Chapter 696: The Body of Thought

The night sky was vast, with scattered stars like dust.

In the dust space, Ye Chen was already sitting cross-legged, his entire body emanating a flowing light, appearing as dignified and solemn as an ancient monk in meditation.

At this moment, he had no wounds left on his body. His broken arm had completely regenerated through body refinement. With the infusion of earth essence, star power, and elixirs, his dan sea was once again brimming with energy. At a glance, the spiritual power ocean was a dazzling golden expanse, interwoven with various phenomena.

Moreover, as his injuries continued to heal, his cultivation quietly broke through two levels, directly entering the third level of Kong Ming Realm.

The place was utterly silent, with Ye Chen free of distractions, still recovering from his wounds.

However, the Tai Xu Gu Long, hidden in the underground world of Zheng Yang Zong, was fixated on Ye Chen's nine clones, using the connection between the clones and the true self to watch Ye Chen—or more precisely, to watch his shen hai.

At that moment, its massive dragon eyes narrowed slightly, staring intently at a figure slowly gathering in Ye Chen's shen hai.

It was a person sitting cross-legged, ethereal and bathed in Buddha light, dazzling and radiant. His features were indistinct, only revealing that he was a Buddha, with a swastika character engraved at his brow.

Tai Xu Gu Long narrowed its dragon eyes and said, "Da Ri Ru Lai."

Its expression darkened with those four words.

"Damn it, truly everywhere," Tai Xu Gu Long muttered fiercely to itself. "I underestimated that old bald donkey. Ye Chen, I regret this, I really do."

Roar! Roar! Roar!

As Tai Xu Gu Long cursed inwardly, the Dan Zu dragon soul in Ye Chen's shen hai let out a series of low roars. Though it couldn't speak, it circled the Buddha figure repeatedly, its roars laced with hostility.

Om, ma, ni, pad, me, hum.

Vaguely, ethereal Buddha chants echoed through Ye Chen's shen hai, making even the Dan Zu dragon soul appear somewhat dazed.

Perhaps sensing the anomaly in his shen hai, Ye Chen, who was still healing, furrowed his brow slightly and opened his eyes. He looked inward at his dan sea and saw the ethereal Buddha figure.

Immediately, Ye Chen was stunned and muttered, "This... who is that?"

Soon, Tai Xu Gu Long's voice rang out, "Da Ri Ru Lai. In other words, the Buddha I mentioned, or more accurately, the nian zhi shen formed from Da Ri Ru Lai's faith power."

"Isn't that right? So why is he in my shen hai?"

"Because you used his Da Ri Ru Lai Jing Shi Mantra, and you did it while in a demonic state."

"I don't get it."

"Although the Da Ri Ru Lai Jing Shi Mantra is a Buddhist divine ability, it's a very peculiar one," Tai Xu Gu Long explained. "When the Buddha created this technique in the past, to prevent it from being misused, he infused it with his own emperor-level laws. In simple terms, anyone who uses the Da Ri Ru Lai Jing Shi Mantra will manifest his nian zhi shen in their body. If you develop malicious thoughts, his nian zhi shen will automatically activate the mantra to purify and eliminate them."

"Damn, it works like that?"

Ye Chen exclaimed in surprise.

"So, does that mean every time I use demonic power from now on, I'll be purged by him?"

"You could say that."

"And then?" Ye Chen frowned at Tai Xu Gu Long. "The Da Ri Ru Lai Jing Shi Mantra's danger isn't just that, right?"

"As you said." Tai Xu Gu Long replied with a hint of unease. "The Da Ri Ru Lai's nian zhi shen in your shen hai will take root in your body and accompany you through endless ages. It will subtly alter your thoughts over time."

"Alter my thoughts?" Ye Chen furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"It's basically the Buddhist way," Tai Xu Gu Long coughed lightly. "Things like 'form is emptiness and emptiness is form,' or 'lay down the butcher's knife and attain Buddhahood instantly.' In simpler terms, it will purify and extinguish your seven emotions and six desires."

"Damn it." After hearing Tai Xu Gu Long out, Ye Chen couldn't help but curse. "This is seriously messed up."

"I can only say that among the 130 emperors of Xuan Huang, the Buddha is the most enigmatic one," Tai Xu Gu Long continued. "Across the myriad realms, there are countless nian zhi shen of his. His faith power is boundless. Although he passed away eons ago, he persists in the world through his nian zhi shen formed from faith."

"I'm not in the mood for your pointless stories," Ye Chen said with a dark expression, glaring at Tai Xu Gu Long. "Just tell me how to get him out of my body. I don't want him watching me all the time."

"About that, I really don't know," Tai Xu Gu Long coughed awkwardly.

"You little dragon brat, I could strangle you right now," Ye Chen said, his face covered in twitching veins.

"Uh, give me some time to think. I'll figure something out."

"You jerk, you're nothing but trouble." Ye Chen jumped up and started yelling.

But Tai Xu Gu Long offered no response, having blocked their conversation entirely. This left Ye Chen so furious that he nearly grabbed his Ba Long Dao and headed to Zheng Yang Zong for a chat.

"I'll remember this," Ye Chen grumbled, then turned his gaze back to his shen hai, staring fixedly at the Da Ri Ru Lai's nian zhi shen. It was incredibly radiant, its chanting Buddha sounds having a cleansing effect that made his entire body feel calm, like a tranquility mantra.

Yet, even with all its benefits, Ye Chen didn't want the Da Ri Ru Lai's nian zhi shen in his shen hai.

If it was as strange and overbearing as Tai Xu Gu Long described, that would be absurd. He could already imagine what he'd become after endless ages—his seven emotions and six desires completely extinguished.

"Hey, let's make a deal," Ye Chen said with a chuckle, rubbing his hands. "I'll let you out of my shen hai, and I'll find you a nice spot."

But the Da Ri Ru Lai's nian zhi shen acted as if it hadn't heard a word, remaining utterly still like a statue, only emitting its endless Buddha light and irresistible chants.

You're impressive!

Ye Chen couldn't help but give it a thumbs-up.

Crack!

Soon, the dust space shattered, and Ye Chen appeared in the midst of the mountains. Zi Xuan emerged with him, having also left the dust space.

Withdrawing his gaze from the Da Ri Ru Lai's nian zhi shen, Ye Chen looked at Zi Xuan and then waved his hand to store her away. She was a valuable asset, after all—maybe she'd jump out to save the day next time he was in danger.

Of course, this was just Ye Chen's hopeful wish. He didn't know when Zi Xuan could take human form again, but he knew it wouldn't be soon. Her condition was too mysterious, and this time's depletion had plunged her back into deep slumber.

"I wonder if those people are still around." Glancing at the sky, Ye Chen stepped into the air, surveyed his surroundings, and then flew toward the Lu Gu Cang Yuan.

Half an hour later, he arrived above the Lu Gu Cang Yuan.

The Lu Gu Cang Yuan was a scene of devastation, with scattered corpses and bones visible, and the ground even redder with blood. Besides that, he saw no sign of Elder Zhuge and his group, nor the people from Zheng Yang Zong.

"They must have left," Ye Chen murmured, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. "Zheng Yang Zong, Qing Yun Zong, Ling Zhen—you're all going to pay for this. I'll settle this score with you slowly."

As he spoke, he glanced at Yin Zhi Ping, who was suppressed in the Da Luo Shen Ding. He was still unconscious, his face twisted and demonic.

"I'll deal with you back at the sect," Ye Chen said coldly, retracting his gaze. Like a divine rainbow streaking across the sky, he headed straight for the fifth branch hall of Heng Yue Zong, intending to use its teleportation array to return to the main sect.