The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1292 685: Battle to Ascend the Heavens (Part 3)

Xu Zhenguan stood there stunned, but moments later, she knew everything that had happened in Mubei Forest.

The memories experienced by her puppet form, the memories that had dissipated into the world, were now returned by Zhao Douan.

The two sets of memories naturally fused together, and Xu Zhenguan closed her eyes. Upon reopening them, she understood everything.

She raised her hand and stroked Zhao Douan's cheek; a smile surfaced on the face stained with tear marks:

"I knew you could do it."

Zhao Douan chuckled, then turned to look towards the direction beyond the border, his gaze overlooking the countless monk soldiers and soldiers, gazing towards the sky over distant mountains, and said loudly:

"Ksitigarbha, since you have arrived, why not show yourself?"

His voice echoed across the vast terrain like the heavens and earth roaring.

Countless people outside the city looked up in astonishment, and then everyone saw endless ripples spreading in the sky.

High above the sky, a blurred kingdom spread across the firmament.

Clothed in colorful robes and crowned with a Treasure Bead crown, the middle-aged and barefooted Ksitigarbha stood on the clouds, his authoritative gaze overlooking the men and women on the city walls, and in his voice like a thundering bell, carried shock and anger:

"Moya! How come you are not dead?!"

Zhao Douan smiled, shook his head, and said:

"Firstly, I am not called Moya; my name is Zhao Douan, and the people of the Capital call me Yama Zhao, and you can call me that too."

"Secondly, since you the traitor haven't died, how could I bear to die?"

"Thirdly, six hundred years ago, Xu once cleaned you up, but unfortunately not thoroughly. But this time, I will personally clean the house."

Ksitigarbha was extremely angry, but even he did not realize that his voice carried a deep fear:

"Zhao Douan! Now I remember, I should have killed you early on, killed you..."

Then the anger on his face vanished, turning to a dignified solemnity:

"Master Zhao, this poor monk has achieved great Buddhist Law; you are not my match. How about you and I each take a step back, dividing this realm in half? A thousand years of cultivation is not easy, why struggle to death for mere mortal ants?"

Zhao Douan stood on the wall, seriously pondering for a while, then he raised a bright smile:

"I have a plan too; you commit suicide here, and teach me to completely annihilate your Divine Soul, then how about I spare your disciples and followers?"

At this moment, on the wilderness outside the city, tens of thousands of Western Regions Buddhism monk soldiers were all staring in amazement at the sky, deeply shocked by the dialogue between the two.

They neither understood why their Dharma King had changed appearance, nor did they understand why the Dharma King called Zhao Douan "Moya."

Moya, Moya... isn't that the founder of Buddhism a thousand years ago?

At this moment, as the faith of countless monks on the earth shook, the "Sumeru Buddha Country" behind Ksitigarbha began to flicker uncertainly, and his face turned extremely gloomy. He cursed:

"Useless."

Then he opened his mouth wide and with a single inhale, consumed countless monks outside the city, integrating them into himself.

He furiously transformed bit by bit into a golden sky, flying into the divine kingdom within the clouds, like a gigantic "painting scroll" of the Sumeru Buddha Country, filled with endless jade pavilions and Buddha's chants, unfolded covering the sky.

"Zhao Douan! If you seek death, this poor monk will transcend you!"

Ksitigarbha angrily shouted, then his face transformed again into a compassionate and dignified visage:

"Master Zhao, do you dare to ascend for battle?"

"Mr. Zhao..." The Empress felt her heart tighten, subconsciously reaching out to grab him, but saw Zhao Douan warmly shaking his head at her:

"Wait for me."

The Empress gritted her teeth, almost pleadingly said:

"Wait, put on my Dragon Robe..."

She wanted to untie her robe in public, as this Dragon Robe was also a magic robe for defense, but Zhao Douan stopped her.

Zhao Douan looked up and gently chanted, his voice ancient and rhythmic:

"How can one say there are no clothes? Together with you, in the same robe. When the king mobilizes the army, I will repair my weapons, together against the foe."

He leapt up, surrounded by rays of light:

"How can one say there are no clothes? Together with you, in the same legacy. When the king mobilizes the army, I will repair my spear and halberd, fighting together."

In full view, he transformed into a white rainbow, ascending into the heavens:

"How can one say there are no clothes? Together with you, in the same garments. When the king mobilizes the army, I will repair my armor, marching together!"

High above the sky.

Zhao Douan stretched wide, the Qingyun beneath his feet, the Green Lotus at his brow, and the surrounding rosy clouds fused into one, enveloping his entire body, transforming into a rainbow, ascending to the heavens.

His handsome face exhibited a harmonious and clear brightness.

There is only one supreme being in heaven and earth, that is the perfect person.

Mr. Zhao didn't turn around, he dared not look at the infatuated Empress on the city wall behind him, fearing that a soft heart would make him shy away from battle for the sake of beauty.

In his mind, countless memories of a thousand years flowed like a waterfall, and he clearly believed that the life of Moya a thousand years ago was truly dull and flavorless, while all the cherishing and reluctance were compressed into these few short years, spent with the beauty on the city wall day and night.

Divine? To cast off humanity?

Mortal? To stir one's soul?

What is right and what is wrong...

The choice had been made by himself a thousand years ago before his death, and in this life, the Human Immortal born from the mortal world is going to fight for everything he cherishes.

Between heaven and earth, divided by the Yumen Pass, the world is split into two parts, like a line on the ocean between water and sky.

Ksitigarbha is in the sky.

Human Immortal is on earth.

At this moment, the entire continent saw the single white rainbow shooting straight into the sky.

In a village, the Bodhisattva, barefoot with black hair and skin like white porcelain, holding a porcelain bottle and walking among the crowd to heal the wounded, suddenly raised her hand and looked westward. Her cool face showed a look of shock and realization.

She clasped her hands together devoutly and bowed: "Amitabha..."

In a forest, the "Princess Jing" Lu Yaner, who was veiled and wearing a silver face mask, was about to remove her mask for a life-and-death struggle with the enemy ahead.

Suddenly, everyone ceased fighting, lifted their heads and gazed into the distance. An inexplicable touch arose in Lu Yaner's heart, prompting a name to surface:

"Mr. Zhao."

Beside the river. Young Master Tang Ping rode on horseback, the red crest on top having been cut down, loudly guiding soldiers across the river:

"Mr. Dong! You lead the elderly, women, and children away first, I'll cover the rear!"

Suddenly, the Commander of Divine Mechanism Camp Shi Meng called out to him: "Look over there!"

The river flowed gently.

Tang Ping, Shi Meng, Chen Huoshen, and Dong Da, once a scholar who has long since honed courage and ruthlessness, now vastly different, simultaneously raised their heads, gazing at the western sky in lost admiration.

...

Yunfu Road.

A war was on the brink of eruption, as Mr. Zhao led the border army to again face off against Song Zhi leading the Liao Clan.

Suddenly, both sides were touched by a divine sense, simultaneously halting, turning to look towards the distant Yumen Pass.

Both with cultivation comparable to Half-step Celestials saw more, much more than anyone else, leaving them speechless in shock.

Mr. Zhao suddenly burst into laughter: "Song Zhi, he has returned, you are finished!"

Song Zhi's face turned ashen.

In the Capital, Mo Chou, leading the ministers and officials, heard the bell from the Heavenly Master Mansion. The officials emerged from the Golden Throne Hall, pausing in the square, gazing westward.

...

Green Lotus paved the way, rosy clouds safeguarded, Qingyun surged upward.

Zhao Douan transformed into a white rainbow, defying the heavens.

Under the watch of countless familiar people, he resolutely ascended to the sky, closing his eyes and burning himself into a raging white flame, silently reciting:

When I return, I shall restore the old mountains and rivers, towards the heavenly gate.

His body grew transparent amidst the flames, akin to a true divine, save for the last human thought lingering, yearning for a woman waiting alone amidst the mortal dust.

The white rainbow had reached the Sumeru Heavenly Kingdom, Zhao Douan suddenly opened his eyes, shouted lowly:

"Ksitigarbha, come down to die!"

Seated within the divine land, the Dharma King Ksitigarbha only sensed a vast human world, countless common people's intentions converging into a great river, this mortal mass of souls considered as ants bursting with telekinesis enough to topple a divine, causing the whole divine kingdom to totter.

Until this moment, true fear arose within his heart, dual faces overlap, emitting interwoven sounds:

"Zhao Douan, you shall not die well!"

Across the Nine Provinces universe, myriad beings witnessed a sight they would never forget:

The entire world's sky was consumed by white flames, seemingly to burn away all filth, even the sunlight's myriad rays no longer dazzling.

Heavenly fire spreading.

——

Only one or two chapters remain until completion, lastly asking for August's monthly votes.