Chapter 238

Chapter 232

The moment the cloud wall opened, darkness seemed to be a broken dam, pouring down.

At this moment, everyone passively endured this impact. This darkness had no substantial harm, but it seemed to isolate you from this world. Your shouts, your calls, could not attract the attention of the person next to you. Even you yourself felt a blur and barrier to your own existence. This was an unprecedented loneliness and exile.

Li Zhuiyuan was trying to regain control, to pinch his consciousness and body back together in sync. In Daoist terms, it was like a primordial spirit forced out of its shell returning to its position. You should know, this was not truly entering, only the slightest leakage from the edge of the darkness, yet it had such a strong effect. If you truly went inside, all your cognition would probably be suppressed by this terror, completely suppressed and buried. This, only this, was a true prison. No railings, no cells, yet it could trap you endlessly.

Li Zhuiyuan finally shook off this influence and woke up. His will was originally stronger than ordinary people, and now as a heart demon, if he couldn't clearly define his own existence, how could he counter-devour and suppress the main body?

The youth turned to look at his companions beside him, who were mostly in a numb state. Tan Wenbin, on the other hand, had a more vivid expression. As expected, he should be the second person to wake up after adapting to this environment. Because after every overdraft, others had physical repair issues, while Tan Wenbin had consciousness repair. Even though his two godchildren had absolutely no malice, the pressure he bore meant that every time he used the ghost control technique, it was almost like being 'borrowed a corpse to return the soul'. Repeatedly wandering in the lack of self-awareness, 'who am I', instead tempered his self-consciousness to be firmer. This kind of tempering was something others truly couldn't replicate, because few ghosts could withstand the temptation of 'living again', and even if they could withstand it once, it was impossible to do it repeatedly.

The two godchildren sat on his shoulders, one on the left and one on the right, hugging Tan Wenbin's neck and trying to call out. Finally, like a drowning person surfacing after floating out of the water, Tan Wenbin took a deep breath and woke up. He first looked at Xiao Yuan Ge, seeing that Xiao Yuan Ge was looking at him, and took the initiative to greet him: "Xiao Yuan Ge... Xiao Yuan Ge..."

His voice sounded like he was speaking underwater, with a similar 'gurgling' sound in his ears. Actually, after shouting the title, Tan Wenbin still said quite a few words, but he himself didn't know what he was saying, feeling a bit anxious.

Li Zhuiyuan nodded at Tan Wenbin. In Tan Wenbin's eyes, this action appeared as an afterimage. In this environment, it was already a great feat to find oneself, so he didn't think about changing the environment.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the others. Tan Wenbin also began to try to call out to Runsheng and Yinmeng beside him. But no matter how he shouted, Runsheng and Yinmeng just stood there side by side, their expressions stiff, like they were posing for a photo for the first time, extremely restrained. No matter how the photographer reminded them, they didn't move and didn't know how they should move.

Lin Shuyou's eyelids swelled slightly, with great effort, yet very subtly, and then it didn't swell anymore. Li Zhuiyuan noticed this detail; he knew Tongzi had done its best. In the past, the youth was always dissatisfied with Tongzi's work attitude, threatening and scolding it several times to 'drag' it down. But since coming here, the youth still hadn't expressed any dissatisfaction with Tongzi. Because putting himself in its shoes and thinking about it, Tongzi's performance on this trip had truly been flawless.

Looking at the situation now, Runsheng, Yinmeng, and Lin Shuyou couldn't wake up on their own. Li Zhuiyuan didn't dare release his red line, because this would suppress everyone's self-consciousness. Connecting his red line required the other party's unconditional and voluntary acceptance. Now he dared to connect, it was bound to fail and face severe backlash.

Looking at that monkey again, the monkey was already standing there like a semi-transparent statue. It opened the cloud wall, and it was the first to become stiff. Looking at it now, it was still foolishly dazed, with no sign of waking up.

So, this place was not suitable as a trap, because after you opened it, the amplitude of the influence you suffered was even greater than the prey you trapped. What kind of trap was that?

However, not long after, a lamp appeared in the darkness within the cloud wall. When it lit up, much of the darkness was dispelled, and the pressure on everyone's bodies also lessened. Tan Wenbin only felt his body relax, opened his mouth, and began to sing: "Little sister, you sit at the boat's head~ older brother walks on the shore..." He had always been trying to express himself, and this time he could finally 'hear clearly' what he was singing. Runsheng, Yinmeng, and Lin Shuyou's stiff, numb expressions finally moved.

Runsheng instinctively grabbed the Yellow River shovel, but there were no enemies around. He knew that the monkey was a phantom, and the shovel couldn't hit it. After Lin Shuyou woke up, he first knelt on the ground, once again influenced by Tongzi's emotional reaction. However, soon, he stood up again. On the bridge, after Xiao Yuan Ge reminded him, Ayou had been trying to draw a clearer boundary with Tongzi, which was good for both of them.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

The monkey was closest to the lamp, yet it was the last to wake up. It turned its head, looked at the crowd behind it, and said with a laugh: "You know how fierce it is here, right? We, we haven't really gone in yet." This sentence seemed to be deliberately salvaging its dignity.

Li Zhuiyuan observed that lamp; the candle flame on the lamp was very strange; it was karma. At this moment, Li Zhuiyuan understood the purpose of the monkey sending people to collect karma. It, He Zhenjun, including the monkey's main body Li Yuan Zhenjun, were all deeply trapped here. To enter the 'prison' from the outside, to contact its main body and release it, it had to rely on the light paved with karma as lamp oil.

Li Zhuiyuan could also display karma fire using the Fengdu Twelve Law Edict, but his karma fire was used to burn evil things. Under normal circumstances, every evil thing had thick karma, and it would burn with a single point. But at the moment, there was only a match but no firewood, which was meaningless.

The monkey pointed inside and said: "Let's go, follow me in." After saying that, the monkey took the first step and walked in. Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to follow. The youth suspected that the questioner should also know that he couldn't light the lamp a second time and admit defeat. Therefore, the arrangements for his Jiang water journey were gradually becoming more and more 'theme-less'. There was no need to give him too much clear guidance; anyway, he had no way back, so he could only actively explore and find a solution himself.

Last time in Lijiang, when the youth drank tea with Zhao Yi, Zhao Yi mentioned this. He said that when he walked the Jiang, the enemies were very clear, and the problems were also very direct. But this time, walking this journey with him, most of the time they were in a fog.

There was more than one lamp. After entering, when the light of the first lamp began to weaken, the light of the second lamp appeared in front. Unlike before, after passing through the cloud walls of other temples and stepping into the next ring, this time after entering through the cloud wall, the road underfoot was downwards, with a feeling of descending a mountain.

At first, you could only feel things on both sides, but you couldn't see clearly. After all, the lamps were only located on the steps along the road. No one was willing to take the risk of leaving the range of its light; that was despairingly black. Once you stepped into it, there was a high probability that you would never come out again. You should know, this was a prison that imprisoned Zhenjun. If it was so easy to break open, this group of Zhenjun would have run out long ago.

However, after continuing to advance downwards for a certain distance, something visible finally appeared in the dark interior on the side. It was a Zhenjun. He wore gorgeous clothes, a formal hat on his head, held a jade ruyi in his left hand, and a green lotus in his right hand. His whole body was surrounded by firefly-like light, setting off an aura of solemn dharma. However, this was not the traditional static posture like the statues of gods in the temple. He was running, his mouth open, seemingly roaring questions in anger.

The monkey said: "This is the Reward Good Zhenjun, who bestows fortune upon good people and protects those with merit, ensuring good deeds are rewarded."

Tan Wenbin's gaze circled back and forth on the jade ruyi and green lotus in the Reward Good Zhenjun's hand. The lowest-level Gatekeeper Zhenjun, who were just there to make up the numbers and weren't even qualified to participate in the internal struggle, had those double chains which were already magical enough. The items held by the higher-ranking Reward Good Zhenjun were definitely true treasures. Moreover, they were collectively attacking at that time, preparing to overthrow the false Bodhisattva, so it was natural that the strongest items in their hands were brought along. Unfortunately, this kind of good thing could only be viewed from afar and not profaned. If you dared to reach into the blackness, you would become a 'burial companion' for the Reward Good Zhenjun.

Continuing to walk down, they saw another Zhenjun in the darkness on the side. He wore a tall white hat with gold patterns, carried a medicine basket on his back, held a jade medicine pot in his left hand, and a silver medicine shovel in his right hand. His clothes were not ornate, but simple and elegant. They were simply embroidered in green, but although he himself couldn't move, the green embroidery on his clothes seemed to be growing, blooming, and bearing fruit on their own. Was this planting medicinal materials on his clothes? Or were these clothes simply suitable for cultivating medicinal materials? Tan Wenbin pursed his lips. As expected, the more low-key things were here, the more complex they were.

Yinmeng looked at that set of tools and clothes, and subconsciously swallowed. If she could get these things, her efficiency in making and detoxifying poisons would be greatly improved.

The monkey said: "This is the Compassionate Zhenjun, with a compassionate heart, who loves to bestow, cures diseases and saves people, resolves disasters and pain, and dedicates himself to a world free from illness and worry."

However, at this moment, the Compassionate Zhenjun's face showed no compassion. His eyes were like lightning, staring straight ahead, his expression ferocious, and the corners of his mouth twitched. He was originally a Zhenjun with the benevolent heart of a doctor, but at this time, he was performing the most vicious curse. This sense of conflicting styles was very obvious.

Next, they saw another Zhenjun, wearing fire armor, holding a giant axe in both hands, the corners of his eyes about to split open, his momentum surging. Runsheng looked at the axe head in his hand, and then at the Yellow River shovel in his hand. He really liked his Yellow River shovel. Early on, the shovel often broke, but later it was re-forged twice, and now this shovel was very sturdy and durable. But he knew that the axe head in that Zhenjun's hand should be heavier and harder. If he could take that axe head, melt it down, and re-forge it into a shovel, it would be perfect.

The monkey said: "Ha, this is the Thunder Fire Zhenjun, who has a very high self-opinion, looks down on everything, and fantasizes that he is the first war general among Zhenjun." There was a strong disdain for the Thunder Fire Zhenjun in the monkey's tone. This was probably because the monkey and this Zhenjun were in the same competitive ecological position.

The monkey added another sentence: "But every time he encounters a truly strong evil thing, he can't handle it, and I have to take care of it. And it's 'he' who always tells me to pay attention to unity, otherwise I would have kicked this Thunder Fire Zhenjun out of the temple long ago." The monkey also resented that 'he', thinking that 'he' constrained his development and suppressed his status.

Li Zhuiyuan had seen how cautious the four spirit beasts in the Five Officials Picture were in order to live like normal people. The rules of the Heavenly Way had a strong suppressive effect on demons. It was already extremely difficult to elevate a monkey to the position of Zhenjun, and even required more connections.

Standing from Li Zhuiyuan's perspective, even if this monkey had no relation to this place, but just met him on the road, he would never include it in his team. Runsheng had the breath of a dead ghost, but Runsheng was still a human. If he included a demon that was not subject to humans but used him as its main body in his team, it would only make his already difficult journey more difficult. Therefore, Li Zhuiyuan could perceive the special care and love that 'he' had for the monkey.

The monkey was not unaware of this, but reality was just like this: if you are good to someone for a long time, that person is very likely to get used to it, and will ask for more from you. Once you don't give it, resentment will arise in their heart.

Walking this far, they had passed three Zhenjun in a row, but they hadn't seen the monkey's main body, Li Yuan Zhenjun. This meant that after the rebellion erupted and the crowd of Zhenjun attacked, the monkey rushed to the front. That 'he' must have been very sad to see this scene. So, 'he' deliberately gave the monkey a 'break', allowing the monkey to bear this kind of loneliness clearly. The other Zhenjun were all in a state of suppressed consciousness wrapped in darkness, similar to being frozen or in a coma, but the monkey had to constantly experience the despair of being exiled.

Yinmeng opened her mouth and said: "Why do I feel like I'm strolling through a haunted house?" The haunted houses in amusement parks were basically this process: you walk along a path towards the inside, and various terrifying characters are displayed on both sides. Nowadays, most haunted houses, in order to save costs, don't bother with lighting and shadow effects, but deliberately adopt this traditional folk style: what Yama, little ghosts, pots of boiling oil, etc., mainly relying on the tourists to use their own brains based on traditional culture.

Tan Wenbin said: "Are we walking in a straight line?"

Yinmeng said: "What do you mean?" In Yinmeng's view, hadn't they been walking straight down since they came in?

Tan Wenbin said: "If it's a straight line, then when this group of Zhenjun rebelled, did they line up in a single file to kill their way in?"

Yinmeng was stunned for a moment, and suddenly said: "Right." At the final stage of the rebellion, there was no turning back after shooting the arrow. Everyone must have rushed up like a swarm of bees; how could they still line up like elementary school students after school?

Tan Wenbin said: "So I'm just curious, why is it arranged like this? Did someone move them all later?" Tan Wenbin deliberately raised his voice a little. He hoped that person could answer, after all, it was the monkey's guide. The monkey should have heard him, but it didn't answer.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his mouth and said: "We are walking in a straight line because we are covered by the karma lamp fire. The Zhenjun we see in the darkness, and our current position, are in another area. You can understand it as another dimension. The original environment here should be the same as after the cloud walls of other temples, a single plane. When we came in by boat, we didn't see such a large deep pit here. This is because under the influence of darkness, the anchoring object here has become 'he'. The prison he created naturally takes 'he' as the center and spreads outwards. 'He' himself is also in this prison, and is in the deepest position, bearing the strongest exile. Actually, it's good to imagine this place as the eighteen layers of hell. The lower you are, the further forward you are, the deeper the sin in 'he's eyes. Right?"

The monkey said: "You are really like 'he', no matter what you encounter, you always have an extraordinary calmness and wisdom."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "You're changing the subject."

The monkey said: "This is also why we once believed 'he' so much, because in our view, only a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva or a human who walks the path of a Bodhisattva can have this kind of skill to see through all illusions."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "You see 'he' as a Bodhisattva, why don't you see if you are like a 'yin god' under a Bodhisattva?" The monkey frowned, and both fists clenched again.

Li Zhuiyuan continued: "A yin god has no form of a yin god, how can a Bodhisattva have the appearance of a Bodhisattva?"

The monkey sneered: "Hehe, so, is it that 'he' deceived us, or is it our own fault?"

Li Zhuiyuan said: "My grandmaster also taught me that you cannot finish the bowl of rice and then put down the bowl and curse your mother."

The monkey suddenly turned its head and stared at the youth: "You're spouting nonsense!"

Li Zhuiyuan said: "You always say 'he' deceived you. Since it was a deception, there must be a purpose, a benefit to be gained. Then I ask you, what did 'he' deceive from you?" The monkey's face began to twitch, its expression becoming more and more ferocious and terrifying.

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Did he deceive you into gaining merit one by one, deceive you into becoming stronger one by one, deceive you into having more and more 'yin god' presence, deceive you into truly seeing yourselves as deities?"

The monkey said: "Enough, shut up."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "I am very strange. Even knowing that 'he' is a false Bodhisattva, why did you directly resist and overthrow 'he' in such an extreme way?"

The monkey said: "Shouldn't I!"

Li Zhuiyuan pointed at Lin Shuyou behind him and said to the monkey: "There are not so many shoulds and shouldn'ts. I have seen what a yin god truly subdued by a Bodhisattva is like. Even a god has its own hidden calculations, its own demands for interest. This is still the result of being guided by a true Bodhisattva. Don't tell me that you were so pure at first, piously serving the Bodhisattva with no tolerance for any dirt. If that were truly the case, it could only mean that 'he', this false Bodhisattva, was even better than a true Bodhisattva. If that were not the case, it would mean that when you first launched this rebellion, there were other driving factors, for example... greater benefits. So, what kind of benefit could drive you to rebel collectively in an instant? Moreover, you excluded the Gatekeeper Zhenjun from the outside and attacked from the inside. In my opinion, you deliberately wanted to preserve the system framework established by 'he'. You actually didn't plan to truly destroy this place. You still wanted to continue being your Zhenjun lords, still wanted to continue training Jitong, developing inheritances, accumulating merit, and gaining essence. 'He' is fake. Overthrow 'he', and who will sit in this position? No matter which of you sits in this position next, won't it also be a fake Bodhisattva? Since none of you are Bodhisattvas, why did you collude together to launch a rebellion and overthrow 'he'?"

On the Jianghu, anyone who can open a sect and establish a school is not simple. Since 'he' dared to fake the identity of a Bodhisattva, 'he' must be aware of the relationships involved. Li Zhuiyuan didn't believe that 'he' didn't understand how to control this force under his command, not to mention, this force was personally created by 'he'. To rebel collectively overnight, without a strong direct inducement, fundamentally makes no sense.

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Most importantly, you said that 'he' finally admitted himself that he was a false Bodhisattva. Whether it was true or false, did you actually dare to rebel first and then get the final admission from 'he's mouth? Why were you so urgent and so certain? And I, if I were 'he', would die rather than admit it. Even at the last moment, I would insist on declaring that I was the incarnation of a true Bodhisattva. Even if you killed me, I would curse you before death, making you rebels live in fear and unease for the rest of your lives. Why did 'he' admit it? Could it be because..."

The monkey said: "I advise you not to continue speaking. Otherwise, you cannot bear the consequences." Li Zhuiyuan didn't continue.

The monkey said: "No matter how big the waves on the river, they cannot bear the thunder from the sky. That's why I say you are very similar to 'he', too smart people are prone to lack awe."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "What is your purpose in personally leading us here?"

The monkey said: "You will know later."

The crowd behind, after hearing the exchange between Xiao Yuan Ge and the monkey, were all in a fog. In the past, every time they encountered such matters, Xiao Yuan Ge would hold a small meeting to convey information to everyone. This time, perhaps because the monkey was here, it was not suitable to hold a meeting.

Tan Wenbin's gaze was somewhat unnatural. He vaguely heard something, but thinking about it felt terrible. Connecting this to Xiao Yuan Ge's plan not to tell him the truth, he was even more shocked by what Xiao Yuan Ge was planning to do alone.

Next, the crowd continued downwards and encountered several more Zhenjun along the way. The Zhenjun's clothes and momentum were all different, but their expressions were almost all the same: angry, scolding, cursing, and denouncing the Bodhisattva as a swindler, irreconcilable. Even through the darkness, they could still feel the strong aura emanating from them. Of course, what attracted the most attention was the things in their hands. The more they looked, the greedier they became. If they couldn't touch them, everyone would definitely take all the things home, not even letting go of the Zhenjun's clothes, shoes, and hats.

The monkey stopped because there were no more lamps ahead. Because the karma hadn't been collected yet, the number of lamps that could be made was still not enough. Li Zhuiyuan had been counting the numbers in his heart. At this point, there should only be two Zhenjun and that 'he' left ahead. These two Zhenjun were Universal Salvation Zhenjun and Li Yuan Zhenjun.

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Why is your work efficiency so slow?"

The monkey said: "Originally, re-collecting one net should have been enough to pave the way to my main body, but because of your arrival, my fishing net is broken."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "You broke the fishing net yourself." When he landed on the island, the people who were delivering goods on the island had been almost completely cleared out. It was the three people controlled by the monkey who did the killing. From this, it could be seen that this monkey truly listened to that person's words,宁愿 sacrificing the opportunity to pave the lamp in front of its main body, but also wanting to try to lay a trap and blend into his team.

The monkey said: "You still have a chance to re-select now."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Choose you?"

The monkey said: "Otherwise?"

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Not everyone in this world has the opportunity to be chosen. You are spoiled." The monkey pressed its palms together: "Some things are already destined in fate, Amitabha." At this moment, the monkey once again presented a solemn and dignified aura. Its previous negative emotions and irritability were once again cleared away. Li Zhuiyuan also somewhat understood why the monkey listened to that person's words so much. Leaving aside other things, this kind of ability that could calm its emotions was enough to make the monkey, which was suffering from torment in its main body, unable to refuse.

The monkey said: "My Buddha is compassionate." A lamp appeared on the monkey's head. It sent Xin Jiyue and the others to collect karma for it. This act in itself also brought it karma. Previously, it relied on its special identity to suppress it. Now, it not only didn't suppress it, but instead turned itself into a lamp. "You, follow me."

The monkey took a step and walked into the darkness. Yinmeng said: "Why is this monkey always so mystic?" Runsheng said: "Monkey takes a bath." Lin Shuyou whispered: "This is called 'monkey wearing a crown'." Yinmeng said: "Yo, worthy of being a university student, you're really cultured." Lin Shuyou touched his head awkwardly and smiled. Tan Wenbin said: "What are you smiling foolishly about? She's making fun of you." Lin Shuyou said: "I know, but smiling can relieve awkwardness."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Tan Wenbin."

Tan Wenbin said: "Here!"

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Next, you will command."

Tan Wenbin said: "Understood!"

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Let's go, don't stay too far from the monkey, we'll follow." The further the monkey walked, the fainter its figure became. As the karma burned on its body, it also consumed its conscious phantom. But it ignored it and continued to lead the way with its head down.

Finally, a towering figure appeared in front. It wore golden armor, had black hair all over its body, and held a long staff high, seemingly with a thousand jin of force. The entire monkey remained in this position, frozen. Just by looking at this back, one could see that this monkey had a tiger back and a bear waist. The part of its side face that was revealed was even more scarred, with no trace of the beautiful Monkey King. Of course, in the era where the monkey was located, there was no 'Journey to the West' yet.

The monkey stopped and turned its body to the side. At this time, its figure was almost indistinguishable from being transparent. It looked at its main body, its eyes filled with thought and recollection. It hadn't seen its previous appearance for a very long time. In the depths of its memory, the scene of first following 'he' to chop demons and eradicate evil seemed to resurface.

"Bodhisattva... Bodhisattva... Speak... Will I?"

"Bodhisattva, I don't want to eat peaches, I want to eat vegetarian meals with you."

"I like these clothes, Bodhisattva is right, going around with a bare butt is really ugly."

"Bodhisattva, this evil thing simply can't withstand a beating!"

"This little injury doesn't count for anything, Bodhisattva, don't cry, I have thick skin!"

"..."

"..."

"You scoundrel, how dare you deceive me for so long! You are not a Bodhisattva at all! Give me your life!"

The monkey pressed its palms together again, chanted the Buddha's name silently, and the lamp on its head suddenly shone brightly. This wisp of its own consciousness completely dissipated. But after dissipating, it condensed again, dissipated again, condensed again. This was the freedom that 'he' gave it. It was unable to be completely sealed, and its consciousness could always remain awake, experiencing endless torment.

At this time, even repeating the high and deep Buddha's name could no longer calm its emotions. It roared almost violently: "You quickly go in, go in, go in!!!"

Suddenly, a piece of white appeared in front, blending with the surrounding blackness, forming a viewpoint similar to a black and white photo. Only then did the crowd realize that they were already standing at the entrance of a hall. In front of them, there was a clear black and white dividing line. Li Yuan Zhenjun was stepping right on this dividing line, half of his body in white and half in black. Behind them, the Zhenjun they had seen along the way were all standing behind, but not in a single line, but side by side. Everyone was roaring in anger, preparing to attack. Li Yuan Zhenjun raised his staff and was the first to charge in.

The hall doors opened wide. The furnishings inside, under this gray and white background, naturally couldn't appear resplendent with gold and jade, but their solemn treasure-like quality could not be concealed. This was a texture that could not be found in any temple in the secular world. Because here, there was a true Bodhisattva.

Li Zhuiyuan walked in, and as he advanced, he still specially turned his head to look at the monkey again. It was still struggling in the vortex of pain. Actually, this should have been its constant state. Its consciousness should not have left here and stirred up trouble outside. It was that person who helped it send its consciousness away from here, giving it the ability to do things outside.

And originally, this monkey wanted to pave the karma lamp into the hall. It wanted to walk to 'he's front, touch 'he', destroy 'he', so that this prison would lose its effectiveness. But this suddenly appearing white light was obviously not the monkey's doing. It was clear that as it was paving the way from the outside in, the person inside was also paving the way from the inside out.

Li Zhuiyuan walked into the hall. He saw the Bodhisattva, or that 'he', sitting at the end on the lotus platform. Unlike the image of the Bodhisattva in the portrait, he had a clear and handsome face. He was not wearing a kasaya, but a green long robe, with long hair covering both sides, giving him an elegant posture. There was a red dot between his eyebrows, and this point alone highlighted his difference, giving people a sense of transcendence from the mortal world. He was sitting upright in a high place, his eyes clearly closed, yet he had a kind of insightful aura that seemed to take everything into his eyes, as if there were no secrets before him.

Below, there was a Zhenjun standing there, holding a yellow scroll, presumably listing the charges of his pretending to be a Bodhisattva. This was the Universal Salvation Zhenjun. Unlike the obvious style of the other Zhenjun outside, the Universal Salvation Zhenjun looked just like an ordinary person, with nothing special about him. But here, being ordinary often meant being extraordinary. His realm of returning to simplicity was even one level higher. No wonder he could become the second-in-command here once.

Lin Shuyou was carefully observing the person on the lotus platform. As he watched, fresh blood flowed from Ayou's eyes. He himself didn't perceive it much, but continued to stare blankly at the person above. Tan Wenbin immediately reached out and pressed his head down, scolding him: "Are you still looking!" Tan Wenbin took out gauze and helped Lin Shuyou stop the bleeding. Lin Shuyou was still in a daze, not awake, and the fresh blood from his eyes was still flowing out. Tan Wenbin took out a Heart Clearing Talisman and pasted it on Ayou, but it was useless. He then took out the powder that Xiao Yuan Ge had made earlier and sprinkled it on Ayou, but it was still useless. The blood in his eyes seemed to be completely unstoppable at this point, dyeing the clean white gauze red.

There was really no other way, Tan Wenbin slapped Ayou's face twice, "Pa!" "Pa!" When he slapped the first time, Ayou just woke up. He was originally in a struggle and resistance with Tongzi's emotions, plus the various aids from before, and that slap, finally made him wake up. "Bin Ge, thank you..." "Pa!" The second slap was in vain, because Tan Wenbin couldn't hold back. Tan Wenbin said: "Sorry." "It's okay, Bin Ge, I know you..." "Pa!" Tan Wenbin slapped his own face and said fiercely, "Shut up, you, first deal with the blood in your eyes, don't make yourself blind this time."

At this time, a voice sounded in Li Zhuiyuan's ear: "You have come." Li Zhuiyuan first looked at the person sitting on the lotus platform at the end, but soon, he looked at the Universal Salvation Zhenjun standing below. "That's right, it's me." Li Zhuiyuan walked to the Universal Salvation Zhenjun and looked at him. The Universal Salvation Zhenjun still maintained the posture of reading the charges, not moving. Unlike the anger and roaring of the other Zhenjun outside, the Universal Salvation Zhenjun appeared very calm.

"You know me?" Li Zhuiyuan asked.

"I don't know, but I know you will come."

"You are sealed here, how do you know?"

"Because 'he' is about to be released, the Heavenly Way will inevitably arrange someone to come. Look, the lotus under 'he's seat has already opened eleven petals, and the last petal is also about to open. This is a sign that 'he' is about to be released and regain freedom."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "I can't understand how 'he' did it. In my opinion, this is a self-seal initiated by 'he', a kind of dead seal."

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Towards death and towards life, the two poles cycle. This is the ray of hope 'he' sought for 'he' himself."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "What do you want me to do?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "You should say, what does the Heavenly Way want you to do, what does Jiang water want you to do."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Sorry, I still can't see it."

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Then look outside." Li Zhuiyuan looked outside the hall door.

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "The consciousness of that monkey head is only one ten-thousandth of the pain borne by its main body, and it is already so irritable. How do you think it will be when its main body is completely awake?"

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Doesn't it listen to your words?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Because I can help it stabilize its mind and reduce its pain. It's still considered good; it has an opportunity to vent its pain. The other Zhenjun outside, although in a completely exiled state, appear to be sleeping and unaware, but when the darkness here recedes, the years of exile and suppression will all invade their minds at once. They cannot bear it and will inevitably fall into evil immediately. Although this place is at the bottom of the sea, the sea water cannot block them. When they fall into evil, it will inevitably lead to a terrible disaster and the destruction of sentient beings. This is why the Heavenly Way chose you to come here, and also the purpose of Jiang water pushing you here. You must block this calamity."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "But, if you hadn't rebelled in the first place, wouldn't this calamity not have happened?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "What should happen will inevitably happen. We acted just to resolve this calamity. Unfortunately, we were not completely successful, and only delayed this calamity. Look, what is the darkness outside exactly? What kind of darkness needs to be resolved by burning with karma?"

Li Zhuiyuan thought of an answer and said: "Merit."

"That's right, the darkness 'he' released in the end is the merit 'he' accumulated. This merit has already been secretly transformed by 'he'."

"Why did 'he' do that?"

"Because 'he' is a false Bodhisattva. What is false is ultimately false. Even if 'he' can deceive everyone, 'he' cannot become true. When 'he' discovered that no matter how hard 'he' tried, 'he' could not achieve the fruit status, 'he' naturally began to seek a new path. The Buddha said: Put down the butcher knife and become a Buddha on the spot. 'He' took off the kasaya and picked up the butcher knife. Since 'he' cannot become a Buddha, 'he' will enter evil."

Li Zhuiyuan was silent, as if digesting this information.

"Because 'he' was a Bodhisattva, we were willing to follow 'he'. Actually, whether 'he' is a Bodhisattva or not is not that important. Even if 'he' is not a Bodhisattva, 'he' can still make this place a dojo, a sect, even... a family belonging to 'he'. But 'he' wanted to enter evil, and wanted to lead everyone to enter evil together. This was what everyone could not accept. We cannot follow a true Bodhisattva, but we cannot follow 'he' and become something that the Heavenly Way cannot tolerate. This is a reason that even that monkey head understands."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "I understand. Then what should I do?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "You know the 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra'."

"Yes."

"I can feel that what you have mastered is the complete 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra'."

"I don't know if it's complete." Anyway, what others had was far less comprehensive and profound than what he had mastered. For example, the first official's primary technique, upon closer examination, was more like a small piece pried off from his hand. Also, Li Zhuiyuan was unable to invite spirits due to his condition. When he and Lin Shuyou were sparring on the playground, Ayou, as a genius of the first line of official generals, could only invite the White Crane Tongzi, while the youth could already 'invite' the two generals who increased damage. The reason why the White Crane Tongzi was intimidated and didn't dare to attack in the end was that Li Zhuiyuan was truly too similar. Except for not actually inviting the yin god, everything else was impeccable.

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "At first, 'he' only obtained the incomplete scroll of the 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra'. It was I and 'he' who together deduced and completed this incomplete scroll."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Then how did this set end up outside?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Opportunities in the world are myriad. We only obtained an incomplete scroll at first, which doesn't mean that a complete one didn't end up outside. It just so happened that it was your opportunity. This explains that you are destined with the Bodhisattva." Getting the complete 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra' means being destined with the Bodhisattva. Then the many sutras in Grandmaster's basement, and the things he was destined with, were probably too many.

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "You go up to the lotus platform and help 'he' perform the ritual. In this way, the darkness released by 'he' will be recycled back into its body. In this way, when the other Zhenjun wake up, it will be like a dream, and they will not fall into evil. This calamity will be resolved."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "What about 'he'?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "'He' will also wake up, and everything will return to its original position. We will help you suppress 'he' again, and your journey will end perfectly."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Since you have mastered the complete 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra', and are the savior of the situation here, and are a person who walks the Jiang and is favored by the Heavenly Way. If you wish, I can guarantee you that after the matter is completed, the position on the lotus platform will be given to you to sit. Below you, all the Zhenjun will pledge allegiance to you. This temple, which has been silent at the bottom of the sea, will also be reactivated and become your force. Of course, if you are unwilling and do not want to sit in this position, that is also possible, but no matter whether you succeed in walking the Jiang in the future, whether you become the Dragon King of this generation, this place will all respect your order."

This was a huge temptation, meaning that success in this journey would result in gaining a force for free. It was hard for anyone not to be tempted by this, especially for the current situation of the Qin and Liu families, where the scarcity of people was the biggest weakness. You should know that the temple here was completely different from the official general's temple of Lin Shuyou's family. Ayou's family's temple was mainly about the people in the temple. But the temple here was mainly about the gods enshrined in the temple.

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Go, this is your responsibility and mission."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Yes." The youth first turned his head to look behind him. The blood in Lin Shuyou's eyes had stopped. At this time, Ayou dared not look inside, but faced outside the hall door, concentrating on staring at that Li Yuan Zhenjun's monkey eyes. Li Zhuiyuan looked at Tan Wenbin, and their gazes met. The youth nodded, and although Tan Wenbin didn't know the specific situation, he also nodded. No matter what happened next, Xiao Yuan Ge should be busy commanding the team, so he would command. This was his responsibility.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the front of the high platform, lifted his foot, and stepped onto the steps. As soon as he took the first step, a stream of consciousness flooded into his brain, and the youth's footsteps also paused. Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Although 'he' is not a true Bodhisattva, 'he' is already accustomed to being high above, and next to 'he' is an existence comparable to the sound of the Buddha. You should isolate it and not let it influence your mind." Li Zhuiyuan nodded again. Then, the youth completely opened his mind and actively welcomed those consciousness pictures. This was a very risky behavior, equivalent to actively giving up defense, but anything that the opposite side wanted to do against him would put him in a passive position. But the youth still decided to do so.

The next moment, the real Li Zhuiyuan was still slowly lifting his foot up the steps, while the conscious Li Zhuiyuan had already arrived in a jungle. Someone was playing the zither, the zither sound was melodious, the tune was graceful, very pleasant to listen to. Under the cover of darkness, the memories that could break through and not be completely buried were definitely the most profound in 'he's life, the most worth remembering.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the young man playing the zither. He was wearing a white long robe, with a green silk ribbon tied on his forehead. He was clearly a graceful young man, yet he had his collar open, his hair loose, a wine jar hanging on a tree above his head with a leak, and he was drinking wine as he played the zither. Looking at him, Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but swallow. Because he recognized this person. This person, although he would die soon, was still alive, and at this time he was lying under the peach forest in his village. It was really hard to connect him in front of his eyes with the person under the peach forest later. At this time, he should not be described as elegant and unrestrained; it was more like he himself was interpreting the true meaning of this word.

But this was 'he's memory. Since the person under the peach forest was here, did it mean that in this segment of memory, he could still see Wei Zhengdao? Last time in the dream of the ghost, he definitely saw Wei Zhengdao, otherwise it would be impossible to explain the improvement of his array, geomancy, and black leather book secret techniques. But the problem was, Li Zhuiyuan didn't remember it.

Finally, the person under the peach forest finished playing the zither. "Pa pa pa!" Someone applauded as they came, praising: "This tune should only be in heaven, ah. After listening to such a clear tune, when I bathe in the next few days, I must remember not to get my ears wet."

"Brother Boshen, you praise me wrongly. Your younger brother is not worthy of this praise." The person who came was the one who would later sit on the lotus platform and pretend to be a Bodhisattva. Even if 'he' was fake, the monkey still tabooed 'he's name. Li Zhuiyuan finally knew his real name, Boshen, just didn't know his surname.

But soon, someone gave the answer. That person rushed over and said unceremoniously: "Sun Boshen, quickly bring out the Buddha skin paper. I know you hide the most."

"Brother Zhengdao, you and I are different. You don't believe in Buddha, what do you want that Buddha skin paper for?"

"To smell the fragrance, to touch it comfortably."

"These words are an insult to the Buddha gate."

"If you find your Buddha gate, let me know, and I will personally go to insult it at that time."

The three of them walked together into a pavilion. There were tables and chairs in the pavilion, and delicacies and fine wine were placed on the table. At this time, only a small monkey darted over, looked at the delicacies on the table, reached out to take some, then looked at the faces on the table, and timidly withdrew its hand, putting its finger in its mouth and sucking. Sun Boshen took the initiative to pick up a plate of food and handed it to it. The small monkey took the plate and happily said in human words: "Thank you, Bodhisattva, thank you, Bodhisattva!"

Sun Boshen reached out and rubbed its nose, saying to it: "I've told you many times, I am not a Bodhisattva, and I don't want you to call me Bodhisattva."

The small monkey said: "Those villagers who received your grace all call you Bodhisattva, so you are a Bodhisattva."

"Alright, go, go." Sun Boshen waved his hand. The small monkey carried the plate of food to a corner outside the pavilion and sat down, eating happily.

Wei Zhengdao said: "You actually dare to show that you want it. Sun Boshen, this monkey of yours is not easy to train. I'm afraid it will scratch your face later."

Sun Boshen smiled: "It's just a child."

Wei Zhengdao said: "A child is a child, a beast is a beast. If you treat a beast as a human, you will not only harm the beast, but also harm yourself."

Sun Boshen said: "Brother Zhengdao, your words are too harsh, how can it be so exaggerated?"

Wei Zhengdao said: "He doesn't listen to your words and calls you Bodhisattva; this is flattery. This beast has too many schemes in its mind. It's fine to raise it as a monkey, but don't raise it fat. If it were raised by me, I could already drink monkey brain soup by now."

Sun Boshen took out a wooden box from his怀 and pushed it towards Wei Zhengdao. Wei Zhengdao flicked his fingertip and opened it, revealing a thick stack of Buddha skin paper inside. Instantly, sandalwood filled the pavilion.

"How is there so little?"

"So much, is it still not enough for you?"

"Too little, not enough."

"I don't have any more either."

"Aren't you called the Buddha's son? In this way, you should deceive your followers more, let them sacrifice themselves, and contribute their stinky skin bags. I really like this paper."

At this time, the person under the peach forest, Qing An, also opened his mouth and said: "Sometimes when Zhengdao sleeps at night, he will also cover his face with this Buddha skin paper."

Sun Boshen said: "This paper is fragrant, it does help with sleep."

Wei Zhengdao tapped the table: "Hey, I'm asking you for it."

Sun Boshen said: "That kind of method harms the harmony of Heaven, how can it be used."

Wei Zhengdao said: "Buddha can use it, but I can't? It's all going to be harmed, whether it's harmed by Buddha or harmed by you, what's the difference?"

Qing An said: "Brother Boshen, don't mind."

Sun Boshen waved his hand and said: "No harm, I know Brother Zhengdao has a misunderstanding about our Buddha gate. One day I will personally prove to Brother Zhengdao..."

Wei Zhengdao said: "Prove how correct this misunderstanding is."

Sun Boshen smiled bitterly. He knew how mysterious this person in front of him was. If he didn't have the Buddha skin paper that the other person wanted, he wouldn't be able to see him at all.

"Brother Zhengdao, there is still one more matter."

"Sun Boshen, your matters are much thicker than Buddha skin paper."

"I still have some at home."

"Speak."

"The times are turbulent, the world is chaotic, causing the Heavenly Way to be chaotic, and demons and evil are rampant. We..."

"Shut up."

Sun Boshen: "..."

Wei Zhengdao said: "Some things, you love to do, you go do them. I don't even care about Qing An's life and death, and you still want me to pity the world?"

Sun Boshen said: "But Brother Zhengdao, you are a contemporary..."

Wei Zhengdao said: "There are not many people in this world who know this matter. It's not that no one knows, but most of the people who know are not in this world."

Sun Boshen nodded. Wei Zhengdao picked up the wooden box containing the Buddha skin paper, got up and walked out of the pavilion, waving his hand and saying: "Compassion is something you shout for others to hear. If you truly believe this, it will only bring you great harm."

Sun Boshen stood in the pavilion, watching Qing An chase after Wei Zhengdao and leave together. "Brother Zhengdao, I will prove it to you."

Next, the picture twisted. Li Zhuiyuan noticed that he had only reached the fourth step. There were a total of twelve steps, which meant that there were still two segments of memory pictures. In the next segment, the memory pictures moved very fast, like a white horse flashing by. This was also because Li Zhuiyuan himself possessed this extraordinary memory power, otherwise he would truly not be able to bear this impact. In these pictures, Li Zhuiyuan saw the small monkey beside Sun Boshen gradually grow up. It first put on human clothes, then armor, and picked up a staff. The youth also saw Sun Boshen when he was walking in the world, the people he met and knew. Among them, not a few of them he had seen on the way here before. Some of them had received Sun Boshen's grace, and some, for further advancement, chose to follow the 'Buddha's son' in the world.

Sun Boshen often said: "I am not a Bodhisattva." But they all called him Bodhisattva. Later, a person's shadow appeared among them. In the memory pictures where he appeared, the speed of flow was ten times faster, as if some force was deliberately covering its past. Li Zhuiyuan simply gave up reading the other pictures and focused on this segment.

In this segment of the picture, Sun Boshen met a young man, who was the future Universal Salvation Zhenjun. The two of them were very close, considering each other as confidantes. The two of them led the core believers, traveling the world, chopping demons and eradicating evil, and together they deduced and completed the 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra'. When Sun Boshen led his people and dealt with the plague in a village, and was knelt and called Bodhisattva by the villagers, he once again reiterated: "I am not a Bodhisattva."

Universal Salvation Zhenjun opened his mouth at this time and said: "Since the true Bodhisattva cannot be seen, then you are the Bodhisattva they see." Sun Boshen agreed.

In the next pictures, Sun Boshen discovered the unique location near the sea and mobilized the believers to establish a temple here. With the assistance of Universal Salvation Zhenjun, Sun Boshen established an inheritance here, developed the yin god system, and after he sat on the lotus platform and was revered as the Dizang King Bodhisattva, he enfeoffed his followers as Zhenjun and helped them transmit their power through their bloodline, allowing them to be summoned and descended.

...

The second memory picture ended, and Li Zhuiyuan walked up to the eighth step. He originally thought the third memory picture would be the scene of Sun Boshen suffering betrayal, but that was not the case. The third picture was very short, so short that it was only an angry shout. Sun Boshen sat on the lotus platform, raised his head upwards: "You clearly did nothing, by what right do you extract merit from here? Receiving payment without merit is theft!"

...

The third picture ended, and Li Zhuiyuan stood in front of Sun Boshen. His appearance seemed unchanged from the first memory picture, but if you looked closely, you could see the faint dark color vaguely seeping from under his skin. In his body, there was actually no life long ago, but he still existed. No one could truly live a long life.

The voice of Universal Salvation Zhenjun sounded in his ear again: "Now, come up and help 'he' perform the ritual." Li Zhuiyuan placed his finger on Sun Boshen's eyebrow. His skin was very smooth. This touch was like touching Buddha skin paper. The 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra' circulated in Li Zhuiyuan's heart, and the youth's fingertips gradually changed into various colors. From beginning to end, he did not feel any repulsion from Sun Boshen. Soon, Li Zhuiyuan saw the 'color' inside Sun Boshen's body, which was white. If Li Zhuiyuan performed the ritual at this time, the black outside would flow back into Sun Boshen's body.

The youth began to perform the ritual. Universal Salvation Zhenjun's voice sounded again: "Good, very good, just like this..." The next moment, Universal Salvation Zhenjun's voice suddenly stopped. Because the black outside not only wasn't absorbed by Sun Boshen, but the remaining white in Sun Boshen's body was frantically flowing out and turning black. In an instant, the black outside became thicker and more viscous, while the originally gray and white color in the hall became dim at this moment.

Li Zhuiyuan was performing the ritual, but he was performing it in reverse. Universal Salvation Zhenjun was not exasperated, but said in a majestic voice: "Do you know what you are doing?" Li Zhuiyuan nodded and replied: "I know, I am contaminating this merit so that no one can take advantage of it for free." Merit was extremely precious. People on the Jianghu who lit lamps and walked the Jianghu, only a very few started with the goal of competing for the Dragon King. Most of them wanted to accumulate merit through this kind of way, for example, the Xiongshan couple. Merit could even make the White Crane Tongzi willingly defect and pursue greater benefits. This place could be established and continue to operate because the Jitong disciples could gain merit when they chopped demons and eradicated evil. These Zhenjun adults then used merit to prolong their lives and elevate themselves to the position of 'flesh yin god'.

Li Zhuiyuan withdrew his hand and turned to walk down the steps. Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "If you do this, you will suffer backlash from heavenly punishment."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Heavenly punishment, who gives me heavenly punishment?"

After the youth walked down the steps, he walked towards the Universal Salvation Zhenjun who was still standing there holding the scroll. Why were all the records about Sun Boshen and the experiences of each Zhenjun meeting and knowing each other in the main general temple destroyed? Because they were clear long ago that Sun Boshen, the Bodhisattva they collectively supported, was not a true Bodhisattva. They were destroying their original sin and wanted to cleanse themselves. Why was the later official general system more perfect, more suitable for inheritance, more convenient for the superiors to manage, and made such great progress compared to here? Why could this group of Zhenjun adults launch a rebellion without hesitation? Who could give them this kind of guarantee and such huge interest drive? Why did the monkey listen to Universal Salvation Zhenjun so much? Why did the monkey who had contact with the outside not know his own identity, but the Universal Salvation Zhenjun who was trapped here knew his existence? Why was Tongzi in pain on the bridge, but at first not out in the Gatekeeper Zhenjun temple, and Li Zhuiyuan wasn't angry?

All these whys were because although Sun Boshen was undoubtedly a fake Bodhisattva, a true Bodhisattva, or rather, a wisp of the Bodhisattva's divided body, had always been hidden here! He created this place with Sun Boshen, completed the 'Dizang Bodhisattva Sutra' with Sun Boshen, and established the system and inheritance here with Sun Boshen. When he clarified his identity, the Zhenjun adults immediately abandoned the fake Bodhisattva they had jointly supported and dreamed of returning under the true Bodhisattva's seat. But his intention was to destroy this old system that was not entirely his own, so that he could rebuild a brand new system belonging to him. Therefore, everything here would be completely buried, including this group of Zhenjun adults, because they had seen the Bodhisattva's unclean side.

Universal Salvation Zhenjun's voice was still calm and steady: "That monkey head said you are as smart as Sun Boshen. Actually, you are not. Sun Boshen never saw clearly who I am, and you have already recognized me."

Li Zhuiyuan continued to walk towards Universal Salvation Zhenjun. Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Since you already know my identity, you should be even clearer about what to do."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Yes, I know. So, what should I call you now?"

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Don't call out my name, otherwise everything will be uncontrollable. You know the consequences."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Alright, indeed."

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Go back up and put everything back on the right track. I can give you another chance."

Li Zhuiyuan said: "Do you know? For a long time, I was afraid that one day I would wake up and the human skin on my face would fall off because of my condition, but I didn't think there was still..."

Universal Salvation Zhenjun said: "Still what?"

Li Zhuiyuan opened his right hand, and a bloody mist first appeared in his palm, then turned into black karma fire. He clenched his fingers, and the karma fire burned in his fist. The youth swung his fist and smashed directly at Universal Salvation Zhenjun: "Still so shameless!"

———

This chapter is 1.55w words, making up for the word count owed yesterday. Please vote for a monthly ticket!

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