Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 838

Jiang Star

The conflict persisted. Following an indeterminate period of intense combat, the Buddhist cultivators ultimately succeeded in eradicating the robots from the skies.

However, just as they could breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to confront the remaining ordinary cultivators with their numerical advantage, the city shields on Jiang Star were activated, unleashing waves of war robots.

Witnessing this, a significant number of Buddhist cultivators succumbed to despair.

While the individual strength of these war robots wasn't overwhelming, with only the advanced Gundam models posing a challenge comparable to a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, their lack of human consciousness, fear, or pain was their true terror. They executed combat directives with unwavering loyalty and would self-destruct upon damage, often using their own frames to inflict further harm.

"I cannot win…"

"Even if I survive, my life will be forfeit."

"For the glory of the Buddha…"

A profound sense of hopelessness washed over many Buddhist cultivators, and some of the wounded made the ultimate sacrifice, taking their robotic adversaries with them.

The commander of the Blue Star inhabitants observed this grim scene with frigid indifference, devoid of any sympathy. They viewed the Buddhist cultivators as the aggressors, and the Blue Star people's fight as entirely justified.

"Continue deploying robots and annihilate them all."

The order was issued. Jiang Star possessed a fully operational and equipped robot manufacturing infrastructure, complete with all necessary raw materials and technical expertise. Prior production was restricted by authorization, limiting output to engineering and service models. With the prohibitions lifted, manufacturing could commence immediately.

Multiple extensive automated production lines roared to life, effortlessly churning out thousands of war robots daily. These machines rolled off the lines without the need for testing or calibration, ready for immediate deployment to the front lines.

As the war ground on, only a few million Buddhist cultivators remained. They had expended tens of thousands of robots, yet the blow to the cultivators themselves was comparatively minor.

It could be said that the tide of victory had decisively turned in favor of Blue Star. Beyond the highest echelons, the middle and lower ranks of Blue Star forces had established a commanding advantage, capable of encircling the Buddhist cultivators.

In the vastness of space, Liang Long continued to lead the charge, commanding the Space Battleships in a relentless engagement against the Buddhist cultivators. One by one, the Space Battleships erupted in catastrophic explosions, but each loss served its purpose, inflicting damage upon the enemy fleet.

Liang Long exhibited a coldness and ruthlessness that surpassed even artificial intelligence. Every Space Battleship was merely a chess piece in his grand strategy, regardless of the family or affiliation of the cultivators aboard; all were instruments of his will and executors of his commands.

Frequently, he would sacrifice a handful of Space Battleships as decoys, luring the Buddhist cultivators into a fatal proximity before initiating their self-destruct sequences. Combined with the concentrated firepower of the remaining vessels, his objective was to decimate or critically cripple the enemy forces.

"How utterly ruthless."

Even Ye Chen, observing from the concealment of the shadows, was taken aback. Liang Long's command style starkly contrasted with that of artificial intelligence. While an AI would meticulously calculate probabilities and prioritize personnel safety, Liang Long displayed an alarming disregard, deploying his forces with brutal efficiency.

"I refuse to tangle with this lunatic; I might end up as nothing more than expendable cannon fodder."

A sense of trepidation gripping him, Ye Chen hastily plunged into the planet's atmosphere. He feared that lingering in space would make him a potential pawn in Liang Long's ruthless game.

Within Jiang Star, the encroaching crimson tide, emanating a golden luminescence, began to recede before the cleansing white light. This shift was fueled by the fallen high-level cultivators, their essence continuously bolstering Xia Qingshan's power.

"Boom, boom…"

At this critical juncture, Kong Yan engaged in a desperate battle, pushing the Buddhist cultivator into dire straits. The possibility of total defeat loomed large for the Buddhist forces if victory could not be secured here. Consequently, Kong Yan relentlessly assaulted Lin Jiang.

Lin Jiang, spitting blood continuously, felt his body nearing its breaking point. He had already deployed a talisman array to impede his formidable opponent.

"Ancestor Lin, quickly, inside!"

Receiving a transmission from Zhu Bin, Lin Jiang vanished from his position, instantly entering the expansive formation orchestrated by Zhu Bin.

"Hold on, Kong Yan is incredibly formidable."

Lin Jiang advised Zhu Bin, casting a wary glance around. Within the large formation, a multitude of injured cultivators sought refuge, consuming medicinal pills and snatching brief moments of rest before rejoining the fray.

"Fear not, Ancestor Lin. I have established a connection with ninety percent of the spirit veins within Jiang Star's Central Continent. Not even a cultivator at the Transmigration Stage could breach this defense easily."

Zhu Bin disclosed that this was indeed a meticulously planned ambush. It came to light that during his previous visit to Jiang Star, Zhu Bin had laid the groundwork. The majority of Formation Masters who entered Jiang Star did not proceed directly to the battlefield; their purpose was to grant the combat-hardened cultivators a much-needed respite.

Kong Yan engaged in fierce combat outside the formation for numerous rounds. Upon realizing his inability to breach it, his rage intensified, leading him to shout and redirect his attention to others. Lin Jiang, perceiving the dire situation, was compelled to summon his courage for another confrontation.

"Kong Yan, you ancient bald donkey, your adversary is me!"

Lin Jiang drew his bow, launching an arrow imbued with light directly at Kong Yan. In response, Kong Yan swiftly turned, meeting the projectile with a powerful palm strike.

"Perish!"

Lin Jiang, with all his might, shook the violet bell, unleashing waves of spirit attacks. However, Kong Yan, a devout Buddhist cultivator with an unshakeable faith and potent spirit, showed no fear of these spiritual assaults and charged Lin Jiang once more.

"Nine Heavens Divine Thunder!"

Meanwhile, Cao Ying was also locked in a desperate struggle, single-handedly fending off three bodhisattvas. Not only was she unable to alter the stalemate, but she also found herself subjected to relentless assaults from the Buddhist cultivators. Just as she was on the verge of being encircled and overwhelmed by the trio, Cao Ying gambled everything, unleashing her most potent lightning technique.

As this technique was unleashed, lightning erupted across a vast expanse, manifesting as a thunderous domain where countless divine thunders descended upon the three bodhisattvas.

"Senior brother, save me!"

A cry of terror escaped the bodhisattva. Everywhere his gaze fell, thunder and lightning reigned supreme, an unending torrent. His defensive skills, though capable of repelling a hundred lightning strikes, were utterly inadequate against thousands upon thousands.

Both Kong Yan and Lin Jiang turned their sights toward the spectacle simultaneously, their expressions shifting dramatically. The combat between them ceased instantly as they hastened toward Cao Ying's engagement zone. Kong Yan invoked an earthen bowl for protection as he ventured into the lightning-strewn chaos, while Lin Jiang caught the staggering Cao Ying, who was utterly spent after unleashing her final gambit.

"Do not concern yourself with me, focus on their demise! This is our most opportune moment!"

Cao Ying urged, her voice strained with anxiety. She lacked the strength to invoke the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder a second time; this was her singular chance.

"You may place your trust in me."

Lin Jiang affirmed with a nod. At that critical juncture, he manifested three heads and six arms. One hand cradled Cao Ying, while the other two clasped the Sagittarius Bow, upon which the Slaying God Spear was nocked.

"Annihilate!"

Lin Jiang directed his aim at a Bodhisattva who was valiantly resisting the divine thunder, activating the Lamp Burning Technique. The Slaying God Spear cleaved through the very sky, piercing the Bodhisattva's form and obliterating him with a single, decisive strike.

It was clear that not all were endowed with Kong Yan's formidable strength; an average Bodhisattva Realm Buddhist cultivator stood no chance against Lin Jiang, requiring at most two or three blows for defeat, if not overcome in a single, decisive strike.

Continuing his retreat, Lin Jiang intended to escort the weakened Cao Ying to Zhu Bin’s formation for recuperation. He rained spiritual light upon the remaining Bodhisattvas, thereby significantly impeding Kong Yan's efforts to intervene.

"Scoundrel!"

Witnessing the annihilation of his junior brother, Kong Yan unleashed a heart-wrenching cry. With scarcely any Bodhisattvas left, he reminisced about Lingjing Star's former glory, a mere century or two prior, when it teemed with talent, boasting dozens of Bodhisattvas and hundreds of Arhats. The dwindling numbers now filled him with profound sorrow and a burning rage, which permeated the surroundings with palpable killing intent.

"This conflict must reach its conclusion."

Observing the final Bodhisattva and a Space Mother Ship annihilate each other from his vantage point in space, Liang Long's gaze turned icy. The war was drawing to a close, and he intended to be the one to bring it to an end. Following this decisive battle, he anticipated a significant elevation in his standing on Blue Star.

"Designate one Space Battleship for rescue operations; the remainder will follow my command."

Liang Long declared softly, "Numerous escape pods are adrift in space, many impacted and launched from damaged warships. Of the original three Space Fleets, comprising over three hundred Space Battleships, a mere hundred or so now remain. Nevertheless, Liang Long has accounted for the demise of five Bodhisattvas and approximately thirty Arhats, with only a handful managing to escape toward Jiang Star."

Liang Long materialized alongside the remaining Space Battleships above Jiang Star, signifying the final blow to the Buddhist cultivators. It was now undeniable that the Buddhist forces in space had met their doom.

At that precise moment, Kong Yan was in the process of extricating two critically damaged Bodhisattvas from the thunderous domain when the colossal Space Mother Ship came into view, plunging his heart into immeasurable sorrow.

"Senior brother, what course of action should we take?"

A profound sense of helplessness washed over Kong Yan as he posed this question to the true body of the Buddha's bone.

"Amitabha."