Free Web NovelChapter 536: Chapter 4: The Might of a Daluo, a Free Man of Heaven and Earth, This Humble Daoist Hongjun
"Mother of Non-Birth, Vacuum Homeland!"
With a serene chant, Zhang Buyi gazed at Zhang Daoling with a compassionate expression. He reached out and pointed a finger, its tip shimmering with an illusory, hollow image.
The magnificent vista of the Vacuum Homeland flickered between illusion and reality, accompanied by Brahma Sound, hymns of praise, voices of compassion, and whispers of serenity that swirled around Zhang Daoling’s ears!
"The world is full of suffering. Why not take refuge? Why not take refuge?"
A pious expression slowly appeared on Zhang Daoling’s face. Though he was clearly capable of resisting the compassionate Brahma Sound, he found he had no will to do so.
The person before him... felt like his own kin.
So he told himself.
"Mother of Non-Birth, Vacuum Homeland!" Zhang Daoling lowered his head, pressed his palms together, and intoned the words.
The three Zhang Jiao brothers and Cao Cao’s group of three all looked on in horror. Liu Bei was dazed, while Little Lu Nian clutched his head, staring at the silent Old Temple Master with shock and suspicion.
Just then, Zhang Buyi raised his head, surveyed the Daoist Temple once more, and said with a smile,
"Today, we have gained another family member. This is a joyous occasion, a truly great one."
An image of a grand deity reflected in his eyes as his voice grew increasingly ethereal.
"Since this is a joyous occasion, we must celebrate. We shall use the blood of the people of this defiled world as a sacrifice to our Mother and Father. Compassion, compassion!"
With that, Zhang Buyi took Zhang Daoling’s hand and began to walk away, never looking back. The White Lotus Sect Members—a crowd composed of the elderly, women, and children—brandished their swords, their faces filled with compassion as they closed in to hunt everyone down!
"Damn it!"
Zhang Bao gritted his teeth.
"Brother, what do we do now? They’re all the elderly, women, and children... I can’t bring myself to strike them, damn it..."
Zhang Jiao’s expression flickered with uncertainty. He wanted to escape immediately but was horrified to find that a vast power had sealed the area, making it impossible to take even a single step out of the Daoist Temple!
This...
This was trouble.
Everyone’s hearts tightened. It was Cao Mengde who acted decisively. Gripping a blood-stained longsword, he bellowed,
"These White Lotus Sect Members are soulless puppets! Show no mercy! Kill!"
He charged forward, his blade swinging. Sun Jian gritted his teeth and followed closely behind. Yuan Shao hesitated for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
"How tragic!"
He too drew his blade and charged.
The three men charged into the encirclement of White Lotus Sect Members, each displaying impressive skill. They slashed left and right, and blood flowed freely.
But though these White Lotus Sect Members appeared to be nothing but the elderly, women, and children, they were far from weak. With every swing of their blades, they shockingly displayed the might of a Celestial Human!
In just a few moments, all three were wounded, their armor in tatters!
Amid the fierce battle, a child who looked to be seven or eight years old spoke with an air of compassion,
"Mother of Non-Birth, Innocent Ancient Buddha!"
The next instant, the child’s flesh and blood burned away, erupting with power that surpassed a Celestial Human and neared that of an Earth Immortal Peak. He thrust his sword forward, aiming to behead Cao Mengde!
"Brother Mengde!" Sun Wentai cried out in alarm, and Yuan Benchu’s face paled. They were too far to help. At the critical moment, a short figure charged forward, wielding a pair of swords—one yin, one yang; one female, one male!
The Twin Swords in Liu Bei’s hands erupted with a formidable aura that merged with the bloody aura around Cao Mengde, unleashing a force that far exceeded their individual power.
Somehow, he managed to block the strike from the child, who had been reduced to a skeleton!
"Vacuum Homeland..."
The child, its flesh and blood now gone, compassionately pressed its palms together as its bones crumbled to dust.
"You..." Cao Mengde looked at Little Liu Bei, his expression one of astonishment. Without another word, the four of them stood back-to-back, their blades crossed, fighting a bloody battle against the horde of soulless puppets that were once the White Lotus Sect Members!
"How exhilarating! What a thrill!"
Cao Mengde let out a great laugh. He stared at the undiminishing horde of White Lotus Sect Members, and though despair welled in his heart, it was swiftly overcome by a heroic surge.
He swung his blade in a wide arc and bellowed,
"We will not live to see another day! We will never achieve greatness or become renowned heroes. But to be able to fight alongside you three... I have no regrets in this life!"
Sun Wentai, his chest crushed, coughed up mouthfuls of blood. His gaze began to lose focus, yet he too laughed.
"What a pity! We should have become sworn brothers. It’s too late... too late!"
"It’s not too late!"
The resolve to die appeared on Yuan Benchu’s face, yet his gaze was clear and bright.
"Why can’t we take the oath right here, right now? We may not have been born on the same day of the same month in the same year, but we can die in the same place at the same time! We will have company on the Yellow Springs Path!"
The three men roared with laughter. Little Liu Bei was swept up in the moment, a look of heroic valor appearing on his youthful face. He brandished his Female and Male Twin Swords and declared in his childish voice,
"I am an only son. To gain three elder brothers now... my heart is stirred! I will have no regrets this day!"
The three young men and the child all laughed as one. Exhausted, they leaned against each other, calmly watching as the White Lotus Sect Members surrounded them.
"I am the eldest, so you should call me Big Brother. Therefore, I’ll go first."
Yuan Shao grinned, then staggered to stand in front of the other three. He leaned on his long blade for support, his broken armor spattered with blood.
He was born into a noble clan, but at only eighteen, he was still filled with the fire of youth. In that moment, his heart swelled with heroic pride.
"Big Brother..." Cao Mengde and the other two sighed softly, then calmly accepted their fate, ready to face death.
Little Lu Nian’s eyes sparkled as he rolled up his sleeves. Zhuge Kongming also rose to his feet, a Feather Fan appearing in his hand, but his face wore a very strange expression.
’Those four, whose fates are destined to clash... how did they end up becoming sworn brothers?’
’This doesn’t align with the course of destiny...’
Just as the adult and the child prepared to save them, and as the three Zhang Jiao brothers were about to make their move,
The Old Temple Master, who had been observing everything in silence, looked up and gently turned over his palm.
Whether it was the three Zhang Jiao brothers, Zhuge Kongming, or Lu Nian, all were instantly pinned where they stood, unable to move, and powerless to intervene!
Blades and spears pierced their broken armor, running the four men through. Blood flowed. The four future hegemons were fading, dying!
"Why must you do this?!" Zhuge Kongming shrieked.
Little Lu Nian stared blankly as Liu Bei—whom he had grown somewhat familiar with—was pierced through the heart. He gritted his teeth.
"You old bastard, I’ll kill you!"
