Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

The difference between a Great Luo Golden Immortal and a Half-Step Quasi-Saint may seem to be only half a step, but in reality, they are worlds apart!

A half-step quasi-saint has already begun to touch the realm of "saint" and become imbued with sainthood. Whether it is the quality of magical power, the strength of divine sense, the understanding and application of laws, or the future path of cultivation, it is far beyond that of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal!
Among the 666 Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva avatars, only a handful can reach the half-step Quasi-Saint realm!
Lin Zhu actually managed to make this crucial leap in such a short time and in such a fierce battle!
The Angelhunter finally understood what kind of being he was facing. The ferocity and hatred on his face were instantly replaced by boundless fear. His whole body trembled like a leaf, and his voice trembled as he pleaded with a sob.

"Half...half-step Quasi-Saint...Your Excellency! Lord Prison God! It was my...this humble monk who was blind and ignorant! I offended Your Excellency's might! I beg...I beg Your Excellency to spare my life! Please forgive this humble monk this time!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu slowly lowered her head and looked at the Angel of Deception who was trembling like a quail. A very innocent, harmless, and even somewhat shy smile appeared on her face.

"Spare your life?"

Lin Zhu tilted her head, her tone gentle.

"Of course. I have always been known for my virtue and magnanimity."

Upon hearing this, the Angel Seeker was overjoyed at surviving a calamity and immediately kowtowed repeatedly.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you for sparing my life! This humble monk..."

Before he could finish expressing his gratitude, Lin Zhu's gentle smile instantly turned cold and cruel!
"I forgive your offense."

Lin Zhu's voice remained calm, but the killing intent within it was palpable.

"However, your attack on the God of Law Enforcement of the Three Realms is an act of treason, and according to the Heavenly Laws—you shall be executed!"

Before he finished speaking, Lin Zhu flicked his finger that was holding the sword tip lightly!
"Buzz!"

An irresistible force surged through the sword, and the Angelic Slayer felt his hand split open, his entire arm went numb instantly, and the heavenly sword flew out of his grasp!

At the same time, the God-Slaying Spear in Lin Zhu's other hand, like a venomous snake that had been lying in wait, was silently thrust out!
"Pfft!"

A soft sound.

The cold tip of the Godslayer Spear had already pierced the chest of the Angel-Slayer with pinpoint accuracy!

"You...you broke your promise..."

The Angelhunter's eyes widened, filled with endless regret and resentment.

Lin Zhu remained expressionless as the God-Slaying Spear trembled, unleashing terrifying destructive power in an instant!

"boom!"

The body of the Angel-Slayer, along with its terrified spirit, turned into a cloud of ashes before everyone's eyes, like dry grass that had been set ablaze, and vanished with the wind!

Thus, the six great envoys under Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the goddess of treasure, and the angel of capture have all perished at the hands of Lin Zhu today!

As Di Ting watched this scene, he felt a chill run from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, and his heart was filled with endless despair and sorrow.

Six great ambassadors!

This is the core strength of Ksitigarbha's forces, the cornerstone of the Bodhisattva's great vows! They fought against the Styx Patriarch for countless eons, and although both sides suffered losses, the fall of a half-step quasi-saint level envoy is unprecedented since the beginning of time!
This means that the number of the strongest members of Ksitigarbha's faction has instantly decreased by one-fifth!

This is no longer just a minor injury, but a blow to the very foundation!
Countless surviving Ksitigarbha clones and Asura monks focused their fearful, angry, and resentful gazes intently on Lin Zhu!

It's all his fault! It's all because of this anomaly! He brought this disaster upon us!

However, facing countless murderous gazes, Lin Zhu simply smiled proudly, showing no fear whatsoever.

He took a step forward, and the pressure of a half-step quasi-saint mixed with the baleful aura of the God-Slaying Spear swept out like a storm, dispersing all the invisible pressure!

He channeled his magical power, and his voice, like a thunderous roar, resounded and clearly reached the ears of every living being, carrying an undeniable majesty.

"I am Lin Zhu, personally appointed by the Heavenly Court to oversee the prisons of the Three Realms and uphold the Heavenly Laws and Order!"

"The notorious criminal Danda Ksitigarbha has violently escaped from prison and injured a righteous deity! The Treasure Goddess under Ksitigarbha's throne has broken into the Heavenly Prison and abducted a serious criminal! The Divine Envoy has protected the criminals, attacked and killed law enforcers, and stubbornly resisted!"

"These three individuals are guilty of heinous crimes, and today, I, the Emperor, have sentenced them to death in accordance with the law, to be executed on the spot, as a warning to others!"

"You who belong to Ksitigarbha should take this as a warning! Know that good and evil will ultimately be rewarded, and the cycle of karma is inevitable! I hope you can distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, and refrain from any further actions that are contrary to the laws of heaven!"

"The righteous path of the Three Realms, the majestic might of Heaven, must never be violated!"

"If anyone disagrees—"

Lin Zhu paused, his gaze sweeping over the Ksitigarbha disciples who dared not speak out, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"You may go to the Lingxiao Palace at any time to pay your respects to His Majesty the Jade Emperor!"

After making a righteous and resounding declaration, Lin Zhu no longer glanced at those Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas, as if they were nothing more than clay chickens and earthen dogs.

With a flourish, he gave an order to the Three Realms Enforcers behind him, who were still in shock and ecstasy.

"The ringleader has been eliminated, mission accomplished! Retreat and withdraw!"

He acted with great discretion, making it clear from the beginning that his mission was solely to kill the escaped prisoner, Ksitigarbha and the goddess of treasure.

Now that the goal has been achieved, and even an extra "deal" has been made with an Angel of Death who attacked a police officer, it is time to stop while we're ahead and not linger for more credit.

He knew full well that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's influence was profound and his connections vast. The results he had achieved today were already his limit. If he continued to entangle himself, it might provoke Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to act recklessly, or attract even stronger intervention from the Western Paradise, which would be disastrous.

Lin Zhu knew perfectly well what he should and shouldn't do! The Styx Patriarch was extremely anxious when he saw that Lin Zhu, this "god of death" and "lucky star," was about to leave!
Although the Ksitigarbha Dharma Formation was broken and the two great messengers perished, the true form of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has not yet appeared. The foundation of the five turbidities and evil world remains. Although the Blood Sea Army is in high spirits, it will inevitably have to go through a bitter battle to completely eliminate the enemy, and may even fail at the last moment!
He desperately needs Lin Zhu and his elite team of law enforcers to stay and share the burden, or even to act as the vanguard against Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!

"Young friend Lin! Wait! Why not linger a little longer? Ksitigarbha has not been eliminated, and the hidden dangers remain. It is time for us to press our advantage and crush this filthy world in one fell swoop!"

The Patriarch of the Styx hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay, his tone urgent.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu paused, slowly turned his head, and glanced at the Styx Patriarch. His gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it seemed as if he could see through all the other party's schemes.

A faint, ambiguous smile played on his lips, his tone calm yet undeniably authoritative.

"Patriarch, I have achieved my goal on this journey. The chief villain has been executed, and the might of Heaven has been demonstrated. As for pacifying the five turbid worlds... that is a long-standing feud between you, Blood Sea, and Ksitigarbha. What does it have to do with me?"

He paused, then extended a finger and pointed at the Asura Annihilation Mirror in the Styx Patriarch's hand, which still exuded a fierce aura, as a reminder.

"Don't forget your promise. Afterwards, deliver this mirror intact to the Ninth Heavenly Prison. If you forget, or if the mirror you deliver has any 'flaws'..."

Lin Zhu didn't finish her sentence, but the sudden chill in her eyes made the Styx Patriarch feel a chill run down his spine, as if he were being stared at by an invisible venomous snake. The words "bear the consequences" that followed were self-evident.

Lin Zhu knew perfectly well that the Styx Patriarch simply wanted to use him as a "knife" to achieve his own goals. Now that the matter was settled, he was naturally not foolish enough to stay here and be used as a pawn, getting himself into an even deeper quagmire with the Ksitigarbha King's forces.

Ignoring the Styx Patriarch's ever-changing expression, Lin Zhu turned around and waved his hand triumphantly at the fully prepared Three Realms Enforcers, his voice echoing in all directions.

"Brothers! The ringleader has been captured, mission accomplished! Let's head back! Back to our Nine-Story Heavenly Prison!"

"I will obey the decree of the God of Hell!!"

Three thousand law enforcement officers responded in unison, their voices resounding through the starry sky!

Their movements were perfectly synchronized and disciplined. They immediately ceased all attacks and quickly broke away from the remaining forces of the Ksitigarbha camp. The celestial light merged into one, like a receding tide, and orderly converged on Lin Zhu, preparing to retreat.

The sudden withdrawal of this fresh force instantly shattered the balance that had just been tilted on the battlefield!
The remaining forces of Ksitigarbha, which were originally on the verge of collapse under the combined suppression of the Blood River Formation and the enforcers, suddenly felt less pressure and managed to stabilize their position.

On the Styx Blood Sea side, although they still hold the advantage, the loss of Lin Zhu's elite force for support and deterrence undoubtedly makes it several times more difficult to achieve a decisive victory quickly.

Seeing this scene, the Styx Patriarch was so angry that he almost vomited blood. A strong sense of resentment surged in his heart. For a moment, the thought of forcibly keeping Lin Zhu or at least taking back the Asura Annihilation Mirror flashed through his mind!
But he can't!

He forcefully suppressed this dangerous thought.

First, the principal deity and core power of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva are still lurking in the five turbid worlds, watching with predatory intent.

If they were to attack Lin Zhu now, regardless of whether they could succeed, the three thousand Three Realms Enforcers, whose strength had surged and who were now well-equipped, would most likely turn their guns on him instantly and join forces with the remaining forces of Ksitigarbha to deal with his Blood Sea!
If we are attacked from both sides, the hard-won advantage will be lost, and we may even suffer a complete defeat!
Secondly, he dares not!

He dared not truly offend the Heavenly Court to the point of death!

No matter how much trouble Lin Zhu causes, he is still officially the God of Law Enforcement of the Three Realms, appointed by the Jade Emperor himself, representing the face and law of the Heavenly Court! To attack Lin Zhu would be tantamount to slapping the Heavenly Court in the face, with unimaginable consequences!

Most importantly, deep down, he felt a kind of apprehension, even fear, towards Lin Zhu that he himself was unwilling to admit!
The existence that could break the balance of countless eons in the Netherworld, advance to the half-step Quasi-Saint level with such rapid speed, and ruthlessly kill the two envoys under the Ksitigarbha King, contained variables and the ability to "defy fate" that made him feel terrified!
He couldn't imagine what crazy things this unpredictable and ruthless star would do to retaliate if he really became enemies with Lin Zhu to the death!

Weighing the pros and cons and thinking it over, the Styx Patriarch could only force out a smile that was more like a grimace, watching helplessly as Lin Zhu and his men, as if they had just completed a casual outing, effortlessly tore through the void and prepared to leave.

It seems that the precious Asura Annihilation Mirror is destined to be lost.

However, just when everyone thought this earth-shattering battle was about to end with Lin Zhu's successful retirement—

A sudden change occurred!

"Om..."

An indescribable, deep hum, seemingly originating from the very depths of the world's origin, slowly emanated from the deepest part of that long-silent, turbid world.

Immediately following, a cold, grand, emotionless chant, yet seemingly imbued with the power of some supreme law, resounded clearly from the depths of every living being's soul, as if traversing time and space from eternity past.

"If any sentient beings shed the blood of the Buddha, slander the Three Jewels, disrespect the sutras, damage the sacred grounds, or defile the monastery... such beings will fall into the Avici Hell, where they will suffer for countless eons without hope of release..."

The chanting was not loud, but it carried an absolute majesty as if it were a pronouncement of fate, as if the words were law!
"...Lin Zhu, the law enforcement deity of the Three Realms, slandered the Three Jewels, damaged the temple, and murdered Ksitigarbha. His sins are heinous... He deserves to be cast into the Avici Hell, never to be reborn!"

When the chanting clearly pronounced Lin Zhu's name and "crimes," and sentenced him to "eternal damnation"—

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

Countless people with slightly weaker cultivation levels at the scene, whether they were Asuras or Asura monks from the Ksitigarbha camp, all turned ashen-faced and trembled violently uncontrollably. Some even collapsed to their knees, their eyes filled with extreme terror!

The Asura army was as if swept by an invisible cold current, collectively falling silent and trembling!

Even the fierce demon kings such as Mara and Uma changed their expressions drastically. Without hesitation, they instantly left the battlefield and retreated to Styx Patriarch's side as quickly as possible. Their expressions were extremely solemn, as if they were facing a formidable enemy!

All the Asura soldiers retreated like a tide. Some of the weaker demon soldiers even had their souls shatter and turned into ashes under the terrifying pressure of the chanting!
The Styx Patriarch's expression instantly turned extremely serious, and he even uncontrollably took three steps back!
Without hesitation, a flash of blood appeared in front of him, and the Yuan Tu and A Bi swords reappeared, crossing in front of him and radiating an incomparably sharp sword intent, protecting him completely!

It was as if only in this way could he gain a tiny bit of security.

On the other hand, the situation was quite different for the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's camp.

When Di Ting, the remaining four messengers, the hundreds of wounded but surviving Ksitigarbha clones, and the countless Asura monks with empty eyes heard the chanting, they were first stunned, and then their faces showed indescribable joy and reverence!
As if they had heard the most sacred call in the world, they stopped all their movements in unison, then faced the direction of the five turbid and evil world, and prostrated themselves with utmost respect, chanting incantations, filled with supreme piety!

Because everyone in the know understands that the one who will appear next is a truly supreme being, standing at the pinnacle of the Three Realms, whose power is unknowable and immeasurable! (End of Chapter)