Chapter 619: The Devout (Extra Chapter 110)

When the Bodhi Treasure Tree was planted, the vitality that the Western Desert lacked was completely replenished.

For a long time, Buddhism had been injecting the majority of the Western Desert Divine Continent's vitality into the Bodhi Treasure Tree, and utilizing the feedback from its refinement to create a cycle.

Back and forth, it could be considered a virtuous cycle.

But as the Bodhi Treasure Tree was taken away by the Buddhas, this cycle was completely severed; the Western Desert world was blindly exploited by them without any feedback, ultimately heading toward a vicious cycle of expenditure exceeding income, only managing to recover until now.

With this, the entire Western Desert completely changed its allegiance, from Buddhism to the Daoist Gate.

The original sentiments of resistance also vanished into nothingness under that rain which possessed the power of Heaven and Earth; the mortals were completely convinced, and some had already begun to take the initiative to offer tributes to the Fox Immortal.

As for whether the cultivators were convinced... it didn't matter.

As long as they behaved themselves and didn't jump out, Ren Yidao had no intention of managing them.

But if anyone dared to jump out, the method of dealing with them was very simple: just squash them one by one.

Simple and clear.

Next, a figure identical to the Fox Immortal, with a fox head and human body, walked out from the body and merged into Ren Yidao's true form.

That was Ren Yidao's Dao God.

After this refinement of the Dao Fruit, his Baihu Daoshen possessed two forms: the eight-tailed white fox and the fox-headed human body.

Ren Yidao finally became like the other members of the Divine Path Sect, with a Dao God whose strength far exceeded his own.

Just how strong the Dao God in the Fox Immortal state was, Ren Yidao had no concrete concept, but an ordinary Ask Dao cultivator would definitely not be its match.

That was the Heavenly Dao Fruit of a region; even if only a portion was intercepted, it was by no means something an ordinary cultivator could rival.

Ask Dao Peak, or even a revived Immortal God... it might not be impossible to fight them.

And just as Ren Yidao was pondering how strong he was at this moment and whether he could defy his master, the Fox-Faced Buddha, or rather, the current Fox Immortal, moved.

Mingxin raised his hand to touch the fox head on his neck that hadn't disappeared with the departure of the Dao God, tilting his head in some confusion.

"Daoist? This..."

He didn't quite understand why he hadn't lost consciousness. Why did Ren Yidao still leave those Dao Fruits for him?

"Some things, it might not be good for me to take; since I gave them to you, just keep them." Ren Yidao waved his hand casually, not bothering to explain much to Mingxin.

When the realm isn't reached, saying more is just a waste of breath.

Moreover, Ren Yidao's true confidence couldn't be told to Mingxin; he couldn't exactly tell him, "Huhu, I am certain that I will become a Supreme in the future," could he?

Knowing too much might not be a good thing.

Mingxin also reacted, nodding gratefully, and pressed his palms together to thank him: "Many thanks, Daoist."

Ren Yidao shook his head, correcting Mingxin's gesture, changing the palms-pressed greeting to a cupped-fist salute: "From now on, remember that you are the Fox Immortal. You must pay attention to your daily conduct; the Daoist Gate is not Buddhism, and there are still some differences between the two."

"Mingxin understands."

"Besides, if you aren't used to this appearance, you can wear a hood in your daily life." Ren Yidao looked at Mingxin's fox head, blinked, and smiled: "Or when you get used to the power within your body, you can change your appearance yourself and return to your original look."

Ren Yidao did not fuse all the Heavenly Dao Fruits into the Dao God, but left a portion of the Dao Fruits for Mingxin to control, both giving him a certain ability to protect himself and entrusting all the Causality to him.

The body of a Fozi is indeed powerful and capable of easily killing Immortal Gods, but the Causality within it is too great; Ren Yidao did not want it to affect himself, and at most, he would only borrow it on certain specific occasions; it could not be occupied for long.

Not to mention, this was something they had already agreed upon.

"By the way, although I have changed Buddhism to the Daoist Gate, the disciples still need a leader."

It was impossible for Mingxin to do everything himself; the "Fox Immortal" needed an agent to convey orders for Him, just like the former Fozi Jiexing.

"Does the Daoist already have a candidate?"

"Mm, you could say that." Ren Yidao nodded, not denying it.

Regarding this agent to convey the Fox Immortal's will, there had long been a suitable candidate.

It wasn't even chosen by him, but rather the other party had taken the initiative to approach him.

Linbei Oasis.

Ma Jiu and her son, who had not yet left the Western Desert Divine Continent, also witnessed the previous changes in Heaven and Earth with their own eyes.

Ma Yao finally admitted his mother was right; that Lord Fox Immortal was indeed a god possessing powerful strength.

As for Ma Jiu, she was not surprised by these things; she had always believed so firmly, and after witnessing this scene, it instead made her faith even more resolute and pure.

And at this moment, she was still kneeling and praying as before, not expecting to receive a response from the deity, but this time she suddenly felt something in her heart.

She felt that Lord Fox Immortal was watching her!

Ren Yidao looked at this devout woman, nodded, and then curled his lip.

Originally, Ren Yidao did not intend to leave any orthodoxy in the Western Desert Divine Continent and had never been interested in this overly familiar Believer, but clearly, plans change faster than reality.

Since the opportunity was rare now, it wouldn't hurt to make the best use of it.

You fellow, haven't you always wanted to become my Believer?

Then come.

I'll let you be this Grand Patriarch.

Ren Yidao's Incarnation raised his hand, tapped at the center of Ma Jiu's brow, and injected a wisp of the Western Desert world's Dao Fruit.

"Lord Fox Immortal!"

Ma Jiu couldn't suppress her excitement at all and was about to express her gratitude, but before she could speak, Lord Fox Immortal vanished in an instant.

She felt some regret, but no dissatisfaction, understanding that Lord Fox Immortal must be very busy and hardworking.

As an excellent self-adaptive Believer, she was truly very accustomed to self-consolation.

However, did Lord Fox Immortal seem to tap her brow at the end?

And just as Ma Jiu was pondering this, her withered arms began to become plump without her noticing, and her whole person began to look full.

The skin that had become dry due to labor appeared with fine cracks like a shattered eggshell, then quickly ruptured, revealing the tender skin underneath.

The braided long hair also continuously grew, the white within it fading away and returning to black.

In an instant, Ma Jiu's body radiated with vibrant vitality, transforming from the appearance of someone over fifty back to the youth of her early twenties.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Ma Yao, she looked nothing like his mother, but rather more like his older sister.

Yet, the depth in her eyes, settled after experiencing the hardships of life, was not something a young girl in her early twenties could possess.

Ma Jiu did not notice the changes in herself, but Ma Yao, standing to the side, had witnessed the entire process and was so stunned he stood agape, stammering, "Mother? You... you, you, are you Mother?"

"Silly child, what are you saying? If I am not your mother, then who could I... Ah!?"

Ma Jiu noticed the changes in herself at this moment and let out a scream.

I've become young!!?

What woman does not love beauty? Who would not like their own youthful body?

Beyond her excitement, Ma Jiu was even more grateful to the Fox Immortal who had bestowed all this upon her.

Because she knew that in this world, only one Great One would grant such rewards to a pitiful person like her.

Fox Immortal!

That generous, benevolent, and great Fox Immortal!

【"Indeed, just propagate my name according to this method."】

Ren Yidao indicated: That's right, just promote me like this.

【"Go to Spirit Mountain; I shall await you there."】

Go!

Go toward Spirit Mountain!

I have hidden all the treasures there!

……

……

Mingxin returned to the interior of Spirit Mountain.

He saw Jiexing and silently bowed.

Jiexing had already passed away.

Mingxin was not surprised by his death.

In fact, Jiexing had died at the hands of his own subordinates.

When Mingxin mastered the headless Buddha body, he had judged all the sinful Demon monks throughout Spirit Mountain.

The innocent lived, the guilty died.

And Jiexing... was among the guilty.

Although his life's purpose was to set things right and eradicate the Demon Buddha, he had indeed committed too many sins in the process, and he was also one of those to be judged.

He was dead.

But even after experiencing being consumed by flames before his death, he still appeared incomparably peaceful.

Because he understood that although he had failed, he had also succeeded.

Even if it meant using his own death to prove this point, he had no complaints or regrets.

Jiexing, to abstain from evil conduct.

Fozi Jiexing had ultimately eradicated all evil conduct, including his own, allowing Buddhism to return to purity.

It was just that in the Western Desert Divine Continent, there was no longer any Buddhism.

Mingxin continued downward and arrived at the monks imprisoned as "rebels."

They were the last defenders of Buddhism, having strictly observed the precepts for a hundred years, enduring the lack of understanding and the torture of others.

Even just before, when Ren Yidao was refining the Heavenly Dao of the Western Desert, they had not compromised, choosing only to acquiesce.

They acknowledged that Buddhism was dead, but they would not convert to another faith.

This was their persistence, which would not be shaken by any change in the Heavenly Dao.

At this moment, they were not dead, but they were extremely weak.

Mingxin nodded at them, waved his hand to undo the shackles on their bodies, and said softly, "Masters, leave."

"The Western Desert no longer belongs to Buddhism; go to other places."

At first, the monks did not move, as if in deep meditation, and Mingxin did not urge them, instead saying softly, "Fozi Jiexing has already entered Nirvana; he succeeded."

Finally, those monks slowly opened their eyes and stared at Mingxin, observing him.

"... You, are you not killing us?"

One of the monks, who looked like a mummified corpse, stared at the "Fox Immortal" and asked hoarsely, "Why?"

Why?

Mingxin felt somewhat melancholy.

Yes, why?

It was clearly he who advocated for the destruction of Buddhism and personally participated in it, yet why did his heart soften at this moment?

"Leave."

In the end, Mingxin did not explain, only sighed and said this before disappearing from the prison.

Perhaps it was because I was once a member of Buddhism.

Or perhaps, Buddhism itself was not guilty; the guilt lay with the Buddha, not in the scriptures and doctrines.

Letting these people leave could also be considered preserving a seed for the Buddhist tradition.

However, he could also be certain that no matter what kind of flower this seed eventually bloomed into, it would no longer be the one from the past.

"But..."

"This is already enough."