"The Vast Continent... why have I never heard of it? Don't tell me the world you come from is a small place."
Hearing this, Li Liqing's eyes flashed with thought. Clearly, he had no memory of the Vast Continent.
"A sparrow may be small, but it has all the vital organs. In the path of cultivation, isn't it ultimately about oneself? I am equally curious, you who are from the Martial God Continent's Martial Hall, why are you participating in this selection competition for the Buddhist Son? What is it you seek?"
Li Xuan smiled upon hearing this, and then asked with equal curiosity.
"I owe a favor to the Asura Gate, and I am also somewhat curious about this Buddhist Son selection competition. Furthermore, I wish to find some opponents, otherwise, how can I ascend to the true peak of strength? As for what I seek, it is the Snow Ganoderma Nine Lotuses."
"It is said that this item can nourish the soul and also enhance strength, which naturally holds considerable appeal for me. Therefore, it was a perfect match with the Asura Gate."
Li Liqing said this without any reservation, evidently having recognized Li Xuan's displayed strength.
Li Xuan nodded upon hearing this, then glanced at Li Liqing and smiled slightly, "So you seek the same thing as me. The Snow Ganoderma Nine Lotuses might not be easy to obtain. However, we don't seem to be fighting like this."
"Haha, to encounter an evenly matched opponent, this journey of going out for tempering is not in vain. But since it is a battle, and furthermore, a selection competition for the Buddhist Son, we cannot be so casual. How about this, let us both unleash one move. One move to decide the victor, what do you say?"
Li Liqing said with a laugh.
"Alright." Li Xuan was slightly taken aback, but in the next moment, he nodded. Their physical bodies were comparable; if they were to fight to the death, while a victor could be decided, it would likely result in mutual injury. Li Liqing's proposal was, in hindsight, a wise choice.
"Be warned, no one of my level has ever been able to withstand this move." Seeing Li Xuan agree, a hint of admiration flashed in Li Liqing's eyes. With a thought, spiritual light erupted from him, and vast spiritual energy poured out.
Li Xuan nodded slightly, and his divine sword slowly appeared in his hand.
"Martial Fist Fifth Form, Gods and Men Annihilation!"
"One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate!"
Both struck simultaneously. Li Liqing's spiritual energy coalesced into a massive fist, descending like Mount Tai. Wherever it passed, space vibrated and collapsed.
Li Xuan's divine sword, after being stacked to eighteen thousand layers, instantly slashed out.
The space, which could still be maintained, could no longer withstand the pressure of the two immense forces and began to collapse.
*Bang!*
Although the space collapsed, the divine sword and the giant fist still collided squarely. In an instant, the space within changed color. The previously bright world instantly turned vast and dim. The enormous shockwave then sent both Li Xuan and Li Liqing flying backward.
*Crack!*
Above Mount Dongxu, the Golden Wheel, which had initially kept its eyes closed, suddenly opened them. A trace of astonishment was evident in his eyes. With a slight movement of his brow, the battle between Li Xuan and Li Liqing instantly came into view.
"To actually shatter my Three Thousand Buddhist Realms, the strength of these two is sufficient to enter the finals." After observing the events, the Golden Wheel made a grand gesture, and a golden light shot rapidly into the air, disappearing instantly.
*Hum.*
With a humming sound, Li Xuan and Li Liqing, who were in a collapsing spatial realm, were instantly pulled out of the illusionary space by an immense force.
When they opened their eyes, they were already in the air above Mount Dongxu. Before them, the Golden Wheel Buddha, seated cross-legged, was sizing them up.
"Greetings, Golden Wheel Buddha."
Although Li Xuan and Li Liqing did not know why this sudden turn of events had occurred, upon seeing the Golden Wheel Buddha, they immediately bowed. After all, the Golden Wheel before them was one of the twelve supreme powerhouses on the Joyful Continent.
"Golden Wheel Buddha, these two have not yet decided a victor, and your actions are perhaps a bit improper." Before the Golden Wheel Buddha could speak, a voice like a Buddhist chant echoed from the peak of Mount Dongxu.
The Golden Wheel Buddha smiled slightly, "Medicine Tathagata Buddha, although the strength of these two has not reached the Divine Breaking realm, their full-power attacks shattered this Venerable's Three Thousand Buddhist Realms. Such immense destructive power, combined with their bone age, means these two possess all the conditions for the Buddhist Son."
"Therefore, this Venerable believes we can conclude this match as a draw. Moreover, as the host of this Buddhist Son selection competition, this Venerable can naturally select suitable candidates. May I ask if Medicine Tathagata Buddha still has any doubts about the impropriety I mentioned?"
"Since the Golden Wheel Buddha is the host of this Buddhist Son selection competition, he will naturally uphold the criteria for selecting the Buddhist Son. However, what Medicine Tathagata Buddha said is not without reason. In past eras, such a situation has never occurred. If counted as a draw, then the final contention will likely..."
After the Golden Wheel Buddha finished speaking, a clear voice once again came from the peak of Mount Dongxu. Hearing this, Li Xuan's eyes flashed with surprise. From the information obtained from Jiang Shang earlier, among the twelve supreme powerhouses, there was only one female cultivator named Guan Zi Zai.
It was rumored that the background of this Guan Zi Zai Buddha was extremely tragic. She had received help from many people since childhood, which allowed her to survive. Before joining Buddhism, she called herself Guanyin Lotus, and was therefore also known as Guanyin Buddha.
After joining Buddhism, this Guanyin Buddha repaid all those who had helped her and used her own strength to aid countless people in the world.
It could be said that among the twelve supreme powerhouses, Guanyin Buddha had the highest influence. Her current intervention, however, made the situation somewhat uncertain.
"The concerns of Guan Zi Zai Buddha are already in this Venerable's consideration." The Golden Wheel Buddha nodded slightly towards the peak of Mount Dongxu. His lips moved, but no sound was transmitted, indicating that the Golden Wheel Buddha was currently conversing with Guan Zi Zai Buddha.
"Since the Golden Wheel Buddha has made arrangements, let this matter be so. To have shattered the Golden Wheel Buddha's Three Thousand Buddhist Realms illusionary technique, the two indeed possess the strength to contend with peak Divine Realm and even early Divine Breaking realm cultivators. However, I hope the Golden Wheel Buddha's choice will not be mistaken."
A moment later, Guan Zi Zai Buddha's voice echoed again. Hearing her words, it was clear she and the Golden Wheel Buddha had reached an agreement.
The Golden Wheel Buddha nodded gently, his expression momentarily grave.
However, his expression quickly returned to normal. He then looked at Li Xuan and Li Liqing and said, "According to the rules, only one of you can enter the finals."
"But since you were able to shatter a technique within this Venerable's Three Thousand Buddhist Realms, your strength has been recognized. Now, you may each depart. Return in five days to participate in the finals."
"Yes." Li Xuan and Li Liqing exchanged glances and then simultaneously bowed to the Golden Wheel Buddha. Their figures then moved, flying towards the courtyards and pavilions of their respective recommended factions.
"Young friend Li, what exactly happened? Why did you two suddenly disappear from the illusionary array space?" As Li Xuan landed, Jiang Shang stood up and asked.
After Li Xuan and Li Liqing disappeared, Jiang Shang and the others could not see what happened next. The subsequent conversation between the Golden Wheel Buddha, Medicine Tathagata Buddha, and Guan Zi Zai Buddha had clearly been shielded by some means.
"Senior Jiang, please do not worry. This复赛 (fùsài - preliminary match/round) is considered passed. Senior Jiang, I have suddenly had an epiphany and must take my leave." Li Xuan replied. As soon as he finished speaking, he shot towards his residence.
"Consider it passed? What does that mean? Could it be that in the match against that saint son from the Martial Soul Hall, young friend Li gained the upper hand?" Watching Li Xuan depart quickly, Jiang Shang was momentarily stunned.
However, after a moment, Jiang Shang felt relieved. Since Li Xuan had not lost the match, it was enough.
At this moment, Jiang Shang suddenly felt that his hopes might have to be placed on Li Xuan.