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Chapter 408: The Great Annihilation Assembly

"Haha, I once gave Zhiguang a Bodhi seed. Although Zhiguang had refined most of it, there was still a small portion left unrefined. As a result, the Bodhi seed sent me a final message," Golden Cicada Buddha said with a smile.

"A message? What kind of message?" Zhong Shan asked, slightly puzzled.

Golden Cicada looked at the three people in the hall, who showed no signs of nervousness, only curiosity.

Taking a deep breath, Golden Cicada\'s expression turned serious as he said, "The Bodhi seed conveyed a trace of Zhiguang Arhat\'s resentment to me, a resentment born at the moment of his death. The target of this resentment was you, General Zhong."

"Whoosh!"

Zhong Shan immediately stood up, eyes wide. "How could that be? That day, due to a mishap with my cultivation technique, I attacked Zhiguang Arhat in a state of confusion, but I was no match for him. How could he harbor such deep resentment towards me even at the moment of death? Golden Cicada Buddha, I can only express my regret over Zhiguang Arhat\'s death. As for his unresolved grudge against me, I am helpless. Please, Buddha, forgive me."

Zhong Shan resolutely denied the accusation. Mr. Corpse and Zhong Tian remained calm, showing only indignation on Zhong Shan\'s behalf.

Golden Cicada looked at the three of them, each more adept at pretending than the last, making him almost doubt whether Zhong Shan had truly killed Zhiguang.

"Prior to this, I was on an important diplomatic mission from the emperor to the Great Li Heavenly Dynasty. Such a crucial task couldn\'t be abandoned. But to honor my promise to Golden Cicada Buddha, I came here despite the reluctance of tens of thousands of troops. How could I, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, cause trouble in the Pure Land?" Zhong Shan continued.

His words, though seemingly humble and righteous, also served as a warning to Golden Cicada: I came to your Pure Land, and everyone knows it. I bear responsibilities from two great dynasties. Killing me would be disrespectful to both. No one would believe a Nascent Soul could kill an Emperor-level powerhouse.

"Whoever killed Zhiguang, I\'m sure General Zhong knows well. As for a Nascent Soul cultivator, who could compare to General Zhong? Single-handedly destroying two great empires, destined to be a prominent figure in the divine lands, General Zhong is bound to shine," Golden Cicada said calmly.

"Hmm? What do you mean, Golden Cicada Buddha?" Zhong Shan asked, puzzled.

"In every era, there are a few most influential, most powerful figures in the divine lands. Recently, I saw \'her\' again at the place where the immortal remnant sealed the demonic spirits. She and my past life were contemporaries. Though not friends, we communicated for a long time. For her sake, I can overlook Zhiguang\'s death," Golden Cicada said solemnly, clearly convinced Zhong Shan had killed Zhiguang Arhat.

"Her?" Zhong Shan narrowed his eyes. The woman who looked exactly like Bao\'er?

"What is the purpose of your visit, Golden Cicada Buddha?" Zhong Shan asked, frowning.

"I want him," Golden Cicada pointed at Zhong Tian.

Zhong Tian\'s expression froze.

"What do you mean?" Zhong Shan asked, frowning.

"The Great Annihilation Assembly requires twenty Bodhisattvas and five hundred Arhats to commence. Originally, the Pure Land had over five hundred Arhats, more than enough. Unfortunately, we now have only five hundred. With Zhiguang Arhat\'s recent demise, we are one short. Since it takes time to confer a new Arhat title through merit, and we can\'t afford to delay, I want to borrow your son," Golden Cicada Buddha said, his tone filled with authority, leaving no room for refusal.

"What impact will it have on my son?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Only benefits, no harm," Golden Cicada Buddha assured.

Zhong Shan stared at Golden Cicada Buddha, narrowing his eyes in thought. After a moment, he turned to Zhong Tian, who nodded.

If it were someone else, Zhong Shan would likely negotiate, but he knew the gap between himself and Golden Cicada was too vast.

"As you wish," Zhong Shan agreed.

Golden Cicada Buddha nodded with a smile, acknowledging Zhong Shan\'s consent.

"I have a question for Golden Cicada Buddha," Zhong Shan said.

"Oh?" Golden Cicada responded, intrigued.

"I\'ve heard that the great Heavenly Dynasty left behind seventy-two Immortal Steles, eleven of which are in the Pure Land. Is this true?" Zhong Shan inquired.

Golden Cicada\'s eyes narrowed slightly before he gave an inscrutable smile. "General Zhong has quite the foresight!"

"Hmm?" Zhong Shan frowned, puzzled.

"Indeed, the Immortal Steles are in my possession. Come with me," Golden Cicada said, rising.

The three followed Golden Cicada out of the courtyard.

Outside, the Bodhisattvas and Arhats waited quietly, along with other invited supreme powerhouses and notable figures, all eagerly watching.

Golden Cicada stepped out, and the Bodhisattvas and Arhats bowed slightly.

Golden Cicada glanced around, spotting a vacant area in the distance. With a flick of his wrist, eleven massive steles flew out from his sleeve.

These were the Immortal Steles.

The steles landed, embedding halfway into the ground in the open space.

"Boom!"

A thunderous noise echoed as the eleven Immortal Steles sank into the earth.

Golden Cicada performed a series of hand seals, and suddenly, eleven golden beams of light enveloped the steles and the ground beneath them.

Zhong Shan watched coldly, while the others were filled with curiosity.

"The eleven Immortal Steles will remain here. Whenever General Zhong has the ability to take them, you are free to do so," Golden Cicada said with a smile. He then turned to Zhong Tian.

"Arhat Zhong Tian, come with me," Golden Cicada instructed.

"Father," Zhong Tian called to Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan nodded, and Zhong Tian followed Golden Cicada and the Bodhisattvas and Arhats away.

The surrounding onlookers were puzzled. Immortal Steles? What were Immortal Steles?

"A Buddha\'s restriction?" Mr. Corpse said gravely.

"Let\'s go," Zhong Shan said, turning back to the courtyard.

Mr. Corpse followed closely.

"Your Majesty, do you intend to take them?" Mr. Corpse asked.

"Would Golden Cicada really let us take them? Even if I managed to take the Immortal Steles, Golden Cicada would never let us leave the Pure Land afterward," Zhong Shan shook his head.

"Then why did Your Majesty bring it up?" Mr. Corpse asked, puzzled.

"Have you noticed how prosperous this Pure Land is?" Zhong Shan said with a cold smile, not elaborating further.

"Uh?" Mr. Corpse\'s pupils contracted slightly, glancing at Zhong Shan with surprise.

Outside the Ten Thousand Buddha Mountains, a golden blur suddenly appeared from the southwest, swiftly entering the mountain range. The golden blur was a man in a golden robe carrying a sword on his back. If Zhong Shan were here, he would immediately recognize him as the former Emperor Bai Ye, who had been bitten and turned into a descendant by the Zombie Emperor.

Though initially at the peak of the Emperor Realm, Bai Ye\'s strength had reached the Imperial Realm after following the Zombie Emperor for some time.

Upon entering the Ten Thousand Buddha Mountains, Bai Ye felt his strength slightly suppressed. Frowning, he looked up at the sky, then reached out and grabbed a monk from a nearby temple out of thin air.

"Where is the Pure Land? Take me there!" Bai Ye demanded.

"Senior..." the monk stammered in fear.

"Hurry!" Bai Ye said coldly.

"Yes!" the monk quickly nodded.

Meanwhile, inside the Pure Land, the Great Annihilation Assembly had officially begun!

At the center of the golden mountain range that Zhong Shan had noticed upon entering the Pure Land was a massive square golden mountain known as the Buddha Altar.

Below the Buddha Altar, thousands of monks sat cross-legged, chanting and waiting.

Zhong Shan and other powerful guests were invited to ascend the golden mountain and enter the Buddha Altar to participate in the Great Annihilation Assembly.

The Buddha Altar had a unique shape. Although it was situated on the massive square golden mountain, the top was slightly concave, with numerous seating platforms in the center.

In the very center were three three-tiered golden lotus platforms, resembling three golden lotuses stacked together. Surrounding these were twenty ordinary lotus platforms and five hundred cushion-like platforms arranged in eighteen concentric circles.

On these eighteen circles of cushion platforms sat five hundred golden-glowing Arhats, including Zhong Tian, who occupied one of the Arhat seats.

Inside the Arhat circle were twenty ordinary golden lotuses, each occupied by a Bodhisattva with a faint merit halo above their heads, looking solemn and dignified. Among them was the elderly Piaoxiang Bodhisattva.

Zhong Shan and other spectators stood further outside, separated from each other, watching the center. However, Mr. Corpse was notably absent, having been assigned elsewhere.

The five hundred Arhats chanted scriptures continuously. Gradually, on the three central three-tiered golden lotuses, starting from the first, a Buddha emitting thousands of golden rays began to materialize.

First was the Past Amitabha Buddha. On the first golden lotus, a very fat monk with a joyful smile and a big belly slowly took shape like a mist solidifying into a form, sitting down with a laugh.

Next was the Future Golden Cicada Buddha. On the third golden lotus, the Golden Cicada Buddha seemed to traverse space suddenly appearing on the golden lotus, an incredibly miraculous arrival.

At this moment, Zhong Shan rubbed his eyes in disbelief. On the second golden lotus, there was also a Buddha with a merit halo above his head. Zhong Shan hadn\'t noticed his arrival, as if he had always been there, a massive and robust Buddha with a square face. The current Returning Buddha?

(To be continued)