Myriad rays of rosy light, like a five-colored divine waterfall, cascaded down from the heavens.
A thousand streams of auspicious radiance rose from the treasure mountain, transforming into golden lotuses the size of bowls, neatly arranged before Jiang Chuan.
Azure dragons, white tigers, vermilion birds, black tortoises, and the other four divine beasts also manifested as phantoms, circling and dancing through the sky.
At that moment, it seemed as though the entire world was welcoming Jiang Chuan, the Future Buddha Successor.
One Dao Artifact after another turned into streaks of light and shot toward where Jiang Chuan stood.
"Future Star Venerable Buddha truly deserves to be the future master of the Buddhist sect!"
A smile played on Jiang Chuan's lips, his face full of pride. "Even I, the Future Buddha Successor, received such a grand welcome!"
At the same time, the Dao Artifacts flew before Jiang Chuan.
"It has been a long time since I saw a monk with such nerve!" A dark-green bamboo staff was the first to speak.
An eighteen-story pagoda sighed. "Indeed! Who did not know that Duobao had always regarded losing to his junior brother, Future Star Venerable Buddha, in the contest to become the future master of the Buddhist sect as a humiliation?"
"Do you think Duobao will directly destroy this little monk?" a blue alms bowl asked curiously.
"What?! Duobao Tathagata Venerable Buddha is Future Star Venerable Buddha's senior brother, and they even became enemies over the struggle for the future master of the Buddhist sect?!"
Jiang Chuan looked as though he had been struck by lightning, his face filled with disbelief.
Once he came back to his senses, cold sweat poured down Jiang Chuan's forehead.
For the first time, he felt death was so close!
"Looks like this kid really did not know about it." A cyan seal flew above Jiang Chuan's head, seeming to examine him.
"As the saying goes, the ignorant are not guilty. Besides, given Duobao's status, he probably would not stoop to argue with a junior at the third realm."
It was the Ghost Rain Sword that spoke, flying over to join the excitement.
"That is right. Still, this little monk's strength is truly not bad. He has already reached the third realm at such an age."
A purple pill furnace over three meters tall flew before Jiang Chuan.
"Moreover, I can sense the aura of more than one cultivation technique and divine ability from him."
"To reach the third realm at this age and cultivate his techniques and divine abilities to such a level, he can barely be called a genius." A massive axe covered in dark-red patterns gave its assessment.
Jiang Chuan let out a breath of relief and pressed his palms together.
"Amitabha. This little monk is Jiang Chuan of Bodhi Temple in the Qingyuan Realm. Which senior would be willing to form a contract with this little monk?"
"The Qingyuan Realm? Little monk, you come from the Qingyuan Realm?"
Just then, a majestic and resounding voice rang out from atop the treasure mountain.
The next moment, under Jiang Chuan's gaze, dazzling golden light blossomed from the treasure mountain.
It was like a heavenly sun descending here from the depths of the cosmos, illuminating the entire world.
Its grand and vast aura, like an erupting volcano, swept through heaven and earth.
"Isn't the Great Sun Divine Bell usually asleep? Why has it appeared today?" the Ghost Rain Sword asked in confusion.
"How strange! Who knew how many Future Buddha Successors had come here before—why did the Great Sun Divine Bell appear for this little monk alone?" the cyan seal said slowly.
Under Jiang Chuan's gaze, a great bell as tall as a person cleaved through the sky and landed before him.
The bell was entirely golden, as if cast from gold itself, dazzlingly brilliant.
Atop it was a snow-white rabbit with jet-black eyes like black gemstones, looking down at Jiang Chuan.
"In answer to Senior, this little monk indeed comes from the Qingyuan Realm," Jiang Chuan replied.
"If you help me do one thing, I will form a contract with you. How about it?" The rabbit's words made Jiang Chuan's heart leap.
After all, this was a Legendary Dao Artifact!
"This little monk is only at the third realm, and his strength is limited. I fear I may be unable to fulfill Senior's instructions."
"It is only a small matter. Besides, I am in no hurry. You can cultivate for three to five years before helping me complete it." The rabbit spoke again.
Three to five years?
With three to five years, he might have simulated more than a thousand years.
By then, Jiang himself might be able to punch the Devil Race's Devil Emperor and kick the heads of every major sect leader in the Qingyuan Realm.
"May this little monk ask what Senior wishes him to accomplish?"
"Go to the Northern Territory and help me find a few demons from the Middle Ancient Era."
"Senior."
"Yes?"
"This little monk is not a grave robber."
"..."
Jiang Chuan felt that the rabbit before him was simply making things difficult for him.
The Middle Ancient Era and the present were separated by several million years.
What did several million years mean?
Unless one became immortal or was refined into an Artifact Spirit of a Dao Artifact, not even bone fragments would likely remain.
Even if he went grave robbing, he might not be able to find where they were buried!
Thus, in Jiang Chuan's view, the rabbit's task was simply impossible to complete.
A nostalgic look surfaced in the rabbit's bright black eyes.
"I am not asking you to rob graves. I only want you to search for the whereabouts of my clansmen from back then."
"This little monk can help, but he cannot guarantee that he will find them. After all, too much time has passed." Jiang Chuan made his promise.
The rabbit nodded. "Finding them would be best, but if you cannot, I will not blame you. Just do your utmost."
"Alright."
Jiang Chuan readily agreed, then turned toward the many Dao Artifacts.
"May this little monk ask if any other senior is willing to form a contract with him?"
Within the Warrior Monk Institute, Elder Jingyun stared at the pill formulas in his hands, his brows tightly furrowed.
Setting down the pill formulas, Elder Jingyun looked at Elder Jinghou.
"Were these pill formulas truly all written by Jiang Chuan?"
"That is right. If Senior Brother Jingyun does not believe it, you may summon Senior Brother Jing Sha and ask him." Elder Jinghou answered.
Elder Jingyun asked doubtfully, "Ever since Jiang Chuan was sent by the Jiang Household to Bodhi Temple as a child, he has never taken a single step out of Bodhi Temple. Where did he obtain these pill formulas from the Middle Ancient Era?"
"That is also what puzzles me."
Elder Jinghou paused before continuing, "Though the Jiang Household is considered a renowned great clan in the Taicang Dynasty, they are not skilled in pill refining. Moreover, no one from the Jiang Household has visited our Bodhi Temple recently."
"Therefore, these pill formulas should not have been given to Jiang Chuan by the Jiang Household."
"If not the Jiang Household, then who could it be?" Elder Jingyun rolled the Buddhist beads in his hand.
Elder Jinghou lifted his eyes. "I fear that question can only be asked of Jiang Chuan himself."
Elder Jingyun nodded. He then left the Warrior Monk Institute with Elder Jinghou and flew toward the pavilion where Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui lived.
Jing Hui, who had been meditating beneath the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, hurriedly rose upon seeing Jingyun and Jinghou arrive.
"Greetings, Elders Jingyun and Jinghou."
"Jing Hui, where is Jiang Chuan?" Elder Jingyun asked.
"In reply to Elder, Junior Brother has been in seclusion on the second floor for a month now," Jing Hui replied respectfully.
"Jing Hui, call Jiang Chuan down. Tell him we have something to discuss with him," Elder Jinghou instructed.
"Yes, Eld—"
Clang!!!
Before Jing Hui could finish speaking, a resounding bell rang out from within the pavilion.
The bell's waves transformed into invisible ripples and spread throughout the entire Bodhi Temple in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, whether it was Abbot Kong Ming meditating in the main hall, Elder Kong Bei guarding the Arhat Institute, or the many monks cultivating, all heard that resounding bell!
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