Chapter 54: The Sutra of Deliverance

Chen Fengyun firmly believed that as long as he could locate that evil presence, no matter how powerful it was, if it couldn't kill him instantly, he could rely on the Cultivation System to devour and absorb its energy. Not only could he destroy it, but he would also gain attribute points.

So, even though the cold grew more intense the further he went, he pressed on regardless. Thanks to the Golden Bell Shield's protection and his own formidable constitution, he managed to endure the chill.

Because his spiritual sense could detect the origin of the evil aura, Chen Fengyun walked straight into the depths of the pagoda forest, taking no detours but heading directly toward his target with clear purpose.

A mournful wailing rose around him, and the cold intensified, the cries growing more frequent and persistent. Yet Chen Fengyun's will was unwavering; his body, shielded by the Golden Bell, was encircled by his spiritual sense, ready to respond to any change. He felt no fear and did not falter in his steps.

This section of the pagoda forest in the valley once housed hundreds of small stone pagodas, but now most had collapsed, and the rest were half-ruined. Only one deep within remained intact, and it was there that the evil aura emanated.

It was said that the pagoda forest in the temple was a place for enshrining the ashes of monks, and sometimes even the corporeal remains or relics of revered monks who had achieved Nirvana.

However, as Chen Fengyun passed the toppled pagodas, he found no remains or relics—nothing but sand, stone, and earth, long since eroded by time.

“Could it be that something different is enshrined within this pagoda? Otherwise, why is it the only one still intact? And with the evil aura streaming from it, perhaps what lies within isn’t a monk at all?”

Chen Fengyun, now within sight of the stone pagoda, was filled with doubt. Nonetheless, he advanced steadily, believing the truth awaited him inside. Once the pagoda was broken open, everything would become clear.

Suddenly, he felt waves of cold rush madly at him, but they could not breach the Golden Bell Shield and never touched his body.

Clearly, the evil presence within the pagoda sensed his approach—perhaps felt threatened—and so sent the freezing air to assail him.

But it was futile. Chen Fengyun was unaffected by the chill and walked up to the stone pagoda, reaching out to lay his hand gently upon its surface.

A deep hum reverberated in his mind as the Cultivation System shuddered violently, the cold swirling more fiercely than ever, and surges of evil energy battered against him—yet they could not invade his body.

“So, the evil presence is inside this pagoda, but it’s immobile, able only to launch spiritual attacks through illusions,” Chen Fengyun instantly understood its nature.

He then directed the Cultivation System to absorb the evil energy within the pagoda, refining it into attribute points—a windfall that delighted him.

The sound of weeping grew around him, and illusions flooded his mind. The system’s refinement of so much evil energy was affecting him, but his spiritual sense, transformed into a protective barrier, shielded his consciousness. Unperturbed, he continued to devour the evil energy, determined to consume every last trace within the pagoda.

After about ten minutes, Chen Fengyun noticed the cold around him fading, the mists of the valley dissipating as well. The Cultivation System ceased its absorption; the unique energy of the evil presence within the pagoda was exhausted.

“If only there had been more evil energy—I could have made a fortune.”

In truth, he already had. After consuming all the evil energy, Chen Fengyun gained thirty-eight attribute points—a bounty unprecedented in his experience.

With this trove, he could elevate his cultivation to the tenth level of Qi Refining and still have points left to upgrade other skills.

Nonetheless, he did not immediately increase his cultivation, for just then, as the pagoda’s evil energy was depleted, the structure cracked open and something tumbled out, startling him.

It was not what he expected, but the corpse of a creature with wings and a tail, its body radiating a wicked aura—clearly the remains of some evil demon. Yet how had it come to be sealed within the pagoda forest, a resting place for venerated monks of the Golden Mountain Temple?

Chen Fengyun nudged the demonic remains with his foot, and, having lain undisturbed for so long, the body crumbled to dust and fragments.

Suddenly, something caught his eye amidst the debris—a string of beads, likely a Buddhist rosary. There were six in all, dark and lustrous, each occasionally shimmering with a faint golden light.

“Could these prayer beads be a treasured artifact of some holy monk?” Excitement surged in Chen Fengyun’s heart as he reached out to pick them up.

But the moment his fingers touched the beads, his body went rigid. A sudden force shot from the beads into his consciousness, transforming into a towering Buddha figure radiating holy light and chanting sutras.

“Amitabha.”
“The sea of suffering is boundless; turn back and you will find the shore.”
“The Buddha is compassionate.”
“Lay down your blade and instantly become a Buddha.”
“Turn back, seek refuge in the Buddha.”

The recitation of scriptures echoed in Chen Fengyun’s mind, and a powerful energy attempted to influence his consciousness, urging him to renounce the world and become a disciple of Buddha.

“Is this the conversion scripture of the Buddhist sect?” Chen Fengyun was horrified. He had heard tales of Buddhist conversion sutras that could cleanse one’s consciousness and compel them to join the sect as disciples.

Just think—how many disciples of the Jiejiao in the Investiture of the Gods were ultimately converted by Buddhism, becoming sacred beasts or mounts, or enemies ultimately transformed into Buddhist followers?

Even in Journey to the West, countless ferocious demons were, under the influence of Buddhist conversion, compelled to join the sect as guardians or protectors.

“Ah, resist it!” Chen Fengyun shouted, mobilizing all his spiritual strength to confront the Buddha apparition within his mind—here, the Golden Bell Shield was useless.

Despite his spirit being at the early Yellow Rank and already transformed into spiritual sense, he could only parry, unable to strike back against the conversion scripture’s power.

“This won’t do. If my spirit is exhausted, I’ll be converted for sure. I must strengthen my spiritual power!” Chen Fengyun made a snap decision.

He spent twenty attribute points, instantly raising his spiritual power to the mid Yellow Rank. His spiritual sense doubled in strength, and suddenly he was able to suppress the Buddha figure, gradually wearing it down and overcoming its influence.