Chapter 666: Silent Buddha Shadow

When the fire magic spell was cast inside, the entire silvery-gray sphere first fell silent for a few breaths, then the Underworld Dragons immediately let out screams of agony.

Large ripples began to appear on the surface of the silver sphere, followed by bulges and protrusions erupting everywhere, until finally, with a loud bang, numerous holes burst open.

From these holes, streaks of Nirvanic Buddhist light shot forth.

Sensing his success, Ning Zhuo seized the opportunity to shake the spirit-communicating treasure mirror and retrieved the Dream-Shrouded Night Tiger.

As for the Wood-Fire, it had been completely consumed as a sacrificial item.

The fire magic spell Ning Zhuo improvised was merely the correct key. He himself lacked the power!

By himself, even with the blessings of the Five Organs Temple Spirit God Art and military strength, it would not have been enough. He had no choice but to detonate the Wood-Fire, this fire seed, in a desperate attempt.

Paying a heavy price, Ning Zhuo successfully achieved his goal and cracked the silvery-gray sphere.

The Lord of Forgetfulness River was stunned. He wondered why Ning Zhuo specifically possessed a fire magic spell that perfectly countered water-element seals, and why a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator actually carried a fire seed.

"Fate, fate..." At that moment, the Lord of Forgetfulness River lost all hope of luck and felt a deep chill. His century-long plan, from the very beginning, was to sacrifice to the Yin Heavens and defy the Yang Heavens. This had provoked a backlash from the mortal realm's fate, and even though he was in the Underworld, everything had been clearly orchestrated against him.

But what could he do? He sought to defy the life and death of a Celestial Ghost, and what he aimed to forge was a post-natal talent! This alone he could not achieve by himself; he could only rely on heavenly power. Therefore, the Lord of Forgetfulness River had only two choices: either the Yin Heavens or the Yang Heavens. As the Lord of the Underworld, who commanded the entire Forgetfulness River Underworld, his first choice was naturally the Yin Heavens.

However, even with the Lord of Forgetfulness River's broad vision and rich cultivation experience, he had not truly anticipated that this backlash from the Yang Heavens' fate would be so subtle and deadly. Once it was unleashed, even a dignified Spirit Transformation level cultivator would feel human power exhausted and unable to resist destiny! Cultivating against the heavens was truly this difficult! Although Ning Zhuo was only a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had made the Lord of Forgetfulness River feel true difficulty.

His heart sank to the bottom. This was because his state was extremely weak at this moment, yet he had allowed a Spirit Transformation level expert's destined magic treasure to break free! The battle situation was bound to change dramatically as a result!

The silvery-gray sphere was riddled with holes, like ragged clothes. Innumerable cracks originated from these holes, extending in all directions, connecting and crisscrossing.

The Profound Netherwater Dragons no longer shrieked in agony but wailed in despair. Their serpentine bodies twisted and struggled violently, attempting to stabilize the seal, but this only made their efforts seem more futile!

Boom!!!

The sphere could no longer maintain its form and exploded with a thunderous crash!

Millions upon millions of Forgetfulness River water droplets, shattered fragments of deceased souls, and Yin malevolent energy spurted in all directions like a bursting dam. At the core of the explosion, a towering illusory figure of the Nirvanic Buddha finally broke free from all restraints and reappeared in the world!

The illusory figure resembled a withered, wind-dried tree. Its massive body exhibited a deathly, dark golden hue, covered in deep fissures like cracks in the earth. It radiated not the usual solemnity and compassion of a Buddha, but an absolute stillness, an end, the essence of all things returning to nothingness!

The surviving Profound Netherwater Dragons, letting out roars intertwined with fear and fury, driven by the will of the Lord of Forgetfulness River, brazenly lunged at the illusory Nirvanic Buddha. The evil dragons bared their fangs and brandished their claws, still possessing a savage might.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha slowly raised its right hand, with its five fingers splayed, its palm facing the lunging evil dragons. There was no dazzling Buddhist light, no lingering Sanskrit chants. Only absolute, suffocating silence.

The next moment, the Profound Netherwater Dragons seemed to have their throats seized; their roars abruptly ceased, and they suddenly froze mid-air. Subsequently, they rapidly turned ashen gray, losing all vitality and magical power in an instant, as if they had become bas-relief sculptures, solidified in mid-air. Within a few breaths, these evil dragons quickly faded, transforming into countless gray-white specks of light, dissipating into nothingness, returning to nirvana!

Having dealt with this obstruction, the illusory Nirvanic Buddha slowly raised its head, its gaze fixed on the Lord of Forgetfulness River's Seal. This crucial national artifact still hovered above the Lord of Forgetfulness River, emitting a faint netherworld glow.

In fact, the moment the illusory Nirvanic Buddha broke free, the true body of the Lord of Forgetfulness River was already fully mobilized, attempting to retrieve his Forgetfulness River Seal. But he did not succeed. This national artifact was instead firmly held by the illusory Nirvanic Buddha, unable to return!

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha extended its other palm and gripped towards the Lord of Forgetfulness River's Seal. The latter reacted by erupting with magnificent national power, forming a protective black light. However, the Buddha's gigantic hand contracted and tightened its grip, directly turning this layer of black light into ash, dissipating it, and leading it to nirvana.

All light on the Lord of Forgetfulness River's Seal completely extinguished, solidifying it into a lifeless sculpture. The entire seal was enveloped in a layer of deathly dark golden light, as if frozen in amber, unable to emit even a trace of power fluctuation.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha surveyed its surroundings with indifference. It first looked at the Invisible Nexus, the critical point of the Celestial Aspect Array. Ning Zhuo was located there, maintaining the Confucian Art of 'Scholar Meets Soldier'. Evidently, this Foundation Establishment cultivator, like an ant, was the key to disrupting the entire situation!

"Mortal realm's fate, Forgetfulness River's human tribulation," the illusory Nirvanic Buddha immediately understood. Its gaze seemed to penetrate everything; with just a glance, it saw through Ning Zhuo's disguise, making Ning Zhuo instantly feel naked and stranded in an ice cave. Furthermore, affected by the Nirvanic Zen intent, his heart instantly turned to ashes, and he involuntarily ceased the Confucian Art of 'Scholar Meets Soldier'.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha's boundless gaze then swept over the ritual military camp and the Qing Jiao Army. This cultivation army, in its eyes, was nothing more than a collection of small ants. Subsequently, it saw through the array's concealment and detected the Ruin Black Sphere. Finally, its gaze fell upon the vast and mighty turbid earth qi, which formed a formidable barrier.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha mused inwardly: "A sunken boat sinks deeper, a dead tree turns green. A losing game holds a heavenly gambit, a faint light becomes a guiding star." It realized the meaning of the first half of this prophecy.

In essence, it was the Silent Ghost Monk's destined Buddha Wheel, primarily controlled by the Silent Ghost Monk's divine consciousness, and utilizing the divine power of the Nirvanic Buddha. This was the Art of Invoking Deities! Its nature was similar to how, before the battle began, the Qing Jiao Army activated the ritual military camp to summon the Night Roaming God for assistance.

For the Silent Ghost Monk, this battle was extremely important. He and the Lord of Forgetfulness River were already mortal enemies. If the Lord of Forgetfulness River succeeded in his path, with one gaining and the other losing, it could very well be the turning point towards his future defeat and demise. Therefore, in this battle to obstruct the Lord of Forgetfulness River's path, he had to exert all his strength!

Like Yin Jiuzhu and the Lord of Forgetfulness River, he also had means to divine the future. However, while the former two sought divination from others, he bowed to Buddha, who bestowed a prophecy.

When the Silent Ghost Monk unleashed his destined Buddha Wheel and it was sealed by the Lord of Forgetfulness River's Seal, the Lord of Forgetfulness River keenly sensed something amiss and caught the scent of a conspiracy. His feeling was not mistaken! Although the Silent Ghost Monk's true body was injured and retreated, his destined Buddha Wheel retained a great power, saved for a final reversal!

Now, the illusory Nirvanic Buddha had become the greatest force in this decisive battle.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha extended its hand in a grasping motion and immediately seized the Ruin Black Sphere! The Ruin Finger technique itself was originally released by the Silent Ghost Monk. Although much of its power had been expended in confrontation, it was still worth utilizing. Wherever the Ruin Black Sphere went, everything was devoured and cleared away. It was like a terrifying eraser; anything in its straight path was cleared.

Ning Zhuo watched it fly towards him, and a powerful will to survive broke through his deathly calm state of mind, prompting him to risk flying away from his spot. The surrounding environment was quite harsh. Fortunately, earlier, Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong had painstakingly practiced flying techniques for a period.

Shortly after Ning Zhuo flew away, the Ruin Black Sphere swept across, directly crushing the Invisible Nexus. Ning Zhuo's Confucian Art had significantly interfered with the Invisible Nexus, but could not destroy it. The Ruin Black Sphere, however, was completely different; it directly devoured the Invisible Nexus entirely, with immediate effect!

Without the Invisible Nexus to support and control it, the entire array space began to completely collapse. The illusory Nirvanic Buddha paid no heed to Ning Zhuo's life or death, considering him merely an insignificant ant.

After seizing the Ruin Black Sphere, it injected a new surge of Ruin Finger power into it, causing the latter to expand by thirty percent. The illusory Nirvanic Buddha gently pushed, sending the Ruin Black Sphere towards the formidable barrier of turbid earth qi.

A subtle, dense, and bone-chilling dissolving sound emerged. The turbid earth qi barrier instantly collapsed, greedily devoured by the Ruin Black Sphere, and continuously torn into that deep, lightless nothingness. However, the Ruin Black Sphere's power rapidly diminished in the confrontation, and its size continuously shrank. After it devoured a path through the entire barrier, it directly dissipated at the end of the tunnel.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha strode confidently along this massive passage and charged into the core battlefield!

Luo Si was astonished. He was already on the verge of defeat, having desperately held on, but what he waited for was not Ning Zhuo, but the Buddha. Regardless, he had been saved. Luo Si quickly retreated.

The Lord of Forgetfulness River sighed, and the Earth Fiend Impurity God also abandoned Luo Si, confronting the illusory Nirvanic Buddha directly. The Lord of Forgetfulness River asked if the Silent Ghost Monk, despite cultivating Buddhist scriptures, remained deluded. He questioned how much power the monk had left, given that his true body was already severely wounded and retreating.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha's power was indeed not much left, primarily because it had to continuously expend power to suppress the Lord of Forgetfulness River's Seal. It had just utilized the Ruin Black Sphere, injecting just enough finger power to reach its target, precisely enough for the Ruin Black Sphere to melt through the earth qi barrier—not an iota more, not an iota less. This extremely frugal battle stance had already revealed its true condition.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha let out a laugh, questioning how much better the Lord of Forgetfulness River's condition was, and remarking that his true body could only watch while his clone probably even had its underwear stolen.

The Lord of Forgetfulness River was speechless. As it spoke, the Earth Fiend Impurity God deflated again, its size shrinking by ten percent. The Nine Abyss Water-Leaking Net that Luo Si had applied to the clone had already been broken by the Earth Fiend Impurity God. Luo Si retrieved half of the Forgetfulness River Transference Line.

However, the root cause of the Earth Fiend Impurity God's deflation was still within Forgetfulness River Immortal City. Even without the Nine Abyss Water-Leaking Net, it was merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

The illusory Nirvanic Buddha was naturally not deterred by a few words, and as it spoke, it continuously approached the sacrificial altar. The Earth Fiend Impurity God let out a low growl and intercepted the illusory Nirvanic Buddha mid-path.

Boom, boom, boom—

The moment the two sides engaged, it was a fierce, white-hot struggle. The black cloud battlefield was rapidly collapsing. Previously, Ning Zhuo had used all his might to cast his Confucian Art, only managing to exert a significant influence. However, the Ruin Black Sphere, by crushing the Invisible Nexus, had completely destroyed it. This caused that part of the array to lose its largest cornerstone, like a tower that was already unstable and shaking, whose rooted foundation suddenly vanished, leaving it to collapse and be destroyed. And since the black cloud battlefield was formed by the grand array, it naturally could not remain.

Ning Zhuo once again began a difficult escape. He had lost count of how many times he had done this. With mere Foundation Establishment cultivation, getting involved in such a battlefield was simply too dangerous. As a result, most of the time, he was exhausted from constantly fleeing.

However, compared to himself, he was more concerned about the Qing Jiao Army. Ning Zhuo realized he had the Cyan Iron Valiant Armor protecting him, but these people did not, and might directly fall from the high altitudes of the sky.

To his surprise, the next moment, Ning Zhuo revealed a look of surprise and delight. A dark light shimmered on his body, and a yin wind appeared out of nowhere, coiling around his limbs. This scene felt familiar to Ning Zhuo; the Night Roaming God Art was at work! He noted that so much time had passed, yet this Night Roaming God Art was still active, concluding that the summoned Night Roaming God was truly extraordinary.

Ning Zhuo no longer worried about the Qing Jiao Army's situation. Their ascent into the clouds had relied on the Night Roaming God Art. However, once they entered the black cloud battlefield, the enemy activated a grand array that suppressed the Night Roaming God Art, forcing the entire Qing Jiao Army to proceed on foot. But now, most of the Celestial Aspect Array had been destroyed, with only the core part of the sacrificial altar remaining. Moreover, the Lord of Forgetfulness River, being under attack by the illusory Nirvanic Buddha, was too preoccupied to attend to other matters. Therefore, the Qing Jiao Army was no longer suppressed and regained their flying ability.

Ning Zhuo mentally transmitted this order to Qing Chi from a distance, using the Human Life Suspension Silk, telling her to lead the Qing Jiao Army down, stating that it was too dangerous there.

The Qing Jiao Army was still too vulnerable. In a decisive battle of this scale, the entire army, apart from its initial contribution, could only serve as a source of military strength for the rest of the time. With a bit of bad luck, a single graze from a Spirit Transformation level technique could lead to the annihilation of the entire army. Not to mention that the Night Roaming God Art could run out at any moment, and then, apart from the Golden Core cultivators and a few other cultivators in the Qing Jiao Army, the rest would likely fall to their deaths. Ning Zhuo still needed their military strength, so having them descend first was a prudent move.

Qing Chi immediately took the order, put away the ritual military camp, and went to entrust the army to Jiao Masheng's father. She escorted the Qing Jiao Army downwards, and mid-way, entrusted the army to Jiao Masheng's father, then soared upwards and rushed back.

Ning Zhuo immediately sensed Qing Chi's anomaly through the Human Life Suspension Silk, telling her to obey. Qing Chi's eyes blazed with fire, and her attitude was incredibly resolute. She refused, declaring her intent for revenge and to make the Lord of Forgetfulness River pay a bloody price. She continued, addressing Little Ma, that she only had him left and wanted to help him, fighting alongside him. She vowed that even if they died, they would die together.

Ning Zhuo's heart trembled slightly, and a complex expression appeared on his face.