Tuo Mi Temple.

The main gate of the general monastery was located here.

The void opened, and Zhong Shenxiu's figure emerged.

He gazed at the ancient temple in front, feeling somewhat emotional.

Yan Han had always been a strong force in the Immortal Dao, with the Demon Sect making occasional appearances to steal the spotlight.

As for the Buddhist Sect and loose cultivators, they were outright oppressed into being old salts and invisible entities.

"However, generally speaking, both Daoist sects have to establish branches overseas. At this time, the Buddhist Sect still seemed rather compliant... although, this was determined by the differences between the Immortal and Buddhist paths."

Zhong Shenxiu talked to himself for a moment.

The Immortal Dao valued independence and secrecy... bluntly put, even if the Second Yan Han Empire were destroyed and the whole East Earth were fragmented by Western nations, it wouldn't much affect the cultivation sects that had relocated overseas.

If they desired outstanding disciples, they could periodically send people to the mainland to search and recruit.

But the Buddhist Sect was different!

The path of cultivating Buddhism was about universally ferrying sentient beings, which meant they needed the people's faith!

Thus, while the Immortal Dao could place its gates in deep mountains and forests, without interacting with the outside world for decades, the ancient Buddhist temples couldn't afford to do that.

"From this perspective, the Buddhist path really aligns more closely with the path of faith..."

Zhong Shenxiu reflected for a while, and immediately, an image of a six-zhang-tall, resplendently golden, and fiercely scowling Arhat Golden Body appeared before him.

"Baoxiang Arhat, here East Splendor comes to pay respects to the mountain!"

Zhong Shenxiu said with a smile.

This 'Arhat Golden Body' was evidently the Dao Fruit attained by the master of Tuo Mi Temple—Baoxiang Arhat.

And the Arhat Fruit Position was comparable to Dharma Body.

As for the Corpse Resolving Immortal? Within the Buddhist Sect, it was also called 'Buddha Fruit Position,' or 'Great Awakening Golden Immortal,' always wrapped in mystery.

According to imperial intelligence, there should be one such individual.

But Zhong Shenxiu was certain that one wasn't in this Tuo Mi Temple.

'Speaking of which... this Buddhist Corpse Resolving Immortal has it rough too, its faction lacking in strength and unable to compete with either the Immortal or Demon Paths, so it must act low-key... always playing the old salt.'

'Even more suspicious than loose cultivators to both the Immortal and Demon Paths—who can blame them for having the Great Awakening Golden Immortal? Therefore, there's been much suppression; before, Buddhist practitioners weren't seen causing much trouble in the cultivation world, probably following a route working with the government and commoners...'

'But now, it feels like spring is coming for the Buddhist Sect, as long as the Demon Path doesn't vie with them for food.'

As Zhong Shenxiu connected his thoughts, Master Baoxiang's voice came to his ears: "It turns out to be East Splendor Daoist True Monarch, please come inside for some tea!"

The Arhat Golden Body's Dharma Image vanished, revealing a middle-aged monk draped in a crimson kasaya, his lobes as round as beads, always grinning, resembling a Maitreya.

"Thank you for your kindness. Tea is not needed as I have come here with a specific notification for the master... On the third of November, the Imperial Family is planning to hold a ritual assembly. It is both to pray for the blessings and cleansing of disasters for the Yan Han dynasty and to prepare for the upcoming great war. The master and that Buddha must attend."

Zhong Shenxiu said with a smile.

Master Baoxiang's smile remained unchanged: "We are but renunciants from the mundane world..."

"Do you believe you can exceed the power of the entire Demon Sect, when all six paths of the Demon Sect have already agreed?" Zhong Shenxiu queried with a smile.

"All six paths of the Demon Sect have agreed?"

Master Baoxiang was taken aback, for after all, Zhong Shenxiu had simply opened a door to approach him; the news had not yet reached him.

But he knew the man across wouldn't purposely fabricate a lie to embarrass himself, so he immediately put his palms together: "Amitabha Buddha, since that's the case, this old monk promises to attend!"

"That is being wise with the times."

Zhong Shenxiu commented, disappearing into the void, vanishing without a trace.

Baoxiang Arhat watched the scene in stunned silence.

After a moment, a streak of light rushed over. It was a monk who had used the movement technique. He cried out, "Master, there is urgent news!"

Master Baoxiang landed on the ground, his face returning to its usual smiling expression. "What has happened?"

"Master Bao Guang has sent a message through telepathy... East Splendor Daoist True Monarch singlehandedly challenged the six paths of the Demon Sect, overpowering the Six Great Sect Masters and fighting alone against two Corpse Resolving Immortals, and ultimately emerged unscathed!"

The monk spoke with a tremble in his voice, his face full of incredulity.

"East Splendor Daoist True Monarch?!"

Master Baoxiang's kasaya suddenly shivered, and he clasped his hands together, chanting the Buddha's name once more. "Namo Golden Light Wisdom Buddha!"

At that moment, his consciousness soared immensely and entered a mysterious cave heaven.

Or rather—within the Buddha Realm in his palm!

Golden light flooded the sky while golden mandalas blossomed across the earth.

At the center of this world was a giant golden Buddha!

He sat cross-legged, his palm facing upwards, holding a vast city where countless people were coming and going.

Not only that... Every part of His body seemed to be transformed and utilized, creating one community after another, inhabited by tens of millions of believers.

It appeared that this golden Buddha was a world itself!

The path of the Arhat Golden Body closely resembled the path of faith, and the most crucial aspect of the path of faith was the covenant and bearing.

Gods and humans signed covenants, humans offered tribute through faith, and gods rewarded them with ascension of their souls to the divine realm after death.

To become a Great Awakening Golden Immortal, one must bear the souls of believers within oneself!

For this reason, the burden on Buddhist Corpse Resolving Immortals was far greater than that on Immortal Demon Corpse Resolving Immortals. Not to mention making a move, even a slight twitch could cause massive loss of life among believers and severe backlash to themselves.

Thus, this Buddhist Corpse Resolving Immortal's hibernation was not solely because the Immortal Demon factions were too powerful.

"Namo Golden Light Wisdom Buddha!"

Baoxiang Arhat bowed again.

This Great Awakening Golden Immortal was none other than a Buddha, the Golden Light Wisdom Buddha!

Baoxiang Arhat's expression was devout as he relayed the latest news. "Disciple does not know how to handle this, please guide us, Buddha."

The towering Buddha made no movements, but his eyes suddenly turned compassionate, with rings of wisdom light appearing behind his head.

Suddenly, Baoxiang Arhat noticed extremely delicate streams of data manifesting on his body, causing him to lose color in shock.

He realized he had fallen into the trap of East Splendor Daoist True Monarch, revealing this critical location of the Buddhist Sect.

Not only that, but that True Monarch was terrifyingly capable, managing to implant such a mechanism in him unnoticed.

Surely, taking his life would not be too difficult.

"All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and like lightning, and should be viewed thusly!"

Golden Light Wisdom Buddha chanted a line of Buddhist scripture.

The delicate data stream instantly became extremely ethereal, like mist and like lightning, as if it might disappear at any moment.

Boom!

Suddenly, it transformed into a data eyeball that scanned everything around before disappearing.

Baoxiang Arhat looked at the trembling Golden Light Wisdom Buddha and suddenly felt a tremor in his body.

His own Buddha seemed to have slightly lost in this test of wits against that True Monarch?

That was only an Arhat!

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.