Infinite Professions

Chapter 402: Chapter 209: Authority

The battle of divine Buddhas is about to ignite.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Venerable Red Lotus clasped his hands together, chanting the holy name of the Buddha aloud. Instantly, flames filled the sky and transformed into countless lotus flowers, falling from the heavens, seeming slow yet urgent, swiftly forming into a mass, turning into a sea of red lotus flames, enveloping Shen Hex and Li Yunqing behind him.

No, not just Shen Hex and Li Yunqing, but also many women appeared in panic, all trapped in this Red Lotus Buddha Prison, precisely the Flower-Scattering Celestial Maidens confined by the Red Lotus Hell Map.

To kill and silence, to destroy evidence and erase traces!

Some things, either done entirely or not at all.

Since murderous intent has been awakened and these individuals must be eliminated, it must be done thoroughly, leaving no trace or evidence behind, so that when the aftermath is investigated, he can escape unscathed.

Thus, Song Xiang must die, Li Yunqing must die, and all the Flower-Scattering Celestial Maidens within the Red Lotus Hell Map must die.

Only by decisively severing ties can one preserve oneself.

Red Lotus is resolute.

"Sword One—Birth!"

Shen Hex understood his intention and spoke no superfluous words. He saw the long sword sweep across, instantaneously giving rise to a multitude of swords.

It is the Daoist Sword Initial Form!

Though an initial form, it contains great power. Thousands of sword qi emerged, weaving into a sword net to meet the overarching red lotus, protecting Li Yunqing and the other Yin Souls.

"Huh!?"

Red Lotus furrowed his brow briefly, then gazed coldly, "Entering my Magic Realm, you can hardly protect yourself, yet you care for others, do you truly think you possess such means?"

With this thought, divine power surged, causing Red Lotus radiance to shine, intensifying the Buddha Prison fire, intending to refine the Heaven-Encompassing Sword Net.

Red Lotus Buddha Fire!

This is the divine technique of Venerable Red Lotus and the authority of the Red Lotus Realm.

Under the millennia of flourishing incense fire and the beliefs and offerings of ten thousand people, this fire has long surpassed the mortal realm, directly connecting to the Fire Dao, being the Buddhist True Flame, the Buddhist Holy Flame.

Such Buddha Fire, solely in terms of power, surpasses even the Six-Flame Demon Fire Shen Hex encountered in the Taiyuan Realm, and neither humans, deities, demons, devils, ghosts, nor monsters can endure its burning.

Moreover, the battlefield now resides within this Red Lotus Temple, with the realm supporting the opponent, gaining advantage in time and place, allowing the Red Lotus Buddha Fire to possess even greater power. Even if one surpasses a grade, they must struggle to withstand it.

However...

Sword qi surged, weaving and intertwining, yet remained endless, as one sword was consumed, another emerged, persistently resisting the pervasive Buddha fire.

"Huh!?"

Venerable Red Lotus narrowed his eyes, showing surprise.

The battle of deities hinges first on divine power, second on authority.

Divine power needs little explanation, like vitality within the human body, it serves as the source of strength, and without special cultivation techniques, it is converted from the beliefs and incense fire will power of the masses. Aside from higher-level luck and merit, other aspects are mostly the same, differing in quantity rather than superiority among the same grade.

The key lies in authority!

Deities are the rulers of the Dao, using divine power to connect with heaven and earth, presiding over the authority of the great Dao.

To put it simply, deities can use divine power to connect with all things under heaven and earth, grasp the authority of the great Dao, and even refine a segment of heaven and earth, a section of the great Dao, becoming a Daoist Lord or Emperor, wielding control over the universe.

Thus, the size and type of authority determine the strength and means of the divine beings.

Such as Venerable Red Lotus, who communicated with the Fire Dao, possessing the authority of Red Lotus Fire Virtue, creating the Red Lotus Buddha Fire, capable of burning things that ordinary flames cannot.

But what authority does Song Xiang possess, what means?

Logically, it should be the Authority of Righteous Law, as his position is the Assessor Magistrate of the Punishment Department.

Yet at present, he isn’t utilizing this authority.

That sword qi regenerates endlessly, clearly representing the authority of "Vitality Creation."

You, a God of Justice, where did you obtain the authority of Creation?

Could it be that you haven’t relinquished your previous position as Mountain and Land God?

But that Mountain God and Land God, one merely Seventh Grade, another below any grade, even if not relinquished, retaining authority, should not be able to overpower and oppose the Red Lotus Buddha Fire within the Red Lotus Realm?

Where exactly did it go wrong?

"Could it be true as rumors outside claim, that this person possesses extraordinary means?"

The gaze of Venerable Red Lotus sharpened, feelings of unease grew stronger but did not escalate to panic, instead fueling his intent to kill.

"This child must not remain!"

With murderous intent reignited, divine power surged even further, as Venerable Red Lotus clasped his hands together. His lotus platform radiated brightly, resembling a crimson sun hanging high above, causing the Buddha Prison fire to intensify, making it difficult for even the Heaven-Encompassing Sword Net to hold, as the sword qi faded and flowed away layer by layer, though the power of Creation attempted to fill the gap, it was but a pittance against a vast need.

"Ah!!!"

Within the Buddha Prison, a cacophony of Yin Souls let out agonizing cries. Even Li Yunqing behind Shen Hex collapsed, face flushed, emitting wisps of smoke, unable to withstand the Buddha Prison’s firepower, on the verge of having his soul ignited by the Buddha fire, burning into ashes.

"Sword Four—Annihilation!"

Shen Hex noticed this, also changed tactics, with the sword transitioning from life to extinction, explosively erupting with unmatched sharpness, aiming straight toward the crimson sun high in the heavens.

A rainbow piercing the sun!

"Huh!?"

The sword of extinction, the edge piercing the sun, descended towards the sky, its fierce aura pressing against the face, causing Venerable Red Lotus’s heart to leap, immediately switching from attack to defense, combining two massive hands in the void to crush that sword’s sharpness.

"Boom!!!"

With a loud noise echoing, the Buddha’s hands closed tightly, internal flames of lotus burning fiercely, yet unable to crush or dispel that sword of extinction. The rainbow pierced the sun, straight into the lotus platform, advancing relentlessly towards Venerable Red Lotus.

Venerable Red Lotus clenched his teeth and relied on both hands clasped together to finally push down the sword’s sharpness before him.

But unexpectedly...

"Sword Five—Execute!"

After one sword, another followed. Shen Hex leapt into the air, instantly becoming one with the sword, transforming into a beam of sword light penetrating the Red Lotus.

"Boom!!!"