Li Chang’an chuckled. "And what if I refuse?"
The Buddha regarded him with a tranquil expression. "You came here for this very purpose. You will not refuse."
Li Chang’an roared with laughter. "In that case, what more is there to say? Let’s begin!"
The Buddha was absolutely right. Li Chang’an had come to seize the Divine Objects of the Four Major Sects, so there was no way he would give up at a critical moment like this.
Even a Grandmaster, he would face all the same!
Hearing the exchange between the two of them,
the expressions on the faces of the many Jianghu people became incredibly complicated.
Although they had guessed from the start that this might provoke a Grandmaster into action, there was a world of difference between anticipation and reality. Now, seeing the Buddha in the flesh, they couldn’t help but feel their hearts pound and their blood boil with excitement.
"Crown Prince Dayan is truly a role model for our generation! To be so brazen in the face of a Grandmaster... among the younger generation of Martial Artists today, I doubt anyone can compare to him, right?"
"Duh! Forget the younger generation; even the older generation wouldn’t dare! Crown Prince Dayan is already on a level beyond this world!"
"It’s obvious the Buddha came prepared today. He might say he’ll only use one move, but I’m afraid that one move is aimed at taking Crown Prince Dayan’s life. Can he withstand it?"
"I heard there’s an old ancestor in the Dayan Imperial Palace. I wonder if he’ll make a move today?"
"If Dayan’s Grandmaster ancestor doesn’t intervene today, this hurdle for the Crown Prince... will be a difficult one to overcome. Very difficult indeed!"
At this, the crowd suddenly fell silent.
Many people suddenly recalled some rumors from the past few days. It seemed the other Three Major Sects, excluding the Buddhist Sect, had been making some subtle moves of their own.
"Wait... did the other Three Major Sects send people to the Dayan Imperial Palace?"
"I think you’re right. Just a couple of days ago, I heard the Dayan Imperial Palace was on complete lockdown, supposedly threatened by some unknown power!"
"Don’t tell me the other Three Major Sects went to the Imperial Palace together to pressure the Dayan Imperial Family’s Grandmaster ancestor?"
"My heavens! The Four Major Sects are acting in concert for the first time... and it’s not to bring down the Dayan Imperial Court, but to deal with a ten-year-old rising star?"
This realization sent the entire crowd into an uproar.
Shock was written on every single face.
The Four Major Sects, acting as one, not to carve up the Dayan empire, but to target a ten-year-old boy... The very idea sounded like something out of a fantasy tale.
Yet this fantastical event was happening for real.
Right before their very eyes.
In the center of the square, hearing the surrounding discussions, the faces of the Shadow Guard members all paled.
They had clearly heard about this before but hadn’t paid it much attention. After all, just handling the situation at Buddha Light Temple for Li Chang’an was enough to leave them completely overwhelmed.
They had no time to worry about what was happening at the distant Imperial Palace. Now, suddenly realizing the connection between the two events, they were all struck with terror.
The Buddha also heard the discussions from the crowd. His expression remained unchanged, but he suddenly spoke. "Benefactor, your talent is so peerless, perhaps you are the reincarnation of a Buddha. Why not convert to our faith? In the future, you could even attain Buddhahood yourself."
Clearly, he had grown to appreciate the boy’s talent.
Before destroying Li Chang’an, he was attempting to persuade him to join the Buddhist Sect.
But Li Chang’an just roared with laughter. "Baldy, whatever tricks you have, just use them! I’m still waiting for your Bodhi Fruit!"
He seemed completely unaffected by the discussions in the crowd.
Or rather, he had anticipated this outcome from the moment he first stirred up this trouble.
In other words, he didn’t care!
Seeing his persuasion had failed, the Buddha couldn’t help but sigh. "It is understandable to be dismissive of the Buddha before you have seen a true one. In that case, let our actions speak for themselves!"
As he spoke, he raised one hand.
It was unlike the brilliant golden light that had surrounded the young monk Jingshan when he attacked, nor was it like the clash of wind and thunder from Hui Xuan’s move.
When the Buddha struck, it was as if an ordinary person had thrown a simple palm strike. There were no superfluous fluctuations of aura.
The surrounding Jianghu people stared with wide eyes, trying to discern the profundity of the move, but they saw nothing. Only Li Chang’an, the one actually facing the blow, could feel the terrifying power contained within it—a power that felt as if the very heavens were collapsing.
But this didn’t dampen Li Chang’an’s spirits. Instead, he burst into a wild laugh and roared, "I’ve long wanted to witness the prowess of a so-called Grandmaster, but I never imagined this is all you have? Forget taking one of your moves—you couldn’t touch me in ten moves, or even a hundred!"
The Nine Heavens Chaos Technique began to circulate wildly.
A power similar to that of a Grandmaster erupted from Li Chang’an’s body. The surrounding Jianghu Martial Artists were stunned to discover that two energy vortexes had suddenly appeared in the world.
One energy vortex was centered on the Buddha.
The other was above Li Chang’an’s head, and this vortex was constantly expanding, showing faint signs of overpowering the Buddha’s!
If the Buddha’s entire being weren’t one with heaven and earth, he likely would have already been suppressed by Li Chang’an.
For the first time since his appearance, the expression of the ever-composed Buddha changed drastically.
He stared at Li Chang’an as if looking at a Devil and exclaimed in shock, "What Cultivation Technique are you practicing? How can you contend with me for the Heaven and Earth Energy?"
A Grandmaster is one with heaven and earth, able to command the Power of Heaven and Earth as easily as pointing a finger.
Before such a being, an ordinary Grandmaster is no more than a large fly, easily swatted aside.