Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

The War Buddha lineage, for the most part, consists of beings who were not originally from the Ancient Monk lineage. They are outsiders who later converted to Buddhism, forming a unique branch.

Among them, those who achieve the highest levels of mastery are honored with the title of "War Buddha."

Sometimes, they refer to themselves as wandering monks, initially outsiders, unbound by restrictions, traversing the world like roving hermits.

This lineage is immensely powerful, mastering Buddhist arts while also wielding other ancient and terrifying techniques. Together, they form an invincible martial art known as the Eight Styles of the Wandering Buddha.

From this evolved the renowned Eighteen Palms of the Ancient Buddha, known for finding the weaknesses in others.

The Ancestor Liekong standing before us is from the War Buddha lineage, which explains why he speaks without reservations; he is inherently unrestrained.

His reason for staying by the Reincarnation Pool, entering a meditative state as a guardian, involves deeper motivations.

“Returning Master Patriarch, the young disciple named Gu Wudi already has a master; he is the ruler of the Cross Yin-Yang Forbidden Zone,” the Supreme monk responded.

Upon hearing that Gu Wudi is the disciple of the forbidden zone’s ruler, the previously confident Liekong fell silent instantly.

The ruler of the Cross Yin-Yang Forbidden Zone, a being so ancient that even the Immortal Monk Kings would acknowledge him as a senior. Liekong had heard of him and dared not mention too much, realizing that such beings are taboo.

"Alright, consider my words unsaid. Anyway, the young one is unharmed. He appears miserable but has not suffered fundamental damage, nor is his life threatened.

We can observe from afar; perhaps today we'll witness a miracle," said Liekong.

Hearing such words from an Immortal Monk, the crowd felt somewhat reassured.

Gu Wudi’s appearance was truly pitiful, almost reduced to mere bones.

At this moment, Gu Wudi had his full attention focused on his own body.

The terrifying Reincarnation Pool was slowly corroding his body and soul, as if countless tiny millstones were grinding the ancient particles within him.

However, the force was not yet great enough to pose a significant threat.

It is said that the light of enlightenment shines most brightly in the face of life and death crises, yet the pool hadn’t reached that pivotal moment. It could only injure him severely and maintain him in this state.

To achieve a "fall and rise," merely lingering on the pool's surface was insufficient. Therefore, Gu Wudi turned his gaze to the pool's depths.

Seemingly aware of his thoughts, Liekong on the shore reminded him, "The divine liquid within the Reincarnation Pool is formed from the dissolved remains of generations of great virtuous high monks and ancient Buddhas of our Ancient Monk lineage.

However, some were so powerful in life that their skin and bones didn’t fully dissolve, piling up at the pool’s bottom. The closer to the bottom, the more potent the divine liquid’s power.

Surviving on the surface doesn’t guarantee survival at the bottom. You must be mindful of your limits and not lose your life through arrogance."

Gu Wudi nodded.

"Thank you for the warning, elder. I am aware of my own limits."

"That's good to know." Liekong nodded slightly, saying no more.

After that, Gu Wudi plunged into the pool, swimming toward the even more terrifying pressures waiting at the bottom.

Along the way, the threats of the lake water seemed to magnify rapidly, the peculiar demonic energy becoming more astonishing, as invisible grindstones emitted increasingly fearsome strength.

"Pop!"

Before even reaching the bottom, Gu Wudi's body exploded, shattered into pieces, unable to withstand the pressure far beyond his limits.

Even his primordial spirit was affected, bursting with radiant light, an inexplicable power tugging at it, as if trying to pull it from his skull.

It was at this moment that Gu Wudi felt the crisis of annihilation.

This lake was truly terrifying, dismantling him step by step, assimilating him, eventually refining him into essence to become part of the pool.

If not for his extraordinary cultivation, possessing a transcendent system based on using his body as a seed, he might have already collapsed and perished at the pool's bottom.

Should he continue downward?

Gu Wudi faced this difficult decision.

If he turned back now, he could immediately escape the crisis of annihilation, but if he continued downward, he might truly die.

"The Immortal Monk King of old dispersed all his Buddhist nature, entering the Reincarnation Pool without reciting sutras; he definitely didn't just stay on the surface but must have gone to the bottom, accepting the tempering of the Ancients' Staccato of Eighteen Strikes.

If I retreat now, I would miss the opportunities at the pool's bottom," he mused to himself before gritting his teeth and continuing downward.

Beyond the limits his body could endure, a terrifying force swept from all directions, impacting every particle seed within him.

Some particle seeds shattered, unable to withstand the pool's force, extinguished on the spot, assimilated into essence, yet some persisted resiliently, becoming more tenacious and powerful under the pool's forging.

Soon, Gu Wudi sensed changes within his body, a special vitality emerging from the ancient seeds, slowly strengthening him.

Meanwhile, the appearance of this special vitality also nourished his second path of immortal qi, gradually making it more robust.

Gu Wudi's spirits lifted, realizing it was indeed great fortune. Though his state was dire, his entire body torn apart, his cultivation was indeed growing stronger, giving him hope for rapid rise.

Even though it's painful here, he refused to leave.

Time ticked by second by second, and ever since Gu Wudi submerged into the Reincarnation Pool, he hadn't resurfaced. On the shore, the young monks, who initially remained calm, gradually became restless.

"What are you panicking for? This guy is no ordinary person, his vitality is incredibly strong, he won't die that easily," Liekong was rather composed.

Seeing his demeanor, the anxious young monks gradually settled down.

At the moment, beneath the Reincarnation Pool, Gu Wudi was relishing the surprise brought by the ever-growing second wisp of celestial energy.

If all went well, he could cultivate the second wisp of celestial energy to perfection within the pool, at which point he could attempt the final stage of refining essence into energy.

As for the ancient seeds within his body, some had been worn away, while others thrived after trials, surpassing their former selves, constantly exuding special vitality to nourish and strengthen the celestial energy.

The lost seeds would soon be replenished by new ones, a continuous cycle. Though he seemed in dire straits, the fortune he gained was immense, and his third-layer Qi refinement was advancing visibly with great momentum.

"Buzz!"

Finally, the second wisp of celestial energy reached perfection, as robust and powerful as the first, containing immense power, providing Gu Wudi with an endless supply of strength.

The two wisps of celestial energy circled his body, drawing together his broken form, stitching it back as if threading a needle.

Gu Wudi's body was restored.

From the lake bed, a surge of golden power rushed towards him.

"Puff!"

He was torn apart, shattered into pieces. His soul was forcibly extracted and separated from his body, the perfected two wisps of celestial energy following his soul.

"Boom..."

The golden energy surged, continually acting upon Gu Wudi's body and soul, imprisoning them as they drifted towards the lake bed.

Now, even if Gu Wudi wanted to ascend, it was impossible; the force from the lake bed was overwhelmingly powerful, he couldn't resist it.

At the bottom of the lake, the water was denser, imbued with immense power. Most terrifying were the piles of bones stretching endlessly, as if entering a graveyard.

It's unimaginable that while the lake water above glowed holy and translucent, below was so fearsome, the resting place for countless ancient monks and patriarchs.

Among these bones, some were shattered to dust, some highly decayed, and others gold in nature, perfectly preserved.

The golden force enveloping him emanated from these golden bones, sacredly enveloping him, thoroughly refining him.

A tremendous crisis loomed as Gu Wudi's soul and body were subjected to a terrifying refinement. His soul was continuously dissipating, and his body was melting beyond recognition. If this confinement and refinement continued, he might truly perish at the bottom of the pool.

The immediate priority was to reunite his soul and body; separated like this, he couldn't exert his full strength.

With a low roar, he activated two strands of celestial energy, pushed away the lake water, and leaped with force, trying to shake off the golden power and return to his body.

Just as success was within reach, at the critical moment, a force swept over him, leaving him back at the starting point.

Gu Wudi's expression changed as he looked toward the source, only to see a complete golden skull releasing energy, drawing his soul towards it.

Other skulls only attempted refinement, but this golden skull sought to steal his soul. It was disturbingly sinister, sending a shiver through his mind.

Could it be possible that the owner of the skull, an enlightened monk, wasn't completely dead and still had consciousness? Was he attempting to resurrect using Gu Wudi's soul and body?

Thinking of this, Gu Wudi immediately mobilized celestial energy to resist the pull of the golden skull.

However, under the dual pressure of the lake water and the golden force, he struggled to hold on as his soul disintegrated, finally unable to withstand it and being drawn to the golden skull.

"Not good."

Gu Wudi's soul reformed, precariously stopping just outside the golden skull, narrowly escaping being sucked inside. Who knew what awaited him within?

Before he could feel relieved, the golden skull emitted light, and indeed, a foreign consciousness began to manifest. Although vague and indistinct, it was undoubtedly real.

"Not entirely dead!"

Gu Wudi was shocked. In his vision, a mass of golden light shot out, charging directly at his soul.

"Boom!"

With a resounding crash, Gu Wudi's soul collided with the golden light, and a foreign intention emerged, accompanied by an eerie chant, beginning to erode Gu Wudi's will.

At this moment, the lake water disappeared, and Gu Wudi's soul was absorbed into a space with scripture all around, surrounding him. That foreign consciousness, like a venomous snake, lurked, ready to replace him.

Faced with such a strong takeover, he naturally wouldn't submit, fighting back with all his strength, with two strands of celestial energy spiraling around, forming a solid defense.

The enigmatic will sensed his resilience and didn't rush to act, instead patiently seeking an opportunity, animating countless Buddhist and Taoist scriptures to close in on Gu Wudi's soul bit by bit.

As powerful as Gu Wudi was, he was struggling to hold on at this moment. The space he was in was the territory of the foreign will, leaving him too passive.

If the two strands of celestial energy hadn't accompanied him, he might have already been possessed successfully.

Exerting all his methods, Gu Wudi resisted the scriptures around him and simultaneously discovered a wisp of black energy floating among the scriptures, observing for an opportunity. It seemed that should he reveal any sign of faltering, it would immediately strike.

In the nick of time, Gu Wudi suddenly felt a warmth in his soul. A brilliant light erupted from above his head as the Flower of the Buddha-Dao unexpectedly reappeared, drawn forth by the chanting of vast Buddhist scriptures, blooming in the void and emitting a holy radiance.

Seeing this Flower of the Buddha-Dao, the black aura scattered like a startled bird, hastily withdrawing from the Buddhist scriptures, but it was already too late.

The light shone dazzlingly, its Buddhist intent immense. The black aura found nowhere to hide and ultimately let out a scream before turning to ashes and vanishing.

As the black aura faded away, a virtuous and wise monk appeared in its place, holding prayer beads. He looked at the Flower of the Buddha-Dao above Gu Wudi's head with a gentle expression.

“The heart holds attachments, difficult to extinguish over ages past. I had intended to find nirvana in the Pool of Reincarnation, dissolving everything into emptiness. Who could have imagined that it would backfire, birthing malevolent intent that almost harmed the benefactor? This is truly a sin.”

“May I ask the monk's Dharma name?” Gu Wudi paid no mind; it was not unusual for malevolent intent to arise after death.

“This humble monk is named Puyu. This thread of attachment has been purified by the Flower of the Buddha-Dao, gaining rare clarity, though it will soon dissipate.

This Śarīra is left to the benefactor. Cause and effect are intertwined; every action predestined.” With these words, the old monk smiled and dispersed into a cloud of radiant mist.

“Master!”

Gu Wudi wanted to speak further, but it was already too late.

“Śarīra? Is it this space?”

Slightly startled, he began to examine his surroundings more closely. Once the malevolent black aura had receded, this space revealed its true form.

Within the void, tomes of Buddhist scriptures flickered into view; one moment they were ancient, yellowed Buddhist texts, the next instant becoming an enigmatic Buddhist symbol.

Every Buddhist scripture was profound and unfathomable, requiring years of persistent reading to comprehend their mysteries.

In addition, there was an almost tangible Buddhist intent emitting a dazzling golden light—the essence of a lifetime of arduous cultivation by an enlightened monk, immeasurably precious.

Typically, such a Śarīra would be preserved by the Ancient Monk lineage and only revealed to an awakened soul or one with predestined fate, thereupon creating a great monk. However, there was a strict condition: the recipient of the Śarīra must belong to the Ancient Monk lineage.

For outsiders, obtaining such a Śarīra was nearly impossible.

That Gu Wudi could acquire one now was indeed fortuitous, and moreover, this Śarīra seemed to be of quite a high level.

Without overthinking it, he willed himself to re-appear at the lake bottom, where waters surged instantly. While casting spells to defend himself, Gu Wudi turned and pocketed the golden Śarīra.

If it were anyone else, they might face a dilemma about whether to use this Śarīra from a great enlightened monk as an ancient seed to embark on the path of the Ancient Monk lineage. But for Gu Wudi, there was no such worry.

Because he had broken the shackles of the Seed of Dao method with his own body as the seed, it was no longer confined to one method per body. Previously, he had already subdued the Ten Thousand Calamity Fire and the Heaven Paradise Flame, as well as the Celestial Seed, so adding another Śarīra was no concern.

Once he subdued this Śarīra, Gu Wudi could unlock those profound Buddhist scriptures and obtain the various great techniques of the Ancient Monk lineage.