Chapter 364: Chapter 214: Thirty-Three Layers of White Lotus, Tears on the Bodhi Tree
Everything developed exactly as Chen Kuang had expected. As long as he was determined to stop Xiuxin, Xiuxin would inevitably escape.
The Pure Land Barrier reinforced by three Great Zen Masters was indeed unbreakable, and Xiuxin had been forced into a corner, facing Chen Kuang, Xiuzhu, and the encircling attack from numerous Pure Land monks.
Xiuzhu couldn’t help but glance at Chen Kuang. Even with his abilities, he felt that at this point, there was no turning back for the situation.
However, when Chen Kuang discussed it with him, he was confident and resolute... Could it be that this fellow intended to deceive him, using Xiuxin to test him, or did he have other plans?
Chen Kuang remained calm and composed, his expression filled with murderous intent was not fake, and he even drew his killing sword, pointing directly at Xiuxin.
Although Xiuxin had profound cultivation, his weaknesses were also obvious.
That is, his character was truly upright and pure.
Now, in his view, those fellow disciples had been bewitched and controlled by Chen Kuang and Xiuzhu, the two "Celestial Demons," and were innocent, unaware of the truth.
— Of course, the truth was indeed so.
Even now, surrounded and attacked to the brink, Xiuxin still couldn’t bear to strike at them!
Or rather, it was precisely because of his unwillingness to act that led to the current predicament.
Chen Kuang stood tall, speaking loudly:
"Celestial Demon, the three Great Zen Masters have already seen through your true nature. Why don’t you quickly surrender? If you hadn’t possessed the Buddha’s Son’s body, the Great Zen Masters couldn’t bear to act until now. Do you think you could have lived until now?"
Xiuxin, hearing this, frowned.
He had now accepted the fact that the three Great Zen Masters were of the Saint Realm, and this sudden drama had persisted for a long time; the three Great Zen Masters should have known long ago.
But they showed no reaction, silently consenting to Chen Kuang and Xiuzhu’s actions.
Then there was only one possibility, that they too were "Celestial Demons."
This was a fact that was enough to drive Xiuxin into despair.
He briefly felt disheartened and gave up resisting, but one word from Chen Kuang reminded him.
Indeed, if all three Great Zen Masters were possessed by "Celestial Demons," why did they not strike decisively to eliminate him, the one who had discovered the truth?
It certainly couldn’t be as Chen Kuang said, out of regard for past relationships and unwillingness to act...
Then, why?
Xiuxin’s thoughts raced, while Chen Kuang once again attacked him.
He did not hold back at all, using the exact sword technique learned from Huo Hengxuan.
The Void-Slaying Sword that could cleave the sky.
Xiuxin’s expression turned serious. He originally did not consider this Chen Kuang of the Moon Embrace Realm a threat, even though his numerous deeds were widely known outside, but the difference in realms was, in Xiuxin’s eyes, absolute.
No matter what, could someone not even at the Grandmaster Realm possibly overpower him, a Profound Profound Realm?
Though he also had Heart Demons, he wasn’t like Martial Saint Mu Zhao, who was filled with interest; many years in the Pure Land cultivating with Buddhist sutras, his mental state was considered stable, and it wouldn’t be easily shattered by Chen Kuang’s mere words.
Yet, after several encounters with Chen Kuang, his perception had been completely overturned.
He had heard of other methods, and wasn’t surprised, but there was one thing that greatly puzzled Xiuxin—
Chen Kuang obviously had not established a Dao foundation, yet had already mastered at least two "Dao."
This was entirely impossible within Cangyuan’s cultivation system!
Xiuxin formed seals with his hands, a pure white Buddha light appeared behind him, a statue with indistinct features emerged, towering endlessly, seemingly gazing upon all living beings with eyes lowered, holding a flower in one hand, while the other hung naturally.
The Buddha light shone forth, repelling all evil.
But the sword that could yet cleave the sky swept across, twisting even the Buddha light briefly, drawing it into this terrifying rift of time and space.
Xiuxin’s eyes widened, clearly recognizing the extraordinary power of this sword.
Yet simultaneously, he inwardly whispered that it came just in time.
In an instant, Xiuxin’s hand seals transmuted, but before he could escape, he too was drawn into that rift, his form folding like a shattered painting.
In the next moment, the flower-holding statue’s face became clear, resembling Xiuxin’s features.
The figure of Xiuxin below transformed into a dull stone figure, which shattered into dust within the sword light!
Within the stone figure, layers of pure white lotus petals flew out, merging into this sword light.
Originally, Chen Kuang had only relied on the height of "Dao" to make its power comparable to the Upper Three Grades, but at this instant, Xiuxin infused it with the true power of Profound Profound Realm cultivation.
This sword became even more powerful!
It approached the Daoist Shore Realm!
Xiuxin was borrowing force, aiming to break through the Pure Land Barrier using Chen Kuang’s sword!
"Shss, shss, shss!"
Sword light collided with the invisible barrier, the two "Dao" of "space" eroded and devoured each other, producing a sound that sent shivers down one’s spine.
In all fairness, Xiuxin’s judgment at this moment was exquisite.
Indeed, only Chen Kuang’s Void-Slaying Sword, imbued with the "Dao" of "space," could destroy the Pure Land Barrier.
Hope flickered in Xiuxin’s eyes, but quickly faded.
Because the shattered Pure Land Barrier was swiftly repaired!
Within the illusion-like shattered glassy barrier, a glimpse of the boundless desert beyond was visible, yet the next moment, fine roots and tendrils exposed within the barrier stitched it closed.
Chen Kuang’s pupils contracted.
The countless fine roots and tendrils, merged with the barrier, like fibers in a piece of cloth, intricately intertwined, inseparable.
At this moment, as they converged toward each other, like glue, they threatened to bind it together.
Whether it’s Chen Kuang’s Void-Slaying Sword or Xiuxin exerting all his strength, they only momentarily approached the Daoist Shore Realm.
While this Pure Land Barrier was solidly supported by three Daoist Shore Realms.
Destroying it temporarily caused damage only to the surface, not to the core.
In this way, escaping was out of the question...
Xiuzhu quickly noticed Xiuxin’s clever escape technique, his eyes narrowing, lift his head, instantly flashing toward Xiuxin’s true body above, delivering a palm strike.
This strike was without reservation, seizing the moment Xiuxin was distracted, sinisterly presenting the eerie eye within his palm once more.
Xiuxin was startled, already having experienced it once, hurriedly chanting the Heart Sutra while averting his gaze.
But Chen Kuang simultaneously closed in, his expression solemn, the silhouette of a Moon White Kasaya emerged around him, his forehead bloomed with thirty-three white lotus petals!
— During this time in the Pure Land, guided by three Saints, Chen Kuang had stretched this "White Lotus Rebirth" to its limit, which is the Thirty-Third Layer of Force!
Chen Kuang, at this moment, had a realm gap of two Great Realms with Xiuxin, stacked passively nearly to the brim, now releasing this layer of force, with full might executed a strike that was even more terrifying than Xiuxin borrowing force with a single sword earlier!
Xiuxin could not dodge fast enough, could only raise a palm to withstand the explosive force.
"Boom!"
A large virtual white lotus bloomed in the air.
Surrounding structures collapsed, dust swirling.
The two crashed into the barrier, splitting it open once more.
But the barrier was still healing!
Chen Kuang’s expression suddenly shifted when he heard the strange, ethereal woman’s voice again.
"This sword... so familiar, you finally arrived."
The woman sighed: "But now my appearance is too hideous to be seen... the promise of those years, pretend it never happened... Leave, and never return."
As soon as her words fell, the barrier that was about to heal suddenly stalled, countless small branches and tendrils retreating, making way for a path.
Xiuxin didn’t know why this happened, but he knew it was the only chance, immediately shouted loudly, using all his strength, dealt a palm to Chen Kuang, borrowing force to fly backward.
In an instant, he vanished into the rift of the barrier.
Chen Kuang was knocked away, spat blood, watching the barrier heal again, he was stunned, suddenly understanding:
"That Bodhi Tree indeed has issues!"
"What supports the entire Pure Land Barrier... isn’t the three Great Zen Masters, but that Bodhi Tree!"
Chen Kuang coughed twice, his complexion pale, face changing unpredictably: "That Bodhi Tree is definitely the woman who knew Huo Hengxuan back in the day, but how did she become a tree?"
...
In the Zen Temple, the Bodhi Tree shook its branches and leaves, its trunk suddenly cracking, bleeding as if a tear trace.
On the originally smooth trunk, many swollen tree tumors appeared, continuously squirming, as if something was struggling to break free.
