100: The azure sky defines the universe, ending the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism.

After incinerating the filth of the Ghost Crying Forest and concluding the Karma with Hemp Third Aunt, Li Muchen stayed in Western Hunan for another day. He found a quiet cave deep in the mountains to meditate and regulate his breathing, fully recovering the energy spent on the "Purple Mansion Returning to Origin Slash." His Golden Core rotated slowly, swallowing and spitting Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi with an efficiency far exceeding the Foundation Establishment Stage. Within a single day and night, he had returned to his Peak, even feeling that his Core Essence had become a bit more condensed.

He did not return to Jin Province immediately but first turned back toward Poison Dragon Ravine. It wasn't that he had designs on the remaining two Vermilion Fruits; he wanted to check on Wukong's condition and settle another minor matter.

Poison Dragon Ravine was still shrouded in mist, but the Aura of death had faded significantly since the "Corpse King" was suppressed and Corpse Old Nine was executed. Sensing Li Muchen's presence, Wukong dashed out from the depths. Its shrunken golden-furred body drew a golden line through the mist, its eyes filled with joy.

Seeing that its Aura was stable, its ferocity almost completely dissipated, and the spiritual light in its eyes even brighter—clearly not having slacked off during these days—Li Muchen nodded slightly. He gave a few pointers, instructed it to continue practicing well and not let its training waste away, and then left once more.

Before leaving, he found an inconspicuous corner deep within the already empty "Corpse Raising Cave." There was an object wrapped in oilcloth, emitting a faint Buddha Power and resentment—it was Release Void's head, now unrecognizable and refined into something resembling a shriveled black date. Hemp Third Aunt clearly hadn't had time to "use it up" completely; perhaps she had kept it for another purpose, or as a "trophy" or "warning."

Li Muchen put it away expressionlessly. This object might still be useful.

The return journey was faster than the arrival. Although a Golden Core Cultivator cannot fly on a sword for long distances, their speed far exceeded before through short-distance leaping, gliding, and using tree branches for leverage, combined with a sharper perception of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. In just two days, he had crossed thousands of mountains and rivers and returned to the Yuntai Mountain area.

Seeing the familiar silhouette of Qingfeng Temple from afar, along with the safe and sound, faintly flowing protective spiritual light within the temple, Li Muchen's heart settled. Wukong was squatting on a branch of the ancient cypress tree on guard; seeing him return, it let out a joyful low cry, leaped down, and followed behind him.

Zhao Desheng and the others were all delighted to see him return safely. Li Muchen didn't say much, only stating that the matters in Western Hunan were concluded. Everyone felt even more that the Abbot's Divine Ability was vast and unfathomable.

After resting for half a day in the temple and handling some accumulated trivial matters, Li Muchen set out once again.

This time, his goal was clear—Lotus Temple.

The "Buddhist-Taoist Exchange Seminar" months ago, Lotus Temple's secret manipulation of public opinion, their collusion with evil arts, and later Release Void's defection and collusion with the Western Hunan demon to kill him... In this chain of Karma, although the main evil had been removed, Lotus Temple's lax discipline, indulgence of disciples, and even possible silent approval or promotion of the initial actions against Qingfeng Temple—this debt had to be settled.

The last time he went to Lotus Temple, he had a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivation. Although he was not afraid, he had to consider their potential foundation, the official attitude, and the potential extraordinary powers hidden beneath the mundane world. Therefore, he had focused on debating scriptures and discussing the Dao, with verbal confrontations stopping at the point of mutual understanding.

But now, he had achieved Golden Core, held the qingxiao sword, possessed the Golden Light of Merit, and had undergone the baptism of the Lightning Tribulation. He had slain a Corpse King and executed an evil hag. His cultivation and combat power were no longer the same as before.

More importantly, the small bit of "compromise" and "balance" he had to consider due to insufficient strength had vanished with the growth of his power. In the cultivation world, strength is ultimately respected. He had enough confidence to set his own "rules" and conclude this Karma.

There was no longer a need for false civilities or excessive caution.

This time, he would use the most direct and unquestionable method to put a period on the dispute for Qingfeng Temple and this Buddhist-Taoist struggle.

Lotus Temple, Green Lotus Peak.

The thousand-year-old ancient monastery remained solemn in its Buddhist appearance, with incense smoke curling in the air. After the blow of the scandal involving Release Void's defection and collusion with the Evil Path, Lotus Temple had become much more low-key lately. Master Huiming lived in seclusion, and temple affairs were mostly handled by other Elders, leaving a sense of silence after a storm.

This morning, as the Mountain Gate first opened, pilgrims gradually arrived.

Suddenly, a sharp-eyed Greeter Monk noticed a person walking slowly up the stone steps from the foot of the mountain.

Dressed in green robes and cloth shoes, with a tall and straight posture, he looked young but possessed a calm and heavy temperament. He carried a long cloth bag on his back and a simple ancient talisman plate hung from his waist. It was precisely Li Muchen of Qingfeng Temple!

His steps didn't seem fast, yet in a few strides, he had already crossed the long mountain path and arrived before the Mountain Gate. No one followed behind him; only the mountain wind fluttered the corners of his clothes.

The monks guarding the gate recognized him. Remembering the previous scripture debate and hearing various terrifying rumors about this person recently, their hearts couldn't help but tighten. One stepped forward quickly with palms pressed together: "Amitabha. Daoist Master Li has arrived. May I ask what business brings you here? Please allow this humble monk to report..."

"No need." Li Muchen's voice was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable power that clearly reached the ears of every gate-guarding monk. "I am not here today to visit friends, nor to discuss the Dao. Please inform Master Huiming and the Elders of the temple that Li Muchen has come to settle Karma."

His tone was calm, but it possessed a natural Aura of awe that made the Greeter Monk dare not say more, turning and running inside to report immediately.

Soon, the bell tower of Lotus Temple rang with three low and long tolls, the signal to gather the temple's high-level members for discussion. Pilgrims were politely invited to the side halls or asked to leave, and the atmosphere near the Mountain Gate suddenly became tense.

A moment later, led by Master Huiming, several white-browed old monks and several Deacon Monks filed out, arriving at the wide plaza in front of the Mountain Gate.

Master Huiming looked much older than last time, with an indelible fatigue and sorrow between his brows. He looked at Li Muchen, pressed his palms together, and bowed deeply: "Amitabha. Daoist Master Li's personal visit is an honor This old monk failed to welcome properly. Regarding the Rebellious Disciple Release Void, This old monk's lack of discipline led to a great disaster, tarnishing the reputation of Buddhism and nearly costing the Abbot his life. This old monk... is ashamed before the Abbot and ashamed before the Buddha Dharma."

His tone was sincere, filled with deep guilt and self-reproach. Clearly, the matter of Release Void had dealt him a massive blow.

Li Muchen looked at This old monk, who was once high-spirited but now appeared to be in his twilight years, and felt little emotion. An individual might have regrets, but the temple's overall attitude and actions still required an explanation.

He didn't engage in much small talk, directly raising his hand to toss the oilcloth-wrapped bundle. It landed on the ground in front of Master Huiming, the bundle spreading open to reveal Release Void's shriveled and hideous head inside.

"Release Void colluded with the Western Hunan Corpse Refiner Corpse Old Nine and the Gu Raiser Hemp Third Aunt, intending to kill me. He has been executed by me in Western Hunan. This is his head, returned to your temple today to fulfill his final identity as a member of the Buddhist order." Li Muchen's voice was clear, echoing before the Mountain Gate. "However, Release Void's evil deeds were not formed in a day. If your temple's management were not lax, if you hadn't indulged arrogance or even secretly fueled the fire to defame my temple and compete for incense, I fear this evil result would not have come to pass."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of several old monks behind Huiming changed slightly. Someone wanted to argue, but was stopped by Huiming raising his hand.

Huiming looked at the familiar yet unrecognizable head on the ground, his old eyes tearing up as he sighed deeply: "What the Abbot says... This old monk... has no face to argue. I cannot shirk responsibility for the accumulated ills within the temple. Today the Abbot has come in person; surely... it is not just to return this wicked disciple's remains?"

"Naturally." Li Muchen's gaze swept over the monks, finally fixing on Huiming's face. "The former Buddhist-Taoist dispute began with incense, evolved through sectarianism, and ended in a murderous conspiracy. Such disputes disturb the peace of cultivation and chaos the hearts of the world; they are truly unnecessary."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning sharp. An indescribable Aura of majesty, as if faintly connected to the entire world, rose from his body! It wasn't intentional pressure, yet it made all the monks present, including Huiming, feel a weight in their hearts and their breathing stall, as if they were facing not a person, but a towering, immovable mountain!

The Golden Core pressure showed its edge for the first time!

"I have come today to bring this matter to a conclusion."

Li Muchen slowly drew the qingxiao sword from the cloth bag on his back. The sword was not fully unsheathed, revealing only three inches of the azure-green blade, but that cold, aloof, and purifying sharp Sword Intent had already spread out, seemingly cutting and purifying the sandalwood incense smoke lingering before the Mountain Gate.

Holding the sword, he pointed toward the west, the direction of Lotus Temple and its surrounding areas. His voice was like the clashing of metal, each word clearly branded into everyone's hearts:

"From this day forth, within a hundred-mile radius of Yuntai Mountain, wherever my Taoist lineage reaches and where Qingfeng Temple stands, the Dao shall be respected, and tranquility shall be the foundation."

"Lotus Temple and its Buddhist followers may travel freely within this range to offer incense and worship Buddha, but they shall no longer, in any form, interfere with, defame, or compete for my temple's incense and followers. There shall be no more sectarian disputes, and certainly no more conspiratorial plots."

"With this as the boundary, each shall follow their own path and not interfere with the other. If there are any further transgressions..."

His wrist turned slightly, and the qingxiao sword was suddenly fully unsheathed! A stunning azure-green sword light soared into the sky, not attacking anyone, but drawing a straight sword scar dozens of feet long in the air—condensed and unyielding, refusing to dissipate for a long time! The sword scar spanned the sky, faintly separating Green Lotus Peak from the direction of Yuntai Mountain!

"...it shall be like this mark, no mercy under the sword!"

The sword light faded, and the azure heavens returned to its sheath.

But that clear azure-green sword scar in the sky, like an imprint of the Heavenly Dao, remained in everyone's sight and perception for a long time, emitting a heart-palpitating sharpness and resolve!

The entire scene was dead silent!

All the monks, including Huiming, stared dumbfounded at the sword scar in the sky, feeling the terrifying power and will contained within it—far beyond their scope of understanding! That was not something mundane martial arts could achieve; it was a true... Divine Ability! It was an immortal's method!

They finally understood that the young Abbot before them was no longer the Taoist who needed to cite scriptures and convince people with logic during the previous debate. He possessed the power to overturn the chessboard and set the rules!

Thinking of the vague rumors from Western Hunan about the successive deaths of evil giants like Corpse Old Nine and Hemp Third Aunt, and then feeling this real, overwhelming pressure and Sword Intent, all the monks felt a chill rush from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads.

The situation was stronger than the people!

Furthermore, regarding Release Void, Lotus Temple was already in the wrong, having failed in virtue and oversight; one could even say they indirectly caused the subsequent calamities. Now that the victim had come to their door with the power of thunder to draw a boundary, what did they have to resist? The foundation of a thousand-year-old monastery? Perhaps they had some, but in the face of power that clearly reached a "non-human" realm, how much certainty did they have?

Master Huiming's expression shifted, eventually turning into a gray, dejected slump. He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and slowly bowed with palms pressed together:

"Amitabha... Abbot... your Divine Might is like a prison. This old monk... is in awe."

"From this day forth, Lotus Temple... will strictly abide by the boundary drawn by the Abbot. Within a hundred miles of Yuntai Mountain, there will never be another dispute, and we will never interfere with your temple's affairs. All past events were the fault of our temple. This old monk... on behalf of all the monks in the temple... apologizes to the Abbot."

As he spoke, this temple abbot and vice-chairman of the Provincial Buddhist Association actually bowed deeply to Li Muchen. The monks behind him, no matter what they thought, could only bow along with him; no one dared to voice any objection.

Li Muchen accepted the bow calmly and nodded slightly.

"I hope your temple will conduct itself well."

Having finished, he stayed no longer, turned, and walked slowly down the mountain.

His green-robed back soon disappeared at the end of the winding mountain path.

Before the Mountain Gate, only the monks of Lotus Temple remained, gazing at the azure-green sword scar in the sky that was gradually fading but seemed to have been carved into this world, speechless for a long time.

In the sky, clouds rolled and unrolled.

An invisible boundary had been drawn.

The Buddhist-Taoist dispute that had lasted for months with surging undercurrents completely came to an end with this single sword strike.

From then on, within a hundred miles of Yuntai Mountain, the Taoist would be supreme and the Buddhist subordinate, each following their own path.

And the foundation of all this was that newly born Golden Core and that immortal sword named "Qingxiao."