Chapter 3159: Maro
The breeze was like gauze.
Bodhi leaves stirred, scattering grains of light like rain.
"Feng Xi has attained enlightenment and wishes to take refuge in Buddhism. Master Yuanchen, can you teach me the Dharma as the Third Patriarch taught his disciples?"
Feng Xi pressed her jade fingers together in a devout manner, as if she had already severed the red threads of worldly passion, and bowed to Zhang Ruochen.
Her gaze was resolute, clearly not just empty words.
Zhang Ruochen's mind was in turmoil.
Enlightened? This is what you became enlightened about?
Xuanyuan Qing stood to the side, looking like she was enjoying the show. Her gaze shifted to Chi Yao and Jing Xiu, who had just stepped in, finding the situation increasingly amusing.
"Benefactor, this absolutely will not do."
Zhang Ruochen reached out to help Feng Xi up, but she knelt directly to the ground.
As if paying respects to a teacher, as if worshipping a true Buddha.
Feng Xi said, "The woman surnamed Bai was guided by the Third Patriarch, realized the transformation of the wild lotus heart, and ultimately became a holy sage of Buddhism. Today, Master Yuanchen has untied the knot in this disciple's heart and bestowed the Arhat White Pearl. Isn't this a sign that you intend to accept me into the Buddhist path?"
Chi Yao said, "Miss Feng is devoted to Buddhism with such piety. Master Yuanchen, you should accept her."
Zhang Ruochen shot Chi Yao a glare. She was just making trouble.
Feng Xi took out a foot-long divine blade and offered it with both hands to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "This disciple is willing to shave her head and cultivate, following the master across the universe, serving at your side, preparing tea and copying scriptures, burning incense and worshipping Buddha, enduring hardship and spreading the Dharma."
"Get up first. Let's talk after you get up." Zhang Ruochen said.
Feng Xi said, "If the master does not agree, this disciple will naturally kneel here and not rise. Consider this a test of my character and whether my resolve to seek the Buddha is firm."
"Seems elegant as an orchid, but is actually stubborn," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself, evaluating Feng Xi.
Stubborn people were the most troublesome.
"Excellent, excellent. This will surely become a celebrated tale of Buddhism." Putuo Ancient Buddha appeared, praising loudly, then pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddha's name.
Zhang Ruochen was tempted to punch Putuo Ancient Buddha in the face. "This humble monk travels the world. Having a woman by my side is ultimately inappropriate. Putuo, my junior, you are also a holy sage with profound Dharma. Why doesn't Benefactor Feng take refuge under your guidance?"
"How can the master still distinguish between male and female in his heart? Did the Third Patriarch ever regard the monk Bai as a woman?" Feng Xi asked.
Putuo Ancient Buddha laughed heartily. "This time, indeed, the master is being biased. Moreover, Benefactor Feng's Buddhist affinity lies with the master, not with this humble monk."
Zhang Ruochen used his spiritual power to send a telepathic message, seeking help from Chi Yao and Xuanyuan Qing.
But neither of them was moved in the slightest, offering no response.
Just as he was at a loss, Feng Yan arrived, walking quickly. He first bowed deeply to Zhang Ruochen, then snatched the divine blade from Feng Xi's hand. "Sister, why must you do this? Come back to the Wind Clan with me. There's no need to become a nun."
Feng Xi used her divine power to force Feng Yan, who was trying to support her, back, then kowtowed heavily to Zhang Ruochen. "This disciple truly wishes to sever worldly ties and enter the Buddhist path to cultivate. Please, Master Yuanchen, grant this."
Feng Yan bowed respectfully to Zhang Ruochen. "Master, absolutely not. Let me first try to persuade her."
"Persuade her well. Entering the Buddhist path is not a game, nor a momentary impulse." Zhang Ruochen seized the opportunity to extricate himself, then turned his gaze to Qing Sixue and Xiang Chunan, who had arrived with Feng Yan. When his eyes fell on Xiang Chunan, a strange look appeared in them.
Qing Sixue said, "We came specifically to thank Master Yuanchen for saving our lives. We wanted to prepare a generous gift, but after much thought, given the master's state of mind, any material thing would be like dirt. Offering it would only defile the master's Buddha-eye. Here, this disciple sincerely invites the master to visit the Truth Temple in the future."
Xiang Chunan's gaze was fixed on Xuanyuan Qing, and he strode toward her.
"Be careful!" Zhang Ruochen roared deeply.
"Whoosh!"
From the trunk of the Bodhi tree, hundreds of millions of Buddhist characters surged forth, and then golden Buddha light, like a tangible wave of water, rushed outward.
Xiang Chunan let out a long roar, punched through the Buddhist characters blocking his path, his aura surging like a river of stars, and reached out to grab Xuanyuan Qing. The space in his palm continuously stretched and expanded outward.
Xuanyuan Qing reacted instantly, sensing the danger, and retreated rapidly.
But the grasping hand seemed to transform into a five-fingered sky, pressing down continuously, leaving her with no escape, no retreat.
With a *shua* sound, the Radiant Divine Sword flew out.
The power of the divine artifact erupted, emitting a blinding white light from Crimson Gate Star that illuminated the starry sky. The sword body slashed toward Xiang Chunan's hand.
"Bang!"
Countless rule divine patterns emerged on the hand, knocking the Radiant Divine Sword away.
Xuanyuan Qing's delicate body was also impacted, unable to steady itself, flying backward toward the Bodhi tree. Her heart was filled with shock, realizing that this "Xiang Chunan" was definitely a Grand God of the Tai Xu realm whose cultivation far surpassed her own.
"Let's go!" Xiang Chunan laughed.
The five-fingered space squeezed Xuanyuan Qing until she couldn't move, her divine body shrinking as she flew toward his palm, about to be captured.
"Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon!"
A thunderous Buddhist sound came from above, followed by a golden divine dragon, with a majestic aura, tearing apart the five-fingered space.
Zhang Ruochen descended from the sky, striking out with a hand seal. A "Swastika" mark appeared in his palm, and he roared again: "Great Dharma Mantra!"
"Boom!"
The five-fingered space completely exploded.
This Buddhist divine ability, Zhang Ruochen had seen Yan Wushen use before, and he had derived it using the Wuji Divine Dao.
The power of the divine energy collision caused the entire Crimson Gate Star to shake. The light on the planet blazed brightly, and countless defensive formations and divine patterns were activated, weaving into one net after another.
Xiang Chunan sensed several divine auras rushing toward them at high speed and knew the situation was hopeless. He stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen. If this white-robed monk hadn't seen through his transformation technique the moment he appeared, today's failure would never have happened.
"The Rakshasa Clan's Heaven-Replacing Earth-Changing Art. Which Grand God of the Hell Realm are you?" Putuo Ancient Buddha asked.
Xiang Chunan let out a deep snort. A talisman light flickered in his left pupil, and the space before him was forcibly torn open, revealing a black hole connected to the Void World.
It must be noted that the space of Crimson Gate Star had already been reinforced, and now with the divine pattern enhancements from the gods, even a powerful Grand God would find it difficult to tear the space apart.
"Be careful! There's a Space Divine King Talisman in his pupil!" Zhang Ruochen said.
"With a Divine King Talisman, you think you can leave?"
Xuanyuan Qing pointed one hand to the sky, her black hair flying like a waterfall. A tens-of-zhang-long Radiant Grand Talisman rose behind her, emitting an immeasurable aura, pressing down on the gods present, making it hard for them to breathe.
The Radiant Grand Talisman struck, shattering the spatial hole, slapping Xiang Chunan's physical body to pieces, and flattening the ground for dozens of miles.
Clearly, Xuanyuan Qing was truly enraged, using the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman.
This was not surprising. Although the Boundless had marched north, they would inevitably leave behind some Divine King Talismans and Divine Venerable Talismans. However, such secret treasures were extremely rare.
Previously, Xuanyuan Qing disdained carrying such external forces, considering it a sign of lack of confidence. But after her journey to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, she realized that in the face of life and death, she should set aside her arrogant pride.
The identity of the Heavenly Venerable's daughter was not a death-free divine talisman.
That Rakshasa Clan god who had transformed into Xiang Chunan was not killed by the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman in one blow. His body slowly rose from the dust, bone wings spreading on his back, revealing his true form.
His body was five meters tall, robust as an ox, with a collapsed nose and an extremely ugly face.
The Space Divine King Talisman in his left pupil had already shattered, and even his eyeball had exploded, a bloody mess.
Xuanyuan Qing's eyes were dark and deep. "Maro Ancient God, you have quite the nerve, daring to break into Crimson Gate Star alone. Do you really think that without the Boundless Realm, no one in the world can deal with you?"
"With just one Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman, you think you can handle me? I came today to capture you, the Heavenly Venerable's daughter, and see what makes Hao Tian's daughter different from other women. Haha!"
Maro Ancient God laughed loudly, and a battle axe as large as a door panel condensed in his hand.
Maro Ancient God was a top-tier Grand God of the Rakshasa Clan's Di Shang Divine Kingdom, having reached the peak of the Tai Xu realm. On the "Grand God Treatise," he was ranked fifth in the Axe Dao.
A figure like this could withstand one or two strikes from a Divine Venerable without being completely killed.
The attack unleashed by a Divine Venerable Talisman was naturally inferior to the power of a Divine Venerable personally striking. Moreover, an attack talisman could unleash three to five attacks before its divine power was essentially exhausted.
With the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman, Xuanyuan Qing could severely wound Maro Ancient God, but she couldn't kill him.
Xuanyuan Qing's eyes were frosty. With a flick of her finger, she mobilized the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman to attack Maro Ancient God again.
Maro Ancient God had experienced ten thousand battles. Since he knew Xuanyuan Qing had the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman, he wouldn't just stand there and take it. With a flash of his form, he broke through the radiant barrier and teleported away.
Jing Xiu, Feng Yan, Feng Xi, and Qing Sixue had long since taken the nearby cultivators far away, leaving the area.
"Boom!"
The Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman failed to hit Maro Ancient God, striking the sky instead, punching through the defensive formations in Crimson Gate Star's atmosphere.
Seizing the opportunity, Maro Ancient God broke through the air and rushed out of the atmosphere.
"Where do you think you're going? Where is my third brother?"
Feng Yan had been waiting outside the atmosphere, wielding the Pure Yang Divine Sword. With the combined power of Jing Xiu, Qing Sixue, and Feng Xi, he slashed out a crimson sword river.
The contempt in Maro Ancient God's eyes vanished. He dared not clash head-on with the Pure Yang Divine Sword, using a profound movement divine ability to evade the sword river. Then, he charged into the space torn apart by the sword river, entering the Void World.
"Roar!"
Zangjin Baihu let out a long roar.
Chi Yao stood atop Zangjin Baihu's head, having been waiting in the Void World for some time. Around her was a vast vortex of source rules.
A tiger claw, as large as a golden mountain, swung toward Maro Ancient God.
This time, Maro Ancient God had no way to evade. He raised his battle axe, unleashing a momentum like mountains overturning and seas draining, colliding with the golden tiger claw.
"Boom!"
Maro Ancient God felt as if he had been struck by a divine mountain. His blood and qi threatened to explode from his body. The battle axe in his hand shattered, and his body flew backward.
Just then, Xuanyuan Qing caught up, unleashing the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman, striking Maro Ancient God. The Divine Venerable Talisman completely shattered, but the destructive divine power it formed tore Maro Ancient God into pieces, even evaporating his blood and qi completely.
A hint of doubt appeared in Xuanyuan Qing's eyes. "Was he completely refined and killed just like that?"
Could a single strike from the Radiant Divine Venerable Talisman kill Maro Ancient God?
(End of Chapter)