Chapter 1049 : The Pagoda of Fate and Resonance

"One destined by fate!"

Empty Vision Enlightened One murmured, a trace of solemn silence appearing in his gaze.

He scrutinized Eldrin Chen carefully and finally nodded. "Follow me, then."

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Nyssa Qu before stepping forward to follow.

The group proceeded, traversing layers of cloud-wreathed peaks with a few strides until they arrived before a Buddhist pagoda.

"What is this?"

The moment he laid eyes on the pagoda, Eldrin Chen felt a profound tremor within his heart.

The aura emanating from this pagoda was immensely powerful, its potency not inferior to the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron. It was most likely a supreme-grade Buddhist treasure [a sacred artifact of the highest quality, imbued with profound Buddhist power].

Seeing his reaction, Empty Vision Enlightened One also nodded. "This Golden Light Demon-Suppressing Pagoda is the guardian treasure of my Kongjian Temple. The Heavenly Dragon Relic rests upon the pagoda's ninth level."

"Whether you can take the Heavenly Dragon Relic depends on the karmic affinity between you and it." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel-dot-com.

Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn, and he could not help but inquire, "May I ask, what is meant by 'fated affinity' [a destined connection or opportunity]?"

"Amitabha [a Buddhist invocation meaning 'Infinite Light']."

"Fate is ineffable."

Empty Vision Enlightened One sighed softly, speaking with profound mystery, "If the karmic connection is not yet ripe, seeking it in vain yields nothing; if you share a destined bond with it, a resonance will arise of its own accord."

"Go now. If fate wills it, you shall obtain the treasure."

"My gratitude for the Ancient Buddha's guidance!"

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then stepped forward and entered the Buddhist Pagoda.

The moment he crossed the threshold, a violent surge of demonic aura [the corrupt, malevolent energy emitted by demons] assailed him. His gaze instantly sharpened with cold intent, shattering that oppressive energy.

Only then, as he surveyed his surroundings, did he discover that within the pagoda was imprisoned a defiant and unruly Demon Immortal [a demonic being who has attained immortality].

However, upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the Demon Immortal instantly shrank back, withdrawing its previously rampant and frenzied presence.

"A suppressed Demon Immortal [a powerful entity that has transcended mortality through demonic cultivation]."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself and continued his ascent up the stairs.

It seemed that each level of this nine-story Buddhist Pagoda [a multi-tiered tower used in Buddhist architecture, often for housing relics or scriptures] held a captive demon or monster.

Upon reaching the second level, Eldrin Chen encountered a True Demon Realm Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who follows a path of cultivation that harnesses demonic energies]. The third level revealed an Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity originating from beyond the known realms], and the fourth presented an Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] who had fallen into depraved ways.

Though these immortal and demonic beings were imprisoned within the pagoda, their malevolent and demonic natures remained fiercely Indestructibility [possessing a quality of being extremely difficult or impossible to destroy]. Eldrin Chen was forced to act several times to subdue and intimidate them.

Thus, almost without realizing it, Eldrin Chen passed through eight levels of the pagoda and finally stepped onto the ninth and highest floor.

The moment he entered the ninth level, a faint, ethereal chant of Buddhist scriptures and the steady, rhythmic tapping of a wooden fish reached Eldrin Chen's ears.

Lifting his gaze, he saw a figure seated before a wooden fish, clad in monastic robes. A halo of Buddhist light radiated from behind the figure's head as they recited scriptures with eyes lowered in contemplation.

With each recitation, a Dao Gold [a radiant, golden color symbolizing enlightenment and the ultimate truth] Sanskrit character swirled in the void before finally converging, like countless streams returning to the sea, into a single Sariras [crystalline relics said to remain after the cremation of a Buddhist master].

"You have come!"

At that very moment, the chanting of sutras gradually faded away.

The figure clad in kasaya robes opened his eyes, his gaze slowly turning towards Eldrin Chen.

Though his expression remained unchanged, Eldrin Chen was inwardly astounded. The aura of enlightenment [the profound spiritual presence signifying deep understanding of the Dao] emanating from the Buddha before him was astonishing, his bearing and spiritual power as deep and vast as an abyssal sea. He seemed far more powerful than even the abbot of the Empty Clarity Temple, Empty Vision Enlightened One.

"Within the Empty Clarity Temple, there hides a Buddha of the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm."

Profoundly shaken, Eldrin Chen immediately offered a gesture of utmost respect. "I pay my respects to the Enlightened One."

"You have come for the Heavenly Dragon Relic." This novel is serialized on audio-novel-dot-com. Visit for updates.

The Buddha spoke calmly, his words carrying an air of absolute certainty.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and stated plainly, "This journey is indeed to seek the Heavenly Dragon Relic."

"The Heavenly Dragon Relic..."

The Buddha sighed softly, then turned his gaze towards the Heavenly Dragon Relic before him.

Behold, the Heavenly Dragon Relic [a sacred relic formed from the remains of a Heavenly Dragon], which had gathered the Buddhist radiance of the entire Buddhist Pagoda, seemed to be drawing upon various streams of Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] power converging towards it.

Eldrin Chen vaguely understood that the reason this Buddhist Pagoda suppressed eight Demon Immortal [a powerful demon who has attained immortality] was precisely to harness the Merit power of those eight Demon Immortal to nourish this Heavenly Dragon Relic.

This Heavenly Dragon Relic was originally formed from a Buddha of the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [a high stage of immortal cultivation], making it inherently a supreme-grade Buddhist treasure among Immortal Artifact [powerful enchanted artifacts used by immortals].

Now, after being nourished by the Golden Light Demon-Suppressing Pagoda for hundreds of thousands of years, and further tempered by the daily sutra recitations of a Buddha at the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a realm just below the Earth Immortal stage], its grade had astonishingly reached the level of a Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact.

This filled Eldrin Chen's heart with immense gravity. Those who ask for nothing often desire something far greater in return.

For such a precious Heavenly Dragon Relic to be offered seemingly without cost, obtainable merely through destined affinity, the hidden price behind it was likely to be even more staggering.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen recalled the other's identity and inquired respectfully, "May I ask for the honorable title of the Patriarch?"

The Buddha shook his head slightly, then smiled gently. "This humble monk's Dharma name is 'Kongming' [Empty Brightness]. I am but a mere ascetic practitioner."

"Ancient Buddha Empty Brightness?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened imperceptibly, and his demeanor immediately became one of profound reverence.

Before his arrival, he had also inquired about the Empty Clarity Temple [a renowned Buddhist monastery]. He knew this temple was founded by Ancient Buddha Empty Brightness [a legendary enlightened being].

It was said that in the past, due to the incident involving True Dragon Buddha [a Buddha who attained enlightenment in the form of a dragon], this Ancient Buddha Empty Brightness was severely wounded by the Dragon Clan Patriarch [the supreme ruler of the dragon race] and had vanished from sight ever since.

The world believed Clear Enlightenment Buddha [the Buddha of Pure Awakening] had long since passed into nirvana. Never did Eldrin Chen expect to encounter him today, a revelation that took him completely by surprise.

Seeing the expression on Eldrin Chen's face, the Clear Enlightenment Buddha seemed to understand his thoughts and spoke, "Ever since my disciple Wisdom-Attained took his own life, this old monk has remained within the Buddhist Pagoda [a sacred tower for meditation and rituals], performing rites to guide his soul."

"Now, after several hundred thousand years, my disciple has undergone Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth] and been reborn. It is indeed time for this old monk to emerge from seclusion."

At this point, he turned his gaze back to Eldrin Chen and said, "Before Wisdom-Attained entered nirvana, he left behind only this Heavenly Dragon Relic [a sacred artifact imbued with the essence of a celestial dragon]."

"Your child does indeed share a karmic bond with this object. However, our Buddhist Sect cultivates the path of Karma [the universal law of cause and effect]. You must understand that affinity itself is a form of Karma."

Eldrin Chen's expression remained unchanged, though a frown creased his brow. "I beg the honored Buddha to enlighten me," he said.

"Upon merging with the Heavenly Dragon Relic, one gains the blessing of Merit [spiritual credit for virtuous deeds] and attains great power, a profound Creation [a state of divine creative potential]."

"Should your child refine and assimilate it, he would become a prodigious Buddhist Scion [a destined inheritor of the Buddhist Dharma], and his Future potential would be truly boundless."

The Buddha spoke with serene composure, "Yet, after refining such a supreme treasure, he too shall bear the weight of Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect]. In time, he will face a Tribulation [a profound trial or heavenly ordeal] to transcend."

"May I ask, Master, what manner of Tribulation [trial] is this?"

Eldrin Chen asked, his expression grave and his gaze somber.

The Buddha, however, shook his head repeatedly. "This pertains to the Celestial Mechanism [the inscrutable workings of Heaven's will]. It cannot be spoken of, it must not be spoken of!"

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed. He rose to leave, only to notice the Heavenly Dragon Relic [a sacred relic of immense power] tremble faintly, emitting a soft glow.

A vague premonition stirred within his heart. He sighed, "It is destiny, yet also Karma [fate woven by past actions]. A Tribulation [ordeal], yet also an opportunity."

"Since you share a bond with my child, what does such a Tribulation [trial] matter?"

"Even if the heavens were to collapse, I, as your father, could still hold them aloft for you."

In the end, Eldrin Chen resolved himself and took the Heavenly Dragon Relic [sacred relic].

Watching Eldrin Chen accept the relic, Clear Enlightenment Buddha [a Buddha of profound wisdom] spoke slowly, "The moment this child is born, he shall be the Future Buddhist Scion [a destined heir to the Buddhist path]."

"When he is a little older, you may bring him to the Empty Clarity Temple [a renowned Buddhist monastery] to cultivate for a time. This old monk is willing to accept him as a disciple and impart to him all the Buddhist teachings I have accumulated in my lifetime."

Eldrin Chen paused in his step and finally nodded, saying, "I am in your debt."

As they emerged from the nine-story Buddhist Pagoda, Nyssa Qu stepped forward and inquired, "How did it go?" Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel . com.