Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 1003 - 999: Epiphany

Shen Siyuan had exceptional eyesight; even in the dim light of the dilapidated main hall, relying only on the faint light seeping through the damaged window lattices, he could discern every detail of the Buddha statue on the altar.

Because he practiced Buddhist dharma, he had read many Buddhist texts and was quite familiar with statues of various Buddhas in Han Buddhism.

But the Buddha statue in front of him, he could not identify at all.

This was not surprising, as the statue systems between Tibetan Buddhism and the indigenous Buddhism of the Central Plains had many differences, with styles and symbolic meanings each having their own focus.

Yet Shen Siyuan was certain in his heart that the status of this Buddha statue was far from ordinary.

Even though time had eroded it, with much of its left shoulder collapsed and its attire covered with marks of weathering, one could still clearly see its head adorned with a complex crown, whose patterns, though blurred, could not conceal its delicacy.

The Bodhisattva adornments around its body were incomplete, but the remaining fragments of gilding and jade inlay marks still hinted at the glorious solemnity of the past.

Such standards and decorations were by no means something an ordinary Buddha statue could possess, its origin must certainly be extraordinary.

What shocked Shen Siyuan even more was the indescribable divine charm contained in the eyes of this Buddha statue.

Gazing at it for a moment, he seemed to perceive that the statue had come to life; its lips slightly parted, and the enigmatic Buddhist chants directly entered his mind, with ethereal and distant Buddhist hymns lingering in his ears.

The Brahma sound was clear and the Zen meaning prolonged, seemingly instantaneously drawing him into the Western Heaven Paradise, his spirit inextricably sunk, willing only to immerse in the boundless tranquility and peace, never wanting to awaken.

Luckily, Shen Siyuan had a mind far more resilient than others, having long cultivated himself to be firm like a rock.

Not to mention he was entrusted with the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, capable of protecting his spirit and isolating external interference.

Moreover, the "Sun Observation Method" he mastered centered around "enlightening the mind through observing the sun and returning to simplicity," enabling him to discern illusions and stabilize his divine soul, maintaining a thread of clarity in such a mesmerizing state.

And precisely because of this clarity, the originally ambiguous Buddhist chants gradually became distinct in his ears, with each syllable containing the profound mysteries of Buddhist dharma.

With a slight movement of thought, a brilliant sun slowly emerged from behind Shen Siyuan’s mind, casting radiant light, dispelling the dimness and illusion inside the hall.

His body seemed to be influenced by an invisible force, subconsciously adopting a stance from the "Great Arhat Eighteen Forms."

Hands forming seals, spine straight, aura around the body solemn and dignified.

The "Sun Observation Method" and the "Great Arhat Eighteen Forms" themselves originated from the Buddhist Path, naturally resonating under the influence of the statue’s divine charm and Buddhist sounds, which was not surprising.

At this moment, Shen Siyuan found himself in a mysterious realm, neither dream nor reality, neither illusion nor substance.

Everything external seemed distant, leaving only the chants in his mind, the hymns in his ears, and the Buddhist Path spiritual power flowing within him.

In such a state, his "Sun Observation Method" and "Great Arhat Eighteen Forms" did not directly improve, yet within the depths of his soul, a new insight was quietly conceived.

This insight stemmed from the Buddhist Dharma Aspect inadvertently displayed by Dou Dou earlier, resembling the legendary Taoist divine skill "Fatian Xiangdi," yet fundamentally different.

Legend has it that "Fatian Xiangdi" channels nature’s spiritual energy into the body, allowing one’s physical form to soar to towering heights, traversing heaven and earth, emphasizing bodily transformation and divine skill.

Whereas the Buddhist Dharma Aspect was not about the expansion of the physical body but the manifestation and sublimation of the divine soul.

Using the divine soul as the foundation, channeling Buddha Dao spiritual power as wings, transforming the divine soul into a towering dharma aspect with impressive divine power, it is an advanced method for cultivating the divine soul.

As the insight deepened, a vague shadow slowly emerged from behind Shen Siyuan.

Initially, the shadow was like a thin phantom, its contours unclear, and the sun behind his mind also floated behind the shadow, casting golden light that bestowed a sacred halo upon the shadow.

The shadow gradually solidified, with facial features growing more distinct, resembling Shen Siyuan himself, as if his primordial spirit emerged, or another incarnation.

Next, the shadow began to expand, grow larger.

First reaching one zhang high, equal to Shen Siyuan’s stature.

Then extending to two zhang, three zhang, gradually exceeding human height.

Eventually, it continued to soar: ten zhang, twenty zhang...

Ultimately, the massive Buddhist Dharma Aspect stood firm and tall in the middle of the dilapidated temple, its sun hung high behind it, with golden light piercing through the temple’s damages, illuminating the surroundings in a pure glow.

Despite this, the might emitted by this Dharma Aspect still did not compare to a fraction of the power Dou Dou inadvertently showcased that day, yet was already imposing, enveloping the ancient temple in an atmosphere of solemn and majestic Buddhist resonance.

"Wow, Potato has turned into a giant," Dou Dou remarked, wide-eyed with surprise.

She didn’t realize that she had been even bigger than this just moments ago.

"Wow, is brother going to become an immortal?" Duoduo looked up at him, her face astonished.

"What do you mean going to become an immortal? Brother has always been an immortal," Xiao Yue glanced at Duoduo and said.

"That’s right, Potato has always been an immortal, and I’m also an immortal, I’m a Great General... oh right, Sister Xiao Yue, what kind of Great General am I again?" Dou Dou scratched her head, looking silly.

Xiao Yue was speechless, but still answered her.

"Vanguard General."

"Right, the Vanguard General." Dou Dou hit her palm with a fist, a face full of joy.

"It’s vanguard, not vangone, I think you’ve lost your head..."

"Hehe, all the same, all the same..."

"How is it the same?" Xiao Yue was amused by her.

"Oh, you don’t sweat the small stuff, just be happy," Dou Dou shrugged.

"I’m not very happy right now, I really want to beat you up right now," Xiao Yue glared her eyes.

"You’re joking, aren’t you?" Dou Dou giggled.

But she quietly retreated, yet just after taking two steps, she bumped into someone, turning her head to look, it was Duoduo standing behind her.

Seeing Dou Dou turn her head, Duoduo quickly turned her head away, pretending not to see her.

Seeing their antics, Xiao Yue couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"You laughed, you laughed, if you laughed you can’t hit me..." Dou Dou exclaimed in delight.

During their playful banter, the towering golden Dharma Aspect within the temple began to slowly shrink.

As the golden light flowed, the Dharma Aspect gradually withdrew its might, shrinking from dozens of zhang to merely one, finally standing equal in height to Shen Siyuan, transforming into a golden light and merging into his body.

Shen Siyuan then slowly rose to his feet; with his current soul power, he still couldn’t support the unlimited growth of the Dharma Aspect, reaching such a scale was already the limit.

He couldn’t help but recall the majestic presence of Dou Dou that day, growing more curious inside.

How did that little one manage to make a Dharma Aspect shade half the sky?

Apparently, Dou Dou’s background surely has deep ties with Buddhism, which is why she was naturally able to display such profound Buddhist Dharma Aspect.

And him gaining insight into this soul manifestation method today through the statue’s divine charm was also thanks to Dou Dou.