At the banks of the Universal Salvation River, outside the Temple of True Sound, in the Western Oxen Continent.
This river stretched for thousands of miles, reaching all the way to the sea, marking the boundary between the Central Continent and the Western Oxen Continent. To the east lay the Central Continent, while the other side belonged to the Western Oxen Continent.
Few could recall the river’s original name, for it had long been renamed by the Buddhist sects. Crossing this river from the direction of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple, the nearest sect was the Central Continent’s Buddhist Order.
The name signified that once one crossed this river, salvation was at hand.
Yet the waters of this great river raged violently, filled with hidden rocks and treacherous currents. Even large vessels often struggled to navigate safely, and tales of capsized ships were countless. Over time, no ordinary mortal dared to sail these waters—only cultivators, and even then, mostly for leisure.
Though called the Universal Salvation River, it offered no salvation to the common folk. Those who crossed it were seldom ordinary.
"Bai Xuanling, why do you stand in my way here?"
A golden-robed Buddha gazed calmly at the white-clad woman standing motionless above the turbulent river.
Bai Xuanling replied indifferently, "Stand in your way? You think someone like you is worth my time?"
The Buddha, draped in golden kasaya, was flanked by arhats and bodhisattvas displaying their divine might. Behind him, golden auspicious clouds stretched endlessly, blotting out the sky for miles.
Yet all this grandeur was halted by a single figure.
The Buddha narrowed his golden eyes, fixing them on Bai Xuanling. "The Temple of True Sound is a legitimate sanctuary under our Buddhist Order. It is now under attack by demonic cultivators. If you have no intention of obstructing us, step aside."
"Oh? Is that so?" Bai Xuanling drew a spirit treasure sword, her spiritual pressure instantly calming the raging river.
She raised her blade, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "The world knows Bai Xuanling despises evil. If demonic cultivators are involved, I shall lend you my aid."
Her seemingly helpful words only deepened the Buddha’s silence.
For the Buddha, the Temple of True Sound was not the true concern—it was what lay beneath.
Since the battle began, all communication from that place had ceased. Whether the secret had leaked or not, leading Bai Xuanling there was out of the question.
Her presence here was no coincidence. She was clearly part of the assault on the temple, sent to intercept him.
Even if he feigned agreement and pressed forward, he knew Bai Xuanling would brand him a demonic cultivator the moment anything seemed amiss—and strike without hesitation.
Moreover… if Bai Xuanling of the Tianyan Sect dared obstruct him so openly, this was no impulsive act. It had to be part of a meticulously planned scheme, meaning the Tianyan Sect was prepared for full-scale war with the Buddhist Order.
And likely, they were not alone. The recent movements of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect were also suspicious.
Rumors had surfaced earlier that their core disciples had been spotted near the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
The Buddha remained outwardly composed, though the golden lotus beneath him began to glow. "This is Buddhist territory, and this is our affair. We will handle it ourselves—no need for your sect’s interference."
With that, he urged his golden lotus forward, ignoring Bai Xuanling’s blockade.
Yet in the next instant, a devastating azure sword beam split the heavens, cleaving the river in two and forcing the waters to retreat, exposing the riverbed.
The sheer pressure lingered, the waters refusing to return.
The Buddha halted, sensing the purity of that sword intent—the sheer destructive force.
Bai Xuanling had vanished from the world for years. Many assumed her murderous heart had consumed her, causing her cultivation to regress. But this effortless strike proved she was still the Bai Xuanling of old.
At the very least, this sword had lost none of its former brilliance.
Though her strike carried unmistakable threat, her tone remained indifferent:
"The Eighteen Immortal Sects stand united. The Buddhist Order has always been fond of petty gains—why the sudden change? Or do you look down on Bai Xuanling?"
The Buddha’s long-calm heart now stirred with unease.
This was clearly a calculated move. The situation at the Temple of True Sound was undoubtedly more dire. Every second Bai Xuanling delayed him multiplied the danger.
"Bai Xuanling, we have spoken patiently with you. When your heart was consumed by slaughter, our order even invited you to the Great Thunderclap Monastery, offering our secret arts to cleanse your mind. You may disregard past kindness, but you should not act so recklessly here."
His words quickened as the golden lotus beneath him condensed into a radiant dharma wheel in his palm, pulsing with Buddhist might:
"If you obstruct me further, do not blame me for what follows. Another Buddha is already en route. Whether you can defeat me or not, your murderous heart will not sustain you. And you stand alone."
Bai Xuanling chuckled, raising her sword with the same nonchalance:
"Who doesn’t know Bai Xuanling prefers to settle things with a single sword? As for whether I can..."
A savage grin spread across her face, revealing a long-unseen expression as her voice sharpened:
"Try me!"
The moment the words left her lips, the endless golden clouds collided with the lone white-clad swordswoman.
Against the vast, sky-covering expanse of divine radiance, her figure seemed frail and insignificant. Yet the instant they met, an azure sword flash tore through, splitting the golden clouds in two.
---
Temple of True Sound
Only the Great Hall remained intact, shielded by a sacred staff. The rest of the temple lay in ruins, scarred by deep fissures, its former glory erased.
The hall’s survival was not due to the staff’s power—Xu Jin and the young monk had deliberately avoided targeting it. Otherwise, no artifact could withstand the clash of two supreme cultivators.
Xu Jin was at the Unity Realm, while the young monk had only recently stepped into it, his foundation unstable, likely aided by external means.
Yet now, the monk’s body housed the spirit of a Mahayana Buddha.
A storm of swords rained upon the Buddha’s golden form, weaving an impenetrable net of icy-blue blades, their chilling gleam flashing relentlessly as shockwaves rippled outward.
The indomitable golden body endured the assault, its fully golden gaze tracking Xu Jin’s movements.
Though both had spared the Great Hall, even its protective barrier strained under the force of their unleashed power.
The stalemate persisted as both restrained their full might.
They were waiting.
One for the Buddhist reinforcements, the other for Yuan Kong—or perhaps, Bai Xuanling.
Then, in an instant—
The faceless statue within the Great Hall suddenly lifted its gaze. Countless strands of karmic power surged upward, coalescing into solid form.
Both combatants froze, their attention snapping toward the statue.
Xu Jin’s eyes gleamed with anticipation as ten thousand swords merged into one, its tip aimed squarely at the young monk.
The young monk's gaze wavered uncertainly, looking at the faceless Buddha statue with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow.
Both men waited for the outcome.
The faceless Buddha statue lifted its gaze to regard them, as soaring wish-power transformed into lotus blossoms settling beneath its seat.
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