The difference lay in this, Yellow Sky Sect was a branch stream of Dragon Tiger Mountain's Celestial Master Mansion, and its inheritance also followed only the Daoist Talisman Sect's path.

Yet the original founder of the White Lotus Sect hailed from Bodhi, Xuantian, and Tianlong, the three Buddhist Sacred Grounds.

Except for the Vajra Temple, which was established the latest and secluded in the Western Regions, the other three great Buddhist Sacred Grounds had all been drawn into that internal conflict and split back then.

Thus, in the aftermath, the White Lotus Sect simultaneously inherited the three Buddhist traditions of Zen Martial Arts, Precept Holding, and Vow Making.

For so many years, disciples under the White Lotus Sect each chose whichever path suited them best, and all three lineages were represented among their members.

Because the sect had been suppressed and hunted by both the Dynasty and the Four Sacred Grounds together, the White Lotus Sect's actions grew increasingly secretive and low-profile.

Except in times of great unrest, many White Lotus disciples often operated alone, concealed their identities, and acted in secret.

*From the records Lei Jun had read, if several White Lotus Sect disciples acted together—if there were three of them, most likely it would be one from each: Zen Martial, Precept Holder, and Vow Maker.*

Right now, these three White Lotus disciples were confirming this to be true.

The three martial arts experts attacked together, first breaking through the Glazed Lotus, then pressing on to strike the Bright Treasure Vase.

Seeing the White Lotus disciples had the chance to construct a double-layered defense, the attacks of the three martial artists became even more focused.

No words were needed, the three automatically adjusted their moves and formed clear layers in their assault.

Keen sword edge struck first at the radiant Precious Vase.

After passing through both the Glazed Lotus and the Bright Treasure Vase, the sword's edge finally ran out of momentum, its force waned.

Still, it was enough to make the vase tremble.

As the sword bounced away, a fist immediately followed, smashing at the same point.

Even though that Vow-Maker White Lotus radiated boundless, bright light, after repeated assaults, the vase finally began to crack open at a seam.

Then came the spear, its attack the most viciously direct of all—driving its tip at the same spot, it savagely pierced through the massive treasure vase formed of Buddha light!

Yet, at the very instant it penetrated the Bright Treasure Vase, the lightning-fast spear seemed to hesitate, just for a moment.

A pair of strong hands seized that fleeting opportunity and clamped down on the spear shaft.

Those hands were steady and strong as stone, locking the spear in place.

The martial artist on the other side tried to wrench the spear back, but the shaft only trembled, the spearhead could not be pulled free.

The one who gripped his spear was the White Lotus disciple with a face like an enraged Vajra.

A cultivator of the Buddhist Zen Martial Lineage.

Beginning in the spirit and working outward, body and mind made one, the Zen Martial adept tempered his flesh—his physique and strength were unmatched, as mighty as dragon or elephant!

Speed aside, in close combat he could rival any body-refining martial artist in raw power, and in some cases, his bodily defense was even superior.

The three White Lotus disciples walked different cultivation paths, but at this moment their teamwork in attack and defense was seamless, all inheriting the sacred texts of the Buddhist holy lands, and their actual combat experience far outstripped that of ordinary monks.

Still, their opponents were formidable as well—each was a master of the Great Tang Divine Strategy Army. While the spearman tried to reclaim his weapon, his two comrades darted forward again.

The Precept Holder White Lotus wanted to shield his comrades once more, but suddenly several lotus flowers appeared at his side.

They were not the Glazed Lotuses he conjured himself.

They came from Yongxiang Monk of Xuantian Temple and his fellows, standing opposite.

The Buddhist Precept Adhering Lineage focused more on defense, and it was true they lacked ways to directly threaten the enemy, but they could still coordinate with allies, "convert" or "teach" opponents.

Lotuses drifted in the air, and in an instant spread like a sea of flowers, encircling all three White Lotus disciples together and restricting their movement.

"May those who harbor murderous intent be blinded, their bodies unable to move!"

Luckily, that Vow-Maker White Lotus had been prepared. Ignoring the spear tip that had punctured the vase earlier and entrusting his safety completely to his fellow disciples, he instantly made a new great vow.

Then, once more, dazzling rays of light shone out in every direction.

This time, the three martial artists closest to the White Lotus disciples suddenly saw nothing but endless blinding white.

The opponent's Buddhist magic affected more than just their vision—even their other senses, for a heartbeat, lost all trace of their foes.

*That was why, when focusing their attacks before, they always targeted the Vow-Maker White Lotus first. This wasn't their first clash—they knew most of each other's troublesome tricks.*

While the Zen Martial White Lotus neglected to counterattack, he spun around immediately, helping his two comrades tear open the sea of Glazed Lotuses that encircled them.

Yongxiang Monk remained unaffected.

He pressed his palms together at once, and a massive Glazed Lotus blossomed, its dazzling light expanding outward and sweeping away the enemy's white radiance.

His allies' vision cleared, and they charged forward again.

All three close-combat martial artists now seemed to disregard their own safety, launching attack after attack with no pause.

Because Yongxiang Monk and his party stood behind them.

The Precept Holder White Lotus could rescue his comrades, could shield them from the enemy, but Yongxiang Monk could do just the same for his allies.

Every counterattack the White Lotus disciples launched at the three martial artists was neutralized by Yongxiang Monk and his companions instead.

*Lei Jun watched from the side, thoughtful.*

*When the Xuantian Temple disciples were alone, their defenses sufficed to protect themselves, but inflicting serious wounds on their enemy was tough. They lacked initiative, and most of the time, could only fight to a draw without defeat.*

*But when working with others—whether fellow Buddhists of other lines, or cultivators of Taoist heritage outside of Buddhism—the Xuantian disciples turned out to be impressively effective...*

*Hmm?*

*Lei Jun had been observing, when suddenly a warning flashed through his mind.*

*He sensed that someone even more powerfully cultivated was approaching this deep valley.*

*Even though fate had given him a best-lot fortune this time, which foretold no danger, Lei Jun still immediately checked his current progress in gathering the Great Five Elements Creation Qi.*

*At present, he'd completed about four-fifths; he still needed a bit more time.*

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