Chapter 551: Ahead of Schedule!

On the seventh day after the Dao Discussion Assembly concluded, Qi Yun left the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple.

He didn’t bring anyone with him, even leaving the Mountain and River Cauldron behind in the courtyard.

Cai Shen was worried. After asking three times, “Do you really not want me to follow you?” Qi Yun replied with only four words: “No need to follow.”

Then, taking a single step, his figure vanished into the void.

Cai Shen gazed in the direction he had disappeared. After a moment of silence, he transformed into a streak of golden light and sank into the Mountain and River Cauldron.

On the body of the cauldron, the movements of the nine divine dragons grew agitated. Light flickered in their dragon eyes as if they were worried about something.

“Fourteenth Brother,” Cai Shen’s voice echoed from within the cauldron. “Do you think anything will happen to him?”

The Mountain and River Cauldron fell silent for a moment before letting out a low HUM.

“True,” Cai Shen murmured. “He is Qi Yun.”

Overseas, in the Pure Land.

This hidden realm, shrouded by endless Wish Power Golden Light, floated in the void at the farthest reaches of the West Sea. Thirty-six resplendent temples were scattered like stars, connected to one another by bridges of golden light, forming a Grand Array that covered hundreds of thousands of miles.

Within the array, Brahma Chanting echoed faintly amid curling sandalwood incense. Countless Buddhist cultivator disciples sat cross-legged on lotus platforms with their eyes closed, chanting scriptures to inject pure Wish Power into the array.

Deep within the Pure Land, inside a giant Buddha Tower forged entirely of colored glaze, several Bodhisattvas were discussing matters.

Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva sat at the head seat. Seven-colored Buddha Light flowed around him, and his expression revealed solemnity amidst its Compassion.

Vidyārāja Bodhisattva sat cross-legged on the left. His three-headed, six-armed Dharma Aspect flickered into view as cyan flames surged around him.

Treasure Tree Adornment Bodhisattva and World-Purifying White Lotus Bodhisattva sat on either side, their appearances dignified and majestic.

“How much longer will the Guiding Grand Array take?” Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva asked, his voice as deep as an ancient bell.

“Over a month,” Treasure Tree Adornment Bodhisattva said slowly. “When the time comes, as long as the tide of time arrives and the barrier weakens, the World Honored One will be able to project more power.”

“Over a month…” Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva gave a slight nod. “Then we shall wait.”

“I fear we won’t be able to wait.” Vidyārāja Bodhisattva snorted coldly, his three faces simultaneously displaying a chilling intent. “You all know what happened at the Dao Discussion Assembly. That Demon has publicly declared he will take ‘responsibility’ for the Profound Yellow. How could he just sit back and watch our Array Formation?”

“If he dares to come, we will ensure he never returns,” World-Purifying White Lotus Bodhisattva said. His voice was ethereal yet carried unquestionable certainty. “Within the Pure Land, there are eternal Restrictions laid down by the World Honored One. No matter how strong his Primordial Dao is, he can forget about running wild here.”

Before he could finish speaking—

BOOM!

An indescribably terrifying Sword Intent descended from the Celestial Vault without any warning!

The Sword Intent was pure and domineering. Like an invisible, world-cleaving giant axe, it forcibly cleaved through the eternal Wish Power Golden Light enveloping the Pure Land, leaving a bottomless, ten-thousand-mile-long colossal rift!

At the edges of the rift, the golden Wish Power surged madly, writhing like torn flesh in an attempt to mend itself. However, it was firmly suppressed by the exterminating Dao Rhyme contained within the Sword Intent. As if frozen by tens of thousands of tons of Profound Ice, it could not close by even a fraction of an inch!

Beneath the rift, the thirty-six temples trembled simultaneously!

The golden light bridges connecting the temples shook violently, letting out overwhelmed CREAKING sounds as countless spiderweb-like cracks surfaced across them!

Countless Buddhist cultivator disciples were struck by this sudden, terrifying pressure. Spewing blood, they plummeted from their lotus platforms, while those with weaker Cultivation immediately fainted!

“Who is it?!”

The four Bodhisattvas rose at the same time. The Buddha Light around them surged explosively, transforming into four massive golden pillars that shot into the sky like heavenly columns!

Above the Celestial Vault, a figure in deep blue slowly stepped out from within the rift.

It was Qi Yun.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his robes fluttering, multicolored light swirling in his eyes. There was no Auspicious Cloud beneath his feet, nor were there any anomalies around him. He simply stood there in the void.

Yet, the moment he appeared, the monstrous Buddha Light erupting from the four Bodhisattvas seemed to be pressed down by a giant, invisible hand, involuntarily retracting!

It wasn’t a deliberate suppression, but rather a natural oversight originating from his Great Dao Status. Like a sovereign holding court, making all ministers bow their heads.

“Bodhisattvas, it has been a long time,” Qi Yun said faintly. His gaze swept over the four Bodhisattvas below, a very faint curve tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Qi Yun!” Vidyārāja Bodhisattva’s three faces contorted simultaneously. Cyan flames surged as his furious roar exploded like thunder. “How dare you trespass in the Pure Land!”

“Trespass?” Qi Yun chuckled. The laughter was light, yet it entered every Bodhisattva’s ears with utmost clarity. “Inside or outside the Profound Yellow, there is nowhere this Qi cannot go.”

“Arrogant!” World-Purifying White Lotus Bodhisattva shouted sharply. The white lotus beneath his feet suddenly erupted with blinding white light. The Twelfth-Grade Lotus Petals flew up all at once, each petal transforming into a ten-foot-long golden Demon-Subduing Sword. A terrifying Dao Rhyme meant to purify all things flowed across the blades as they shot fiercely toward Qi Yun!

The sword rain was so dense it blotted out the sky and sun, completely locking down the tens of thousands of miles of void surrounding Qi Yun!

At the same time, Treasure Tree Adornment Bodhisattva pressed his palms together. The Bodhi Treasure Tree behind him jolted suddenly as countless golden leaves broke free from its branches. Spinning rapidly in the air, they assembled into a thousand-foot-tall, dazzlingly golden Guardian Wei Tuo!

Wielding a Vajra Pestle and glaring with furious eyes, the Wei Tuo smashed it viciously down at Qi Yun! Wherever the Vajra Pestle passed, the void shattered inch by inch, revealing the churning Earth Fire, wind, and water behind it!

Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva held nothing back either. The phantom of the Ancient Dragon Elephant behind him charged forward violently, merging into one with his Golden Body Dharma Aspect! His frame expanded to a height of a thousand feet, his muscles bulging like mountain ranges. Swinging his six arms in unison, every punch enveloped a terrifying, star-shattering physical force as he bombarded Qi Yun!

The combined might of the three Bodhisattvas was magnificent enough to change the colors of Heaven and Earth!

The Wish Power Golden Light of the Pure Land churned violently from the impact of this savage power. The protective arrays of the thirty-six temples lit up simultaneously, operating frantically just to barely stabilize themselves and avoid being destroyed by the shockwaves!

However, Qi Yun merely watched all this calmly, multicolored light swirling in his eyes, making no extra movements.

“Is that all?”

Before his words faded, he raised his hand and lightly pressed it toward the sky full of sword rain, the descending Vajra Pestle, and the incoming giant fists.

HUM!

A stream of Chaos Multicolored Light burst from his palm. Wherever it passed, the sky-filling golden Demon-Subduing Swords seemed completely drained of their spiritual nature. The blades trembled violently before silently disintegrating, scattering as a sky full of golden light motes!

The instant the Vajra Pestle, smashed down by the thousand-foot Guardian Wei Tuo, touched the multicolored light, it was as if it had slammed into an invisible quagmire; its downward momentum halted abruptly!

For the first time, confusion and fear surfaced on Wei Tuo’s glaring face. Immediately after, starting from the tip of the pestle, his entire body cracked and crumbled inch by inch, turning into countless golden fragments. Swept up by the multicolored light, they vanished without a trace!

The six giant punches thrown by the thousand-foot Golden Body—formed by the fusion of the Ancient Dragon Elephant and Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva—were like paper mache in the face of the multicolored light!

The Buddha Light on the fists’ vanguard quickly dimmed and annihilated. Countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of the fists, with Chaos Color light shining through them. Subsequently, all six arms exploded at once, turning into a sky full of golden blood mist!

PFFT!

The three Bodhisattvas were heavily injured in a single strike.

Meanwhile, Qi Yun simply stood where he was, his feet not having moved an inch.

“This… this is impossible…” Dragon Elephant Wisdom Bodhisattva said, his voice dry and his eyes full of disbelief.

Qi Yun didn’t answer. He simply retracted his hand. As his gaze swept over the four Bodhisattvas below, the curve at the corners of his lips gradually widened.

“This Qi did not come here today to kill you,” he said faintly. “I am here to bring you a message.”

“What message?” Vidyārāja Bodhisattva ground his teeth. Anger and fear intertwined on his three faces, but he did not dare to make another rash move.

Qi Yun looked at him, the multicolored light in his eyes condensing slightly.

“Withdraw the Guiding Grand Array within ten days. Otherwise—” He paused, not finishing the sentence, but his meaning couldn’t be any clearer.

The four Bodhisattvas’ faces turned ashen, yet none of them dared to speak.

“Don’t even think about it!” Vidyārāja Bodhisattva roared. His origin cyan flames burned madly as his three-headed, six-armed Dharma Aspect solidified once again. “The Guiding Grand Array is the decree of the World Honored One! How can a Demon like you be allowed to—”

Before he could finish, Qi Yun raised his hand and tapped lightly toward him.

SWISH!

A grayish-white sword light shot from his fingertip.

Vidyārāja Bodhisattva didn’t even have time to react; before the thought of fear could even form, he felt a sudden chill between his brows. The sword light had already brushed past his glabella and exploded behind him!

BOOM!!!

An earth-shattering boom resounded!

The sword light landed on the giant Buddha Tower forged entirely of colored glaze in the deepest part of the Pure Land, exploding instantly!

Beneath the Buddha Tower, the Array Foundation of the Guiding Grand Array that was currently being set up was swept by the shockwaves of the sword light. Its Array Patterns severed inch by inch as its talismans flickered erratically before completely collapsing with a loud POP!

The thirty-six temples quaked simultaneously!

Countless Buddhist cultivator disciples let out terrified screams!

Under this single sword strike, the entire Pure Land fell into unprecedented chaos!

“If you won’t withdraw it,” Qi Yun retracted his finger and said faintly, “then this Qi will give you a hand.”

Vidyārāja Bodhisattva stiffened all over. Behind him, the six-armed Dharma Aspect that had just solidified was now completely scattered.

A deathly silence permeated the Pure Land.

The four Bodhisattvas looked at each other, all seeing profound dread and powerlessness in one another’s eyes. That Demon… was far more terrifying than the rumors suggested. Not just terrifying, but despair-inducing.

The Guiding Grand Array was ruined.

And that Demon had only executed a single sword strike.

At the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple, beneath the withered tree.

Qi Yun’s figure landed back in the courtyard, his robes fluttering and completely unsullied.

“You’re back?” Cai Shen’s voice echoed from within the cauldron, carrying a hint of relief.

“Mhm.”

“How did it go? Those bald donkeys…”

“Nothing much,” Qi Yun replied lightly.

The courtyard returned to silence.

However, this silence lasted for less than half an hour.

HUM—

A streak of Chaos Multicolored Light lit up at Qi Yun’s waist. The Token gifted by True Monarch Shen Yi vibrated faintly.

Qi Yun opened his eyes, took out the Token, and extended his Divine Sense into it.

“The tide of time will arrive early.”

Seven words. They were very brief, yet they exploded like a clap of thunder within Qi Yun’s Heart and Spirit.

The tide of time was arriving early?

Qi Yun’s brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t ask for the reason because he knew that since Shen Yi said so, there must be a valid reason.

“How soon?” he responded with his Divine Sense.

The Token fell silent for a moment before lighting up again.

“Over a month.”

Over a month. Qi Yun fell silent.

He originally thought he still had plenty of time to prepare, but now only a little over a month remained. He had destroyed the World Honored One’s Guiding Grand Array, but with the tide of time approaching, the World Honored One surely had other methods.

“Interesting,” Qi Yun muttered to himself.

He put away the Token, stood up, and walked to the center of the courtyard.

“Qi the Kid, what’s wrong?” Sensing something amiss with him, Cai Shen couldn’t help but ask.

“The tide of time is arriving early.”

“Early? How soon?”

“Over a month.”

Cai Shen fell silent. He naturally knew what this meant. It meant their time to prepare was running out.

“What next?” he asked. “What do you plan to do?”

Qi Yun didn’t answer. Standing in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at the gradually darkening Celestial Vault. Multicolored light swirled in his eyes as his Primordial Dao operated at full capacity, deducing every upcoming step.

Over a month was neither too long nor too short. It was enough time to do many things, yet far from enough to do many others.

But Qi Yun was not in a hurry. He knew that this chess match was never about who was better prepared. It was about who could take that single crucial step at the most critical moment.

Lifting his gaze slightly, Qi Yun looked through the firmament toward All Marvelous Heaven, where various Dao Fruits hung suspended. The multicolored light in his eyes flickered faintly.