Li Yundong’s palm strike was originally intended to take the life of this Tachibana Chizi, but as his hand neared her head, she erupted into terrified, piercing cries.
Li Yundong’s surging anger immediately dissipated. His hand froze inches above Chizi’s forehead, his expression as cold as deep water, his gaze piercing as he stared at her: “Yield?”
Chizi’s face was a mask of sheer terror, tears streaming down her cheeks as she nodded her head rapidly, like a chick pecking grain: “I yield! Please don’t hit me!”
Li Yundong felt a strange mixture of annoyance and amusement. Her breakdown made him seem like a brute bullying a child, yet he maintained his severe facade. His gaze remained icy as he drilled into her: “Are there no true masters in our Central Continent?”
Chizi tilted her head back, staring at the terrifying, majestic vertical eye on Li Yundong’s forehead. Her teeth chattered incessantly, like a small lamb facing a lion or tiger. She sobbed haltingly, “Yes, you are a master!”
Only then did Li Yundong nod. He retracted his hand, and the Yang Spirit of the immovable Fudo Myoo, which had glared forth, swiftly retreated back through the vertical eye fixed upon his brow.
As soon as Li Yundong’s Yang Spirit re-entered his body, the vertical eye on his forehead slowly closed, gradually fading until it vanished entirely. Chizi watched as Li Yundong’s forehead became smooth once more, as if that fearsome Myoo’s Eye had never appeared at all.
Yet, Chizi never again dared to look down upon Li Yundong, nor entertain any hint of disrespect or offense toward him. She gazed at him as one might look upon a natural predator, her eyes brimming with awe and dread.
In Buddhism, the Tathagata Buddha holds the supreme spiritual power. However, despite his boundless might, the Buddha is inherently compassionate, abstaining from anger and wrath; he would even offer his own body to feed an eagle. Thus, the Buddha rarely engages in direct combat. Even against Sun Wukong, he merely turned his palm to admonish him. But should the Buddha face an onslaught of demons and fiends, or encounter a grave spiritual crisis within Buddhism, his wrath manifests as the Myoo (Wisdom Kings). These Myoo then act on the Buddha’s behalf to vanquish demons and save the Dharma from ruin.
Within the world of Buddhist practice—whether in ancient Indian Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, or Japanese Buddhism—it is universally agreed among these various schools that among all the Wisdom Kings, Fudo Myoo possesses the greatest combat prowess and is the strongest in spiritual contest. Any other deity confronting him would automatically rank one level beneath.
The Japanese have always venerated the ultimate strongman. Consequently, the statues enshrined in Kongobu-ji Temple on Mount Kōya are predominantly those of Fudo Myoo. Across the entire monastic complex of Kōya-san, the sheer number of Fudo Myoo statues surpasses the count of all other divine images combined, even overshadowing the effigies of the highest-ranking Tathagata Buddha in terms of offerings and incense. It could be said that Mount Kōya is the sacred domain dedicated solely to the spiritual might of Fudo Myoo.
Having grown up on Kōya-san since childhood, Chizi’s reverence and worship for Fudo Myoo were deeply ingrained. Thus, when she suddenly beheld this Myoo manifestation, she instantly lost all capacity for resistance. Most crucially, the light emanating from the vertical eye on Li Yundong’s forehead held an overwhelming majesty, commanding absolute awe—a radiance signifying a power capable of crushing all opposition, rendering her utterly immobilized even if she harbored the will to fight.
In Chizi’s subconscious, a thought flashed violently: Could this man be the reincarnation of Fudo Myoo? Otherwise, how could he possess the divine power of the Myoo’s manifestation?
However, while Chizi could clearly see the Myoo’s vertical eye on Li Yundong’s person, the others standing behind him saw nothing of the sort. They remained entirely unaware that it was the Myoo Eye on his forehead that had truly cowed Chizi into submission.
They only witnessed Li Yundong’s Yang Spirit abruptly morph into a divine figure with three heads and six arms, launching a palm strike toward Chizi, which caused the young woman to burst into heartbroken sobs.
The onlookers were stunned into silence, yet simultaneously felt a mix of shock and mirth. They began whispering amongst themselves: “No way? She actually cried from being hit?”
“What’s going on here? Don’t they know the difference between drawing blood and drawing tears? What kind of cultivator is this?”
“Still, she’s just a little girl…”
“Pah! What little girl? Have you ever seen a little girl fight that fiercely before?”
“Maybe this Tachibana Chizi is all bark and no bite? Otherwise, why would she burst into tears before True Man Li even landed a blow?”
“Nonsense! You try stepping up there if you think it’s so easy?”
“Tsk, you think I don’t want to? It’s just that True Man Li was quicker to the draw!”
“Damn you, all you do is play Monday morning quarterback! If you’re so bold, why don’t you challenge True Man Li right now?”
“Hey, what kind of talk is that? We stick together against outsiders, don’t we? We don’t attack our own people!”
“Oh, and who was it yelling threats at True Man Li just a moment ago?”
The crowd erupted into a cacophony of chatter. Su Chan, Ziyuan, Zhou Qin, and the others, who had been watching the confrontation with intense tension, broke into excited cheers when they saw Li Yundong subdue the formidable Miko, Tachibana Chizi, with a single strike. The little fox spirits were particularly ecstatic, howling and yelling as if their Sect Master’s triumph on the stage brought them greater personal joy than their own successes.
One of the fox spirits, amidst the uproar, bellowed at the top of her lungs: “Long live the Sect Master! May the Sect Master live ten thousand years and rule the martial world!”
The little fox spirits, used to their playful demeanor, though previously reprimanded by Li Yundong’s sharp words, were now carried away by the sheer euphoria of victory. They inexplicably shouted in unison again: “Long live the Sect Master! May the Sect Master live ten thousand years and rule the martial world!”
While Su Chan and Ruan Hongling merely smiled at the outburst, Ziyuan and Zhou Qin froze simultaneously, their eyes darting nervously toward the cultivators from the other sects gathered around.
Fortunately, most cultivators from the various sects were still immersed in the joy of the victory and paid little heed to the chant. Ziyuan and Zhou Qin let out quiet sighs of relief.
After withdrawing his hand, Li Yundong addressed Chizi: “Let me tell you, our Central Continent is a place where dragons lie hidden and tigers lurk; we have countless masters. Even I am not necessarily considered a top master—the truly supreme ones you haven’t met, and frankly, I haven’t either. So, do not view our Divine Land through the narrow perspective of a frog in a well, or you will only bring disgrace upon yourself!”
Chizi wiped her tears and nodded instinctively: “I understand. I won’t do it again…”
Seeing her pathetic, tearful state, Li Yundong, who had always possessed a soft heart for beautiful women, sighed inwardly and turned to address the assembled cultivators: “My esteemed colleagues, I suggest we let this matter pass today. What are your thoughts?”
The cultivators exchanged glances. They all thought: This contest was won by True Man Li; naturally, whatever he suggests is what we will do!
They responded in a loud chorus: “True Man Li, we shall follow your decree!”
The members of the Qingcheng Sect and the Orthodox Unity Sect, who had suffered the worst beatings, felt lingering resentment. However, since Ziyuan had soundly punished Shenxiu, and Li Yundong had reduced their Miko to tears, they conceded. Cultivators prize reputation above all else, preferring death to loss of face. Therefore, they echoed the sentiment: “True Man Li, please decide the matter yourself!”
Li Yundong nodded, then turned to Wan Zhenyuan: “Sect Master Wan, what is your opinion?”
Wan Zhenyuan observed that Li Yundong, having achieved a resounding victory, not only refrained from pressing charges regarding their earlier coercion but also showed great consideration for the reputation of the major sects. Most astonishingly, despite being universally acclaimed, he displayed no arrogance, instead thoughtfully soliciting Wan Zhenyuan’s view—a clear sign that the man possessed deep insight and profound strategy, one not to be dismissed lightly.
A severe alarm blared in Wan Zhenyuan’s mind: The old schemers have likely chosen the wrong tool! This Li Yundong, so young, yet possessing a bearing and stature I have never witnessed. Such a person will never willingly submit to manipulation or act as a puppet!
Though inwardly ringing with alarm, Wan Zhenyuan maintained a cheerful facade, laughing: “True Man Li is too modest. With such divine power, you have simultaneously restored the honor of our cultivation world’s various sects and brought glory to our Central Continent’s cultivation community. As an observer, how can I presume to offer judgment?”
Li Yundong smiled faintly: “Sect Master Wan, you are the host of this Lotus Gathering; your opinion naturally carries weight.”
Though wary of Li Yundong, Wan Zhenyuan felt a flush of pride at the acknowledgment. Delighted, he chuckled: “Then allow me to offer a single sentence for your consideration, True Man Li.”
Li Yundong smiled: “Sect Master Wan, please proceed.”
Wan Zhenyuan laughed: “Let the Three Pure Ones return to the Three Pure Ones, and let the Buddha return to the Buddha. Send them back to wherever they came from!”
Everyone burst into laughter, turning toward Tachibana Chizi, Shenxiu, and Cinen, roaring, “Little devils, scram back where you belong!”
Cinen and Shenxiu stood rigid, their faces burning with shame and anger. Cinen shouted toward Chizi: “Tachibana Chizi, we’re leaving!”
Chizi lowered her head, carefully retrieving her magical implements, and began shuffling toward Cinen with tiny steps. But after only a few paces, she turned back, mumbling something as if she needed to ask Li Yundong a question, yet the words died on her lips.
Chizi cast a respectful glance at Li Yundong, finally turning away completely, following Cinen with hesitant, small steps as they descended from the small pavilion.
As they walked, she repeatedly questioned herself internally: Is he truly the reincarnation of Fudo Myoo?
Cinen’s face was ashen, his hands hidden deep within his sleeves. Only after the three figures were far away did he turn, his expression grim, and hiss at Chizi: “Baka! Chizi, how could you lose without a fight! To be scared into crying by him—it disgraces our Mount Kōya! Did you waste your time in Okunoin? Were the powers of your ancestral spirits not enough to give you the courage to fight? If it were me, I would have committed seppuku right there! This is an unparalleled humiliation!”
Chizi, chastised by Cinen, her eyes welling up with tears, couldn't help but argue shrilly: “But this fellow was too strong! I couldn’t match him!”
Cinen roared with fury: “How strong could he be? A Yang Spirit manifestation of three heads and six arms? That’s merely what he visualized! The Yang Spirits of Daoist cultivators can take any form; appearance alone holds no inherent power! You were frightened away by something so simple—you disappoint me greatly!”
Shenxiu, who had remained silent, also couldn't help but chide: “Miss Tachibana Chizi, I say this not to mock you, but although you are a Miko, you are also a leading inheritor of our Yamato spirit of Bushido. How could you surrender without battle?”
Chizi wept: “But he had a vertical eye on his forehead too! The Peacock Myoo spirit I summoned, the moment it saw that eye, it fled back into the Eightfold Divine Banner on its own! My ancestral Miko spirits dared not emerge either. What could I do?”
Cinen blinked, taken aback: “He had a vertical eye on his forehead?”
Chizi cried out loudly: “Yes! The gaze from the vertical eye on his forehead was so terrifying that I was utterly paralyzed after just one look!”
Cinen gasped in shock: “Why didn’t I see it?”
Chizi, already feeling wronged by Cinen’s reprimand, shouted back: “You were facing his back, so of course, you couldn’t see it!”
Cinen stared at Chizi, his expression shifting between doubt and surprise. He sucked in a sharp breath: “A vertical eye manifested on his physical body? This… could this be the actual Myoo Dharma Body?”
Chizi wiped her tears: “I thought so too, but I didn’t dare ask!”
Cinen’s face darkened, and he muttered: “What Chizi says isn’t impossible. Otherwise, why were those hundred ghosts and Vajras unable to approach him earlier? And why did the Peacock Myoo vanish automatically upon getting near him? If he is not Fudo Myoo, how could he withstand the divine authority of a true god like the Peacock Myoo?”
Shenxiu, standing by, was dumbfounded. The thought that he had actually considered challenging this Myoo manifestation sent a chill down his spine. He stammered: “This man named Li Yundong… is he truly the reincarnation of Fudo Myoo? How could the Fudo Myoo worshipped by our Shingon school have reincarnated into the Chinese cultivation world? Could this mean heaven intends to destroy us at Mount Kōya?”
Cinen’s expression was extremely grim. He advised cautiously: “Shenxiu, do not overthink this. Even if the Central Continent has supreme masters, we need not worry. No matter how powerful this Li Yundong is, there will be others to deal with him for us. The Chinese habit of internal strife is deeply rooted in their national character. To them, the real existential threat is not outsiders like us, but their own people—perhaps even Li Yundong himself!”
With a sigh, he gently stroked Chizi’s hair and said softly: “I apologize, Chizi; I misjudged you. If this Li Yundong is the reincarnation of Fudo Myoo, then your power, no matter how great, is useless. Let us return first. Once back, we will inform the Grand Headquarters about the reincarnation of Fudo Myoo, and then we will devise a new plan!”
While Cinen, Chizi, and Shenxiu were plotting their counter-strategy, the cultivators, freed from the external threat, suddenly found themselves facing a dilemma of how to proceed.
Previously, they had forced Li Yundong out of the Lotus Gathering. But now, these three Japanese cultivators had arrived and nearly routed them. Had Li Yundong not intervened at the last moment to turn the tide, the entire Lotus Gathering would have ended in utter humiliation!
But what if Li Yundong, backed by the immense favor he had just granted them, demanded they rejoin the competition?
His power in spiritual combat was already terrifying, and now he wielded such formidable artifacts. From this day forward, who in the world could hope to challenge him? This Li Yundong was this formidable while so young; what would he become after a few more years of cultivation? Would he truly fulfill the fox spirits’ chant: “Live ten thousand years and rule the martial world”?
The initial joy of victory gradually receded among the cultivators of the various sects, leaving each one mired in contemplation and struggle…