My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

"Young friend, please wait!"

Just as Gu Lan was about to leave the capital city of Jing Nation, he was met by the hastily arriving Daoist Yunlong. Daoist Yunlong called out to Gu Lan without any pleasantries, immediately informing him of the locations where Zhongren had seen space rifts with the outbreak of demonic energy in the State Scenery Paint.

Hearing this, Gu Lan frowned slightly. His previous suspicions were confirmed: extraterrestrial entities had indeed started targeting the human realm. These three locations were where the invasions had occurred. However, it was still unclear whether these intrusions were the work of extraterrestrial entities or the Evil Infection Demon Clan.

"The Immortal Desolation Cliff in the Demon Realm… the Forbidden Grounds of the East Sea Dragon Palace… and the Great Leiyin Temple of the Western Buddhist Sect."

Contemplating the three invasion points, Gu Lan noted that the Immortal Desolation Cliff and the Dragon Palace hadn't erupted yet. But the Western Buddhist Sect was different. Gu Lan had never held a favorable opinion of the Western Buddha.

He recalled another matter that caused him some concern. After Monk Zhi Kong had returned to the West with the Mahayana Dharma, there had been no news from him. It was possible that Monk Zhi Kong had heeded his advice, refraining from letting the Buddhist sects extend their influence into Jing Nation.

But the prolonged silence was suspicious, as the Buddhist disciples typically valued maintaining relations with powerful allies.

After a moment of consideration, Gu Lan decided to visit the Western Buddhist Sect first. The issue of the human realm's core nodes would have to wait. Given that Daoist Yunlong was on his way back to the Tianji Ancestry Land to guard Zhongren during his cultivation, Gu Lan could seek his advice on arranging the nodes en route.

---

Western Regions, Ling Mountain.

The once magnificent Great Leiyin Temple had transformed internally into a peculiar sight. Half of it was bathed in Buddha's radiance, shining with golden light, while the other half was filled with sinister energy, dilapidated and desolate.

Zhi Kong had been locked in a debate and magical duel with the Buddha for an extended period, standing his ground despite the odds.

"Brother! You can't hold on any longer!"

"What Mahayana Dharma? It's all nonsense! The Buddha is the true Buddha, the Buddha is the true compassion, and only the Buddha can save the world!"

"Brother, submit! The Buddha will forgive you!"

Within the sinister half of the Great Leiyin Temple, countless Arhats and Bodhisattvas had lost their former dignified appearances. They now bore grotesque expressions, some threatening, some mocking, others attempting to seduce, all trying to disturb Zhi Kong's resolve.

Only in the eerie Buddha's light at the center, the Western Buddha still sat on the Lotus Phala, smiling with a flower in hand, standing in stark contrast to the twisted Arhats and Bodhisattvas around him.

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Zhi Kong's resolve remained unshaken. Ignoring the external disturbances, he continued his confrontation with the Buddha. Though his body was hunched, his vitality drained, and his lifespan nearly depleted, the pure Buddha's light behind him remained undiminished!

He was determined to protect the disciples who had grasped the Mahayana Dharma.

"Zhi Kong!"

"Haha, all beings suffer. I save the world and will save you too... why do you oppose me? I am your teacher; how could I harm you?"

"Turn back to the shore, Zhi Kong! Stop being obstinate!"

"There's no distinction between Mahayana and Hinayana in Buddhism... I am the essence of Buddha!"

The Buddha spoke, and thunderous sounds echoed across the Great Leiyin Temple, as rolling black demonic energy started suppressing the pure Buddha's light surrounding Zhi Kong.

However, neither the Buddha nor his twisted Arhats and Bodhisattvas could shake Zhi Kong's resolve. Ever since receiving the perfected Buddhist teachings from Gu Lan in Jing Nation, Zhi Kong's resolve had become unbreakable.

Returning to the Western regions, Zhi Kong's mission was to eradicate the demon that had seized the Buddha's golden body.

"Zhi Kong, if you convert to my Buddha now, I can still offer you a way out!"

Seeing Zhi Kong unmoved, the Buddha's golden statue began to distort. Its gentle smile turned hypocritical and sinister, its demeanor turning mad and terrifying. No longer the Buddha, it had completely become an Evil Infection entity that had escaped from the spatial rift.

Breaking free from its seals, it invaded the human realm, consuming considerable strength. It had no choice but to bolster itself using the influence of the Western Buddhist Sect. Initially, everything had been going well; given a hundred years, it could have restored some strength, invaded the entire human realm, and then accumulated enough power to counterattack the Upper Realm.

But who could have known that Zhi Chan and Zhi Kong, two disobedient disciples, would make a trip to Jing Nation—one fulfilled his wish and died, while the other unexpectedly rebelled?

Especially Zhi Kong, who had somehow gained the Mahayana Dharma that faintly restrained the demonic energy! This was why he had been able to resist for so long.

Fortunately, the Buddha it had possessed had profound cultivation. Now, Zhi Kong was on his last legs and wouldn't last much longer...

"Zhi Kong, I didn't expect you to cultivate a Buddha's heart!"

"A Buddha's heart is so good! A Buddha's heart is the best!"

"When your oil is exhausted and your lamp is dried, I will definitely take out your Buddha's heart and eat it in front of you, piece by piece!"

The Evil Infection Buddha privately laughed through mental transmission, dropping its pretense. Its enormous golden Buddha form instantly turned into a black, grotesque monster, covered in tentacles, wildly waving about.

The Arhats and Bodhisattvas below it also transformed into demonic beings, their appearances extremely ugly, emitting a chilling aura that disgusted anyone who saw them.

"Namo Amitabha!"

Seeing the holy land of Buddhism occupied by such a group of monsters, Zhi Kong's eyes filled with sadness, tears of gold streaming down his face.

As the tears fell, they dyed Zhi Kong's hunched body into a golden statue. In an instant, the Buddha's light radiated brightly once again!

"Master!"

"Master!"

Behind Zhi Kong, countless disciples who had comprehended the Mahayana Dharma looked sorrowful. Seeing Zhi Kong manifest his golden form, they knew it was time to fight with all their might.

Countless disciples of Buddhism began chanting the scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism, each sutra empowering Zhi Kong's golden body.

Facing off against the evil entity, Zhi Kong used his golden body, causing the Great Leiyin Temple to tremble once again.

Despite such great commotion in the Great Leiyin Temple, none of the other Buddhist sects in the Western Regions paid any attention to it.

If someone were to look up from under Ling Mountain, all they could see was the sky filled with Buddhas, and the Buddha's light shining on the world. However, they could no longer hear the faint and endless sound of the sutras.

Since the day Zhi Kong ascended Ling Mountain for his battle with the Buddha, ordinary people who looked up at Ling Mountain could only see this scene.

No one else could ascend Ling Mountain, nor could anyone hear the sound of the Buddha.

Countless people who were wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism kneeled and prayed under Ling Mountain.

"Pray for the opening of the great door of Buddhism, pray for the sound of the Buddha to come to this world, and pray for the Buddha to bless!"

Under Ling Mountain, countless people sincerely prayed. They could not go up Ling Mountain or go to the Western Pure Land, and felt lost in life. Only by praying in this way could their hearts find peace for a moment.

At this moment, a figure in cyan appeared above everyone.

Looking at those bowing Buddhist disciples, Gu Lan's eyebrows slightly furrowed. This was why he and his wife did not want the Buddhist sects to enter Jing Nation. Whenever something happened, they would pray for the arrival of the Buddha and seek his blessing.

What use were these Buddhist monks, who were so worldly and negative?

"Who are you, an ascetic monk, dare to fly in the sky on Ling Mountain, and do you know that doing so will cause the blame of the Buddha, hurry up and come down!"

"Come down! Come down!"

"You alone will be blamed by the Buddha, don't involve us!"

"Just now I heard the Buddha's chanting, and it was this person who appeared and interrupted the Buddha's chanting!"

"Blaspheming the holy land of Buddhism will send you straight to the 18th level of hell!"

Many people saw Gu Lan and accused him in succession.

They dare not blame the Buddha for not blessing him, and only dared to blame Gu Lan for offending the Buddha.

However, Gu Lan did not look at them again.

He looked at the Buddha light on Ling Mountain, a mirage that could dazzle ordinary people.

His figure suddenly moved!