I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 515Book 2: : Courting Death, A Sincere Invitation

Book 2: Chapter 515: Courting Death, A Sincere Invitation

Vol 2 Chapter 515: Courting Death, A Sincere Invitation

Four colossal sword phantoms stood erect in the sky, like pillars holding up the heavens, shimmering with cyan and gray talismanic scripts. The wind ceased, clouds stagnated, and even time seemed to halt its flow. The heavenly light dimmed as baleful energy filled the air.

The Glazed Buddha would never mistake them—or rather, no cultivator would fail to recognize these four terrifying immortal swords—the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, a peerless formation legacy left by the Tianhe Venerable that had dominated an entire epoch.

"How could the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation be in the hands of the Jiushan Sect?"

The Glazed Buddha burst forth from the sea surface, carefully examining the Four Slaying Immortal Swords before speaking with confusion.

Naturally, no one had any clues, only the Cangming Dragon King reacted: "The Zao Hua Demon Ancestor has been tricked! The Jiushan Sect hid the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation long ago, just waiting for him to walk right in?"

Golden light shone in the Glazed Buddha's eyes as he looked toward the Jiushan Realm, seemingly probing the reality and illusion of the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation. After a moment, he nodded: "This Jiushan Sect is using low-level cultivators to set up the formation. If not for this Creation Daoist's recklessness, he truly wouldn't have been trapped inside."

He instantly identified the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation's biggest weakness—short legs.

With Yan Wushuang and the others' footspeed, trying to catch up to a Golden Immortal like the Creation Daoist was simply delusional.

But now it was different.

The Creation Daoist, for the Hongmeng Purple Qi, had charged headlong into the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation!

"So you're saying the Creation Daoist fell for the trap?" The Cangming Dragon King said in surprise, "Then isn't the Jiushan Sect about to win?"

"No!" Unexpectedly, the Glazed Buddha sneered coldly, "By deploying the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, they have sought their own doom."

After speaking, he raised a hand and shot a golden message talisman toward the southeast direction, seemingly communicating with someone.

The Cangming Dragon King didn't understand but didn't dare ask. However, a Bodhisattva who had come east with the Glazed Buddha inquired: "Why does the Buddha say they seek their own doom?"

"The Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, the Nine Nether Emperor, the failure of the Dao Fruit iron rule." The Glazed Buddha sneered coldly, "Can the Jiushan Sect bear this karmic connection?"

Hearing this, the Cangming Dragon King's mind was greatly shaken, then suddenly understood: "The Buddha speaks most truly!"

"That Nine Nether Emperor established the Reincarnation Cycle, cutting off our path to Dao Fruit immortality, already making him the enemy of all Dao Fruits under heaven." The Glazed Buddha continued, "Yet he resides in the Underworld and possesses Taiyi cultivation—what can we do against him? But who doesn't harbor deep hatred for him?"

The Cangming Dragon King repeatedly nodded.

The faces of the other Bodhisattvas and Arhats also showed clear indignation.

Since the Nine Nether Emperor achieved the Dao, Dao Fruits faced the danger of death—who hadn't been living in constant fear?

It was just that the Nine Emperor was too powerful; they had no way to deal with him.

But if they couldn't fight the Nine Nether Emperor, couldn't they still fight your Jiushan Sect?

"But now that Jiushan Sect has produced the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, it reveals their connection to both the Nine Nether Emperor and the Tianhe Venerable." The Cangming Dragon King couldn't help continuing, "If they weren't extremely close to the Nine Nether Emperor, how could they have obtained the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation?"

"Not just that." The Glazed Buddha recalled, "Back then, when the Nine Nether Emperor set up the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation at the Tianhe Sect, the Great Ascension Buddha entered the formation with his Dharmakaya. Just when he was about to achieve Da Luo success, his Dharmakaya was severed by a single sword strike, failing at the last step."

"The Great Ascension Buddha once said there was a mysterious person in the formation helping the Nine Nether Emperor. If not for this person repeatedly obstructing him, the Nine Nether Emperor could never have achieved the Dao!"

Hearing this, the Cangming Dragon King grew even more horrified: "Venerable One, are you saying that person was Zheng Fa?"

The Glazed Buddha looked up at the four colossal swords in the sky, sneering coldly: "Besides him, who else could control the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation? If you were the Nine Nether Emperor, would you casually give the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation to just anyone?"

The Cangming Dragon King repeatedly nodded.

"If Zheng Fa hadn't 'made small contributions,' how could such a supreme treasure end up with the Four Jade Dragons?"

"Even if it were me, if I held the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, it could only be me!"

Although the Glazed Buddha's words were conjecture, everyone who heard them found them credible. Just then, a white spiritual talisman flew from afar, landing in the Glazed Buddha's hand.

The Glazed Buddha took the talisman, glanced at it, and laughed: "Now even the Taishang Dao has abandoned the Jiushan Sect!"

The Cangming Dragon King's spirit lifted, finally realizing that the Glazed Buddha had been sending a message to the Taishang Dao earlier.

Likely discussing Zheng Fa's relationship with the Nine Nether Emperor.

The Glazed Buddha pinched the talisman with his fingers, smiling: "Zheng Fa getting involved in this matter has offended almost all Dao Fruits. How could those Taishang Dao people not be furious in their hearts?"

"Xuan Chengzi sent me a message saying the Purple Qi ownership can be discussed again, but they won't take action."

"Won't take action?" The Cangming Dragon King's expression showed delight as he understood, "They mean they won't rescue the Jiushan Sect, but are unwilling for us to obtain the Hongmeng Purple Qi?"

The Glazed Buddha laughed: "These Taishang Dao people are truly hypocritical! But as long as they don't interfere, what do I have to fear!"

After speaking, he turned and flew toward the Jiushan Realm in the southeast.

The Cangming Dragon King and the others closely followed, hearts stirred, knowing that what the Glazed Buddha had feared was precisely the Taishang Dao. Now that the Taishang Dao was watching from the sidelines, seemingly neutral, they had actually already made their choice.

The Buddha naturally had no more reservations.

This way, once the Jiushan Sect perished, the Lord Shuyu Dragon would lose her support and naturally wouldn't be his match either!

The group moved extremely fast, reaching the Xuanwei Sea in just four or five breaths.

Here, Xie Qingxue was leading the Divine Thunder Fleet, stubbornly resisting nearly a thousand Dao Fruits.

Light pillars wove into nets across the sea surface. The Divine Thunder Fleet followed behind the Qingping Sword, only defending without attacking, barely managing to hold off five True Immortals.

Even when there were slight gaps, there was still the Lord Shuyu Dragon. She surpassed ordinary True Immortals in maritime regions, extremely powerful. With both sides cooperating, they actually managed to keep the enemy outside the Eastern Continent.

However, the expressions of the Divine Thunder Fleet disciples weren't good. Prolonged defense inevitably fails, their cultivation was low, and after extended combat, their consumption was enormous.

They faced numerous enemies with immense psychological pressure, actually barely holding on, even appearing on the verge of collapse.

As the fleet commander, Xie Qingxue bore especially heavy responsibility. The spiritual energy within her body gradually dried up, her arms trembled, and her vision darkened.

But seeing a True Immortal pounce toward a battleship, she still shouted lightly, mustering her last strands of magic power to block before the opponent.

But she was already at the end of her strength.

The Qingping Sword flew backward, Xie Qingxue's whole body went limp, nearly falling into the sea.

"Elder Xie!"

Seeing the Qingping Sword fly out, disciples on the battleship behind her exclaimed in alarm, hearts burning with anxiety, watching helplessly as rescue wouldn't make it in time.

The True Immortal had pressed close before her. Xie Qingxue only felt the opponent's immortal power like waves crashing toward her face, bringing howling winds. She seemed to smell the scent of death in this wind.

Xie Qingxue closed her eyes.

But death didn't come for a long time.

Xie Qingxue opened her eyes to see the five True Immortals who had just been attacking like tidal waves were now, for some reason, far from them, warily watching the northwest direction.

Xie Qingxue looked toward that direction.

Golden light spread across the sea surface as a group flew from the north—precisely the Glazed Buddha and his companions.

The Glazed Buddha glanced at both fighting sides. Before he could speak, the True Immortal who had nearly caused Xie Qingxue's death just moments ago lowered his head, trembling with fear, not even daring to look directly at the Glazed Buddha.

Xie Qingxue's heart shook. Her cultivation was too low to discern the newcomer's level, but judging by the situation, she had some understanding.

The Lord Shuyu Dragon emerged from the sea, face pale, respectfully saying: "Paying respects to the Glazed Buddha."

The Glazed Buddha slightly nodded without returning the courtesy, while the Cangming Dragon King standing behind him grinned toward the Lord Shuyu Dragon.

Hearing the Lord Shuyu Dragon's address, Xie Qingxue learned this young monk's identity. She certainly wouldn't doubt the Lord Shuyu Dragon—not to mention she was the Jiushan Sect's closest ally, the Lord Shuyu Dragon after all had special origins and was familiar with the Four Sects' upper echelons, which made perfect sense.

The Glazed Buddha didn't even speak a word, yet none of the present Dao Fruits dared make a move.

The Lord Shuyu Dragon continued: "May I ask what business brings the Buddha east?"

"Why pretend ignorance?" The Glazed Buddha lightly laughed, "I wish to go to the Jiushan Realm."

The Lord Shuyu Dragon's face grew paler.

"Now that the Taishang Dao has abandoned the Jiushan Sect, will you still stubbornly persist? Accompany the Jiushan Sect to their grave?"

The Lord Shuyu Dragon remained silently speechless.

The Glazed Buddha let out an extremely light scoffing laugh, not caring about her, and lifted his foot to proceed toward the Jiushan Realm direction.

A figure blocked before him.

Xie Qingxue held the Qingping Sword, her face still pale, spine straight, gaze steady, speaking not a word.

The Glazed Buddha stopped, seeming very surprised.

The True Immortals in the distance who had been fighting Xie Qingxue to the death moments ago now looked at her with complex expressions—some mocking, yet with lingering emotion.

"You want to stop me?" The Glazed Buddha's tone was full of strangeness.

"Duty demands it." Xie Qingxue's voice was very soft, seemingly not fully recovered, faintly trembling—whether from weakness or fear was unclear—but her gaze didn't retreat, instead directly meeting the Glazed Buddha's eyes, "Without permission, no cultivator may enter Hundred Immortals Alliance territory."

The Glazed Buddha's gaze shifted to the Qingping Sword, as if recognizing this sword, growing even more surprised: "You don't seem to be from the Jiushan Sect? From the Tianhe Sect?"

"This disciple was the previous Tianhe Sect Master's apprentice, now a Jiushan Sect Elder."

The Glazed Buddha opened his mouth, seeming to want to ask something more, but looking at Xie Qingxue's expression, he seemed to understand, only mockingly laughing: "The Jiushan Sect actually sends a Tianhe Sect member to die."

Pinpoints of radiance lit up across the sea surface, purple-blue, making the seawater appear even darker.

The Divine Thunder Fleet floated behind Xie Qingxue, thousands of fleet disciples silent, the battleship lights enveloping Xie Qingxue, indistinguishable from one another.

The Glazed Buddha gently pressed his lips together. The Lord Shuyu Dragon let out a light sigh, standing beside Xie Qingxue.

"Is the Dragon Lord also so unwise?"

"The Dragon Ancestor Covenant stands above, and my descendants are in the Jiushan Realm." The Lord Shuyu Dragon's expression held some bitterness, yet also some relief, "I beg the Buddha's understanding."

The Glazed Buddha remained silent for a long moment, then suddenly lightly laughed: "One from the Tianhe Sect, one from the ancient dragon clan, both willing to die for the Jiushan Sect..."

His tone was light, yet others hearing it felt emotions surging in their hearts.

"That Zheng Fa..." The Glazed Buddha's tone turned cold, killing intent overflowing, "So skilled at deluding hearts and minds, truly a great calamity."

Xie Qingxue seemed not to hear this, placing the Qingping Sword horizontally before her chest, clearly stating: "I ask the Buddha to state your purpose. This disciple will relay it for you. Otherwise, I ask the Buddha to halt your steps."

The Glazed Buddha, hearing this, initially wanted to laugh, but suddenly looked up toward the sky.

A gray phantom leaped out from the Jiushan Realm, seemingly fleeing for its life—precisely the Creation Daoist.

From within the Jiushan Realm came a unified shout: "Slay!"

The immortal sword suspended in the eastern sky, following this command, suddenly blazed brightly with its blade, directly chopping down toward the Creation Daoist's head.

The Creation Daoist's speeding figure seemed to freeze, time stopped, everything became still. Only the sword shadow cut through the long sky, landing on the flesh ball.

The Creation Daoist's flesh ball violently exploded, shooting out in all directions. Although his aura was faint, everyone could see he still had some vitality remaining.

The flesh ball scattered into dense, spore-like, invisible-to-the-naked-eye dust particles, riding the wind attempting to escape.

"Trap!"

A second command sounded. The southern immortal sword shook, turning a circle in the void, transforming into a black hole.

From the black hole's depths came only a single shrill, desperate scream.

Everyone stared blankly.

The four colossal swords in the sky slowly dissipated, the Creation Daoist also vanished without trace, everything like an illusory dream.

From within the Jiushan Realm flew out several hundred sword-carrying cultivators. The Sword Dao Avatar led in front, the four Sword Masters behind. Xie Qingxue's gaze searched through the crowd, seeing Yan Wushuang safe and sound, she couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Finally, someone spoke.

"Two swords?" The Cangming Dragon King murmured low, "Two swords killed a Golden Immortal? Is the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation this powerful?"

No one answered, because everyone had the answer—he also knew in his heart—the previous Slaying Immortal Sword Formation definitely wasn't this powerful!

Even counting the time since the Creation Daoist entered the Jiushan Realm, it absolutely didn't exceed the time it takes two incense sticks to burn!

A Golden Immortal, a Golden Immortal who stood lofty even among the Five Sects, died just like that?

If the Nine Nether Emperor's Slaying Immortal Sword Formation back then had this kind of power, the Four Sects wouldn't have needed to fight at all!

But...

The Cangming Dragon King found it very difficult to understand why the Jiushan Sect's Slaying Immortal Sword Formation could make a Golden Immortal like the Creation Daoist not even have a chance to escape!

The Glazed Buddha said the Jiushan Sect producing the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation was seeking their own doom, but if this sword formation killed Golden Immortals like slaughtering chickens, then who would send them on their final journey?

He secretly glanced at the Glazed Buddha, seeing the Glazed Buddha's eyes still fixed intently on the Jiushan Realm direction, golden light shining in his eyes, seemingly searching for the Creation Daoist's whereabouts.

The Cangming Dragon King understood—the Buddha not only hadn't expected this, he didn't even want to believe it.

A full half-incense-stick time passed before they heard the Glazed Buddha speak again: "This humble monk comes by order of the Great Ascension Buddha, to invite the Jiushan Sect's Daoist Friend Zheng Fa to participate in the Da Luo Dharma Assembly."

His tone was polite, expression sincere.

The Cangming Dragon King and the assembled Bodhisattvas and Arhats behind him all lowered their heads, as if everyone had forgotten what this Buddha said before coming.

"I ask you to relay this."

Xie Qingxue pressed her lips together, face stern as she took out the Tongjian, sending a message to the sect. After quite a while, she hesitantly, with a somewhat dazed expression, spoke:

"I ask the Buddha to wait a moment."

Even the Glazed Buddha, with all his thick skin, couldn't help feeling a thread of anger at this. Seeing his expression, Xie Qingxue hurriedly explained: "The sect's battle isn't over yet, they truly can't spare anyone to receive you, Buddha."

Battle isn't over?

Didn't the Creation Daoist die?

What battle remains?

The Glazed Buddha looked up to see the Sword Dao Avatar leading those sword path disciples pouncing toward the east.

Looking at their target—Haori Mountain?