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

At this moment, he felt only indifference towards Li Jing's self-inflicted misfortune and vigilance towards Di Shitian's cruel methods. Where was there even a trace of pity? This "sobbing" was nothing more than a pretense to cooperate with his brother, the Prison God.

As Li Jing lay dying, he seemed to catch a glimpse of Nezha's "indifferent" back. A surge of rage and despair, a feeling of being abandoned and betrayed by everyone, welled up in his heart, and he roared with his last bit of strength.

"Nezha...you unfilial son! Are you going to watch your father die?! Even if I die...I will also..."

The threatening words were interrupted before they could be finished by an even more intense scream of pain as the Jade Crystal Dagger sliced ​​across his spine.

He turned his pleading gaze to Indra again, his voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Fellow...students...trust me...just this once..."

Indra responded with an even colder gaze and a faster, more ruthless emerald-green blade.

He didn't even bother with perfunctory answers anymore, but simply showed through his actions that no matter what you said, he was doomed to die today, and in a most painful way.

Li Jing's wails grew ever more shrill and desperate, mingling with the subtle sounds of flesh being torn apart, the crackling of thunder, and the hissing of the corrosive venom of the Azure Crystal. They echoed for a long time over the vast battlefield between Wind and Snow City and the Indian army, drifting into the distance and disappearing into the thick, lead-gray clouds and the biting north wind.

Deep within the Great Thunderclap Temple on Mount Ling in the Western Paradise, it wasn't just the grand and bustling Great Buddha Hall that was commonplace. In a more ancient and tranquil secret Buddhist temple, with its layers of lotus platforms seemingly bearing witness to countless past ages, the atmosphere was so solemn it was almost as if ice had solidified.

At the head of the hall, it is not solely the Buddha Tathagata. On a lotus platform slightly higher to the left sits an ancient Buddha with a slender face, long eyebrows reaching his shoulders, and eyes that seem half-closed. His aura is ancient and profound, as if he exists alongside the river of time. This is none other than the Buddha of the past, the teacher of all Buddhas—Dipankara Buddha.

Its prestige and seniority surpass even that of the current Buddha who governs the world. On the lotus platform to the right stands the Buddha, whose dignified appearance is serene, though a hint of worry is now visible between his brows. Below, the phantoms or real forms of three thousand Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats stand in a solemn atmosphere, all holding their breath and concentrating intently.

A huge mirror of light, condensed from pure Buddhist power, floated in the hall, clearly reflecting the cruel scene in front of the Snow City of Jambudvipa.

The image of Indra was majestic, with lightning like a prison, and a green dagger flying everywhere. Li Jing was torn apart by blood and flesh, his screams were shrill and piercing.

The ancient Buddha's face, which seemed to have remained unchanged since time immemorial, was now shrouded in a distinct gloom and anger.

Between the opening and closing of his eyes beneath his long eyebrows, a dark golden light flowed. His gaze was fixed on Di Shitian, who was inflicting cruel torture on Li Jing in the mirror, and then glanced at the illusory figure of the White Lotus Boy deep in the Indian army, whose aura was weak but whose face was full of excitement and ruthlessness.

"Humph!"

A deep, cold snort, like the low tolling of an ancient bell, echoed in the silent hall, shaking the souls of some Arhats with shallower cultivation. The voice of the Ancient Buddha Dipankara carried the majesty of someone long accustomed to a high position, along with a hint of barely suppressed anger.

"The attendant beside the Sage of Reception has acted far too eccentrically! Indra is a guardian deity whom this old monk has recently enlightened and bound to the great fortune of the West, concerning the great situation of suppressing the Blood Sea and stabilizing reincarnation. How can we allow him to commit such a disgraceful act of fratricide in public because of a single moment of folly!"

Although he did not say it explicitly, all the Buddhas in the hall knew that Li Jing, who was being torn to pieces and calling out "fellow disciple" repeatedly, was a disciple that Dipankara Buddha had taken in as a nominal disciple when he was in the Chan Sect. Although he later betrayed the sect and went to the West, he was still nominally considered to be of the Dipankara lineage within the Western system!
Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner. The White Lotus Boy's command to have Indra torture and kill Li Jing is tantamount to publicly slapping the face of this former Buddha!

The anger in the heart of the ancient Buddha Dipankara deepened.

He was originally the Buddha of the past, a supreme being who could have enjoyed immeasurable merit and fortune, and calmly observed the changing world. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never easily get involved in karma or personally intervene.

The turning point was all due to the prison god Lin Zhu! This boy caused a great disturbance in the underworld and forced his way into the six realms of reincarnation. Although he did not directly break the balance, his series of actions, especially his attitude towards Sun Wukong, stirred up the undercurrents of the three realms.

The old demon Styx was already dissatisfied with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's sealing of the Blood Sea's exit, and took the opportunity to launch frequent attacks. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was unable to withstand the pressure alone, and the Blood Sea was in turmoil, almost breaking the seal, threatening the foundation of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Left with no other choice, Dipankara Buddha, with his immense Buddhist teachings and understanding of cause and effect, personally went to the edge of the Blood Sea. After a long period of time, he finally managed to forcibly convert Indra, the most unruly yet strongest of the four demon generals under Styx, stripping away most of his Asura demonic nature, infusing him with Buddhist Vajra supernatural powers, and bestowing upon him the honorable title of "Guardian Deity Indra".

Furthermore, by binding a portion of the core fortune of the Western Paradise to it, it became a sharp weapon to suppress the Blood Sea and assist Ksitigarbha, thus temporarily stabilizing the situation.

This war among humans in Jambudvipa may seem like a conflict between mortal dynasties, but in reality it has touched upon the foundations of Western religions' faith in the East and their grand plan for the Journey to the West, and is related to the fate of the Western Heaven.

After careful consideration, Dipankara Buddha finally agreed to let Indra, who had just stabilized his realm, descend to the mortal realm. His original intention was to let him face Nezha, who also had a special background and was powerful in battle, so that the sharp edge of the new generation of Buddhism could blunt the arrogance of the Heavenly Court's prison gods and demonstrate the majesty of the Western Paradise.

Who would have thought that the White Lotus Boy, relying on his status as a saint's child and the Azure Lotus Banner, would give reckless commands and make erroneous decisions, allowing Indra to target Li Jing, who was also a disciple of "Burning Lamp," as the first target! And under the watchful eyes of all the gods and Buddhas, such a tragedy unfolded!
Within the mirror of light, Li Jing's screams gradually weakened. His immortal body was almost reduced to a skeleton with tattered internal organs hanging from it, and his primordial spirit dimmed and shattered under the erosion of the intertwined emerald venom and golden lightning.

Finally, as the last sharp emerald light from Emperor Shitian swept across the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, the remaining true spirit, like a candle flame in the wind, was completely extinguished with a "poof," losing even the chance to reincarnate.

As Dipankara Buddha watched Li Jing's spirit dissipate, he closed his eyes, his face expressionless, devoid of joy or sorrow. Only the slight tremor of his long eyebrows revealed that his inner peace was not as serene as it appeared. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice returning to its usual calm and undisturbed tone.

“Li Jing is a wicked man. He betrayed the Chan Sect first, and then became two-faced. Although he joined my sect, he could not change his opportunistic nature. Now he aids and abets evil and offends my Buddhist kingdom. He has come to such an end, which is well-deserved. He deserves this calamity.”

These words were spoken to the Buddhas in the hall, demonstrating an attitude of "fairness".

However, only he himself knew how heartbroken and dissatisfied he was with the White Lotus Boy's reckless and arbitrary command. No matter how incompetent Li Jing was, he was still his disciple in name only. To beat and kill him was one thing, but to publicly torture and kill him, utterly destroying his body and soul, was to trample the dignity of his Burning Lamp lineage underfoot!

However, he cannot act rashly at this moment, as the White Lotus Child represents the Guide Saint, and the immediate enemies are Lin Zhu and the Heavenly Court.

He could only endure it for the time being, choosing to watch coldly from the sidelines, even harboring a sliver of hope—perhaps, Di Shitian's tyranny could enrage Lin Zhu, causing him to lose his composure, perhaps... Lin Zhu would be defeated in this battle?

The Buddha sat upright on the right, taking in every subtle reaction of the Dipankara Buddha.

His heart was equally heavy. The situation was spiraling out of control. The White Lotus Child had committed a colossal calamity, triggering a full-scale war in the mortal realm; now, his mismanagement had led to a tragic internal strife within the ranks of the Dipankara Buddha, needlessly losing a Golden Immortal and further damaging the Dipankara Buddha's reputation. And the main enemy, Lin Zhu, remained hidden behind the scenes, yet to truly make his move.

“Ancient Buddha,” the Buddha’s grand voice resounded, tinged with a barely perceptible weariness and urgency. “That Prison God Lin Zhu is unpredictable and cunning, with an extraordinary and unwavering will. Observing his actions, he proceeds cautiously at every step, and is by no means an easy opponent. Although Indra is brave, I fear he will find it difficult to force him to submit. If this matter is delayed, it will only escalate, depleting the vital energy of our West, and may lead to an uncontrollable situation.”

He paused slightly, his fingers unconsciously calculating in his sleeve. The laws of heaven were shrouded in mystery, but the general trend was vaguely visible.

"According to my calculations, if the situation in the Southern Continent remains unchanged within two days, or if Lin Zhu still refuses to yield... we are afraid that we need to prepare for concessions and negotiations. The matter of the Journey to the West concerns the operation of the Heavenly Dao and the grand plan of our Buddhist sect to advance eastward. Jin Chanzi's primordial spirit cannot be delayed, and Sun Wukong also needs to return to his position. This is of utmost urgency, and we cannot afford any further major losses."

Dipankara Buddha slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at Tathagata, and did not immediately refute him.

He was well aware of the urgency of the situation. However, the pride in his heart was hard to suppress as he, a Buddha of the past, was about to lower himself to negotiate with a junior prison god.

Moreover, he was betting that Lin Zhu might not be able to hold on first.

Just as the two Buddhist sages were lost in their own thoughts and remained silent, a rapid and clear Buddhist chant suddenly came from outside the hall, and a white-robed figure rushed in with an anxious air. It was none other than the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"Buddha! Ancient Buddha! Something terrible has happened!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva's usually composed face now showed obvious alarm and anxiety. She didn't have time to complete the full bow before speaking hurriedly.

"The guardian Vajra who guards Eagle's Sorrow Gorge just reported that... that the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon King, the Little White Dragon Ao Lie, has suddenly disappeared in the gorge! There is no trace of him, not even a trace of his breath!"

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, the Buddha's composure, which he had been trying to maintain, was instantly shattered. He suddenly leaned forward slightly from the lotus platform, and golden light burst forth from his eyes.

"Ao Lie is missing?! Can you confirm it?!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded emphatically.

“It’s absolutely true! The Dharma Protector Vajra dared not be negligent and has repeatedly searched Eagle Sorrow Gorge and the surrounding hundred miles, but found no trace of fighting or spatial fluctuations. It’s as if Ao Lie evaporated into thin air!”

Dipankara Buddha's brow furrowed deeply. The White Dragon Ao Lie was a crucial member of the five-person pilgrimage group, already chosen to carry the hopes of accumulating merit for the dragon race, atone for their sins, and ultimately revive their clan!

His identity appears to be merely that of the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King, but his connections are extremely deep. Although the Dragon Clan seems to have declined and is now confined to the four seas after the initial calamity of the Dragon and Phoenix, its profound foundation far surpasses the imagination of ordinary immortals and gods! The Dragon Kings of the four seas in name are merely the "younger generation" pushed out by the Dragon Clan to manage the affairs of the land!
Most of the truly ancient dragons and the descendants of the ancestral dragons are hidden in the myriad realms of heaven and earth or in the secret realms of the deep sea. Once they are angered, their backlash is so powerful that even the Western Paradise and the Spirit Mountain would find it difficult to withstand!

Ao Lie's disappearance at this critical moment, if he was truly caught up in this great war, or kidnapped by some force, or even... perished, the Dragon Clan's wrath would mean that the Western Heaven would face not only the flames of war in the Southern Continent and the Prison God Lin Zhu, but also another enormous crisis that could shake its very foundation!

"Quickly! Send more men immediately!"

The Buddha could no longer remain seated; his voice carried an unprecedented severity and urgency.

"Venerable Guanyin, you personally lead an elite team to thoroughly investigate Eagle's Sorrow Gorge and its surrounding area! Use every means possible to find Ao Lie's whereabouts! We must see him alive... In short, we must find him as soon as possible! This matter cannot be allowed to fail!"

"I will obey the Buddha's decree!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva knew the situation was serious, so she quickly accepted the order and hurriedly turned to leave.

As Buddha watched Guanyin's departing figure, and then looked at Indra in the mirror, who had stopped fighting and was turning to face the direction of Snowstorm City with a menacing aura, he felt as if a huge boulder had been placed on his heart.

With the situation in Nanzhan still unsettled and Ao Lie mysteriously disappearing, internal and external troubles came one after another. His fingers tightened even more as he calculated, and the "two-day" deadline seemed to have become a sword hanging over his head.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield before the Snowstorm City, the tragedy had come to an end.

Di Shitian retrieved the jasper dagger, which was stained with pale golden immortal blood and dark green venom, and the violent holy light around him also subsided slightly.

Beneath his feet lay the remains of Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, now reduced to a charred, incomplete skeleton, barely recognizable as human, along with scattered fragments of flesh and blood rapidly dissolving and decaying.

The last trace of the annihilation of the true spirit spread out like ripples, only to be completely swallowed up by the desolate atmosphere of the battlefield.

Even in his dying moments, Li Jing's eyes, almost blinded by lightning and corroded by venom, still held traces of extreme pain, bewilderment, and disbelief.

He couldn't understand why, after serving Dipankara Buddha for many years and being inconsistent in his actions, he was still nominally a disciple of the Buddha. Why did he end up dying at the hands of the Buddha's newly accepted "junior brother," and in such a tragic way?

Even at the very end, his twisted obsession with Nezha did not completely dissipate. Perhaps he still stubbornly believed that the debt of gratitude for being born and raised was greater than heaven, and that no one had the right to blame him as a father.

Above the snow-covered city, hidden in the clouds, Nezha silently lowered his hands, which had been covering his face, and quietly looked at the tragic remains below, his face expressionless. He had avenged his great enemy, and through the enemy's hand, he had ended the life of his biological father, who had brought him countless childhood traumas and oppression, in the most painful way. Logically, he should feel a sense of satisfaction.

But at this moment, I felt not much joy, but rather a complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside me, an emptiness tinged with a strange sadness.

That was, after all, the one who gave him life. Even if he had a thousand faults, at this moment, his body and soul were destroyed, and all things were empty. All the past grudges and entanglements seemed to have turned into nothingness along with the annihilated true spirit.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the inappropriate sadness in his heart, and his eyes became sharp as knives again as he looked at the ferocious-looking Indra.

Indra seemed quite satisfied with the terrifying effect he had created. He rotated his massive Dharma form, his thunderous eyes once again locking onto the location where Lin Zhu and the others were hiding. His voice, like rolling thunder, carried the arrogance and cruel mockery of a victor. (End of Chapter)