Chapter 44: Seed of the Evil God

Although Jiang Yan had anticipated something through the painted walls, seeing it with his own eyes...

...he was still shocked by the scene before him.

He had read in Zhao Yinman’s notes that many ancient existences influence shallow history or even the present world through the long river of history, spreading bizarre knowledge.

One such method involves hollowing out the internal organs of living beings, gilding their bodies, and using secret rituals to offer sacrifices, thereby gathering incense to become a god.

This god, of course, does not refer to the ancient immortals and deities who overlook the ages.

It refers to a god of incense.

They are god-like yet not gods; they can swallow incense to manifest bizarre abilities, and because incense is toxic, it leads to chaotic thoughts, making them highly prone to evolving into evil gods that bring disaster to the land.

Their spread is comparable to meme contamination.

The History Correction Bureau strictly emphasizes that once discovered, one must immediately destroy the mountains and temples and burn the idols.

If one’s strength is insufficient, then call for reinforcements!

He had not expected that in this Sickness Domain, someone would actually want to create an incense deity.

Fortunately, the Shadow-Winged Snake caught a glimpse of it, successfully seizing the initiative.

Otherwise, if an incense god were to be born, no matter how weak, it would at least be at the Dharma Seed realm, leaving absolutely no chance for a comeback.

Just as Jiang Yan prepared to annihilate it, he suddenly found himself unable to move, and his thoughts began to gradually stiffen.

"What!?"

He looked down and saw that the internal organs which had been scattered on the ground had somehow turned into molten copper, silently appearing and spreading upward from his feet; wherever it passed, flesh and blood turned to copper.

The bizarre transformation of the temple suddenly vanished, and instead, root-like veins spread from beneath his feet, beginning to take root in the ground.

At this moment, Jiang Yan once again felt the sorrowful emotion from the eyes of the ape in the mural.

Only this time, it was lamenting for itself.

This time, it lamented that Jiang Yan’s fate was the same as its own, destined to become a statue.

Standing here forever!

"This is..."

Jiang Yan’s eyes were filled with shock, and laughter came from not far away.

"Hahahahaha..."

Abbot Shou'e clutched his stomach and laughed, smugly saying: "Human, all phenomena are illusions. You saw through that Huang Mao was a Heart Ape and said that everything he saw was false, but have you forgotten that what you see—is it necessarily true?"

"Those Shadow-Winged Snakes of yours can hide in the shadows, and even ordinary Dharma Seed realm experts wouldn't notice them, but unfortunately, this temple is under my control, and I watch everything at all times."

"It is just that this humble monk chose to turn a blind eye to you, inviting you into the trap."

Jiang Yan was silent.

Abbot Shou'e seemed to be in a very good mood, and having been stifled for too long, he continued:

"Let me tell you a story. A long, long time ago, a group of rabbits lived in the mountains. Although they were often hunted by beasts, they had the protection of a King and could multiply and thrive."

However, one day, a giant beast egg floated up from the depths of the long river of history and descended into this world. A life was born from it, named—the Six-Armed Heart Ape.

It possessed powerful bloodlines and strength, yet it was exceptionally naive, believing itself capable of anything, protecting the weak, and even teaching us Buddhist cultivation methods.

Furthermore, after seeing the suffering of all things, it wanted to create a Pure Land and establish rules so that all things would no longer kill each other and could coexist harmoniously.

Gradually, these lives indulged in pleasure and forgot about status. The rabbits no longer worshipped the King, but instead worshipped a monkey. It was simply... foolish to the extreme. The law of the jungle is the law of the Dao!"

Speaking of this, Abbot Shou'e’s face became ferocious, his eyes filled with intense jealousy:

"But it was precisely this stupidity that allowed this humble monk to seize the opportunity. Using the peace of the world as an excuse, I successfully tricked it into suppressing another powerful demon. In the end, both were severely injured, but it didn't die. So, using the pretext of helping it heal, I hollowed out its internal organs and sealed it alive inside a clay sculpture."

That night, the Heart Ape died.

I thought it was over, but I didn't expect this guy to be resurrected. It became the mountains beneath my feet, the trees in the forest, everything in my eyes; it was everywhere.

Heh, did it think this could scare me? It was killed while alive, so what is there to fear in death? The peaches transformed from its corpse could only become my food."

Since it refuses to leave, then it shall lend me a hand. I have been studying cultivation methods and realized a special ritual—the Technique of All-Buddha Bodhi Inversion Heavenly Demon Egg Transformation, which can artificially create an incense god."

Shou'e’s eyes were deep as he smiled: "For this ritual, I have prepared for thirty years, sacrificing 99 History Walkers. With their heart-blood, I successfully defiled the Heart Ape’s abilities, turning it from 'seeing one's nature' into the birth of bizarre Heart Demon soldiers."

Now, only the final step remains. Unfortunately, the Heart Ape’s lingering will restricts me, preventing me from breaking it, and the living beings in the temple cannot do it either, as they are all countered by it."

Only an outsider with a sufficiently strong soul and strength, such as a History Walker, who can see through the Heart Ape and take the initiative to shatter it, can open the ritual and completely disperse the Heart Ape’s will."

"To refine its remains, its incense spirit, and even this world itself into my exclusive protective Dharma image—the Six-Armed Immovable Heart Ape Venerable!"

At this point, Abbot Shou'e’s expression was excited:

"When that time comes, using the flesh and blood of History Walkers as an anchor, my entire clan can ascend to the Pure Land of the present world and enjoy supreme happiness, letting that Heart Ape know that I was the one who was right!"

As his voice fell, Jiang Yan also turned into a copper-cast statue.

Motionless.

Abbot Shou'e praised: "What a beautiful sacrifice!"

Many novices walked out, softly chanting the Diamond Sutra and the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Fundamental Vow Sutra, though it was unclear who they were performing rites for.

Just as Shou'e was about to begin the ritual, Bai Ying pleaded:

"King, after everything is successful, can you spare the soul of Sima Luoshui and let me nurture him to become one of our kin?"

"What a kind-hearted child..."

Abbot Shou'e sighed, then slapped her away, sending her rolling on the ground, vomiting blood incessantly.

"Sister!"

Seeing this, Bai Mao rushed over to help Bai Ying up, but was pierced through the body by a bead that flew through the air, leaving holes in her, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Her body gradually faded, her eyes looking at Bai Ying, squeezing out a smile as she whispered:

"From now on... don't be so silly anymore..."

"You like freedom and leisure, you like interesting things, and haven't I? But... we are not worthy of seeking these things... you must... live on."

"Little sister!"

Bai Ying stared blankly at this scene, wanting to shed tears but unable to, staring blankly at the completely dissipating Bai Mao.

Many memories flashed through her mind.

When she first appeared, Bai Mao was different from other Heart Apes; she just liked to scare her.

Every time she scared her to tears, she would silently guard her side.

Bai Ying couldn't take it anymore and asked her why she did that.

Bai Mao only coldly said: "I've scared you until you're used to it, so when I'm gone, you won't be afraid anymore."

Bai Mao also said she wanted to be the older sister.

But Bai Ying didn't agree, saying the older sister should protect the younger sister.

Bai Mao didn't speak.

Bai Ying felt she didn't trust her, but Bai Mao only said: "I don't need you to protect me, as long as you live."

For so many years, it was she who had always protected Bai Ying, without witnessing too much darkness.

"It was me who was too stupid..." Bai Ying sobbed on the ground, resenting her own foolishness.

And resenting her own incompetence.

From beginning to end, she couldn't change anything.

"It's just a Heart Ape born from your heart; if you kill it, a new one will be born after a while. Acting so sisterly is truly ridiculous."

Shou'e gave a contemptuous smile, looking at Bai Ying lying on the ground, and said indifferently:

"A traitorous thing, you really think you're a Buddhist? With your overflowing sympathy, you're nothing but livestock I keep. What right do you have to negotiate with me?"

The reason he kept these clansmen who had once betrayed him was not because he was kind, but simply because these guys...

...walked the same path as him.

Especially Bai Ying, who could condense such a rational Heart Ape and elevate it to the Dao Foundation; she should be a good supplement.

As food, she could save a lot of effort.

Thinking of this,

Shou'e licked his lips and, in the Zen-Resolving Hall, used Jiang Yan’s statue to start the ritual.

Sss, sss, sss!

Countless blood threads spread out; they were the essence blood of the History Walkers who had been killed, now seeping out from the walls.

They intertwined, forming a massive Dharma array.

In an instant, blood-colored flames rose, igniting the entire temple as if it were a burning house.

"Ascending to the Dharma Seed realm, it happens today!"

The method to break the situation has been foreshadowed. Two chapters, five thousand words. Seeking monthly tickets, seeking follow-up reading, seeking recommendation tickets.



(End of chapter)