The surroundings surprised Lu Ren, as the world seemed to have been stirred by the foreign Exotic Power within him, making him feel quite endangered.
This was manageable; he can take a couple of hits with his body and continue to wield his power without concern. What made Lu Ren cautious, fearing to be overly ostentatious, was the presence of mysterious eyes watching silently over the Aier Land from above.
It would be tricky if those eyes uncovered anything unusual.
Having set foot on the Path of Origin and being forcibly dragged into the Chaos Rift, irrespective of whether it's the interrelation and influence among the Past Maitreya True Scripture, Reality Buddha's True Scripture, and Future Buddha True Scripture, he needed to strategically explore the most crucial loop of this world to break the predicament.
Like a cannonball landing suddenly on the floating loop in the air, Lu Ren rolled twice to counteract the immense impact before standing up as if unfazed.
He dusted off the soil from his clothes and calmly walked toward the central palace not far away.
There lies the residence of the Aier Goddess and also the mysterious abode of the Past Maitreya True Scripture.
Along the way, Lu Ren was greatly annoyed by various Exotic Beasts and monsters, and decided not to hide too much. Though he didn't release the Ten Earth True Qi externally to attack them, his formidable Physique and Spirit, as solid as a mountain, allowed him to handle them as easily as cutting melons.
He pushed through everything, arriving before the central palace.
This once majestically holy palace had now become a ruin full of gray dust and cobwebs.
Even the once pristine white jade bricks were covered in gloom, akin to an old man's life ebbing away, displaying a weather-beaten appearance ready to collapse from every angle.
Collapsed pillars, shattered statues, cracked walls.
All spoke volumes of the desolation of this place.
Lu Ren only glanced briefly, his gaze locked onto the tightly closed door ahead.
Upon entering here, Lu Ren felt an indescribable allure as if something inside was drawing him in, an innate sensation making him tilt his head.
An uncomfortable feeling.
The one thing capable of emitting this feeling, Lu Ren couldn't think of anything other than the Past Maitreya True Scripture.
"Ding, you seem to have discovered the origin Power of the Chaos Rift, its secrets seem to be subtly connected to you."
Seeing the system's hints, Lu Ren wasn't too surprised. Given his current strength, if it weren't for being wary of certain beings watching, he wouldn't have delayed until now.
Lu Ren moved forward and kicked the tightly shut door.
A loud noise reverberated through the loop, erupting simultaneously with a visible ripple spreading, along with a powerful gale blowing through.
Seeing the thick door simply sporting a few cracks at the spot he kicked, Lu Ren was surprised it remained intact. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.net
It shouldn't be ; logically, his kick, although not at full strength, should've been more than enough against a stone door.
As Lu Ren hesitated whether to kick again, his gaze fell upon the structure of the door seam, causing his expression to tighten.
Oh, the door isn't designed to be pushed inward but should be pulled outward to be opened correctly.
Taking hold of the seam of the central palace door with his fingers, Lu Ren gently pulled, slowly opening the nearly fifty-ton stone doors.
The first sight that greeted him was the Maitreya True Scripture, centrally positioned in the palace, suspended, with an accompanying script floating in mid-air.
The Past Maitreya True Scripture!
At first glance, Lu Ren was convinced the True Scripture before him was genuine. His practices with Reality Buddha's True Scripture and Future Buddha True Scripture provided great feedback and even the Ten Earth True Qi circulated several times faster than usual.
Lu Ren walked cautiously into the palace, surveying briefly before focusing his gaze on the Past Maitreya True Scripture within reach.
The central hall of the palace was extremely spacious, housing nothing but the Past Maitreya True Scripture.
It seemed too easy, giving him a sense of unreality, yet the scripture indeed provided a substantial reaction.
Thus, he was absolutely certain this was the most original scripture of the Past, left by Sakyamuni.
As for whether it was a setup, Lu Ren didn't care; with the system's optimization, both the Reality Buddha's True Scripture and Future Buddha True Scripture had undergone several modifications.
During cultivation, although he didn't know the purpose of these changes, it even subtly seemed the system's alterations delayed efficiency to some extent, as if something were missing.
Now, Lu Ren understood that only by converging all three scriptures and practicing them together would he achieve perfect completion.
Past Maitreya True Scripture allows the True Body to remain in the past, unharmed, ageless, stationary in void and unperishable through countless calamities, reborn after demise.
According to Long Jia, the Past Maitreya True Scripture is indeed the real method of attaining eternal life, the fundamental Magic Sakyamuni practiced.
However, whether it truly offers eternal life is subject to doubt; Lu Ren would only understand that after a thorough read.
Haven't seen Aier Land, in pursuit of immortality and eternal life, conducting numerous studies, ultimately leading to its ruin, plunging the world into disaster.
The world won't perish, but life will fully vanish.
Walking into the central palace hall steadily, Lu Ren approached the Past Maitreya True Scripture, ready to reach for it when a weary voice suddenly echoed.
"If I were you, I definitely wouldn't reach out to touch that scripture."
The voice, despite its unconcealed fatigue, was exceptionally pleasant and calming.
Upon hearing it, one felt as if bathed in spring breeze, their heart involuntarily settling in peace.
Lu Ren turned, seeing a naked woman shackled to a cross; her figure was perfect, yet evoking no wicked thoughts, instead exuding sacred solemnity.
Lu Ren saw her head half hollow and an arm entirely transparent, her Life Energy on the verge of exhaustion.
Nailed firmly on the cross, Aier replied gently as if oblivious to her body's endless agony.
Her composed serenity moved Lu Ren.
"It seems your life is nearing its end."
With those words, Lu Ren disregarded Aier's warning, reaching unhesitatingly for the Past Maitreya True Scripture.