Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 840

Jiang Star

The engagement persisted, yet the warriors from Blue Star found their apprehension diminishing as the Space Battleship lent its formidable support. Even without outright victory, the ability to summon aid meant a salvo of cannon fire could provide a desperately needed respite.

Conversely, the Buddhist cultivators found themselves in dire straits. Exhausted from the relentless combat, their spiritual energy reserves were critically low, compelling them to consume restorative elixirs as if they were meager rations.

Their respite was fleeting; regardless of their attempts to find sanctuary, swift retribution arrived in the form of Spiritual Cannons, searing lasers, and particle beams. At the very least, suicidal robot assaults ensured no moment of peace.

With each exchange, the disparity in strength widened, escalating to a life-threatening crisis. Numerous Buddhist cultivators, succumbing to injuries, lacked the time to recover before being annihilated by the Space Battleships' wrath.

As their numbers dwindled, the Buddhist cultivators could no longer dedicate forces to counter the Space Battleship threat, forcing them into a passive state of enduring distant bombardments – a truly lamentable predicament.

"Roar"

On the Demon Queen's flank, her massive, blood-red maw engulfed her adversary. She vanished, only to reappear within Zhu Bin’s tactical formation, commencing the refinement of her vanquished foe.

"Smack"

The Fire Scale Demon Emperor also achieved a decisive victory; a Buddhist Bodhisattva was dismembered by the Emperor’s might, its torn remains consumed whole, instantly intensifying the fiery aura surrounding the Fire Scale Demon Emperor.

"Haha, this old turtle is bringing about the end of Buddhism today!"

The Shenwu Demon Emperor, in turn, concluded his engagement. His opponent, already grievously wounded by Lin Jiang, was finally dispatched by the Shenwu Demon Emperor.

"Fire Scale, Shenwu, lend me your aid!"

Cao Ying called out to the two Demon Emperors. Her own condition was precarious; she had not fully recuperated and still faced her primary adversary, though she had previously vanquished an opponent.

From a distance, Li Qing experienced mounting frustration. Despite her cultivation at the Transmigration Stage, her familiarity with the demon race was limited. With no allies nearby and her own strength not overwhelming, she had yet to secure a kill, managing only to hold her opponents at bay.

"I must also enter the fray; otherwise, there will be no one left for me to eliminate."

Observing the tide of battle turning decisively, Liang Long allowed his body to relax. He recognized the necessity of joining the conflict; if he delayed further, the eradication of the Buddhist cultivators would leave him without suitable targets. A chaotic rampage against his own allies was unthinkable.

······

"Amitabha."

Bodhisattva Kongyan’s chant resonated with an overwhelming sense of sorrow. After two such pronouncements, he remained the sole survivor among the tens of millions of Buddha's disciples.

Lin Jiang, Cao Ying, the Demon Queen, the Shenwu Demon Emperor, the Fire Scale Demon Emperor, and Li Qing encircled him on all sides, with the menacing presence of dozens of Space Battleships locked onto him in the distance.

The vibrant golden-red hue that once dominated the sky had nearly vanished, yielding to a desolate expanse of white clouds. Kong Xiang, even at his advanced cultivation level, was on the precipice of defeat.

"Lin Jiang, put an end to him, vanquish Kong Yan. I can absorb this True Buddha’s Soul Fragment. There is no escaping for him today."

Xia Qingshan’s voice, filled with eager anticipation, cut through the air. The assimilation of this True Buddha’s Soul Fragment might unlock further secrets pertaining to the immortals.

A profound sense of helplessness pervaded him; lacking any established inheritance, he had sought refuge on Blue Star, subsequently finding himself somewhat disoriented in his role as the Way of Heaven for the planet. Many aspects at his level remained shrouded in mystery.

"Kong Yan, what is your decision? Will you yield?"

"I am unfamiliar with the concept of surrender."

"Surrender entails a reduction in the bloodshed across Lingjing Star. Do your Buddhist teachings not advocate for meritorious deeds and the mitigation of violence? Such actions would grant you immense merit. What are your thoughts?"

Lin Jiang articulated that Kong Yan’s willingness to surrender could significantly diminish the violence during their eventual counter-offensive against Lingjing Star. He hinted at the possibility of sparing some elite members of the Buddhist sect.

"The bloodshed originated from your actions, so why should I concern myself with it? The Buddhist sect has never sought accord with devils."

"Hehe, it was indeed precipitated by us, Kong Yan. You are quite adept at manipulating historical narratives, are you not? Have you forgotten the impetus for this conflict? Had you not initiated hostilities against us, would this war have ensued?"

"·····"

Acknowledging the validity of the argument, Kong Yan lapsed into complete silence.

"Ancestor Lin, cease wasting time with him; only a single ancient monk remains. Simply dispatch him."

"Indeed, Ancestor Lin, regardless of his surrender, he deserves death. Due to this aged monk, how many of our brethren have perished?"

Despite the pleas of many at the Transmigration Stage, Kong Yan refused to surrender. After two intense battles, countless friends and family members had been lost to the Buddhist cultivators. Furthermore, the Tao Achieving and Demon Emperor levels alone saw seventy to eighty cultivators perish, many of whom were dear comrades and kin.

"Since you are unwilling to yield, I regret to inform you that your only option today is death."

Lin Jiang gave a solemn nod, conveying a look to Liang Long, who promptly signaled the Space Battleship to commence its assault.

Bodhisattva Kongyan mounted a fierce resistance. Even facing inevitable demise, he resolved to fall in battle, for no Bodhisattva on the Buddhist path ever feared death.

After a prolonged engagement lasting half a day, Lin Jiang finally shattered Bodhisattva Kongyan's physical form, his essence dissipating like shimmering starlight. The arduous war had finally concluded.

"Oversee the battlefield's cleanup and tally the casualties," Lin Jiang commanded. He then swiftly guided his forces aboard the Space Battleship to tend to their injuries. The grueling battle had left them severely wounded, necessitating a period of recovery.

Three days passed, and Lin Jiang was the first to fully recuperate. His primary injuries had mended, with the residual wounds expected to heal gradually over time.

"Ancestor Lin."

"Liang Long, what is the current status?"

"We are holding. The combined forces from Jiang Star and Blue Star numbered just over two hundred thousand. More than half have survived, though we sustained substantial losses, with hundreds of thousands of robots destroyed and over two hundred Space Battleships lost."

"And the experts?"

"A total of twenty-eight, encompassing those at the Tao Achieving and Demon Emperor levels. Fortunately, no one at the Transmigration Stage was lost, though all are injured. Over fifty cultivators at the Void Achieving Stage have perished, and tragically, the majority of our burgeoning new generation of cultivators are gone. It is a profound shame, as many were exceptionally talented seeds destined for the Tao Achieving level."

Liang Long elaborated that these new generation cultivators had emerged victorious from a selection pool of billions, each a true genius. Their scarce survival was a bitter blow.

"A lamentable outcome, yet we had no alternative, did we?"

"Indeed. Still, we emerged victorious. Had we faltered, all would surely have perished."

"Were we able to secure the Sea-crossing Ark? Have we made any progress in its study?"

"It proved to be of little utility. It is merely a substantial spatial treasure, akin to our older flying vessels – technology quite outdated by our current standards."

Liang Long expressed a disdainful view of the Sea-crossing Ark, deeming its technology antiquated even by Blue Star's previous advancements.

"That is acceptable. However, it appears we may face difficulties activating the Stargate; it might require multiple attempts."

Lin Jiang noted that while twenty-eight lives were lost, a significant number remained severely injured. Those whose physical forms were utterly shattered would be incapable of participating in the Stargate's activation, preventing a unified transport back to Blue Star.

"This is not a critical issue. We can afford to invest additional time. Moreover, we must hasten our return to share this monumental victory with Blue Star. Crucially, we must seize Lingjing Star swiftly. The Buddha Sect employs a peculiar training methodology, fostering potent mental fortitude that enables them to rapidly cultivate formidable experts."

Liang Long pointed out that despite the heavy losses incurred, the situation was not dire for the Buddha Sect. As long as their base on Lingjing Star remained intact, they could marshal resources to rapidly train new elites.

The Buddha Sect represented a highly refined cultivation system, and their talent development was arguably on par with Blue Star's. If they allowed a century to pass, the Buddha Sect could potentially field a new cohort of powerful cultivators.

"Naturally, I intend to appoint you as the commander for the Lingjing Star operation. What are your thoughts on this proposal?"

"Ancestor Lin, might we first address my personal affairs?"

"What personal affairs demand discussion? What is so exceptional about them?"

"Hehe, Ancestor Lin, are you truly unafraid?"

Liang Long chuckled, sensing that at his current cultivation level, he had inadvertently revealed much, regardless of his intentions. He felt confident Lin Jiang possessed considerable knowledge.

"Huaxia is a nation embracing over ten billion souls, capable of accommodating all manner of individuals. This quality is known as magnanimity, much like the boundless sea that embraces a myriad of rivers."

"Haha, Ancestor Lin, how shall I put this? That sentiment sounds rather disingenuous."

"Very well, let us rephrase. We are all adults here. Are notions of good and evil truly paramount? What truly matters are tangible benefits. If you contribute positively to Huaxia, I shall offer my support. However, should your actions ever contravene Huaxia's interests, then we shall inevitably become adversaries."

"Ancestor Lin, you display no fear of me as an adversary. It appears my strength remains insufficient in your esteemed presence."

"This is my unwavering conviction. The Buddhist community is ostensibly more powerful than you, are they not? Yet, they have not deterred me. I have nothing further to add. If you cannot agree, then let us proceed accordingly."

"Haha..."

Upon hearing Lin Jiang's resolute words, Liang Long could not suppress a burst of laughter. In that moment, he found Lin Jiang to be an increasingly intriguing, exceptionally fascinating individual.