Volume One, Chapter Eighty-Three: The Great Battlefield Cleansing

Chapter Eighty-Three: The Great Battle to Clear the Field

It wasn’t just Shakra and the Dragon King Tithra who were astonished; even Maheshvara and Mara, after their initial shock, couldn’t hide the suspicion in their eyes.

How could it be possible?

Manas! And a blade?

He’s mastered the Manas Blade?

The Manas Blade—ask the Lord of the Three Realms, Mahabrahma, if he can wield it. Ask the Buddha himself if he can. Ask the Grand Emperor of the North Star if he possesses such power.

We admit, what you call the Manas Blade sounds terrifying.

The problem is, does such a blade... even exist?

Tu Zhe smiled.

It does, indeed.

As far as Tu Zhe was concerned, he knew his Manas Blade was formidable, but he hadn’t expected that just naming it would leave everyone cross-eyed in disbelief.

Is the Manas Blade truly that terrifying?

Well, considering even the will of the gods had been sliced apart by him, it must be. He never realized just how heaven-defying his self-invented Manas Blade really was.

The one who suffered most was the great dragon king, Tithra. Against Tu Zhe, he’d always had unwavering confidence in his own victory.

But now, Tu Zhe, who had been burnt to a crisp, was standing alive before him once more. It made him sick. He knew Old Rahu had intervened to help Tu Zhe. But even if Rahu hadn’t, this brat was no pushover.

Not only was he no pushover, he was a real handful.

And now, out of nowhere, this brat throws out “Manas Blade,” and wants him to try it. Should he accept or not?

If he didn’t, with Maheshvara and Mara eyeing him hungrily, it was clear they wouldn’t walk away peacefully. Even with Shakra by his side, they’d be no match for the two of them.

If he accepted... what if the Manas Blade was real? Could he withstand it?

Trapped between a rock and a hard place!

Seeing Tithra hesitate in silence, Tu Zhe suddenly shouted:

“Old demon serpent, do you dare, or don’t you—”

Damn it! Tithra’s temper flared.

Times had changed—children now dared to provoke their elders. Even a mud dragon has some spine; who are you to shout at me? I’ll see what this Manas Blade of yours is worth. Maybe you don’t really have it, and even if you do, even if it’s perfected, do you really think you can do anything to me, the Old Dragon?

Hell if I’ll believe it.

Tithra’s dragon eyes blazed as he roared:

“Come, then—”

Tu Zhe turned aside and bowed politely to Mara and Maheshvara, but ignored Shakra completely. As if he didn’t know whose handiwork had brought things to this point? Salute him? He’d rather give him the finger.

He wouldn’t expose Shakra’s schemes or deal with him today, but he’d make sure the old schemer learned fear.

Tu Zhe grinned, saying, “Honored Lords, why don’t you all withdraw for now? This place is cramped, and when the fighting starts, it won’t do to be crowded. Shall we clear the field first?”

Hm?

What did he mean by that?

Was he saying they were in the way? Or was he just that confident?

Maheshvara and Mara couldn’t quite follow his train of thought.

Tu Zhe cocked an eyebrow, looking annoyingly smug, and said with a knowing laugh, “You gentlemen understand, don’t you?”

Mara, Maheshvara, and Shakra all exchanged meaningful glances.

Now Mara and Maheshvara understood.

First, this youngster was confident; second, he wanted Shakra gone so that, should the old demon serpent beg for help, the rest of them wouldn’t interfere and spoil the duel.

Shakra understood Tu Zhe’s meaning as well. He wanted the old emperor to leave, lest, when the serpent king got desperate and exposed Shakra’s role as the true manipulator, Tu Zhe would have to decide whether to destroy him or let him go.

Shakra realized Tu Zhe wasn’t worried about him personally, but about the Buddha standing behind him.

For a moment, the old emperor felt a bitter grief. Since when had a mere brat dared to scorn him so openly?

But could he refuse to leave? That would just be courting humiliation. The master and disciple might fear the Buddha, but if pushed, they’d destroy him all the same. What could the Buddha do—start a war with the Six Heavens and Rahu over him?

Tithra’s frustration reached its peak.

Inwardly, he hoped Mara and Maheshvara would leave; should something go wrong, he’d still have a chance to escape.

But this little brat was so dismissive—so certain he wasn’t a match?

Humiliation! If I don’t grind your bones to dust today, I’m not Tithra.

A dragon may be slain, but never shamed!

You may take the naga’s commander, but never a dragon’s pride!

Roaring, Mara, Maheshvara, and Shakra all departed.

Dragon One looked mournfully at the Demon Dragon King. “My lord, allow me to first test his Manas Blade.”

The Demon Dragon King knew Dragon One intended to probe Tu Zhe’s strength, but this was a dangerous game—one misstep and it could cost him his life. This brat dared to challenge the old demon dragon king; Dragon One was certainly no match for him.

Tithra felt a grim satisfaction. “Dragon One, you go as well. That’s an order!”

The old demon dragon was leaving himself a backup. If anything happened to him, at least the nagas would have Dragon One to hold the fort, so their clan wouldn’t be wiped out in an instant.

Dragon One wanted to say more, but the old demon dragon shouted, “Go, now—”

With flames of hatred burning in his eyes, Dragon One shot Tu Zhe a final glare, then soared away on a cloud, his dragon cry echoing.

At this moment, Mara was already lounging comfortably in his own heaven, ready to broadcast the spectacle.

Shakra returned to Mount Meru; Maheshvara returned to Yama Heaven; each gazed up at the celestial dome.

Old Rahu drank deeply of celestial nectar, smacking his lips. “By the ancestors, I haven’t felt this happy in millennia—ha ha—”

Yuanyi cast her father a scornful glance. “Look how pleased you are.” But in truth, she was even prouder than he.

High in the clear and shining heavens—who was that figure?

That was—her own dear little brother...

Mara’s broadcast began anew.

As a veteran archfiend, Mara’s mood was more tumultuous than ever before.

Tu Zhe had surprised him time and again. This youth, who had lived just over thirty thousand days, with his breathtaking brilliance, his iron will, his prodigious miracles—it all made Mara’s old heart tremble with excitement.

A true fiend is not without feelings! Let me be smug—who’s to stop me?

Mara’s broadcast rang out:

“Celestial multitudes, we see that young Tu Zhe, the Little Celestial Prince, has once again worked a miracle. He has returned to life, and now, with his unique Manas Blade—unmatched across the Three Heavens and even the Three Thousand Great Worlds—he challenges Emperor Tithra, the mighty Demon Dragon King.

Who shall claim victory in this battle? The Demon Dragon King, who has ruled the Great Salt Sea for countless millennia? Or the newly risen miracle-worker, the Little Celestial Prince Tu Zhe? Let us wait and see!

The Manas Blade—unique, is it? I don’t know for sure, but none of you can wield it. So let me boast for now, ha ha.”

Tu Zhe stood with his hands behind his back, facing the Demon Dragon King Tithra with a smile. “Shall we begin?”

Tithra snorted coldly. “Don’t get cocky, boy. This Dragon King will give you three moves, lest the Three Heavens mock me for bullying the young with my strength!”

Tu Zhe’s brows arched, his smile dazzling. “You’ll really let me have three moves? But do you realize, after three moves, you may not even have a chance to strike back, ha ha...”

The Demon Dragon King Tithra was truly enraged. With a sweep of his robe, hands clasped behind his back, he let out a dragon’s roar. “Enough talk! Come at me—”