Under the fearful and awe-inspiring gazes of the Yuan Kingdom's cultivators, Far-Reaching Luminous Sword Immortal immortal who had effortlessly slain the Nascent Soul Late Stage Compassionate Chan Way Master, floated lightly to the front of the only remaining Mahavira Hall in the very center of Lotus Temple.
There was not a moment's hesitation throughout the entire process.
The Beiku Dharma body was destroyed, and life was lost. The entire Lotus Temple area was plunged into the strange phenomenon of the Nascent Soul's demise.
This place is no longer suitable for cultivation.
Before the main hall.
The crimson cross-shaped comet above the Xuan Tian hummed, its starlight illuminating the ten directions of the void, forcing out a lotus bud that radiated Glazed Glass, glazed light from nothingness.
Although the lotus was tightly closed, one could clearly see that the petals were layered upon layered and tightly closed, with fine golden runes flowing on the surface, clearly indicating that it was locked from the inside out.
True Lord Xuantong moved closer, gazing at the lotus bud, and murmured to himself, "The Pure Land enters the gate."
[ Lesser Lotus Pure Land ]
Lotus Temple's greatest asset is its status, which is equivalent to that of a celestial Grotto-Heaven.
Legend has it that this Pure Land is the physical body of the founder of Lotus Temple, Chan Master Lotus. Everywhere you look, you can see Glazed Glass pagodas, agate trees, eight-treasure Merit pools, golden statues of Buddha... It is the supreme paradise that all Buddhist practitioners yearn for.
Throughout history, every disciple of Lotus Temple has longed for this place, and considered it an honor to be buried in this pure land.
Unfortunately...
Chen Shuangbai activated his Dharma Eye, his jade pupils gleaming. With the aid of Grand Yin's supreme status, he glimpsed a fragment of the scene—
The pagoda collapsed, the golden tree broke, the Eight Treasures Pond dried up, and the golden statue of Buddha faded... Only raging black flames and endless blood rain filled this sacred land.
On the highest peak, an old monk, his face filled with Beiku, lay amidst the black flames, gritting his teeth and persevering.
"Who?"
This old monk was none other than the Tongchi of Lotus Temple.
Originally Nascent Soul Middle Stage, he was suppressed for a long time by Chen Shuangbai using the [Fengzhen Zihao Chengming Xuantian Gate], causing his cultivation level to drop to only the Nascent Soul Early Stage realm and strength.
After the Arrayed Mystery Sect decisively betrayed his Lotus Temple and handed it over to the Compassionate Chan Way.
Baolin was beheaded on the spot by the Beiku monk, but the old monk escaped back to the Pure Land, locked it down from within, and stubbornly resisted.
Unfortunately...
Chen Shuangbai spoke softly, her voice echoing across the Pure Land's heavens, "Even if you, at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, can withstand this for a time with the help of the Pure Land's status, you cannot withstand it forever!"
" The Divine Ability of Beiku has corrupted the very core of this Pure Land, and has also polluted your very foundation, which is in harmony with the Pure Land."
" Tongchi, if only you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"
On the highest peak, an old monk, his body covered in blood and his golden form mottled, slowly raised his head.
Tongchi.
The former abbot of Lotus Temple, a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, now lies disheveled on the mountaintop, his body scorched by black flames, his skin cracked, and dark golden blood seeping out.
He looked at the sky in disbelief, as if he were looking at Chen Shuangbai across the void, and he also saw the Beiku, gradually petrifying Dharma body lying not far away, and the strange phenomena after the nascent Nascent Soul soared into the sky and perished.
The old monk was stunned at first, then his face lit up with ecstasy. But when he saw that the entire Lotus Temple had been razed to the ground and only the Far-Reaching Luminous Sword Immortal was left in front of him, he felt only gloom in his heart.
A complex expression appeared on that face covered with wrinkles and age spots—bitterness, exhaustion, and deep regret.
" Beiku... I died at your hands?"
To reverse the tide and defeat a late-stage Nascent Soul Late Stage from the Nascent Soul Middle Stage... Normally, Tongchi Chi would never have believed it.
But when he saw the crimson cross-shaped comet hanging high in the sky and felt the terrifying, extremely fierce and malevolent energy emanating from it, how could he not understand?
Sword Intent!
This Far-Reaching Luminous Sword Immortal, has suddenly comprehended yet another Sword Intent!
One look at it reveals that this new Sword Intent is no ordinary thing; it must be of great benefit to the path of killing.
This is why the Nascent Soul Late Stage Beiku greatly at his hands, even perishing.
The old monk quickly took action.
He struggled to his feet, dusted off his tattered robe, and then prostrated himself deeply amidst the black flames that constantly burned his body and soul, uttering the following words of reverence:
"The remnant of Lotus Temple, Tongchi to the Far-Reaching Luminous Sword Immortal!"
I pay my respects!
This was clearly a sign of respect from a lower-level cultivator to a higher-level cultivator!
Chen Shuangbai's gaze flickered slightly as she looked at the prostrate old monk with a half-smile, and said indifferently, "What do you mean by this?"
Tongchi's mottled body knelt on the ground, his tattered kasaya riddled with holes from the black flames. Dark golden blood dripped from the broken parts of his body, spreading stains on the Glazed Glass bricks beneath his feet.
He bowed his head, his forehead pressed against the cold ground, his posture extremely humble.
"The events of the past were mostly the fault of this old monk."
"The great calamity that has befallen our temple today is proof of divine retribution, an inescapable cycle."
" Beiku vanished in your hands, and I should thank you for avenging the destruction of my Lotus Temple's lineage... But at the same time, I understand that the Sword Immortal still resents my temple's actions back then, therefore this old monk does not seek forgiveness."
Before entering the Pure Land, Chen Shuangbai chuckled lightly, her tone unequivocally sarcastic:
"How?"
"Only now are you thinking of sacrificing a pawn to save the king?"
"The only Nascent Soul Late Stage Chan Master Baoyun was driven away by you and Baolin, and now you've fallen to this state... It must be said, the blame truly rests entirely on you; that's an indisputable fact."
Tongchi's sorrow deepened, finally culminating in a long sigh.
"The sword immortal is right."
He slowly stood up, the black flames on his body burning even more fiercely, but he seemed to feel no pain. He simply took one last look at this familiar sanctuary with his cloudy old eyes.
The collapsed pagoda, the dried-up Eight Treasure Pond, the broken golden tree, the faded Buddha statue... it all looked like the end of the world.
Then, he closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, the black flames on his body suddenly burst into flames, burning away his flesh and blood, revealing a skeleton that was already somewhat golden.
He clasped his hands together and prayed devoutly, saying, "This is all my own doing; I have no one else to blame."
"This old monk has passed away today. I humbly request that the Sword Immortal entrust this sacred land to Baoyun."
"In return, I will give this to the Sword Immortal."
With a gentle pinch from nothingness, he conjured a precious branch, its entire body gleaming with the color of frost.
Chen Shuangbai stared intently.
The precious branch was about a foot long, with a frosty color and a faint silver sheen floating on its surface, as if a thin layer of frost had been condensed on it.
The pure white branches appear slender yet resilient, flowing with a cool, moonlight-like luster. Golden stamens bloom from the branches, each as small as a grain of rice, yet exuding a cool and pure aura.
The room shone brightly!
Chen Shuangbai's Nascent Soul trembled slightly, and the [ Foot-Long Silk ] hanging at her waist also trembled.
The old monk said in a very emotional tone, "This thing is called [ New Frost Spirit Osmanthus Treasure Branch ]. It was obtained by our temple's patriarch during his travels many years ago. It is said to be a descendant of the Grand Yin Treasure Osmanthus."
"Sword Immortal, although you wield the Sword Intent, the Grand Yin Sword in your hand has been stuck at the level of High-Grade Law Treasure for a long time..."
He paused for a moment and then said:
"With this item, I request the Sword Immortal's assistance in this matter... Is that feasible?"
Chen Shuangbai remained silent for a few moments, then slowly stretched out his hand.
As if summoned by some force, the precious branch emerged from this pure land and gently floated into his palm, resonating strongly with his Dao Path.
"Can."
Having received this single word of promise, the last glimmer of light in Tongchi's Tongchi eye sockets finally went out completely.
With a loud bang!
The golden body suddenly exploded, turning into countless tiny golden specks of light, like a golden drizzle, which fell on every inch of the Pure Land, barely extinguishing the remaining black flames and blood rain that were like rootless driftwood.