Chapter 580

Chapter 580: A Stunning Surprise

After hearing Mo Qianxun’s words, Mo Lanyun felt Fang Lie’s chances were slim. Yet she insisted, "I won’t believe Senior Brother will lose until the final moment!"

During the battle of Suppressing a Small Demon Cave, Fang Lie had turned the tide despite overwhelming odds, saving countless lives in the Small Thousand World and rescuing Mo Lanyun, Ming Yue, and other disciples. Since then, Fang Lie became synonymous with invincibility in her eyes. His subsequent victories, especially his string of triumphs in the Celestial Platform Competition against prodigies, only deepened her admiration.

Mo Qianxun simply smiled, confident she was being stubborn.

On the battlefield, Fang Lie knew endless defense would fail. The Purple Gold Ruyi Shield couldn’t withstand Qing Feng’s relentless assault forever. Blocking wind blades, he launched three Soulfire Lances. "A gift in return, Senior Brother!"

Qing Feng laughed. "Your lances are strong, but in my divine wind domain, all Dao magic falters!" True to his words, the raging winds slowed the lances to a snail’s pace before wind blades shattered them into sparks.

Fang Lie frowned. Though he’d expected limited effect, their swift destruction surprised him. Undeterred, he taunted, "Impressive! But can your winds block karmic divine skills?" Pressing a finger to his brow, he shouted, "The Great Unity Spell!"

A seven-colored butterfly emerged, tracing a graceful arc toward Qing Feng.

"Heard about this," Qing Feng chuckled. "Control life and death? Clever trick—if I hadn’t known." The butterfly vanished into his forehead.

The crowd gasped. "He’s boasting after being hit?"

Fang Lie, puzzled but resolute, drew a dagger and stabbed his own arm. With a *pop*, Qing Feng’s form burst like a bubble.

"A clone?" Fang Lie blinked.

"Merely a shadow," Qing Feng’s voice echoed. "Your spell’s too deadly to face head-on."

The audience murmured in understanding.

Fang Lie sighed. "Tricked by illusions under my Twin Eyes of Heaven and Earth? Perhaps they weren’t worth the effort."

"Flawed eyes," Qing Feng replied. "They see through walls and void, but not illusions. Your weakness is clear."

"A weakness I’ll remedy," Fang Lie conceded. "But today?"

"Surrender," Qing Feng urged. "Your defenses won’t last. No hard feelings."

Hearing this, Fang Lie smiled slightly and said, "Senior Brother, do you really think mere Illusion techniques combined with that divine wind Dao magic could make me surrender? That seems too simple."

"Oh? You’ve got another move? Let’s see it then!" Young Taoist Qing Feng replied leisurely.

"Naturally I have reserves," Fang Lie chuckled. "Would I dare join the Competition Method at Celestial Platform otherwise? But this requires my full effort – you’d best be cautious!"

"Don’t fret," Qing Feng said with amusement. "I’ll mind myself."

"Good." Fang Lie stomped the altar and roared, "Wonderful Bodhi Tree! Full firepower!"

A colossal tree hundreds of zhang tall materialized atop the altar, its canopy-like crown supported by a trunk ten zhang wide. Every leaf glimmered with Dao Patterns while unripe fruits bore divine patterns resonating with Heavenly Dao’s profundity.

Most remarkably, an ancient face emerged on the trunk, childishly exuberant despite its wrinkles. It bellowed, "Hah! Freedom at last! Full firepower? Let’s toll those bells!"

One hundred eight Bronze Chime Bells from Great Thunder Sound Temple manifested amidst the branches. Tens of thousands of whip-like limbs lashed the bells relentlessly – dozens striking each chime simultaneously.

The deafening onslaught unleashed devastating soundwaves. Space itself rippled violently under their passage. Qing Feng’s Fierce Heavenly Winds disintegrated instantly, every weapon-shaped gust shattered beyond threat.

As the sonic explosion erupted, a distant scream pierced the air. A figure fled like a startled hare, vanishing beyond the horizon. When it halted, the bloodied, disheveled form revealed itself as Qing Feng – seven orifices bleeding, resembling some tortured spirit.

Fang Lie paled. "Senior Brother! Are you-"

"Enough." Qing Feng waved weakly, wiping blood with torn sleeves. "Your warning was clear. This disgrace proves my own inadequacy."

"Forgive me," Fang Lie murmured.

The crowd erupted. "The Wonderful Bodhi Tree gained sentience! Impossible!"

"Buddhism’s treasured spiritual root! Those divine patterns… but Heaven curses such beings! How?"

"Rumor says Mo Sect’s Spirit Ignition talisman awakens spiritual objects. They must’ve used it here!"

"Worth the cost! This tree’s potential rivals Divine Beasts!"

"At least immortal beast tier! Yet Buddha’s treasure serves Mo Sect as a mount? How humiliating!"

Every Buddhist disciple present flushed crimson at these words.