Tiny specks of exceedingly faint white ash, mixed with a trace of dim crimson light, pierced through layer upon layer of space and landed in his palm.
"It bears the aura of Red Lotus Karma Fire, and yet... this fire actually contains a trace of an extinction law that even I find unfamiliar." Buddha Tathagata stared at the ash in his palm, his brows drawn tightly together. "Bai Ling is not merely dead. Her body and soul were utterly incinerated by this power. Not even a shred of her true spirit escaped."
The three thousand Buddhas and five hundred Arhats in the hall all fell deathly silent. In all the countless years of Mount Ling's existence, never had a core disciple been so cleanly and decisively erased in the lower realm. This was no mere provocation. It was like carving flesh from Mount Ling with a knife and slapping Tathagata across the face!
"World Honored One, that Chu Yang... is far from ordinary." Guanyin Bodhisattva drew a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "Not only can he wield Red Lotus Karma Fire, but he has repeatedly seen through our arrangements. In Immaculate City, he accurately found loopholes in the rules. Against Bai Ling, he even unleashed such terrifying destructive power. He is clearly the greatest variable on the Journey to the West!"
"A variable..." Buddha Tathagata repeated softly, his gaze becoming unfathomably deep.
"Venerable Guanyin, set up the Great Thousand Brahma Array." Buddha Tathagata suddenly shouted in a deep voice, his tone carrying unquestionable resolve. "I will personally deduce Chu Yang's past and future. I want to see whether he is the reincarnation of some mighty being or a hidden pawn left behind by some divine figure. In these Three Realms, no variable beyond my understanding may exist!"