The city of Disha was now completely encircled by the massive army of Yan City, with no less than ten million demons lurking in the vicinity. After Ye Jingyu's strike with the Cangsheng Seal, the remaining forces of Disha numbered less than a million. Yet, these few hundred thousand demons now stood silently behind the figure of a certain man, their bodies radiating golden light, appearing utterly obedient.

The man held an expression of profound compassion, murmuring incessantly under his breath. Though his voice was not loud, it carried across the entire battlefield. Listening to those sounds, even the killing intent in the eyes of the demons flanking Bing Ming gradually faded, as if they were being hypnotized.

“Who are you?” Bing Ming spoke coldly, the iron sword behind his back trembling as if it were seconds away from being drawn.

“This humble monk is Ksitigarbha, and I have long awaited the esteemed donor!” Seeing Bing Ming arrive, the man smiled faintly and offered a respectful bow.

“Ksitigarbha? The Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha?” Bing Ming was startled. From Ye Jingyu, he had learned something about the ancient sacred beings. Hearing the name Ksitigarbha, astonishment flashed across Bing Ming’s face.

Ksitigarbha, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism, was rumored to possess power deeper than that of ordinary Buddhas. Except for a very select few ancient Buddhas, none matched his cultivation. However, because of the grand vow he made—“Until the hells are empty, I shall not attain Buddhahood!”—he had remained un-enlightened.

“Indeed, this humble monk,” Ksitigarbha replied with a slight smile.

“What do you wait for me for?” Seeing Ksitigarbha’s serene smile, a trace of unease flickered through Bing Ming’s heart.

“Esteemed donor has affinity with my Buddha; I have come specifically to ferry your spirit!” Ksitigarbha continued to speak with that same smile.

“Apologies, but I have absolutely no interest in your Buddha!” Bing Ming sneered. The iron sword behind his back suddenly let out a dragon's roar and shot out, appearing instantly in his right hand, an overwhelming surge of murderous aura erupting from within him.

Observing Bing Ming’s reaction, Ksitigarbha maintained his placid expression, as if Bing Ming’s response was entirely anticipated.

“Kill…” Bing Ming let out a cold snort and issued the command to attack. The demons behind him roared and charged toward the city of Disha.

Facing the assault of thousands of demons, Ksitigarbha’s face remained filled with compassion, seemingly viewing these demons not as enemies set to kill him, but as his own faithful adherents.

“My Buddha is merciful. Though your nature is savage, my Buddha is willing to redeem you all. Lay down your butcher’s blade and attain Buddhahood instantly!” A voice imbued with boundless compassion emanated from Ksitigarbha. Faint streams of golden light could be seen flickering and sinking directly into the bodies of the demons. Those normally ferocious creatures, upon hearing the sound, had their eyes gradually soften. Their once blood-red irises slowly became gentle and mild.

The intense killing intent gradually dissipated. Even the thick, dark clouds overhead began to thin under the influence of that sound. Some of the less powerful demons genuinely lowered their weapons, sat cross-legged, and began chanting sutras, mimicking Ksitigarbha’s posture.

The call to ‘Lay down the butcher’s blade and attain Buddhahood instantly’ echoed throughout the battlefield. As it sounded, more and more power of faith continuously gathered upon Ksitigarbha.

The golden light enveloping him grew brighter and larger, and the might of the accumulated faith grew stronger still.

Witnessing this, Bing Ming was struck with even greater horror. What an exemplary Ksitigarbha! Truly, “Until the hells are empty, I shall not attain Buddhahood.” He was using his own immense power of faith to convert these bloodthirsty demons.

If this continued for much longer, the entire Earth Alliance would soon become a domain of his faith. Bing Ming, tasked by Ye Jingyu to guard the Earth Alliance, could never allow such a thing to happen. His figure flashed, and he lunged directly toward Ksitigarbha.

If you intend to convert these demons, then I shall convert you first!

In almost an instant, Bing Ming’s figure appeared before Ksitigarbha, and his iron sword stabbed directly toward the Bodhisattva’s heart. The speed of his thrust was so fast that ordinary people could not react before the blade reached Ksitigarbha’s chest, nearly piercing the saffron robes.

This distance was perhaps less than a millimeter. Logically, he only needed a slight push to effortlessly run Ksitigarbha through, but for some inexplicable reason, this short distance felt like an insurmountable chasm to Bing Ming. No matter how hard he tried, he could not deliver that strike.

Bing Ming realized this was due to the opponent's vast divine abilities, utilizing the technique of Zhi Chi Tian Ya (A Ruler’s Length to Reach the Horizon). Seeing the faint smile on Ksitigarbha’s face ignited a surge of fury in his chest.

If I cannot stab you to death, then I will smash you!

With a single hand, he conjured the Kongtong Seal, radiating five-colored light, into the air. Bringing the power of the Five Elements down upon Ksitigarbha’s head.

The Kongtong Seal, refined by Fuxi, was a treasure meant to stabilize the world. Its destructive power was immense. The moment it was unleashed, the oppressive aura made Ksitigarbha’s brow furrow. Even though he was beyond the mundane and free from constraint, facing such an ancient divine artifact, he dared not be careless.

With a single finger gesture, golden lotuses bloomed around his body, forming a protective barrier. But as the Kongtong Seal descended, those golden lotuses shattered like dried mud under the sheer pressure.

Seeing this, Ksitigarbha was inwardly alarmed. He rapidly formed complex mudras with his hands, immediately manifesting the Amrita Vase Seal to cover the Kongtong Seal. A golden vase appeared in the sky, but it was instantly pulverized upon contact with the artifact.

Ksitigarbha’s expression changed again, yet, seemingly to maintain his composure, he showed no intention of dodging. He simply continued forming various hand seals, striking against the descending Kongtong Seal from above.

The Abhaya Mudra, the Vase Seal, the Padma Mudra, the Wish-Fulfilling Treasure Seal—huge hand seals erupted one after another. However, these seals, which Ksitigarbha prided himself on, possessed no power of resistance against the Kongtong Seal. With a deafening rumble, the hand seals were shattered one by one.

When the final Great Vow Seal was crushed, Ksitigarbha finally grasped the absolute, supreme power of the Kongtong Seal. Realizing he could not withstand it, he abandoned all pretense of composure. His body twisted, and he dodged sideways.

But it was too late. With a sharp kacha sound, the corner of the Kongtong Seal slammed viciously into his shoulder, smashing half his body into ruin. Large amounts of golden blood spilled out, and the lotus dais upon which he had been seated was pulverized.

“Aaaah…” The composure on Ksitigarbha’s face vanished completely. He truly hadn't expected that Bing Ming, a mere cultivator at the Cosmic level (Zhou Ji), could wield such terrifying power with the Kongtong Seal.

At that moment, Bing Ming’s figure reappeared before Ksitigarbha. His iron sword pierced toward the Bodhisattva’s brow with blinding, lightning-fast speed.

Ksitigarbha was enraged, but with half his body mangled by the Kongtong Seal, his balance was gone. How could he possibly defend against this ultimate strike? He could only desperately turn his head.

With a sharp shwa sound, the iron sword, which Bing Ming had personally refined for countless years, cleanly sheared off more than half of Ksitigarbha’s head. Vast amounts of golden cerebral fluid sprayed outward…

Ksitigarbha was furious. He had never expected this opponent’s speed to be so terrifying, nor had he imagined Bing Ming would genuinely attack him, and with such brutal ruthlessness. He was Ksitigarbha! Did this fellow truly possess no reverence whatsoever in his heart?

Bing Ming had no reverence. He never had. Whether you were Ksitigarbha or the Buddha Lord made no difference to him; in his eyes, only Ye Jingyu and the Ten Yama Kings existed. Even if Ksitigarbha was once the superior of those Ten Kings, what did that have to do with him?

You wish to convert me? Then I absolutely will not let you!

After severing half of Ksitigarbha’s head, he made no move to retract his sword. Bing Ming stepped forward, his left hand having retrieved the Kongtong Seal. He raised the artifact and brought it crashing down upon the remaining half of Ksitigarbha’s skull.

Strike them while they’re down, finish them off—that has always been the principle of our group. Never give the enemy a chance to resist…

However, Ksitigarbha was a figure renowned for ages; how could he be killed so easily by Bing Ming? Facing the roaring descent of the Kongtong Seal, his body flickered, suddenly vanishing without a trace. When he reappeared, he was already a thousand miles away, and his injuries—save for the shoulder smashed by the Kongtong Seal—were rapidly healing.

“Good, very good! I never thought that Ksitigarbha would nearly capsize in a ditch today. Bing Ming, I gave you an opportunity. Since you didn't cherish it, don't blame me for being impolite!” The expression of compassion on Ksitigarbha’s face was completely gone. Naked killing intent radiated outwards. He was the Ksitigarbha who once guarded the Sea of Blood, constantly dealing with demons. Trying to convert all demons with mere words was impossible; the most direct method of conversion was always brute force—absolutely overwhelming violence…

Beneath Ksitigarbha’s guise of mercy hid a profoundly sanguinary and cruel heart, a heart of savagery…

Seeing how easily Ksitigarbha evaded his attack, Bing Ming understood that the opponent’s power far exceeded his own. If a surprise attack failed to kill him, there was no way Bing Ming could handle him now that he was on guard. He didn't linger, immediately turning and fleeing toward the east.

Although Ye Jingyu had instructed him to guard the Earth Alliance, he had stressed that the most important task was to protect himself. As long as the green mountains remained, he wouldn't worry about firewood. He certainly wouldn't sacrifice himself here!

“Trying to leave now? It’s too late. Boundless Divine Seal—Go!” Ksitigarbha let out a light snort, and an immense gravitational force instantly formed from the heavens…