My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

It is billions of light-years away from the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

In the depths of the endless starry sky, a vast and boundless golden sea of ​​clouds floats.

This is the supreme holy land that is renowned throughout the heavens and myriad realms and worshipped by countless beings—the Western Buddhist Kingdom.

Xiao Leiyin Temple.

The temples stretch endlessly, resplendent in gold, each brick and stone formed from the purest power of faith.

In the void, the solemn and dignified sound of chanting sutras echoes constantly.

The sound seemed to cleanse the soul, making any newcomer want to kneel down and take refuge in the Buddha.

At the deepest part of Xiaoleiyin Temple, there is a vast "Eight Treasures Merit Pool" as wide as the sea.

The pool water has a dazzling, shimmering gold color.

This is the foundation of the Buddhist kingdom, a holy water of merit formed drop by drop by absorbing the incense, prayers, and reverence of countless believers from all the heavens and myriad realms.

Normally, the surface of the Merit Pool is calm and still.

Hundreds of thousands of golden lotus flowers float on the water, each representing the status and fortune of a great Buddhist master.

however.

Today.

"Boom—!"

The Eight Treasures Merit Pool, which was originally as calm as a mirror, suddenly began to boil violently without any warning!

The golden pool water seemed to be cooked on a fiery inferno, churning and roaring wildly.

The water level in the pool dropped suddenly and dramatically at a heart-stopping speed!

And in the very center of the Merit Pool.

There were two enormous Arhat Golden Lotuses, which originally exuded a terrifying pressure from the Nascent Soul stage.

At the same time, it instantly lost all its luster.

The golden petals withered and turned black quickly, eventually turning into two lifeless clumps of ashes, which sank completely to the bottom of the cold pool with a "plop"!

"clang--!!!"

"clang--!!!"

"clang--!!!"

Above Xiaoleiyin Temple.

That earth-shaking bell that is only struck when the Buddhist kingdom faces annihilation or when a core powerful being perishes.

It started blaring its horn wildly!

The urgent and mournful tolling of the bell pierced through layers of emptiness, transforming into visible golden sound waves that swept across the entire Buddhist kingdom.

Countless Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats who were in seclusion and practicing asceticism were suddenly awakened by the sound of the bell.

They all opened their eyes, their gazes piercing through the void, staring in horror towards the direction of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

"The cause and effect are severed... the status of enlightenment collapses?!"

A highly senior white-browed Arhat rose from the lotus platform, his hands trembling slightly.

"Those are the natal golden lotuses of the two Venerable Ones, Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger! They...they perished?!"

"Impossible! The two Venerable Ones are Dharma Protectors at the Nascent Soul stage, their sixteen-foot golden bodies impervious to all magic!"

"Looking across this entire star field, aside from those few reclusive old monsters, who could possibly kill them?!"

The entire Xiaoleiyin Temple was plunged into an unprecedented state of panic and turmoil.

Just as the crowd was in a frenzy and countless Buddhist masters were preparing to tear through the void to investigate the truth.

"quiet."

A grand, majestic, yet endlessly cold and indifferent voice boomed from directly above the main hall.

The sound wasn't loud.

But it easily drowned out the deafening sound of the bell and forcibly silenced everyone's discussions.

Above the dome of the Mahavira Hall, a chaotic aura slowly dissipated.

Three terrifying phantoms, each tens of millions of feet in size, seemingly integrated with the entire universe.

Amidst endless golden light of merit, its true form slowly revealed itself.

That is the sovereign who represents the highest will of the Buddhist kingdom!

Past Buddha, Present Buddha, Future Buddha!

The Buddhas of the Three Worlds!

Three pairs of enormous Buddha eyes, as dazzling as stars, coldly looked down at the gods and Buddhas below.

"The dragon-taming and tiger-subduing warriors have not perished."

The Buddha in the center spoke slowly, his voice devoid of any joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, yet it sent chilling ripples through the surrounding space.

"They have apostasyed."

boom!

These words were more shocking than thunder from the heavens.

"apostasy?!"

The tens of thousands of Arhats and Bodhisattvas below almost popped their eyes out.

How is this possible?!

The Dragon Subduer and the Tiger Tamer are the most loyal and fervent protectors of Buddhism! How could they possibly betray the Buddhist kingdom?!

The Buddha said nothing more.

He slowly raised his enormous hand, large enough to cover the entire galaxy, and gently pointed it into the void.

"Buzz—"

A huge water mirror immediately appeared in the air in the center of the hall.

The image reflected in the water mirror is none other than the phenomenal movie "Rebellion Against Buddhism to Save the World"—transmitted by the Datang Starry Sky Base Station!

In the picture.

The two Arhats, Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger, were not wearing the kasaya, which symbolizes the majesty of Buddhism.

They were dressed in coarse linen clothes, covered in blood, yet their faces were filled with determination and unyielding spirit.

They did this to protect the unarmed common people behind them.

Without hesitation, he punched the envoy of the Buddhist Kingdom (the villain in the movie)!

"If Buddha does not save all sentient beings, then I will leave this paradise!"

In the water mirror, the deafening words of the Arhat Subduing Dragon echoed clearly within the Great Buddha Hall.

Then, the scene changes.

It was a street in Chang'an.

The two Arhats were surrounded by countless enthusiastic Tang Dynasty citizens.

Their faces no longer bore the fierce expressions of the past; instead, they radiated a radiant smile of enjoying the world and feeling as if bathed in a spring breeze.

"Click."

The water mirror dissipated.

Inside the main hall, a deathly silence fell.

After a brief silence.

What followed was a raging inferno comparable to a volcanic eruption!

"Insolence! Audacity! Outrageous!"

The white-browed Arhat was so angry that he trembled all over and pointed in the direction where the water mirror disappeared, cursing loudly.

"They actually sided with that heretical dynasty! They even cooperated with the demonic den, staging this charade to slander our Buddha!"

"This is undermining the very foundation of our Buddhist kingdom! This is severing the flames of our Buddhist faith!"

"No wonder! No wonder the offerings and prayers in many of the subsidiary worlds have decreased so much lately!"

A bodhisattva holding a vajra, with bloodshot eyes and a murderous aura.

"Those ignorant believers, upon seeing such erroneous and misleading images, lost their faith and stopped offering incense."

"Subduing dragons and tigers is a crime deserving of death!"

Anger spread wildly throughout the Little Thunder Temple.

Countless martial monks, arhats, and guardian deities unleashed their signature magical treasures.

The dazzling Buddhist light illuminated the Mahavira Hall as if it were daytime.

"Buddha!"

Hundreds of hot-tempered monks knelt on one knee at the same time, their voices booming like thunder.

"Please, Buddha, issue your decree!"

"We are willing to lead a million Buddhist soldiers, torn through the void at once, and descend upon the Great Tang!"

"That heretical dynasty must be razed to the ground! Those two traitors, Jianglong and Fuhu, along with the entire Tang imperial family, must have their souls extracted and their spirits refined, then cast into the deepest hell!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The deafening shouts of battle echoed above the Buddhist kingdom, transforming into a tangible golden killing intent that tore through the clouds.

however.

Faced with the impassioned clamor of the crowd below, who vowed to annihilate the Tang Dynasty, he was forced to fight.

The revered Buddha of the Three Worlds fell silent.

The Buddha in the center, with his eyes as bright as stars, flashed a deep sense of apprehension.

He slowly closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"We must not send troops."

These are just four simple words.

It was like a bucket of ice water being poured directly over the heads of all those who volunteered for the mission.

This extinguished most of their burning anger.

"Buddha?!"

The white-browed Arhat looked up in disbelief.

"Why can't we send troops? Do you think my glorious Western Paradise, worshipped by all realms, would fear a mere mortal dynasty?!"

"If we let them continue to cause trouble like this, what will become of the dignity of Buddhism? What will become of our incense offerings?"

"You all underestimate the Tang Dynasty."