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Chapter 986: The Fallen Buddha, a Terrestrial Buddhist Paradise
Chapter 986: The Fallen Buddha, a Terrestrial Buddhist Paradise
"Fallen? What does that mean?" Luo Chen asked.
"Take it at face value."
"Huh?"
Luo Chen frowned, looking at the white-robed monk in confusion.
Xuan Du the mage sighed and said, "This story goes back five hundred years..."
As he spoke, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang finally gained some understanding of the Buddhist sect's secrets.
Mahakala, a prodigy of unparalleled talent!
He was hailed as the most spiritually gifted and the most talented cultivator in Hanging Temple's thousand-year history.
His deep understanding of Buddhist scriptures and his rapid cultivation speed were beyond what people could imagine.
He reached the Vajra Realm before the age of three hundred.
The previous abbot had already appointed him as the head of the Prajna Hall at a young age.
Not only did his realm advance quickly, but he also single-handedly subdued the fourth-stage Goldenwing Peng, adding a guardian spirit to Hanging Temple.
Because of this achievement, Mahakala's prestige within the temple grew even higher.
In the end, he lived up to the expectations of the many high monks and successfully ascended to the Arhat Realm five hundred years ago.
"Which is what you call the Hua Shen Realm", Xuan Du the mage added for Luo Chen and Qing Shuang's understanding.
Luo Chen nodded. "I have some knowledge of these matters. But what happened after he reached the Arhat Realm five hundred years ago, leading to the so-called 'fallen' state?"
"The fall didn't happen suddenly; it was a gradual process that led to the present situation."
Xuan Du the mage softly recited a Buddhist chant, then explained, "Brother Karo progressed too quickly. Even though his spiritual nature was extremely high and his understanding of Buddhist scriptures far exceeded ours, the time was too short for him to grasp the profound truths of Buddhism. This laid the foundation for his future problems."
"Five hundred years ago, after achieving the Arhat Realm, he noticed that the number of Arhats in Hanging Temple was far fewer compared to Dao Zong, Abyssal Mire, and other holy places. His fellow disciples also had shortcomings, so he had a sudden idea to enlighten the guardian spirit Goldenwing Peng."
"However, his understanding of Buddhist principles was still shallow, and his power was no match for the karmic forces. As a result, Goldenwing Peng swept away the relics of thirty-six high monks and rebelled against Hanging Temple."
"If that was all, it might have been manageable, but he became increasingly radical after his first major failure."
"At the time, Brother Huiping said that Karo was influenced by the heavens!"
Influenced by the heavens?
Luo Chen understood this term deeply; it could be translated as "assimilation."
Regardless of the cultivation system, when practitioners reached the fifth stage, their interactions with the heavens became more frequent.
During this process, practitioners would absorb and understand the essence of the natural laws. However, the more they absorbed and understood, the more likely they were to be assimilated by the heavens.
A single misstep could lead to an unstable Dao heart, causing one to sink into the sea of suffering.
This might sound abstract, but the fate of divine essence sages provides a clear example.
When a practitioner's mind is clouded and they forcibly seek powers beyond their capabilities, the result is always death!
Luo Chen keenly caught a familiar name in the other person's words.
"Huiping monk?"
He suddenly remembered that Huiping monk was also from Hanging Temple and had left the temple a few hundred years ago to establish a sect in the Eastern Wastes, spreading Buddhism.
"Could it be that he left Hanging Temple because of this incident?"
Xuan Du the mage nodded slightly. "Exactly!"
Luo Chen was taken aback. "I didn't realize you were fellow disciples. Your Dharma names don't seem to have any connection."
"In Buddhism, equality is emphasized. Seniority is just a convenient way to address each other. Moreover, Brother Huiping is from the Chan School, while Brother Karo is from the Pure Land School. Our Dharma names naturally differ, but in cultivation, there are no taboos regarding age. We follow the common practice in the cultivation world, where the more accomplished take precedence for convenience." Xuan Du explained, then continued, "Brother Huiping's realm was above ours, and he was one of the eight heads among the 108 high monks. He was the first to notice something was wrong with Brother Karo. When his attempts to dissuade him failed, he left Hanging Temple under the pretext of spreading Buddhism."
Qing Shuang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
"Huiping monk is indeed formidable. When I faced the three great cultivators of the Eastern Wastes, only he could withstand my attacks head-on. If I hadn't transformed into my Azure Roc true form, I would have been suppressed by him."
Luo Chen knew best how powerful the Azure Roc true form was.
Even with the Great Five Elements Sword Formation, the Five Elemental Law Needles, and the Soul Loom Needle, he couldn't subdue it, forcing him to release his life-bound treasure, the Primordial Cauldron, to barely contain it.
Even then, refining it would be extremely difficult.
The former Huiping monk, who could face the Azure Roc true form head-on, must have already reached a cultivation level on par with his current Ancient Late-stage.
Xuan Du the mage glanced at Qing Shuang but showed no surprise.
Clearly, he had gathered intelligence and knew about Qing Shuang's capabilities.
He continued, "After Brother Huiping left, I gradually noticed changes in Brother Karo's personality. To be safe, I also left Hanging Temple. Moreover, I took the Buddhist treasure, the Crystal Sanctum, during his cultivation to prevent him from using it to wreak havoc in the world."
Hearing this, Luo Chen pondered.
The space they were in now was created by the Crystal Sanctum, and it was almost indistinguishable from the outside world.
Its wonders surpassed even those of the Mirage Dragon's grotto and the Yin-Yang Remnant Realm.
With this treasure, the already Arhat-realm Mahakala would be invincible and could act without restraint.
Who could stop him from wreaking havoc in the world, except for a supreme expert like Qixia Yuanjun, who shouldn't even exist in the Shanhai Realm?
Yuluo Shenjun?
He had the strength, but he was restrained by the fifth-stage blessings and suppressed by the Essence Qi Ocean, unable to leave the peak of the Cloud Sea.
"Shortly after I left Hanging Temple, the monks inside were influenced by Brother Karo, becoming more extreme. This extremism even affected many Buddhist practitioners in the Western Desert."
Luo Chen understood. "No wonder the abbots of the Five Peaks Mountain, despite their high realms, were quick to resort to violence, lacking the compassion of a monk. They were influenced by this, right?"
"Five Peaks Mountain is not far from Hanging Temple and was once responsible for guarding the Emerald Screen Barrier", Xuan Du the mage said, his voice filled with sorrow. "They are likely already ensnared by this influence", Xuan Du continued. "The idea of capturing Qing Shuang as a guardian spirit was merely a misguided imitation of Mahakala."
Eight hundred years ago, Mahakala captured the Goldenwing Peng, adding a guardian spirit to Hanging Temple.
Eight hundred years later, the monks of Five Peaks Mountain wanted to do the same, but they encountered Qing Shuang, and she was accompanied by Luo Chen!
Returning with nothing is to be expected.
Luo Chen suddenly said, "Master, you can't possibly want us to deal with Mahakala, right?"
Xuan Du smiled, "The Dan Sect seems quite eager!"
Luo Chen sighed, "Where did you get the idea that I was eager?"
Xuan Du laughed, "If the thought even crossed your mind, doesn't that mean you're eager?"
Luo Chen closed his mouth, while Qing Shuang gave him a curious look.
Indeed, most people wouldn't even consider such a thing.
Even Qing Shuang, who had faced off against two Huashen-level beings, never thought about how to deal with such an existence.
Xuan Du shook his head, "Both of you are among the best cultivators in the world, with few equals. But beings like Arhat, who are on par with Huashen, are far beyond your reach. Especially with the hidden dangers you carry, your weaknesses are too obvious, and even your allies could turn into liabilities. I have invited you here today to ask for your help in guarding the Crystal Sanctum, nothing more."
"Guard the Crystal Sanctum?" Luo Chen asked, puzzled.
Qing Shuang suddenly said, "Since we entered, the entrance to the Crystal Sanctum has never been closed."
Luo Chen was taken aback. What was so special about that?
The open entrance was a sign of good faith, making it easy for them to leave at any time.
But then he realized something was off.
He infused his eyes with mana, and origin power flowed into his sockets.
Amidst the golden glow, his crimson eyes and golden pupils reappeared!
In his vision, he faintly saw a weak Spiritual Mechanism entering the Crystal Sanctum and converging toward the white-robed monk in front of him.
"You're gathering the Spiritual Mechanism!" Luo Chen exclaimed.
"Your eyes are truly well-trained, Layman!" Xuan Du praised Luo Chen's spiritual eyes again, then admitted without hesitation, "Yes, I have already begun preparing to break through to the Arhat realm."
Luo Chen shook his head, "Why such a rush, Master? This kind of breakthrough isn't something that can be achieved in a short time. What if Mahakala interferes? And we haven't even agreed to help you yet."
"There's no time to waste", Xuan Du said, his eyes showing a hint of alarm. "The last time Mahakala defeated the Red Sand Ancient Scorpion from afar, I realized he had already reached an extreme. Now that the Hanging Temple is wide open, it means he is preparing to turn the entire Mountain and Sea Realm into a terrestrial Buddhist paradise. I must stop him!"
Luo Chen was confused, "Wouldn't a world under the Buddha be a good thing for you Buddhist cultivators?"
Xuan Du said calmly, "If everyone turns to goodness and understands the Dharma, what does it matter whether it's a nation or not? Conversely, if using the Dharma as an excuse leads to slaughter and conquest, it's nothing more than a manifestation of greed, anger, and delusion, creating only more bloodshed."
"You have a clear understanding, Master."
Luo Chen praised him, but it was just a compliment.
While the other party spoke of dire consequences and the fate of the world, Luo Chen didn't feel much of an impact.
From the beginning, Luo Chen had been a selfish person.
Even as he progressed in his cultivation, taking on many responsibilities and burdens, his primary concerns were still his loved ones and his own cultivation.
With his soul still in the hands of Dao Zong, he had no time to pity the masses.
Qing Shuang felt the same way!
She cared about her sister, Qixia Yuanjun, and Cangwu Mountain.
As long as Mahakala didn't come after Cangwu Mountain, who cared about the floods?
Xuan Du didn't seem surprised by Luo Chen and Qing Shuang's reactions, nor did he push, as he had always intended this to be a cooperation.
Facing their indifference, Xuan Du said calmly, "If the two of you lend me a hand, I will not only return the Teleportation Array to you, but I can also help you eliminate the hidden dangers in your bodies."
Upon hearing this, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang's attitudes immediately became more serious.
Earlier, Xuan Du had mentioned that they had hidden dangers.
Luo Chen was fine with it, knowing that his cultivation drew from various schools, inevitably absorbing some negative aspects, which naturally led to hidden dangers. But Qing Shuang was puzzled.
"Xuan Du, what hidden danger do I have?" Qing Shuang asked directly, without beating around the bush.
Xuan Du said calmly, "Your hidden danger is similar to that of my senior brother Jialuo. It's due to the shortness of your cultivation time, which has left your mental state unstable, making you prone to extremes."
Qing Shuang frowned, "Demons and monsters are naturally extreme, with great joy and great anger being common. How can this be a hidden danger?"
Xuan Du countered, "Then why do you need to protect your divine soul with a Spiritual Treasure?"
Qing Shuang was speechless.
She hadn't expected him to see through this, unsure if it was due to her own strength or the wonders of the Crystal Sanctum.
Xuan Du said softly, "I don't know how you, Qing Shuang, have achieved such great power at your age. But if we consider the lifespan of the Azure Roc, you are still far from adulthood. Yet, you relentlessly pursue the true essence of the laws and the profound insights of the Dao. Can you truly withstand the backlash of the Dao in the future? Or have you been influenced by someone and given up on the future, only seeking the present?"
"Shut up!"
A fierce shout suddenly echoed.
Qing Shuang's face turned cold as she scolded the white-robed monk.
"I will not allow you to defame my sister!"
Luo Chen was taken aback by this sudden change.
But he quickly realized the subtext in Xuan Du's words.
Qing Shuang's strength was indeed unusual.
It was said that the demon race's long lifespan came at the cost of slow cultivation.
Qing Shuang's true form was the divine Azure Roc, which was rumored to live for thousands of years.
By normal standards, the current Qing Shuang was still far from adulthood.
Yet, she had already grasped the True Essence of the Spatial Dao and towered above her peers.
Beneath this formidable power, however, lay the fact that her divine soul was extremely weak.
In other words, the seemingly all-powerful Qing Shuang had a significant weakness!
But this weakness was temporarily masked by the Soulbinding Orb, a Spiritual Treasure for soul defense given to her by Heavenly Demon Lord.
"So, was this forced growth intentional on Qixia Yuanjun's part?" Luo Chen thought to himself.
Xuan Du didn't get angry at Qing Shuang's outburst; he simply said calmly, "Whether it's defamation or not is a matter of perception. I just want to say that I have a method to help you improve this weakness, at least to match your current realm."
This time, Qing Shuang fell silent.
Silence meant hesitation, and hesitation meant interest.
Xuan Du no longer pressed, turning his gaze to Luo Chen.
Luo Chen smiled, "Master, do I have a hidden danger too?"
Xuan Du's gaze on Luo Chen was complex.
He nodded, then shook his head.
"Yes, there are hidden dangers, but they are not significant. I don't know how you have achieved such strength at your age."
Luo Chen understood, "Since the dangers are not significant, I doubt you can offer me anything that will truly interest me."
Xuan Du smiled slightly, "I'll give it a try!" (End of Chapter)
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