The fighting raged from dawn until late afternoon. Three demons were dead, one seriously wounded, and the rest, including Li Molin, sustained minor injuries. The Bodhi Temple lost four young monks, and the remaining members were also injured. It was a lose-lose situation.

Liuli yawned widely on the tree trunk. She saw that everyone below had exhausted their magical and Buddhist powers, yet they were still fighting noisily. It was truly boring.

At this moment, Li Molin looked around, a hint of impatience appearing on his slightly tired face. He laughed and raised his voice, "Have you demon generals had a good fight? We're leaving!"

In truth, both Shi Ning and Li Molin knew that the two sides were evenly matched, and that continuing the fight would be pointless and only increase casualties. However, while Li Molin could withdraw, Shi Ning could not abandon his principles and allow the demons to harm the people. He could only grit his teeth and persevere.

The demon was indeed a selfish and ruthless being. He showed no regard for his three dead companions. He made a few taunting remarks and then followed Li Molin into the air and flew away into the distance. However, as Li Molin flew away, he turned his head and glanced at a certain tree, his eyes containing a slight smile.

Shi Ning remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Chase them! We cannot let them harm the people. Today, even if it costs us our lives, we will kill them!"

"Yes!" the monks responded in unison and took the lead in chasing after them.

Shi Ning called out to Shi Chan, who was about to chase after them, and said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Shi Chan, you stay and collect the bodies of our four junior brothers. Master's intention is for you to wander in the world this time you descend the mountain and cultivate your Buddhist heart in the mortal realm. We shall part ways here."

As he spoke, he glanced at a large tree in the distance out of the corner of his eye, gave Shi Chan a meaningful look, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Do what you can, and never risk your life."

Shi Chan nodded in understanding, clasped his hands together, and replied softly, "Yes, then please be careful on your journey, Senior Brother."

Shi Ning nodded, then transformed into a golden ray of light and vanished in an instant.

Only Shi Chan remained standing amidst the ravaged branches and leaves. He looked at the corpse on the ground, his face filled with pity, clasped his hands in a Buddhist salute, and chanted in a long voice, "Amitabha!"

He lowered his head and gently brushed his clothes, straightening the disheveled garments, but he couldn't remove the bloodstains. He shook his head, sat down cross-legged upright, held his prayer beads, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and began to chant the Rebirth Mantra repeatedly in a low voice, filled with compassion for all humanity.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha Tathagata, Tadyatha Amitabha Buddha..."

“Amitabha Siddham Bhava, Amitabha Vikaraṇa…”

“Amitabha Vikaranta, Gamini, Gagana…”

“Kidakari Svaha…”

Liuli listened to him chanting the Rebirth Mantra over and over again on the tree trunk. She couldn't understand the obscure and difficult incantation, but she found it very boring and couldn't help but yawn.

Shi Chan seemed tireless as he chanted for nearly half an hour before finally stopping. He silently rose, formed a mudra with his hands, and the prayer beads in his hands emitted a dazzling golden light. The swastika on one of the beads appeared, turning into golden flames that completely enveloped the bodies of the four monks and burned them fiercely. In no time, the bodies of the four monks were burned to ashes, leaving only four relics of different sizes spinning in the air.

Liuli stared wide-eyed at the four relics, swallowing hard. The relics contained the Buddhist power cultivated by the four monks throughout their lives, composed of pure spiritual energy. If Liuli could swallow the four relics, her own spiritual power would surely grow wildly, and she might even be able to grow a six-tailed beast ahead of time.

But then she thought of the most vivid image in her mind—the eyes of the monk who had saved her life. She struggled to suppress the urge to snatch the four relics, her small face contorted in distress.