Veda, along with the Three Great Heavenly Kings, felt as if their very bodies were caught in a mire, unable to break free no matter how hard they struggled, filling their hearts with sheer terror. They had been dispatched by Amitabha Buddha with the express purpose of slaying Ye Jingyu. They had initially assumed that, given their own strength and operating within the sanctuary of the Twenty-Four Heavens, eliminating a mere novice who had just taken his final step would be utterly effortless. Yet, unexpectedly, they had run headlong into an insurmountable obstacle. Worse still, that rogue Sun Wukong had actually sided with the boy! This outcome was entirely beyond the Buddha’s calculations.

Especially now, what was this technique he was employing? It made them feel as though they were sinking into deep mud!

Even as they were still reeling in astonishment, a golden figure hurtled towards them…

It appeared to be Sun Wukong coming. The remaining Three Heavenly Kings were struck with internal dread, and the Heavenly King Virudhaka cried out directly, “Victorious Fighting Buddha! Are you truly moving to strike us?”

“Heh heh, we’ve already started fighting, so what’s there to say about ‘truly’ or not!” Sun Wukong chuckled, and the golden staff in his hand flashed down like lightning.

Seeing Sun Wukong actually take action so decisively, it wasn't just Veda and the others who were taken aback; even Ye Jingyu felt a measure of surprise. Although Sun Wukong shared a kindred spirit with him, and even had some acquaintance with the ancestor who transmitted the Bā Yuán Jué to him, he was, after all, the Victorious Fighting Buddha. His previous attacks on the Heavenly King Dhrtarastra or his spar with Veda had been largely playful; even when battling the Lord of Destruction, he hadn't used his full strength, maintaining an air of mere amusement. But why was he so serious now? And all of them clearly sensed the killing intent radiating from Sun Wukong.

Yes, a palpable, genuine killing intent. Was he actually intending to kill them all?

Under the disbelieving gaze of the Heavenly King Dhrtarastra, the golden staff smashed down with ferocious force onto his crown. This was nearly the culmination of Sun Wukong’s most potent strike. Dhrtarastra didn't even have time to utter a sound before his entire body shattered, dissolving into nothingness.

This swift, thunderous sequence left the remaining two Heavenly Kings utterly stunned. They were beings who had lived for countless ages; even the great Hongjun Dao Ancestor, when attempting to build the Bridge to the Other Shore, had only escaped ruin because Amitabha Buddha had lured him west. Yet now, one of them had fallen—a true demise, dissolving completely into ash, just like those sacred beings who perished while building that very bridge.

Beyond shock, they felt something stronger: fear. Yes, a deep, inherent terror. Anyone who claims immortals do not fear death is lying; if they didn't fear death, why pursue cultivation? Why chase the supreme Heavenly Dao? They feared death more than ordinary mortals.

This was especially true for Heavenly Kings like themselves, beings already transformed by Amitabha Buddha, transcending the Five Elements and escaping the Three Realms—they feared annihilation above all.

They were truly immortal and indestructible; even if the world was annihilated, they would remain unaffected. But now, being struck down by Sun Wukong and Ye Jingyu, who were equally immortal, how could they not be horrified?

Self-detonation? Fighting to the death? Those were actions for ants. They had struggled for ages to reach their current station; there was no way they would throw their lives away against Ye Jingyu and the others. Confronted by Sun Wukong’s earth-shattering blow, facing the undeniable reality of their two companions perishing before their very eyes, they made their decision instantly.

The Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa cast out his precious banner without a second thought, instantly bathing the world in blinding light. The Heavenly King Virūpākṣa pulled out a śarīra—they couldn't fathom where he had obtained it—and hurled it toward the Monkey King and Ye Jingyu speeding through the sky.

Veda, however, was more direct. His figure rapidly fled toward Yuan. The show was nearly over, and it had clearly gone disastrously wrong. It was time to reclaim the props. Yuan, this demon who had grasped a shred of Buddhist truth and luckily managed to cultivate a Dharma Body, was certainly unworthy of possessing the Nine-Petaled Lotus Platform and the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Pearls.

Even if they converted to the faith of Our Buddha, at best they would become beings like the Nāga-Devas, merely guardian deities of Buddhism.

And Veda’s internal calculus was even sharper: if he could seize the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Pearls and then the Nine-Petaled Lotus Platform, perhaps he could still salvage the situation.

Seeing Veda charging at him, Yuan immediately grasped his intent. Though he knew he had been betrayed by those higher up, and though he knew his current cultivation was insufficient to resist them, he was Yuan—the sole bloodline of the Lord of Destruction. He did not want to die, could not die, and absolutely refused to have the bridge torn down before he even crossed the river…

With a single finger point, the Abi Sword and the Yuantu Sword shot straight towards Veda.

“Those two items are not yours to possess!” Just then, Jue’s cold voice cut through the air. The Abi Sword and Yuantu Sword, which had been aimed at Veda, suddenly changed trajectory, instead piercing towards Yuan.

Yuan gasped in horror. The Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus beneath him instantly burst forth with brilliant golden light, forming clusters of radiance that fiercely protected him. The two sharp swords struck the golden light, creating ripples and causing the aura to tremble violently.

Veda arrived beside Yuan at that moment, raising his battered Demon-Subduing Pestle and bringing it crashing down towards Yuan’s crown.

With a sharp “Crack…,” the golden light emanating from the Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus could no longer withstand the force of the pestle and shattered. Veda immediately reached out a hand, grasping towards the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Pearls hovering above Yuan’s head.

“My apologies, that is not something you are entitled to possess,” Jue’s cold sneer echoed again, and in his hand now appeared an object of purple-gold—the Purple-Gold Alms Bowl, which was the natal magic treasure of the former Dipankara Buddha.

A beam of purple-gold light washed over, enveloping the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Pearls and instantly drawing them in…

“You… you… you are under the command of the Netherworld Sect Master? How… how do you possess the Purple-Gold Alms Bowl?” Seeing Jue capture twenty Sea-Calming Pearls with the Alms Bowl, Veda’s face registered absolute, petrified shock—a look more astonished than seeing an alien.

After all, Dipankara, possessing cultivation second only to the Sect Master back then, had converted to Amitabha Buddha. But in the end, in his ambition to transition from a spectator to a player on the board alongside the Three Pure Ones and Amitabha, he had resolutely joined the effort to build the Bridge to the Other Shore, meeting his final end in the process. His Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Pearls had been obtained by Amitabha Buddha, but his natal treasure, the Purple-Gold Alms Bowl, should have perished with him. How could it appear here?

“What Purple-Gold Alms Bowl he has is none of your business,” At that moment, Ye Jingyu’s figure materialized behind Veda, and he reached out directly for Veda’s back heart.