The West Continent, a mountain temple.

Jianan stood in the Great Treasure Hall, furrowing his brows. For some reason, he felt uneasy, as if even the clouds in the sky seemed heavy.

"Master." The abbot Tian Yun hurried over, looking anxious, "Something terrible has happened."

Jianan’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "What is it? Why the panic?"

"I went to the nearby city to investigate and just arrived at the Leiyin Sub-Temple. There, I saw the whole wall covered with fugitive notices!" Tian Yun spoke quickly, "The notices include me and you, Master! The main members of our Dharma King Association are all exposed now!"

Jianan’s expression turned grim.

He had actually anticipated this. The Four Directions Buddha leaving the West Continent was supposed to be a chance given to them by Ancestor Master.

But the Jile Heavenly Girl snatched the opportunity away.

Now, the Heavenly Maiden has almost taken over the entire West Continent, and it was only a matter of time before they were discovered.

"How did you get back?"

He asked in a deep voice.

"With the Supreme Treasure you granted me for stealth, I should not have been noticed..." Tian Yun hastily replied.

Jianan looked outside the temple, confirmed no one was following, and was about to nod when his nose twitched, and his expression dramatically changed.

"Fool! What’s that smell on you?"

Tian Yun was dumbfounded and confused, "Smell? What smell?"

Jianan’s expression darkened, his Heavenly Eye scanned Tian Yun, then suddenly struck Tian Yun’s chest with his palm.

Tian Yun’s mouth, ears, eyes, and nostrils simultaneously emitted colorful smoke.

"We’ve been tricked!"

Jianan leaped up, attempting to leave the temple and abandon Tian Yun and the others, but then he heard a light chuckle next to his ear:

"Where are you going?"

Jianan’s expression stiffened slightly, and when he turned back, he saw a stunning woman walking slowly out of the smoke, looking at him with a charming smile.

But there was no joy in his heart, only trembling as he murmured four words: "Jile Heavenly Girl?"

The Heavenly Maiden smiled but remained silent.

Jianan’s heart sank deeply. He glanced at the Dragon Flower Tree in the temple, inexplicably fearful of the Heavenly Girl’s methods—

Besides anything else, the Dragon Flower Tree was unmatched in hiding cause and effect; it was, after all, his Master, Thunder Sound Buddha’s forte.

And yet, the Heavenly Maiden had directly found him!

He shot a glance at the frightened Tian Yun, holding no grudge in his heart, as the Heavenly Girl’s methods were too bizarre.

Knowing he had fallen into a trap, Jianan clasped his hands together, and a Golden Lotus appeared beneath him out of thin air, transforming him into a Dharma Image.

The Heavenly Maiden seemed somewhat intrigued: "Your Dharma Image is quite peculiar; it appears to exist without relying on the Pure Land?"

The Dharma Image of Jianan expressed a smile, opening his mouth in a clear voice: "This is the Leiyin New Method created by my Master."

"Truly Thunder Sound Buddha’s work," the Heavenly Maiden nodded slowly and said, "So, you’re not fleeing? This Cultivation Technique must have some special features."

"Naturally, I’m no match for the Heavenly Maiden," Jianan’s Dharma Image reflected a calm smile.

The Heavenly Maiden was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly turned to the Dragon Flower Tree in the temple.

Jianan, with closed eyes, slightly bowed to the Dragon Flower Tree, calling out in a deep voice, "Please, Master, assist me!"

The Dragon Flower Tree quivered gently while the sound of Buddha echoed from the sky, a golden, majestic figure gazing down from the clouds.

This figure glanced briefly at Jianan, then reached into the void with a hand.

The monks in the temple halted, birds in the mountains stopped singing, streams seemed to freeze, and the wind paused at the tree tops.

Time stood still.

Then, the scenery spun rapidly like a kaleidoscope.

The Dharma Image transformed by Jianan bore several figures above him, each with his face, varying in Cultivation. The lowest was a True Immortal, and the highest had become a Golden Immortal.

These figures descended upon Jianan, merging within his Dharma Image.

The aura surrounding the Dharma Image intensified, soaring higher and higher until a muffled sound resonated in the void, altering the Heavenly Girl’s gaze.

"A Golden Immortal?"

Jianan opened his eyes, a confident smile on his face, looking towards the Heavenly Girl.

The Heavenly Girl’s eyes glistened as she gazed deeply into the shadowy figure in the clouds, softly sighing, "The Way of Cause and Effect—truly extraordinary."

Jianan was momentarily dumbfounded, not expecting the Heavenly Girl to have such insight—this was his last ace alongside the Dharma King Association—

Connecting with his Master via the Dragon Flower Tree, although unable to directly summon his Master’s might, allowed him to leverage the Way of Cause and Effect to "seek help" from his future self.

Though not as potent as the Master’s personal intervention, this power was nearly equivalent to his own cultivation, allowing him to wield it effortlessly, greatly benefiting his future cultivation.

Now, purely in terms of realm, he considered himself on par with the Heavenly Girl.

"Is this the secret of the Future Buddha?" the Heavenly Girl blinked, suddenly inquiring.

Jianan’s expression subtly changed, silently acknowledging the Heavenly Maiden’s keen insight, though choosing not to elaborate—

After all, even though he stood at the Golden Immortal Realm now, the Heavenly Maiden still had the Liuli Buddha under her command, someone he couldn’t possibly defeat.

Thankfully, the Heavenly Maiden seemed somewhat overconfident, not bringing the Liuli Buddha along; defeating her would allow him to hide once more.

If the Liuli Buddha were to arrive, escape would become an arduous task!

With this thought, Jianan controlled the Dharma Image, stretching both hands wide, the left gathering moonlight, the right capturing sunlight, pushing towards the front.

Behind him, the sun and moon rotated, time raced by, grasses and trees in the mountains withered instantly, weathered by wind into rock.

The Heavenly Maiden, seemingly unable to evade, was enveloped as well, her black hair turning white, her beauty turning to a skeleton, her Cultivation becoming illusory, followed by her entire self turning into ash.