No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Rizhao came to his senses. He froze for a moment, then let out a mocking laugh. Pointing his Zen Staff at Wen Zhong, killing intent rekindled in his eyes, he sneered:
"So that was it! I thought the Chan Sect had sent someone formidable, but you were just a useless showpiece who hid behind others!
Wen Zhong, it seemed you could only die alone today!"
As he spoke, Buddha Light surged from the Zen Staff once more. The Daluo pressure that Calamity Qi had briefly stalled abruptly broke free and came crashing down upon Wen Zhong!
The Maitreya Zen Staff, wrapped in world-ending Buddha Light, cleaved down like Mount Tai bearing down upon him. Wen Zhong gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and focused, prepared to withstand the fatal blow.
But just as the Zen Staff was about to fall, Rizhao's entire body suddenly shuddered violently, as though an invisible hand had yanked him hard. His figure staggered strangely, and the arm gripping the staff twisted uncontrollably aside.
Boom—!
The killing strike that had come within a hair's breadth of landing suddenly went wide. The Purple Gold Zen Staff smashed into the East Sea below.
It raised towering waves, while colossal columns of water shot into the Nine Heavens. The seawater boiled and churned beneath the scorching Buddha Light, shaking the entire sea region violently.
Wen Zhong abruptly opened his eyes at the sound. Witnessing this unexpected turn, his heart jolted, and his gaze locked onto the disheveled, off-balance Rizhao.
Rizhao froze in midair, the Zen Staff in his hand trembling faintly. His face was filled with utter shock and confusion as he stared incredulously at the churning East Sea below.
He had clearly locked onto Wen Zhong, and the power