Chapter 1029: The Treasure of the Temple

Master Mingyu's eyelids twitched. Fortunately, he was currently managing the secret realm, not being tested by it; otherwise, Xinding's single comment would have been enough to disqualify him.

As Master Mingyu appeared, Xinding's memories returned, and he recalled that he was currently in the second trial. However, he didn't quite understand. It was just helping someone cross a river, so why had the abbot appeared again? Was this some big deal? Perhaps the abbot's actions held a profound meaning, but his own understanding was mediocre, preventing him from grasping it. There's no shame in not understanding; simply ask for clarification.

"Excuse me, Abbot, is there a problem with how I'm helping people?"

Master Mingyu, who had been about to speak, froze at Xinding's reply. Indeed, was there a problem with helping people?

"Nothing at all, you've done very well," Master Mingyu said, looking at Xinding with a complex expression. He was unsure if Xinding's words were a mere coincidence or truly insightful. In either case, Xinding might pass the secret realm's trial. It seemed this trial had more than just Xin Zhen as a promising candidate.

After saying this, Master Mingyu turned and left, leaving Xinding looking bewildered. He had just asked a question, so why did the abbot leave without even providing an answer?

The passing rate for the second trial was even lower than the first; ninety-eight percent of the young monks couldn't pass this stage. After two rounds of trials, only a handful of young monks remained. Apart from Xinding, the others were all known for their profound Buddhist nature. A dense aura of Buddhist energy enveloped them again, signaling the start of the third trial.

Xin Zhen entered an illusion, recalling his identity within it: a Chan master. Someone was relentlessly insulting him, finding fault with everything he did.

"You ill-mannered beast, born without a mother's teaching..."

The person's insults were extremely vile and unbearable to hear. Xin Zhen pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, and entered meditation, as if he hadn't heard the other person's insults at all. The person finally tired of cursing and looked at Xin Zhen, puzzled: "I've been yelling at you for so long, why do you have no reaction?"

Xin Zhen opened his eyes, his gaze as calm as still water, and smiled faintly: "If someone offers you a gift, but you refuse to accept it, then to whom does that gift belong?"

The person replied, "It belongs to the one who originally offered it."

Xin Zhen smiled and said, "Exactly. If I don't accept your insults, then you are only insulting yourself."

Xin Zhen passed the trial. This trial tested "abstinence from anger," requiring one to maintain a calm mind when faced with insults from others.

"No anger, very good," Master Mingyu thought as he secretly observed Xin Zhen. This monk was neither arrogant nor impatient, stood out remarkably among all the monks, and his choices in the three trials aligned with his own.

"How about Xinding?" After two rounds of trials, Master Mingyu had already placed Xinding on the same level as Xin Zhen.

As soon as Master Mingyu entered Xinding's illusion, he heard Xinding's forceful rebuttal.

"You're the ill-mannered beast, born without a mother's teaching..."

The two hurled insults at each other, creating a very intense scene, where even passing dogs would get a few curses.

"Stop!"

Master Mingyu couldn't help but appear again. How could this young monk's choices consistently defy his expectations? Those who could enter the third trial were all Buddhist cultivators with profound Buddhist nature. Even if they couldn't control themselves, at most they would get angry, but they wouldn't resort to exchanging insults. Xinding, on the other hand, just directly started insulting the other person back.

"Abbot, why are you here again?" Xinding looked at Master Mingyu in surprise.

"Could I not come? Why are you cursing at each other?" Master Mingyu retorted, annoyed.

"Because he insulted me," Xinding said as if it were the most obvious thing.

"He insults you, so you insult him back?"

"Abbot, if someone offers you a gift, but you refuse to accept it, what should you do?"

"Of course, you return the gift to them."

"Exactly! So aren't I just returning the gift to him? However he insulted me, that's how I insult him back."

For the first time, Master Mingyu wondered if his own Buddhist teachings were not yet fully mastered. Looking at Xinding's calm expression, he then recalled that when Xinding was exchanging insults with the person earlier, his expression had been tranquil, not at all like someone arguing! Xinding genuinely believed he was merely "returning a gift"!

The third trial ended, with Xin Zhen and Xinding as the only two who passed. All other monks were eliminated, which was unprecedented in previous trials. In the past, either no one passed all three stages, or only one person did.

"Both of you are excellent," Master Mingyu said, showing an approving expression, though when he looked at Xinding, his gaze was more complex. "These three stages test your Buddhist nature. Only those who pass them are considered to have profound Buddhist nature, unaffected by Buddhist energy, and are qualified to attempt to form a connection with the temple's revered treasure."

Master Mingyu led the two into a deeper space within the Western Heaven Secret Realm. Upon entering the deeper space, the dense Buddhist energy was like chaotic mist, making it impossible to see the path ahead. Master Mingyu gently exhaled, blowing away the Buddhist energy to reveal a path. At the end of the path was an altar table, on which relics, incense burners, scriptures, and other items were arranged to honor the temple's revered treasure.

Lu Yang finally clearly saw the temple's revered treasure: an axe. Its blade was chipped, and a delicate handprint was indented into its surface.

"The Sky-Opening Axe?!"

This was actually the Sky-Opening Axe, the immortal artifact that Immortal Ying Tian prided himself on, arguably the most supreme immortal artifact from ancient times. Immortal Ying Tian had forged the axe through countless refinements, melting down untold quantities of immortal metals and precious treasures. Its handle was a piece of the Time Immortal's main trunk, imbued with the power of time, capable of cleaving the firmament and possessing the power to open the heavens.

Immortal Ying Tian had mentioned that he was ambushed by Grey Doudou during the Great Qian period. After that battle, the Sky-Opening Axe went missing. Could it be that the Western Heaven Temple had obtained it? Lu Yang understood. The battle between Immortal Ying Tian and Grey Doudou must have been a fight to the death. During the conflict, the Sky-Opening Axe simultaneously bore Immortal Ying Tian's tribulation power and Grey Doudou's power of annihilation. The handprint on the axe's surface must have been left by Grey Doudou.

Master Mingyu introduced, "This item is very likely the legendary Sky-Opening Axe, which our temple obtained by chance during the early Great Qian period. When we acquired the Sky-Opening Axe, it contained a power capable of destroying everything, making it impossible to approach. Even a tiny release of its power would cause widespread devastation. To purify this power, generations of eminent monks purified it day and night, finally completing the purification of the axe, which also imbued it with Buddhist energy. However, immortal artifacts are extraordinary; not just anyone is qualified to obtain one. To gain the axe's recognition, one must first pass the three Buddhist energy trials, proving capable of enduring the Buddhist energy within the axe. Afterward, the immortal axe will choose its wielder; only those selected by it are qualified to use it."

Master Mingyu had passed the three Buddhist energy trials during his Qi Condensation stage, but he did not receive the Sky-Opening Axe's recognition. He wondered if the two who had passed all three trials this time might be recognized by the Sky-Opening Axe.

"So, the revered treasure of your Western Heaven Temple is the Sky-Opening Axe." A triumphant voice suddenly emanated from Xin Zhen.

A cultivator, whose clothes were adorned with patterns of hourglasses, sundials, and other such designs, flew out from Xin Zhen's storage ring and stretched his limbs. "After so many attempts at infiltration, I've finally managed to infiltrate a young monk who can pass all three Buddhist energy trials."

"Who are you!" Master Mingyu's expression suddenly changed. He hadn't realized that the other party had entered the Western Heaven Secret Realm multiple times. The fact that the opponent dared to appear so openly surely meant they were well-prepared!

"I am Si Chen, the Divine Lord of Great Qian. Has Master perhaps heard of me?"