Chapter 176: Chapter 173: Safely Escape from Mount Meru Chapter 176: Chapter 173: Safely Escape from Mount Meru The story tells of how Donghuang Taiyi battled Mahavairocana at Mount Meru, each deploying their strategies. Taiyi, wielding the Eastern Emperor Bell, broke through Mahavairocana’s defenses, then summoned the Red Twilight Sword, transforming it into a Divine Dragon and charging forward.

In the magic combat between Taiyi and Mahavairocana, Taiyi clearly had more battle experience, and while their mana was closely matched, his Magical Treasures were formidable. Lacking Primordial Magical Treasures like the Eastern Emperor Bell to counteract, even the Green Lotus Treasure Color Flag paled in comparison.

Mahavairocana’s complexion drastically changed as the Eastern Emperor Bell firmly suppressed the Green Lotus Treasure Color Flag. With the bell oppressing the universe, he found it incredibly hard to move; such a magical treasure was indeed terrifying.

“Bang!”

The Red Twilight Sword struck Mahavairocana’s chest, mashing his flesh and causing a rain of blood to fly, hurling him backwards. He quickly formed a Dharma Seal, falling back onto a lotus platform that caught him just before hitting the ground. With one blow, Taiyi had reverted Mahavairocana to his original form, yet he remained thousands of feet tall, gripping the Eastern Emperor Bell and smashing it down fiercely!

Mahavairocana touched his brow and then revealed his Three Flowers and Five Qi, which ascended and arranged themselves in the void. Each flower harbored a Dharma Body that chanted scriptures, and the Five Qi streamed with countless Esoteric Buddhist scriptures.

Taiyi was already bringing the bell down when Mahavairocana pointed a finger and his Three Flowers and Five Qi instantly propped up the Eastern Emperor Bell, preventing it from falling.

“Dang!”

The sound of the bell rang out, crisp and clear, resembling an ancient temple’s solemn bell, evoking a feeling of tranquility, decay, and peace. Mahavairocana instantly felt his Primordial Spirit’s power seeping away. In that moment, Taiyi had manipulated time, twisting it to corrode Mahavairocana’s Primordial Spirit’s power. Mahavairocana uttered a Dharma Spell and the light halos behind his head shone brightly, just managing to withstand the bell’s sound.

“Dang!”

The bell rang again, this second sound as crisp as if coming from a distant mountain temple across the river.

This time, the power threw Yin and Yang into disarray, making Mahavairocana feel as though heaven and earth were inverted and his internal energy scrambled. What was once Pure Yang was about to turn into Yin energy.

Once one reached the level of a Golden Immortal, one would cultivate into Pure Yang. Inverting Yin and Yang meant transforming the Primordial Spirit into Yin, which represented death!

Although it is said that solitary Yang does not endure, and solitary Yin does not give birth, immortals are not to be assessed by mortal concepts—only by eliminating Yin can they achieve immortality.

This time, it was truly challenging for Mahavairocana to regain his composure. The power of the Eastern Emperor Bell was indeed terrifying. Deservedly a high-ranking Innate Level Magical Treasure, it even surpassed the prowess of Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch’s Pangu Banner.

The Five Great Wisdom Kings quickly chanted spells, striking against the force of the inverted Yin and Yang, managing to hold their ground and not be subdued—otherwise, Mahavairocana would likely have become a dead corpse.

Taiyi, still grasping the great bell, was about to shake it again, but Mahavairocana declared, “Demon Emperor, let us stop at this point!”

Taiyi paused, placing down the great bell, which shrunk to human size, and said, “Per your words, let us stop here.”

Another blow might have killed Mahavairocana. The profound mana of Donghuang Taiyi was astounding, and with such a potent magical treasure, he was truly no ordinary foe. Mahavairocana thought to himself that, to counter Taiyi, he might need another assistant and a formidable magical treasure, or perhaps challenge him in his own domain at Vedha Continent.

Mahavairocana said, “Indeed, your cultivation and mana are highly admirable, Demon Emperor. Please feel free to proceed!”

Having won against Mahavairocana, and with a prior agreement that if Taiyi won, he could take them away, Tathagata naturally wouldn’t go back on his word and embarrass himself.

Taiyi laughed, “Then I thank the Buddha Ancestor for opening the door of convenience, ha ha!”

Seeing that Mahavairocana was no match for Taiyi, Tathagata also had no choice. Unless it was a critical moment, there were certain powers he was reluctant to use. Taiyi’s mana was too formidable and, holding the Eastern Emperor Bell, too difficult to contend with.

Tathagata said, “Demon Emperor, please be at ease, but ensure you control your Little Demons well, and do not let them cause further disturbance at Mount Meru, or else next time, the resolution won’t be so easy.”

Taiyi responded, “Ha ha, ha ha! The unknowing are not guilty, but now that I am aware, I will certainly keep them in check and ensure they do not disturb the peace of the Buddhist sect again.”

Tathagata gave a slight nod and then commanded, “Medicine Buddha, withdraw your Divine Skills.”

The Lapis Lazuli Light Medicine Buddha then took two thousand Medicine Forks back into the Buddha Kingdom within his palm, and also retrieved two Sharira and a Command Flag from the void.

Tathagata ordered a group of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to return to Da Xiong Palace to continue their scriptures, paying no further heed to Taiyi, Kunpeng, Flower-Fruit Mountain, or other Demon Kings.

Although Mahavairocana and the Acala did not return to Vedha Continent but went into Da Xiong Palace instead. After Tathagata finished his sermons, the two of them lectured on a volume of Esoteric Buddhist Law. Despite differences with the Prominent Sect, at such a level of cultivation, any insights could serve as reference.

Kunpeng heaved a sigh of relief, saying, “Great Peng, you were too reckless this time. If it weren’t for me and Taiyi arriving in time, you and your brothers would have likely lost your lives at Mount Meru.”

Peng Demon King was highly dejected and almost caused his brothers’ deaths; he nodded and said, “Master… I acknowledge my mistake. I definitely won’t be so reckless next time.”

Taiyi said, “Let’s go, do not linger at Mount Meru any longer to avoid unexpected troubles.”

Several people rode the clouds together and left Mount Meru, heading towards Dongsheng Immortal State.

Taiyi and Kunpeng rode the Nine Dragons War Chariot together, sharing a deep friendship. It was Taiyi who had personally gone to Beiming to invite Kunpeng to teach the Ten Thousand Demons, which earned Kunpeng the prestigious title of Demon Teacher. However, after being injured by the Twelve Witch Gods, Kunpeng had retreated in dismay. Subsequently, Taiyi was also defeated in the battle against the Witches and Goblins, and the Ancient Heavenly Court had faded away. Many powerful beings met their doom, but no one expected that Taiyi had survived.

“Master, my brother, he…” Peng Demon King said.

“The scriptures being spread by Tathagata now are not the original Buddhist canonical texts; they have been altered. If he truly gains control of the destiny of The Eastern Land, everyone will turn into fanatical followers, and the destiny of Southern Toad Continent will be utterly destroyed as well. Tathagata is brewing a grand scheme, and the Daoist sect is currently waiting for some people to return. Moreover, a great calamity is about to descend upon the world again, so for now, there will not be a direct confrontation with the Buddhist sect,” Kunpeng said calmly.

“Kong Xuan did not die in the battle during the Middle Ancient Times, followed Zhunti back to the Four Great Continents, but Tathagata had somehow subdued The Two Saints of the West, and through secret techniques, forcibly converted Kong Xuan into his enforcer. For so long, overtly and covertly, Kong Xuan has killed countless enemies of Tathagata,” Kunpeng added.

Peng Demon King said agonizingly, “Then how should I save my brother?”

Taiyi couldn’t help but smile slightly and said, “Do not worry, Kong Xuan is not fated to die young. He is a man of great destiny and will not perish so soon. There will be plenty of opportunities to rescue him in the future.”

Hearing this from Taiyi, Peng Demon King felt somewhat relieved.

The people of Flower-Fruit Mountain were all seriously injured, either by Kong Xuan or by the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon, and it seemed they would need to properly seclude themselves for recuperation upon their return.

Taiyi said, “Old friend, follow me to meet someone.”

Kunpeng asked, “Who?”

Taiyi said, “You’ll know once we get there!”

Kunpeng then turned to instruct Peng Demon King, “Great Peng, take good care of yourself. Over these years, you must diligently cultivate your mana, otherwise, you won’t have the ability to save Kong Xuan. Otherwise, it would just be futile and end in ashes.”

Peng Demon King responded, “Disciple will heed Master’s teachings and will diligently cultivate mana after returning.”

Taiyi gently tapped the chariot, and the Nine Dragons turned their heads, flying towards the sky, not knowing where they were going or whom to meet.

Peng Demon King apologized to his brothers, “I really acted rashly, please punish me, brothers.”

Ox Demon King replied with a smile, “What are you saying, Great Peng? We are brothers, bonded by loyalty. If you are in trouble, we naturally have to help.”

Enlightenment Dao also said, “Yes, third brother, we are brothers tried by life and death, why bother with right and wrong? If you are in trouble, can we just stand by and watch? But next time you decide to undertake such a major task, at least let your brothers know in advance to avoid unprepared losses.”

Peng Demon King nodded, “Thank you very much, brothers! I will be more careful next time and won’t let my brothers fall into such peril again.”

Macaques King scratched his head and grimaced, saying, “That Great Mighty Celestial Dragon is really formidable. Next time we must let him feel our might! Damn it, once I go back and properly seclude myself, I’ll find an opportunity to get at him.”

Yu Rong King was also heavily injured by the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon Bodhisattva and harbored deep resentment, exclaiming, “We must get back at that Mao Bodhisattva next time. If I don’t make him kneel and beg for mercy, I don’t deserve to be called the Exorcising Great Saint!”

The brothers directly returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain without further incident, but let us not dwell on that.

Meanwhile, Kunpeng and Taiyi, riding the chariot, Kunpeng said, “Taiyi, weren’t you doomed in the Twelve Capital Heavenly Demon Shattering Array? How are you alright?”

Taiyi said, “I indeed almost died that time, but someone secretly helped me, allowing me to survive and perform a ‘Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell.’ However, I was severely injured, so I have been recuperating in secret until today. On a whim, feeling your presence at Mount Meru, I came out.”

Kunpeng wondered, “Who is this person with such prowess to rescue you from the Twelve Capital Heavenly Demon Shattering Array?”

Taiyi laughed and said, “I am about to take you to meet this person. He surely has many tasks for us to fulfill.”

Kunpeng, unable to contain his curiosity, said, “Who exactly is it? Taiyi, don’t keep me in suspense!”

Taiyi laughed heartily and repeated, “You’ll know when we get there, you’ll know when we get there!”

To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next part. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote and leave a monthly ticket at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)