were continuously being added.
Then, these monks pressed their palms together in unison.
"Amitabha!"
Their thunderous chant, perfectly synchronized, summoned a vast Buddhist radiance that converged upon Lü Yang, coalescing into an illusory Buddha statue!
The Buddhist cultivators' combined attack technique!
Ancestor Nether Whisper had truly devised a method to adapt Pure Land techniques to the [Yama Palace], using numerous monk banner spirits to replace spiritual veins!
"I lack nothing now!"
As he spoke, Su Nu descended into Lü Yang's body. The peak-state empowerment further solidified the Buddha statue behind him.
Saint's Theft!
Previously, when Lü Yang activated this technique, it manifested a "Saint's Aspect." But now, that aspect had transformed into the likeness of a Buddha!
In an instant, the yin miasma vanished. The heavens and earth were filled solely with pure Buddhist light—even more magnificent than the infinite radiance "Guang Hai" had mustered. When that infinite light fell upon the "Buddha Aspect," it couldn't even ripple the golden surface, brushing past like a gentle breeze!
"Having seen the True Buddha, why not bow?"
The thunderous chant, infused with Lü Yang's Foundation Establishment-level divine sense, struck "Guang Hai" like a dream, shaking his very soul:
"H-how... Buddha? True Buddha?"
The next moment, the colossal golden Buddha statue smiled faintly, its expression brimming with compassion: "Demon, repent before your Buddha."
With that, Lü Yang raised his palm.
The "Buddha Aspect" behind him mirrored the motion, slowly lowering its hand as violent spiritual energy ignited in its palm, exploding into searing flames.
As the palm descended, the heavens brightened!
At this moment, not just Guang Hai—every Buddhist cultivator on the battlefield couldn't help but adopt devout expressions, pressing their palms together and murmuring:
"Amitabha..."
Boom!
After the deafening explosion, silence returned.
All that remained was an enormous palm print. Every Buddhist cultivator had turned to ash, hundreds of souls drifting aimlessly before being drawn into the Myriad Spirits Banner.
At the palm print's edges, the unharmed Saint Sect disciples stood dumbfounded, staring at the massive crater for a long while, unable to process what they'd witnessed. At the very fringe, Guang Ming—who had escaped death a third time after clashing with Qin Tianhe—collapsed to his knees, legs giving way.
Almost simultaneously, beyond the boundary of the realm—
"...Blasphemer against Buddha!"
The Pure Land's True Lord shot to his feet, his expression twisted with fury, for he had clearly sensed his Fruit Position Treasure shatter.
Lü Yang's single palm strike had annihilated nearly every Buddhist cultivator!
The few survivors were only those whom Guang Hai had left behind, having not arrived in time.
Yet even so, the remaining monks were no longer a threat—merely lambs for slaughter. In other words, the Pure Land had been eliminated from this Dao-Seizing War! How could the Pure Land True Lord, who had invested so much preparation and hope into this battle, possibly accept this?
On the other side, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue wore a look of concern: "Bodhisattva, don't be so agitated."
"Why lose your composure over anger?"
"Victory and defeat are common in war. Look at our Saint Sect—though we've been undefeated in recent Dao-Seizing Wars, even if we lost, we'd never lose our temper."
Hearing this, the Pure Land True Lord grew even angrier.
Had it been any other Saint Sect True Lord, it might have been tolerable. But everyone knew Qingcheng Feixue was the Saint Sect's infamous madwoman, with a notorious track record!
After losing Dao-Seizing Wars, she had flipped tables and reneged on agreements before!
And now she was lecturing him?
Beast!