As the Netherworld cavalry charged, the "Venerables" and "Arhats" mounted beneath them all met their doom, turning into piles of charcoal.
In the vast Buddha kingdom, only "Maitreya" and "Medicine Master Tathagata," along with their three "Bodhisattvas" and eight "Vajra Lords," remained.
However, the formed phantom of Mahavairocana Tathagata had already begun to radiate fierce solar Buddhist light, burning most of the Netherworld army to ashes.
Despite the good results, the bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva held by the Khan wasn't happy – he was still a distance away from Dizang.
After the phantom of Mahavairocana Tathagata finished radiating its Buddhist light, only the Khan remained to charge.
"Hahaha!! Mortals are mortals after all. How can a mere firefly contend with the sun and moon! Hahahaha—"
Watching the lone figure charging forward, all the Buddhas burst into laughter, seemingly forgetting the deaths of the "Arhats" and "Venerables."
"Alright… all the trash is dead, only the big boss is left…" Mo Chuan's voice from beneath his mask was chilling, "Join our choir! Listen to this unified GRAND CHOIR!"
As Mo Chuan chanted, a pillar of ghostly green light formed above the heads of the Buddhas from his [Requiem].
Although "Maitreya" and "Medicine Master Tathagata" didn't know what this pillar of light was, the surging, wild spiritual energy and the bone-chilling aura of death indicated its extreme danger.
"Damn it… can't dodge this…" "Maitreya" watched a Vajra Lord jump off his lotus seat to evade the light, only for it to be useless. He frowned, "Seven-Colored Treasure Tree, guard with glorious light."
"Maitreya" waved his hand, and a branch shimmering with seven-colored divine light, empowered by spiritual energy, unleashed immense radiance, enveloping all the Buddhas.
The phantom of Mahavairocana Tathagata, deprived of spiritual energy input, dissolved into light spots and vanished into the air.
While "Maitreya" protected the Buddhas, "Medicine Master Tathagata" manipulated the incense burner and prayer beads to form a golden light, intending to strike down the Khan.
But just as the golden light pierced through the Khan, both Buddhas saw the Khan throw a remnant image towards his subordinates before being annihilated.
"What is that?!" Before the two Buddhas could get a clear look, Mo Chuan's chanting ended abruptly. A terrifying spiritual energy explosion erupted outwards, directly blasting most of the "Bodhisattvas" and "Vajra Lords" into bloody fragments and broken bones.
The remaining monks and Buddhas either revealed their true forms or coughed up black blood desperately.
"Maitreya" and "Medicine Master Tathagata," clutching the cracks on their golden faces, their voices distorted by pain and anger, exclaimed:
"Damn it! Curse this! This technique is incredibly bizarre! This filthy creature! I will tear his bones apart! Skin him alive! Drink his blood!" kuAiδugg
Saying so, "Maitreya" recalled his prayer beads and branches, and with the power of the artifacts, he drew a massive "卍" symbol, continuously infusing it with spiritual energy.
"World Honored One… please don't…"
The "Bodhisattvas" and "Vajra Lords" beneath, still maintaining their majestic forms, wailed, begging "Maitreya" not to retract the spiritual energy. But the latter paid no heed, and by the time the Buddhist seal condensed, the entire Buddha kingdom was left with only "Medicine Master Tathagata" and "Maitreya." The "Bodhisattvas" had turned into a pile of dead birds, and the "Vajra Lords" into corpses of demonic beings.
"Die!!!"
Just as "Maitreya" was about to attack, Dizang looked at the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva whose bronze armor was gradually peeling off on him and said, "Venerable, why have you returned?"
"I have found the destined person to help rebuild Spirit Mountain for our Buddhism," Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Dizang's figures gradually enlarged, and he spoke, "Now, defeat these demons."
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva grasped at the void, and a golden staff appeared in his hand. He then forcefully struck the ground with the staff and declared, "How can our divine Buddha kingdom allow demons to run rampant."
A golden ring instantly enveloped the Buddha kingdom. The artifacts controlled by the two Buddhas, due to their injuries, had their usage rights seized by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The massive Buddhist seal, along with the runaway artifacts, dissolved into light spots and vanished into the air.
"Waaagh!—" The two Buddhas spat out blood, unable to withstand their injuries any longer, and fell from their lotus seats, revealing their true forms – two eagle falcons, black-skinned with golden feathers.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva swung his staff, and the Buddha kingdom transformed into spiritual energy, retracting into the staff. The three artifacts were then collected by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva into his sleeve.
"Amitabha Buddha," Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva bowed to Mo Chuan, "Thank you, benefactor, for your assistance. This humble monk is deeply grateful."
"You are too kind, Venerable," Mo Chuan removed [Hellwalker: Crimson Moon], collecting the residual souls of these demons with his lantern as he spoke, "Could Venerable please fulfill your promise and check on my companions?"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded, patted Dizang's head, signaling him to move around on his own, then followed Mo Chuan to check on everyone.
"It's nothing serious, they were just suppressed mentally by the Buddhist seal here and fell into a coma. They'll wake up on their own soon," Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva looked up at Mo Chuan and said, "The reason you were able to wake up immediately is because your spirit is exceptionally strong (high spell power, magic resist, and tenacity)."
"I see…" Mo Chuan nodded, then pointed worriedly at Zhang Hanshan, saying, "Venerable, is there any hope for my brother to recover his abilities?"
"Hmm… there is a way… but it requires you to lend me a large amount of spiritual energy, and then I will repair it with him."
"Great! Thank you, Venerable!"
Mo Chuan, filled with excitement, quickly gathered a large amount of spiritual energy (mana) and transferred it to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Upon receiving it, the latter transformed into a ball of light and flew into Zhang Hanshan's forehead.
Before Mo Chuan could react, Dizang rushed over, lay on the unconscious Zhang Hanshan, and after a surge of spiritual energy, a halo of light appeared behind Zhang Hanshan's head.
Then, on the sand-covered ground, a Bodhi tree slowly sprouted.
The Bodhi tree emitted a soft glow, and as its leaves became lush, many light spots, like dew, slowly sprinkled down onto Zhang Hanshan.
Zhang Hanshan's body was gradually enveloped by spiritual energy, and he slowly levitated, encased in a lotus formed from light spots, floating serenely in the air.
"Alright, benefactor, I have infused a portion of my divine soul into him. This benefactor's abilities from now on will be mine."
Mo Chuan looked at the transparent Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, like a holographic phantom beneath the Bodhi tree, with disbelief and said, "Venerable, this…"
"Benefactor, if I do not enter hell, who will? Until hell is empty, I shall not become Buddha."