Chapter 385 - 353: Refinement... Begins

"BUZZ—!!!"

The spectral Heaven-Supporting Divine Tree, manifested from the [God of Wealth], fully unfurled at this moment!

Upon its trunk, from within deep cracks that flowed with the luster of molten gold, the four ancient words, "Kaiyuan Tongbao, Eternal Prosperity," shone with brilliant light.

The majestic crown, with its countless leaves and branches formed from pure golden light and Dao Patterns, was no longer content to merely exist.

Instead, it began to frantically extend, interweave, and spread out!

Each leaf was like a miniature universe, with endless ancient characters flowing within, enacting the profound principles of wealth’s ebb and flow, the measure of all things;

Each branch, like a celestial river crossing the void, carried the supreme majesty that transcended the bounds of existence and non-existence.

In an instant!

With the spectral Divine Tree at its center, a hazy yet stable Golden Realm erupted into existence. It was like a giant, inverted glazed bowl, or a small world independent of the Profound Yellow Realm itself.

It completely enveloped the forty-nine streams of [World Honored Golden Light] that had just scattered and were about to flee in all directions!

Within the Realm, Flowing Light shimmered, and Dao Rhyme formed naturally.

The forty-nine streams of golden light, which contained the mysteries of the level "Above the True Monarch," were like birds crashing into an invisible spiderweb. They struggled and darted about but could no longer break free from this "Domain of Measure" temporarily constructed by the authority of the Imperial Soldiers.

They were bound by an invisible force of "pricing" and "restraint," their speed plummeting and their trajectories becoming clearly visible.

Like insects frozen in amber, they flickered in vain with an alluring yet anxious light.

"Who?!"

A question, so cold it could shatter stars, like a blade from the highest heavens, suddenly tore through the air that had momentarily frozen due to the abrupt intervention of the Imperial Soldiers!

Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch stood upon a patch of Broken void, his disheveled hair moving without wind and his green robes whipping about.

In his eyes, as clear as a newborn’s yet as deep as an abyss of swords, now burned a rage and killing intent sufficient to incinerate the eight wildernesses!

For this day, for this scroll of the [World Honored One’s Handwriting], he had even used the "Ancestor Master Sword Intent," a unique treasure passed down through generations in the Sword Pavilion!

It was one of the Sword Pavilion’s ultimate reserves, the only trace left behind by the founding ancestor before he achieved enlightenment and transcended!

He had watched as the peerless Sword Intent shattered the Honored One’s phantom, as the handwriting transformed into golden light, and as the fruit of his efforts was about to ripen and fall...

And yet, at this final moment, someone dared to reach out and pluck the peach!

’Trying to snatch my prize?!’

It wasn’t just Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch.

At this moment, all the True Monarchs, Bodhisattvas, and even the distant, uncertain Dragon Monarchs who had been frantically scrambling for the scattered golden light, fixed their gazes on the spectral Heaven-Supporting Divine Tree that had suddenly appeared and suppressed the entire Realm.

Their gazes were nailed to the Golden Realm that had enveloped all the golden light!

Astonishment, fury, greed, apprehension, killing intent... All sorts of emotions exploded in the hearts of every peak existence like boiling oil thrown into ice water!

"Imperial Soldiers... It’s those missing Golden Tang Dynasty Imperial Soldiers!"

"Someone can actually wield them? Is there another one of us here?!"

"What audacity! They want to take it all for themself?!"

"Break it open!!!"

Without any communication, a near-instinctual consensus formed in the hearts of all the True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas whose fundamental interests had been threatened.

The next instant—

"RUMBLE—!!!!!"

Heaven and Earth lost their color, and the myriad Daos wailed in sorrow!

The thirty-two peak figures, who had briefly scattered to fight for the golden light, simultaneously and tacitly abandoned all their grudges and defenses against one another, unleashing all their terrifying power upon a single target.

That majestic Heaven-Supporting Divine Tree, that Golden Realm enveloping the golden light!

What a scene it was.

Thirty-two beings standing at the apex of this world, thirty-two types of magnificent Divine Techniques that touched upon the very source of the Great Dao, all converged thunderously upon the same target at this moment!

With the Divine Tree’s Realm manifested by the [God of Wealth] at the center, the space for tens of thousands of miles around completely transformed into a "chaotic singularity" that was madly collapsing and violently exploding!

Light was torn to shreds, sound was annihilated, and color lost all meaning.

Spirit Mountain wailed, the earth sank, and the sky burned!

The Golden Realm trembled violently under such a terrifying, concentrated assault!

The branches and leaves of the spectral Divine Tree flickered, and the light from the four ancient words on its trunk also wavered slightly, enduring unimaginable pressure.

On the Realm’s barrier, fine, web-like cracks began to appear.

Although they were quickly repaired by the flowing Melted Gold Dao Patterns, the speed of repair seemed to gradually fall behind the speed of destruction.

And amidst this berserk scene—where thirty-two peak Divine Techniques shook the heavens and threatened to tear apart and annihilate the Divine Tree’s Realm along with the golden light within—

Inside the Realm, in the center of the "small world" that had been temporarily stabilized by the power of the Imperial Soldiers and insulated from most of the destructive shockwaves outside.

Light and shadow rippled faintly.

A figure faded into existence, materializing silently.

He wore a spotless white monk’s robe. Though the fabric was ordinary, it naturally flowed with a gentle Treasure Light.

His face was compassionate and serene, his eyes holding a wisdom that saw through the ways of the world. A dot of pure white light shone brightly between his brows.

His steps were unhurried. With each one, a pure and flawless White Lotus would bloom in the void beneath his feet, spinning slowly and scattering an aura of purity and tranquility.

Behind his head, a clear and perfect Great Light Appearance, containing Infinite Light and the phantoms of Bodhisattvas, hovered quietly, illuminating this Realm filled with golden light.

It was none other than Qi Yun’s [Great Brightness Shizhi Dharma Body]!

The Dharma Body’s appearance was calm and natural, forming a heart-stopping, extreme contrast with the world-destroying violence outside.

"You insolent whelp, how dare you!!!"

In the same instant the Dharma Body appeared, from beyond the Realm, at least seven or eight furious shouts—filled with rage, bewilderment, and a hint of foreboding—pierced through the violent Energy Turbulence and the trembling barrier of the Realm, exploding like thunder in the small world where the Dharma Body stood!

It was the rebukes of the True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas!

Threats, intimidation, and killing intent pressed down like an invisible, crashing iceberg!

However, Qi Yun, who was controlling the Dharma Body, seemed completely deaf to the rebukes and targeting from the outside world—forces that would have been enough to shatter the soul of a Great Master.

Seeing that Qi Yun was ignoring their warnings.

The attacks from the True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas grew even more ferocious.

On the barrier of the Golden Realm that enveloped the golden light, the web-like cracks spread at a speed that clearly surpassed the repair rate of the Melted Gold Dao Patterns.

The light from the branches and leaves of the spectral, Heaven-Supporting Divine Tree flickered violently.

On its trunk, the radiance of the four words "Kaiyuan Tongbao, Eternal Prosperity" also began to waver unsteadily.

The [God of Wealth] was not an Attacking Imperial Soldier; its true marvels did not lie in simple defense or offense.

Faced with the combined assault of thirty-two True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas, it was clearly struggling to hold on.

At this precarious, critical moment.

The [Great Brightness Shizhi Dharma Body] in its white monk’s robe, standing atop a slowly spinning White Lotus, suddenly put its palms together. Facing the figures of the Bodhisattvas outside the Realm who were emitting vast Buddha Light, it assumed a solemn expression and chanted a Buddhist name:

"Amitabha Buddha—"

"The World Honored One’s true intent has manifested, and the scripture has shattered to appear in the world. This is a perfect opportunity for the circulation of Buddhist fate."

"This disciple, Fa Hai, guided by the aura of the World Honored One’s Handwriting, has had his spiritual platform enlightened. I have a faint feeling... that this body can serve as the vessel for the World Honored One’s Descent Body into the Profound Yellow Realm."

"However, the external interference is severe, and the barrier is about to break. This fateful opportunity may be lost."

The Dharma Body lowered its head slightly, facing the Bodhisattvas outside, and announced in a clear voice:

"I hope all you venerable Bodhisattvas, in consideration of the supreme wish for the Buddhist Skill to spread east and enlighten all living beings, will lend this disciple a hand. Please temporarily hold back the Outer Dao and protect this place.

"Allow this disciple to guide the World Honored One’s true intent and manifest His holy descent!"

The moment these words were spoken, it was like a drop of ice water falling into a pot of boiling oil!

Outside the Realm, the auras of the sixteen Bodhisattvas, who had been united in their assault on the Golden Realm, underwent an extremely subtle yet drastic change in almost the same instant!

The light of wisdom in their eyes flashed wildly as they calculated, weighed, and verified the possibilities behind his words at a speed that transcended thought!

At the same time, in the unseen world, a vast, surging ocean of brilliant colors appeared, blanketing Heaven and Earth.

It was the [Sea of Cause and Effect].

The Bodhisattvas were trying to deduce the karmic threads and verify the truth.

But after the great battle between the True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas, the entire Sea of Cause and Effect had descended into chaos.

Even with the Bodhisattvas working together, they could not deduce the complete picture.

’The World Honored One’s Descent Body?’

’A vessel?’

’If this is true... which is more important? Fighting over the Broken fragments of the scripture’s golden light, or directly "welcoming" a wisp of the World Honored One’s true intent?!’

This thought spread like wildfire through the minds of several Bodhisattvas!

It was almost an instinctual reaction to the possibility of the "World Honored One’s decree"...

"Namo, World Honored One!"

Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva was the first to let out a low roar as the seven-colored Buddha Light around him abruptly changed direction!

The majestic Buddha Power, which had been aimed at the Golden Realm’s barrier and was manifesting an Ancient Dragon Elephant to trample the void, carved a glaring arc through the air. Accompanied by the long cry of the Dragon Elephant, it ruthlessly slammed into the nearby Floating World Star Inference True Monarch, who was channeling his Star Sea to suppress the Realm!

"Bald donkey! Are you looking to die?!"

Floating World Star Inference True Monarch was caught off guard. The phantom of his orbiting stars was sent trembling by the incomparably domineering Dragon Elephant’s Buddha Light. He let out a muffled grunt and retreated explosively, his eyes filled with shock and rage as he cursed loudly!

"My Buddha is Compassionate."

Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva’s face was solemn, his voice grand as a bell, echoing across the chaotic Celestial Vault:

"The World Honored One follows the supreme Great Dao. Today, he wishes to descend His law into the Profound Yellow Realm, to manifest His holiness and save the world. This is a blessing for all living beings, a blessing for the world, and a blessing for you and I who seek supreme Bodhi!

"Fellow Daoist, your forceful obstruction goes against the will of heaven. It is truly unwise!"

"Bullshit!"

From the other side, the furious curse of Everlasting Talisman Inference True Monarch rang out. His torrent of Talismans had been disrupted by the World-Purifying Buddha Light from another Bodhisattva who had suddenly changed targets. He was so angry that hundreds of millions of ancient characters flashed wildly around his body.

"Slick words and a pleasing façade! You just want to monopolize the opportunity!"

In an instant, the thirty-two peak powers that had been united in their assault on the Emperor’s Weapon Realm suddenly fractured!

"Don’t waste words on this bunch of bald donkeys!"

A cold, indifferent voice, like ancient frost-iron grinding together, suddenly sounded extremely close to Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva’s side!

The figure of the True Monarch of No Dao Extreme Law stepped out from a shadow of "Gui Wu" like a phantom. Facing the Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva, who was just inches away, he gave a simple, casual wave of his sleeve.

"SCRRRTCH—!"

There was no loud bang, only a cringe-inducing sound, like sandpaper being ground harshly against glass.

A small half of the Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva’s solemn Buddhist body was erased as if by an invisible eraser, revealing a bizarre cross-section of flowing, pale-gold Buddhist blood that was quickly being covered by new Buddha Light!

"Ugh!"

The Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva let out a muffled grunt. His seven-colored Buddha Light trembled violently, and his aura instantly weakened. His gaze toward the True Monarch of No Dao Extreme Law was filled with deep apprehension.

But the True Monarch of No Dao Extreme Law retreated after a single strike, his figure once again melting into the shadows.

He left only his cold words echoing across the chaotic battlefield:

"Break the barrier. Seize the True Scripture."

Short, direct, throwing the most naked objective back on the table.

That’s right, to hell with any World Honored One’s descent or the eastward spread of Buddhist Skill!

"Kill!"

"Seize the scripture!"

After a brief moment of shock and confrontation, an even more chaotic battle erupted once more!

And in the instant the chaotic battle reignited outside and the pressure slightly lessened.

Within the Emperor’s Weapon Realm, the [Great Brightness Shizhi Dharma Body] calmly retracted its gaze from the outside world.

The Dharma Body came to a stop before the golden light.

Slowly, it raised its right hand.

There was no hesitation, no flourish.

Under the fixed gazes of the thirty-two peak experts outside the Realm—

This hand reached forward, steady and firm.

Its five fingers spread open, and then...

...gently closed.

"Hiss..."

A sound so faint it was almost negligible.

That stream of pale-gold Flowing Light, containing a wisp of the profound Compassion from the level "Above the True Monarch," was just like that... held in its palm.

In that instant, all the sounds of the outside world... faded away.

Between Heaven and Earth, it seemed all that remained was this hand grasping the golden light, and the pair of wise yet indifferent eyes that calmly regarded the opportunity in its palm.

The Refinement... began!

...