I manage female characters in all the heavens.

A kind of repentance that seeks to end one's own life, escape from suffering, and be reborn in the Pure Land.

Nie Yan felt a sudden dizziness, and before his eyes appeared a golden Buddhist kingdom, with countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas smiling and waving at him, as if saying—

Come, come, put everything down and come here. Here there is no pain, no trouble, no sorrow...

But the next moment, the true energy within his body started circulating on its own again!

That cool sensation instantly rushed into his mind, forcibly pulling him back from that dazed state!

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly opened his mouth and let out a loud shout!

"What kind of demon dares to play tricks and deceive people!"

This loud shout, infused with powerful true energy, resounded like a thunderclap in the Heavenly Origin Palace!

Visible sound waves spread out from him, shaking the scattered human skins in the hall into the air!

The deadly chanting that lingered in the hall was abruptly interrupted by this shout, coming to an abrupt end!

For a moment, the world was silent.

Then--

"Boom-"

A melodious gong sounded.

The doors of Tianyuan Hall were slowly pushed open from the outside.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the door, casting a long shadow on the floor inside the hall.

A royal carriage covered with magnificent prayer flags and golden scriptures was slowly driven into the hall by eight monks.

On either side of the Dharma carriage were six Dharma protectors holding Dharma implements, followed by four Dharma Kings dressed in robes and seated on lotus thrones.

A figure sat upright atop the imperial carriage.

The man was dressed in a golden-red robe and wore a five-Buddha crown. His face was old and kind, and he emanated a faint golden Buddhist light, as if he were a living Buddha who had descended from the Buddhist kingdom.

It was none other than the current imperial preceptor—Pudu Cihang.

But at this moment, his face, which usually wore a compassionate smile, no longer showed any trace of compassion.

Instead, there was an undisguised greed, a naked, beast-like bloodlust.

He looked at Nie Yan as if he were looking at a delicious dish that had already been served on the table.

Nie Yan's heart sank completely.

But he did not back down. Instead, he straightened his back, his eyes like lightning, staring directly at Pudu Cihang on the Dharma carriage.

In that instant, everything connected in his mind.

All of this was the work of this wicked monk!

What kind of national advisor! What kind of living Buddha! What kind of enlightened monk!

It's all fake!

This guy is a man-eating monster!

A colossal demon lurking within the imperial court, devouring the entire court!

Chapter 230 The Boundless Power of Buddhism Shatters the Golden Body

Nie Yan was filled with rage, but he was not blinded by it.

His right hand silently gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Those were two swords.

The two swords that had been with him ever since he left Jinhua Prefecture were a gift from his daughter.

"Universal salvation and compassion." He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice so cold it seemed to freeze over. "What exactly are you?"

Pudu Cihang sat atop the Dharma carriage, looking down at Nie Yan, a strange smile slowly creeping onto his lips.

“Lord Nie, you are a smart man.” His voice was as gentle and kind as ever, almost like a woman’s, but at this moment it was filled with a chilling evil intent. “You should have already guessed it.”

"You killed all these people—including the emperor?" Nie Yan's voice was as cold as ice.

"No, no, no." Pudu Cihang shook his head, put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, "This humble monk did not kill them."

He paused, then gave a bright smile: "This humble monk merely...ate them."

The moment the words left his mouth, Nie Yan's anger finally erupted completely!

He didn't say another word, nor did he ask another question.

The two swords at his waist had already been drawn from their sheaths like two bolts of lightning!

"Zheng—!"

The sword's cry was clear and resonant, like a dragon's roar echoing through the heavens!

Two thick sword energies, like two silver dragons, burst forth from the blades, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, and slashed fiercely towards Pudu Cihang on the Dharma carriage!

This sword strike showed absolutely no mercy!

This sword strike embodies all the techniques that Nie Yan has been practicing day and night for the past few months!

This sword strike was imbued with the immense power of a volcanic eruption!

This sword strike could cut even a city gate made of steel in two!

Pudu Cihang didn't even lift his eyelids.

He simply sat upright in his carriage and uttered a single "Amitabha."

boom--!!!

It felt like the sky had fallen!

A vast and boundless golden light descended from the sky!

The golden light was intense and scorching, carrying an unparalleled sense of oppression, like Mount Tai pressing down, and crashed down on the entire Tianyuan Palace!

The solid roof of Tianyuan Hall could not withstand the terrifying pressure for even a moment and collapsed with a crash!

Broken tiles, wooden beams, and bricks fell like a torrential rain!

But the falling objects were crushed into dust by an invisible force the moment they came into contact with the golden light!

Nie Yan felt as if an invisible mountain had suddenly pressed down on his shoulders!

His two sharp and unparalleled sword energies were like paper in the face of this immense pressure, and were instantly crushed and dissipated!

His own body, under this pressure, was as if it had sunk into a quagmire, and every movement required several times the strength of the previous one!

"This is?"

Nie Yan gritted his teeth and endured it, then looked up and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Suddenly, thirty-six enormous prayer pillars rose up throughout the entire palace!

The sutra pillars were scattered throughout the imperial city. Each one was three or four zhang tall and was made entirely of gold and jade. The surface was inscribed with dense scriptures, and a golden pearl floated at the top.

The thirty-six sutra pillars are connected by some mysterious mechanism, forming a massive array that covers the entire palace!

That vast golden light emanated from these thirty-six sutra pillars!

The golden light, like invisible chains, wrapped around Nie Yan's body, binding him tightly to the spot.

His vast true energy was so suppressed by the formation that even circulating it was extremely difficult, and his strength was reduced to less than one-tenth!

Nie Yan's face turned ashen as he struggled desperately, but he was unable to break free from the golden light's restraints.

Pudu Cihang couldn't help but let out a smug laugh when he saw his disheveled appearance.

"Nie Yan, you are indeed a rare talent." He said with a smile, his tone full of the composure and sarcasm of a victor. "Your martial arts skills are earth-shattering, unprecedented in history. If we were to fight head-on, even if I could win, I'm afraid it would take some effort."

"Unfortunately—"

He paused, then his smile widened: "You're so stupid."

"What do you think I relied on to have been able to remain hidden in the imperial court for so many years?"

He extended a finger and gently tapped his temple: "Why do you think this humble monk summoned you to this palace?"

"Why do you think this humble monk would have made those little demons wear human skin and pretend to be court officials to play house with you for the past two weeks?"

“Nie Yan, from the moment you stepped into the palace, you were already my meal.”

Upon hearing this, Nie Yan's anger intensified, but he was also filled with disbelief and shock.

A little demon disguised as a court official?

For the past two weeks, he had been dealing with those "colleagues" every day, handling official business, and discussing national affairs, yet he hadn't noticed anything unusual at all!

How...how is this possible?!

Seeing the shock on his face, Pudu Cihang seemed quite satisfied and continued to smile:

"Aren't you wondering how someone with your martial arts skills could not even see through those minor demons?"

"Hehe... This humble monk was also quite surprised."

"To be honest, I didn't expect those little demons to be able to deceive you. After all, your martial arts cultivation is indeed extraordinary, and your perception should be far beyond that of ordinary people."

“This humble monk is even prepared that if you see through me, I will go to some trouble and personally take you down.”

"result--"

He shrugged, a helpless expression on his face: "Even I didn't expect that the disguises of those little demons would actually fool you."

"Tsk tsk, this is really..."

He shook his head, seemingly with some emotion: "It seems that although your martial arts skills are high, your eyesight... is simply laughable."

Nie Yan was trembling with anger, but he gritted his teeth and refused to let his loss of composure show to the other party.

His power was bestowed upon him by a "deity" a few months ago; it wasn't something he cultivated himself, so it's normal that his basic skills aren't up to par.

But if he failed to detect anything unusual about the officials' words and actions, then that was his own problem.

Especially Ji Tongchen, who had been working with him every day for half a month without noticing the change of personnel. While the cunning of the devilish man was of course the main responsibility, he himself was definitely blind to the truth.