Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 836

In the 7,900th year of the Blue Star Xia calendar, within the Jiang Star Star Domain.

Learning from the past struggles of the Blue Star war, the Jiang Star's Space Battleship employed superior strategies. For instance, numerous warships forwent random firing, instead coordinating attacks in waves and concentrating on specific weapon types.

War robots, no longer charging blindly, were strategically positioned ahead of the warships as a protective buffer. The vessels maintained considerable distance, engaging in protracted long-range combat.

At extended ranges of tens of thousands of kilometers, the Buddhist forces found themselves largely on the defensive. Even the might of the Bodhisattvas' attacks saw a significant reduction beyond these distances, with much of their power dissipating.

Consequently, upon Lin Jiang and his companions' arrival, they observed that the Buddhist forces had dispatched numerous arhats and Bodhisattvas to force a breakthrough, aiming for close-quarters engagement.

"Master."

Ye Chen, acknowledging Lin Jiang's presence, swiftly offered his greeting.

"Ye Chen, clear a way for the Buddhist cultivators to advance. You cannot hold them indefinitely. We will engage the powerful ones while you focus on eliminating the rank-and-file Buddhist cultivators."

Lin Jiang surveyed the unfolding conflict, recognizing the imminent breakthrough by the Buddhist forces. While the Space Battleships could manage to defeat an arhat, subduing a Bodhisattva proved exceedingly difficult unless they were isolated and surrounded.

Ye Chen acknowledged the directive and promptly instructed the artificial intelligence to deliberately expose a vulnerability.

The moment this weakness became apparent, Bodhisattva Kongyan seized the opportunity. Leading several other Bodhisattvas, they breached the defensive line of the battle robots, carving a path for the Sea-crossing Ark to approach Jiang Star more closely.

"Descend upon Jiang Star, seize control, and annihilate the Space Battleships along with all beings at or above the arhat stage."

With Bodhisattva Kongyan's command echoing, a multitude of Buddhist cultivators emerged from various Sea-crossing Arks, streaking towards Jiang Star's surface like a celestial downpour.

"Fire!"

At this precise juncture, Lin Jiang and his allies initiated their assault. Until this point, they had remained dormant, but now, technological armaments unleashed their fury: Spiritual Cannons, missiles, and even tactical nuclear bombs were launched simultaneously.

"Boom, boom..."

In virtually an instant, the skies above Jiang Star erupted with countless brilliant explosions. The initial wave of Buddhist cultivators was almost entirely annihilated, perishing before even glimpsing their adversaries, reduced to mere fragments.

Witnessing this catastrophic outcome, Kong Yan and his companions were stunned. This was a stark divergence from the intelligence they had received. Their reports indicated that Jiang Star possessed a population of just over ten million and fewer than a hundred cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage. While some Space Battleships and war robots were anticipated, their numbers were expected to be limited, as Jiang Star was not analogous to Blue Star in terms of military might.

"Old Baldy Kong Yan, we meet again."

Lin Jiang activated the Spatiotemporal Mirror, materializing beside Kong Yan and thrusting the Slaying God Spear directly at the Bodhisattva.

"It is you..."

Kong Yan's eyes widened in sudden comprehension.

They had fallen into a meticulously laid trap; they had been thoroughly deceived.

According to their intelligence, Lin Jiang and these cultivators who had achieved the Dao should not possibly be present. This location was a staggering eight light-years from Blue Star. The fact that they could launch a surprise attack here implied preemptive planning, raising the question of how they could possibly have arrived.

"Kill!"

Cao Ying and the others plunged into the fray. The powerhouses at the Dao Achieving level from Blue Star had suffered casualties numbering fifty-two in the previous conflict. Following that war, the human race had been unable to cultivate new Dao Achieving members. In contrast, the demon race had introduced sixteen new members, as the remains of arhats and Bodhisattvas were claimed by the demon race, while human corpses were forbidden from such appropriation.

Nonetheless, the Buddhist cultivators maintained a quantitative advantage in strength, boasting nearly two hundred experts at or above the arhat stage, representing a nearly threefold disparity.

"It is fortunate they have arrived; let us destroy them all and secure our breakthrough to Blue Star."

Bodhisattva Kongyan swiftly regained his composure. Regardless of whether this was a strategic ploy or not, he could no longer afford to deliberate. Even if conquering Jiang Star proved unattainable, he was determined to press on, resolving to achieve victory in this battle, no matter the cost.

"Kill!"

Lin Jiang unleashed his powers once more, manifesting three heads and six arms, unleashing a barrage of attacks upon Bodhisattva Kongyan. Compared to several decades prior, Lin Jiang had demonstrably improved, his strength having surged considerably.

Among the five cultivators at the Transmigration Stage, excluding Lin Jiang who was locked in combat with Kong Yan, the others found themselves contending with two or three adversaries each. In this intense moment, the Shenwu Demon Emperor emerged as the most formidable, owing to his unparalleled defensive capabilities that allowed him to absorb attacks with ease.

Within the Tao Achieving Realm, the true powerhouses were Liang Long and the Stone Emperor. Liang Long abandoned all pretense of holding back, relentlessly pursuing and engaging five to six arhats, demonstrating immense power.

The Stone Emperor boasted defenses as robust as the Shenwu Demon Emperor's. However, the Stone Emperor presented a more balanced combat profile, excelling not only in defense but also possessing astonishing offensive might.

A contingent of adept Buddhist cultivators opted to forgo engaging other cultivators. Instead, they turned their attention to the exterior of space, targeting the formidable Space Battleship. This strategic decision wasn't born from a reluctance to act collectively against their opponents, but rather from the realization that splitting their forces to counter the battleship would leave them vulnerable to its indiscriminate attacks, making it an excessively perilous endeavor.

"Compassionate Palm!"

Kong Yan's repertoire seemed limited, relying on a repeating sequence of palm strikes. Yet, it was this very technique that inflicted considerable suffering upon Lin Jiang. A vast disparity in power existed between them, and even the application of the Lamp Burning Technique proved insufficient to bridge the gap. The peak cultivators of Lingjing Star were not to be underestimated.

"Extreme Cold Blue Flame!"

Faced with an impasse after prolonged effort, Lin Jiang altered his strategy, deploying two Extreme Cold Blue Flames towards Kong Yan. Instantly, an intense wave of frigid temperatures surged outwards, engulfing Kong Yan.

"Angry Buddha Lotus!"

Kong Yan responded by shifting his techniques as well. A resplendent Buddha Lotus materialized around him, effectively nullifying the encroaching icy aura.

"Buddhist Domain!"

Shortly thereafter, Kong Yan initiated a counter-offensive, aiming to ensnare Lin Jiang within his power. However, Lin Jiang promptly activated the Spatiotemporal Mirror, vanishing without a trace. The Spatiotemporal Mirror proved to be an unparalleled artifact for evading such formidable abilities.

Observing this turn of events, Kong Yan was left with a sense of helplessness. With such a treasure in Lin Jiang's possession, his most potent techniques were rendered ineffective.

"Boom!"

"Liang Long has arrived! Who dares to challenge me?"

At the precise moment Lin Jiang and Kong Yan were engaged in their fierce duel, Liang Long, having decisively vanquished his final opponent, emerged bloodied but unbowed. He bellowed towards the enemy forces with the same resounding war cry as Zhang Fei at Changban Slope, projecting immense force.

Even more alarming was Liang Long's escalating aura. His breakthrough to the Tao Achieving Realm had occurred in mere decades, and his current energy levels suggested he was nearing the late stages of this realm. The source of his rapid advancement, and how many he had absorbed to fuel it, remained a mystery.

As Liang Long surveyed his surroundings, the Buddhist Arhats felt as though they were confronting a malevolent demon, and none dared to meet his piercing gaze.

"Hahaha..."

"The so-called Buddhism amounts to nothing more than a gathering of cowards."

"If the enemy shies away, I shall seek them out. Today, Blue Star's Liang Long vows to eradicate Buddhism."

Liang Long's wild laughter served to invigorate the Blue Star forces, while simultaneously plunging the Buddhist ranks into utter despair.

"Eradicate Buddhism!"

No longer content with mere arhats, Liang Long set his sights higher. He charged directly at a bodhisattva who was currently occupied by Cao Ying, launching a direct assault.

"Boom!"

The bodhisattva retaliated with a swift palm strike, sending Liang Long hurtling back hundreds of miles, his bones likely fractured in countless places.

"This feels magnificent!"

Despite the brutal impact, Liang Long roared with laughter. In an astonishingly short period, he had fully recovered and reappeared on the battlefield.

Liang Long charged repeatedly, only to be repelled each time. At moments, his physical form appeared on the verge of disintegration, yet he would invariably regenerate. This peculiar phenomenon drew the attention of numerous onlookers.

Cao Ying and her companions seemed to grasp something significant, but the opportune moment for discussion had not yet arrived. The gravity of the situation demanded their undivided focus.

Kong Yan surveyed the ravaged battlefield, a profound sense of sorrow washing over him. The annihilation of millions of Buddhist cultivators from Lingjing Star was a devastating blow. While Blue Star had also suffered immense losses, the majority comprised robots and technological weaponry, which were ultimately replaceable. In stark contrast, the cultivation of a Buddhist practitioner was an arduous and irreplaceable process.

Before Kong Yan could fully process his lament, Lin Jiang surged forward, initiating another relentless assault. If Liang Long fought with such ferocity, it was only natural that their leader would exhibit no less intensity.

The brutal conflict raged on, with nearly every individual from Blue Star fighting with the desperation of their final stand. Shiyi, who had previously been obliterated, had since reconstituted his form. This reconstruction, however, was not of flesh and blood, but rather a specialized mechanical chassis meticulously crafted for him by Liang Long.

Forged from a vast quantity of rare minerals sourced from Blue Star, his new body possessed a resilience comparable to that of a legendary treasure. In essence, he now resembled the advanced Gundams of Blue Star lore, beings endowed with artificial intelligence. Shiyi, however, carried within him the indomitable spirit of a cultivator.

Shiyi's current physique granted him the strength to face Buddhist cultivators head-on, matching even their physical prowess. Furthermore, he possessed an arsenal of advanced weaponry, such as intensely hot laser swords, enhancing his combat capabilities.

Ye Chen relinquished his command of the Space Battleship, passing the helm to a dedicated professional. He then reverted to his former and fearsome guise as an assassin.

Lin Jiang enforced a rigorous training regimen upon Li Qing and Ye Chen. Following several years within the Wangxian Sect, he dispatched them to an assassin organization to hone their skills, as assassination was his ultimate specialty.

"Pfft!"

Grasping the Breaking Array Cone, Ye Chen infiltrated the Sea-crossing Ark, ruthlessly eliminating the Buddhist cultivators within its confines.

"The Buddha Establishes Peace in the World."

Witnessing the perilous plight of the Buddhist cultivators, Kong Yan could no longer maintain his composure. He promptly summoned the authentic form of his senior brother Kong Xiang’s Buddha bones. Instantly, a radiant golden light surged forth like a crimson tide, and a formidable aura permeated Jiang Star, causing the expressions of the Blue Star cultivators engaged in the conflict to shift dramatically.