The Prodigies War

Black Buddhist characters rapidly engulfed Lin Xun's surroundings.

The purifying power released by the Buddhist characters soaked into his skin and rushed inside his body. The terrifying purification power made him feel as if he was burning from the inside.

This was the purifying power of the Universal Mercy and Succor Art!

Lin Xun finally experienced the terror of such power. However, he didn’t panic because the Star Annihilation Heaven Devourer automatically began to circulate.

Cshhh~

It instantly swept away the mysterious and terrifying black Buddhist characters like a tornado scattering the clouds, making it impossible for the purification power to invade Lin Xun again.

It was clear that the dao power level of the purification power could not compare to the Star Annihilation Heaven Devourer.

A glimmer of comprehension dawned upon Lin Xun.

The reason he had been suppressed previously was entirely because he lacked an understanding of the Buddhist sect’s powers. Hence, it had caught him off-guard.

Now, he was no longer afraid!

……

The Bodhi root was a first-class divine item in the eyes of Buddhist cultivators. It was wondrous beyond expression, possessed unimaginable functions, and harbored the core secrets of the world’s dao.

A Bodhi tree was known to have existed in the ancient era. Each of its branches and leaves could transform into an entire world, making it akin to three thousand worlds on its own!

From what Mu Zheng knew, in the ancient era, an expert from the Earth Treasury Temple comprehended a supreme truth known as the Mahayana Kaya Dao from a single Bodhi leaf. He instantly gained enlightenment with a smile and thus reached the Saint stage!

If the wilted root had any relation to the Bodhi tree, its value would be beyond astonishing.

As a Buddhist cultivator, Mu Zheng was immediately able to perceive the unique aura of the root. Hence, he was unable to keep his cool and was soon flooded by intense desire.

Hence, he ignored Lin Xun and the Nameless Pagoda. Instead, he set his sights on the root.

Swish!

He moved without hesitation, determined to obtain his prize.

"Monk, you're too eager!" However, an icy voice rang out as a glittering, snow-white blade shot forth.

Fast!

Too fast!

Mu Zheng, who was solely focused on the root, was caught by surprise.

Plop!

Peerless blade qi swept forth with a flash of icy light. Blood sprayed into the air as Mu Zheng’s right arm, which was reaching for the root, was sliced off.

It had to be acknowledged that Mu Zheng was extremely formidable. In this critical moment, he jerked himself back in an attempt to avoid the attack. Although he lost an arm, he narrowly succeeded in preserving his life.

If it was anyone else, they would probably have been killed right there and then.

"You..." Mu Zheng’s face twitched in pain.

However, he was more shocked to see that Lin Xun was completely fine after being struck by the power of ‘Purifying All Heavens!’

It made him almost unable to believe his eyes.

That was his most powerful killing move. Mu Zheng believed that even in the entire Ancient Wasteland Domain, including the supreme talents in the Hidden Holy Lands, anyone who received it would be killed.

However...the attack had clearly failed!

"Monk, you can't eat hot tofu if you rush." Lin Xun stood in front of the white lotus seat with an ice-cold expression, his straight figure blocking the way like a mountain.

"How did you do it?" Mu Zheng's expression fluctuated indeterminately. The indifference and composure he had maintained since the beginning was finally broken at this moment.

He retrieved the Arya Bowl and used it to guard himself.

It was because Lin Xun's strength had completely surpassed his expectations.

"How naive. Do you think I will tell you?"

Lin Xun displayed a bright smile. He didn’t immediately go on the offensive either and instead retrieved the Nameless Pagoda.

Mu Zheng quickly regained his composure and stopped the bleeding of his arm. His eyes flashed fiercely as he stared at Lin Xun. "According to the ancient records of the Earth Treasury Temple, someone like you can be viewed as a heretic that must be exterminated."

Heretic!

Lin Xun's black eyes narrowed as he sneered, "I've also heard of how the Earth Treasury Temple boasts of being Calamity Walkers whose mission is to eradicate heretics from the world. Anyone who is targeted by you guys will be relentlessly hunted down.

"However, I didn't expect that this is how you define heresy. Heh, so is this how your Earth Treasury Temple operates? Isn’t it far too shameless?"

There was unconcealed mockery and disdain in his words.

Mu Zheng was unfazed. He declared, "Since ancient times, the Earth Treasury Temple has lived in hell while we direct our hearts toward the light. It is inevitable that most of the world will not understand us. Whether we’re shameless or not will not change the fact that you are a heretic."

Lin Xun raised his eyebrows. What an eye-opening way to throw dirty water. This was clearly pinning a crime on him without any justification!

Suddenly, Mu Zheng seemed to sense something and roared in anger, "You dare?!"

Lin Xun grinned and replied, "What wouldn't I? Since you're stalling, I'll gladly stall with you. What's wrong with that?"

He was already moving while he spoke. He rushed onto the white lotus seat and waved his sleeve in an attempt to collect the root.

His movements were extremely fast and clearly planned in advance.

By the time Mu Zheng sensed that something was wrong, Lin Xun was already on the white lotus seat.

"You’re asking for death!"

Mu Zheng was enraged. Black Buddhist light violently burst from him as he stormed toward Lin Xun like an angry Buddha.

Boom!

However, before he could approach, a Saint ripple suddenly spread from the white lotus seat and knocked him away.

Due to the strong and sudden impact, Mu Zheng started to see stars and coughed out a mouthful of blood.

However, none of this could erase the dismay and shock in his heart.

"How is this possible...I am a disciple of the Earth Treasury Temple. Why is the relic left by Ancestor-Teacher Duji hostile to me instead!"

The white lotus seat glowed brightly, pulsing with an unfathomable and sacred aura.

On the lotus seat, Lin Xun had already successfully retrieved the root. It made Mu Zheng feel even worse as his complexion turned ashen.

Just a single step more and this horrible result could have been avoided. It was a tremendous blow to him.

However, his expression soon changed because he noticed something strong. Why did Lin Xun seem to be in more pain than him?

On the white lotus seat, Lin Xun was shaking. Even his lips were trembling, making it look as if he had been struck by lightning.

Moreover, thin strands of golden light were spreading on his body as if his skin was being torn inch by inch. It was a bizarre and gruesome sight.

"This aura..."

Mu Zheng suddenly recalled the ruler-like golden figure he had seen whose halberd had pierced the white lotus seat, Black Phoenix Saint Queen, and Ancestor-Teacher Duji.

The aura from the fine golden light was the same as the golden figure’s. They obviously originated from the same source!

An odd mix of emotions immediately surfaced on Mu Zheng’s face. There was gladness, fear, and an indescribable ridicule.

He finally understood!

Even if the wilted root was a Bodhi root, it must have also suffered a terrible blow from the golden figure, resulting in its current wilted and damaged appearance.

Although the root wasn’t fully destroyed, it contained remnant wisps of the golden figure’s fighting aura!

In short, Lin Xun might have appeared to obtain the blessing, but its true face was actually a disaster!

"Misfortune will strike when the time is not right. The cycle of karma is truly unfathomable!"

Mu Zheng laughed as all his negative feelings were swept away. He rejoiced that he had not been the first to seize the root.

He stood outside the white lotus seat and began to repair his arm as he silently waited.

Once Lin Xun succumbed, he would immediately rush in and seize the root.

By that time, the mysterious golden power in the root would have been consumed by Lin Xun, leaving Mu Zheng with the true Bodhi root!

Although it might be badly damaged, there would be a way to revive it as long as he managed to bring it back to the sect.

The more he thought about it the more relaxed he became. It felt as if even the heavens were favoring him.

……

Lin Xun was indeed in agony at this moment.

Wisps of extremely uncompromising and tyrannical golden power were rampaging in his body. It was filled with a boundless aura of destruction that he was unable to withstand, resulting in his body being destroyed at an alarming rate.

"Damnit, it's that guy!"

Lin Xun was flustered. He thought he had finally gained the upper hand and never imagined that it was instead a disaster.

Additionally, he realized the source of the golden power, which made him increasingly aware of the severity of the situation.

In the ancient era, the halberd-wielding golden figure had killed two Saint experts. It was easy to imagine how terrifying of an existence that was.

Although the remnant traces of golden power in the root was minimal, it was not something the likes of Lin Xun could withstand.

"Remember it! "

"You must not forget..."

While Lin Xun was in pain, two different voices sounded in his head.

One voice was dignified, solemn, and almost deafening like the booming sound of the great dao.

The other voice seemed anxious while tinkling beautifully like gold. It sounded uniquely magnetic and akin to the singing of an immortal phoenix.

In an instant, the figures of Saint Duji and the Black Phoenix Saint Queen pierced by a halberd appeared in Lin Xun's mind.

Before dying, the former was enraged as he furiously stared at the distance while the latter lowered her eyes in anxiety, unwilling to accept what had happened.

Lin Xun's heart shuddered. Were they telling him to remember the golden power?

Boom!

At the same time, a stream of mysterious life energy suddenly emerged from the root in his hand and rushed into his body.

In addition, specks of illusory sacred green light appeared on the wilted surface of the root as if trying to revive it.

What's going on?

Before Lin Xun could figure it out, a loud boom shook his mind and the world seemed to sway around him.

He suddenly found himself in front of an ancient tree. Its branches reached into the sky, and its green leaves looked as if they were carved from jade. A green haze drifted from the tree, dyeing the land in a sacred atmosphere.

A simple-looking monk with a delicate and handsome appearance was seated under the tree. He was deeply focused while his figure was bathed in the sacred Buddhist light as if he was a legendary Bodhisattva.

There was a slim figure standing beside him with her head lowered as if saying something to him. Her fine black hair was pulled back, revealing the side view of her beautiful face.

Sacred light also sprinkled from her. It took the shape of a life-like black phoenix and perched itself on a branch as it nestled its feathers.

Lin Xun froze. The scene before him was peaceful and sacred like the holy land of immortals spoken of in legend!