Chapter 1002: Chapter 656: Tathagata, Soul Devourer, Martial Exhibition Begins!

"Rest assured, Abbot Brother; this matter concerns the status and fortune of our Shaolin. I will certainly urge the disciples to diligently cultivate, so as not to tarnish the prestige of our temple."

The light outside the hall was dazzling, casting long and deep shadows.

After the meeting, the Abbot stayed behind with the Divine Monk Baibao, while the other guests gradually departed.

Outside the precious hall, several divine monks and venerable officials gathered together to discuss a "secret" matter.

Today, there was a rumor that the Abbot intended to attempt Breaking Eight, causing a few monks to appear anxious:

"Venerable Shi, how goes the collection of Divine Power...?"

The miraculous use of Incense Fire Divine Power can achieve "Enlightenment in the Flesh."

Just like Patriarch Kasyapa, it can endure for a long time.

Venerable Shi, as the elder in charge of external affairs, was fully responsible for this aspect.

He lowered his gaze slightly and said:

"The incense from Zishou Temple has been delivered as well, which should not make much of a difference..."

The inquiring divine monk sighed deeply and nodded, saying:

"Very well, we are prepared for the worst. I believe the Abbot will not blame us..."

An old monk, with palms together, said:

"Amitabha—the Abbot surely knows but has chosen not to speak of it."

Whether preserving a dharma body in this world or... having one’s mind and body consumed by failure to break through, incense plays a crucial role.

Its function is not merely a power supply but a fundamental "anchor."

For the dharma body, incense is the foundation and fuel for its manifestation in the mortal world.

It enables it to maintain its form for a long time, preventing dispersal into the void.

For those attempting to break through, the boundless vows of incense can form a brief yet sturdy "vow shell" at the moment their mind and body are about to disintegrate.

Protecting a spark of True Spirit from extinction, leaving a thread of life for potential recovery or reshaping.

In this context, incense is the symbol of existence and continuance within the Buddhist sect, as well as the final fallback prepared by the Shaolin Temple for the Abbot Brother.

Meanwhile, in the quiet room behind the grand hall.

Abbot Xuanmou called Baibao to discuss Meng Chuan’s affairs.

"When the boy comes to Shaolin again, keep an eye on him. Last time, he caused quite a stir with the Dragon Elephant, and we don’t want him to stir up a bigger tempest." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Baibao nodded and said:

"Liao Huo went to the ancestral site of [Lingkong Dharma King] at Mount Wutai for deep cultivation of the Prana Dragon Elephant and is unlikely to appear before the martial exercise."

The Abbot gave a slight nod, rolling the prayer beads in his hand.

"Fate brings those afar close, without fate, even face to face, they don’t meet..."

As he left, he said one last, faint word:

"There’s one more thing I need to tell you, have Wu Lou and the others be cautious, Zishou Temple has lodged a complaint with me..."

Baibao’s face showed a hint of a bitter smile as he shook his head and sighed repeatedly.

"Abbot Brother, I shall admonish them."

"Buddha be praised—"

With those words, the figure of Abbot Xuanmou vanished from where he stood.

When he reappeared, he was already stepping into the realm of Myoyumi Land.

White clouds bowed their heads, with three thousand floating stairways on the Sacred Mountain.

The brilliant sun shone down, as the Abbot’s form shrank distances into inches, climbing the mountain and reaching the summit in a few steps.

He was the only monk able to reach the summit of the Tathagata’s Dharma Realm, the peak of the Sacred Mountain.

On the pinnacle of Vulture Peak.

The Great Hall of Heroes was bathed in Buddha’s light, yet void of a single "Buddha."

Waves rippled through the air, and in the silence, the Abbot’s silhouette slowly emerged on the highest lotus platform within the hall.

He sat there directly.

Outside, the sea of clouds surged, while within the hall, there was only the eternal silence and the overwhelming majesty that enveloped all.

His aura began to subtly harmonize with the essence of this Dharma Realm, as if he was the manifestation of its very rules.

The sacred fetus thus, now the body of the Present Buddha.

He is the Tathagata.

...

In a hidden underwater world.

Inside a grand hall tarnished with bronze rust, Mo Jue sat upright, his sharp claws tapping the back of the chair, the golden feathered head of the bird showing a pensive expression.

After days of effort, it had already uncovered who had killed the Divine Son of the Inferno, and seized the Inferno’s treasures...

However, it did not immediately inform the Inferno.

Instead, it withheld the information, wanting more benefits...

Mo Jue sat in the chair deep in thought, revealing a faint sneer, inwardly anticipating what kind of offer the people from the Inferno would make this time.

"They must be unable to hold back by now, right?"

At the same time, Mo Jue was slightly startled, for the culprits turned out to also be responsible for killing Bo Gang that day!

"This information can be sold again later, given to the Crocodile Dragon Race..."

With that thought, Mo Jue’s fierce eagle-faced expression showed a hint of joy.

The combined gains would surely be enough to collect sufficient resources for advancement.

Of course, the Inferno side was the main contributor...

Footsteps echoed from outside the hall, and Mo Jue gathered his thoughts.

The five sharp claws clasped together, light and shadow flickered, revealing the silhouettes of a skeletal bird and a Molten Rock Giant.

Today was their third visit to him.

Nothing occurs thrice; today, the price must be negotiated with the Inferno.

After all, it was never a greedy roc bird, was it?

"Heh heh heh..."

Facing forward, as if it intended to exact something fierce from the Inferno individuals.

While lost in thought, Mo Jue saw the duo approaching.

Suddenly, a sense of alertness rose within.

Unlike before, the Molten Rock Giant, who had been silently standing behind, now stood at the forefront.

The skeletal bird, on the other hand, seemed deeply wary of the Molten Rock Giant, lowering its shoulders and saying nothing.

As the two entered, the skeletal bird stopped at a distance.

The Molten Rock Giant disregarded the dangerous aura emanating from Mo Jue, approaching step by step...

It was about to strike, but just as it locked eyes with the Molten Rock Giant, its entire black plumage stood on end, leaping from the chair as if electrocuted.

The Molten Rock Giant’s expression was indifferent, exuding a demeanor completely different from before.

Mo Jue’s eyes were filled with terror. What did it see in the other’s eyes?!