Chapter 620: Third Eye Opens

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara finally understood, saying with a wry smile, "Nonsense! The Great Ruins is a savage land, but this is the Buddhist Realm. How can the Buddhas tolerate you going on a killing spree?"

The demonic ape showed a look of disappointment. Although he had gained sentience, was a Buddha's son, praised for his unfathomably profound understanding of Buddhist Dharma, and lauded for his unimpeded eloquence, he was still, after all, a creature of the Great Ruins. Many creatures from the Great Ruins, like Qin Mu, were born wild and untamed, with a wild and unrestrained spirit in their hearts. Even Qin Mu, after living in Yankang for so long, still missed his uninhibited past. How much more so the demonic ape?

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara blinked and chuckled, "Although mass slaughter is not allowed, if someone tries to kill you and you inadvertently kill them in retaliation, that's unavoidable and understandable. Even if it's investigated, someone will back you up."

Qin Mu blinked, curiously asking, "I wonder who this person who will back us up is?"

The Buddha light behind Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara's head suddenly extinguished, dimming. He blinked and said, "Naturally, someone will back you up, so don't be afraid. Also, I want to see the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha's cultivation method. This is a rare opportunity, and I want to blend in with the Buddha's sons. Perhaps I can meet the Great Brahma Heavenly King. I haven't taken any disciples, so I'll have to go myself."

This Buddha wore a yellow robe. His figure was well-proportioned, so the robe seemed very loose, hanging to his feet. He also always liked to be barefoot. Now, with his Buddha light extinguished, standing with Qin Mu and the others, he looked like a Buddha's son himself, not quite resembling a figure second only to the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha in the Buddhist Realm.

"The Heavenly King Buddha wants to compete too?" Monk Mingxin was stunned. He muttered to himself, "If you come to compete, who could possibly win against you?"

Qin Mu looked at the well-proportioned Buddha suspiciously, scanning him from head to toe. He thought, "This is the first time I've seen such a mischievous Buddha. Which other Buddha isn't utterly composed? Why is he so eccentric? He has a personality just like mine..."

Qin Mu whispered, "Mingxin, what's the background of this Buddha?"

Monk Mingxin shook his head. "I've almost finished reading the scriptures of the Great Thunderclap Temple, but there's little record of this Buddha."

Qin Mu blinked and chuckled, "Heavenly King Buddha, you just said you also came from the Great Thunderclap Temple. May I ask how many years you've been in the Buddhist Realm?"

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara blinked, "I didn't say that."

Qin Mu blinked and said, "Monks don't lie!"

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara blinked and said, "I am a Buddha; I have not become a monk. Everywhere is my home, so why should I become a monk?"

They blinked at each other. After a moment, they both turned their heads away, avoiding each other's gaze.

Monk Mingxin felt uneasy. "Senior Brother Qin actually had a staring contest with the Heavenly King Buddha. He's truly bold. Later, I must teach him the various ways to write the character for 'death'..."

"Are your eyes sore?" Demon Ape Zhan Kong quietly asked Qin Mu.

Qin Mu nodded. His eyes had teared up from blinking, but Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara still hadn't revealed anything; he was tight-lipped.

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara was also rubbing his eyes, presumably because he had blinked too many times and was feeling uncomfortable.

Qin Mu was puzzled. Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara's behavior didn't resemble that of a Buddha. He had a strong sense of curiosity and handled matters with a certain human touch. Yet he was the Buddha of Dīpankara in the Buddhist Realm, an existence second only to the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha. He didn't seem like someone from the Celestial Heavens; if he were, he certainly wouldn't have been pleasant to Qin Mu and the others. However, Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara seemed to have a good impression of Qin Mu and the others and specifically mentioned that someone would help them.

Just then, a young bhikku walked out of the dilapidated temple ahead. He asked, "Which senior brother debated all the way from King Yama's Heaven to Great Brahma's Heaven?"

Demon Ape Zhan Kong strode forward, his voice like thunder, declaring, "Me!"

The bhikku looked up. The demonic ape was like a black tower, awe-inspiring. He quickly said, "Senior brother, the Old Buddha says you've passed the test. Please come in. Follow me."

Demon Ape Zhan Kong looked back at Qin Mu and Mingxin. Qin Mu chuckled, "You go in first. I'll find you later."

"Alright!" The demonic ape followed the bhikku and strode into the dilapidated temple.

After a moment, the bhikku emerged from the temple again. He looked around; hundreds of Buddha's sons from the various Buddhist Heavens filled the area, a veritable sea of people. Great Buddhas also stood nearby. Evidently, they were all here to compete for the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha's teachings and cultivation methods.

The bhikku said awkwardly, "The Old Buddha says too many of you have come. Only two more people can enter at most. Please discuss among yourselves and decide who will go in."

Great Eloquence Heavenly King Buddha quickly asked, "Did the Old Buddha mention what kind of assessment is needed to enter the temple for the lecture?"

The bhikku shook his head. "The Old Buddha didn't say. You'll have to figure it out yourselves; you can do whatever you like."

The Buddhas from the various heavens pondered individually, then gathered to discuss.

Qin Mu looked at Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara beside him. He said, "Heavenly King Buddha, you just said you also came from the Great Thunderclap Temple. May I ask how many years you've been in the Buddhist Realm?"

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara chuckled, "You're trying to trick me into talking, but I won't say. What is this golden willow leaf on your forehead? Is it an ornament? It looks pretty nice."

Qin Mu was about to explain when Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara, imperceptibly, plucked off the golden willow leaf. Qin Mu was startled and immediately reached out to snatch it back. He hadn't seen how Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara had made his move at all. However, the golden willow leaf was extremely important and absolutely could not be lost!

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara chuckled, "So it's a seal. Your vertical eye is very powerful, why seal it?"

Qin Mu reached out, his face dark, and said, "My vertical eye is too strong. If I activate my cultivation method, terrible things will happen. I'm afraid of hurting people, which is why I sealed it. Give me back the golden willow leaf!"

"No." Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara chuckled, "I want to see your full strength. If I give it back and you stick it on your eye, it'll be no fun. Besides, who told you this willow leaf can seal you if you stick it on your eye? Have you tried it?"

Qin Mu reached out to snatch it, but Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara quickly dodged. They wrestled for a bit, then Qin Mu said furiously, "If trouble breaks out later, it'll all be your fault! I'll dump all the blame on your bald head!"

Mingxin shivered. He said tremblingly, "Senior Brother Qin, there are several ways to write the character for 'death.' I'll teach you how to write them; I guarantee you'll learn quickly..."

Unable to snatch back the golden willow leaf, Qin Mu had to give up. He looked at the Buddhas. He saw that they were still discussing, while hundreds of Buddha's sons quietly waited. His eyes flickered, and he whispered, "I have an idea that can secure both spots!"

Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara clapped his hands and chuckled, "I know! You're planning to rush in while the Buddhas are discussing, aren't you?"

Qin Mu looked at him, knowing something was wrong. He immediately strode forward, dashing towards the dilapidated temple. However, it was already too late. Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara was a step ahead of him. His body transformed into a streak of light, and he darted into the temple gate before Qin Mu. With a bang, he sealed the gate, leaving Qin Mu outside. He chuckled, "Little friend Qin, thanks for the reminder. I'm in!"

The bhikku sitting by the temple gate lazily said, "Only one spot left."

The many Buddha's sons and Buddhas were startled by Qin Mu and Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara, and they all looked over. When they heard there was only one spot left, they immediately became restless.

"Who went in?" King Fawang Mālūṇa's expression changed dramatically, and he quickly asked.

The other Buddhas also looked bewildered. They didn't know who had been so scheming, rushing into the temple to snatch a spot while they were discussing the competition method.

Monk Mingxin stood rooted to the spot. Before he could react, he saw Qin Mu and Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara rush forward. He only came to his senses when they reached the temple gate. By then, the outcome was decided; Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara had locked Qin Mu out.

"So this is what Senior Brother Qin meant!" He suddenly realized, "What a good idea! But why did the Heavenly King Buddha lock Senior Brother Qin out? Wouldn't it have been better if everyone went in together?"

Qin Mu stood in front of the temple gate and shouted, "Heavenly King Dīpankara, you can go in, but give me back my golden willow leaf! Without the golden willow leaf, I can't control my power, and it will cause huge trouble! If something happens, can you handle it?"

"I can handle it." Inside the temple, Heavenly King Buddha Dīpankara's voice faded into the distance: "Feel free to dump all the blame on my bald head..."

Qin Mu was furious and about to speak, but Monk Mingxin's face turned ashen, and he said tremblingly, "Senior Brother Qin, are you really not interested in learning the various ways to write the character for 'death'?"

Qin Mu took a deep breath and turned around. His anger vanished, replaced by a pure and innocent smile. He looked at the many Buddha's sons from the Buddhist Realm, whose expressions were somewhat grim, and chuckled, "Senior brothers, I have a very large sarira here. Would you like to see it?"

He took out his sword pellet. The sword pellet floated in the air, rapidly spinning. Qin Mu said loudly, "Please give me some face, senior brothers, and yield this last spot to me. I, Qin, would be extremely grateful."

Although he said this, Qin Mu was still hesitant. He had never tried activating the Tyrant Body Three Elixir Technique with his third eye open. Granny Si and the blind man had told him he could only activate his cultivation method without restraint if his third eye was sealed. If his third eye were open and he activated the Tyrant Body Three Elixir Technique, he had no idea what the consequences would be.

"Forget it," he thought. "Grandpa Ma was the kindest and most serious with me. He looked at me as if I were his own son. I could tell he raised me as his son, pouring all his fatherly love into me!"

Qin Mu gritted his teeth. The Tyrant Body Three Elixir Technique slowly activated, and his clothes and hair slowly began to float. "Grandpa Ma wants this, and no matter what, I must get it for him! Whether they are gods or demons, if they stand in my way, I will kill gods and slay Buddhas!"

At his brow, the Tyrant Body Three Elixir Technique circulated to his third eye. This eye was extremely eerie and sinister. Its lid slowly parted, and the patterns and structures of the formation within the eye slowly began to revolve.

Qin Mu looked out. Everyone, even the Buddhas, under the gaze of his eye, had their divine treasures clearly visible, every detail laid bare. He was like a dark deity controlling life and death, watching his prey. The air itself seemed thick with bloodlust and killing intent.

A wild and arrogant spirit suddenly rose within him. He said slowly and deliberately, "Step back, everyone. If anyone comes forward, life or death will be disregarded!"