Golden Nature!

We can't afford to fight him head-on anymore!

The violent tremors that came one after another from the [Fruition Status] caused the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva's heart to bleed with each tremor.

He could clearly feel that the Azure Flame Buddha Land Fruition Status, which should have been as stable as Mount Sumeru and hung high above the Long River of Time, was now like a dilapidated building in the wind, teetering on the verge of collapse!

If this confrontation continues, it may not be as simple as just the true spirit wavering and one's status declining.

It could even trigger [Fruition Status Escape].

At that time, eight hundred years of arduous cultivation and the attainment of the Bodhisattva's position will all vanish like bubbles in flowing water!

How could he possibly die together with this madman?!

However, why not give it a shot?

This madman pressed on relentlessly, his Daoist fire blazing fiercely. He clearly had his sights set on this long-standing Bodhisattva as a target to establish his authority and anvil to forge his Dao. How could he possibly give up easily?

In a flash, the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva lessened, and a mixture of ruthlessness and quick wit appeared in his eyes.

He suddenly raised his head and, facing the direction of the battlefield of Spirit Mountain and beyond the All Wonders Heaven, let out a loud shout mixed with shock, anger and urgency. The sound wave penetrated the boundary between reality and illusion and echoed in the ears of all the True Lord and Bodhisattvas: "Brother Longxiang! Fellow cultivators!"

This wicked creature is vicious and unruly; come quickly to my aid!

If one person can't take down this madman, then everyone will join in!

Didn't you rely on that bizarre method to brazenly Fruition Status Collision?

Alright! Let's see if your newly ascended "Sun" will be crushed first, or if we, the fruits of bodhisattvas, will succumb to this entanglement first! A shout like thunder immediately startled the majestic figures above Spirit Mountain.

Led by the Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva, a dozen or so Bodhisattvas of the Shakyamuni sect had a grim expression. Their bodies radiated a burst of Buddhist light, and the illusory lotus platform beneath their feet spun. They were about to tear through space and send their will into the perilous All Wonders Heaven to aid their fellow disciples.

However--

"Clang."

A clear, resonant sword cry pierced directly into the rising divine thoughts of the Bodhisattvas, carrying a chilling meaning of dividing Yin and Yang and defining boundaries.

The Qingyuan True Lord Wendao, his blue robes fluttering, had somehow appeared between the bodhisattvas.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva and the others, his tone as indifferent as a still well. "Fellow Daoist Dragon Elephant, we are all seeking to realize the supreme Dao, why must we escalate to the point of a fight to the death, a united attack?"

The Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva seven-colored Buddha light flowing around him, solemn in expression and booming in voice, said, "Fellow Daoist Qingyuan, this is an internal matter of our Buddhist Order, and also the elimination of enemies of the Buddha. How can you say that we are attacking each other in unison?"

Please do me this favor, fellow Daoist.

"Heh," Qingyuan True Lord Wendao's lips curled into a very faint smile, a smile that was neither a smile nor a laugh.

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I have no intention of stopping you."

The Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva's expression softened slightly, and the surging Buddhist power around him subsided a little before he was about to make another move.

But just then, the calm voice of Qingyuan True Lord Wendao rang out again, unhurried yet each word like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate, striking the hearts of all the Buddhist Bodhisattvas: "However, there is something I would like to remind you fellow Daoists of."

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the void, landing on the wondrous scene of the All Wonders Heaven where a fierce Fruition Status was taking place.

"If you all rashly intervene at this time, you will be afraid that the fellow Daoist who dares to launch the [Fruition Status Collision] will get carried away with the killing."

So I just gritted my teeth and went for it.

"Shall we also scatter this raging fire upon your [Fruition Status]?"

As soon as the words fell, it was as if an ancient, frigid tide swept through.

The surging Buddhist light surrounding the group of Shakyamuni Bodhisattvas suddenly stopped!

Just now, in the All Wonders Heaven, the terrifying scene of that blazing white Great Sun violently crashing into the Azure Flame Buddha Land, causing the Buddha Kingdom to shake, the laws of the Dao to collapse, and even to subtly shift downwards, instantly appeared in the minds of every Bodhisattva with unparalleled clarity!

Qingyuan True Lord Wendao about the Way in a very casual way.

But the implications sent a chill down the spines of these bodhisattvas who were used to being high above and calculating!

Saving lives? Fellow disciples? The greater good of opposing Buddhism?

But if for this—to place one's own [Fruition Status], which one has cultivated diligently for a thousand years and cherished as one's life, within the range of that madman's attack—

In an instant, the cold calculation of weighing the pros and cons overwhelmed the passionate righteous indignation.

Several bodhisattvas, who were not particularly close to the lineage of the Wrathful Wisdom King, quietly stopped rotating on their lotus platforms. Their surging Buddhist power silently subsided, and they focused their attention inward, their eyes on their noses and their noses on their hearts.

Even the half-step that the Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva took was frozen in mid-air.

The seven-colored Buddha light fluctuated violently, clearly indicating an intense inner struggle.

"Foolish!"

A moment later, the Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva roared, his expression returning to solemnity, his Buddha light blazing once more, and his voice, loud and firm, resounding in all directions. "My junior brother, the Bright King, is the head of the Dharma Protectors of our Buddhist Order sect, the pillar of Spirit Mountain!"

How can we abandon our fellow disciples because of the ferocity of demons?

Junior brother, please hold on a little longer!

Once we have fully deduced the truth, we will surely find the flaw in this fiend, lay a trap, and suppress it, thus demonstrating the power and virtue of our Buddha!

His words were eloquent and resounding.

In the All Wonders Heaven, the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva, who had "heard" all of this clearly, froze on all three faces at the same time.

Relying on others is ultimately futile.

He abruptly withdrew his self-light, staring intently at the blazing white Great Sun opposite him, which, despite its constantly crumbling edges, still exuded a terrifying suction force and unwavering will. He stared at Qi Yun's blurry yet serene face at the core of the Great Sun.

Make a tough decision!

What is the majesty of a Bodhisattva, what is the gain or loss of face? In the face of the desperate situation where one's own Dao Fruit may collapse, all can be cast aside!

Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva took a deep breath, slightly calming the raging blue flames around his body. He lowered his voice, which carried an unprecedented sense of compromise, and spoke directly to Qi Yun: "Fellow Daoist!"

That's enough for today!

"It was my previous recklessness that prevented me from recognizing a true immortal!"

In this battle, I, this humble monk, have lost!

"We have no irreconcilable feud! Why must we fight to the point of mutual destruction and become a laughing stock for others?"

Fellow Daoist, name your price!

"As long as it is within my power, I will make friends today and turn hostility into friendship. What do you say?"

Mountains crumble when you rely on them, people run away when you rely on them.

Feeling the increasingly obvious "pulsation" of his own Azure Flame Buddha Land Fruition Status, this was precisely the precursor to [Fruition Status Escape]!

The Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva could no longer care about anything else and could only submit and beg for mercy.

Hearing this almost humble plea for mercy, Qi Yun's usually calm and composed face finally softened, slowly...

A smile bloomed on her face.

He did not immediately withdraw his momentum, but merely softened it slightly. A gentle yet clear voice emanated from the Great Sun: "Bodhisattva, you have spoken too harshly."

Since you, my fellow Daoist, are willing to turn hostility into friendship, how could I, a humble Daoist, be an unreasonable person?

His tone was quite kind.

But the next sentence made the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva's heart, which had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly leap into his throat, and his whole body turned ice-cold.

Qi Yun smiled, his light seemingly piercing through the blazing white radiance and the azure flames, and said softly, "Since you are so kind, fellow Daoist, then this humble Daoist shall—shamelessly ask for one thing."

"What is it?" The voice of the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva was hoarse, already sensing an ominous premonition.

Qi Yun's smile remained unchanged. He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice like the clinking of metal and jade, clearly echoing in the deathly silent All Wonders Heaven: "Golden Nature."

Once those two words were uttered, heaven and earth fell silent.

Golden Nature!

The three samadhis unite as one, seeking gold and asking the way.

The Golden Nature encompasses the True Lord's most essential and pure understanding and essence of the Great Dao, and is also the [Dharma Body], [Immortal Aspect],

When [the Fruition Status] is unified, a wisp of immortal matter is generated.

For True Lord, this is the most precious thing!

"You--!" The three faces of the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva instantly lost all color, and his eyes burst forth with an extremely cold light.

"Fellow Daoist, isn't this going a bit too far?"

The Azure Flame Buddha Land, which had been somewhat restrained, erupted into fury once more, and countless phantom images of magical Law Artifact materialized.

"Bodhisattva, please calm your anger."

"This humble Daoist only needs a single strand," not the entire amount.

With the merits and achievements of a Bodhisattva over eight hundred years, and a profound foundation, losing even a trace of this Golden Nature will damage one's vital energy and slightly diminish one's status.

But centuries of quiet contemplation can certainly make up for it.

"But if the Bodhisattva insists on fighting—"

Qi Yun raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the All Wonders Heaven, as if glancing towards Spirit Mountain Ling, before returning to the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva. His tone remained calm. "The Fruition Status Escape, the Golden Nature has wandered; at that time—who knows where this ownerless gold will flow?"

What will this lead to?

At that time, wouldn't the Bodhisattva still be—completely penniless?

Each word was like a heavy hammer, striking hard against the struggling defenses of the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva.

Fighting him might be futile; you might lose, and you might even be dragged down with him to death. After you die, your Golden Nature might even benefit your enemies or others.

He only needs to sacrifice a wisp of Golden Nature. Although it damages his foundation, it preserves most of his Dao Fruit and life, and he will still have a chance to make a comeback in the future.

This account is crystal clear, cold and cruel.

Beyond the All Wonders Heaven, and above and below Spirit Mountain, all was deathly silent.

All the True Lord and Bodhisattvas held their breath and waited for the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva's decision.

Is it about humiliating survival to preserve Dao Fruit?

Or should we remain unyielding and risk everything?

Time flowed slowly amidst the confrontation between the blazing white and the azure flames, each moment an agonizing ordeal.

Finally, after a long silence.

The majestic image of the Azure Flame King, its body engulfed in boiling flames, gradually dimmed.

On the three faces, anger, ferocity, humiliation—all sorts of expressions faded away like the tide.

A silent reply, emanating from the Dharma image, echoed throughout the All Wonders Heaven: "----Good."

"I will follow your advice, fellow practitioner."

As soon as the words were spoken, the dark gold Sanskrit inscription located at the very core of the Azure Flame Buddha Land trembled violently!

Immediately, a wisp of pure, dazzling brilliance struggled forth from the Sanskrit, transforming into a slender yet immensely heavy golden thread, slowly drifting towards—

Wherever the golden thread passed, All Wonders Heaven resonated and murmured, and the Long River of Time rippled with unusual waves.

As for the Azure Flame Buddha Land's Fruition Status, the moment it lost that core Golden Nature, its lofty status became uncontrollably—

It sank a short distance below the gray, ever-flowing Long River of Time.

Degradation of status!

Qi Yun watched the incoming "Golden Nature and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He opened his mouth slightly.

That Golden Nature, symbolizing part of the Dao Foundation a bodhisattva's path over many years, was absorbed into his body like a weary bird returning to its nest.

Qi Yun's calm voice rang out once more, resounding All Wonders Heaven, announcing the end of this earth-shattering gamble. "The Bodhisattva is generous."

"Let this conclude the cause and effect of today."

"Thank you very much, this humble Daoist."