Chapter 824. West Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple

"I thought as much."

Yu Qingyan nodded and then inquired, “By the way, what brings you to the Western Extremity Eternal Sands Domain this time?”

Eldrin smiled faintly and said, "I wish to pay a visit to the Western Serenity Temple."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Yu Qingyan's eyes flickered slightly, as if she had something to say but hesitated to speak.

Seeing this, Eldrin (Person Name) couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Yu Qingyan shook her head, but in the end, the words remained unspoken.

Seeing that Yu Qingyan remained silent, Eldrin did not press further, merely smiling as he said, "After I finish paying my respects at the Tranquil Spirit Temple, I will head to the Eastern Wastelands."

"You've been away from home for many years. Would you like to return to Ji Province with us?"

Return to Ji Continent...

Yu Qingyan felt a flicker of nostalgia, but her gaze dimmed slightly as she immediately shook her head. "I am perfectly content in the Western Extremity Shifting Sands Realm. There is no need for me to return to Ji Province."

"Oh, that's good then."

Eldrin (Person Name) nodded slightly before speaking, "In that case, I shall not detain you further."

After leaving Yu Qingyan's dwelling, the group arrived at the core hall of the Buddha Fate Pavilion.

The master of the Buddha’s Grace Pavilion was a late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator, known by his Dharma title as ‘True Monarch Puxuan.’ Upon meeting Eldrin (Person Name), he received the group with exceptional courtesy.

After learning of their purpose for coming, Elder Puxuan said with a smile, "The teleportation array from Foyuan District to the Western Serenity Temple opens once every 30 years. There are still 20 years until the next activation."

"However, since you fellow cultivators have traveled all the way from the Central Ancestral Domain, I'm naturally willing to open the gate of convenience. Please wait a few days while we gather our personnel to activate the teleportation formation."

"In that case, my gratitude."

Eldrin nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips.

With matters here concluded, Eldrin once again thought of Yu Qingyan, vaguely sensing that she seemed to be entangled in certain affairs. The master of Buddha's Vestige Pavilion, Bian Wenqi, inquired, "Might I ask, fellow Daoist, are you acquainted with that Yu Qingyan?"

"Yu Qingyan? You mean the Mistress of Verdant Mist?"

The master of the Buddha’s Grace Pavilion was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and said, “The Ethereal Mist Fairy has been in the Buddha’s Grace Continent in recent years. She is a renowned fairy in these lands.”

However, this man had ill fortune, for he actually caught the eye of Venerable Jiumo from the Vajra Temple, who intended to select an auspicious day to take him under his wing and make him a Vajra Maiden.

"Vajra Maiden?"

Eldrin (Person Name) froze momentarily, a trace of bewilderment flashing across his expression.

Having long dwelled in the Eastern Wastelands, he had never encountered the Buddhist sects of the Violet Realm and remained largely unfamiliar with the demonic sects of this world.

Understanding Eldrin's confusion, the owner of Buddha's Affinity Pavilion continued to explain: "The so-called Vajra Women are similar to concubines or even..."

Audacious.

As the owner of Buddha’s Grace Pavilion explained, Eldrin’s expression shifted dramatically, revealing intense fury.

It turned out that the Vajra Temple, despite its esteemed status as a Buddhist sanctuary, observed no prohibitions against meat, wine, or sensual pleasures. They even cultivated the Dharma of Blissful Union. The so-called Vajra Maidens, euphemistically named, were merely their cultivation furnaces.

At this moment, Eldrin finally understood that his impression of the Buddhist sect from his past life was vastly different from that of this world.

Upon careful reflection, this outcome was to be expected. Even in the peaceful era of my previous life, monks never truly adhered to strict ascetic codes.

Eldrin vaguely recalled an article he had once read, which mentioned that during the Han, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, monks were not only permitted to marry and have children, but could also consume meat, drink alcohol, and even keep slaves—a common practice of the era.

At that time, the monks seized lands, concealed population records, and even plotted armed rebellion to contend for the empire—striving to establish a terrestrial Buddhist kingdom.

Thereafter, over several 100 years, multiple emperors successively suppressed Buddhism time and again. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that these monks gradually became subdued, evolving into the form familiar to later generations.

The local Buddhist sect reigns as the overlord of the Western Extremity Sands Realm, and the Vajra Temple stands as the supreme sanctuary of Dao Lords within the Buddhist order. Practicing the Path of Blissful Meditation lineage, its followers naturally operate with utter disregard for worldly constraints.

Within the Western Expanse of the Shifting Sands, few could dare oppose them.

At this thought, Eldrin took a deep breath and spoke with a slightly somber gaze, "Are all the Buddhist sects in this Western Expanse Eternal Sands Realm like this?"

"Not at all."

The owner of Buddha’s Grace Pavilion shook his head and said, “The Tranquil Spirit Temple follows the Zen tradition, cultivating the path of the Buddha’s Heart. They cannot allow their spiritual focus to be disturbed by external distractions such as beauty, so it’s not merely about that.”

Seeing this, Eldrin nodded slightly and let out a soft sigh of relief.

The Tranquil Spirit Temple stands as the ancestral seat of Buddhism in the Violet Realm. Its abbot, the "Calamity-Transcending Divine Monk," is hailed as an incarnation of the Buddha born to face tribulations—a mighty being at the Half-Immortal realm.

Now that even this lineage has rotted to the core, Eldrin had no choice but to turn and leave.

At this thought, Eldrin spoke, "Thank you for the information, Shopkeeper. I have urgent matters to attend to today and must take my leave."

"Then we won't see you off."

The owner of Buddha’s Grace Pavilion nodded, watching as Eldrin (Person Name) departed.

Eldrin departed from the Buddha’s Affinity Pavilion, his expression turning icy. Without a word, he arrived at Yu Qingyan’s cave abode.

Upon meeting Yu Qingyan, he stated bluntly, "I visited the owner of Fateful Buddha Sanctuary and uncovered the whole story."

Yu Qingyan’s face paled slightly as she hurriedly spoke, “That Temple of the Vajra is a sacred land of the Dao Lords. We must not confront them recklessly.”

"You are not far from breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm. Why provoke a formidable foe at such a time?"

Eldrin spoke no further, his gaze serene as he said, "I ask you—are you willing to become the Vajra Maiden?"

"This..." Yu Qingyan's brows trembled, yet she drew a deep breath and declared, "It is simply that I refuse."

"Then it's settled."

Eldrin gave a slight nod, his gaze turning frosty as he stated, "I will take you back to the Eastern Wastelands. In the coming days, stay close behind me. Let us see if the Vajra Temple dares to come for you."

A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and the teleportation array at the Buddha's Affinity Pavilion finally activated after several days.

Eldrin (Person Name) led the group directly through the teleportation array to the Western Extremity Serene Spirit Temple, arriving at the ancestral Buddhist sanctuary of this Violet Realm.

Upon hearing of their arrival, the Silent Spirit Temple did not neglect its duties, dispatching a newly-advanced Dao Lord to receive them.

This person, 'Zen Heart Divine Monk' (Person Name), is said to be merely over 2,500 years old, having broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm (Cultivation Realm) less than 2 100 years ago. Yet, his mastery of Buddhist doctrines has already reached an astonishing level.

The Zen Heart Divine Monk smiled faintly at the sight of them and said, "I have long heard of the esteemed reputations of you all, and have often wondered when I might have the chance to meet you. Little did I expect you would visit my Tranquil Spirit Temple today—this is truly an honor for this humble monk."

"Greetings, Venerable Monk."

Eldrin nodded and began exchanging pleasantries with Zen Heart Divine Monk.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zen Heart Divine Monk inquired, "Have you all come for the Golden Lotus of Merit?"

Eldrin was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. "The Divine Monk truly possesses foresight beyond measure."

"Not at all, it is merely as the Patriarch instructed."

The Zen Heart Divine Monk smiled faintly and continued, "Please follow me."

The crowd followed Zen Heart Divine Monk into the Tranquil Spirit Temple, proceeding all the way until they arrived within a great hall.