South Sea.
Purple bamboo swayed, and the fragrance of lotuses hung faint and serene in the air.
Before Tidal Sound Cave, emerald waves rippled softly. Two figures in white stood suspended in the air, each upon a Nine-Grade Lotus Platform. Golden halos turned behind them, Buddhist light shining everywhere.
Other than their chosen candidates, the True Warrior Great Emperors of the Heavenly God Realm and Divine Firmament Realm were almost identical—especially their Dharma forms: turtle and serpent, Black Tortoise, Emperor Mo Xuan, all cast from the very same mold.
Their magical treasures were identical as well: the same Demon-Severing Sword, the same Black Eagle Banner. Had Xiang Yuan not broken through his shackles and stepped beyond the True Warrior Great Emperor's original framework, making him just a tiny bit stronger than the Demon-Subduing Patriarch opposite him, they would still be evenly matched right now, able to fight for an entire day.
No, the Demon-Subduing Patriarch should have held the greater advantage!
The Demon-Subduing Patriarch had thirty-six divine generals beneath him, along with the support of the three great formations of Heavenly Dipper, Black Tortoise, and Heavenly Net. He was more than a little stronger than Xiang Yuan's True Warrior Great Emperor, who lacked both troops and generals.
Yet the two Guanyin Bodhisattvas of the Heavenly God Realm and Divine Firmament Realm were markedly different in appearance.
The Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested by Laywoman Bai Yue had a jade purity vase tucked against the crook of her arm, willow branches hanging down and scattering droplets of sweet dew. Her eyes were lowered, her compassion like spring wind and rain. Auspicious clouds curled around her, golden light fluttering like gauze. Beneath her feet was a white lotus platform, its petals snow-white, pure and flawless.
The Avalokiteshvara of the Divine Firmament Realm held a