At the foot of the mountain.
Upon the tiered bluestone steps, fallen leaves were scattered about.
The autumn wind blew, bringing a surge of chill.
Zhong Shenxiu, in a white robe with a Shura mask on his face, slowly ascended the steps.
"Even the birdsong deepens the seclusion of the mountains..."
He murmured a few lines as he walked, reaching the top of the steps, then caught sight of the ancestral courtyard of the Buddhist Sect.
Yellow walls and red tiles, the temple doors were tightly shut, and a thick layer of dust had accumulated on the incense burner.
It was hard to tell how long it had been since any pilgrim had last visited.
"Where are the revered monks of Stone Buddha Temple? The Undying Evil Emperor comes to pay respects to the mountain!"
Zhong Shenxiu’s sonorous voice turned into the Heavenly Demon Secret Chant, spreading through the temple in search of any living soul.
’Saint Monk, do not blame me in your heavenly spirit... I’ve just come to scoop up some benefits...’
He muttered to himself, and before long, he saw the temple doors flung open, and a group of Grandmaster monks emerged.
Jing Fan was among them and began chanting a buddhist mantra, his face emotionless.
"So, it is the Evil Emperor who has arrived.. Your purpose is already known to this humble monk, please come inside to talk."
An elderly monk bowed respectfully with his hands clasped together.
’Uh... so polite, how am I supposed to start a fight?’
Zhong Shenxiu secretly rolled his eyes, feeling as though his fists had hit cotton.
He thought for a moment, refrained from making threats, and followed them into the Stone Buddha Temple.
"My apologies, benefactor. Since the passing of the Saint Monk, our Stone Buddha Temple has decided to seal off from outsiders, hence the inadequate preparations..."
Inside a side room, a young novice monk brought them tea while the old monk apologized.
"Oh? So you already knew about the demise of the Saint Monk?"
Zhong Shenxiu thought about the branches of Stone Buddha Temple scattered across the land and was not surprised.
"Before his death, the Saint Monk used the Great Divine Power to transmit his spiritual command to us..."
The old monk rose and bowed respectfully, "Jing Fan, you will escort the Evil Emperor to the Buddha Forest."
Jing Fan, his complexion radiant like jade, appeared greatly advanced in martial arts. With a face devoid of sorrow or joy, he stepped forward, "Evil Emperor, this way please!"
Zhong Shenxiu nodded and followed Jing Fan deeper into the Stone Buddha Temple.
After passing through numerous great halls and plazas, they arrived at a plain.
Upon this plain, statues of sitting and lying stone buddhas varied in appearance and expression, lifelike in their depictions.
"This is our temple’s Buddha Forest..." Jing Fan explained as he led the way, "it is a restricted area of our temple, housing the original Stone Buddha Scripture."
"Oh? I thank you then."
Zhong Shenxiu chuckled hoarsely.
"Amitabha, since it was the final decision of the Saint Monk, naturally, none in our temple will disobey... After finishing this matter, Stone Buddha Temple shall truly close off its mountain gates, no longer interacting with the outside world."
Jing Fan nodded and led Zhong Shenxiu to the very center of the Buddha Forest.
Though the place seemed merely a plaza, Zhong Shenxiu could sense the presence of Grandmaster-level Martial Monks patrolling all around.
Even Iron Blood Divine Catcher might not infiltrate without alarming someone.
’This Stone Buddha Temple looks like the hollow inside of a large carrot. Once the Saint Monk died, the Great Grandmasters were cut off, no wonder the gates are sealed, temporarily submitting to the royal court... So then that begs the question, is Su Yin Fairy truly still alive?’
Various thoughts surged in Zhong Shenxiu’s mind.
He looked around at the towering stone buddha statues and suddenly felt a chill over his body.
Jing Fan led Zhong Shenxiu to a reclining Buddha statue, proclaiming loudly, "Our temple’s ’Stone Buddha Scripture’ is located here..."
Zhong Shenxiu also looked toward the reclining Buddha.
It was entirely a grayish-white stone color, lying on its side with a broad face and large ears, a smile perpetually on its lips; yet within its eyes seemed to contain extreme agony.
"This is the first-generation Dharma Saint Monk... The ’Stone Buddha Scripture’ is peculiar beyond compare—it can cultivate the Stone Buddha Unbreakable Body, but it is very easy to become obsessed and transform into a stone statue... This Buddha Forest is where high monks from past generations, who failed to comprehend the ’Stone Buddha Scripture’ and became obsessed, were transformed."
Jing Fan’s voice was calm and steady, "Evil Emperor, if you wish to study the ’Stone Buddha Scripture,’ please be careful."
’Could it be that the ’Stone Buddha Scripture,’ one of the four famous odd scriptures, is the petrified body of the first-generation Dharma Saint Monk?’
Zhong Shenxiu nodded and looked again at the stone Buddha statues, discovering even more differences.
Some waved their hands frantically while others seemed to have entered a state of extreme bliss and joy.
Others, however, had distorted faces, as if they had seen some ferocious demon, trapped in the Eighteen Layers of Hell...
All of these were influenced by the ’Stone Buddha Scripture.’
"Does failing in cultivation transform one into a stone Buddha?"
Zhong Shenxiu asked, "Then, the first-generation Saint Monk is..."
"’Stone Buddha Scripture’ is mysteriously unpredictable. Even if one successfully cultivates it, stone-like symptoms appear at the time of death... Perhaps, this is what is rumored to be the Arhat Golden Body?"
Jing Fan Monk provided an explanation.
Although a golden body should sound golden, the quality of stone also possesses an immortal nature, allowing one to remain in this world.
"You have some interesting ideas, little monk. Would you like to join my Demon Path?"
Zhong Shenxiu laughed heartily.
"I should not presume. I will wait outside the Buddha Forest. If you have any instructions, please tell me..."
Jing Fan Monk was not provoked; after giving a respectful bow, he left the Buddha Forest.
Zhong Shenxiu muttered, sitting cross-legged in front of the Stone Buddha, slightly excited, "Damn it, after mingling for so long, I’ve finally come into contact with the four famous odd scriptures..."
Time passed unknowingly, spanning an entire day.
Zhong Shenxiu sat cross-legged in front of the stone statue, finally adjusted his own state, and began to attempt comprehension.
’Speaking of which... these four famous odd scriptures are probably of the kind that are too high in reasoning, and may not necessarily be successfully comprehended... However, I couldn’t possibly ask Jing Fan Monk for some wine and meat to aid in the mood, right?’
By the moonlight, Zhong Shenxiu glanced at the figures outside the Buddha Forest and then dismissed the idea.
After all, they are acquaintances; it wouldn’t be right to exploit them this way.
In the darkness, those stone Buddha statues seemed to come to life.
Zhong Shenxiu could sense that in the darkness, countless pairs of eyes were staring intently at him.
The breeze, a common natural occurrence, but as it passed through this Buddha Forest, it immediately changed.
In Zhong Shenxiu’s ears, the wind’s sound underwent a ghastly modulation, rising and falling, gradually becoming indistinct, as if mixed with a certain cry.
It was a mournful and deep voice.
It only repeated over and over, chanting two words: "Da Mo, Da Mo! Da Mo, Da Mo!"
This sound, almost like a hammer, struck at the heart of everyone who heard it.
Outside the Buddha Forest, Jing Fan trembled all over and couldn’t help but step back a distance", "The Buddha Forest at night, even Martial Monks dare not patrol, as it is said to have driven a great number of people insane... Could Jing Ming also be such a case?"
Thinking of the other, his heart felt an intense surge of demonic thoughts, and he chanted Amitabha several more times before turning his gaze back to the still-seated figure in the midst of the Buddha Forest.