"Dong dong dong..."

In the extremely quiet Zen Room, Chen Kuang almost heard his own heartbeat accelerate in an instant.

The eerie smile on Xiuzhu’s face lasted only for a moment before reverting back to his original innocent look, with a hint of nervousness in his expression.

But clearly, it wasn’t Chen Kuang’s illusion; it was the enigmatic "second personality" that had emerged again to enjoy the spectacle.

And seemingly... Either he’s aware or he’s in cahoots with these three monstrous beings before him.

Chen Kuang calmed down instantly, retracting his gaze and ignoring Xiuzhu’s sudden change of demeanor.

In any case... this couldn’t be a state that a normal Cultivator would exhibit.

Chen Kuang himself practiced the "Mud Golden Sculpting Technique," and among the primary cultivation techniques of the three Great Zen Masters, this should also be included.

Nevertheless, their current state is entirely contrary to the Mud Golden Sculpting Technique.

The Mud Golden Sculpting Technique cultivates the Leakless Golden Body.

The ultimate goal of honing the physical body is to refine every inch of skin, leaving no flaw, not even the pores.

But now, these three, except for Silent Zen Master, couldn’t be farther from a Leakless Golden Body, those gaping holes before him were utterly leaking...

And the appearance of Silent Zen Master with his mouth vanished is clearly not part of a legitimate cultivation process.

Chen Kuang dared not look at the pools of filthy blood falling to the ground.

Pure Land... At this very moment, this name is truly spine-chilling.

Xiuzhu, seemingly oblivious and unaware, stepped forward first, joined his hands, and first looked at Buwen:

"Master."

Then he looked at the other two:

"Master Bujian, Silent Zen Master."

Chen Kuang also followed suit and walked forward to pay respects, his nose suddenly catching an even more obvious stench, hesitated for a moment, and said solemnly:

"Disciple... ’Lion Heart’, pays respect to the three Great Zen Masters."

Buwen lifted his head to look at him, gazing into his eyes, showing a benevolent and kind smile:

"A person with innate wisdom has little connection with past lives, you needn’t be attached to this name, just be yourself."

If it weren’t for being able to see the wriggling brain clearly before him, upon hearing these words, Chen Kuang would certainly have thought that the Pure Land’s Great Zen Master indeed possessed a merciful heart, so understanding.

But at this moment...

"Thud!"

Chen Kuang’s brow twitched, catching sight of a white piece of flesh mixed with filthy blood dropping from the blood hole in the left ear of the amiably smiling Master Buwen.

That faintly wriggling white flesh stretched itself towards the sky, struggling in the filthy blood, countless gastropods twitched randomly.

What’s crawling in that ear hole wasn’t a brain at all... It was countless plump, white maggots.

Chen Kuang tugged the corner of his mouth into a smile:

"Had it not been for the cultivation technique of ’Lion Heart’, I would have perished in Liang Kingdom long ago, hence, I am willing to inherit his mantle and last wish."

Knowing that the Telepathy of these three Zen Masters would only be stronger than Du Guan’s, he dared not lie, therefore, he pieced together parts of the truth to form a "truth".

He indeed practiced using the ’Lion Heart’ cultivation technique to ultimately escape Liang Kingdom, but it was taught to him by Huo Hengxuan.

After hearing the story of the nameless monk, he truly wished to inherit the mantle and last wish of ’Lion Heart’, only his "kindness" would be more principled than "Lion Heart".

Upon hearing this, Master Bujian nodded in relief, speaking gently:

"Since that is the case, after your ordination, you shall use ’Lion Heart’ as your Dharma name."

Chen Kuang pondered for a while, then replied:

"Disciple is afraid he cannot be ordained."

"Oh?"

The three Zen Masters didn’t seem angry, only somewhat surprised.

Buwen looked at him and patiently asked:

"How come you can’t?"

Chen Kuang said, "Disciple’s earthly ties are yet unresolved, and thus cannot take refuge."

Buwen contemplated and seemingly found logic in this, saying:

"You are destined for Buddha, yet unenlightened, your senses unclean, indeed, you may take your time; here in the Pure Land, when you lay down your murderous intent and worldly affairs... only then undergo ordination."

"At present, you can be a lay disciple, cultivating with hair."

Chen Kuang’s probing didn’t receive much reaction, but in Buwen’s words, he sensed a slightly different implication.

"During cultivation, are you unable to leave the Pure Land?"

Master Bujian chuckled and said: "Naturally you can, just look at Xiuzhu, didn’t he just venture out once?"

"It’s only that, you have many enemies outside, which is a part of your earthly ties that need severing. When will vengeance end? The more you confront it, the deeper you fall into it; better to peacefully cultivate in the Pure Land, lay down your killing blade, and then become Buddha."

It seems... they weren’t unaware of one of Chen Kuang’s purposes in coming here either.

Chen Kuang remained silent for a while, joined his hands in salute, saying:

"Disciple understands."

Buwen nodded and said: "Since that’s the case, you should first reside in the Zen Room beside the Mirror Platform on the west side of the monastery, reflect quietly; if there’s anything unclear, feel free to seek us three anytime."

He chuckled: "Especially Silent Zen Master, he is Lion Heart’s master, you can also consider him your master."

Chen Kuang thought to himself, then I definitely shouldn’t speak a word with him.

He looked at Silent Zen Master, who seemed most normal, and paid respect.

Silent Zen Master remained silent, yet his gaze was very gentle.

The three Great Zen Masters conversed with Xiuzhu for a while longer, testing his accomplishments and the harvest from his outing; in the end, they let him lead Chen Kuang to the Mirror Platform to rest, with no mishaps occurring.

As Chen Kuang walked out the door, the door of the Zen Room closed slowly by itself.

He glanced back, those three Zen Masters’ distorted faces were obscured in darkness, yet he faintly seemed to still hear the sticky sound of those maggots writhing.

Xiuzhu said: "The Mirror Platform is certainly a good place, in the courtyard there’s the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment; they say that looking at it more can lead to extraordinary realizations."

He awkwardly scratched his head: "But perhaps I’m too untalented, no matter how I look at it, it’s just an ordinary Bodhi Tree, every time Master instructs me to reflect, I fall asleep under it."

Chen Kuang suddenly asked, "Is there only one Buddha’s Son in Pure Land right now?"

Xiuzhu shook his head: "Of course not, in this generation, there’s also a senior brother named Xiuxin, he should be in the monastery now."

Indeed, at the Mirror Platform, there stood a towering Bodhi Tree.

Chen Kuang raised his head, squinted his eyes.

After a long day of turmoil, it was already night now; through the dense leaves of the Bodhi Tree, under its hazy glimmering aura, the stars in the sky were faintly visible.

"You’ve come..."

Suddenly, a faint female voice came to Chen Kuang’s ears.

His expression suddenly turned grim, his Divine Sense covering the surroundings; besides Xiuzhu, there was no one else, yet this voice seemed right before him!

Chen Kuang’s thoughts turned sharply, raising his head to stare at the Bodhi Tree.

Could it be...

Xiuzhu halted, turned back with a smile, and said:

"Chen Kuang, have you heard of this saying?"

Seeing his expression, Chen Kuang realized the "second personality" had emerged again.

He remained silent.

Xiuzhu looked at him, still smiling, continued word by word:

"In the age of decay, the Celestial Dao is destroyed, and Mara obliterates the Tathagata."