You Are Dao Venerable Lin Tian?

After leaving Flower-Fruit Mountain, Lin Tian did not rush back to Three Immortal Islands, but instead wandered around the Primordial Wilderness, continuing to keep an eye out for bead-shaped magical treasures.

For him, taking a walk and looking around was just a way to relax.

On this day, he passed by an ancient mountain range on the northern edge.

The spiritual energy here is scarce, the mountains are treacherous, and there are many poisonous miasma and ferocious beasts. Not to mention mortals, even ordinary cultivators rarely come here.

Just as he crossed a mountain ridge, a dark blue-black scaled beast with a single horn on its head suddenly leaped out of the dense forest ahead. Its scarlet eyes glared at him, and it opened its blood-red maw to pounce on him.

"A mid-stage Mystic Immortal Earth Dragon Lizard? This trash dares to attack me?"

Lin Tian glanced at it, without stopping, and casually raised a finger.

The earth dragon lizard's body suddenly froze, and then, as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, its entire body collapsed inward!

In the blink of an eye, the ferocious beast that had been so menacing was reduced to a lump of flesh.

Lin Tian frowned. "You used a little too much force; it doesn't look good."

A beam of light swept across, removing all impurities from the lump of meat, leaving it spotless. Only then did the person nod in satisfaction.

Immediately, Lin Tian cut a branch from the side, skewered the meat, took out some spirit fruits, crushed them, spread them evenly on the meat, and slowly roasted it over the fire.

Before long, the aroma of meat mixed with spiritual fruit filled the air.

Lin Tian wasn't in a hurry, occasionally turning the food over to control the heat.

Just then, Lin Tian looked up and glanced to his left.

A figure emerged from behind the trees.

He was a young monk.

He looked no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, with a shiny bald head, fair skin, and delicate features. He appeared dressed in a simple, moon-white monk's robe.

At that moment, his eyes were fixed on the golden, oily roasting meat on the fire, and he was swallowing hard.

He straightened his monk's robes, put his hands together in prayer, and walked towards Lin Tian.

"Good, good, good..."

The young monk approached Lin Tian, trying to appear dignified, but his eyes couldn't help but drift towards the roasted meat. "This... senior, benefactor, um... could you... could you spare this humble monk some... roasted meat? I'm sorry, I'm really... really starving."

His stomach growled as he spoke, making his face turn slightly red.

Lin Tian glanced at him, a half-smile playing on his lips, "Oh? You, a monk, can eat meat?"

Upon hearing this, the young monk plopped down on the Shi Tou opposite Lin Tian.

"Senior, you are unaware of this!"

He spread his hands, a hint of smugness in his voice, "We are not the Western Teachings! This humble monk is a follower of Mahayana Buddhism, from the Great Thunderclap Temple on Ten Thousand Buddha Tathagata — Golden Cicada!"

He straightened his chest and continued, "My master taught us that while wine and meat pass through the intestines, Buddha remains in the heart. With Buddha in our hearts, we can distinguish between good and evil and save all sentient beings. This is the fundamental principle."

"As for what to eat, it's merely an external form, there's no need to be attached to it. Therefore, in Mahayana Buddhism, we don't need to abstain from certain foods! Eat and drink as you please!"

"Oh?"

Lin Tian seemed intrigued. "There's such a saying? That's interesting. What's the difference between your Mahayana Buddhism and Western Teachings?"

Seeing that Lin Tian was willing to talk to him, Golden Cicada became even more enthusiastic.

At this moment, Lin Tian had already torn off a piece of the best-roasted hind leg meat and handed it to him. He quickly took it, not caring that it was hot, blew on it and took a big bite.

"Mmm! Delicious! It smells so good!"

Golden Cicada's eyes lit up instantly, filled with admiration.

He had grilled meat before, but compared to the grilled meat in front of him, it was like heaven and earth!

He wolfed down his food while mumbling an answer to Lin Tian's question, "Senior... hiccup... Although the Western Teachings also has two saints presiding over it, and Mount Ling is quite grand, when it comes to true Buddhist Dharma, Buddha Tathagata has more insight!"

He swallowed the meat in his mouth and continued speaking eloquently, "Our Mahayana Buddhist Dharma aims to universally save all sentient beings from suffering and to deliver them from fire and water."

"The principle is to clearly distinguish between good and evil. Whether you are human, Demon Race, or any other kind of being, in the eyes of Buddha, you should be treated equally. You must not bully the weak, but guide people towards good and help the vulnerable."

He took a bite of meat, his tone tinged with disdain. "The Western Teachings is different. They talk all day about 'laying down the butcher's knife and instantly becoming a Buddha,' as if no matter how much evil you've done or how many people you've killed, as long as you convert in the end, you can immediately become a Buddha and attain great freedom."

"What about the lives he killed before? Who can they turn to for justice?"

"And another one,"

Golden Cicada became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke, "They always put on airs, acting superior, saying things like 'everything is up to fate.'"

"When they see vulnerable creatures suffering, they rarely lend a helping hand; they just sit there chanting scriptures. What kind of compassion is that? I think it's hypocrisy! If they really believed in helping others, why would they be recruiting people to their religion?"

Lin Tian listened to Golden Cicada's explanation, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, after his actions, although Golden Cicada still joined the Great Thunderclap Temple, the doctrines he accepted were completely different.

"It sounds like you harbor quite a grudge against Western Teachings."

Lin Tian smiled.

"It's not resentment, it's just that I can't stand it!"

Golden Cicada corrected him, taking another large bite of meat, and mumbled, "Buddhist Dharma is meant to guide people towards goodness and give them hope, not to open back doors for evil people, nor is it empty talk without action."

Lin Tian nodded, then suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, since you are Tathagata Buddha's chief disciple, why aren't you cultivating properly at Ten Thousand Buddha Ridge? Why did you come out alone?"

"Well..."

Golden Cicada paused in his eating, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

He couldn't very well say that he was caught sleeping during the Buddha's sermon and was then punished by being sent down the mountain, could he?

That's so embarrassing!

His eyes darted around, and he said, "Well... senior, please understand, I'm doing this... by order of my master, to descend the mountain for experience, to witness the suffering of the world, and to practice the way of saving all sentient beings! Yes, that's it!"

He almost believed it himself.

Seeing his guilty look, Lin Tian instantly understood, but didn't expose him. He just smiled meaningfully, "Oh? Saving all living beings, huh... With your cultivation level of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, I'm afraid it's not enough, is it? This Primordial Wilderness land is far more complex than you think."

Golden Cicada blushed even more after being told this. He scratched his bald head and muttered softly, "I... I will try my best, learning as I go..."

This Golden Cicada is quite interesting.

That's enough.

Lin Tian stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "It's fate that we met today."

He extended his right index finger, and a point of golden light appeared at the tip.

Before Golden Cicada could react, the golden light had already transformed into a stream of light and instantly disappeared into his brow!

"Well!"

Golden Cicada shuddered, feeling a vast and profound amount of information surge into his consciousness!

"This is... Buddhist Dharma? And it's even more profound?"

What Lin Tian gave him was some Buddhist Dharma that he had compiled by combining Buddhist scriptures from his previous life.

Golden Cicada stood there dumbfounded for a long time before he finally came to his senses. He stared at Lin Tian in shock, stammering, "Senior... who... who exactly are you? This... this is..."

Seeing his stunned expression, Lin Tian smiled slightly and said calmly, "Me? My name is Lin Tian."

After saying that, without waiting for Golden Cicada to say anything more, his figure disappeared.

"Lin Tian... Lin Tian..."

Golden Cicada kept repeating the name, feeling that it sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he remembered that his master had mentioned that the reason he was able to establish Mahayana Buddhism was because of the teachings of Dao Venerable Lin Tian.

"Lin... Dao Venerable Lin Tian?!"

Golden Cicada exclaimed in disbelief, "That's it! Besides that legendary Dao Venerable, who else could have that name? My God! I actually met Dao Venerable Lin Tian! I even ate the meat he roasted! And received his guidance!"

He quickly faced the direction Lin Tian had left and respectfully bowed deeply.

"Disciple Golden Cicada thanks the Dao Venerable for his guidance! This kindness and virtue will never be forgotten!"

"The Dao Venerable is right. Having the cultivation of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal is not enough... Saving all living beings cannot be achieved by mere words..."

He scratched his head, a newfound resolve forming within him.

Then, Golden Cicada headed off in one direction.