Chapter Eighty-One: The Warrior Buddha

Zhou Tian and the others exchanged glances, their expressions grim. The sounds from outside reached their ears without the slightest distortion; they realized that some great upheaval had occurred. All of them rushed out of the cabin.

As they rushed onto the deck, this terrifying scene unfolded before them: a colossal beast was roaring, and four unrivaled figures hovered in the void, gazing down at them with cold, indifferent eyes. An invincible powerhouse swept his spear toward their own four champions, and the blood-dripping body of a Buddha suspended in midair sent chills through their hearts.

“It’s over, it’s over, we’re all going to die here today!” someone wailed, his will collapsing, terror etched across his face. His aura rose and fell wildly, as if possessed by madness, overwhelmed by fear.

“Disrupting morale—death!” Zhou Ying bellowed. The obsidian kirin upon her shoulder sprang forth, its head swelling to enormous proportions, eyes like bronze bells, maw agape. In a flash, it swallowed the panicked man whole.

“Do not panic. We will get you out safely. But if anyone sows chaos and fear, do not blame me for being merciless!” The obsidian kirin shrank back to palm-size and returned to Zhou Ying’s shoulder. Though even she could barely believe her own words, now was not the time for their ranks to fall into disarray.

“Your Excellency, act quickly! The Heavenly Gate will soon notice they’ve lost contact and will surely react!” The Shadow Lord spoke with a chilling tone.

“I know what I’m doing.” The spear-wielding figure responded, his palm and fingers blazing as he struck down at them.

The Daoist in violet looked despondent, his brow nearly splitting open. Seeing this world-shattering blow approach, he produced a scroll of Daoist scripture. Golden light burst forth as he unfurled it, and a character inscribed with the laws of the Dao leapt forth, forming a mighty sigil.

At the same time, he shouted, “In offending the Nine Provinces so, are you not afraid of our retribution after the fact?”

He could tell this man was not from the Nine Provinces, but from a power in the Star Realm.

“Better worry about surviving me first!” Thunder rolled from the great Dao, and the sigil formed by the scroll blocked, if only for a moment, the brilliant palm strike. But it was only temporary.

A crisp shattering sounded—the spear-wielder did not even employ his true form, yet his palm was as vast as a mountain. Though the Daoist scroll had dulled the blow, the four defenders’ bodies still split open, blood jetting forth.

The man clad in black-gold power armor sprouted a fissure along his back, blood-red flames spewing out as he used the thrust to propel himself toward the eight warships. He shouted in a booming voice, “Warman! War Buddha!”

Onboard the warship, Warman did not hesitate. He whipped out a silver box and hurled it with all his might!

The Daoist master’s brow furrowed slightly, the tip of his spear shifting to target the black-gold armored man. Murderous intent enveloped him—though the armor was of King-class grade, it gave him no sense of safety. The silver box was almost within reach; gritting his teeth, he roared, “Comrades, help me!”

He needed say no more. The others, seeing his actions, immediately realized a trump card was at play. Ignoring their own injuries, runes surged from their bodies, treasures flashing forth to buy him time.

“Roar!” The fanged warrior bellowed, his body swelling into a thousand-foot blood wolf, muscles bulging grotesquely, blood energy surging. Two bloody horns glowed as he charged at the bronze divine spear.

The collision unleashed a torrent of energy, vaporizing the void itself.

Crack!

A clear sound of breaking. The blood horns shattered, the blood wolf was thrown back, reverting to human form. Blood trickled down his brow, his face pale as gold leaf, his breath faint as gossamer.

Such a terrifying strike had not shaken the spear, not even momentarily stopped it.

“Grandfather!” On the deck, Wei Chuan could not help but cry out, worry written all over his face, blood-red light swirling around him. Judging by his tone, the blood wolf warrior was his grandfather.

The other two also unleashed their powers and treasures, but to no avail. The Daoist master pressed his attack, the spear’s tip exuding chaotic energy, unstoppable.

The silver box thrown by Warman drifted, silver light flickering, while the black-gold armored man raced forward at full speed. Yet the divine spear was upon him, about to pierce his body.

Zhou Tian glanced at Tianling, then at Zhou Ying, then at the others nearby—all stared anxiously at the battle in the void, their very lives hanging in the balance.

All were on the verge of despair. The Daoist master was simply too terrifying.

Zhou Tian sighed. At the critical moment, it seems I must save the day.

“Stop!” A crisp voice rang out; all eyes turned to Zhou Tian. He stretched out his hand, palm aimed at the Daoist master in the void. The [Holy Word], empowered by countless brushes with death and guaranteed to hit, descended.

“Impossible!” The same thought flashed through everyone’s mind, but they could not help but wonder, “What if…”

An unbelievable scene unfolded in the void—the spear-wielding master froze for an instant in mid-strike. Though only for a heartbeat, it was enough.

“War Buddha!” In that fleeting moment, the black-gold armored man seized the silver box, channeled its unique energy, and the box flared with radiant light. An invisible shield blocked the oncoming divine spear.

“The Daoist master is still too strong,” Zhou Tian sighed. He had not expected the [Holy Word] to immobilize him for only a split second—he was somewhat disappointed.

Everyone looked at him with peculiar expressions. The exiled immortal, Nan Qing, and the other prodigies’ eyes blazed with divine light, arcane visions swirling. Hearing his remark, they were all speechless. What’s with that disappointed tone?

But what pleased Zhou Tian most was the look of admiration in Tianling’s eyes beside him. He pinched her delicate nose and laughed, “Well? Isn’t your fiancé impressive?”

The others awkwardly averted their gazes. We may marvel at your prowess, but we won’t stomach your public displays of affection!

In the void, a mechanical clatter resounded. Sheets of metal attached themselves to the black-gold armor. Though the silver box looked small, metal flowed from it in endless streams. In a flash, a towering figure—ten thousand feet tall—appeared, seated in the void, hands pressed together in prayer, emitting golden radiance. His face was serene, bald and gleaming, bearing nine rounded scars, and nine enormous orbs floated behind him like stars. Chants of myriad beings filled the air, as if the Buddha’s kingdom had descended upon the world.

All gazed in awe at the magnificent Buddha figure.

“Good heavens, are we reaching for the heavens themselves?” Zhou Tian, too, was stunned. It was entirely mechanical, which shocked him to his core.

The monks from Luotian Monastery nearly spat blood. Though it looked like the Buddha had descended, the Buddha figure was studded all over with rivets. What grudge do you bear against us? Were it not a matter of life and death, they would have smacked someone across the face with a shoe.

“Hm?!” The Daoist master turned his gaze toward Zhou Tian. Just now, an indescribable force had bound his movements.

Though his face was shrouded in chaotic mist, Zhou Tian could feel his gaze. Were it not for the ancient ship’s protective wards, that glare alone might have killed him outright.