Chapter Summaries

Lu Ren passed the Tathagata True Spirit’s test and entered the Buddha statue to seek what Shakya left behind. Outside, Long Jia and Xuanzang revealed Mani Temple’s curse and hoped Lu Ren could break it, while Lu Ren’s system shielded him from the Buddha light inside.

• Lu Ren followed Xuanzang through a Buddhist ritual, and his system shielded him from the Tathagata True Spirit’s spiritual attack.
• Long Jia told Lu Ren that Shakya’s legacy lay at the top of the Buddha statue, and Lu Ren entered despite Long Jia’s warning that the temple hoped he would uncover a way to advance.
• After the statue’s doors closed, Long Jia and Xuanzang discussed their curse, and Long Jia entrusted Mani Temple’s future to Xuanzang if he turned into a demon.
• Inside the statue, Xu Fu panicked at the ocean of Buddha light formed by relics, while Kong Qiu apologized to Subhuti for cursing the dead monks and Subhuti imagined absorbing their remains.
• Lu Ren’s system detected the Buddha light trying to convert him and automatically shielded him because of his tranquil mind.

Lu Ren discovered that destroying the relics and golden bodies inside Shakya’s statue converted their Buddhist essence into Skill Points, so he cleared several floors of the hidden chamber. He reached the fifth floor and found it empty except for a wooden box, while Xuanzang noticed that the statue’s radiance and Buddhist chants had faded.

• Lu Ren crushed an Arhat Relic and discovered that its Buddhist power advanced his Skill Point progress.
• Lu Ren destroyed the relics and Bodhisattva Golden Bodies on the first two floors, gaining five and eleven Skill Points respectively.
• Subhuti watched from Lu Ren’s Inner World and lamented the destruction of treasures that could have helped him rebuild his golden body and advance his cultivation.
• Lu Ren cleared the third and fourth floors, gaining eight and ten Skill Points, then found the fifth-floor hall empty except for a wooden box on a stone pedestal.
• Xuanzang noticed that Shakya’s statue had grown dimmer and that the Buddhist chants around it had fallen silent.

Lu Ren opened Shakyamuni’s relic and received the Future Buddha True Scripture, while Shakyamuni’s recorded message warned of Central Province’s decline and Buddhism’s coming calamity. After studying the scripture, Lu Ren discovered that key passages had been altered to set a trap for anyone who met its founder.

• Monk Long Jia assured Xuanzang that the Buddha statue’s dimmed radiance meant Shakya had approved Lu Ren, and said he could escape his predicament if events went smoothly.
• Lu Ren touched and picked up the relic box, which drew him into a vision of stars and brought him face-to-face with an image of Shakyamuni.
• Shakyamuni explained that Central Province was changing, described leaving behind Buddhist inheritances, and urged the recipient to protect Buddhism on Beidou Emperor Star.
• Lu Ren returned to the statue hall, found a scripture scroll and jade slip in the box, and received the Future Buddha True Scripture through the system.
• After studying the scripture for a day, Lu Ren found altered passages that concealed a trap for anyone who encountered Shakyamuni.

Lu Ren studied the Future Buddha True Scripture and questioned Subhuti about Shakyamuni’s character and the origins of Buddhism’s different traditions. Subhuti explained that Shakyamuni had his disciples record and interpret his actions, then said that Shakyamuni had been stirring up trouble everywhere.

• Lu Ren analyzed the Future Buddha True Scripture, which required absolute belief in a future self to cultivate its power.
• Lu Ren entered the Inner World and went to speak with Subhuti after confirming Old Monk Longjia would not attack the Buddha statue.
• Lu Ren asked Subhuti what Shakyamuni had been like, and Subhuti described him as proud.
• Subhuti explained that Shakyamuni had made his twelve disciples record and interpret his actions, leading them to establish different Buddhist schools.
• When Lu Ren asked how Shakyamuni had reacted, Subhuti replied that he had been stirring up trouble everywhere.

Lu Ren learned from Subhuti about the three Buddha scriptures and the Past Maitreya True Scripture, then continued studying the Future Buddha True Scripture. Outside the Buddha statue, Long Jia realized its fading radiance signaled a danger, and Chen Xin hurried toward it.

• Subhuti told Lu Ren that Shakya had divided an ancient method into three scriptures and explained the abilities of the past, present, and future scriptures.
• Subhuti revealed that the Past Maitreya True Scripture could preserve body and spirit from damage and decline, and said Shakya had mentioned it while debating Laozi.
• Lu Ren left the Inner World, considered why Shakya had cast the Past Maitreya True Scripture into a Spatial Rift world, and resumed studying the Future Buddha True Scripture.
• Lu Ren formed a blurry figure in his sea of consciousness but rejected modeling his future self after Shakyamuni and continued considering other possibilities.
• As the Buddha statue’s radiance dimmed, Chen Xin asked Long Jia about it, and Long Jia realized something was wrong.
• Chen Xin strode toward the Buddha statue while Xuanzang called after him and then fell silent under Long Jia’s gaze.

Lu Ren emerged from the Shakya Buddha Statue after destroying its relics and Golden Bodies, and revealed that he had obtained the Future Buddha True Scripture. When he burned the scroll rather than let Long Jia inspect it, Long Jia threatened him, and Lu Ren prepared to fight Mani Temple.

• Chen Xin opened the Shakya Buddha Statue and found that its Arhat Relics and Bodhisattva Golden Bodies had turned to dust, then was blasted away when Lu Ren emerged.
• Long Jia asked whether Lu Ren had obtained Shakya's inheritance, and Lu Ren confirmed that he had found a scroll of the Future Buddha True Scripture.
• Lu Ren showed Long Jia the scroll and used the Ten Worlds Sutra to make it disintegrate into ash.
• Long Jia tried to trap Lu Ren in an illusion and demanded an explanation, but Lu Ren rejected the title of Buddha's Son and declared that Mani Temple's monks would die for their sins.
• An elderly monk from Bodhi Courtyard challenged Lu Ren, and Lu Ren ordered the system to add points to the Ten Worlds Sutra.

Lu Ren advanced to the Dao Determination Realm and chose the Myriad Forms Dao, astonishing everyone who witnessed his rapid breakthrough. He then confronted Long Jia and revealed his Sixteen Foot Golden Body.

• Lu Ren spent eight Skill Points to advance the Ten Worlds Sutra and established his Dao direction as Myriad Forms.
• Lu Ren comprehended the Future Buddha True Scripture and obtained the special Future Body: Myriad Forms.
• Xu Fu, Chen Xuzi, Changxing, Ao Li, Long Jia, Xuanzang, and the Mani Temple figures were astonished by Lu Ren's rapid advance to the Dao Determination Realm.
• Lu Ren asked Long Jia whether he could move, then released his overwhelming vitality and blood, warming the mountaintop and filling it with mist.
• Lu Ren released the Ten Realms Seal and expanded into the Sixteen Foot Golden Body of the Eighth Vajra Unmoving Bodhisattva Dharma Appearance.

Lu Ren unleashed his Eighth Vajra Unmoving Bodhisattva Dharma Appearance and slaughtered hundreds of Mani Temple monks, including the master of Bodhi Courtyard. Long Jia revealed that Mani Temple had five Truth-Seeking Realm Bodhisattvas, and Lu Ren began fighting one of them.

• Lu Ren charged into Mani Temple's monks and shattered the long-browed Bodhi Courtyard master's body and Spirit Soul with a single palm.
• Lu Ren killed nearly four hundred monks, then crushed the young monk who had introduced him to the temple.
• Long Jia offered Lu Ren another branch of Mani Temple and its monks and Buddha Consorts in exchange for the Future Buddha True Scripture.
• Lu Ren confronted Long Jia and the four old monks, learning that Mani Temple had five Truth-Seeking Realm Bodhisattvas.
• An old monk met Lu Ren's punch with a jade-like hand as his Buddhist chanting filled the air.

Lu Ren’s punch failed against the old monk, who overwhelmed him and demanded to know where he had learned of the Future Buddha True Scripture. Lu Ren seized the monk’s arm and used the system to break through to the Truth-Seeking Realm, leaving the witnesses stunned.

• The old monk caught Lu Ren’s full-force punch and shattered the Bodhisattva True Gang around his Eighth Vajra Unmoving Bodhisattva Dharma Appearance.
• The old monk began to push Lu Ren away and explained that fighters could not cross realms to defeat opponents after the Dao Determination Realm.
• Lu Ren grabbed the old monk’s arm, recovered with the Crimson Dragon Inner Core’s energy, and said he would raise his strength to the same realm.
• Lu Ren spent nine Skill Points to upgrade the Ten Worlds Sutra, comprehended the Ninth Stage of Good Wisdom Bodhisattva Dharma Appearance, and entered the Truth-Seeking Realm.
• Lu Ren’s Bodhisattva form transformed as Long Jia and the others watched; Long Jia suggested Lu Ren was unsealing power from a former life.
• Subhuti clutched his chest and struggled to accept what he had witnessed.

Lu Ren continued to break through as the Crimson Dragon Inner Core fueled his rising strength, and he fought Xuan Xin to buy time. He killed Xuan Xin, seized and crushed Xuan Chen’s Bodhi Jade Bamboo, and confronted Long Jia as the monks recognized his Tathagata Body.

• Lu Ren prolonged his clinch with Xuan Xin while his strength rose, then crushed Xuan Xin and burned away his Spirit Soul, earning a Skill Point.
• Long Jia ordered Xuan Chen to aid Xuan Xin, and Xuan Chen used the Bodhi Jade Bamboo to summon a powerful pillar of light against Lu Ren.
• Lu Ren blocked the attack, seized Xuan Chen, and revealed a Tathagata Body that Long Jia identified as the result of the Present Tathagata Sutra.
• Lu Ren took and crushed the Bodhi Jade Bamboo, formed its released energy into a fireball, and sent it toward Long Jia, who casually swatted it away.

Lu Ren learned that the Buddhist scriptures were turning him into a vessel for Shakya, then confronted Monk Long Jia after the monk absorbed three people. Long Jia revealed a colossal true form emerging from beneath Mani Temple as Lu Ren took flight to face it.

• Lu Ren killed Xuan Chen and asked Monk Long Jia what great calamity was coming.
• Monk Long Jia explained that the past, present, and future scriptures would guide Lu Ren to become Shakya’s vessel.
• Monk Long Jia pierced and absorbed the two old monks and Xuanzang, then endured Lu Ren’s powerful kick.
• Lu Ren activated Myriad Forms, manifesting extra arms, a forehead eye, scales, and phoenix wings.
• Lu Ren flew clear as Mani Temple’s mountain shook apart and a gigantic figure crawled out from within it.

Lu Ren fought Long Jia and the flesh giant sustaining him, using his Truth-Seeking perspective and sharp golden wings to sever the giant’s arm. He began tearing Long Jia away from the giant, while Long Jia warned him that the Past Maitreya True Scripture would reveal true terror and despair.

• Lu Ren entered the Truth-Seeking Realm and saw the world as gray and decaying, while Long Jia’s flesh giant shone with vitality.
• Lu Ren cut off the giant’s arm with his golden wings and rushed to Long Jia, who seemed to be asleep.
• Lu Ren punched Long Jia awake and burned the flesh tentacles attacking him with Red Lotus Fire.
• Lu Ren seized Long Jia with six arms and began pulling him free from the flesh fused around him.
• Long Jia warned Lu Ren that cultivating the Past Maitreya True Scripture would expose him to great terror and despair.

Lu Ren killed Monk Long Jia and received a strand of Force of Destiny, then burned the goat-human breeding farm and Mani Temple’s nearby branch to the ground. After three days of fire left the region scorched and lifeless, movement stirred in a hidden cave thirty miles away.

• Lu Ren tore Monk Long Jia free from the giant flesh, and Long Jia struck his chest before dying and being burned to ashes.
• The system awarded Lu Ren two Skill Points and one strand of Force of Destiny for killing Long Jia.
• Lu Ren checked his Status Panel, saw that he had thirty Skill Points, and decided to wait until his growing strength stabilized before allocating them.
• Lu Ren unleashed a golden flame across the goat-human breeding farm, burning the people there and destroying Mani Temple’s nearby branch.
• After the inferno burned for three days and nights and spread across ten thousand miles, movement arose in a concealed underground cave thirty miles from Mani Temple.

After surviving the fire that destroyed Mani Temple and the Sheep Farm, A'nuo and A'lan confronted Lu Ren, who had set the blaze. He left them an opportunity atop a distant mountain, challenging them to reach it before disappearing.

• A'nuo and A'lan emerged from their shelter and saw that Mani Temple and the Sheep Farm had been destroyed by the fire.
• Lu Ren admitted he had set the fire, acknowledged that innocents had died, and argued that he had freed them from Mani Temple's cruelty.
• Lu Ren told the youths they were free and began to leave, but A'nuo and A'lan begged him to show them a way to survive.
• A'lan explained that her clan still wanted to live despite their altered bodies and short lifespans.
• Lu Ren revealed that he had left something on a distant mountain that could change their lives if they climbed to its peak, then vanished.

After leaving A'lan and A'nuo with a chance to change their lives, Lu Ren continued toward the Li Luo Region while adapting to his rapid breakthroughs. He tested Myriad Forms Convergence by modifying his cells to absorb sunlight, but found that integrating the new energy into his body required careful conversion and balance.

• A'lan and A'nuo resolved to climb the mountain and seize the opportunity Lu Ren had left them.
• Lu Ren continued traveling and adjusted to the Ninth Stage of Good Wisdom Bodhisattva Dharma Appearance and its growing power.
• Lu Ren practiced techniques from the Reality Tathagata Sutra and considered how Myriad Forms Convergence could combine different abilities.
• Lu Ren modified individual cells to absorb sunlight, and a cell produced a tiny strand of sun-aspect energy that his Ten Realms True Qi ground away.
• Lu Ren weighed ways to convert the absorbed sunlight into usable energy while avoiding low efficiency and dangerous changes to his body.

Lu Ren spent nearly a year developing an organ that absorbed and filtered natural energies, transforming his body and strengthening his cultivation. He concluded that Beidou was a dead end for further advancement and set off at extreme speed, intending to explore the Inner World after returning to Earth.

• Lu Ren refined a chest cell for three months and evolved it into an energy-filtering organ capable of absorbing varied energies.
• After ten days of testing, Lu Ren let the transformed cell spread through his body, a process that took nearly a year to complete.
• Lu Ren tested his new ability to absorb the sun and moon’s essence and found he could control or stop the resulting halo.
• Lu Ren decided not to follow Shakya and Laozi into the starry depths and planned to explore the Inner World after returning to Earth.
• Lu Ren inferred that terrifying forces had blocked advancement on Beidou, making the ruined teleportation array the only hope of reaching other regions.
• Lu Ren flew away, accelerating to fifteen times the speed of sound with his Phoenix True Wings and mastery of space.

Lu Ren returned to the Taihang Mountains and used the Seeking Truth Mind's Eye to investigate a strange child contaminating the plants in his courtyard. He discovered enormous shadows roaming the mountains but could not touch the child with Ten Realms True Qi.

• Lu Ren returned to the Taihang Mountains, found Guo Muyang gone, and cleaned the empty cabin.
• Lu Ren spent several days living quietly before opening his mind's eye and seeing the world as bleak and desolate.
• Lu Ren spotted a strange child crouching by the flowers and herbs, its black aura causing the plants to wither.
• Lu Ren used the Seeking Truth Mind's Eye to observe enormous shadows in the mountains, then approached the child cautiously.
• Lu Ren sent Ten Realms True Qi toward the child, but it passed through without making contact, revealing that the child existed beyond ordinary reality.

Lu Ren encountered a strange child from the real world and discovered that his vitality and spiritual will could resist its black qi and damage it. He pulled the flesh mass controlling the child from its head, leaving it motionless.

• Lu Ren touched the strange child, which turned its head and spread contaminating black qi through his arm.
• Lu Ren halted the contamination with his vitality and blood, then restored his mutated arm with his mental will.
• Lu Ren struck the child and found that physical force alone could not harm it, so he combined physical strength with spiritual intent.
• Lu Ren examined the child and found a brown mass of flesh inside a hole in its head.
• Lu Ren pulled out the mass of flesh, and the child stopped moving.

Lu Ren studied and destroyed an Abyssal Creature, then discovered that the Seeking Truth Realm distorted distance and revealed a dangerous, inverted world. After escaping its whispers and otherworldly presence, he entered his Inner World and found its road transformed into a broad avenue.

• Lu Ren examined the parasitic flesh connected to the strange child's shriveled brain, then crushed it and received a system notification for killing his first Elementary Abyssal Creature.
• The strange child's corpse turned to black ash, and Lu Ren compared how ordinary locations appeared in the real world and the Seeking Truth Realm.
• Lu Ren realized that stepping across a small mound in the Seeking Truth Realm could carry him across the Taihang Mountains in the real world.
• As whispers and an icy presence overwhelmed him, Lu Ren exited the Seeking Truth Realm and spent a day recovering.
• Lu Ren entered his Inner World and found that its unknown road had become a wide, smooth avenue.

Lu Ren explored the Inner World through the Seeking Truth Mind's Eye and confronted Changxing, who offered to explain the realm only if he gave her Guo Muyang's body. After Changxing tried to destroy her primordial spirit, Lu Ren restrained her and isolated them from the others.

• Lu Ren saw that the Inner World was a polluted, cracked wasteland through the Seeking Truth Mind's Eye, while Changxing and Ao Li appeared unchanged.
• Lu Ren released Changxing from her bindings, but she demanded Guo Muyang's body before she would explain the Seeking Truth Realm.
• Lu Ren bound Changxing again and slapped her for insulting Guo Muyang, whom he considered his disciple.
• Changxing tried to self-destruct her primordial spirit, but Lu Ren compressed the space around her and forced the split energy back into her body.
• Lu Ren warned Changxing that he controlled the Inner World, then isolated the two of them from Chen Xuzi, Xu Fu, and the others.