At the end, Shakyamuni had ceased resisting. He had even actively infused his power into the relic. Its perfection owed much to Shakyamuni's cooperation. Ning Changge understood why—Shakyamuni hoped for mercy.
But Ning Changge hadn't intended to wipe out Buddhism entirely anyway.
Without Shakyamuni or these twenty Buddhas, Buddhism was destined to decline irreversibly.
His gaze swept across those present—resting briefly on members of Cihang Jingzhai, Jingnian Zen Temple, and other Buddhist factions. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority:
"From this day forward, no new Buddhas shall be born in the Nine Provinces for a thousand years!"
Buddhas were the only ones who could pose even a slight challenge to him. By imposing this restriction, he ensured no further threats would arise from Buddhism.
The crowd was stunned.
A thousand years without new Buddhas?
Buddhism would undoubtedly decline significantly during this time.
After all, Heaven-Man experts could only live up to three cycles of sixty years at most. Sustaining their legacy for a thousand years without Land Immortals would be incredibly difficult. Sacred sites relied on Land Immortals to endure over centuries.
The crowd felt conflicted but accepted this as the outcome of Buddhism's defeat in its long-standing rivalry with Daoism. If Daoism had lost instead, its fate would likely have been just as grim.
The remaining Buddhists bowed deeply to Ning Changge:
"We thank the Little Immortal for sparing us. From now on, Buddhism in the Nine Provinces will focus solely on spiritual practice and abandon martial arts. No new Buddhas shall be born for a thousand years."
Perhaps it was this crushing defeat…
Or perhaps witnessing so many Buddhas enter nirvana…
But many monks seemed to have gained newfound clarity. Reflecting on their lives thus far, they felt they had only half-understood Buddhism's teachings. A desire to truly alleviate others' suffering began to take root in their hearts.
Ning Changge nodded slightly.
With his spiritual senses, he could discern whether their submission was genuine or feigned.
He anticipated that some Buddhist factions might secretly continue practicing martial arts—but such minor transgressions were inconsequential. They could even serve as training opportunities for Wudang disciples in the future.
The crowd marveled at Ning Changge's composure and strength. Today, he had single-handedly subdued all of Buddhism. When news spread across the Nine Provinces, it would undoubtedly cause an uproar!
If defeating the Sword Demon had cemented Ning Changge's place among the Nine Provinces' elite…
Then today's events would spark debates about whether he deserved to be called the strongest in the Nine Provinces, reigning supreme over his era!
The grand hall was shrouded in silence.
Everyone present remained quiet.
They were well aware of the events that had transpired atop Tianzhu Peak. The black-robed Land Immortal who had fallen to Ning Changge's Five Elements Void Sword was a figure from the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Dao-Buddhist conflict, various dynasties had sought to exploit the chaos to infiltrate Wudang and uncover records or inheritances of the Immortal Dao.
But no one had anticipated…
Ning Changge had not even gone to Emperor Treading Peak for the Dao-Buddhist battle. Instead, he had remained seated atop Tianzhu Peak.
With a single sword strike, he had slain a Land Immortal.
When news of this reached them, they were both enraged and terrified. After all, the black-robed figure wasn't some newly ascended Land Immortal but one of the top experts beneath the Mongol Yuan's three greatest masters.
Yet he had been casually killed by Ning Changge.
When news of the events at Emperor Treading Peak followed, they were left utterly speechless.
Ning Changge's avatar had descended.
He single-handedly annihilated Buddhism!
Even the legendary reincarnation of Shakyamuni Buddha had perished, leaving everyone in shock. Such overwhelming power was simply absurd!
The Mongol Yuan's upper echelons were shaken. While Genghis Khan feared Ning Changge's strength, he was also deeply covetous of the Immortal Dao. The allure of such a cultivation path—offering not only longevity and resurrection but also unparalleled combat power—was irresistible to any ruler.
If such methods could be disseminated…
Genghis Khan's heart burned with ambition as he looked at his gathered experts and ministers, hoping they could provide a viable plan.
The National Preceptor Eight Scribes spoke after some thought:
"Great Khan, all evidence suggests that this Little Immortal's strength is unparalleled in the Nine Provinces. Any plan to infiltrate Wudang with a small force is doomed to fail. Even if the three of us joined forces, we would likely be no match for him."
The demonic sect master Meng Chixing and the imperial expert Si Hanfei both nodded solemnly.
No matter how unwilling they were to admit it, they had to acknowledge Ning Changge's overwhelming power. This was now a consensus across the Nine Provinces.
If Ning Changge defeated a few more top-tier experts, he would undoubtedly be recognized as the strongest in the Nine Provinces!
Genghis Khan did not blame his three top experts. Instead, he asked gravely:
"So, as the National Preceptor suggests, our only option is to besiege Wudang with an army?"
Eight Scribes nodded firmly:
"If the Great Khan wishes to seize the secrets of the Immortal Dao, this is our only option."
"Such strength requires an army of at least a million soldiers—and not just any soldiers. Only our Mongol Yuan's elite Heavenly Wolf Army stands a chance!"
His tone was heavy with caution.