Chapter 1503: Monk Emperor and Silkworm Emperor

Mount Sumeru, immense in size, seemed on the verge of splitting apart. The array patterns established by Emperor Amitabha could not withstand the descent of the God Sovereign. The mountain trembled violently, threatening to crack open.

Enormous boulders tumbled down to the mountain's base. The magnificent temples swayed, and the great bell behind the monastery spontaneously boomed, its sound reverberating through heaven and earth, shaking the Western Pure Land.

The entire area descended into chaos. All the Bodhisattvas and ancient Buddhas could not withstand the immense pressure, one by one forced to sit cross-legged, their bodies threatening to burst, with streaks of blood appearing on their skin.

With the God Sovereign's arrival, not even the Great Emperor's array patterns could protect this place. As Ye Fan had anticipated, the mountain gate was breached, allowing them to enter.

Ye Fan stood ready to enter and rescue his disciple, with the Green Bronze Cauldron hovering above his head and a killing sword in his hand.

This was, of course, a great risk. He had not anticipated it would be the God Sovereign, whose power, clad in the Nine-Colored Immortal Robe, far surpassed the Imperial Corpse he had prepared for, proving truly astonishing.

He did not act rashly, for the situation was too bizarre. Even he felt it was unreal; the God Sovereign truly seemed to possess life and consciousness.

Ji Ziyue stood beside Ye Fan, holding the Void Mirror. The Old Undying and others, having re-mastered the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Pot, were also carefully defending, protecting everyone present.

Mount Sumeru fell silent. Old Monk Mahe's expression dramatically shifted as he led the Bodhisattvas and ancient Buddhas to sit cross-legged, chanting "Amitabha Buddha" and reciting Buddhist scriptures that resonated through the heavens.

This drastic change exceeded his expectations and judgment; now, it was too late for anything to be done.

The Great Peacock King of Light, holding the Demon-Subduing Staff, stood firm before the Great Thunder Sound Temple, using the imperial artifact's divine power to protect the mountain and block the spreading primordial imperial fluctuations. Yet, upon closer inspection, her body was trembling.

This was a world-shaking change that no one had ever anticipated!

The vast galaxy descended from the cosmic starry sky, a brilliant white expanse that enveloped the Primordial Emperor on the path to Mount Sumeru, bathing him in the dazzling radiance of the sun, moon, and stars.

The Nine-Colored Battle Robe revived, shimmering with brilliant luster. Its cold, metallic texture and occasional clanging divine sounds made the Primordial Emperor appear even more majestic and towering.

The vast starlight mingled with chaotic energy, showering down and enveloping him, making his body appear supremely divine and sacred. The ancient emperor from Godsilkworm Ridge became the sole, transcendent being between heaven and earth!

The God Sovereign, invincible in life, caused the Western Desert to tremble even after death. Everyone, including the Great Sages, was terrified, trembling with ashen faces.

"What, he moved!"

The next instant, a Saint screamed like a terrified mortal, a reaction entirely unbefitting their status, as if they had witnessed the most horrifying sight imaginable.

"Heavens, the God Sovereign isn't dead; he's still alive!"

Another person was horrified, feeling their heart leap into their throat. They widened their eyes, unable to believe what they saw, staring intently at the figure on the Mount Sumeru path.

The God Sovereign was striding forward, ascending Mount Sumeru step by step along the mountain path, moving towards the cluster of magnificent temples. Each step was so terrifying that it caused the array patterns on Mount Sumeru to dim, unable to impede his progress.

Who could believe it? After countless ages, the long-deceased Primordial Emperor had revived, looking down upon the mortal world and walking within the Buddhist Pure Land!

The Saints watched, their hair standing on end as powerful fluctuations spread over them, making their calves cramp and their bodies tremble like sifting chaff.

Even the Great Sages felt their scalps tingle and were filled with dread. This defied all reason; how could the God Sovereign possibly be alive?

The God Sovereign's figure was towering, and his steps possessed a unique, consistent rhythm, neither fast nor slow. It was as if he was treading all the Great Daos of heaven and earth beneath his feet, causing Mount Sumeru to tremble as if on the verge of collapse.

"Amitabha!"

All the Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and ancient Buddhas chanted scriptures in unison, taking refuge before the Great Thunder Sound Temple, hiding behind the Demon-Subduing Staff. Each one gasped for breath, overwhelmed by the imperial might.

"This is..." Even the experts from Godsilkworm Ridge were stunned. Could the ancient emperor truly be alive? This was maddening, overturning their entire perception of the world.

"Is the Ancestral Emperor ascending Mount Sumeru to seek a duel or a discussion with Emperor Amitabha? It's a pity the latter has already passed away."

The God Sovereign revived and ascended the mountain step by step. What was his purpose? It must be that after eons of solitude, beholding Mount Sumeru and sensing the fluctuations and traces of an ancient Great Emperor filled him with joy and a thrill for a worthy encounter!

At their level, their entire lives are spent in invincible solitude. They longed for an evenly matched opponent, but finding one was harder than ascending to heaven.

After the God Sovereign reached the summit, the Great Peacock King of Light immediately sat down, unable to withstand the immense pressure. Only the Demon-Subduing Staff continued to glow, growing increasingly brilliant as it autonomously resisted.

With a thunderous boom, the Great Thunder Sound Temple erupted with boundless light. Its purple-gold tiles and roof ridges all emitted auspicious radiance, as Buddhist energy surged, soaring straight into the clouds.

A Buddhist chant echoed throughout the Western Land, and a Buddhist figure inexplicably appeared. No one saw how he came to be there, but he stood before the Great Thunder Sound Temple, blocking the God Sovereign's path.

This was a grey-robed monk, enveloped in chaotic mist, his features indistinct. Yet, upon careful inspection, he strongly resembled the statue of Amitabha Buddha enshrined in the temple.

He stood beside the withered Bodhi tree in front of the temple, his face radiating compassion. When his aura permeated, it was as vast as a mountain range.

"Amitabha!"

All the monks on Mount Sumeru chanted the Buddha's name, their faces etched with shock.

Outside Mount Sumeru, all the mighty figures were also stunned. Each of them gasped in shock, uttering "Amitabha Buddha," simply unable to believe everything they were witnessing.

It was commonly understood that a single era could not accommodate two emperors, and that ancient emperors would never meet. Yet, today, this perception was constantly being overturned.

The God Sovereign had revived, and Emperor Amitabha had reappeared. The two had come together—were they about to duel?!

Many almost doubted if they were dreaming. After personally experiencing all this, they wondered if they had gone mad, if their senses were still normal.

The God Sovereign stepped forward, his immortal robe clanging loudly like dragon roars and tiger growls. The sound caused severe pain in one's ear bones, making one's flesh feel as if it would evaporate.

Emperor Amitabha, holding the Demon-Subduing Staff, also emitted boundless precious light, blocking the God Sovereign's path. The two seemed poised for direct confrontation.

The God Sovereign's body suddenly expanded, soaring straight into the clouds before the Great Thunder Sound Temple, reaching tens of thousands of feet in height. Emperor Amitabha refused to be outdone, also rising sky-high, his enormous Buddha body standing between heaven and earth.

This sight greatly alarmed everyone. A duel between an Emperor and a Sovereign was truly happening? After eons, they were actually facing each other and taking action!

The crowd found it hard to accept, unable to believe what they were seeing.

"Is that a phantom imprint of Amitabha Buddha?"

"But... how do you explain the God Sovereign being alive? He should be a corpse, yet he ultimately walked step by step up Mount Sumeru; how can you say he isn't revived?!"

The Saints were full of doubt and uncertainty, their faces pale. Every event that occurred today was chilling, too shocking and incredible to comprehend.

If this were true, it might be the most important event in the lives of Great Emperors and Primordial Emperors. After a lifetime of invincible solitude, they had finally found an opponent.

The rule that two Great Emperors would not meet had been broken today.

Perhaps every Great Emperor longed to be born in a different era, to fight against a former Emperor and find a true opponent.

Unfortunately, each one passed away in solitude, their wish unfulfilled, unable to encounter an equal.

Mount Sumeru trembled, and the sun, moon, and stars swayed as if about to fall. The two figures seemed to be trying to rival the heavens in stature; laws permeated the air, and a duel appeared to be unfolding between them.

Their bodies continuously expanded, reaching directly into outer space, their immense size surpassing all common sense. This startled all living beings across the entire Big Dipper starfield, their divine might unparalleled.

"Is the God Sovereign truly revived?" Some experts from Godsilkworm Ridge spoke with trembling voices, their bodies shaking. After the initial shock, only excitement remained.

"This is not my father's doing," the Godsilkworm Daoist said, shaking his head, his voice filled with sadness and regret.

Those around him froze. This was the ancient emperor's direct descendant; if he said so, it was likely not true. Yet, they had clearly just seen the God Sovereign stepping, ascending Mount Sumeru along the path.

Ye Fan sighed softly, watching for a long time. He also discerned everything: the God Sovereign's invincible solitude and Emperor Amitabha's regrets could not be compensated; they were ultimately destined not to meet.

These two were not truly them. If it were the true bodies of Emperors confronting each other, heaven and earth would surely respond, manifesting phenomena unseen in countless ages.

The curse that Great Emperors do not meet each other and remain unrivalled throughout their lives was hard to break!

"This is a confrontation and contest between two artifacts, not the Great Emperors themselves being alive," the Godsilkworm Daoist revealed.

His father, stepping onto Mount Sumeru, was moving, but it was not due to consciousness. It was his immortal robe that was in control, allowing his majestic form to stand tall and gaze down through the ages.

The appearance of Emperor Amitabha was actually similar. The Demon-Subduing Staff revived under immense imperial-level fluctuations, combining with the fist-sized sarira to form a phantom image of Emperor Amitabha.

In fact, there were no true bodies, only two imperial artifacts. The Daos of their respective masters were confronting each other, as if to find an opponent for the lonely Emperor and Sovereign, fulfilling their final regret.

In outer space, the rigidly upright God Sovereign confronted the compassionate Emperor Amitabha. Laws flowed, emitting boundless divine light.

No true duel occurred, only a probing of Dao and law; they did not engage in a full-blown fight. The two revived imperial artifacts, guiding everything, were extremely cautious.

Boom!

Ultimately, their bodies began to shrink, reverting to normal height, and reappeared on the summit of Mount Sumeru—before the Great Thunder Sound Temple.

Emperor Amitabha disappeared, leaving only the Demon-Subduing Staff suspended in the air. The Buddha's sarira also fell to the ground, motionless.

On the other side, the immortal robe clanged softly, as if in sorrow. Ultimately, it could not retain the ancient Emperor; even seeing his corpse changed nothing.

Everyone was filled with awe and regret. By now, they understood what had happened: everything stemmed from the autonomous revival of the two imperial artifacts!

"Buddhism speaks of transcendence and complete enlightenment as the path to becoming a true practitioner," a spiritual message came from the Demon-Subduing Staff. This weapon, after reviving, had actually spoken.

"Amitabha," Old Monk Mahe and the others chanted the Buddha's name, listening respectfully, for they knew the Demon-Subduing Staff was speaking to them.

"Have you achieved transcendence and complete enlightenment? Let that child go," the Demon-Subduing Staff continued.

"Should we release him down the mountain?" Neither Mahe nor the Great Peacock King of Light showed any sign of defiance. This imperial artifact, personally forged by Emperor Amitabha to protect the Western Buddhist Land, was supremely mighty and had to be revered.

"To let go, have you let go in your hearts?" the Demon-Subduing Staff calmly asked.

Great Sage Mahe immediately clasped his hands, confessed his sins, and continuously chanted the Buddha's name.

Soon after, Golden-bodied Arhats and others brought Huahua forward, presenting him before the Great Thunder Sound Temple, ready to release him from Mount Sumeru.

No one had imagined such an outcome, that it would conclude in this manner.

Clang!

The Primordial Emperor's battle robe trembled lightly, and the armor disintegrated, peeling off as streaks of immortal light. The imperial corpse, enveloped in chaotic mist, remained standing on the summit of Mount Sumeru.