Chapter 1074: Immortal Divinity

The Western Lands… this is an ancient Buddhist domain, boundless and vast, steeped in countless legends. Devout followers of Buddhism are everywhere, their faith sincere, making it a place close to divinity.

Great Emperor Amitābha was an ancient figure of immense wisdom who transformed a barren land into a paradise.

Legend has it that in the distant past, golden sand covered the western lands, which were sparsely populated with scarce vegetation. When Great Emperor Amitābha descended, he measured every inch of land on foot. Wherever he went, Bodhi trees grew and lotuses bloomed, turning the desolate plains into a pure land.

Today, large areas of the Western Lands are suitable for human habitation, no longer as desolate and barren as they were hundreds of thousands of years ago.

It is said that when every inch of the Western Lands possesses divinity and radiates Buddha's light, Amitābha will return through reincarnation, becoming an immortal being and reappearing in the world.

The Western Lands, an entire vast region, adheres to only one doctrine, creating an unprecedented miracle throughout history!

Since ancient times, within this ancient mystical land, Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and ancient Buddhas have walked among mortals, coexisting with all sentient beings, manifesting miracles, and alleviating suffering. It is precisely for this reason that Buddhism has grown ever stronger and more influential.

Ye Fan stood on a stone mountain, gazing out at this vast land. Many places with ancient temples were enveloped in pure spiritual power, radiating Buddha's light.

"If this continues, every inch of land will possess divinity and Buddha's light. The waters of the Western Lands are too deep; the more one ponders it, the more terrifying it becomes," he murmured softly to himself.

This was a vast region difficult for outsiders to invade. Neither demon tribes nor ancient races could withstand the oceanic impact of spiritual power, as Buddha's light illuminated all directions.

This was Ye Fan's second visit to the Western Lands. What he saw along the way made him nod in approval. On this land, the central Sumeru Mountain always seemed to exert a gravitational pull, stirring his primordial spirit.

"Great Emperor Amitābha... what kind of earth-shattering arrangements did he lay on Sumeru Mountain? Spiritual power, like an ocean, surges continuously. If this continues, even without immortals, an immortal peak could be created out of nothing, couldn't it?"

He closed his eyes... and a strange sensation arose. Sumeru Mountain seemed to stand in an eternal void, emitting an immortal, hazy glow.

Ye Fan did not delay, traveling westward towards the Ashoka Plateau, ascending this high-altitude pure land where the blue sky and white clouds seemed within reach.

Along the way, he saw many pilgrims piously prostrating themselves with every step, walking towards Ashoka Lake, worshiping with sincere hearts.

An ancient temple sat at the horizon's edge, adjacent to the sacred Ashoka Lake. Its architecture was simple and unpretentious, not grand; it was the Wenhan Temple.

However, Ye Fan found nothing. He did not find An Miaoyi there; only an old monk was lecturing to pilgrims.

"Master, where is Miaoyi?" Ye Fan inquired.

"She left eleven years ago," the old monk replied.

An Miaoyi severed her earthly ties fourteen years ago. To achieve perfection and comprehend her past, present, and future, she journeyed westward, ultimately intending to ascend Sumeru Mountain.

Ye Fan stood stunned. He turned and left, traveling westward. According to the old monk, it was only possible to find her by visiting every sacred temple.

Where could she have gone? Where was she now?

Ye Fan passed through numerous ancient temples and finally traced her whereabouts. Indeed, she was journeying to ascend Sumeru Mountain, cultivating her mind amidst the mundane world. If it were a hundred-li journey, she had already covered more than half.

She had cultivated in many ancient temples. She had only left Yunfeng Temple two months ago, and unless something unforeseen happened, she should have entered the renowned Buddhist sacred temple, Lan Tuo Temple.

In the Western Lands, the Great Thunderclap Temple on Sumeru Mountain was undoubtedly the most famous. It was the center of the entire Western Land, the very foundation of Buddhism, and irreplaceable.

However, besides that, the ancient sacred temples of Hanging Temple, Lan Tuo Temple, and Shenxia Temple were equally significant; they were also vital Buddhist holy sites.

Indeed, during certain special periods in history, when ancient Buddhas resided there, they could rival the Great Thunderclap Temple as religious centers.

Buddhism possesses the Six-Character Great Mantra and secrets of the universe's beginning. These are scattered among these ancient sacred temples and have never been unified.

Lan Tuo Temple, a famous temple of the current era, has a long history. Initially, it was just an ancient Buddhist cultivation ground, but it gradually became a sacred temple.

Legend has it that Great Emperor Amitābha once lectured here for forty-nine days. Sweet dew sprang from the earth, and divine lotuses grew in the void; various auspicious phenomena emerged, shaking the world.

Ye Fan gazed into the distance. It was a grand and majestic ancient temple, bathed in the golden light of the evening glow, appearing sacred and solemn.

"This is Lan Tuo Temple," he thought, "the sacred pure land where Great Emperor Amitābha lectured and attained enlightenment. Its atmosphere is truly extraordinary!"

Bodhi trees were everywhere here. Orchids drifted in the void, their fragrance filling the air. Incense smoke was strong and prosperous; many Buddhists were prostrating themselves, and large numbers of pilgrims came here every year.

An ancient path led to the temple gate. Along this path, there were countless devout believers, prostrating themselves with every step.

Ye Fan opened his Heavenly Eye and saw the entire ancient temple bathed in the purest spiritual power, radiating boundless light, piercing the clouds, grand and vast.

This was a great power!

It represented the unity of heaven, earth, and human hearts. The entire ancient temple, deep within its pure land, was in harmony with the Great Dao, and various auspicious energies surged forth.

Such a holy site, created entirely by human effort, was truly a magnificent sight, one that left even Ye Fan awestruck.

Cultivating in such a place, in harmony with the spiritual power of all sentient beings, naturally yielded twice the results with half the effort for Buddhist practitioners. It was a supreme and wondrous land.

"Although it is a supreme Great Dao, it is not my path," Ye Fan murmured to himself.

Dong...

Inside the ancient sacred temple, shimmering with golden light in the sunset, the great bell tolled leisurely. The bell's resonance was vast, as if coming from eons past. Then, chanting began, purifying people's minds, making them feel increasingly serene, as if their whole being had ascended.

All the pilgrims were enthralled. Their foreheads glowed white, emitting streaks of light that flowed into the ancient temple.

Some people's chronic illnesses and old ailments also disappeared.

This was a complementary relationship.

Ye Fan vaguely felt that Lan Tuo Temple was extraordinary! Above this ancient temple, an ocean-like pure power of faith surged. Then it transformed into a great cauldron, beginning to refine the newly arriving spiritual power, turning it into immortal divine radiance, blessing the sacred temple and expanding outwards.

Ye Fan gasped. He increasingly felt that those legends were not groundless. When the immortal divine radiance covered every inch of the Western Lands, would a shocking transformation truly occur?!

He landed at the temple gate and inquired. He learned that An Miaoyi was indeed there and asked someone to announce his desire to meet her.

However, unexpectedly, a monk soon informed him that An Miaoyi requested him to return and would not come out to meet him.

"Why... Does she already know who I am?" Ye Fan was startled.

He did not force his way in. Instead, he waited there for several days, but his multiple requests for a meeting were unsuccessful. Doubts arose, and he stared at the monk, saying, "What exactly is going on?"

"This... Patron, please return," the disciple guarding the gate spoke, his expression changing.

"I must see her. Forgive my offense." Ye Fan's eyes flashed, and he stepped inside.

"Patron, this is a forbidden Buddhist area... you cannot force your way in." Several monks blocked his path.

"An Miaoyi committed a great transgression and is currently suppressed within the nine-story pagoda. You cannot see her," a young monk blurted out.

"So that's it. In that case, I certainly cannot leave!" Ye Fan's determination to enter intensified.

The monks refused to show mercy, their faces grim, unwilling to let him proceed.

Whoosh!

A flash of light... Ye Fan vanished from his spot, entering the temple. Instantly, the golden bell rang out loudly, its peal echoing incessantly.

"Who dares to trespass our pure land?" A monk with the appearance of a formidable warrior appeared. His unruly hair was bound by a golden circlet, and with a great roar, he blocked the path.

How fast was Ye Fan! With a twist of his 'Movement' Secret Art, he bypassed him as if in a dream or illusion, as if entering an uninhabited place... passing through three temple courtyards in a row.

"Audacious fiend, how dare you profane the sacred Buddhist land! Where do you think you're going!"

Clearly, this ascetic monk was a master. Though not very old, he already possessed extraordinary strength.

Boom!

A convenient chained spade in his hand flew up. Its various golden rings gleamed and hummed, slashing towards Ye Fan's back, aiming to intercept him.

However, Ye Fan's speed was too great. Although this Dao weapon was powerful and mysterious, it merely slashed through the void, not even touching his afterimage.

Clang clang...

The bells rang out loudly, and the entire Lan Tuo Temple was stirred into commotion. The alarm bells rang incessantly, something unheard of for thousands of years. Who would dare trespass a Buddhist holy land?

With the blessing of endless faith power, even a Great Accomplishment King would have to stop, otherwise, they would only perish with regret!

"Amitābha Buddha, who disturbs the tranquility of my pure land? Stop now!" A great shout echoed, immensely authoritative, making people's souls tremble.

However, Ye Fan moved as if entering an uninhabited place. In that instant, he passed through thirteen courtyards in a row. People only saw a streak of light, unable to discern his form.

Everyone was astonished. How powerful must one be to walk on the forbidden Buddhist ground's divine patterns as if on level earth? Could a Saint have arrived?

"This sacred ancient land tolerates no wild behavior! May the Buddha-nature illuminate all!" An old monk roared like a lion, shaking the entire ancient temple.

At this moment, ocean-like faith power surged, descending from the sky, each strand shimmering brightly, like a vast waterfall.

This was an extremely terrifying Great Force of Heaven and Earth!

Pure spiritual power was sacred to Buddhist cultivators, but to those who did not believe in the doctrine, it was like a suffocating poison.

For cultivators, this was truly karmic fire! Even Saints would frown, and even gods would retreat!

Now, with the faith power raining down from the sky, it was clear that the people of Lan Tuo Temple were desperate. Being successively trespassed into crucial areas like this was a feat of ancient great demons.

Ye Fan had experienced such an attack in the Vatican, where the power of faith enveloped him and tried to refine his physical body. It caused him some hardship, but it could not destroy him.

Buddha's light, like water, submerged the area. Ye Fan endured immense pressure but did not stop, continuing to stride forward.

"Miaoyi, I've come to see you!" Ye Fan let out a long cry, and the radiant, pervasive faith power was parted, like a surging river splitting to both sides, unable to block his path.

"So you came for her. She committed a great transgression. No one can see her. To leave the pagoda, she must abandon all her cultivation," an old monk appeared, exceptionally formidable.

"Master, please show mercy and let me in," Ye Fan stood in the thirteenth Buddhist courtyard and said earnestly.

"No. Your trespassing into my Lan Tuo Temple is already disrespectful. Please leave immediately, or great sin will befall you!" the old monk roared.

Many Buddhist masters flew in, surrounding the area and trapping him in the center.

"I don't want to make enemies with you all, but this time, I can only say I'm sorry!" Ye Fan's eyes flashed with cold lightning, and his palm and fingers moved. A black mountain appeared and directly smashed forward, clearing a path ahead, causing everyone to fly sideways and retreat.

He radiated light all over, striding forward like a demonic god. Having learned that An Miaoyi was suppressed here, he did not wish to delay for a moment and went straight into the crucial area.

"Who dares to act so presumptuously in the important grounds of my sect?" A lion's roar echoed, making even the heavens tremble.

Bang.

Ye Fan directly struck out, swatting forward. An old monk, dry and shriveled, covered in Buddha's light, was sent flying backward as a streak of light.

"You..." Many monks were shocked.

"Half-Saint?" Ye Fan slightly frowned. He did not stop, activating his 'Movement' Secret Art, leaving behind an afterimage, vanishing instantly and heading straight into the heart of the sacred temple.

A nine-story ancient pagoda stood ahead. Faith power condensed, and Buddha's light illuminated all directions.