The Taiji Diagram appeared, and the White Jade Golden Bridge headed straight for Shakyamuni Tathagata.
Beneath the Golden Bridge, earth, water, wind, and fire emerged simultaneously. The scene of the Three Pure Ones' Heaven also changed along with the Taiji Diagram, evolving towards the image of Chaos.
"Boom!"
This Golden Bridge collided with the Buddha Light Pillar; earth, water, wind, and fire fiercely clashed with the Buddha Light, while Shakyamuni Tathagata, who was originally sitting beneath the Buddha Light Pillar, had already ascended the Golden Bridge.
At this critical moment, he had no choice but to pause his advancement, leaping up onto the Taiji Golden Bridge.
"Xuan Du!"
Shakyamuni Tathagata fixed his gaze on the Daoist atop the Golden Bridge, questioning sternly, "Are you truly siding with the 'End of Dharma'?"
Clearly destroyed by the 'End of Dharma', yet now standing on its side.
Clearly having attacked Sun Wukong before...
With a realization, Shakyamuni Tathagata understood the situation.
This Daoist didn't attack Sun Wukong; he was offering his allegiance, seeing Wukong's hesitation and striking first to suppress the monkey.
Despite the monkey's nature, even if he didn't stand with Jiang Li, he wouldn't backstab, as Jiang Li had never wronged him.
But since there was shaken resolve, it became a variable, so the Daoist Lord decisively knocked Sun Monkey unconscious and put him in a sack.
"It seems the Buddha has understood."
The Daoist Lord said with a smile, "I have stood with the 'End of Dharma' from the beginning to the end. Besides, I am not Xuan Du. Under the 'End of Dharma', who can escape? The Master Xuan Du has long fallen under the 'End of Dharma'; I am merely a successor."
"Then who exactly are you?" Shakyamuni Tathagata asked, a hint of Buddha's energy stirring.
"Just a nobody. If the Buddha wishes to know, I will tellβ"
Suddenly, Buddha Light appeared, covering the Seven Treasures Miao Tree, unleashing a seven-colored Divine Light.
As the Taiji rotated, Yin Yang Qi strangled, enveloping Shakyamuni Tathagata.
The Yin Yang Tai Chi clashed with the seven-colored Divine Light, and the Taiji Diagram contended with the Seven Treasures Miao Tree.
The Buddha said, "All forms are non-forms; clouds are not empty."
The Daoist said, "The Dao that can be explained is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name."
In Buddhism, the external appearance is not fundamental; only by transcending appearance can one understand the true essence.
In Daoism, anything that can be described in words is not the true Dao or the true name.
The Daoist Lord and Shakyamuni Tathagata were evidently well-versed in their own doctrines, so Shakyamuni Tathagata straightforwardly abandoned appearance, while the Daoist Lord let go of renown, choosing to ambush.
As they conversed, the Taiji Diagram and Seven Treasures Miao Tree were ready to burst forth simultaneously.
"Boom!"
As they faced off, the space collapsed, causing the Taiji Diagram to roll up, turning the interior into Chaos. But the Seven Treasures Miao Tree expanded from within, forming a giant tree stabilizing the White Jade Golden Bridge.
If the Taiji Diagram truly rolled up, Shakyamuni Tathagata would be trapped, suffering constant refinement by Yin Yang Qi until both form and spirit were annihilated. But with the Seven Treasures Miao Tree, it could offer some resistance.
Though in terms of power and mystery, the Seven Treasures Miao Tree was inferior to the Taiji Diagram, the Dao Fruits within the two Dao Artifacts were equal.
Moreover, the Three Pure Dao Artifacts had long been used as seals, unlike the Seven Treasures Miao Tree, which enjoyed the benefits of spiritual mechanism recovery.
As space shifted, the seven-colored Divine Light flowed with the Yin Yang Five Elements, counteracting the Yin Yang Qi.
Two First Grade Dao Artifacts pushed against each other, and their owners also engaged.
The Daoist Lord stepped, moving freely atop the Golden Bridge, instantly arriving close, and the divine power of Daoism Rules the World descended silently.
Meanwhile, the Buddha's Pure Land expanded to counter the formless Dao power.
Though once synonymous with roguery, Daoism Rules the World was now a bit outdated, unable to suppress Shakyamuni Tathagata's Divine Skills. And Shakyamuni's own Daoist capabilities were formidable, unimpaired even while Dao Fruit Divine Power was restrained.
The Daoist Lord didn't intend to win via this but to restrain. With both hands raised, the Earth Leaving Flame Banner and True Martial Black Eagle Flag appeared behind him, controlling Yin Yang and Water and Fire, pushing forward.
The area beyond the Golden Bridge was where the two First Grade Dao Artifacts clashed, and Shakyamuni Tathagata could only confront the attack head-on upon seeing the Daoist Lord approach.
A six-fathom Golden Body appeared, and the palm of the Tathagata struck across.
Upon first clash, Yin Yang collided, and the Daoist Lord transformed Yin Yang balance into Yin Yang conflict, extremely catalyzing power to battle Shakyamuni Tathagata.
Both jolted, feeling Primordial Qi stirring within.
Such fierce confrontation, both were wounded, even to the extent of harming the enemy by eight hundred while self-harming by a thousand.
But for the Daoist Lord, self-harm was inconsequential; hurting the enemy was key.
As long as Shakyamuni Tathagata was critically injured, his advancement could be thwarted, nullifying Emperor Xi's shield method.
The Daoist Lord's momentum skyrocketed, and the Three Pure Ones appeared, with the Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Techniques at his fingertips.
Fatian Xiangdi, Mountains and Seas, Inverting Yin and Yang, Mastering Five Thunders... various Magic Door Divine Skills were unleashed, with the Vajra Bracelet attacking at will.
Fearless of injury, he attacked relentlessly, with the Three Pure Primordial Spirits alternating assaults. Shakyamuni Tathagata's defense would eventually falter if maintained; if counterattacking, it suited the Daoist Lord's plan.
Even maintaining the stalemate was advantageous.
Becauseβ
"Whooβ"
Essence Qi formed a fierce gale, and starlight broke through layers of celestial skies. Then a giant hand containing dozens of stars reached from the lower Heaven into the Three Pure Ones.
