Ji Mo communicated with the system, asking if the Bodhi tree at home could be brought over. The system, understanding the gravity of the situation, executed the request immediately.
At this moment, the Dark Demonic Wheel in his hand vibrated wildly, releasing surging laws and densely packed demonic patterns, as a more terrifying power began to awaken.
Evil energy permeated the air, and dark radiance blazed. Within the Dark Demonic Wheel, an indescribably horrific black shadow emerged.
Ji Mo gazed at the shadow, finding it somewhat familiar.
Recalling his previous experience in the Void Secret Realm, he remembered seeing this entity within the eyes of the mutated Netherworld Undying Vine.
The black shadow was merely a wisp of divine consciousness, yet it possessed unparalleled power, akin to a supreme overlord slumbering in the Netherworld Abyss, awakened by disturbance.
"Ming Guang, the time is not yet ripe. Why have you begun the harvest prematurely? Do you seek death?"
The black shadow sensed that the Dark Demonic Wheel had been activated and immediately demanded an explanation. It believed that now was not the optimal time for harvesting and considered Ming Guang Buddha's defiance of its plans punishable.
"Ming Guang Buddha is dead. Who are you? Are you also involved in harming the Great Immortal Kong Xu?"
Ji Mo was still regretting his heavy-handedness earlier, having killed Ming Guang Buddha instantly without a chance to interrogate him for information. Now, discovering a formidable entity hidden within the Dark Demonic Wheel, his eyes lit up. Judging by its tone, this being was Ming Guang Buddha's superior and undoubtedly knew more.
"It's you?"
The black shadow stared intently at Ji Mo, roaring in anger, "Last time you destroyed my Netherworld Undying Vine, and now you've killed Ming Guang Buddha. You've thwarted my plans twice. You court death!"
As it spoke, its entire form erupted with soul-stirring blood radiance, and surging evil energy transformed into an incredibly wicked force, spreading along Ji Mo's arm towards his entire body.
Bluish-purple patterns quickly covered Ji Mo's skin. The black shadow, like a maggot clinging to the bone, enveloped Ji Mo, intending to devour his flesh, blood, and soul.
The Four-unlike creature's scalp tingled, and its body turned cold. It retreated from Ji Mo as if avoiding a venomous snake. It knew that if it were entangled by the black shadow, it would likely be drained into a dried husk in no time.
"This fellow seems familiar. It should be a divine-level creature, even more powerful than I was at my peak."
The Four-unlike creature recalled meticulously, believing it must have had some past encounter with the black shadow, but couldn't quite place who it was. Its heart pounded in its throat, fearing Ji Mo wouldn't be able to withstand it and would be killed.
"What an incredible physique, flawless!"
The black shadow exclaimed as if it had discovered a new continent. It had already sensed the extraordinary nature of Ji Mo's body and became incredibly excited. "I shall obliterate your soul and possess your body."
With that, all the purple-blue patterns writhed and converged instantly on Ji Mo's head.
Suddenly, Ji Mo's head turned completely bluish-purple, and a brilliant green light shone from its crown. This was the black shadow employing a wicked divine ability, corrupting and defiling Ji Mo's soul.
"Mr. Ji, you've been 'greened'."
The Four-unlike creature shouted a warning. This was a divine-level soul-snatching technique, incredibly insidious. Although Ji Mo's physical body was exceptionally robust, his soul might be another matter.
'Been greened?' Ji Mo shot the Four-unlike creature a fierce glare. Did this foolish donkey know how to speak? However, as a man, he couldn't tolerate having a green light on his head. He began to counterattack.
"The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind is like a bright mirror. Constantly wipe it clean, and let no dust alight."
Ji Mo, once again, transformed his thought into Buddha, and a halo of light appeared above his head, radiating immense Buddhist splendor. His mind was as clear as ice, pure and untainted, resisting all external pollution.
The black shadow mocked mercilessly, "Boy, your Buddhist cultivation is too shallow. The Bodhi originally had no tree, nor the bright mirror a stand. Buddhism emphasizes that all things are in the heart. Your state of mind is too low. What right do you have to contend with me?"
However, at that very moment, the space behind Ji Mo distorted, and a spatial vortex appeared. A large tree materialized out of thin air.
"Bodhi tree!"
The black shadow choked, feeling utterly humiliated. It had just declared that the Bodhi originally had no tree, and then a Bodhi tree appeared.
Subsequently, the black shadow exclaimed in astonishment, "This Bodhi tree is not right." The original Bodhi sapling had now grown into a nine-zhang tall tree, with dense foliage and a towering, verdant appearance. Most bizarrely, while a Bodhi tree should be a sacred tree, this one not only exuded sacred energy but also contained an aura of malevolence. Sacredness and malevolence, normally incompatible like fire and water, were here coexisting, yin and yang complementing each other, a truly unbelievable sight.
"It's the aura of Patriarch Bodhi, but not quite the same."
From a distance, Joyful Arhat gazed at the Bodhi tree that had appeared in the void, his eyes filled with both joy and confusion. He knew that Ming Guang Buddha had rebelled, killed Patriarch Bodhi, and seized the Lesser Thunderclap Temple. Yet now, it seemed Patriarch Bodhi had been resurrected and returned.
Soon, Joyful Arhat confirmed that Patriarch Bodhi had indeed returned. The bronze ancient bell that Ji Mo had placed on the ground was emitting a soft chime, welcoming its old master's return.
The Bodhi tree swayed gently, its branches trembling. Myriad yin and yang energies cascaded down, transforming into flowing yin and yang dual fish, which then intertwined to form a Tai Chi diagram, floating behind Ji Mo.
Ji Mo stood on golden lotuses, his head radiating Buddhist light, with the Tai Chi diagram on his back. He appeared like a celestial sun, blazing with brilliance.
Boom...
The entire Blissful Plateau seemed to experience a great earthquake. Buddhist rhymes surged through the air, all the temples began to glow, and the previously dark sky once again radiated light. The scattered gray mist dissipated, the destructive blood radiance that killed was also continuously dissolved, and the Dark Demonic Wheel began to dim.
"Impossible! How can the Master's dark power be dispelled by light?"
The black shadow was utterly panicked, its expression one of disbelief. Then, it let out a scream, feeling that it too could not withstand the light emanating from Ji Mo and was gradually melting.
"You want to covet my body, don't you? Let's see if you die."
Ji Mo reached out and grabbed, and the black shadow was immediately pulled from his head and firmly grasped in his hand. He began to interrogate it, determined to extract all the secrets from the black shadow's heart.
"This is merely a wisp of my divine consciousness. Do you think you can threaten me?"
The black shadow struggled desperately. Unable to break free, it glared venomously at Ji Mo, "Great Immortal Kong Xu, who was so brilliant in his time, was still played to death by me. Once my true body finishes its current affairs, I will immediately come to the Immortal Spirit Realm and turn you into dust. Wait for death to arrive in despair. Your good days are numbered."
With that, the black shadow decisively self-destructed. The Dark Demonic Wheel also dimmed completely, but a strange power still flowed within it, rendering it undamaged. Moreover, evil radiance pulsed from it intermittently, clearly indicating that if it escaped Ji Mo's control, it would reignite and resume its harvesting of all life.
"Mr. Ji, you are truly remarkable. You have actually defeated the darkness."
The Four-unlike creature's eyes overflowed with adoration. It had never heard of anyone successfully stopping the spread of darkness. Ji Mo had achieved it, setting a precedent in history.
"It's only a temporary halt. Perhaps next time, luck won't be on my side."
Ji Mo's expression was solemn. He couldn't even destroy a Dark Demonic Wheel now, let alone defeat the darkness. He was still far from it. Time was running out for him; he had to grow stronger as quickly as possible.