Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 842

In the year 7970 of the Blue Star Xia calendar, the Lingjing Star Star Domain became the focal point.

A Stargate materialized, accompanied by several transport ships and a formidable Space Battleship. Following in their wake were Liang Long and a contingent of skilled individuals. Due to the limited number of experts, the Stargate's transmission range was restricted. After numerous years, their journey culminated in the vicinity of the Lingjing Star Star Domain.

"As per the intelligence, Lingjing Star lies just one or two light-years ahead," Liang Long stated, consulting the Star Chart. Extensive information about Lingjing Star had been amassed, with a significant portion furnished by Xia Qingshan.

Some of this crucial data was extracted from the spiritual treasures of Buddhist cultivators, whose memories were absorbed by their own spiritual treasures. Other details were acquired through forceful soul-searching. By synthesizing these disparate pieces of information, they meticulously devised the optimal route to Lingjing Star.

Regarding the Stargate signals, they utilized those left behind by the Buddhist sect on Lingjing Star itself. Their strategy mirrored the Buddhist sect's method of reaching Blue Star, planning a counter-invasion.

"Let us recuperate before embarking again; otherwise, the others will be unable to endure," proposed the Fire Scale Demon Emperor. As the sole eighth-tier expert in the entire company, his endurance was remarkable, but the less powerful members were struggling.

"Very well, let everyone rest," Liang Long acquiesced. The entire team comprised only five cultivators who had achieved the Dao, supplemented by five Demon Emperors. Additionally, they had gathered several individuals at the Void Achieving stage and some sixth-tier Demon Emperors for support. Many were running critically low on spiritual energy.

Liang Long summoned attendants to distribute pills and spirit stones for everyone's use. In the void of space, lacking spiritual energy, replenishment was impossible.

Once their spiritual energy reserves were replenished, they did not immediately depart. Liang Long deployed numerous probe ships to meticulously scan the surrounding area. Unlike the Buddhist cultivators, he was a true scientist, possessing an insatiable curiosity about the celestial bodies, and thus required thorough preparations.

Only after the timely return of the probe ships did Liang Long give the order to advance.

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"Lingjing Star lies ahead, precisely as depicted in our data. Lingjing Star possesses no technological weaponry, and its most powerful cultivators have largely vanished. The planet lacks any form of space defense, allowing for a direct assault," announced Liang Long from aboard the Space Battleship, approximately one hundred thousand kilometers away. He had gathered everyone to deliberate.

The screen displayed a crystal-clear video feed of Lingjing Star.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let us strike!" exclaimed a subordinate.

"When the prize is within reach, there is no need for haste. According to our accord, we shall first deploy the Demon Race's Demon Insect army and the robot legions to secure the central continent of Lingjing Star, which also serves as its primary landmass. All of us must then participate in eradicating the one hundred and eighty-six main Buddhist temples scattered across Lingjing Star..."

Liang Long elaborated on the strategic details, earning frequent nods of agreement from both Zheng Yi and the Fire Scale Demon Emperor. They observed that Liang Long's meticulous approach instilled a sense of reliability far exceeding their own.

Following the finalization of their plans, Liang Long departed from the transport ship and took command of the Space Battleship, guiding it toward Lingjing Star. Though not matching the colossal thirty-kilometer length of the Space Mother Ship, the Space Battleship still spanned four to five kilometers, presenting a truly awe-inspiring spectacle to Lingjing Star.

The moment the Space Battleship materialized above Lingjing Star, the entire Buddhist community was plunged into utter pandemonium. Decades prior, following the fall of Bodhisattva Kongyan and his entourage, a premonition of a retaliatory strike had permeated their ranks. However, years of undisturbed peace had led many to lower their guard, only for the enemy to finally arrive.

"Amitabha," intoned some Buddhist cultivators with mournful reverence. Simultaneously, a contingent of younger, skilled Buddhist cultivators charged suicidally towards the menacing Space Battleship, only to be obliterated without exception by its overwhelming power.

"Lingjing Star exhibits remarkable resilience; in mere decades, new Diamond-level Buddhist cultivators have emerged," remarked Liang Long. He systematically scanned the entirety of Lingjing Star using the Space Battleship's advanced sensors, quickly identifying numerous potent Buddhist cultivators. Judging by their energy signatures, they were likely at the Void Achieving stage. As for the multitude at the Soul Changing level, Liang Long mused that had they arrived a century later, new Bodhisattvas might have graced this world.

"Advance, and bring forth utter devastation!" commanded the Fire Scale Demon Emperor.

The hatch of the Space Battleship opened, releasing a fifth-level mother bug, which was swiftly followed by an unending torrent of Demon Insects, pouring out like an unstoppable tide.

"Disciples of Ying Continent, heed my call! Arise and claim your vengeance!"

Fighters from the Ying Continent were also dispatched by Zheng Yi. Initially, Liang Long had reservations about their participation, anticipating severe casualties. However, Zheng Yi insisted, driven by a need for retribution. Though the Battle of Blue Star hadn't primarily occurred on Ying Continent, the loss of hundreds of millions of lives there fueled their desire to erase the shame.

"Artificial intelligence has completed target acquisition and locking. Robotic units are now engaged. All Buddhist cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above, regardless of affiliation, are designated for elimination."

Liang Long promptly initiated a program for the AI, instructing it to tag Buddhist cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and higher based on their energy signatures. Any individual exceeding this designated energy threshold would be targeted by the robots.

The extermination commenced. Having studied the Buddhist cultivators' strategies, they dispersed their forces across Lingjing Star, initiating mobile offensive operations. Meanwhile, Liang Long commandeered the Space Battleship, directing its assault towards the temples.

The primary objective was the Wanfa Temple, renowned as the preeminent temple on Lingjing Star. Upon the Space Battleship's arrival overhead, a Spiritual Cannon blast was unleashed upon it.

"Boom"

A single volley produced a swastika symbol that materialized above Wanfa Temple, effectively nullifying all incoming energy. Peering through the obstruction, Liang Long observed a multitude of Buddhist cultivators gathered within, diligently chanting scriptures to fortify the temple's defensive formation.

Witnessing this, Liang Long retrieved a jade box. Upon opening it, a verdant pearl was revealed. Liang Long cast the pearl outwards, and it vanished upon contact with the ground.

Instantly, the firmament above Lingjing Star became volatile. This was the manifestation of Xia Qingshan's Soul Fragment, asserting its presence to prepare for a forceful annexation of Lingjing Star.

Naturally, such a direct takeover was not feasible at this juncture. The current sovereign of Lingjing Star was not the previously known Kong Xiang, but a different individual, the true Buddha of the Buddhist sect.

Xia Qingshan's influence served as a crucial safeguard for Liang Long and his companions, ensuring they would not face direct retribution from Lingjing Star's celestial powers.

After enduring more than ten assaults, and observing the Wanfa Temple's formation remaining unbreached, Liang Long's frustration mounted. He decisively summoned a nuclear weapon, possessing a yield of millions of tons, though not of world-ending magnitude.

"Boom"

The detonation of a single nuclear weapon obliterated Wanfa Temple, reducing several adjacent mountain peaks to a colossal, desolate crater.

"Liang Long, hold off on deploying the nuclear bomb. This is our territory; let's proceed with caution and deliberation."

Some became agitated. The blast from a single nuclear device would devastate and contaminate thousands of miles of terrain. The vicinity of Wanfa Temple was considered the spiritual heart of Lingjing Star, rendering its destruction a profound waste.

Liang Long let out a chuckle, refraining from further nuclear deployments. Wanfa Temple represented the spiritual core for the Buddhist cultivators of Lingjing Star, and its annihilation was deemed sufficient.

Liang Long then shifted his focus to the other temples. Lingjing Star was home to a total of one hundred and eighty-six temples that had nurtured individuals of significant renown and enduring legacies. These temples constituted the bedrock of Lingjing Star's cultivation civilization and were all slated for destruction.

It should be noted that Lingjing Star lacked a formal governing body akin to a mortal dynasty. All affairs were administered by the Buddhist temples, which had delineated territories and assumed responsibility for the populace within their domains. Offerings from the mortals served as a substitute for taxation, cultivating them into compliant citizens under the temples' rule. Consequently, dismantling these temples would effectively resolve the region's leadership vacuum.

From the command center of the Space Battleship, Liang Long observed the unfolding conflict displayed on the immense screen before him. Lingjing Star harbored billions of inhabitants, with at least hundreds of millions possessing cultivation abilities. They were engaged in a fierce resistance at that very moment.

"There's also a demon race on Lingjing Star. Remarkable, a demon race that abstains from meat – truly an anomaly."

Liang Long also noted the presence of some resisting demon tribes. These beings had been nurtured by the Buddhist sect from their infancy, strictly forbidden from consuming meat, let alone human flesh. This upbringing rendered the demon race on Lingjing Star notably feeble, with few capable of transformation. Those who could achieve this feat served merely as guardians for the Buddhist sect, remaining, in essence, Buddhist cultivators.

"Slay, slay! In any world, it is the principle of survival of the fittest that prevails."

Liang Long sighed, confessing his personal aversion to killing, yet acknowledging its inevitability. Without such actions, Lingjing Star would never be relinquished willingly, compelling him to end hostilities through further bloodshed.