Eternal Tale

Chapter 229: Gods, Immortals, and Buddhas—Believing in Emptiness

"Brother Xun! Brother Ox! Something big just happened!"

A piercing scream echoed in their minds as Xiao Chi scrambled toward them, his pupils wide with panic. "We need to run! This temple is hiding something!"

"What is it, Xiao Chi?" asked Chen Xun, raising an eyebrow.

"Moo?"

"I just discovered there are Nascent Soul cultivators inside the temple! They're wearing masks!" Xiao Chi shouted, describing the scene in exaggerated detail. "And they called a Golden Core stage cultivator 'Young Master'! This place is dangerous!"

"Hmm, but it has nothing to do with us. No need to get involved," Chen Xun said, laughing heartily as he patted Xiao Chi's lion head. "You did well, though."

"Moo moo~" The black ox chuckled, placing a hoof on Xiao Chi's back. What a clever little scout.

"Brother Xun! Brother Ox! Shouldn't we be running?!" Xiao Chi exclaimed, even more anxious. "This obviously involves some powerful human force! Sooner or later, we'll get dragged into it!"

"In a few days, we’ll leave. We just have a few more questions in mind."

"Come on, Brother Xun, Brother Ox, let’s be honest: the safest place is still—"

"Enough! Ox, smack him!"

"Moo moo!!"

"Ah! Ahh!! Ahhh!!!"

Xiao Chi howled in pain as he was mercilessly beaten again, rolling on the ground in agony. He tried to force out some blood to look pitiful, but Chen Xun caught him in the act and stopped him.

Three days later, at dawn.

Inside Chan Yin Temple, the abbot sat cross-legged on a meditation mat in the main hall, his eyes closed. The temple gates were wide open, and his upright figure was framed by the empty hall. Besides rows of candles, there was nothing else.

Chen Xun entered the hall with the black ox and Xiao Chi.

"Abbot," Chen Xun called.

"Three benefactors," the abbot greeted, standing up with a serene expression, showing no sign of being disturbed.

"Abbot, we still have a few lingering questions," Chen Xun said, taking a seat on the mat.

"Please, speak freely," the abbot replied, extending his hand. "It seems the benefactor wishes to speak of the true burden in his heart."

Chen Xun clasped his hands together, then sat cross-legged on the mat. "You're a true abbot."

The black ox glanced at the mat on the floor. Realizing it couldn't fit, it simply sat beside Chen Xun. Xiao Chi, anxious as ever, quickly hid behind the black ox’s back.

"Please, ask your question," the abbot said.

"Abbot, can merit be transferred for reincarnation?"

"Moo moo!!" The black ox’s eyes widened with excitement, even more eager than Chen Xun.

This was their true purpose for coming to Da Li’s Buddhist lands. Without a clear answer, they always felt like something was missing.

Xiao Chi, on the other hand, was stunned. What were Brother Xun and Brother Ox even talking about? Reincarnation?

The abbot paused for a moment, clearly surprised by the question. "This old monk does not specialize in that field and would not dare speak recklessly."

Hearing this, Chen Xun and the black ox both breathed a sigh of relief. If no one could say for sure, then they might as well trust their own beliefs.

"Abbot, to be honest, we both have a lot of faith in Buddha," Chen Xun said with a laugh, pulling out a notebook filled with the names and images of various Buddhas. "Three days ago, Brahman Emptiness told us a few of your thoughts, and we were…"

"Confused?" the abbot asked, smiling.

"Yes," Chen Xun and the black ox nodded.

"Where does the benefactor believe Buddha resides?" the abbot asked, keeping a respectful distance.

"Buddha resides in the heart," Chen Xun replied, glancing at the black ox. "Though we are cultivators, we still hold faith in the heavens, immortals, gods, and Buddhas."

"Moo!" The black ox nodded vigorously in agreement.

Xiao Chi’s eye twitched. Brother Xun and Brother Ox were truly well-rounded cultivators...

"Haha." The abbot's eyes gleamed with amusement. "The benefactor is indeed quite a unique individual."

Chen Xun smiled, saying nothing. For a cultivator seeking eternal life, having a little faith didn’t hurt—it brought peace of mind. There were no taboos in such beliefs.

"But I do not believe Buddha resides in the heart, nor do I believe Buddha resides in temples," the abbot continued, his hands clasped in prayer. "Buddha resides within the heavens and earth. A true Buddhist should walk the world, understanding its truths and discovering the Buddha within themselves."

The abbot’s voice was calm and steady. "The Buddhist lands of Da Li’s ten provinces have confined their followers, trapping them in temples, leading them to engage in pointless debates. The Buddha statues in the temples are mere vessels for incense and offerings, devoid of true meaning."

"Then what of these scriptures?" Chen Xun asked, pulling out a handful of sutras given to him by others. "Abbot, while I may lack wisdom, these scriptures are filled with great teachings."

"Benefactor," the abbot said, smiling and shaking his head, "these sacred scriptures are written for others. They hold no true value in the pursuit of enlightenment."

What the—?!

*Moo?*

Chen Xun and the black ox exchanged bewildered looks, their beliefs once again shattered. So, they had placed their faith in nothing all along?

"Benefactors are too attached," the abbot explained meaningfully. "Cultivators do not need faith in gods, immortals, or Buddhas, for they do not truly exist. To cling to such beliefs is to place shackles upon your heart. Only by embracing the emptiness of all things can one attain enlightenment. Pursuing these beliefs may hinder your path to reaching the Divine Transformation stage."

As the abbot finished speaking, Chen Xun and the black ox's expressions turned cold.

*Whoosh!*

For a moment, the air in the temple froze, and an overwhelming sense of terror filled the space. Xiao Chi’s hair stood on end, and his body went limp.

Sunlight streamed into the hall through a gap in the window, bringing a sense of freshness to the world.

The abbot remained unmoved, his hands clasped in prayer, his head slightly bowed.

"Abbot, you have dual Golden Cores within you, yet you have not broken through. It seems you are also troubled by an obsession, one far greater than I imagined," Chen Xun remarked.

"Benefactor sees clearly, and you are correct," the abbot responded, his expression calm and serene. "Da Li’s ten provinces of Buddhism are but one factor."

Chen Xun narrowed his eyes and bowed slightly. "Abbot, if gods and Buddhas do not exist, if even the heavens and the Dao do not manifest, then should we cultivators not hold a sense of reverence?"

*Moo moo?* The black ox snorted, staring intently at the abbot.

"Benefactor, do not place your faith in external things. Place your faith in your own heart. The road of immortality is long, and in time, the answers will come from within."

"Abbot, you are wise," Chen Xun said, exhaling a heavy breath. "Old Ox, did you understand?"

The black ox hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. From now on, there would be no need to worship gods or Buddhas, nor to offer them spirit stones. Merit came from their own cultivation, and there was no need to place their faith in the void. It was enough to maintain reverence and follow their own path.

It felt as though the weight of two thousand years of obsession had been lifted from them, allowing them to see the world more clearly.

"You two are wise beyond measure," the abbot said, clearly pleased with the shift in their energy. "Karma and reincarnation are simple—good deeds lead to good results. You need not worry yourselves with it any further."

"Thank you for your guidance, Abbot!" Chen Xun and the black ox stood up and bowed deeply, their hearts full of respect. Their spirits soared, and the weight on their minds vanished.

The abbot rose and returned the bow, his expression serene as always.

"It seems you have found your answer in this temple," the abbot said gently. "May I ask, where will you go next?"

"Haha! Abbot, nothing escapes your sharp eyes," Chen Xun replied with a hearty laugh. "We're heading to the ocean, not for any grand purpose—just to go fishing!"

"Moo moo~~~" The black ox smiled widely.

Xiao Chi’s eyes lit up with rare excitement, as he finally understood. The ocean wasn’t on land—perhaps no humans would chase him there!

"I see," the abbot said with a warm smile. "You three have found true freedom, wandering the heavens and earth. This is the essence of cultivation."

The praise caught them off guard. They hadn’t put that much thought into it—they were just going for fun.

Xiao Chi, now visibly excited, rubbed his paws together. It was the first time someone had ever complimented him, and it made him feel bashful.

"Benefactor, this old monk has one humble request," the abbot said.

"Please, ask," Chen Xun replied.

"If, by chance, the three of you pass through the Heavenly Gate over the sea and cross the Celestial River, and you meet a man named Bai Li Zhonghu, please tell him that I… This old monk has broken his promise."

The abbot bent deeply at the waist, his voice heavy with melancholy. "If you have no intention of crossing the Heavenly Gate, then consider this request unsaid."

"Understood," Chen Xun replied, stepping forward to help the abbot stand upright.

"Moo!" The black ox blinked, taking note of the name.

Xiao Chi, on the other hand, scoffed internally. Nonsense! The Heavenly Gate? The Celestial River? Those sounded like perilous places! No way Brother Xun and Brother Ox would take him somewhere that dangerous!