“Reform the formation!”
Without needing any reminder from the already injured Zongzan, the moment Yangjin spoke, another master was already shouting hoarsely.
At this critical moment, the sacred hall cultivators’ reaction speed wasn’t slow either.
The New Esoteric cultivators who hadn’t been affected by the Chan Buddhist monk Huinian’s attack immediately stepped up to replace the injured cultivators’ positions, and the Ten Heavens Great Formation was reformed once again.
Under their full exertion, its power had reached its peak!
But it was still too slow!
The one attacking them wasn’t a cultivator of their same realm, but the Dakini Yangjin, who could be called a “great power” throughout the entire Nineteen Continents!
The Returning to Void period was already the seventh level among all cultivation realms—how could ordinary people predict such strength?
Though Jian Chou had previously fought with the Precious Mirror Dharma King, who was also at Returning to Void, that was when he was severely injured and she had ambushed him. Apart from that silver precious mirror, she hadn’t felt anything particularly extraordinary about him.
It seemed that Returning to Void cultivators were nothing special.
Only now, witnessing the Dakini Yangjin take action with her own eyes, did she understand—what it truly meant to be Returning to Void!
Her five fingers, soft, white, and slender, bathed in moonlight, showed a silver-white snow color.
Yangjin’s face was instantly submerged in radiance. Her full lips moved slightly, as if murmuring chants flowed from her mouth, and then the depths of her eyes were tinged with a layer of solemn Buddhist light.
At this moment, she appeared emotionless and unfeeling, like a divine statue standing in the heavens!
Entering the World realizes the many sufferings of the mortal realm; Returning to Void can transcend heaven and earth, achieving enlightenment of the true mind.
Yangjin seemed to slowly raise her hand, but this seemingly slow speed left a string of captivating afterimages in the void, like the thousand hands of Guanyin.
She formed a hand seal and struck it forward, saying only faintly: “Mountain, come.”
Snow-white radiance flew from her fingertips, scattering in the blink of an eye and striking into the surrounding ground!
In that instant, the entire sacred mountain was actually shaken by her power, trembling thunderously!
The ice plains around the sacred hall, originally flat, now showed countless enormous cracks, as if beneath this ice that had been frozen for millions of years, some ferocious creature was constantly ramming!
“Rumble…”
Terrifying roars assaulted everyone’s eardrums.
The next moment, that shocking scene left all who witnessed it mentally disturbed and speechless for a long time!
What emerged from beneath the ten-thousand-year ice wasn’t some flood or beast, yet was more shocking than any legendary fierce creature!
It was actually one massive ice peak after another!
They varied in form but shared nearly identical coldness and steepness, like sharp knives and blades protruding from the depths of the ice plains!
After appearing for just a moment, they wildly grew three thousand feet!
The originally magnificent and imposing sacred hall, surrounded by these cold and abrupt peaks, couldn’t help but display a somewhat inferior and humble appearance.
People within the sacred hall, embraced by snow peaks, were like a solitary city among ten-thousand-foot mountains!
The mountains were still growing taller.
But even more terrifying was that as Yangjin pressed down with her palm, these ice and snow-covered peaks, in this ground-covering terrifying silence, all let out a teeth-aching “creak” sound—
Ten thousand snow peaks suddenly toppled!
Seas dry and stones crumble, mountains collapse and earth splits.
The flat earth was pried up by the tremendous force of the collapsing mountains, leaving ugly and deep scars on the sacred mountain. Peaks thousands of feet high collapsed like broken heavenly pillars or fallen Mount Buzhou, all heading toward the central sacred hall!
The entire magnificent palace complex, under such might, seemed like a jade bowl about to be smashed by giant stones!
Above and below, there was nowhere to escape!
The Dakini Yangjin, standing proudly in the void, used her strength to explain to everyone what the power to “whip mountains and drive seas” truly meant!
Her attack showed no restraint, coming indiscriminately toward the entire sacred hall!
Though Jian Chou and Xie Buchen hid in the shadows and hadn’t participated, they were still within the sacred hall. Looking up at this moment, they saw all the surrounding snow peaks falling inward, like a canopy descending to crush everything, sealing everyone in the middle!
This was clearly a funeral for all of New Esoteric Buddhism!
If these surrounding snow peaks truly covered everything tightly, wouldn’t it be the perfect coffin?
Between raising her hand and moving her foot, without showing any sign of strain, she achieved such power!
Was this what true Returning to Void was like?
Jian Chou’s heart couldn’t help but be shocked by the Dakini Yangjin’s overwhelming strength. Beyond inexplicable admiration, she felt somewhat fortunate.
If the Precious Mirror Dharma King hadn’t been severely injured, if she hadn’t used the Eyebrow Leaf attack directly for certainty, the outcome of that recent surprise attack would still be uncertain!
The abilities of Returning to Void great powers truly exceeded ordinary imagination.
This realm was so unreachably distant for ordinary people, even for common geniuses. So much so that at this moment, Jian Chou couldn’t compare based on her knowledge and experience whether the Dakini Yangjin or that Lord Qin Guang from the Extreme Domain was more powerful.
Like how mortals couldn’t distinguish with the naked eye which star was closer to earth.
The moment Yangjin launched her attack, the entire space above the sacred hall was locked.
Teleportation couldn’t be used, nor could spatial movement.
Leaving at this time had become impossible, not to mention the countless New Esoteric monks around them. All Jian Chou could do was tighten all her defenses!
A golden scale-light flashed at her brow, then quietly adhered back.
Every inch of flesh, every portion of bone throughout her body surged with dense spiritual energy, burned with misty azure lotus spirit fire, and swam with sharp black wind…
But none of this showed on the surface—at most one could notice her straighter spine and the hand gripping the Burning Lamp Sword more tightly!
She showed no panic, and Xie Buchen was even less anxious.
Their combined strength really wasn’t much among this sacred hall filled with masters. But they came from Kunwu and Yashan respectively, and were moreover the prodigies of their generation from these two sects—dying in this melee would be too embarrassing for the Central Domain.
He remained standing to one side, letting the fierce wind roll down from overhead without moving an inch.
But those New Esoteric monks bearing the brunt weren’t faring well.
The moment this world-destroying scene appeared, the moment that overwhelming pressure descended, the seemingly indestructible Ten Heavens Great Formation was already tottering!
Before those ten-thousand-foot mountains could collapse and crash down, the entire Ten Heavens Great Formation had already crumbled with a thunderous crash!
When Huinian had acted previously, he had only injured dozens of people.
But this time, under the pressure about to crash on their heads, all those forming the formation spat out blood simultaneously. Those slightly weaker in cultivation all looked haggard, their eyes dimmed, obviously having their souls injured as well.
How could the dozens of masters gathered together have expected this situation?
The rapid advancement of New Esoteric monks’ cultivation was thanks to that Great Honored One Shaoji. But when Yangjin had defected from New Esoteric Buddhism, where had she been this powerful?
This sudden attack, so strong to this degree, was truly caught them completely off guard!
Seeing the Ten Heavens Great Formation turn to nothing in an instant, they were all practically dumbstruck.
Only the more quick-witted among them immediately realized the danger. After shouting “Quickly dodge!” they formed Buddhist lotus hand seals, summoned their usual golden vajra bodies, and tried to hide in the few gaps left when the mountains collapsed!
But these people were ultimately a minority. By the time more monks tried to react, it was already too late.
In their panicked and desperate gazes, the snow-white radiant mountains drew closer and closer, about to crash onto them in the next moment, crushing them to pieces and scattering their souls!
But just at this moment, a cold voice suddenly came from extremely deep underground.
“Yangjin, don’t go too far!”
This voice?
Yangjin’s ink-painted slender eyebrows raised slightly, a few points of smile appearing on her face. Though she seemed relaxed, the wariness in her expression instantly deepened.
She naturally knew who had arrived, but her actions didn’t pause at all—instead, she pressed down even faster and more ruthlessly!
“Crack crack crack!”
The enormous collapsing sound instantly spread from the snowy domain’s peak in all directions. Viewed from afar, one might think the entire sacred mountain was about to split and collapse.
Those ten-thousand-foot peaks surrounding the sacred hall looked like a white lotus gradually closing toward the center!
The New Esoteric cultivators heard that sudden voice and were initially delighted, but unexpectedly, at this point Yangjin not only didn’t stop but became even more vicious and maniacal!
That bit of joy hadn’t had time to show on their faces before greater panic struck their hearts!
The monks with nowhere to hide all broke out in cold sweats, thinking they were certainly doomed.
Even Jian Chou and Xie Buchen, watching from the side, simultaneously showed grave expressions and began preparing methods to protect themselves.
But who could have expected that at this life-or-death moment—
That previous cold voice actually snorted coldly again. But now the voice no longer came from deep underground, but from the nearby Saint’s Hall!
Then the entire ground began shaking, and a vast shadow rose from the earth, directly meeting the snow peaks!
This shadow’s scope was too large and wide—it even flew up from beneath everyone’s feet.
As if something had been called by some mysterious power, flying out from the depths underground and gathering toward mid-air. When this shadow was a hundred feet from the ground, it became clearly visible.
Every inch, every fraction, every detail was exactly identical to the earth bearing the sacred hall!
Such a scene, such a situation…
For a moment, Jian Chou couldn’t help feeling strangely familiar, immediately remembering when the Immortal Wuzhong had separated her body and soul with that grab.
Directly penetrating through the shell to extract her soul!
And at this moment, this shadow above her head heading toward the snow peaks and the earth beneath her feet gave her the same feeling!
As if the earth below was the shell, and what flew to the sky was the soul.
This great power who later fought Yangjin had clearly directly extracted the soul of this snowy domain sacred mountain’s earth to resist Yangjin!
How could Yangjin not see the depth of this? Just upon discovering that shadow, she was already somewhat gritting her teeth: “Houtu Seal!”
“Rumble…”
The earth shadow crashed forward boldly. Though it seemed ethereal, when it truly collided, it was solid as rock! The numerous surrounding snow peaks with their tremendous momentum couldn’t destroy even half of it!
Heaven vast, earth boundless!
All things were born within it. Snow peaks emerged from the earth—when truly opposing it, how could they prevail?
The stalemate lasted only that brief moment.
Not even the time of one breath—the downward force of those countless ten-thousand-foot snow peaks disappeared completely in this deadlock. Then the massive earth shadow maintained its previous speed, like a piece of land rising to the sky, rushing toward the heights, toward the firmament, toward the boundless night sky above this snowy domain!
In that instant, it was like a true “heavenly Buddha realm”!
“Houtu Seal…”
Jian Chou naturally heard what Yangjin had just said and was very clear about this thing’s origins. At this moment, her brow furrowed slightly as she looked toward the Saint’s Hall.
That shadow of snowy domain earth in the sky had already dispersed like a dream bubble. Many great halls on this sacred mountain peak had suffered considerable damage in that previous exchange, but only the Saint’s Hall in the very center remained unharmed.
The barefoot youth who had stood above earlier had disappeared at some point.
At this time, standing above was a monk wearing deep red robes, with thick, angry eyebrows, a high nose bridge, somewhat sunken cheeks, and thick lips that now bore a hint of an unclear smile.
One look was enough to know he was different from other New Esoteric monks.
Everyone wore the same deep red robes, but his had golden Sanskrit woven into it. When the breeze stirred, the Sanskrit seemed to float with it—clearly no ordinary item.
Anyone could guess that this was the foremost of New Esoteric Buddhism’s three great Dharma Kings—the Baoyin Dharma King.
Whether he had noticed the Precious Mirror Dharma King’s incident was unclear, as his face showed no abnormality. He stood on the Saint’s Hall, his feet not touching the ground, only looking toward the Old Esoteric and Chan Buddhist people ahead.
“Chan and Esoteric Buddhism have been divided for long. Now Chanzong travels far to the snowy domain to interfere in our Esoteric Buddhism’s internal affairs. What, has Yichen forgotten the humiliation of years past?”
A lofty, stern, and mocking voice.
Yangjin’s attack had failed, and her complexion had grown much uglier.
They hadn’t expected the Baoyin Dharma King to return at this time. Feeling that his reaction was so swift, he must have used some extraordinary method. But looking at the Baoyin Dharma King’s appearance, there was no sign of anything unusual.
Hearing such words, she almost immediately couldn’t suppress her rage.
But at this time, the old monk Huinian not far from her smiled peacefully and stepped forward, precisely blocking Yangjin.
He pressed his palms together in respect: “Master Yichen once said that both Chan and Esoteric Buddhism belong to the Buddhist gate. Today’s matter is internal Buddhist business—Dharma King jests.”
“Jests?”
The Baoyin Dharma King had been smiling before, but hearing Huinian’s words—clearly intending to help Old Esoteric Buddhism to the end—that smile immediately disappeared. Replacing it was a stern coldness.
“Since your Chan school insists on interfering, don’t blame our New Esoteric Buddhism for being impolite!”
Previously, with no Dharma King overseeing the snowy domain, the New Esoteric crowd had somewhat feared Yangjin over there.
But now?
The strongest Baoyin Dharma King had returned with the Houtu Seal—no matter what, he could firmly suppress Yangjin. With this, the others could fight with full strength.
Almost the instant the Baoyin Dharma King’s words fell, the uninjured among the seventy-two masters understood his meaning; the Chan Buddhist and Old Esoteric side wasn’t slow either, grasping the situation deeply.
Both sides knew a hard battle lay ahead and began fighting without a word!
“Swish swish swish!”
In the sky above, countless rays of light suddenly flew out from both sides, meeting in mid-air! Countless figures followed closely, already engaging in lightning-fast combat.
The Baoyin Dharma King and Yangjin vanished from their original positions instantly, colliding again in the heavens.
Both sides’ magical combat required no breathing space—in moments they had already exchanged dozens of moves!
The entire scene immediately became dangerous and chaotic. The originally quiet night became clamorous, the originally peaceful sacred mountain became noisy.
Blade light and fresh blood intertwined, cries and screams mixed together.
The sacred lake and sacred hall had become a battlefield of life and death!
But strangely, the old monk Huinian who had spoken for Chanzong earlier was actually standing aside without acting. He only raised his head to watch the Dakini Yangjin and Baoyin Dharma King whose figures raced across the sky, as if carefully observing their battle.
Beside him stood a young monk.
With a distant glance, Jian Chou found this young monk very familiar: it was precisely the monk she had seen when passing the mandala that day.
She remembered that monk had worn Esoteric Buddhism’s deep red robes and watched her with a strange gaze when she passed.
That feeling was like he had recognized her.
But now she discovered he was standing beside that Chan Buddhist monk who seemed quite prestigious?
Six ordination burn scars on his crown, Nascent Soul cultivation, qualified to stand beside Huinian, and quite young…
Though she couldn’t claim to understand Chanzong well, she had heard of the most basic things. In her impression, there was only one monk who met all these conditions—
Chanzong’s three-life good person, the Little Wise Monk Liao Kong!
“It’s him…”
They had encountered him in the Crimson Killing Small Realm. Jian Chou’s impression of him was quite good. At this moment, seeing both sides in the field fighting desperately, she tightened her five fingers and gripped her sword forcefully, seeming somewhat eager to try, impatient.
“Yangjin and the Baoyin Dharma King should be evenly matched—perfect for fishing in troubled waters. I’ll go help Chanzong first!”
As her words fell, she didn’t even look behind her. The Burning Lamp Sword rose, dim yellow radiance swirling as she shot up from the ground to help Chanzong!
This immediately left her back completely exposed!
At this moment, Xie Buchen standing diagonally behind her actually had that brief hesitation, so short it could almost be ignored.
But who under heaven could resist the temptation of a mortal enemy showing such an opening before your eyes? Even if it looked like a trap.
But sometimes, this might not be a good opportunity to act!
“Clang!”
The Human Emperor Sword instantly left its sheath!
Almost the instant Jian Chou turned around, Xie Buchen’s eyes darkened as he unhesitatingly drew his sword. Dark and obscure sword energy condensed on the blade, striking toward Jian Chou’s back like thunder and lightning!
A perfect timing!
A perfect angle!
Only too bad…
Too perfect, instead revealing falseness.
Clearly at such a critical moment about to determine life and death, with the sword light about to completely fall on Jian Chou. But an unexpected scene suddenly appeared—
Jian Chou, who had originally turned to support Old Esoteric and Chanzong, actually forcibly twisted back in mid-air!
The Burning Lamp Sword that had seemed to be raised high toward the New Esoteric cultivators swept back at a bizarre angle and speed to block!
“Clang!”
The two swords met, sparks flying!
The sword energy attached to the Human Emperor Sword was almost immediately scattered. Some still went toward Jian Chou, but when it struck her body, it was like hitting water—no reaction at all!
Human Vessel, Dragon Scale Dao Seal!
Her defensive and protective techniques had never been withdrawn from beginning to end!
Supporting Old Esoteric and Chanzong, exposing her back—all fake, all traps, all to lure Xie Buchen into acting first!
“Hahaha, Friend Xie, oh Friend Xie…”
Jian Chou borrowed the force from the sword clash to flip in mid-air, her form already floating back gracefully like a crane, landing directly in the corridor filled with prayer wheels on the left side of the Saint’s Hall. Her laughter carried the satisfaction and sighing of successful calculation.
“Kunwu and Yashan both come from the Central Domain. We two were born from the same root—why this urgent mutual destruction!”
“…”
Indeed it was a scheme.
Xie Buchen felt he should be somewhat surprised, but in fact, with one strike unsuccessful, his heart was truly calm.
Hearing her such sighing, he lightly turned his slender palm, the Human Emperor Sword point downward, slanting toward the ground. He only watched her, returning with a smile: “Friend Jian Chou deliberately exposed a flaw, wholeheartedly seeking death—such grand sentiment, Xie dares not refuse. If I don’t take your head, it would truly be a disappointment.”
The two of them had almost never extinguished their killing intent toward each other.
At this moment, with the Buddhist gate handling family affairs, Chanzong daring to help Old Esoteric Buddhism must have backing. The two outsiders naturally wouldn’t interfere. But taking the opportunity to resolve some old grudges was quite suitable.
Jian Chou looked at him, her gaze immediately becoming somewhat playful.
Almost instantly, she judged from Xie Buchen’s words and actions that he had probably achieved his purpose for this snowy domain journey. Only…
Want to take her head?
“My head is right here—let’s see if you have the life to take it!”