Chapter 1123: Battle Buddha

Chapter 1123: Dou Fo

A reincarnated person!

Ye Chen was overjoyed. Earlier, he had been entirely focused on the alms bowl and had been short-sighted, completely failing to recognize that Xu Xian was a reborn individual.

Now, looking at Xu Xian again, Ye Chen didn't even need to make calculations; he instantly recognized who this reincarnation was. It was none other than Li Xiao, the imperial preceptor from the Tianxiang Ancient Kingdom in the Northern Chu mortal realm. Back then, Li Xiao had received guidance from Ye Chen and even delivered messages on his behalf.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen took a step and arrived in front of Xu Xian.

Xu Xian was still shouting desperately, constantly being pushed back, his face streaked with tears.

Seeing this, Ye Chen immediately raised his hand, ready to use a secret technique to unlock Li Xiao's past-life memories.

However, he ultimately stopped himself. This was Jin Shan Temple, after all, and that unfathomable Fa Hai was inside. He didn't want to cause any trouble by awakening Li Xiao's memories here.

Come with me!

Ye Chen grabbed Xu Xian and vanished from the spot in an instant.

After some time, Ye Chen landed in a deep mountain and released the reincarnated Li Xiao he had been holding.

Are you an immortal?

The reincarnated Li Xiao had a decent composure and stared at Ye Chen in a daze.

Ye Chen didn't speak. Instead, he stroked his chin and examined Li Xiao from head to toe, his expression showing surprise. Based on the timeline, Li Xiao should have been over a hundred years old, yet he still looked so young.

Soon, Ye Chen figured it out. He detected a strand of yuan qi within Li Xiao's body—and it was demonic yuan qi at that. This yuan qi was nourishing Li Xiao's life wheel, slowing down his aging.

As for Li Xiao, seeing Ye Chen staring at him without a word, he turned to leave, intending to head back to Jin Shan Temple.

Where do you think you're going?

Ye Chen grabbed Li Xiao and pulled him back, then sent a beam of divine light into Li Xiao's sea of consciousness.

Immediately, Li Xiao's body trembled.

Ah!

The sudden pain made Li Xiao clutch his head and stagger in place. He roared in agony, his tear-filled eyes clouded with confusion and disorientation, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

After a moment, Li Xiao stopped roaring and looked at Ye Chen in utter disbelief.

You...!

Li Xiao's body shook, and tears streamed down his face. With his past-life memories restored, he was so emotional he could barely speak.

Ye Chen smiled, his smile tinged with weariness.

Saint Lord!

Li Xiao lunged forward and hugged Ye Chen tightly. A hundred years of hardship, a hundred years of struggles—he never imagined he would see Ye Chen again. It all felt like a dream, too sudden to grasp.

It wasn't until some time later that Li Xiao released his hold, still sobbing uncontrollably.

Ye Chen sat down, pulled out a wine flask, and handed it to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao took it and drank deeply. The two sat side by side on the rock, sipping the strong liquor, reminiscing about the past, recalling old friends, sharing endless tales of hardship and the passage of time.

It wasn't until nightfall that they both fell silent, gazing at the vast, boundless starry sky.

As they watched, Li Xiao's eyes drifted toward the direction of Jin Shan Temple, fixing on a pagoda. He was not just Li Xiao; he was also Xu Xian. With memories from his past life and experiences from this one, he had many stories.

Go on, tell me what happened.

Ye Chen also looked toward Jin Shan Temple.

They captured my wife and locked her in Lei Feng Tower.

Li Xiao's voice was hoarse, his eyes brimming with tears.

She's a snake demon, right?

Ye Chen said casually.

Her name is Bai Suzhen, a snake demon who has cultivated for a thousand years.

Li Xiao wasn't surprised that Ye Chen knew his wife was a snake demon. He spoke with deep sorrow, wiping away tears stealthily.

She's a kind demon, like a female bodhisattva. But because she's a demon, Fa Hai locked her in Lei Feng Tower.

Saint Lord, help me cultivate immortality again.

Li Xiao wiped away his tears and looked at Ye Chen with hope.

Then what?

Ye Chen took a swig of wine.

I'll defeat Fa Hai and rescue my wife.

He's at the peak of the imperial realm—you can't catch up to him.

Ye Chen smiled.

Even your wife, with her thousand years of cultivation, was suppressed. What about you?

If a hundred years isn't enough, then three hundred. If three hundred isn't enough, then five hundred. If five hundred isn't enough, then a thousand.

Li Xiao clenched his fists, his tearful eyes shining with unprecedented determination.

Time flows on, but my dao heart remains firm. One day, I will defeat him.

You might endure that long, but your wife might not.

Ye Chen put away the wine flask and slowly stood up.

Wait here for me.

With that, Ye Chen stepped into the void and headed straight for Jin Shan Temple.

The night sky was profound, with stars like scattered dust.

At night, Jin Shan Temple radiated with countless beams of Buddhist light, dazzling and brilliant, illuminating the world and guiding all beings.

Ye Chen arrived and stood outside Jin Shan Temple, looking toward a meditation room in the temple. It was as if he could see through the hazy mists to Fa Hai, who was sitting in meditation, striking a wooden fish. Ye Chen smiled and said,

Saint monk, let's talk about something.

Have you come to your senses, benefactor?

Fa Hai opened his eyes and looked at Ye Chen peacefully.

Not at all.

Ye Chen cleared his throat.

Then why have you come tonight?

I hear you have a snake demon locked up here.

That is true.

Fa Hai spoke leisurely.

She fell in love with a mortal, violating the natural order.

But I hear she's a kind demon.

Ye Chen smiled.

Besides, they love each other willingly. Isn't it wrong for you to break up a marriage like this? Doesn't that go against the principles of Buddhism?

Demons are demons, and humans and demons should not mix.

To be honest, when I first saw you in the starry sky, I thought you were an enlightened monk. But now, hearing your words, I've overestimated you.

Ye Chen chuckled lightly.

What does it matter if they're human or demon? Is the Zen of Buddhism about erasing all emotions in the world? Is the goodness of Buddhism about hating all love in the world?

Their union is inherently wrong. I uphold the Buddhist teachings to guide all beings.

Guide all beings.

Ye Chen scoffed.

Let me ask you, what are all beings?

Any being with a spirit is part of all beings.

What does it mean to guide them?

To spread the Buddhist teachings widely and help all beings escape the sea of suffering.

What a grand idea of spreading teachings to escape suffering.

Ye Chen twisted his neck fiercely.

Demons have spirits too—she's also a being. Have your teachings helped her escape suffering? Is your idea of guidance just heartlessly tearing them apart? Is this Buddhism's compassion?

My Buddha is compassionate. By locking her up, I am helping her. Once she sincerely turns to Buddhism, she will escape suffering.

Compassion.

Ye Chen laughed and immediately reached out, grabbing a young monk in meditation from the temple through the air. He held the monk by the neck and looked at Fa Hai with a smile.

Self-destruct your cultivation in front of me, and I'll let him go.

Your killing intent is too strong; you will never achieve true enlightenment.

So, you're not willing to trade your cultivation for this young monk's life? Where's your compassion, Fa Hai?

Put down the knife, benefactor, and you can become a Buddha on the spot.

Fa Hai's words echoed ethereally, carrying supreme Buddhist tones that resounded through heaven and earth.

My knife has saved countless beings in the myriad domains. What about you, Fa Hai? Are you willing to wield that knife and destroy your own cultivation to save this young monk and help him escape suffering?

Ye Chen stared straight at Fa Hai.

If not, then stop preaching about your compassion and using those lofty Buddhist teachings to guide your so-called beings.

With that, Ye Chen suddenly released the young monk and sent him back to his original spot.

Then, he stepped into Jin Shan Temple and arrived at the base of Lei Feng Tower.

Halt!

The senior monks guarding Lei Feng Tower shouted in unison, their bodies glowing with Buddhist light as they blocked Ye Chen's path.

How ridiculous.

Ye Chen laughed mockingly.

The world is full of suffering, yet you don't save the people. Instead, you guard a kind demon. Your compassion is nothing but a joke.

Benefactor, do not blaspheme the supreme Buddha.

What's the point of respecting a Buddha like yours?

Ye Chen snorted coldly and swept out with a palm.