Chapter 131: Heavenly Cloud's Obsession

Empress Elusha's powerful presence was fully evident, leaving quite an impression on Xu Yang.

Simultaneously, dozens of top-tier demonic experts under the Empress's command charged out, quickly engaging the three goddesses, including Bai Lianxue.

"Now!" Xu Yang roared.

A streak of light flashed out as Eagle Beak soared into the sky like a meteor, and with that light, Venerable Tianyun's golden spiritual body naturally vanished.

"Hahaha, what do you think? I guarantee no one from your demon race can match his speed!"

The Empress sneered. Without waiting for her command, a large group of even faster figures streaked towards the sky; these were all flying demons who had been hidden within the demonic ranks, now giving chase.

In essence, Eagle Beak was the same species as these individuals, but due to the Venerable Monk, the demonic energy within him had been completely purified by Buddhist nature.

"What?!"

Xu Yang helplessly pursed his lips. Seeing Elusha smile proudly at him, Xu Yang returned a polite smile.

"Your Majesty, Empress," Xu Yang said, "I regret to inform you that even if your people can catch up to that kid, they won't be able to defeat him. Consider me owing you a favor today; if we ever meet again in the future, I will compensate you."

Xu Yang held his palm towards the void, and an incredibly brilliant giant sword outline appeared. An immensely powerful blade storm instantly dispersed the encirclement of all surrounding demonic experts, liberating the three goddesses.

"Farewell!" Xu Yang declared haughtily, then soared into the sky with the three goddesses, flying directly towards the spirit ship.

"How dare you!"

The Empress was furious. Just as she was about to personally intervene, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. On the icy blue surface of Frost Scar's Fury, Xu Yang's bloodline imprint was gradually merging into the blade.

No one knew what it meant for the Empress when this weapon merged with the strongest human bloodline...

"Your Majesty..."

"Never mind, let them go. I am injured and need to rest. The Feast of Elysium is canceled."

The cold commands were issued one by one. Empress Elusha cast a deep gaze at Xu Yang's receding figure in the sky and coldly murmured his name.

"Xu Yang! You just wait; our paths will cross again!"

The spirit ship closely followed the direction Eagle Beak had fled, which was also the direction of Linghan Temple. Before long, Xu Yang and the others saw Eagle Beak being besieged by the demonic cultivators.

Xu Yang darted out like a phantom, personally arriving at the center of the battle. With a fierce palm strike, a powerful spiritual energy enveloped the battlefield, greatly intimidating the demonic cultivators.

"You, your aura..."

The demonic cultivators stared at Xu Yang in disbelief.

"Is there a problem?" Xu Yang questioned. "If you realize you're no match for me, go back to where you came from. Dare to scheme against the Venerable Monk again, and you will die!"

The demonic cultivators looked at the faint purple sword marks on their bodies and could only depart, their faces filled with shock.

"How can this be..."

On their way back, the dozen or so winged demonic cultivators murmured among themselves, especially their leader, who wore a look of utter disbelief.

"I just clearly felt the aura of Her Majesty the Empress from that powerful human!"

"You must be mistaken," another said. "That person fought with Her Majesty, and human cultivation methods are very peculiar. We are no match for them at all. Don't overthink it; let's report back first."

With these individuals dispatched, the demonic expedition could be considered a resounding success.

The Venerable Monk was invited into the spirit ship by Xu Yang, still meditating with his eyes closed. Everyone could see that after all this turmoil, coupled with the vital essence injury inflicted by his junior brother Tianjun's sneak attack earlier, a complete recovery was impossible. In essence, he was in a state of irreversible decline.

Thinking of this, Xu Yang crushed a Spirit Origin Fruit in his hand and used its powerful spiritual essence as a guide to inject it into the Venerable Monk's body, helping to revitalize his qi and blood. Soon, the Venerable Monk gradually regained consciousness.

Seeing the scene before him, the Venerable Monk's dignified countenance remained unperturbed, showing not a single ripple of emotion.

Then, his gaze calmly swept over everyone present. No, it would be more accurate to say he gazed intently at each person.

That gaze seemed to see through each of their destinies in advance, lingering only on Xu Yang for a long time before he helplessly shook his head.

"Ultimately, I cannot see through the myriad forms of sentient beings," he murmured. "There is no hope of achieving Buddhahood in this life. It is time to sever all ties. Amitabha..."

The Venerable Monk pressed his palms together, then closed his eyes and began to murmur to himself.

It turned out that this matter originated from a night three thousand years ago, when the Venerable Monk was not yet the abbot of Linghan Temple.

A Nine Heavens Phoenix, its body engulfed in flames, suddenly descended upon the mountain peak and spat out something brilliantly golden yet stained with blood. It was precisely the Golden Clay Bodhisattva.

The phoenix instructed the Venerable Monk to guard this Clay Bodhisattva for his entire life until the fated one awakened, which would ensure the eternal continuation of the Linghan Temple lineage.

And the "fated one" as spoken by the phoenix was Bai Lianxue, who had already gone missing at that time.

The Venerable Monk received a wisp of divine consciousness from the phoenix, which contained Bai Lianxue's outline. It was declared that he must wait until she awakened and hand this Golden Clay Bodhisattva to her; only then could the calamity of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces be kept dormant forever.

The Venerable Monk was unclear about other matters, but later, after he inherited the position of abbot, he discovered that this Clay Bodhisattva seemed to possess a natural affinity for understanding the Buddhist path. Cultivating with it on his person, his cultivation progress also advanced by leaps and bounds.

Little did he know that this carrying of it would span several millennia, a period of vast changes.

When the Venerable Monk mentioned that the Clay Bodhisattva could boost cultivation, Bai Lianxue and Ling Yao simultaneously recalled the precious jade on Ling Yao's person that had merged with the Heavenly Sword.

"Master!" Eagle Beak couldn't help but ask out of curiosity. "Where exactly is that Golden Clay Bodhisattva now?"

"No matter, you will all see it soon," the Venerable Monk replied. "Shuer, I raised you since you were little. After I pass away, the Linghan Temple lineage will be under your charge. You must not let this lineage's heritage be broken. This is your lifelong mission!"

"Master... You'll be alright!"

Although Eagle Beak looked peculiar, he was a person of deep affection.

"Hehehe," the Venerable Monk chuckled, "This is the cycle of the Heavenly Dao; no one can change it."

As the Venerable Monk spoke, he instinctively glanced at Xu Yang... Perhaps it was because Xu Yang was the only person the Venerable Monk couldn't see through.

After relaying these instructions, the Venerable Monk chanted a Buddhist scripture and suddenly placed his palm over his heart. A brilliant golden light flared up, and the Golden Clay Bodhisattva was astonishingly drawn out from within the Venerable Monk's spiritual sea.

"Master! You're..."

Bai Lianxue was utterly shocked. She hadn't expected that her most important keepsake was guarded by Venerable Tianyun with his very life!

"Benefactress Bai, there's no need to feel guilty," the Venerable Monk said. "Compared to this old monk's dying life, being able to guard this Golden Clay Bodhisattva is an immeasurable merit. Without this bond, with my humble aptitude, I would likely have long ago turned to dust. Karma arises and ceases; everything is predetermined."