Liuli Buddha sighed and said, "It seems there is some misunderstanding, Paradise Benefactor."

"Do you truly intend to protect Maitreya?"

Liuli Buddha remained silent, feeling extremely frustrated. If he followed his true intentions, this would be the perfect opportunity to attack Maitreya!

Yet he was compelled to act as Maitreya’s protector.

He was really too lazy to speak.

Seeing him silent, Paradise Heavenly Girl’s eyes burned even hotter with anger, and she sneered, "It seems that words are useless. Words won’t help you; it’s just surprising that you can still be so loyal, Liuli."

Liuli Buddha was stunned.

Who is loyal?

Do you think it’s my choice?

Although he wanted to protect Maitreya, he didn’t want to fight life and death for him. Feeling really constrained, he said, "Paradise Benefactor, now you are alone and injured."

"Facing both me and Qingnv, you cannot gain any advantage."

"Why not just give up, leave now, and I won’t stop you."

This was indeed what he thought. He just wanted Maitreya to successfully prove the Dao.

He didn’t want to be involved in anything else, much less chase down Paradise.

Before Paradise could answer, Qingnv behind her said, "Eh... you guys fight your fight, I will not get involved."

"..."

Liuli Buddha’s expression stiffened and he slowly turned around.

He saw Qingnv with Tang Lingwu standing far away, next to Maitreya, with a look of detachment, even thoughtfully leaving them some space.

He glanced at Maitreya under the tree, then at Paradise Heavenly Girl fiercely angry in front of him, and for a moment couldn’t react:

What do you mean by it’s none of your business?

Is this Great Leiyin Temple mine?

I came to assist, and now you’re not fighting?

Paradise Heavenly Girl laughed: "At least a dog can get two bones."

Liuli Buddha’s face turned bright red.

He glanced at Maitreya, desperately wanting to let go and not care, but helplessly finding that he truly couldn’t let go, and could only stand there miserably and ignore it, saying, "Paradise Benefactor, now that Maitreya’s great momentum is unstoppable, why not turn back?"

"Turn back? You want me to turn back?" Paradise Heavenly Girl’s eyes grew more dangerous, "What path is there for me to turn back now? Only by getting rid of Maitreya can we have a chance."

Liuli Buddha lowered his eyes, unsure how to respond, but he still did not yield an inch.

Paradise Heavenly Girl laughed angrily: "If you had been so trustworthy before, would we have fallen to this point?"

"..."

Qingnv and the others on the side understood Paradise’s anger very well:

If Liuli Buddha had always been a person of fidelity, that would be one thing.

But Liuli Buddha hit Paradise Heavenly Girl with a palm, then turned around and risked his life protecting Maitreya.

This is pure bullying, nobody can stand for it!

"Paradise Benefactor..."

Paradise Heavenly Girl no longer wanted to say more, she spread her arms, scattering thousands of colored spiritual flowers towards Liuli Buddha and Maitreya.

She now had no way of turning back, naturally growing more frenzied, and when she struck, it was with full force.

Liuli Buddha was unwilling to fight to the death with her, so he was somewhat passive, only stubbornly standing in front of Maitreya.

Liuli’s Dharma Image, known for its unparalleled defense, and with Paradise Heavenly Girl already wounded, in Liuli Buddha’s posture of only defense and no attack, she couldn’t even touch Maitreya’s garments.

Liuli Buddha’s dedicated protection for Maitreya made Paradise Heavenly Girl even angrier.

Furthermore, she fully understood that Great Leiyin Temple bore no goodwill towards Paradise Fragrance nor her, and this time, if she couldn’t stop Maitreya from achieving his Dao, her future would be unpredictable, and giving up was impossible.

Glaring at Liuli Buddha blocking her path, a fierce glint flashed in Paradise Heavenly Girl’s eyes, and her immortal power began to surge.

Starting from her hair tips, Paradise Heavenly Girl’s features, body, and limbs began to emit green smoke, her whole being dissolving into invisible mist without a trace.

Seven Stars Valley was shrouded in this smoke, and illusion realms arose from the fog, indistinguishable between illusion and reality.

"Paradise World?" Qingnv stood in front of Maitreya, "Is she desperate?"

Paradise World is Paradise Heavenly Girl’s Golden Immortal World, where her strength significantly increases when inside.

But it’s not without cost—Xuanwei is highly resistant to Golden Immortal Worlds, like Qingnv in Xuanwei actualizes her Golden Immortal World, it’s burning her Dao Fruit.

For Golden Immortals, this is irreversibly damaging.

If Paradise Heavenly Girl hadn’t been pushed to the brink, she wouldn’t have resorted to such a method.

But she also knew, with Paradise Heavenly Girl playing for keeps, it’s not easy to stop her!

Suddenly, she heard a loud bang by her ear.

In her sight, a golden barrier enveloped Maitreya, and Paradise Heavenly Girl’s palm struck it, only to be bounced away.

Behind the barrier was Liuli Buddha’s melon face.

Old Man Bai and Tang Lingwu rushed over, neither comprehending the barrier.

"What is this?"

Qingnv’s face was complex: "Liuli Buddha’s Eastern Glaze Pure Land..."

Old Man Bai and Tang Lingwu, of course, understood the uniqueness of Golden Immortal Worlds. Now even their gaze at Liuli Buddha changed.

Old Man Bai stroked his chin, feeling sentimental: "Unexpectedly, Liuli Buddha is quite responsible."

To hell with responsibility!

Liuli Buddha cursed inwardly, unwilling to gamble on whether Qingnv could stop Paradise Heavenly Girl, now he could only fight desperately!

But he no longer had time to think.

Seeing Liuli Buddha, Paradise Heavenly Girl’s gaze entirely changed as they fought fiercely, nearly trading blows for life.

Qingnv and Old Man Bai stood behind Liuli Buddha, gradually feeling a bit bored.

This had nothing to do with them!

Indeed, Liuli Buddha’s Golden Immortal World was undeniably firm, hindering all of Paradise Heavenly Girl’s desperate attacks from harming Maitreya in the slightest.

They battled for several months, growing exhausted.

Suddenly, Maitreya under the Dragon Flower Tree opened his eyes!

The Daluo Zheng Fa beside him chuckled lightly and slowly dissipated into the void.

Then, atop Maitreya, the Dragon Flower Tree radiated brilliance, with a golden beam shooting straight into the sky.

Atop the beam, stood a white Holy Mountain.

"Pure Land!"

Liuli Buddha cried out involuntarily.

Paradise Heavenly Girl paused, her face turned bleak, as though understanding Maitreya had reached his ultimate step.

She stood in the void, raised her head to gaze at Pure Land, her expression of anger and urgency slowly vanished, and surprisingly didn’t flee, merely smiled ruefully, with lowered eyes, heart filled with melancholy:

Indeed, just a body of grass and reeds, nothing but a grand dream.

She had done everything in her power.

Already without thoughts of further resistance.

The beings of Buddha, Bodhisattva, and Arhat Dharma Image on the Holy Mountain all radiated soft Buddhist light.

The branches of the Dragon Flower Tree began to sway, as if a wind had begun.

With the wind, those originally indestructible Dharma Images started to dissolve, transforming into golden fragments, gently falling onto the Dragon Flower Tree along the beam.

Suddenly, the Dragon Flower Tree appeared as though covered with golden flowers.

As if absorbing the power of these Dharma Images, Maitreya’s majestic aura became even more overwhelming, finally—breaking through the Golden Immortal barrier!

"Daluo..."

Liuli Buddha stood up, his tone complex yet filled with longing.

He was here to protect Maitreya, with Maitreya proving the Dao, theoretically fulfilling his wish.

Yet witnessing someone achieving Future Buddha before him, Liuli Buddha’s heart still carried some bitterness—

He had long understood, Future Buddha could not be anyone else!

Thunder Sound Buddha might’ve been overlooked, but Earth Emperor had clearly planned everything long ago.

Thunder Sound Buddha joined with Earth Emperor in planning, making Future Buddha’s place certainly Maitreya’s, or Zheng Fa’s!

How could he not resent?

Liuli Buddha withdrew his Liuli World, looked at Maitreya gloomily, then sneered.

Maitreya proving the Future Buddha was precisely his demise!

He couldn’t help but look up at Pure Land, Earth Emperor Your Majesty, what is your ultimate scheme?

Atop Pure Land’s Holy Mountain, Thunder Sound Buddha’s Dharma Image was also dissipating.

His gaze lowered, deeply regarding Maitreya, joining his hands in prayer, his body enveloped in blazing golden flames.

Within the golden flames, Thunder Sound Buddha’s Dharma Image gradually shattered, leaving only a faint spark, fluttering and falling into Maitreya’s chest.

"Ancestor Master..."

Liuli Buddha couldn’t help but murmur.

Qingnv and Paradise Heavenly Girl’s expressions were equally complex.

The founder of Leiyin Temple, one of the three great Taiyi Golden Immortals of Ten Thousand Worlds, Thunder Sound Buddha, today nirvana.