The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 627 Martyrdom for the Way, the Way Lies in the Light

Huguo Temple.

Abbot Xuan Neng bowed to Lang Jiuchuan with a Buddhist salute, his eyes filled with the same compassion as always, and said, "The True Man is merciful, and all living beings are saved."

"Master, you flatter me. To save all living beings, we still need the concerted efforts of all fellow monks and Buddhists. The demonic energy is about to cover the sky. I want to stop the demon Tantai from advancing his demonic arts further. I will set up an altar to draw on the righteous energy of heaven and earth to purify the demonic energy. I ask the Master and fellow disciples to lend me a hand."

"Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha is merciful, we should do our part for the sake of all living beings." Abbot Xuan Neng put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer as he accompanied her inside.

As Lang Jiuchuan walked, she told him what was needed to set up the altar. She needed to communicate with the heavens, but she also needed the disciples in the temple to recite the Prajna Sutra for forty-nine days to continuously draw upon the remaining righteous energy of heaven and earth to purify the demonic energy in the area.

However, the demonic clouds are currently thick, and constantly chanting scriptures with merit and cultivation will inevitably cause a backlash, which may lead to death.

She was telling Abbot Xuan Neng that this matter would shorten one's lifespan, and those with shallow cultivation might die.

Abbot Xuan Neng smiled kindly: "Buddhists have long since disregarded life and death. If they can avert the collapse of the heavens, it is a perfect merit, considered as great compassion, and they have no fear of death."

Those who practice Buddhism have long since seen through the cycle of life and death.

Having said all that, Lang Jiuchuan said no more. If she were to discuss life and death further, it would be to belittle Buddhism.

The altar was prepared by the monks, while Lang Jiuchuan set up an array on the mountaintop to enhance the power of the altar. The array she used was a fusion of Buddhist and Taoist techniques, designed to prevent the spiritual energy of the area from dissipating.

When the abbot saw this, he couldn't contain his curiosity. When she was able to rest, he asked, "The True Man is also versed in Buddhism and has a connection with the Buddha. I have never heard of that demon Tantai Wuji being knowledgeable in Buddhism."

Lang Jiuchuan explained with a smile: "I have a different destiny. I received the lineage of Master Luo Le and the Dharma I comprehended from his Buddhist affinity. Therefore, I can also be considered to be a disciple of Master Luo Le."

Abbot Xuan Neng was shocked: "Is it the eminent monk Master Luo Le, who has a lineage from the ancient Wanluo Temple with a history of three thousand years? It is said that the sage is a Buddhist disciple who cultivates both Buddhism and Taoism, a rare occurrence in a thousand years. Although his behavior is eccentric... his Buddhist teachings are profound. Five hundred years ago, when this sage passed away, it is said that he even produced relics."

“It was him,” Lang Jiuchuan said. “By chance, he obtained the mage’s personal magic weapon, which enabled him to inherit the mage’s legacy.”

Upon hearing this, Abbot Xuan Neng nodded with some admiration, saying, "Isn't this also a sign that the True Man has a connection with the Buddha? The True Man is compassionate, which is why he was able to receive the true teachings. It is probably because of this that he was able to comprehend the Golden Elixir Realm and save the world."

"You flatter me. My original intention was merely to avenge a personal grudge, but I never expected things to turn out this way. I fear even Buddha would not forgive my sins!" Lang Jiuchuan looked at the thick, dark clouds in the sky, his eyes cold and fierce.

“Amitabha, why do you say such things, Master? All conditioned phenomena should be viewed in this way. Since you have received the true teachings of the Buddha, you should see through the true nature of things. Do not let the illusions before your eyes blind your true vision.” Abbot Xuan Neng looked at her with loving eyes and said, “The Buddha is compassionate and saves all sentient beings. All suffering will be illuminated by the Buddha’s light.”

Lang Jiuchuan bowed to him in Buddhist homage, indicating that he had accepted the instruction.

The abbot returned the greeting and, taking advantage of the fact that the altar was not yet fully set up, began to speak to her about Buddhist verses. Even if the timing was not right, the more she could understand, the more different insights she might gain for the future.

The same applies to Langjiuchuan.

The two stood aside discussing Zen, a few steps behind them. A monk stopped to listen, finding it all very enlightening. He thought, "If the time hadn't been so unkind, I would have insisted on inviting this Golden Elixir Master from Langjiuchuan to give a sermon at Huguo Temple. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance?"

The monk looked at the demonic clouds that threatened to engulf the Huguo Temple with a sorrowful expression.

Once the altar was set up, Lang Jiuchuan went to prepare in front of it, while Abbot Xuan Neng led dozens of monks who had been selected to sit cross-legged in front of the altar with their hands clasped together.

Lang Jiuchuan washed his hands, burned incense, and closed his eyes slightly. Using the imperial bell as a gavel, he infused the bell with his spiritual essence. A line of golden light shone from the mysterious runes. With a clang, the bell's sound, which could be heard for hundreds of miles, resounded like thunder, striking the somewhat confused minds of the people. They all stopped and looked into the distance in the direction from which the sound came.

Residents of Huguo Temple watched from afar as a person dressed in a simple blue robe, yet exuding an ethereal aura, stood before the altar, offering up his cultivation and spirit, pouring it into the bell, and using the bell's spirit to question the heavens.

She did not perform any special steps, but her hand never left the mysterious bell that seemed to be radiating divine light, and she struck it again and again with her divine soul.

The sound of the bells reached the heavens, carrying a compassionate meaning of sympathy for humanity.

Suddenly a gentle breeze blew by, whipping up everyone's robes and making them flutter. Lang Jiuchuan's aura gradually became pure and righteous. A small whirlwind appeared around her, growing larger and larger, carrying with it a surge of spiritual energy rising from the earth's veins, swirling upwards.

Fengya arrived at the scene at some unknown time, standing on a rock on the mountaintop. Looking at the sky covered by demonic clouds, a stream of air, like white mist and quicksand, suddenly descended and rushed towards Langjiuchuan, connecting with the earth's spiritual energy.

The two energies collided and exploded with a roar, forming a vortex. The righteous energy of heaven and earth soared into the sky, transforming into a dazzling golden light that forcefully tore a crack in the thick demonic clouds.

The light descended from the demonic clouds, and those clouds formed from demonic energy seemed to have met their nemesis, dispersing and allowing light to shine upon the world.

Dodo dodo.

The abbot, Xuan Neng, took the lead in striking the wooden fish on his body and began chanting the Prajna Sutra. The disciples sitting behind him also chanted in unison. The sutra seemed to carry its own compassion and power, spreading outwards and causing the golden light to spread wider and wider.

Perhaps this golden light cannot completely purify the demonic energy, but it is light and hope.

Lang Jiuchuan unleashed his cultivation and divine soul to draw upon the righteous energy of heaven and earth. Meanwhile, a reclusive Taoist master set up various demon-slaying sword formations or thunder formations, using sword light, thunder, and fire to annihilate demonic souls and dispel countless demonic energies, allowing the world to breathe a sigh of relief.

Gong Tinglan, along with his disciples, slew demons and ghosts alike. The righteous energy emanating from the thunder array talismans caused the demonic clouds to dissipate slowly, like ice and snow meeting fire.

People from all walks of life, including Buddhists, regardless of their strength, have all rushed to the front lines in response to this catastrophe.

Countless cultivators perished before the sacred mountain gates or city gates they guarded. With their flesh and blood and their life's cultivation, they built crumbling defenses for millions of ordinary people, doing their utmost to slow the demonic calamity from completely devouring everything in the world. However, they paid a terrible price: magical artifacts shattered, their robes were stained with blood, and countless people sacrificed their lives for the Dao.

Lang Jiuchuan calmly watched his fallen comrades, murmuring, "To die for the cause rather than live in dishonor, the cause shines eternally in the light."

An enlightenment seemed to enter her mind, cleansing her dantian, and she disappeared from the spot, heading towards the Bagua City.

　I haven't finished writing yet, but I'll continue. Yesterday, I accompanied my little rascal on his kindergarten field trip as a substitute parent. After a long day, I was so exhausted I just wanted to collapse when I got home. The pain of raising a child, especially a mischievous boy, is something only those who have done it truly understand. A salute to all mothers, you've worked so hard!
　　(End of this chapter)