Maitreya's gaze turned stern. Bearing himself like one who could save all living beings and wield the Heavenly Mandate, he rebuked them in a ringing voice. His Dao Sound echoed before the two armies:
"Impudent Phoenix Clan! You bear the auspicious signs of the Heavenly Mandate and should herald Zhou's rise. You should submit to Xiqi and help a wise ruler secure the Human Race's realm!
"Yet you remain obstinate, guarding Golden Rooster Ridge to aid Great Shang and obstruct the Heavenly Dao's campaign to subjugate Zhou. You are damaging Human Race Fortune!
"As ancient divine birds, do you dare defy the Heavenly Dao's will and act against heaven?"
His rebuke ended, and Buddhist chants suddenly swelled across the sky.
Gentle yet deeply corrosive, layers of Buddha Rhyme became invisible shackles that slowly descended over every flaming Phoenix.
Buddhist arts excelled at beguiling minds and converting sentient beings. Now Maitreya unleashed them in full, letting them seep bit by bit into the Phoenix Clan's souls. He meant to shake their conviction, cloud their minds, and force them to defect to Xiqi.
Wings trembled across the sky. The flames around the Phoenixes wavered, and under the Buddhist Great Dao's encroachment, they faltered for a moment.
A glimmer of hope rose among the Xiqi soldiers. Perhaps this mighty figure could turn the tide and convert the Phoenix Clan.
But just then!
High above, the boundless sea of fire surged and roared. Crimson flames shot skyward and tore through the chants!
"Hahahaha! What a glib Buddhist baldhead!"
A wild, domineering laugh rang out, shaking the clouds of the Nine Heavens.
The laughter rolled with overwhelming divine might. It drowned out every chant and trace of Dao Resonance, resounding throughout the Three Realms.
The void shuddered violently. A peerless figure stepped from the sea