Data cultivation, I observe immortality in the five elements

"It is said that Subhuti was a disciple of the Buddha, so does that mean we should also join the Buddhist order?"

"If we become members of the Buddhist order, does that mean we have to shave our heads and become monks, chant Buddhist scriptures, eat vegetarian food, save all sentient beings, and abide by the Buddhist rules?" The second spirit's eyes narrowed slightly.

The legends and myths of past lives are widely circulated, reaching a level of near-omniscience, and are revered and yearned for by all.

However, when the second spiritual body personally came into contact with the so-called mythical-level great power preaching scene, it found that reality was very different from the legend.

At least the joy he felt upon receiving the Bodhicitta Sutra was completely overshadowed by this sudden entanglement of cause and effect.

The so-called cause and effect means that if you receive the favor from this scripture, you will have to repay it in some form in the future.

It was precisely because of this consideration that the second spiritual body felt apprehensive about it.

This incomplete scripture was not obtained for nothing; he will have to repay it in the future.

Nevertheless, the entity still approved of his practice of the Bodhicitta Sutra, because it was a necessity and a precious scripture that they urgently needed at the moment.

Once mastered, it can help them overcome future hardships and difficulties.

Therefore, the importance of the Bodhicitta Sutra is beyond doubt.

What made the second spiritual body somewhat hesitant was Subhuti's last words: "Come into my gate, come into my gate."

These words, however, made him wary.

It was just a tattered scroll of scripture, yet it entangled him in unknown karmic entanglements and grudges.

If the second spirit body really enters Buddhism, wouldn't he never have peace again?
After all, not everyone can calmly accept falling into a trap that falls from the sky.

At least the second spiritual body, while discovering the opportunity, also sensed an unimaginable and terrifying crisis.

The legendary, mythical being accepted him as a disciple was an incredible stroke of luck, a chance so great that ordinary people couldn't even imagine it.

However, the manifestation of causal forces now indicates that there are many complex relationships hidden behind this matter.

For example, in the present world, the Celestial Court is in charge. A person who has entered the Buddhist order, wishing to save all sentient beings in this environment...
It's obvious that a series of earth-shattering battles will inevitably erupt in the future, a fight to the death.

Such troubles are like a delicious pancake; though the aroma is tempting, the second spirit is extremely wary of it.

He happened to be hungry, so he picked up a piece of bread. Before he could even eat it, he realized that he was being watched by a huge, unseen danger.

A second spiritual body is needed to repay this debt with one's life.
In such a situation, how could the second spirit not feel terrified?
Becoming a disciple of Subhuti would mean joining the Buddhist order and openly confronting the Celestial Court, which would undoubtedly be a losing proposition.

To sell oneself for a fragmented scripture is foolish enough; the second spiritual body wouldn't be that stupid.

After all, he cultivates the path of destiny, and he likes to view everything through the lens of cause and effect.

In many things, while enjoying the benefits, one must also fulfill one's obligations.

Just as the original body has two semi-immortal artifact ancestors protecting it, while enjoying the sense of security they bring, the original body must also make corresponding sacrifices.

When the Great Tribulation of True Immortals arrives, the main body must find a way to help the two artifact spirit ancestors escape the clutches of the True Immortals of the Upper Realm.

Otherwise, one's resolve in the path will be unstable.

This is the cause of protecting the path and the effect of solving the problem.

The legendary ancient mythological powerhouse is indeed a very prestigious title. With such a revered status, his strength must also be terrifying to the extreme.

The problem is that the causal relationships behind such figures must be incredibly terrifying.

Given Luo Yan and his companion's strength, if they were to accidentally get involved, it would be no different from actively courting death.
Similarly, if one enters the lineage of that Patriarch Subhuti, the second spiritual body will need to bear the corresponding consequences of that sect.

If Subhuti were to give him a task, to make Buddhism flourish in this lifetime.

At that time, should the second spiritual body accept it or not?
Accept it, and they will face off against the dominant power in this universe, becoming rebels against the Celestial Court.

If you don't accept it, your second spiritual body will be accused of betraying your master and ancestors.

Given such an unfilial disciple, do you think Subhuti, a legendary and powerful figure, would tolerate it?
Even if Sun Wukong was exceptionally talented, wasn't he still imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years and had a tight headband placed on him because of his unruly nature?

How is this any different from domesticated cats and dogs?
Therefore, joining a religion is definitely a very sensitive topic for the current second spiritual body.

If you're not careful, you'll end up like someone who just escaped one wolf's den only to fall into another.

Everything in this world comes with a price; if you choose to enjoy the good things that come with it, you must naturally bear the bad things that follow.

The Bodhicitta Sutra was a precious scripture that Luo Yan desperately needed, but a single sutra was not enough to make him sell himself.

After all, given the example of that monkey, Luo Yan didn't have much goodwill towards the people of that sect.

What Monkey King? He's nothing but a silly monkey chained up.

"You're right. To determine whether Bodhi Patriarch was a member of Buddhism, you only need to look at the people he taught and who they ultimately helped achieve enlightenment. That will be enough to know the answer."

“If you really join this sect, becoming the monkey’s junior brother is a small matter; becoming a Buddhist monk is a big deal,” Luo Yan murmured.

The current cosmic environment is dominated by the Celestial Court, a vast cultivation world where Qi Refiners are the means to achieve immortality.

What is Buddhism?
This is another spiritual practice system that gathers the offerings of all beings and uses faith and vows to achieve self-realization.

If they truly join the Buddhist order, they will inevitably clash with this celestial court.

Because the path of incense offerings and vows is the root of spiritual practice.

At that time, a great war will be inevitable!

"Our Sun God Cult, in a sense, is similar to the Buddhist practice system, both of which involve collecting the faith of sentient beings in order to achieve self-realization."

"But the difference between the two is that we only think about studying the power of incense and vows, while Buddhism takes this as the foundation for its practice."

"The offerings and vows are dispensable to us; we can abandon them at any time. But this is not the case for Buddhism. If we want to strengthen ourselves, we must recruit more believers."

“This goes against the path we’ve taken,” Luo Yan said softly.

He was well aware of the fear in his mind and body: a person who had suddenly appeared, whose background was unknown, and whose name had not been heard of in the current world.

He encountered such an ancient and powerful being who wanted to take him as a disciple, and he was also entangled in the power of karma.
Luo Yan's first reaction was that the other party was planning something, or that the other party needed them to do something difficult.

This is similar to many money-making businesses, where someone, under the guise of selfless sharing and doing it for your own good, widely disseminates their methods of making money. Anyone who hears about it is invariably tempted and rushes into this line of work.

Little did they know, the business they were talking about was a lie; their real intention was to make a few coins out of their pockets.

The same principle applies to the present day.

Would an ancient, powerful being living in the past, with boundless magical power and infinite divine might, lack successors?

That's impossible!

For example, when Luo Yan's consciousness returned to the Cangwu Realm, he also passed on some teachings to the old people in the lower realm.

However, they did not require them to join their sun god cult.

Because this is selfless dedication, a one-sided giving without expecting anything in return.

However, the patriarch Subhuti needed to be reborn to join his sect.
If we remove the mystique surrounding this mythical powerhouse and look at it from a human perspective, isn't this simply a transaction?
I'll pass on my teachings to you, and you'll do things for me?
Most importantly, if Subhuti truly regarded this incarnation as his disciple, would he have only passed down a fragmented scripture?
If they can't even bear to pass on a complete teaching, what kind of patronage is that?
While it is true that He was an ancient and powerful being, a legendary mythical being, the master of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, and possessed a multitude of prestigious titles.

However, Luo Yan and his secondary body are living, breathing people, and even cultivators at the Refinement Realm who possess a certain level of power. From their perspective, the essence of this matter is far more complex than it seems.

What mythical figure, no matter how powerful or legendary you are, aren't you just a being of the past?
They are beings that have gradually grown stronger through step-by-step cultivation.

Luo Yan would have many more things to think about when faced with such a being.

After all, in this day and age, the Celestial Court reigns supreme, and those who wish to become immortals will always be bound by this shackle.

They are not beings of the Celestial Court, yet they want to expand their influence within the Celestial Court's territory. Do they really think the immortals and gods of the Upper Realm are blind?
Luo Yan thought to himself, "I learned a fragment of a spiritual method from that patriarch, and it's only a fragment. Yet I have to join your sect and work for you. And then I'm entangled by some unknown force of cause and effect."

What's the difference between this and a contract of servitude?
If Luo Yan really joins the sect mentioned by Bodhi Patriarch, how will he repay the karmic debts that will surround him in the future?
Who knows what that old man wanted? To create another Monkey King, embark on another journey to the West, and strengthen Buddhism?
Therefore, at this moment, Luo Yan and his secondary self reached a consensus: learning the Dharma was acceptable, but joining the sect was not.

Even if this powerful being is a legendary figure from a previous life, signifying an immense opportunity, it still won't work!

They both cultivate the path of destiny, which is about freedom and unrestraint.

If another sect like the Five Elements Sect were to emerge, Luo Yan would avoid joining if possible.

They are currently trapped by the Five Elements Sect of the True Spirit Realm, and their fortunes are about to be harvested. Although Luo Yan is furious, there is nothing he can do.

Because there's nothing that can be done about it.

Having ascended from the lower realm, he needed a powerful force to rely on, so this was the only way he could do it.

This is only a temporary difficulty. As long as the Five Elements Sect declines, Luo Yan will be able to regain his freedom and no longer be subject to any form of compromise or restriction after he bears the corresponding price.

At that time, they had ample freedom to make any choice they wanted.

But once one joins the lineage of Subhuti, the other party says: "Buddhism should flourish in this world."

That's when things are truly hopeless.

At that time, Luo Yan will once again fall into the cycle of a busy and hectic life, and that will be the real end.

"Since you have concerns, and I agree with that, let's do it your way."

“Learning the Dharma is fine, and having even the slightest causal relationship with that mythical being is also acceptable. At most, we would just owe Him a favor for passing on the Dharma.”

"But that's all. It's absolutely impossible for us to join His lineage!" Luo Yan said.

In the mythological novels of my past life, this master of the Monkey King was depicted as very mysterious.

In Luo Yan's view, who had comprehended the Dao of Destiny, the so-called Monkey King was nothing more than a brainless puppet.

Someone deliberately used him to orchestrate a grand scheme involving the eastward transmission of Buddhist scriptures and the competition for incense offerings, vows, and sacred sites.

The patriarch Subhuti was high above, only transmitting the Dharma and not engaging in worldly affairs. He appeared to be a sage, kind and gentle.

In reality, he is a complete old codger, scheming and far from being as kind as he appears on the surface.

All of Sun Wukong's future misfortunes will be caused by Him.

It's a very simple principle. A mythical being like Him, who could even calculate Sun Wukong's origins, would surely be able to predict Sun Wukong's future.

And even though they foresaw it, they didn't stop it, and they didn't care at all.
Could such a Bodhi Patriarch be a good person?
Whatever trouble you cause, don't tell anyone about your master. It's just a huge joke.

All the gods and Buddhas in the heavens know that this monkey is your disciple Subhuti, a pawn of your Buddhist sect, which is why they spared him, allowing the monkey to live in peace.

Rather than being a monkey, his strength was truly so great that no one could rival him!
It's that simple!
If Luo Yan and the other two have survived even the great tribulation of their destiny, it means that there will be no more problems on their future path of cultivation.

If that's the case, why should they tie themselves to a rope with no clear origin and live a life of toil?

“If you share my opinion, then there’s no problem,” the second spirit body nodded.

His hesitation stemmed from this: to be a disciple of Subhuti, what an incredible stroke of luck that must have been.

Perhaps all the powerful beings in the Three Realms who have met him will treat him with great respect.

But this has to be in ancient times, in that legendary era.

Not today!

After all, joining a sect means being entangled in cause and effect, and taking on a responsibility!
If one is not careful, the second spiritual body will once again become a pawn in the hands of those powerful beings.

The mere appearance of a Mahayana Realm ancestor, Palace Master Gongsun, forced the second spiritual body to relinquish its future freedom and run to the Earth Immortal Alliance to take over the Heavenly Fortune Star.

If another mythical-level powerhouse were to appear, let alone the second spiritual body, even Luo Yan himself would probably never be able to escape control in this lifetime.

At that time, they will become another Sun Wukong, bound and controlled for life.

After the second spirit body finished listening to the sermon, the stone tablet in the void disappeared, all the ancient characters vanished, and the aged voice also faded away.

It was as if all those earnest words had been nothing but a fleeting dream.

Only the second spiritual body knew that this was not a dream, but something that was actually happening.

The legacy of that mythical being was incomplete; they will inevitably meet again someday. (End of Chapter)