Chapter 618: Consummation (23)

Although the current act was to transform the Buddha into a Fox Immortal, the method Ren Yidao chose was not so simple or crude.

He did not choose to tell the mortals the truth; instead, he informed them that the Buddha was always a fictional Incarnation, and the true Buddha had actually always been the Fox Immortal.

Everything was not a usurpation, but a setting of things right.

To put it plainly, this was telling them of the legitimacy and legality of his own status as the Fox Immortal.

This is the same reason why many emperors, after ascending the throne, spread some anecdotes about themselves to add a mythical quality.

I am the choice of Heaven.

Such an approach both reduced the resistance of the mortals and appeased their fear.

As mortals, they did not need to know the truth.

Otherwise... they would have to be like cultivators, kneeling on the ground and trembling.

Because many times, the truth is instead painful.

The more one knows, the more painful it is.

As for the cultivators, Ren Yidao was not so polite, directly and crudely telling them the fact that he had transformed the Buddha into a Fox Immortal.

Who approves? Who opposes?

If there are any objections, you are welcome to bring them up; we are very democratic.

He could say this, but of course, no one dared to believe it.

Who would dare to resist at this time?

They did not dare to show even the slightest bit of resistance!

Even some formerly staunch Buddhists remained silent at this moment, neither acknowledging nor resisting, tacitly consenting to the Fox Immortal's usurpation of Buddhism.

The previous Buddhism had already left them completely disappointed; even if it were worse now, it would not be worse than before.

Thus, with just a small trick, Ren Yidao successfully gained the recognition of almost everyone in the Western Desert.

The progress of refining the Dao Fruit surged, rapidly exceeding ninety percent!

At this moment, the entire Western Desert fell almost completely into darkness, and the bright moon hidden behind the dark clouds became increasingly brilliant and dazzling; in a flash, it even seemed as bright and eye-catching as a sun in the sky.

But this bright moon was not as violent as a scorching sun, but rather exceptionally calm, as if it had been hanging high in the sky since time immemorial, quietly looking down upon the Earthly Realm.

Like the rising sun!

Like the constant moon!

Seeing this scene, everyone understood that the general trend was set, and it was impossible for anyone to interfere.

Some ill-intentioned gazes could only resentfully choose to give up at this time.

The other party's speed was truly too fast, not giving them any chance to strike at all; while they were still observing and hesitating, the other party had already almost succeeded.

No one doubted whether Ren Yidao could ultimately succeed; all believed the situation was decided.

As for why it had not been completely refined and why the world had been kept in this strange state, it was actually to show off his might to everyone watching this place, or even to deliberately set a trap, waiting for some idiots to take the bait.

Too insidious!

Hmph, we won't fall for it!

With the previous fierce strike of the Demon Buddha, who would dare to take the initiative to attack at this time? Are they tired of living?

Besides, everyone has survived from the ancient times until now, so how could they lack this bit of patience?

Heh!

But in reality, only Ren Yidao knew at this moment that the previously smooth refining of the Dao Fruit had run into a problem.

His refining of the Dao Fruit was stuck at ninety-nine percent, and he could not fully grasp the final bit.

Hmm?

Are you a certain disk?

Must you get stuck at ninety-nine percent at the very end?

Ren Yidao frowned, carefully sensing what exactly the Dao Fruit was resisting.

To his surprise, this final resistance was not because someone was working against him in the shadows, nor was it some stubborn resistance group.

This final resistance... came from the Western Desert Divine Continent itself.

It was the Western Desert Divine Continent, a world that should have been devoid of consciousness, slightly resisting his entry.

Probing further, Ren Yidao understood where the problem lay.

The Western Desert Divine Continent indeed did not have a specific, independent consciousness, but only an illusory pan-consciousness with the most basic instincts.

At this moment, it was not resisting Ren Yidao, but rather not cooperating.

It had simply grown accustomed to being led by Buddhism over these thousands of years; it did not necessarily resist Ren Yidao, the newcomer, but it had no particular fondness for him either.

"The world rejects me?"

Ren Yidao opened his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed, a look of "not knowing what's good for you" flashing in his eyes.

You resist me?

What is your status, that you resist me?

Then, Ren Yidao raised his head, stared at the sky, and spoke directly.

"Western Desert, why do you reject me?"

It seemed as if no one answered, but in reality, in Ren Yidao's perception, the pan-consciousness of the Western Desert was currently in a state of constant confusion.

Ren Yidao had already refined ninety-nine percent of the Western Desert Dao Fruit, and could almost be considered the new rule.

And for the master of the rules, regardless of whether the pan-consciousness resists or not, the world only has the role of cooperating.

Ren Yidao could forcibly refine the Dao Fruit, or even erase the past consciousness of the Western Desert, and then condense a new, obedient pan-consciousness led by himself.

But he did not do so.

Ren Yidao has always been a reasonable person.

Therefore, he prepared to have a good talk about reason with the Western Desert heaven and earth.

"Do you still not understand?"

"I have already refined the Dao Fruit; you should have served me as your master. This is the law of the heaven and earth Dao; why do you resist?"

"Furthermore, my Dao is not one of extraction; to you, it is beneficial and harmless."

The Buddhism of the Western Desert extracts from heaven and earth, taking everything for itself, and even when the heaven and earth are barren, it does not stop.

But Ren Yidao is different; his law is the Freedom Dao, caring only for his own freedom, and his extraction from heaven and earth is not great, nor does he intend to cut off the vitality of all things.

Moreover, if he were to squeeze the heaven, earth, and all living things like the Buddhism of the past, then Mingxin and the Demon Buddha would be coming for him the next time they exterminated Buddhism.

Ren Yidao is not afraid of them, but doing so is truly unnecessary.

Thus, the power that had already gathered upon Ren Yidao was directly abandoned by him, dissipating into the heaven and earth, turning into the vibrant vitality of all things reviving, and beginning to nourish the heaven and earth in return.

Western Desert Divine Continent, this land that had been drained dry for thousands of years, finally welcomed vitality.

Feeling this power, the Western Desert pan-consciousness was even a bit bewildered.

The Western Desert pan-consciousness at this moment gave Ren Yidao the feeling of a poor child who had been squeezed for a long time and had even forgotten how to enjoy things.

Rather than gratitude, what it felt first was confusion.

This, is this for me?

Although this is my own power, but, but, this is actually for me?

Really?

"..."

This reaction left even Ren Yidao speechless.

What kind of life has this child been living?

How can someone be even less human than me?

"Alright, how long are you going to remain obsessed and unrepentant!!?"

"Open for me!"

Seemingly finally losing itself under Ren Yidao's sugar-coated bullets, the dizzy Western Desert pan-consciousness stopped resisting, allowing Ren Yidao to successfully refine the Dao Fruit completely.

And just as some Immortal Gods were unable to hold back and were preparing to launch a sneak attack, the Western Desert heaven and earth changed with a boom, leaving not a single gap!

This change caused the several Immortal Gods who were about to move to change their expressions, exclaiming that it was a close call.

As expected, this insidious guy was just waiting for someone to take the bait!!!

Hmph!

Fortunately, this Immortal Venerable is more skilled, and did not fall for it.

Ren Yidao did not pay attention to those guys hiding in the darkness; since the other party dared not appear openly and chose to hide their heads and show their tails, then there was nothing to care about.

He was currently feeling the fruits of victory after refining the Dao Fruit.

Ren Yidao had a feeling that he had become the Western Desert Divine Continent.

He was the heaven and earth, and the heaven and earth were him; the two were inseparable.

The land of the Western Desert turned into every inch of his body, and the sun and moon were his eyes.

With just a single thought, he could turn the Western Desert upside down.

And the Western Desert heaven and earth, whose authority had been stolen, was rejoicing, celebrating the arrival of a new master.

It did not care that Ren Yidao had taken its authority, and even actively delivered it into his hands.

Ren Yidao smiled.

Thus, the sky, which had already darkened, became covered with pitch-black clouds, countless silver snakes flashed across the sky, and thunder rumbled in bursts.

The entire heaven and earth descended with sweet rain.

The Western Desert, it rained.

There were some Western Desert Believers who, from birth to death, had never seen rain in their entire lives, having only heard of this phenomenon in the accounts of outsiders.

Not to mention a heavy rain that covered the entire Western Desert Divine Continent and cleansed the heaven and earth.

In the words of those people, precious water sources would fall from the sky and nourish the entire land.

They did not believe such things, just feeling that those people were bragging and deceiving them.

But until this moment, they finally understood that everything was actually real.

Water, it really would fall from the sky!

Countless Believers exclaimed, carrying water bags and holding earthen jars, rushing into the rain, trying to catch this gift from the heavens.

But soon they discovered that they didn't need to catch it at all; they couldn't contain it.

Naturally, they opened their arms in the rain, welcoming the sweet rain, and grateful for the kindness of the Fox Immortal.

All of this was brought by the Fox Immortal!

They cheered in the rain, and they danced in the muddy water.

The rain washed the earth, washing away the dust and smoke, and also washing away the sins on their bodies, allowing them to truly show smiles.

Feeling the joy of the heaven, earth, and mortals, Ren Yidao also revealed a smile.

Without even needing to feel carefully, Ren Yidao could feel the surge of Merit on his body at this moment.

But everything he did this time was not for Merit, but simply because he wanted to do it himself.

Wanting to do it, he did it.

Not seeking reward, acting wantonly, is also a kind of freedom.

The heavy rain gradually ceased, the dark clouds faded, and the heaven and earth returned to brightness.

The bright moon did not appear, but it had long been deeply imprinted in everyone's heart.

After the rain, patches of puddles appeared on the sand, forming a spectacle like ten thousand bright mirrors, drawing gasps of wonder from the Believers.

The desolate desert gradually began to turn green; some plants hidden deep beneath the sand, having absorbed enough moisture and sensed the changes in Heaven and Earth, scrambled to sprout out.

It looked as though it would not be long before the desert completely vanished, eventually becoming history.

"However, I still feel like something is missing."

Ren Yidao shook his head, and just as he was pondering what was lacking, the Demon Buddha at his side handed him a small tree.

"This is?"

"The Bodhi Treasure Tree."

It was a Bodhi seed that had already taken root and sprouted, which the Demon Buddha had just catalyzed using his own power, letting it absorb his own Dao cultivation as nourishment.

"Whether you refine it into a Dharma treasure or plant it," the Demon Buddha looked down at Ren Yidao, smiled for the first time, and said softly, "everything depends on you."

He was very satisfied with Ren Yidao's performance, so he placed the choice into his hands.

"Does that even need to be said?" Ren Yidao took the small Bodhi tree handed over by the Demon Buddha and, without a second thought, threw it out with force.

Ren Yidao naturally understood that precious principle—green waters and lush mountains are gold and silver mountains.

Draining the pond to catch the fish is not advisable.

The small Bodhi tree flew up and finally landed on the peak of Spirit Mountain in the center of the Western Desert.

It took root, grew, and sprouted... in just a few breaths, it became a towering tree.

And at the very moment the Bodhi Treasure Tree grew, Ren Yidao sensed that this world of the Western Desert Divine Continent had finally become complete.