Chapter 792: 317. You Fall Into the Trap, I’ll Take the Opportunity (Combined Chapter)_3

The three Great Dharma Seals manifested in unison, firmly immobilizing the Future Maitreya on the Ninth-grade Lotus Platform and rendering Monk Jingsi and the nearby Pure Land’s efforts futile.

That was clearly a profound technique exclusive to the Buddhist Handprint Lineage, not a subtlety of Buddhist Law previously inherited by the White Lotus Sect.

But at this moment, for the Future Maitreya, it seemed as though there were no secrets; everything came to him effortlessly.

Lei Jun watched through the Great Celestial Mirror and nodded repeatedly, confirming that the opponent’s Supernatural Powers had indeed improved since their encounter in the Southern Wilderness a few years ago.

As Lei Jun observed, the impact was even more profound for Monk Jingshan and Monk Jingsi, who directly faced the Future Maitreya’s cutting edge.

This young martial nephew of theirs, who had kept a low profile in the past, had finally been forced to reveal his true capabilities in the Southern Wilderness. Now, with no need to hold back, the talent and strength he displayed truly far surpassed the impression they had held for many years. Unfortunately, their paths had diverged.

"Given such actions from you, Uncles, which are tantamount to betraying the sect, please forgive this Disciple for his impoliteness," the Future Maitreya said calmly.

Monk Jingsi remained silent, while Monk Jingshan, with both palms thrust out, forcefully repelled the White Light Peacock and spoke unhurriedly, "The one who has betrayed our sect is you! You collude with the Tang Court’s wicked world, obstructing the birth of the new White Lotus era—your sin is all the greater!"

The Future Maitreya’s expression remained unchanged. "When the world is in chaos and the common people are suffering, we of the White Lotus should naturally emerge to purify this wicked age, create a new era, and lead all people out of the Bitter Sea.

However, the current Tang Emperor has not lost his virtue; he is revered by the people, and the land is still stable. If chaos were to erupt, it would lead to widespread disaster, and it is the living beings of this world who would suffer.

As monks, how could we fan the flames and needlessly bring chaos to the Mortal World?"

Monk Jingshan’s expression remained unchanged. "The current state under the Tang Court’s rule is nothing but a sham! Only when the new world led by our Buddha is born, when the new shatters the old world, can this Mortal World be saved! Senior Brother Jingjiu and you have already trodden the Heretical Path. We must eliminate you both so that the White Lotus lineage can Chonggui the True Path. My only regret is that I was too late in making this decision!"

The Future Maitreya sighed softly. "Uncle-master Jingshan, it is you and your faction who have fallen into demon."

Within the White Lotus Sect, two opposing views had coexisted for many years.

Simply put, one faction believed in quietly accumulating strength and acting discreetly. When a Dynasty was in its decline and had lost the hearts of the people, that would be the day for the White Lotus to bloom, purify the cosmos, bring forth the future White Lotus Pure Land, and save all sentient beings.

The other faction was impatient with passive waiting, believing such conduct would only erode their will over time. They advocated for proactive measures: overthrowing the Dynasty, seizing every available opportunity to hasten the arrival of the White Lotus Pure Land, and transforming the Mortal World into a Pure Land.

The former was represented by the contemporary White Lotus Holy Master, Jingjiu.

The latter was represented by Monk Jingshan and his followers.

In the past, White Lotus Holy Master Jingjiu had been able to suppress Jingshan and his faction.

But as White Lotus Holy Master Jingjiu’s health had deteriorated over the past one to two hundred years, leading him to live in seclusion, the faction represented by Jingshan had steadily risen within the White Lotus Sect. This continued until the Future Maitreya appeared.

Though not a Direct Disciple of Jingjiu, his views on the future direction of the White Lotus Sect undoubtedly made him the spiritual successor to White Lotus Holy Master Jingjiu.

And as the Future Maitreya began to shine brilliantly, Monk Jingshan, Monk Jingsi, and their followers grew increasingly uneasy.

The conflict between the two sides deepened, influencing an increasing number of White Lotus Sect Disciples, eventually reaching an unmanageable state.

A few years ago, White Lotus Holy Master Jingjiu had briefly emerged from seclusion, dispelling rumors of his death and successfully appeasing all parties. But after that, he vanished once more, with no news of his whereabouts.

After several attempts to probe the situation, Monk Jingshan concluded that Jingjiu’s condition was indeed dire and that his appearance a few years prior had merely been a bluff.

Meanwhile, the Future Maitreya continued to advance, reaching a point where he was becoming almost impossible to control.

If things continued this way, even if Jingjiu himself was truly incapacitated, the Future Maitreya could take his place. He could succeed him in all aspects, from strength to everything else.

The situation no longer allowed Monk Jingshan to let things be; his only recourse was to plan meticulously and then strike decisively!

However, the Future Maitreya’s strength still exceeded their expectations.

Even though the Ninth-grade Lotus Platform was restrained by the Buddha Light Pure Land, the Future Maitreya’s Buddhist Law still granted him Vast Magical Powers.

Under his control, the Ninth-grade Lotus Platform reversed its rotation, forcefully breaking free from the Buddha Light Pure Land’s pull.

The Buddha Light Pure Land, impacted by this, began to disintegrate instead, and the previously clasped White Lotus Buddha Palms opened outward.

The process, however, was far from gentle; it was exceedingly violent.

The entirety of Tiangu Ridge’s mountain ranges shook violently. The Global Spiritual Qi fell into disarray, clouds burst, the sky seemed to crack, and the earth itself shattered.

The Eastern Palace entourage had entered Tiangu Ridge earlier. Sensing something amiss, they were about to turn back and retreat when the Future Maitreya arrived.

Although Monk Jingshan and Monk Jingsi had not originally intended to target Crown Prince Zhang Hui, with the Future Maitreya now here, missing this chance would mean rarely getting another. Thus, they had to make a swift decision and attempt to catch all fish, big and small, in one fell swoop.

Initially, Zhang Hui and his retinue could still manage to hold their ground and maneuver.

Although they too were trapped within the Buddha Light Pure Land, Monk Jingshan and Monk Jingsi’s primary target was the Future Maitreya and his Ninth-grade Lotus Platform.

Therefore, as long as Zhang Hui and his group remained stationary, the offensive power of the Buddhist Law and Divine Skills within the Buddha Light Pure Land would have a limited effect on them, allowing them to hold out for a considerable time.

If they could buy more time, even if the White Lotus Sect’s internal conflict didn’t yield a clear victor, Ye Cheng and the others, sensing trouble, should have arrived.

But the outcome was that the Future Maitreya was unexpectedly far stronger than anyone had anticipated; wielding the Ninth-grade Lotus Platform, he forcibly shattered the Buddha Light Pure Land.

As the Buddha Light Pure Land shattered, thousands of Buddha stupas collapsed, thousands of Bodhi trees withered, and thousands of sacred relics extinguished.

The resultant destructive force rippled outward, annihilating the entire Tiangu Ridge mountainous region. For a moment, the scene was one of utter devastation, as if heaven and earth were collapsing.