"Everyone thought the tides were about to turn again with Lian Sha Arhat shedding his face to ask Buddha for support.
After all, he is a Buddha!
Even if the main body couldn't come, nor the incarnation project its presence, just sending some treasures and Divine Powers, in everyone's view, was enough to take care of Sui Chaozi, Tao Qian, and Duo Bao Master and Disciples.
But who could have anticipated that Sui Chaozi was actually waiting for this exact scenario?
If it were any other time, the scroll of 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' that Sui Chaozi produced, filled with endless divine and strange secrets, would have been the center of attention.
But now, everyone, including Tao Qian, was thinking about something else.
Heaven Venerable's incarnation!
Good Heavens, its power level soared to such an extent.
From Cavernous Mystery all the way up to Tribulation Immortal?
Tao Qian, who was in the midst of refining and seizing the body of the [Mechanical Demon Buddha] with Lian Jing'er and Outer Heaven Flame Essence, finally realized the extent of the disaster he had caused.
And to protect him, Duo Bao True Monarch had to avoid the involvement of Spirit Treasure Sect's Ten Thousand Immortals, creating a remarkable scene.
'Although it's all illusory, incarnations and projections, the duel itself isn't in this world.'
'But without a doubt, both Nirvana Buddha and Outer Realm Heaven Venerable are of Tribulation Immortal Level.'
'Master, in order to mobilize the latter, offered a Mysterious Corpse Divine Arm; yes, it should be the one my fellow True Disciples and I used as bait when we cut it off on Eight Immortals Island.'
'What a heavy price!'
'It's no wonder Master said that the three Arhats of Demon Buddha Temple really don't count for much.'
'According to Master, inviting [Heaven Venerable] serves not only to contend with Demon Buddha but more importantly, to exchange benefits, allowing me to face the upcoming Human Dao Catastrophe...'
Seeing that Senior Sui Chaozi had sealed the entrance to Buddha's Dojo with his Lifebound Treasure, Tao Qian immediately knew the crisis had been averted and couldn't help but think of other matters.
It was at this moment that the previously chaotic Mechanical Demon Buddha, caught in self-inflicted slaughter, suddenly came to a halt.
A wave of joy surged up in Tao Qian's heart.
At the same time, the mechanical voice of Lian Jing'er began to ring out:
'Creation Poison spreading degree... now Perfect.'
'Mechanical Seed taming degree... now Perfect.'
'Detecting a new mechanical wisdom database... merging... merging... merge successful.'
'Initiating new detection verification... Confirmed, the target is [Mechanical Divine Machine Embryo].'
'This item possesses multiple evolutionary paths, now available choices are Ten Thousand Buddha Divine Machine, Taishang Divine Machine, Blood and Flesh Divine Machine, Primordial Demon Divine Machine, Governance Divine Machine...'
As Lian Jing'er provided a report, infusing a wealth of secret information, a gleam instantly flared in Tao Qian's eyes, growing ever brighter.
Meanwhile, the audience from the Seventy-two provinces, having their fill of excitement, also felt regret: everyone knew that within the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas', two Tribulation Immortal level powerhouses were clashing; it's a pity that no one had the fortune to witness it firsthand, and could only await the outcome.
And the ending came swiftly.
In just a few breaths, Sui Chaozi suddenly smiled, reached out his hand, and the scripture flew back to him.
The rift leading to the Buddha's Daoist Field quickly closed up.
Buddha Light swept across the Void, over the Mechanical Demon Buddha, and directly gathered Kongchan, Lian Sha and all the remaining Demon Buddha Temple Disciples into the Daoist Field.
Only Shipi Arhat was left out.
Seeing this unfold, far from being annoyed, he instead expressed delight on his face.
Without saying much, he simply chuckled, 'Disaster turns into a blessing, my time for entering the Dao is near.'
With that, he dove into the small temple.
At the same time, audiences from all Seventy-two provinces and many great powers instantly understood who was the victor between Nirvana Buddha and Heaven Venerable.
This bewildering and tumultuous drama that no one could predict the course of had reached its conclusion.
To everyone's surprise, the victor was... Tao Qian.
Of course, it wasn't necessarily a total victory.
Everyone could clearly see that although Tao Qian and his Mechanical Species under his command had successfully refined and seized the body of the [Mechanical Demon Buddha].
Before closing the Daoist Field, Nirvana Buddha, through the Buddhist Divine Powers, retrieved all the Divine Treasures, Secret Techniques, and Buddha Treasures related to the mechanical behemoth.
Moments ago, it was a formidable and domineering creature that could unite five or six provinces at the Daoist Transformation level.
Now, it's left as a huge mechanical lump, taller than a mountain, larger than a city.
Although it still exudes a terrifying aura, it can't really compare with the Mechanical Demon Buddha with its eighteen thousand Buddha arms and countless Buddha Treasures, and endless Buddha's Divine Powers.
Whether from the south or the north, or those ambitious powers, they all reassessed the 'object's' threat level.
Especially Zhang Jinluan and Si Xixin from the Northern Land, they felt significantly more at ease.
'That [Mechanical Demon Buddha], fused with Outer Realm Mechanical Seed, Buddha's Secret Methods, and copious amounts of blood and flesh, as a mechanical creation, need not worry about Daoist Transformation backlash, able to wield Daoist Divine Might in the world, was indeed an enormous threat.'
"Now that the key Demon Buddha Secret Method has been lost, it can only be considered a mechanical treasure, still powerful, but its threat is reduced by ninety percent and is not worth worrying about."
"Tao Qian, that little thief, is still wanted by many major powers, and his whereabouts have already been exposed. It won't be long before a large number of Ultimate Happiness Realm experts will encircle and suppress him. As soon as Sui Chaozi leaves, his death is imminent."
"And what about the Spirit Treasure Ten Thousand Immortals?"
"Ha, it's all just posturing. Who in the world doesn't know that the Spirit Treasure Sect's Magic Skills shun the karma and fortune-poison of the Human World? It's impossible for the Spirit Treasure Ten Thousand Immortals to come down from the mountain in full force to help a junior disciple compete for the throne of the Human Emperor, even though this junior seems extremely favored and is also a disciple of Duobao True Monarch."
"Exactly, don't be intimidated by the Ten Thousand Immortals. If they were truly willing to come down from the mountain together, why would they go to great lengths to invite the strong from the Heaven Venerable lineage to help? Can't a single second-generation ancestor compete with the Nirvana Buddha?"
"Once that little thief dies, we will seize that mechanical divine object. We are sure to gain a significant advantage and will take the opportunity to occupy several more provinces."
Just when the various northern warlords began thinking about taking over Tao Qian's legacy after his death.
In Qiantang Province City, the originally departing Sui Chaozi suddenly turned his gaze back to Tao Qian.
And then, he said aloud in front of everyone:
"Junior Tao Qian, you have made quite a few enemies. I sense there are many strong individuals rushing here, wishing to take your life."
"But this time, at the request of Duobao Daoist, I shall ensure your safety."
"Once this matter here is concluded, follow me, for it's a good opportunity to visit the Penglai Sea."
Upon hearing these words, countless people sighed in disappointment.
Especially those strong individuals who were currently en route like the Alchemists, the Ultimate Happiness Realm monsters, the Xiu family, the Evil Sect powerhouses, the Taishang Demon Sect strong people... and so on.
While any of them could be from the Ultimate Happiness Realm, they had all seen the methods of Sui Chaozi.
Killing Tao Qian in his hands would likely be exceedingly difficult.
It was at this moment that everyone saw the so-called "First Heavenly Pride of the Daoist," the instigator of the Yang Sui Uprising, and the New Moon uprising, the one who laid to rest the empire's name and imperial system, seem to make a certain decision, and a resolute expression filled his face.
He shook his head, word by word he said: "I... won't go."
Anyone could see that Tao Qian was in an extraordinary state at this time.
As if in resonance with the mysterious fortunes of the Human Dao, every word he uttered carried the flavor of a great vow.
Those who heard his words became a sort of witness.
Even Sui Chaozi had to adopt a serious demeanor.
Before he could ask, Tao Qian glanced at the mechanical god under his feet, which had been stripped of the essence of Buddha. The option of "Ten Thousand Buddha Divine Machine" immediately disappeared from his options.
Fortunately, this choice was never in his consideration, so it had no impact.
Now that the decision had been made, there was no hesitation.
Tao Qian pointed to the divine object under his feet and spoke again, revealing a secret known to few:
"I have heard that the Ancestor Dragon once obtained a complete Outer Realm Mechanical Divine Inheritance, and with that inheritance, created a mechanical army and a Ancestor Dragon Divine Machine, sweeping the eight wastelands with such power and successfully establishing the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty."
"And that inheritance, a copy also lies with Heaven Venerable. Is this true?"
With just these few words, Sui Chaozi, who was a remarkable talent, had already guessed what Tao Qian was implying and planning to do.
A private sigh rose from within: "Duobao Daoist really has a strategy without fail; this young friend is indeed a stubborn mule, and it seems that he cannot be pulled back. This time, the Alchemists and those old bugs are sure to go mad."
After the sigh, Sui Chaozi too made a decision.
He simply nodded his head in response:
"It is true. That mechanical god was originally an Outer Realm Evil God named Golden Star God Monarch. After it accidentally fell in this realm, my master took its source, leaving the complete inheritance to Ancestor Dragon. His ability to establish the Heavenly Dynasty and create Forbidden Techniques indeed benefited from that inheritance."
The audiences of the Seventy-Two Provinces, thinking the excitement was over, and the many major powers were not expecting to hear such secrets again, turned their attention back.
What Tao Qian wanted was precisely this, so he continued to speak.
This time, he made a request to this strong individual from the Heaven Venerable lineage that seemed exceedingly presumptuous to others.
It was this request that definitively announced his ambition.
Officially carved the name "Tao Qian" brusquely into the hearts of people everywhere.
Officially standing before all, igniting the North and South, Seventy-Two Provinces, into a complete uproar.
"Elder, I have an impertinent request and hope you can assist me," Tao Qian said.
"I, Tao Qian, wish to request the assistance of the Heaven Venerable lineage in forging this object into a 'Governance Divine Machine.'"
"This Divine Machine must possess supreme wisdom, the capability to govern, and the might to kill."
"Tao Qian wants to use this object to first liberate the provinces of Qiantang, Tiannan, and New Moon..."
Word by word, even without explicit detail, the meaning was nearly the same.
Anyone with a little bit of wisdom, who had some understanding of the world's big picture, could guess what Tao Qian was after.
Was this First Heavenly Pride of the Daoist, the future Sect Master of the Spirit Treasure Sect and the first disciple of Duobao True Monarch, finally stepping into the limelight to compete for the throne of Human Emperor against other talents of the world?
No talent of the North or South could remain composed.
Even Yu Yanshi and Si Xixin's expressions solidified.
ps: Borrowed some ideas from a book review, my thanks to the book friend who provided the inspiration.