If the vermillion bird got its way, Jingwei and Lin Waner would be doomed, and Gu Hai would face boundless retaliation. However, at this moment, Vairocana suddenly chose self-sacrifice to buy Gu Hai fifteen minutes, moving Gu Hai deeply.
“Vairocana, if I have the ability in the future, I will save you and let you be reborn!” Gu Hai swore between clenched teeth. Without further sentimental words, he quickly began absorbing Sa’s surging energy.
Rumble…!
Amid the breakthrough of the Worldly Sorrowful Endowment, black gas billowed into the sky, forming a massive bank of dark clouds high above.
Inside the blazing sun, the vermilion bird flew furiously in a sea of flames, tearing space. All around, Buddhist chants filled the air, resonating deeply in one’s soul.
“Die, baldy! When I get out, I’ll make you suffer endless tribulations!” Zhu Qiqi roared.
However, Vairocana’s image paid no attention to it, keeping his palms pressed together.
On the other side, Jiang Lianshan had lost his last hope and was on the verge of destruction. Exerting all his strength, he wielded the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash and charged the Divine Farmer Hoe.
Boom!
The Physical Soul Scattering Calabash shot out a torrent of divine sand, which crashed into the body of the Divine Farmer Hoe.
“Argh!”
The Divine Farmer Hoe’s body was riddled with countless holes in an instant. The damage inflicted by the divine sand was significant, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.
“Serves you right, old man. Being an item spirit, you are like a physical soul. I should have used the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash from the beginning. Die!” Jiang Lianshan sneered.
“Cough! Cough!” Blargh!
Despite his heavy injuries and covered in wounds, the Divine Farmer Hoe still stood in front of Jiang Lianshan with bloodshot eyes. He struck Jiang Lianshan with a series of punches and palm strikes.
“Old man, you’re just wasting my time!” Jiang Lianshan grew incensed.
The Divine Farmer Hoe was sacrificing himself to hold Jiang Lianshan off. The Physical Soul Scattering Calabash has already riddled you with holes, yet you still refuse to let go?
Jiang Lianshan was growing increasingly impatient. “Do you want to die? Fine, Physical Soul Scattering Calabash, explode!”
Jiang Lianshan intended to detonate the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash, releasing all the divine sand within it. Even if it meant destroying the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash, he didn’t care anymore, as long as he could destroy the Divine Farmer Hoe.
Just as Jiang Lianshan was about to detonate the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash, a divine arrow suddenly flew in from a distance.
Boom!
The divine arrow instantly knocked the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash out of Jiang Lianshan’s hand, sending it flying.
“What?” Jiang Lianshan’s expression changed.
It was Hou Yi who had shot the arrow from afar to protect Jingwei.
“Hou Yi, how dare you?!” Jiang Lianshan exclaimed in anger.
“For pretending to be His Holy Eminence, you deserve to die!” Hou Yi said coldly.
Then Hou Yi drew another arrow and shot it at Jiang Lianshan.
Whizz!
The arrow arrived in front of Jiang Lianshan in an instant. However, Jiang Lianshan seemed very familiar with Hou Yi’s archery. Although Hou Yi had regained his strength, Jiang Lianshan twisted strangely and dodged Hou Yi’s divine arrow.
“Humph! I taught you your archery. Do you think you can kill me with it? Dream on!” Jiang Lianshan said coldly.
Hou Yi raised an eyebrow.
At this moment, the Divine Farmer Hoe suddenly rushed in front of Jiang Lianshan.
“Old man, even without the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash, you’re no match for me. With your body full of holes, do you still think you can stop me? Die!” Jiang Lianshan threw a palm strike.
This time, the Divine Farmer Hoe did not block directly. Instead, he shifted his body to avoid the attack and then suddenly hugged Jiang Lianshan tight.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Lianshan’s face changed as he was unexpectedly hugged.
“Hou Yi!” the Divine Farmer Hoe shouted.
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! Hou Yi shot three arrows in quick succession, aiming directly at Jiang Lianshan.
“Old man, even if you hold me, do you think you can delay me? Do you think Hou Yi’s arrows can hit me? Dream on!” Jiang Lianshan’s face contorted.
Jiang Lianshan reached out to grab the Divine Farmer Hoe’s head while rapidly dodging Hou Yi’s divine arrows.
Whoosh! Jiang Lianshan narrowly avoided the arrows and was about to smash the Divine Farmer Hoe’s head with a palm.
The Divine Farmer Hoe did not panic but seemed tranquil instead.
“First Princess, since this old man has seen the misunderstanding between you and His Holy Eminence get resolved, I can die contented!” The Divine Farmer Hoe looked tranquil.
Jiang Lianshan’s face changed as if he had guessed something unpleasant. He increased the speed and strength of his hand.
“Your Holy Eminence, this old man is coming to join you now!” The Divine Farmer Hoe smiled one last time.
“You old man, no!” Jiang Lianshan screamed in panic as he landed a palm strike on the Divine Farmer Hoe’s head.
Boom!
The Divine Farmer Hoe exploded, unleashing a tremendous force that surged straight into Jiang Lianshan.
“Argh!” Jiang Lianshan let out an agonized scream.
Hou Yi’s expression changed. He finally understood that the Divine Farmer Hoe had not intended for him to shoot arrows just then, but to shoot them now.
He nocked an arrow on his bow, drew, and then shot.
Nine divine arrows flew at Jiang Lianshan.
The Divine Farmer Hoe’s self-detonation created a momentary pause in Ba’s battle.
Ba’s eyes turned bloodshot instantly as she gazed at the distant explosion site.
She seemed to go berserk and delivered a powerful strike at Yinggou.
Boom!
“Argh!”
Yinggou was sent flying by Ba’s frenzied attack, spewing blood and displaying a look of sheer horror.
“How is this possible?” Yinggou exclaimed.
“Again! I’ll kill you this time!” Ba showed a ferocious expression as she charged Yinggou.
An overwhelming murderous intent pressed over, like a sea of blades slashing toward Yinggou. It sent shivers down Yinggou’s spine, a chilling realization that she could not linger here any longer.
Boom!
In a panic, Yinggou met Ba’s strike, another spurt of blood escaping her lips. She abruptly changed course, jetting away into the distance.
Upon seeing Yinggou retreat, Ba did not pursue her. Instead, Ba sprinted towards Jiang Lianshan.
Yinggou dared not engage further. Even if the tide turned in her favor, Ba’s ferocity would undoubtedly result in mutual destruction.
Yinggou fled hastily and, in her escape, stumbled upon the Physical Soul Scattering Calabash.
“At least something to show for this!” The frustrated Yinggou seized the flying Physical Soul Scattering Calabash.
Whoosh!
Yinggou vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Ba soon reached Jiang Lianshan’s location.
The Divine Farmer Hoe had self-detonated, leaving only fragments. Despite heavy injuries, Jiang Lianshan had survived Hou Yi’s barrage of nine arrows, albeit exceedingly enfeebled.
At that moment, Jiang Lianshan knew he could not stay any longer. As he made to escape, Ba suddenly blocked his path.
Whoosh! With a wave of her hand, Ba collected the numerous fragments of the Divine Farmer Hoe while fixing an icy glare on Jiang Lianshan.
“Cough! Cough! Haha! You want to kill me?” Jiang Lianshan looked at Ba weakly.
“You should have died long ago. If I had known it was you, the first thing I would have done after breaking the seal was come and kill you. Fire Deity, you’ve caused the deaths of so many of my loved ones,” Ba replied coldly, her palm striking down.
“Jiang Ba! Jiang Ba, I’m your father!” Jiang Lianshan, weakened, revealed a trace of fear.
“You never were,” Ba retorted icily.
Ba extended her hand and clenched it; Jiang Lianshan found himself within the fiery palm of Ba’s hand.
“Argh!” Jiang Lianshan cried out in pain.
“Humph!” Ba snorted coldly.
Boom!
Ba suddenly tightened her clench and utterly ashed Jiang Lianshan’s fire deity.
Not far away, Hou Yi gritted his teeth. Jiang Lianshan’s demise had been too swift for his liking; he harbored a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.
Such individuals deserved prolonged torment.
Having extinguished Jiang Lianshan, Ba carefully gathered the remaining fragments of the Divine Farmer Hoe. She then turned her gaze toward Jingwei, who lay on the altar.
Jingwei had already consumed a significant portion of the nirvana core, and she exhibited faint signs of movement.
A glimmer of hope crossed Ba’s eyes. Jingwei’s nirvanic rebirth remained a comforting possibility in these trying times.
Ba looked skywards where the region of red clouds, her heavenly eye, had been sealed by Zhu Qiqi just moments ago.
“Break!” Ba roared furiously.
Boom!
The energy sealing the red clouds exploded, and the crimson expanse suddenly parted, revealing a golden-red heavenly eye.
As Ba’s heavenly eye opened wide, an immense aura of heavenly might descended upon them.
------
Far in the distance, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon took a deep breath.
“This Ba…if it weren’t for Yinggou’s interference just now, she could have already broken the seal and opened her heavenly eye?” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon exclaimed in amazement.
“Heavenly eye? Originally, this was unique to the Six Paths Immortal,” the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon commented, his expression troubled.
“There are five heavenly gifts in the world. The Six Paths Immortal has one, Jiangchen has one, Essence Genesis has one, Ba has one, and Gu Hai has one? Had I known previously…if only I had known I could get it from Ba and Gu Hai. How unfortunate!” the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon said solemnly.
“Ba’s heavenly gift cultivation technique has already matured, while Gu Hai’s hasn’t. Milord, we might still have a chance,” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon suggested hopefully.
However, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon remained silent, his gaze fixed coldly on the distance.
------
Ba’s heavenly eye opened wide as she strode towards Gu Hai’s location.
Gu Hai was gradually forming a dense cloud of darkness above his head as he absorbed Sa’s surging energy, indicating that he was about to open his externally manifested heavenly eye.
Sa’s energy?
Ba also drove her heavenly gift and stepped forward to absorb it.
However, Ba halted after a while, perplexed, as she looked at Gu Hai. “This energy is specially tailored for the vermilion bird, isn’t it? So, others can’t use it at all, right?”
“Can’t you strengthen your heavenly gift with this?” Gu Hai asked.
“My heavenly gift has already reached a high level. This energy isn’t sufficient to push it to the next level,” Ba replied, shaking her head.
“In that case, I’ll take it all! I’ll give Jingwei a big gift later on!” Gu Hai declared with determination.
“Huh?” Ba looked at Gu Hai, puzzled.
“The heavenly eye can do more than just destroy matter; it can also capture spiritual souls and erase physical souls, right?” Gu Hai asked Ba.
Ba’s expression suddenly changed, as if she had guessed something.
“Since Zhu Qiqi absorbed some of Sa’s energy and her strength has now reached its peak, you might not be able to kill her. However, she must die today. We’ll work together to obliterate her spiritual souls. Jingwei wants the Vermilion Bird Deity, right? We’ll retrieve Lin Waner’s body and give Jingwei the Vermilion Bird Deity—as well as the vermilion bird’s body,” Gu Hai stated firmly.
“Destroy Zhu Qiqi’s spiritual souls and help Jingwei possess her body?” Ba narrowed her eyes and nodded, accepting Gu Hai’s proposal.
Screech! Boom!
At that moment, a distant explosion resounded.
Zhu Qiqi had shattered Vairocana’s Blazing Sun Buddhist Sea World.
“Amitāyus! Mister Gu, I apologize. I couldn’t hold out for fifteen minutes!” Vairocana expressed his last regret as he turned to ashes.
“Fifteen minutes? With your level of strength, you thought you could trap me for fifteen minutes? You’re delusional!” Screech! Zhu Qiqi raged.
“Gu Hai, let’s do as you said!” Ba declared in a firm tone.
As she spoke, Ba stepped forward, blocking Zhu Qiqi’s path, buying Gu Hai more time to absorb Sa’s energy.
“Vairocana, I’ll ensure that Zhu Qiqi keeps you company soon!” Gu Hai vowed, his face twisted in a ferocious expression as he continued absorbing Sa’s energy.