Chapter 379: Extinguishing the Buddha Sect
As Li Hao thought of Jiang Lichen, his mind also wandered to Yu Huang. It had now been twelve years since he arrived in the Land of Saints, which meant that one hundred and twenty years had passed in the mortal world. He wondered how Yu Huang was faring. And Qian Qian... ever since the assassination attempt at the Immortal Gate, it was said that the gate had been sealed, preventing anyone from following. Qian Qian and the others who were behind him never made it to this place. Over a century had passed, and he couldn't help but wonder how much the mortal world had changed. Would the familiar faces he once knew still recognize him?
A feeling of nostalgia tugged at Li Hao's heart. Now that he possessed the ability to traverse back to the mortal realm, he could bring Yu Huang and the others here as well, but that would have to wait until he finished his business here. With that thought in mind, Li Hao decided not to return to the Small Thousand World with Feng Lao and the Saint of Lies. Instead, he set out with the Swordmaster, making his way to the Canglan Realm.
This time, he planned to deal with the Buddha Sect himself and didn't intend to involve anyone else.
Feng Bo Ping knew what Li Hao was planning and wanted to accompany him, but Li Hao declined. After a moment of contemplation, Feng Bo Ping didn't insist. With Li Hao's current strength, even in the face of danger, he was more than capable of protecting himself. If Li Hao couldn't escape, there was no point in Feng Bo Ping going along.
♞♞♞♞♞
The little kid he once knew had now soared to unimaginable heights, and Feng Bo Ping felt both happy and deeply moved for Li Hao.
"This time, once the Buddha Sect is eradicated, among the Saints, the Buddha Sect will be no more. With the source of their faith severed, the Canglan Realm will only have two holy lands left," Li Hao said as he traveled alongside the Swordmaster. The Sword Saint accompanied them as well, as both he and the Swordmaster were returning to their holy land.
Li Hao also brought Lin Qingying along, as she had expressed a desire to follow him, and he saw no reason not to bring her.
As for friends like Yaochi and Zhantan, they had their own paths, and Li Hao didn't invite them to join him. After all, his journey this time was to destroy the Buddha Sect, and bringing along these half-saints would not be beneficial to them.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Lin Qingying glanced at him. The young man beside her now spoke of the rise and fall of a holy land as though it were a trivial matter, something almost beyond belief.
Her heart was a mix of joy for Li Hao and a vague sadness. She missed those peaceful days in that small courtyard when he was recuperating, and she practiced her swordsmanship while he painted.
In the moments when she took a break from her practice, she would glance at the focused youth painting, his expression so serene and radiant like the sunlight of spring, warming and comforting. Now, though Li Hao did not put on any airs or flaunt his saintly might, she found herself feeling less at ease than before. "Do you plan to establish a holy land? If you were to create a holy land in the Canglan Realm, it would surely elevate it to the ranks of the mid-tier small worlds," the Swordmaster suggested, looking at Li Hao.
Hearing this, the Sword Saint's gaze flickered. He, too, looked at Li Hao but kept silent. However, unlike the Swordmaster's straightforward invitation, his thoughts were more cautious. If Li Hao were to establish a holy land, his influence would undoubtedly dominate the Canglan Realm, overshadowing the Sword Ancestor's holy land. The presence of such a towering figure might draw away much of the incense, causing both the Sword Ancestor and the Literary Ancestor holy lands to become increasingly insignificant.
"I don't have any plans to establish a holy land for now. I'm used to traveling freely," Li Hao replied with a light smile. "Perhaps in the future, if I have more friends who need my protection, I'll consider it."
The Swordmaster nodded and said, "Then we'll talk about it later. Perhaps we can be neighbors."
Li Hao smiled, and the Swordmaster also chuckled. The Sword Saint smiled as well, though inwardly, he felt a sinking unease. Li Hao's words only indicated that he had no immediate plans to establish a holy land, but he hadn't outright refused the idea.
"Previously, Haoyue was too heavy-handed and destroyed your Dao core. Now, it seems you've benefited from this calamity and developed something even greater. I plan to include you in the core sequence of holy sons for our Sword Ancestor's holy land, just like Haoyue. In the future, if one of you becomes a saint, I'll entrust the holy land to you. I'll take after the Green Lantern Buddha and retire," the Sword Saint said, turning to Lin Qingying with a gentle tone.
Lin Qingying frowned slightly. The destruction of her Dao core had been quietly sanctioned, and the pain of that betrayal still lingered like a thorn in her heart.
But she also knew how the world worked. If she had fallen into despair over it, the Sword Saint probably wouldn't have spared her a second glance. She had merely been a stepping stone for his disciple, someone to help a future holy son's Dao heart reach perfection, ensuring their strength would increase. After all, holy lands cared more about top-tier strength than numbers.
She understood this reality. And so, she knew the Sword Saint's words were meant to ease their past grievances.
If she entered the core sequence of holy sons, with her current strength—capable of defeating the Holy Son Haoyue—she would likely have a chance to defeat him again and take control of the Sword Ancestor's holy land, unless some unforeseen event occurred.
But this wasn't what she cared about, and she had no interest in overthinking it. "I'm not interested in bearing the title of Sword Saint. I only love the sword," Lin Qingying replied calmly. She cast a glance at Li Hao, leaving the rest of her thoughts unsaid. I only love the sword—and one other.
The Sword Saint was momentarily stunned, surprised by her rejection. The core holy son sequence was something that all holy sons and daughters within any holy land fought fiercely to attain. Once selected, they would gain control over life and death within the holy land, have access to the incense offerings, and even draw upon the power of the holy land during times of conflict with saints.
With so many advantages, Lin Qingying's lack of interest was shocking.
She only loves the sword... The Sword Saint's eyes took on a distant look, as though time itself was reversing in his mind, echoing the familiar words of the past.
"Master, I only love the sword…"
Years ago, before their master, two young men stood. One chose fame, the other the sword. The one who chose the sword became the Swordmaster. The one who chose fame became the Sword Saint.
Such was life, full of irony.
The Sword Saint fell silent, saying no more. He knew Lin Qingying's refusal wasn't about holding onto old grudges. No matter how deep a grievance, no one would refuse such an enticing offer unless they truly had no interest.
The Swordmaster, on the other hand, glanced at Lin Qingying. He had thought of her as just another of Li Hao's companions, but now her words caught his attention. Slowly, a smile spread across his weathered face.
After countless years, he had met someone who reminded him of his past.
He had trained many disciples and seen countless holy sons, but no matter how talented they were in swordsmanship, none could resist the allure of becoming the Sword Saint. No one had ever refused the temptation.
He had been disappointed and resigned to his loneliness. But recently, while fishing, he had found a friend in Li Hao.
And now, in the world of swords, he had encountered this young woman.
"Good. As a swordsman, you view the sword as supreme. Someday, you may be able to use that sword in your hand to cut through all obstacles," the Swordmaster said with a gentle smile, showing his appreciation for Lin Qingying. For the first time, his admiration was based on her character rather than her association with Li Hao.
Seeing the Swordmaster's approving gaze, which felt different from before, Lin Qingying smiled and replied, "Thank you, Senior."
The Sword Saint, however, remained silent, a contemplative look on his face. After a moment, he seemed to have a thought and turned to Li Hao, saying, "Your swordsmanship is formidable and terrifying, with the ability to comprehend the technique of 'The Immortal's Guiding Hand.' I believe your swordsmanship surpasses all other saints, yet you don't seem entirely dedicated to the path of the sword."
The Sword Saint's phrasing was tactful, implying that he noticed Li Hao's focus on a broader path, unlike Lin Qingying and the Swordmaster, who were solely devoted to the way of the sword.
Li Hao sensed a hint of probing in his words. The Sword Saint, after all, was the undisputed authority on swordsmanship among the saints, and being outshone in his field would understandably stir some complex feelings.
"The sword is a form, not the Dao itself," Li Hao replied simply.
The Sword Saint's brows furrowed in thought, but soon his eyes widened with realization as Li Hao's words struck a chord. He could feel a faint tremor within his own sword Dao, as if a fracture was forming.
The Swordmaster, too, looked at Li Hao with admiration, then chuckled. "You sure have a way of making people's Dao hearts shake with just a few words."
Li Hao merely smiled, having stated a simple truth as he saw it.
The group continued on in light conversation, and before long, they arrived in the Canglan Realm.
Upon sensing the location of the Buddha Sect, Li Hao bade farewell to the Swordmaster and Sword Saint, requesting that Lin Qingying return to the Sword Ancestor's holy land with them. He would prefer she stay safe, in case the Buddha Sect posed any danger he couldn't protect her from.
Lin Qingying understood Li Hao's purpose and nodded, obediently agreeing. "Be careful," she said quietly.
"I'll be waiting," she added, glancing back as she walked away.
Li Hao nodded, and after saying his goodbyes, he swiftly traversed the heavens, crossing a distance of over a hundred thousand miles, and soon arrived at the gates of the Buddha Sect's holy land. Everything looked almost exactly as it had when he last came for the Battle of Heavenly Proud Candidates. The holy mountain radiated with the Buddha's light, and monks walked among the peaks.
On the steep stone stairs of the cliffs, monks carrying water moved swiftly, and high on the mountaintop, a resounding bell tolled as a monk struck it.
At the edges of the cliffs, several Buddhist disciples sat cross-legged, meditating on life and death and contemplating the way of the Buddha.
Compared to his previous encounter with the Buddha Lord in the mortal world, Li Hao felt less inclined to kill this time. His main goal was to shatter the core of the Buddha's teachings, leaving the Buddha Sect without its foundational support. In time, as the saints competed for faith and reverence, the remaining influence of the Buddha Sect would naturally fade and dissipate.
After all, without continuous transmission, a path would eventually be lost.
The Buddha Sect's holy land was protected by an intricate law barrier that could repel a saint's entry unless they possessed a temporary pass imbued with a Buddhist insignia.
Li Hao hadn't intended to create a large disturbance, but he would have to break the barrier first.
With a light touch of his hand, the barrier shone brightly, radiating like a small sun, and golden light surged forth, turning the entire sky into a field of blinding gold.
The strange sight startled many disciples meditating or practicing within the holy land's peaks, who looked up in shock before realizing the situation: a saint had arrived uninvited!
There was only one reason for a saint to come unannounced: an attack.
"Who is it? Which saint dares trespass upon our Buddha Sect's holy land?"
In the depths of the holy land, several half-saint elders awoke from meditation, quickly emerging and ascending into the air on their steeds—an azure ox, a white boar, and a peacock—peering through the golden light at the intruder.
Outside the formation, they saw a lone figure, calmly standing. Although small in comparison to the brilliant Buddha's light, he stood out starkly against the golden glow, like the only shadow in an otherwise shining world.
High above, the wind whipped around Li Hao, his hair tousled. His expression was calm, and with a flick of his finger, a sharp sword aura shot forward.
With a bang, his Immortal's Guiding Hand sliced through the barrier, shattering the holy inscriptions that decorated it.
The golden light retreated like a receding tide, leaving a clear, cloudless sky above.
"That's… impossible!"
"Who could this be? A supreme saint?"
Several half-saints of the Buddha Sect gaped at the scene, stupefied.
Then they saw the youth's face and froze, their pupils constricting in recognition. It was him—the young man who had defeated the Buddha Son on the battle stage. He had returned to settle the score!
Since the news of Li Hao achieving sainthood and passing through the Human Tribulation had spread, the Buddha Sect was aware of his ascension. But they hadn't expected him to march on their holy land so soon.
"Li Hao, why have you come?" a half-saint atop a giant peacock called out, his voice a mix of anger and fear.
"You know why. No need to ask," Li Hao replied, his figure floating forward with a calm and unhurried grace, his tone steady and even-tempered, showing no sign of anger.
Disciples continued to emerge from the various peaks until twenty or more half-saints floated in the air, creating a formation to block Li Hao's path.
Having just returned from the Dao Symposium at the Heavenly Dao Arena, Li Hao knew that the Buddha Lord's demise had yet to reach the Buddha Sect. They remained oblivious to what had transpired in the Heavenly Dao Arena.
"This is the Buddha Sect's holy land. Even if you hold a grudge against us, this is too great an offense! Are you really seeking to force us into a fight to the death?" shouted a half-saint astride a massive lion. This was the same half-saint who had rebuked Li Hao during the qualifications for the Battle of Heavenly Proud Candidates. But back then, Li Hao's power had already rivaled that of a half-saint, leaving him powerless against him.
"When I was not yet a saint, you all joined forces to suppress me, and yet you still dare to talk about life and death in my presence now?" Li Hao's calm words left the half-saints speechless, anger and fear clear in their eyes as they took a few steps back.
Li Hao drifted forward as if they were not there, disregarding the Buddha Sect's half-saints entirely.
Seeing Li Hao approach, the half-saints who had positioned themselves in his path all moved back in alarm. The spirit beasts they rode on—Azure Ox, White Boar, Peacock—also showed signs of deep fear, emitting low growls yet remaining subdued, as if they sensed a threat too great to oppose.
In the surrounding mountains, many high-ranking Buddhist disciples rose into the air, stunned by the unfolding scene. The once-feared invader who had subdued the Buddha Son was back—and now, he was a saint.
"Where is the Buddha Lord?"
"The Buddha Lord went to the Dao Symposium and hasn't returned yet. Did he come here to attack while the Buddha Lord was away?"
Some disciples, still unaware of what had transpired in the Heavenly Dao Arena, began to speculate. Li Hao, as a saint, traveled faster than information could reach them.
Soon, Li Hao reached the sky above the holy land and saw the grand and resplendent Ten Thousand Buddha Hall, the heart of the Buddha Sect's teachings, where bodhisattvas and arhats gathered.
On normal days, the Buddha Lord would preach here.
Li Hao gazed at the magnificent hall before narrowing his eyes. Raising his hand, he sent a palm strike toward it.
"Stop!"
Having reached the limits of their patience, seven or eight half-saints charged forward with roars of rage. They knew the vast difference between their power and that of a saint but were prepared to risk their lives to protect their beliefs.
Li Hao's expression remained indifferent, his response calm yet ruthless. We walk different paths, that is all.
With a loud bang, a green light erupted over the half-saints' heads, blocking Li Hao's attack mid-air.
The half-saints, who had been prepared to sacrifice themselves, froze, then erupted in joy as they realized what the green light signified. It was the Green Lantern Buddha!
The Green Lantern Buddha had returned!
Relief washed over the crowd, their fear quickly transforming into excitement as they cast vengeful looks at Li Hao, muttering among themselves:
"Let's kill him and end his threat once and for all! When the Buddha Lord and the Twin-faced Buddha return, he won't escape!"
"That's right. He dared to challenge our holy land; he should be terrified now!"
Seeing the Green Lantern Buddha emerge, several disciples' expressions softened into smiles, murmuring a reverent Amitabha.
"All things are subject to fate. If the Buddha Sect falls today, then you too will meet the same fate someday," the Green Lantern Buddha intoned, fixing his gaze on Li Hao.
"Everything has an end, but the difference is that I can decide when yours will be," Li Hao replied, his voice steady.
The Green Lantern Buddha's face darkened. "How did you know I was here?"
He had initially intended to wait until Li Hao became preoccupied with seizing treasures from the hall before launching a surprise attack. He had prepared three precious artifacts, hoping to trap Li Hao, but Li Hao, seemingly unfazed by treasure, had simply struck to destroy the hall, forcing him to intervene.
"If you'd hidden elsewhere, relying on your Dao Calamity Emperor Artifact, I might not have been able to guarantee killing you. But you wanted a chance to kill me, to ensure I could never threaten you again. So you came here, making this place your final battleground," Li Hao replied coolly.
Within the Buddha Sect's holy land, the Green Lantern Buddha's power would be at its peak, and this was the only location where he might overpower Li Hao. Had he chosen to keep running, he could have been impossible to track down until Li Hao's strength advanced further.
"I didn't want to kill you, but you forced my hand. If you become a Supreme Saint, I'll have no way to escape when you gather the Supreme Saints to hunt me down!"
A murderous glint appeared in the Green Lantern Buddha's eyes, revealing his desperation. Should Li Hao's influence grow, he could request help from other Supreme Saints, and one Dao Calamity Emperor Artifact wouldn't save him.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow at the depth of the Green Lantern Buddha's fears.
But it was of little concern to him; he had never intended to involve others, not even allowing Feng Lao to join him. He would handle this on his own.
But from the perspective of his adversaries, his strength wasn't the only threat—his position and influence also made him a frightening opponent.
"This grudge has lasted long enough," Li Hao said calmly, unleashing his peak power as his Eternal Dao Domain spread out, ready to envelop the entire sacred peak.
The Green Lantern Buddha didn't attempt to flee but instead chanted, "I call upon the Ten Thousand Buddhas Formation. All incense to me!"
With his chant, formations across the sacred land activated, beams of golden light shot into the sky, and a massive influx of incense power surged from all corners of the Buddha Sect, concentrating on the Green Lantern Buddha.
Behind him, a colossal Dharma Form began to emerge, towering over a hundred thousand feet, dwarfing the highest peaks. Its upper body stretched into the clouds, scattering the clouds with its presence. This imposing figure could be seen by surrounding nations and sects alike.
"What is that?"
"It's enormous! That must be the Dharma Form of a saint!"
"Such power! What's happening in the Buddha Sect for a saint to display such a massive form?"
In the surrounding kingdoms, many were shocked, while emperors and sages rushed to their celestial observation towers, viewing the towering Buddha Form with a grim realization: the Buddha Sect was in grave danger.
Within the Buddha Sect, Li Hao's gaze sharpened, acknowledging the ferocity of this power drawn from the sacred land itself. It was indeed formidable, far surpassing the might of an average Three Tribulations Saint, at least three to five times stronger.
"Die!"
The Green Lantern Buddha's eyes turned icy as he lifted his hand, summoning a radiant green light. From the Dharma Form above, a giant Buddha hand descended from the heavens, aiming to flatten both Li Hao and the Buddha Sect's mountains.
The weight of the gathered force of heaven and earth bore down, focusing on Li Hao alone.
Li Hao's long hair billowed in the gusts from the descending blow, and as it drew closer, he turned his hand to reveal a pitch-black sword. His entire Dao Domain focused on the blade.
He raised his hand and slashed with his Immortal's Guiding Hand.
The fiery Buddha's palm was engulfed in a golden blaze, but a piercing silver light suddenly appeared, illuminating a span of over a hundred thousand miles. All within that range saw only a flash of light before them.
The sword light cleaved the Buddha's palm in two.
A thunderous crack shattered the air, and shockwaves rippled across the sky, leaving rings of aftershock in their wake.
In the silence that followed, Li Hao, his hair now a bright silver, looked up at the towering Buddha form. Without hesitation, he unleashed a second slash. This time, he drew upon his Transformative Celestial Power, wielding the very energy of heaven and earth as his sword cleaved downward.
The colossal Buddha Form attempted to block, conjuring various Buddhist powers and divine golden lights, even summoning the shadow of a demonic beast as part of its defenses. Yet, before this overwhelming sword light, all defenses crumbled to dust.
The sword strike collided with the Buddha Form's chest, striking it as though with a massive hammer. The blazing gold aura dissipated, leaving a deep, jagged crack down the center of its body.