The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

In the sandy lands of the Western Regions, three Buddha statues stood tall like mountain peaks, piercing the clouds with their backs to the slightly lower central peak, each forming a different Dharma Seal with their hands, facing in all directions as if they were protecting the central mountain and deterring all external enemies.

In the midst of the central peak lay clusters of golden palaces, bathed in brilliant light that turned night into day.

"The ancestral court of Buddhism, Nalanda Temple, is so opulent," a big man clad in a wolf robe stepped down from the sky, one step at a time, looking down on this lavish scene with a greedy gleam in the eyes of the Heavenly Wolf from the grasslands.

The nature of a wolf is to prey and to encroach, and as the Heavenly Wolf of the grasslands, the Golden Wolf Khan had extraordinary ambition and desire.

"The Han King is more than welcome to test whether our temple has the capability to protect such a thriving scene," said a figure in the bright sky, with thunderlight flickering, twisting like a bolt of lightning to reveal a form in the air and putting hands together towards the Golden Wolf Khan, "Amitabha, Lantuo Temple's Indra has met the Golden Wolf Khan."

The monk named after the chief of the ancient Heavenly Gods of the Peacock Dynasty wore a treasure crown, draped in yingluo ornaments, holding a Vajra Pestle, with the destructive Thunder Light flashing around him, exuding earth-shaking divine might.

"Indra, leader of the Heavenly Dragon Eight Divisions," the Golden Wolf Khan sized up the imposing monk, "I've heard you are the second strongest at Nalanda Temple, but I wonder if you have the ability to show your might to me?"

The Golden Wolf Khan's gaze suddenly sharpened, behind him emerged the image of the Golden-eyed Silver Wolf, which seemed as large as the three surrounding Buddha statues.

The wolf's head extended forward, gently resting on top of one of the Buddha statues. The shimmering golden wolf eyes caused the brilliant light on the mountain to fade and lose some of its luster.

"How about it, do you still have the heart to show your might now?"

The wolf's head uttered a heaven-shaking howl, stirring the hearts of all, making the entire Nalanda Temple seem to quiver.

However, confronted with such a fearsome sight, Indra remained calm and fearless. He lifted his head to look into the eyes of the Golden-eyed Silver Wolf, speaking slowly and deliberately, "With this humble monk's ability, naturally I cannot match the Han King, but within our temple, it's best if the Han King refrains from being too presumptuous. Offending the esteemed Buddha warrants the punishment of Buddha."

Suddenly, Buddha Light burst forth from the head of the Buddha statue on which the Silver Wolf lay, causing the image of the Silver Wolf to visibly dissolve. In the sky, a myriad of radiant light appeared, and amidst the resounding Buddhist chants, a colossal Buddha figure emerged within the bright light.

"Golden Wolf Khan, a visitor is a guest," the gigantic golden Buddha spoke with a divine voice, "Indra, bring him in."

Indra respectfully bowed and said, "Yes, Holy One."

To make someone like Indra, who did not fear the Golden Wolf Khan, bow respectfully, the actual ability of the golden Buddha's True Body was evident.

As the Strongest, the Golden Wolf Khan could see even more. Within the emerging golden Buddha, there seemed to be a force not weaker than his own, maybe even more formidable.

The Golden Wolf Khan slightly restrained his wild and rebellious heart, and while watching the now subdued radiance, he murmured softly, "Nalanda Temple, Holy One of the Western Regions, indeed extraordinary as the first warrior."

"Golden Wolf Khan, please follow this humble monk," said Indra as he floated ahead, flying towards the most central palace on the peak.

Without hesitation, the Golden Wolf Khan stepped down and went forth, levitating towards the destination.

Advancing further, an even more splendid scene came into view, with an expansive shallow lake fronting the palaces. The water in the lake, suffused with golden, Pure Saint's Energy, emitted a fragrance filled with pure, enticing sweetness.

"Moo—"

The resonant trumpeting of an elephant entered one's ears, as a seemingly newly matured white elephant raised its long trunk, spraying forth a golden mist.

The scene before one's eyes was such as the Buddhist legends described of the Western Pure Land, invoking a yearning in the heart.

However, this serene and peaceful sight of the Pure Land appeared somewhat loathsome in the eyes of the Golden Wolf Khan.

"I retract my earlier words; this place holds no value for conquest," said the Golden Wolf Khan with a teasing smile, "but it does hold value for destruction. To witness such a Pure Land sink into ruin would be an utterly thrilling sight indeed."

His voice reached the ears of Indra walking ahead, who simply shook his head slightly, and continued on.

The two, one in front and one behind, entered the central Golden Hall. The Holy One of Nalanda Temple, sat in eternal meditation right here.

The Holy One exhibited the distinct skin tone of the Peacock Dynasty, yet his was closer to a golden hue, emanating an indescribable nobility.

He wore a golden crown and sported a tuft of white beard, seated on a golden lotus seat. A long string of Buddhist beads lay on his knees, which he slowly twisted in his fingers.

"Golden Wolf Khan, have you come here for the same matter as last time?" the Holy One asked, eyes lowered as if muttering scriptures, his voice echoing grandly within the hall.

"Of course," the Golden Wolf Khan replied with a slight smile, "since you've allowed me entry, it seems you've agreed to my proposal."

"Nalanda Temple is a land of Pure Land, not involved in conflicts. You wish to involve our temple in worldly disputes; that is wishful thinking," stated the Holy One.

"Is that so? I do not think so. How many people live within this so-called Pure Land? Can Nalanda Temple really accommodate all of the remnants of the Peacock Dynasty? Can it protect the survival of those remnants still outside in the world?"

The Golden Wolf Khan scoffed, "How many true remnants of the Peacock are left in the world now? You have been here for thousands of years, I believe? Apart from a few major families that persist, most have been buried in the dust of history. Among the so-called remnants of the Peacock Dynasty now, many are surely mixed-blood from the Central Plains.

In these Western Regions, the land where the remnants of the Peacock exist is almost gone."

"Whether mixed-blood or not, they all are Peacock People, and this is beyond dispute," countered the Holy One.

"But do they truly consider themselves to be Peacock People? The Peacock Dynasty perished thousands of years ago, and the Buddhism established by the Dynasty's Crown Prince has now become the Buddhism of the Central Plains. The only ones still clinging to the past are you, the remnants who refuse to let go."

The Golden Wolf Khan pressed on, uncovering the Holy One's façade, "If the Peacock Dynasty is not rebuilt soon, tell me, how much longer do you think the so-called remnants will last? With the Cangsheng Sect's covert support from Daqian, your living space has been constantly shrinking, absorbing the mixed-blood remnants. You cannot hold out much longer."

"..."

Suddenly, the Golden Hall was engulfed in prolonged silence.

After a while, the Holy One ceased his chanting, opening his eyes, and the sudden brilliance illuminated the entire Golden Hall.

"Golden Wolf Khan," the Holy One finally spoke, "your proposal, the Buddha has accepted it."

"Haha," laughed the Golden Wolf Khan heartily, "a wise choice."

He flicked his cape and turned to leave, saying, "We shall await the opportune moment. When the Children of the Wolf arrive in the Western Regions, that will be the day our forces together attack Daqian."