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Chapter 473: Chapter 473: Zhong Shan's Notorious Past

Merit was intangible and invisible. Even when it took form, it was untouchable by ordinary people. The four Buddhas of the Pure Land of Bliss only knew how to gather and distribute merit, not how to seize it. However, this nine-story pagoda defied their understanding, brazenly stealing boundless merit.

What on earth was this thing?

From afar, Zhong Shan and his son stared in disbelief at this scene. This was merely a split of the Spirit-Residing Tower, not its main body, which was inside Zhong Tian.

The Spirit-Residing Tower, with its split as the skeleton and the Bodhisattva as its flesh, possessed such a terrifying ability.

Not only Zhong Shan, but almost everyone in the Pure Land of Bliss was now fixated on the awe-inspiring pagoda. The base of the tower resembled a vortex, voraciously absorbing the endless merit, swirling it like a giant whale sucking in water, extracting boundless merit from the Pure Land of Bliss.

"Boom!"

Thunder rumbled, dark clouds gathered, and the entire Pure Land of Bliss seemed on the brink of cataclysmic change as the merit was forcibly seized, threatening the world's collapse.

Absorb! Absorb! Absorb!

Feeling the increase in merit within the Spirit-Residing Tower inside him, Zhong Tian clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot.

"Master, I will not disappoint you," Zhong Tian vowed silently.

Finally, when half of the Pure Land's merit had been siphoned away by the Spirit-Residing Tower, the powerful beings within the light sphere below noticed it.

The first to notice was Guiyuan Buddha.

"What's happening? Why is the merit decreasing?" Guiyuan Buddha exclaimed in shock.

The other three Buddhas were equally alarmed to find the merit infusing them was rapidly diminishing. The merit of the Pure Land of Bliss was being drained at an astonishing rate.

But would the three great saints allow the Buddhas to investigate? The sacred cities continued to crash into the altars with relentless force, not letting up even for a moment. Each collision was so powerful that even the strong beings within the altars turned pale. Such impacts were unbearable even for those at the Heavenly Extreme Realm over a prolonged period.

"Jinchan, find out what's happening!" Joyful Buddha shouted.

The diminishing merit posed a severe threat. If it decreased to a certain point, the altars would lose their divine power, rendering the derived world meaningless. The Pure Land of Bliss would be doomed.

Due to the turbulence created by the powerful collisions, it was impossible to extend divine senses. However, for those at the Heavenly Extreme Realm, many mystical techniques existed.

Jinchan Buddha waved his hand towards the sky, and a light screen appeared above him, displaying the outside scene.

Instantly, the enormous nine-story pagoda came into view.

Everyone's gaze fixated on the pagoda.

How could this be? What kind of object was this?

"It's that thing! It's dissolving our boundless merit," Amitabha Buddha roared in fury.

Dissolving? They couldn't fathom the idea of seizing merit, as it seemed too unreal, unheard of. Dissolving was something they could accept.

"Destroy it!" Joyful Buddha shouted.

"Understood!" Jinchan Buddha responded immediately.

However, would the three great saints outside let them succeed? Seeing the nine-story pagoda dissolve the merit was a godsend.

As the struggle intensified, Zhong Tian felt the immense responsibility laid upon his shoulders. The fate of Daming Monastery and the legacy of his master depended on the success of this bold endeavor.

The collisions continued.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

The intense vibrations grew stronger and stronger. As the merit continued to vanish, the Buddhist altars found it increasingly difficult to resist, with cracks appearing in several places.

Now, with three Buddhas presiding over the three altars, only Jinchan Buddha was free to act.

"Ha!"

Jinchan Buddha unleashed a massive handprint.

"Bang!"

The power of the handprint was instantly obliterated by the collision between the altar and the sacred city.

As the merit dwindled, Jinchan Buddha could no longer afford to hesitate. He retrieved the seven-colored Buddhist beads bestowed upon him by the ancient Buddha. Activating them, he was enveloped in a protective rainbow aura and shot skyward.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

The forceful collisions impacted Jinchan Buddha, and despite the protection of the seven-colored beads, he took severe damage, his face turning pale. Nevertheless, he broke through the intense collisions, emerging from the chaos.

The moment he emerged, Jinchan's eyes widened as he delivered a ferocious palm strike.

"Boom!"

A strike from a Heavenly Extreme Realm cultivator was terrifying, possessing world-destroying power. The sky wrinkled, with faint space cracks appearing.

"Bang!"

The replica Spirit-Residing Tower, along with Ming Tai Bodhisattva inside, was finally shattered by this devastating strike.

Ming Tai Bodhisattva sacrificed himself for the endless merit of Daming Monastery, falling to Jinchan Buddha. From a distance, Zhong Tian clenched his fists so tightly that they bled, staring coldly at Jinchan Buddha.

At this moment, the three great saints suddenly stopped their assaults, observing the scene with cold eyes.

Someone had come to help? Who could it be?

The destruction of the replica Spirit-Residing Tower left the four Buddhas shocked. What was that thing? They were filled with tension and anger, wondering who else could be involved.

Seeing the merit that had almost completely disappeared, the Buddhas were furious. Merit that took thousands of years to gather—gone in an instant. Who could it be?

"Joyful, find out where this came from," Guiyuan Buddha shouted.

Joyful Buddha retrieved the fragments of Ming Tai Bodhisattva's body, pointing to the sky. A stream of air shot towards the distance.

This was a method to trace back the origin of the items.

The stream of air surged towards Zhong Shan's location, kicking up clouds of dust.

All the powerful beings turned their gazes towards that direction. Who could it be? Who unleashed the tower?

The Buddhas' eyes were filled with murderous intent, while the saints looked on with surprise.

As the air current finally pointed towards Zhong Shan and his son, everyone's expressions became vivid.

"Zhong Shan!"

Jinchan Buddha's eyes burned with rage, his voice filled with a hatred so deep it seemed to strip flesh from bones.

Again, it was Zhong Shan.

The four Buddhas' eyes were filled with boundless hatred. Once again, he had ruined the grand plans of the Pure Land of Bliss.

Clearly, the notorious Zhong Shan had been misunderstood as the culprit once more.

While the four Buddhas were seething with hatred, the three great saints felt no animosity—if anything, they were grateful to Zhong Shan.

"Boom!"

Zhong Shan felt a powerful force suddenly lift him, and in an instant, he vanished from everyone's sight, reappearing in the heart of the battlefield.

Jinchan Buddha, along with Guiyuan, Amitabha, and Joyful Buddhas, all sought Zhong Shan's death. Even a thousand slaughters would not suffice to vent their anger; they wanted his soul consigned to Avici Hell, never to be reborn.

"How dare you!" Gu Shentong roared.

Immediately, the three great saints, along with Wu Jiutian and other powerful beings, intervened.

A hum resonated as Zhong Shan was suspended in the center of the battlefield, encased in a spherical light. The space around the sphere rippled like water, undulating incessantly.

Both the Buddhas and the saints were vying for Zhong Shan. The saints' immense power was pushing Zhong Shan towards Taigu Sacred City, while the four Buddhas were pulling him towards the altar.

Inside the light sphere, Zhong Shan, though unable to personally experience the might of the Heavenly Extreme Realm powerhouses, was immobilized. His entire body felt as if it was bound. He knew that someone was protecting him; otherwise, the Buddhas would have torn him apart.

"Zhong Shan, you've repeatedly foiled our plans for the Pure Land of Bliss. Today, you must die," Guiyuan Buddha suddenly shouted.

"Die? I've ruined your plans? Hahaha, a bald monk spewing nonsense. When have I ever ruined your plans? The Silent Zen? If you hadn't forced it, would it have broken on its own? However, I advise you to release me now. Otherwise, I cannot predict what I might do," Zhong Shan replied coldly.

After Zhong Shan spoke, everyone felt a strange sensation. Whether they were Buddhas, saints, supremes, or princes, kings, and bodhisattvas from various realms, they all found Zhong Shan's demeanor surreal.

Zhong Shan, clearly a piece of meat on the chopping block, unable to move, still dared to speak boldly?

Even the ministers of the celestial dynasties couldn't help but marvel. Look at his composure, his audacity—it was no wonder he rose to the rank of duke so quickly.

The four Buddhas nearly found his words laughable.

"Facing death, you still talk tough," Joyful Buddha said coldly.

In reality, the Buddhas knew that if they risked an injury and launched a desperate attack to kill Zhong Shan, they might be vulnerable to a counterstrike from the saints or supremes. But who would willingly take such a risk?

"So, you're forcing my hand again?" Zhong Shan said coldly.

Hearing Zhong Shan's words, people were either amused or thought he had lost his mind. Immobilized, what could he possibly do? Even if he were freed, a single fart from a Buddha would crush him.

The three great saints remained silent because Zhong Shan was from the Great Luo Dynasty. If Gu Shentong didn't speak, the others naturally wouldn't. Gu Shentong knew Zhong Shan well and knew he wouldn't joke about his life. He watched with curiosity.

"Hahaha, I'm forcing you. What of it? You, an ant, have ruined our grand plans for the Pure Land of Bliss multiple times. Now, your time has come," Joyful Buddha said, his face darkening.

Zhong Shan smiled coldly. "Heaven's sins can be forgiven; self-inflicted sins cannot. Mud Buddha, do you still wish to oppose me?"

Zhong Shan's gaze focused intently on Mud Buddha standing atop the central peak.