Chapter 610: Two Evils Destroy Each Other

“One arrow.”

Li Xuanfeng stood suspended in the air, his chilling white armor gleaming ominously. The markings on his face glowed brightly, his long eyebrows were relaxed, and his face, where white *gang* energy flowed, appeared chiseled like stone. His eyes gazed calmly.

Petals rained down from behind him, a strange phenomenon signifying the fall of a Buddhist monk. Li Xuanfeng's arrow caused the sky to momentarily whiten, and the monk died instantly in mid-air, without even a chance for reincarnation.

Everyone watched in stunned silence. North and South of the River were completely still, save for the faint roar of water hitting the riverbanks and the lapping sounds of the river. Countless eyes fixed on that one spot.

“Killed by a single arrow.”

Many cultivators in the Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation stages didn't understand what had happened. They only saw one Buddhist monk fall. The people from the South immediately cheered, while those from the North were either silent or gnashed their teeth, cursing the 'devil,' though their voices were mostly low.

However, the cultivators at the Core Formation stage fell silent.

They were all prominent figures from both sides of the river. This grand war between North and South had broadened their horizons, and instances of a Core Formation cultivator being killed in a single blow were not unheard of.

Several renowned figures in the North-South conflict—Tuoba Chongyuan, Tang Shedu, Ling Gu Rao, and even some members of the Murong family—could dispatch ordinary early-stage Core Formation cultivators in a single exchange. Li Xuanfeng himself gained fame by killing Murong Wu in less than a quarter of an hour.

Although the twelve monks varied in strength, and not all were equally powerful, to kill a monk with a single arrow, especially a legitimate cultivator of the Kongwu Dao (Void Way)...

The most troublesome aspect of the monks' path was their reincarnation technique. Unless they were instantly annihilated, their numerous contingency plans would allow them to revive from the bodies of their believers. To destroy a monk's body and spirit with one arrow was almost unbelievable. Thoughts even surfaced simultaneously in everyone's minds:

“Could that incantation have activated a special Purple Mansion Talisman attached to the arrow?”“Is this person truly Li Xuanfeng? Or has he unleashed some demonic entity?”

The monk wielding the pagoda was annihilated by that arrow, and this was far more than just killing one person. The Hui Xu Subduing Demon Formation instantly shattered, and the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl lost all chance of re-forming. The remaining eleven monks all changed color, looking at the raining petals with a mix of shock and pain.

“Xu Mo has gone to the Pure Land...”

A wave of shock and doubt spread. The remaining eleven monks also harbored misgivings. The entire region, North and South of the River, seemed to be held in check for a moment, with no one daring to move. Only the white-armored man's bowstring moved.

“Hum!”

The white bow instantly drew into a full moon. The eleven monks felt a piercing sensation in their backs, and sweat broke out simultaneously. They made a slight movement with their hands, but none had time to cast a spell before a fragrant aroma assailed them.

The sky brightened again.

“Too fast!”

The monk who had been holding the ring artifact, which Li Xuanfeng had just shattered, was still pale when he suddenly stiffened. Another shower of petals descended from the sky, mixed with dew drops of various sizes, like jade beads, and auspicious light filled the heavens. Everyone's hearts turned cold.

“Another arrow!”

Of the eleven monks in the air, only ten remained. These ten thought of nothing else, only one word:

“Flee!”

Even faster than them were the Northern cultivators. As soon as the bowstring twanged, the demonic clouds in the North dispersed like melting snow under sunlight. Countless streaks of light shot up, a dense array of colors filling the sky, all heading northward.

All the cultivators on the North bank retreated in disarray. Various magic artifacts soared into the sky, rushing northward in a chaotic scramble. The Core Formation cultivators in the sky vanished in a single breath, while the Foundation Establishment, Qi Condensation cultivators, and monks on the ground became a complete mess, rising and falling, colliding haphazardly.

The Northern forces were already a mixed lot, and this retreat was like a dam breaking, spilling out for a thousand li. Some greedy individuals even took advantage of the chaos to attack each other, causing flashes of bloody light to fill the sky, mixed with shouts:

“Run!”“To Bianyan Mountain... The Bianyan Mountain formation is broken...”

The North bank, long shrouded in demonic smoke, finally cleared, leaving behind only bloodstains on the ground. Even the bodies of the dead were collected for their full utility, leaving nothing but a reddish-black hue on the earth.

The Northern cultivators had retreated, but the ten monks in the air remained rooted in place, all watching with stiff expressions. Not only the remaining ten, but also the other monks who had arrived later were frozen, unable to move.

Siyuan Li's joyful expression froze on his face. He looked towards the horizon, where a layer of colorful light was slowly emerging, brilliant and resplendent, hanging in the distant sky like an eye, watching coldly.

“That Maha... is watching with his own eyes!”

Siyuan Li, with his deep family knowledge, recognized it at once. He suddenly lowered his head, a hint of panic in his heart, and immediately understood why the monks weren't fleeing:

“It's not that they can't, but that they dare not...”

In the Seven Phases of Buddhist practice, advancing by just one stage could be overwhelming. The monks, from head to toe, even their fates, were in the hands of this Maha. Their lives were entirely beyond their own control, so how could they flee?

A suffocating pressure reverberated for a moment. The people on the South bank also gradually sensed that something was wrong. Seeing the colorful light in the sky respond to the ground, a point of light surprisingly emerged from the void, summoned.

This light pierced through space, transforming into a purplish-black color, rapidly expanding in the air. It manifested as a purple bowl, banded with two black rings, devoid of any incantations. Its mouth was an astonishingly dark void.

“The true form of the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl!”

This Buddhist artifact was gradually manifesting its form. The oldest-faced monk, who was leading them, pressed his palms together and murmured softly:

“This demon is so fierce that he has even sent our junior brother to the Pure Land... Everyone, the mortal world is empty. It is time for us to subdue this demon with our lives and return to the Pure Land!”

His expression was calm, and his words flowed smoothly, clearly indicating advanced cultivation. However, six of the remaining nine monks lowered their brows, subtly revealing fear and apprehension.

Yet, no matter how fearful or apprehensive they were, even if they would be annihilated in the next second, the cultivators showed no hesitation. They collectively formed hand seals, simultaneously abandoning any thought of escape.

The Maha did not intervene, merely watched. Yet, the monks lost their right to flee. Even the monks on either side, though not of the same lineage, temporarily lost their freedom, standing still in a daze.

These ten monks neither dodged nor retreated. Their Su Xi Kong True Forms activated, their Dharma bodies emanating colorful light, and numerous magic artifacts were wielded. Together, they pressed towards the white-armored man in the air.

“Senior Brother! Since there's no chance of escape... this opportunity must at least fall into our own hands!”

Several whispers appeared in the leading monk's ear. His smooth face subtly darkened; he naturally understood his junior brothers' intentions.

Li Xuanfeng had forced the Northern forces to retreat, and the karma he bore was becoming increasingly terrifying. For every one of the twelve monks he killed, his karma became even more entangled.

Even if only one or two of the ten survived in the end, as long as Li Xuanfeng was killed, there would be infinite karmic feedback. And with fewer people to share the reward... they could likely achieve Renmin (Compassion/Enlightenment) immediately, with boundless prospects!

Understanding they could not retreat, the ten decided to fight to the death. They rose up together, gritted their teeth, and charged forward, rapidly closing the distance.

The cultivators, of course, knew that Li Xuanfeng was formidable in close combat, but how could his close-quarters abilities compare to his bow?

Engaging him with spells from a distance would only lead to being shot down one by one. So, enduring the oppressive aura, they gritted their teeth and advanced, collectively shouting in cold voices:

“Demon, be vanquished!”

“Hum...”

Li Xuanfeng's gaze merely swept across the sky. Although he hadn't read as many ancient texts as Siyuan Li, he had personally witnessed the Maha. His white bow was again drawn to a full moon.

“Pfft!”

Before the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl had fully manifested, showers of petals instantly filled the air. The remaining nine Buddhist monks didn't even look back. They had already charged forward, their faces, sometimes male, sometimes female, clearly visible, with golden dust scattered on them, teeth shining golden, and eyes glaring angrily with furrowed brows.

The approaching face had a fierce gaze, slightly protruding eyes, extremely prominent brow bones, bulging muscles, and a face full of murderous aura—truly the furious visage of a Vajra.

Li Xuanfeng's gaze was cold and hard, his iron-like stare piercing through, discerning the hidden arrogance and terror beneath this face. His voice was slightly hoarse:

“Strong in appearance, weak in reality!”

He simply extended his five fingers, and instantly, a chilling white energy gathered in his palm. He threw a punch directly at the golden face charging at him. Three shades of chilling white energy transformed into various tiger and leopard forms with his movement, smashing straight into the opponent's face.

“Boom!”

The monk's head in front of him exploded with a bang, sending countless lights flying, which were then dissipated by golden energy in mid-air, unable to reform. The headless body had to retreat clumsily. The man's gaze was like metal, and his other hand suddenly swung.

“Clang!”

He clamped one hand around the neck of a nearby monk. The monk, covered in golden dust, quickly pulled his six arms onto Li Xuanfeng's arm, resembling a struggling octopus. Li Xuanfeng's voice was chilling:

“Always putting on an angry facade to intimidate common people...”

As he spoke, his large hand suddenly closed, and the monk's neck exploded with a pop. Three types of deep white golden energy shot skyward, sending the head flying far away like a ball.

“Evil creature!”

But the monks' spells arrived. Countless golden chains descended from the sky, interlocking and binding him. They scraped against his chilling white armor, producing bright sparks.

“Clang...”

The Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl in the air fully manifested, hanging like a colossal mountain. Numerous Buddhist cultivators rushed from afar. The airborne cultivators, their magical winds depleted, descended to the ground.

Only Li Xuanfeng, with the blessing of the Huaijiang Diagram, remained standing in the air.

This Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl was completely different from its previous form. It had transformed to the size of a mountain peak, not to block his arrows, but to prevent him from escaping.

“Clang!”

Layers of golden light flowed beneath the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl. Spears, halberds, axes, and staves simultaneously converged from the air, piercing Li Xuanfeng's chest with a metallic clang. He stood unmoving, slowly raising his head, his gaze igniting a wave of *gang* energy.

These four figures each had eyes blinking on their chests, with extremely intricate patterns. They wore silk sashes around their waists and incredibly luxurious, glittering golden-lacquered robes. Li Xuanfeng used one hand to control these weapons while with the other, he wielded his white bow, unleashing a radiance like countless sword lights.

“Clang!”

This brilliance struck the magic artifacts, producing intense sounds of metal clashing. The expressions of the several Buddhist monks changed in unison as they saw the man, covered in chilling white energy, actually free a hand to grab one of the monk's arms.

“Acting as pillars and beams, burning wood and adding oil, snatching golden gauze to adorn golden bodies...”

He tugged at the monk's sturdy arm in his hand, crushing it. With a cold gaze, he stepped over the ruined arm, then hooked the bowstring. Three white lights condensed on the string, thrumming loudly.

The three monks casting spells from a distance instantly spat out golden blood, their heads, chests, and abdomens exploding simultaneously. Li Xuanfeng broke free from the golden shackles on his body and held back the large hands of two charging Buddhist monks with both of his own.

“How dare you be so presumptuous!”

Several more monks flew in from the sides, their faces stiff and bitter. Their mouths moved seemingly beyond their control, speaking righteously as they sternly shouted:

“Evil creature! You have killed countless people, acting as a pawn of the demonic sect. Even if we return to the Dharma realm, we will still subdue you, you evil creature!”

Li Xuanfeng steadily pressed down on the two monks' Dharma bodies, listening to the gradual sounds of shattering. Before his eyes, however, appeared the ruined walls of the Zhenhui Temple on Bianyan Mountain. His voice was chilling:

“Purity is not pure, emptiness is not empty, compassion is not compassionate... Temples spanning a thousand li, yet prattling about 'evil creatures.' Hundred-foot golden bodies, yet boasting about worldly customs...”

His words echoed like thunder in the sky, drawing glances from both North and South. Many monks and clergy lowered their brows. The Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl in the sky seemed enraged, emitting a deafening sound.

“Clang!”

This sound reverberated beneath his feet, spreading across North and South, penetrating deep into the demonic smoke. Siyuan Li, also shaken by the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl, had to descend by wind to the riverbank. Events had once again surpassed his judgment. He looked up, his expression somewhat grim.

“The Maha should not be able to directly intervene; this artifact can only be considered summoned by the monks, and thus can only exert pressure...”

“Clang!”

The monks in the distance all looked up, staring at the object in the sky as if they had seen a ghost. They exchanged glances, then, as if by prior agreement, turned and fled in the opposite direction.

“Something big has happened! If we fly in that direction again, we will surely become the blade of some Maha!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Beneath the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl, there was a flash of white light. Li Xuanfeng's white armor was damaged, and the markings on his face were somewhat broken, yet this made him appear more real. He no longer resembled some immortal general, but Li Xuanfeng himself.

His white bow, suppressed by the Kong Xi Demon-Subduing Bowl in the sky, glowed a little more dimly.

The monks before him were either missing arms or heads, severely disfigured. Eight of them remained, their brilliant glows flickering. They stood quietly before him, like fragmented statues after a temple collapse, appearing even more terrifying.

The monks paused briefly, exchanging glances, their voices gradually lowering:

“He's not always that formidable!”

Despite their words, the monks were all frozen in a stalemate, looking at the section of a Dharma body under the man's foot. Of the nine Kongwu Dao monks, and the six who later joined, only eight of them remained...

The twelve Kongwu Dao monks varied in strength, which was not apparent when they formed the grand formation. Now, after a fierce battle, only the five strongest had survived.

“What a demon... what demonic might...”

Half of a golden spear was still lodged in the demon's chest, glinting between the white armor. The spear's shaft trembled slightly with his breathing. His sharp eyes looked over, and he exhaled softly.

The broken Dharma body beneath Li Xuanfeng's foot slowly writhed in the air, its head dangling. Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow and looked over, meeting the increasingly heated and greedy gazes of the eight monks:

“Kill him!”“Kill him!”“Kill him for the position of Renmin!”

Li Xuanfeng calmly met their gaze. He crushed the fleeing half of a Dharma body on the ground, then picked up the two heads with compassionate faces, lifting them high. Seeing the terror in the pupils of those heads, he let out a laugh from his throat:

“I am no benevolent being either; it's simply a case of two evils clashing... resulting in a clean sweep!”