Gǔ Xié chén, pulling Wú Míng'er by one hand, strode out of the void with the Demonic Dragon Gèn at his side. Ahead, four immensely huge white elephants were drifting through the emptiness, the Pure Land of Buddha they carried radiating beams of golden light. A Buddha, whose form flickered with countless piercing rays, his radiance so dazzling that his true appearance was obscured, sat cross-legged on a lotus pedestal, leading countless Buddhist cultivators in encircling this Pure Land.

Every instant, showers of Buddhist divine thunder descended, causing golden flames to erupt thousands of miles high from the Pure Land. The four white elephants continued their journey through the void as if unaffected; from time to time, they raised their long trunks, spraying vast amounts of clear water to extinguish the golden blaze upon the Buddha's land.

Wú Míng'er pointed toward the Buddha from afar and sneered, "Great Strength Bodhisattva. After arriving here, he immediately attained the rank of Saint, following Amitābha Buddha. For all these years, he has relentlessly besieged our gate and attacked us. It’s truly tedious; that’s why I managed to slip out for a bit of wandering."

Gǔ Xié chén gazed at Great Strength Bodhisattva from a distance and said in a cold voice, "Whose cultivation is higher, Great Strength or your mother?"

Wú Míng'er shrugged, replying with a distressed expression, "Roughly equal, I suppose? But Mom is slacking off. Although she sent countless followers to seize territories and spread doctrine, she has no inclination to personally fight Great Strength for those two old rascals, Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí!"

As she spoke, Wú Míng'er suddenly gritted her teeth and said coldly, "What angers me most is that Amitābha Buddha. The first time Mom clashed with him, he deployed the Wheel of Samsara, leveraging the reincarnation power of this universe to nearly kill her." Gǔ Wū chén’s eyes flashed coldly; he drew the Heavenly Dao Seal and hurled it toward Great Strength Bodhisattva from a distance.

Great Strength Bodhisattva was seated on his lotus pedestal, observing the densely packed and impregnable Pure Land. He spoke softly, "Dì Zūn Wáng Fó, why don't you step out and meet this humble monk? I have besieged your Pure Land for a millennium; aren't you afraid your reputation will suffer if this gets out?"

Fú Yǎ 7 Míng’s cold voice echoed across the void, "You bald donkey are talking nonsense. I can’t beat you, so I won't fight you—is that not allowed? I'll just shut the door and stay inside. What can you do to me?"

Great Strength Bodhisattva puckered his lips, just about to reply, when a sudden gust of foul wind swept from behind, and a terrifying, unparalleled force descended upon him, instantly knocking him off his lotus pedestal.

Gǔ Xié chén’s Dao-Attainment artifact, the Heavenly Dao Seal, forged from the totality of the heavenly laws of that universe, had finally achieved its first success.

Whether in divine power or magical ability, Gǔ Xié chén far surpassed Great Strength Bodhisattva, and he struck from behind with the Heavenly Dao Seal in a sneak attack. With one strike, the golden light around Great Strength flickered wildly. Although his Buddha Dharma Body was maintained, his physical form was shattered; if he hadn't used his Buddhist power to fiercely restrain himself, his body would have long ago disintegrated into dust. Staggering to his feet, Great Strength Bodhisattva roared in fury, "Who dares..."

Without allowing Great Strength to say more, Gǔ Xié chén casually struck down with the Seal again, immediately smashing the golden body into fragments, and obliterating his soul completely. The surrounding starry sky trembled, and countless sounds of ghostly wailing suddenly drifted from the void.

A Saint had fallen, and heaven and earth responded with myriad strange phenomena. Countless demons and monsters materialized out of thin air; vast sheets of blood-red waves churned rapidly through the void, the dense, coppery smell overwhelming the countless Buddhist cultivators brought by Great Strength, causing them to lose their footing and scream as they were washed away by the bloody tide.

Even the four white elephants carrying the Pure Land were stained by the blood waves. Their snow-white bodies began to rot in large patches. In the blink of an eye, the four white elephants, born of heaven and earth, were corroded away by the waves, transforming into four streaks of white light that slowly merged into the four directions of the void. Born from heaven and earth, they returned to heaven and earth, the four white elephants vanishing without a trace.

Gǔ Xié chén stood with his hands behind his back, coldly observing the Buddhist cultivators crying and struggling in the blood waves, saying, "I really like the heavenly laws of this universe. In this universe, even Saints can be annihilated, Saints can be killed! Therefore, I like the rules here!"

With a wave of his hand, the Origin Yang Profound Pearl and the Origin Yin Profound Pearl rose, spewing down vast amounts of cold air that froze the blood waves into a solid block of ice. Then, a burst of fire shot up, and the ice-bound blood, along with the countless Buddhist monks trapped within, was instantly reduced to flying ash.

The Demonic Dragon Gèn opened its mouth, but before any drool could fall, the countless Buddhist cultivators ahead had already been wiped out. It cast a deeply aggrieved look at Gǔ Xié chén—there was a Saint among them! It truly longed to know what a Saint tasted like.

Ignoring the ravenously hungry Demonic Dragon Gèn, Gǔ Wū chén took Wú Míng'er's hand and strode to the airspace above the Pure Land. "Fú Yǎ, it's me!" Gǔ Xié chén called out softly.

The restrictions above the Pure Land dissolved completely. Fú Yǎ 7 Míng, leading a host of disciples, met them, stepping down from the clouds. Her attire transformed rapidly; by the time she reached Gǔ Xié chén, she had reverted to the Empress Yǎ Fēi Kè that he knew. She no longer wore the Buddhist habit, but instead let her long hair down and donned an opulent, noble black gown.

Wú Míng'er grinned widely, "Mom looks much better like this. Ugh, remembering that I was born to a nun always felt wrong!" Gǔ Xié chén and Fú Yǎ 7 Míng simultaneously punched Wú Míng'er. Wú Míng’er crouched on the ground, cradling her head, looking pitifully at them, daring not utter a sound. Gǔ Xié chén and Fú Yǎ 7 Míng silently gazed at each other, then both burst into laughter. "Alright, we can go back now!" Gǔ Wū chén took Fú Yǎ 7 Míng's hand.

"A bit later than I planned, but it's good you're here. I was utterly sick of living in this monkery!" Fú Yǎ 7 Míng held Gǔ Xié chén’s hand with one, and Wú Míng’er’s with the other, yawning lazily. A glance swept over the Pure Land, and the former Pure Land of Purity suddenly collapsed and disintegrated. The golden pagoda at the center of the land cracked with countless fissures, shattering into debris in the blink of an eye.

Countless Buddhist cultivators within the Pure Land either soared up to follow Fú Yǎ 7 Míng or fled in panic in all directions. Clearly, those who followed Fú Yǎ 7 Míng were the followers she had cultivated over the years, while those scattering in retreat were disciples planted by Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí within the Buddha’s domain.

Several dazzling beams of golden light shot out from the collapsing Pure Land. Ancient Buddhas like Pí Fàn Shī, leading numerous disciples, rushed toward them swiftly. From a great distance, Pí Fàn Shī roared, suppressing his voice, "Dì Zūn Wáng Fó, where do you intend to go?"

Gǔ Xié chén looked coldly at the ancient Buddhas, then suddenly burst into loud sobs: "Ridiculous, ridiculous, truly ridiculous! She is my wife! Where she goes is none of your business, you bald donkeys! You forcibly tricked someone here and forced her to be a thug for all these years; do you still intend to keep her forever?"

With a fierce flick of his sleeve, the Waterfall Sleeve divine technique swept out, shaking the surrounding starry sky. Vast expanses of starlight condensed into an icy, bone-chilling cold tide that rolled toward the ancient Buddhas. Only muffled groans and countless screams were heard as the ancient Buddhas were flung far away by a single sweep of Gǔ Xié chén's sleeve, all spitting blood and struggling to rise. As for the countless Buddhist cultivators behind them, blood spurted from their bodies, and on average, each one’s cultivation level dropped by a major realm!

Dà Luó Golden Immortals fell to Taiyì Golden Immortals, Taiyì Golden Immortals decayed to Golden Immortals, Golden Immortals were beaten back to Heavenly Immortals, and the Heavenly Immortals were stripped of their immortal bodies entirely, brutally forced back to their original forms as ordinary mortal cultivators.

The might of a single sleeve terrified the multitude of Buddhist cultivators into stillness. The ancient Buddhas exchanged horrified glances and simultaneously spat a mouthful of blood. "I only wish to take back my wife and son, and take my wife’s disciples—it is righteous and proper! Gǔ Xié chén declared loudly, "What else do you have to say?" Pí Fàn Shī gritted his teeth and glared at Gǔ Xié chén, shouting fiercely, "Dì Zūn Wáng Fó, you have ties with my Buddhist Sect!"

Gǔ Xié chén flicked a finger, and both of Pí Fàn Shī's arms dissolved into a spray of bloody water. He chuckled coldly, "Ties?"

Pí Fàn Shī shuddered and roared, "Dì Zūn Wáng Fó has ties with my Buddhist Sect!"

Before the words even finished, Gǔ Xié chén struck down fiercely with the Heavenly Dao Seal in his hand. With one blow, Pí Fàn Shī's entire body turned to dust. Only a few sariras protected a faint golden light, which hovered anxiously in the air amidst the shattered remains.

"Does my wife have any ties with your Buddhist Sect? Can this Buddha enlighten me?" Gǔ Xié chén stared coldly at Pí Fàn Shī, baring his teeth. The Heavenly Dao Seal radiated a brilliant glow in his palm, illuminating the surroundings. Pí Fàn Shī opened his mouth, then obediently retreated behind the other ancient Buddhas. From a distance, two streams of light flew rapidly; Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí arrived, accompanied by immeasurable numbers of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Gazing at Gǔ Xié chén from afar, Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí shouted in unison, "Dì Zūn Wáng Fó has ties with the Buddhist Sect, and Gǔ Xié chén, you also have ties with the Buddhist Sect! As the companion of Dì Zūn Wáng Fó, you are destined to become a Buddha!"

Gǔ Wū chén gave a cold laugh and was about to reply when a thread of divine thought suddenly transmitted through the Six Souls Banner that Wū Yún Xiān had given him long ago. "Fellow Daoist Gǔ, you owe this poor Daoist a favor." Gǔ Xié chén’s mind spun rapidly, and he hurriedly countered, "Who are you?"

The divine thought chuckled, "This poor Daoist is Tōng Tiān. You owe this poor Daoist a favor! Do you recall the pathway I carved open for you with sword energy? If I hadn't paved the way for you, entering this realm through that original channel, you certainly would not have escaped the surveillance of Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí. With your cultivation back then, you were absolutely no match for them; you surely would have become a mere thug for their Buddhist Sect, just like Dì Zūn Wáng Fó."

Gǔ Xié chén paused, then sneered, "Yes, you forged a path for me. But now you have allied with Amitābha Buddha, and Great Strength is your subordinate. Since Great Strength came to bully my wife, this favor should be considered settled, shouldn't it?"

Tōng Tiān chuckled lightly, "Great Strength has already been slain by Fellow Daoist Gǔ; countless years of hard work are now completely wasted. Only a trace of his residual soul, left beforehand, struggles within the Buddha Kingdom in Amitābha Buddha's palm. In this lifetime, he can never again attain the realm of a Saint."

Seeing Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí approaching with countless followers, Gǔ Wū chén asked, "Good, Great Strength is thoroughly dead."

Tōng Tiān quickly said, "I will immediately arrange for Great Strength to reincarnate, never to enter the Buddhist Sect again. In the future, I will accept him as a disciple of the Interception Sect, and he will never again recall the enmity of Fellow Daoist Gǔ slaying him."

With a soft sigh, Gǔ Wū chén said helplessly, "Fine, I will repay this favor. But I am not necessarily a match for the two of them fighting together!"

Tōng Tiān's laughter became incredibly bright, "That's enough, that’s enough. You, Empress Fú Yǎ, and that mount beside you make three Saints. Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí, though their powers are boundless, it won't be easy for them to overcome the three of you." Fellow Daoist Gǔ only needs to..." Tōng Tiān mumbled something unintelligible, and Gǔ Wū chén accepted his terms.

A moment later, the contact between their divine thoughts ended. Gǔ Xié chén said to Fú Yǎ 7 Míng helplessly, "I have no choice; I’m forced to lend a hand once. Just this once, and then we wash our hands of it all. My only purpose for coming here was to bring you back."

Fú Yǎ 7 Míng tightly gripped Gǔ Xié chén's hand, smiling lightly, "I know you came this time only to retrieve me and Wú Míng’er. But now that we are here, I fear we can't escape the entanglement of these local feuds. How many followers do you have now? We can’t fight them without enough people."

Gǔ Xié chén secretly calculated his current visible and hidden forces, then shrugged nonchalantly, "Let's hope they don't force my hand." As they spoke and laughed, Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí had already arrived at the forefront. Jiē Yǐn chanted a Buddha's name and looked at Fú Yǎ 7 Míng gently, "Where does Dì Zūn Wáng Fó intend to go?"

Zhǔntí scrutinized Gǔ Xié chén up and down, his expression full of suspicion. He frowned and asked, "Gǔ Xié chén? How did you sneak into this universe? Besides the entrance we used to get here, you couldn't possibly have found the passage to arrive here so precisely." Gǔ Xié chén stared at Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí, only sneering repeatedly.

After laughing for a long time, long enough to make Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí visibly uncomfortable, Gǔ Wū chén finally said coldly, "How I arrived is none of your business! I am here to retrieve my wife and child—does that concern you? Two venerable Saints actually resorting to such kidnapping and coercion—shameful, truly shameful."

Jiē Yǐn’s expression grew more sorrowful, while Zhǔntí smiled genially, bowed to Gǔ Xié chén, and said carelessly, "The Dharma is boundless; the Buddha has affinity. This old monk invited Dì Zūn Wáng Fó here out of kindness, precisely to help Dì Zūn Wáng Fó escape the sea of suffering and enjoy this boundless purity." Gǔ Xié chén sneered, "Is fighting all day long as a thug considered boundless purity?"

Zhǔntí smiled lightly and said cheerfully, "Dì Zūn Wáng Fó eliminating rebels for our Buddhist Sect is a great merit. Only by correcting the Buddhist Sect can one attain that boundless scene of pure Buddha land."

Gǔ Xié chén clapped and laughed, "Good, well said, truly good! I’ve long heard that Saint Zhǔntí has a silver tongue capable of bringing the dead back to life—it truly lives up to its reputation!"

Zhǔntí smiled nonchalantly and then pressed his palms together toward Gǔ Wū chén, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Gǔ, on achieving the rank of Saint. In the future, our Western Sect will establish two Vice Sect Masters, and Dì Zūn Wáng Fó is certainly one of the top candidates. The other will be you, Fellow Daoist Gǔ!"

Zhǔntí smiled joyously, "Although Fellow Daoist Gǔ has been incarnated for over a thousand years, he still has ties with our Buddhist Sect. After a thousand years, Fellow Daoist Gǔ will still enter our fold, cultivate the golden body of a Buddha, and achieve the fruit of a Buddha Ancestor. Truly cause for congratulation, cause for much congratulation!" Gǔ Xié chén looked at Zhǔntí whose mouth poured forth golden lotuses and sighed deeply, "I do not agree."

Zhǔntí smiled, pressing his palms together, "This is destined; it is not up to Fellow Daoist Gǔ, not up to you. Not only must Fellow Daoist Gǔ enter our fold, but even your children have affinity with our Buddhist Sect. In the future, this poor Daoist will have a Golden Boy and Jade Maiden serving him. Wú Míng’er will be one of the Golden Boys. If you have a daughter in the future, she will be a Jade Maiden. If you have more children, they will also belong to the ranks of Golden Boys and Jade Maidens."

Gǔ Xié chén felt a surge of murderous intent rush to the top of his head upon hearing this. This Zhǔntí was utterly shameless! Not only did he forcibly deceive Fú Yǎ 7 Míng into being a Buddhist thug for so many years, but he even wanted to capture him in one net! Forcing him, Gǔ Xié chén, to be a thug for the Buddhist Sect was one thing, but dragging Wú Míng’er into it was another.

Ignoring the fate of the already-born Wú Míng’er was one thing, but calculating for his yet-unborn children was another matter entirely.

Did this mean he intended to capture the entire Gǔ Xié chén family, turning them into a lineage of bald monks? Boys becoming monks generation after generation, girls becoming nuns generation after generation. There could be nothing worse for a person than this.

Staring at Zhǔntí’s beaming face, Gǔ Xié chén said grimly, "Jiē Yǐn, Zhǔntí, you push too far. Either you die, or I die. Zhǔntí, say one more word, and I, Gǔ Xié chén, swear by the Heavenly Dao that I will exterminate your entire lineage!" Jiē Yǐn's facial muscles twitched, and his expression grew increasingly bitter.

Zhǔntí curled his lip, his smile growing even brighter. He pressed his palms together and said gently, "Fellow Daoist Gǔ, do you know your previous life? In your past existence, you were a disciple of our Buddhist Sect for generations; you truly have affinity with our Buddhist Sect." Gǔ Xié chén laughed, a very bright laugh. Zhǔntí was actually mentioning past lives to him?

He, Gǔ Wū chén, was precisely the one without a past life! He was a spiritual entity condensed from the essence blood of three hundred and sixty million Primordial Demon Gods; how could there be any talk of past or present lives? Zhǔntí continued babbling, "Back when you were still in your mother's womb, Tàishàng and Yuánshǐ were already plotting against you, and Hào Tiān and the Queen Mother had also made their moves. If not for the profound arts and immense power of this poor Daoist and my senior brother secretly protecting you, you would have long become their puppet!" Zhǔntí gestured animatedly and laughed, "Such fate, such karmic connection—do you understand?"

Gǔ Xié chén looked coldly at Zhǔntí and gently shook his head. In terms of verbal sparring, a hundred Gǔ Xié chéns couldn't match one Zhǔntí! With a long sigh, Gǔ Xié chén swung back and smashed the Heavenly Dao Seal toward Zhǔntí's face. Zhǔntí let out a loud laugh; he casually drew the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and lightly swept it toward the Heavenly Dao Seal.

Amidst the seven-colored divine glow, the Heavenly Dao Seal sank rapidly by about three zhang, making Zhǔntí’s wrist tremble so much that he nearly dropped the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree. But Zhǔntí was also a Saint, and he had attained the Dao far longer than Gǔ Wū chén; having comprehended the changes in the Heavenly Dao in this universe for countless years, his divine powers and magical abilities were extraordinary. He shook his wrist, and Zhǔntí bit down, managing to keep the Heavenly Dao Seal just outside his body.

Forcing out a slight smile, Zhǔntí said through clenched teeth, "Fellow Daoist Gǔ has profound cultivation. I hadn't expected it, hadn't expected that in just a thousand years, Fellow Daoist would advance to this level. Seeing this, Fellow Daoist Gǔ truly has affinity with our Buddhist Sect—a great affinity indeed!"

Gǔ Xié chén snorted coldly; the Three Corpses Primordial Spirits rushed out from above his head. The Chaos Primordial Spirit held the Chaos Bell and struck it with a heavy fist 108 times. The bell’s roar transformed into hazy light patterns that surged toward Zhǔntí. Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí cried out in unison, "The Chaos Bell? Didn't this treasure perish along with the Hào Tiān Pagoda?" Zhǔntí’s expression immediately turned bitter; clearly, having the Chaos Bell join the fight, he was struggling to hold on.

Jiē Yǐn stepped forward to block in front of Zhǔntí. A Nine-Grade Lotus Platform flew up above his head, gently warding off the sound wave attack from the Chaos Bell.

The lotus platform vibrated violently, and wave after wave of sound ripples and light patterns were shattered. Jiē Yǐn was shaken by the Chaos Bell so much that his body trembled, and he almost retreated a step.

Gǔ Xié chén’s expression also stiffened. The cultivation of Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí far exceeded his estimations. In Dao attainment, and in the understanding of Heavenly Dao rules, Gǔ Wū chén indeed surpassed Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí, especially since he had the Dao-Attainment experience of the Heavenly Emperor Hào Tiān and the Heavenly Dao laws within the Primal Dragon Pearl to draw upon.

However, in terms of magical power and cultivation, Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí were indeed seasoned Saints. Their magical power was more than a hundred times greater than Gǔ Wū chén’s!

Gǔ Xié chén's attack was like a heavy bomb dropped into the sea; although it caused the sea water to churn and created immense destruction on the surface, the seawater was inexhaustible. No matter how fiercely he bombed it, he could never completely evaporate the entire ocean. Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí joined forces and instantly stabilized the situation.

Jiē Yǐn returned to his sorrowful face, while Zhǔntí's face once again broke into a brilliant smile, "Fellow Daoist Gǔ, why don't you sit down calmly and discuss matters properly with this poor Daoist? Joining our Buddhist Sect brings many benefits! With guidance and instruction from my two senior brothers, your future prospects are limitless!"

Gǔ Xié chén intensified the input of magical power to resist Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí while coldly sneering, "After all that talk, you still just want to trick a few thugs into service!"

The counter-attack forces from Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí arrived wave after wave. Gǔ Wū chén's Heavenly Dao Seal and Chaos Bell, his two supreme treasures, rolled violently, on the verge of being forced back by the combined might of Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí. Fú Yǎ 7 Míng and the Demonic Dragon Gèn saw that the situation was not good and quickly moved forward a few steps, ready to offer assistance.

Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí’s attention was immediately drawn seventy percent by Fú Yǎ 7 Míng and the Demonic Dragon Gèn; they simultaneously prepared to counter the attacks from the two newcomers.

In less time than it takes to snap one's fingers, a streak of black light floated out from Gǔ Wū chén's sleeve. The Six Souls Banner, accompanied by strange wails, was grasped in his hand.

A certain restriction within the Six Souls Banner suddenly shattered, and an immense surge of magical power—enough to directly confront Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí—roared out. Gǔ Wū chén guided this massive power to activate the restrictions within the Six Souls Banner. On the six banner tails of the Six Souls Banner, two lines of tadpole-like divine script shone brightly, revealing the names of Jiē Yǐn and Zhǔntí!

Jieyin and Zhunti’s faces changed drastically; they hurriedly cried out in alarm as Gu Xiechen gripped the Six Soul Banner and shook it heavily.

With that single shake, all the magical power within Gu Wuchen was completely drained. Including the latent power already concealed within the Six Soul Banner, the immense force triggered countless profound restrictions hidden within the artifact. Two streams of dark energy shot out from the Six Soul Banner, striking heavily upon the heads of Jieyin and Zhunti.

The two Saints let out muffled groans. Ignoring the attacks from Gu Xiechen’s Heavenly Dao Seal and the Chaos Bell, they turned and rapidly retreated.

Their forms abruptly shriveled, and they fled backward at high speed, trembling all over. A viscous, honey-like substance, glowing like glazed jade and emitting a fragrance reminiscent of precious ambergris, slowly trickled from their seven orifices. The Six Soul Banner specialized in attacking the primordial spirit and soul, a power even Saints could not withstand.

Gu Xiechen, in effect, had jointly attacked with Daoist Tongtian, injuring both Jieyin and Zhunti. Their strength had now diminished by at least twenty percent.

Having gone this far, Gu Wuchen gritted his teeth, drawing nearly ninety percent of the source power from the Origin Yang Profound Pearl and the Origin Yin Profound Pearl, injecting it into his body. This instantly refilled his expended magic power and spiritual energy. He then activated the Heavenly Dao Seal and the Chaos Bell, launching another assault upon Jieyin and Zhunti.

Fuya 7 and Mo Yuelonggen intervened in a timely manner. Fuya 7 spat out a beam of sword light that shot toward the pair, while Mo Yuelonggen simply opened his massive mouth, extending a long tongue to swallow at the two Saints.

Jieyin and Zhunti hastily turned back. The Ninth Grade Lotus Platform and the Seven Treasure Tree swept out, generating a vast expanse of golden light in an attempt to block the incoming attacks.

Just then, countless streams of sword energy shot out from the void. A slender, middle-aged Daoist, clad in a crimson Daoist robe, materialized amidst the torrent of sword energy. He casually loosed two strands of sword light, thin as gossamer, toward Jieyin and Zhunti. Jieyin and Zhunti were terrified. They roared, “Tongtian, you plotted against us?”

The middle-aged Daoist, Sect Master Tongtian, remained silent, manipulating the two strands of sword energy to hack relentlessly at Jieyin and Zhunti, shearing their protective Buddha-light until it was fragmented and ragged. Jieyin and Zhunti grew desperate. The attacks from Fuya 7 and Mo Yuelonggen were moments from landing, and the suffocating pressure radiating from the Heavenly Dao Seal and the Chaos Bell was bearing down on them face-to-face. It seemed that if they were not careful, Jieyin and Zhunti faced imminent peril of annihilation.

Gritting his teeth and stamping his foot, Jieyin silently pulled an object from his sleeve and tossed it toward Sect Master Tongtian.

Sect Master Tongtian caught the dull, lusterless object, lowered his head, examined it closely, then suddenly roared with laughter three times. He withdrew his sword energy, nodded toward Gu Wuchen, and then his figure vanished abruptly. Gu Xiechen froze, then suddenly cursed Sect Master Tongtian under his breath. In this situation, it seemed he had merely acted as a hired enforcer! With a surge of resolve, he manipulated the Heavenly Dao Seal and the Chaos Bell, smashing them heavily into Jieyin and Zhunti. Gu Xiechen swept his vast sleeves, and with the people beside him, he departed triumphantly.

Jieyin and Zhunti each sustained a blow from the Heavenly Dao Seal and the Chaos Bell, their forms shrinking violently once more. Finally, they opened their mouths and spat out a stream of blood the color of glazed jade.

Zhunti slowly straightened his body, gritting his teeth and letting out a cold snort, “Senior Brother?”

Jieyin stood up, his expression gloomy, and stated, “We must find another way. With the Pagoda Fragment now in Tongtian’s possession, it will be hard to retrieve. We can only…”

Taking a deep breath, Jieyin roared sharply, “All Heavens and Buddha Realms, all Buddhas listen to my command: Attack the Heavenly Mansion with full force!” Jieyin’s face had turned somewhat ferocious. He hissed, “Haotian, Queen Mother, this time, even Hongjun cannot protect you…”