Chapter 690
This humble monk is a pillar of the Western Paradise
This "profound theory" left the Buddha Amoghasiddhi stunned. Although he felt it was somewhat extreme, it seemed... to make some sense? Especially given that the Western Paradise was facing imminent annihilation.
It shook its enormous dragon head, stopped thinking, and began to carefully scan the now empty Merit Pool and the buildings around it with its divine sense, as instructed.
A moment later, Amoghasiddhi Buddha suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and his huge dragon claw pointed to an inconspicuous corner at the bottom of the pool, which seemed to be integrated with the rocks on the pool bed. It was extremely difficult to find anything unusual without careful investigation.
“Fellow Daoist, here… beneath the rock strata at the bottom of the pool, there seem to be four ‘Muni’s Light-Fixing Pearls’ embedded! These are treasures acquired by chance, formed over countless years by the combination of the lingering essence of the Great Dao and the merits and vows of the pool when Amitabha Buddha preached here!”
It contains a trace of the pure wisdom and radiant light of the Buddha's teachings, capable of calming the mind, dispelling illusions, and suppressing inner demons—its uses are boundless! It seems that only a handful have been accumulated throughout the entire Western Paradise, making it exceptionally precious! It is usually hidden deep at the bottom of the pool, nurtured by the Pool of Merit.
The Muni's Fixed Light Pearl?! A supreme treasure acquired later?! Or a manifestation of the Dharma teachings of Amitabha Buddha?!
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu's heart skipped a beat! What a treasure! This is absolutely more precious and rarer than Spirit Source Agate! Whether for his own use or for his trusted subordinates, it is an unparalleled gem!
A glint flashed in his eyes, and he almost couldn't resist pouncing on it to dig it out. But at that moment, his keen ears caught some subtle changes coming from outside the Merit Pool, through the layers of restrictions.
The deafening roars and energy explosions outside, which had lasted for so long, seemed to have... weakened somewhat? While still intense, they weren't as violent or frequent as before. And, judging by the time, almost half a day had passed since the dragons began their attack!
Lin Zhu's heart tightened.
Nine true dragons besieged the Western Paradise, and the battle had lasted for half a day, exceeding his initial expectations. Had the dragon race begun to exhaust itself? Or had the Western Paradise found a way to counter it? Or perhaps… the sages were about to intervene?
In any case, this place is not safe to stay any longer! We must evacuate as soon as possible!
"Quickly! Fellow Daoist Bukong! Quickly bring those four Mani Light-Stabilizing Pearls!"
Lin Zhu immediately abandoned his previous leisurely demeanor, his face showing the anxiety of "time is of the essence," and urged the Buddha Amoghasiddhi.
"Such a treasure must not fall into the hands of the dragons! Retrieve it quickly and move it with us!"
Seeing Lin Zhu's anxious expression, the doubt that had just been suppressed in Amoghavajra's heart quietly resurfaced.
It hesitated for a moment, its huge dragon eyes staring at Lin Zhu, its tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
“Fellow Daoist… this Muni Light-Stabilizing Pearl is a condensation of the Buddha’s Daoist essence, related to the Buddha’s cultivation and the Western Heaven’s destiny… Is it appropriate to entrust it to you…? What if…”
It didn't finish its sentence, but the meaning was clear—what if you run away with the pearl? This is a more precious and core treasure than the Spirit Source Agate!
Seeing this, Lin Zhu cursed inwardly that this fool had suddenly become shrewd at the crucial moment. But on his face, he showed no fear. Instead, he straightened his back abruptly, his face instantly filled with anger at being insulted and questioned. His righteous aura surged again, even more intensely than before!
He pointed at Amoghasiddhi Buddha, his voice suddenly rising like a thunderclap of justice, resounding in the empty area of the Merit Pool.
“Amoghasiddhi Buddha! You…you dare to question this humble monk like this?! This humble monk, inspired by Bodhi Patriarch and the Sage of Amitabha, and personally bestowed with a supreme treasure by the Tathagata Buddha, shoulders the heavy responsibility of transferring the foundation of the Western Paradise! This humble monk is the pillar of the Western Paradise! The confidant of all Buddhas! The hope for the future of Buddhism! The Buddha of the Three Goodnesses!”
He pressed on relentlessly, his voice sharp and menacing.
"To question this humble monk is to question the vision of a sage! To question the decisions of the Buddha! To question the entrustment of all Buddhas! And even more so, to question the dreams and future of countless believers in the Western Paradise!! What... what are your intentions?!"
These grand accusations, coupled with Lin Zhu's "righteous and awe-inspiring" and "furious" appearance, and the timely blooming of the thirteen-petaled golden lotus of merit beneath his feet, along with the low chanting of the pagoda in his hand...
Amoghasiddhi Buddha was once again stunned! Looking into Lin Zhu's "clear" yet "angry and aggrieved" eyes, feeling the "vast and righteous" aura emanating from him, and recalling the previous invitation from the sage, the Buddha's gift of treasure, and the oath to Heaven…
Yes! Such a person, such an identity, such a mission, how could... how could he betray the Western Paradise? I must be overthinking it! I'm judging a gentleman by my own petty standards!
"Fellow Daoist, please calm down! Fellow Daoist, please calm down! It was a slip of the tongue! It was a foolish mistake!"
Amoghasiddhi Buddha immediately bowed his head, his tone filled with apology and fear.
"This humble monk will go and retrieve the precious pearl right away! I'll go right now!"
Without the slightest hesitation, its enormous dragon claws plunged towards the corner of the pool bottom. The sharp claws easily pierced the hard rock of the pool bed, precisely prying out four fist-sized, perfectly round, warm, milky-white pearls, with a shimmering light of wisdom flowing within them—the Muni Light-Stabilizing Pearls!
Amoghasiddhi Buddha carefully held the four precious jewels in his palm and handed them to Lin Zhu.
Lin Zhu suppressed his overwhelming joy, maintaining the expression of "still angry but considering the bigger picture," and reached out to accept the four precious pearls. They were cool to the touch, as if he were holding four condensed beams of wisdom, instantly calming and clearing his mind. Truly a treasure!
Having obtained the precious pearl, Lin Zhu had no more lingering attachment! He didn't even have time to examine it closely before putting it away, then hurriedly bowed to Amoghasiddhi Buddha, his tone urgent.
"Fellow Daoist, take care! This humble monk must immediately take the treasures and leave, seeking a safe place to hide! We will reunite after the storm has passed!"
Having said that, he didn't give Amoghasiddhi Buddha a chance to speak again. He turned around, golden light flashing beneath his feet, and sped off towards the dilapidated corridor he had come from!
However, just as he was about to rush into the shadows of the corridor—
"Fellow Daoist! Please wait!"
Amoghasiddhi Buddha's deep voice, tinged with urgency, rang out from behind him once more.
Lin Zhu's heart tightened suddenly! Could it be that this fool has realized something again?! He didn't stop walking, but his speed slowed down almost imperceptibly. At the same time, he forced himself to calm down and quickly adjusted his expression to a complex mix of three parts "doubt", three parts "understanding" and four parts "anxiety". He slowly turned around and tried to keep his tone as calm as possible.
"Fellow Daoist Bukong, is there anything else? Time is of the essence!"
In the enormous dragon eyes of Amoghasiddhi Buddha, there was no doubt or anger, but rather a complex emotion that was hard to describe, a sense of determination, a sense of entrustment, and even a trace of compassion.
Its enormous dragon claw swept lightly through the air, and a strange short pestle, about a foot long, neither metal nor wood, and entirely a deep purple, appeared out of thin air. It then transformed into a gentle bolt of lightning and slowly flew to Lin Zhu's side, where it hovered motionless.
“Fellow Daoist, this item… is the ‘Thunderbolt Pestle’.”
Amoghasiddhi Buddha's voice became unusually gentle, even carrying a hint of vicissitude.
"It is... a primordial spiritual treasure that has accompanied this humble monk for countless years." A primordial spiritual treasure?! Lin Zhu's pupils suddenly contracted! His gaze was fixed on the short pestle before him, shrouded in purple mist and with restrained lightning! The ancient, pure aura emanating from it, seemingly containing the very essence of heavenly punishment, was absolutely genuine!
This is actually a primordial spiritual treasure?! Although it doesn't look like the highest grade, primordial items are incredibly precious!
"Fellow Daoist, what is this...?"
Lin Zhu forcibly suppressed the shock and elation in his heart, and showed just the right amount of "surprise" and "confusion" on his face, even with a hint of "decline".
"Such a precious treasure is something that you cultivate with your life, fellow Daoist. How can this humble monk... accept it? Absolutely not!"
He said "no" but his eyes were fixed on Lei Jichu, and his body "honestly" did not immediately retreat.
Amoghasiddhi Buddha gently shook his head, a trace of reminiscence and relief flashing in his dragon eyes. He looked at Lin Zhu, his voice low and clear.
“Fellow Daoist, there is no need to refuse. There is a reason why this humble monk entrusts this treasure to you.”
It paused, its gaze seemingly piercing through the restrictions of the Merit Pool, looking towards the sky outside where a faint rumbling still emanated, its tone carrying a hint of sorrow and insight.
"This time, the dragon clan launched a massive attack, with unprecedented momentum."
Nine true dragons have arrived, including three Dragon Emperors… The Western Paradise is likely in imminent danger. If the Great Thunderclap Temple falls, the core of Mount Ling will be lost, and this humble monk, guarding this Merit Pool, will undoubtedly bear the brunt of the attack.”
“Those evil dragons, or those petty scoundrels who might take advantage of the chaos, will never let go of the remaining holy water in the pool of merit, nor will they let go of this humble monk… and the things on this humble monk’s person.”
It looked down at the thick, dark gold chain on its hind legs and gave a bitter smile.
“This humble monk has been ordered by the sage to be chained here, to live and die with the Pool of Merit. If the Western Paradise is to undergo a tribulation, I will continue to guard it; if the Western Paradise does not exist... this humble monk will also be unable to escape this tribulation, and is destined to be buried with this pool.”
Amoghasiddhi Buddha raised his head and looked at Lin Zhu, his eyes filled with entrustment and earnestness.
"This 'Thunderbolt Pestle' has been with me for countless years, witnessing the rise and fall of the Western Paradise. I do not wish for it to perish along with me, nor do I wish for it to fall into the hands of wicked and violent people, becoming a weapon that wreaks havoc on the Three Realms."
"Fellow Daoist, you bear the entrustment of the Sage and shoulder the future of the Western Paradise. Your character is noble and your righteousness is boundless. I entrust this treasure to you, and I rest assured. If I am fortunate enough to survive and the Western Paradise overcomes this calamity, you may return it to me. If I unfortunately perish... then please make good use of this treasure, or entrust it to a reliable person in the Western Paradise, so that this precious gem may not be tarnished."
Having said that, Amoghasiddhi Buddha gently pushed with his dragon claw, and the suspended thunderbolt slowly fell into Lin Zhu's palm.
It felt slightly heavy in my hand, and a pure and domineering force of lightning flowed through my arm, but it was not aggressive. Instead, it carried a gentle sense of acceptance.
Holding this unexpected, both "hot" and "heartwarming" innate spiritual treasure, Lin Zhu's expression became incredibly... strange.
He came here to "steal" and "enforce the law to seize stolen goods," so how come he received an even more precious innate spiritual treasure as a gift from the "victim" before leaving?! What's going on? Did the thief not leave empty-handed but also give away a big bonus?
Even with Lin Zhu's thick skin and meticulous mind, he felt a little... uneasy at this moment.
He looked at the tragic expression of Amoghasiddhi Buddha, which was full of "self-sacrifice" and "great compassion," and then at the thunderbolt in his hand, which was shrouded in purple mist. His thoughts raced.
'This fool... does he really think he's a pillar of the Western Paradise, the hope for the future? He's even worried the treasure will fall into the wrong hands? Hmm... although the process was a bit absurd, the result... seems pretty good?'
He immediately composed himself, replacing his strange expression with one of deep emotion, profound respect, and even a hint of moisture in his eyes, and bowed deeply to Amoghasiddhi Buddha.
"Fellow Daoist Bukong... Your righteousness is truly admirable! This humble monk... will certainly not fail in your trust! This treasure, in my hands, will never be used for evil purposes, much less fall into the hands of wicked people! Fellow Daoist's great benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and courage today, this humble monk... will remember you deeply! The Western Paradise... will also remember such a loyal, selfless, and devoted... good friend!"
He almost blurted out "good comrade," but quickly corrected himself.
"Fellow Daoist, take care! This humble monk... departs!"
Without further hesitation, Lin Zhu carefully put away the Thunder Cudgel, nodded heavily to Amoghasiddhi Buddha once more, then turned around, his figure transforming into a streak of light, and rushed into the dilapidated eight-thousand-foot-long corridor of thanksgiving without looking back, disappearing instantly.
He had to get out of there quickly! The fighting outside had been going on for ages; the dragons might be retreating soon, or the sages might be about to intervene. He could use this last bit of time to maybe "extort" some more... oh no.
"Visit" other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who are "in trouble".
Could you "help" them "keep" their "valuables" safe?
Watching Lin Zhu's disappearing figure, Amoghasiddhi Buddha's enormous body floated silently in the now empty and unstable Merit Pool.
It gazed at the entrance to the corridor for a long time, its enormous dragon eyes gleaming with a complex and unfathomable light.
After a long while, it let out a soft sigh, so low it was barely audible, carrying a hint of weariness and hope.
"I hope... I haven't misjudged you. I hope... the Western Paradise can overcome this calamity. Fellow Daoist... please don't disappoint me."
Just as Lin Zhu's figure completely disappeared into the shadows of the dilapidated corridor, and he was pondering whether to "visit" a few more unlucky Buddhas, the long-silent system notification sound rang out in his mind right on time, like settling wages.
[Ding! The second phase of the Opportunity Mission, 'Journey to the Pool of Merit,' has been completed.]
[Task Completion Status. Successfully obtained approximately one million merit units of water from the Merit Pool; acquired 36,000 catties of the key material 'Spirit Source Agate'; additionally acquired 4 'Muni Light-Stabilizing Pearls' and 1 'Thunderbolt Pestle'.]
[Task Evaluation: Completed perfectly, exceeding expectations.]
[Task Reward: A 'Small Spirit Gathering Array' setup method will be issued. This array uses Spirit Agate as its core, capable of gathering, purifying, and sublimating spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred miles, creating a cultivation environment comparable to a blessed land, and also providing a slight merit-nourishing effect.]
[The reward has been sent to the host's sea of consciousness and can be studied and used at any time.]
A profound and complex flow of array information surged into Lin Zhu's consciousness, which he instantly understood and mastered. Feeling the wondrous effects of this spirit-gathering array, Lin Zhu grinned, his mood even more delighted. "Not bad, not bad at all! This 'enforcement' journey to the Western Paradise has truly been incredibly rewarding. I'll upgrade the dormitories for my brothers in the Heavenly Prison when we get back!" (End of Chapter)