Chapter 896: Starry Shore Protector

"What... what are you saying?" Ye Fan asked, startled and uncertain, taking a few steps back. "This is an ancient Buddha who has achieved enlightenment. It's very surprising to meet him here, and his words are even more perplexing."

The old monk was emaciated, his body dry and withered, yet radiating bright and sacred flames. His form was translucent, almost transparent, revealing everything within.

The stone platform was serene, covered by an aura of the Great Dao, almost crystalline. An ancient saint achieving enlightenment was an earth-shattering event, and the purest Dao power flowed here, making the place incredibly mysterious.

"A certain thought is entangled in your bones. Were it not for this old monk's clear perception of the future before his nirvana, even a saint would not be able to detect it," the old monk said. His snow-white eyebrows turned to ash in the karmic flames, and his Dao bones creaked, on the verge of destruction.

Ye Fan found this unbelievable. Could he really have such a mental force on him? When did he get it, and how could it be entwined in his bones? He was skeptical yet could sense the old monk's sincerity.

A person of such high attainment, on the verge of achieving enlightenment, would have no reason to deceive him. Moreover, if an ancient saint wished him harm, a mere flick of a finger would likely be enough to obliterate him, or even forcibly convert him.

A slit opened between the ancient Buddha's eyebrows, emitting a ray of light that could penetrate all things. It illuminated Ye Fan's body, making it transparent, clearly revealing a slender azure divine chain entwined around his left arm bone.

"A wisp of mental energy from a supreme being beyond this realm? When did it get entangled with me?" He looked astonished. "Could it be from the ancient coffin pulled by the nine dragons, or related to the ancient planet Mars where Patriarch Zhan was suppressed, or did I provoke something from the Ziwei ancient star domain back then?"

Ye Fan's mind raced, instantly considering various possibilities. He pondered, finding each plausible, and then inadvertently recalled another scene.

More than half a year ago, he, Li Tian, and Yan Yixi returned from the Ziwei ancient star domain. They explored various relics in an extraterrestrial battlefield above this ancient star, first obtaining a divine flower, and then personally witnessing an ancient ship traverse from the depths of the universe.

It was a small metal boat, just over ten feet long, hermetically sealed. At the time, they sensed an extremely faint aura inside, as if life within was nearing its end.

Ye Fan, Li Tian, and Yan Yixi were all profoundly shocked then. It was an ancient ship that had sailed from the depths of the universe, its age unknown, seemingly having endured countless eons. They dared not provoke it at all, swiftly departing and landing on this ancient star.

Now, Ye Fan pondered carefully and naturally thought of that scene. It was an entity he had encountered from beyond this realm, making him suspicious.

"That mysterious being left a wisp of mental energy on me. Has anything bad happened?" he couldn't help but ask.

"For now, there is nothing to worry about. This wisp of mental energy merely allows him to perceive your existence, as the realm beyond is too far from the surface. However, the future is uncertain," the old monk replied.

At this moment, his withered body was achieving enlightenment, continuously transforming into light, becoming strands of Dao principles that merged into the heavens and earth. His flesh and bones shimmered with golden light, cracking inch by inch.

Furthermore, the cassock he wore, clearly a Saint Weapon, was also undergoing enlightenment with him, transforming into intertwined crimson chains of order.

What kind of state was this? His flesh, bones, and spirit were burning in the flames, continuously achieving enlightenment, yet he remained compassionate and unmoved, not even frowning at a calamity akin to Mount Tai collapsing.

At this moment, he was reaching the end of his life, about to vanish from the world, yet he regarded it so lightly, utterly unconcerned. This was an ancient Buddha, transcendent and detached from worldly affairs.

Ye Fan sighed inwardly. Such a free-spirited ancient saint was rare to encounter in the world. He had never expected their first meeting to be a farewell unto death, witnessing his passing into enlightenment.

"Please, senior, guide me through this predicament and resolve my karmic entanglement."

"I will help you resolve it." The old monk uttered "Amitabha," and his entire body emitted brilliant golden light, invoking the Great Dao of the heavens and earth. Waves of Buddhist nature spread across the Aiyu Plateau.

The Great Dao of the entire Western Desert seemed to be drawn in, and the myriad thoughts of sentient beings transformed into immeasurable light, shining brightly, submerging the heavens and earth, surging forth.

A golden Great Buddha appeared, cradling Ye Fan in its palm. It then drew forth the boundless Buddha light of the Western Desert, enveloping him in the resonant hum of the heavens and earth. Billions of rays of Buddha light, like golden waterfalls, cascaded upon his body.

This was a baptism, a pure mental force originating from Mount Sumeru, like an outpouring of an supreme Dao Fruit. It was ineffable, cleansing his Dao bones, washing over his flesh and blood, making every inch of his body crystal clear and luminous, healing all imperfections.

"Clang!" Ye Fan heard a faint sound from within his body, as if an iron chain had been severed. He felt as though he had broken free from some kind of restraint and was immediately startled, realizing there was indeed something unusual.

Simultaneously, an azure divine chain flew out, clearly visible amidst the golden divine light of Buddhist nature. It wanted to escape into the heavens, clanging as it struggled.

The surging golden Buddha light confined it, preventing escape. The ancient saint monk, with a compassionate expression, used the mental force from Mount Sumeru to draw the azure chain into his own body, where it achieved enlightenment alongside him.

"Pop!"

With a soft pop, that wisp of mysterious mental energy dissipated, merging into the Dao principles of heaven and earth. Ye Fan was completely freed, letting out a long breath.

"Thank you, senior."

The pure mental energy permeated his body; this was a gift. It washed away the worldly impurities, solidified his own Dao Fruit, and clarified everything. Ye Fan's physical body radiated brilliant light like iridescent glass, flawless and pure throughout, as if he had transformed into a solemn and dignified deity.

At this moment, he felt himself even more ethereal. He wanted to forcefully overcome this hurdle and defy the heavens by severing his Dao, but the golden divine radiance only managed to stabilize him.

Simultaneously, a ripple emanated from the ancient ship in the extraterrestrial battlefield. A voice said, "Amitabha... has also arrived in this world. The Dao field is indeed the most mysterious. What is it trying to evolve, based on Mount Sumeru?"

On the dilapidated stone platform on the Aiyu Plateau, the old monk continued his enlightenment in the golden Buddhist flames. Most of his body had burned away, yet his expression remained unchanged, radiating a pure, childlike smile.

Ye Fan bowed again, expressing his gratitude. "What did you see, senior?" he earnestly asked, eager to know what would happen in the future.

"Before the flame of life extinguishes, I merely caught a glimpse of the future. Like a withered yellow leaf, occasionally blown high into the sky by a strong wind, I saw a somewhat broader world. But ultimately, it must fall. How can a single leaf fully comprehend the entire world, even with a moment of clear perception?"

Ye Fan was momentarily stunned. This was indeed an enlightened ancient Buddha, smiling faintly amidst his enlightenment, composed, natural, and free-spirited, truly extraordinary and transcendent.

"Buddhism speaks of karma. You have helped me resolve this predicament, and I do not know how to repay you, senior."

"For you, the effect is now, the cause is in the future. For me, the cause is now, the effect is in the future." The old monk's body was nearly consumed by fire; his Dao bones had snapped, intensely luminous, and the cassock, a Saint Weapon, had completely turned to ash.

"Please enlighten me, senior."

"You will bring great joy to my Buddhist faith by witnessing the perfection of Buddhist law. To the other side of the starry sky you will go, and you shall be the protector of my teaching." He spoke, his bones breaking and body shattering in the flames, yet he remained peaceful and serene, holding a lotus flower and smiling.

Ye Fan was astonished. This old monk was indeed extraordinary, even foreseeing his journey far from his homeland. He was truly an ancient Buddha.

The next sentence the old monk spoke made Ye Fan stumble, nearly falling to the ground: someone would retrieve the True Scriptures, and Ye Fan would be their protector.

"Wait, what are you saying? You're not talking about the Journey to the West, are you?" he exclaimed, unable to bear such a thought.

The ancient Buddha smiled and shook his head, saying that Ye Fan was overthinking it. It was merely a segment of karma, also a form of destiny, not as he imagined.

Ye Fan calmed himself, understanding what the monk desired. A strange expression crossed his face. Buddhist cultivation looked to the future; was there truly such a thing as reincarnation and a next life? he asked earnestly.

The old monk replied, "If you believe, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't. Through the long passage of time, two identical flowers will eventually appear in the world. After centuries of looking back, one flower withers, and another blooms."

"Senior, have you met Siddhartha Gautama?"

"Two thousand years ago, I traveled to the foot of Mount Sumeru and saw him descend the mountain." This Buddha walked among mortals, not originating from the Great Thunderclap Temple, usually residing in various wilderness temples.

Burying him on the other side of the starry sky was the ancient Buddha's only request, so that after death, he could clearly perceive all true Buddhist nature.

"You wish to observe Siddhartha Gautama's teachings. Is this not contrary to your current cultivation?" Ye Fan asked, his heart full of questions.

"I venerate Amitabha Buddha and also acknowledge all true Buddhist nature. Whether Siddhartha Gautama is a demonic shell of a Buddha, I do not know. I merely seek a lost true scripture."

"May I ask, senior, which ancient Buddha were you?" Ye Fan genuinely wanted to know. Buddhism speaks of reincarnation and future lives, so the old monk likely had a profound background, perhaps one of the ancient Buddhas from myths and legends.

"Names are illusory, ultimately empty. All Buddhas attain such peaceful nature, even in nirvana. From nowhere do they come, and to nowhere do they go..." The old monk continued his enlightenment in the flames, and strands of divine principles of order merged into the heavens and earth.

Ye Fan was gently pushed to an immense distance by a soft force; otherwise, he too would have undergone enlightenment with the monk. This was an earth-shattering event; the area was imbued with a golden Buddha light that instantly enveloped the plateau.

The old monk's bones shattered completely, his flesh transforming into light. He ultimately achieved full enlightenment, vanishing from the world. Much later, Ye Fan approached and found a sarira in the ashes, about the size of a child's fist, perfectly round and crystalline, radiating immortal divine light.

A next life: if you believe, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't. Ye Fan was silent, finally shaking his head and putting away the sarira.

He continued his journey across the Aiyu Plateau, encountering pilgrim after pilgrim, who prostrated themselves with every step, heading towards the sacred Aiyu Lake on the plateau with immense piety.

Along the way, there were soft grasslands and hard, cold stones, but they did not perceive these as hardships. Instead, they were full of spirit, harboring a deep conviction within their hearts.

These scenes deeply resonated with Ye Fan, making him ponder. A spiritual world with faith would not be empty; the empowerment of mental force was also a form of cultivation.

However, those who achieve Dao cannot believe in others; they must be supreme unto themselves!

Perhaps for mortals, this was a form of solace that satisfied their hearts. He couldn't help but gaze towards the unseen Mount Sumeru, inwardly marveling at the truly unfathomable Amitabha Buddha.

Ahead lay a sacred lake, clear and bright, shimmering with radiant purity—the Aiyu Lake on this plateau, a holy site for Buddhism.

By the sacred Aiyu Lake stood a temple, neither grand nor expansive, occupying little space.

It was merely a small temple, yet it was precisely the ancient Agamas Temple Ye Fan had come to find.

A beautiful woman stood before the Agamas Temple, ethereal and serene, having shed all worldly allure. She stood quietly, like a blooming lotus, and it was An Miaoyi.

"My master has achieved enlightenment and clearly perceived the future. You are about to embark on a distant journey; I already know everything," came a melodious, magnetic voice. An Miaoyi's true nature remained, not yet having severed her ties to him.

After that, neither spoke. They began walking around the sacred Aiyu Lake, side by side, like a pair of divine beings transcending the mortal world.