Loan Wusheng

Western Expedition!

Zheng Jun's decree was not a well-thought-out plan, but rather a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Zheng Jun's original targets were the Xuanhuang Realm and the Luotian Realm, but unexpectedly, trouble broke out in his own backyard.

This Western World Honored One actually tried to ambush me while I was condensing the 'Candle Dragon Eye' Dharma Form, showing absolutely no martial ethics!

Ugh.

Since that's the case, Zheng Jun naturally had to take action to eliminate his worries and also to get revenge.

"Issue the imperial edict."

Zheng Jun looked around, then immediately opened his mouth and, in the name of the 'Lord of the World' Dharma Image, spread the word throughout the five lakes and four seas, and to all the counties and prefectures of the world.

"I, having received the Mandate of Heaven to rule over all lands, have worked diligently day and night, with the sole aim of bringing peace and prosperity to the people and the nation. However, Buddhism is now flourishing, with monks and nuns increasing in number daily. They neglect farming and weaving, wasting the people's resources; they seize fertile lands without paying taxes; and they speak recklessly about cause and effect, confusing the people's minds. This is a great scourge that harms the country and its people, and it must be eliminated!"

"I hereby issue an edict throughout the land, ordering the Six Armies to launch a western expedition to quell the rebellion, destroy licentious shrines, seize Buddhist temples and their lands to supply the public granaries, and order all monks and nuns to return to secular life and be engaged in farming and sericulture; burn scriptures and images, prohibit false speech, and anyone who dares to privately possess them will be punished for defying the imperial decree; officials of prefectures and counties shall strictly investigate those who are hiding in Buddhist temples, and if anyone is found to be a fugitive or evading corvée labor, the responsible officials shall be implicated!"

"I am not fond of killing, but I am doing this for the sake of the country! If the Buddhist community can remain pure and focused on its practice, I will not hesitate to be lenient. However, given the current situation, only decisive measures can rectify the social atmosphere and bring peace to the people."

"Proclaim this throughout the land, so that all may know!"

There are sets of short poems, from the North Sea to the South China Sea, from Guanzhong to Jiangnan.

Even the soldiers stationed in the remote mountainous corners of the empire could feel Zheng Jun's majestic divine power!
This is a plan to destroy Buddhism!
I was too lenient with them before, even allowing Buddhism to spread within my territory.

But since the Western World Honored One has caused such a thing, then he shouldn't blame himself!

We should emulate the ancient sages, the Three Wu and One Zong, who suppressed Buddhism!
Zheng Jun's edict to suppress Buddhism was like a thunderclap, shaking military camps in various prefectures and counties throughout the empire.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Cabinet of Shenjing, Lu Chengbi unfolded the jade slip, pointed his finger heavily at the two characters 'Yu Shen', and then said: "Grand Secretary Yu is skilled in military strategy. He should lead three thousand iron cavalry to guard each prefecture. Any group of monks gathering in the area exceeding ten people should be executed."

Having said that, Lu Chengbi immediately began preparations to mobilize the armies of the entire country to march into the Western Regions.

Lu Chengbi was unaware of what had happened in Beihai, but he knew very well that this battle would shock the world!

If Your Majesty succeeds in the western expedition, you will complete the unfinished work of your predecessors and truly achieve unification!

In an instant, the world was in turmoil, and countless armies were gathering, all for the same goal.

Suppress Buddhism!

As for Zheng Jun himself, he was consolidating his Dharma form at the Aurora Palace in the North Sea.

Previously, the Supreme Lord of the Western Paradise had come from afar and attacked him together with the Lord of the Myriad Demon Palace. If he hadn't made a move, Zhuohuang might have been killed by the two of them.

Therefore, Zheng Jun forcibly took action and killed the Lord of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace.

As for the 'Candle Dragon Eyes' Dharma image, the damage was not actually that great, but it did take up some time.

Really abominable.

"Whoo~"

Zheng Jun exhaled and began to continue condensing the 'Candle Dragon Eye' Dharma Image.

Then, Zheng Jun sat cross-legged deep within the Beihai Aurora Palace, surrounded by dazzling spiritual light.

And so, after an unknown amount of time, finally, as the last wisp of magic power was injected into his brow, the 'Candle Dragon Eye' Dharma image, as dazzling as the sun and moon, finally solidified completely, transforming into a dragon-shaped phantom woven with crimson and gold, circling behind him.

With each blink of its eyes, it seemed to possess the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas, causing even the void to tremble.

"It's finally done."

Zheng Jun slowly opened his eyes, a hint of coldness flashing in them.

He raised his hand, and the Dharma image dragon shadow behind him immediately emitted a clear and melodious roar that shook the heavens.

This forceful killing of the Demon Palace Master delayed his chance to achieve perfect Dharma form, but it also allowed him to see through the sinister intentions of the Western World Honored One.

Taking advantage of his seclusion, they joined forces with foreign enemies to launch a sneak attack, clearly intending to destroy the foundation of his path.

"Burning Phoenix".

Zheng Jun waved his sleeve, and the palace gates swung open.

A moment later, Zhuohuang, dressed in red, arrived on a beam of light and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the Six Armies have been assembled. Grand Secretary Lu personally led 30,000 vanguard cavalry to cut off the grain supply routes of the eighteen Buddhist kingdoms in the Western Regions."

Zheng Jun nodded slightly, his fingertips tracing patterns in the air, and a golden map of the territory suddenly unfolded. In the map, the Western Regions were shrouded in Buddhist light, yet they crumbled step by step under the advance of the imperial cavalry.

"Did the World-Honored One think that he could rest easy by hiding in the Great Thunderclap Temple?"

Zheng Jun sneered, and a crimson light suddenly shot out from the dragon eyes of the Dharma Image, burning the Buddha light in the picture to ashes: "Today I will let him know what it means that the mandate of heaven cannot be defied!"

Before the words were finished, war drums suddenly boomed outside the Aurora Palace, and 100,000 Northern Sea troops lined up in the clouds, their banners as red as blood, turning the waters of the Northern Sea crimson.

This period is also a good time to test the loyalty of the people of Beihai.

Zhuohuang stood up and handed over a jade scroll: "This is the deployment of Buddhist troops as discovered by the secret guards. Among them, three sacred mountain secret realms contain ancient Buddha formations, which must be forcibly broken with the power of the Dharma Form."

Zheng Jun glanced at the jade book, and suddenly a ball of crimson flame rose from his palm, burning the book into countless specks of light: "Why go to such trouble? Order the three armies to raze any Buddhist temples they encounter to the ground; treat anyone carrying scriptures or images as a traitor!"

Having said that, he stepped out of the Aurora Palace, his Dharma image, a dragon shadow, swelling in the wind and instantly transforming into a thousand-foot-long dragon coiled in the sky. Amidst the dragon's roar, Zheng Jun's voice, like thunder, rolled across the four seas: "The Western Expedition begins today!"

"kill!"

……

In the far western Buddhist kingdom, the World-Honored One remained silent.

He knew perfectly well what the consequences of angering Zheng Jun would be, but now he had nowhere to go.

With three incarnations, his true body cannot leave the Jambudvipa realm.

Otherwise, there will be a huge backlash.

This is why he can be reincarnated again after going through reincarnation.

But now,
Facing a formidable enemy like Zheng Jun, however, became his greatest constraint.

Just then, an Arhat burst into the main hall, his chest armor bearing three scorch marks, clearly indicating that he was seriously injured.

However, upon seeing the World Honored One, he immediately composed himself, clasped his hands together, and chanted the Buddha's name: "World Honored One!"

"What's the matter?"

The World Honored One said calmly.

"Your Majesty, the Han Emperor has personally led the dragon cavalry of the North Sea to breach the Kasyapa Pass. Seven of the eighteen Buddhist kingdoms' sacred mountains and secret realms have been crushed. Please, Your Majesty, instruct us on how to resist them?"

Upon hearing this, the incomplete golden statue on the lotus platform swayed slightly.

Golden blood seeped from beneath the empty robe on the Buddha's left shoulder, the wound left by the Buddha's past body still burning painfully.

Even so, a compassionate smile appeared on the Buddha's face: "Foolish child, why be alarmed?"

A faint rumbling sound came from outside the hall, and the entire Mount Sumeru trembled.

Upon seeing this, the Arhat was initially terrified, but the next moment the Buddha seal on his forehead twisted, and he immediately stepped forward and said, "World Honored One, the Dharma image of the Han Emperor has arrived. Please show it to me, World Honored One."

"Amitabha."

Suddenly, the Buddha moved his prayer beads, and a golden chain of Sanskrit characters locked the Arhat's unfinished words in his throat.

He lowered his eyes to look at the cracked Buddha bone in his palm, his voice as calm as an ancient well: "Benefactor Zheng has been forcing the formation of the Dharma form, and although it seems to be progressing rapidly at this moment, it is actually just a final burst of energy before death."

As the last drop of gold dust slipped through his fingers, the confusion in the Arhat's eyes gradually dissipated, and he respectfully bowed and withdrew from the main hall.

Only after the heavy temple doors were completely closed did the Buddha reveal a hint of sorrow.

He had absolutely no way to deal with Zheng Jun.

after all……

Zheng Jun now possesses five Dharma images.

Five Dharma images! That's...

Five Dharma Images!

In less than a hundred years, they have accomplished this. The Western World Honored One now only feels endless regret. It can be said that the position of Lord of the Jambudvipa has been firmly secured by the other party.

I initially thought the other person had turned it on, but now I realize it wasn't a matter of it being on at all; it was never turned off.

Can such a being be fought?

However, he was blinded by the words "Buddha of Jambudvipa" and forgot his own abilities.

He sits on a high platform every day, calling himself the Buddha, and expounding the truth.

But when it comes to myself, I can't tell the difference.

Ugh.

This calamity was destined to befall us.

After a long sigh, the Buddha of the Western Paradise gradually hardened his eyes, clasped his hands together, and chanted 'Amitabha Buddha'.

The Dhammapada states: All conditioned things are impermanent; they are subject to arising and ceasing.

The current predicament is like a flash of lightning or a bubble, seemingly solid but actually an illusion.

Since there is no way to retreat, why not regard this adversity as a special opportunity for spiritual practice?
All fears arise from attachment!
At this moment, the morning bell atop Mount Sumeru fell silent amidst the flames of war.

The Western World-Honored One sits alone on a lotus throne, his incomplete golden body resembling an ancient Buddha weathered by time.

Beneath the lotus platform, however, black energy continued to surge.

Below is the demonic energy that the Western World Honored One has suppressed over the years, so that it can be used in times of crisis.

Today, it's time to put it to use.

However, in doing so, I might end up looking completely different.

but……

That's enough!
"You're here, you're here, you're here..."

A voice whispered in his heart, not the intrusion of external demons, but the surging of karmic obstacles from his beginningless past.

Those severed desires of greed, anger, and ignorance now spread like poisonous vines from the depths of his marrow, entwining his golden body.

His own greed, anger, and ignorance had been suppressed, but at this moment, they finally erupted completely.

"..."

"boom--!"

Suddenly, crimson flames burst forth outside the mountain gate, and the eighteen layers of Vajra Barrier shattered in response.

The Arhats on duty didn't even have time to form a battle formation before they were overturned to the ground by the torrent that flowed day and night.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhuohuang's phoenix fire swept across the corridor pillars, burning the thousand-year-old Bodhi wood carving of the Diamond Sutra into scattered sparks.

“The World Honored One is quite composed.”

Zheng Jun walked over, stepping on the broken pieces of glazed tiles, with five Buddhist statues rotating behind him like a sundial.

With each step he took, a golden, lava-like mark appeared on the ground, the power overflowing from the "Candle Dragon Eyes" Dharma image scorching the Buddhist land.

The palace doors opened by themselves without any wind.

The Buddha on the lotus platform finally rose, and gold dust fell from the hem of his robe. Surprisingly, flesh sprouted from the wound on his left shoulder, twisting and solidifying into half a new arm. However, the arm was as black as iron, and the knuckles were clearly in the shape of a Rakshasa demon.

“Benefactor Zheng.”

The Buddha's clasped hands also presented a strange state: his right palm shone like jade, while his left palm was covered with purple-black demonic patterns: "Who will win is still unknown."

His voice was rather indifferent, but it also carried a hint of confidence.

Although he possessed three Dharma forms, his strength was not as great as Zheng Jun's five Dharma forms.

However, this place is, after all, a Buddhist kingdom in the far west, and Zheng Jun is not within the scope of the 'Lord of the World' Dharma Image.

Given this shift in power, victory is not impossible!
Moreover, the Buddha and the demon are of one mind. This place is now a place to suppress demonic thoughts. If I release the demonic thoughts that have been accumulated over thousands of years, I can naturally fight!
"Benefactor Zheng, prepare to be challenged."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Buddha's chest suddenly split open, and countless tendrils resembling blood vessels pierced the ground, beginning to draw out some kind of power.

"Ok?"

Zheng Jun frowned, and the five Dharma images roared at the same time. The 'Yellow Millet Dream' Dharma image behind him suddenly showed some illusions and surged towards the Western World Honored One.

"You've only just realized it? I'm afraid it's too late."

The World Honored One's demonic voice shattered the surrounding spiritual energy.

The speed of the demon wheel increased dramatically, and the demonic energy that had been suppressed for thousands of years surged into his body along the tentacles. His golden body was demonized at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the corrupted Buddhist power crashed down like a tsunami!
Upon seeing this, Zheng Jun frowned and activated the 'Yellow Millet Dream' Dharma Form first, causing the illusory river to wash over the World Honored One's consciousness.

However, the demonized Buddha relic lit up between the other party's eyebrows, turning the illusion into a blood-soaked battlefield.

This is using demonic thoughts to contaminate the Dharma!
"break!"

Zheng Jun's left eye shone brightly with red light, and his "Candle Dragon Eye" Dharma form was fully opened.

The dividing line between day and night fell like a celestial blade, splitting the Blood Sea Illusion in two.

At the same time, the Emperor's Seal, which is the Dharma Image of "Lord of the World," is formed in the right palm. The dragon energy of the North Sea surges across thousands of miles and condenses into a nine-clawed golden dragon phantom in the palm!

The Buddha's demonic claw suddenly grew to a hundred feet in length, and the nail transformed into a pitch-black vajra that slammed down.

Demonic energy intertwined with the remaining Buddhist light, forming an eerie purplish-gold hue that caused the space to ripple with decaying wrinkles wherever it passed. Zheng Jun neither dodged nor yielded; the golden dragon phantom raised its head and roared, actually using his imperial destiny to directly confront the fallen Buddhist power.

"boom--!"

The shockwave from the collision blew the dome of the main hall off, revealing the blood-red sky.

The World Honored One staggered back three steps, his demonic claws cracking inch by inch; Zheng Jun's sleeves shattered, and a faint cracking sound came from his arm bones.

Both of them showed surprise at the same time.

'How did this World Honored One become so powerful?' Zheng Jun frowned, pondering to himself.

The Buddha was even more astonished: 'Zheng Jun is so powerful, yet this couldn't force him to retreat?'

Although the two were surprised, they also had completely different mindsets and thoughts.

Seeing this, Zheng Jun became even more serious.

The Buddha's heart also felt heavier than before.

The World-Honored One clasped his hands together, and the demonic Buddha wheel unfolded behind him: "Formless Prajna, all sentient beings suffer!"

Amidst the chanting, the Arhats who had been intercepted by Zhuohuang outside the hall suddenly self-destructed, their golden blood corroding holes in the barrier.

Strands of black energy seeped out from the hole and condensed in the void into a phantom image of the inner demon resembling Zheng Jun!

Zheng Jun sneered, and the five Dharma images simultaneously erupted with dazzling light. The 'Candle Dragon Eyes' Dharma image behind him suddenly opened its eyes wide, and the power of day and night poured out like a torrent, instantly turning those inner demon illusions into dust!

Immediately afterwards, he took a step forward, and the void beneath his feet shattered inch by inch. In his left hand, the Dragon Abyss Blade was unsheathed fiercely, and his right fist, shrouded in darkness and carrying the heavy pressure of day and night, slashed at the World Honored One!
Zheng Jun slashed down with his sword, and the power of day and night crushed the World Honored One's demonized Buddhist wheel like the collapse of the sky.

The moment the golden body shattered, the Western World Honored One suddenly burst into wild laughter, and a torrent of black energy surged from beneath his tattered robe, swallowing all the broken fragments of the Dharma image into his body!

"Zheng Jun!"

The Buddha's seven orifices spewed forth demonic flames, and his voice was no longer human: "Since you have severed my path to Buddhahood, you will fall into the Avici Hell!"

The demonic wheel on his chest spun in reverse, causing the entire Sumeru Mountain's earth veins to tremble.

Decided.

It all came down with Zheng Jun! (End of Chapter)