My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Thousands of acres of crystal clear glass set off a tranquil scene within the Buddha tower.

Along the way, they encountered several incarnate Buddhas, all of whom were sliced to pieces by Chen Yi.

Afterward, Yin Tingxue would recite the scriptures for transcendence.

The female crown found it increasingly strange as she watched.

This Princess Xiang didn't look like someone from the mountains. Though she mastered the Heavenly Ear Technique, she had never truly practiced. So how could she perform transcendence?

Could it be that this cousin from the same sect secretly practiced Buddhist Law? Isn't she afraid of Chen Yi finding out?

The realm of Buddhism is a subject of debate, with each sect having its interpretation. A common idea is the division into the three vehicles and ten grounds. The three vehicles, in layman's terms, are the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.

Like those monks from the Western Region, at a glance, you can tell they practice the Hinayana Buddhism of Esoteric Buddhism but seem influenced by the Central Plains, incorporating some Mahayana Zen principles.

As for Yin Tingxue, the female crown couldn't determine which of the three vehicles she belonged to, as if she transcended them all.

"Thus have I heard, once Shakyamuni Buddha was staying at Jetavana Monastery in the country of Śrāvastī..."

Yin Tingxue murmured softly, and the souls within the incarnate Buddha converged around the girl's voice.

The souls gathered into human form, feeling sorrow and joy, witnessing this, the female crown clicked her tongue in surprise:

She didn't perform any rituals, didn't twirl prayer beads, didn't wear a Kasaya, yet just from these transcendental scriptures, she led the souls into the cycle of six realms of rebirth.

Isn't this the legendary ability of speaking lotus flowers into existence, and having words follow the law?

Many esteemed monks chant scriptures all their lives, meditate for a lifetime, but can't achieve this. Her abilities within this Buddha tower, if seen by others, would surely drive those conceited enlightened monks to spit blood and grow three thousand strands of predestined troubles overnight.

Yin Weiyin felt relieved that she was not taken away by Master Yu Zhenyuan, otherwise, she would have become a competitor for the Dao, overshadowing her every day, and she would never see the day of enlightenment until her death.

Having one foe is misfortune enough, and another competitor would mean she'll never rise again...

The souls gathered like wind, sweeping toward the depths of the corridor, and Chen Yi observed this scene.

Yin Weiyin marveled at the Princess Xiang's divine abilities, and how could he not?

However, unlike Yin Weiyin, he felt more cautious.

Yin Tingxue said that the Medicine Buddha had a face like hers, could it be that within this Buddha tower, this little fox was already seen as a half Medicine Buddha, or an heir to the Medicine Buddha?

Moreover, the Bhikkhuni wanted her to emulate Shakyamuni Buddha, transcending in the secular world...

It was clear, another celestial and Buddhist scheme was underway.

The group continued forward, walking down a corridor radiant with light.

The road to where those souls were headed was the same road they were walking on.

Yin Weiyin was puzzled but didn't remain puzzled for long.

They seemed to have reached the center of the Buddha tower, a series of circular corridors spiraling upwards, resembling a towering Tower of Babel, and at the center of the circle stood a statue of a Buddha pinching a lotus.

The solemn Buddha statue seemed to smile.

Yin Weiyin witnessed countless souls transformed by Princess Xiang being absorbed like wisps of smoke into the lotus.

As if the stone lotus contained the six realms of rebirth within it.

The corridor led to a staircase connecting to the stone lotus.

Chen Yi didn't rush forward but had the three girls stay put while he circled around to check the surroundings.

Surrounding them were nothing but thick walls. A gentle knock revealed a muffled echo, proving they were solid.

There was only this one path, so they had no choice but to proceed slowly up the staircase.

When they approached the stone lotus.

The Buddha statue suddenly emanated Buddha Light.

A halo of dazzling golden white light swallowed up all vision, the surroundings seemed to lose color rapidly, which then quickly filled in again, distorting in dark twists.

Once the halo faded.

Withered grass, sunset slanting, distant smoke rising, looking up one could see broken tiles, the scene in front of them resembled a desolate temple.

The group paused in amazement.

But Yin Weiyin was the first to respond, exclaiming:

"One flower, one world, it turns out this Buddha tower forms... a small world."

Chen Yi snapped out of it after hearing her words. Though never stepping foot in the Joyful Sect in his previous life, he had some understanding of the supernatural of both Buddhism and Taoism.

The scene in front of them was undoubtedly the Buddhist's small world technique.

And when they came over, there was only one path.

Which meant that Prince of Annan was likely somewhere in this small world, or at the end of it.

With this in mind, Chen Yi's mind settled down.

Yin Tingxue and Miss Donggong curiously looked around, repeatedly marveling, as this was an unprecedented experience for them.

Behind them stood a Buddha statue, depicted with a big belly and hearty laughter, undoubtedly Maitreya Buddha.

The pillars around were covered in cobwebs, yet the Buddha statue was spotless, indicating someone frequently cleaned it. As Chen Yi was observing the details, a small sound of footsteps came from outside.

A little novice monk carrying a broom walked in, widened his eyes upon seeing the sudden appearance of four people.

"Who, who are you all?!"

The little novice monk exclaimed.

Chen Yi came back to his senses and asked the novice monk first:

"Where is this place?"

The little novice monk's eyes darted, and he replied:

"Just a small village, Thousand Buddha Village."

Thousand Buddha Village… such a name sounded indeed peculiar to the ears.

After pondering, Chen Yi said:

"Take us there."

The little novice monk showed no expression, nodded, immediately put down the broom, and led the way.

He led them out of the abandoned temple, hints of smoke rising from the distant village.

The neglected village path covered in wild grass was bathed in the slanting rays of the sun, casting a veiled mystique. The little novice monk listened to the man's sporadic questions, some simple, others less easy to answer.

When the man asked why the place was called Thousand Buddha Village, the little novice monk truthfully replied:

"Every household worships Buddha, everyone possesses scriptures, and many have Buddha statues, hence the name Thousand Buddha Village."

"So, are you saying you're boasting?"

The little novice monk frowned, anger flaring at his brow:

"A monk doesn't lie. If it's said there are a thousand Buddhas, then there are truly a thousand Buddhas, and even more!"

Chen Yi pondered.

He wouldn't overlook any clue.

The little novice monk's words seemed to reveal an oddity.

What purpose could a small village have for enshrining thousands of Buddha statues?

Surely it wasn't a case of idle hands looking for work?

And this little novice monk walked as if lost in thought, seemingly calculating something.

Faint footprints marked the village path, the forest on either side had intertwined branches and leaves, which appeared even darker under the slanting sunlight.

Such places were ideal for hiding people.

Eight steps, seven steps, six steps...

The little novice monk counted silently.

The next moment, goosebumps stood up on his back!

Silver-bright gleams of a blade swept from behind!

"Watch out!"

A shadow two bursts from the forest, pouncing the novice monk aside like lightning.

A blade strike split the air, leaving a fearsome crack in the ground.

Chen Yi's face remained expressionless, while the three women behind him were shocked; none expected him to erupt suddenly.

The black shadow tumbled over the novice monk and hastily got up, a burly figure resembling a local farmer, who eyed Chen Yi warily.

"Intruders! Intruders!"

A succession of noises echoed through the dense forest, shadowy figures with sticks, forks, spears, and even farm tools emerged one after another, facing the four with fierce expressions.

...............

The temple's spire glistened with gold, the sun set westward, mountains locked in a multicolored glow, the river flowed with a deep azure hue.

Within the village stood statue after statue.

The old abbot of Maitreya Temple always adhered to the temple's rules, the backbone of the temple and the entire Thousand Buddha Village.

Here, everyone tilled the 'Buddha's field,' chanting Buddhist Law, fields yielded golden grains, swaying in the wind like a sea of gold.

"How is this year's harvest?"

The old abbot asked the bookkeeper beside him.

"More abundant than previous years, loads of gold piled on carts, filling seven or eight carts in total."

The bookkeeper gestured with both hands, describing fields like gold, people like silver, his words spirited, signaling a bountiful harvest for Thousand Buddha Village.

"Namo Maitreya Bodhisattva yet to come, we can make a few more Buddha statues."

The old abbot chanted softly, his brows also showing joy.

With grain, they didn't eat it but use it to create Buddha statues, a grand rule in Thousand Buddha Village since ancient times.

It may sound strange elsewhere, but here it remained unchanged.

"Where's Kong Ming, why hasn't he returned?"

Unbidden, the old abbot thought of a shrewd little novice monk.

"Him? Didn't you send him to sweep the ruined temple outside the village?"

The bookkeeper said so.

The old abbot frowned:

"By this time, he should be back."

Suddenly, a disturbance erupted outside.

A monk came rushing in:

"Not good, not good! Another demon has come, killed many people!"

The old abbot paused, his eyes widening like copper bells.

Then he suddenly stood up, realizing something, he shouted:

"Nonsense! You must have been the ones to strike first!"

...............

The ground was soaked in blood.

The cold wind rustled the dense forest, leaves rustled.

The Yin sisters witnessed the scene with pale faces, while Chen Yi remained expressionless, and as for Miss Donggong, she seemed rather amused.

The difference in their personalities was evident.

Chen Yi shook off the body from his knife, while the villagers wielding various crude weapons around him were filled with dread.

He looked like a demon.

When he killed, his gaze was calm as if mowing grass.

Evidently, when he killed, there were no murderous intentions in his heart, it was just about killing.

Chen Yi stepped forward, the villagers collectively took two steps back.

Chen Yi surveyed the villagers, if he desired, none of them would be left alive. But they lived because he allowed it.

The reason being, he gave them the chance to pass on the message.

Gather all adversaries together, solve them with a single, clean strike; straightforward, direct, effective — this was a killer's knife.

From behind the villagers down the desolate muddy village path came a string of hurried footsteps and panting breaths.

Chen Yi, a Fourth Rank Martial Artist, could hear someone approaching from afar.

And now, they were getting closer and closer.

A figure in monk robes, wielding a Zen staff, bearing a face full of anxiety, with compassion visible within his pale eyebrows.

Upon arrival, the previously panicked villagers seemed calm, in response to his command, they all cleared the path.

The old abbot slowly walked up to Chen Yi, clasping his hands together:

"I apologize for the disturbance, benefactor. It's all a misunderstanding, Namo..."

Before the words finished.

A vertical slash of blade light fell like moonlight!

The old abbot's benevolent head was split straight from the top, blood sprayed, the fissure extended down to his lips.

His eyes widened in shock, the aged, wrinkled lips still held half a Buddhist chant:

"Namo Maitreya Bodhisattva yet to come..."