"Are you here to seek death?"
Suddenly.
A voice rang out.
This voice was cold and ruthless, sinister and ghostly, as if it came from the depths of hell—utterly malevolent and filled with contempt and disdain.
It was none other.
Than the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor.
From beginning to end, he had not even glanced at Pure Robe Bodhisattva and the others. He hadn't even opened his eyes, still keeping them shut, with one hand behind his back and the other toying with a mysterious dark crystal orb.
This dark crystal orb was of unknown origin, resembling a ball of dark flame burning, yet also like a plume of black smoke billowing—extremely bizarre.
In the distance.
Pure Robe Bodhisattva at the lead, Dharma King Jiujie, Red-Faced Vajra, and the group of Buddhas all knew the existence of the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor was especially terrifying. Even if it was merely an Incarnation, they dared not be the slightest bit careless. When they appeared in the Desolate Ancient Ruins, everyone was prepared to fight.
Hearing the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor's utterly contemptuous voice, Dharma King Jiujie—who wore a golden Buddha crown, was draped in a star-and-moon kasaya, held a golden alms bowl in one hand and a nine-ringed golden staff in the other—responded: "We humble monks..." Dharma King Jiujie had just begun to speak, his words not yet finished, when he was forcibly interrupted by the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor: "This Emperor asks if you are here to seek death?"
At this moment, Pure Robe Bodhisattva spoke: "Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, do not misunderstand. We are merely passing by to take a look."
"Disappear from This Emperor's sight immediately!"
The Heavenly Dragon True Emperor's words could not be described as anything less than arrogant. Pure Robe Bodhisattva and Dharma King Jiujie were, after all, representative figures of the Western Heaven Buddhist Realm and top experts under Buddha Emperor Miao Rulai of the Western Heaven. Throughout the myriad heavens and worlds, there were likely few who dared to disregard them so blatantly.
"Hehe!"
Pure Robe Bodhisattva chuckled softly. Buddha light manifested around him, brilliant and sacred like the great sun. He stared at the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor and said, "Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, you are being far too overbearing."
"Since you seek death, This Emperor shall grant your wish today!"
The Heavenly Dragon True Emperor's eyes snapped open—a pair of eyes burning with dark fire, as if containing a soaring killing intent. With a flick of his wrist, the dark crystal orb in his hand instantly vanished.
The twenty-some Buddhas in the distance didn't know what was happening, only feeling a terrifying force sweeping in from all directions. Pure Robe Bodhisattva, Dharma King Jiujie, and Red-Faced Vajra at the lead reacted the fastest, striking out immediately. But it was too late. The moment they acted, billowing dark smoke surged forth, blotting out the sky and covering the earth. This black smoke, of unknown origin, enveloped them in the blink of an eye.
The terrifying black smoke was like the dark fire of hell, containing an extremely dreadful power that burned the twenty-some enveloped Buddhas, leaving them with no way to block or defend. It burned them until they howled in agony, wishing for death. Even summoning their magical treasures was of no avail.
Not good!
This is the power of Original Sin!
Pure Robe Bodhisattva and Dharma King Jiujie's expressions changed drastically. They knew the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor was ferocious beyond measure, but none had expected him to attack so suddenly and with such a lethal move right from the start.
Whoosh!
Pure Robe Bodhisattva swung his arms. Buddha light shimmered around him, halos bloomed, and vast Buddhist power erupted, attempting to disperse the billowing black smoke.
At the same time.
Dharma King Jiujie shook his body, taking off the star-and-moon kasaya draped over him. With a fierce spin, the kasaya erupted with ten-thousand-zhang Buddha light, also attempting to disperse the billowing black smoke.
Boom!
Red-Faced Vajra was one of Buddha Emperor Miao Rulai's Twelve Indestructible Vajras, possessing an Indestructible Golden Body. He held a golden wheel, from which vast Buddhist chants resonated, also trying to disperse the billowing black smoke.
As for the other Buddhas, they were all being burned to the brink of death by the billowing black smoke, desperately trying to resist.
"Hmph!
A bunch of trash!
Overestimating yourselves!"
The Heavenly Dragon True Emperor snorted coldly, leaped up, and with a *bang*, stood atop the billowing black smoke.
A deafening explosion erupted. The billowing black smoke instantly exploded, its force like the heavens collapsing and the earth splitting apart.
Of the original twenty-some Buddhas, over ten were instantly blasted into nothingness on the spot. The remaining Buddhas, though not dead, were severely injured—some bleeding from all seven orifices, others spitting blood from their mouths and noses.
Even experts as powerful as Dharma King Jiujie, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, and Red-Faced Vajra were shaken by this move from the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, their faces pale and their appearances disheveled.
"Ah!
Shameless junior!
!!"
Dharma King Jiujie was furious, letting out a hoarse roar.
Indeed.
The Bodhisattva the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor had killed earlier was not only an elder of the Pure Land Sect but also his senior brother. Seeing the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor now had already filled him with rage. Now that the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor had launched a sneak attack and killed so many of their Pure Land Sect disciples, Dharma King Jiujie could no longer contain the fury he had long suppressed. It erupted completely as he raised his hand and hurled the golden alms bowl in his hand at the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor.
At the same time, Pure Robe Bodhisattva and Red-Faced Vajra both unleashed their killing moves against the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor. Caught off guard and tricked by him just now, this time they were determined to join forces and obliterate the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor!
"You stay here and guard the Taixu Sword Formation!"
The two Dao Kings and three Star Lords following the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor gave their orders, then also charged into the battlefield.
Do not underestimate these five just because they were only King and Star Lord level. One must remember, each of them also possessed the Original Sin Manifestation bodies the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor had helped them seize. Though they were pseudo-manifestations, their Original Sin power was not to be underestimated.
The dozen or so remaining Buddhas in the field had already been severely wounded by the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor in the initial clash and were no match for them. In less than a few breaths, the dozen or so Buddhas were reduced to only five or six. Judging by the situation, these remaining five or six Buddhas wouldn't last long either.
Not far away.
Dharma King Jiujie, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, and Red-Faced Vajra joined forces to besiege the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor.
They knew the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor's existence was extraordinary, even knowing he possessed the Dark Bloodline, the Heavenly Dragon Absolute Body, and an Original Sin Manifestation.
Yes.
They knew. Precisely because they knew, their first thought upon discovering the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor was to leave. Even after discerning he was merely an Incarnation, they still hesitated somewhat. It was only after seeing the people from the Taixu Grotto, and for the sake of the so-called Primordial Pearl, that they decided to risk it all and gamble.
They had thought that an Incarnation of the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, no matter how powerful, couldn't be that formidable. With the strength of the three of them, obliterating his Incarnation shouldn't be a difficult task.
Only now, at this moment, did they realize they had made a grave mistake.
They had underestimated the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor's strength, and they had underestimated his terror!
Even though it was merely an Incarnation, it was still so horrifyingly powerful—so much so that the three of them joining forces not only failed to obliterate it but were instead beaten back step by step by this Incarnation of the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor.
Dharma King Jiujie and Pure Robe Bodhisattva were faring slightly better. Though they couldn't obliterate the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, with their powerful destiny and profound cultivation, he couldn't do much to them for the time being.
However.
Red-Faced Vajra seemed to be in a bad way. Since the fight began, he had been practically toyed with by the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, not only beaten back step by step but also rendered utterly incapable of fighting back, spitting blood from his mouth and nose!