"You're still alive?"
"This is impossible!"
"This is unscientific!"
"Before this Buddha broke through, with these two moves combined, I could heavily wound even certain special monkeys. How do you still have the strength..."
Seeing that he hadn't achieved the instant kill he desired, and was instead being mocked by the Yellow Wind Monster, the Burning Lamp Buddha was astonished.
He almost doubted life itself.
This time, it wasn't that he was deliberately holding back or that his attempt to show off had backfired.
It was simply that the Yellow Wind Monster's potential far exceeded his expectations!
Originally, given the vast difference in absolute strength and the disparity in spiritual treasures, Burning Lamp Buddha's full-power strike would have been difficult for even Sun Wukong to withstand.
Let alone.
He first used the Wind-Quelling Pearl to immobilize half of the Yellow Wind Monster's wind power, significantly reducing the might of his Samadhi True Fire, making it difficult to create new opportunities or leverage existing ones.
Then.
The twenty-three Sea-Calming Beads, coupled with the Qiankun Ruler, were deployed alternately, their combined power far exceeding the limit a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal could endure.
Therefore.
Let alone the Yellow Wind Monster having half his power restricted, and being a mere "battle-fodder" who wasn't even a low-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal, even if he had truly broken through to the low-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
He would still have met a dead end.
There would be no survival.
Yet, the current outcome truly dumbfounded Burning Lamp Buddha!
He refused to believe it.
Nor would he believe that in just a few decades, besides Sun Wukong having the ability to break through mid-battle and counter-kill him, a mere Yellow Wind Monster also possessed such a capability.
However.
Facts were facts, leaving Burning Lamp Buddha no choice but to believe. Furthermore, the Yellow Wind Monster had indeed stood up again, albeit wobbly, but truly upright.
This was enough to instantly reverse the morale of both sides!
"Brother Burning Lamp, what happened? We Four Great Bodhisattvas have been suppressed by that Sun Monkey for years, and we can't deal with this kind of demon. But you are at least a quasi-sage expert, how could you..."
"Sister Guanyin, speak softly. I feel that under these circumstances, we should be united. Don't let Brother Burning Lamp lose confidence, that would be dire."
"Exactly, exactly. If not for Brother Burning Lamp's support over the years, how would we Bodhisattvas of Spirit Mountain have had the opportunity to fight the Yellow Wind Monster and share the merit rewards today? Let's say less."
At this critical juncture.
The most amusing conversation for Sun Wukong, the inexplicable chuckles for the Yellow Wind Monster and others, and the most infuriating for Burning Lamp Buddha, indeed occurred.
As expected.
The one who would jump out at this moment to point out Burning Lamp Buddha's incompetence was never an ancestor of the worldly realm like Sun Wukong, nor an enemy like the Yellow Wind Monster.
It was truly Guanyin Bodhisattva, the nominal leader of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, but in reality, a gossipmonger that no one, whether from Mahayana Buddhism or Theravada Buddhism, could tolerate.
And.
It was fine if she just spoke, Burning Lamp Buddha didn't need her sympathy or support; he could make up for one mistake later.
But she had to have such a loud voice, and it drew the agreement of the other three beside her: Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Maitreya Bodhisattva.
In polite terms, this was internal conflict.
In impolite terms, this was simply disrupting morale on the battlefield, almost infuriating Burning Lamp Buddha and Lingji Bodhisattva, the two leading brothers!
"Guanyin... can you four say a few less words?"
"This Yellow Wind Monster has clearly received guidance from the Old Ancestor of the Yellow Springs and learned his Thirteen Paths of the Yellow Springs, making him even more difficult to deal with. How dare you spout nonsense and blame Brother Burning Lamp?"
"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have requested to join this battle from the Two Saints. Why did you Bodhisattvas have to participate? I now understand why Spirit Mountain is declining day by day."
"You four had best leave immediately, or stand aside and keep quiet. Otherwise, even if Brother Burning Lamp doesn't punish you."
"I, Lingji, am not to be trifled with. Don't forget, I represent the Two Saints of the Western Teachings!"
Before Guanyin and the other three could continue their babbling and damage the fighting spirit of the Buddhist disciples of Spirit Mountain, Lingji Bodhisattva finally couldn't take it. Bearing the title of one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism,
He proceeded to curse the four of them to their heart's content.
The four initially wanted to retort, but upon seeing that the person before them was not the easy-to-bully Burning Lamp Buddha, but Lingji Bodhisattva, whose cultivation, strength, status, and position were all much higher than theirs.
The Four Great Bodhisattvas, comprising three women and one "battle-fodder" younger brother, finally grudgingly fell silent.
Consequently.
Burning Lamp Buddha, who was on the verge of rage, finally regained the respect of his allies. After exchanging a look with Lingji Bodhisattva, he assumed the demeanor of a Buddha-level expert.
He decisively challenged the Yellow Wind Monster to a one-on-one fight!
"Fellow Daoist Yellow Wind, you are too polite."
"Earlier, you did not take advantage of my predicament, for which this Buddha is very grateful. However, since ancient times, Buddhas and demons are irreconcilable. Moreover, for this merit reward, our Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist factions must obtain it."
"We have no choice but to offend you."
"But given your previous injuries, this Buddha has the advantage of spiritual treasures and numbers. Therefore, I will give you an opportunity."
"Either surrender now and return to Buddhism, or face me in battle with your injuries. From now on, this Buddha will no longer show any openings or give you chances!"
No wonder the Two Saints of the Western Teachings favored Burning Lamp Buddha.
Besides his potential, this ability to quickly regain composure and employ a psychological tactic was beyond ordinary people.
As he spoke, the other minor demons of Yellow Wind Ridge, who had momentarily rallied, all thought there was still a chance to survive and return to Buddhism.
They began to relax one by one.
This was Burning Lamp Buddha's partial success in his offensive strategy.
It also caused Sun Wukong, who was ten thousand miles away, and the Yellow Wind Monster, facing Burning Lamp Buddha, to exclaim!
"This Burning Lamp is indeed formidable."
"With a single psychological ploy, he instantly shattered the fighting spirit of the other minor demons. If this Yellow Wind Monster couldn't counter the Wind-Quelling Pearl, or had no other backup plan, then this time, it would truly be hopeless."
Sun Wukong watched the two with a smile, finding it increasingly amusing.
He even had a vague feeling that the Yellow Wind Monster still had some hidden reserves.
"Well done, Burning Lamp. Truly worthy of being the second Buddha after Tathagata."
"But it's a pity. Your psychological ploy is only effective on my subordinates. As for me... hehe, then let's choose a one-on-one duel. If you win, you take them. If I win, I take them."
"And if, by some chance, we happen to draw, this Great King dares not ask for anything else. I only hope that you, a Buddha, will keep your word."
"This difficult merit reward, besides Great Sage Sun taking the lion's share, we can only split it between us!"
Just as everyone thought the Yellow Wind Monster might surrender.
Unexpectedly.
This fellow, facing imminent death, did not bow his head. Instead, as Burning Lamp Buddha attacked again, with even greater ferocity.
He actually circulated his magic power and unleashed the first eight paths of the Yellow Springs cultivation technique.
The next second.
He managed to match Burning Lamp Buddha by seizing upon some opportunity he perceived!