Chapter 80: Opening the Buddha Gate
Ning Zhuo immediately reviewed every instance of activating the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, identifying their common points.
He quickly noticed that every time the seal activated, it was during moments when he was anxious and his mental state was unbalanced.
It happened when he officially took action, using the seal to command the mechanical ape to revolt.
It also occurred when Zhu Xuanji saved Yuan Dasheng.
When Ning Zhuo broke into the back courtyard bedroom and saw the unconscious Yuan Dasheng, he almost lost control and attacked.
After persuading Yuan Er to cooperate, Yuan Er refused to hand over Yuan Dasheng, which made Ning Zhuo restless, nearly prompting him to take action again.
“Is this the clash of fate, disrupting my peace of mind? If my emotions spiral out of control, any mistake I make would give Yuan Dasheng a new opportunity for survival.”
“On one hand, I relied on my rationality, forcing myself to remain calm; on the other hand, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal was secretly supporting me, helping me through at least four critical moments.”
“Saving others may turn one into a demon, while saving oneself turns one into a Buddha!”
Realizing this truth, Ning Zhuo broke into a cold sweat once again.
It turned out that this situation harbored hidden dangers that Ning Zhuo hadn’t noticed. If he hadn’t learned about the theory of fate from Han Ming, he might not have understood it for a long time.
“It appears that the Buddha Heart Demon Seal might be a treasure capable of stabilizing one’s fate. Activating the Buddha statue’s blessing can prevent emotional interference caused by the clash of fate, guarding against errors in judgment.”
Ning Zhuo was secretly delighted; through this ordeal, he discovered yet another function of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.
“However, with this newfound insight, my aptitude may not be as remarkable as I previously thought.”
Earlier, he estimated that he possessed supreme aptitude. But now, he suspected he might only possess high-level talent. This time, the elimination of Yuan Dasheng was due in part to Yuan Dasheng being encumbered by Yuan Er and in part to Ning Zhuo’s own benefit from the seal’s protection.
Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on the meditation mat, practicing the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique.
“A clear mirror is unclouded, a vehicle for nurturing the heart. It reflects the emptiness of the five aggregates, helping one transcend all suffering and adversity.”
“Observing the emptiness of all phenomena, neither arising nor ceasing, neither pure nor defiled, neither increasing nor decreasing. Reflecting upon one’s true nature, remaining constant in the heart, without form, without sensation, thought, or consciousness, without the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind, without sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, or thought, without the eye-realm up to the mind-consciousness realm, without ignorance, nor the end of ignorance…”
After a stick of incense, Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, his face showing a trace of joy.
“Third level of Spirit Refinement.”
“I can finally open that Buddha gate and proceed with exploration.”
Upon learning about the theory of fate, Ning Zhuo pondered where his own opportunity might lie.
The greatest possibility was the Lava Immortal Palace.
Currently cultivating all three dantians simultaneously, he had reached the third levels in Qi Refinement and Essence Refinement, with Spirit Refinement slightly lagging behind but now catching up.
Without hesitation, Ning Zhuo responded to the “Trial Disciple” mark, sending his soul into the Immortal Palace.
Relying on various spells, Ning Zhuo advanced smoothly, swiftly arriving before the three gates.
The Dao Gate and Demon Gate both presented considerable difficulty; Ning Zhuo believed he could pass them, but it would require a significant amount of time and energy.
Furthermore, the death crisis posed by Yuan Dasheng had necessitated handling that matter first.
“What lies behind the Buddha Gate?”
“I hope it brings positive change.”
Ning Zhuo pushed open the door and entered.
The room beyond the door was filled with coffins.
Not only were coffins on the floor, but even within the walls, and several were suspended from the ceiling by iron chains.
The sight took Ning Zhuo by surprise.
“At least it’s not the obstacles or puppets of the Dao or Demon Gates.”
At this moment.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit’s face was solemn and intense, its gaze piercing as it focused intently on Ning Zhuo.
Though it didn’t want to provide any hints, it had no choice; it conveyed key information directly into Ning Zhuo’s mind through the Life Hanging by a Thread technique.
“Use the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique to sense the spiritual essence within each coffin from a distance. Once successful, you can open the coffin lid.”
“Choose one and send it to the fire for cremation to obtain a spirit-infused mechanism creation.”
“You may also transport corpses from the outside, deliver them to the fire, and obtain a corresponding mechanism.”
“Note: This mechanism must be maintained with caution, and it can be transferred in and out of the Lava Immortal Palace!”
Receiving the information, Ning Zhuo immediately set to work.
With his Mirror Platform Spirit Technique at the third level, communicating with some of the coffins on the ground was not difficult.
Quickly, he managed to open a few coffins, discovering that inside lay a Fire Serpent, a Fire Velvet Rat, and a Flame Shadow Flower.
All things possess spiritual essence.
Ning Zhuo then attempted to connect with the vertical coffins embedded in the four walls. Though it was challenging, he could faintly sense that they, too, contained creatures from Mount Huoshi, whether beasts or spirit plants, each with higher strength and deeper spiritual essence than the ones he had found earlier.
“This implies that the corpses within the hanging coffins must be the highest grade,” Ning Zhuo mused, tilting his head as he used the Suspension Ring to hoist himself up.
He touched the surface of a suspended coffin, fully activating the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique. This time, he sensed only a faint, indistinct spiritual presence.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched every move, its claws clenched tightly, clearly on edge.
After his investigation, Ning Zhuo surveyed the area, finally focusing on one vertical coffin within the wall. “Given my current Spirit Refinement level, this Fire Serpent in the coffin seems the most suitable target.”
Thinking this, Ning Zhuo tilted his head, lengthening his line to lower himself back down to the target vertical coffin.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit snorted, eager to see Ning Zhuo attempt to sense this coffin.
However, Ning Zhuo halted, hesitating.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit grew more tense, let out a low growl, and spat out a small flame as though urging him on.
As Ning Zhuo stood there, deep in thought, unmoving, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit sensed that something was wrong and began clawing at the ground in a clear display of agitation.
What drew Ning Zhuo’s attention was a line of information: “You may also transport corpses from the outside, deliver them to the fire, and obtain a corresponding mechanism.”
The more Ning Zhuo pondered, the more curious he became. “If I were to capture a Golden Core stage demon beast alive and bring it into the Lava Immortal Palace, wouldn’t I then acquire a mechanism far superior to the standard?”
A Golden Core stage demon beast was beyond his current capabilities.
But Ning Zhuo naturally thought of Yuan Dasheng!
Yuan Dasheng’s soul was bound to the Righteous Bone Gold Frame, making it difficult to handle. Ning Zhuo planned to extract his bones to create a mechanism.
But now, an opportunity was right before him.
He wouldn’t need to process Yuan Dasheng’s corpse himself; he merely had to bring it inside and let the Lava Immortal Palace handle it, and he would receive a mechanism in return.
The thought thrilled Ning Zhuo.
This approach would save him substantial effort and eliminate numerous risks, for the sooner Yuan Dasheng’s body was dealt with, the better.
Additionally, Ning Zhuo had always felt that his expertise in mechanism techniques wasn’t particularly advanced, and he placed more trust in the skills of the Three Sect Lords.
“Bring Yuan Dasheng’s body in!” Ning Zhuo decided.
But how would he do that?
Ning Zhuo questioned himself inwardly.
Logically, this was the moment the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit should offer guidance.
However, at this moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit clamped its mouth shut, withstanding the strikes of fire whips, stubbornly refusing to respond!
Ning Zhuo exited the Immortal Palace and returned to the outside world.
He approached Yuan Dasheng’s corpse, pondered a moment, and reinserted the blood essence he had previously drawn back into the ape’s body.
He took out two storage bags, filling them with supplies and placing them on and inside the ape’s body.
Next, he lay beside the corpse, one hand touching the ape’s body while sensing the Trial Disciple mark.
In the next instant, he was back in the room behind the Buddha Gate, Yuan Dasheng’s corpse beside him.
He succeeded!