Mighty flames roared fiercely, consuming all within moments, causing the Golden Furnace to collapse and out came the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.
Southern Bean Empress stood by as a spectator and upon seeing the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, she couldn't help but falter slightly, "It clearly started as a Jiao Snake, so why does its spiritual nature seem akin to a Dragon Turtle?"
Initially bewildered, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit soon burst into an angry roar towards the three monks.
One of the monks reached out and grasped the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, pulling it into the palm of his hand.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was compressed to a minuscule size, looking up at the three monks as a mere mortal would gaze at towering pillars and Buddha.
The monks slowly spoke, "In eight hundred years, the slaughter of heaven and earth will unfold, sweeping across the universe, blood swaying like pendulums, corpses sprawled everywhere."
"From where the dragon-snakes rise, kings will frequently emerge. Saints will descend to purify the world."
"You, the Fire-Walking Jiao Snake, are the quintessence of ten thousand soul powers, born amid endless fire poison of the mountain, shaped by geothermal energy."
"You inherently carry heavy sins."
"If left to your natural growth, you would be slain by a newly risen king, your intrinsic essence serving as his material, contributing to his imperial conquest."
"Today, I grant you salvation once."
"Henceforth, you shall serve as the Palace Spirit, controlling the Immortal Palace, guarding the Persimmon Fire Mountain."
"As long as from now on, Persimmon Fire Mountain remains harmonious and no innocent suffers from chaos. Just wait seven hundred twenty years, and you will have cleared your innate sins, shedding your Turtle Shell to truly possess the spirit of a Jiao Dragon."
"Look."
The monk slightly raised his palm, signaling the Dragon Spirit to observe its former snake body.
Though a Fire-Walking Jiao, it possessed immortal aptitude!
When its life reached the Nascent Soul Level, its immortal aptitude would naturally transform into a divine power — Spirit Gathering into Crystal.
This divine skill could collect spiritual energy, continuously compressing it until it reaches its limit and turns into solid crystal stones, thus forming Spirit Crystals.
The body lineage of the Runaway Fire Snake was inherently composed of intangible flames. Yet, it wasn't ordinary, compressing its Fire-attribute spiritual energy continuously, Spirit Gathering into Crystal, transforming into a sturdy Jiao Snake body.
The monk continued, "Your body, reserved for you, only you can use it."
"Upon fulfilling seven hundred twenty years, you may utilize the Lava Fairy Palace to construct a mechanical hull with it, free yourself from the cage, and wander freely between heaven and earth."
Having finished explaining, the monk gently threw the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit into the great hall of the Immortal Palace, placing the Fire Crystal Jiao Body into the palace's treasury.
The monk pointed towards the Persimmon Fire Mountain with his index finger.
Consequentially, the Lava Fairy Palace began to descend rapidly.
Seeing the testimonial object of love between herself and the monk about to sink into the mountain to suppress the volcano, Southern Bean Empress couldn't help but exclaim, "Sanlang, must you really do this? How merciless of you!"
"Where is your love?"
"You once said, even if you entered the Buddhist Sect, you would still possess love!!"
The monk put his palms together and chanted, "Thus have I heard: The Tathagata is compassionate, spreading great love, reaching beyond all boundaries. Great love, from the heart source of Buddha, is the welfare of all beings... If a Bodhisattva harbors great love, all under heaven and earth are kin. No high nor low, all are beings, cared for equally, offered selflessly... Therefore, the Bodhisattva views the suffering of all beings as their own, their heart as vast as the ocean, compassion boundless..."
Southern Bean Empress, full of anger, interrupted, "Sanlang, stop reciting!"
The monk sighed, "This is the great love of the Buddhist Sect, not the love of desires."
Southern Bean Empress snapped, "I don't understand!"
The monk paused briefly, "Love, is compassion."
Hesitating for a moment, he added, "Love, is letting go."
As he spoke, the Lava Fairy Palace had already descended onto the summit of Persimmon Fire Mountain.
"Sanlang!" Southern Bean Empress stared sorrowfully at the monk, crying mournfully, "I can't let go!"
Yet, the monk maintained his palms together, under his drooping eyelids, his gaze seemed to pierce through a millennium.
He softly intoned:
"Golden Furnace Red Fire refines the spirit, Immortal Palace Burial Mountain aids the world."
"I advise the Southern Emperor to release her obsessions, old feelings drift away like smoke, clearing former dust."
"All beings suffer from heavy desires, mistaking themselves the masters in puppet bodies."
"Buddha's compassion constitutes great love, letting go of barriers makes the path complete."
Southern Bean Empress was utterly heartbroken, shedding tears of despair. Yet, her pride as an empress prevented her from fleeing.
She gritted her teeth, forcefully channeling her mana, extracting a treasure from the palace.
The treasure fell into her hands, revealing its true form — a mirror surrounded by a vividly lifelike Golden Phoenix, exquisitely beautiful. It was indeed the Golden Phoenix Mirror!
The monk felt a stir in his heart, and for the first time, subtly shifted his body to look towards Southern Bean Empress.
Southern Bean Empress grimly said, "This is my belonging, I don't intend to contribute to your compassion."
But the monk merely shook his head slightly, "Southern Emperor, you weren't destined to be a ruler, yet you established a domain, relying on my Life Hanging Divine Power."
"If you leave behind the Golden Phoenix Mirror, it means repaying the cause and effect. This, for you, is ultimately a good thing."
Southern Bean Empress was momentarily stunned, then emotionally responded, "Indeed, Sanlang, you really have me in your heart!"
The monk seemed moved, his eyes twinkling, "So it is, so it is."
Saying this, he drew a Treasure Seal from his bosom.
The Magic Treasure Seal, resembling gold and jade, embodied both Buddha and Demon on its two sides. With the Buddha's side compassionate and the Demon's head fierce, it was indeed extraordinarily unique.
It was the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!
The monk directly threw the Treasure Seal into the Immortal Palace.
Southern Bean Empress was shocked, "Sanlang, how could you discard such a precious treasure? How will you protect yourself later?"
"I shouldn't have been rash, I'll return the Golden Phoenix Mirror now, please retrieve the Treasure Seal quickly."
The monk, however, changed from his seated posture, stood up, and just before leaving, he slightly turned, "The cause and effect are settled. Since you took this Golden Phoenix Mirror, henceforth, please protect the legacy of the Immortal Palace on my behalf."
With those words, his figure was like drifting feathers, his shadow light yet swift as lightning, vanishing into the depths of the sky within a blink, resembling a wisp of blue smoke disappearing into the heavens.
Southern Bean Empress, suppressed by an invisible force, unable to move, could only watch in despair as the monk's silhouette disappeared into the horizon.
Her heart was devastated, she screamed hoarsely, "Sanlang——!"
Her voice, mournful, resonating like the cry of a cuckoo shedding blood, reverberated through the heavens and earth, rending hearts and shattering souls.