The nun said, “Indeed, I am Guanyin Bodhisattva.”
The ghostly head was speechless.
“So, where am I?” it finally asked.
“This is the gateway to the Pure Land. You’ve died, and I’m here to review your mortal sins. If you’re truthful, I’ll guide you to paradise. If you lie, I’ll cast you into hell.”
Shocked, the ghostly head couldn’t think clearly amidst the overwhelming Buddhist power. After a while, seemingly accepting its death, it sighed, “They said the Xianlan Sect provided fresh bodies for soul possession. A lie. I used to offer incense to Guanyin as a child. Please have mercy and spare me from hell’s torments.”
The nun, serene-faced, asked, “Didn’t you know that possessing the living, especially children, is a grave sin?”
Overwhelmed by Buddhist chants, the ghostly head replied dejectedly, “O Bodhisattva, I knew soul possession was one of the five cardinal sins. The Daosheng Zhengfa Palace is strict, and low-level cultivators like me can’t afford to raise spare bodies. We rely on shady sects for survival.”
“But why target innocent children? How many are in the Xianlan Sect? How dare they commit such evil in Mao State’s pure land? Who’s their strongest cultivator?”
“Every State has these talent traffickers. Mortals think their children are chosen by immortals. The Xianlan Sect isn’t a real sect; they fear detection by Chou Mountain’s Brahma Sea monks. They’ve used names like Celestial Herb Sect or Fresh Flower Sect before. It’s just a few cultivators deceiving mortals for profit.”
The nun fell silent. The ghostly head, sensing something amiss, nervously called out, “Bodhisattva?”
“One last question: cultivators’ souls are usually clear. Why do you resemble a yin curse?”
“I…” the ghostly head hesitated. “I was from Si State, hoping to profit from the Chen-Si war. While chasing a lone cultivator with my companions, we entered a ghost city. It was filled with yin curses. One drained my life force. I thought my soul was gone too, but I woke up like this. Luckily, the city’s barriers were weak. After escaping with other conscious souls, I met a cultivator selling children for possession. He brought me to Mao State.”
Its expression turned blank as if weakening. “Without possessing someone soon, I’ll lose my mind… maybe even become a yin curse.”
Si State… ghost city? Nan Yan recalled a Wuxiang Sect elder from Si State giving her three slots to enter a ghost realm for enlightenment, in exchange for embryo-transforming pill materials in Yin State.
Her instincts told her it was the same place.
As her thoughts stirred, her sea of qi churned, revealing a glimpse of her Golden Core. The ghostly head, still a cultivator at heart, trembled in fear: “You… you’re a Golden Core cultivator!”
Nan Yan dropped her illusion. Her voice, like heavenly authority, echoed throughout her sea of qi.
“Though circumstances may explain your actions, how can you justify destroying an innocent child’s soul?”
Buddhist power condensed into blade-like winds, surrounding the ghostly head. It fled frantically but to no avail. Soon, it was enveloped in Buddhist light.
“Spare me, senior! I’ll offer my soul blood, become your slave—” The ghostly head shattered mid-scream, leaving no trace.
Nan Yan opened her eyes, twirling her prayer beads around her right hand as she stood. “A monastic never lies. I promised to guide you to paradise, not send you to the underworld.”
Meanwhile, in the manor, things had quieted down. Sensing children in various rooms consuming the spirit liquid, the Foundation Establishment cultivators withdrew their spiritual sense and began adding new spirit herbs to the empty cauldrons.
“We still have 180 cultivator souls waiting for possession. We need to find larger villages and attract more children. A small town would be ideal.”
“Especially those souls turning into yin curses. Some have lost their minds, their yin energy growing stronger. I dare not release them.”
“We shouldn’t have accepted business from Si State. These cultivators’ deaths seem suspicious…”
A previously silent cultivator spoke up: “Earlier today, I saw a Buddhist nun in a village. I think she noticed something… Maybe after this batch of possessions, we should hide in Yin State for a while?”
Others asked, “What’s her cultivation level?”
“Similar to ours. She was alone but seemed stronger.”
Another cultivator replied, “That’s not a problem. We only deal with Foundation Establishment level business. Higher cultivators won’t interfere. After this job, we’ll have enough spirit stones to attempt Golden Core formation.”
Someone shook the merit box containing over 10,000 spirit stones, mocking, “These mortals are so foolish. Today, the dumbest was a woman with a water-fire dual root child, still hoping for a bright future. Cultivation might be impossible, but perfect for possession.”
“Speaking of rare spiritual roots, do you know who’s the most powerful?”
“The Dragon Lord of Chen State, right? Most people are impressed with one mutated root, but he has four! Especially combining elemental magnetism with lightning, he’s like a god!”
“I think it’s the Yuxie Marquis. His ‘shadow spiritual root’ lets him come and go without a trace. He can’t be killed, only waited out.”
“Such limited knowledge,” the strongest cultivator among them said, stomping the floor. “In ancient times, the Aluan Ancient Buddha had 99 disciples. 98 were exceptionally talented, but the youngest had five spiritual roots.”
“While my senior disciples have all advanced to the Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation stages, spreading their teachings across the Divine State, I, the youngest disciple, have barely reached the Qi Condensation stage. Amitabha Buddha often reprimands me,” the young disciple reflected.
Undeterred by his slow progress, he memorized all three thousand volumes of Buddhist scriptures despite his limited aptitude. Determined to improve, he then embarked on a barefoot journey across the Divine State. Through his travels, he accumulated a hundred thousand good deeds and vanquished a million demons. After Amitabha Buddha’s passing, the disciple achieved Deity Transformation overnight, inheriting the Buddha’s legacy and becoming the revered Buddhist Penitence Master of Mao State.
Rumors circulated about the Penitence Master’s unique spiritual roots. It was said he possessed the rare Five-Element Spiritual Root, where the elements both restrained and nurtured each other. This cyclical nature allowed for endless growth, making it the fastest cultivation method in the world.
As the cultivators listening to this tale marveled at the story, one couldn’t help but express regret: “It’s a pity the Penitence Master has disappeared. He’s probably passed on by now, and we’ll never have the chance to meet him.”
“Don’t worry,” a voice reassured them. “If he had truly passed on, you’d be seeing him very soon.”
The crowd’s murmurs were suddenly interrupted by an overwhelming spiritual pressure. A woman’s voice echoed, causing everyone to pale.
The most advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator among them probed with his spiritual sense. To his horror, he discovered that all the mortals in the manor and the low-level cultivators guarding outside had vanished. Sensing imminent danger, he shouted, “Damn it! A powerful enemy approaches. Run!”
The five Foundation Establishment cultivators hesitated for a moment. In the next instant, they felt the pressure intensify rapidly, finally realizing the gravity of the situation.
“It’s a Core Formation expert!”
Without delay, they activated their escape talismans and fled haphazardly through the windows. Those who flew faster aimed for the faint light on the horizon. However, they were intercepted in midair. A thunderous clang resounded as they collided with a golden ripple of light, sending them tumbling back down, dazed and disoriented.
Through the night mist, they saw the entire manor engulfed by a massive ethereal figure—a Thousand-Armed Guanyin. Most of the deity’s hands were empty, but a few held sacred objects: alms bowls, prayer beads, and vajras. Most striking was a golden scabbard adorned with five types of precious gems. Its mere aura was enough to annihilate an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A Celestial Mist Sect cultivator looked up at the scene before him and exclaimed in terror, “Is… is this a divine manifestation?!”
Atop the bodhisattva’s head stood a figure in snow-white robes, eyes lowered and radiating murderous intent.
“Evil-doers who harm innocent lives shall descend into the Avici Hell!”
The five Foundation Establishment cultivators, their faces etched with despair, fell to their knees and kowtowed until their foreheads bled. “Bodhisattva, spare us! We know we were wrong! We’ll never do it again!”
As one of the thousand hands was about to crush them, Nan Yan suddenly looked up to see the cloudy sky parting to reveal the face of the Treasure Light Tathagata.
“Zhen Yuan, do you remember the promise you made to your master?” the Tathagata asked.
This was the domain of the Worrisome Mountain and Brahma Sea. Nan Yan’s grand display had naturally alerted the Brahma Sea Sect.
Nan Yan pondered for a moment before replying, “I promised my master that I would perform a hundred good deeds without bloodshed or killing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to enter the Brahma Sea Sect or leave Mao State.”
The Treasure Light Tathagata continued, “You’ve spent half a year on this task and have completed ninety-nine deeds. If you kill these people now, you’ll have to start over. What if you encounter more people who deserve death? This cycle might never end. With so many evildoers in the world, you may never leave Mao State or avenge your mother.”
Nan Yan fell silent, knowing that to others, these misguided and exploited mortals might not seem innocent. This act would not only hinder her cultivation but might also allow her mother’s killer to escape justice.
The Treasure Light Tathagata warned, “The Brahma Sea Sect’s rules forbid disciples from killing before entering the sect. Do you still intend to take their lives?”
Seeing that Nan Yan’s raised palm hadn’t descended, the Celestial Mist Sect cultivators who had been trafficking children looked hopeful. “We’ve learned our lesson, truly! We’ll do more good deeds from now on and donate more to temples! Please, in your compassion, forgive us this once!”
As Nan Yan remained silent, the Treasure Light Tathagata said, “Zhen Yuan, choose wisely.”
The Celestial Mist Sect cultivators, believing they had escaped death, were about to sneak away when they heard a cold voice.
“As I walk this world, I tread through hell itself. Until hell is empty, I vow not to achieve Buddhahood! While mortal suffering persists, I shall confront evil wherever I find it!”
With the word “confront,” Nan Yan’s palm descended, and a spray of fresh blood erupted as three souls were sent to the underworld.
“Ah Zhen Yuan…” The Treasure Light Tathagata sighed as the clouds parted, illuminating the mountains.
Nan Yan pressed her palms together and said, “Master, after I return these mortals, I will complete the hundred good deeds again. Then I’ll seek you at the Brahma Sea Sect. Your disciple takes her leave.”
“Wait,” the face of the Treasure Light Tathagata in the sky began to smile. “While the Brahma Sea Sect has rules against bloodshed and killing, the Worrisome Mountain Sect does not.”
Nan Yan: “Eh?”
“Zhen Yuan, your unwavering Buddhist heart has already passed the Worrisome Mountain Sect’s trial.”