Chapter 314 - 254 Subdue_2

Endless Buddha’s Light emerged from beneath his feet, slowly walking from the mountain and turning the earth a golden yellow. The dense dark clouds vanished without a trace, the space between heaven and earth filled with boundless Buddha’s Light, and a grand chanting sound faintly echoed from above, as if the Buddha Kingdom had descended.

The sheer magnitude of this power made people immediately realize the prowess of the other party.

Ding Xiao, looking at the scene as if the Buddha Kingdom had descended, also showed a shocked expression on his face, murmuring to himself, "I didn’t expect such a formidable being to appear!"

Lady Wu was also intimidated by this scene, her mouth agape. She had seen many cultivators from the Buddhist Sect, but never such an exaggerated spectacle.

"Is this a Bodhisattva or a Buddha of the Buddhist Sect?" she asked curiously.

However, Ding Xiao spoke with a grave expression, "This one is neither a Buddha nor a Bodhisattva, not even an Arhat. He is just an Ascetic Monk."

"An Ascetic Monk!" Lady Wu’s tone was filled with disbelief, suspecting that even an ordinary Buddha might not be capable of this, and yet such a person held no position in the Buddhist Sect.

"Of course, if he wished so, the position of a Buddha in the Buddhist Sect would be easily within his reach, but this master has refused. You should know he is one of the very first cultivators of the Buddhist Sect."

"In the era he was active, the Tathagata Buddha had not yet appeared in the world. Those Ancient Buddhas were only just establishing the Buddhist Sect. He was among the earliest Buddhists, devoting his life to the sect, believing that positions are mere illusions, and only the Buddhist Law is true. You should know that even the Tathagata Buddha had once consulted him on Buddhist Law before achieving enlightenment."

Ding Xiao slowly revealed the old man’s identity, causing Lady Wu to be exceptionally stunned.

So, it seemed, this was a figure of the patriarchal level in the Buddhist Sect, with a status and power far beyond the ordinary.

"That such a figure would make a move here!" Lady Wu could not help but sigh.

Such individuals should have transcended worldly affairs, living either in seclusion or in ascetic cultivation, and rarely making a move.

However, Ding Xiao appeared to be reveling in misfortune as he said, "This can only be blamed on Lord Chi’s bad luck, knowing that this master is committed to spreading the Buddhist Law throughout the world. Thus, he usually just walks around as an ordinary person. If someone intentionally sought him, it would be extremely rare for anyone in the Three Realms to find him. It seems he just happened to be passing by here this time."

In the sky above, Lord Chi also recognized the identity of the comer, his eyes filled with fear, and he shouted incredulously, "Old bald donkey, you’re still alive!"

The imposing Divine Dragon was suddenly flooded with distant memories. At that time, he was just a newly matured young dragon, curious about the outside world, beginning his journey across the Three Realms.

Because of the innate strength of the Dragon Clan, he quickly led a carefree life outside. However, this beautiful life did not last long.

One day, after he had destroyed several human tribes, feeling satisfied and ready to return to his lair, an old, emaciated monk with a shaved head and bare feet stood in his path.

Of course, at that time, the Buddhist Sect was not yet well-established, and he did not know that this bald and barefooted person was called a monk.

But when the old monk began to teach him that he should suppress his nature and endeavor to do good to see the mind and understand the nature, the brutal dragon decided to swallow this incessantly chattering insect.

However, this was the most regrettable decision of his life. The monk, who appeared frail and like a breeze could knock him over, pinned him to the ground and pounded him mercilessly. The apparently frail fists seemed to carry a strange power, penetrating his thick dragon scales and strong body, striking his soul. The pain was truly unforgettable.

In the hands of the old monk, he felt like a powerless little snake, being mercilessly tormented, a painful memory that still ached faintly even today.

In the days that followed, the old monk forcibly kept him by his side, endlessly preaching the great principles of the Buddhist Sect, making him feel a desperate urge to hang himself.

During this period, elders from the Dragon Clan also attempted to rescue him, but unfortunately, the old monk always managed to send them back disgraced, ultimately forcing him to follow the monk for a period of time.

For a dragon in his rebellious phase, that time was unbearably abominable, and he could not remember how he managed to last until the end. Of course, it was also fortunate that the old monk harbored no killing intent, otherwise, he might have died long ago.

After countless years, the old monk had reappeared before him, still bearing the aged visage, but Lord Chi dared not be the slightest bit careless; he knew just how formidable and fearsome the monk was.

"So it is Red Dragon, many years since I last saw you, yet you still haven’t grasped the True Intent of Compassion!" the old man shook his head and sighed, seemingly full of regret for Lord Chi.

"Old monk, spare me your words, I must avenge the past today!" Lord Chi roared angrily, but anyone could hear the insecurity in his voice.

"Alas! It seems I must still properly teach you!" The old monk sighed, slowly walking towards Lord Chi.

At that moment, Lord Chi completely panicked; he suddenly felt as if he had reverted to his former self, incapable of mustering the courage to resist the old monk before him.

He could only let him approach slowly.

The old monk walked up to Faming, nodded satisfyingly, and said, "Always harboring a heart of compassion, very good, very good."

The golden Buddha’s Light enveloped Faming, erasing the scars left by Lord Chi instantaneously; feeling reborn, Faming respectfully bowed and said, "Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk thanks the Zen Master!"

Having restored Faming, the old monk gently extended his palm, and the Divine Dragon circling in the sky began to shrink slowly, finally landing in his hand.

"Old monk, what are you going to do to me?" Lord Chi’s voice contained a trace of panic.

"Amitabha Buddha, benefactor, you and the Buddha are fated, but sadly the connection was not enough to grasp the true essence of the Buddhist Law in the past. Meeting today is the result of karma; you should follow this old monk in practice of cultivation!" The old monk said with a calm expression.

He grasped Lord Chi and walked towards the forest.

"Let go of me, I do not wish to practice Buddhism, old monk, do not be arrogant, or someone will naturally deal with you."

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The old monk’s words still echoed in the air, but both Lord Chi and his figure had disappeared, leaving the sky to return to calm, as the dark clouds and golden light dispersed, making everything that had happened seem like a mere dream.

Only the devastated Earth spoke of the intensity of the prior battle.

No one had expected the turmoil to end in such a manner; the fearsome Lord Chi was so casually captured without any chance to resist.

"The Buddhist Sect, truly unfathomable indeed!" Lady Wu said faintly.

At that moment when she saw Lord Chi, his invincible aura was vivid in her memory, especially given that he had once contended with the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, adding even more to his legend. Who would have thought he would be captured by an unknown old monk, a tale so unbelievable it might not be accepted if told.

"Naturally, but this Ascetic Monk generally pays no heed to affairs of Mount Ling, hence his sightings are rare," Ding Xiao also sighed.

As he had mentioned before, Lord Chi was unlucky to have encountered this great power, but his mind echoed with the old monk’s words, and suddenly he realized this might not have been an accident.

It was perhaps a karma set in motion thousands of years ago at their first meeting, such a thought was chilling, sending a shiver down his spine.

Lady Wu noticed her husband’s discomposure and asked with concern, "My lord, what’s wrong with you, breaking out in a cold sweat all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, just thought of some possibilities, couldn’t help feeling fearful, that’s all," Ding Xiao said with a wry smile.

If it were indeed as he imagined, then the power of this Ascetic Monk was truly unfathomable.