Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

Holy Land, Spirit Mountain.

Located within the Buddha Mother's Hall at the summit's peak.

Seated amidst the clouds, the Buddha Mother abruptly opened her eyes, her Buddha eyes exuding strands of compelling brilliance, like solid beams able to shatter this world with the sharpness of swords.

A fury born of towering wrath glinted in her eyes, fiercer than heavenly fire, as a deep and emotionless voice resonated within the hall: "Good, very good Xiao Yi, daring to exterminate two of my disciples, truly commendable!"

Swoosh!

With a wave of the Buddha Mother's hand.

Before her, materialized the same Buddha figure that had previously appeared above Celestial Dragon Temple.

This was one of the many avatars of Buddha Mother—Lotus Buddha Mother Dharma Body!

Seated on a golden lotus dais, hands clapped together, she greeted formally: "I pay homage to my true self!"

The Buddha Mother, expression serene, devoid of any emotions: "Kill Xiao Yi."

"Your will be followed!"

Lotus Buddha Mother nodded in response.

A beam of golden light burst forth from beneath the lotus dais, wrapping around Lotus Buddha Mother in golden bands, and within moments, her figure vanished from sight.

At this moment.

A radiant light flickered before Buddha Mother in the void, coalescing into a giant head.

This head bore a compassionate visage.

Its eyes shone like stars, staring at Buddha Mother, and said in a deep voice: "Junior brother, personally going to Western Province to deal with a minor Supreme Venerable seems a bit much!"

This person was one of the dual saints of Holy Spirit Mountain, known as the Past Buddha.

Buddha Mother, her face expressionless, replied: "The majesty of a saint is not to be desecrated. This child dared to kill my disciples, a direct challenge to me, how can I tolerate this?"

Buddha Mother's character was extremely dominant, intolerant of even the slightest disrespect.

Xiao Yi had slain Celestial Dragon Supreme before her, and then executed Jingang and Huoyun, two disciples, clear provocations against her dignified stature.

Past Buddha frowned and finally sighed: "This child is exceptionally talented, likely to achieve a saint's station, potentially becoming a comrade fighting alongside us in the future, why must you…"

"Enough!"

Buddha Mother, clearly impatient, cut off Past Buddha's words, expressionless, "Achieving the saint's seat is not so easy! How many extraordinary beings from past till now have been stuck at the gates of the saint's path? Elder brother, better you return; it's still a hundred years till you resume your post. During this time, I am the master of Western Province!"

"You…"

Past Buddha's expression darkened, he had come at the behest of news that the successor of Supreme Shakya had reappeared in Western Province, hoping to persuade Buddha Mother to spare Xiao Yi's life.

He had not expected Buddha Mother to be so dismissive.

Buddha Mother waved her hand expressionlessly, making the giant face disappear completely.

Buddha Mother scoffed lightly, "Xiao Yi? Even if Heavenly Emperor shows up, don't expect to save you!"

The power of her Lotus Buddha Mother Dharmakaya was comparable to the Peak Supreme Realm, such combat strength in these sacred lands, barring those hidden saints, was invincible.

In her opinion…

With the power of Lotus Buddha Mother Dharmakaya, exterminating Xiao Yi was more than sufficient.

Meanwhile.

In the deepest bounds of Qingtian Realm, a region forbidden to all lifeforms below Supreme Venerable, where even Supreme Venerates struggled for survival.

Within this endless darkness.

There floated seven islands mid-air, each island immense, all crafted from Yuan metal, the texture sending shivers down the spine.

Silently suspended in mid-air.

Upon each island stood a massive steel fortress.

Every fortress bore countless battle scars and dark red bloodstains, as if having endured through aeons and weathered great calamities.

On one of these islands, within that dark steel fortress.

A towering figure suddenly opened his eyes wide. This person was one of the Twin Sages of Holy Spirit Mountain, the Buddha Ancestor, showing a hint of helplessness on his face. He gently shook his head and sighed, "Shakya, I have already tried my best..."

He then retracted his sorrowful emotions.

The Buddha Ancestor looked up, peered through the towering city walls, gazing into the endless darkness far beyond, a look of solemnity and worry appeared on his face.

At that moment...

A figure walked in from outside the door - a person clad in silver armor, which was covered with sky-shattering Evil Qi. Between his eyebrows, there was a third eye which, when opened and closed, seemed to gather the light and brilliance of the sun and moon.

The silver-armored figure placed his right hand on his chest and gave a military salute, solemnly saying, "My lord, news has come from the Tower of Soldiers; two youngsters have passed the 18th floor of the tower. General Jidian is leading them back on their way here!"

"Oh? The 18th floor of the Tower of Soldiers?"

The Buddha Ancestor's eyes lit up. Being able to conquer the 18th floor of the Tower of Soldiers was indicative of possessing the potential to achieve sainthood. This news somewhat alleviated the Buddha Ancestor's worries. He said in a deep voice, "Let General Jidian bring the people here. I want to personally guide them!"

"Understood, sir!"

The silver-armored figure then immediately left.

The Buddha Ancestor muttered to himself, "Such talents are still too few..."

...

Western Province.

Hanging Temple.

The Hanging Temple, among the four major Buddhist Nations, was second only to Shaolin Temple in terms of its heritage history and strength.

The vast Hanging Temple was a temple suspended in mid-air, grand and luxurious. In the void, a beam of golden light shot up to the sky – it was the arrival of the Lotus Buddha Mother Dharmakaya.

However...

When she saw the Great Buddha Hall which had already lost all its power of faith incense, the face of the Lotus Buddha Mother suddenly changed. With a wave of her hand, a monk from the Hanging Temple was drawn up into the high sky.

This person was the junior brother of Xuan Cang and the head of the Discipline Hall of Hanging Temple, Xuanming.

Xuanming, with a nervous face, said, "Xuanming pays respects to the Buddha Mother!"

The Lotus Buddha Mother, expressionless, asked, "Has Xiao Yi ever been here?"

"He has!"

Xuanming quickly nodded, then continued, "Xiao Buddha King borrowed the two thousand years of accumulated power of faith incense from our Hanging Temple, and then he left!"

"The power of faith incense is the foundation of establishing a temple, why did you agree to lend it to him?" the Lotus Buddha Mother asked coldly.

Xuanming was stunned, then replied, "Xiao Buddha King is a model of Buddhism, a light of the righteous path. He promised to return it twofold in the future. After discussing with the abbot, we agreed to lend him the power of faith incense…"

...

The Lotus Buddha Mother's corner of the eye twitched fiercely, her anger uncontainable, "A fool who is more trouble than he's worth, why should I keep you?"

"Buddha Mother..."

Just as Xuanming began to speak, a terrifying oppressive force came from all directions, so powerful that he couldn't resist at all. He watched helplessly as his striving body twisted under the pressure of the space.

Bang!

Xuanming exploded into pieces.

To his death, he couldn't understand why one of the Twin Sages of Holy Spirit Mountain, the Buddha Mother, would want to kill him!

"This Xiao Yi is not the Supreme Buddha, yet he can absorb the power of faith incense to enhance his strength. If I can acquire this technique, my lineage can become the Supreme of Spirit Mountain!"

The eyes of the Lotus Buddha Mother shimmered with a fierce light, filled with a sense of ruthlessness and coldness, "If he willingly hands over the technique, I might consider sparing his life. If he refuses to cooperate, then I will destroy his physical body, capture his Primordial Spirit, and slowly force out information!"

With that thought...

The Lotus Buddha Mother paused, transformed into a golden light, and flew towards Shaolin Temple.

Simultaneously...

Xiao Yi had already arrived at Shaolin Temple.

However...

In front of him, four figures appeared, blocking the entrance to the Great Buddha Hall…