Chapter 319 : The Nameless Temple
It wasn't just Jiang Mo who found this scene familiar—Yun Qingyue did too.
Years ago in the Canglán Secret Realm, the two humans and one tiger had entered the Buddha's Light Temple and witnessed its "death"—the ancient temple extinguished in an instant, vibrant monks and majestic halls and pagodas all aged in a moment, as if a thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye.
How similar was the scene before them to what had happened in the Buddha's Light Temple back then? In just a fleeting moment, everything had transformed completely. The only difference was that one went from life to death, while the other went from death to life.
Contemplation flashed in Yun Qingyue's eyes, but the others, without such experiences, didn't think too deeply about it. After all, the cultivation world was full of wonders; it was merely the transformation of a temple in the desert. Beyond the initial astonishment, there was nothing particularly remarkable. The only thing truly worthy of everyone's attention was the Third Elder's statement that the temple before them was their destination.
Having witnessed the miracle, everyone turned their gaze toward the Third Elder: "Third Elder, is that temple our destination?"
The Third Elder raised her head to look at the horizon, seeing the setting sun slowly sinking below the ground line. When she looked, half the sun still remained visible, but in just a moment, even that half disappeared completely from view, leaving only the evening glow in the sky.
"Let's go," the Third Elder said without elaboration. Watching the sun disappear, she finally led the way toward the temple.
Seeing this, no one dared to ask further. They followed behind her. Jiang Mo had walked only a few steps when she realized where the earlier sense of familiarity had come from. But the Buddha's Light Temple was an event from eighty years ago, and recalling it now, the impression wasn't as vivid. Looking at the temple below the sand dune, she couldn't immediately recall whether the Buddha's Light Temple and this temple shared any similarities. Or perhaps... could this peculiar temple be the Buddha's Light Temple from years ago?!
Jiang Mo grew curious. While following the others forward, she moved closer to Yun Qingyue and asked: "Senior Sister, I find this temple's transformation somewhat familiar. Do you remember the events from back then..."
Hearing this, Yun Qingyue glanced at her. Though she didn't answer verbally, her gaze clearly affirmed it. She also guessed what Jiang Mo wanted to ask, and before the latter could voice her question, said: "No, it's different."
Jiang Mo responded with an "Oh," knowing this wasn't the place for conversation, so she didn't inquire further.
The group moved quickly, and by the time they reached the magnificent temple, the evening glow on the horizon remained brilliantly crimson. This was the day's final radiance, the orange-red light casting down to envelop the temple in a unique luminescence. Because it was not yet dark, with visibility still good, Jiang Mo could see the temple's main gate from afar.
Generally, a temple's entrance would display its name, as was the case with the Buddha's Light Temple back then. But this temple was different. Under the remaining glow of sunset, the space above the temple gate was strangely empty. Or perhaps "empty" wasn't quite right—there was a plaque, but the plaque bore no characters.
This temple was nameless, yet how could such a magnificent temple have no name?!
Standing at the temple gate, everyone inexplicably felt an oddness. Combined with the scene they had witnessed from the sand dune, many grew uneasy. However, it was impossible for them to abandon their exploration due to fear—after all, the path of cultivation was fraught with dangers, and the more unusual a place was, the more it beckoned investigation.
The Third Elder also looked up at the empty plaque a couple of times, but her reaction was flat, her expression unchanging, giving no clue to her thoughts. Standing before the temple gate, she didn't move, just waiting until the sunset glow dispersed and twilight enveloped everything.
Watching darkness gradually encroach upon heaven and earth, the Third Elder finally stepped forward and said: "Let's go."
Naturally, no one dared object. Seeing the Third Elder leading the way toward the temple, someone even stepped forward intending to push open the tightly closed temple doors in welcome. However, the doors were shut, and demonic cultivators were habitually forceful in their approach. Seeing that the doors wouldn't open with a single push, the person took out a magical instrument, preparing to break them down to enter.
Seeing this, Jiang Mo's eyelid twitched, feeling that something unpleasant was about to happen. Fortunately, the Third Elder wasn't so reckless, immediately halting the person's actions with a stern shout, then going forward herself to knock on the door ring.
The "clang, clang" sound seemed to travel far, the only noise in the desert apart from the wind and sand.
Perhaps someone was in the temple, as the knocking actually brought someone to open the door.
The one who opened the door was a young novice monk with a cleanly shaven head covered in a layer of greenish stubble. He poked his head out of the door to look, and seeing so many people outside, was startled: "Honorable visitors, is there something you need?"
Everyone's gaze fell on the young novice. Having witnessed this temple's "resurrection from death," many harbored suspicions. Several suspected the temple was connected to ghostly matters, so naturally, they wanted to see whether this young monk was a ghost... Unfortunately, he wasn't. Everyone had guessed wrong—this novice wasn't a ghost at all, but rather bathed in Buddhist light.
Demonic cultivators despised Buddhist light the most, and many immediately displayed their displeasure. However, the Third Elder maintained her composure: "Night has fallen. We wish to take shelter in your esteemed temple for the night. Would the little master be so kind as to accommodate us?"
The Third Elder rarely spoke so politely to others, so even though she tried to present a kind expression, she still appeared menacing to the young novice. He visibly shrank back, his head bumping against the door, and stammered: "I—I can't make this decision. I must report to the Abbot. Please wait outside for a moment."
With these words, the young novice withdrew his head, closed the door, and ran off. Even through the door, Jiang Mo could hear his retreating footsteps.
Demonic cultivators rarely approached places honestly, and some unconsciously displayed impatience. However, no matter how impatient they felt, seeing the Third Elder's attitude, everyone knew this wasn't the time to act out.
Someone softly asked: "Third Elder, what will we do once we're inside?"
༻༺❀༻✧⋆｡°✩☽༓☾✩°｡⋆✧༺❀༻༺
Buddhist cultivators were traditionally kind to others, and temples often extended hospitality.
The young novice moved quickly. Shortly after running off to report, he returned with two others.
Both were dressed as monks with burn scars on their heads from taking their vows. Opening the door and seeing so many people outside, they didn't appear surprised. With palms pressed together in greeting, one said: "The Abbot has agreed to let everyone stay. Please follow us into the temple."
As he spoke, the young novice had fully pushed open the temple gates, revealing a spacious entrance and allowing a view of the interior.
The temple was neither small nor large. Directly opposite the entrance was the main hall, where one could vaguely see the enshrined Buddha statue and several monks sitting cross-legged beneath it—they were likely performing their evening prayers, completely unaware of what was happening at the temple gate. However, as the gates fully opened, those standing outside could clearly hear the Buddhist chants.
For some reason, everyone experienced a moment of disorientation, though they quickly regained their senses. The Third Elder expressed her thanks and was the first to enter the temple gates. Seeing this, the others didn't dare delay, all imitating the Third Elder's thanks before following her in.
Jiang Mo's group still remained at the back, and as they entered, they all deliberately scrutinized the three monks.
They truly weren't ghosts, but they weren't living people either. The knowledgeable Sect Leader Zhu almost immediately saw through their true identities—they were spirits, souls that had been buried in the desert along with this temple. They were both trapped here and protected by the temple, existing for thousands of years, but was their day-to-day existence fortunate or unfortunate?
Of course, Zhu Baiyi wasn't a sentimental person and didn't dwell too much on such thoughts. She merely gave the three monks a glance as she passed, not slowing her steps as she entered the temple gates.
Upon stepping through the temple entrance, a certain sensation became even more apparent. Unlike the dry, sandy exterior, entering this temple was like entering another realm. There was no howling wind, no yellow sand everywhere, and even the floor was paved with clean stone slabs. Except for the sand brought in by their footsteps, one could hardly see any yellow sand here, as if this temple wasn't situated in a desert at all.
Without exaggeration, even the air within the temple was cool and moist!
After the last person entered, the temple gates closed behind them. The young novice remained by the door, seemingly waiting for potential visitors who might or might not come, while the two monks who had come to attend to them didn't delay. They walked ahead to lead the way, explaining as they walked: "The Abbot is currently leading the evening prayers. You need not go there; this humble monk will directly lead you to the guest quarters."
As the leader, the Third Elder didn't dwell on this, simply nodding in agreement. However, as she followed the monks away, she turned back to scan the main hall deeply—from a distance, she could see that the old monk leading the evening prayers had a kind and benevolent appearance.
Just as the Third Elder was swiftly appraising the hall, the old Abbot seemed to sense something and quickly raised his eyes to look. That glance was unexpectedly sharp, startling not only the Third Elder who met his gaze but also causing Jiang Mo and the others to falter inwardly.
But it was only a momentary exchange; the old monk quickly withdrew his gaze, and the last trace of strangeness vanished.
The guiding monks didn't cause any trouble. Though they didn't speak much along the way, they accurately led them to the guest quarters—somewhat simple, but surprisingly, there was a small garden outside. The vegetation in the garden grew lushly, all in all looking nothing like something located in the middle of a desert.
The two guiding monks, however, were accustomed to this and offered no explanation, simply saying: "The hour grows late. Honored guests, please rest early. This humble monk must also attend evening prayers."
With these words, the two were about to leave, naturally leaving the guests to settle in on their own. However, before they could depart, Jiang Mo stopped them, asking with apparent curiosity: "If I may ask, why did your esteemed temple choose to build in the middle of a desert?"
Others didn't have time to stop her, nor did they want to, curious themselves. Thus, everyone looked toward the monks upon hearing the question.
However, the two monks were bewildered by the question, as if they had no idea the temple was in a desert, as if they hadn't even seen the vast expanse of sand outside. They looked at each other in confusion before uttering a puzzled syllable: "Desert?!"