Ethan Shu burst into laughter, giving Zhiqiu Yiye a friendly pat on the shoulder. "You have a heart as pure as a child's. In due time, you'll certainly attain your Golden Core!"
"Really, Master Xuan Kong?" Zhiqiu Yiye's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I've been stuck in the late Transcendence Stage for years, and my master always says I'm dense, not yet ready to condense my core."
Ethan Shu pressed his palms together with a compassionate smile. "Amitabha. A monk does not speak falsely. You're merely a step away from achieving your core; all you need is the right opportunity."
"By the way,"Ethan Shu continued, "how powerful is this 'Blood Demon of the Dark Spring' you mentioned?"
Zhiqiu Yiye's face grew serious as he explained, "I heard he's in the later stages of Integration, but with his plans to drain spiritual energy from the world, he may soon break into the Tribulation Stage!"
"Integration Stage…Tribulation Stage…"Ethan Shu pondered, comparing these terms to the Buddhist path.
The Buddhist cultivation levels range from Wisdom, to Nirvana, and finally to Enlightenment, comparable to the Golden Core to Grand Completion levels in the Daoist world. A grand demon could easily surpass the power of the Black Mountain Demon thatEthan Shu had previously defeated.
He watched as Fu Qingfeng and Fu Yuechi galloped ahead. "Let's quicken our pace,"Ethan Shu urged. "If we don't hurry, we'll lose sight of them."
The two surged forward with lightness skills, easily catching up with the sisters on horseback.
As they neared the capital, Fu Yuechi leaned toward her sister and whispered, "Look, Sister, Master Xuan Kong and Zhiqiu Yiye have already caught up."
Fu Qingfeng glanced back, impressed. "They truly are masters. If only we had their skills, rescuing Father would be a simple task."
"Perhaps, after saving Father, we could become Master Xuan Kong's disciples," Fu Yuechi suggested, her eyes sparkling.
Fu Qingfeng scoffed, "Do you want to become a nun?"
Fu Yuechi huffed in reply, "We could keep our hair; it's not like we'd have to shave our heads!"
Fu Qingfeng chuckled, shaking her head. "You and your fanciful notions. Buddhist vows aren't that simple."
"But, Sister, Master Xuan Kong doesn't seem to mind having two female ghosts by his side," Fu Yuechi teased, grinning mischievously.
Fu Qingfeng rolled her eyes with a laugh. "You're incorrigible!"
Fu Yuechi's tone softened, "But don't you think Master Xuan Kong is incredibly handsome? I never imagined a bald head could look this good."
Fu Qingfeng gave her a playful swat. "Stop swooning."
But she turned away, glancing down the road as she muttered to herself, "He really is… quite dashing…"
The scene shifted to Yandu, the capital. Unlike the desolate villages they'd passed, the capital buzzed with life.Ethan Shu noticed that many of the people wandering the streets were devout Buddhists, chanting fragments of the Heart Sutra as they walked.
"The influence of Buddhism here is strong,"Ethan Shu mused, "but why is there such a heavy demonic presence in the air?"
His gaze eventually landed on a grand temple, its golden rooftops glinting in the sunlight. With the naked eye, it was majestic, bathed in golden light and seemingly surrounded by auspicious clouds. However, upon activating his Dharma Eye, the temple revealed its true nature—an oppressive mix of greenish-black demonic energy entwined with a deep, dark-red aura of karmic sin, coiling skyward like smoke.
The temple's position directly opposed the imperial palace, as though subtly leeching its fortune.
"This demonic energy… It's stronger than that of the Black Mountain Demon. This creature must have cultivated for at least three thousand years,"Ethan Shu thought. Suddenly, he heard Fu Qingfeng's voice nearby.
"Master Xuan Kong, it's almost time. We're heading to the execution grounds now."
Ethan Shu nodded. "You go on ahead. I've noticed a temple here brimming with demonic energy; I'll pay it a visit."
"Understood," Fu Qingfeng replied. She and her sister led the others toward the market square, where the executions were to take place.
After the group had left,Ethan Shu made his way toward the bustling temple. Along the road, he passed countless devotees. Their faces were pale and thin, yet their eyes held a fanatical gleam as they fervently chanted sutras.
"This demon is truly ruthless,"Ethan Shu muttered, his serene demeanor hardening. "A false monk, using Buddhism to ensnare the innocent… He courts death!"
At the foot of the temple's grand staircase,Ethan Shu paused, his aura gradually transforming. With each step, his form grew increasingly imposing:
On the first step, he donned the Jinlan Robe.
On the second, he draped the Vajra Bodhi Beads around his neck.
On the third, he grasped his Violet-Gold Staff.
On the fourth, he lifted the Great Luo Golden Bowl in his hand.
With these items in place,Ethan Shu ascended to the temple's golden-red gate, its plaque boldly proclaiming five gilded characters: Temple of Universal Compassion.
"So you proclaim 'Universal Compassion'? Such arrogance!"Ethan Shu scoffed. "Let this humble monk see just what sort of fiend dares to defile Buddhism."
But as he moved to step through the gate, several temple guards rushed forward.
"This is sacred ground!" one guard barked. "No impostor monks allowed!"
Ethan Shu ignored them, stepping over the threshold.
"How dare you!" shouted the guards as they drew their swords, lunging at him.
"How dare you,"Ethan Shu retorted, his voice echoing like thunder. "You petty demons dare to pass yourselves off as Buddhists? And you have the audacity to flaunt your fake Buddhism here?"
With a flash of divine anger, he raised the Violet-Gold Staff, slamming it to the ground.
"BOOM—"
The staff's impact resonated with such force that the ground shook, sending waves of sacred energy pulsing through the temple courtyard. The guards recoiled, their demonic disguises dissolving to reveal twisted, monstrous forms beneath.
Ethan Shu's commanding presence, backlit by his divine instruments, seemed to radiate the very essence of Buddhist wrath, as if he were an incarnation of a wrathful bodhisattva, come to purge this false temple of its evil.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]