Chapter 1492: Foreign Guest

The powerful footsteps resonated, synchronized with the world’s pulse. On Mt. Sumeru, the golden Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and ancient Buddhas felt the boundless Buddhist Dharma, its majesty spanning past and present. Outside the mountain, people felt as if they were facing an abyss or descending into hell, utterly terrified.

Without a doubt, this was an unparalleled master. The aura she naturally exuded made all enemies tremble. Every movement harmonized with the Great Dao, coexisting with this world.

This person was tall, wearing a dazzling golden crown engraved with images of Buddhas achieving enlightenment, containing the secret to becoming an Emperor, radiating majesty and sanctity. Around her neck hung an ornate necklace, strung with divine pearls and beautiful jade, coiling like a chi-dragon, imprinted with the figures of all Bodhisattvas, faintly echoing with chants. This was a powerful and mysterious figure, exuding luxury, adorned with significant Buddhist artifacts, naturally emanating world-shaking fluctuations, supremely strong and sacred, inspiring awe.

And yet, this person was a woman, with a face like a silver disk, phoenix eyes sharp as lightning, beautiful and noble, possessing great majesty, dressed in a radiant white robe. Ye Tong, Dragon Horse, and others were stunned, not expecting the one who emerged to be such a dignified and serene woman. However, they dared not underestimate her; their hearts grew heavy, as they felt an unparalleled pressure. Her cultivation was profound enough to shake the world, possessing an invincible presence.

“Who is she?” This was the question on everyone’s minds, including Ye Fan’s. This woman was too powerful; even if not a quasi-Emperor, she was close, surpassing all heroes in the world. She was a formidable opponent, on par with the Human Devil and the Old Madman, for she exuded an air of absolute dominance, an aura that declared her unchallenged across heaven and earth, defying all opposition.

After she walked out of the Great Thunder Sound Temple, she stopped moving. A golden peacock appeared before her, carrying her on its back, radiating brilliant light. Everyone gasped. Such grandeur, such a posture of looking down on all creation, fully revealed her invincible nature, unlike typical Buddhist demeanor. Yet, from her adornments, she was undoubtedly a Buddhist practitioner.

Dressed in a light white silk robe, she appeared ethereal and transcendent, poised and serene, standing on the golden peacock's back. Her eyes shot out two terrifying divine rays, sweeping towards Ye Fan and his companions.

“Clang!” Ye Fan’s expression grew solemn. He brandished the dark red killing sword in his hand, cleaving apart the invisible gaze that could kill.

“Who exactly is she?” Qi Luo was filled with doubt and alarm. He had never heard of such a master in the Western Desert in recent times, though similar figures appeared in ancient legends, sending a chill through his heart.

The woman sat cross-legged on the golden peacock's back. Her entire body glowed with Buddhist light, becoming even more majestic. Every adornment on her head was a terrifying artifact; her dangling earrings resembled cloud-gazing *hǒu*, accompanied by rumbling winds and thunder. Her arms also radiated divine light, adorned with bracelets like nine dragons coiled in slumber. They seemed to swallow clouds and exhale mist, and if one listened closely, scriptures could be heard echoing.

This was an extraordinary woman; without even striking or speaking, she intimidated many.

“Who are you?” asked the Divine Silkworm Princess coldly. She wore ancient Emperor armor, flowing with nine-colored divine radiance, exuding an incomparably strong aura that directly pressed upon Mt. Sumeru. As a Great Saint, and wearing the peerless immortal robe shed from the Divine Silkworm's Ten Transformations, she overshadowed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, possessing the strength to assert herself against anyone.

“This is our sect’s protector—the Great Peacock Mahamayuri,” said the old monk Mo Ke. Even a powerful Great Saint like him showed her a half-mentor’s deference.

“We’ve never heard of such a master in Buddhism in recent times,” said Yao Yuekong, Emperor Xia Yiming of Great Xia, and others, all filled with doubt. Their lineages were exceedingly ancient, having only heard of a peerless Peacock in ancient Buddhist legends. Could it be that this woman was a peerless figure sealed in a divine source, who had lived to this era and just recently awakened? Regardless, this was a formidable enemy!

“I come from beyond this realm.” As if understanding their thoughts, the Great Peacock Mahamayuri revealed a faint smile, inspiring even greater awe. She was not an ancient figure, but one who had achieved world-shaking divine abilities in this very era. This person was indeed terrifying; without an Emperor weapon in hand, who could resist her? Ye Fan was certain that this person was incredibly powerful, possessing an invincible presence that caused a shock originating from the soul.

“Are you from the Amitabha Ancient Star Field?” Ye Fan had heard many legends during his travels on the starry road; that place was the origin of Buddhism, still prosperous to this day, with no shortage of peerless masters. The Peacock clan had deep ties with Buddhism, to the point where they could almost be considered a Buddhist lineage. If they produced an extraordinary figure, that person was bound to astonish gods and spirits.

“Indeed,” the Great Peacock Mahamayuri nodded. Her entire body radiated immeasurable Buddhist light, and the golden peacock beneath her let out a soft cry, accentuating her divine presence, making her seem sacred and inviolable.

Facing a Buddhist supreme saint, everyone felt a heavy heart. Mt. Sumeru would be even harder to conquer now; having such a powerful figure presiding over it was truly disastrous. Even though she was a formidable figure of such standing, they couldn't afford to be rude. Qi Luo of Celestial Village bowed respectfully and spoke earnestly, directly asking Peacock Mahamayuri to let Huahua descend the mountain.

“Impossible. He can only stay in Buddhism for this lifetime; he may never leave Mt. Sumeru,” the Great Peacock Mahamayuri refused firmly and directly.

“We respected you as an ancient Buddhist sage, hence our reluctance to be rude. But who do you think you are? What do you have to be so arrogant about? If push comes to shove, we’ll fight!” cried Dongfang Ye. With his fearless barbarian nature, he raised the wolf-tooth club in his hand, ready to charge forward.

“I thought a peerless ancient Buddha would be reasonable, but it seems not. Buddhist baldies, prepare to die!” Dragon Horse roared.

With a clang, the immortal sword in Ye Fan’s hand trembled lightly, emitting a brilliant streak of light, pointing directly at Mt. Sumeru, signifying his resolve for a fight to the death.

“Who cares who you are, or what Mt. Sumeru is? Do you think you can command the world and make all heroes kneel?!” the Divine Silkworm Princess sneered. Her battle armor jingled incessantly, the plates vibrating, its metallic gleam startlingly cold. The ancient Emperor’s aura permeated the air, pressuring Mt. Sumeru. This was a terrifying fluctuation, as it was, after all, a complete Emperor’s robe.

On Mt. Sumeru, many golden Arhats trembled, and even the Bodhisattvas and ancient Buddhas frowned, quickly mobilizing the power of faith to block the killing intent.

“The Great Peacock Mahamayuri is deserving of the world’s respect. She was just one step away from becoming a quasi-Emperor, but for the sake of the Future Buddha, she withdrew that foot,” the old monk Mo Ke said. As soon as the old monk Mo Ke spoke these words, everyone gasped, feeling horrified. What immense divine power must that be!

Clearly, Mo Ke was an extremely difficult character. Casually stating such a fact when everyone's morale was at its peak truly served as a powerful warning, shocking hearts and dampening spirits at a critical moment.

After a brief silence outside Mt. Sumeru, Ye Fan sneered, “Don't say she hasn't become a quasi-Emperor; what if she has? She's only a supreme sage of *your* Buddhist sect. What does that have to do with us? You can worship her behind closed doors!”

“Exactly. If anyone needs to pay respects, it’s your Buddhist sect, not us. Today, if gods block us, we’ll slay gods; if Buddhas block us, we’ll slay Buddhas!” the Divine Silkworm Princess declared overbearingly, her eyes flashing with terrifying brilliance. Divine Silkworm Ridge was once renowned throughout the world, having produced Emperors invincible across heaven and earth. They had seen all kinds of prosperity and would certainly not be suppressed by the Western Desert Buddhist sect.

“Hypocritical baldies, you enslave others’ disciples yet spout benevolence and righteousness, it’s sickening. Now, there’s only one choice: fight. We will flatten Mt. Sumeru, plant our Heavenly Court banner on its peak, and from then on, there will be no more Buddhas.” Dragon Horse’s words were too aggressive, truly blasphemous, instantly making Mt. Sumeru cold and silent, as everyone glared furiously.

“A mere lowly horse dares to howl at the heavens,” the Great Peacock Mahamayuri spoke, extending a large hand, reaching directly out towards the mountain. This hand covered the sky and earth, as if a peak of Mt. Sumeru had flown out, directly towering over the clouds, obscuring the sun, a vast dark mass that caused the firmament to crumble, powerfully invincible!

“Zheng!” Ye Fan struck. Against such a figure, only an Emperor weapon would suffice. The killing light emitted by the dark red immortal sword surged like ocean waves, one after another, striking the large hand high in the sky.

“Hmph!” The Great Peacock Mahamayuri let out a cold snort. The Buddhist light of Mt. Sumeru surged mightily, and the collective power of prayers from all realms rushed up, surging along her arm, covering the large hand. She seemed to be wearing an Emperor’s robe forged from the power of faith, directly clashing with the sword energy, her arm unharmed. This was an absolutely terrifying sight.

The next moment, she stepped directly forward, actually leaving Mt. Sumeru, yet the power of faith flowed ceaselessly, vast as the ocean, surging like a boundless sea behind her, enveloping her. For such a figure to strike using the power of Mt. Sumeru was truly astonishing!

The Great Peacock Mahamayuri glowed all over, fusing infinite power of thought into her body. This holy power of Sumeru emitted wisps of Emperor’s aura, merging with her, instantly shocking the world. She charged directly at Ye Fan, her might overshadowing the sun and moon, shaking the nine heavens. The great battle had suddenly erupted!

This was immense pressure. Even though Ye Fan wielded the Killing Sword of the Heavenly Venerate Lingbao, he had to be extremely cautious; a slight mistake could lead to his bloody demise. This Emperor weapon was only one of the four killing swords, not a complete Emperor sword, and her opponent was too powerful, utilizing the power of Sumeru’s thoughts, like a god descending upon the world.

“Clang!”, “Boom…” Dazzling divine lights continuously erupted between the two, shattering the sky. Black holes appeared in patches high above, and vast, boundless dark regions emerged, each strike from these two capable of destroying heaven and earth. Fortunately, this was happening in the vast firmament; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The Great Peacock Mahamayuri was truly formidable. Mo Ke’s words that she had almost taken that step, but ultimately withdrew, were not without reason. Although she was outside Mt. Sumeru and the Sumeru thought-power she borrowed was not as immense as imagined, it still exerted the most terrifying pressure, sweeping everything before it, asserting absolute dominance.

Only Ye Fan, seasoned by countless battles and wielding an Emperor weapon, could stand a chance. Any other Great Saint stepping forward would have been instantly slapped to death! There was no suspense; the Great Peacock Mahamayuri’s might suppressed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, her light white silk robe fluttering, ethereal and transcendent, her eyes as sharp as heavenly blades. She didn’t resemble a woman at all, but rather a peerless overlord!

She channeled Buddhist energy and thought-power, battling Ye Fan, causing the sun and moon to lose their light, and heaven and earth to lose their color. Mt. Sumeru towered into the outer domain, and nearby asteroids exploded one after another! None could withstand the casual flick of her hand. This terrifying and astonishing scene sent chills down everyone’s spines, making them tremble involuntarily.

Battle cries shook the heavens here as the great war fully erupted. The Divine Silkworm Princess charged directly at Mt. Sumeru’s main peak, striking at the Bodhisattvas, intending to sever the power of faith and destroy the Great Thunder Sound Temple. Killing shouts boiled over. Dongfang Ye, Qi Luo, Ancient Golden Peng, Dragon Horse, and the other Ten Venerables, Yao Yuekong, and all the heroes joined the fray. Saints soared across the sky, their artifacts glowing, radiating intense light, engaged in fierce combat.