I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

The Bodhi Treasure Wheel responded to the arrival of Ben Kong and the others, its aura faintly revealing itself, emitting a black and red spiritual light, exuding strands of longing, greed, and bloodthirsty desires.

"Amitabha!"

Ben Kong clasped his hands together, devoutly chanted the Buddha's name, and sat down cross-legged to begin reciting the Ten Thousand Buddhas Scripture.

The other High Monks did the same, their voices undulating and resonant, merging various Buddhist scriptures into the Bodhi Treasure Wheel.

The bizarre black and red light gradually extinguished, turning into a golden Buddha light, and solidifying into a half-ethereal, half-real Buddha statue sixteen feet tall.

The Buddha statue looked kind and dignified, its posture solemn, its eyes full of compassion as it gazed upon the world.

Without the need to deliberately read scriptures or preach, one merely had to look at the Buddha statue, and the sounds of chanting, like the ringing of morning and evening bells, would arise by one's ears, plunging a person into the Buddhist Law of Ultimate Bliss and Nirvana, making them wish fervently to transform into a Buddha.

Ben Kong looked up and saw wisps of essence and spirit peeling away from his body and merging into the statue, so he quickly lowered his head.

"In a few days, on the Buddha's birthday, the Buddha relic will appear in this world, and it can be nurtured with the life force of the faithful for a strike!"

An attack comparable to that of a Golden Elixir True Monarch in this Dharma-Ending Age was something unstoppable by human effort; even if martial artists condensed Blood Pills, they would be mere ants in the face of such a catastrophe.

"Our Buddha is merciful!"

The group of monks showed joyful expressions. With the Buddha relic deterring the Cloud Continent, they could take the opportunity to spread the Buddhist Law eastward.

Leaving the Bodhi Cave.

The heavy iron gate thundered shut, instantly cutting off the cold, deathly aura. Once again feeling the warmth of Qing Tian's daylight, it was as if they had walked through hell itself.

Ben Kong said, "I appreciate the effort of my martial uncle in guarding this place."

"It is my duty," replied the monk.

The senior monk with long arms spoke in a voice deep as thunder: "The Buddha relic has been subjected to Blood Sacrifices multiple times and has begun to show signs of turning into a vengeful spirit. You must be careful in using it to avoid any chaos."

"Uncle, rest assured, this will be the last time. In the past, the Cloud Continent was uniquely blessed. When the great disaster came, it was protected by a lord of the Dao, and now it flourishes as the foremost of the Nine Continents. Once our Buddha converts the people here, the remaining continents will be merely a matter of time."

Ben Kong spoke: "This time, we will reveal the Buddha relic to lay the foundation for unifying the Nine Continents under the Buddhist Law and creating the Supreme Buddha Land!"

"That is good," the senior monk replied with a slight nod, content that as long as the Buddha relic was not subjected to more Blood Sacrifices, its spirit and resentment would naturally dissipate over time.

The Buddha light was still resplendent!

...

The Little Tan Temple.

In the Buddha Province, counties and districts were all named after temples; people had been passing down these names for generations until no one remembered their original names.

Zhang Family Liquor Shop.

The break of dawn brought a jubilant atmosphere. Neighbors on all sides brought gifts of congratulations, and patrons coming for a drink received a fifty percent discount, while even beggars passing by received two loaves of wheat buns.

As for why the Buddha land had liquor shops and beggars, no one had ever questioned, nor did anyone dare to question.

The Lord Buddha drinks and eats meat, his teachings crossing through the brothels as the Happy Buddha enlightens within the opera, even murder and arson are means to sever karma and causation!

The Zhang family's celebration was because yesterday a monk from Little Tan Temple had delivered an invitation to the Buddha's birthday ceremony, informing Zhang Shun that his eldest son was fated with Buddha. If he went to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple to observe the ceremony, with sincere devotion to Buddha, he could ascend to Ultimate Bliss!

The news spread, evoking envy from everyone. Some went home to harshly scold their children, believing their failure to be selected was due to not being diligent enough in their daily recitations.

Zhang Shun sent the guests away and headed to his backyard, where he saw his son dressed in a gray Monk's Robe.

This Monk's Robe, delivered yesterday by the monks, was a symbol of status in Buddha Province. Privately making one was a grave sin of blasphemy. Wearing it was tantamount to stepping into first-class status, even higher than that of a government official.

"When Li Er was born, there was chanting outside, and I said he must be the reincarnation of a High Monk," said Zhang Shun proudly. "Now it's come true. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple's Buddha's birthday ceremony is not a place ordinary people can attend.

I specifically asked the master about it; this year's ceremony will be even more extraordinary than before, and the invited guests might see the True Buddha!"

Madam Zhang Li was helping her son tidy up the Monk's Robe, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles, and as she thought of how she might not see him again, she couldn't help but have reddened eyes.

"Li Er has never been far from home, and I don't know if he can stand it. You must prepare more funds for the journey," she said.

"What does a woman know? With this robe, wherever Li Er goes, he can eat and drink freely. Should any trouble arise, anyone must lend a hand, or else it would be disrespectful to our Buddha," rebuked Zhang Shun, then turning to his son with a fawning expression: "Li Er, during the Buddha's birthday, you must be devout. Don't think about home; reuniting with the Buddha is what's most important!"

Zhang Li, who was normally mischievous, now bore a sense of dignity in his robe and spoke with a lowered voice.

"Amitabha! This humble monk will undergo countless hardships and ascend to the Western Paradises of Ultimate Bliss. Then, I shall bestow the Buddha's protective light upon you all!"

Zhang Shun paused, almost unable to recognize his own son, but at this moment, participating in the Buddha's birthday was the most important thing. He brought his hands together in a respectful salute.

"My Buddha is compassionate, I only wish the master ascends to Ultimate Bliss!"

Madam Zhang Li's hands, busying with her clothes, shrank back as she quickly stood behind her husband, following him in paying respects.

Since Zhang Li had entered the monastery, he had severed all emotional ties and desires, and from then on, he no longer needed to kneel before his parents, even if he met them face-to-face, it was only proper to greet them with palms together.

Zhang Shun didn't mind this, as in the land of Buddha, there was a saying, "When one person becomes a monk, nine clans ascend to heaven." Now that Zhang Li could ascend to Ultimate Bliss, not only his parents but also his clan could enjoy the grace of the Buddhist community.

To become a monk was a merit and virtue accumulated over lifetimes!

At this moment,

A four-year-old girl emerged from the house, bleary-eyed. Seeing her brother in a monk's robe, she giggled and darted forward for a hug.

"No mischief now!"

Zhang Shun stopped his daughter, his face stern as he admonished her: "From now on, he is no longer your brother, but your master."

The young girl listened, puzzled, and pouted: "Does that mean brother won't play with me anymore?"

"That is indeed so."

Zhang Shun knew well the many rules of the monastic community and that he must teach his children from a young age to avoid offending the master and sentencing the entire family to the lower classes.

"The master ascends to Ultimate Bliss, having severed worldly ties, no longer my son, nor your brother, you must show respect and greet him properly when you see him!"

The girl asked in confusion, "What's different between a master and a brother?"

"Now that our family has the protection of a master, we won't have to worry about food and clothing in the future, we can wear silk and satin and enjoy wealth and glory."

Zhang Shun, seeing his daughter's puzzled look, tried a different approach: "You like to eat Frosting Sugar, from now on you can eat as much as you want, you may also have candy, which only the nobles are privileged to enjoy."

Still not quite understanding, the girl's face lit up at the mention of sweets, and she knelt down with her hands pressed together, full of reverence.

"I pay respect to master brother!"

"Amitabha."

Zhang Li resisted the urge to play with his little sister, pressed his palm on her forehead, and said with gravity, "My Buddha is compassionate, I grant you peace and joy."

"Peace and joy are good."

Zhang Shun smiled, his eyes brightening, as the worries in his heart dissipated.

There were many rumors in town that some high monks, once ordained, no longer concerned themselves with worldly matters and their clans did not benefit. Seeing that the master still felt for the Zhang family, things would be much easier in the future, and the resentment in his heart could be purged.

"That Hu scoundrel, relying on his dog's hide, frequently comes to our shop to freeload, but now that we have the master's protection..."

Zhang Shun was speaking quietly while sneaking a glance at his son, and seeing no change in his expression, continued: "He must repay tenfold, otherwise, I will go to the little monastery to complain and condemn his family to the eighteenth layer of hell!"

Madam Zhang Li said with concern: "After all, Hu Yayi is a government official, involved in many matters, it would suffice to get back the money owed for wine."

"What do you know, a woman's concern, I have already made inquiries."

Zhang Shun said: "According to our Buddhist laws, that scoundrel Hu is suspected of lèse-majesté and is involved with the master's kin, he must certainly be dealt with sternly."

In the land of Buddha, the law was divided into four tiers, with the clergy above the law and the rest subject to different laws according to their rank. Even a sinful monk, by virtue of his status, was exempt from legal punishment and would instead retreat to chant scriptures and expiate his karmic obstacles.

While they were talking,

A government official wearing a black hat, holding a gift box, bowed at the second door's threshold.

"I pay respect to the master!"

"Brother Zhang, today the government released salaries, and I thought it was time to repay the debt for the wine."

"I've accrued such a debt for so long, delaying Brother Zhang's cash flow, I'm very sorry. If there's anything on the street in the future, just command it, and I'll make sure it's done!"

...

The next day.

In the early morning,

Zhang Shun's family and dozens of clan members gathered at the city gates to see off the master.

Zhang Li boarded the carriage headed for Bodhi's realm, gradually moving away. Looking back at the blurred faces of his parents and relatives, a tinge of regret suddenly arose.

"Amitabha."

He chanted the Buddha's name with his hands pressed together, then silently recited scriptures in his heart, forcibly reining in his tears, his eyes slowly turning serene and detached!