Chapter 128: Suppressing Tianjun

Xu Yang held one palm aloft as immense, boundless spiritual energy surged rapidly from all directions, forming a colossal barrier that perfectly withstood the overwhelming force of the Buddha's light.

Boom…

A violent roar instantly shook the entire vicinity of the temple, erupting with a thunderous sound. Over a dozen monks simultaneously retreated, shielding themselves with golden light body shields, only then gradually withstanding the immense force.

"I can't believe someone in the Qi Refining realm could unleash such astonishing power!"

Xu Yang sneered, "What about the Qi Refining realm? Did someone from the Qi Refining realm dig up your ancestral grave?"

Feeling ridiculed, the monk in the kasaya ascended into the air, unleashing his World Purification technique once more. Terrifying golden ripples spread outwards, completely enveloping everything in their path with pure golden Buddha light.

"Leave this place to me. You all find a way to break through the encirclement, enter the temple, and find Eagle Beak!"

As Xu Yang gave the order, the three exquisite figures responded simultaneously and charged towards the dozen-plus Nascent Soul realm monks below.

Among the three goddesses, Ling Yao was currently the strongest, having reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul realm. Although Bai Lianxue had high potential, she had not yet recovered to her peak state, currently only at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.

Ling Qingshu was the weakest of the three, having only recently broken into the Nascent Soul realm, theoretically placing her average combat power on par with that of the dozen-plus monks.

However, as Xu Yang's direct disciple, she possessed many cultivation techniques and magical treasures, elevating her practical combat ability by at least two levels, allowing her to contend against enemies at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.

The three goddesses attacked simultaneously, and powerful sword energy fluctuations erupted immediately, tearing towards the large formation formed by the monks from three directions.

"Once you enter our Vajra Demon Subduing Circle, you won't be able to leave!"

The dozen-plus monks set up their formation in a seemingly professional manner. Unfortunately, before their movements could fully form and the formation's power could be completely unleashed, Bai Lianxue, with quick eyes and hands, struck first, effortlessly discerning the formation's only weakness.

"Attack the upper-left position! That's the key to breaking this formation!"

Ling Yao, the top combatant from above, immediately provided feedback. An invincible sword momentum descended, instantly shattering the aggregation point of cultivation spiritual power within the Vajra Demon Subduing Circle, thus breaking the perfect fusion of spiritual power among the dozen-plus individuals.

"Defeat them one by one!"

After the formation was dismantled, the remaining problems were easily resolved. When it came to individual strength, these monks were naturally no match for the three goddesses and were quickly defeated.

However, since the matter had not yet been fully investigated, and out of respect for the Linghan Temple lineage, the three goddesses did not resort to lethal attacks. Instead, they immediately kicked open the temple gate.

Rushing inside, they found that Eagle Beak had been sealed by a swastika inscription. Even his distinctive "eagle beak" was firmly blocked, making him look utterly miserable.

"You're so fast; how could you be suppressed?"

Ling Qingshu teased Eagle Beak with a hint of sarcasm. After his restraint was lifted, Eagle Beak had a bitter expression. "How was I supposed to know that a revered monk from Uncle Tianjun's lineage would betray the sect? It seems he was also coveting the supreme inheritance of the Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva. Reverend Tianyun has probably already been moved elsewhere by this guy."

RUMBLE!!

Just as Eagle Beak finished speaking, Xu Yang's multi-pronged attack outside exploded. His terrifying sword momentum directly shattered the rhythm of the surrounding monks' encirclement, perfectly suppressing the cultivation techniques of these impure-minded monks with the power of his sword peak.

"Buddha arises from the heart. Although you are disciples of Buddhism, your thoughts are complex, and you have defied the Buddha's will. Ultimately, you cannot advance your cultivation further. I will not kill you; you may all leave. But you, you cannot leave."

Xu Yang looked coldly at the revered monk Tianjun, who lay on the ground, his kasaya disheveled from the beating.

The other monks all sat cross-legged, entering meditation where they were, no longer bothering with the rights and wrongs of this battle. Only Tianjun still intended to resist.

"Bastard! I can't believe such a monstrous anomaly like you emerged from Qizhou. You've already grasped the pinnacle of swordsmanship at merely the Qi Refining realm; it's truly incomprehensible."

Xu Yang snorted, "Cut the nonsense. Tell me, where is Reverend Tianyun?"

"Don't even think about it. My senior brother defied my wishes and was long ago pushed by me into a bottomless abyss. By now, he should have been devoured by countless demons and monsters. You'll never get the Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva in this lifetime! Hahahahaha..."

Xu Yang frowned slightly, shaking his head with some sympathy. "Do you really think acting like a scoundrel means anything to me? I see your heart has completely blackened. In that case, I will act on behalf of Reverend Tianyun and cleanse Linghan Temple's gates for him!"

As Xu Yang spoke, his body transformed into a streak of light and suddenly flashed before Tianjun. He pressed a palm onto Tianjun's head, and terrifying power instantly shattered Tianjun's spiritual roots, completely crippling his cultivation and rendering him an ordinary person.

"You...!" He spat blood.

As this mouthful of primordial true blood left his body, Tianjun knew that the illusory dream he had pursued for countless thoughts had finally come to nothing. Even if the Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva were placed before him now, he would no longer be able to control it.

"Now, will you finally speak?"

Tianjun sighed deeply. "Half a month ago, I secretly cast my senior brother into the deep valley of the Myriad Demon Nest. Even if you go now, you'll only find his corpse."

"What did you say?! Tianjun, you despicable wretch, you wouldn't even spare your own senior brother?"

Eagle Beak was furious. If Bai Lianxue and the others hadn't stopped him, he probably would have rushed over and killed that betrayer of the sect with a single palm strike.

"Hmph, you have a master-disciple bond with him, but I'm different. From childhood, my senior brother was stronger than me in everything. Even the supreme Buddhist cultivation techniques of Linghan Temple never came my way. The Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva was my only path to prove myself. I swore I would obtain it and uncover the heaven-defying secret hidden within! Unfortunately, my senior brother always guarded against me and refused to give me this opportunity.

"Fortunately, heaven helped me. My senior brother suddenly felt his lifespan was insufficient some time ago and wanted to forcibly enter seclusion to extend his life, waiting for the person destined to inherit our lineage's mantle. This was the perfect opportunity for me to steal the Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva.

"Alas, my senior brother ultimately guarded against me. He used a fake box to trick me into entering the inner chamber, then exposed my plan on the spot.

"Enraged and humiliated, I sealed my senior brother's Buddha soul with the Ten Thousand Character Mantra and threw him into the bottomless abyss of the Myriad Demon Nest!!"

After Tianjun confessed everything he had done, he suddenly appeared much older.

Xu Yang sighed helplessly. "I thought everyone in the world lived for desire, but I didn't expect that even those outside the mundane world could not escape it. If there is an afterlife, I wish you could let go of your inner obsessions, devote yourself to Buddha, and perhaps achieve great accomplishments."

Xu Yang was not proficient in Buddhist philosophy, but in his view, all paths under heaven shared a commonality: a profound understanding of human nature.