https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-984-Have-You-Seen-Me-at-My-Peak-/13487352/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-986-The-Fallen-Buddha-a-Terrestrial-Buddhist-Paradise/13487474/
Chapter 985: White Vajra, Mahakala
Chapter 985: White Vajra, Mahakala
Xiao Shami smiled faintly, "Amituofo, it is this humble monk."
After he revealed his identity, Luo Chen couldn't help but exchange a glance with Qing Shuang, their eyes filled with a heavy expression.
If they were at their peak, they wouldn't fear even Xuan Du.
But in their current state, they might be able to handle a few lesser cultivators, but facing a great cultivator, especially one as renowned as Xuan Du, a confrontation could very well end in death or injury.
Qing Shuang remained silent, leaving the communication to Luo Chen.
She was the most famous top demon emperor in the Mountain and Sea Realm, and had once revealed her true form before human cultivators. The more she spoke, the more likely she was to make mistakes.
Luo Chen, on the other hand, had no such concerns.
The Dan Sect's name was always welcomed wherever he went.
Seeing Xuan Du's smiling and amiable appearance, Luo Chen's heart stirred slightly.
"Is the master here to stop us?"
Xiao Shami shook his head, "Not exactly. I merely wish to invite both of you to my Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land as guests."
"Guests?" Luo Chen's lips twitched, "Calling it a guest visit, but it's actually a soft confinement, right?"
Xiao Shami quickly waved his hands, "Master Luo, you worry too much. This humble monk is sincerely inviting you both. I wish to share tea and discuss the Dao with you. If you're unwilling, I won't force you. However, the Great Brightness Body of the Peacock Mingwang will not be available for your use."
Luo Chen frowned, glancing at Qing Shuang.
Qing Shuang transmitted a message, "The Teleportation Array in the Western Desert is kept secret and not set up on a spirit vein. To activate it, we need the accumulated Buddhist energy from the Great Brightness Body of the Peacock Mingwang. Normally, such a method is very discreet, and Xuan Du shouldn't be able to detect it."
Luo Chen's heart sank. He and Qing Shuang had previously discussed the route back to Dong Huang.
The most convenient way would be the super Teleportation Array connecting to Cangwu Mountain, which could take them there in a matter of days!
If they relied on foot travel, crossing from east to west would take more than a year or two.
Especially during this journey, they would have to pass through the Central Continent, which was the most tense area after the great battle, making it easy for things to go wrong.
Both he and Qing Shuang were in poor condition and needed a spiritual land to recover.
Moreover, it had been almost ten years since he left Dong Huang, and Luo Lingxi was getting older. Any further delay could affect her future cultivation.
They couldn't afford to wait any longer!
The best solution at the moment was to capture Xiao Shami and seize control of the Teleportation Array.
However, since Xiao Shami was calmly waiting for them, it meant the Teleportation Array was under his control.
If Xuan Du himself intervened during the teleportation, the consequences would be dire.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at Xiao Shami, "Just a guest visit?"
Xiao Shami's realm wasn't high, clearly not Xuan Du himself, but merely a parasitic form of the latter.
Yet, under Luo Chen's spiritual pressure, Xiao Shami remained composed and unaffected.
He said solemnly, "A monk does not lie. In fact, I also wish to discuss a collaboration with both of you."
"Collaboration?"
"Yes, the details are not suitable to discuss here. But the terms I offer will be beneficial and harmless to you." Finishing, Xiao Shami clasped his hands and bowed, "Afterward, you are free to leave, and I will not disturb you in any way."
Luo Chen pondered for a moment and finally nodded.
"Lead the way! I also want to see what the legendary Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land looks like."
Xiao Shami smiled genuinely and walked out of the Buddha Mother Temple.
Behind him, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, but they didn't speak. A certain understanding had been formed between them.
...
The Western Desert was a different name from the Five Continents of the Mountain and Sea Realm.
In this land, it was known as the Buddha Land or the Oasis.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang had emerged from the vast desert in the far east, adjacent to the Southern Desert Kingdom.
The Southern Desert Kingdom was a large nation where cultivators and commoners coexisted, with numerous small and large kingdoms worshipping various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and countless ancient temples and monasteries.
The armies of demonic beasts that plagued the oasis and Buddha land had come from the far west.
As for the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land that Luo Chen wanted to see, it was more of a legend in the Western Desert.
It had no fixed mountain gate, no disciples wandering outside, only the legend of one monk and one temple.
Some even said the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land was a hidden paradise or a mobile Buddhist temple.
Luo Chen would soon get his answer to these rumors.
Gazing at the faint spatial fluctuations in the air, he exclaimed, "A spatial spiritual treasure?"
Xiao Shami was preparing something and, hearing Luo Chen's accurate assessment of the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land, regarded him with newfound respect.
"Small contains the vast, vast contains the small. Though the eyes cannot see, the Dharma realm is vast and bright. Your eyes are truly extraordinary, Master!"
Luo Chen smiled, his gaze instinctively falling on Qing Shuang.
Qing Shuang had long cultivated the True Essence of the Spatial Dao. With such a spiritual treasure, she could remain in the Void Current Turbulence, making her truly invulnerable to anyone in the world.
Even a Huashen powerhouse!
However, Qing Shuang wasn't particularly moved, showing only a hint of curiosity.
Seeing her reaction, Luo Chen pondered.
That's right!
Qing Shuang was refining the Accumulated Void Bloom. If successful, she would open an Internal Spatial Realm.
She could traverse the Void Current Turbulence on her own, without needing a spiritual treasure.
Meanwhile, Xiao Shami had completed his preparations and was about to open the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land.
Taking a moment, he said, "Perhaps the two of you don't know, but the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land is the first and only spiritual treasure of the Western Desert's Buddhist sect, on par with the Decaying Chessboard in the Central Continent."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, "Can this treasure also suppress land qi and control spiritual mechanisms?"
"Not just that!" Xiao Shami smiled confidently.
Luo Chen, however, was skeptical, "If it's truly that powerful, why would it be in the hands of one person? The true master of the Western Desert, the Suspended Temple, wouldn't let such a valuable treasure remain outside, would they?"
Xiao Shami didn't answer, but instead cast the final spell toward the sky.
The night was dark, with no stars or moon.
But after the spell was cast, the sky trembled, and the dark clouds retreated.
A gentle moonlight poured down, illuminating the depths of the void.
Gradually, a crystal-clear Buddhist temple, hidden among towers and bamboo forests, revealed a glimpse of itself.
"Please, come in!"
Luo Chen's steps paused, hesitating to move forward.
At the last moment, he was hesitant.
The Spatial Dao was mysterious, and most cultivators in the world only grasped the surface.
But in the Buddhist sect, it was different.
The concept of "small contains the vast" and "vast contains the small" had been around for a long time. Many strong cultivators in the Buddhist sect were skilled in spatial restrictions, like the Violet Gold Alms Bowl in the hands of Mercy Sea from the Five Peak Mountains, a fine spatial magic treasure.
He didn't expect the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land to be a spatial spiritual treasure.
Once inside, getting out might not be so simple.
"Let's go in!"
To his surprise, Qing Shuang showed no fear.
She transmitted her voice, "The restriction that Xiao Shami, possessed by Xuandu, cast is the Fixed State Art. With this technique, the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land remains open to the outside world. If I want to leave, I can do so in an instant."
With this assurance, Luo Chen finally felt at ease.
Stepping forward, he crossed the shimmering void, and in a daze, the world seemed to turn upside down.
Looking up, he saw a bright moon hanging high in the night sky.
Truly, the small world within the void, like a mustard seed containing a mountain!
Unlike the unstable small world of Yin-Yang, the space of the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land was exceptionally stable, no different from the outside world.
With Luo Chen's abilities, it would be difficult to create a rift in the void.
Qing Shuang paused for a moment at the entrance, confirming that her senses were correct, before nodding to Luo Chen.
Xiao Shami did not enter.
After seeing the two of them go in, he trembled, his eyes showing a look of confusion. He bowed to the temple enveloped in the moonlight and then left alone.
Under the moonlight, the emerald bamboo forest swayed in the wind, and the white pagoda forest stood solemn and dignified.
This phenomenon was clearly visible for miles around.
Even the scene of Luo Chen and Qing Shuang entering was seen by many.
In no time, news of the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land manifesting, with Luo Chen of the Dan Sect and Demon Empress Qing Shuang entering, spread quickly.
...
In the temple that seemed to be made of crystal, the sound of the soulwood fish drumming brought a sense of peace and tranquility.
Two figures crossed the threshold and entered together.
A white-robed monk faced away from them, with two meditation cushions placed in the hall, as if waiting for a long time.
"Please!"
A particularly young voice echoed.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, unafraid, and sat down on the meditation cushions.
The white-robed monk continued to strike the soulwood fish and chant the sutras in a low voice.
After a while, he stopped his chanting, slowly turning around.
Just one glance!
Their eyes met, and in Luo Chen's pupils, the illusory image of flowers and water suddenly bloomed.
The young monk did not avoid it, still seated, surrounded by flowers and celestial maidens.
Despite the boundless illusions trying to ensnare him, he remained steadfast, unperturbed.
Outside, Qing Shuang punched through the air, her white wrist seeming capable of tearing through anything.
The young monk smiled, plucking a flower with his finger and gently flicking it out.
Thud!
A dull sound echoed, and the young monk's body trembled as if a large bell had been struck.
Qing Shuang slowly retracted her right hand, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Vajra Adamantine Body, even stronger than the Mercy Grace Monk of the Five Peak Mountains!"
On the other side, Luo Chen closed his eyes in slight fatigue before slowly opening them again, looking at the white-robed monk with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"You!"
The white-robed monk rubbed his brow, praising, "The abilities of the Dan Sect far exceed the world's imagination. If this monk had not condensed the Primordial Spirit, I would have been ensnared by the boundless illusions in an instant."
Luo Chen pulled the corners of his mouth. "Master Xuandu, you flatter me!"
Qing Shuang was somewhat surprised by this outcome.
She had experienced Luo Chen's profound spiritual foundation.
Without the protection of the Soulbinding Orb, even she would not be Luo Chen's match.
In the world, no Yuan Ying True Person's spiritual foundation could rival Luo Chen's.
Even in Qing Shuang's view, Luo Chen's spiritual foundation was already infinitely close to that of a Huashen powerhouse.
Yet, Master Xuandu could actually resist his soul technique!
Luo Chen sighed, realizing their carefully planned ambush had come to naught.
They had never intended to discuss any cooperation or exchange conditions.
From the start, they had planned to enter the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land, launch a sudden attack, and work together to subdue Master Xuandu, then take control of the Buddha Mother Temple's Teleportation Array and leave the Western Desert.
But they hadn't expected this monk to be a master of both cultivation and physical prowess!
He had immediately countered their combined attack.
Moreover, he had already condensed the Primordial Spirit, being just a step away from Huashen!
In terms of spiritual foundation, Luo Chen was far more powerful.
But Master Xuandu had already condensed the Primordial Spirit, making his soul so refined that it was unaffected by the illusions.
And that Vajra Adamantine Body...
Luo Chen shook his head at Qing Shuang, giving up on their initial plan.
If they were both at their peak, they would have a chance to fight Master Xuandu, and the outcome would depend on their respective skills.
But now, it wasn't the right time for a life-or-death struggle.
"Can the two of you now have a proper conversation?" the white-robed monk calmed down, seemingly not minding their sudden attack.
Luo Chen rubbed his brow. "Master, you are quite persistent. I wonder what matter is so important to you that you would even use the Teleportation Array to force us here."
Master Xuandu, seemingly unaware of the sarcasm in Luo Chen's words, replied seriously, "It's not stubbornness. The matter at hand concerns the well-being of all beings and requires your assistance."
"All beings?" Luo Chen was taken aback. He hadn't heard this term in many years and couldn't help but laugh lightly. "Master, you are truly compassionate, but what does the well-being of all beings have to do with me?"
Master Xuandu said calmly, "You are also part of the world. If a great calamity befalls, you might not be able to remain unscathed."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. "Alarmist talk!"
Master Xuandu pointed to the ground. "Earlier, you asked why the Lingering Crystal Buddha Pure Land, such a valuable treasure, is under my control, while Xuan Kong Temple remains indifferent. The answer is simple: this treasure was stolen by this monk from Xuan Kong Temple to prevent them from using it to stir up trouble!"
Luo Chen frowned, putting aside his previous dismissive attitude.
Since exterminating the Yellow Barbarians and Shen Yuan, he had been very confident. In this vast world, as long as no Huashen powerhouses appeared, he was invincible.
His only potential rival was Qing Shuang, who possessed spatial abilities.
But when it came to holy sites, he never underestimated anyone.
Xuan Kong Temple was the sole hegemon of the Western Desert, a Huashen Holy Land!
"Even a high monk like you had to resort to theft. It seems the matter is indeed serious!" Luo Chen said.
Master Xuandu nodded and asked, "Do you know the Arhat of Xuan Kong Temple?"
Arhat?
Luo Chen pursed his lips.
The cultivation system in the Western Desert was slightly different from the other four continents.
Besides the common Qi Cultivation and Zhu Ji, there was a mature Buddhist system.
From novice monks to bhikkhus, dharma masters to vajra warriors, and even Arhats!
The reason he had planned to team up with Qing Shuang against Xuandu was that the latter could possess a novice monk without affecting the monk's well-being.
Luo Chen had never underestimated Xuandu from the start.
It was just that Xuandu's later performance had surpassed his expectations.
Now, the mention of an Arhat caught Luo Chen's attention.
The current head of Xuan Kong Temple, the legendary Mahakala!
Eight hundred years ago, he was the head of the Prajna Hall, once subduing the Goldenwing Peng, adding a guardian spirit to Xuan Kong Temple.
After ascending to the Huashen realm, he naturally took over the leadership of Xuan Kong Temple.
It was said that the temple's isolation from worldly affairs was also influenced by him.
Mahakala's reputation was not widely known outside, and many people were unaware of this true Buddha in the Western Desert.
If not for his interest in the Celestial Pole Domain's hui ping monk, Luo Chen would not have known much about him.
Now, hearing about this great power from Master Xuandu, Luo Chen couldn't help but be curious.
"What happened to him?"
Master Xuandu's face was filled with sorrow. "He has fallen!" (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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