To Senju Yukika, the voice that echoed at that moment was undoubtedly filled with the essence of Buddhism.
He even saw several golden sariras gradually floating at the edge of the sky in the distance, as if they had been there for ages.
The aura was ancient and boundless. Yukika knew that anyone who possessed golden sariras must have a terrifying cultivation level—possibly even beyond the realm of gods!
Indeed, though Yukika had never personally encountered such an existence, his vision had broadened significantly. He now knew that in the vast universe, beings stronger than true gods surely existed.
As for what lay beyond the realm of a true god, Yukika didn't know.
To understand, perhaps he would need to seek out the ancestors of the Otsutsuki Clan or ancestral figures of other powerful races in the cosmos.
At that moment, the ancient planetary vision continued to unfold. Underfoot, Yukika saw a figure that made him uneasy, causing the giant to gradually slow down.
When the giant stopped, Yukika finally had a chance to see the entire face.
The foot beneath was not unlike a human's, with five toes—but each was exceptionally long and ended in razor-sharp nails, hundreds of meters in length, like blades capable of slicing through mountains and rivers. The sight was chilling, and utterly overwhelming.
Suddenly, the owner of the giant foot spoke: "There are a few bald monks on this planet hunting me down. Infuriating!"
The voice thundered like a storm and was clearly captured by Yukika's senses.
A tidal wave of shock surged within his heart.
He had suspected the owner of the massive foot might be the strongest creature on the planet, but he never imagined it was born right here!
This being hailed from the vast cosmos itself!
Its power was unimaginable. It could travel through galaxies with mere movement, and even the Buddhist monks chasing it struggled to keep up.
A single monk wasn't enough. It took an entire group!
This monstrous ancient being, referred to as the Ancient Demon Ape, was absorbing the life essence of others to restore its strength.
And now was likely a crucial turning point—it was nearing its prime again but was intercepted by several powerful Buddhist monks!
"Amitabha..."
A familiar chant echoed in Yukika's ears.
Far away, seven enormous Buddha statues gradually appeared.
Each monk beneath them bore a golden sarira floating above their head, radiating endless brilliance and enveloping their entire being.
They resembled seven living Buddhas, lifelike and filled with immense dignity.
The moment these monks appeared, the entire planet trembled under their overwhelming pressure.
In the distance, Yukika vaguely saw many powerful figures flying out of castles and valleys—the unmistakable aura of the Otsutsuki Clan!
Yet the movement of the Otsutsuki didn't seem to alarm the forces now confronting each other. To them, everything on this planet was like ants—insignificant.
One of the monks, after reciting his chant, solemnly said: "Ancient Demon Ape, the sea of suffering is boundless; turn around and find the shore. It is not too late to return."
Another monk folded his hands and added: "Though you have committed countless acts of slaughter, if you renounce evil and take refuge in Buddha, redemption is still possible."
The seven monks then expanded their golden auras, transforming into radiant Buddhist light as if crossing into another divine realm.
But the owner of the massive foot let out a terrifying laugh, shaking the heavens and reverberating through the cosmos.
In response, the heavens roared in anger!
A single laugh had triggered such immense power. Yukika was stunned.
The Ancient Demon Ape, after laughing, spoke coldly: "The most hypocritical thing in this world is your Buddhism. I, the Ancient Demon Ape, am sovereign unto myself. I have never betrayed my heart. What's wrong with that?"
His voice was icy and laced with deep resentment. Clearly, he had been wronged.
He continued, "If I truly laid down my arms and took refuge in Buddha, wouldn't you monks slowly devour me until there was nothing left? Then, I would no longer be myself!"
Those words deeply resonated within Yukika.
That phrase—"I would no longer be myself"—struck a chord, and he nodded quietly.
For a cultivator, life is a struggle against the heavens. Why do they cultivate in the vast universe?
The answer: to find their true self. If survival means abandoning who you are, then what's the point?
Yukika searched his heart and realized—if it were him, he too would choose to stay true to himself.
In that moment, the terrifying Ancient Demon Ape and Yukika became spiritually aligned.
But the monks all shook their heads, revealing their deep disappointment.
One monk turned his prayer beads and declared, "Then let us subdue the demon together!"
With that, all seven Buddha statues struck simultaneously.
The golden sariras above their heads expanded instantly, releasing boundless golden light of unimaginable power.
It was like a golden waterfall pouring through the universe, illuminating the stars in all directions.
But the Ancient Demon Ape did not flinch!
It roared, its cry filled with endless bloodlust.
Then, its giant foot soared into the sky, piercing through the planet and breaching the atmosphere!
As the foot came down, a sweeping storm followed, and a visible wave of energy expanded outward!
The atmosphere was instantly drained. The force behind the foot was utterly terrifying.
Soon, everyone on the planet would look up and see that massive sole—a nightmare that would never fade!
None doubted that once it landed, the planet would be destroyed, never to exist again.
The blood-red storm it had kicked up was already devastating mountain ranges and landscapes across the world.