Chapter 542: Few New Gods Have Normal Brains

Behind Xinzheng Temple lies the Reincarnation Forbidden Land.

Ning Qing stood suspended in the air, having come alone.

A group of high-ranking monks stood in orderly formation to welcome her.

Yet she acted as if she did not see them, stepping straight into the Forbidden Land.

The Buddhist Sect has always been a school of thought that emphasizes the state of the mind; the Reincarnation Forbidden Land primarily tests the firmness of one's mind.

Entering the Reincarnation Forbidden Land is like stepping into Samsara itself; sometimes you will begin a new life from beginning to end, sometimes you will become another person, living with that person's identity, memories, and thoughts, and sometimes you will still be yourself, but your memories will have deviated, modified by the Forbidden Land, living within an illusion.

The Forbidden Land will peer into your inner heart, understand your weaknesses, and even use your own thoughts and wisdom to trouble you, further choosing different methods combined with the content required for merging with the Plane Origin.

In this process, you may experience hardship, you may be tempted, you may feel loss and Fear, you may be deceived, and you must recognize yourself at every moment, holding fast to your original heart; if you cannot break free, you will be trapped here forever.

A moment is a hundred years; a hundred years is a moment.

Likewise, many genius Buddhist Sect disciples of Xinzheng Temple enter the Forbidden Land, but they only linger on the outskirts or the edges, brushing against the Divine Power, not daring to go deep.

In an instant, Divine Power surged, and golden light obscured the sky.

The rules of the Forbidden Land activated, devouring all things.

Yet Ning Qing simply stood in the center of the Forbidden Land, quietly closing her eyes, her expression remaining indifferent, like a deity.

A Twin Universe? Or an overlapping universe?

Only two layers? Or are there countless layers?

Did the Ning Qing of the Qianweimian really return to the past? Or was it just a dream?

Is she truly existing? Or is she the result of the real Ning Qing's self-deception after losing her beloved?

Is she the Ning Qing of the Rear Plane? Or the Ning Qing of the Qianweimian?

How many times has she traveled through the Plane to return to the past? Failure after failure, continuing time and again, each time deceiving and suggesting to herself that this is a Twin Universe and she is merely returning from the former universe to the Rear Plane, that this is the first time, so she might as well enjoy it once more.

The subsequent guarding seems to have failed again.

The old Samsara ends, and a new Samsara begins.

Is it an illusion of the Reincarnation Forbidden Land? Or an awakening to the true self?

After a few months, will she merge with the Space-Time Origin to leave this place and become a deity? Or has she merely entered a new Samsara and illusion here?

A moment is a hundred years; a moment is a thousand years.

It seems there are countless kinds of Ning Qing, countless changes, countless results; some can complement each other, some are mutually contradictory, but all strive to make her believe—and these are all things Ning Qing often thinks about during her usual reflections.

In short, it messes with one's state of mind.

The foolish are trapped within it; the wise distinguish truth from falsehood themselves.

Ning Qing gradually curled the corners of her mouth.

The Buddhist Sect knows a thing or two about the human heart, human nature, and what people fear.

If a Bodhisattva cannot withstand these interrogations, after becoming a Buddha and entering the Plane Core, perhaps these things would also automatically emerge to interrogate him during that long, ten-thousand-year darkness, loneliness, and confrontation?

Buddhas have the shortest lifespans, and what they bear is the highest-intensity confrontation with deities from other Planes; if they cannot withstand it, perhaps they will go mad and become demons?

Just like Shengzu did back then.

What a pity, what a pity; these things are just barely enough to deal with Buddhist Sect disciples, but in front of the Secret Sect, they appear too crude.

The Secret Sect observes the world and also observes the inner heart; they think about the world and also think about the self. When Ning Qing was idle, she often stood by the window in a daze, but in reality, she had already tested herself a hundred or a thousand times in her heart using similar or even more advanced methods; she had experienced thoughts even more terrifying and real than this.

Only by experiencing thousands of falsehoods and preserving one's true heart can one see the truth of the real world; only by experiencing thousands of falsehoods and not forgetting one's original intention can one see the beauty of the real world.

These things before her eyes are truly crude and childish.

"Swish!"

Ning Qing still stood in the same spot; before her were ancient mountains and flowing water, with moss gently covering the earth, and a Bodhi Ancient Tree, leafless and fruitless, yet covered in flowers.

The fragrance of the flowers was also gentle, like the sandalwood lit in a green-lamped ancient temple, curling in wisps of smoke.

However, several figures in monk robes sat beside her.

Sitting cross-legged, eyes closed and palms pressed together, they seemed to be resting here briefly, silently reciting the Heart Sutra, but in fact, they had been dead for who knows how many years; to be precise, they had remained in this Reincarnation Forbidden Land forever, experiencing Samsara for eternity.

Ning Qing pursed her lips, showing no reaction, merely reaching out to pluck a Zen Flower from the ancient tree, sniffing it lightly at the tip of her nose, and then turned to leave this place.

Entering the true core of the Forbidden Land.

Merging with the Space-Time Origin.

Regarding this, the Ning Qing of the Qianweimian had left her with rich experience, and she would merge much more smoothly.

Just like other top geniuses, possessing marks, having long since come into contact with the Plane Origin in advance, plus the high recognition of the people of various nations—with these two bonuses, once they pass the Forbidden Land test, merging with the Origin will be many times faster than for the Bodhisattvas undergoing the tribulation.

Perhaps it will be much faster than the two of them.

Perhaps when the two of them leave, even if others are queuing in the Killing Forbidden Land, it is estimated that not many will have finished.

Time passed, seeming slow yet fast.

If not for longing, one does not feel the length.

With a thread of Plane Origin as a guide, with the help of the Forbidden Land and the action of the universe's rules, her Spirit Power gradually merged with a portion of the Space-Time Origin within the Wooden Bead, becoming a power that was neither ordinary Spirit Power nor the Space-Time Origin, becoming more advanced and more powerful.

Perhaps it should also be called some kind of Divine Power.

When Ning Qing successfully merged and left the Reincarnation Forbidden Land, as if she had known it long ago, she walked straight up to Xinzheng Temple, and a figure was standing in the long corridor waiting for her.

With green tiles and red walls, and the corridor winding along, that person leaned against the railing, in such harmony with the temple.

"Dong..."

A bell tolled.

The two approached, their gazes meeting, their tone as indifferent as usual, just like someone who had just gotten off work and taken a bus back.

"You finally came out."

"How long have you been waiting?"

"About a month or so."

"Is the temple food good?"

"It's fine at first, but you can't eat it for long."

"Are you feeling wronged?"

"It's alright. Why are you even slower than me?"

"……"

Ning Qing glanced at him lightly, and from his superficial concern, she very easily saw his true nature:

"Show-off!"

"Calling me a show-off? I've been waiting for you for so long, smelling incense sticks every day and listening to those monks chanting. If you didn't come out, I was about to become a monk myself."

"That's great, I suggest you consider it."

"……"

Why is she so infuriating?

Chen Shu turned into a boxer on the spot, throwing rapid punches at her arm.

Ning Qing, meanwhile, glanced at him sideways—

Seemingly already a god, yet still a dog.

……

Yujing, Zhilan Garden.

Ning Qing quietly glanced at Taozi, then glanced at Xiaoxiao beside her, pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said: "You've grown taller again. If this keeps up, in a few years you won't be the shortest in our family anymore."

"Right!"

"！?"

The two showed completely different reactions.

The little girl said nothing, but clenched her fists tightly.

A great person knows when to yield and when to stand tall; those who adapt to circumstances are the heroes.

Now that her sister has already become a god, if she doesn't become a god herself, she probably won't be able to deal with her... She originally had a chance to give her sister a sound beating, but it turned out that only two of the Green Demons she had worked so hard to build remained, and her brother-in-law said that two probably wouldn't be enough to beat her sister either.

Fortunately, what she is best at is enduring.

After a good while, the little girl suddenly turned her head to face her brother-in-law, her voice crisp:

"Brother-in-law! Where is my mark?"

"It's still early, what's the rush?" Chen Shu said, "Besides, I haven't merged with the Plane Origin, so I can't distribute marks. You'll have to find Zhang Suannai when the time comes."

"I want to reach High-Tier quickly!"

"What's the rush?"

"To grow taller!"

"Cultivation cannot be rushed. Besides, you need at least the Seventh Stage to activate a mark, and you've only just advanced to the Sixth Stage."

"!"

The little girl's fists clenched tighter and tighter.

"But don't be afraid," Chen Shu said to her again, "Now that both your sister and I are gods, we can give you a little bit of Divine Power every day. Your cultivation will be as fast as if you were in the Forbidden Land or Nanzhou, and advancing will also be very easy."

"……"

Only then did the little girl heave a sigh of relief.

"Right."

Chen Shu thought of everyone and hurriedly took out his Mobile Phone.

Qingcai Keke: We are finished.

Qingcai Keke: How about you guys?

As soon as the message was sent, Ning Qing sat over, leaned against his side, and tilted her head to stare at his Mobile Phone screen.

Just like always.

Messages flickered on the screen.

Haoran Zhengqi: Ziyang is still in the Forbidden Land, Yan Keling and Brother Wuming are still in line, everyone else has finished.

Qingcai Keke: So fast.

Grandma Always Says: The Killing Forbidden Land is too simple, those people are too weak, no wonder they couldn't become gods.

Gate of All Wonders: Heavenly Venerable is above, mind your words.

Grandma Always Says: ？？？

Grandma Always Says: Aren't you the Heavenly Venerable?

Gate of All Wonders: What about it?

Gate of All Wonders: Who says you can't call yourself that?

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha……

Haoran Zhengqi: It's mainly because of the marks, plus everyone is widely recognized, so the fusion process was exceptionally smooth. As far as I know, besides us, most of the others in the East, West, and North Continents have also finished merging. A small number are still killing time because the Forbidden Lands are more troublesome or time-consuming, but they are almost done too.

Grandma Always Says: Hurry up and think of a name.

Grandma Always Says: What kind of god are you called?

Grandma Always Says: We have already thought of one for you.

Grandma Always Says: Let's just call you Dog Saint.

Grandma Always Says: Or Dog God.

Qingcai Keke: /Fuck you

"..."

Chen Shu was truly lost in thought.

Gods naturally all have their own titles, including the Spirit Saint and the Sword God; in fact, they all have prefixes.

It is just that the Spirit Saint and Sword God are passed down individually through the generations, unlike the Buddha and Heavenly Venerable, who are often two or even three in number simultaneously, and sometimes even change during successions; for example, the previous generation of the Daoist sect had two Heavenly Venerables, but if they had not seized additional origin from another Plane, the Tribulation-Meeting Buddha would have succeeded the Right-Light Buddha, and Little Master Xuanzhen and Dharma Master Tongdeng should have succeeded those two Heavenly Venerables, thus shifting from two Heavenly Venerables of the Daoist sect and one Buddha of the Buddhist Sect to one Heavenly Venerable of the Daoist sect and two Buddhas of the Buddhist Sect.

Added to religious factors, the prefixes for Heavenly Venerable and Buddha are more widely known.

As for the Sword God and Spirit Saint, just referring to them as Sword God and Spirit Saint is sufficient.

The original Spirit Saint was called Fayuan Spirit Saint.

Chen Shu thought for a moment and began to type.

Qingcai Keke: Then what are you called?

Qingcai Keke: Lick-Dog Sword God? Brain-Dead Sword God? Husky Sword God?

Grandma Always Says: /Stabbing you with a Sword

Grandma Always Says: I am called the Last Sword God.

"..."

Chen Shu's facial features immediately crumpled, and he turned his head at the first opportunity to exchange glances with Qingqing, who was looking at him with tacit understanding.

It was as if he hadn't expected it, yet also as if it were within his expectations.

Sword God Zhang is the fifth Sword God.

Then what were the previous four called?

The first was the First Ancestor Sword God, just called First Ancestor Sword God; it wasn't a name given by his descendants, but one he took himself after anticipating there would be a second Sword God, in order to highlight his status as the first ancestor and his unique position.

The second was called Supreme Sword God, taking the meaning of being the highest under heaven; the meaning is very simple: I am the most awesome under heaven, and I rank above the ancestor.

The third was called Strongest Sword God.

This one is even simpler.

The fourth, who is the previous Sword God, was called Ultimate Sword God, wanting to block the path of his descendants.

Unfortunately, he didn't block it.

Zhang Suannai has now truly blocked it for real.

Haoran Zhengqi: /Complex expression

Haoran Zhengqi: Now that we've all become gods, can we stop being so childish? It makes it look like we don't have enough intelligence.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: /Complex expression

Qingcai Keke: Then what are you all called?

Qingcai Keke: @All Members

Haoran Zhengqi: @All Personnel

Haoran Zhengqi: This one of mine is the real one.

Qingcai Keke: Now that we've all become gods, can we stop being so childish? It makes it look like we don't have enough intelligence.

Haoran Zhengqi: /Cracking melon seeds

Haoran Zhengqi: I will take a Temple Name in the future.

Qingcai Keke: What about Little Master Xuanzhen?

Grandma Always Says: Arch-Fire Heavenly Venerable! Scum Heavenly Venerable!

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Zhong Miao Heavenly Venerable.

Qingcai Keke: What about Dharma Master Tongdeng?

Grandma Always Says: Meat-Eating Buddha! Dealer Buddha!

Qingdeng Gufu: Just call me Tongdeng.

Nameless Person: I'll just be called the Nameless God!

Grandma Always Says: The Nameless God, what a good name; it has the same effect as that silly dog's "Hey Hey Hey" screen name.

Nameless Person: It is "Nameless God"!

Qingcai Keke: What about Junior Sister Jiba?

Grandma Always Says: ** God? Beast God?

Grandma Always Says: Does this group even have censored words?

Haoran Zhengqi: Jiba isn't censored, but what your input typed out might not be Jiba.

Grandma Always Says: /Complex expression

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: I've also decided; I'll be called the First Generation Imperial God when the time comes.

Qingcai Keke: What about Brother Jiang?

Jiang Lai: The group owner gave it to me: Martial Saint.

Qingcai Keke: What about Brother Luo?

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: God of Sword Gods.

Grandma Always Says: /You motherfucker

Chen Shu, however, shook his head repeatedly.

"It's over."

There aren't many normal people in this group.

Oh no, normal gods.