Chapter 115: Refining Hangzhou into a Buddhist Treasure

"This Buddhist affinity... it could be a flower in the city, or a blade of grass, a tree, a person, or even a grain of sand. It cannot be spoken of, it cannot be spoken of..."

The idol muttered these cryptic words, and then the orb of light in the sky cast a beam of Buddhist radiance upon it.

With a sizzling sound, the idol began to grow, bit by bit, until it reached the size of an ordinary person. However, the crack still ran across its entire body. It looked like an ancient bronze statue plated in gold, but its face was strange; every few moments, its expression would change, cycling through joy, anger, sorrow, and delight.

Zhou Bai and the other man stepped back in unison. The Taoist Hou, in particular, suffered a resurgence of his suppressed internal injuries under the pressure of the idol's aura. Blood began to seep from his facial orifices, and his internal organs showed signs of collapse.

"So you have sealed off all of Hangdu just to find this so-called Buddhist affinity?" Zhou Bai asked, staring at him, completely unafraid.

"Buddhist affinity... Buddhist affinity... I have lived four lifetimes, and unless something unexpected happens, I will not reach a fifth. Only this Buddhist affinity offers me hope of advancing further." The idol pressed its palms together, its tone solemn and grave.

Zhou Bai immediately extracted the information he needed from these fragmented words. He knew that he had realized his own Buddhist cultivation path from the *Medicine Buddha Sutra* and the *Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Fundamental Vow Sutra*. Both of these cultivation methods were techniques capable of reaching nine lifetimes to eventually attain the fruit of Buddhahood. Although Zhou Bai did not know the idol's identity, he presumed that the idol's own technique had reached its limit at the fourth lifetime.

The mention of "Buddhist affinity" made Zhou Bai nervous. There was a chance the man's target was him, as he was the only one in all of Hangdu who had any connection to Buddhism.

Taoist Hou couldn't help but chime in, "If you want to find your affinity, just look for it properly. At worst, our Ministry of Underworld Records would cooperate with you. Why make such a scene?"

The idol turned to stare at him, making the Taoist feel a chill in his heart. "Every blade of grass and every tree in this city could be my affinity. Perhaps you are it yourself? How about I refine you, monk?"

"Are you toxic? I'm just a corpse-spirit; what kind of connection could I possibly have with Buddhism?"

The idol did not seem overtly hostile, but the orb of light above their heads continued to emit Buddhist radiance, and the entire city was gradually turning to gold.

"It cannot be spoken of... it cannot be spoken of... In that case, the two of you should stop now. For the sake of the Ministry of Underworld Records, I can spare your lives."

Taoist Hou breathed a sigh of relief and nudged Zhou Bai with his elbow. "In that case, let's leave first." He thought it was a good plan; whatever this freakish monk wanted to do had nothing to do with him. He could always seek revenge once his cultivation level improved.

***

Zhou Bai hesitated. His strength was far inferior to the other's. If nothing else, this person had at least attained the fruit of "Stream-Entry," or perhaps even "Once-Returner." Coupled with a Buddhist cultivation method practiced over four lifetimes, the ease with which he could refine a city of hundreds of thousands proved his power.

Thinking of this, the desire to leave grew in his heart. Protecting his own life was the priority; dying for nothing was not a wise choice.

But the idol would not let them leave so easily. With a wave of its right hand, a beam of Buddhist light blocked their path. It said coldly, "What's the rush? Wait until I have refined everything in the city into a Buddhist treasure and found the opportunity I seek; it won't be too late for you to leave then."

"Damn you!" Taoist Hou cursed, spitting out a mouthful of corpse poison. He had always hated monks.

The poison gas drifted only a few feet before it was completely purified and vanished by the Buddhist light.

A hint of murderous intent flashed in the idol's eyes. This time, it was truly enraged. The orb of light above its head released a massive amount of Buddhist radiance, directly engulfing Taoist Hou.

"I... your... mon..."

Before he could finish, his body was covered by the Buddhist light, freezing him in place. He could not move; only his eyes could still rotate, and he kept signaling Zhou Bai to run quickly.

Facing this situation, Zhou Bai did not retreat. He had a premonition that this person had come specifically for him. He feared that once Hangdu was refined into a Buddhist treasure, he would be the next victim.

The idol asked calmly, "Are you going to stand against me as well?"

Zhou Bai did not speak; his actions made his choice. Yin fire ignited on his body, and he quickly revealed his true form—a skeleton. His hollow eyes stared coldly at the other.

The idol did not attack immediately, instead looking at the skeleton form with curiosity. "A demonic form, yet you have refined Buddhist bones. It seems you, too, have an affinity with my Buddha."

"Buddhist bones? You call this Buddhist bones?!" Zhou Bai said coldly. He pulled his coccyx bone from his storage bag and gripped his butcher's knife in the other hand. The transformation of the *Yazi* beast surged forth, chains connecting to his arms.

The idol's expression turned to one of sorrow. It shook its head, its tone filled with helplessness. "Demonic form, Buddhist bones... Demonic form, Buddhist bones. If I had your aptitude, why would I be stuck in my fourth lifetime, unable to transcend life and death? Bitter, how bitter..."

Zhou Bai tentatively whipped the coccyx bone, turning it into a blurred shadow as he struck at the idol.

***

The idol made no move to dodge, letting the coccyx strike its body with the sound of metal colliding.

"Benefactor, shall we strike a bargain?"

Zhou Bai was stunned. He heard the other continue, "I can forgo this Buddhist affinity, and I will even spare everyone, if only you agree to one thing."

"Speak..." Zhou Bai was extremely calm, constantly looking for a chance to break the deadlock.

"Enter my Buddhist sect, cultivate the fruition, and once I pass away in this life, go across this Nine Provinces continent to find my fifth lifetime."

"Is it that simple?" Zhou Bai's heart stirred. If the request were this simple, there must be a trap.

The idol opened its eyes to look at him, smiling. "Of course not. You must erase your memories, enter my sect with the heart of an innocent child, and make a lifelong Buddhist vow. Only then will it be possible."

Taoist Hou, standing to the side, showed joy on his face and forced a sentence out through his clenched teeth: "Zhou Bai, hurry, agree to him..."

Zhou Bai flicked his coccyx bone, striking Taoist Hou across the face and leaving a bloody mark.

"Damn you, Zhou Bai..."

Seeing this, the idol sighed and said, "In that case, it seems you do not wish to agree?"

"Different paths, different goals. You want to refine Hangdu into a Buddhist treasure; you should be prepared to face the wrath of the Ministry of Underworld Records, right?"

"I have lived for four lifetimes; naturally, I have my methods. The Ministry of Underworld Records will not be able to find me. It is just a pity..."

Its expression turned to "anger," and it spoke as if the words were squeezed through its teeth: "Seeing you, a Buddhist disciple with natural Buddhist bones, I thought you were the affinity I needed to transcend my fourth lifetime. Now it seems you are not."

"At least, not while you are alive."