Tu Li suffered heavy losses; the cultivation levels of countless Buddhist cultivators in the Great Snow Mountain of Huiyan immediately plummeted by eight levels.

The disciples of the Nine Nether Dao Sect formed the Myriad Immortals Array and the Heavenly Net Great Array, within which sinister formations like the Ten Absolutes Array and the Immortal Slaying Sword Array were hidden. They descended upon the Great Snow Mountain in a mighty torrent. As soon as this band of fierce demons entered the Great Snow Mountain, bald heads tumbled everywhere, and the snow was dyed crimson with blood. The screams and wails shook the surrounding mountains, causing avalanches on countless peaks.

In order to establish the Demon-Slaying Secret Formation, the Buddhist cultivators all gathered atop the highest mountains and sheer cliffs. At a glance, the mountain peaks and cliffs were shimmering with countless bald heads. This naturally made them the easiest targets. The disciples of the Nine Nether Dao did not need to search cave by cave or courtyard by courtyard; they could easily slaughter these injured Buddhist cultivators.

The faces of Elder Nun Wuxing and the other old monks and nuns turned deathly pale. They knelt on the ground, trembling, chanting Buddhist names in unison.

Even more old monks and nuns wept bitterly, unable to speak. Who could have foreseen such a devastating demonic tribulation? The lineage of the Great Snow Mountain, which almost exclusively dominated the Primal Bliss of Bo Luo Mi, had actually suffered such a crushing blow.

The formations of the Nine Nether Dao army were too formidable. The divine powers of Gu Xiechen and the others were too powerful. The magical artifacts they possessed were also too supreme.

The vast Great Snow Mountain held countless Buddhist treasures, yet not a single one was an Innate object. In contrast, Gu Xiechen wielded world-shattering items like the Pangu Banner and the Immortal Slaying Sword Array. Once the two sides clashed, the Great Snow Mountain lineage, which appeared robust but was actually hollow and weak, was simply no match.

True Lord Wuji had long since slipped away stealthily. As the bald heads were being slaughtered, he was so delighted he almost burst out laughing. He had no interest in accompanying these bald donkeys to their deaths! The weaker the Great Snow Mountain lineage became, the better. If all the bald heads were wiped out, would that not leave the Purple Extreme Palace to dominate the realm alone?

Not only had True Lord Wuji fled, but all the Immortals of the Purple Extreme Palace had also vanished without a trace.

An old monk, who had been openly weeping, suddenly straightened up. He glared at Elder Nun Wuxing and roared, "Wuxing, why exactly are these demons attacking our Great Snow Mountain lineage? What did we do to invite such a demonic calamity?"

Adhering to the habitually overbearing style of the Great Snow Mountain lineage, if any wicked or heretical force dared to approach, they would naturally subdue the demons and slay them without hesitation. Who had the patience to reason with these devils? But today, the demons held the upper hand, and the Great Snow Mountain could not resist. Perhaps—perhaps—they could try reasoning with them?

Whatever the Nine Nether Dao wanted, they could simply lay it out clearly! Why must they resort to mutual destruction, depleting the vital energy of both sides?

Elder Nun Wuxing’s expression flickered. Her face was not pleasant. The opponent had announced their name: Gu Xiechen of the Nine Nether Dao. What else could it be about? It was all because of the disciple she had accepted—Fu Ya • Ming?

But for Elder Nun Wuxing to bow her head in surrender? How could that be possible? Even if the entire Great Snow Mountain lineage perished, they had to fight the Nine Nether Dao to a conclusion! An abnormal flush spread across the old nun’s withered face, her lips drooping as a sneer bloomed silently across her features.

So what if she died? The person behind her—could that person stand by and watch her soul dissipate? She had already completed the task assigned by that person. Fu Ya • Ming was now a Buddhist disciple, possessed of consummate Buddhist meditative arts, and had even formed an sarira. The Buddhist mark upon her could never be washed away.

Gazing from afar at the Nine Nether Dao army charging towards them, Elder Nun Wuxing let out a mocking laugh.

A chess piece is just a chess piece. Even if it dominates the board and is unrivaled, it remains merely a piece!

She was different. Having fulfilled that person’s decree, she could become the player at any moment!

Smiling coldly, Elder Nun Wuxing was just about to crush the string of prayer beads in her hand when, suddenly, a mass of white clouds drifted down from the high sky. A young monk, with rosy lips and white teeth, looking no older than seventeen or eighteen, held a Bodhi leaf scripture in one hand and a Buddhist canon strung with golden thread in the other. He stepped down onto a rock formation, casting a faint glance over Elder Nun Wuxing and the assembly of old monks and nuns.

Except for Elder Nun Wuxing, all the other old monks and nuns cried out in shock upon seeing the young monk.

The young monk looked at these elders and said lightly, "Does the Great Snow Mountain lineage of Huiyan wish to submit to the righteous path of the Buddha?"

Elder Nun Wuxing suddenly laughed, "The three old monks in the Abyss of No Return—are their cultivation levels higher than ours? Is their insight deeper? Is their power greater? Can they represent the Buddha? Which Buddha do they represent?"

The young monk smiled, "Zen Master Wuxing, are you truly unaware of the cultivation levels of our sect’s three Patriarchs?"

Elder Nun Wuxing’s expression changed, and she sullenly lowered her head. Her fingers gripped the prayer beads so tightly that she almost shattered them several times. However, catching sight of the young monk with the corner of her eye, she forcibly suppressed the urge surging in her heart.

The young monk said calmly, "Three Kalpas ago, you, Zen Master, personally traveled to Shen'ao Isle to discuss Buddhist philosophy with our sect’s three Patriarchs. Although your cultivation was only marginally below that of our Patriarchs..."

Elder Nun Wuxing interrupted him, shouting sharply, "Are you here deliberately to humiliate this poor nun?"

The young monk smiled, "I dare not. I am merely ordered to bring this volume, The Minor Sumeru Three Thousand Worlds Zen Arts, to all you Zen Masters."

Elder Nun Wuxing froze, staring at the Buddhist scripture, unable to speak. The assembly of old monks and nuns, however, looked at the scripture with intense excitement, rapidly exchanging glances. The young monk stood on the rock, looking down upon the elders from above, his expression composed as he asked, "Do all Zen Masters here wish to accept this Buddhist canon and submit to the righteous path of our Buddha?"

An old monk opened his mouth to speak, then abruptly closed it.

Another old nun stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward, only to instinctively retreat a step.

Elder Nun Wuxing scoffed, "It’s the same old story. Those three old monks claim to be the true orthodox lineage of Buddhism, and years ago they tried to entice us to submit to their sect. But which Buddha do they worship? Which Patriarch do they honor? Which school of Buddhist Dharma do they practice?"

The young monk gazed faintly at Elder Nun Wuxing... suddenly chuckling lowly, "Zen Master Wuxing, do you require these things to be known?" With a dismissive statement, the contempt and disregard for Elder Nun Wuxing in his tone reached an extreme. Who do you think you are? You should just obey orders; what right do you have to ask so many pointless questions?

The old nun’s face flushed redder than a monkey’s backside. She trembled violently, wishing she could kill the young monk before her with a single punch.

Yet, the old nun forcefully suppressed the impulse. This young monk, though seemingly only possessing the cultivation of a Mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal, had Zen arts and Buddhist Dharma that vastly surpassed the spirit of the Great Snow Mountain lineage. Elder Nun Wuxing could not guarantee she could suppress him with her own Zen techniques and divine abilities.

The young monk placed The Minor Sumeru Three Thousand Worlds Zen Arts on a rock beside him, sat cross-legged, and smiled at the assembly of elders, "This poor monk will recklessly offer his aid, struggling to hold the Great Snow Mountain for six hours. If, after six hours, you have reached no decision, this poor monk will turn and leave, never to trouble you again."

With a hearty laugh, the young monk suddenly shouted, "Where is the Venerable Evil Dragon Gu Xiechen? This poor monk, Chi Hui, dares to request a duel!"

Standing atop the demonic dragon's head, commanding the Nine Nether Dao army in their encirclement and suppression of the Great Snow Mountain cultivators, Gu Xiechen heard Chi Hui’s call but paid it no mind. The Great Snow Mountain lineage was already utterly defeated; he was busy mopping up the remaining monks to rescue Fu Ya • Ming. Where would he have time to tangle with Chi Hui?

Glancing coldly at the towering Great Snow Mountain several hundred million li away, Gu Xiechen coldly replied, "Not interested, not serving!"

Chi Hui laughed, leading the charge, "Interesting, interesting. Cultivating for ten thousand years to reach this point—your Daoist techniques and divine powers are certainly extraordinary!"

A long laugh, like a dragon's roar, erupted from Chi Hui's throat. Instantly, the world flashed with golden light, and a rich sandalwood fragrance drifted all around. Vast swathes of golden mist poured down from the void. The Great Snow Mountain cultivators, who were fleeing in disarray, suddenly felt their bodies lighten as they were swept into the golden mist, transported in the blink of an eye to the depths of the Great Snow Mountain.

An extremely thin thread of golden light, seemingly thinner than a hair, descended slowly from the sky. The golden light was thin, but the surrounding golden mist and auspicious energy were intensely dense. A strange fragrance faintly wafted from the golden light, accompanied by melodious Sanskrit chants. This single beam of golden light divided the Great Snow Mountain in half from west to east. The golden light descended from the unseen high heavens, connecting directly to the ground, truly impossible for birds to fly across or insects to crawl through.

That dragon-roar instantly caused all the disciples of the Nine Nether Dao below the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm to spit blood from their seven orifices and collapse, unable to move.

The Nine Nether Dao disciples with Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation, upon smelling the thick sandalwood fragrance, felt their bones soften and their muscles grow weak like insects covered in sulfur, collapsing to the ground. Their magic power seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving them without even the strength to speak.

Buddhist cultivation excels at subduing demons and eradicating evil. The Buddhist divine powers displayed by Monk Chi Hui, compared to the Zen arts utilized by Elder Nun Wuxing and the others, were undoubtedly worlds apart. If Monk Chi Hui's Zen techniques were a laser engraving machine etching ultra-high-density circuit boards, then the Zen arts of Elder Nun Wuxing and the rest were like a butcher using a pig-slaughtering knife to embroider!

To intercept the vast army of the Nine Nether Dao single-handedly—Monk Chi Hui was exceedingly confident!

Excluding the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who were unaffected by the Zen arts, the numerous disciples of the Nine Nether Dao instantly lost all combat effectiveness. Even Nine Nether Dao disciples like Peng Hua and Yan Jiang, who had already reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, found their zombie and phantom bodies specifically countered by Buddhist power. Under the illumination of that thin golden light, faint black smoke rose from Peng Hua and Yan Jiang’s bodies, causing them pain as if they were being sliced by knives.

"Good monk, truly a good monk!"

Gu Xiechen praised him, casually sending out a bolt of Taiyin Divine Thunder.

With a deafening explosion, the golden light was pierced, leaving a crater a hundred li in diameter. But once the thunder dissipated, the golden light healed as before. Several Heavenly Soldiers attempting to rush through the golden light barrier were thrown back hundreds of li by an intense repulsive force, nearly twisting their necks off.

Gu Xiechen was startled. Monk Chi Hui then performed a Dharma Heaven and Earth divine ability, instantly manifesting a colossal form tens of thousands of feet high within the golden light. He nodded to Gu Xiechen and smiled, "Venerable Evil Dragon, can you break this poor monk's Zen art?"

The Monkey sneered, hoisting his staff and darting forward. He laughed oddly, "A mere Lesser Vehicle Heavenly Dragon Zen Art! Don't act presumptuously in front of this Old Sun!"

With a loud laugh that pierced the clouds, the Monkey swung his iron staff, trailing a colorful Buddhist light, and smashed it down upon the golden light screen.

Clang! With a resounding impact, the Monkey’s iron staff bounced back, striking him directly on the forehead. Sparks flew everywhere, dazing the Monkey so much he nearly collapsed. Eight White Apes rushed forward hastily to protect the Monkey and retreat backward.

Monk Chi Hui smiled calmly, nodded, and said, "Benefactor, you have mistaken this poor monk's Zen art. Xuan!"

As the true mantra was uttered, a mountain of shimmering gold descended whistling from the void, instantly crushing the Monkey and his eight disciples beneath it. The mountain landed heavily on the ground, immediately taking root. In the blink of an eye, it grew until there was no gap left between it and the ground.

The Monkey and his eight disciples roared in fury beneath the mountain, using all their strength to smash it apart, but the mountain, shining with golden light, remained motionless. No matter how immense their powers, they could not even crack a single rock on the mountain.

Yang Jian swung his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade, cleaving down towards the mountain in one stroke.

The mountain that trapped the Monkey and his eight disciples instantly seemed like an illusion. As Yang Jian swung his blade, he couldn't touch the mountain in the slightest. The mountain stood clearly before them, yet Yang Jian’s blade seemed to be ten thousand li away from it.

Kong Sangri and the other divine generals were greatly alarmed. They successively used their divine abilities to attack the mountain, but no matter what myriad methods they employed, they could not touch it—they couldn't even reach its edge, much less break it to release the Monkey and his eight disciples.

Gu Xiechen narrowed his eyes, watching Monk Chi Hui.

Monk Chi Hui stared at Gu Xiechen with a mocking smile, forming a single Buddha Seal over his chest. He smiled faintly and asked, "Venerable Sir, can you break this poor monk's Zen art?"

Peng Hua casually scratched his ear, pointing at Monk Chi Hui and yelling, "What are you showing off for? What phony Zen art is this? I’ll find you ten or eight women to break your celibate body, then see if you still have any Zen art!"

Monk Chi Hui’s smile remained unchanged, "This Benefactor is mistaken. This poor monk’s Joyful Zen Art is also quite refined. Ordinary women would find it difficult to break my Zen art."

Peng Hua exploded in rage and immediately pointed at Monk Chi Hui, cursing him volubly.

Monk Chi Hui chuckled along with Peng Hua, exchanging curses, and his language was just as shameless as Peng Hua's.

A faint spiritual light flickered in Gu Xiechen’s eyes. He suddenly pulled out a Thunder Pearl and tossed it toward the mountain trapping the Monkey and his disciples. This Thunder Pearl was the essence of the Heavenly Tribulation released when the numerous disciples of the Nine Nether Dao collectively advanced their realms, condensed by Gu Xiechen’s great magic power.

Monk Chi Hui only shook his head when he saw the Thunder Pearl. His Zen arts were profound; how could ordinary divine powers and magical spells break them? This Thunder Pearl looked ordinary, nothing more than common lightning magic. How could it possibly break the Buddhist Dharma inherited from those two supreme beings?

What shocked Monk Chi Hui happened next. The Heavenly Tribulation Pearl Gu Xiechen threw floated gently, piercing directly through the Imminent Horizon Buddhist prohibition set by Monk Chi Hui, and landed on the true body of the mountain. Immediately following, an incredibly immense pressure resonated from the void. A gigantic, scarlet eye suddenly appeared in the void, staring fixedly at the mountain and Monk Chi Hui.

"Eye of the Heavenly Tribulation!" Monk Chi Hui exclaimed, "This is—this is the power of the Heavenly Dao! How can you command the power of the Heavenly Dao?"

Gu Xiechen sneered and ignored Monk Chi Hui. Ordinary divine powers and spells could not break this monk's Buddhist prohibition. But what about pure Heavenly Tribulation power?

The collective ascension of tens of thousands of Nine Nether Dao members resulted in a Heavenly Tribulation force so immense it was despair-inducing. The scarlet Eye of the Heavenly Tribulation spun once, then suddenly spewed forth countless heavenly thunders and earthly fires, interwoven with boundless purple lightning rays, striking down like tens of thousands of rampaging flood dragons.

In a single strike, Monk Chi Hui's mountain shattered with a roar.

Then, forty-eight bolts of heavenly thunder slammed into Monk Chi Hui’s body. His protective Buddha light barely managed to block nineteen waves of lightning before it shattered. The remaining lightning was about to blast him into dust.

In less time than it takes to snap one's fingers, a seven-colored Bodhi branch suddenly shot out from Monk Chi Hui’s body, easily intercepting the light above the monk's head.

The heavenly tribulation lightning, capable of destroying half of the Great Snow Mountain, struck the Bodhi branch, and not even a flicker of light or shadow was generated; it was utterly annihilated, as if it had never existed. Monk Chi Hui, his face grim, grasped the Bodhi branch. He cast a cold glance at Gu Xiechen, then suddenly raised his Bodhi staff and waved it. Dozens of layers of thin golden light, carrying melodious Sanskrit chants, descended from the high sky.

Gu Xiechen’s expression also subtly changed. A single ray of Buddha light was previously unbreakable; now dozens were descending together. With that Bodhi branch in hand, Monk Chi Hui seemed transformed—as if Gu Xiechen held the Pangu Banner and wielded its terrifying power.

What was the origin of this Bodhi branch?

As Gu Xiechen pondered Monk Chi Hui’s background and identity, the assembly of old monks and nuns had already made their choice.

The monks and nuns bowed together toward the Buddhist scripture. An old monk, the oldest and most senior, tremblingly lifted the scripture and began transmitting the essence of The Minor Sumeru Three Thousand Worlds Zen Arts to the assembled monks and nuns.

These old monks and nuns had cultivated in the Great Snow Mountain for countless years, their Zen power having long reached the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. However, despite possessing immense resources, they didn't know how to utilize them, and the Buddhist methods they knew were only crude insights they had developed themselves.

Now, possessing the exquisite Minor Sumeru Three Thousand Worlds Zen Arts, in just a short time, these monks and nuns grasped its profound mysteries. Some even stretched out a hand, and boundless marvelous realms faintly began to form in their palms.

Monk Chi Hui stared intently at Elder Nun Wuxing, repeatedly sneering, "Zen Master Wuxing, do you look down on this level of Zen art?"

Elder Nun Wuxing remained silent for a moment, then suddenly retreated a few steps. She bowed, "Wuxing’s karmic fortune is shallow; I only desire to cultivate in peace, freedom, and leisure. I am unwilling to join your sect; please forgive me."

Monk Chi Hui glanced coldly at Elder Nun Wuxing and nodded, "Enough. Henceforth, the Great Snow Mountain of Huiyan will be an annex of Shen'ao Isle. You and your disciples will no longer be permitted to reside on the Great Snow Mountain. Look after yourselves!"

With a wave of his hand, Monk Chi Hui sent Elder Nun Wuxing flying millions of li away.

Elder Nun Wuxing glanced scornfully at the brightly lit Great Snow Mountain, shook her bald head triumphantly, turned, and flew away on a cloud. She didn't even spare a thought for her other disciples, leaving the Great Snow Mountain by herself.

A low Sanskrit chant echoed from the depths of the Great Snow Mountain. An old monk, twelve feet tall with crimson skin, walked slowly out from under the Buddha light released by Monk Chi Hui. Countless Zen courtyards and forests faintly flickered in his hands. He stared at Gu Xiechen and roared sharply, "This poor monk, Great Dragon, does the Venerable Evil Dragon dare to enter my Minor Three Thousand Buddha Kingdom Secret Realm for a battle?"

After a brief pause, Great Dragon Zen Master shouted, "Our Great Snow Mountain has billions of disciples, and your sect members number in the billions as well. These innocent sentient beings are pitiful—why needlessly sacrifice their lives?"

Gu Xiechen looked coldly at Great Dragon Zen Monk and slowly nodded, "If I win, I require taking sixteen hundred people from the Great Snow Mountain. Do you agree?"

Great Dragon Zen Master hesitated, but then he suddenly heard Monk Chi Hui’s voice in his ear. Great Dragon Zen Master immediately nodded and laughed, "If you can escape my secret realm, then you are free to take the people away!"

Gu Xiechen nodded and smiled, soaring toward Great Dragon Zen Master.

Great Dragon Zen Master chanted a Buddhist name in a deep voice, and a vast expanse of Buddha light suddenly erupted from his palm, enveloping both himself and Gu Xiechen.