Chapter 1563: Third Great Wish

Even stranger, the Giant Kings present suddenly lost control.

The Fire Giant King's kick towards Jiang Fan abruptly halted in mid-air.

The Water Giant King and several other Giant Kings attacking True Word Venerable, as well as the Giants who had been annihilating Jian Lanjiang and Inner Demon Venerable, did the same. They abandoned the people they were about to kill and turned their gaze towards Bodhisattva. Moreover, their bodies, without their control, moved towards Bodhisattva, surrounding him.

True Word Venerable and the others, who had narrowly escaped death, converged by Jiang Fan's side, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

Jian Lanjiang asked, bewildered, "What's happening? Why did they stop trying to kill us, and why are they surrounding Bodhisattva? It's as if he alone has diverted all the Giant Kings' aggression."

Jiang Fan looked at the golden runes descending from the sky and said, "It's Bodhisattva's Third Great Vow. It doesn't matter now. While the Giant Kings' aggression is diverted, attack!"

With Yuwei's help, Fayin teleported in front of the four. He stood with his back to them, watching Bodhisattva with a complex gaze, his voice low and hoarse, tinged with sorrow: "Don't go. Bodhisattva's Third Great Vow attacks indiscriminately."

Jiang Fan asked, astonished, "What exactly is the Third Great Vow?"

Fayin's voice grew even more mournful, already catching in his throat: "The First Great Vow: to hear the voices of all beings and fulfill their wishes. The Second Great Vow: to observe the forms of all beings and deliver them from hardship. The Third Great Vow: to experience the suffering of all beings and protect them from calamity. The First Great Vow is Heavenly Listening, the Second is Deliverance, and the Third is... Transcending Calamity. Bodhisattva has transferred all your tribulations onto himself."

The final vow was to sacrifice himself to protect all beings? Jiang Fan's heart was violently shaken. This Bodhisattva, who he once considered an evil person, his final vow was surprisingly to protect all beings. Looking at Bodhisattva, completely surrounded and now invisible amidst the Giant Kings, he tightened his grip on the Three-Colored Divine Rainbow, a spatial ripple indicating he was about to teleport over.

Bodhisattva's slow, magnetic voice drifted over: "Benefactor Jiang, this is my destiny. There is no need to force it."

Jiang Fan stopped, saying urgently, "You arrogant bald monk, stop pretending to be a good person! We don't need your salvation! Stop the Great Vow!"

Bodhisattva calmly replied, "I made three vows to heaven and earth to achieve the Bodhisattva path. Now that all beings face calamity, I must fulfill the Third Vow to transcend this tribulation for you, for all beings."

Jiang Fan's gaze trembled, an inexplicable respect surging in his heart. Bodhisattva, through his actions, interpreted the long-standing Buddhist saying: If I do not go to hell, who will? He clenched his fists, his voice somewhat choked: "Alright, we'll join you down there later!"

Bodhisattva smiled with relief, "You and I have a certain karmic connection. I will offer you one last piece of advice. Do not dwell on the past; do not cling to past people; guard your true self, and see the future. I hope you attain the Spirit Transformation stage soon, without hindrance." He was concerned that Jiang Fan, due to this battle, might feel regret over the successive deaths of Jiang Wuya and Supervisor Yunyang, thus impeding his path to Spirit Transformation. Hence, his parting counsel.

Jiang Fan's eyes grew moist. He had expected Bodhisattva to urge him to defeat the enemies well, or to entrust him with the White Horse Temple. He never imagined that Bodhisattva was concerned about his path to Spirit Transformation.

"Thank you," Jiang Fan's voice grew even more choked as he and the others retreated. Because Bodhisattva was now completely surrounded by the Giant Kings. Even the Buddha's light around him was obscured. As if he had fallen deep into hell.

Bodhisattva pressed his palms together, "Good. This monk, departs."

As his palms lightly clapped together, the golden Sanskrit runes surrounding him converged a hundred zhang above his head, forming a swirling vortex of Sanskrit. They generated unparalleled destructive power, gradually tearing voids in space. In an instant, it completely tore open. A terrifying void black hole, a hundred zhang in diameter, vividly appeared!

This was the Third Great Vow! To cast himself and his enemies together into the Avīci Hell!

The moment the void black hole appeared, two Giant Kings were instantly swept up and devoured by the suddenly immense spatial force. The Giant Kings who had been influenced by the Great Vow finally regained consciousness. Their expressions changed drastically all at once. They activated their respective origins or desperately tried to propel themselves outwards to escape. But how terrifying was the void's suction? Even those undergoing the Five Declines of Heaven and Man might not be able to resist it! Group after group of Giant Kings were swept away, flying towards the void! Bodhisattva himself, along with them, headed towards the void. He, a single individual, was actually perishing with over a dozen Giant Kings, blocking the world-ending catastrophe of Taicang Great State!

However, at this very moment, the Three-star Giant King, hidden in the mist and who had not yet made a move, raised its palm. In its palm was a black bone, emanating terrifying curse power!

*Snap!*

As the bone tore, a profoundly unsettling dark power swept across. Everyone, including the Two-star Giant King and others, fell into a brief unconsciousness. Jiang Fan and the others were no exception; their vision turned black, and they collapsed unconscious on the spot. Before losing consciousness, he recognized this law. The Law of Slumber! The Giant Emperor's law that caused Great Venerable Wutong to die in slumber!

The law's influence was not limited to people. The void black hole, about to devour Bodhisattva and almost all the Giant Kings, also seemed to fall into slumber. The spatial power abruptly vanished, and the rifts quickly mended.

*Thud!*

Bodhisattva and the many Giant Kings all fell to the ground, waking up in surprise. Jiang Fan and the others also regained consciousness as the law's power faded. Looking at the vanished void black hole, Jiang Fan's expression was as calm as water. Bodhisattva had almost annihilated all the Giant Kings, except for the Three-star Giant King! Unfortunately, he failed at the last hurdle!

In the Three-star Giant King's enormous vertical eye, anger surged as it uttered a cold and chilling voice: "Kill him!"

Bodhisattva's Third Great Vow was too terrifying. Had the Five-star Giant King not given him the law bestowed by the Giant Emperor, it might have been defeated. In fact, it didn't need to give the order. The Fire Giant King and the others, having survived the calamity, were already furious and aghast.

The Fire Giant King roared, "Dead bald monk! Kill him for me, no, eat him for me!"

Several One-star Giant Kings pounced, opening their gaping maws, intending to devour Bodhisattva alive. Bodhisattva was devoid of joy or sorrow. He merely glanced up at the vanished black hole, sighed faintly, then closed his eyes and sat cross-legged. With palms pressed together, he lowered his head and remained silent, allowing the Giant Kings to pounce and gnaw at him.

"Bodhisattva!" Jiang Fan's eyes were bloodshot as he roared and charged forward. True Word Venerable and the others, filled with grief and indignation, charged forward together. How could they bear to watch Bodhisattva be eaten alive?

But it was too late. When they teleported above the group of Giant Kings, only torn robes and pools of blood remained on the ground. Bodhisattva had already been consumed by five Giant Kings! Not even his soul remained! A generation's Bodhisattva, once the strongest Spirit Transformation realm cultivator in Taicang Great State, thus perished.

The Fire Giant King glared at Jiang Fan and the others who had come to rescue, a cruel smirk on its lips as it said, "This dead bald monk was eaten alive, and he didn't even make a sound. I actually admire him! Hahahaha..."

But as it laughed, agonizing roars suddenly came from beside it. Upon seeing, the five Giant Kings who had eaten Bodhisattva were all clutching their stomachs, their faces contorted in pain!