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

In the blink of an eye, the dark red meteorite that blotted out the sky had completely vanished without a trace, and the sky was bright again. Only the spatial ripples that had not yet completely subsided proved that the earth-shattering scene just now was not an illusion.

"what?!"

For the first time, the indifferent and ethereal expression of the White Lotus Child showed a noticeable fluctuation. He suddenly looked up at the direction from which the black light was coming, and a ferocious light mixed with astonishment, ecstasy, and endless killing intent instantly burst forth in his clear eyes!

"Lin Zhu! You've finally arrived!!"

The White Lotus Boy almost roared with excitement! His painstaking schemes, the slaughter of mortals, and the instigation of war—wasn't it all to lure this extraordinary, law-abiding deity of the Three Realms, who had repeatedly thwarted Buddhist endeavors, out of the protection of the Heavenly Court and the Jade Emperor, and into this relatively "free" human realm where he could act with impunity?!

Now, the goal has been achieved! Lin Zhu has appeared here, outside the core area of ​​the Heavenly Court, making this a golden opportunity to take his life!
Seeing Lin Zhu's figure appear on the distant horizon, seemingly about to check on the Tang army below or talk to Li Shimin, a fierce glint flashed in Bai Lian Tong Zi's eyes. Without hesitation, he reached behind him and grabbed the blue lotus-colored flag.

He drew out an ancient longsword that was pure white, with blue lotus patterns flowing on its blade, exuding a pure yet sharp killing aura—it was his personal sword, and one of the innate spiritual treasures bestowed by the Sage of Guidance, the White Lotus Blue Flower Sword!

This was the moment he had been waiting for! He would launch a deadly sneak attack while Lin Zhu was distracted protecting others, or perhaps while he had just used his supernatural powers to destroy the meteorite and his aura was still unstable! Why would a Saintly Child be bound by direct confrontation? As long as the goal was achieved, the process was unimportant!
The White Lotus Child's figure transformed into a faint shadow that almost blended into the sky. Holding the White Lotus Green Flower Sword, he pushed his magical power and understanding of the Heavenly Dao to the extreme. A cold glint appeared at the tip of the sword, as if it had condensed the purest true meaning of "piercing" in the world. Ignoring spatial distance, it pierced straight into Lin Zhu's heart!
This sword strike was fast, ruthless, and accurate! It also contained a trace of the true essence of breaking through magic taught by a sage; ordinary defenses would crumble upon contact!

However, he still underestimated Lin Zhu. Or rather, he misjudged Lin Zhu's style of doing things.

In the White Lotus Boy's mind, a "righteous" figure like Lin Zhu, who holds an important position in the Heavenly Court and has a close relationship with the Jade Emperor, would, upon appearing in a time of calamity in the mortal realm, danger for the emperor, and grief and indignation among the soldiers, immediately try to appease the crowd, check the situation, and at the very least say a few polite words to demonstrate his demeanor and responsibility as a "savior."

Unfortunately, Lin Zhu was never a conventional "upright" person.

He is the God of Law Enforcement in the Three Realms, an anomaly that even the Buddha of the Western Paradise finds troublesome, and a "great villain" who wields the God-Slaying Spear and is fused with the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone!
Therefore, the moment the White Lotus Child thought he had seized the opportunity and launched a sneak attack with his sword, what he saw was not Lin Zhu's back as he turned to defend or reprimand him, but... a black light that was more condensed and more profound than the one that had just shattered the meteorite, and seemed to be able to freeze even the soul, had already changed direction and was shooting towards him at a speed even faster than his sneak attack!

No! It wasn't a burst of light! The black light seemed to have always been there, only now being "seen" by him! A terrifying feeling of being locked in by absolute death and absolute annihilation instantly seized the mind of the White Lotus Child!

He tried to dodge and use his escape technique, but was horrified to find that the space around him seemed to have been "frozen" and "marked" in advance by the meaning emanating from the black light. No matter which direction he moved, the black light seemed to be waiting in his path!
"This is... locking onto causality? No! It's something more fundamental... a mark of destruction?!"

Alarm bells were ringing wildly in Bai Lian Tong Zi's mind. He finally realized that Lin Zhu's target from the very beginning was not the meteorite, or even the mortals below! Lin Zhu's target, from the moment he appeared, was him, Bai Lian Tong Zi! Destroying the meteorite was merely a convenient tactic, or rather, a way to create an opportunity for Lin Zhu to launch a sneak attack!
The black light arrived in an instant!

Only now did the White Lotus Child truly see that it was not "light" at all, but a spear that was entirely black, with dark red demonic patterns wrapped around its shaft, and a dark point at its tip that seemed capable of swallowing galaxies... The God-Slaying Spear!
What made his pupils shrink even more was that at the end of the God-Slaying Spear, there was a strange stone about the size of a fist, pure and dark black, that seemed to be able to draw in even the eyes—the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone!
Lin Zhu not only made a move, but he also used the God-Slaying Spear, a deadly weapon of the Heavenly Dao, and imbued it with the power of the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, which even saints would take notice of! This was by no means a test; it was a decisive and all-out attack!
Damn it!

White Lotus Boy cursed inwardly, having long since abandoned the idea of ​​a sneak attack. At this critical moment, he unleashed his full potential, and had to hastily change his move with the White Lotus Blue Flower Sword in his hand, switching from thrusting to blocking. The sword shone brightly with blue and white lotus light, transforming into an incomparably solid sword curtain containing the pure and immortal meaning of the Pure Lotus Flower, which stood horizontally in front of him!
At the same time, the azure lotus-colored flag behind him moved without wind, casting a hazy, clear light that enveloped him, attempting to weaken or even deflect the fatal blow.

This white lotus and blue-and-white sword accompanied him through the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, the War of the Witches and Demons, and the Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods. It has drunk the blood of countless powerful beings and is an indisputable innate spiritual treasure for killing. It is sharp and incomparable, and also has the purification and evil-dispelling power of the Pure Lotus. Ordinary magic treasures will be damaged if they touch it!
however--

"Crack... Boom!!!"

A crisp, heart-stopping cracking sound rang out!

The pure sword screen, which embodied the White Lotus Child's lifelong sword cultivation and the original power of the White Lotus Azure Flower Sword, shattered like glass hitting a diamond under the tip of the God-Slaying Spear inlaid with the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone! It only lasted for less than a ten-thousandth of a second before collapsing with a bang! Next, the sword itself was destroyed!

The White Lotus Azure Flower Sword, with its jade-like white blade and subtle azure lotus patterns, instantly shattered from the point of contact with the spear tip, spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the entire sword! Then, with a soft sound filled with a spiritual lament, it completely exploded, turning into countless dim fragments, like jade dust that had lost all life, scattering and falling in all directions!
A primordial spiritual treasure, shattered in a single blow!

The God-Slaying Spear's momentum was only slightly hindered. The all-consuming darkness at the tip of the spear had already pierced through the hastily laid-up Azure Lotus Banner's clear light, and then, without mercy, it pierced into the White Lotus Child's seemingly tender chest, which actually contained endless magical power!

"puff--!"

The spear tip pierced flesh with a dull thud.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The ferocious light in Bai Lian Tong Zi's eyes, a mixture of ecstasy and murderous intent, was instantly replaced by boundless pain and unbelievable horror the moment the God-Slaying Spear pierced his chest!

He looked down at the jet-black spear tip, its surface adorned with demonic runes, protruding from his chest. He felt the terrifying destructive power surging into his body, tearing apart all life and annihilating all magic, as well as the even deeper, seemingly annihilating him from the very concept of existence emanating from the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone. His handsome face contorted violently with pain.

"Uhh—!!"

An uncontrollable roar, filled with pain and rage, burst from his throat.

His proud, pure lotus body crumbled rapidly like fragile glass in the face of that destructive power.

He could clearly feel that his heart, lungs, meridians, and even the deeper source of his life and the imprint of his primordial spirit were being devoured and dissolved by the power at the tip of the spear!
Below, the Tang emperor, his ministers, and his soldiers, who had been in despair and waiting for death, were completely stunned by this earth-shattering reversal in the blink of an eye.

One moment they were still filled with grief and indignation under the shadow of that world-destroying meteorite, the next moment the terrifying meteorite was silently annihilated, and the horrible demon child who had destroyed cities with a wave of his hand and regarded them as ants was actually pierced through the chest by a black demonic spear that suddenly appeared!
After a brief silence, deafening cheers and roars erupted across the battlefield like a volcanic eruption!
"The God of Hell! It's Lord God of Hell!!"

"Heavens have eyes! Lord Prison God has arrived!!"

"Kill that fiend! Avenge our brothers at Iron Wall Pass!!"

"Pull out his tendons! Peel off his skin! Set him on fire!!" The ecstasy of surviving the ordeal, coupled with the deep-seated hatred for the White Lotus Child, made everyone's eyes turn red. They all searched for the fallen figure of the demon child, wishing they could rush up and tear him to pieces to vent their hatred!

With a flash of golden light, Lin Zhu's figure appeared in the sky above the battlefield, just in time to catch the God-Slaying Spear that was flying back.

He stood there with his gun in hand, his white clothes fluttering slightly in the wind, but his expression was not that of a victor, but rather carried a hint of solemnity and coldness.

His gaze was fixed on the direction in which the White Lotus Child had been knocked away and was falling to the ground.

wrong!

Lin Zhu's eyes sharpened.

He clearly sensed that although the God-Slaying Spear had pierced through the White Lotus Child's body and injected destructive power, at the last moment, it seemed to have encountered some extremely strong struggle stemming from the instinct of life and... some kind of sacrifice!
really!

Just as the White Lotus Child's broken body was about to crash heavily to the ground and be engulfed by the enraged Tang army below, a point of extremely pure white light suddenly burst forth from his pierced chest! That light was not for healing or defense, but rather exuded a resolute and tragic aura of self-sacrifice!
"puff--!"

Another mouthful of pale golden blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs and primordial essence, spurted from the White Lotus Child's mouth. However, with this self-destructive burst of energy, he actually managed to break free from the further erosion and lock-on of the God-Slaying Spear's residual power!
At the same time, the "White Lotus Blue Flower Sword" in his hand, which was already broken and only had the hilt and a few fragments left, as well as the moon-white Taoist robe on his body, and even the blue lotus treasure flag on his back, dimmed slightly for a moment, as if some kind of primordial power was instantly drawn away and sacrificed!
In the next instant, the White Lotus Child's broken body was enveloped by that blazing white light.

With a "bang," it burst open completely like a bubble, turning into countless points of light!
At the center of the light, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible phantom of a primordial spirit, carrying a bit of the core true spirit and the slightly dimmed azure lotus treasure flag, transformed into an extremely fine white stream of light. At an incredible speed, it tore through space and fled desperately toward the western horizon, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye!
"Separation of the primordial spirit, sacrificing magical artifacts and the physical body to shed one's skin?"

Lin Zhu frowned, snorted coldly, and did not pursue.

He slowly retracted the God-Slaying Spear, his gaze falling on the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone at the end of the spear.

The Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, which was originally deep and dark and seemed to be able to devour everything, was now noticeably duller in color, and even had some fine gray-white lines on its surface, as if it had run out of energy.

With that last shot, he held nothing back, not only using the destructive power of the God-Slaying Spear's origin, but also activating and imbuing it with the darkest demonic essence from chaos stored within the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, aiming for a fatal blow. The power was indeed earth-shattering, directly shattering the White Lotus Azure Flower Sword and severely injuring the White Lotus Child's physical body and primordial spirit.

However, the opponent was no ordinary person. He was a sage child with profound knowledge and a variety of life-saving methods. At the last moment, he forcibly separated his primordial spirit from his true spirit and escaped by sacrificing most of his physical body, offering up part of the essence of his natal magic treasure, and even possibly damaging the spirituality of the Azure Lotus Banner.

The "physical body" that was pierced by the God-Slaying Spear and was still tainted by the power of destruction and demonic energy, was unable to land after losing the guidance of the primordial spirit. It was greedily absorbed and devoured by the God-Slaying Spear while still in mid-air, leaving not even a trace of ash. It was completely transformed into nourishment for this ferocious spear.

"They escaped quickly."

Lin Zhu stared in the direction the White Lotus Boy had fled, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Next time we meet, I will take your life."

Just then, the system's cold, mechanical notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Detected that the host has repelled a powerful enemy, averting the crisis of annihilation on the border of the Great Tang Dynasty in the Southern Continent.]

The emergency mission "Rescue Humanity" has been completed.

[Quest Reward: Merit Points +150000]

[Note: This quest is automatically triggered when the host leaves the Heavenly Court and travels to Jambudvipa. Due to the urgency of the situation, no detailed instructions were provided.]

150,000 merits? Lin Zhu was slightly taken aback, then realized what was happening. It turned out that when he learned of the border emergency and decided to come in person, the system had already quietly issued this urgent mission, but he was too anxious to notice it at the time.

This was an unexpected windfall, which relieved his predicament of having consumed a great deal of merit.

Gathering her thoughts, Lin Zhu slowly descended, landing on a relatively intact high ground.

His gaze swept across the surroundings.

Broken walls and ruins, scorched earth and black smoke. Underneath collapsed houses, charred limbs occasionally protrude; beside flames that have not yet been completely extinguished, the simple belongings of ordinary people are scattered all over the ground; further away, the huge crater of ruins silently tells the story of the sudden extermination of last night.

The air was thick with an overwhelming stench of blood and burnt smells, stimulating the senses.

He could even see, in some corners of the ruins, elderly people dressed in coarse cloth, women holding babies, and even underage children, maintaining the posture of fear or helplessness before death, already devoid of life.

Overnight, hundreds of thousands of vibrant lives vanished. And the reason? Was it merely to lure him down to the mortal realm? For the elixir in his possession?

A deep sadness involuntarily welled up in Lin Zhu's eyes. (End of Chapter)