"Because my attributes are higher!" The moment the Image of Buddha appeared, the pressure on Duge's body instantly dissipated, and he smiled, "This time, we can truly cooperate."

"Release the Buddha Child." The two old monks appeared in the Lanning Temple square with a speed akin to teleportation, fixating their gaze on Zuo Zhonghou, whose neck was clasped by Duge, and the Image of Buddha behind him, their eyes brimming with frenzied devotion.

"Master, if I release him, he might lose another limb," Duge said with a smile looking at the two cultivators at the Mahayana Stage, "It is said that when Buddha saw an eagle chasing a pigeon, to save the pigeon without causing the eagle to starve, he immediately cut his own flesh to feed the eagle, fulfilling the intention of delivering all beings. How about it, you two come over and exchange for the Buddha Child, shall we?"

"Alright."

Under the influence of the Image of Buddha, everyone was devoid of malice and combat intent, filled only with devotion and the longing for the divine skills of Buddha's teachings; the two Mahayana Stage cultivators from Lanning Temple agreed without hesitation.

"I'll exchange for the Buddha Child."

Two voices rang out simultaneously.

"No need to rush, one at a time," Duge said with a smile, first placing his hand on one of the Mahayana Stage elders.

He harbored no malice or intent to kill towards these natives; all Duge wanted was their spiritual power, and if possible, cooperation was still the goal.

So.

The transaction proceeded very smoothly.

Watching the two saviors approach Duge's side, Zuo Zhonghou was anxious yet helpless.

He did not understand why Duge, while dismembering people, did not harbor any murderous intent?

Yet he dared not dispel the Image of Buddha, having already revealed his true feelings to Duge; once the image disappeared, he would certainly be the first to die.

He could only watch helplessly as Wang Chong's hand rested on the elder's shoulder at the Mahayana Stage, desperately pondering a way out.

He did not know that Wang Chong's skill could drain spiritual power; he only knew that being touched by him meant limbs would fall off, so he was somewhat relieved that at least under the shadow of the Buddha, Wang Chong would not kill the two Mahayana Stage cultivators for the time being.

As long as the Mahayana Stage cultivators did not die, there might still be a chance for him.

After all.

At such a close distance, the two Mahayana Stage cultivators would act faster than Wang Chong.

...

A continuous stream of spiritual power surged from the Mahayana Stage elder's body into Duge's meridians.

Duge's body was once again remodeled, his soul gradually becoming more solid, his cells and muscles seemed to transform into a new form, but what exactly they became, Duge could not say; it was as if every cell had become a Dantian, able to store more spiritual power within the same unit...

The Mahayana Stage elder allowed Duge to absorb his spiritual power, his expression as placid as a still pond: "Benefactor, can you release the Buddha Child now?"

"Not yet, wait a little longer," Duge said with a smile.

"Elder Hong Ren, Elder Hong Jie, when the Image of Buddha dissipates, please act, execute the Evil Demon. If possible, let me deal the final blow, it can help advance my prowess," Zuo Zhonghou, unaware of what was happening to everyone, still fantasized about taking Duge's attributes, "I can lead the elders to ascend to Buddha Land and cultivate the divine skills of Buddha..."

"Good."

Under the influence of Buddha Delivers the World, the two Mahayana Stage elders harbored no intent to kill, but that did not prevent them from heeding Zuo Zhonghou's command; at that moment, in their hearts, Zuo Zhonghou was the true reincarnation of the Buddha Child, someone who could lead them to Buddha Land.

For the sake of the Buddha Child, they would do anything.

Duge simply smiled, wordlessly focusing on absorbing the prowess of the two Mahayana Stage cultivators.

"I'll count one, two, three, and then you attack; Wang Chong is too fast, better to save me first..." Zuo Zhonghou instinctively did not want to delay, pursing his lips.

"Good." The two Mahayana Stage elders nodded again, not once mentioning the fact that their power was being drained away by Duge.

"One, two, three!"

Zuo Zhonghou counted three tremulous counts, then, closing his eyes, he abruptly cancelled the Image of Buddha.

The next second.

His vision darkened, and he had already lost consciousness, with only a few words lingering in his mind: "Thief, how dare you!"

...

As they watched the Buddha Child's head being removed by Wang Chong, the Mahayana Stage cultivators were enraged, forcibly channeling their spiritual power to land a heavy palm strike between Duge's chest and lungs.

But after having his spiritual power drained for so long by Duge, who had nearly stepped into the Mahayana Stage, he was no longer as he used to be; the strike did not cause him much harm, instead giving him the opportunity to swiftly strip the elder of his clothes and limbs.

Then.

He grasped the elder by the neck, turning him around to shield against the other Mahayana Stage cultivator's attack.

But the attack of the Mahayana Stage cultivators was relentless, not something that could be blocked by a single shield, especially since that shield was also attacking him.

With the Buddha Child dead, their faith shattered and hopes dashed, the two Mahayana Stage cultivators, as if mad, desperately attacked Duge.

Luckily, Duge had plundered the wealth of an entire country; his attributes were extraordinarily high.

If he had attacked Lanning Temple a month earlier, this round of attacks would have ground him to dust.

Even so, the sound of his bones cracking continued from his body; Duge, with no other option, mobilized all his spiritual power to protect his neck and head.

But his other hand clung fiercely to the elder in his grasp, desperately draining his prowess, as he said, "Master, he is the Buddha Child, innately possessing a powerful Divine Soul; who said that one cannot live after losing one's head? I belong to the Medical Immortal Sect, and if you let me, I can still save him in time.

Even if he's dead, he can still have a reincarnation. With you being so desperate, if you injure yourselves, you will no longer have a chance to achieve enlightenment. Besides, Buddha has no fixed form, a single thought can turn one into Buddha or a demon, why can't I be the Buddha Child? If he can lead you to fly, so can I!"

"Stop harming my Buddha Child."