Some of the books on the ground opened during their fall, revealing the scriptures inside. But to Zhang Chen, they were worthless—just fragmented scriptures, making up less than one percent of the complete book. What use was reading them?
"Let’s go to the third layer. The third layer must contain the most important classics of the entire temple, hiding within it the core legacy of the temple." Fox Fairy Nannan repeated her old trick, exhaling a breath, causing countless books to turn to ashes. Then, she rushed directly toward the staircase to the third layer.
As soon as Fox Fairy Nannan set one foot on the third staircase, she seemed to be caught by a Body-Stabilizing Technique, standing there motionless.
"Why aren’t you moving?" Zhang Chen sensed something was wrong and, standing behind Fox Fairy Nannan, asked.
Fox Fairy Nannan still stood there without responding to Zhang Chen, her body trembling on the staircase, and ripples emanating from her spirit form.
"There’s something strange about these stairs." Zhang Chen fixed his gaze on the stairs, not daring to step forward lightly, and instead watched the back of Fox Fairy Nannan, waiting for her response.
Just as Zhang Chen was considering whether to summon Fox Fairy Nannan back, he saw her take another step, now standing completely on the staircase. Then, she took a second step up to the second stair.
This time, Fox Fairy Nannan stood for even longer, three times the duration of the first step. Then, with a grimace and gritted teeth, she stepped onto the third stair, taking seven times as long as before.
Fourth stair
Fifth stair
...
Upon reaching the sixth stair, Fox Fairy Nannan suddenly let out a miserable scream: "Zhang Chen, you treacherous dog, I, Fox Fairy Nannan, will never forgive you."
In an instant, Fox Fairy Nannan exploded, and Zhang Chen felt a disturbance within the Dragon Qi as she was reborn inside it.
Zhang Chen quickly called her back, then asked, "What happened when you stepped on those stairs? How did you suddenly die?"
"The stairs contain a strange power that can stir a person’s emotions and desires, revealing their vulnerabilities, making them fall into an illusion realm they can’t escape from." Fox Fairy Nannan glanced at the stairs and then turned her head to look at Zhang Chen, saying, "These stairs test the power of the mind, requiring profound Buddhist techniques to turn willpower into the strength to break through the various illusions and reach the third floor’s Scripture Pavilion. These stairs aren’t something we can climb; we should leave quickly to avoid getting trapped and losing our lives."
"If you can’t break through the illusion realm once you start climbing the stairs, you’ll be identified as an invading enemy and killed within the illusions. The most crucial part is, once you take the first step, there’s no turning back."
Fox Fairy Nannan’s eyes looked at the stairs, which had thirteen in total, made of some unknown wood, looking quite extraordinary.
"What did you experience in the final phase of the illusion?" Zhang Chen thought about the curse she had shouted and asked.
Upon hearing this, Fox Fairy Nannan’s face changed, her gaze evasive, unable to meet Zhang Chen’s eyes, and her eyes drifted toward the stairs, "Just now on the sixth stair, I encountered an unprecedented formidable enemy. That enemy was incredibly cunning, sinister, and ruthless, a lifelong nightmare of mine. We fought three hundred rounds, and unbeknownst to me, that enemy plotted against me in secret, ultimately suppressing and slaying me. That enemy is truly despicable, deserving of being cut to pieces."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen’s face pulled tight, resentment filling his heart; if it weren’t for Fox Spirit’s shout at the end, he might have believed her lies.
Nevertheless, he didn’t expose her falsehood and said, "Tell me more about the illusions on those stairs."
"The illusions on those stairs use thirteen forces of emotions and desires as catalysts, forming thirteen checkpoints that continuously test human nature." Fox Fairy Nannan looked at Zhang Chen, completely unaware that the truth of her illusory battle with Zhang Chen had slipped out, "All sentient beings in Heaven and Earth, regardless of cultivation level, will spin in the sea of emotions and desires. Even with perfect willpower, there’s an unfixable flaw. Emotions and desires form a grand web that none can escape."
Zhang Chen nodded, acknowledging that Fox Fairy Nannan’s words made sense. Even Buddha has desires and seeks greater power and cultivation; that’s desire.
Only a Saint can restrain and transcend desire, seeing through illusions yet not being ensnared by them.
Reflecting on her words, Zhang Chen asked, "So, even disciples of Buddhism cannot enter? Because even they have unquenchable desires."
"Of course," Fox Fairy Nannan nodded, "But I suspect those monks have spells and divine techniques to reduce or suppress the illusions’ power, thus allowing entrance to the third layer for higher-tier legacies."
Considering her words, Zhang Chen mused that since the monastery provided workaround methods for its disciples, he should have a way inside.
When it comes to controlling illusions, who can rival the Great Freedom Celestial Demon?
As thoughts flickered through his mind, Zhang Chen summoned Fox Fairy Nannan back and a black lotus petal appeared in his palm. The Great Freedom Celestial Demon emerged within the Scripture Pavilion.
"Hmm, is this a spiritual world?" The moment the Great Freedom Celestial Demon appeared, he sensed the place’s nature and turned his gaze to the stairs, momentarily astonished.
"What do you see, Ancestor?" Zhang Chen noticed the Great Freedom Celestial Demon staring at the thirteen stairs and asked.
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon snapped back, sighing softly, "This is the Buddhist path of mental refinement, typically found in places like the Hidden Gold Pavilion, set as a test for disciples. Only those with sufficient mental cultivation can qualify for higher-level Buddhist techniques."
Looking around the room, seeing the scattered ashes of paper, the realization dawned: "Is this the Scripture Pavilion?"
Zhang Chen nodded, "Yes, it is the Scripture Pavilion, and I want to go to the third layer to see if any true teachings remain."
He then turned to the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, "Do you know the history of this temple?"
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon finished speaking and hurried out of the Scripture Pavilion, circled around the temple, and returned to Zhang Chen with a perplexed expression: "I don’t know the temple’s history, but it seems to be a tale of someone cheated, traveling tirelessly to a spiritual world, only to meet with disaster."
"Why do you say that?" Zhang Chen pressed, knowing the Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s words held some story.
The Great Freedom Celemon paused, surprised: "It’s strange, why did I say that? I really don’t know, my memories are too jumbled."
Zhang Chen studied him, observing no hint of deceit, and asked, "Is there a way to overcome the trials of emotions and desires?"
"Heh, what’s my specialty, Ancestor? This is my forte. You just walk ahead; I’ll suppress the desires in your heart." Turning to Zhang Chen, his eyes carried a peculiar look: "Besides, aren’t you silly? The entire temple’s already damaged, the Scripture Pavilion’s array stopped working. Why must you enter through the stairs? Can’t you go through a window?"
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s gaze seemed to perceive Zhang Chen like a fool.