"Fellow Daoist Li Bai, retreat quickly. Jiayu Pass is already difficult to defend. The mortal generals and ordinary rogue cultivators should temporarily retreat ten thousand miles and fall back.
"The enemies now are no ordinary foes, but the Four Great Demon Gods under Patriarch Minghe. Only the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain can resist them."
At this critical juncture, Patriarch Burning Lamp still showed a basic sense of responsibility and awareness. He did not prioritize preserving the strength of the Spirit Mountain Buddhas and refrained from a suicidal confrontation with the elite Asura Sect of the demon race.
Instead.
With a touch of his hand, he unleashed supreme divine power, instantly healing Li Bai and tens of thousands of soldiers, and sending them back to Jiuquan Pass, ten thousand miles behind Jiayu Pass.
With his other hand, he showed no laziness, but truly unleashed a powerful aura, akin to a myriad of Buddhas paying homage, alongside the multitude of Buddhas behind him!
"Ah!"
"Mi!"
"Tuo!"
"Fo!"
To deter the Four Great Demon Gods and the eight million vanguard troops of the Asura Sect, Patriarch Burning Lamp spared no effort and unleashed his ultimate move.
It was none other than one of his Buddhist divine abilities, the Lion's Roar. However, unlike the roar of Bodhisattva Guanyin or ordinary Buddhist disciples.
His roar infused his entire being of perfected Primordial Golden Immortal cultivation.
Although it could not compare to Sun Kong, Luo Hou, the Jade Emperor, or Chan Master Wu Chao, who were currently engaged in fierce battles in the Immortal World,
It was enough to shock the Four Great Demon Gods opposite them, causing them to frown and.
Retreat five hundred miles!
Seeing this, the situation and morale at the precarious Jiayu Pass instantly reversed, with both sides experiencing a dramatic shift.
On the side of the Four Great Demon Gods, apart from the four of them who remained,
The other eight million vanguard troops of the Asura Sect retreated,
Still trembling from Patriarch Burning Lamp's power!
On the side of the Spirit Mountain Buddhas, aside from the four Great Bodhisattvas like Guanyin, the rest remained to guard the city, believing they had hope with Patriarch Burning Lamp.
However.
Li Bai, who should have left, returned.
Upon seeing this, his expression changed slightly, with a mix of emotion and sigh.
With a single sentence, he exposed Patriarch Burning Lamp's predicament!
"Fellow Buddhas, Tathagatas, and Bodhisattvas of the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism of Spirit Mountain, you have done enough. Alas, the demonic path is flourishing, and the demon race is rising. These Four Great Demon Gods are even more formidable than before.
"Otherwise, with Patriarch Burning Lamp's Lion's Roar, they should have all been scared away, forcing Patriarch Minghe himself to appear.
"But now... alas, I did not expect us to repeat the mistakes of the first Dao-Demon Conflict, falling into a shameful situation of internal disunity, allowing the enemy to develop rapidly.
"If not for your refusal five hundred years ago to heed the advice of Tathagata Buddha and Great Sage Sun, insisting on remaining separate and isolated, allowing the demon race to seize opportunities.
"How could we have reached a point where, even with the might of all the Buddhas, we cannot even hold a single Jiayu Pass!"
Li Bai's personality was too straightforward.
His words struck a chord with Patriarch Burning Lamp, leaving him surprised and impressed, yet also somewhat speechless.
The other Buddhas were all embarrassed.
They truly did not know whether to thank Li Bai for revealing the truth or to curse him for speaking it!
But no matter what.
Since the human-demon war, predicted by Sun Kong, had erupted, and the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain were ordered to obey, they could not retreat without a fight and had to recover themselves one by one.
They adopted the compassionate and world-saving state of mind from the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation and fought bravely.
However.
Apart from Patriarch Burning Lamp and Li Bai, few noticed.
As the Four Great Demon Gods were rubbing their hands, discussing who would challenge them, other Buddhas secretly logged off and fled. The five hundred Arhats, eight hundred Vajras, and three thousand Gaudapada.
They did the same.
Even among the eight Great Bodhisattvas, apart from Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Judao Sun, who still had some integrity, the other four.
Had also slacked off!
For a time.
Li Bai, instead of being angry, laughed, holding a simple sword forged from refined steel. He advanced instead of retreating, standing shoulder to shoulder with Patriarch Burning Lamp as a weakling at the perfected Heavenly Immortal realm.
Achieving true fearlessness and courage, causing Patriarch Burning Lamp, the Four Great Bodhisattvas, and the three thousand Tathagatas present to feel a sense of shame!
"This Li Bai is said to be related to the Wuzhuangguan lineage. I did not expect that all of us in the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism of Spirit Mountain combined are not as brave as him, alas!"
"This child's potential and comprehension are first-class. If he survives this battle, he will surely achieve great things in the future!"
Patriarch Burning Lamp felt immense admiration for Li Bai and whoever arranged for Li Bai to act in such a manner.
As he spoke.
He picked up the Dinghai Bead with one hand and set up an incomplete Dinghai Grand Formation.
With his other hand, he took out the Qiankun Ruler that had been with him for many years, crushed it publicly, and channeled quasi-saint level magical power into it, refining it into a flying sword of ten thousand times the power.
And gave it to Li Bai!
"Young friend Li, although this flying sword is not a top-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, nor is it well-known among ordinary Innate Spirit Treasures, I give it to you in the hope that you will kill more enemies and achieve merit.
"As for your future destiny, I cannot divine it. I hope you will find your own fortune later."
"You may name this flying sword yourself."
After speaking, Patriarch Burning Lamp stopped wasting his energy and closed his eyes to rest, quietly awaiting the attack of the Four Great Demon Gods opposite him.
At this moment, he was more responsible than he had been in five hundred years, bringing tears and touching the hearts of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, three thousand Tathagatas, and others behind him.
On the other side.
Li Bai accepted the flying sword, remodeled from the Qiankun Ruler, without any hesitation. He twirled it a few times and immediately named it.
"From now on, you will follow me, Li Bai, through thick and thin, upholding the Dao of the Sword, and defending the dignity of my Master and that great personage.
"May I name you Taibai Sword, how about it?"
As soon as these words were spoken.
It was seen that.
The Taibai Sword, originally a weaker Innate Spirit Treasure, let out a joyful dragon's roar, from which erupted a captivating golden light that shocked the Four Great Demon Gods and the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain present.
It was as if, in the depths of fate, it was destined that Li Bai and his Taibai Sword would be extraordinary!
But at this moment.
The Four Great Demon Gods were impatient.
Seeing that the number of remaining Buddhas of Spirit Mountain had greatly decreased, and apart from Patriarch Burning Lamp, who was somewhat formidable, the others were all vulnerable.
The four of them immediately sneered.
And decisively attacked!
"Burning Lamp bald donkey, here comes Bo Xun, you should also repay some of the karma for slaughtering my kin in the past!"
With a cold laugh, the great demon god, King Bo Xun, relying on his cultivation of perfected Primordial Golden Immortal, second only to Patriarch Minghe.
He took out the Asura Underworld Banner, one of the Five-Colored Five-Directional Flags, and locked onto the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain and the entire Jiayu Pass, preventing them from breaking through.
With his other hand, he held the Underworld Scythe, one of the Seven Treasures of Asura, and slashed towards Patriarch Burning Lamp.
With just the first strike.
He shattered Patriarch Burning Lamp's incomplete Dinghai Grand Formation.
And caused Patriarch Burning Lamp's golden body to be tainted.
Making the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain change color!
Seeing this.
More than two thousand seven hundred of the three thousand Tathagatas fled!