CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 348: BUDDHA FRUIT

Within the Imperial City, Zhu Haomiao stood amidst a sea of corpses and blood, gazing up at the shattering illusion of the giant cauldron in the sky, a foreboding feeling rising in his heart.

Following the guidance of some enigmatic Heavenly Destiny, the youth transformed into a streak of black light, heading straight for the Taihe Palace, where only deathly silence remained in sight.

Shua~

Transitioning from extreme motion to extreme stillness, Zhu Haomiao instantly stood still in the center of the grand hall, staring at Zhao Jing, who lay on the ground with eyes wide open in death. His gaze swept over the ghastly, gaping hole in Zhao Jing’s chest, as his brows furrowed slowly.

Looking around, the scattered limbs nearly covered the entire hall, except for one spotless area in the center.

Instinctively, Zhu Haomiao seemed to see a colossal cauldron standing like a small mountain, suppressing the vast land.

However, the National Guardian Divine Artifact, which should have been unshakeable, was nowhere to be seen, leaving only the empty hall, as if mocking Zhu Haomiao’s tardiness.

Shua~

A figure suddenly appeared behind the youth, scanning the surroundings with furrowed brows.

"Huai Xu."

"Here, Commander."

"There’s an unknown force stirring trouble in the shadows, find them!"

Detecting the irritation in the youth’s tone, Huai Xu’s heart skipped a beat.

"Yes!"

"Moreover, the Heavenly Destiny True Object is bound to the nation’s fortune. Theoretically, since Da Zhen hasn’t been destroyed, how did the opponent seize the National Guardian Divine Artifact?"

Upon hearing the youth’s muttered words, Huai Xu pondered for a moment before cautiously responding.

"The opponent must have only severed the soul and bloodline bond between the National Guardian Divine Artifact and the Royal Family. They’re still a long way from preliminary refinement and escaping the Illusion Realm, we might be able to retrieve it."

As he spoke, a subtle excitement ignited in Huai Xu’s heart.

The Heavenly Destiny True Object of the Second Layer Heaven is far more precious than that of the First Layer Heaven!

If he could assist Zhu Haomiao in reclaiming the Heavenly Destiny True Object, establishing a permanent large Gate, and incorporate the entire Illusion Realm into China’s territory...

An uncontrollable excitement stirred within him, as Huai Xu envisioned the glorious scene of adding a new page to the family genealogy.

Meanwhile, hearing Huai Xu’s words, Zhu Haomiao recalled the hardships of refining the Imperial Jade Seal in the First Layer Heaven, and couldn’t help but nod silently.

If not for the Power of Laws of Ascension treating the Imperial Jade Seal as part of himself, it would have taken him a long time to complete the initial refinement.

Moreover, that was under the premise that Da Qing had been overthrown by the Eight-Nation Alliance, the leaders dead, confirming the fall of the nation!

But now, Da Zhen has not fallen, and the Royal Family’s bloodline remains unbroken!

The difficulty of extinguishing the nebulous Anchor and refining the Heavenly Destiny True Object is hundreds of times greater than it was for him back then!

"Damn thief, find them and reclaim the Heavenly Destiny True Object!"

Clenching his fist, Zhu Haomiao gritted his teeth and whispered.

However, just at that moment, a vast and boundless wave shook the heavens and earth, a sacred and majestic force pierced the barrier between reality and illusion, proclaiming the arrival of a great presence to the world.

Exchanging a glance with Huai Xu, the two of them leaped onto the roof of Taihe Palace without hesitation, gazing northward.

In their Spiritual Vision, resplendent and sacred Buddha Light illuminated the world, at once making the winter sun pale under its brilliance.

And thousands of miles away, an indescribably beautiful figure, with genders indistinguishable, sat cross-legged in mid-air, one hand pointing to the sky and the other to the earth, a dark red murky gemstone suspended above his head, its surface cracking and melting to reveal a pure white Shariputra within.

Beneath him lay a towering mountain peak, with a newly built magnificent temple at its summit.

Outside the temple, countless mighty and majestic centaurs lay prostrate on the ground, gazing up in fervent worship at the figure seated in the void.

Dense masses of pilgrims spread from the mountaintop to the base, extending to the horizon.

Among them were centaurs, but more were conquered slaves, vassals.

There were humans and various demon races, yet at that moment, they were all bathed in the same Buddha Light, gazing tearfully at the heavens.

In the center of countless gazes, the ethereal figure gently opened his eyes, as the Shariputra suspended above his head slowly descended into his Spiritual Acupoint, instantly igniting a golden halo of merit behind him.

"Of all realms, I alone am supreme."

In a graceful and light murmur, the merit halo continually expanded, releasing fierce rays of light, eventually hovering at the zenith like a sun, illuminating the entire world.

And under this sacred Buddha Light, everyone’s spirit miraculously calmed, all pain and troubles melted away, leaving only endless joy and wisdom.

"Having attained Supreme Enlightenment (Buddha Fruit), those who meditate on my name can cultivate the practices of all Bodhisattvas and be endowed with boundless merits and virtues."

The ancient and sacred whisper echoed in everyone’s ears, the sky showered countless petals, and the fragrant scent lingered on the earth, as the miraculous celestial phenomenon enveloped a few hundred miles, even Zhu Haomiao miles away heard the faint whisper from the void.

Gazing at the Buddha Light covering the horizon, Zhu Haomiao quirked an odd smile, as an image of the dark sun he conjured in his final battle in the First Layer Heaven inexplicably surfaced in his mind.

Though one was holy and the other evil, in essence, both had a unique similarity.

They were both the spirit’s projection into reality!

"Tch, what a loss!"

As he watched the arrival of the Buddha Country imprint the entire Illusion Realm with a unique mark, Zhu Haomiao couldn’t help but don a mask of anguish.

His Heavenly Destiny True Object was nowhere to be seen, yet Emperor Shitian had seized the initiative.

With an anchor point, the real world’s territory can extend into the Illusion Realm, and even establish a large Permanent Gate, once the advantage is gained, it continues to grow...

At the thought of the tide-like advance of Brother into the Illusion Realm, Zhu Haomiao felt an incessant throb in his head.

"Commander, is that... Emperor Shitian?"

Beside him, Huai Xu snapped out of his stupor, looking at the youth in astonishment.

This figure doesn’t seem to belong to my style at all!

You fought this being off?!

Meanwhile, unaware of Huai Xu’s twisted expression, Zhu Haomiao maintained his skyward gaze, nodding reluctantly.

"That is his divinity."

"He’s showing off to me, flaunting his might..."

"Originally, I thought there was a chance he might have taken the Heavenly Destiny True Object, but it seems... not so..."

As he spoke, Zhu Haomiao withdrew his gaze slowly, curling his lips in disdain.

"Consider this round yours, but wait till I retrieve the Da Zhen National Guardian Divine Artifact, we’ll see who prevails!"

Listening to the youth’s murmurs, Huai Xu’s eyes became dazed, as he seemingly saw two indistinct figures using heaven and earth as their chessboard, all beings as their pieces, locked in a deadly match.

This level of chess game could potentially influence the real world’s international dynamics!

Realizing this, Huai Xu suddenly felt immense pressure, feeling that the esoteric duel between these two was of too high a level, leaving a minor Second Layer Heaven dominance like him unworthy to be drawn into such a struggle.