791: Chapter 791 Lu Xueqi and Biyao (170)

"I am Su Han, a Disciple of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect. Under the orders of my Sect Master, I have come to the Buddhist Realm to seek the Purifying Buddha Light," Su Han said, cupping his hands.

The guard looked Su Han up and down and said, "The Purifying Buddha Light is a supreme treasure of the Buddhist Realm; it cannot be sought by anyone who is not a Disciple of the Buddhist path. You are a Cultivator from the Immortal Realm; it would be useless for you to go."

Su Han's heart sank, and he asked, "Then how can one obtain the Purifying Buddha Light?"

"Unless you can pass the trials set by the Buddhist Realm and prove that you possess sufficient benevolence and wisdom root," the guard said. "However, in countless years, no more than three Cultivators from the Immortal Realm have ever passed the trials."

Su Han took a deep breath and said, "No matter how difficult it is, I must try."

The guard nodded and stepped aside, saying, "Go in. Passing through the West Heaven Gate leads to the Buddhist Realm. Travel west, and you will see a golden mountain; that is Mount Ling. The Buddha is atop Mount Ling. Whether he is willing to see you depends on your own destiny."

Su Han cupped his hands in thanks and walked into the West Heaven Gate.

The moment he passed through the West Heaven Gate, Su Han felt the surrounding air change. The Immortal Qi disappeared, replaced by an aura of peace and tranquility that made one involuntarily relax.

The Buddhist Realm had arrived.

The sky of the Buddhist Realm was golden, and the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood.

Su Han flew westward, and the scenery beneath his feet left him in awe. The Buddhist Realm had no towering mountains or great rivers, only endless plains and forests. Everywhere on the plains were golden temples and pagodas, where monks beat wooden fish and chanted scriptures.

After flying for a day and a night, Su Han finally saw the legendary Mount Ling.

Mount Ling was a massive golden peak, towering into the clouds, its summit shrouded in golden light. At the foot of the mountain was a long flight of stone steps, with Bodhi trees planted on both sides.

Su Han landed in front of the stone steps, preparing to ascend.

"Please stop, benefactor," a voice came from the side.

Su Han turned his head to look. An old monk wearing a gray monastic robe was sitting under a Bodhi tree in meditation. The old monk's face was kind, and his eyes shone with the light of wisdom.

"Great Master, do you have any instruction?" Su Han asked, cupping his hands.

The old monk opened his eyes, looked at Su Han, and said, "Benefactor, your body carries the aura of Chaos Power and the fluctuations of Heavenly Gang Righteous Qi. Are you here to seek the Purifying Buddha Light?"

"Indeed," Su Han said. "An evil entity is about to awaken in the Human Realm, and it requires the three powers of Chaos Power, Heavenly Gang Righteous Qi, and the Purifying Buddha Light to be completely eradicated. This Junior has come presumptuously, and I ask for the Great Master's guidance."

The old monk was silent for a moment, then said, "The Purifying Buddha Light is a supreme treasure of the Buddhist Realm; it cannot be obtained by anyone lacking great kindness and virtue. Although you, benefactor, possess the Chaos Power, your heart of good and evil must still be tested."

"Please set the test, Great Master," Su Han said without hesitation.

The old monk smiled slightly and said, "There are three trials on Mount Ling. The first trial tests benevolence, the second tests wisdom root, and the third tests perseverance. If you pass the three trials, the Buddha will naturally bestow the Purifying Buddha Light upon you."

"Thank you, Great Master," Su Han said, cupping his hands, and then stepped onto the stone steps.

The stone steps were very long, seemingly endless. After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Su Han suddenly felt the surrounding scenery change. The stone steps disappeared, and he stood on a desolate battlefield.

Corpses littered the battlefield, and rivers of blood flowed. A child sat on the ground crying, with the bodies of his parents beside him.

Su Han's heart jolted, and he walked quickly toward the child.

"Little one, don't be afraid; Uncle will take you away from here," Su Han said, crouching down and reaching out to hold the child.

The child raised his head and looked at Su Han; there was no fear in his eyes, only sorrow.

"Uncle, can you save my father and mother?" the child asked.

Su Han was silent. He knew this was just an illusion, but the child's gaze made it impossible for him to refuse.

"I will try," Su Han said, circulating his Chaos Power and attempting to repair the bodies of the child's parents.

But the wounds on the bodies were too deep, and their Souls had already dissipated; even the Chaos Power could not bring them back to life.

Su Han failed.

The hope in the child's eyes turned to despair; he pushed Su Han away and ran into the distance.

Su Han stood in place, his heart filled with a sense of powerlessness.

Just then, the battlefield disappeared, and Su Han was back on the stone steps. The old monk appeared before him and said, "The first trial tests benevolence. You did not choose to ignore that child, but instead tried your best to help him. Although you failed, your benevolence is genuine. You have passed this trial."

Su Han breathed a sigh of relief and continued walking upward.

The second trial tested wisdom root.

Not long after Su Han walked, the surrounding scenery changed again. This time, he stood before a massive labyrinth. The labyrinth was composed of golden walls, and the walls were carved with Buddhist scriptures.

A voice came from the sky: "Walk out of the labyrinth, and you will pass the second trial."

Su Han entered the labyrinth and began to search for a way out.

The labyrinth was very large, with many fork roads. After walking for half an hour, Su Han discovered he had returned to the starting point. He did not lose heart; he chose another path and continued walking.

One hour passed, two hours passed, and Su Han was still circling in the labyrinth.

He stopped his steps and began to ponder.

The labyrinth was not a simple labyrinth; it was a Formation that tested wisdom root. Walking blindly would not lead out; one needed to understand the meaning of the Buddhist scriptures on the walls to find the correct path.

Su Han sat cross-legged and began to study the Buddhist scriptures on the walls. The scriptures were obscure and difficult to understand, but when Su Han was Cultivating in the Immortal Realm, he had come into contact with some Buddhist classics, so he could barely understand some of it.

Time passed little by little, and Su Han felt his understanding of the Buddhist scriptures deepening. Gradually, he saw the changes in the labyrinth.

The labyrinth was not dead; it was alive. Every path was constantly changing. Only by understanding the true meaning of the Buddhist scriptures could one see the true route of the labyrinth.

Su Han stood up and, following his understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, walked forward step by step.

This time, he did not walk back to the starting point.

Half an hour later, Su Han walked out of the labyrinth.

The old monk appeared again and smiled, saying, "Excellent, excellent. Benefactor, your wisdom root is profound; you have passed the second trial."

Su Han cupped his hands in thanks and continued walking upward.

The third trial tested perseverance.

This time, Su Han found himself standing in front of a tall tower. The tower had 999 levels, with no stairs, only vertical walls.

"Ascend to the top of the tower, and you will pass the third trial," the old monk's voice came from behind him.

Su Han took a deep breath and began to climb.

The walls were very smooth, with almost nowhere to gain leverage. Su Han circulated his Chaos Power, adhering his palms to the walls, and climbed upward bit by bit.

One hundred levels, two hundred levels, three hundred levels...

Su Han climbed slower and slower, not because he lacked stamina, but because for every level he ascended, the pressure increased by a point. By the time he reached the five hundredth level, the pressure was already so great that he could not catch his breath.

But he did not give up.

Six hundred levels, seven hundred levels, eight hundred levels...

Blood seeped from Su Han's fingertips, and his Chaos Power was almost exhausted. He gritted his teeth, supporting his body with sheer willpower. (End of chapter)