Chapter 169: Flaming Trial Tempered Body

Inside Pu Han Temple.

As Gu Jin Nian's order was issued, many people paled at once.

Although Pu Zheng, with an aloof tone, urged Gu Jin Nian to convert to the Buddhist sect.

Yet all major forces knew deep down that Pu Zheng was also in a dilemma.

Continuing to suppress Gu Jin Nian would require pulling out the final trump card.

The Buddha's true form has already been revealed; what trump cards does the Buddhist sect have left? Even if there are any, they would demand an enormous price.

If they cease suppressing Gu Jin Nian now, the next move will be Gu Jin Nian's counterattack.

Given Gu Jin Nian's temperament, it's estimated no monk could leave this place alive.

So Pu Zheng wants to stop at a point, let Gu Jin Nian withdraw his troops, and treat the incident as if it never happened.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Gu Jin Nian remained so overbearing.

He directly ordered the slaughter of all monks of the Da Xia Dynasty.

"Respectfully obey the Marquis's command."

A roar rose, Wang Peng's response; he had been waiting for this order for a long time.

At once Wang Peng took out a messenger talisman and conveyed Gu Jin Nian's intent to Lord Zhen Guo.

"Gu Jin Nian."

"Having come to this point, do you still persist in stubbornness?"

"Do you truly think our Buddhist sect has run out of means?"

"Within Pu Han Temple, there remains a final method; if it is unleashed, your death is certain."

At this moment, Pu Zheng roared loudly; he was no longer calm, truly angered by Gu Jin Nian.

In his view, Gu Jin Nian thought the Buddhist sect had no means left, so he dared such reckless audacity.

Yet, faced with Pu Zheng's roar, Gu Jin Nian gave no response.

The scripture has already emerged; instead, he waits for the opponent to reveal their trump card.

It is evident that this final trump card is something the Buddhist sect is reluctant to use; it certainly exists, but the price is steep.

"Kill!"

At that moment, an even more shocking voice rang out from elsewhere in Da Xia, reaching Pu Han Temple.

Above the heavens, scene after scene unfolded.

Within Da Xia, soldiers in various temples brandished knives, beheading Buddhist disciples one by one.

Fresh blood splattered, and screams of agony echoed everywhere.

"Transmit orders."

"All disobedient monks, kill without mercy."

Warhorses thundered, the soldiers wore cold expressions and roared loudly.

Warblades were ruthless; wherever they went, heads fell to the ground.

Especially Lord Zhen Guo; when he arrived at Hanshan Temple, tens of thousands of monks died on the spot at his command.

The Buddhist scriptures piled together were set ablaze.

Warhorses thundered, crushing the temple's bricks and tiles into cracks, and at the same time, boxes of gold and silver were hauled out, including some extremely precious treasures.

Some Buddhist sects, looking shabby, revealed cellars as the hooves shook, and soon twenty boxes filled with silver appeared.

Twenty thousand taels of silver.

It's not a huge amount, but compared to such a shabby temple, twenty thousand taels of silver is rather terrifying.

Such cases are almost everywhere, especially in Guiyang County, where some Buddhist temples even plundered precious jade and rare spirit crystals.

"Truly a prosperous Buddhist sect indeed."

Watching these scenes, Gu Jin Nian sneered, his gaze fixed on Pu Zheng, his eyes full of blatant sarcasm.

"Is this what you call the Buddhist sect?"

"May I ask the senior monks, which Buddha ever said the Buddhist sect should hoard wealth?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke, questioning Pu Zheng and the others.

Not only he, but many forces also showed astonishment; perhaps one or two temples seem modest, yet the combined wealth of all temples is an astronomical figure.

These people knew the Buddhist sect wasn't that honest, but they hadn't expected its methods to be so powerful, plundering so much silver.

"Amitabha."

"Most of these were gifts from pilgrims; our Buddhist disciples did not claim the silver as their own, but used it to build temples, providing resting places for the people, and in times of trouble the sect will inevitably intervene to help."

"A handful of silver, what can it prove?"

Pu Zheng spoke lightly, unconcerned, not seeing the abundance of silver as a bad thing, and casually brushed the matter aside.

"Gu Jin Nian, now that it has come to this, do you truly refuse to repent?"

The next moment, Pu Zheng's gaze turned icy; the slaughter scenes of Buddhist disciples above the heavens continued, and he pressed Gu Jin Nian for an answer.

"Repent?"

"Should this lord repent, or should your Buddhist sect repent?"

"After today, whether Gu lives or dies, Da Xia shall have no Buddhist disciple thereafter."

Gu Jin Nian, too lazy for idle words, bluntly uttered this harsh statement.

"Amitabha."

"Since you, benefactor Gu, are thus, do not blame this old monk."

Pu Zheng said no more.

He pressed his palms together, bowed toward the Buddha's true form, then shouted loudly.

"Please revive the three Venerables."

"Manifest the True Buddha."

He roared, and the next moment the Buddhist sect disciples' Buddha Dharma within their bodies, as if uncontrolled, surged toward the Buddha's true form.

But at this moment, each of those Buddhist monks' faces grew grim, because what had been drawn out before was only Buddha power, which could recover slowly, like the magical force of cultivators in the immortal path.

Now, however, what was drawn out was not Buddha power but Buddha Dharma; their cultivation, and even some low‑level monks, realized that what was taken away was not only their Buddhist cultivation but also their life essence.

Their expressions changed dramatically, and the voice of Master Pu Zheng faintly sounded.

"The Great Demon manifests, and my Buddhist sect disciples should sacrifice themselves, fighting for all living beings under heaven."

He shouted that they would fight for all living beings under heaven, regardless of whether the monks were willing or not.

Terrifying Buddha light surged into the Buddha's true form, the silhouettes of the three Venerables gradually faded, turning into rolling Buddha power, making the Buddha's true form become ever more solid.

Threads of terrifying aura spread, ten times more dreadful than before.

Clang.

And at that moment, the sound of a Buddhist bell rang out.

It was the Western Desert realm.

In the Western Desert, a ten‑thousand‑foot golden radiance shot upward, shattering the clouds, and a Buddhist bell revealed itself to the world.

"Eight‑Treasure Buddhist Bell."

A shocking sound rang out, voicelessly, and instantly they knew what it was; their faces showed utter astonishment.

It is the Eight‑Treasure Buddhist Bell, one of the Buddhist sect's Nine Sacred Instruments.

The Vajra Demon‑Subduing Pestle is a Buddhist artifact of Da Yin Temple.

And this Eight‑Treasure Buddhist Bell is a Buddhist artifact of Xiao Yuan Temple.

The second of the Buddhist sect's Nine Artifacts appeared; in the blink of an eye it crossed ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers, merged into the Buddha's true form, making the Buddha's true form even more terrifying.

Boom.

Another upward‑shooting beam of light gathered on the firmament, coming from the Western Desert.

People turned their gazes, their expressions were utterly shocked, feeling the inconceivable.

"Bodhi Prayer Beads."

Someone shouted in alarm.

"The ascending Vajrayana Bodhi prayer beads? Does it require such a grand display? Just to target Gu Jin Nian? All Three Sacred Instruments have been brought out?"

"The Buddhist sect is too ruthless! Pulling out three supreme Buddhist artifacts at once—aren't they trying to put Gu Jin Nian to death, leaving him no place for burial?"

Voices rose one after another; when the Buddhist sect previously produced a single supreme Buddhist artifact, it had already astonished them.

But they did not expect that the Buddhist sect would now directly present three supreme Buddhist artifacts; this is no longer a simple matter of showing or not showing one's face.

This is the intention of exterminating Gu Jin Nian.

Vajra Demon‑Subduing Pestle.

Eight‑Treasure Buddhist Bell.

Bodhi Prayer Beads.

The three supreme Buddhist artifacts of the Buddhist sect appeared, illuminating the firmament brilliantly.

At this moment, mountains and rivers trembled, the sun and moon swayed, and a terrifying aura enveloped the entire Eastern Wilderness realm.

Supreme Buddhist artifact.

A divine object beyond the Seventh Realm, or rather, a quasi‑Eighth Realm relic, such a thing possesses incomparable power.

According to legend, the nine supreme artifacts of each major system have world‑destroying capabilities, but even Seventh Realm masters can only wield half of their power.

Only in the Eighth Realm can their full power be truly unleashed.

If their true power is unleashed, a single strike can cause mountains and rivers to collapse, make the sun and moon quake, and even shatter the stars.

Of course, this is merely rumor; no one knows exactly how strong they truly are.

Inside Pu Han Temple.

The appearance of the three Buddhist artifacts indeed shocked all the Eastern Wilderness's strongmen.

At this moment.

Pu Han Temple had completely collapsed; pagodas crumbled one after another, the ground fissured like a spider's web, shattering and dispersing.

A gale blew the debris apart, and above the firmament, terrifying black clouds appeared over Gu Jin Nian's head.

Cries, curses, roars, and sounds of unwillingness rose.

These are the vengeful spirits of the slain monks.

And the firmament darkened completely again, Holy Punishment's Clouds covering ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers, thunder spreading, a thousand‑foot thunder serpent slashing the sky, black clouds pressing down, instilling inner fear.

A great wind rose, flapping Gu Jin Nian's garments with a rustling sound.

As if the world were ending.

"Gu Jin Nian."

"You have committed a sin unforgivable by heaven and earth."

"Today the True Buddha manifests, unleashing supreme karmic fire, causing you to die in painful repentance."

The voice of Master Pu Zheng sounded, majestic and solemn; as his words fell, he spat a mouthful of fresh blood, for he too had burned his own lifespan.

In the Western Desert, golden Buddha light surged onto the Buddha's true form.

"Buddhist sect's qi."

"To kill Gu Jin Nian, even the Buddhist sect's qi was pressed upon?"

"The Western Desert Buddhist sect is truly ruthless, truly ruthless."

People were again shocked; even three supreme Buddhist artifacts were insufficient, they also pressed the Buddhist sect's qi onto it.

Although it is only a small portion of the Buddhist sect's fortune, this small portion can give rise to several hundred War‑King‑level strongmen.

It is equivalent to taking the lives of a hundred War Kings in exchange for Gu Jin Nian's life.

"Step back."

At that moment, gazing at the celestial phenomenon, Su Huaiyu couldn't help but cough once; he took a step forward, his eyes utterly calm.

He intends to act, to resolve this trouble for Gu Jin Nian.

"I'll go."

Only, Gu Jin Nian stepped forward a few paces, then spoke slowly.

"Take those two away, Brother Su; you have the ability to do so."

Gu Jin Nian said only that sentence.

Immediately, his gaze fell upon the Buddha True Body.

The Buddha True Body had already solidified; the ten‑thousand‑foot Buddha True Body gave one an indescribable sense of awe.

Su Huaiyu, standing behind, slightly frowned, but he said nothing, felt no hesitation, and went straight to the side of Qing Qian Fairy and Yaochi Fairy.

Because of the Buddha True Body's appearance, the formation imprisoning them had already loosened; Su Huaiyu acted at once, shattering the formation.

"Go!"

He did not hesitate, taking the two away from here, regardless of their unwillingness.

Facing Su Huaiyu's actions, Abbot Pu Zheng did not waste effort; indeed the Buddhist sect could do nothing to Qing Qian and Yaochi, each backed by a massive force.

If offended, that would not be a good thing for the Buddhist sect.

Now that they have been rescued by Su Huaiyu, within their tolerance range, it is fine as long as Gu Jin Nian does not leave.

At this moment.

Inside Pu Han Temple, only Gu Jin Nian remained.

Eighty‑thousand monks recited sutras, their life essence nearly drained; at this moment their conviction grew stronger—not because they were unafraid, but because they were powerless, so they could only believe what they chose to believe.

The Buddha True Body acted again.

But this time, it was not a flash of fists; instead it gathered a mass of karmic fire.

The violet karmic fire turned into tens of thousands of lotus blossoms, coalescing around Gu Jin Nian.

This is the Buddhist sect's karmic fire.

Karmic fire is the most terrifying thing between heaven and earth, unparalleled; even a touch or two will cause one to be burned alive.

With the appearance of ten thousand karmic fire lotus, a dense karmic force rose above Gu Jin Nian's body, reaching dozens of zhang in height.

Once ignited, it is destined to leave no place for burial.

This kind of karmic force is strange, somewhat similar to cause and effect, but not the same; every deed inevitably influences and alters the future, and whether it is good or evil is unknowable.

For example, rescuing a child is a good deed, but if that child later becomes a bandit who slaughter innocents, then this karmic force becomes evil karma.

It is profoundly mysterious and complex; no one knows what karmic force truly is, only that it must not be allowed to turn into karmic fire.

Generally, everyone possesses karmic force; even a heavy karmic force does not turn into karmic fire.

But now, the Buddhist sect is employing this tactic, to ignite the karmic force on Gu Jin Nian.

Boom.

Without any hesitation, the violet karmic fire lotus surged toward Gu Jin Nian.

The karmic fire on Gu Jin Nian's body was instantly ignited; the fire burned a hundred zhang, illuminating Gu Jin Nian like light.

It lasted only a moment, a pain indescribable struck.

Gu Jin Nian's subconscious was about to recite the Medicine Master Empowering Mantra Sutra.

But what he didn't expect was that the Tree of All Beings vibrated wildly in his mind.

Strands of karmic fire were frantically absorbed by it, turning into golden, radiant fruits.

"That works too?"

Gu Jin Nian was somewhat shocked; he truly hadn't expected that the terrifying karmic fire, feared by all, could be devoured by the Tree of All Beings—and even transformed into fruit?

Isn't that too terrifying? Gu Jin Nian was unafraid because the Medicine Master Empowering Mantra can eliminate karmic force, so he felt no fear.

He just hadn't expected the Tree of All Beings to have such an effect at this moment—what a pleasant surprise.

The terrifying karmic fire burned, and fruit after fruit were born.

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian closed his eyes, first plucking a fruit to see what it was.

As a fruit fell, it quickly turned into a ball of flame, igniting from within.

An unprecedented strange sensation emerged; though the flame burned from within, Gu Jin Nian felt an indescribable feeling—neither pain nor comfort, more like the sensation of eating something spicy.

It was indeed pain, but the feeling was quite exhilarating.

"Tempering the body."

Gu Jin Nian was full of astonishment; he understood what was being done.

His flesh at this moment received a massive boost; not only the body was tempered, but also his true Qi and magical power, all undergoing unprecedented refinement.

This kind of tempering is equivalent to solidifying the foundation.

He hasn't cultivated long; in the martial path, he relies on pills, and in the immortal path he has even fewer cultivations.

Although he practices the Panwu Supreme Technique and the Three Purities Mixed Origin Method, he doesn't need to cultivate daily like other cultivators.

But ultimately he still lacks something.

Now this karmic fire is tempering his flesh, effectively saving him the effort of solidifying his body.

This is a tremendous good thing.

At this time, to the outside world, Gu Jin Nian seemed powerless, merely bearing the karmic fire's blessing.

But in reality, Gu Jin Nian was frantically absorbing the karmic fire, tempering his own flesh.

Once.

The physical body is full.

Ten times.

The physical body shed its old skin, drawing many exclamations, mistakenly thought the karmic fire would burn Gu Jin Nian's physical body to ashes.

One hundred times.

Gu Jin Nian's physical body surface emitted a milky-white light, looking somewhat holy.

Seeing this, some people were astonished and couldn't help but be curious.

"With the karmic fire's blessing, it didn't directly kill him?"

"Didn't they say that with karmic fire blessing, one would be burned to death within a quarter hour? Half an hour has passed, yet there's no reaction at all? And why does Gu Jin Nian's physical body surface have such light?"

"Yeah, how does it look like he's tempering his body rather than being tortured?"

Voices of doubt rose one after another.

Outside the hall of Pu Han Temple, a group of Buddhist monks were also filled with curiosity; they didn't understand what was going on.

"No need to worry; in this world, no one can escape being burned by karmic fire. Look closely, that white light is his spiritual essence; he's trying to block the karmic fire. After an hour, he will surely die."

Abbot Pu Zheng spoke, full of confidence, not believing Gu Jin Nian had any means to block the karmic fire.

Upon hearing Abbot Pu Zheng say that, everyone believed it, thinking it should be so.

That is indeed an explanation.

However, after Gu Jin Nian had tempered his body a full thousand times,

his physical body emitted a golden light.

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian's martial dao realm also fully reached the perfection of the Divine Ability realm, and his physical body was nearly perfect.

Such benefits are many; just in lifespan, after this tempering, Gu Jin Nian's lifespan can reach at least three hundred, while a Martial King strongman's lifespan is two hundred.

Moreover, having cultivated the Panwu Supreme Technique, Gu Jin Nian possesses cross-border combat power, but this cross-border power is ultimately somewhat empty.

At the perfection of the Divine Ability realm, if he encounters a Martial King perfection expert, winning is not easy for Gu Jin Nian.

But now, after tempering his body a thousand times with karmic fire, he can fully unleash the strength of a Martial King; within one realm, he will be invincible, sweeping all before him.

"How could there be golden light?"

Outside experts, all curious, previously it was white light, now it's golden light, making them truly unable to comprehend, and moreover, over an hour has passed since then.

Gu Jin Nian seems unharmed.

"No need to worry; this is his sarira. Although Layman Gu has fallen into the demonic path, he has done deeds for the world; he possesses a sarira, the karmic fire has burned into his interior. Don't look at his unblemished surface—inside, only the sarira remains after burning."

"If nothing unexpected happens, next they will burn his soul."

Abbot Pu Zheng remains full of confidence.

Not only him, many Buddhist experts are likewise confident; they understand better than others what the karmic fire signifies.

Even the foremost Buddhist monk dare not say he can withstand the karmic fire.

This is the most terrifying flame in the world.

However, at this moment.

"Ah!"

A roar sounded, startling all directions; Gu Jin Nian felt as if all his meridians were opened throughout his body, an unprecedented sense of refreshment surged, prompting him to involuntarily let out a loud shout.

As this roar sounded, the world-tree in his mind went mad, devouring the karmic fire.

Purple karmic fire lotuses entered Gu Jin Nian's body one after another; this terrifying karmic fire extended three hundred zhang, causing countless experts to click their tongues.

As the purple karmic fire lotuses entered, fruits were born, then transformed into flames that tempered Gu Jin Nian's body.

The speed was more than ten times faster than before.

Seeing this, the outside crowd also completely put their minds at ease.

Gu Jin Nian let out a shout; it seemed he had truly reached a desperate situation.

But some people seemed to know what had happened.

Su Huaiyu quietly looked at Gu Jin Nian, as if guessing something.

Ten thousand li away.

Emperor Yongsheng also seemed to sense something; he bestowed his national fortune upon Gu Jin Nian, so if Gu Jin Nian truly encountered trouble, he would notice immediately.

But he found that, aside from some initial influence from the national fortune, afterward there was no effect; instead, the national fortune underwent some change, turning for the better.

Had he not sensed it in advance, he would not have refrained from acting.

The Ancestor's Long Blade has already been prepared; at the critical moment, he will use the Ancestor's Long Blade to sever everything. Pu Han Temple.

Gu Jin Nian's physical body became ever more brilliant, gradually shifting from gold to five-colored radiance.

Various lights burst forth from Gu Jin Nian's physical body.

Ten thousand times.

Exactly ten thousand times, corresponding to ten thousand purple karmic fire lotuses.

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian's physical body has reached perfection, an immaculate treasure body; a wave of his hand and various lights burst forth.

In the Divine Ability realm, having tempered to perfection, a raise of hand or lift of foot can suppress and kill a Martial King.

Although the Immortal Dao realm remains stuck at the Meridian Opening stage, his primordial spirit has been tempered, equivalent to paving the way for the future.

This karmic fire.

Is a heaven-shaking opportunity.

It makes it so that I will no longer have to worry about an unstable foundation.

And it also helped me forge an 'immaculate treasure body'.

This is the physique countless martial artists dream of, and also the physique pursued by all major systems.

Perfect and flawless.

Anyone who has cultivated knows they must solidify their foundation; this solid foundation is to avoid worries when later breaking through a great realm—if the foundation isn't stable, many problems arise, and at that point attempting to retrain is impossible.

If you don't retrain and force a breakthrough, at best you fail and need decades of cultivation to recover; at worst you go berserk and die on the spot.

Relying on Panwu Supreme Skill, one can boost through taking pills, but ultimately it's still not solid enough, leaving the mind uneasy.

Now there's no need to worry.

A terrifying aura spread as Gu Jin Nian rose into the air.

However, he still bears karmic fire; this fire cannot be absorbed by the World Tree, which only absorbs the ten thousand karmic fire lotus blossoms, while this fire belongs to Gu Jin Nian himself.

"How does it feel like Gu Jin Nian has become stronger again?"

"Isn't the karmic fire supposed to scorch the body? It's been burning for so long and nothing's happened?"

"The mortal body emits a strange light; this must be the result of tempering—what on earth is happening?"

Countless voices intertwined; they have eyes and are not yet blind, though they do not understand how terrifying the Buddhist karmic fire truly is.

Yet they can still sense whether Gu Jin Nian is getting stronger or weaker.

"That's impossible."

"Why hasn't he died yet?"

This time, Abbot Pu Zheng also didn't know what to say.

It's been three or four hours, and Gu Jin Nian not only feels no scorch from the karmic fire, but continues to grow stronger.

It truly leaves one at a loss for words.

"Venerable one."

"Make your move."

Finally, Abbot Pu Zheng spoke, saying that even karmic fire cannot kill Gu Jin Nian, which unsettled him.

Now all hope must be placed entirely on the Buddha True Body.

And as Abbot Pu Zheng uttered these words,

The three venerable figures within the Vajra Demon-Subduing Pestle instantly merged into the other two Buddhist artifacts.

The Buddha True Body moved once more.

Karmic fire is merely a killing technique.

Now only one killing technique remains.

The three supreme Buddhist artifacts, combined with the spirits of the three venerables and the Buddha True Body, deliver the final strike to Gu Jin Nian.

If this strike still cannot slay Gu Jin Nian, the Buddhist sect will truly have to weigh whether to pay an even heavier price.

"You… have no chance now."

In the void.

When the three venerables recited the sutra, Gu Jin Nian's cold voice rang out.

Pu Han Temple's final measure has already emerged, and he no longer needs to hide anything.

When these words sounded, they sparked confusion everywhere.

In fact, everyone thought to some extent that Gu Jin Nian must have some hidden tactics, waiting to reveal them at the crucial moment.

But they could not fathom what tactics Gu Jin Nian might possess.

At this moment.

Gu Jin Nian's voice sounded.

"Namo Bhagavade,..."

"Julu Biliuli."

"Balapa."

"He Luo Zha Ye."

The ancient Sanskrit chant resonated from Gu Jin Nian's mouth.

The sound was not loud.

Yet as Gu Jin Nian uttered the first character, the Buddha True Body suddenly froze in place.

For some reason, the voice seemed magical, affecting the entire world.

Silence.

All things in the world seemed to fall silent at that moment.

"Namo Bhagavade."

"Namo Bhagavade."

"Namo Bhagavade."

At that instant, waves of voices rose—not Gu Jin Nian's echo, but from countless temples.

Throughout Da Xia's realm, every temple echoed with that sound.

No.

It wasn't the temples reciting the sutra; it was the Buddha enshrined within them reciting.

These Buddha statues were chanting.

Soon, golden ripples formed beneath Gu Jin Nian's feet, spreading at breakneck speed across the Da Xia Dynasty, eventually covering the entire Eastern Wilderness.

All the way to the Western Desert.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Wherever the golden ripples reached, any Buddhist temple or statue responded at that moment.

They began chanting this sutra.

The karmic fire on Gu Jin Nian's body was instantly extinguished.

This is the Medicine Master Empowering Mantra, one of the Ten Great Buddhist Scriptures.

Reciting the Medicine Master Mantra can erase karma, and at the moment of death one can be reborn in the Pure Land of Lapis World.

The Medicine Master, also called Medicine Master Tathagata, Medicine Master Lapis Light King Tathagata, Great Physician King Buddha, Healing King Shanshi, and the King of Twelve Vows.

He is the patriarch of the Eastern Pure Lapis World.

What kind of being is this? Surely not comparable to these false Buddhas—this moment.

Heaven and earth finally change color.

But unlike the previous darkness.

Now the heavens and earth are bathed in golden light, dispelling darkness.

The majestic Sanskrit chants resound in waves at this moment.

Temples rise one after another, Buddha light shoots skyward, stirring this world.

When the mantra is finished.

The entire Eastern Wilderness realm and Western Desert realm are shaken to their core.

Within the Eastern Wilderness realm, it resembles the Pure Land: the sky is filled with golden clouds, true dragons and divine phoenixes appear, and on the ground Golden Lotus bloom, dazzlingly brilliant.

Behind Gu Jin Nian's head, round after round of Buddha light are born.

The light of wisdom condenses, giving rise to Buddha nature.

Inside Pu Han Temple, three supreme Buddhist artifacts tremble wildly at this moment; under the spreading Buddha light, all directions are silent.

Abbot Pu Zheng, along with Pu Yun and Pu Xin, three senior monks stare in astonishment at everything.

They would never have thought, even in death, that Gu Jin Nian not only excels in Confucian and Daoist scriptures, but also studies Buddhist teachings?

This is sheer disgrace.

To them, this is a world‑shaking disgrace.

Western Desert.

The main temple of the Ascending Esoteric Sect.

The Eight Grievances Divine Monk trembles all over, staring at the scene of Pu Han Temple with a vacant stare; his body shakes from fear, but more from shock.

"Buddha True Scripture, Buddha True Scripture, this is the Buddha True Scripture!"

A senior monk from Da Yin Temple beside them points at the scene, shouting wildly as if driven mad.

The senior monk of Xiao Yuan Temple nearly faints on the spot.

Throughout the Western Desert, countless monks kneel one by one, listening to this supreme Buddhist teaching; there is no room for any arrogance.

In another main temple of the Ascending Esoteric Sect.

The three great monks—Compassion, Universal Salvation, and Malign—cannot help but stare blankly at everything.

"It's the Buddha True Scripture; how does Gu Jin Nian possess such an ancient text?"

Compassion monk no longer joins his hands; he is exasperated, but mostly puzzled, wondering why Gu Jin Nian has the Buddha True Scripture.

"Our Ascending Esoteric Sect has only one fragmentary Buddha True Scripture; why can he have a complete one?"

Universal Salvation monk also shows an incredulous expression.

"It's finished, it's finished; I, the old monk, never calculated this step. Must our plan for Buddhist prosperity be extinguished because of him?"

Malign monk is numb; the original Buddhist plan was to start through Pu Han Temple.

If Pu Han Temple wins, everything is easy; Da Xia will inevitably fall into civil war, and we can reap the fisherman's profit.

If Pu Han Temple loses, we are not worried, provided Gu Jin Nian must die or severely damage the Da Xia Dynasty.

Using the destruction of Buddhism as a pretext to trouble the Da Xia Dynasty, but now everything is gone, all is over.

Gu Jin Nian actually recited the Buddha True Scripture; this is beyond their imagination and something they never considered.

However, the most shocking thing is not those three.

Great Treasure Lapis Temple.

It is the sacred site of countless monks in the Western Desert, not belonging to the three major temples, yet the pinnacle of Buddhist existence resides within Great Treasure Lapis Temple.

At this moment, three figures open their eyes almost simultaneously.

They are the three Venerables of the Buddhist sect.

They open Buddha eyes.

Seeing all this, their gazes instantly show shock.

"Buddha True Scripture."

"It is actually the Buddha True Scripture?"

"A great event is imminent; quickly summon the spirit back, or trouble will follow."

Each of the three Venerables speaks; the first two remain shocked, while the third instantly realizes trouble and orders the spirit to be recalled.

At the same time, a figure stands above Great Treasure Lapis Temple—a senior monk holding a demon‑subduing staff, quietly watching everything.

After a moment, he speaks, conveying some information to certain senior Buddhist monks.

"No need to concern Da Xia monks any longer."

"Choose another plan."

"The Buddha True Scripture has emerged, heralding a great flourishing of Buddhism."

This is Pure‑Heart Buddha, currently the most virtuous and respected being in Buddhism; the other is Yuan Guang Buddha, the strongest being in Buddhism.

Above them are the present True Buddha of the sect, the Ascending True Buddha.

This divine dragon, unseen at its head, even senior Buddhist monks have not seen the Ascending True Buddha in the past twenty years.

But it must be said that Gu Jin Nian's Buddha True Scripture has startled every powerful being in the world.

Fuyu Dynasty.

A middle‑aged monk, clad in a straw raincoat, stood amid the mountains, gazing at Gu Jin Nian's figure; after a moment, he pressed his palms together and intoned "Amitabha."

Then he continued onward, his destination the Da Xia Dynasty.

Great Jin Dynasty.

Below the waterfall.

An old man leaned against a rock, watching a youth practice swordsmanship; the method was extremely odd—he used a branch to slash at the waterfall, but when the Holy Punishment's Voice sounded.

The old man was startled.

After a moment, he waved his hand, and the waterfall halted, no longer spilling water.

The wood‑wielding youth frowned, puzzled, and looked toward the old man.

"Master, what are you doing?"

He spoke, clearly confused.

"No need to continue training; the Heaven's Mandate person has already been born; even with all the time you have, you cannot catch up to his steps."

"Regrettably, you were born thirty years later; had you been born thirty years earlier, this Heaven's Mandate would surely have been yours."

The old man's voice rang out, his words filled with helplessness.

Upon hearing this, the young man was not convinced.

"Master, nothing in this world is absolute."

His gaze was steadfast, showing his dissent.

"Enough."

"Remember, if the Heaven's Mandate dispute begins and you truly cannot win, then let it be."

"Then let the master fight for it."

The old man also seemed helpless, but instead of striking further, he waved his hand, allowing the waterfall to resume its fall.

The youth fell silent, then immediately resumed sword practice, now more diligent and strenuous than before.

Meanwhile.

In a deep mountain.

A middle‑aged scholar was perusing a book; he was filthy and disheveled, looking utterly scruffy.

However, after hearing that vast Buddhist sound again.

The middle‑aged scholar was startled.

After a moment, the scholar gazed toward the cave's mouth and muttered to himself.

"The younger generation, the only beings capable of contesting Heaven's Mandate."

"Fine, so we old folk won't have to fight; at least a young person will have it better."

He whispered to himself, and after speaking, returned to reading.

Within the Eastern Wilderness.

Several figures also sensed the vast Buddhist sound at that moment.

Everyone had different thoughts, but most were of the older generation; few young people reacted.

Heaven's Mandate dispute.

It seemed not yet begun, yet it had already started; ninety‑nine percent of the younger generation had long been eliminated, and the truly powerful were this group, those who had prepared for a long time.

Within the Da Xia Dynasty.

Inside the imperial palace.

Emperor Yong Sheng stared in utter astonishment at everything.

He could not believe that his own nephew even understood Buddhist sutras.

Moreover, his speech was the Buddha's ancient scripture; isn't that extraordinarily extraordinary?

But after a moment.

Emperor Yong Sheng turned on his heel, went to the Hall of Nurturing the Heart, and frantically rummaged through the bookshelves; Wei Xian and Liu Yan, curious, hurried over to assist, but were shooed away by the emperor.

After a while, Emperor Yong Sheng broke into a smile, holding a Buddhist sutra in his hand.

"I told you, it turned out exactly as I expected."

"Hahaha—."

Emperor Yong Sheng was overjoyed, his smile radiating brilliantly in an instant.

Within the capital.

Da Xia Academy.

Su Wenjing stood outside the study, hands clasped behind his back.

Seeing the scene, Su Wenjing couldn't help but smile faintly.

"My beloved disciple truly is unlike the rest."

He smiled.

Then he sighed.

"Regrettably, there isn't enough time; otherwise I should have taught my disciple chess properly."

"If so, the Jixia Academy could gain an extra Heaven's Mandate."

Su Wenjing spoke, sounding slightly uneasy.

And the entire Da Xia Dynasty.

All the Great Scholars, upon hearing the Holy Punishment's Voice, were each profoundly shocked.

They all knew that Gu Jin Nian's poetry and prose made him the foremost figure of Confucianism and Daoism.

But they truly could not have imagined that Gu Jin Nian also understood Buddhist sutras—he is indeed all‑mighty.

Using "monster" to describe Gu Jin Nian feels somewhat insulting to Gu Jin Nian.

Inside Puhan Temple.

The Buddha's true body has solidified and cannot move.

The spirits within the three supreme Buddha vessels suddenly radiated Buddha light.

Wanting to escape this place.

"Now you want to leave?"

"Too late."

Gu Jin Nian's majestic bearing, he has been watching the Three Venerables.

I knew they wanted to run.

These are the spirits of the Three Venerables, not their bodies, yet eradicating them would cause great harm to the Three Venerables of the Buddhist sect.

"Amitabha."

"Benefactor, you have recited the Buddha's true words; this is a blessing of heaven and earth. The three of us old monks know we are not as good as you, and we do not wish to disturb you; please curb your hostility."

"Benefactor may not even be able to keep the three of us old monks here; perhaps it is better to stop here, which would also be a good thing."

Venerable Yuanfa spoke; he does not wish to stay here, not because he truly fears Gu Jin Nian.

Rather, the ancient Buddhist sutras have emerged; who knows what will happen next? Leave quickly to avoid damage.

"Unable to keep you?"

"Do you think this scripture is finished?"

Gu Jin Nian calmly spoke.

Indeed, normally one's own strength truly cannot keep them.

But the Medicine Master's empowerment mantra does more than merely eliminate karma; its greatest power lies in the Twelve Great Vows.

If these Twelve Great Vows are recited.

It can summon the true form of the Medicine Buddha to appear.

What he seeks is total extermination, to end all cause and effect.

However, the Three Venerables are unafraid; they acknowledge Gu Jin Nian's scripture, yet do not believe Gu Jin Nian can affect them.

"Amitabha."

"Benefactor, you have become attached to appearances."

Venerable Yuanfa spoke lightly, simultaneously wielding the Vajra Demon-Subduing Pestle to depart; the other two venerables gathered the great power of the supreme Buddha vessels, and in an instant the terrifying Buddha light turned into a Buddha seal, striking directly at Gu Jin Nian.

But Gu Jin Nian's voice has already sounded.

"May I, in my next life, attain Anuttara‑samyak‑sambodhi, my own brilliance blazing, illuminating countless boundless worlds, embodying the thirty‑two great man attributes and the eighty accompanying virtues, dignifying my body; may all sentient beings be no different from me."

This moment.

Gu Jin Nian's majestic bearing.

When the great vow resonated.

Behind him, Buddha realms appeared one after another.

(End of chapter.)