[Wisdom King Visage]
The Dharma Protector Vajra strode into the Karma-Burning Valley without any hindrance.
The moment they entered, the surrounding scenery changed abruptly!
Fiery!
An indescribable heat!
It is not the pain of burning flesh with fire, but a feeling of "roasting" originating from the level of the Divine Soul.
The golden Buddha fire that filled the air flowed like a living thing, sometimes turning into the shadow of a glaring Vajra, sometimes condensing into a rotating "Swastika" seal, and sometimes dispersing into a blazing rain of light all over the sky.
This constitutes a series of Buddhist prohibitions that are difficult to discern with the naked eye but are undeniably real.
The pure energy transformed from Qi Yun attached itself to the Dharma Protector Vajra, and could clearly feel the extremely domineering power of the outside world.
Occasionally, a stray golden flame would approach, and the naturally flowing Buddha light surrounding the Dharma Protector Vajra would gently deflect or absorb it, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
But Qi Yun had no doubt that if he broke in alone...
Even if there is [Gather Form and Disperse Qi] concealment, as long as a trace of aura is leaked...
It would immediately ignite the Buddhist fires and restrictions that permeate the valley, plunging it into an abyss of no return.
As far as the eye could see, transparent barriers made of pure Buddhist power would occasionally flash by in the void.
Intricate Sanskrit characters flowed across it, emanating a powerful force of sealing and purification.
The deeper they went into the valley, the denser and more complex the Buddhist restrictions became, and the more terrifying their power grew.
Golden light intertwined, and the faint chanting of Buddhist scriptures could be heard.
Qi Yun's expression hardened slightly, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
No wonder the Holy Sect disciples outside only dared to linger outside the valley, and no one dared to venture in easily.
This place murderous intent at every turn. Without absolute strength and special methods, one careless move could trigger any of the restrictions, and even Qi Refining Great Perfection could be instantly and severely injured.
Some even perished directly, burned to nothingness by the Buddha's fire.
Without any major incidents or dangers, the Dharma Protector Vajra, carrying Qi Yun, finally arrived at the deepest part of the Karma-Burning Valley.
The view before me suddenly opened up.
It is completely different from the scorching heat and rage of the outside world.
Here stands a cluster of stupas arranged in a pleasing, staggered pattern!
Dozens of pagodas of varying sizes and with simple, ancient designs stand quietly. The pagodas are made of white jade or some kind of warm, lustrous stone, and their surfaces are carved with exquisite patterns of Buddha preaching, Bodhisattvas with lowered eyebrows, and flying apsaras playing music.
Each stupa radiates a soft and pure Buddhist light.
The interplay of light illuminated the area, giving it a peaceful, tranquil, and solemn appearance.
The scorching heat in the air dissipated completely here.
Instead, it brings a sense of tranquility that allows one's mind to settle down involuntarily.
Faint, ethereal Buddhist chants lingered in my ears, making me want to cast aside all distractions, sit cross-legged, listen to the wondrous sounds of the Great Way, and take refuge in the Buddha.
And in the center of this peaceful Buddhist stupa forest.
A five-story pagoda, noticeably taller than the other pagodas and entirely dark gold in color, stands majestically.
A mask floats atop the tower!
The mask is not depicted as a solemn and dignified image, but rather as an extremely vivid depiction of Wrathful Wisdom King!
His eyebrows were raised, his eyes were wide open in anger, and his mouth was open as if he were about to let out a silent roar.
Every line carved is full of power and majesty, as if it wants to burn away all Outer Dao in the world.
The gentle light emanating from all the surrounding pagodas transformed into wisps of golden streams, continuously converging towards the suspended azure wrathful mask.
Like all rivers flowing into the sea, it is slowly absorbed.
The mask absorbed this pure Buddhist power.
Its deep blue luster seemed even more profound, and its angry mood even more vivid, as if it might come to life at any moment!
A pure, vast, yet resolute fire elemental intent, mixed with the imposing majesty of Buddhism, emanated from the mask, enveloping the entire core area of the Buddhist pagoda forest.
Qi Yun's gaze froze instantly, and his heart began to pound involuntarily.
That's it!
"This is—the fire-elemental Foundation Establishment Object!"
Gazing at the azure blue [Wisdom King Visage] mask suspended atop the pagoda, feeling the immense fire-elemental intent and Buddhist pressure contained within it, almost indistinguishable from that of Foundation Establishment True Person, Qi Yun clicked his tongue in slight amazement.
This aura—profound and vast, inherently spiritual, drawing upon the Buddhist power of the surrounding world for its own use—how could it be any different from a true Foundation Establishment True Person?
No wonder those fellow disciples who had reached the Qi Refining Great Perfection were helpless against it.
This is not even in the same league. If it's a direct confrontation, no matter how many Qi Refining Realm come, they'll just be easy prey.
Suppressing his shock, knowing that this was no time to hesitate, Qi Yun flicked his wrist, and the string of warm, jade-like platinum prayer beads slid into his palm.
Threads of pure Buddhist essence emanate from the beads, subtly resonating with the peaceful Buddhist light surrounding them.
Success or failure hinges on this one move.
It's up to you, Mingxin.
Qi Yun gently blew on the Buddhist beads in his palm, and then, without hesitation, he raised his hand and threw them away!
"Whoosh--!"
The platinum prayer beads flew out of her hand and instantly transformed into a dazzling platinum rainbow, shooting straight towards the azure blue [Wisdom King Visage at the top of the pagoda!
It was as if they sensed the approach of something of the same origin but with a different aura.
The [Wisdom King Visage] suddenly trembled, and a burst of azure light erupted!
"Boom!!!"
Both treasures were formed from the power of fallen Arhat. Even when they were still ten feet apart, they generated a violent repulsion and resonance.
A visible, ring-shaped shockwave, a mixture of platinum and azure Buddhist light, suddenly erupted, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly engulfing the entire stupa forest!
Buzz buzz buzz-!
The dozens of pagodas around them hummed in unison, their bodies shimmering with Buddhist light, seemingly responding to this sudden collision of high-level power.
The peaceful atmosphere was shattered, replaced by a Divine Soul and overwhelming pressure!
The next moment, an even more breathtaking sight appeared!
On the azure blue [Wisdom King Visage] mask, Buddhist light surged forth like a fountain, rapidly condensing and taking shape!
A middle-aged Arhat phantom, nearly ten feet tall, with bulging muscles like a coiled dragon and a crouching tiger, his body ablaze with azure blue pure flames, and a face as wrathful as a mask, stepped out from the center!
His eyes were wide with rage, and he held a vajra made of flames, as if he wanted to sweep away all Outer Dao and burn away all demonic obstacles!
Its immense power caused the temperature deep within the Karma-Burning Valley to surge dramatically, and the space itself to subtly distort.
At the same time, the platinum prayer beads that flew towards them were not to be outdone.
Hovering in mid-air, all twelve beads simultaneously shone brightly!
A gentle yet firm beam of Buddhist light converged, and a slightly thin but dignified figure, with compassion and wisdom shining between its brows, slowly emerged—it was the incarnation of the Mingxin Arhat's lingering Arhat remnants!
His hands were clasped together, his eyes were lowered, and he exuded a pure, innocent, and insightful Buddhist aura, which contrasted sharply with the wrathful Arhat.
Moo!
The wrathful Arhat was the first to attack, letting out a thunderous roar of mantra, and fiercely swung his flaming vajra!
A torrent of azure flames, containing a terrifying will to burn away karma and destroy all laws, rushed straight toward the phantom of the Mingxin like a roaring fire dragon!
The Mingxin neither dodged nor avoided the attack. He slowly raised his clasped hands, and soft platinum light emanated from his fingertips, like a lotus flower blooming.
He chanted mantras, his voice not loud, yet clearly drowning out the roar of the flames, "Amitabha—"
Anger consumes karma, but this is not the end.
Only by letting go of attachments can one find true freedom.
The surging torrent of azure flames abruptly halted its violent momentum the instant it touched the platinum Buddha light.
The violence and anger contained within were gradually dissolved and neutralized by the pure, peaceful, and steadfast Buddhist chanting!
The flames still burned, but with less destruction and more of their original purpose of "purification".
Seeing this, the wrathful Arhat became even more enraged. Azure flames shot into the sky from his body, transforming into countless wrathful Vajras and flying Yakshas, each Law Artifact, and surged towards the Mingxin like a tidal wave.
For a moment, the sky above the Buddhist stupa forest seemed to transform into a battlefield of the Buddhist kingdom.
Chanting and roars intertwined, flames and Buddhist light collided, erupting into a continuous boom!
But the illusory image of the Mingxin monk Mingxin remained as steady as a rock.
They might hold a lotus flower in their hand to defuse an attack; or they might utter true words; or they might emit Infinite Light from their bodies to illuminate all illusions.
His power appears gentle, less violent than his opponent's, yet it flows like a gentle stream, continuous and capable of directly addressing the source, dissolving the extremes and violence arising from the opponent's obsession.
This is not merely a clash of forces, but a battle of Buddhist principles and the mind!
Gradually, although the wrathful Arhat's attacks remained fierce, his phantom began to sway slightly, and the azure light showed signs of instability.
He was formed from fragments of the Arhat 'Dao Foundation and remnants of resentment. Although he was powerful, he had lost the foundation of moderation and peace.
Like a tree without roots, or a fire without a source.
While the Mingxin Mingxin's lingering thoughts were not as numerous as his, they were more refined and complete, containing a more comprehensive and profound Buddhist truth.
Clearly, the two Arhat had different levels of spiritual attainment during their lifetimes.
Finally, after another violent collision, the phantom of the Mingxin monk Mingxin seized upon the opponent's momentary exhaustion and wavering of mind, and pushed forward with both hands!
Om!
A beam of platinum Buddha light, refined to its utmost and imbued with supreme wisdom and compassion, pierced through the flames like a sharp sword and precisely imprinted itself on the brow of the wrathful Arhat phantom!
"Ugh!"
The wrathful Arhat let out a resentful roar, and its enormous phantom flickered violently.
Finally, it collapsed with a roar, transforming back into streams of pure, azure Buddhist power and fire elemental essence, like weary birds returning to their nests, swirling back into the suspended [Wisdom King Visage] mask.
The illusory image of the Mingxin monk Mingxin, having consumed too much energy, became much fainter. He glanced deeply in the direction where Qi Yun was, then vanished, returning to the platinum Buddhist beads.
"Whoosh!"
Having lost the control of lingering resentment, the [Wisdom King Visage] mask seemed to have become ownerless. It was gently bumped by the returning platinum prayer beads and detached from the top of the pagoda.
As if possessing a spirit, the platinum prayer beads wrapped around the mask, transforming into a Flowing Light that rolled back and gently landed in Qi Yun's already outstretched palm.
It felt warm to the touch, with a pure and gentle fire elemental energy mixed with the subdued Buddhist power flowing slowly through it.
Looking at the platinum prayer beads, now with only seven empty and just two remaining, Qi Yun pursed his lips slightly.
Item received!
The wind is strong, let's get out of here!