"Lǚ Dòngbīn, how dare you even dare to attack my Mounting of the Eternal! "

    "You, Lü Dongbin, relying on your great powers, dare to look down upon my Eight Dragons of the Sky?"

    "All Buddhist soldiers, follow me to capture the evil bandit Lǜ Dongbin!"

    On the summit of Lingjiu Mountain, under boundless high sky, a series of loud and violent reverberations echoed.

    Only to see the five hundred Arhats, the Eight Dragons of the Sky, numerous Bodhisattvas, and a million Buddhist soldiers surrounding Lü Dongbin and Chen Yun in a circle.

    Lǚ Dongbin, calm and unafraid, displayed his supreme power with the splendidly radiant zǐjīnlánguāng. It illuminated the countless realms and worlds. With a single slap of his jade gourd, boundless immortal Qi erupted forth, striking down the desperate Xianglong Arhat and the bedraggled Fushu Arhat. The Eight Dragons of the Sky were all present except for the móhuóluóka (reincarnated as Fahai) and the errant Lǎo Hòu (king of Róhuò). However, all such celestial beings as Tianzhǔ Dìshì (the king of devas), Dà Biàn Tiānwang (the Great Vishnu) were disheveled, while Náchá Longzhuó also felt humbled. The yèchà (demonic night-demons) stumbled left and right, while qiándāpó (demonic musicians), āxiūluó (wild birds of prey), jiālōuluó (eagles), jǐnnà luó (demonic musicians who enchant with music and dance) all became enraged.

    Chen Yun truly didn't expect that his elder brother Lü Dongbin was so formidable, single-handedly defeating a million Buddhist soldiers, five hundred Arhats, the Eight Dragons of the Sky, and many Bodhisattvas, causing them to retreat one by one.

    The male and female sabers were controlled by Lü Dongbin, forming shocking, majestic streaks that shook the entire Putuo world violently.

    Seeing the Buddhist guardians unable to withstand, Lǚ Dongbin, along with Chen Yun, advanced to the gates of Leiyīn Treasure Pavilion Mountain.

    Suddenly, a Buddha with a top of a ten-thousand virtues lotus and an emanation of boundless light as radiant as the realms and worlds emerged in front of them. This was none other than Kǎiyè Buddha, one of the seven previous Buddhas.

    The Buddha Kaya, calling the Buddhist hymn, raised up a cudgel with six rings and two handles, releasing limitless Buddhist light to resist the immortal Qi from the jade gourd. With benevolent eyes and gentle expression, he said: "Brother Lü, why have you attacked my Mounting of the Eternal?"

    Lǚ Dongbin coldly laughed, "Why I attacked Mounting of the Eternal is not known to you? Call out to Śākyamuni!"

    After speaking, the male and female swords were raised again, forming a radiant collision between two streams of light, heading straight towards Kāya Buddha.

    Standing still in the doorway of the mountain, Kāya Buddha stood unmoving. The cudgel with six rings kept rising and swirling with Buddhist light that filled the heavens, covering Mounting of the Eternal. It resisted the flowing gold and jade lights.

    Both are divine beings, of celestial realms.

    This array of cultivation made the heavens shake, and the ten thousand realms felt the earth move.

    Chen Yun, protected by Lǚ Dongbin's zǐjīn xianqì, witnessed countless universes that seemed to burst open due to the battle between the two deities. He couldn't help but quietly gulp in astonishment. Only then did he realize how terrifying it was for true celestial beings to engage in combat.

    The million Buddhist soldiers, five hundred Arhats, the Eight Dragons of the Sky, and numerous Bodhisattvas, seeing Kāya Buddha resisting Lǚ Zu, all unleashed their own powers.

    The Buddhist soldiers continuously discharged Buddhist light, innumerable and brilliant.

    The five hundred Arhats revealed their incarnations, some in the form of a dragon and others as a tiger. Each one stood tens of thousands of zhang tall, blocking the sky and seizing them down.

    And the Eight Dragons of the Sky revealed their true forms as well.

    The Garuda assumed the form of a gigantic golden eagle the size of a star.

    The Yèchà King was equally imposing, with a green-faced and ferocious expression, wielding the Iron Forks with his eight generals to fiercely strike.

    There were also a myriad of gigantic dragons, resembling the Milky Way, joining in the joint attack.

    The Heavenly Emperor, the Great Vishnu, and others, all transformed into forms as lofty as the sky. Their Buddha weapons exuded malevolence and fear.

    Surrounded in the center, Lǚ Dongbin showed not a trace of fear. He continuously wielded the male and female swords and the jade gourd, dispersing the myriad of Buddha lights, blades, spears, halberds, whips, flails, axes, golden gourds, banners, sickles, and moon shovels.

    The Buddhist light shone brilliantly, illuminating the heavens.

    The zǐjīn èrqì, which shakes the ten thousand realms.

    For a moment, Lǚ Dongbin, alone, fought against the million Buddhist soldiers, five hundred Arhats, the Eight Dragons of the Sky, numerous Bodhisattvas, and even Kāya Buddha, and they were evenly matched.

    In the midst of powerful energy fluctuations, the Putuo world was constantly shattered. However, miraculous Buddhist light quickly filled in, mending and restoring its original state.

    Seeing the war becoming increasingly uncontrollable.

    Suddenly, the light of the sacred relics within the Leiyin Temple ascended to the nine heavens.

    A vast Buddha figure comparable to the universe suddenly appeared with the glow of the reliquary.

    With its appearance, the Buddha stretched a single finger and snapped it, spreading golden lotus blossoms and blooming flowers that halted everything.

    Lǚ Dongbin, the million Buddhist soldiers, the five hundred Arhats, the Eight Dragons of the Sky, numerous Bodhisattvas, and even Kāya Buddha, all the spiritual Qi and Buddhist light they had exerted vanished at once.

    Chen Yun was greatly startled. Looking quickly over, he saw that the Buddha's face showed a hint of suffering but also bore a compassionate demeanor.

    "Greeting the Buddha Shakyamuni!"

    "Greeting the Buddha Shakyamuni!"

    The Buddhist soldiers, Arhats, the Eight Dragons of the Sky, numerous Bodhisattvas, and even Kāya Buddha all stopped exerting their might and bowed in obeisance.

    Lǚ Dongbin also ceased his battle, looking up towards the immense Buddha, "Buddha Śākyamuni, do you wish to personally intervene against me?"

    The Buddha revealed a smile, "Brother Lǜ, do not misunderstand. I am intervening to stop the war, not to bring about infinite troubles for you. I have known about the affairs of the human realm, and I summon Luohu. Please, Brother Lǜ, bring Brother Chen and follow me into the Leiyin Temple. I will make you an explanation today."

    Lǚ Dongbin only then gave in, "Very well. Thank you for your understanding, Buddha Shakyamuni. I will immediately enter with my younger brother."

    The crowd of Buddhist soldiers receded like a tide.

    The five hundred Arhats and the Eight Dragons of the Sky dispersed as well.

    Only the numerous Bodhisattvas and Kāya Buddha turned around and went inside.

    Lǚ Dongbin, with Chen Yun, also vanished into the inner sanctum.

    At this moment, Chen Yun was greatly shocked. He never expected that Lǜ Xiongshī's great cultivation could shake the heavens and earths, yet it couldn't even move a single ray of light from Shakyamuni Buddha.

    He finally understood the formidable might of the patriarch of the Putuo world.

    It seems that the combat power of Shakyamuni Buddha in this world is only second to the first level of the Three Pure Ones, the Three Realms, and the Three Treasures Celestial Emperor.

    Chen Yun didn't know how Master Dongwanggong compared to Buddha Shakyamuni.

    However, he estimated that among those below the Three Pure Ones, the Three Realms, and the Three Treasures Celestial Emperor, it might only be the Zǐwéi Emperor who could dominate Buddha Shakyamuni.

    ...

    Arrived at the Leiyin Temple.

    Chen Yun noticed that this Buddhist temple was almost indistinguishable from those in the human world, appearing rather simple and unadorned, far from the bright and resplendent appearance. It seemed to embody the Buddha's poverty.

    On either side of the temple stood countless Buddhist beings, including Guanyin, Arhats, Bodhisattvas, Vajra Guardians, Nuns, and many others.

    Among them were many deities that Chen Yun was familiar with.

    Names like Ananda, Kāya, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva of Great Virtue, the Ancient Buddha of Dharma Light, and the Ancient Buddha Jue Longsun were among them.

    The only regret is that he did not see Amitabha Buddha and Doctor Feng here.

    These Buddhas and Bodhisattvas looked extremely similar to ordinary monks, wearing robes and displaying benevolent expressions.

    In the center of the hall, there was an exquisite lotus pedestal.

    On the pedestal, there was an emaciated old monk, none other than Shakyamuni Buddha.

    Under the Buddha, "kneeling" was a four-handed dragon-tailed Asura, none other than Luohu, the Great Asura King.

    Lǚ Dongbin, upon entering, did not behave boastfully as he had outside.

    First, he released the one who was subdued, then bowed and kowtowed, saying: "Greetings to the Buddha-Tathagata."

    Chen Yun, following suit, bowed and kowtowed, saying: "Greetings to the Buddha-Tathagata."

    "Greetings to the two sages," said Shakyamuni Buddha, joining his hands in a gesture of respect. Then he pointed with his hand, and two lotus platforms floated behind Chen Yun and Lǚ Dongbin. "Please sit down."

    Lǚ Dongbin sat down without hesitation, taking a cross-legged position.

    Chen Yun saw that his master had sat down, so he also sat down in a cross-legged position.

    At this moment, Shakyamuni turned to Luohu and said, "Luohu, you have allowed your subordinates to disturb the human world. According to the Buddha's law, what should be your punishment?"

    Luohu hung his head and said, "According to Buddhist rules, the spirits under the jurisdiction of the main deities are not allowed to allow them to go in and out, causing harm to good people. If they do so, they will be punished with ten years in prison. If they knowingly fail to prevent it but do not repent, they will be punished with death. Therefore, those who violate the rules will also assume different forms." Luohu said, "Although I discovered that my subordinates had caused chaos in the human world after the fact, according to Buddhist rules, I must also be punished with ten years in prison."

    Shakyamuni Buddha nodded slightly, "And what about your subordinate Qichuang?"

    Luohu glanced at Qichuang, who was already kneeling on the ground, and sighed deeply, "He is one who knows but does not repent. According to the Buddhist regulations, he should be executed."

    Shakyamuni Buddha asked again, "And what about the subordinate demons Mo Luo Zhi of the Magi Zhong?"

    Luohu spoke with a bitter tone, "He... will also be divided into different forms."

    Shakyamuni Buddha did not say anything else. He pointed with his hand, and Buddhist light burst forth.

    In the next moment, Chen Yun saw that the soul of the Asura he had destroyed earlier suddenly congealed.

    At this moment, Shakyamuni Buddha said, "Lead Luohu, Qichuang, and Mo Luo Zhi away to execute the Buddhist regulations."

    Kāya Buddha immediately stepped forward and said, "We will comply with the Buddhist sutras of my Buddha."

    After speaking, he waved his hand, and Luohu vanished right away. It was obvious that he had been sent to receive "re-education through labor."

    As for Qichuang, he lay motionless on the ground, dead on the spot.

    The soul of Mo Luo Zhi was immediately slaughtered by the Buddhist light, which chopped and ground it into a fine paste, leaving it disintegrated and dispersed.

    Hearing the terrible screams of Mo Luo Zhi, Chen Yun couldn't help but shiver with fear. It was then that he realized how terrifying the punishment of being divided into different forms was.

    After a while, the Buddhist regulations were executed.

    Shakyamuni Buddha turned to Lǚ Dongbin and said, "Brother Lǜ, have you now understood my teachings?"

    "Three have been punished." Lǚ Dongbin nodded, admiring Buddha Shakyamuni's handling. However, he soon changed the subject and said, "But that Magi Zhong caused chaos in the human world, killing millions of people and causing great suffering to all beings. My master's two lifeforce essence was also consumed as a result. Buddha, won't you give an explanation?"

    All the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Bodhisattvas, Vajra Guardians, Nuns, and Monks on either side shook their heads with bitter smiles.

    They didn't understand what Lǚ Dongbin meant with his words; it was clear that he was demanding compensation.

    Chen Yun didn't expect Lǜ Xiongshī to be so generous. He not only got the explanation he wanted but also demanded compensation for the loss of his life-saving essence.

    As for the legends of Buddha Shakyamuni, almost anyone in China is familiar with them, as the novel "Journey to the West" is indeed very famous.

    Although Chen Yun saw that the Buddha Shakyamuni in front of him was not exactly the same as described in "Journey to the West," he knew that the Buddha's great power was astonishing, and he eagerly anticipated whether the Buddha would agree to Lǚ Xiongshī's proposal and compensate him for his lost life-saving essence.

    Buddha Shakyamuni is very understanding.

    He nodded slightly again and said, "Chen Dao You suffered a loss of two lifeforce essences while trying to prevent the disaster caused by my Buddhist followers. Indeed, the old monk should compensate for this."

    Ah?

    Buddha Shakyamuni actually willing to compensate?

    To be honest, Chen Yun was somewhat surprised to hear this.

    After all, the other party had already punished Luohu, Qichuang, and Mo Luo Zhi according to the heavenly regulations.

    According to the principles, it could be considered as giving an explanation.

    Even without compensation, there was nothing to be done.

    Who would have thought that he would actually agree to compensate!

    Now, Chen Yun's heart couldn't help but become excited.

    This is Buddha Shakyamuni.

    This is the supreme god of Buddhism.

    The compensation he was to receive from such a revered figure must be very precious, one would think?

    (Chapter complete)