Journey to the West: I am the fiercest bird under Bodhi's seat

The Bodhisattva arrived riding on a cloud. Upon seeing this, Li Jing quickly went to greet him, put away the exquisite pagoda, and clasped his hands together, saying, "Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, what brings you here today?"

Mahasthamaprapta also joined his palms in return, his voice booming like a bell: "Amitabha, this golden crow has a deep karmic connection with our Buddhist sect. This humble monk has come specifically to assist the Heavenly King in subduing the demonic aura."

Upon hearing this, the members of the Jie Sect frowned slightly, finding the words particularly grating.

Since the Investiture of the Gods, the Western Sect has always taken advantage of the chaos, using the phrase "having a connection with Buddha" to convert countless disciples of the Jie Sect, which is truly a tactic of plundering people.

Li Jing, however, beamed with joy and proclaimed loudly, "With the Bodhisattva's blessing, Flower Fruit Mountain will be leveled in no time!"

Mahasthamaprapta smiled silently, his gaze slowly sweeping over the celestial beings of the Heavenly Court.

Previously, he had been entrusted by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to enter Flower Fruit Mountain to suppress demons, but he happened to encounter Ye Feng and Sun Wukong causing trouble in the Heavenly Court. Even with extraordinary abilities, he dared not arrest anyone in the Heavenly Realm and could only endure and wait.

Unexpectedly, not long after, the Heavenly Court launched another campaign, and he immediately set off to come.

Looking around, he saw that although there were many immortals gathered, there were no Grand Luo Golden Immortals in charge, which put his mind at ease.

However, when his gaze fell on Chisongzi, he couldn't help but pause, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes—this person was actually a Great Luo Golden Immortal!

He did not know his name.

Upon seeing this, Li Jing quickly introduced, "This is Daoist Chisongzi, who has been invited by Emperor Gouchen to join the battle to subdue the demon."

The Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta clasped his hands in praise: "So it is Fellow Daoist Chisongzi! I have long admired your noble character! In the past, you assisted the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor in defeating Chiyou at Zhuolu. You are the pillar of our human race's prosperity. This humble monk shall bow in reverence."

After speaking, he bowed in respect.

Chisongzi stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, and did not return the greeting, clearly showing that he had no affinity for Buddhism.

Li Jing felt slightly embarrassed, while the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta remained all smiles, showing no sign of embarrassment.

After the formalities were completed, Li Jing solemnly declared, "With the powerful assistance of Daoist Chisongzi and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, the destruction of Flower Fruit Mountain will be imminent. Fire Star Lord Luo Xuan—"

At the command, Luo Xuan stepped forward to receive the order.

Li Jing waved his hand and pointed downwards: "I command you to unleash the Heavenly Fire Formation, burn the mountains and destroy the fog, cleanse the demonic aura!"

Luo Xuan received the order and immediately commanded the Fire Gods to form an array. In an instant, heavenly fire rose, the flames falling like meteors, and the blazing light illuminated the nine heavens.

This fire is the true fire of the heavens, burning all things to ashes; it is the flame of divine punishment.

The sea of ​​fire raged, and the heatwave was immense, but as soon as it touched the thick fog, it was quietly swallowed up, only causing ripples, with occasional sparks flashing in the fog.

But in an instant, the sparks were extinguished by the churning mist. Huaguo Mountain remained shrouded in clouds and mist, showing no sign of dissipating.

Luo Xuan was surprised and suspicious, so he changed the flag and commanded the fire to be lit.

The gods of the Fire Department transformed and emerged, with ten thousand fire crows cawing in unison, forming a giant pillar of azure flames called "Azure Lotus Purifying Flame," the purest flame of Taoism, which can burn in the void, never extinguish in water, and can even refine the primordial spirit.

However, the pillar of fire, once it struck the thick fog, vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. The fog continued to churn as before, remaining steadfast and unmoved.

Luo Xuan was shocked and put away the flag, then flew to Li Jing and said, "Your Majesty, this fog is extremely strange and difficult to penetrate even with heavenly fire. It is probably not something that can be broken by ordinary means."

Li Jing stared silently, his heart trembling. After a moment, he gave the order: "Thunder Department, heed my command! Summon the divine thunder of the Nine Heavens and shatter this demonic barrier!"

Wen Zhong responded and set up the formation, unleashing a barrage of thunderbolts that tore through the sky, the lightning striking like an angry dragon.

However, the lightning struck into the fog, dispersing the thin layer of mist on the surface, but the entire Flower and Fruit Mountain remained shrouded in a miasma, unmoved.

At this point, even Li Jing hesitated, caught in a dilemma.

If we can't even break through the fog, how can we talk about exterminating demons?

The Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta chanted the Buddha's name softly: "Amitabha Buddha, this fog is filled with malevolent energy and pervasive malevolence; it seems to be something other than what is found in this world. This humble monk is willing to give it a try."

Li Jing was immediately invigorated, clasping his hands together in prayer: "Bodhisattva, have mercy! If there is a miraculous way to exorcise the evil, this battle will surely be won!"

Nezha, standing behind, watched coldly, snorted lightly, and felt disdain in his heart.

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva sat serenely on a lotus throne, slowly walking forward, holding a precious pearl in his palm, softly chanting a Buddhist mantra, and then hurling it with a wave of his hand. In an instant, the sky split open with aurora, and ten thousand feet of light surged up like a tide, illuminating the nine heavens and enveloping the entire Eastern Continent in its radiance.

The Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, known as "the foremost luminous being in Buddhism," is indeed extraordinary.

Its light can illuminate the entire universe, even the deepest hells of the underworld; even the most filthy sea of ​​blood cannot escape its cleansing light.

At this moment, boundless light poured down, enveloping the entire Huaguo Mountain.

The thick fog that permeated the mountains churned and swelled. At first, it evaporated rapidly under the light, and Li Jing was delighted to see this. However, in an instant, the fog was reborn, and the speed of its regeneration far exceeded its dissolution. It never weakened in the slightest.

This continued for a full hour. The Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, with a solemn expression, finally retrieved the Radiant Pearl, shaking his head and sighing, "Truly strange. The light of this pearl can pierce the deepest darkness of the Nine Netherworlds and ignite the sea of ​​blood and the abyss, yet it is helpless against this mist."

The gods looked down and remained silent, helpless.

Just then, a burst of laughter came from afar.

Everyone turned around and saw Chisongzi approaching with his hands behind his back. Li Jing's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked respectfully, "Daoist Master, do you perhaps know a way to break this fog?"

Chisongzi glanced at them indifferently and smiled, "It can't be broken."

The gods were immediately disheartened.

He then added, "But I know the origin of this fog."

Li Jing's spirits lifted: "I'd like to hear the details!"

Chisongzi said slowly, "This mist does not belong to gods, demons, immortals, or Buddhas, nor is it created by ghosts. It is actually an ancient secret technique of the Wu tribe. It is understandable that you cannot decipher it. Back then, when I assisted the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor in their conquest of Chiyou, Chiyou was at his wit's end and used this mist to cover the sky and sun. That is why I recognize it."

Wen Zhong frowned and said, "Since it's a witch clan spell, the ancient witch clan has long since vanished from the Three Realms. When I entered Biyou Palace, there was no trace of it left, and very few people have ever seen it. But Huaguo Mountain belongs to the demon clan, so how could they possess this spell?"

Chisongzi shook his head: "The reason for this is unknown. The origin of that Golden Crow is mysterious; it may be a descendant of the ancient lineage. The Wu and Yao races have always been entangled in feuds, so it is not surprising that it might have learned the methods of their mortal enemy."

Li Jing didn't care how Ye Feng learned witchcraft; he only asked, "Now that we know its origin, do you have a countermeasure?"

Chisongzi nodded: "Yes. In the past, the Yellow Emperor was trapped in this fog. Fortunately, the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden beheaded the Kui Niu and used its hide and bones to make the Kui Niu Drum. Once it is struck, it emits the sound of ancient heavenly thunder, which is enough to break through this fog."

Wen Zhong replied, "I know this drum; it is currently kept in the Heavenly Treasury."

Li Jing was overjoyed and immediately ordered the three marshals of Lingxiao Palace to return to the Heavenly Palace to inform the Great Heavenly Venerable and earnestly request the bestowal of a drum.

The three marshals accepted their orders and departed swiftly, without lingering in the Heavenly Court. By the time they returned, only three days had passed on Earth.

Li Jing took the Kui Niu Drum and saw that it was ancient and simple in shape, heavy and solid. The drumhead showed the phantom of a Kui Niu with a single horn, with lightning flashing and flowing endlessly.

Chisongzi said, "The Kui Niu is an ancient mythical beast. Legend has it that the Thunder God under the command of Donghuang Taiyi was a Kui Niu at the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. This beast is born with the ability to control thunder. At that time, when heaven and earth were first created, the heavenly thunder still contained a trace of chaotic power, and its power was far beyond that of ordinary thunder today."

Li Jing nodded, and immediately mobilized his troops, ordering the heavenly soldiers and generals to lay a net in the sky, while the thunder and fire departments also formed ranks in advance to prepare for battle.

Once everything was ready, he gave the order: "Beat the drums."

boom--!

A deafening roar, like the resurgence of ancient thunder, shook the world.

The entire Flower and Fruit Mountain was shaken.

……

The second sound followed immediately. Below, the thick fog churned violently, and only the echoing sound of drums remained between heaven and earth.

The sound was incredibly loud, like the sky exploding, and could be heard millions of miles away.

Upon hearing the sound, the monkeys in the mountains cried out in despair, curled up with their ears covered, and lost all will to fight.

The dense fog began to dissipate rapidly.

Only Ye Feng remained completely unaffected. He looked up at the sky and silently thought, "The Heavenly Court certainly has some tricks up its sleeve."

Before the fog had completely dissipated, he suddenly leaped into the air, a peerless divine sword gleaming with golden light suddenly appearing in his hand—

Demon Emperor Sword!

His gaze was like lightning, aimed directly at the Kui Niu Drum high in the sky, and he slashed out with his sword!

In an instant, the world changed color, a strange light appeared, and a clear cry resounded through the sky. A terrifying sword aura surged up from within Flower Fruit Mountain, condensing into the shadow of a golden crow, which spread its wings and soared into the sky. Wherever it passed, flames burned the heavens, and the sky turned crimson.

Chisongzi and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva were the first to realize: "Oh no! It's the Golden Crow! Quickly move the Kui Niu Drum!"

Before the cries had even subsided, it was already too late.

The shadow of the golden crow suddenly erupted, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be composed of countless tiny sword energies interwoven together.

Li Jing and the other gods all dodged, not daring to provoke its power.

With a deafening roar, the golden crow devoured the Kui Niu drum, and the deafening thunderous sound abruptly ceased.

Immediately afterwards, the golden crow spread its wings and scattered, transforming into countless sword energies that surged forth, dense as rain, staining the sky red.

Many heavenly soldiers were too close to escape and were struck by the sword energy, screaming in agony as they fell from the sky like leaves.

The Demon Emperor Sword is not only a peerless divine weapon.

It is also a treasure specially crafted for the Golden Crow bloodline.

It can amplify the power of the sun's true fire to several times its original level.

Just now, Ye Feng only swung his sword once, and the True Fire of the Sun gave rise to countless changes as if it were alive.

Any celestial soldier touched by the sword energy was instantly engulfed in golden flames.

This fire does not shy away from wind and waves, nor fear the cold tides; it is like a sun falling from the ninth heaven, destined only to be reduced to ashes.

One by one, the heavenly soldiers fell from the sky with cries of agony, while the golden sword energy spread like wildfire without stopping, and in the blink of an eye, it had approached the heavenly army formation near the Kui Niu Drum.

If left to run rampant, even a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals would find it difficult to withstand this earth-shattering blow.

Upon seeing this, Luo Xuan, the Fire God, immediately raised his command flag, intending to unite with the Heavenly Lords to seal off this void.

"Amitabha."

A solemn Buddhist chant resounded across the battlefield, and in an instant, boundless light emerged, like a curtain of light descending, completely enveloping the rampaging sword energy and slowly shrinking it.

The light tightened and tightened, eventually condensing into a crystalline ball of light, which fell into the palm of the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta and was then stored within his wide sleeve.

Li Jing let out a long sigh, then his face hardened, and he pointed his halberd at Ye Feng, angrily shouting, "Ye Feng! You have protected the demon monkey, betrayed the Heavenly Court, and now you dare to resist stubbornly! Your crimes are unforgivable! Surrender immediately and await the Great Heavenly Venerable's judgment; perhaps you will have a sliver of hope!"

Ye Feng scoffed, "Enough with the chit-chat!"

Before he finished speaking, the Demon Emperor Sword rose again, and a golden light shot out, tearing through the void and heading straight for Li Jing's life.

Li Jing was terrified and cried out, "Bodhisattva, save me!"

He knew that Ye Feng was incredibly powerful, having heard of his reputation back in the Heavenly Palace, and knew he was no match for him.

The Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta instantly appeared in front of him, his right hand forming the flower-holding mudra, and a white lotus blooming with light appeared.

The golden light slashed down, creating a deafening explosion, and the white lotus shattered.

Petals drifted down, each one formed from pure Buddhist light. As they spread, the light intensified, transforming into a majestic Buddhist wall.

Snapped!

The sword energy struck, and the Buddhist wall crumbled.

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva's eyes narrowed slightly, and his left hand swiftly struck out, the Buddha's light forming a net that enveloped the remaining sword energy.

With a soft sound, the sword energy, weakened twice, was finally dispersed, and the overflowing golden light was swallowed up by specks of Buddhist radiance and gradually disappeared.