Chapter 185 Capture
"This humble Daoist has a karmic connection with you, and has come to guide you to the Western Paradise, to preach the Three Vehicles of the Great Law, to be free from all attachments and hindrances, to achieve enlightenment, and to solidify your indestructible body. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Why then do you wallow in the mortal world, struggling through countless calamities, risking death for a sliver of life?"
Unwilling to speak further with Feng Zichen, Daoist Zhunti decided to capture him first. Once he reached Mount Sumeru, his fate would be in his own hands.
With a flick of his Seven Treasures Tree, seven-colored rays of light appeared, enveloping Feng Zichen.
The actions of a sage were truly extraordinary!
Before the seven-colored light even touched Feng Zichen, the sheer power emanating from his body was enough to firmly pin him to the ground, rendering him completely immobile.
"This is bad!"
This was the greatest crisis Feng Zichen had faced since his debut. Aside from his thoughts, his magical power, supernatural abilities, spiritual treasures, and everything else were completely unusable.
Faced with absolute power, all his previous efforts seemed utterly laughable, so pale and powerless, utterly ineffective.
He could only watch helplessly as the seven-colored light descended, accompanied by a dizzying spin, drawing him into a seven-colored world.
"The golden light of the precious flames shines brightly, the most exquisite and subtle Western Dharma; a thousand jewels of infinite wonder, ten thousand auspicious lights arise one after another."
"The blessing of the divine pestle is rarely seen. How easy is it to walk in the seven-jeweled cup? Today, we go together to the Lotus Platform Assembly; only today do we know the Great Dao is achieved."
Now, after using the Seven-Jeweled Tree to take in Feng Zichen, the Daoist Zhunti was overjoyed. He waved his sleeves, sang a song, and strode towards Mount Sumeru.
"Young friend, after we return to Mount Sumeru, I will impart to you the Dao of Relics and the Method of the Golden Body, so that you may experience the magnificence of the Western Dharma!"
"Then you will know what a great opportunity this is for you!"
On the way, the Daoist Zhunti said to Feng Zichen.
"Saint Zhunti, I am a disciple of Goddess Nuwa. You forcibly brought me to Mount Sumeru; do you even respect Goddess Nuwa?"
Having been taken into the Seven-Colored World, Feng Zichen had returned to normal. While stretching his body, he heard Zhunti Daoist's words. Although he was disdainful, he still spoke politely.
When under someone's roof, one must bow one's head; Feng Zichen was quite pragmatic.
Besides, how could a saint be so easily insulted? He was in the right, but if he lost his temper and cursed Zhunti Daoist, he would become unreasonable, and no one would be willing to step in to save him.
"This matter is for me to discuss with Fellow Daoist Nuwa; there's no need for you to trouble yourself, young friend!"
Zhunti Daoist replied calmly, then fell silent.
As long as the West prospered, offending even one saint, or even all the great supernatural beings of the East, including the Three Pure Ones, would be worthwhile.
Just then, high in the heavens, a cyan pearl, carrying boundless gales, tore through layers of space, hurtling towards the Seven Treasures Tree in the hands of Daoist Zhunti at an incredible speed.
"Eh?"
"Why do I feel uneasy? It's as if something bad is about to happen!"
As he walked, Daoist Zhunti's brow suddenly twitched, as if warning him of something, causing him to pause.
Even a saint felt uneasy; this was no small matter.
Without bothering to investigate what was happening, Daoist Zhunti dared not hesitate and immediately used his divine powers to return to Mount Sumeru.
There, Daoist Jieyin was present. With the two saints joining forces, they could easily suppress whatever happened.
However, before Daoist Zhunti could act, the cyan pearl traversed boundless space, arrived, and blasted towards him.
"Seeking death!"
Seeing this, Daoist Zhunti was enraged, his anger rising. This was the first time since becoming a saint that he had been attacked.
A thunderous roar resounded, and a holy image appeared in the void; eighteen hands, twenty-four faces, holding a jeweled parasol, a floral fish-shaped ornament, as if wielding a divine pestle and file, golden bells and bows, a silver halberd and flag, and other items.
It was none other than the supreme golden body of the Daoist Zhunti.
"Take this!"
The twenty-four voices boomed in unison, like thunder, shaking the eighteen directions. Eighteen hands waved simultaneously, each wielding a magical weapon and carrying immense power, striking fiercely at the azure pearl.
Unfortunately, Hongjun Daoist's realm was profound and unfathomable, far beyond the reach of ordinary saints.
How could Zhunti Daoist possibly withstand his divine powers?
The azure pearl trembled slightly, ignoring Zhunti Daoist's attack, striking the Seven Treasures Tree directly, causing it to tremble violently.
The immense force was too much for Zhunti Daoist to bear, and he loosened his grip, causing the Seven Treasures Tree to fly out and crash into a nearby mountain peak.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Feng Zichen struggled free and escaped from the Seven Treasures Tree. Sensing his presence, the azure pearl spun and landed in his hand.
"This is..."
Without time to think, Feng Zichen put away the precious pearl and immediately fled into the void, heading towards the Western Regions. Since the other party had already attacked him, there was no need to worry about offending him; escaping was the priority.
As long as he could reach the Western Regions, he would be safe. There, the White Tiger Sacred Beast was stationed, and with its protection, even Daoist Zhunti wouldn't dare to push him too far.
"Boy, don't run!"
Daoist Zhunti withdrew his golden body, summoned back the Seven Treasures Tree, and swung it at Feng Zichen!
A seven-colored light swept across, freezing time and space, fixing Feng Zichen motionless in the void.
"Nonsense!"
At the same time, inside the Zixiao Palace, Daoist Hongjun, who was preaching to Nuwa, suddenly frowned, his face showing displeasure.
"Master, has something happened?"
Nuwa asked anxiously from the side.
Hongjun's sudden anger startled her; she thought she had done something wrong and angered Hongjun.
Hongjun Daoist didn't answer, but instead sent a wisp of his divine sense westward.
Seeing this, Nuwa breathed a sigh of relief; it was good, it wasn't him. Then, she became curious again, wondering which unlucky fellow had angered their master. This was going to be quite a show.
Thinking this, Nuwa couldn't resist her curiosity and looked down in the direction Hongjun Daoist's divine sense had gone.
...
In the west, Zhunti Daoist was about to step forward and take Feng Zichen away when, without any warning, Hongjun Daoist suddenly appeared before him, startling him.
"Disciple Zhunti greets Master!"
Startled, Zhunti Daoist quickly bowed.
It turned out that during the Three Lectures at Zixiao Palace, Hongjun Daoist, bound by karma, had no choice but to accept these two as disciples. However, they weren't Hongjun's preferred disciples; they only received the title of nominal disciples.
Therefore, they couldn't address him as "Master" like the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa; instead, like the other Zixiao mortals, they addressed him as "Teacher."
(End of Chapter)