Chapter 1761 : Celestial Clash of Immortal Titans

"Excellent!"

The benevolent-faced Ancient Buddha [an enlightened being who has attained Buddhahood in a previous age] spoke, raising his palm to press down in a suppressive motion.

Seeing this, the others present immediately unleashed their own divine abilities, intending to join forces to suppress the evil demon.

In that instant, the two sides clashed. Heaven and earth shook violently, mountains and rivers trembled, and the Stellar [celestial bodies and cosmic energies] in the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms] flickered as if about to be extinguished.

"BOOM—!"

Worthy Pursuit Chen gripped his Immortal Iron Staff [a divine staff forged from immortal-grade iron], sweeping it across to strike in all directions. A Heavenly Dragon [a celestial dragon of immense power] soared from his back, intertwining with the Immortal Iron Staff and unleashing a world-shaking, heaven-overturning divine might.

In this great battle, Worthy Pursuit Chen fought one against four, yet never once fell to a disadvantage.

After more than six thousand exchanges in their fierce combat, Worthy Pursuit Chen still showed no sign of weakening, while the four Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm] Buddhas were already beginning to falter.

"Imperial Scion Level Figure [a prodigy whose talent and combat prowess rival that of the offspring of emperors]."

The Golden Lion Arhat [an Arhat, a perfected saint in Buddhism, known as the Golden Lion] changed expression slightly and finally called out, "Two Patriarch [a venerable founder or supreme elder of a sect or clan], we beseech you to act and subdue this demon."

"Alas—"

At that very moment, a sigh echoed down from the heights of Void Heaven.

Everyone looked up to see two figures striding forth from the depths of the endless void.

One was clad in blood-red monastic robes, his countenance solemn and dignified. The other held a precious wheel, his visage fierce like a wrathful Vajra Buddha [a wrathful manifestation of a Buddha], radiating an aura of immense sharpness and power.

"Blood Nirvana Buddha, Precious Wheel Arhat,"

Worthy Pursuit Chen murmured, his expression turning grave for the first time.

Blood Nirvana Buddha was the founding Patriarch of the Blood Dragon Ancient Temple, an Immaculate Celestial Immortal [a Celestial Immortal who has achieved a flawless foundation] who had lived for over a hundred million years. His cultivation had reached the sixth level of the Celestial Immortal realm.

Precious Wheel Arhat was the founding ancestor of the Vajra Temple, having lived for eighty million years. He too possessed an Immaculate Celestial Immortal foundation, and his cultivation had attained the fifth level of the Celestial Immortal realm.

These two were the Sovereign [supreme rulers] of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain. As for other powers like the Literary Heart Ancient Temple or the Celestial Melody Blessed Land, they only had one or two Flawed Celestial Immortal [Celestial Immortals with imperfect foundations] in existence, far inferior to these two Buddhas and Arhats.

Yet, despite being such pinnacle existences, their demeanor upon meeting Worthy Pursuit Chen was unexpectedly amicable.

Yet the Blood Nirvana Buddha [an ancient, powerful Buddha figure] merely smiled serenely, plucking a flower as he spoke with calm finality. "Patron, you have erred. The sea of blood you have unleashed today is a sin of immense magnitude. By all rights, you should be cast into the Eighteen Layers of Hell [the deepest and most torturous realms of the underworld]."

"However, the Buddha's compassion is boundless. If you cease your actions now, this humble monk shall personally guide the countless wronged souls to liberation and cleanse you of this profound karmic burden."

"And if I refuse?"

Worthy Pursuit Chen retorted, the Immortal Iron Staff [a divine-grade staff of unbreakable metal] in his hand radiating waves of baleful, slaughterous aura.

The Precious Wheel Arhat [a powerful enlightened warrior of Buddhism] grew stern, his gaze turning profound and chilling. "Then we have no choice but to subdue you and escort you back to the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a sacred Buddhist sanctuary]."

As his words fell, the Precious Wheel Arhat made his move. A Golden Alms Bowl [a sacred Buddhist vessel of immense power] descended with earth-shaking force, aiming to suppress Worthy Pursuit Chen on the spot.

Yet, in that very instant, a spear-light of blinding brilliance pierced forth from the distant reaches of the Void Heaven [a vast, empty celestial expanse].

The spear radiance was entwined with the light of the Polarity [the fundamental forces of Yin and Yang, positive and negative], carrying a power that could pierce through all things. It deflected the Golden Alms Bowl with a mighty clang, its remaining momentum unbroken as it shot murderously towards the Precious Wheel Arhat.

"The Polarity Immortal-Slaying Spear [a legendary spear imbued with the power to slay even immortals]!"

The Blood Nirvana Ancient Buddha spoke out. In a flash, he extended aid, flicking his sleeve to unleash a crimson dragon that soared into the sky. It collided with the Polarity Immortal-Slaying Spear, blocking its divine-slaying, immortal-piercing edge.

Only then did the assembled crowd behold a figure clad in the Polarity Limitless Immortal Armor striding forth.

"Tai Cang Imperial Scion."

Witnessing this, the Blood Nirvana Ancient Buddha drew a sharp breath and could not help but speak, "Your status as an Imperial Scion is most exalted. Why must you intervene in this matter?"

"Hah—"

Diyang Tai Cang let out a cold laugh, his disdain for this Buddha from the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain evident.

Gripping the Polarity Immortal-Slaying Spear, he spoke with chilling calm, "Today, I come under orders to claim your lives."

"Both of you, prepare to meet your end."

With those words, he took a single step into the void, a peerless sharpness radiating from him as he surged towards the Nine Heavens to engage in battle.

Thus erupted a conflict of epic proportions. Diyang Tai Cang faced two opponents alone—both Immaculate Celestial Immortal—yet did not fall to a disadvantage. Their battle raged into the Nine Heavens Above, each clash unleashing power sufficient to overturn the heavens.

Simultaneously, Worthy Pursuit Chen moved once more. His Immortal Iron Staff, entwined with dragon patterns, swept across all directions. Holding his ground against four cultivators of the Early Celestial Immortal Realm, he never once yielded the upper hand.

After continuing the fierce battle for another thousand exchanges, Bodhisattva Literary Heart let out a soft sigh and suddenly withdrew from the battlefield at the Central.

Seeing this, Golden Lion Arhat and the others exclaimed in alarm, "Bodhisattva Literary Heart, are you turning traitor?"

"Alas—"

Bodhisattva Literary Heart did not answer them. Instead, he looked at Worthy Pursuit Chen and said, "In deceiving you to the Literary Heart Ancient Temple all those years ago, I ruined a million years of your cultivation. This old monk has carried the weight of that guilt in his heart."

"Now that you have returned, restored and ascended to an even higher realm, this old monk's wish is fulfilled. It is time to repay the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect] I owe you."

"I am willing to transform into a sacred relic [a crystallized embodiment of spiritual attainment], to aid your cultivation of the Buddha's Dharma, as recompense for my past transgression."

"As for this body's immortal spiritual essence, let it return to heaven and earth to nourish all living beings."

As his words faded, Bodhisattva Literary Heart brought his palm down upon the crown of his own head.

In that instant, his physical form and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] began to disintegrate, transforming into an immensely vast Path-Dissolving Radiance [a sacred light emitted when a supreme being willingly dissolves their cultivation and returns their essence to the cosmos] that scattered and dissipated into the heavens and the earth.

A Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] was dissolving his Path. The torrential surge of primal energy swept through the Six Harmonies and the Eight Desolations. In the blink of an eye, the vast expanse for billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] around was filled with boundless Immortal Spirit Essence [the pure, condensed spiritual energy that constitutes the foundation of an immortal's being].

Within the vast expanse of mountains and rivers, a burgeoning forest of trees and grasses visibly sprouted and grew, transforming the landscape into a sprawling woodland.

And after the Path-Dissolving Radiance [a divine technique that dissolves cultivation paths] completely dissipated, only a single Sariras [crystalline relics left behind by enlightened beings] remained on the spot.

"Master..."

Witnessing this scene, Worthy Pursuit Chen was rendered speechless, a solitary tear tracing a path down his cheek.

His feelings towards Bodhisattva Literary Heart were profoundly conflicted.

He abhorred evil with a fiery passion, his nature unyielding and domineering. In his early years wandering the Immortal Domain, he had slaughtered Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual beings], slain Immortal [transcendent cultivators], and executed direct descendants of Grotto-Heaven [hidden paradises of powerful cultivators], thereby earning himself a host of formidable enemies.

Were it not for the protection of Bodhisattva Literary Heart, he would likely have perished long ago under the pursuit of Celestial Immortal Great Power [immensely powerful celestial beings].

Yet, during the Path Tribulation [a catastrophic trial faced by cultivators], unable to withstand the pressure from three great Grotto-Heaven and the Celestial Rotating Jade Ancient Sect, and in order to preserve the legacy of the Literary Heart Ancient Temple, Bodhisattva Literary Heart had lured him to Literary Heart Mountain and betrayed him. A profound rift had thus been torn between them.

Now, facing each other once more in battle, Worthy Pursuit Chen's heart was a tumult of complex emotions towards Bodhisattva Literary Heart—a seething, boundless hatred born of betrayal warred with the deep gratitude for past protection, making it impossible for him to deliver a fatal blow.

Only now, with Bodhisattva Literary Heart's self-inflicted end, did he understand that Bodhisattva Literary Heart too had been tormented for years by regret over that fateful decision.

"A single thought can lead to enlightenment, a single thought can lead to damnation."

"Is this the difference made by a single thought?"

"So this is the duality of Buddha and Demon within a single thought! I have attained enlightenment!"

Worthy Pursuit Chen suddenly attained profound insight. In an instant, his body was bathed in universal radiance, transforming into the majestic and serene Buddha Tathagata [the Enlightened One, the Buddha]. Yet, in the next turn of thought, he plummeted into the Demonic Abyss [a realm of ultimate demonic corruption], morphing into a ferocious and wrathful Buddha Tathagata.

This cycle repeated until, finally, Buddha and Demon merged into one, becoming a single entity that was both compassionate and wrathful, a Holy Tathagata [the Sacred Enlightened One].

Boundless compassion and profound malevolence converged within him. His eyes transformed—the left pupil became a bottomless Nether Abyss [the unfathomable depths of the underworld], while the right blazed like a sun suspended in the void, radiating an unprecedented, supreme aura.

At that moment, Worthy Pursuit Chen, having unified Buddha and Demon, transformed into the Great Majestic Thunderous Voice Holy Tathagata [the Sacred Enlightened One of Great Majesty and Thunderous Voice]. It seemed he had shattered some ultimate limit of the Immortal Path [the supreme path of cultivation leading to immortality], startling the myriad Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realms] and Buddhas across the heavens.

"What is this...?"

High above in the Heavenly Vault [the highest celestial dome], even Diyang Tai Cang opened his eyes, his gaze turning grave as he looked down upon the scene.