Chapter 809: Chapter 747: Changhe’s Breakthrough (3)
The Vermilion Bird also looked at Zhao Changhe, clearly not pleased. Didn’t I tell you to change your attire and face before going out? What are you doing now, trying to get yourself killed? Jiuyou is certainly watching from the sidelines!
Zhao Changhe slowly replied, “As for who I am, many people actually saw me yesterday… Inside Louguan Platform, Master Kong Shi challenged Yuxu Zhenren, and I lent a hand. I think many people can tell that I’m a disciple of the Buddhist sect.”
Li Boping said blandly, “What are you trying to say? That even disciples of the Buddhist sect would draw a bow in the war against the Hu people, or that they would shoot arrows at their own Holy Monk?”
“Your own Holy Monk? That depends on whether everyone acknowledges him.” Zhao Changhe chuckled, “Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Qin Jiu, a secular disciple of the Buddhist sect, entrusted by Abbot Yuan Cheng to head to Chang’an to investigate the matter of Demon Path posing as a Buddhist Holy Monk.”
Countless people were watching the commotion here from rooftops, and upon hearing this, were momentarily stunned before an uproar ensued.
It was initially thought to be a Buddhist-Taoist dispute, never expecting it to involve internal strife within the Buddhist sect!
Indeed, this Master Kong Shi only suddenly appeared after Yuan Cheng left for those few days. No one had ever heard of him before. Given that Yuan Cheng was in Xiangyang, it was normal for him to send a trusted disciple to investigate upon hearing the news, sensing something amiss.
But Kong Shi being Demon Path? Such claims cannot be made without evidence!
“This junior grandnephew…” Kong Shi laughed, “Your esteemed teacher couldn’t handle the pressure and abandoned Chang’an, only to learn that Buddhism in Chang’an flourished under my leadership, leaving him bitter, which is understandable. But spreading baseless accusations that your granduncle-master is Demon Path? That’s going too far.”
“Whether it’s Demon Path, a duel will make it clear. Under the Buddha’s Light, demons and monsters cannot hide.” Zhao Changhe slowly drew the Galaxy Sword, pointing it at Kong Shi, “Buddhist disciple Qin Jiu challenges Master Kong Shi. This is an internal Buddhist affair, outsiders, please do not intervene.”
Even Yue Hongling and the Vermilion Bird couldn’t have anticipated this development, and others watched in wide-eyed disbelief, excitedly calling for more.
Today’s spectacle was worth attending—envoys from two nations, a heroine’s assassination attempt, the Hu-Han struggle, the Buddhist-Taoist dispute, internal strife within Buddhism, twists and turns, truly an amazing spectacle!
Li Boping didn’t know how to stop this “internal Buddhist affair,” so he merely twitched his mouth, “Young folks, it’s good to suffer a bit.”
Then he actually waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to retreat and make room for the Buddhist internal business.
The crowd quickly stepped back, leaving Zhao Changhe and Kong Shi to stand facing each other.
Kong Shi looked at Zhao Changhe’s sword with eyes full of suspicion. A sword as black as this, you claim to be a disciple of Buddhism? What kind of strange sword is this for the Buddhist sect? It’s more like Demon Path…
The Galaxy Sword was indeed not well-known, unknown to ancient times and newly appeared in this era. Even Jiuyou hadn’t seen it, and the ones who had, Desolate Calamity’s Feng Yin and Snow Eagle, weren’t here. That’s why Zhao Changhe didn’t dare draw the Dragon Sparrow but felt fine using the Galaxy Sword. While this sword appeared black and didn’t resemble Buddhist instruments, there were enough experts present, and no one could sense even a trace of demonic aura in it. On the contrary, it exuded a vast and ethereal feel, serene as the night, emitting a harmony with the Heavenly Dao, with a subtle majestic dignity akin to the cosmic firmament’s oppression.
This was certainly not a demon artifact, but indeed a Divine Artifact.
Jiuyou’s heart skipped a beat.
Where did this sword come from, and why did it resemble that woman’s so much?
Zhao Changhe himself was somewhat helpless. This sword would undoubtedly attract more attention from Jiuyou, but given that he dared not use Qin Jiu’s face moving forward, as long as he could escape this time, he would never use this face again. His concern wasn’t with that, but the issue was that he hadn’t dared to engage closely with Bo’e earlier for fear of revealing himself, and now? In this God Demon battle, Xiā Xiā, you need to perform well. Though you refrained from interfering in the Hu people’s war, you should make some gesture here, shouldn’t you?
A thought flashed across his mind; he had to fight regardless. Though this strike was impromptu, it had its purpose. Zhao Changhe took a deep breath and said slowly, “Master, be careful.”
“Whoosh!” The Galaxy Sword sliced through the void, reaching Kong Shi’s throat in the blink of an eye.
In the peripheral vision of everyone present, they secretly glanced at Yue Hongling.
Yes, this sword’s intent was remarkably similar to Yue Hongling’s, like the radiant glow on the horizon at sunset, blooming, then fading into silence, the last beam of light in the sea-and-sky line, darkness above and below.
Sunset Divine Sword, but more than just Sunset Divine Sword.
But entering twilight after the sunset, opposing, yet transitioning.
Day and night cycle, eternity in space-time.
“Breakthrough!” The knowledgeable among them, Li Boping and Wei Changming, instinctively exclaimed, “He’s merging sword intents on the battlefield, actually achieving a breakthrough during battle!”
“Clang!” Kong Shi struck the blade with his bare hands, his palm cutting through the air.
This Divine Sword’s sharpness made him extremely cautious, unwilling to directly confront the blade edge even with his Golden Bell Shield, a mimicry indistinguishable from that of a true Buddha. He had assumed it was an ignorant rookie, but it was actually a freak wielding a Divine Sword while breaking through, what’s with so many freaks in this world!
The palm met the sword, producing a crisp sound; dazzling golden light burst forth at the point of impact, making it hard for many onlookers to keep their eyes open.
For those who could see, an enormous Buddha’s Dharma image rose behind Kong Shi, Buddhas frowning angrily, imposing their authority on the insignificant ant before them.
How could this possibly be Demon Path? This must be a true Buddha, many thought.
On the other hand, “Qin Jiu” appeared to struggle against such overwhelming power, retreating step by step. What was surprising was that with each step, a lotus platform’s image appeared beneath him, and after several strides, it seemed as if a lotus pond covered the ground.
Steps creating lotuses!
This is also a true Buddha’s son!
Only Vermilion Bird Yue Hongling secretly curled her lips, Your Great Bliss Ultimate Bliss certainly seems fitting… Next time don’t expect us to sit on the lotus platform.
“Crack!” Zhao Changhe halted his retreat as a great lotus blossomed, flowers blooming across the sky, reaching straight up into the Heavenly Vault.
In the void, other Dharma images seemed to faintly emerge, beginning to resonate with the ground lotus.
People glanced upward, and though the winter fog obscured the sky, obscuring the sun, at that moment the clouds parted abruptly, sunlight pouring down, making it hard to discern whether this was a false Dharma image, or the true sun breaking through influenced by the heavenly changes.
The sword opened the Heavenly Gate, the scorching sun across the void!
Great Sun Tathagata, I am the Buddha!
“Swish!” In the radiance of the scorching sun, Zhao Changhe propelled forward, his sword once more aiming at Kong Shi’s face.
As this strike unleashed, the celestial phenomena changed again.
It seemed the sword’s trajectory had torn open the sky, countless stars shining in the daylight, forming an endless Galaxy along the blade’s light. The Milky Way cascaded, sun and moon sharing the light.
Once the sun and moon, why not conquer this Galaxy!
Within the imagery where Yue Hongling and the Vermilion Bird collaborated, that step Zhao Changhe always held back from was finally taken.
Zhao Changhe achieved a breakthrough in battle!
The Milky Way cascading within the Nine Heavens, charging at the massive Buddha’s illusion, the Buddha pushing its palm to resist this deluge. Meanwhile, on the ground, Kong Shi urgently clasped his hands, pinning the Galaxy Sword between his palms.
Dazzling golden light exploded for miles, Chang’an enveloped in a golden radiance.
To the crowd, this Qin Jiu was indeed impressive, but it seemed at odds with his main intent for battling—he wished to expose Kong Shi as Demon Path, yet the scene could hardly be described as such, instead solidifying Kong Shi as Buddha, seemingly more authentic than Qin Jiu’s Great Sun image.
But at the very center of the battle unseen by outsiders, a sinister demonic hint briefly flickered on Kong Shi’s face, his eyes suddenly whirling with ripples.
The Heavenly Demon Illusion was taking hold.
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