Chapter 132: The Enlightened Monk's Nirvana

Grand Master Tianyun was very open-minded and personally handed the Golden Glimmer Mud Buddha to Bai Lianxue.

"This object contains the inheritance of a supreme cultivation technique. It's said to be closely related to finding the Great Secret of the Dragon Hoard, but it's incomplete. Only by mastering this technique can you unlock subsequent opportunities to locate the other four Golden Glimmer Mud Buddhas. The Great Secret of the Dragon Hoard will only be revealed when all five golden objects are brought together."

Bai Lianxue nodded solemnly. Witnessing Grand Master Tianyun devote his entire being to this profound connection, Bai Lianxue felt the burden on her shoulders grow heavier. This was no longer just her personal matter.

"Esteemed benefactor..."

After entrusting the Golden Glimmer Mud Buddha, the Grand Master turned his gaze to Ling Yao, who had remained silent for a long time.

"If this old monk is not mistaken, you are the other inheritor of a profound connection, destined for the same fate as Benefactor Bai."

Xu Yang and the others were not overly surprised by this. After all, the Grand Master was an enlightened monk and the guardian of this Dragon Hoard connection, so sensing the aura fluctuations of the precious jade within Ling Yao was quite normal.

Ling Yao nodded gently in response, and the Grand Master nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. Seeing your growth now puts this old monk's heart at ease. The Dragon Hoard is the sole reliance for suppressing the tribulation that threatens to destroy the world. You don't have much time, so you must be extremely careful and never let the inherited items fall into the wrong hands."

The Grand Master clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to the four. Suddenly, his entire body radiated a brilliant golden light. This dazzling golden radiance instantly enveloped the entire Linghan Temple!

At the summit of the mountain, at the end of the endless, ethereal celestial light, the entire temple appeared as if a Heavenly Buddha had bestowed immense fortune upon it, becoming the most resplendent point in the vast expanse of a thousand miles.

"Amitābha..."

*Dong! Dong! Dong!*

Forty-nine bells tolled in succession. Thousands of monks throughout the venerable temple simultaneously bowed and clasped their hands, chanting Buddhist scriptures repeatedly to bid farewell to Grand Master Tianyun, a monk of extraordinary spiritual attainment.

"Master..."

At that moment, Ying Zui couldn't help but shed tears. Yet, for him, witnessing his beloved Master's spiritual ascension was also a profound honor.

Indeed, the Grand Master's physical body gradually dissipated, transforming into a wisp of golden smoke that drifted towards the horizon beyond the temple. Faintly, an extraordinarily brilliant swastika emblem appeared within the golden light.

"That is Buddhist affinity... It only appears when a truly enlightened Grand Master achieves nirvana. The Master's soul has embarked on the path to Buddhahood..."

Bai Lianxue spoke softly, providing immense comfort to Ying Zui beside her.

Simultaneously, a crystalline, golden sarira slowly floated up from the meditation cushion and merged into Ying Zui's body.

In mere moments, the demonic appearance on Ying Zui's face completely vanished, replaced by the handsome features of a shaven-headed young monk. His cultivation base surged by three realms, reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. He was now no weaker than Xu Yang's three formidable female companions and possessed the fundamental qualifications to inherit the legacy of Linghan Temple.

Three days passed in a flash. After Ying Zui had completed the funeral rites for his Martial Uncle Tianjun and his Master, Grand Master Tianyun, and managed all the temple's affairs, he went to the back mountain to meet Xu Yang and the others.

"Haha, we can't call you Ying Zui anymore. May I ask, does the Abbot Master have a new monastic name?"

"This humble monk's monastic name is Huixin. Esteemed benefactors, please guide me."

Although young monk Huixin had inherited the position of abbot, his nature remained unchanged. He still joked informally with Xu Yang.

After spending these days together, Huixin had truly integrated with Xu Yang's team. They had all become close companions who had faced difficulties together.

More importantly, although the Golden Glimmer Mud Buddha was now in their possession, Bai Lianxue had been unable to decipher its secrets in just three days. As for the cultivation technique inscribed on it...

*Rumble!*

Just then, in the guest room in the back mountain, Bai Lianxue, who was practicing the cultivation technique, suddenly let out a muffled roar. Startled, Xu Yang and the others quickly rushed into the room to see what was happening.

"Lianxue, are you alright? What happened?"

With a look of distress, the girl gazed at Xu Yang and shook her head helplessly. "Master, I don't know if the cultivation technique inscribed on this mud Buddha is too profound for my limited talent, or if it's incomplete and thus uncultivable. I haven't made any progress in these three days; it's as if I can't even begin to comprehend it..."

"Let me take a look!"

Before Xu Yang could speak, Huixin, who was nearby, fixed his gaze on it. Due to the Grand Master's sarira within him, Huixin faintly perceived a swastika emblem hidden just beyond the Mud Buddha's outline.

"I understand now! This Mud Buddha itself requires someone with a Buddhist heart to unlock its secrets. Sister Bai, it seems you'll need to study Buddhism with me before you can practice this technique!"

Huixin's words seemed to inspire Xu Yang as well.

"Considering what Grand Master Tianyun said earlier, the heaven-defying Great Secret of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces even involves the ancient divine phoenix tribe. If the Nine Dragon Hoards truly represent our ancestors dividing this Great Secret into nine parts, and Lianxue's connection is within the Buddhist sect, then, following this pattern, Ling Yao's connection must be in the Heavenly Sword Sacred Land, which is the Sword Gate! Each sect corresponds to one Dragon Hoard. Therefore, the remaining seven Dragon Hoards should manifest in the other seven supreme domains of the cultivation world, along with seven more inheritors who have endured tribulation, awaiting our discovery!"

This seemed like an ethereal speculation, and Xu Yang had yet to find any evidence to prove his hypothesis.

Nevertheless, Ling Yao was swayed by Xu Yang's deduction.

"Perhaps we truly can try pursuing this direction... Now, Sister Bai has obtained the Mud Buddha but hasn't cultivated a Buddhist heart, and I, having integrated the Heavenly Sword Treasure Jade back into my body, have reached the peak of swordsmanship but haven't awakened my sword soul. Comparing the two, our experiences are remarkably similar in their unique ways. Perhaps Sister Bai and I are truly just one step away from unveiling the prelude to this secret..."

Bai Lianxue gazed deeply at Ling Yao, finding immense encouragement in her eyes.

"Master, in my opinion, we should stay here at Linghan Temple for a while longer. I'll make plans after I've entered the path of Buddhism. During this time, Ling Yao can also focus on cultivating her sword soul. If either of us gains an initial insight, our next step will naturally become much clearer."

Xu Yang nodded upon hearing this. "That's an excellent idea. Now that the Golden Glimmer Mud Buddha has appeared, it's uncertain whether other eyes might be secretly watching us. Being too conspicuous in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces isn't the best strategy. Let's settle here and cultivate for some time before making further plans."

*Dong! Dong!*

Just as Xu Yang and the others finalized their plans, the ancient bell outside the temple gate was struck once more.

"Reporting to the Abbot, outsiders have forced their way up to the temple gate! It appears to be a group of powerful demonic cultivators!"

"You all stay here and cultivate in peace. I'll go and see."