A battle at the summit (Part one)

Emerging from the Elder Pavilion, the Great Tang Emperor wore a smile. Things had gone smoothly; after his elaborate Elder Pavilion, the elders had agreed to lend their full assistance.

With the Elder Pavilion's strong support, his self-sacrificing scheme was not in vain. Although they were in a relationship of ruler and subject, the Elder Pavilion was aloof due to their power, and even as the ruler of a country, he could not forcefully command them.

However, even with the Elder Pavilion's full effort, their strength still seemed somewhat lacking. After thinking for a moment, the Great Tang Emperor flew out again, far beyond Chang'an City, and arrived at a Barren Hill.

This small hill doesn't look very big; it's only about ten miles in circumference. Compared to those mountain ranges that stretch for thousands of miles, this hill is indeed not large, and the Barren Hill isn't particularly magnificent.

In the Great Tang Dynasty, this was a rather unremarkable mountain, but the Great Tang Emperor knew that a peerless expert was hidden within its inconspicuous slopes...

A peerless expert would typically live in seclusion in a place of quiet cultivation, which, even if not Grotto-Heaven Blessed-Land, should at least be a scenic spot. However, this small hill is nothing short of desolate and harsh, and it exudes an aura of impending doom. Even fish, insects, birds, and beasts dislike it. Why would a peerless expert choose to live in seclusion on this inconspicuous hill?

Descending from the sky, the Great Tang Emperor, all alone, clad in a yellow robe, exuded an undisguised and powerful aura that permeated almost every corner of the mountain.

On the dilapidated hilltop, buildings stretch out in a row, but they all look quite old. Calling them buildings is an understatement; they're more like ruins.

However, among these dilapidated building ruins, whose original appearance has long been completely obscured, there is a small Thatched Cottage nestled among them.

The inconspicuous Thatched Cottage was almost impossible to spot at a glance and could easily be overlooked. However, the Great Tang Emperor walked straight to the Thatched Cottage without the slightest hesitation.

"Alas, descendants of the Li Clan, you have already seized the throne. What brings you here?" An aged voice echoed from within the Thatched Cottage as the Great Tang Emperor's footsteps halted before it.

The weak voice gave the impression of someone nearing the end of their life, as if their last breath might be cut off at any moment.

"I have come here today with a request, and I hope that Senior Cheng can lend a helping hand," the Great Tang Emperor said loudly, standing in front of the Thatched Cottage.

"The Great Tang now possesses a vast empire, billions of subjects, and countless masters and talents. Why would it need an old man like me? I only wish to spend the rest of my life in this stronghold, and finally, be buried here with my brothers..." The wooden door of the Thatched Cottage remained closed, and the voice coming from inside was still very weak. If it weren't for the Great Tang Emperor's formidable cultivation, his words would probably be difficult to understand.

"I have already asked Daoist Master Wu Yazi for help with this matter, but with a powerful enemy at hand, I fear that Daoist Master alone is not enough to ensure safety. Therefore, I can only ask Senior Cheng for help..." The Great Tang Emperor stood in front of the Thatched Cottage, not daring to rush in, and spoke.

"Oh? Wu Yazi's help, you're still worried? Just how powerful is this enemy?" Clearly, the Great Tang Emperor's words surprised the owner of the Thatched Cottage, who then asked.

"That formidable enemy possesses unfathomable cultivation. He appears to be a Buddhist Sect disciple who walked from the Void. Wherever he passed, Heavenly Flowers Falling rained down and Golden Lotuses Springing from the Ground. His body was also bathed in countless Buddha's Light Shines Everywhere. He calls himself the Golden Body Bodhisattva, and his cultivation is comparable to that of Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens. That is why I fear that Daoist Master Wu Yazi alone cannot suppress the entire scene," the Great Tang Emperor said. He did not intend to exaggerate, but even though he was telling the truth, it still gave the impression that he was exaggerating the strength of the Golden Body Bodhisattva.

"Oh? Coming from the Void?" This question added a new meaning to the words of the owner of the Thatched Cottage. After a moment of silence, he said, "Although I don't know what the so-called Golden Body Bodhisattva is, Buddhist Sect disciples believe in ordinary beings. How can someone who comes from the Void become gods and Buddhas?"

"So, what does Senior Cheng mean?" Upon hearing this, the Great Tang Emperor's suspicions deepened. The fact that Great Tang Emperor Golden Body Bodhisattva specifically requested the Demon-Revealing Demon Mirror only intensified his doubts. Could it be that the Golden Body Bodhisattva truly needed the Demon Mirror —was there some ulterior motive?

"Back then, my brothers from Wagang Stockade rose up together to fight against the tyranny of the Great Sui. We were kindred spirits with your Li Clan's righteous Rebel Army. Unfortunately, I, Cheng Yaojin, only sat on the Imperial Throne for a few days before the country fell into your Li Clan's hands, ushering in the era of the Great Tang age. Back then, you Li Clan spared my life, and I promised that I would do my utmost to help your Great Tang in my lifetime. Now that you have a request from me, I will fulfill my promise."

"In that case, I'll thank Senior Cheng for now..." Without any intention of meeting him, and seeing that the owner of the Thatched Cottage had agreed, the Great Tang Emperor thanked him and then vanished into thin air.

"Alas, my cultivation reached the limit that this world could bear a thousand years ago. The restrictions of the Heavenly Dao have prevented me from making any progress for a thousand years, and my lifespan is gradually declining. Being able to fulfill my promise before I die is perhaps a blessing in disguise," the old and weak voice murmured to itself from Thatched Cottage. After these words, silence returned, and there was not a sound left.

Back in the Imperial Palace, the Great Tang Emperor wore a relaxed and carefree smile. No one knew that he had hidden the Demon -Demon Mirror inside the Ancestral Temple. Even if he were captured alive in the future, no one would be able to find the Demon Mirror on him.

From beginning to end, the Great Tang Emperor never considered using the Demon Mirror to exchange for Zhuge Xiang's intentions; he had only one goal in mind: to seize it by force.

The Great Tang Emperor was unaware of the true extent of the Golden Body Bodhisattva's power, but due to the limitations imposed by Heavenly Dao, powerful beings at the level of immortals and gods could not descend upon this world. Therefore, no matter how strong the Golden Body Bodhisattva was, there were still limits to his power.

With the strong support of the Elders' Pavilion, and just in case, I also took the help of Cheng Yaojin, the peerless demon king who dominated the early days of the Tang Dynasty, so there should be no chance of failure.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, countless powerful figures in the Great Tang Empire hovered above Chang'an City, eagerly awaiting the appearance of the Golden Body Bodhisattva. On one hand, they wanted to confirm whether Zhuge Xiang had truly been captured alive, and on the other hand, they also wanted to witness the unparalleled divine power of the Golden Body Bodhisattva, comparable to that of gods and Buddhas.

"Hey, tell me, why won't His Your Majesty use the Demon Mirror in exchange?" Dozens of powerful figures hovered above Chang'an City, gathering in small groups of friends, and naturally, they couldn't help but discuss it.

"I don't know. Perhaps His Your Majesty has some special reason," the Cultivator said, shaking his head. He couldn't give a reason and could only say this.

"Amitābha Buddha! It is said that when the Golden Body Bodhisattva appears, it is accompanied by a shower of Heavenly Flowers Falling and Golden Lotuses Springing from the Ground, displaying the grandeur of Bodhisattva's journey. I am truly eager to see if he has truly reached the limit in the Buddhist Sect lineage." A monk dressed in Purple-Gold kasaya said with his hands clasped together and his head raised in anticipation.

"Hehehe, everyone says that the Golden Body Bodhisattva's cultivation is comparable to all the Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens. Today I'll see if he's stronger or I am stronger..." A black-robed Cultivator's face was full of fighting spirit, looking like a battle-crazed maniac.

"They've arrived..." Suddenly, a Buddhist Chants and Mystical Truths echoed through the heavens and Heaven and Earth. Then, the monk in the Purple-Gold robe fixed his gaze and spoke.

Sure enough, countless beautiful lotus petals seemed to float down from the Heaven and Earth, a breathtaking sight. On the ground, countless illusory Golden Lotus seemed to bloom. Faint Zen and Sanskrit Zen Sound echoed throughout the Heaven and Earth, cleansing Human Heart of evil thoughts and negative emotions...

"May Buddha have mercy!" In Chang'an City, countless mortals knelt down, prostrating themselves in worship with utmost devotion. Subtly, with the worship of these mortals, the Golden Body Bodhisattva's power seemed to grow even stronger.

The Cultivator of Chang'an City looked closely and, sure enough, the Golden Body Bodhisattva was approaching from afar, seated on a Lotus Throne, holding a Divine Lamp in his hands. Within the lamp's shade, Zhuge Xiang was imprisoned...

Heavenly Flowers Falling down from the sky, Golden Lotuses Springing from the Ground, and the sounds of Buddhist chants appeared and disappeared. The Golden Body Bodhisattva radiated brilliant Buddhist light, and his surging Buddhist Power could cleanse all evil. As the golden-bodied Bodhisattva appeared, Chang'an City seemed to transform into a sacred Buddhist Domain.

"Could this really be Bodhisattva descending to the mortal realm?" The high monk in the kasaya stared wide-eyed at the Golden Body Bodhisattva. Even though his cultivation had reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage, he still felt a strong urge to kneel down and worship in the face of the Golden Body Bodhisattva.

"Why would I want to challenge him?" The man in the black robe, who was full of fighting spirit, had his fighting spirit melt away like ice and snow as the surging holy Buddhist Power washed over him, and he no longer had the idea of Duel with the Golden Body Bodhisattva.

"Greetings, Bodhisattva..." Regardless of their initial intentions, all the Cultivator who came to see the Golden Body Bodhisattva captivated by his aura and greeted him with salutations.

In the Cultivation World, the strong are respected. In the eyes of these Cultivators, the Golden Body Bodhisattva is no different from the gods and Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens.

"Fellow Daoists," the Golden Body Bodhisattva said, a gentle smile of compassion for all beings on his face. He returned the greetings to the Cultivator bowed, his demeanor neither sorrowful nor joyful, neither humble nor arrogant, neither proud nor impatient...

"Golden Body Bodhisattva! Just as expected!" At the same time, the Great Tang Emperor the Great Tang Dynasty flew out from the Tang Imperial Palace and spoke.

The Great Tang Emperor of the Great Tang Emperor, exuding an aura of grandeur, was National Fortune Protection within the Great Tang Territory. Even if Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens wanted to kill him, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Alone, he arrived before the Golden Body Bodhisattva, showing no fear whatsoever of the Golden Body Bodhisattva's power. (To be continued...)