Chapter 2317 Faith Creates a God

Without waiting for Xi’s reply, Lin Xun answered his own question, "To plunder dao wishpower!"

Xi's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly also realizing the seriousness of the issue.

The Earth Treasury Realm had been spreading their roots in the Ancient Nebula Underworld for countless years. They controlled vast territories and built temples in each of their innumerable cities.

If this was done to collect dao wishpower...how much dao wishpower had the Earth Treasury Realm accumulated after so many years?

What was the purpose of collecting so much dao wishpower?

"There are two kinds of dao wishpower. One originates from the grand aspiration of proving one’s dao against the ten thousand daos of the world and establishing one’s own unprecedented path. This dao wishpower cannot be plundered by others."

Xi slowly said, "The other is the wishpower of the living. When one gains faith from living beings, one will gain the blessing of their wishpower. Through such wishpower one can wield almighty power and even create a golden body of virtue which is immortal and eternal.

"From what I’ve seen, the Earth Treasury Realm is likely gathering the wishpower of the living to create a golden body of virtue for a certain powerhouse.

"When one possesses a golden body of virtue, one will become akin to a god. As long as these people live, the one they believe in will be eternal."

Lin Xun was briefly taken aback. It was the first time he had heard about the golden body of virtue and becoming a god through faith.

Xi explained, "It might sound like a mysterious and wondrous cultivation method, but in the eyes of a true Emperor Ancestor, it isn’t the proper path. Instead, it is an unorthodox and evil means."

Throughout the ages, there were only two known ways for an Emperor Ancestor to achieve a cultivation breakthrough and seek a higher cultivation realm.

One was to go to the other side of the cosmos and seek new dao power.

The other was to collect the wishpower of the living and use the power of faith to evolve one’s cultivation, thus crossing past the Emperor Ancestor Stage.

However, the second method had a huge flaw.

Those who sought a breakthrough through the wishpower of the living would be shackled by them!

On one hand, the wishpower of the living could allow one to ascend to the Emperor Ancestor Stage and wield inconceivable power, becoming akin to an eternal god in the hearts of the worshippers.

At the same time, it would also mark the end of one’s cultivation path. As long as one’s ‘worshippers’ continued to exist, one’s cultivation would never be able to ascend!

Xi's voice turned cold as she continued, "The reason why this path is considered unorthodox and even evil is that those who rely on wishpower of the living to ascend will often replace the wills of the ‘worshippers’ with their will, replacing the likes and dislikes of their ‘believers’ with their own! Even the lives and deaths of these people will hinge upon a single thought of their ‘god!’"

"Isn't that no different from enslaving them?" Lin Xun inwardly shivered.

Xi said, "The scariest part is that opposing someone who possesses a golden body of virtue will also set yourself against all of their believers. You will be cursed and scolded by thousands of people. Even after you die, you will be vilified in the history books and be blamed by generation after generation.

"On the other hand, if you manage to kill such a 'god,' it will also kill the hearts of countless living beings!

“That’s why it’s called an evil path.”

Lin Xun couldn't help but be taken aback as a chilling sensation filled his heart. He had never heard of such a cultivation path before.

If the Earth Treasury Realm was indeed collecting the wishpower of the living just to make a ‘god,’ it was easy to imagine how terrifying it would be if they succeeded.

"However, don't worry too much because this evil path isn’t that easy to walk. Even the slightest mistake will result in a deadly backlash that will destroy the user and their cultivation."

Xi continued, "As far as I know, while the ten thousand daos of the world each have their own paths with deep history, only this evil path is destroyed whenever it appears. After all, all sentient beings and countless cultivators will never willingly be controlled or enslaved by another."

Lin Xun nodded in relief.

He began to understand that the Earth Treasury Realm only dared to openly collect the wishpower of the living because of the Ancient Nebula Underworld’s lawless nature.

Secondly, the wishpower of the living had other miraculous functions. For example, most cultivators could use the wishpower of the living during their ascent to the Saint Stage.

The Dao Ruleless Bell also had close ties with wishpower and used to store an astonishing amount of wishpower of the living.

The Seal of All Beings wielded by Lin Xun's Yellow Earth Dao Body was also a type of method to control the wishpower of the living.

Given such context, no one in the world believed that Earth Treasury Realm would dare risk going against the world and embark on such an evil path.

"If the Earth Treasury Realm isn’t eliminated, they will eventually become a disaster."

Lin Xun's voice was calm. Since long ago, he had instinctively felt a certain repulsion and rejection towards the Earth Treasury Realm, which had only grown even until today.

With that, he reached out and pressed his hand downward.

An entrance emerged at the feet of the faceless Buddha statue on the altar amidst a sprinkle of light.

To enter, one would have to walk under the feet of the faceless Buddha statue as if prostrating oneself.

Xi snorted coldly and waved her hand, unleashing a dazzling wave of dao light.

With a loud boom, the faceless Buddha statue that had stood here countless years suddenly turned into powder and disappeared.

Only then did Xi and Lin Xun enter.

The Earth Treasury Realm was at the end of the path.

It was a secret realm resembling the holy land of Buddhism. Misty auspicious clouds floated in the sky, sacred black Buddha light flowed between the mountains and rivers, and ancient and solemn temples were built almost everywhere.

Waves of Buddhist chants drifted in the air, making it seem as if a Buddhist rhythm was dyed into the very fabric of reality here.

As soon as Lin Xun and Xi appeared, they were besieged from all sides.

"Kill them!”

"Purify the two heretics!"

Authoritative roars rang out like thunder as figures rushed over like a tsunami. Each person was dressed in a black monk robe, their bodies surrounded by swirling black Buddha light as they stared with indifferent eyes.

From their hands emerged alms bowls, staffs, rulers, whisks, lamps, Buddhist seals, prayer wheels, wooden fish, or secret Buddhist arts, making them resemble raging world-destroying Buddhas.

It was a magnificent scene of hundreds and thousands attacking together. In an instant, the land descended into roaring chaos, filled with flowing treasure light and countless Buddha arts.

However, how could any of this possibly pose a threat to Lin Xun and Xi?

Xi wasn’t even needed. Lin Xun spread out his arms.

Countless dazzling Taixuan sword qi unfurled like wind and rain on a stormy sea.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Boom!

Eight million sword qi swept across the nine heavens.

In a split second, the land in every direction was crushed and compacted while the countless Earth Treasury Realm disciples scattered across the area were instantly shredded to bits by the brilliant sword qi. A thick rain of blood poured from the sky, practically drowning the surroundings.

Light wove gracefully around Xi, making her look ethereal and holy amidst the bloody world. "How cruel of the Earth Treasury Realm to send these small fry below the Emperor Stage to die."

Lin Xun looked into the distance and said, “The people of the Earth Treasury Realm are said to be unafraid of death. Perhaps...this is their tradition.”

As soon as the words fell, another wave of murderous earth-shaking shouts rang out from afar.

Countless monks in black robes donning indifferent and resolute expressions emerged in the distance like surging black clouds.

There were so many of them that it was impossible to see the end at a glance!

Given how horrifying the earlier massacre had been, any ordinary cultivator would not have dared to plunge into such danger.

However, the hordes of Earth Treasury Realm disciples blindly rushed in as life was no longer important to them.

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes and said, "It seems that they have already noticed our arrival, but isn’t this foolish? Are they not worried that we will kill all their disciples?"

"Look." Xi said as she reached out and grasped a wisp of obscure wishpower from the blood-soaked air.

Lin Xun immediately understood. "It's not that they are unafraid of death, but their wills and minds have long been enslaved by the wishpower of the living!"

"Yes, while there is no shortage of people in this world who do not fear death, it is impossible for everyone in a sect to be unafraid of death."

Xi said, "After you killed those Earth Treasury Realm disciples, the wishpower of the living attached to them will be absorbed into this secret realm and refined.

"This means that the more disciples we kill, the more wishpower this realm will absorb."

A chill spread in Lin Xun’s heart. Could they be deliberately sending their disciples to die?

"Kill them!”

While they were talking, countless black-robed monks swarmed over. Not a single one seemed to be afraid of death.

"Let's head to their nest first and kill the Earth Treasury Realm Sect Master, Buddha Emperor Xufeng!"

Lin Xun didn't care about these small fries. As such, he and Xi swiftly rose into the air.

Given their strength, there was simply no stopping them. They dove straight into the swarm and broke through in the blink of an eye.

A sacred mountain towered in the distance, bathed in eternal-night-like darkness while emitting billowing black Buddha light.

Shaped like a closed pupil, an altar rose atop the mountain as if peering down from the sky above!

Bronze lamps circled the mountaintop like a ribbon, burning brightly as they sprinkled waves of light.

At present, a group of figures were standing on the altar. Regardless of age, all of them exuded the terrifying aura of an Emperor.

Their leader was a skinny man with a face as harsh and sharp as a mountain. A string of black prayer beads hung from his hand, and his eyes were filled with a heart-palpitating indifference.

Buddha Emperor Xufeng!

The sect master of the Earth Treasury Realm was also an influential powerhouse who was akin to a ruler in the Ancient Nebula Underworld.

The figures behind him belonged to the Emperor elders of the Earth Treasury Realm.

Upon catching sight of Lin Xun’s and Xi’s figures approaching from a distance, neither Buddha Emperor Xufeng nor the Emperor elders showed any sign of panic.

Instead, everyone's expressions and auras gave off a sensation of extreme indifference.

Buddha Emperor Xufeng spoke in an emotionless voice, "If I don't go to hell, who will? It will be a highly virtuous achievement to kill the heretic, Lin Daoyuan, at this critical life or death juncture."