Chapter 436 : Return to the Buddha Sect
436: Return to the Buddha Sect
Mount Xuanyin was Demonic Path territory, far distant from the Buddha Sect. Though Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue wanted to purify the blood-qi quickly to avoid complications, even traveling by spirit boat took over a month to reach the vicinity of the Buddha Sect.
They had been here before, though that was three years ago, when Yun Qingyue had been brought in Jiang Mo's spatial domain.
Revisiting familiar grounds, Jiang Mo felt quite enthusiastic, remarking to Yun Qingyue as they journeyed: "Last time we came was to deliver Tan Xin. Now several years have passed, yet this place hasn't changed at all." Remembering the cultivation world's long history, she realized that a mere few years meant nothing, and added: "I wonder how Tan Xin is doing now. He's a Buddha's Disciple—the Buddha Sect should have treated him well, right?"
Three years truly counted for little in the cultivation world, where people could live for a thousand years and sects could stand for ten thousand. Unless there was a major conflict that destroyed and rebuilt, many things remained unchanged...
Elsewhere, many cultivators fought frequently, causing destruction at the slightest provocation, but the Buddha Sect's territory was truly different. First, this wasn't just the Buddha Sect but a gathering place for Buddhist cultivators, most of whom were peaceful by nature. Even when disputes arose among them, they debated the Dao rather than resorting to violence. Second, outsiders knew these Buddhist cultivators banded together, deterring reckless actions for fear of collective retaliation.
Hearing Jiang Mo's words, Yun Qingyue's gaze swept outside the spirit boat, taking in the numerous temples of various sizes dotting the mountains near and far. These temples might house hundreds of monks or merely a master and disciple, each preserving their own tradition.
This wasn't Yun Qingyue's first time in Buddha Sect territory. Many years ago, when she had just reached Golden Core and ventured out for training, she had delivered invitations to the Buddha Sect on behalf of her sect. Those events were from long ago, however. Compared to that brief visit, her more profound memories came from three years back—when she was brought here in Jiang Mo's spatial domain, when she left without her memories, and when she underwent a tribulation here that transformed her completely.
This place seemed to have little connection to them, yet held special significance.
"Ah Yue, what are you looking at?" Beside her, Jiang Mo noticed her prolonged silence and waved a hand before her face.
Yun Qingyue returned to her senses and, recalling Jiang Mo's earlier question, casually replied: "Tan Xin has probably recovered by now. His injuries weren't particularly complex. Perhaps we'll even see him on this visit."
Physical bodies were both important and not so important to cultivators—they could both constrain a cultivator's development, yet be entirely discarded if necessary. When a cultivator died, as long as their soul remained intact, forging a new body was possible, or there was the method of body possession. However, the latter somewhat violated heavenly principles; those who chose this path would forever lose their connection to the Great Dao.
Compared to death, Tan Xin had merely lost a heart. Though this injury sounded terrifying, with cultivators' diverse and extraordinary methods, treating it or even eliminating aftereffects was achievable—certainly less complicated than reforging a body.
Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue shared this understanding. Moreover, the Buddha Sect was a major sect and the leader among Buddhist cultivators; replacing a Buddha's Disciple's heart shouldn't be particularly challenging. Perhaps by their next meeting, Tan Xin's cultivation would have advanced further—the young monk possessed excellent aptitude.
The two chatted intermittently as the spirit boat entered Buddhist territory, drawing ever closer to the Buddha Sect.
Finally, after half a day's further travel, the spirit boat halted before the Buddha Sect's main gate.
Just as Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue touched down and put away their spirit boat, before they could step forward to state their purpose, someone emerged from the Buddha Sect to welcome them—a familiar scene with a familiar person, none other than the black-haired Golden Peng.
Three years had passed, but Golden Peng appeared unchanged, though his expression was far more serious than during their last meeting. He had clearly sensed Jianbing's arrival and proactively come out to meet them. After examining the two for a moment, he couldn't help revealing his surprise: "Is this... that Swan Goose from back then? You've recovered your cultivation so quickly?!"
Yun Qingyue's cultivation naturally couldn't compare to Golden Peng's, and their brief encounter years ago hardly constituted a friendship. She performed a respectful gesture: "Greetings, Senior."
Golden Peng waved dismissively, neither particularly concerned nor especially friendly—his attitude toward Yun Qingyue was considerably cooler than toward Jiang Mo, partly because her bloodline wasn't pure, and partly because, though only a few years older than Jiang Mo, she was undeniably an adult.
Yun Qingyue sensed this difference but didn't take it to heart. Jiang Mo, however, was displeased. Protective of her own, seeing her Senior Sister treated coldly, her expression also cooled, and she tugged at Yun Qingyue as if to shield her.
It was somewhat childish.
Golden Peng naturally noticed this and clicked his tongue: "How quickly you've forgotten your friends."
After all, when Yun Qingyue had reverted to her ancestral form through nirvana, becoming a newly hatched little Swan Goose, it was Golden Peng who had taught them how to raise her. He had even offered welcoming gifts, showing no disrespect. Jiang Mo's current behavior seemed rather discourteous.
Recalling these past events, Jiang Mo felt somewhat in the wrong, though she still muttered: "I haven't forgotten anyone. It's you who won't look at us properly."
Hearing this, Golden Peng immediately objected, protesting: "You little tiger, always talking nonsense. How am I not looking at you properly? I've barely spoken two sentences since coming out—how have I offended you?"
Jiang Mo raised her chin, saying: "Look at you, coming out with such a grim face, as if we owe you millions. It's obvious you're displeased to see us." Fearing his rebuttal, she added: "Don't claim that's just your personality. It's only been three years since my last visit, and I haven't forgotten—you weren't like this back then."
At these words, Golden Peng raised his hand to touch his face. His features were deeply set, and though quite handsome, they carried a hint of fierceness. Usually, under Buddhist influence, this was mitigated, but with his recent poor mood and stern expression, didn't he indeed look fiercer?
Recognizing the issue, Golden Peng explained: "It's not directed at you. Some things have happened recently, and my mood isn't good."
Hearing this, Jiang Mo instinctively wanted to ask what had occurred, but before she could speak, Yun Qingyue held her back—though they were all divine beasts with some degree of connection, that was the extent of it. They weren't close friends with Golden Peng, nor had they come here to see him. Pressing for details would be presumptuous given their limited acquaintance, creating awkwardness for everyone.
Clearly, though Jiang Mo had nearly asked in the flow of conversation, she wasn't truly lacking in social awareness. With her Senior Sister's restraint, she realized her mistake, swallowed her inquiry, and instead said: "I see. Then I misunderstood you, and I apologize."
Golden Peng wouldn't hold a grudge against a young cub and magnanimously waved it off: "It's nothing. By the way, what brings you here?"
Jiang Mo glanced around—they were still standing outside the Buddha Sect's main gate. Was this unwillingness to welcome them inside? During her last visit, Golden Peng hadn't been so hesitant, suggesting something truly was amiss.
However, some matters weren't appropriate to discuss outside, so she said: "We do have some business. Could we go inside to discuss it?"
Golden Peng stared at her for a moment before finally clearing the way: "Please."
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Golden Peng was the Buddha Sect's guardian divine beast. Though his cultivation couldn't match Divine Lord Zhiming's, he possessed sufficient combat power and status. For something to worry even him so deeply, the Buddha Sect was clearly facing no small matter, perhaps one best kept from outsiders.
Jiang Mo wasn't one to meddle and didn't inquire further, but the blood fiend beast matter was too important to discuss outside.
So after entering the Buddha Sect, without pretense, she directly produced the sealed jade bottle containing the blood-qi: "Ah Yue and I have come regarding this." She explained: "A month ago, while at Mount Xuanyin, we accidentally discovered someone cultivating a blood fiend beast. Fortunately, the beast was weak, and we managed to eliminate it together. After the beast dissipated, this bottle of blood-qi remained, and we've come to request the Buddha Sect's assistance."
Blood-qi was somewhat problematic. Ordinary cultivators could handle small amounts, but blood-qi capable of breeding a blood fiend beast was clearly beyond normal cultivators' capabilities. Thus, seeking the Buddha Sect's help with blood-qi had become an unspoken agreement in the cultivation world.
Golden Peng naturally understood this and knew his responsibility, but at the mention of the blood fiend beast, his steps faltered: "Someone cultivated a blood fiend beast?!"
Jiang Mo nodded, and seeing his interest, detailed the events at Mount Xuanyin, including the mysterious shadow that had covered the mountain, the blood sacrifice formation, the formation's reactions, and finally the black-clothed figures who had transformed into skeletons to block their path after the sacrifice—regarding these figures, Jiang Mo still couldn't comprehend how cultivators who had reached such levels would willingly sacrifice themselves.
Golden Peng didn't interrupt, listening attentively as she explained. His expression grew increasingly grave, and finally, he furrowed his brow and asked: "So you killed the blood fiend beast, collected this bottle of blood-qi, but let someone snatch away the blood pearl?"
Detecting what seemed like blame in his tone, Jiang Mo felt somewhat displeased, though she still nodded: "That's right. We didn't expect those black-clothed figures would still be active."
Golden Peng clearly knew something, his expression worsening. But what was done was done—could he really blame a cub not even a hundred years old? And the Swan Goose beside her was quite young too.
Thinking this, Golden Peng softened his expression and said to the two: "I understand. I'll have someone purify this bottle of blood-qi."
Jiang Mo wasn't blind and naturally noticed Golden Peng's changing expressions, guessing that the stolen blood pearl was likely significant. But if the blood pearl was more important than this bottle of blood-qi, why hadn't Sect Leader Zhu told them?
With this doubt, Jiang Mo asked: "Is the blood pearl very important?"
Golden Peng considered briefly before explaining: "Not exactly. For naturally formed blood fiend beasts, the blood pearl is part of their body and can also store blood-qi for attacks. However, the beast you described was clearly different. Even for an artificially cultivated one, it was too weak—unless its energy was absorbed by something, like that remaining blood pearl."
In other words, something that should have dissipated hadn't, and had instead been snatched away by opportunistic interlopers, suggesting it was special and highly useful.
Hearing this, neither Jiang Mo nor Yun Qingyue felt particularly surprised, though their hearts couldn't help but tighten with concern.