The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating paused when he saw the third match between Medicine Buddha and South Pole Immortal Emperor reached a point where both had matured the Nine Heavens Divine Wood to 188,888 years, and it was clear that the battle was evenly matched, making it challenging to determine a winner.
While Tathagata was preparing for a fourth match, the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating decided it was best to quit while ahead, catching Tathagata off guard. Tathagata nearly choked on his words in surprise, his Three Corpses Deity seething with anger, but there was nothing he could do. He could only manage a slight smile, maintaining the composure befitting a Buddha Ancestor.
With a single statement, the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating had put Tathagata at a loss, and even though he had not won anything substantial, internally he felt quite smug about it.
