Chapter 1427: The Buddhist Waters Run Deep

Purification ceremony!

That was the punishment the angels used to drive off evil. The ceremony utilized a completely different type of power than the Devil Subduing Formation, but the end result for both was the same—to expel devils and purify all evil.

The abbot nodded and said, "The angels' purification ceremony is indeed the best way of expelling the devils. In that case, there won't be an issue with your identity. Benefactor Xiang is young and valiant with a bright heart. This is truly a good thing for humanity."

"You're too kind, abbot. I do have devil blood and devilish energy in me, but I have always been a human. I will never offend those who have never offended me. That is the principle I abide by. My master also told me that so long as I do not have evil in my heart, I'm not a devil. If there is evil in one's heart, that person will be a devil despite having the body of a human. What do you think, abbot?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The abbot's eyes flickered as he closed his palms together and said, "Amitabha. That lord is right. All lives are equal. Human or devil, if one carries kindness in one's heart, one can even become a Buddha on the spot. I have been too ignorant."

Xiang Shaoyun did not want to continue talking about the topic. He took out Zang Yuan's remains and sarira before saying, "Abbot, Master Zang Yuan's remnant soul had asked me to help deliver his remains back to the Righteous Buddhist Sect. Please accept them."

As the abbot looked at the remains and the sarira, grief covered the abbot's face. He said, "Amitabha. Junior Zang Yuan, welcome back home."

The abbot's voice reverberated throughout the temple, and his body lit up with a golden radiance. Instantly, the surrounding Buddhist energy converged around him, filling the temple with a righteous aura. Sounds of Buddhist scriptures being chanted rang out all over the temple, shocking everyone in the temple.

Dong! Dong!

Outside the temple, an ancient bell rang out, mobilizing everyone in the temple. They all knew that when the temple rang, something major must have happened.

Alongside the righteous aura, numerous Buddha phantoms manifested. A phantom also manifested out of the sarira Xiang Shaoyun brought back. That phantom was none other than Zang Yuan. With a solemn expression, he looked at the Buddha statue in the hall and said, "Amitabha, this disciple greets the Righteous Buddhist Sect."

After bowing to the statue, he bowed to the abbot and said, "After returning and seeing you again, Zang Yuan has no other regrets."

"Junior brother, who would have guessed that we would be separated by life and death after so many years. Do you have any final words?" said the abbot with a sigh.

"Do not feel sad, senior brother. In Buddhism, inner peace is crucial. Life or death is nothing for us. What Zang Yuan lost is only the mortal flesh. I am now a sarira, capable of existing for eternity with Buddha. I have no regrets after returning here," said Zang Yuan. He then looked at Xiang Shaoyun and said, "Benefactor, you are truly someone of your words. Thank you once again. Amitabha Buddha, Zang Yuan has returned."

Then, Zang Yuan's phantom vanished into thin air while the sarira started flying inside the main hall while shining with a golden radiance. The abbot did not stop the sarira. He shut his eyes and closed his palms together while chanting Buddhist scriptures, doing his part in sending Zang Yuan to where he belonged.

Outside the main hall, numerous monks also chanted together. Boundless Buddhist energy surged into the air while countless Buddha phantoms appeared in the sky as though they were here to free all living beings from suffering.

Xiang Shaoyun could vaguely feel a certain powerful force that seemed to be the combination of the temple's unity and the faith of the countless believers who had visited the temple over the years. This was an unfailing and enduring force.

Inwardly, Xiang Shaoyun sighed, The Buddhist waters run deep.

Zang Yuan was someone who had been dead for at least 10,000 years, yet this abbot was his senior brother. It was obvious that this abbot was someone who had reached the God Realm.

The Righteous Buddhist Sect had 7 major temples, 72 medium temples, and 360 small temples in total, collectively forming one of the most powerful Buddhist organizations in existence. One could only imagine how powerful this sect was.

Xiang Shaoyun was given a room to rest by himself. As for the abbot, he did not have the time to play host as he had to take charge of Zang Yuan's return ceremony. After settling in the temple, Xiang Shaoyun found that his four pursuers did not dare to follow him into the temple. They would probably only come looking for him after he left.

Standing before the window, he looked at the moon in the sky. The gentle moonlight showered upon the tree leaves and the courtyard before his room, creating a serene atmosphere. He thought to himself, After this is over, I do need to go back to the sect. Next, I need to start looking for Father. He has been missing for 20 years. Even if his jade slip has yet to extinguish, he is probably trapped somewhere. Also, Old Drunkard has been missing as well. Looks like the Wumo Pass is a truly dangerous place.

The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Xiang Shaoyun planned to take his leave. However, a young monk brought him to a certain place. The moment he arrived, he felt that something was off. He had arrived within the midst of a forest of pagodas. The place was enveloped within a powerful formation that instantly surrounded him with an imposing power. Abruptly, 36 monks walked out of the pagodas, each of them armed with a wooden stick. They all moved in an orderly manner to different spots and quickly surrounded him.

"What are you planning to do?" asked Xiang Shaoyun doubtfully.

He had supposedly convinced the abbot. They shouldn't try anything against him. Furthermore, he was someone who had delivered Zang Yuan's remains back. The karmic entanglement between them had ended. In that case, what were these monks trying to do?

"Amitabha Buddha, this is the Devil Subduing Formation. Devil, face your execution," said one of the monks.

"Is this how you treat your guests?" questioned Xiang Shaoyun. He was truly angered as he had not imagined that the abbot went back on his own words. What hypocrites!

"We shall cleanse the devil of his evil, return justice to the world, defend what is right, and ensure the eternal existence of righteousness. Devil Subduing Formation, activate!" shouted one of the monks.

All 36 of the monks were Heaven Battling Realm cultivators. Their energies instantly fused with the formation, gathering a powerful righteous aura on their bodies, pushing their strength to a level comparable with peak Saints. With their current strength, even Great Saints would not be able to survive their onslaught.

Devil Subduing Righteous Sutra!

The righteous aura around the 36 monks manifested one Buddhist symbol after another. The symbols all shot toward Xiang Shaoyun and entered his body. Regardless of how he struggled, he was unable to stop them.

Next, he sensed his devil pearl and devil blood stir restlessly, as though a part of his body had been completely suppressed. A sense of disgust rose within him as he roared, "Stop chanting!"