Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 839
Previously on Cultivation: Being Immortal...
Jiang Star
With the appearance of the Space Battleship, the inhabitants of Blue Star managed to escape the immediate conflict, taking refuge behind the massive vessel to recuperate and desperately cling to survival. Indeed, reaching such a stage of existence and still drawing breath was no small feat for any of them.
Gradually, the chaotic battlefield began to settle, dividing into two distinct factions. At this point, the number of Buddhist cultivators had dwindled drastically, from millions down to less than a hundred thousand, and they had congregated behind Kong Yan and the other leaders.
A strange quiet descended upon the battlefield, though both sides were engaged in covert communication. Lin Jiang, too, was conferring with his group on the most cost-effective method to neutralize their adversaries.
"Kong Yan possesses immense power; we might need to rally all our Transmigration Stage cultivators to truly overcome him. However, the remaining Buddhist cultivators are still formidable, making this plan rather challenging to execute."
"Ancestor Lin, is there no way to bring this conflict to a swifter end? If this continues, both sides will suffer greatly. Many of our people are already at their breaking point."
A message was relayed to Lin Jiang, detailing the heavy toll Blue Star had endured. Nearly twenty leaders, those at or above the Tao Achieving (Demon Emperor) level, had fallen. Most of the remaining combatants were wounded, many grievously.
While they could still fight, the prospect of losing another twenty experts loomed ominously. What future would they have then? Their ultimate goal was still the destruction of Lingjing Star, a feat requiring a considerable military strength. Furthermore, without a sufficient number of powerful experts, they wouldn't even be able to activate the Stargate.
"Allow me a moment to ponder."
Lin Jiang responded, though he knew in his heart that no ingenious strategies remained. The opposing side was not foolish, and their respective strengths were plainly evident; clever stratagems would prove largely ineffective. The only true answer lay in a direct and decisive confrontation."Eldest Brother Kong Yan, what course of action should we take?"
Facing the formidable cannon of the Space Battleship, the cluster of Buddhist cultivators also trembled with fear and uncertainty, turning to Bodhisattva Kongyan for guidance.
Bodhisattva Kongyan lowered his gaze, a sense of helplessness washing over him. He had already exhausted every secret Buddhist technique at his disposal, yet victory remained elusive. The enemy's overwhelming might was insurmountable, and no viable plan came to mind.
His only remaining hope lay with his senior brother. If his senior brother could triumph in securing the Heavenly Dao of Blue Star, there might still be a sliver of a chance for a reversal. However, observing the celestial display above, a deep sense of pessimism crept in. The golden radiance was being steadily suppressed by the white light, suggesting the Heavenly Dao of Blue Star was the stronger force.
Within the Space Mother Ship, Liang Long was diligently assessing the precarious situation. Based on his current analysis, Liang Long concluded that annihilating the Buddhist cultivators completely, without incurring any losses, was an almost impossible objective.
"Ancestor Lin, this is Liang Long speaking."
"What is it?"
"Order all cultivators below the Void Achieving Stage to withdraw. I intend to detonate the Space Battleship, sacrificing it to annihilate a significant portion of the enemy forces. What follows will be an arduous battle, one we must face head-on, for should we falter now, Blue Star will face unimaginable peril."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Due to Blue Star's unique nature, the Buddha Master from the Buddhist Temple has already taken notice and will undoubtedly return. At this juncture, eliminating even one more adversary will alleviate the future burden. If you, Ancestor Lin, agree to follow my command, I can guarantee our victory with minimal cost."
Liang Long withheld a crucial detail from Lin Jiang: the Buddha Seed he carried was in fact a Soul Fragment belonging to the Buddha Master. While he had technically outmaneuvered the Buddha Master in their prior encounter, he had inadvertently provided the Buddha Master with a wealth of knowledge regarding Blue Star.
Blue Star, among the countless worlds known to the Buddhist Temple, held a peculiar significance. Whether this stemmed from its advanced technology or other unknown factors, Liang Long had discerned during his discussions with the Buddha Master a profound interest in Blue Star. It was a safe inference that the Buddha Master would eventually make a move against it.
"Very well."
Lin Jiang, after a fleeting moment of hesitation, gave his assent."Esteemed seniors and fellow cultivators, I am Liang Long. I have received the authority of Ancestor Lin, and therefore, all present shall heed my instructions. Shenwu Demon Emperor, when the moment arrives, your task will be to engage and restrain Bodhisattva Kongyan. Simply keep him occupied…"
Liang Long swiftly began to issue tactical directives to everyone, a meticulous process akin to a horse race where one strategically employs their disadvantages to stall the enemy's strengths, only to later leverage their own strengths against the enemy's weaknesses.
However, engaging in warfare is a perilous undertaking, as it is not a methodical, turn-based engagement. It’s not akin to winning a best-of-five series. Should one’s own shortcomings fail to counter the enemy’s might, the situation could easily devolve into a self-defeating predicament, demanding an extraordinary level of meticulousness.
Once Liang Long had completed his preparations, cultivators below the Void Achieving realm began to withdraw. The Buddhist cultivators, observing this phenomenon, noted the dwindling numbers on Blue Star. What began as a force of approximately two hundred thousand cultivators has now dwindled to just over one hundred thousand. With the departure of those below the Void Achieving level, more than ninety percent have now left the fray.
"Take action!"
"Devote yourselves to Buddha!"
"If I do not descend to hell, who shall?"
The high-ranking members of the Buddhist order, witnessing this exodus, bellowed their commands, determined not to allow the departing cultivators to escape so easily and resolved to engage them.
"Boom, boom, boom…"
In response, Liang Long immediately dispatched six Space Battleships, ordering them to accelerate to their maximum velocity and charge directly into the gathering of Buddhist cultivators.
"Quick, disperse!"
"Hurry!"
"Explode!"
The Buddhist cultivators’ reaction was swift. In an instant, some managed to evade, but at that very moment, the Space Battleships initiated their self-destruction sequences. Each vessel, a fusion of various power sources including nuclear reactors and abundant nuclear fuel, detonated with the blinding intensity of a newly formed sun. The strategic encirclement by the six detonating Space Battleships resulted in the instantaneous annihilation of numerous Buddhist cultivators.
"Bald donkey, your adversary is your esteemed turtle grandfather!"
The Shenwu Demon Emperor roared his challenge towards Bodhisattva Kongyan, yet besides exhaling a cold breath, the Emperor found himself primarily focused on defensive maneuvers.
"Bang!"
A formidable strike landed upon the turtle shell, nearly causing the Shenwu Demon Emperor to vomit blood. It was at this critical juncture that he truly comprehended the immense power wielded by Kong Yan.
"Liang Long, you impudent brat, you’ve plunged this old turtle into grave peril!"
The Shenwu Demon Emperor bellowed at Liang Long once more, feeling the imminent threat of death. How could he have ever anticipated Kong Yan’s formidable strength? They were both at the Transmigration Stage; such a disparity was utterly preposterous.
Lin Jiang and Cao Ying, having each identified their respective adversaries, engaged in fierce combat. Against ordinary Bodhisattvas, Lin Jiang felt an overwhelming sense of dominance. However, Cao Ying found herself unable to exhibit her former prowess, having depleted a significant amount of her energy, with immediate replenishment proving insufficient.
Yet, Cao Ying’s opponent remained largely ineffective against her. Despite her inability to unleash her potent lightning magic, she wielded a peculiar thread, impervious to flames and unyielding against blades.
The true wildcard in this engagement was Liang Long. The Space Battleships under his command performed with exceptional brilliance, maneuvering with remarkable agility and unleashing a diverse spectrum of energy attacks. Even the fiery exhaust from the engines became potent weapons in his skilled hands.
When tallying the number of vanquished foes, Liang Long’s count surged to the forefront, surpassing even Lin Jiang and the other formidable combatants. He had single-handedly eliminated more adversaries than anyone else on the battlefield.
Liang Long's conspicuous presence drew the attention of the Buddhist cultivators, compelling them to confront him once more – precisely the outcome Liang Long had orchestrated. With swift commands, he directed the Space Battleships to create an opening and clear the immediate vicinity.
At this juncture of the conflict, the lesser Buddhist cultivators found themselves battling against the formidable robots, while their higher-ranking counterparts were locked in combat with the Blue Star cultivators and the demon race, with the forces on both sides appearing relatively matched in strength.
However, the Buddhist cultivators’ ranks showed no further formidable figures comparable to Kong Yan. In contrast, the Blue Star side boasted several powerhouses; the Stone Emperor, still brimming with vitality, continued his relentless assault.
"Ancestor Lin, aid me! I can scarcely hold on; my shell is on the verge of shattering!"
The Shenwu Demon Emperor found himself in dire straits, having gravely underestimated the ferocity of a desperate Kong Yan. His protective shell was splintering, and he could no longer endure the onslaught.
Without uttering a word, Lin Jiang disengaged from his own opponent and swiftly moved to intercept Kong Yan, thereby relieving the Shenwu Demon Emperor of his burden.
"Shenwu Demon Emperor, I am on the cusp of defeating this adversary! You must finish off your foe; should you falter, the demon race shall bear the shame because of your inadequacy."
"Ancestor Lin, observe closely. If I do not fell a Bodhisattva today, I shall adopt your surname, Lin!"
The Shenwu Demon Emperor gazed at the Bodhisattva, whose physical form was nearing its breaking point and whose divine Buddhist light had significantly dimmed, leaving him with naught but a sliver of life. A surge of power coursed through him. After all, he had yet to achieve a victory in this particular encounter, and he could not countenance bringing disgrace upon the demon race.
"Kong Yan Baldy, I have arrived. The Heavens shall strike!"
Lin Jiang raised his formidable long spear and directed his challenge towards Kong Yan, intending to lure him towards the heavens.
Yet, Kong Yan scoffed coldly, refusing to fall for the ruse. Ascending would only make him an easy target, a move he was too shrewd to make.
"Amitabha, Senior Brother Kong Yan, this junior brother shall precede you."
A gravely wounded Bodhisattva, beyond the capacity to continue fighting, spoke to Bodhisattva Kong Yan before bravely initiating self-destruction.
"Junior brother…"
Bodhisattva Kong Yan cried out, his heart wracked with immense pain.
"Amitabha, the day of martyrdom for the Buddha arrives today."
Some Arhats, bypassing self-destruction, instead chose to transform into Buddha Seeds, merging themselves into the enemy's very being. Should they succeed in guiding their foes toward enlightenment, their demise would be meaningful, a noble sacrifice for the Buddha's teachings, not a loss.
As the esteemed warriors of the Buddha continued to perish in the grim battlefield, the tide turned once more, casting a concerning shadow over Buddhism's prospects. Despite exhausting all their stratagems, the Buddha faction was still unable to alter their unfavorable position.
"Ancestor Lin, dodge!"
Mid-clash, Lin Jiang received an urgent telepathic message. Promptly activating the Spatiotemporal Mirror, he vanished from sight.
A premonition of danger struck Bodhisattva Kongyan, and as he prepared to evade, a colossal warship materialized beside him. The vessel then activated its jump drive, appearing instantaneously, followed swiftly by a devastating self-detonation.
"Boom!"
A blinding flash erupted, and Kong Yan emerged, battered, from the terrifying mushroom cloud. The alms bowl atop his head had been obliterated, sending a pang of profound heartache through Kong Yan; the sacred treasure of the Buddha was lost in an instant.
The Space Battleship reappeared in the heavens, diminished by a third of its former size. However, all understood that the valiant Buddhist cultivators who had engaged the battleship to hold it back had met their end.
Liang Long's attention fixed upon Kong Yan, who was now desperately dodging and defending, appearing utterly disheveled and cornered.
"The situation is decided. Buddhism, heh."
From within the awe-inspiring Space Mother Ship, Liang Long observed the dwindling number of Buddhist cultivators and let loose a cold, mocking laugh. In this brutal contest of raw power, the Buddhist practitioners had ultimately faltered; they had only themselves to blame for their inherent weakness.