Chapter 96

Zhu Ganglie held the Fengshen Pagoda and arrived at a mountain. He pointed at the pagoda, revealing the three-tailed fox demon that was suppressed by it.

"It's you! Why do you always try to make things difficult for me!"

Seeing Zhu Ganglie, Tu Yumei immediately let out a shrill scream, her eyes filled with malice. If she weren't suppressed by the Fengshen Pagoda, she would have fought to the death.

"I was originally a member of the royal family of the Qinghuo Kingdom! You, the nine-tailed fox, were once a divine beast in ancient times, and the Qinghuo Kingdom has always been a place of worship. Why have you now fallen to the level of a fox demon!"

Zhu Ganglie looked at Tu Yumei with a faint expression, his face filled with doubt.

"When did I fall to the level of a fox demon? I merely used the dragon qi of the Qinghuo Kingdom to recover from my injuries. I never harmed the life of the ruler, only made him a bit weaker. I mostly used illusions, don't slander me!"

Tu Yumei screamed, her eyes filled with a hint of helplessness. She never thought she would run into this Daoist again.

"Your mind is not settled. To prevent you from doing more wrong, you should cultivate and refine your nature in my pagoda!"

Zhu Ganglie didn't want to argue with Tu Yumei and was about to suppress the fox demon.

"No, Immortal, please consider my hard cultivation and spare me this time. I promise I will never do evil again and will focus on cultivation!"

Tu Yumei's face turned pale, and she pleaded softly.

However, Zhu Ganglie ignored her. He had already made an enemy of this fox demon, and this was not the time to be merciful. He even looked towards Qinghuo Mountain, intending to suppress the entire lineage of the fox demons to prevent danger to the Qinghuo Kingdom.

These nine-tailed foxes were once divine beasts in ancient times, but after the Daji incident, they seemed to have lost their divinity and gained more demonic nature. They could no longer be judged by normal standards; otherwise, Tu Yumei would not have been able to absorb human essence.

After suppressing Tu Yumei with the Fengshen Pagoda, Zhu Ganglie glanced at Qinghuo Mountain and then left, continuing his journey to the Great Wasteland.

"You have some skills and a firm mind. It seems I can only forcibly convert you!"

As Zhu Ganglie left, a half-grown child, munching on a pear, watched him with a smile. A white lotus bloomed under his feet, carrying him as he slowly followed.

Zhu Ganglie never expected that the child he saw in the market was the Zen Master Zhisheng of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple. Even more unexpectedly, after traveling hundreds of miles, a huge mountain appeared, covered in a vast white mist. In the mist, a phantom kingdom quickly formed, transforming into a massive golden Buddhist realm.

In this Buddhist realm, a giant golden Buddha recited mantras, continuously chanting. A massive golden palm descended upon Zhu Ganglie, and the terrifying power left him no time to react, as he was immediately suppressed by the golden palm.

Zhu Ganglie trembled, and his first thought was of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple. However, he couldn't move and could only be suppressed by the golden palm.

"You have a connection with our Buddha. Join our Buddha."

A deep voice echoed in Zhu Ganglie's ear, making him want to curse, but he couldn't even make a sound, only to be enveloped by the golden light.

Zhu Ganglie felt a rush of wind, as if crossing countless spaces. After half a day, he stopped, and before him was a massive reclining Buddha. In front of him stood a row of high monks, including the six old monks he had seen before. At the top was a small novice monk wrapped in a monk's robe.

Seeing this novice monk, Zhu Ganglie exclaimed, "It's you! I truly failed to recognize you, a great monk!"

"Little friend, there's no need to be angry. I am Zen Master Zhisheng. I invited you here to help you understand the Dharma and achieve immortality through the Buddhist path."

Zhisheng Zen Master smiled and gently made the Immovable Root Seal, making Zhu Ganglie feel his body stiffen, unable to use any power. This made Zhu Ganglie realize the significant gap in strength between them, and he felt both frustrated and more cautious.

"Master, you must be mistaken. I am an inner disciple of the Shenshao Sect and cannot understand the Buddhist path. Please let me go!"

Hearing Zhu Ganglie's words, Zhisheng Zen Master's childlike face showed a smile. "Little friend, you have created the method of the Ten Thousand Households Buddha, which can be considered a side path of Buddhism. Your future achievements will be boundless.

I have already attained the status of an Arhat and was supposed to enter the Western Paradise, but for some reason, I have not received the Buddha's summons.

However, I am willing to pass on the foundation of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple to you and teach you the Dharma that led me to Arhatship. This will help you achieve Arhatship sooner, and I will even personally bless you.

With this foundation and Dharma, you will surely achieve immortality. Given your talent, you will surely receive the Buddha's summons in the future. Why be confined by the differences between the Daoist and Buddhist paths?"

After hearing Zhisheng Zen Master's words, Zhu Ganglie had to admit it was a tempting opportunity, and he was somewhat tempted. However, after a moment's thought, he shook his head. Although this method was good, Buddhist cultivation is a path of hardship. Achieving Arhatship is equivalent to the level of a Daoist immortal.

The method of immortality in the future can only be obtained in the Western Paradise. I already have the method of immortality and have joined a major Daoist sect. If I abandon these to seek the Buddhist method, it would be putting the cart before the horse.

Moreover, I don't know if I can be summoned to the Western Paradise. If I end up like Zhisheng Zen Master, I would only have a few thousand years of life.

Furthermore, I cultivate the Buddhist method to gain insights for my Ice Soul Dao cultivation, not to truly practice the Buddhist method.

Understanding this, Zhu Ganglie remained silent.

Seeing Zhu Ganglie's reaction, Zhisheng Zen Master gently nodded, and the Qingyang Ancient Lamp shone, transforming into a golden light floating above Zhu Ganglie's head, revealing the scenes of the Ten Thousand Households.

This made Zhisheng Zen Master's eyes sparkle with excitement. Staring at the Qingyang Ancient Lamp for a moment, he looked at Zhu Ganglie and said firmly, "Little friend, you are a person with a connection to Buddhism. I will form a karmic bond with you. Stay here and cultivate the Buddhist Dharma daily, and you may eventually convert!"

Without waiting for Zhu Ganglie's response, Zhisheng Zen Master pressed his hand, and the giant reclining Buddha's eyes emitted two beams of golden light, trapping Zhu Ganglie deep within the reclining Buddha.

"From now on, recite the Dharma daily and use the power of the entire temple to convert this person!"

Zhisheng Zen Master said to the monks, and the entire Ten Thousand Buddha Temple began chanting scriptures, echoing throughout the temple.

Zhu Ganglie found himself in a strange space, filled with various auras, including demonic auras, heretical auras, and the auras of celestial demons from beyond the realm.

This made Zhu Ganglie both surprised and wary. The only good thing was that his magical power was still intact, and there were no restrictions on him. Even the Qingyang Ancient Lamp remained with him.

However, before Zhu Ganglie could rejoice, the sound of massive chants filled his ears, and the auras he sensed began to disappear, replaced by the sounds of ghostly wails and howls of pain.

Faced with the continuous Buddhist chants, Zhu Ganglie's head ached, and he could only sit in meditation, using his cultivation method to suppress the terrifying chants. The Qingyang Ancient Lamp above his head shone even brighter.