Chapter 624 The Fall of the Pure Land, Seclusion and Lockdown of the Continent
Zheng Fa looked up and saw that the hand was withered and shriveled, like an old man's hand, but the five fingers were like five flying mountains pressing down on him.
The air crackled and popped, and he even felt a sense of oppression, as if the entire Pure Land was about to engulf him.
When the palm landed on Zheng Fa's head and collided with Lu Yao's golden bowl, it did not stop at all. With its five fingers together, it pushed down along with the golden bowl, completely covering Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa felt as if he had been plunged into a sea of Buddha's light, with everything in sight being gold. He felt an overwhelming pressure coming from all directions, making him unable to move and leaving him nowhere to escape.
A towering mountain range, seemingly both real and unreal, rises from the Mahavira Hall, its peak towering above the hall's dome and reaching into the sky.
In the Pure Land, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats, upon seeing Zheng Fa captured, rejoiced and repeatedly praised him.
"Please, Sect Leader Zheng, stay at my Leiyin Temple for the time being," Lu Yao said with a smile, then turned his gaze to Xuan Chengzi and the others, "Fellow Daoists, what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, the Jade Pool Heavenly Maiden and the Peacock Emperor, two demons, immediately replied, "We will follow the Buddha's lead."
Lu Yao looked at the three reclusive immortals.
The oldest and most accomplished of the three immortals, Daoist Gu Hong, exchanged a glance with the other two and said, "We...we are also willing to join in this grand undertaking."
Now, everyone looked at Taishangdao.
Xuan Chengzi remained silent for a moment, as if considering his words: "I still need to return to the sect to discuss this matter, but there's only one point—"
He looked at Lu Yao: "If the Primordial Purple Qi is truly as wondrous as you, Buddha, say, I have my own way of persuading the other fellow disciples."
"But if the Primordial Purple Qi is an exaggeration, or if we cannot obtain the Primordial Purple Qi... then this matter will be difficult."
Upon hearing this, the three reclusive immortals slowly nodded. They didn't really trust Lu Yao enough, but now that they agreed, they simply couldn't resist the allure of the Pure Land and the binding force of the Primordial Purple Qi.
Xuan Chengzi's words were truly those of a wise and experienced person.
"Then what are we waiting for?" The Heaven-Shaking Demon Emperor laughed heartily. "Why don't we just go to the Nine Mountains Sect? My nephew, the Great Roc, also died at Haori Mountain. I remember that grudge!"
Lu Yao glanced at the mountain that suppressed Zheng Fa and said with a compassionate expression, "Why doesn't Sect Leader Zheng just tell us where the Primordial Purple Qi is? That way, we can avoid the suffering of the people of the Nine Mountains Sect."
There was no response from the mountains.
“Since Sect Leader Zheng is so stubborn, why not just do it today…” Lu Yao slowly shook his head, seemingly feeling sorry for the Nine Mountains Sect, “Why don’t we head straight to the Nine Mountains Sect?”
"That's giving them way too much credit!"
The Heaven-Shaking Demon Emperor said sullenly.
Xuanwei has only twenty-four Golden Immortals, and fourteen of them are here. They all set out together to deal with the Nine Mountains Sect, whose leader is not at home. It even has the solemnity of using a dragon-slaying sword to kill a chicken.
"Sect Leader Zheng and the Nine Mountains Sect have thwarted my plans several times..." Lu Yao smiled, seemingly not ashamed of his previous failures, and explained, "How could I not think highly of the Nine Mountains Sect?"
Upon hearing this, Li Sanxian sighed inwardly. He hadn't been able to defend Jin Xian, and the Nine Mountains Sect was truly unlucky to have provoked an enemy like Lu Yao. After thinking for a while, he felt that the Nine Mountains Sect was truly doomed this time, with no chance of recovery.
Seeing that no one objected, Lu Yao took the lead and flew out of the hall. The others exchanged glances and followed.
The four Buddhas of the East, West, South, and North, two Golden Immortals of the Demon Clan, the Jade Pool Blissful Maiden, three reclusive immortals, the third of the Nine Sons of the Supreme Being, and most of the Golden Immortals of Xuanwei followed behind Lu Yao in a grand procession, appearing to be Lu Yao's subordinates.
Even Li Sanxian had to admit that Lu Yao had gathered great power at this moment, and calling him World Honored was truly appropriate.
Just as the group flew out of the hall, Lu Yao's figure suddenly stopped, and he looked up at the sky.
In the sky, a golden haze, like a dream, a mirage-like pure land, tinged with specks of red glow.
Lu Yao suddenly turned around.
The mountain that was formed from the palm of the Thunder Buddha and used to suppress Zheng Fa was engulfed in a massive and fierce fire.
The red glow of the flames was reflected on the illusory image of the Pure Land.
Li Sanxian was somewhat surprised; was this Zheng Fa's method of escaping?
Upon seeing Lu Yao, he sensed something was amiss—Zheng Fa's escape was certainly not good news for Lu Yao, but Lu Yao's expression... well, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he was about to go crazy with anger.
"You destroyed the golden lotus that the sage gave you?" Lu Yao's voice seemed to come from between his teeth, containing a lot of incomprehension, resentment and even despair. "You actually dared to destroy the golden lotus?"
"..."
Seeing this strange occurrence, Xuan Chengzi and the others knew that something had changed again, so they exchanged glances and watched quietly.
Within the crimson flames, the mountain formed from the palm suddenly exploded.
A figure stands amidst the flickering flames, a burning lotus flower atop its head.
Although his face was blurred, everyone couldn't help but tremble in their hearts.
Zheng Fa pointed one finger to the sky and said, "The Pure Land was forged by the power of the vows of all sentient beings..."
He pointed to the ground again and continued, "It shouldn't be on the other side."
As soon as he finished speaking, the lotus flower above his head slowly rotated upwards, flew down to the Pure Land, and then suddenly exploded!
The gold-tinged red fragments resembled a firework blooming in the pure land.
The moment those fragments touched the clean soil, they burst into flames, just like sparks meeting dry straw!
What was once a paradise-like paradise is now like a purgatory, floating in the air like a boundless expanse of fiery clouds.
In the Pure Land, those Dharma images that were originally laughing suddenly encountered annihilation and scattered in all directions.
Amidst the raging flames, the once continuous pure land slowly crumbled and split, transforming into countless fiery meteors that plummeted downwards.
"Zheng Fa!"
Lu Yao's voice was so resentful and venomous, completely unlike her previous gentle and refined manner; she didn't even sound like a human being anymore.
Li Sanxian turned his head and looked, and then he saw the clue:
The Golden Crow Dharma Image and the Sun Dharma Image reappeared behind Lu Yao, but these two Dharma Images no longer possessed the same power as before. On the contrary, the Golden Crow Dharma Image was covered with cracks, and the Sun Dharma Image even lost its nose.
They give the impression of being two dilapidated old houses, on the verge of collapse.
It's not just Lu Yao.
All the disciples of Leiyin Temple now have pale faces, broken Dharma images, and weak breaths.
He understood that the Dharma images exist in relation to the Pure Land, and now that Zheng Fa has ignited the Pure Land with the Golden Lotus, all the Dharma images in Leiyin Temple will likely suffer.
Zheng Fata...
He turned his head and saw that Zheng Fa had already disappeared amidst the chaos of the Pure Land's fall.
Lu Yao and the others from Leiyin Temple had no energy to deal with Zheng Fa at this moment. Their Dharma forms, without the protection of the Pure Land, were irretrievably broken and beyond saving.
"well……"
An ancient Buddhist chant resounded from the depths of the Pure Land, and with this sigh, raindrops fell from the sky.
The rain, like golden needles, fell on the pure land, extinguishing the raging flames and finally halting its collapse.
"Master!" Lu Yao clasped his hands together, feeling both ashamed and guilty. "We are incompetent, causing suffering to the Pure Land!"
The Pure Land was very quiet, but Xuan Chengzi and the others unconsciously became solemn—this time, it was probably the real Thunder Sound Buddha!
If the Pure Land is gone, then the lineage of Leiyin Temple will also be finished.
The Taiyi Golden Immortal of Leiyin Temple could no longer sit still and averted this great calamity for Leiyin Temple.
Even so, Leiyin Temple is now in dire straits.
The disciples of Leiyin Temple were all severely damaged, their spiritual forms broken and their vital energy greatly diminished.
That's not all. Although the fire in the Pure Land has been extinguished, the damage caused by Zheng Fa has not been repaired.
The Pure Land was divided into countless pieces, floating in the air, no longer possessing its former grandeur and magnificence.
What surprised everyone even more was that the Pure Land not only failed to nourish the Dharma forms of these disciples of Leiyin Temple, but also seemed to be dragging them down, causing the aura of the Leiyin Temple disciples to become increasingly weak.
Xuan Chengzi and the others' gazes became mysterious.
The three reclusive immortals exchanged hesitant glances.
No one moved; they remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
After a long while, the Lonely Wild Goose Daoist broke the silence with a cupped-hand salute: "May I ask, can the Pure Land still provide us with the means to cultivate the Reincarnation Technique?"
"..."
Lu Yao's expression changed, but he didn't say anything. However, everyone already knew the answer.
Li Sanxian couldn't help but slap his thigh in approval of Zheng Fa.
He had previously thought that Zheng Fa burned the Golden Lotus and abandoned this sacred treasure out of necessity to escape, but now he saw through Zheng Fa's true intentions.
Lu Yao won over the Golden Immortals with only two things: the Pure Land and the Primordial Purple Qi.
The Primordial Purple Qi is still in Zheng Fa's hands.
The Pure Land was set ablaze by Zheng Fa. Although it still exists, it has been severely damaged. After all, the Golden Lotus was a sacred object and was bound to the Pure Land. Zheng Fa's sacrifice of it caused unimaginable damage to the Pure Land.
All the Golden Immortals gathered at Thunder Sound Temple, holding bowls and chopsticks, ready to share the food of all the heavens and myriad realms.
Zheng Fa set the kitchen on fire!
Without the Pure Land, no matter how ambitious or eloquent Lu Yao is, how can he command the masses?
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Lu Yao gritted his teeth and said, "The Pure Land is not beyond repair, it just needs some time."
The Lonely Goose Daoist chuckled and said, "In that case, let's wait until the Pure Land is perfected before making further plans?"
Lu Yao's expression changed, but before he could speak, he heard Xuan Chengzi nod and say, "That makes sense... I would like to ask the masters of Leiyin Temple to first repair the Pure Land."
Lei Yin Temple and the others all had angry expressions on their faces, but Li Sanxian secretly laughed to himself. In this Great Luo Dharma Assembly, Lu Yao was using various benefits to win over the crowd.
Now that Zheng Fa has overturned the table, the Golden Immortals see no benefit and naturally cannot blindly follow Lu Yao's lead anymore.
The three reclusive immortals are alright, after all, their influence is small.
However, Tai Shangdao's change of attitude dealt a heavy blow to Leiyin Temple.
Lu Yao took a deep breath, said nothing, but simply extended a finger and lightly touched the land of Xizhou.
On the Western Continent, all the temples simultaneously lit up with golden light, and the points of light from these temples connected together to form a net that spread throughout the Western Continent.
Li Sanxian was shocked to see that even on Yaochi's territory, there were temple lights. Yaochi had actually been infiltrated to this extent by Leiyin Temple.
The golden net slowly arched up from the ground, covering the entire Western Continent like an inverted birdcage.
Li Sanxian reached out to touch the birdcage and felt a hard, transparent wall.
"What does Leiyin Temple want?" Xuan Chengzi roared. "They let Zheng Fa escape, so they want to force us to stay?"
Anger also appeared on the faces of the three reclusive immortals.
"Fellow Daoists, please forgive me." Although Lu Yao was apologizing, his tone was very cold and hard, showing no intention of backing down. "I did this to capture Zheng Fa."
"Zheng Fa?"
“Zheng Fafang escaped in the chaos, but no matter how fast he is, he can’t leave Xizhou.” Lu Yao’s eyes flashed coldly. “I have sealed off Xizhou with this Great Vajra Dharma Realm, which is difficult even for Golden Immortals to break. He will have nowhere to escape and will be caught by my Leiyin Temple sooner or later!”
Everyone could tell that Lu Yao now hated Zheng Fa intensely.
Looking at the dilapidated Pure Land above, whose restoration seemed impossible, even Li Sanxian could understand this hatred.
"What if we want to leave?"
Lu Yao clasped his hands together, regaining some of his previous gentle and refined demeanor: "If you benefactors wish to leave, I, Lei Yin, will not stop you. However, there is one thing: Zheng Fa is skilled in transformation techniques, and we do not know where he is hiding or what form he has taken. Therefore, we must first verify his identity before we can send you away."
"Verification?" Xuan Chengzi's expression changed, and he looked around at the people with apprehension, seemingly also somewhat surprised and doubtful.
Lu Yao waved his hand, and Di Ting flew up from Leiyin Temple and landed at his feet.
“My Di Ting can hear the three realms, distinguish good from evil, and its supernatural power is most effective in countering Zheng Fa’s transformative methods,” Lu Yao introduced. “However, its supernatural power is not easy to use, so please wait a month.”
Does it take a month to prepare for performing supernatural powers?
Li Sanxian was puzzled. The Supreme Dao also recorded that the Di Ting, a divine beast, could discern the true nature of things in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. Even if Zheng Fa's transformation technique was powerful, it shouldn't take this long.
But upon seeing Lu Yao's cold gaze, Li Sanxian immediately understood—Lu Yao was on guard against them!
Leiyin Temple is now severely weakened. This Great Vajra Dharma Realm, ostensibly to hunt down Zheng Fa, is actually for the safety of Leiyin Temple and Xizhou.
The main purpose of keeping these people around was to delay the spread of the news and allow Leiyin Temple to recover its strength.
Xuan Chengzi seemed to have understood this as well. He frowned, looked at the Pure Land above his head with some apprehension, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "In that case, we can wait a few more days."
"Let Di Ting examine me first!" the Heaven-Shaking Demon Emperor said in a muffled voice. "I'm going to the Nine Mountains Sect to avenge you, Demon Emperor!"
Lu Yao's eyes darkened. After a moment of thought, he slowly nodded and said, "Revenge is not the goal, but we cannot allow the Nine Mountains Sect to develop peacefully. It's good that you go... The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation is limited by cultivators' escape techniques, and the Nine Netherworld cannot leave the Underworld. As long as you avoid it, your life will not be in danger."
"good!"
“Kongque, you have a calm personality, go with Hantian.” Lu Yao seemed still worried, “to prevent him from acting impulsively.”
"yes."
Lu Yao then looked at the Blissful Goddess: "I would also like to ask you to go and support them."
Li Sanxian sighed inwardly. Even at this moment, Lu Yao did not lose his caution due to anger. The Five Buddhas of Leiyin Temple were now damaged and could not go out at all. They also had to repair the Pure Land and could not free up their time.
Therefore, the three Peacock Emperors that Lu Yao sent out were already the strongest fighting force that Leiyin Temple could muster.
His caution and hatred for the Nine Mountains Sect are evident.
The Heaven-Shaking Demon Emperor grinned and said, "Why be so careful? What can the Nine Mountains Sect do to hurt me besides its legless sword formation?"
"By the way, don't go near Haori Mountain..." These words seemed to remind Lu Yao, and he added, "There is the Golden Sun Burning Heaven Formation there, which is quite powerful and can be a problem even for Golden Immortals... But as long as you stay away from Haori Mountain, there won't be any major problems."
...
Nine Mountains Boundary.
"Lord Zhang."
Yun Wuji bowed to Senior Sister Zhang.
"Did you remember the password?" Senior Sister Zhang returned the greeting and asked.
Yun Wuji held the Sun-Shooting Bow in his hand: "The Sun-Shooting Army has already worked well with the Divine Firmament Legion. They have already conducted nine exercises, so there will definitely be no mistakes."
(End of this chapter)
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