[Buddhist Immortal Ranking – Rank 5]
[Phagpa]
[Force: National Master Mansion of Yuan Dynasty]
[Cultivation: Great Perfection Mythical Realm Land Immortal]
[Technique: Heaven-Altering Earth-Smashing Spiritual Method (self-created using one's own foundation, fused with multiple Buddhist Dao Cultivation Techniques!)]
[Reward: 5x Intermediate-Tier Bodhi Seed (Enhances Buddhist cultivation techniques and comprehension), 1x Intermediate-Tier Buddhist Skill, 1x Intermediate-Tier Buddhist Divine Weapon]
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The Bad Marshal Yuan Tiangang looked at the ranking high in the sky. When he saw Phagpa's name appear, his expression darkened.
He had never underestimated the Yuan Dynasty's National Master Phagpa.
If it weren't for the Yuan Dynasty holding him back from behind, Phagpa's achievements would absolutely not be lower than his own.
Phagpa, Huang Shang, Yuwen Tuo, Dark One, and the now-deceased Black Shadow, Yuan Tiangang had never looked down on any of them.
Let's set aside the Former Black Ice Platform Leader, Black Shadow, for now.
Among those still alive, are any of them easy opponents?
Yuwen Tuo had already reached the God Demon Realm, and was even stronger than Yuan Tiangang.
As for Dark One, he was a formidable foe with both luck and strength.
In a talent-rich Ming Dynasty, for Emperor Zhu Houzhao to value and trust him so highly already spoke volumes of his extraordinary nature.
The Ming Emperor even spent a massive amount of resources just to help him break through his realm.
In terms of favor and affection, even Yuan Tiangang himself couldn't compare to Dark One's standing in Emperor Li Shimin's heart.
Then there were Huang Shang and Phagpa. In terms of intelligence and schemes, they were not inferior to him at all, possibly even surpassing him in certain aspects.
It was a pity.
The dynasties behind the two of them dragged them down too much.
Huang Shang had gone completely missing after the previous mysterious mountain range incident.
However, Yuan Tiangang believed that he was not dead.
Instead, he was likely hiding somewhere, secretly raising his cultivation.
Once he reappears, he would surely shock the world.
As for Phagpa, he was an even greater threat.
In both strength and wisdom, he was one in a billion.
Unfortunately, the Yuan Dynasty that he chose to serve had risen quickly but declined just as fast.
Now, it was mired in mundane affairs.
Its strength had finally fallen behind.
However, now that Phagpa had made it onto the ranking and obtained a Heaven Dao Reward, he would certainly break through to the God Demon Realm in the shortest time possible.
At that time, Phagpa would once again become his greatest enemy.
Still, though Yuan Tiangang was wary, he was not afraid.
He wasn't afraid even when the Yuan Dynasty was at its peak.
Let alone now, when the Yuan Dynasty was on the verge of destruction.
Besides, even if Phagpa grew stronger, the one he threatened most would be the Ming Dynasty.
Let the Ming Dynasty worry about that!
But with the Ming Dynasty's strength, even if Phagpa advanced to the God Demon Realm, he would still be like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Not worth mentioning!
==========
Yuan Dynasty Territory.
A swift figure darted through the air ahead.
It left behind a trail of afterimages.
It was as if he was tearing through the void, showing just how powerful he was!
Flee!
Flee!
Flee!
"How could this be? I never thought the Ming Dynasty would be hiding their strength so deeply!"
"This can't continue. I must report this to the Khan immediately!"
"Otherwise, if the Ming Dynasty's scheme succeeds, the Yuan Dynasty will be destroyed completely, with no chance of recovery!"
Phagpa, National Master of the Yuan Dynasty, was drenched in cold sweat, his face pale.
He was fleeing in great embarrassment, using the fastest speed of his life.
He, a Great Perfection Mythical Realm Land Immortal, was pushed to his limit.
Originally, he merely suspected Prince Jochi and decided to secretly sneak into his camp when he had the time and energy.
He wanted to see if there were any hidden secrets.
Unexpectedly, he uncovered an earth-shattering secret.
Even with his cultivated heart and mind, he was utterly shaken.
He knew the Ming Dynasty had a plot, but he never imagined it would be this enormous.
Prince Jochi's chief military advisor turned out to be the advisor Pang Tong from the Advisor Ranking.
He was the very mastermind behind the Yuan Dynasty's division and internal collapse.
Not only that.
He had planted spies around Ogedei, Tolui, and even Temujin himself.
This man was hidden so deeply that even Phagpa hadn't noticed him.
It was simply terrifying.
He had to inform Temujin of this immediately.
Only then could the threat be reduced to its lowest.
Luckily, he had a sudden hunch today and came to investigate.
Otherwise, he would have remained forever in the dark.
"Phagpa, since you've come, why leave so soon?"
At that moment.
A distant, ethereal voice echoed beside Phagpa's ears.
His heart sank.
He prepared to use his full strength to escape at once.
The person who had come was at least at the God Demon Realm.
With his current cultivation, he was no match.
Whoosh!
At that moment.
Phagpa saw darkness before his eyes.
In the next moment, pain shot through his body.
He was sent flying uncontrollably.
He crashed heavily onto the ground.
Blood spurted from his mouth, and his face turned ghastly pale.
Under the stranger's attack, he, a Great Perfection Mythical Realm cultivator, was instantly defeated!
If the opponent hadn't held back, that strike would have killed him on the spot.
His eyes locked on ahead.
Ten meters away, a man in Daoist robes stood tall and proud.
His eyes were indifferent, neither joyful nor sorrowful.
As if defeating Phagpa was an insignificant act.
"Ming Dynasty's National Master, Zhang Yuchu!"
Phagpa gritted his teeth and spoke bitterly.
They were both National Masters of their dynasties. Zhang Yuchu had already reached the God Demon Realm years ago.
And himself?
In terms of talent, he was not inferior, yet the difference in strength was vast.
This filled Phagpa with deep bitterness.
Envy. Jealousy. Hatred.
Even his calm state of mind nearly collapsed.
A voiceless surge of unwillingness filled his heart.
"Phagpa, we could be considered kindred spirits. Today is our first meeting, is it not?"
"What a pity. With your talent and wisdom, you should have already reached the God Demon Realm!"
"But you've wasted your potential on someone as insignificant as Temujin!"
"Temujin may be a formidable emperor, but unfortunately, he was born in the wrong era."
"Because this world has already seen emperors who far surpass him."
"He doesn't amount to anything."
"Hmph, victory or defeat, that's all that matters!"
"The Khan merely lacked a bit of luck!"
"With more time, the Yuan Dynasty wouldn't be weaker than the Ming Dynasty, perhaps even greater in the future!"
"Heh, Temujin? His fate is already sealed!"
"To think someone as intelligent as you couldn't see that?"
"You truly are blinded!"
"Phagpa, if you cannot break free from this mindset, you'll never reach the God Demon Realm!"
"Kill me or spare me, do as you wish!"
"Our paths are different. We cannot walk together!"
Phagpa sneered coldly.
He was firmly set on his goals.
How could he be shaken by mere words?
"One strike!"
"You only have one chance. If you survive, I'll grant you a sliver of life."
Zhang Yuchu spoke indifferently.
Phagpa's expression became serious.
A single strike from a God Demon Realm cultivator was unimaginably powerful.
Even though he was a Great Perfection Mythical Realm cultivator, the gap to the God Demon Realm was vast.
If Zhang Yuchu truly wanted to kill him, there would be no escape.
Still, even if the odds of survival were one in ten thousand, he would fight for it.
Then he recalled he had just ranked on the Buddhist Immortal Ranking and hadn't claimed his Heaven Dao Reward yet.
In the next moment, he accepted it.
An Intermediate Buddhist Skill.
A Intermediate Buddhist Divine Weapon!
Whether he lived or died would depend on the strength of these rewards.
"Phagpa, take this!"
Zhang Yuchu shouted lightly.
In an instant, he appeared before Phagpa.
His right palm gently pressed against Phagpa's chest.
A soft push of internal force.
Effortless and unhurried.
Totally relaxed and carefree.
"Not good!"
Phagpa sensed a fatal threat.
Death was near!
If that palm truly landed, he would die for certain.
"Dragon Elephant Golden Physique!"
Phagpa immediately activated the Buddhist Skill from Heaven Dao Reward.
In a flash, the phantom of a dragon and elephant enveloped his entire body.
At the same time.
Zhang Yuchu's palm struck the Dragon Elephant Golden Physique.
Boom!
A loud explosion, and the Dragon Elephant Golden Physique shattered on the spot.
The residual force then struck Phagpa.
In an instant.
His wounds worsened.
He was sent flying again.
His meridians were severely damaged.
His internal injuries were grave.
If the Dragon Elephant Golden Physique hadn't absorbed 99% percent of the force.
Then just now, Phagpa would already be dead.
Only now did he truly understand the terror of the God Demon Realm.
A never-before-felt desire surged from within.
He wanted to reach the God Demon Realm!
He never wanted to be as powerless and helpless as he just was ever again!
"I've taken one strike!"
"Does your word still count?"
Phagpa clung to life desperately.
"You may leave now!"
"I hope that the next time we meet, you will already be at the God Demon Realm!"
"Farewell!"
Phagpa didn't say another word. Just as he was about to leave, a cold voice called out.
"Hold it!"
Phagpa's body trembled.
Was someone else coming to stop him, wanting him dead?
He turned to look and saw a young man walking over slowly, someone who left a deep impression on him.
"Prince Jochi's chief advisor!"
"No, I should call you Pang Tong!"
"Do you intend to stop me? If so, I will not surrender without a fight!"
"Hehe, relax. Originally, my plan was indeed to eliminate you!"
"However, His Majesty the Ming Emperor thinks you're quite a talent. Killing you would be a pity."
"That's why you're being spared this time."
"But there's one condition."
"From this moment on, you are to cut all ties with Temujin. Return to where you came from!"
"Do not interfere in matters between the Ming Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty again."
"If you dare violate this, not only will you die, but everything and everyone connected to you will be wiped out without exception!"
Pang Tong said coldly.
"Amitabha, I understand. I will keep my promise. Farewell!"
Phagpa gave Pang Tong and Zhang Yuchu a deep look, then quickly turned and left.
Right now, preserving his life is most important.
As for Temujin, it would be up to his own destiny.
He had already done everything he could.
"Just letting him leave like that?"
"We have no choice. His Majesty thinks he's a talent with great potential. He might be useful in the future, so he was spared!"
"With his talent and the Heaven Dao Reward, reaching the God Demon Realm shouldn't be a problem!"
"In the future, within the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Worship Hall, he will have a place!"
"Killing a God Demon Realm seed like that would be such a waste."
Pang Tong sighed softly.