Chapter 668: Challenging the Buddha

Although the atmosphere was serene, Shui Miao remained vigilant.

This was Buddha Land, a place he had never encountered before. His understanding of it was limited to what he had seen in movies and TV shows during his mortal life.

Such knowledge was utterly irrelevant in reality.

The old monk spoke very little, not even revealing his own name.

Although his expression was kind and his attitude amiable, it seemed more like a perfunctory gesture, a mere formality, even hinting at a subtle unwelcoming vibe.

If they truly welcomed him, they wouldn’t have flung him here like a dog and given him a kennel to live in.

Feeling complex emotions, Shui Miao immediately sat cross-legged, beginning to cultivate energy while sensing everything around him in Buddha Land.

However, he soon discovered that his sensing abilities were suppressed by some mysterious force, leaving him capable only of cultivation.

“Well then, since he wants me to settle down peacefully, I will. I’ll stay here and focus on cultivating my powers.”

Quickly adjusting his mindset, Shui Miao calmed himself and resumed his cultivation.

Previously, while fleeing toward the sun, his body had endured intense heat, as if tempered in a furnace. His spiritual state became brighter, and his magical energy more refined—like materials smelted in a refining furnace, becoming exceptionally pure.

Now, as he settled into cultivation once more, he felt an obvious sense of lightness and clarity.

“Excellent!”

“I’ve turned misfortune into fortune, refining both my magic and physical form. My cultivation has clearly advanced significantly.”

“Right, people use materials to forge puppets, so why not forge oneself as a material for cultivation? The principles of heaven and earth are the same—all are materials, humans included, just possessing more spiritual energy and the ability to think. How did Tathagata Buddha forge his post-natal spiritual body? Could it be that he used the method of forging treasures at the place closest to the sun?”

“But now, my situation…”

As Shui Miao’s thoughts turned, he summoned Tianyi Dejun, Wenchang Dijun, and Shuitianyishengmu from the realm of his consciousness.

Seeing the surroundings, Tianyi Dejun immediately spoke, “Isn’t this the sacred forbidden zone of Buddha Land?”

“I don’t know where exactly in Buddha Land we are, nor do I understand why the Buddha sent an old monk to bring me here and then ignored me completely.” Shui Miao turned, pointing at the wooden hut behind him. “That’s the place the old monk arranged for me to stay.”

“This is even worse than a doghouse!”

Shuitianyishengmu ran over and peeked inside the hut, exclaiming, “The Buddha is too stingy! What kind of hospitality is this!”

“Sigh!”

Tianyi Dejun let out a long sigh. “Now that we are being relentlessly pursued by Xuankong’er, it’s already fortunate that someone has given us a place to stay.”

Wenchang Dijun closed his eyes and sensed the surroundings, suddenly opening his eyes and saying, “This indeed is the sacred forbidden zone of Buddha Land. Buddha Land’s spiritual city is where mortal Buddhist practitioners ascend and live to cultivate. However, it seems we are specially restricted here. If I’m not mistaken, there might be someone monitoring us.”

Wenchang Dijun’s magical power remained unchanged, and he had a special insight into restrictions.

Suddenly, Tianyi Dejun’s eyes flickered, and he whispered to Shui Miao, “Shui Miao, don’t think too much. From what I know of Buddha Land, they wouldn’t stoop to despicable acts. I think the reason they brought us here is twofold: to protect us and to test our strength, to see if we can escape.”

“Yes, they do have the intention to test us, but unfortunately, even if we know the truth, we can’t escape unless we grow strong enough. Until then, we should stay here and cultivate, waiting for a breakthrough in our cultivation before considering anything else.” Wenchang Dizun understood clearly that the heavenly court was in chaos, and the Buddha refrained from intervening, likely out of caution. In such circumstances, strength was the only thing that mattered. This reasoning also served to motivate Shui Miao to cultivate diligently and seek enlightenment.

“I understand!”

Shui Miao nodded and sat down again to cultivate.

Seeing this, the others also sat down to cultivate without further thoughts.

※※※

Xuankong’er hid inside his newly forged Tower of Time, recovering his magical energy, reforging two post-natal spiritual treasures—one into a Time-Protecting Magic Pearl and the other into a Soul-Confusing Mirror embedded with the Void-Destroying Formation. Then he focused all his energy on repairing the Wheel of Reincarnation. Once repaired, he would march toward Buddha Land, conquer the Buddhist realm, and trample the Buddha underfoot.

The Wheel of Reincarnation in the Netherworld was enormous, with thirty-six layers.

The Wheel of Reincarnation in the heavenly court was even more terrifying, with seventy-two layers in total, overlapping the array formations of the Netherworld’s Wheel. It controlled the fates of all beings in the three realms. The complexity of its formations made even Xuankong’er shudder in awe. For many years, Xuankong’er had ignored the Wheel of Reincarnation because it was simply too complicated to study, causing him headaches. No one was willing to invest the effort to understand it.

But this time, Xuankong’er’s mind had changed.

To capture Shui Miao and confront the Buddha, he had to repair the Wheel of Reincarnation.

Imagining the legendary figures like the Buddha and the Goddess Nuwa being sent into reincarnation filled Xuankong’er with excitement.

Legend had it that the Wheel of Reincarnation was the supreme divine artifact in the Three Realms, forged by an unknown hand.

Many years after Pangu separated heaven and earth, the Heavenly Court was established.

At that time, the heavens had thirty-six layers. After the Jade Emperor opened the highest heaven, Yuxu Heaven, he discovered three Wheels of Reincarnation—large, medium, and small—within it.

First, the Jade Emperor refined and absorbed the smallest Wheel of Reincarnation, handing it over to the Ten Halls of Yama in the Netherworld to govern the mortal and netherworlds, as well as the realm of demons. Then he refined and absorbed the medium-sized Wheel of Reincarnation, controlling the Heavenly Court and holding the fates of all beings in the realms of immortals, demons, and gods.

At this point, the Jade Emperor had already opened the Void Realm, glimpsing the realms of immortals and an even greater world beyond.

Thus, he handed the medium-sized Wheel of Reincarnation to his descendants to govern the Heavenly Court, giving rise to the Jade Emperor.

Then, the Jade Emperor attempted to refine the largest Wheel of Reincarnation.

However, this time he failed. The largest Wheel of Reincarnation was disturbed, causing tremors across the Three Realms, collapsing the heavens and earth, and plunging the order into chaos. Forced to abandon his attempt, the Jade Emperor resolutely entered the Void Realm and never returned.

After the Jade Emperor’s departure, many events unfolded in the Immortal Realm.

The shaken Immortal Realm transformed into the Nine Heavens, and a new realm, the Immortal-Demon Realm, emerged, forming a new structure of the Three Realms.

One day, Xuankong’er emerged, leading to the rise of the Demon Realm.

Under the leadership of the Jade Emperor, the ancient immortals engaged in a fierce battle against the demonic forces of the Demon Emperor in the Immortal-Demon Realm. The ancient immortals were defeated, and the Demon Realm also suffered heavy losses. Seizing the opportunity, Xuankong’er pretended to disappear but actually gathered the souls of the ancient immortals and secretly infiltrated the Immortal Realm, intending to control the Three Realms using puppets. However, out of boredom and playfulness, he inadvertently created Shui Miao.

※※※

The Wheel of Reincarnation was too complex…

Xuankong’er studied it for a long time, his head aching, yet still making no progress.

Frustrated, Xuankong’er gave up on repairing the Wheel of Reincarnation and instead flew to the Demon Realm, gathering a large amount of demonic spirit stones to forge an ultimate demonic artifact—the Supreme Demon Banner of the Origin of Evil.

“Whoosh!”

With a Heaven-Soaring Talisman, Xuankong’er arrived at the location where Shui Miao had come from in Buddha Land.

Seeing the immense golden city, Xuankong’er felt a shock. This Buddha Land’s spiritual city was at least a hundred times larger than the five immortal cities of the Immortal Realm!

The Buddha is indeed the Buddha, grand in scale, powerful yet modest. While the Heavenly Court is in chaos, this place remains a paradise!

“Shui Miao, do you think the Buddha can protect you?”

“Ha ha ha! Tathagata, today I will see if your post-natal spiritual body can withstand the Supreme Evil of the Demon Realm…”

“Boom!”

Xuankong’er slammed the Supreme Demon Banner of the Origin of Evil into the ground. The banner violently trembled, instantly releasing a torrent of black Supreme Evil Qi, spreading like a tidal wave toward the spiritual city… Suddenly, the spiritual city, which had never seen a change in the sky, darkened. Black mist enveloped the city like a storm about to break.

“Kokokokokokokoko…”

But immediately, a rapid tapping of wooden fish echoed from within the spiritual city, followed by the chanting of Buddhist sutras by countless monks. The sound of chanting grew louder and louder, soon resonating like thunder across the heavens and earth. The entire spiritual city, especially the towering pagoda that pierced the clouds, radiated dazzling golden light!

The golden light was blinding, sharp as blades, spears, arrows, and rainbows…

The thick, suffocating Supreme Evil Qi, which had covered the sky and blotted out the sun, began to dissipate under the golden light… Within just a dozen breaths, all the Supreme Evil Qi was completely dispelled by the golden light.

“Amazing!”

“Buddha, you truly are formidable. I have to admit, but this is merely the combined strength of all the monks in Buddha Land resisting my Supreme Evil Qi. I, alone, have already defeated your countless monks. Now, let me show you the power of my post-natal spiritual treasure! I will use it to break your city and wash your Buddha Land in blood.”

Unwilling to give up, Xuankong’er summoned his post-natal spiritual treasure—the Soul-Confusing Mirror embedded with the Void-Destroying Formation.

“Buzz!”

Xuankong’er immediately activated the Soul-Confusing Mirror, directing its beam toward the spiritual city…

Instantly, the golden light in the spiritual city condensed into a giant Buddha hand, resisting the mirror’s white light and slowly reaching toward Xuankong’er!

“Ha ha ha! You’re nothing special. I haven’t even used my full strength yet!”

Xuankong’er roared with laughter, suddenly pouring all his power into the mirror. The white beam pierced through the giant Buddha hand!

“Hong!!”

Just as Xuankong’er was reveling in his success, a thunderous explosion suddenly echoed from above his head. A golden-yellow talisman slowly floated down from the sky…