Seven days after the Daoist conference ended, Qi Yun left the Green Mountain Daoist Temple.
He didn't bring anyone with him, not even the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, which he left in the courtyard.
Cai Shen was still worried and asked three times, "You really don't want me to come along?" Qi Yun only replied with three words: "No need to come along."
Then, with a single step, his figure vanished into the void.
Cai Shen gazed in the direction where he disappeared, remained silent for a moment, and finally transformed into a golden light and disappeared into the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron.
On the body of the cauldron, the nine divine dragons began to move more rapidly, their eyes flashing with light, as if they were worried about something.
"Fourteenth Brother," Cai Shen's voice came from inside the cauldron, "Do you think he'll be alright?"
The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron remained silent for a moment, then emitted a low hum.
"Indeed," Cai Shen said in a low voice, "He is Qi Yun."
Overseas, Pure Land.
This hidden place, shrouded in the golden light of endless vows, floats in the void far away in the West Sea.
Thirty-six magnificent temples are scattered like stars, connected by golden bridges, forming a complex covering dozens of square kilometers.
A vast array spanning thousands of miles.
The faint chanting of Buddhist scriptures and the wafting of sandalwood incense filled the air. Countless Buddhist disciples sat cross-legged on lotus platforms, chanting sutras with their eyes closed, and infusing the array with their pure vows.
Deep within the Pure Land, inside a colossal stupa entirely cast in lapis lazuli, several bodhisattvas are holding a meeting.
The Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva sits serenely in the main position, surrounded by a radiant aura of seven colors, his face showing both compassion and solemnity.
The Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva sits cross-legged on the left, his three-headed, six-armed form appearing and disappearing, his body surrounded by billowing blue flames.
The Jeweled Tree Adornment Bodhisattva and the World-Purifying White Lotus Bodhisattva sit on either side, their appearances solemn and dignified.
"How much longer will the Grand Reception Formation take?" asked the Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva, his voice deep and resonant like an ancient bell.
"More than a month," said the Jeweled Tree Adornment Bodhisattva slowly. "At that time, as long as the Great Tide of Time arrives and the barrier weakens, the World-Honored One can unleash even greater power."
"More than a month—" Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva nodded slightly, "Then let's wait a little longer."
"I'm afraid we can't wait any longer." Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva snorted coldly, and coldness appeared on all three faces at the same time. "You all know about the Dao Debate Conference."
"That demon has already publicly declared that he will take responsibility for Xuanhuang. How could he sit idly by and watch us set up the Formation Deployment?"
"If he dares to come, he will never return." The World-Purifying White Lotus Bodhisattva's voice was ethereal, yet carried an undeniable certainty. "Within the Pure Land, there are restrictions placed by the World-Honored One- Honored One throughout the ages."
No matter how strong his Dao of Primordial Unity, he can forget about running wild here.
Before the words had even finished -
"Boom-!!!"
An indescribable, terrifying Sword Intent descended from the sky without warning!
That Sword Intent was pure and domineering, like an invisible giant axe that split the heavens and earth, forcefully cleaving open a huge, bottomless rift that stretched for thousands of miles through the golden light of the power of vows that had enveloped the Pure Land for countless ages!
At the edge of the rift, golden willpower surged wildly, writhing like torn flesh, trying to mend it, but was firmly suppressed by the annihilating Dao rhythm contained in the Sword Intent, as if frozen by ten thousand pounds of profound ice, unable to close even an inch!
Beneath the chasm, all thirty-six temples trembled simultaneously!
The golden light bridges connecting the temples shook violently, creaking under the strain, and countless spiderweb-like cracks appeared on their surfaces!
Countless Buddhist disciples were struck by this sudden and terrifying pressure, spitting out blood and falling from the lotus platform. Some with weaker cultivation even fainted!
Who goes there?!
The four Bodhisattvas rose simultaneously, their bodies radiating a burst of Buddhist light that transformed into four thick, golden pillars of light that shot into the sky!
Above the sky, from the crack, a deep blue figure slowly emerged.
Qi Yun.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering, his eyes sparkling with light.
There were no auspicious clouds beneath his feet, no unusual phenomena around him; he simply stood in the void.
But the moment he appeared, the overwhelming Buddhist light emanating from the four Bodhisattvas seemed to be suppressed by an invisible hand, involuntarily receding slightly!
It is not a deliberate suppression, but a natural, superior perspective derived from the Dao Position.
When the king holds court, all his ministers bow their heads.
"Venerable Bodhisattvas, it's been a long time," Qi Yun said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the four Bodhisattvas below, a faint smile playing on his lips.
" Qi Yun!" The three faces of the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva twisted simultaneously, blue flames surged, and his angry roar was like a thunderclap, "How dare you trespass on the Pure Land!"
"Trespassing?" Qi Yun chuckled softly, the laughter clear to the ears of every Bodhisattva.
"Within and beyond this Xuanhuang, there is no place that I, Qi, cannot go."
"Arrogant!" The World-Purifying White Lotus Bodhisattva shouted, and the white lotus beneath her feet suddenly burst forth with dazzling white light. All twelve lotus petals flew up, each petal transforming into a golden demon-subduing sword over ten feet long. The sword's blade flowed with a terrifying Daoist aura that purified all things, and it shot towards Qi Yun!
The rain of swords was so dense that it blotted out the sun, completely sealing off the void surrounding Qi Yun for thousands of miles!
At the same time, the Jeweled Tree Adornment Bodhisattva clasped his hands together, and the Bodhi Tree behind him suddenly trembled. Countless golden leaves detached from the branches, rapidly spinning and combining in the air, transforming into a guardian deity of the Dharma Skanda, who was a thousand feet tall and radiant with golden light!
With his Skanda in hand and eyes wide with rage, Qi Yun slammed it down fiercely at Qi Yun!
Wherever the vajra passes, the void shatters inch by inch, revealing the churning earth, fire, wind, and water behind it!
The Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva spared no effort, and the ancient dragon and elephant phantom behind him suddenly rushed forward, merging with his Movement Method —his body swelled to a height of a thousand feet, his muscles bulging like mountains, and his six arms swung out in unison, each punch carrying a terrifying force capable of shattering stars, blasting towards Qi Yun!
The combined power of the three Bodhisattvas was so great that it could change the very fabric of the world!
The golden light of the Pure Land's vows was violently churning under the impact of this raging force. The protective Formation Art of the thirty-six temples lit up simultaneously and operated frantically, barely managing to stabilize themselves from being destroyed by the aftershocks!
However, Qi Yun simply watched all of this quietly, his eyes sparkling, without making any unnecessary movements.
That's it?
Before he finished speaking, he raised his hand and made a feint towards the rain of swords, the falling vajra, and the incoming giant fist.
"Buzz"
A chaotic burst of colorful energy erupted from his palm. Wherever it passed, the golden demon-slaying swords seemed to have all their spirituality drained away. The swords trembled violently and then silently disintegrated, turning into countless golden light fragments that scattered across the sky!
The vajra that the thousand-foot-tall guardian deity Skanda slammed down stopped abruptly the moment it touched the colorful aura, as if it had been smashed into an invisible swamp!
For the first time, bewilderment and fear appeared on Skanda's wide-open, angry face. Then, starting from the tip of the pestle, his entire body cracked and shattered inch by inch, turning into countless golden fragments. These fragments were swept up by the colorful energy and disappeared without a trace!
The six giant fists unleashed by the thousand-foot-tall golden body of the Primordial Dragon Elephant and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva were as fragile as paper in front of Caiyi!
The Buddha light on the fist quickly dimmed and disappeared, and countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of the fist. Chaotic light shone through the cracks, and then all six arms exploded at the same time, turning into a sky full of golden blood mist!
"Puff"
The three Bodhisattvas were severely injured in a single blow.
Qi Yun simply stood still, without moving an inch.
"This—this is impossible—" The voice of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Bodhisattva was hoarse, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Qi Yun did not answer. He simply withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the four Bodhisattvas below, the smile on his lips slowly widening.
"I've not come here today to kill you," he said calmly, "But to deliver a message."
"What are you saying?" The Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva gritted his teeth, his three faces a mixture of anger and fear, yet he dared not make any further rash moves.
Qi Yun looked at him, a hint of something in his eyes.
"Within ten days, remove the Grand Reception Formation."
otherwise--"
He paused, not saying anything more, but his meaning was crystal clear.
The four bodhisattvas had ashen faces, but none of them dared to speak.
"Don't even think about it!" Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva roared, his primordial blue flames burning wildly, and his three-headed, six-armed form solidified once more.
" The Grand Reception Formation is a decree of the World-Honored One; how dare you, a mere demon, attempt to disrupt it?"
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Yun raised his hand and gently tapped him.
"Sneer"
A streak of gray-white sword light shot out from the fingertip.
Before the Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva could even react, before even the thought of fear could take shape, he felt a chill between his brows—the sword light had already grazed his brow and exploded behind him!
"BOOM-!!!"
A deafening roar!
The sword light struck the deepest part of the Pure Land, on the giant pagoda made entirely of crystal, and instantly exploded!
Beneath the pagoda, the foundation of the Grand Reception Formation being set up was swept by the aftershocks of the sword light. The array patterns shattered inch by inch, the runes flickered and faded, and finally, with a "poof," it completely collapsed!
Thirty-six temples trembled simultaneously!
Countless Buddhist disciples screamed in terror!
The entire Pure Land was plunged into unprecedented chaos by this single sword strike!
"I won't withdraw." Qi Yun withdrew his finger and said calmly, "Then I, Qi, will help you."
The Wrathful Wisdom King Bodhisattva was stiff all over, and the six-armed Dharma image that had just solidified behind him had completely collapsed.
In the Pure Land, all was deathly silent.
The four bodhisattvas exchanged glances, each seeing a deep sense of dread and helplessness in the other's eyes. That demon was more terrifying than the rumors suggested. Not just terrifying, but utterly hopeless.
The Grand Reception Formation is destroyed.
The demon only drew his sword once.
Green Mountain Daoist Temple, beneath a withered tree.
Qi Yun's figure returned to the courtyard, his clothes fluttering, spotless.
"You're back?" Cai Shen's voice came from the cauldron, carrying a hint of relief.
"Um."
"How about those bald monks—"
"Not very good."
Qi Yun replied casually.
The courtyard returned to silence.
But this silence lasted for less than half an hour.
"Buzz"
A chaotic, multicolored light shone from Qi Yun's waist, and the token given to True Lord Contemplating the One trembled slightly.
Qi Yun opened his eyes, took out the token, and probed it with his Divine Sense.
" The Great Tide of Time will arrive ahead of schedule."
Seven words, very brief, yet like a thunderclap, exploded in Qi Yun's mind.
Will the Great Tide of Time arrive earlier than expected?
Qi Yun frowned slightly. He didn't press for the reason, because he knew that if Canyi said that, he must have his reasons.
"How long?" he responded with his Divine Sense.
The token remained silent for a moment, then lit up again.
"More than a month."
More than a month.
Qi Yun fell silent.
He had originally thought he had plenty of time to prepare, but now only a month or so remains.
He destroyed the World-Honored One's Grand Reception Formation, but the Great Tide of Time is approaching, and the World-Honored One will surely have other means.
"Interesting," Qi Yun muttered to himself.
He put the token away, stood up, and walked to the center of the courtyard.
"Qi boy, what's wrong?" Cai Shen noticed his unusual behavior and couldn't help but ask.
" The Great Tide of Time is coming sooner than expected."
"In advance? By how much?"
"More than a month."
Cai Shen remained silent. He knew, of course, what this meant.
This means they don't have much time left to prepare.
"What's next?" he asked. "What are you planning to do?"
Qi Yun did not answer. He simply stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, gazing at the gradually darkening sky, his eyes sparkling with color, as he fully activated the [ Primordial Unity ] Dao, deducing each step to come.
A month or so is neither a long nor a short time.
It's enough to do many things, but it's also far from enough to do many things.
But Qi Yun is not in a hurry.
Because he knew that this game of chess was never about who was better prepared.
It's not about who can take that crucial step at the most critical moment.
With a slight lift of his gaze, Qi Yun looked through the sky towards the All Wonders Heaven where various Dao Fruit hung, his eyes gleaming with a subtle, ethereal light.