Buddha Manifestation!

Fang Wenlong had a rough grasp of Lu Su’s strength, but in their plan, Lu Su was safest staying within the Kunlun Hills.

After all, aside from him, the other Card Masters were all traditional summoner-type transcendents. Their actual bodies were far weaker than other beings of the same rank.

Otherwise, Chris would not have died at Lu Su’s hands.

Unfortunately, Ji Weirui, the current master of the Kunlun Hills, had vanished without a trace. Based on Fang Wenlong’s judgment, she had likely been tied down.

Just like them, the Demon Army definitely had trump cards of its own.

"But if Xiao Luo really faced that Inverted Cross alone earlier, then I don’t need to worry too much now."

Fang Wenlong silently thought to himself.

Since things had come to this, he decided to focus all his attention on the Demon Army Lord across from him.

Meanwhile, Catherine was fighting two Army Lords at once.

She glanced at the dense woods covering the entirety of Thousand Peaks City, her gaze flickering slightly. "There really is a Master Grade presence."

"But why does it feel so familiar?"

"And why do I feel like something is wrong?"

As the empress of the Tsardom of Russia, Catherine had naturally dealt with Chris more than once.

At this moment, she sensed an aura within the forest that was incredibly similar to his.

Before she could think it through, the two Army Lords confronting her had already launched their attacks.

Within the forest, the White-Armored Female Demon also noticed the Master Grade being that had suddenly appeared behind her. "It’s actually real?!"

She was startled, but she did not slow down.

Before she arrived, the wind did.

The raging gale scraped against the Holy Blade Armor covering Lu Su’s body, producing a piercing screech.

Faced with this, he immediately wanted Little Spider to take him away from her.

Unfortunately, Little Spider did not obey his command this time. Instead, she raised the White Reaper and charged forward.

Clang—!

With a crisp clash of metal, the demon and spider slammed into each other and locked in place.

Under the immense force, the ground instantly shattered into neat blocks of earth, while the surrounding dense woods were snapped in half in the blink of an eye.

Lu Su’s expression darkened. He already knew what had happened.

Under the effects of the Binding Barrier, Little Spider temporarily could not use her spatial abilities.

Seeing her attack blocked, the White Armor Warlord’s expression did not change. She merely exerted a little force with her hand, and Little Spider was sent flying like a cannonball.

After all, the gap between Diamond Grade and Master Grade was still enormous.

Fortunately, as a Card Master, Lu Su had more than just Little Spider as a summoned creature. His other cards immediately attacked the White-Armored Female Demon.

Taking advantage of the situation, Lu Su hid himself within the forest, concealing his tracks with Little Spider’s Silent skill.

Of course, such a trick could not possibly deceive a Master Grade being.

That was, provided she was not distracted.

"That was really close, Lu Su. That woman is terrifying." Little Spider patted her chest with lingering fear. After only one exchange, she had already sensed danger. "But luckily, I, Little Spider, have already identified her information."

As she spoke, she sent the appraisal information to Lu Su.

Name: Tempest

Title: Calamity Monarch

Level: Master Grade

Possible Drop Material: Finale: Storm Sovereign

After seeing the material she could drop, Lu Su froze for a moment before his expression turned serious. He muttered, "This material…"

"It seems there’s another reason to kill her."

"But…"

"Can it be done?"

Unlike Chris, whose strength had been affected after descending into the secret realm, Tempest was currently at her peak. Moreover, as a Demon Army Lord who had accumulated power for many years, she certainly would not be weak.

Do everything I can, then leave the rest to fate.

Lu Su sighed inwardly, then took Little Spider and began retreating away from Tempest.

Elsewhere.

Sensing that she was surrounded, Tempest, who had remained expressionless all this time, finally showed a hint of emotion. She frowned slightly and said in a completely emotionless voice, "Annoying fleas."

As her words fell, the invisible gusts around her were dyed a pale green.

Then, they erupted.

In an instant, the howling storm swept out and crushed toward Chris’s undead soul.

That was right. Tempest planned to deal with this strange Master Grade being first. In her eyes, most of that Card Master’s combat power probably lay in this undead soul.

In the sky.

The Master Grade beings who had intentionally moved away from Thousand Peaks City also noticed the terrifying aura that had suddenly emerged and turned their attention toward it.

"Tempest is getting serious?"

Watching the storm sweep across heaven and earth, the White-Robed Army Lord tilted his head slightly.

Grand Duke Nicholas, who was fighting him, stared uncertainly at Thousand Peaks City, which had already collapsed by more than half under the ravaging winds.

Though a large portion of it had actually been destroyed when the Flower Tree Realm descended.

"Can that child really hold on?"

In the Grand Duke’s heart, the situation had already become extremely dire after Ji Weirui disappeared. However, since Catherine had not ordered a retreat, he had to continue risking his life against the demon before him.

Within the Flower Tree Realm.

Tempest’s face was now filled with astonishment, along with a trace of anger. "…How ridiculous."

There was no doubt that she had realized Chris’s undead soul was merely putting on a strong front. It did not possess even a fraction of the strength a Master Grade being should have had.

What kind of Master Grade being could not even withstand the aftermath of their own attack?

That was right. Tempest watched helplessly as the undead soul dissolved into faint specks of light in the air under the scattered winds before it could even touch the storm.

She let out a light breath, trying to force herself to calm down.

Naturally, Lu Su’s cards would not miss such a perfect opportunity.

"Sage Art: Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands."

Hashirama Senju clasped his hands together and shouted.

Clap his hands together, and whatever he wanted came.

Minato Namikaze, standing beside him in Shadow Nine-Tails Mode, stared blankly at the First Generation, who had unleashed such a terrifying technique without even forming hand seals.

Then what are we normal ninjas who form hand seals supposed to be?!

Just as Minato Namikaze was about to say this, he remembered that his Flying Thunder God Technique and Rasengan did not require hand seals either.

Never mind, then.

As his younger brother, Tobirama Senju had clearly long grown accustomed to the grand spectacles his older brother often created. After all, if he had not been strong enough, the ninjas of those other clans would never have obediently sat down and listened to his foolish Big Brother speak.

But do not forget that Hashirama Senju currently had Trait buffs.

Thus, the power of the Wood Style he unleashed in Sage Mode had naturally been greatly enhanced.

First Generation + God of Shinobi + Power of Asura + Second Generation + Fourth Generation + Brainless and Grumpy + Will of Fire.

With so many Trait buffs, Hashirama Senju’s strength could no longer be underestimated.

A towering wooden Buddha rose from the ground, countless Giant Palms standing behind it.

It was as though this was the only figure between heaven and earth. At this moment, even the largest palace in Thousand Peaks City looked like a toy in its hand.

The Buddha was merciful, tempering all living things.

The enormous commotion immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Fang Wenlong and the others had already moved far away from Thousand Peaks City while entangling themselves with the Army Lords, but True Several Thousand Hands was simply too large.

It was so large that even from dozens of kilometers away, they could still clearly see the wooden Buddha’s appearance.

"A new card?" Fang Wenlong was stunned by the sight. Ji Weirui’s intelligence had not mentioned this card.

But no matter what, Lu Su being stronger than expected was a good thing.

Sensing the faintly alarming aura emanating from the Buddha, Fang Wenlong grinned. "It seems Tempest can’t do anything to my junior."

"She’s lived so long only to live like a dog."

The refined middle-aged man did not mind using ridicule to disrupt the demon’s state of mind.

After speaking, he threw a fierce punch at the demon in the distance, endless radiance blooming from his fist.

The Army Lord facing Fang Wenlong looked slightly grim as he silently thought, No wonder a mere Diamond Grade Card Master dared to involve himself in a Master Grade battle.

So he has nothing to fear.

At this thought, the demon inhaled lightly, his gaze turning cold. "Fang Wenlong, don’t get pleased with yourself too early."

"Tempest is not as weak as you think."

He admitted that these Card Masters could always come up with some new tricks, but if they thought this meant victory was certain…

How laughable.

At the same time, Catherine let out a sigh of relief.

After True Several Thousand Hands appeared, she felt that today’s ambush was not entirely without hope of succeeding.

As long as that young man could hold back one Master Grade Demon, the battle could still continue.

Catherine did not think Lu Su could kill Tempest.

After all, having dealt with the Demon Army for so many years, she knew exactly how troublesome that Army Lord was.

Although the wooden Buddha had amazed the empress, that alone was not enough.

Within the remnants of the Flower Tree Realm, Lu Su looked at True Several Thousand Hands in the distance and could not help sighing. "If only I had Madara right now."

On one hand, he really wanted to see what a Susanoo-clad Buddha would look like. On the other, with Madara Uchiha’s buffs, Hashirama Senju’s strength would definitely rise by another level.

Besides, Madara Uchiha himself was also a powerhouse.

"When I get back this time, I’ll see if there are any suitable materials."

Remembering that he had already obtained two materials compatible with Madara Uchiha last time, Lu Su made his decision.

Elsewhere.

Tempest’s gaze rippled slightly as she looked at the wooden Buddha not far in front of her.

Because she was so close, she could not even see the full form of True Several Thousand Hands despite tilting her head upward.

"…A futile effort."

Tempest exhaled softly and made a grasping motion in the air with her right hand.

In an instant, black clouds gathered from every direction. Thick lightning serpents continuously swam within them, while the terrifying storm emitted shrill cries like the wails of the dead.

Yet faced with such a long windup, how could Lu Su’s cards possibly let this perfect opportunity slip away?

Standing atop the Buddha’s head, Hashirama Senju immediately clasped his hands and shouted, "Buddha Manifestation!"

The next moment, the countless Giant Palms standing behind the Buddha surged toward Tempest, who remained rooted in place.

Faced with such overwhelming momentum, the White Armor Warlord’s expression did not change. She merely watched everything coldly.

Boom boom boom boom—!

Smashing, shattering.

Giant Palms the size of palaces struck the ground one after another, the violent tremors tearing open cracks across the earth like an earthquake.

Once, twice…

Until the final giant palm fell, thick smoke instantly obscured all vision.

But it was not over yet.

Lu Su’s cards knew full well that their opponent could not possibly die so easily.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

"Torch!"

Countless attacks immediately flew toward where Tempest had been standing.

Strike while she was down and finish her off.

Lu Su’s cards understood that much.

Sure enough, faced with the incoming attacks, a pale green light suddenly flared within the smoke.

Then—

Whoosh—!

A gale—an endless gale—surged in every direction.

The attacks unleashed by Lu Su’s cards were detonated before they could even approach, and the violent explosions produced new clouds of smoke.

But in the next moment, the storm swept all dust and smoke away.

Tempest appeared before everyone once more.

Her hair was disheveled, and countless scars had appeared across her armor, making her look extremely bedraggled. Clearly, Hashirama Senju’s Buddha Manifestation had not left her unscathed.

But she was only bedraggled.

However, no one cared about that anymore.

At this moment, in everyone’s eyes, a layer of constantly flowing gale wrapped around Tempest’s white armor.

At the same time, she held an invisible sword that restrained a storm within it.

"I admit it, you are strong."

"But if this is all you can do…"

"Then listen to the storm and rest in peace."

Tempest slowly held the Storm Sword horizontally behind her, her gaze icy.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!

A fine, piercing sound of airflow slicing through the air rang out, making everyone’s teeth ache.

"Sage Art: Myojinmon!"

Seeing his opponent charging up a powerful move, Hashirama Senju clasped his hands together once more and used the technique he had once employed to bind the Tailed Beasts.

A massive red torii gate descended from the sky, attempting to restrain Tempest.

The other cards did not remain idle either.

Kurosaki Ichigo immediately entered his Mugetsu state and casually unleashed several Getsuga Tensho attacks.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, meanwhile, gathered every flame onto his blade.

"Ryujin Jakka: North – Tenchi Kaijin!"

The slash that had slain Chris reached Tempest in the blink of an eye.

Watching the loose strands of hair before him curl slightly under the scorching heat, the White Armor Warlord took a soft breath.

Feeling the cool air rush through his nostrils, Tempest swung the Storm Sword behind him.

Whoosh—!

Only at this moment did Lu Su witness just how terrifying it was when a complete Master Grade existence went all out.

After all, neither Jin Ping nor Chris had faced Lu Su with their full seriousness before.

But Tempest gave him that opportunity.