The sky dome is vast and clear, unseen by the sun yet illuminated.

Below, there are mountains that sit loftily, majestic and towering. Yet if observed closely, one can discern that these lofty mountains are all transformed from Essence Qi. Though exceedingly real, their essence differs from true mountains.

This is the internal space of the Heavenly Monarch; he attempts to transform himself into heaven, developing a Cave Heaven Blessed Land within, and even personally created mountains and forests through his power, virtually becoming a small world of its own.

At this moment, on the top of the tallest mountain in this Cave Heaven, the pitch-black Dharma Platform is engraved with one ancient and sinister symbol after another, with Tan Wuwei, Guanyin, and Lingxuzi, whose physical body was almost split due to being seriously injured by the Great Venerable, all present on the Dharma Platform.

Moreover, there were also two guests unknown to others.

One is a demon monk clad in a gold-red magic robe.

This monk’s head bears the imprint of a gold-red "卍" symbol, his face is handsome yet reveals a wicked aura, possessing both the solemnity of a monk and an undisguised eeriness, making it evident at a glance that he is not a person of the Righteous Sect.

The other is a Buddha shadow, sitting in Buddha Light, only a vague outline could be seen yet it naturally exuded a sense of omnipresent Perfection. Though merely a phantom, none present dared to underestimate it.

However, the most palpable presence at this time is not the Buddha shadow, but rather an object hovering in the center of the Dharma Platform—a broken artifact with only the banner tail remaining, and even this part is incomplete.

The two frayed banner tails, attached to a small portion of the flag surface, dance in the dark wind, forming strands of ethereal light as they move. The light is indifferent, nearly invisible, yet causes an alarming sensation among everyone present.

On the two erratically dancing banner tails, two names glimmer in dim radiance, one of them being "Zhen Ru"—the Awakened’s title.

"The Awakened is indeed a rare talent in the world, even Ksitigarbha was beguiled by him and took his side. Unfortunately, he does not know that the end was predetermined from the very beginning."

A grand voice emerged from within the Infinite Brightness, tone indifferent yet unable to hide its admiration for the Awakened, "Such a talent, as the Tathagata’s Hut, is not in vain."

"The Great Sun Tathagata sees clearly," the demon monk chuckled lightly, "By now, the cards they were holding to reveal have all been played. After much difficulty aiding the Awakened in completing the Promotion Ceremony, they did not anticipate we would have this move."

He glanced at the broken banner tail, an unmistakable look of trepidation in his eyes, lowered them hastily after just one glance.

"With this Six Souls Banner, the Awakened is destined for defeat."

On the other side, Guanyin and Tan Wuwei both bore wary expressions, guarding themselves against contact with the ethereal light, while Lingxuzi kept a distance; his severely injured body could not withstand such a vicious instrument.

The Six Souls Banner is a malevolent curse artifact, forged by Lingbao Tianzun during the Sealing God Battle, specifically targeting other Heavenly Venerates.

Even though it appears from results that this Six Souls Banner may not have the power to threaten the lives of other Heavenly Venerates, it is certainly beyond what the Awakened can bear.

Even if only two banner tails remain, with ninety percent of the flag surface gone, it can still play a crucial role in the confrontation between the Awakened and the Tathagata True Spirit, capable of determining the outcome of this battle.

"Please, Great Sun Tathagata, intervene."

Tan Wuwei and Guanyin respectfully requested.

As the words fell, the ethereal light began to intensify at a visible speed; more gusts of dark wind blew, but the wildly dancing banner tails stood erect, dangling silently in midair. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

On the other banner tail, another name appeared before the eyes of the crowd.

—Jade Emperor, or rather, the Jade Emperor of the High Heaven.

The two names, one being the entity the Tathagata Fruit seeks to replace, and the other, the original master of the Second Grade Dao Fruit that the Heavenly Monarch aims to transcend.

This time, the Heavenly Monarch was willing to go to such lengths, not just for the incense of the Buddha Country, but for the present Six Souls Banner.

It could be said that compared to the names inscribed on the banner tail, the incense of the Buddha Country seems trivial.

"Good."

The Great Sun Tathagata nodded, and the figure in the Buddha Country slowly moved toward the Six Souls Banner, eventually bowing to the broken artifact.

"Buzz!"

In the fierce trembling sound, the ethereal light swept across, darkening the heavens and the earth, and on the broken banner, an obscure flame ignited.

······

······

The shattered Buddha Land Space turned dreary, the ground dimmed, and under the Bodhi Tree, the Awakened’s face was tinged with an ominous hue.

Where ethereal light once sliced, dull fires emerged, swiftly enveloping most of the Awakened’s body.

"The Curse Technique comes from the Heavenly Monarch’s internal body!"

Jiang Li, channeling the Heavenly Eye and Heart of the Supreme, reflected inward and simultaneously rushed towards the Bodhi Tree.

The Heavenly Monarch and the Great Sun Tathagata spoke deliberately to distract the minds of all present.

He was previously engaged in a relentless struggle with the Great Venerable until the Buddha Land Space shattered, prompting a temporary truce to observe the situation; he had no real chance to make a covert strike. The actual move was made by the something or other inside the Heavenly Monarch’s body.

The threat was hidden all along in an unexpected place.

The Heavenly Monarch’s internal space seemed meant to counter the Daoist Lord and rescue Lingxuzi, but in reality, his internal space was concealing the ultimate card.

Due to isolating the Daoist Lord with the "Daoism Rules the World," the internal space functioned instead to draw attention away. A card that had already served its purpose, how could it be used elsewhere?

But now, the truth proves this to be the ultimate card.

At this time, the priority is not to target the Heavenly Monarch, but to prevent the Tathagata Fruit from usurping the Awakened’s body.

However—

Contrary to the Awakened’s ominous hue, the Tathagata Dharma Form has completely solidified. The Dharma Form pointed to the heaven and the earth, with the Buddha Light shining all around, "In all the universe, I am supreme."

A colossal will was reviving, and the Tathagata Dharma Form seemed to come to life. Its Buddha eyes scrutinized everyone, and its Buddha Light illuminated boundlessly, omnipresent and omniscient.

Legend has it that when Shakyamuni was born, he was able to walk, pointing one hand to the sky, one to the earth, taking seven steps in all directions, and proclaiming: "In all the universe, I am supreme."

At this moment, that supreme Buddha Light is illuminating heaven and earth, with vast Buddha Intent filling everyone’s minds.

The "I" that is supreme is not the self, but the true inner self. The supreme self means only the true self is unmatched, undistracted by false external illusions.

When this Buddha Intent radiated out, the Awakened’s body was immediately bathed in Buddha Light, and everyone present experienced the most direct spiritual oppression.

The Awakened was caught off guard, his mind utterly unable to resist the invasion of the Dao Fruit True Spirit; his body was, in turn, dominated by the Dao Fruit, allowing the True Spirit within to begin influencing the outside world.

The Tathagata’s true self penetrated deeply within the mind, about to approach Ye Ru and Jiang Li foremost, yet suddenly its form stiffened, as if fossilized within amber, solidified in midair.