The Four Great Vajras, each sixteen feet tall, were enveloped in Buddha-light, standing on lotus platforms that floated in mid-air, looking down upon Ji Mo from above.
They were depicted with varying expressions and postures: one smiling, one with hands raised, another with eyebrows reaching his knees, and the last with eyes closed in contemplation.
"Joyful, Reaching Hand, Long Brow, Contemplation – all four Arhats have appeared together. It seems they intend to leave this Venerable no room to survive."
Many nearby beings were alerted by the commotion and turned their gaze towards the scene, sensing that Ji Mo was likely in grave danger.
These four Arhats were the guardian Vajras of the Little Thunderclap Temple, all possessing Golden Immortal realm cultivation. With the blessings of the local Buddhist doctrines, they were capable of defeating opponents beyond their own realm.
With the four of them joining forces against Ji Mo alone, the onlookers believed Ji Mo was doomed.
"Protect the Holy One!"
The followers who had been accompanying Ji Mo immediately scattered, forming a protective circle around him.
Having already taken Ji Mo as their faith, they would not permit any outsider to harm him.
"Bold demon, how dare you bewitch the ignorant faithful and confuse the monks of our Little Thunderclap Temple! Today, you shall not be spared. You will be cast into the eighteen layers of hell, never to be reincarnated."
Seeing that the followers and monks who rightfully belonged to the Little Thunderclap Temple were now devoutly devoted to an outsider, the Four Arhats were filled with righteous fury.
The Long Brow Arhat struck first. His elongated white eyebrows, stirred by an unseen wind, instantly stretched out to nearly a thousand meters.
In an instant, they became like two streaks of silk crossing the sky, or like venomous snakes emerging from their lairs, swiftly attacking Ji Mo.
The flying long eyebrows were as fast as lightning, stirring up fierce winds and exuding an awe-inspiring presence.
Some followers leaped forward to intercept, projecting layers of protective immortal light. However, the vast disparity in strength rendered their efforts futile. They were sent flying backward, spitting blood as they collapsed.
The dancing eyebrows were indestructible, imbued with immense power, easily repelling those who dared to block them.
In a flash, these two eyebrows neared Ji Mo, aiming directly for his eyes.
The Long Brow Arhat’s attack was vicious; he intended to blind Ji Mo and then crush his head.
"To think a man of the cloth would wield such a wicked attack."
Seeing the fallen followers scattered on the ground, Ji Mo was enraged. His eyes narrowed as he grabbed hold of the attacking eyebrows.
"Hmph, seeking death!"
Upon seeing his eyebrows grasped, the Long Brow Monk’s eyes widened, and a fierce flame erupted from them.
The two eyebrows instantly ignited, transforming into two fiery serpents, intent on burning Ji Mo to ashes.
"Samadhi True Fire, capable of burning all flesh and blood. This bald donkey has some substance."
The Four-Unlike-None was shocked and wary. Even it dared not touch such flames lightly.
However, Ji Mo, wreathed in the Samadhi True Fire, did not even flinch. He felt no sensation from these tri-colored flames that could harm him.
With a fierce tug, a terrifying surge of energy erupted, and the two eyebrows were ripped off by his bare hands.
"Ah…"
The Long Brow Arhat let out a piercing scream. His forehead was bloody, and half of his scalp had been torn off along with the eyebrows.
These two eyebrows were the embodiment of his entire Dao fruit. They were impossible to detach, yet Ji Mo had ripped them off.
Having lost his eyebrows, his strength was greatly diminished. In an instant, he fell from the Golden Immortal realm. The wound refused to stop bleeding, quickly drenching him in blood.
"Senior Brother, avenge me quickly! Help me reclaim my eyebrows!"
The Long Brow Monk cried out in utter terror. Losing his eyebrows meant losing everything; his strength and status would vanish with them.
The Reaching Hand Arhat, who shared the deepest bond with the Long Brow Arhat, glared furiously. Golden light radiated from his entire being, and he grew three heads and six arms.
His Buddha-eyes were like blades as he unleashed the Vajra Subduing Demon Dharma Appearance. His aura surged, his body grew several times larger, and he unleashed terrifying Buddha-might as he lunged at Ji Mo.
A halo of myriad treasures shone above his head, and his six arms unleashed countless palm strikes.
The Reaching Hand Arhat employed the renowned Thousand-Leaf Palm of Buddhism, which he had cultivated to perfection.
Palm shadows layered the void, each palm strike possessing the power to cleave mountains and shatter rocks. If all the palm prints landed, their cumulative power would be enough to instantly kill a Profound Immortal beyond their own realm.
*Splat, splat, splat…*
Innumerable palm prints, swift as the wind, struck Ji Mo one after another, producing drum-like sounds.
"Holy One…"
The nearby followers’ eyes turned red, unable to bear watching Ji Mo being pounded into a pulp.
Such a terrifying assault would shatter even a piece of immortal iron, let alone a physical body.
However, the scene before them stunned them.
"Have you eaten? Your strength is so weak, so gentle and powerless. I think you are outwardly strong but inwardly weak. Go back and drink more wolfberry tea."
Ji Mo was unharmed. He stretched his limbs, quite satisfied with his body's resilience. Were they tickling him? There was no force behind the blows.
He casually swung the long eyebrows he held, using them like a whip to lash at the Reaching Hand Arhat. The Arhat cried out in agony, wailing loudly.
The Reaching Hand Arhat’s Dharma Appearance could not withstand the assault and shattered instantly. His body bore numerous whip marks, and he was beaten until he wailed in pain.
Finally, Ji Mo snapped off his arms.
The Reaching Hand Arhat’s posture, originally with both hands raised, now hung limply like noodles, completely incapacitated.
The onlookers watching from afar let out gasps of surprise. They had initially thought Ji Mo would be easily defeated and soon subdued, but he proved to be incredibly fierce, easily defeating both the Long Brow and Reaching Hand Arhats.
"This demon is ferocious! Fellow disciples, let us join forces and mobilize the supreme Buddha-rhyme to convert this villain."
The Joyful Arhat smiled faintly, his hands forming dozens of intricate Buddha seals, scattering countless Buddha-runes in all directions.
"Amitabha!"
The other three Arhats radiated brilliant Buddha-light, chanting scriptures and fully assisting the Joyful Arhat in his ritual.
The Four Arhats unleashed a torrent of surging vital energy and Buddha-light, which connected and soared towards the heavens.
*Rumble, rumble!*
The entire Blissful Plateau trembled violently.
The sky churned with wind and clouds, laws descended, Buddha-light filled the sky, and an endless stream of Buddha-rhyme churned like a vast sea.
Then, like a galaxy cascading from the ninth heaven, it formed a torrent that swept down.
The boundless Buddha-light transformed into a waterfall, engulfing Ji Mo from all sides.
"Good heavens, quick, dodge!"
The Four-Unlike-None quickly retreated, simultaneously gathering the surrounding followers and rapidly moving away from Ji Mo.
The Four Arhats were mobilizing the Buddha-rhyme of the entire Blissful Plateau to deal with Ji Mo. In its current state, it could not withstand such power and could only choose to evade its edge.
Chants echoed, Buddha-light blazed, and the vast, infinite Buddha-light fiercely cleansed Ji Mo.
"My life is filled with sin. I wish to renounce the world and become a monk. Henceforth, I shall accompany the green lamp and ancient Buddha, atoning for my sins."
The nearby onlookers were all affected. Their clear eyes turned dull, and soon, they clasped their hands together, completely converted.
Cultivators at a greater distance, terrified, fled at top speed, fearing they too would be drawn in.
The methods of the Little Thunderclap Temple were truly terrifying. They did not wish to be forced into becoming monks.
"Mr. Ji, could he have fallen this time?"
The Four-Unlike-None, leading Ji Mo’s followers to a safe distance, couldn’t help but worry about Ji Mo in its heart.
Buddhist doctrines were profound and mysterious, capable of influencing or altering the soul’s will. A single misstep could lead to an irrecoverable fate.
"Hahaha, no matter how much you struggle, you will eventually fall into the hands of my Little Thunderclap Temple. Once you are converted, I will enslave you like livestock every day and torment you in every conceivable way."
The Long Brow Arhat stared venomously at Ji Mo, who was completely submerged in Buddha-light, with a sinister smile.
The Joyful Arhat and the Reaching Hand Arhat shared similar expressions of cruel amusement.
Only the Contemplation Arhat, who had remained with his eyes closed in meditation, slightly opened his eyes, revealing a hint of pity. But he quickly closed them again, preferring not to see.
*Dong…*
Suddenly, the ancient bronze bell hanging high in the distance of the Little Thunderclap Temple vibrated on its own. Its deep, resonant chime echoed through heaven and earth.
The bell continued to ring, a total of eighty-one times.
"Impossible! Eighty-one rings of the Sacred Bell! This signifies the appearance of a Sacred Buddha!"
The Four Arhats exchanged glances, their faces paling.