Chapter 200: Returning from the Lost Path, Fa Neng's Death

Guang'an City, on the high platform.

The cold stone slab made the unconscious Fa Neng shiver, and he slowly woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing that came into view was the starry sky and a cold crescent moon.

"I... what happened to me?"

He shook his dizzy head and struggled to sit up.

The memory of the debate came like a tide.

He remembered that he had debated with that mysterious ascetic monk for a day and finally fainted due to exhaustion.

"Where is that Master?"

Fa Neng looked around and found that the high platform was empty, with only himself.

That ascetic monk who made him feel huge pressure had disappeared.

"Amitabha."

Just then, a Buddha name rang out behind him.

Fa Neng turned his head sharply, only to see that ascetic monk in a tattered monk's robe standing behind him, watching him quietly.

In the moonlight, his figure was stretched very long, looking increasingly unfathomable.

"Master."

Fa Neng struggled to stand up, wanting to salute.

But when his gaze met the other party's eyes, which were as deep as the sea, his body shook violently.

Everything in the dream became incomparably clear.

"World Honored One..."

"Jin Chanzi..."

"Scripture-fetcher..."

All the memories of Jin Chanzi that had been awakened completely merged with Fa Neng at this moment.

"Disciple Fa Neng, mistakenly entered the demon path, fortunately saved by the World Honored One, this disciple will definitely complete the mission and not fail the World Honored One's expectations."

He said, prostrate on the ground.

"Returning from the lost path, there is no greater good."

Tathagata reached out and gently stroked Fa Neng's head.

"Since you already know you were wrong, take care of yourself."

After speaking, Tathagata's figure disappeared into the night.

Fa Neng knelt in place for a long time before slowly raising his head.

The night wind blew, making his monk's robe rustle.

"Fetching scriptures... Liushahe..." Having obtained Jin Chanzi's memory, he already knew what he should do.

The next day, a shocking piece of news spread throughout Xi Niuhe Zhou.

That monk Fa Neng, who had been debating scriptures everywhere, admitted in Guang'an City after debating with a mysterious ascetic monk that he had mistakenly entered the demon path and had returned from the lost path after being enlightened by that ascetic monk!

Now he had suddenly awakened, and it was said that Fa Neng had stated that in order to make up for the mistakes he had made, he decided to go to the Western Heaven Lingshan to meet the Buddha and seek the true scriptures.

Once this news came out, the entire Buddhist community in Xi Niuhe Zhou boiled over.

"Hahaha! I said so! That Fa Neng must have entered the demon path!"

"It's truly satisfying. I've long found that Fa Neng unpleasant, bewitching the public all day long!"

"I don't know which high monk took action to subdue this demon and make him return from the lost path; it's truly immeasurable merit!"

Those temple abbots who had been refuted by Fa Neng until they were speechless and lost face were all celebrating and telling each other.

And those young monks who had been attracted by Fa Neng's ideas and began to reflect on their past ways of cultivation, as well as those temples that imitated Pudu Temple, fell into confusion and depression.

"How could this be? How could Master Fa Neng admit he was wrong?"

"Could it be that the Buddhist teachings we practice now are wrong?"

Fa Neng's defection was a heavy blow to them, causing their newly established faith to collapse again.

A wind of Buddhist thought reform stirred up by Fa Neng was nipped in the bud by Tathagata Buddha.

Mount Huaguo, Water Curtain Cave.

Su Chen, who learned from Luan Erjie that Fa Neng had returned from the lost path, knew that the Buddhist community had taken action, but he didn't dare to make any more moves now.

The last time a Saint deduced him, Su Chen was terrified.

Since then, Su Chen decided not to contact Jin Chanzi for the time being.

Through this operation, he knew that Jin Chanzi was definitely the core of the Buddhist community's westward journey plan. If it weren't for the Heavenly Secret Treasure Mirror protecting him this time, he would definitely have been finished.

And Su Chen, the culprit behind all this, just smiled faintly after learning the news.

"Advisor, what should we do next?" Luan Erjie asked from the side.

"Don't pay attention to the scripture-fetcher for now; this matter ends here." Su Chen said solemnly: "Withdraw all intelligence personnel involved in this operation from Xi Niuhe Zhou one after another."

"Ah?" Luan Erjie was a bit puzzled, "Advisor, are we just going to let it go? You've been planning for more than twenty years, and now you have nothing to show for it."

Luan Erjie was a bit unwilling. To cooperate with Su Chen, she had put a lot of effort into the intelligence network in Xi Niuhe Zhou, but now Su Chen wanted to give it up.

"Nothing to show for it?" Su Chen shook his head, "No, there are still gains."

"Ah?" Luan Erjie looked confused, not knowing where the gains were.

Su Chen didn't explain; there were some things he couldn't say clearly.

Although tricking Jin Chanzi failed this time, he at least knew the bottom line of the Buddhist community, and Su Chen didn't feel that this layout was a complete failure.

Some things, once they have appeared, can never be erased.

Liushahe.

After more than ten days of trekking, Fa Neng, who had returned from the lost path, arrived at the bank of the Liushahe again.

Looking at the Liushahe before him, Fa Neng's mood was complex. The Buddha asked him to come to the Liushahe, saying that his first tribulation would be fulfilled here.

But he didn't say what kind of tribulation was waiting for him.

"I heard that reeds sink in this river and goose feathers don't float. Could the tribulation the World Honored One spoke of be that I have to cross the river?" Fa Neng guessed wildly in his heart.

He took a deep breath, shouted loudly toward the muddy yellow river water: "I am a monk traveling to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. I am passing through this place and cannot cross the river. May I ask if there is a god in the river who can help me cross?"

His voice sounded a bit weak in the roaring sound of the water.

He shouted three times, but there was no response from the river.

Seeing this, Fa Neng moved a stone from the shore and threw it into the river.

"Splash!"

As soon as the stone was thrown into the river, a loud noise occurred, and the calm river surface suddenly exploded with a huge splash.

A water demon, three zhang tall, with a green face and fangs, and red hair like fire, suddenly rushed out of the river.

The water demon held a pitch-black demon-subduing treasure staff, and his whole body exuded monstrous demon energy and evil spirit.

This demon was none other than the Great General Juan Lian who had been demoted to the mortal world.

"Who are you, making noise by the river?" The Great General Juan Lian asked, staring at Fa Neng as soon as he surfaced.

"This poor monk is Fa Neng, a monk traveling to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. I am passing through this place and cannot cross the river, so I want to find a way to cross." Seeing the appearance of the Great General Juan Lian, Fa Neng was not afraid and answered with his palms together.

"A monk fetching scriptures?" Hearing him say this, the Great General Juan Lian knew what he should do. He laughed wildly: "Hahaha, you monk, there is a path to heaven but you don't take it, there is no door to hell but you break in. I've been trapped here for a long time and haven't tasted human flesh. Today, I'll use you to break my fast!"

Hearing the words of the Great General Juan Lian, there was not the slightest fear on Fa Neng's face.

At this time, he already knew what the tribulation in the Buddha's mouth was.

He knew this was his destiny, so he didn't resist, just closed his eyes and chanted scriptures.

Seeing his appearance, the Great General Juan Lian admired his attitude and said: "Monk, have a safe journey!"

After speaking, he used his supernatural powers, his mouth became huge, and he swallowed Fa Neng in one gulp, then spat out Fa Neng's clothes.

Finally, he opened his mouth again and spat out a white bone skull without flesh and blood, then picked up the skull.

Thus, the first life of Jin Chanzi, Monk Fa Neng, completed his mission. ===== CHAPTER 201 =====