Chapter 824 : A Journey to the Western Temple

"I thought as much."

Verdant Mist Yu nodded, then inquired, "By the way, what brings you to the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain this time?"

Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile and replied, "We intend to pay a visit to the Western Pole Serene Spirit Temple."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Verdant Mist Yu's eyes flickered subtly, a hint of unspoken words lingering on her lips.

Noticing her hesitation, Eldrin Chen couldn't help but ask, "Is something the matter?"

"It's nothing."

Verdant Mist Yu shook her head, ultimately choosing to keep her thoughts to herself.

Seeing that she would not elaborate, Eldrin Chen did not press further. He simply said with a gentle smile, "After our visit to the Serene Spirit Temple, we will be returning to the Eastern Region Great Wasteland."

"You have been away from home for many years. Would you like to accompany us back to Ji Continent?" Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel .c om.

"Back to Ji Continent..."

Verdant Mist Yu felt a flicker of nostalgia, but her gaze dimmed slightly, and she quickly shook her head, saying, "I am well in the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain. There is no need to return to Ji Continent."

"Ah, that is good then."

Eldrin Chen nodded and then spoke, "Since that is the case, I shall not impose further."

Departing from Verdant Mist Yu's cultivation abode, the group arrived at the central Great Hall of the Buddha's Affinity Market.

The master of the Buddha's Affinity Market was a great cultivator at the Infant Soul Late Stage, his monastic title being 'Universal Mystery True Lord'. Upon meeting Eldrin Chen, he received them with exceptional courtesy.

After understanding their purpose, Universal Mystery True Lord said with a smile, "The Teleportation Formation connecting the Buddha's Affinity Market to the Western Pole Serene Spirit Temple activates once every thirty years. The next activation is still twenty years away."

"However, since you esteemed fellow Daoists have journeyed all the way from the Central Ancestral Domain, I am naturally willing to make an exception. Please wait a few days while we gather the necessary personnel to activate the Teleportation Formation for your passage."

"In that case, our sincere thanks."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a genuine smile finally gracing his features.

With matters here concluded, Eldrin Chen recalled Verdant Mist Yu. A vague sense that something was amiss with her prompted him to ask the master of the Buddha's Affinity Market: "May I inquire, Fellow Daoist, if you know of Verdant Mist Yu?"

"Verdant Mist Yu? You mean Immortal Maiden Verdant Mist?"

The master of the Buddha's Affinity Market paused briefly, then replied with a smile, "That Immortal Maiden Verdant Mist has frequented the Buddha's Affinity Continent in recent years. She is a renowned Immortal Maiden in these parts."

"Yet her fortune has turned ill. She has caught the eye of the 'Divine Monk Kumarajiva' from the Vajra Temple. He intends to select an auspicious day to take her under his wing as a 'Diamond Maiden'."

"A Diamond Maiden [a specific type of female attendant or consort in certain esoteric Buddhist practices]?"

Eldrin Chen was taken aback, his expression clouding with confusion.

Having long resided in the Eastern Barrens, he had little contact with the Buddhist Sect of the Purple Seal Realm and thus possessed scant knowledge of their local practices.

Sensing his puzzlement, the master of the Buddha's Affinity Market elaborated: "A so-called Diamond Maiden is akin to a concubine, or even..."

"Outrageous!"

As the explanation unfolded, Eldrin Chen's countenance shifted dramatically, a storm of righteous fury darkening his features.

It turns out that the Vajra Temple, despite its lofty status as a Buddhist Sect holy land, abstains from neither meat nor sensual pleasures. They even practice the Blissful Union Meditation [a dual cultivation art focused on harmonizing yin and yang energies through intimate union]. The so-called Diamond Maiden [a title for female practitioners of the Blissful Union Meditation], for all its elegant name, refers essentially to their cultivation furnaces [living beings used as tools to refine one's own spiritual power].

At this moment, Eldrin Chen finally understood. His previous life's impressions of Buddhist Sect were vastly different from the reality of this world.

Upon reflection, this divergence was to be expected. Even in the peaceful golden age of his former life, monks were not originally bound by strict ascetic precepts.

Eldrin Chen vaguely recalled an article he had once read. It mentioned that during the Han, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties eras, monks were not only permitted to marry, have children, eat meat, and drink wine, but it was also common for them to keep slaves.

In those times, monastic orders seized lands, concealed populations from census records, and some even raised armies, dreaming of rebellion to carve out a Mortal Realm [the plane of existence inhabited by ordinary, non-cultivating humans] Buddhist kingdom.

Only after centuries, following repeated suppressions of Buddhism by multiple emperors, did these monastic orders gradually become subdued, evolving into the more familiar form seen in later generations by the Ming dynasty. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio novel.com.

The Buddhist Sect here were the overlords of the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain. The Vajra Temple, in particular, stood as the supreme Path Lord Sacred Land [a holy land presided over by a cultivator who has comprehended a Great Dao Path] within that tradition. Practitioners of the Blissful Union Meditation lineage, they naturally operated with a sense of impunity.

Within the borders of the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain, few possessed the power to oppose them.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath. His gaze grew heavy as he spoke, "Within the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain, are all the various Buddhist Sect like this?"

"Not all of them," came the reply.

The master of the Buddha's Affinity Market shook his head and then spoke, "The Serene Spirit Temple follows the Chan [Zen] Buddhist lineage, cultivating the path of the Buddha-mind. They cannot allow their Dao-heart [the core of their cultivation and resolve] to be disturbed by external temptations like physical beauty, so it's not quite that simple."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen nodded slightly, a breath of relief escaping him.

The Serene Spirit Temple is the ancestral seat of the Buddhist Sect within the Purple Seal Realm. Its abbot, the 'Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk', is said to be a Buddha born to face a great tribulation and is a Great Power [a cultivator of immense strength and influence] of the Demigod Realm.

If even this lineage had become thoroughly corrupted, then Eldrin Chen would have had no choice but to turn and leave immediately.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Thank you for informing me, Market Master. I have pressing matters today and will not linger further."

"Then I beg your pardon for not seeing you out."

The master of the Buddha's Affinity Market nodded, watching as Eldrin Chen departed.

Once he left the Buddha's Affinity Market, Eldrin Chen's expression turned cold. He proceeded in silence to the cave abode of Verdant Mist Yu.

Upon seeing Verdant Mist Yu, he stated bluntly, "I went to see the Buddha's Affinity Market master. I understand the whole story now."

Verdant Mist Yu's face paled slightly, and she hurriedly said, "That Vajra Temple is a Path Lord Sacred Land [a holy land presided over by a Path Lord, a master of a cultivation path]. It is not an enemy to be confronted lightly."

"You are not far from a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. Why provoke a powerful foe at this time?"

Eldrin Chen offered no lengthy explanation, his gaze calm and unwavering. "I ask you this," he said, his voice steady. "Are you willing to become that Diamond Maiden [a specific, likely restrictive, cultivation art or status]?"

"This..." Verdant Mist Yu trembled slightly, then drew a deep breath. "Naturally, I am not," she replied.

"Then it is settled."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, a cold glint entering his eyes. "I will take you back to the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. In the days to come, stay close behind me. Let us see if the Vajra Temple dares to come and claim you."

"..."

Several days passed in a blur. Finally, after that time, the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances] at the Buddha's Affinity Market activated.

Eldrin Chen led his small group directly onto the formation, transporting them to the Western Pole Serene Spirit Temple. They arrived at this ancestral seat of Buddhist orthodoxy within the Purple Seal Realm.

Upon hearing of their arrival, the Serene Spirit Temple did not neglect proper courtesy. They dispatched a newly-advanced Path Lord [a powerful cultivator who has forged their own unique cultivation path] to receive them.

This monk's dharma name was 'Zen Heart Divine Monk'. It was said he was merely two thousand five hundred and some years old, having broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm less than two centuries prior. Yet, his comprehension of Buddhist doctrines was already profoundly astonishing.

Upon seeing the group, the Zen Heart Divine Monk offered a gentle smile and said, "This humble monk has long heard of the esteemed reputations of you all and wondered when I might have the honor of a meeting. I never imagined you would grace my Serene Spirit Temple today. It is truly a profound honor."

"Our respects to the Divine Monk,"

Eldrin Chen nodded and exchanged pleasantries with the Zen Heart Divine Monk.

After a brief exchange of courtesies, the Zen Heart Divine Monk inquired, "Have you come, honored guests, for the sake of the Merit Golden Lotus [a legendary lotus said to bestow immense karmic merit upon its possessor]?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "The Divine Monk's foresight is truly remarkable."

"Not at all. It was merely foretold by our Founding Patriarch,"

the Zen Heart Divine Monk replied with another serene smile. "Please, follow me."

The group followed the Zen Heart Divine Monk deep into the Serene Spirit Temple, eventually arriving within a grand Great Hall. This novel is serialized on audio novel.com. Visit for updates.