Mingguang Buddha stood there, petrified, his face a mask of shock.
He could clearly sense that within a mere instant, he had completely lost control of the ancient bronze bell.
After all, he had spent over a thousand years refining this sacred Buddhist artifact, painstakingly making it his own. Yet, in the span of a single breath, Ji Mo had seized it!
What kind of monstrous anomaly was this kid to refine a sacred Buddhist artifact with a mere thought?
Under Ji Mo's control, the ancient bronze bell unleashed a power far more terrifying than before. The karmic energy it spewed forth was like a torrent, instantly engulfing the entire expanse of the sky.
Immediately.
Endless karmic fires enveloped Mingguang Buddha, burning with a crackling sound.
Amidst his pained wails, Mingguang Buddha's divine light dimmed, his colossal form rapidly shrinking. Golden liquid flowed from his body.
Before long, Mingguang Buddha was burned down to his true form: a nine-zhang tall Buddha statue. He was not a being of flesh and blood, but a statue from a temple that had achieved enlightenment and attained true fruition.
At this moment, Mingguang Buddha was in utter disarray. His body was like shattered porcelain, covered in tear marks. The gold leaf on his surface had melted away in large patches, revealing the blackened mud, straw, and rotten wood beneath.
Just as Ji Mo had said, Mingguang Buddha was merely a mud figure adorning itself with gold, hardly a true Buddha.
"Heavens, the Mingguang Buddha we've worshipped for so many years is nothing but a filthy mud figure."
"What Mingguang Buddha? He's just a stinking lump of mud that's gilded itself, deceiving us for so long."
...
Upon seeing Mingguang Buddha's true form, a chorus of venomous curses erupted from the surroundings. They all felt deeply deceived. They believed in a radiant, holy Buddha, not a mud statue. The disparity was too immense.
Hearing the insults from those around him, Mingguang Buddha's expression turned incredibly ugly. His previously serene and compassionate face contorted into a ferocious visage, radiating immense killing intent.
In the past, to conceal his origins, he had eliminated all the monks within the Little Thunderclap Temple who knew his background. He had even murdered Bodhi Seed, who had enlightened him, and seized the Little Thunderclap Temple. He never imagined that his true nature would be exposed, mocked by these lowly ants.
"Mingguang Buddha, tell me, who participated in the murder of Great Immortal Kongxu back then? Who was the mastermind? I'll give you a swift end."
Ji Mo seized the opportunity to press for the truth.
The Four-Unlike-One also perked up its ears, eager to uncover this past secret and learn the identity of the mastermind who could bring down even the cunning Great Immortal Kongxu.
"Hahahaha..."
Mingguang Buddha suddenly burst into frenzied laughter. The mud and straw on his body continued to fall, utterly unfazed by Ji Mo's threat.
"Ji Mo, you are indeed remarkable, even stronger than Great Immortal Kongxu was back then, but you truly believe you can defeat me? Too naive. And these ants who dare to mock me, what are you? Mere pigs and dogs waiting to be slaughtered. I had intended to fatten you up a bit more, but since you are so reckless, you shall all perish."
Mingguang Buddha surveyed his surroundings, a sinister smile on his face. His Buddhist nature vanished instantly. A strange, chilling gray mist emanated from his cracked body, and a dark demonic wheel appeared between his brows, radiating an alluring bloody light.
The karmic fires were extinguished by this gray mist, and even the karmic energy was corroded, turning into wisps of smoke.
"Things have gotten serious. I didn't expect Mingguang Buddha not only to have fallen into darkness but to be a chosen 'Harvester.' This is big trouble."
The Four-Unlike-One's expression grew grave. It was possible that the prelude to the world's destruction had begun at this very moment.
Ji Mo inquired, puzzled, "What is a Harvester?"
"There are supreme beings who, in their pursuit of eternity, treat all beings in the myriad worlds as sustenance. We are like livestock awaiting slaughter, and Harvesters are like cleavers or butchers, responsible for slaughtering us and preparing us as a feast for their masters."
The Four-Unlike-One explained in a simple manner, then quickly calculated if there was any chance of escape. But it was too late.
The Blissful Plateau, once filled with celestial energy and radiant clouds, was instantly plunged into darkness, losing its light.
Mingguang Buddha floated in the sky, his body continuously spewing out the eerie gray mist, which spread in all directions. The dark demonic wheel between his brows pulsed with dark energy, weaving chains of black order that pierced the void, enveloping the entire Blissful Plateau.
Previously, Arhat Shensi and Arhat Huanxi had warned that Mingguang Buddha possessed a terrifying artifact. The Four-Unlike-One had initially assumed it was the ancient bronze bell. Little did it know that it was a dark demonic wheel, representing chaos and sin. Once it appeared, it signified death and destruction.
"What's happening? Why is such a dense aura of death pervading the sacred Buddhist land?"
"So chilling. I feel an aura of great destruction, as if the end of days is upon us."
...
All beings on the Blissful Plateau experienced a drastic change in their expressions, sensing a mortal danger. They could not comprehend how the Pure Land had transformed into a realm of death in an instant.
"Originally, you could have lived a little longer. Since you've foolishly angered me, I shall eliminate you all and offer you to the supreme, omnipotent Master."
Mingguang Buddha sneered, looking down indifferently at the terrified beings below, and began his slaughter. The dark demonic wheel flew from his brow, spinning rapidly, transforming into a black sun that unleashed billions of deadly rays, annihilating all life.
The black rays were indestructible, easily piercing the bodies of countless beings. Those struck had no chance to resist, perishing instantly, their bodies turning into mummified husks or skeletal remains... Their flesh, blood, and essence were transformed into the purest life energy, absorbed into the dark demonic wheel, ultimately to be offered by Mingguang Buddha as sacrifices to his master.
Screams, wails, roars... The Blissful Plateau had become a hellish purgatory. All manner of beings were treated as mere blades of grass, ruthlessly slaughtered.
"Darkness descends, and all worlds mourn. What you see now is just a small scene. When the true great destruction arrives, not only living creatures but even plants will not escape misfortune; all life will wither."
The Four-Unlike-One sighed, abandoning all thought of resistance. The darkness enveloped it, and the fundamental laws of the Blissful Plateau were corrupted. It discovered that it could no longer use its divine abilities, and even the divine power within its body was difficult to circulate. No wonder others had no chance to resist; it wasn't that they didn't want to, but they couldn't. They couldn't even escape.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Ji Mo was also struck by the black rays repeatedly, but he remained unharmed. His body was incredibly robust, radiating a faint halo that nullified all attacks.
"Mr. Ji, have you truly cultivated the Nine Tribulations Undying Body, becoming immune to all spells!"
The Four-Unlike-One, being cunning, quickly hid behind Ji Mo. Although its divine beast body could withstand attacks, it would still be injured. The facts proved that Ji Mo's physical body was even stronger than its own, undoubtedly an unparalleled special physique!
"It's not that easy to cultivate a special physique. I'm still far from it."
Ji Mo's mind flashed with the system's evolution progress notification, and he rolled his eyes.
"Evolution Progress: 13%!"
This 13% felt too sentient. He felt the system was subtly mocking him.
However, after discovering that the black rays caused him no harm, Ji Mo looked up at the sky and said calmly, "Carry me up. I'm going to hammer that bastard to death."
The Four-Unlike-One shook its head. It was currently unable to use any of its power and couldn't carry Ji Mo.
"You want to kill me? Can you even fly up? Ji Mo, prepare to die. After I've harvested the other ants, I'll slowly blast you into pieces."
Mingguang Buddha laughed triumphantly. Floating high in the sky, he was in an invincible position. Even if Ji Mo had truly cultivated the Nine Tribulations Undying Body, he was confident he could wear him down, drop by drop, and slowly blast him to death.
"You really think I can't kill you, huh."
Ji Mo sneered and directly detached the spire of a nearby small pagoda, flinging it forcefully into the sky.
"Void Sword Control Technique!"