Chapter 953: The Buddha's Test

The Sky Demon Emperor spun around sharply, staring at the black-clad youth before him, utterly astonished.

"Jiang Fan?"

"You actually tracked me all the way to White Horse Temple?"

He instinctively recoiled, a sliver of fear rising in his heart.

Then, regaining his composure, he sneered, "You truly have no fear of death, daring to come to White Horse Temple!"

"You ignore the path to heaven but force your way into hell!"

He retreated to Dharma Seal Vajra's side, snarling, "Dharma Seal Vajra, since he's come knocking, grant him his wish."

The last person who came to White Horse Temple demanding a disciple had vanished without a trace.

Now, with Jiang Fan attacking White Horse Temple to kill, how could the temple maintain its dignity?

"Sky Demon Emperor, your past grievances are unresolved, and you lack affinity with our Buddha."

"Return to secular life."

Dharma Seal Vajra waved his sleeve, and the fresh scars on the Sky Demon Emperor's scalp, newly formed from his ordination, were all smoothed away. His blue monk's robe was also stripped from him.

He was surely the quickest monk in White Horse Temple's history to be both ordained and disrobed.

"What?!"

The ferocity on the Sky Demon Emperor's face abruptly froze as he exclaimed in shock, "Dharma Seal Vajra, what… what are you doing?"

"Make me return to secular life? And in front of Jiang Fan? Isn't this sending me to my death?"

"Quick! Let me enter the Buddhist fold!"

In his current state, how could he dare to be an enemy of Jiang Fan? He only wanted to hide within White Horse Temple.

Dharma Seal Vajra's expression remained impassive. He calmly stated, "Buddha only saves those with whom he has a connection."

"Sky Demon Emperor, after you resolve your feud with Benefactor Jiang, if you are still alive, this poor monk will welcome you back into the fold without delay."

"This is also a test from the Buddha for you."

"Test my grandmother?!" The Sky Demon Emperor was enraged, roaring, "I want to see the abbot!"

"Dharma Seal Vajra promised he would initiate me into Buddhism. What is this reneging on his promise? Monks don't lie; he broke his vow and should descend to the nine layers of hell!"

Abbot Puguang put his palms together and said calmly, "Expelling you from Buddhism is precisely my intention."

"Wh… what?"

The abbot wanted to expel him from the Buddhist fold? Why?

White Horse Temple, the foremost power in Taicang Great State, couldn't protect him? And his opponent was merely a small Core Formation cultivator!

Suddenly, he noticed the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar, and his pupils abruptly constricted. "The Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar?"

Then, looking at Jiang Fan standing beside the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar, he instantly understood. Jiang Fan had somehow used unfathomable means to bring the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar to White Horse Temple. No matter how overbearing White Horse Temple was, they wouldn't risk forcefully confronting the arrival of an ancient giant from the future just for him, would they?

"Jiang Fan! Do you insist on putting me to death?"

The Sky Demon Emperor was both desperate and furious, roaring, "You're so young, why are you so vicious? You don't leave any way out for people?"

Jiang Fan's killing intent solidified, radiating outwards, and he spoke in a voice colder than ice.

"Did you give the 158 people of the Green Glow Tribe a way out?"

"Did you give Ling Shu a way out?"

"Did you give the human race far away in Realm Mountain a way out?"

"You didn't. So now, why should you demand a way out?"

"There's no need for more words. In this world, no one can protect you."

"I will take your head back to mourn Ling Shu!"

His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he raised his hands to unleash both fists. The Divine Statue's eight arms moved simultaneously, and the Human Emperor Statue brandished the Emperor's Sword.

Both statues surged forth!

Knowing he had no retreat, and realizing Jiang Fan had come alone, a spark of vitality ignited in the Sky Demon Emperor's eyes. He snarled ferociously, "By yourself, you can't kill me!"

"Kill!" he roared, activating his unique, formidable physique as a Demon Emperor, clashing head-on with the dual attacking statues.

A deafening crash!

Eight brilliant golden fist winds and the peerlessly sharp shadow of the Emperor's Sword intertwined, forming an awe-inspiring, world-shaking power. The Sky Demon Emperor's unparalleled determination to fight to the death also unleashed an unmatched force.

The collision of the two sides erupted in shockwaves that made the Nascent Soul cultivators and Ninth-Grade Vajras present all grow solemn.

He stumbled back, step after step, deep horror appearing on his face. "You… your physical strength has also reached the Nascent Soul realm level? And it's at the peak of the One-Aperture Nascent Soul? How is that possible?"

In the battle a day ago, Jiang Fan's body couldn't withstand his close-range strike at all. Yet now he could contend with him head-on without using any magic treasures?

"Surprised?" Jiang Fan's eyes gleamed with killing intent. "I prepared it for you!"

With that, he charged forward again, resuming his assault.

The Sky Demon Emperor, a mix of shock and rage, fought fiercely, sending out powerful shockwaves that destroyed stretches of courtyard walls and shattered many temple halls along the way. The residual power swept in all directions.

Wei Wuji was swept by a residual wave from the Emperor's Sword, forced to use his Nascent Soul power to block it. He stared at Jiang Fan in disbelief.

He recognized him. The young man before him was Jiang Fan, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciple from the East Sea not long ago. At that time, he was still a junior at the eighth layer of Core Formation, who would have had to address Wei Wuji as 'Senior'.

Now, Jiang Fan could engage in a fierce battle with the Sky Demon Emperor and even gain the upper hand! Wei Wuji couldn't even guarantee that if he personally went into battle, he would perform better than the Sky Demon Emperor. This young man's transformation was simply a complete rebirth!

Revered Seven Tones was also repeatedly shocked. "He actually possesses such strength?" Clearly, Revered Seven Tones also recognized him. He had never expected Jiang Fan to be so heaven-defying now, actually able to fight a Nascent Soul cultivator while still at Core Formation!

He recalled when they parted ways in the North Sea, his disciple Yu Peiyuan had requested him to take Jiang Fan as a disciple. However, he had refused due to being in a hurry to return, and now he couldn't help but feel bitter regret. He had actually spat out the meat delivered right to his mouth. He slapped his thigh hard, filled with remorse.

A loud bang. The Sky Demon Emperor was sent flying, a huge bloody hole pierced through his abdomen. His white undergarment was soaked crimson with blood, as if it had been steeped in it.

He was a mix of shock and rage, because he truly couldn't beat Jiang Fan anymore! He was really going to die by Jiang Fan's hand! He was unwilling! So unwilling! That little human he could have killed with a casual flick of his finger, who slept with the woman he liked most but couldn't have, who overturned his supreme status in the demon race—now wanted to kill him!

Unfair! This was unfair!

Suddenly, he spotted the Golden Cloud Spirit Boat by the sea and saw Consort Yunxia on it. A deep ferocity immediately appeared on his face.

They wanted him dead, did they? Then he would drag Consort Yunxia down with him, making Jiang Fan suffer unbearable pain!

Taking advantage of being sent flying, he used the momentum to dart towards Consort Yunxia, roaring repeatedly, "Wretched woman! It's all because of you! If you hadn't restored Jiang Fan's Golden Core, would I be in this situation now?"

Consort Yunxia watched his ferocious face, calmly taking out a black jar. Upon opening it, a terrifying purple flame rose. It was precisely the purple flame Jiang Fan had exchanged from Gu Xin'er using the Great Yin Sect's Iron Man.

Jiang Fan had anticipated that the Sky Demon Emperor, at the end of his rope, would target Consort Yunxia. He had given Consort Yunxia defensive measures in advance. Now, as expected, it was proving true.

The Sky Demon Emperor immediately sensed the danger of the purple flame and quickly halted his steps.

And it was precisely this pause that sealed his fate. His head suddenly darkened.

Jiang Fan, standing atop the Five-Magnet Primordial Mountain, formed a hand seal with one palm and struck the mountain. "Five-Magnet Divine Light!"

With a rip! The six-zhang divine light spread out, instantly sealing all of the Sky Demon Emperor's power. He immediately fell from the sky, then was severely pressed down by the Five-Magnet Primordial Mountain. The fierce suppression crushed the Sky Demon Emperor, making him spit out a mouthful of bloody foam.

He struggled to get up, slowly lifting the Five-Magnet Primordial Mountain, roaring, "Get off me..."

"Immortal Blade!" A cold voice echoed.

A terrifying two-thousand-zhang lightning bolt rumbled down! It was a move even Revered Baiyu dared not block with his body, let alone the Sky Demon Emperor.