Chapter 349: Nascent Holy Path, Long Time No See

"Resorting to slander when you can't win, is this the holy path you cultivate?"

Li Hao said coldly, his eyes fixed on Jueming. The other party was trying to ruin his reputation and damage his spiritual incense offerings.

If the Buddhist sect's face was to be saved, then someone else's face had to be lost. Many things in this world were like this, like the tilting of a balance scale.

However, his gaze shifted elsewhere, noticing something strange.

The power of incense offerings, which constantly drifted towards him, did not weaken as a result of Jueming's words. On the contrary, shortly after the other party finished speaking, it suddenly and rapidly increased.

The spiritual incense offerings lost from the previous few cities seemed to have largely returned.

This unexpected change surprised Li Hao, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

Neither he nor Jueming had anticipated that after Jueming revealed Li Hao's past, people would be more concerned with Li Hao's talent, finding it excessively monstrous.

Regardless of whether he cultivated demonic practices or his temperament, he was from the mortal realm, yet at this moment, he stood with his foot on the Buddha's Son, looking down upon the prodigies of this realm. Even a semi-saint was helpless against him. All of this was too unbelievable, inspiring awe and admiration.

"I am the Formless Buddha, without root, without form, without desire, without seeking. I use the Formless Buddha Heart to ferry the world through injustice and suppress all demons in this world. Since you are a demon, suppressing you is my path!"

Jueming said indifferently.

"If you are the Formless Buddha, why are Buddha and demon differentiated? All sentient beings are formless, and demons are also a form of sentient beings. A Buddha's heart can give rise to demons, and a demon's heart can also give rise to Buddhas. Reversal is the movement of the Dao. If you cannot even comprehend this, your holy path is nothing more than self-deception!"

Li Hao said sternly.

As soon as he finished speaking, his path of poetry and books actually received several thousand experience points.

Li Hao noticed this, but he was not in the mood to ponder it at the moment.

Jueming was slightly stunned by Li Hao's words. The phrase "reversal is the movement of the Dao" contained the will of the Great Dao, and even felt like a rudimentary form of a holy path.

His heart was filled with awe. The young man before him was monstrously talented beyond imagination, seemingly capable of stepping into the semi-saint realm at any moment and forging his own Great Dao!

In the Buddha Hall, the Sage of Literature's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected Li Hao to have such an understanding of the Great Dao. In this confrontation and dispute with a semi-saint, the young man seemed to become more courageous with each setback, showing signs of rapid transformation and growth.

However, it might just be the accumulation of the other party's foundation, simply being brought to the fore at this moment.

Regardless, he had already seen the shadow of a saint in Li Hao, a seed of the holy path sprouting.

This was also the significance of the prodigy battle. Many prodigies found their progress limited by secluded cultivation alone. Contending with others, on the other hand, could easily stimulate more potential and lead to rapid growth.

At this moment, as Li Hao and Jueming were in conversation, suddenly a compassionate and resonant Buddhist chant echoed above their heads:

"Amitābha, well done."

This single Buddhist invocation quieted the murmuring crowd.

Countless people looked up, gazing at the towering figure in the Buddha Hall, draped in a jeweled kasaya, seated on a lotus platform, surrounded by Buddhist light and rings of merit, as if embraced by the Great Dao.

"Jueming, this young benefactor is right. You have become attached to form."

The Buddha Honored One slowly spoke, not criticizing Li Hao, but addressing Jueming's problem instead.

Jueming was slightly taken aback, finding it hard to believe. However, a hint of shame quickly flashed across his face. He lowered his head, put his palms together, chanted a Buddhist invocation, and appeared to be listening devoutly.

"All phenomena arise solely from the mind's manifestation. The myriad dust particles of the world are formed by the mind."

"Sentient beings are in the sea of suffering, all bound by karma. All sentient beings have form, and all are also formless. Since I am a sentient being, all sentient beings are me, and I am all sentient beings. I am thus the Tathagata, and all sentient beings are also the Tathagata!"

The Buddha Honored One spoke softly, yet it was as if he was imparting the Dao. His voice reached the ears of everyone present, and through the realm stone projection, spread throughout the entire Canglan Realm.

In the void above the Buddha Hall, there seemed to be a vibration of the Great Dao, resonating with his voice.

Countless people felt a shock in their sea of consciousness, a feeling of both awe and trance, as if wisdom was dawning.

"The Buddha Honored One is imparting the Dao, expounding Buddhist Dharma!"

"All sentient beings are me? Does that mean everything in the world exists because of my mind? If the mind dies, the world will cease to exist?"

"The world is me, so competition and jealousy are meaningless. Gain and loss are all me."

Many people were comprehending, absorbing, and digesting, enlightened by the Buddhist wisdom opened up by this Dharma transmission.

Jueming's eyes were somewhat dazed. Previously, Li Hao's words had pierced into his holy path, almost planting a nail and a crack in his heart. But at this moment, in the Buddha Honored One's Dharma transmission, in his gentle and patient words, this crack was being smoothed over.

He also realized that he had indeed become attached to form.

Twin Buddha Sons, Buddha and demon in one body. Suppression was also inherently unity, which was a form. Where was there any distinction?

"One flower, one world; one Buddha, one Tathagata."

"All sentient beings are equal; good and evil are but a single thought."

The Buddha Honored One's gaze fell on Li Hao. He said softly, "Young benefactor, you are young and exceptionally talented, yet you have strayed onto the wrong path. Today, I permit you to convert to my Buddhist sect. I will help you purify your demonic nature until you transcend to the other shore."

Li Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, unaffected by the other party's Dharma transmission.

Although the transmission involved the manifestation of the Great Dao and the resonance of heaven and earth, making it extremely easy to be influenced, only those who had also cultivated a holy path could maintain their clarity.

Li Hao, although not having a holy path, had forged his own will with supreme Dao intent when severing his bloodline at the bottom of the abyss, perceiving his true self. Therefore, under the Buddha Honored One's Dharma transmission, his thoughts remained true to himself.

"Buddha and demon, how are they defined?"

Li Hao looked up and said directly to the Buddha Honored One.

Hearing this, the crowd below was stunned, watching him in shock.

At this moment, they were all influenced by the Buddha Honored One's Dharma transmission, feeling a sense of devotion and enlightenment. Yet, the young man was questioning the Buddha Honored One. Such an attitude was only seen during rare saintly Dao debates.

And during saintly Dao debates, the clashes were extremely intense, bordering on life and death. If it was just a shallow discussion of a certain viewpoint, it wouldn't greatly affect either side, serving more as mutual probing.

However, if it was a debate on the other party's holy path foundation, once defeated, their holy path would collapse, their cultivation would plummet, and their spiritual incense offerings would vanish, returning them from sainthood to Daoist cultivation. One could imagine how tragic that would be.

Hearing Li Hao's question, the Buddha Honored One's expression remained compassionate and gentle, impossible to fathom his emotions:

"The Yogācārabhūmi-Śāstra states that there are four kinds of demons: first, the Skandha Demon; second, the Klesha Demon; third, the Death Demon; fourth, the Heavenly Demon."

"The so-called Skandha Demon refers to the five aggregates: form, sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness, which is our body and mind."

"The Klesha Demon is all worldly afflictions, desires, lusts, and even absence of thought, all involve afflictions."

The Buddha Honored One said softly, "Demons reside in the hearts of sentient beings. When mental demons arise, they will cause arson, murder, robbery, and chaos in the world, no different from evil demons."

"The demonic path is also like this, seeking quick success and instant benefits, unscrupulously. In the end, it will inevitably suffer backlash."

"Cultivating in favorable circumstances will never lead to Buddhahood!"

"Severing all thoughts, seeing through the sea of suffering, only then can one transcend and become a Buddha. This is the distinction between Buddha and demon."

He was both answering Li Hao and transmitting the Dharma, universally delivering Buddhist teachings to the people of the Canglan Realm.

Li Hao's thoughts surged. At this moment, he didn't care about being used by the other party as a tool to promote Buddhist Dharma. He said:

"If that's the case, all sentient beings are demons, and even in the hearts of Buddhas, there are demons yet to be vanquished. I fear that the billions of disciples of the Buddhist sect are also on the path of vanquishing demons."

The Buddha Honored One smiled slightly, "Vanquishing mental demons is a lifelong path of cultivation. But they are mental demons within their hearts, while benefactor, you have been too deeply influenced by the demonic path, completely fallen."

Li Hao sneered inwardly. How he absorbed the resentment of slaughter was something this Buddha Honored One surely knew better than anyone, yet he still insisted on saying this, causing the last bit of respect in Li Hao's heart to vanish.

Knowing that the other party was fabricating, he would be even less affected by this Dharma transmission.

"Buddha often says that all sentient beings are equal, but in my view, sentient beings have never been equal!"

Li Hao's eyes were cold and sharp. He said, "The three teachings and nine streams, kings and generals, compared to commoners and beggars, can they be equal?"

"A Number One Scholar and a licentiate, can their status be equal?"

"Dragon race demons and flower and grass spirits, can their strength be equal?"

"The sun and the moon, can their brilliance be equal?"

"Some are born with exquisite beauty, loved by the world. Some are born ugly, scorned and despised. Where is the equality in this?"

The Buddha Honored One smiled slightly. Even semi-saints of the Buddhist sect could answer such questions for Li Hao.

"All because mental demons are causing trouble, making you perceive inequality."

The Buddha Honored One said, "Kings and generals, they all face death, no different from commoners and beggars. A Number One Scholar and a licentiate are both scholars. It is merely the hierarchy of fame and wealth that leads to greed, envy, and the tendency to climb high and step low. Dragon race demons and flowers and trees, they all have spirituality, all can cultivate, what difference is there?"

"The sun and the moon shine together. If there were no moon, who would know the brilliance of the great sun?"

"Beauty and ugliness are all just outer appearances. Your words are also attached to form."

Li Hao laughed, "You are evading the important points. If beauty and ugliness are both just outer appearances, why does the Buddhist sect gild their statues with gold?"

"Kings and generals and commoners all face death, but their lives are worlds apart!"

"Some are born with great strength, some are born weak and sickly. You say equality, where is the equality?"

The Buddha Honored One said indifferently, "What benefactor says is all influenced by greed, hatred, ignorance, and desire. When you let go of all attachments, you will naturally see that everything is in its original state. The original state is the mind. Those born with great strength may be timid, while those with weak bodies may have resilient hearts."

Li Hao said, "Is that so? If that's the case, timidity and resilience are also different. Where is the equality?"

"You attribute everything to mental demons and desires, but things in the world inherently have differences. There are thousands of kinds of flowers, each with its own beauty. In early spring, you cannot see winter plums, and in winter snow, you cannot see new bamboo shoots."

"Since they are not the same, how can they be equal?"

The Buddha Honored One frowned slightly. Li Hao's previous words were just the discontent of a mortal heart, but now Li Hao's words contained some profound principle.

Especially the sentence "Since they are not the same, how can they be equal?" It bypassed the level of greed, hatred, and ignorance, and directly reached the core.

"The world is a sea of suffering. All suffering arises because one has not transcended to the other shore. Standing in the sea of suffering, naturally life feels bitter. If you stand on the shore, you will know that the floating and sinking in the sea of suffering is the form of sentient beings," the Buddha Honored One said.

Li Hao shook his head and said:

"The world is indeed a sea of suffering, but some are drowning and struggling in the sea of suffering, while others build large boats in the sea of suffering to leisurely play and drift along. The flowers on the other shore may be beautiful, but those sitting on the boats may not be willing to go ashore to pick them."

"The world is inherently unequal. Eagles and sparrows are born as predator and prey."

"Local gentry and wealthy families, preying on common people, are also like this."

"But eagles have the sharp talons of eagles, the wealthy have the means of the wealthy, and royal power has the power of royal power."

"If you want equality, you can only pluck the talons of the eagle and break the fangs of the hunting dog. Otherwise, how can you make them as docile as rabbits? It's like wanting everyone to eliminate mental demons, for the powerful to lower their eyes, to regard themselves as ordinary people, for commoners to also worship Buddha. In the world of Buddha, there is no power or class, but paradoxically, there is still the distinction between Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Buddhas."

"When your disciples see you, how can they not bow down?!"

Hearing the back-and-forth dialogue between the two, countless people were stunned, feeling bewildered.

The Buddha Honored One's words resonated with the Great Dao, and they understood them very well. But Li Hao's words seemed somewhat obscure, confusing them, yet they faintly felt that there was some profound truth in them.

The Sage of Literature smiled, his eyes showing appreciation.

He was the Sage of Literature, naturally not believing in Buddhism. All the saints of the heavens only regarded their own holy path as the supreme Great Dao. What they cultivated throughout their lives was to complete this path.

To put it bluntly, in their eyes, everyone else's Dao except their own was worthless.

But the problem was, all saints thought this way.

At this moment, Li Hao's denial of the Buddhist Dao in his words was also what the Sage of Literature thought in his heart, so he nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Past lives and present lives are all destiny. Young benefactor, you only see this life, unaware that all things have karma. Everything is destiny. The eagle in this life may have been a sparrow in the previous life. This life is to repay karmic debts. The royal power in this life may have been a beggar in the previous life. Gain and loss are determined by heaven," the Buddha Honored One said.

This was also another part of the Buddhist Dao's construction to complete the holy path: karma, destiny, and reincarnation.

Only in this way could the claim of equality for all sentient beings be completed.

Hearing this, Li Hao smiled lightly. He knew that Buddhism had the concept of past, future, and present.

"I only cultivate this life, not past lives, nor do I discuss the past. Living in this moment, I only know that this moment is me!"

Li Hao said, "Moreover, you say it's past life destiny, with karma. Then karma is not all the same. Your words are also equivalent to admitting that eagles and sparrows have a distinction in status, only the karma of past and future lives is used as compensation and transformation. If only this life is considered, then there are myriad forms!"

"A grain of sand, a Buddha land. You only see one flower, but not the whole leaf."

The Buddha Honored One said calmly.

"I only know that although the world is unequal, I still love it."

Li Hao stared at him, saying word by word:

"Everything is flawed, why must it be perfect!"

"I know that flowers and trees are inferior to dragon beasts and flying birds. I will not say that flowers and trees can compare to them, but I still love them."

"I know that commoners and beggars are not as wealthy as local gentry, but I am still willing to discuss the Dao and converse with them, drink wine and paint."

"I know that the moon's brilliance will never match the great sun, but I marvel at the moon's purity."

"All things are unequal in status, but it is precisely because of this that they are brilliant and wonderful. I will appreciate the power of dragon demons, the beauty of flowers and plants, the delicacy of flowing water, and the scenery of high mountains!"

"All things have status, and it is precisely because of this that I love them!"

His words resounded, and there seemed to be a faint Dao hum in the heavens and earth.

Around Li Hao, there was also a faint Great Dao resonance, like thunder.

Countless people who heard Li Hao's words felt a sense of trance and shock.

On the platform, the young man stood with his foot on the Buddha's Son, debating Dao with the Buddha Honored One, his figure towering, exuding boundless and righteous aura.

This scene was deeply imprinted in the hearts of countless people.

Moreover, with the low, rumbling Great Dao resonance, they also seemed to comprehend Li Hao's Dao intent.

The sun and moon, cloudy and clear, all things are flawed, but all things also have their own strengths.

Those born with great strength surpass ordinary people, and that is their advantage.

If there was equality, it would be equivalent to pulling out their claws and fangs. If everyone was equal, then everyone would be mediocre.

This concept contradicted the Buddhist Dao. The Buddha Honored One's previous words were that all sentient beings are formless, all sentient beings are me, and I am all sentient beings.

But Li Hao's Dao intent was that sentient beings are sentient beings, and I am just a part of sentient beings. Everything in the world is also just a part of sentient beings.

Shine in your own brilliance, no need to compete for glory, let each shine in their own way.

Compared to the Buddhist Dao, many people suddenly felt a yearning and love for Li Hao's Dao intent.

When the Buddha Honored One heard the Great Dao thunder sound appearing around Li Hao, the compassion and smile in his eyes suddenly slightly receded. This meant that Li Hao's words were not nonsense, but had been recognized by heaven and earth, and were condensing into a nascent holy path.

There was a Thunder Sound Pagoda in the Buddhist holy land, named after the Great Dao thunder sound, which was a necessary step to enter the semi-saint realm.

"He actually already has his own Dao intent, and is about to condense a nascent holy path!"

"The Buddhist sect's 'All is me,' and his is 'Unique self.' I wonder what kind of Dao it will be if the holy path is condensed?"

"Debating Dharma with a saint, proving the Great Dao thunder sound, this is too exaggerated! What kind of unparalleled monstrous talent is this!"

Countless people were speechless with shock at this scene.

This scene, it seemed that even the scene of heavens vying for supremacy in the Supreme Celestial Prodigy Battle might not compare.

Unimaginable, if this young man were to participate in that battle for supremacy among the heavens, how magnificent it would be.

In the Buddha Hall, the Sword Sage's expression was slightly solemn. He cultivated the Way of the Sword of All Beings, and Li Hao's words that triggered the Great Dao thunder sound seemed to add a touch of inspiration to his own sword path.

In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land in the distance, by the sword cliff behind the Sword Tower, the Sword Master in light silver clothing sat there, not fishing.

At this moment, he seemed to hear something, and a faint smile curved up the corner of his mouth.

The quota battle was being held in the Buddhist Holy Land, and the Buddhist Holy Land had also relaxed the restrictions of the law for this purpose. His exploration was naturally not considered an offense.

"This kid, he really surprises me."

The Sword Master smiled in his eyes, recalling the days he spent with that little fellow. Qiu Wuhen came here to comprehend the sword path through fishing. Was this kid accompanying him all day to comprehend the holy path?

But thinking of the excited expression on the other party's face when he hooked a fish, he secretly shook his head in denial.

However, with such a temperament, it seemed unintentionally, he had allowed him to comprehend such a holy path.

"Junior Brother, this child's words should be able to take your sword path to a higher level…"

The Sword Master floated towards the distance, his eyes slightly narrowed, a sharp sword intent flashing across them.

Unlike the Sword Sage's Way of the Sword of All Beings, what he cultivated was the Way of the Sword of Heaven and Earth.

Establish the sword with heaven and earth, unaffected by all things.

"No wonder he was assassinated under the tutelage of the Supreme Sage. This talent, once turned into an enemy, is indeed frightening…"

The Sword Master muttered to himself, suddenly slowly standing up, slightly raising his hand, and a spirit essence similar in shape to the Sword Tower projected from the Sword Tower and flew out.

This spirit essence was like a phantom, moving out from inside the Sword Tower, then suddenly contracted, transforming into a spirit essence-like long sword.

At the same time.

In the Buddhist Holy Land, Li Hao, hearing the Great Dao thunder sound ringing around him, was somewhat stunned, and then from the thunder sound, he seemed to sense some vast Dao intent.

It was a kind of sense of recognition, giving him a feeling of firm belief.

"Can my idle thoughts also become a holy path?"

Li Hao was stunned, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

It was not that he was being self-deprecating, but that holy paths were all Great Daos that shook the ages. Although Li Hao did not like Buddhism, he also knew that countless people in confusion found liberation in Buddhism.

Any holy path had a profound impact on the world, like the Sword Sage, the ultimate in sword path, the towering mountain at the peak of the world's sword cultivators.

The Sage of Literature was taking reading and cultivation to the extreme, and so was the Buddhist Dao.

Although there were differences in strength, each had their own lineage of influence.

And himself, with an idle heart wandering the world, never regarding himself too highly, but not self-deprecating either, he just didn't expect that besides the panel enhancement, his intent could also be recognized by heaven and earth.

Of the myriad Daos in the world, each has its wonder.

Li Hao's mind comprehended, feeling a sense of enlightenment.

At this moment, there seemed to be a faint force condensing in his body, which was the nascent holy path.

Once truly formed, he could step into the semi-saint realm, transcending the limitations of Daoist cultivation, using the holy path as a bridge to build a channel with heaven and earth, drawing in the power of heaven and earth.

This feeling was similar to becoming a celestial, but there was a difference. Becoming a celestial was to integrate oneself into it, while this was to build a bridge to connect.

Li Hao suddenly felt that some extreme realms were similar to certain realms later on. If one could open up an extreme realm, it would be equivalent to mastering some of the abilities of a certain realm in advance!

For example, the Netherworld Return instant teleportation was only a fifteen-mile extreme realm, but if mastered in the fifteen-mile realm, its terrifying instant teleportation completely surpassed the Dao rhyme instant teleportation of the Four Establishments Realm!

And becoming a celestial, drawing in the power of heaven and earth, seemed similar to a saint building a bridge, borrowing power from heaven and earth!

It was just that one's own will was limited. Although merging with heaven and earth, the power that could be borrowed was limited, unless one completely reached the ultimate realm, Celestial Venerable.

Only then could one command heaven and earth, mobilizing all laws and powers in the world with unimaginable great power.

And using the holy path to build a bridge, borrowing power, as long as the holy path was stable, the power would be endless, so one could freely project into the heavens, and transform bodies at will with a thought.

Li Hao's eyes were slightly in a daze, his thoughts extending in countless directions in an instant, but soon, he was shaken back to his senses by a Buddhist invocation resounding in his sea of consciousness, disrupting many thoughts, and he also came back to his senses.

Looking up, he saw the Buddha Honored One with a compassionate expression, softly chanting Buddhist words:

"Young benefactor, your demonic thoughts are deep, triggering the Great Dao thunder sound, forming your own Dao intent. If you continue to delve deeper, the world will gain another Demon Lord!"

His whole body bloomed with Buddhist light, and the halo of merit behind his head became even more dazzling:

"I have a Buddhist Dharma, the Eight Heavenly Dragons. If you can subdue them all, you can eliminate karmic obstacles, cultivate to the right fruit, and your cultivation will surely reach a higher level!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, and eight dazzling light shadows suddenly flew out from the sleeve of his kasaya, each with a different posture, exuding pure Buddhist light.

"Using the mind to prove the Dao, young benefactor, see how your mind-Dao fares?"

The Buddha Honored One smiled, these words seeming to assist Li Hao.

But Li Hao felt a terrifying threat from the eight light shadows, and his expression changed drastically, saying:

"You, a dignified Buddha Honored Saint, are going to attack me?"

"Young benefactor, this Buddhist Dharma only discusses Dao, not power. You need not worry. Even if you fail, I will use Mahayana Buddhism to enlighten you and eliminate your karmic obstacles."

The Buddha Honored One smiled slightly.

These words left many people bewildered, but seeing the Buddha Honored One's compassionate appearance, coupled with the Buddha Honored One's compassionate and tolerant deeds of saving the world, cutting flesh to feed eagles, and feeding demons with his own body, they all felt that the Buddha Honored One should be helping Li Hao.

Li Hao was shocked and angry. This was to destroy his Dao heart, to suppress his nascent holy path!

"I walk my path, you cultivate your Buddha. Why must we distinguish between righteous and demonic?"

"If there is Buddha, then there is demon. If Buddha is called demon, then what should demon be called?!"

Li Hao roared to the sky, letting out a furious roar. The seed of his holy path had just sprouted, yet it was to be cut off. Although such methods would not kill him, they were even crueler than destroying spiritual incense offerings.

"Young benefactor, if you have truly cultivated the Great Dao, my Buddhist Dharma will have no effect on you."

The Buddha Honored One said.

Li Hao naturally didn't believe this, but the Buddha Honored One's words were obviously also meant for the sentient beings of the Canglan Realm to hear.

Many Buddhist disciples below chanted in unison, shouting praises for the Buddha Honored One's compassion.

Jueming coldly watched Li Hao, knowing that this rising star was about to fall. Demonic form or Buddha form, both were formless. Since they were formless, their fall was not worth pitying.

Li Hao stared at the Buddha Honored One, gritting his teeth. If it weren't for the fact that all eyes were on them at this moment, the Buddha Honored One would probably do more than just destroy his holy path.

Since he couldn't escape, rather than living on his knees, he would rather die standing.

Moreover, he still had divine blood left. Losing his life was unlikely, it was just a fight for a Dao fruit!

Whoosh!

The eight light shadows suddenly rushed towards Li Hao, carrying a vast aura. Buddhist light rendered lotus platforms and flowers, causing lotuses to bloom in the void.

Li Hao roared, and his whole body manifested extreme realms, but the eight light shadows seemed to transcend the level of power, being the origin of the holy path. Only a holy path could contend with them. Such methods could even be considered serious!

When the Sage of Literature and the Sword Sage saw this, they frowned slightly, but neither spoke. Since Li Hao had such talent and a powerful sect behind him, if he were truly frustrated in the Buddhist sect, it would only benefit their two families.

"Pity…"

Regret showed in the Sage of Literature's eyes. Not a disciple of his holy land, though he cherished talent, a saint would not stand under a dangerous wall, and would not interfere in unnecessary matters, otherwise, it would be difficult to cultivate a holy path.

There were too many injustices in the world. If one interfered in everything, one would have long since fallen halfway.

"Hahaha…"

Just as the eight light shadows converged, transforming into a heaven-reaching Buddha palm about to suppress down, suddenly, a loud burst of laughter resounded through heaven and earth.

The laughter came from afar and grew louder, whistling closer. Immediately afterward, an eye-piercing, dazzling, and terrifying white lightning appeared, tearing apart the Buddha palm.

Lightning bolts like snakes darted across the heavens and earth, and the wind and clouds suddenly changed.

At the same time, a figure in a green robe walked from the distant void, walking slowly, in a leisurely manner, but with each step, he crossed layers of space, and in a blink of an eye, arrived at the Buddhist Holy Mountain, above the Buddha Hall, standing in opposition to the three saints.

A head of ashen-gray long hair fluttered, clad in a green robe, swaying in the wind. On the hair bun on top of his head was an ordinary wooden hairpin, and he wore a smile.

With his hands behind his back, he calmly stared directly at the Buddha Honored One, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Then, he lowered his head, looked at the young man on the battle platform whose expression had changed from shock and anger to bewilderment, and grinned, revealing his teeth, saying:

"Little brat, long time no see."

The familiar voice, the familiar words, gave Li Hao a feeling of being lost in thought.

The blood in his whole body seemed to surge, becoming boiling, his heart becoming excited.

That appearance was too familiar to him. Although there was some difference in temperament from before, more ethereal and otherworldly, Li Hao would never mistake it, nor would he misidentify him. He was… Old Feng!

The Sage of Thieves, Feng Boping!

Li Hao's heart was shaken, never expecting to see Old Feng here.

Previously, when he went to the River of Demise, he released Old Feng's soul thought. His lost body was in the Heavenly Gate Pass. When he went to look for him again, Qianqian told him that the other party had already left, waiting for him in the Land of Saints.

Unexpectedly, before Li Hao had time to look for him, the other party had found him, and they would meet here!

"Who is this person?"

"A saint, it's a saint!"

"Auspicious omens abound, the Great Dao surrounds him, who is this saint?"

Many people who saw this scene were stunned, watching Feng Boping in shock.

The Sage of Literature and the Sword Sage immediately recognized him. It was actually the Sage of Thieves!

More than ten years ago, it was heard that this Sage of Thieves had stepped into the Three Disasters Saint realm in one fell swoop, passing through the heavenly tribulation, and the way he passed the tribulation was extremely exaggerated. Most saints resisted the heavenly tribulation, but he actually stole the power of the heavenly tribulation, using the heavenly tribulation to fight against the heavenly tribulation!

The dazzling power of tribulation lightning just now was his means.

The heavenly tribulation of a saint had become his method of attack, quite terrifying!

Could it be that the other party's sect… The Sage of Literature's heart stirred slightly, his eyes flickering. He had long expected that there must be a big figure behind such a prodigy, but he hadn't expected it to be this saint.

In the distant Sword Ancestor Holy Land, the figure standing by the sword cliff, holding the Sword Tower weapon spirit, slightly focused his eyes, then smiled indifferently, and the sword spirit in his hand dissipated, returning to the Sword Tower.

He didn't say anything, then sat down leisurely again, took out his wine gourd, and took a sip.

But in the Buddhist Holy Land, it was now in an uproar of shock and clamor. Unexpectedly, another saint had come here, and even taken action for Li Hao, shattering the Buddhist light.

The smile on the Buddha Honored One's face disappeared, and he stared intently at Feng Boping. Both were saints who had passed through the Three Disasters. If they really fought, victory or defeat would be hard to tell.

Beside the Sword Sage, Bian Ruxue's mind was buzzing. Since her enlightenment of the Broken Heart, the various changes before her eyes exceeded her expectations.

The childhood figure that lingered in her memory in the mortal realm was actually right before her eyes.

Not long ago, the other party had even come to her Saintess Peak to give her pills.

Was he really Li Hao?

But why hadn't he recognized her?

Was it that he hadn't recognized her, or… was he unwilling to recognize her?

She felt her Dao heart trembling. It was clear that she had severed everything, yet the other party suddenly appeared, right before her eyes, even more dazzling and more amazing a hundred times than she had seen in her childhood.

Standing with his foot on the Buddha's Son, defeating a semi-saint with one sword. She had seen the rudimentary form of the ultimate sword she was pursuing in Li Hao.

Wasn't he not cultivating the sword path? Didn't he never like practicing swords? Why… could it be that he was pursuing her and came here?

Many thoughts revolved in her mind, and her Dao heart, which had been frozen and shattered, faintly showed cracks.

The Sword Sage seemed to notice the great waves of Dao rhyme around Bian Ruxue, somewhat surprised, and deeply fixed his gaze on her.

Bian Ruxue realized that her Dao heart was cracking, and was instantly startled and turned back, her expression slightly changed, just quietly staring at Li Hao.

"Old Feng!"

At this moment, Li Hao shouted excitedly.

Feng Boping chuckled, but there was also some excitement in his eyes. As a saint, being able to smile so brightly was already an extremely outward display of emotion.

He laughed loudly, "I knew that with your talent, you would inevitably come to the Land of Saints. I was even thinking of sending someone to meet you after I passed the tribulation, but ten years ago, I heard the news of your fall. That despicable False Saint, using a saint to launch a sneak attack on a Daoist cultivation realm, he is simply unworthy to be called a saint!"

As he spoke, he smiled at Li Hao, "It's good that you're not dead, it's good that you're not dead. I knew you had a big life, you little brat, unloved by father and mother, but destined to live long!"

Hearing this, Li Hao was both happy and excited, but also somewhat helpless, unwilling to mention the past, and curiously asked:

"Then how did you find me?"

"I thought you were dead, and searched for the place where the False Saint chased and killed you, but the other party killed you in the void. He was proficient in this Dao and concealed the traces, making it impossible to trace. My appearance here is mainly because the debt in the mortal realm has not been settled with them yet!"

When Feng Boping said this, a hint of coldness also appeared in the depths of his eyes.

Although it was through the Buddha Master's hand that his incarnation had the opportunity to enter the River of Demise, which led to Li Hao also entering the River of Demise, allowing him to steal a true heart and transcend, passing through the Three Disasters.

But he would not be grateful to the other party because of this, otherwise, how could he be worthy of Li Hao's true heart that sacrificed his life for him!

When Li Hao heard him mention the affairs of the mortal realm, he then thought of the Twin Buddha Sons he was stepping on, and understood in his heart.

Old Feng was still the same Old Feng, always repaying grudges.

The Buddha Master had caught Feng Boping in Mount Boundless, wanting to ruin him. Now, he was being attacked by the Buddha Honored One in the Land of Saints, but Old Feng's true body had come to rescue him.

Everything seemed like destiny, karma in order.

Just now, the Buddha Honored One kept talking about karma, karma. Now, when the cause arose, the effect arrived, but the result was not as the other party wished, and it was unknown whether it was a kind of irony.

Li Hao laughed, "Old Feng came really timely, otherwise, I would have suffered a great loss today!"

Feng Boping smiled, "Weren't you fearless before, little brat? Now you also know you're about to suffer a great loss!"

These words were reproachful, but revealed indulgence and affection.

Then he said, "But it's not that I came in time, it's that my incarnation has been here, waiting for an opportunity. It's just that this Canglan Realm prodigy battle, the Buddhist sect's laws are temporarily lifted, and my intent can also explore the situation here, but I'm not interested in the battles of these juniors, and I was about to doze off. Thanks to that Buddha fatty mentioning your name and origin, which woke me up."

Hearing this, Li Hao then understood, not a coincidence, but really karma.

The Twin Buddha Sons' incarnation was the Buddha Master's doing, and Feng Boping's true body had probably already investigated it. After all, it was so dazzling, and also Buddha and demon twins, it was hard not to make people suspicious and associate them.

And having explored the other party's situation, Feng Boping had been keeping watch here, waiting for a flaw, but unexpectedly, he had encountered him by chance because of this.

Although Old Feng spoke casually, Li Hao could feel the sincerity inside. Junior battles, with no viewing interest, only because his name was heard in the clamorous crowd, did it wake him up.

Everyone present, listening to the question-and-answer between the old and young, was stunned. Anyone could see that these two did not seem to be in a master-disciple relationship, but rather close friends.

Just a Daoist cultivation realm, yet friends with a saint?

The reunion and conversation between the two seemed to have isolated everyone else, but Feng Boping's words made the Buddha Honored One's face darken.

He didn't even know that the other party had an incarnation waiting here all along. Fortunately, the Twin Buddha Sons had always been in secluded cultivation on the Holy Mountain, and hadn't gone down the mountain much, otherwise, the other party would have caught an opportunity.

Not only was he secretly afraid, but other Buddhist disciples were also stunned, not expecting their sect to be targeted by a saint, suddenly feeling a sense of being stalked by a tiger.

"Words of old times, we'll talk about them later. I didn't expect that today, this bald old brat would try to bully you again. It seems this grudge is unavoidable!"

Feng Boping smiled heartily at Li Hao, then looked up, his expression swiftly turning cold, staring at the other party.

The Buddha Honored One also looked calm, gazing at Feng Boping. Both were saints who had passed through the Three Disasters. If they really measured up, victory or defeat would be hard to tell.

"Buddha says…"

Just as the Buddha Honored One was about to speak, Feng Boping suddenly shouted loudly, "Screw you!"

The Sage of Literature spoke eloquently, but Feng Boping's words were vulgar. When these words were spoken, countless people were stunned, not expecting that saints would also swear like mortals.

As the words fell, Feng Boping raised his palm, and intense heavenly tribulation light appeared in his palm, transforming into a thunder spear and shooting towards the other party.

The Buddha Honored One's expression slightly changed, and he quickly raised his hand, Buddhist light blooming from his palm, and true words manifested. What he cultivated was the Path of Equality in Thousands of Lifetimes, and even when facing the attack of a Supreme Saint, he could greatly reduce it, regarding it as "equal."

And under this equal holy path, he could measure and suppress with Buddhist Dharma, and his combat power was top-tier among those in the same realm.

As the true words manifested, the holy path revolved, and the heavenly tribulation light actually dissipated. This was the same as the tribulation light he had passed through back then, but if he could pass it then, he could still pass it now.

But Feng Boping didn't stop. Heavenly tribulation light was released, and he suddenly raised his hand, and the Way of Stealing Heaven operated. All Daos in the world could be taken and used. The Buddha Honored One's Equal Holy Path was also stolen by him, and then used to counter him.

In an instant, the void shook, and golden wheels appeared around the Buddha Honored One's lotus platform, and the surrounding Great Dao dispersed, clashing with Feng Boping.

This scene left countless people watching in shock and bewilderment.

They originally thought that the quota battle was fierce enough, but it had actually triggered a saintly war.

At this moment, through the realm stone projection, countless people in the Canglan Realm saw this saintly confrontation, rare in thousands of years.

(End of Chapter)