(Today is an occasional anti-theft Chapter. This Chapter is normal, but it is best to watch it tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your support, and I apologize for any inconvenience in watching experience. It is indeed difficult to make a living as a low-level author, and manuscript fees are crucial.)
As the two continued their journey, they descended the mountain and, upon reaching the plains, saw Xuanzang greeting others along the way.
Both sides had serene smiles on their faces, with their hands clasped in prayer, addressing Xuanzang as Granduncle Master.
"These are considered my great-grandchildren. They have grown up now. I often feel heartache; they have sacrificed too much, too much for the Buddhist Sect!"
Xuanzang seemed a bit downhearted, sighing repeatedly, "Buddha’s Son, don’t be fooled by the peace of this region now. When the ancestors first arrived, it was desolate, and fighting with a Demon King in the Celestial Demon Realm was necessary to establish a foothold here in this uninhabited wilderness.
A lot of people died back then."
Lu Ren’s expression was silent, making no remarks. Perhaps the Buddhist Sect paved the way for a better life, but the light bathed in sunshine often concealed unimaginable bloodshed and cruelty hidden in the darkness.
By noon, the two arrived at the foot of Mani Temple, gazing at the grandiose, solemn architectural complexes above, exuding a holy and serene atmosphere.
If nothing else, this indeed appeared to be a very orthodox Buddhist Sect.
Xuanzang looked at the mountaintop, where a pair of eyes gazed down quietly at Lu Ren and Xuanzang.
The gaze was full of love and peaceful harmony.
Xuanzang respectfully performed a Buddhist ritual, then said, "The World Honored One is already waiting for us above; let’s go up first."
Lu Ren watched as the gaze slowly retracted, and the feeling of eerie fear gradually subsided in his heart.
The World Honored One Xuanzang mentioned was undoubtedly a superpower at the peak of Seeking Truth Realm, possibly an entity that had condensed the Human Immortal Path Fruit.
Chang Xin, who always had the Inner Realm opened, gazed unblinkingly at the gaze cast from above Mani Temple, clearly sensing a significant threat from this Buddha’s Eye.
After a while, Chang Xin suddenly shouted, "Little brat, if you go, you’ll surely never return!"
Lu Ren smirked upon hearing this, glanced at the ten Skill Points remaining on his attribute panel, which was his confidence in this place.
Xu Fu also felt a pang of dullness, touching his chest.
"This Demon Buddha is truly abnormal, appearing loving and harmonized, filled with divine love for humanity, yet giving me goosebumps, almost making my Divine Soul explode with creeping fear."
Kong Qiu’s expression was calm, focusing intently on the external world, finally sighing and shaking his head.
"People are inherently different; no matter how hard some people try, they cannot compare with those born with extraordinary Talent. Some people just take a casual step forward and offset decades of your arduous cultivation."
"This world has never been fair."
Chen Xuzi looked grave, intently focusing on the outside world opened by Lu Ren’s vision, where Beidou Emperor Star’s martial prowess surpassed the Kunlun Exotic Realm by far.
Recently, he stopped calling people country bumpkins and often adopted a humble attitude to greedily watch everything on Beidou Emperor Star.
Especially sensing the rich spiritual environment that could even generate spiritual fog, he had only heard that such conditions existed in Ancient Times.
Subodhi also looked up at everything in Mani Temple, following Lu Ren’s continual advancement, continually observing the monks and nuns coming and going, remaining silent for a long time.
If anything, he was quite envious of the monks cultivated in Mani Temple, having specific populations as resources and great power-level figures achieving the World Honored One’s Taoism Fruit seated among them. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel(ꜰ)ire.net
This terrifyingly extraordinary influence, with its strong configuration, dominates one region of Kunlun Exotic Realm.
It was absolutely a dimension-reducing attack.
Lu Ren and Xuanzang ascended step by step, the bluestone steps polished smooth by countless footsteps.
On either side, one could occasionally see Qi Cultivating Monks or Martial Monks practicing weapons here and there.
Mani Temple did not forbid marriage; some monks even had several wives and concubines.
The stronger they were, the more they attracted admiration from the opposite sex.
At this point, Xuanzang couldn’t help but sigh, "There’s nothing we can do; our population is truly too small. If we can have more children, it will always be a blessing."
Lu Ren’s face showed a cold expression for a moment, but it quickly faded, and he said no more.
From Mani Temple’s Agricultural Affairs Bureau to the Hundred Scripture Hall and finally to the Arhat Hall and Shakyamuni Main Hall with the strongest martial prowess.
Approaching three or four in the afternoon, Lu Ren and Xuanzang finally reached the summit of Mani Mountain, pausing beneath the 300-meter-high Sakyamuni Golden Body.
This lifelike Shakyamuni Buddha Statue, radiating a golden glow, did not attract Lu Ren’s attention, instead drawing most attention to the elder monk sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat in front of this enormous statue.
Xuanzang approached and knelt before the elder monk, appearing devout.
"World Honored One, Buddha’s Son has arrived at Mani Temple."
The elder monk, who had been watching Lu Ren with a smile from afar, nodded slightly, "You’ve had a hard day, Xuanzang."
"Ding, you have long been under the Buddha Demon Dragon Qa Shizun’s gaze; he seems quite interested in you."
The long-missed system prompt sounded abruptly in Lu Ren’s mind, making him subconsciously clench his fingers.
Long Jia Shizun clearly took note of this scene and laughed, "Buddha’s Son, fear not, we are your Buddha Servants."
Lu Ren raised his eyebrows, saying repeatedly, "World Honored One, you overpraise me; I still have a hard time grasping what being a Buddha’s Son means."
Longjia Shizun replied, "It’s a fateful connection left by the Venerable Shakyamuni; since he chose you, it indicates your unique value."
Lu Ren was about to speak but faltered; if what this internally darkened Buddha Demon World Venerable said was true, then did this mean that thousands of years ago Sakyamuni had already foreseen someone with perfect comprehension practicing the True Dharma of Buddhism would come?
Lu Ren had thousands of thoughts in his heart, finally shaking his head slightly, "Perhaps it was just an offhand remark by Shakyamuni back then."
Long Jia Shizun smiled, "Every gesture of a Saint carries True Intent; at the level of the Venerable Shakyamuni, every move bears crucial implications, beyond my comprehension."
Hell, isn’t this too complicated? Maybe even picking his nose would seem astonishing to them?
Lu Ren didn’t dwell on this issue, merely curious, "Master, you are also called World Honored One; is there a difference between Buddha and Shakyamuni?"
"The old monk bears only an empty title," Long Jia Shizun shook his head slightly, "I am merely the host of Mani Temple, merely titled as World Honored One.