The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

"My lies are deceiving the public!"

Li Shimin shouted angrily, interrupting Yi Huawei: "Our Great Tang Dynasty was founded by the Mandate of Heaven! Our soldiers are willing to fight, and our people are loyal! Moreover, there are eminent Buddhist monks here to protect the righteous path! How can you, a demonic villain, be allowed to act so recklessly here! If you have the ability, then come and attack! Let's see how your few thousand men can break through my mighty city of Luoyang!"

He must boost morale and define the enemy as "demons" in order to bolster his own faltering fighting spirit.

"magic?"

Yi Huawei seemed to chuckle lightly: "What is Buddha? What is demon? Master Liaokong, Master Jiaxiang, what do you all think?"

His gaze shifted to Kongyu, the Fourth Patriarch of Zen, his eyes calm and undisturbed, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

Master Liaokong clasped his hands together and slowly said, “Amitabha. You have been too violent and have fallen into the demonic path. It is not too late to turn back.”

"Too much killing?"

Yi Huawei's gaze swept over the soldiers on the city walls who had endured the fierce battles of the city's defense: "Under the walls of Luoyang, when Wang Shichong was besieged, the streets were littered with corpses of the starving, and people were even exchanging their own children to eat. Doesn't that count as bloodshed? The Li Tang dynasty fought against Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande for years, leaving nine out of ten houses empty in the Central Plains. Doesn't that count as bloodshed? Under the rule of my Heavenly Alliance, the people live in peace, no one picks up lost items on the road, the southern border is pacified, and the sea pirates have been eliminated. Buddhism teaches compassion, so why do we only see the weapons in my hands, and not the people under my rule? Is supporting the Li Tang the only way to be considered righteous? When did Buddhism become the Li Tang's family temple?"

These words were sharp as a knife, pointing directly to the political reality of the entanglement between Buddhism and the Tang Dynasty, and also stirred the hearts of many soldiers and commoners on the city walls.

The Venerable Emperor Heart sneered: "Eloquent words and a flattering face! You favor the demoness Yin Kui, indulge the demonic sects, suppress Buddhism and Taoism, and act tyrannically—this is not the behavior of a benevolent person! How can the discerning people of the world tolerate you?!"

"The Yin Kui Sect submits to me, obeys my commands, and does not commit evil deeds, so they are not demons. If the Buddhist sect only knows how to cling to the old ways, rely on the powerful and wealthy, and suppress dissent, how are they any different from demons?"

Yi Huawei's tone turned cold: "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Since you all believe me to be a demon, then..."

He slowly raised his right hand.

With this simple action, the aura of the 6,500 elite Xuanjia Tiance troops below the city changed abruptly!
The utter silence instantly transformed into a soaring killing intent! Warhorses neighed, swords and spears were raised, and a terrifying feeling of an impending torrent of steel swept across the city walls!

"So what if it's a demon?"

Yi Huawei's voice suddenly turned icy cold, like a biting wind sweeping across the city walls:
"Today, in this demonic form, I will question the walls of Luoyang, question the fate of the Li Tang dynasty, and question all the eminent monks and virtuous masters—"

"Could you be blocking me?!"

As the last word fell, Yi Huawei gently waved his raised right hand forward.

The four words, once uttered, seemed to carry a strange rhythm, subtly resonating with a certain pulse in the world, transforming into an invisible yet substantial and overwhelming pressure, like a towering mountain collapsing or the vast sky suddenly lowering, crushing down towards the location of Zen Master Liaokong and the Fourth Patriarch of Zen on the city wall of Luoyang!

"Um?!"

Master Liaokong was the first to be affected!

He felt the surrounding air freeze instantly, an indescribable, seemingly primordial pressure ignoring his decades of refined, unhindered Zen-like defenses. With a "snap," one of the ebony prayer beads in his hand shattered out of thin air! His chest felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, his blood surging and rising in a turbulent upheaval!

His face instantly turned from red to white, then from white to gold, and his body swayed slightly involuntarily. The hard city bricks beneath his feet even made a soft cracking sound! He couldn't suppress a mouthful of blood, which spurted out with a "plop" onto the front of his gray monk's robe, staining it with a glaring dark red.

"Uncle Master!"

"Senior Brother Liaokong!"

The Four Vajra Guardians and the Fourth Patriarch of Zen were all horrified upon seeing this!

They knew Master Liaokong's cultivation level all too well. Although he wasn't known for his powerful internal energy, his Zen mind was unwavering, and his spiritual cultivation was profound, having already reached the realm of "immovable as a mountain." Ordinary masters would find it incredibly difficult to even shake his mind, let alone injure him. Yet, Yi Huawei merely waved his hand from afar and uttered a single question, which could actually stir up the power of heaven and earth, directly injuring Master Liaokong's heart and causing him to vomit blood?!
This is simply an unheard-of supernatural power!
The defenders on the city wall were utterly dumbfounded, a chill running from their feet to their heads. The Buddhist monk they saw as a celestial being, capable of withstanding an army of ten thousand, was actually… injured in a single exchange? And that white-clad figure below the city—was he human, demon, god, or ghost?!
Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and the others were also shaken to their core, their faces turning deathly pale. Although they were not proficient in martial arts, they understood what it meant to be injured in the void—their greatest reliance, their top-tier martial arts barrier, might be no more solid than paper in the eyes of their opponent!
Qu Tutong's hand holding the sword trembled slightly. He could command thousands of troops, but he couldn't comprehend this kind of confrontation that transcended the realm of ordinary martial arts. A profound sense of powerlessness instantly gripped this battle-hardened veteran.

Yi Huawei slowly lowered his hand, his gaze calmly sweeping over Liao Kong, whose mouth was stained with blood and whose breathing was disordered, as well as the Zen Masters and the Four Vajras, who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy and whose faces were solemn. Finally, his gaze fell back on Li Shimin, whose face was ashen.

"It seems you can't stop them."

Yi Huawei's voice returned to its calm tone, yet it was even more penetrating than before, clearly reaching the ears of everyone on the city wall, carrying a sense of matter-of-fact declaration.

"but,"

Changing the subject, Yi Huawei's gaze swept over the trembling archers covering the city walls, then over the ordinary soldiers whose faces were filled with fear. His voice seemed to carry a hint of something unspoken:

"Attacks inevitably result in death. These people, whether by military orders or because of their families, are forced to stand here and fight against me. What is the point of their blood staining the walls of Luoyang? Is it merely to preserve the dynasty of your Li Tang family? Or to uphold the orthodoxy of the Buddhist sect?"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, carrying a strange resonance that echoed throughout the city walls and surrounding area:

"Li Shimin! Liaokong! Jiaxiang! Daoxin! Dixin! Zhihui! And those four Vajras!"

He read out the names of the key figures on the city wall one by one. With each name he read out, the person whose name was called felt as if their mind was being locked by an invisible gaze, and the pressure increased sharply.

"You all pride yourselves on serving the country and its people, on being pillars of righteousness. Today, I will give you a chance, a chance that may reduce innocent casualties."

Yi Huawei extended a finger, pointing to himself, his moon-white robe fluttering gently in the autumn wind.

"I am right here, three hundred paces outside the city."

He raised his hand and slowly stroked it across the main generals on the city wall, including Li Shimin, Liaokong, the Fourth Ancestor, the Four Vajras, and even Qututong.

"All of you, every single one of you, who believes you have any skill and dares to come out of the city to fight me, may come out!" His voice was clear and resonant, carrying an arrogant air of looking down upon the world.

"There's no need to follow any rules of the martial world, nor to worry about outnumbering the weak. You can all come at me at once! Whether it's a battle of attrition or a mass attack, I'll take it all!"

As soon as this statement came out, it was shocking!

On and around the city walls, tens of thousands of people fell silent instantly, all stunned by this extremely arrogant yet domineering challenge.

One person, facing off against all the experts in the city? And allowing the entire opposing force to attack at once?!
This isn't just confidence, it's downright... treating all the heroes of the world as nothing!
Li Shimin's pupils constricted sharply, and his fingers dug deeply into his palms.

Humiliation! This is blatant humiliation!
But at the same time, a cold rationality told him—this might be the only chance in this desperate situation! If he could gather all the top experts of the Buddhist sect, and even add the fierce generals of the army, to surround and kill Yi Huawei outside the city... even if he was only severely injured, the thousands of Xuanjia cavalrymen below the city who had lost their commander would be no threat! It might even trigger the complete collapse of the Heavenly Dao Alliance!
Master Liaokong slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a fierce flame igniting for the first time in his desolate eyes. Yi Huawei's actions, seemingly arrogant, had in fact cornered Buddhism. If they dared not accept the challenge, Buddhism's prestige would be ruined, and how could it stand in the world? If they accepted the challenge… it would mean gathering the entire temple's elite forces for a thunderous strike!
The four patriarchs, Jiaxiang, Daoxin, Dixin, and Zhihui, exchanged glances, each seeing the solemnity and determination in the other's eyes. At their level, they had long since transcended personal life, death, honor, and disgrace, but the continuation of their sects and the Dharma was of paramount importance. Yi Huawei was determined to subdue the most powerful force in the entire Central Plains Buddhist community single-handedly! This battle was now inevitable.

The Four Vajras glared angrily. They were upright and could not tolerate such contempt. If Liaokong had not spoken, they would have already lost their temper.

Generals like Qu Tutong had mixed feelings. They were seasoned veterans, more inclined to believe in large-scale warfare, and found the prospect of one-on-one duels between top warriors both unfamiliar and daunting. However, if this could truly resolve the war and avoid a brutal siege, it would undoubtedly be the best option.

The elite Xuanjia Tiance warriors below the city stood tall, their eyes blazing with fervent worship and fighting spirit. Their leader was going to single-handedly challenge all the heroes of Luoyang! What heroic spirit, what domineering power!
Yi Huawei's voice rang out again, breaking the deathly silence, this time with a calmness that seemed to know everything:

"I know your concerns. Are you afraid I'll use a trick? Are you afraid my cavalry will take the opportunity to storm the city?"

He smiled slightly, a smile that seemed almost otherworldly in the morning light: "I always keep my word. This battle will take place within a radius of three hundred paces outside the city. The soldiers behind me will not advance a single step. For every one of you who leaves the city, I will meet them. Life and death are left to fate, victory or defeat will depend on the means."

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the city wall: "Well? Li Shimin, do you dare to send these 'high monks' and 'generals' out to fight me? Liaokong, doesn't your Buddhist sect claim to be subduing demons and monsters? The demon is right before your eyes, do you dare to come out of the city to 'subdue' it?"

Every word was piercing to the heart, every step pressed relentlessly.

Li Shimin's chest heaved violently, his eyes flashing with struggle and determination. He finally looked up sharply at Liaokong and the Fourth Patriarch beside him, his voice hoarse: "Masters... the survival of Buddhism, the fate of the Tang Dynasty, all rest on this battle! Shimin... implores you all to leave the city and fight! If... if we can slay this villain, Shimin will devote all the nation's resources to building temples for Buddhism and spreading the Dharma! The whole world will respect us!"

Master Liaokong took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and qi, and looked at the Fourth Patriarch. Master Jiaxiang slowly nodded, his voice dry but firm: "If I don't go to hell, who will? This battle concerns the survival of the Dharma, and this old monk... cannot shirk his duty."

Master Daoxin's smile vanished, and he solemnly said, "I will use this very body to test the depths of the Demon Lord."

Emperor Heart Venerable snorted coldly, his aura surging: "I'd love to learn from you!"

The wise master stopped his calculations, his gaze turning to a resolute will to fight: "The calamity has arrived, there is no way to avoid it, only a battle."

The Four Vajras roared in unison, "We are willing to follow our Uncle (Master) to subdue the demon!"

The Zen Master Liaokong looked at Li Shimin one last time, put his palms together and said, "Your Highness, we will now leave the city. I hope Your Highness will guard the city carefully and not open the city gates, regardless of the outcome of the battle outside."

Having said that, Zen Master Liaokong moved swiftly, and like a withered leaf, he floated down from the city tower, which was several meters high, and landed steadily on the ground outside the city. Immediately afterward, the four patriarchs, Jiaxiang, Daoxin, Dixin, and Zhihui, as well as the four Vajras, Buchen, Buchi, Butan, and Buju, a total of nine people, each displayed their agility, like nine large birds, and swooped down from the city tower one after another, lining up in a row fifty paces in front of Yi Huawei.

The nine top Buddhist masters, their auras intertwined, some ethereal, some profound, some sharp, some wise, some fierce. Although Liao Kong's momentum was slightly dampened by his injury, the combined strength of the nine still formed a magnificent, solemn, and sacred aura, as if a group of guardian deities had descended to earth. Their Buddhist light appeared and disappeared, even diluting some of the murderous atmosphere below the city.

Looking at the nine figures before him, representing the last and strongest resistance force of the Buddhist sect in the Central Plains, a serious look finally flashed in Yi Huawei's eyes. He gently waved his hand, and the elite Xuanjia Tiance troops behind him retreated fifty steps in unison, making room for more space.

"very good."

Yi Huawei stepped forward slowly. His moon-white robes remained spotless and elegant amidst the powerful aura created by the combined forces of the nine masters. Facing nine Buddhist luminaries alone, his aura was not weak at all; on the contrary, it was like the deep sea, silently embracing and absorbing their "field".

"I will now learn the profound teachings of Buddhism."

He nodded slightly and made a "please" gesture.

War is imminent.

On the city wall, Li Shimin, Qu Tutong, and all the garrison held their breath, staring intently at the open space outside the city. Below the city, 6,500 Xuanjia soldiers gripped their weapons, their eyes burning with fervor as they focused on the back of their leader.

The autumn wind grew stronger, whipping up dust that swept across the ten men facing each other.

Master Liaokong chanted a Buddhist prayer in a low voice, exchanged a glance with the Fourth Patriarch, and the nine of them slowly moved, subtly forming a profound formation. Liaokong was in the center, the Fourth Patriarch was positioned on the four sides, and the Four Vajra Guardians moved around to provide support, bringing Buddhist formations and martial arts techniques to their fullest potential. They knew that against an opponent like Yi Huawei, any underestimation or carelessness would be suicidal.

Yi Huawei remained standing quietly, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, his gaze calmly sweeping over the nine people as if admiring an ancient painting. Only the most elite experts could sense that his aura had become one with the world around him, flawless and impenetrable.

"Amitabha……"

Master Liaokong finally made the first move! He clasped his hands together and uttered a series of ancient, profound, and soul-stirring chants! This was no ordinary mental interference, but the supreme secret technique of Jingnian Temple—"Great Brahma Pure Sound," which could purify the mind, shake the soul, and dismantle hostility and fighting spirit!

At the same time, the remaining beads of the ebony rosary in his hand simultaneously emitted a faint golden light, and a peaceful yet resilient Buddhist power spread out, attempting to stabilize their position and weaken the mysterious connection between Yi Huawei and the energy of heaven and earth.

Almost at the same instant the chanting began, the Fourth Patriarch of Zen was moved!
Master Jiaxiang's figure swayed, as if he had instantly transformed into a withered gray shadow. He silently approached Yi Huwei's left side and slowly pointed out with one finger. His fingertip was devoid of light, but it carried a Zen-like sense of "the desolation of all things." It was aimed directly at Yi Huwei's left rib acupoint, which was the killing move of his "Desolate Zen Mystic Skill" - "Extinction Finger"!
Master Daoxin laughed heartily, seemingly casually tapping the ground with his bamboo staff, yet he used the force to spin like a top, creating a flurry of staff shadows that were difficult to discern as real or illusory, enveloping Yi Huwei's right side and rear. The staff technique contained the supreme Zen principle of "moving with circumstances and taking advantage of the situation," sealing off most of Yi Huwei's space to dodge.

Emperor Heart Venerable's eyes widened in fury, like a wrathful King of Light, and he unleashed a punch! The fist was fierce and unparalleled, with the sound of wind and thunder hidden within it. The intent of the punch carried a righteous spirit that could see through the smallest details and point directly to the heart. It was the "King of Light Subduing Demons Fist"!
The Master of Wisdom moved elusively, like a ghost, never getting close. His hands formed a mudra, and invisible spiritual forces, imbued with Buddhist wisdom and capable of disrupting internal energy flow and even triggering demonic illusions, surged towards Yi Huawei like mercury spilling onto the ground. His role was to restrain and interfere, searching for any potential weaknesses in Yi Huawei's cultivation technique, such as the "barrier of perception."

The Four Vajras were like four mobile fortresses, patrolling the perimeter at high speed, waiting for an opportunity to strike, ready to fill any possible gaps with overwhelming force, or to withstand any fatal counterattack that Yi Huawei might launch against the Four Ancestors.

The nine of them joined forces, and from the very first move, they created an inescapable net! The chanting of Buddhist prayers purified and disrupted the flow, the withered fingers launched a direct assault, the bamboo staff blocked retreats, the Subduing Demon Fist delivered a fierce and powerful attack, the Wisdom Seal provided invisible harassment, and the Four Vajras watched with predatory intent! This was practically the pinnacle of the fusion of Buddhist martial arts and Zen techniques in Central China! The sheer power and overwhelming momentum caused everyone watching, both on and below the city walls, to tremble with fear and hold their breath! (End of Chapter)