As Thunder Sound Buddha turned to ashes in the flames, the sky resounded with thunderous booms.

Old Man Bai looked up and was shocked to discover that beyond the Xuanwei membrane, dozens of distant stars had exploded simultaneously!

The dazzling light illuminated the deepest chaos, with the sky covered in a mournful white, as if a funeral was being held for Thunder Sound Buddha.

A muffled groan echoed in everyone’s ears, and Old Man Bai turned to see that the once-imposing Liuli Buddha was now slumped on the ground, surrounded by a flickering, almost illusory Glazed Dharma Image.

The Jile Heavenly Girl also witnessed this scene. She seemed dead inside and did not act, only sneeringly stating, "Maitreya’s Enlightenment, Thunder Sound Buddha’s extinction. The foundation of your Leiyin Temple is destroyed. Liuli, you have gotten what you sought."

Liuli Buddha’s face was grim, unable to retort—he truly hadn’t expected Thunder Sound Buddha would really sacrifice himself for Maitreya!

Why?

Just when he was filled with resentment, a loud noise rang in his mind, and the Glazed Dharma Image exploded abruptly, causing his Golden Immortal Cultivation to vanish into nothingness.

What just happened?

He fell backward, and the scene in the sky imprinted into his eyes.

The Pure Land Holy Mountain, floating above the Dragon Flower Tree, melted like a snow mountain and transformed into a crystal-clear waterfall that flowed onto the ground beside Maitreya, soon forming a silver sacred lake.

Above the lake, a twelve-petaled white lotus appeared.

Maitreya sat cross-legged on the lotus, his aura growing more ethereal, seemingly transcending past and future, eternal and indestructible.

"World-Purifying White Lotus..."

Liuli Buddha had long known there was a World-Purifying White Lotus in the Pure Land, and now he finally saw its true form. At this moment, he realized that this World-Purifying White Lotus was the foundation of the Pure Land. With it, Maitreya’s previously unstable state began to stabilize.

But it was disastrous for him.

His Dharma Image, which had always been anchored in the Pure Land, suffered greatly when the Pure Land disappeared entirely.

He never imagined that even the numerous Dharma Images of the Pure Land and Leiyin Temple since ancient times would be used by Thunder Sound Buddha as nourishment for Maitreya’s Enlightenment.

Maitreya slowly opened his eyes, his gaze pure and untainted by joy or sorrow.

Yet, whether it was Liuli Buddha or Jile Heavenly Girl, even Old Man Bai and the others held their breath as they watched this first Daluo Golden Immortal since ancient times in Xuanwei!

Maitreya’s gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, and Old Man Bai and Tang Lingwu felt as though his eyes could penetrate their very being, filling them with fear.

What made them even more afraid was that Maitreya’s eyes no longer held the warmth and kindness they once knew.

"Zheng Fa..."

Tang Lingwu murmured, as if trying to hold onto something.

But Maitreya seemed unaware, merely saying, "Now that I am Daluo, Xuanwei shall be complete."

His voice was like a divine decree. At his command, the great Vajra barrier over the West Continent disappeared immediately.

The sea breeze of Xuanwei Sea finally reached the West Continent once again.

Qingnv and others couldn’t help but turn eastward, pondering the impact of Maitreya’s Enlightenment and the reappearance of the West Continent on Nine Mountains Immortal Court.

Especially as Maitreya’s current situation seemed quite unusual.

Suddenly, Qingnv sensed something and turned sharply to look south.

Old Man Bai and another were somewhat puzzled.

A light laugh came from behind them: "The Human Emperor is freed as well."

Old Man Bai turned around to see a stranger standing beside Maitreya, hands behind his back, exuding a calm demeanor.

It was hard to describe his appearance because just one glance would draw all attention to his lofty aura, as though looking up at an unattainable star, leaving only a sense of awe in one’s heart.

"Your Majesty!" Liuli Buddha suddenly knelt on the ground, his voice filled with joy, "Congratulations on your freedom, Your Majesty!"

Old Man Bai immediately understood—this was the Earth Emperor who had been previously suppressed within the Pure Land!

For Maitreya to attain enlightenment, not only did Thunder Sound Buddha sacrifice himself, but the Pure Land shattered, allowing the Earth Emperor to emerge from the Holy Mountain!

No wonder the Earth Emperor would secretly assist Maitreya’s Enlightenment!

Old Man Bai felt he had understood the Earth Emperor’s scheme and exchanged a shocked look with Qingnv.

He couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward Maitreya.

At this point, only a Daluo Golden Immortal like Maitreya could suppress the Earth Emperor.

Yet what sank their hearts was that Maitreya observed the Earth Emperor’s appearance, not with any wariness, but rather he nodded slightly, smiled, and appeared very amicable.

They immediately realized that it seemed Maitreya’s Enlightenment had teamed him up with the Earth Emperor!

Both of these were Taiyi Daluo level beings, and standing together even dimmed the great sun in the sky.

Qingnv spoke with alarm: "Maitreya, are you going to betray the Immortal Court?"

Maitreya lifted his eyes to Qingnv, a trace of arrogance showing on his familiar face: "Why talk of betrayal? It is merely acknowledging past errors and recognizing present truths."

It’s over!

Old Man Bai was utterly despairing.

He didn’t know what had happened to Maitreya, but now it seemed he had become a part of the Earth Emperor’s faction.

What was even more terrifying was that this was still a Daluo Golden Immortal!

"What did you do to him?"

Tang Lingwu, holding the Qingjing Bamboo, glared at the Earth Emperor and demanded.

The Earth Emperor paused, as if surprised that such a daring Independent Immortal dared to speak to him like this.

He glanced at Tang Lingwu, seemingly finding her cultivation too low, he didn’t get angry. He simply answered calmly:

"What did I do? Merely had the Heavenly Emperor pass on all his teachings to him."

"He has obtained the supreme Daoist Skill of the Heavenly Emperor, achieving Daluo. Isn’t this a good thing for him?"