The three of them walked toward the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
As they walked further and closer to the temple, the people around them chanting scriptures became more sincere, their palms pressed together, their voices trembling.
Their eyes were fervent, each recitation of scripture seeming like a wish being made.
The more sincere the chanting, the more likely it would be fulfilled.
Naturally, as they went further, there were fewer ordinary common people.
Most were pure novice monks.
However, these novice monks had no cultivation whatsoever—they hadn't even cultivated wish power.
But they hadn't come in vain either, as their pure mental energy was now being gathered by the Buddha statues along the roadside.
Sometimes, atmosphere can blindly push people to uncontrollable extremes.
Subconsciously wanting to fit in, subconsciously stopping all thought.
Humans are undeniably social creatures.
Receiving recognition inherently brings happiness.
And now this happiness was right before their eyes—join it, chant it.
These two forces combined were a devastating blow to the illiterate common people.
Almost no one could escape.
Cultivators and scholars were too distant, but my Buddha was too close.
Moreover, given the current situation in West Niu He Province, the path of cultivation was fraught with difficulties.
Add to that the Central Plains Buddhism's confirmed control over West Niu He Province.
Under such deterrence, Buddhism could naturally spread thoroughly.
"The Ten Thousand Buddha Temple is the largest Buddhist temple within a thousand li," Lizhi explained.
"It's filled mostly with majestic Buddhas and exquisite tall buildings."
"But as you can see, the people of West Niu He Province mostly wear plain hemp clothes—some haven't even been dyed."
"Ancient texts say West Niu He Province was once fertile land, but that was in the past. At least my grandfather never saw such fertile land."
"All the arable land in West Niu He Province has been used to grow grain, yet it still can't feed the people here."
"They have to spend huge sums to buy from other continents, but West Niu He Province lacks more than just grain—it lacks everything."
"When you can't even eat your fill, naturally you won't plant dye crops."
Lizhi pointed at the exquisite yellow Buddhist robes draped over the majestic Buddha ahead.
"Importing silk and fabrics from other continents is far too expensive, and the quantity needed is enormous."
"But fortunately, the construction period was long enough, so the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple chose a cheaper method."
"Besides the land being forced to grow cotton and mulberry for years, they also planted some dye crops."
Lizhi's voice grew animated: "The Ten Thousand Buddha Temple was built over fifty-four years, and there were at least twenty years of famine during that time."
"The craftsmen who built the temple were hired from other continents, but most of the laborers were recruited locally."
"To find and move the giant stones needed for the great Buddhas, who knows how many people died."
"The temple did provide the cheapest food for the workers, but in famine years, how could grain be cheap?"
"Barely filling one's stomach was difficult enough—how could they sustain such physical labor?"
"Famine doesn't avoid you just because you're building a temple."
"Hunger doesn't spare you just because you're devout."
"There may not be ten thousand Buddhas in the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple, but at least ten thousand people died building it."
"And that doesn't even count those who starved during the famine."
"If the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple truly had a Buddha's heart, how could it remain indifferent for fifty-four years?"
"Is the majesty of a Buddha statue really a sign of sincerity?"
Xu Jin looked at the exquisite and majestic Great Buddha, then at its fine Buddhist robes.
Then he turned to look at the ordinary people and novice monks in plain hemp clothes, their expressions utterly sincere.
He didn't speak, continuing to walk forward.
It was well known among other immortal sects that the Buddhism Sect ate ugly—that was why they were jointly suppressed by other immortal sects.
Chu Xingchen looked up—they could now see the massive signboard of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
The temple's grounds were enormous, larger than the imperial palace of the Xuanwu Kingdom.
At the entrance, there were two Sword-Wielding Bodhisattvas—one with a solemn expression, the other with wrathful eyes.
Believers were already packed at the entrance, chanting devoutly.
These believers standing at the entrance were the most devout.
The surging crowd gathered immense wish power flowing toward the temple.
Yet none of these most devout believers could enter the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
They all consciously stood or knelt at a distance of a hundred steps from the temple.
Lizhi watched as Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin led the way, passing directly through the crowd and walking straight toward the temple.
They ignored the Sword-Wielding Bodhisattvas on both sides.
They also ignored the dozen or so burly monks standing guard at the main gate.
Lizhi knew that both of them were Nascent Soul experts, but their mission was investigation.
Usually, investigations were done secretly—wasn't walking right into someone's headquarters a bit too arrogant?
She glanced at the monks around her, then quickened her pace to catch up, whispering:
"There are Buddhist cultivators inside this temple—is it really okay for us to just walk in like this?"
Chu Xingchen patted Lizhi's shoulder and said:
"It's fine. If we're discovered, they should be the ones who are afraid."
Lizhi was stunned and asked: "Why?"
Xu Jin was beginning to understand Chu Xingchen's way of speaking.
As a core disciple of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect, his intelligence was naturally not low.
He tried to answer: "Because we'll send them to see the Buddha they believe in."
Lizhi was instantly speechless—she didn't expect the Central Plains' methods to be this wild.
Truly, the Central Plains lived up to its reputation.
Chu Xingchen looked at Xu Jin with slight surprise.
He hadn't expected this serious-looking person to have such quick wit.
Xu Jin noticed Chu Xingchen's surprised expression and raised his chin slightly.
His master had said Chu Xingchen's thinking was different from ordinary people, full of strange ideas.
Now it seemed he was about the same as himself.
When it came to talent, he was no less impressive.
The three of them entered the temple together.
The temple's construction remained magnificent and ornate.
The rare wood materials outside were common here, and they were all large pieces.
The Buddha statues were carved with even greater intricacy.
Lizhi cautiously looked around, her expression still somewhat nervous.
Chu Xchen's gaze swept across the temple.
Numerous novice monks were attending to the Buddha statues on both sides, channeling that overwhelming wish power into the statues.
These novice monks all had cultivation, mostly through wish power cultivation.
But their cultivation levels weren't high—only around Qi Condensation.
Chu Xingchen and Xu Jin's target was clear—they headed straight for the main hall where the wish power converged.
By now, a massive amount of wish power had gathered there, floating above the main hall.
This wish power was somewhat different from what Yuan Jing had accumulated.
Yuan Jing's wish power had a clear target—Yuan Jing herself.
And the quality was extremely high—true sincerity was supreme.
The wish power here could only be vaguely called "Buddha," so part of it couldn't merge and condense.
This uncondensed wish power was massive but rough in quality.
But it had one advantage: those with insufficient cultivation could only sense an obscure power flow but couldn't see it directly.
It was perfect for deceiving the common people.
But that only applied to small fry at the Qi Condensation level.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, one could basically see it clearly.
Chu Xingchen looked at Lizhi, only to find her looking vigilantly at the main hall rather than at the massive wish power above it.
Lizhi's subconscious gaze made Chu Xingchen realize something was wrong.
Suddenly, Chu Xingchen remembered he had forgotten to ask Lizhi the simplest question:
"Can you see this wish power?"
Xu Jin immediately turned to look at Lizhi as well.
Lizhi froze, looking around for a moment before whispering:
"My cultivation seems too low... I don't see any wish power."
Chu Xingchen's expression remained calm as he said matter-of-factly:
"Then you clearly haven't been cultivating properly."
Lizhi froze, looking at Chu Xingchen before her—a Nascent Soul Ancestor.
She didn't dare say she had actually been working hard at her cultivation.
She pursed her lips and could only accept the fact that she was a weakling.
Xu Jin cast a questioning look at Chu Xingchen.
Foundation Establishment should be able to see wish power.
Chu Xingchen had asked so suddenly, and Lizhi's answer was off—Chu Xingchen must have discovered something.
"Let's go." Chu Xingchen nodded for them to continue forward.
"First, let's see how powerful the Great Buddha inside is."
Xu Jin withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward with a calm expression.
Since he had chosen to be teammates, the necessary trust should be there.
Since now wasn't the time to explain, he shouldn't keep asking questions.
Besides, if Chu Xingchen tricked him now, there would be no benefit for Chu Xingchen either.
Chu Xingchen led the way toward the main hall.
There were many monks around, but all were busy channeling wish power into the Buddha statues.
The group passed through unimpeded, walking past various Buddha statues and numerous monks to reach the main hall.
The main hall was extremely tall—a rough estimate suggested twenty to thirty meters high.
A golden Buddha statue sat with one hand on its knee and the other extended forward.
Its expression was neutral, with half-closed eyes gazing down as if looking at ants.
The golden body was enormous, draped in luxurious yellow dragon-patterned silk.
Its height was just below the main hall's crossbeam.
To the left and right of this main Buddha were other Buddhas, surrounded by Bodhisattvas, and further back were Arhats.
Yet in this vast hall, there was only one withered, elderly monk lightly tapping a wooden fish before him.
Each tap caused the nearly overflowing wish power in the hall to surge and be absorbed into the Buddha statue.
Lizhi's breathing grew slightly rapid as she looked vigilantly at the elderly monk who looked as if he might fall in the wind.
Chu Xingchen's gaze fell on the elderly monk.
[Target: Ci Lin]
[Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul]
[Purple Trait: Steadfast Heart]
[Blue Trait: Buddha Power]
[White Trait: Obsession]
[Black Trait: Wish Power Entanglement]
[Black Trait: Obsessive Delusion]
"May I ask where the benefactors come from?"
The monk stopped tapping the wooden fish.
His turbid gaze seemed to see through everything as he looked toward Chu Xingchen, his aged voice carrying a strange sense of authority.
At the same time, an aura rose from the monk's body.
The surrounding wish power began to swirl madly, rushing toward him.
Lizhi's heart skipped half a beat—she could only feel that the atmosphere around her was completely wrong.
It was as if something terrifying was lying in wait, ready to strike her.
Chu Xingchen spoke softly and gently:
"Don't be afraid. He's bluffing you. He can't see you, and he can't hear us talking."
For some reason, hearing Chu Xingchen's words, Lizhi's originally startled mood instantly calmed.
Lizhi whispered: "He... what's his cultivation level?"
Chu Xingchen thought for a moment, then said: "I sense he's only at Early Golden Core."
"Early Golden Core isn't like this, is it?" Lizhi looked extremely skeptical.
She hadn't seen Nascent Soul, but that didn't mean she hadn't seen Early Golden Core.
The deputy sect leader of the Sky Patrol Division was at Early Golden Core—she had briefly encountered him during her training when she joined.
Golden Core cultivation was indeed impressive.
Lizhi's dream was just to reach Golden Core and become a Golden Core expert.
But a Golden Core's gaze shouldn't have such intimidating pressure, right?
Besides, Lizhi only felt that the elderly monk's aura was as heavy as a mountain—almost impossible to probe.
Chu Xingchen looked at the monk before them and casually answered Lizhi's question:
"Early Golden Core is exactly like this. Are you Nascent Soul, or am I?"
Facing the cultivation suppression, Lizhi backed down again.
Lizhi looked at the elderly monk's direction, his gaze fixed on her, while neither Chu Xingchen nor Xu Jin said a word.
The scene fell into an eerie silence.
Lizhi pursed her lips and still whispered:
"Since he's Early Golden Core, can he not see us either, just like those minions outside? Is there that much difference from one major realm higher?"
"Well, he's Early Golden Core, and I'm currently Late Nascent Soul."
Chu Xingchen's gaze began to examine the Buddha statues around them.
At the same time, he signaled Xu Jin beside him to get to work:
"Your mole wish power is involved here too. This place clearly looks important—we'll definitely catch a big fish."
Mole wish power?
Xu Jin wanted to retort, but then thought about it and didn't know how to refute Chu Xingchen's words.
It was the kind of thing that sounded a bit unpleasant but didn't seem wrong either.
But never mind.
Xu Jin openly began manipulating the mole wish power in front of the elderly monk.
Naturally, it wasn't that an Early Nascent Soul monk couldn't even see a Fusion realm cultivator.
But from the moment they entered the hall, this monk had fallen completely under Chu Xingchen's illusion without any resistance.
Lizhi's cultivation was too low, so naturally she couldn't sense the spiritual energy fluctuations and methods when Chu Xingchen made his move.
A Fusion realm cultivator's illusion technique—this wish-power-cultivating Early Nascent Soul monk was truly fortunate to experience it.
Lizhi looked confused, feeling that what Chu Xingchen said wasn't quite right but not knowing exactly what was wrong.
After all, Chu Xingchen was a genuine Nascent Soul expert, and the Early Golden Core monk before them indeed couldn't see her.
"If the benefactors are going to be rude, then don't blame this monk for driving you out."
The elderly monk suddenly shouted in anger.
The main Buddha statue instantly lit up, and a terrifying power swept in all directions.
Xu Jin casually raised his hand to block this power, then quickly said:
"Control it a bit—the wish power can't withstand such turmoil."
Chu Xingchen looked at Lizhi and asked:
"Do you know how to be fierce?"
"Fierce?" Lizhi froze, then quickly shook her head. "I don't..."
Chu Xingchen nodded lightly. "Then learn now—you'll definitely use it in the future."
Before Lizhi could respond, she felt a push from behind.
She stumbled forward several steps.
The elderly monk's gaze immediately locked onto Lizhi.
His expression instantly grew grave.
Lizhi felt her scalp tingle, then heard Chu Xingchen's voice:
"You're now an expert at the Nascent Soul realm. Just say what you want to say and do what you want to do. Don't worry—you have powerful people backing you up."
Lizhi glanced back at Xu Jin, who looked completely at ease and unconcerned with what was happening, busy with his work.
She silently turned back to face the elderly monk.
To the elderly monk, Lizhi's movements seemed slightly stiff, but her extremely strange aura was truly terrifying.
Her strength... was impossible to estimate.
He didn't care that Lizhi was dressed plainly or that her expression was still somewhat nervous.
The elderly monk only cared that in Lizhi's simple breathing, she gave him an indescribable, terrifying signal of death.
Lizhi's clumsy movements seemed like she was just toying with him.
Her true self must be a cultivator with extremely terrifying cultivation.
At the very least...
She must be at the Deity Transformation realm!
The elderly monk's tone instantly became much gentler:
"Benefactor... I wonder what brings you to this humble temple?"
Lizhi straightened up, raised her chin slightly, and spoke fiercely but with a hint of uncertainty in her voice:
"Damn it, who came here to instruct you, you hairless bald donkey of a monk!"
Want more chapters? Now you can get **30 advanced chapters instantly** for the same price as the old 20-chapter tier.
Joining Patreon also gets you:
- Ongoing monthly chapter releases
- Bonus content and extra drops
patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
I won't sugarcoat it—I'm struggling financially right now, and your support directly determines whether I can keep writing consistently. If this story has hooked you even once, consider backing it. Every bit helps.
Thanks for reading.