Unworldly Buddha Three Lives Body, Unwavering Golden Nature

"Cough... cough cough!"

A violent fit of coughing came from the floor of the Essence Chamber. Wang Yue abruptly opened his eyes, and the blinding white light made him squint instinctively.

The night pearl atop the chamber still cast its gentle glow, and vital essence continued to drift around like thin mist. Only, the bloody stench in the air had faded considerably, replaced by a faint, elusive golden halo.

He struggled into a sitting position and immediately raised a hand to feel his shoulder. There should have been a wound deep enough to expose bone, yet only smooth skin remained, without even the faintest scar—as though last night's grievous injury had been nothing but a nightmare.

"I... I'm actually fine?" Wang Yue was filled with astonishment. He clearly remembered the Three-Headed Buddha's divine soul striking his shoulder and forcibly invading his consciousness. Before he passed out, he had even heard that divine soul pursuing him. How had he awakened completely unscathed?

He hurriedly inspected his entire body. His black clothes had long been soaked in blood, yet there was not a single wound on him;

The fourteen streams of Blood Qi within him circulated steadily, and there were even two more than before he had lost consciousness.

Even the strength he had expended during the battle had been completely restored. His entire body brimmed with a sense of power unlike anything he had felt before.

Just as he was lost in confusion, rows of golden words abruptly appeared on the panel in his mind, exploding through his consciousness like thunder:

Detected an alien divine soul invading the host's consciousness

The panel automatically activated its defense mechanism, shattering, analyzing, and absorbing the alien divine soul

Absorption complete! New divine ability obtained: Unworldly Buddha Three Lives Body

Divine ability: Unworldly Buddha Three Lives Body can condense an "Incense Body" and a "Vital Essence Body." Three bodies in one life, with boundless wondrous uses

Obtained: a wisp of Unwavering Golden Nature. Neither yin nor yang, neither living nor dead; it does not weaken with the passing of years, nor does it change under external erosion

Can be used on oneself or cultivation techniques; what does not fall shall remain azure for all eternity

Note: The alien divine soul, Three-Headed Buddha, has been completely annihilated

"This... this is real?" Wang Yue was completely stunned, his fingers trembling unconsciously. He had thought the panel could only extract talents and analyze items. He had never imagined it could automatically defend against divine soul invasions, or even shatter and absorb gods, Buddhas, and divine souls.

He suddenly recalled the scene before he fainted: the Three-Headed Buddha's golden divine soul had surged into his consciousness like a tide. At the time, he had only felt as though his head were splitting apart. Now that he thought about it, that divine soul had not been occupying him at all—it had been forcibly "dismantled" by the panel!

"My panel... devoured the Three-Headed Buddha?" Wang Yue swallowed, stormy waves surging in his heart. That had been an evil divine soul capable of reviving through vital essence and incense offerings, even allowing Li Fang to regenerate without end. And it had simply been absorbed by his panel?

Wang Yue stood there in a daze for a long while before finally recovering from the shock of devouring a god-Buddha's divine soul.

Supporting himself against the ground, he rose to his feet and lowered his head to inspect himself. His black clothes were covered in dried bloodstains, but the Black Cloud Fist Armor and the second-tier inner armor were nowhere to be seen.

"Where are my fist armor and inner armor?" His heart tightened. He quickly began searching the chamber, checking the meditation cushion in the corner, the wooden box holding pills, and even the recess beneath the night pearl. Yet those two pieces of equipment seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving behind not the slightest trace.

"Were they taken while I was unconscious?" Wang Yue frowned. The Black Cloud Fist Armor was a second-tier weapon he had forged with his own hands, while the inner armor was a treasure Liu Haibing had lent him. If they were lost, it would not only be a terrible waste—he would also have no way to explain it to Liu Haibing.

Suppressing his doubts, he decided to leave the chamber first and ask Wang Hezheng or Wang Shuo what had happened. Anyone capable of entering the Essence Chamber had to be a core member of the Wang Clan.

When he pushed open the chamber door, a thick stench of blood rushed at him, making him tense up instinctively.

He looked up and saw several drops of dark-red blood scattered across the stone path in the courtyard, stretching all the way toward the main hall.

"What happened?" Wang Yue's heart sank, and he hurried toward the main hall.

The moment he reached the entrance, he saw Wang Hezheng seated in the seat of honor. His green robe was splattered with fresh blood, and even his beard was streaked red. His expression was so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it. The aura around him climbed steadily, his pressure like an invisible mountain that made Wang Yue's breathing turn sluggish.

"You're awake." Wang Hezheng's gaze was like a cold blade, locking tightly onto Wang Yue. There was not the slightest warmth in his voice. "Why did you kill Li Fang?"

Wang Yue's lips trembled slightly. He had not expected Wang Hezheng to ask about this so directly.

He did not back down. Meeting Wang Hezheng's gaze, he said firmly, "He had his eyes on me. He showed hostility toward me repeatedly, and he even wanted to use the Buddha statue's power to control me. If I hadn't killed him, I would have been the one to die!"

"Insolence!" Wang Hezheng slammed his palm onto the table and shot to his feet. The teacups on the table jolted into the air, while scalding tea splashed over the tabletop. "You killed someone in secret—what audacity! You killed Li Fang, then ran back to the Wang Clan covered in blood. Were you afraid others wouldn't know it was the Wang Clan's doing? Afraid they wouldn't know to come after the Wang Clan?"

The pressure around him grew even heavier, and even the stench of blood in the air seemed to become more piercing.

Wang Yue was stunned by the roar and did not know how to answer for a moment. He truly had not considered the possibility of exposing the Wang Clan. At the time, his mind had been wholly occupied with eliminating Li Fang, that hidden danger, and he had overlooked the consequences afterward.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled the bizarre scene he had witnessed during the grand sacrifice and hurriedly said, "Clan Head, I did not kill without cause! On the day of the grand sacrifice, I saw the Essence Refining Qi Gathering Array in the sky reverse its flow with my own eyes. Streams of vital essence poured like a blue river into the Buddha statue within the Three-Headed Buddha Temple, and that statue even began to shine with golden light!"

"And Li Fang—he did everything he could to persuade me to worship that Buddha statue. Every word he spoke was filled with enticement. When I refused, he developed the intention to kill me." Wang Yue spoke rapidly, laying out every abnormality from that day. "If I hadn't run fast enough, I'm afraid I would have become that Buddha statue's sacrifice long ago!"

Wang Hezheng's taut body suddenly froze, and a flicker of astonishment passed through his eyes. He stared fixedly at Wang Yue, disbelief coloring his voice. "You can see the Essence Refining Qi Gathering Array in the sky?"

The Essence Refining Qi Gathering Array was a secret formation set up by the Transforming Dragon Sect. Only those holding the formation's core could barely sense it. How could Wang Yue possibly see its movements?

"I can!" Wang Yue nodded without hesitation, then threw out even more shocking news. "I can also see that the great formation lowers a column of vital essence directly into the secret chamber of your private residence, Clan Head!"

"What?" Wang Hezheng's expression changed drastically. He shot to his feet and strode before Wang Yue, studying his eyes carefully. Those eyes were clear yet sharp; they did not look like the eyes of someone lying.

Stormy waves rose in his heart. Wang Yue could not only see the formation, but also knew that the vital essence column entered the secret chamber in his private residence. This was absolutely no coincidence! Could this child possess some hidden talent?

Wang Hezheng's aura gradually receded. The anger on his face faded, replaced by profound complexity.

After remaining silent for a long time, he finally spoke slowly. "Very well. I understand this matter.

Li Fang was connected to the abnormalities at the Three-Headed Buddha Temple. Killing him may not have been a bad thing."

Then his tone shifted, becoming grave. "But remember this: if you encounter something like this again, you must first discuss it with the clan. You must never act on your own again! The Wang Clan's situation is delicate now. We cannot withstand any disturbance."

"Go back first. Rest properly." Wang Hezheng waved a hand, signaling for Wang Yue to leave.

Wang Yue bowed in salute and turned toward his residence.

He could feel that although Wang Hezheng had not said it outright, he had clearly believed his words.

Watching Wang Yue's departing back, Wang Hezheng returned to the seat of honor. His fingers tapped unconsciously against the tabletop, while his heart was tangled like a mass of hemp. *He can see through the Essence Refining Qi Gathering Array... This child's talent may be even more terrifying than I imagined.

If the Transforming Dragon Sect learns of this, how will they treat him? And how should the Wang Clan respond?*

The bloodstains in the courtyard gradually dried beneath the wind. Wang Hezheng stared into the distance, his brows drawn tightly together.

Wang Yue followed the bluestone path toward his residence. As he passed the training ground, he heard a burst of noisy discussion. Several Wang Clan disciples practicing their fists had gathered together, their faces pale as they whispered among themselves, their voices filled with shock.

"Have you heard? The Three-Headed Buddha Temple... was massacred!" A tall, thin disciple lowered his voice, yet he could not conceal the panic in his tone. "Overnight, every monk in the temple, as well as the martial artists guarding the surroundings, lost their lives. There wasn't even a trace of fighting left behind. The entire temple was empty, with only bloodstains and corpses covering the ground!"

"Those people were killed without putting up any resistance!"

"Is that true? The celebration was so lively yesterday—how could it suddenly have been massacred?" Another disciple with a round face looked utterly incredulous. "I heard from my father that even the Spirit Seeking Prefecture has been alarmed. They've already issued orders for every lineage and gang in Changyun County to mobilize and find the culprit. If they can't, even the clan heads will be held accountable!"

"Who knows which ruthless madman did it... Daring to touch even a Buddha Temple—does he not value his life?"

The discussion exploded beside Wang Yue's ears like thunder. His steps abruptly stopped, and his lips trembled beyond his control. Wang Hezheng's blood-covered appearance instantly flashed through his mind.

The bloodstains on Wang Hezheng's body had not come from fighting outsiders at all. He had spent the night clearing the Buddha Temple's scene to cover for him!

Wang Yue had killed Li Fang, but left behind blood everywhere and the danger of Wang Clan disciples entering the temple late at night being exposed. After Wang Yue fell unconscious, Wang Hezheng had secretly dealt with every trace. To conceal the truth completely, he had even been willing to massacre the temple, silencing everyone who might leak the news and shouldering this calamity that could bring the Spirit Seeking Prefecture down upon them!

"It was me... I was too reckless." Wang Yue's heart felt as though an invisible hand had clenched it tightly, sending waves of dense, prickling pain through him.

He had always believed himself cautious enough, yet he had never expected one moment of killing intent to bring such enormous trouble to the Wang Clan. If Wang Hezheng had not cleaned things up in time, the Wang Clan would probably already have been surrounded by the Spirit Seeking Prefecture's people, facing a catastrophe that would blot out the sky and cover the earth.

He turned and headed toward Wang Hezheng's private residence, his steps heavy as though filled with lead.

Upon reaching the stone steps before the residence, Wang Yue did not hesitate. With a thud, he dropped to his knees before the tightly shut door and solemnly kowtowed. His forehead struck the cold bluestone slab, producing a dull sound.

A line of clear tears slid down his cheeks, falling onto the stone and spreading into a small patch of dampness.

Since crossing into this world, he had always regarded the Wang Clan as only a temporary foothold. Though he had accepted Wang Shuo's teachings and Wang Hezheng's resources, he had always retained a thread of wariness in his heart. He had never truly considered this place home.

When faced with Li Fang's threat, his first thought had been to strike first and gain the upper hand. Yet he had ignored the consequences his actions might bring upon the Wang Clan. This lack of trust, this acting on his own—he had nearly caused a great disaster.

"Clan Head, I was wrong this time." Wang Yue murmured toward the door, his voice choked with emotion. "From now on, I will certainly think thrice before acting. I will never again let the Wang Clan fall into danger because of me."

He slowly rose and wiped away the tears on his face. His gaze changed from its initial guilt into resolve. Wang Hezheng's cleanup had been both protection and a warning.

From this day onward, he was no longer alone. The Wang Clan stood behind him, and every decision he made had to take the safety of the entire lineage into consideration.

Within the Wang Clan courtyard, Wang Yue's figure walked farther and farther away, yet his steps were steadier than when he had arrived. This lesson made him truly understand the weight of the word responsibility, and it also allowed him to find a genuine sense of belonging in this world.