Chapter 415: Buddhist Kingdom on Earth!
Chapter 415: The Buddhist Kingdom on Earth!
The Buddhist disciple Guangming!
Even Suo Huan knew of the World-Honored One's notorious reputation for "fishing"—instantly, a chilling sensation shot straight to the crown of his head, and he nearly succumbed to suspicion:
'Could the World-Honored One be the mastermind behind the [Blessed Land of the Numinous Ruins]?'
'Is he here now to convert me?'
But he quickly snapped out of it. Back in the day, he had considered joining the Pure Land, but as an outsider cultivator, even the Pure Land had rejected him outright.
And since Guangming wasn't here for him...
'Is he here for Senior Lü?'
Suo Huan glanced back at Lü Yang's secluded island and, instead of panicking, felt a surge of joy. Heaven itself was aiding him! Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to prove his worth?
"Amitabha!"
At that moment, as the sacred chant echoed, the sea surrounding Lü Yang's island began to shimmer with Buddhist radiance. Golden lotuses bloomed across the water's surface.
Guangming stepped gracefully atop these lotuses, advancing steadily toward the island. His eyes remained closed, yet the [Manifestation of Victory and Clarity Dharmadhatu] behind him cast its gaze downward, its pupils reflecting every detail inside and outside the island as if nothing could escape its scrutiny.
But in the next second—
Ancestor Nether Whisper flicked his sleeve, conjuring a dense mist that shrouded the deepest recesses of the island, completely concealing Lü Yang's secluded cave.
"...Hmm?"
Witnessing this, Guangming abruptly halted. The [Manifestation of Victory and Clarity Dharmadhatu] behind him seemed to furrow its brows slightly.
"Esteemed donor, your cultivation depth is truly profound."
Guangming spoke unhurriedly, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet brimming with composure—as if everything in existence lay within his grasp. The sheer confidence in his tone made Suo Huan's scalp tingle.
After all, this was a Buddhist disciple!
Though not the true descent of the World-Honored One, he remained one of the world's foremost figures, an absolute powerhouse even among perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Especially in the past decade, Prince Wu Tai'an of the South Suppression had shaved his head and formally pledged allegiance to this disciple, further amplifying his influence. Not long ago, Guangming had even ventured north of the river, clashing fiercely with the Saint Sect's perfected Grand True Person Xiang Ye beyond the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.
With such might and divine abilities—
Who in this world wouldn't fear him?
"A trivial trick, unworthy of the disciple's attention."
Facing Guangming's gaze, Ancestor Nether Whisper remained composed and spoke solemnly, "For what purpose does the disciple grace this humble abode today?"
Guangming smiled faintly. "I come to invite all donors for a visit to our Pure Land."
"We must decline."
Ancestor Nether Whisper shook his head. "The Pure Land is vast yet intolerant of outsiders. We immortal cultivators seek great freedom and liberation—such ideals find no place within your Pure Land."
"Great freedom?"
Guangming chuckled. "In that case, donor, you should join our Pure Land all the more. Where in this world offers greater freedom than the Pure Land?"
"The Demon Sect, the Sword Pavilion, the Dao Court—which of these powers does not exploit those beneath them?"
"Only in our Pure Land do all stand united. Whether Bodhisattva, Arhat, or novice monk, none engage in worldly scheming."
"If this isn't freedom, what is?"
"If this isn't liberation, what is?"
Guangming pressed his palms together serenely. "As for rumors of the World-Honored One's possession, they are baseless slander. Donor, if you believe such tales, you've fallen into delusion."
Ancestor Nether Whisper fell momentarily speechless.
"What a silver tongue."
So no matter what, you're always right?
Seeing no point in further debate, Ancestor Nether Whisper directly mobilized the power of incense offerings, elevating his status to firmly block Guangming's path.
"Regardless, I must ask the disciple to proceed no further."
Yet Guangming paid no heed. Instead, he scrutinized the incense qi radiating from Ancestor Nether Whisper with undisguised delight.
"What an extraordinary lineage from beyond the heavens!"
"Human hearts moving celestial forces? What manner of technique is this... Could it be that your realm also possesses fruit positions? This fruit position shares affinity with our Pure Land!"
His joy mounting, Guangming continued eagerly, "Excellent, excellent. Tian Qiu was originally this humble monk's chosen Buddhist affinity, destined to become my disciple. Now that Tian Qiu has perished, it seems this karmic bond must transfer to the foreign donor still in seclusion."
"My journey here was not in vain!"
Before his words faded, the [Manifestation of Victory and Clarity Dharmadhatu] behind him stirred. Lips as vast as mountain peaks parted to release a thunderous chant:
"Amitabha!"
The sacred sound rippled outward instantly, trembling the fish and shrimp in the sea as countless visions manifested across heaven and earth.
'He's making his move!'
Suo Huan's eyes widened. In the distance, Buddhist light surged across the sky, transforming into rolling auspicious clouds that blotted out the heavens like an enormous palm!
At the center of this palm gleamed a radiant [Svastika] symbol. As it descended, deafening sutra recitations—like demonic whispers piercing the mind—assaulted their sea of consciousness. Had a Qi Refining cultivator stood here, they would have been converted into a devout follower of the Pure Land in an instant!
"The disciple's fifth divine ability—[Mind Reading]!?"
Suo Huan's pupils constricted violently.
Mind Reading—forcing "their heart" to connect with "my heart"!
Unlike ordinary cultivators, Buddhist disciples derived their divine abilities not from Heavenly Gang or Earthly Fiend essences but from manifestations of their dharma forms, making their powers utterly unique.
Over the past decade, Guangming's methods had become widely known.
[Mind Reading] was among them. Rumor had it Prince Wu Tai'an of the South Suppression had been converted precisely by this ability, willingly submitting to the Pure Land!
"Boom!"
In that instant, Suo Huan's brief pride at having just reached perfected Foundation Establishment evaporated. He immediately channeled all his incense qi power skyward to resist.
Simultaneously—
Ancestor Nether Whisper summoned the banner spirits of Wusheng Laomu, Grand Ancestor Yan, the City God, and others from Seven Luminaries Heaven, similarly reinforcing them with incense qi.
Yet he refrained from deploying the [Yama Palace].
First, without metal essence enhancement, the [Yama Palace] merely stacked perfected Foundation Establishment statuses—quantity couldn't substitute for quality.
Second, using the [Yama Palace] would instantly expose his identity.
Better to hold this card in reserve.
Even so, bolstered by the Incense Qi Divine Path, the near-ten perfected Foundation Establishment incense deities presented a force that would awe countless onlookers.
Yet Guangming responded only with disappointment.
"What a frail system."
He shook his head, critiquing casually, "This doesn't resemble what a fruit position-bearing realm could produce... Could it be a nascent fruit position?"
Without waiting for an answer, he formed a hand seal.
In the next moment, infinite illusory colors unfolded behind him, within which temples, meditation groves, and countless monks reciting sutras flickered into view.
"[Buddhist Kingdom on Earth]!"
Instantly, golden hues drowned out heaven and earth. The incense deities found themselves enveloped, their statuses plummeting precipitously!
'The incense connection has been severed!'
Ancestor Nether Whisper reacted swiftly, realizing the flaw: 'The Incense Qi Divine Path's weakness remains glaring—incense deities can only exert their full power within their own domains. Once displaced, the incense qi's reinforcement diminishes sharply!'
This was precisely why Lü Yang had never relied on the Incense Qi Divine Path for combat.
In Lü Yang's view, its sole utility lay in assembling the Yama Palace to bully weaker opponents—against peers, it stood no chance.
Today's events proved it.
Guangming's profound cultivation depth allowed him to instantly identify the Incense Qi Divine Path's vulnerability, countering it perfectly and dismantling the nine incense deities' combined assault!
Meanwhile—
Two streaks of light raced across the horizon from the north, revealing Xiang Ye and Hong Ju, who had rushed from beyond the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.
"Dharma form... Buddhist Kingdom..."
Xiang Ye's eyes darkened with deep apprehension as memories surfaced. He cursed inwardly: 'The Pure Land has abandoned all shame!'
A perfected Foundation Establishment dharma form.
A [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth] rivaling a blessed land.
Coupled with the profound cultivation depth bestowed by the World-Honored One's reincarnation.
Any single one of these would rank as top-tier among Foundation Establishment True Persons. Yet Guangming possessed all three simultaneously—who could possibly oppose him?
Even Xiang Ye had only intended to warn Lü Yang in advance, hoping to escort him into the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds before Guangming's arrival.
But now, Guangming had beaten them here.
"Too late..."
As Xiang Ye sighed inwardly, and Ancestor Nether Whisper and Suo Huan seemed moments from being crushed by the Buddhist palm, the world suddenly blazed with radiant light.
A flawless white halo, jade-like in purity, materialized.
As it rotated, countless web-like patterns spread outward, linking heaven and earth, forming an impenetrable barrier before Guangming's descending palm.
"[With the World]!"