Simultaneous travel: I am proving the great way in the heavens.

Chapter 605 Claiming to be a Buddha on Earth! The Prophecy of Mara, the Demon King!

A desolate and dilapidated ancient temple.

Zhu Xiaolian and his servant Hou Xia, under the threat of the bandits, panicked and rushed into the dilapidated temple, only to be quickly caught up by the bandits again.

Indeed, although Zhu Xiaolian was not physically weak, how could he compare to the bandits who robbed and plundered the mountains?
When bandits also broke into the ancient temple.

Just when Zhu Xiaolian and his servant thought they were doomed.

A Buddhist chant suddenly rang out.

Looking in the direction of the voice, an old monk wearing patched robes stood with his hands clasped together, a look of compassion on his face, and said, "Amitabha, benefactor, the sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore."

The bandit glanced coldly at the old monk, holding a gleaming nine-ringed dagger in his hand, and grinned maliciously, saying, "Old bald monk, obediently chant your scriptures and mind your own business."

“Benefactor, this is a sacred Buddhist site; you must not commit murder.” The old monk continued to persuade him, unmoved.

Zhu Xiaolian and his servant hurriedly pleaded with the old monk for help, saying, "Master, save us!"

While calling for help, Zhu Xiaolian and his servant hurriedly fled to the old monk's side.

The bandits followed at a leisurely pace, like cats chasing mice, saying, "Your Buddha is no match for the knife in my hand."

As the bandits drew closer, Zhu Xiaolian turned pale with fright and asked, "Master, what should we do? What do we do now?"

The old monk said calmly, “Three benefactors, since we have the opportunity to meet in this sacred Buddhist site, it is a matter of fate. This ancient temple has been in disrepair for a long time. Since you three have the opportunity to come here, why not take a look at this unique mural?”

As if convinced that Zhu Xiaolian and his servant, along with the bandits, would be drawn to his words, the old monk casually pointed to the lifelike mural on the wall.

Even at this critical moment, Zhu Xiaolian, his servant, and the bandits, just as the old monk had advised, subconsciously looked at the murals on the wall.

The mural depicts a breathtaking paradise, where celestial maidens scatter flowers in a magnificent display.

The moment my gaze fell upon the mural.

Zhu Xiaolian and the other two felt a momentary daze, their bodies seemed to lighten, as if they were floating on clouds.

When they regained consciousness, they found themselves in a magnificent palace complex, with layers upon layers of carved beams and painted rafters, and amidst rising mist and clouds—a sublime and sublime realm.

Several celestial maidens gracefully arrived and said, "Please welcome the three guests who have come from afar."

"Where...where is this?" Zhu Xiaolian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He discovered that the scene here was exactly the same as the one depicted in the mural on the wall.

Unfortunately, apart from Zhu Xiaolian, neither the Later Xia nor the mountain bandits seemed to have noticed anything strange about this place.

Upon hearing the invitation from the celestial maidens, the bandit was the first to eagerly accept.

Then Xia looked longingly at Zhu Xiaolian.

Although he didn't seem like a bandit, he was clearly tempted.

Zhu Xiaolian was completely confused as to whether he was dreaming or had actually entered the world of the mural.

Whether it's a dream or I've actually entered the mural, I'm now at their mercy, like a fish on a chopping board.

He had no choice at all.

Trembling with fear, Zhu Xiaolian cautiously approached Hou Xia before bowing and saying, "I am honored to accept your invitation. I apologize for disturbing your esteemed master."

"Please come with me."

Led by several celestial maidens, Zhu Xiaolian, his servant, and the bandits bypassed the many ornately decorated halls and pavilions, and soon arrived at a luxurious and magnificent palace.

In the main hall, a noblewoman dressed in magnificent attire sat dignified and composed.

He glanced at Zhu Xiaolian and his servant, as well as the bandits, and said, "My Wonderland of Ten Thousand Flowers has not had any visitors for many years. Today, the three of you are fortunate to come here. You should stay for a few days so that we can learn about the outside world."

When Zhu Xiaolian and others entered the world of the mural.

Luo Fu, who knew Zhu Xiaolian's route, failed to catch up with him.

The reason is simple: although Zhu Xiaolian left a letter with the innkeeper announcing his change of direction and even explaining the next steps of their journey in the letter.

Unfortunately, Zhu Xiaolian encountered bandits.

In their desperate attempt to survive, the master and servant fled in a completely different direction from the description in the letter they left behind at the inn.

Luo Fu chased after them for dozens of miles before finally realizing that something was wrong.

Having lost Zhu Xiaolian's direction, Luofu did not wander aimlessly like a headless fly.

That painted wall is like the ancient tree demon Granny of Lanruo Temple.

The difference is that the Tree Demon Granny's true form is a thousand-year-old locust tree with a well-developed root system. It is a ghost tree with the innate ability to gather yin energy, and it has grown in a Buddhist temple, receiving the blessings of Buddha for an unknown period of time.

In comparison, the aunt in the mural is at best a spiritual being, like the murals on the temple walls.

While she appears to be the ruler of a world within the mural world, in reality, her supernatural powers are far from being able to contend with the Tree Demon Granny.

Unless one day Aunt Painted Wall can truly turn illusion into reality, refine falsehood into truth, and reverse the truth and falsehood of the Painted Wall world, she will never be as powerful as Grandma Tree Demon in terms of external threats.

However, since it has become a dominant force in the region, the so-called ancient temple in the mural must also have a special atmosphere, just like Lanruo Temple.

Following the instructions in the letter left by Zhu Xiaolian, Luo Fu observed the aura within the range of Zhu Xiaolian's letter from afar using the method of observing aura.

In just a moment, Luo Fu noticed something unusual.

If the mural hadn't exhibited any special characteristics, perhaps the demonic aura wouldn't have been so strong.

At the very least, Luofu could not possibly detect the exact location of the mural from afar using his aura-gazing technique.

However, in order to seduce Zhu Xiaolian and his servant, as well as the bandits, the Painted Wall World almost took the initiative to welcome the three of them into the Painted Wall World.

Once it's in operation, the unique and eerie aura of the mural world will no longer escape Luofu's discerning eyes.

After pinpointing the direction of what appeared to be the world of the murals, Luo Fu headed towards the source of the eerie aura.

Inside the ancient temple.

Zhu Xiaolian, Hou Xia and his servant, whose spirits had been guided into the world of the mural, along with the bandits beside them, all seemed to be asleep at this moment.

Little did they know that their souls and spirits had completely separated from their physical bodies and entered the world of the mural.

Moreover, the murals painted on the wall were constantly changing at this moment.

It's even quite noticeable from the mural that three figures have appeared, their style completely out of place with the other figures in the paintings. Although, due to the unique nature of the mural, these three new figures are only depicted with rough outlines.

But it was also easy to recognize that these three new characters were Zhu Xiaolian and Hou Xia and his servant, along with the bandits who had chased them all the way to the dilapidated ancient temple.

In a dilapidated ancient temple in the mountains.

When Luo Fu followed the eerie aura he saw and arrived outside the ancient temple, he was almost immediately certain that this was the place where the mural had taken place.

Indeed, most people wouldn't be able to tell, but in Luofu's eyes, the ancient temple's eerie aura began to manifest itself in strange ways.

In Luofu's view, a special demon realm was about to appear above this dilapidated ancient temple.

Of course, a single mural alone could not possibly create such a magnificent effect.

The only explanation is that the true owner of the mural was the most terrifying demon Luofu had ever encountered, and the so-called mural was more like a passage he left behind specifically to plunder blood and food.

After pausing briefly outside the ancient temple, Luo Fu resolutely stepped inside.

Although there may be terrifying demons and monsters behind the mural, at present, this mural is merely a special spiritual world that seems illusory.

Whatever the owner of the mural was planning, unless Luo Fu was unlucky enough to run into them, he was confident he could escape unscathed from such an inconspicuous tentacle.

The moment Luo Fu stepped into the ancient temple, he immediately saw Zhu Xiaolian and Hou Xia, who seemed to have lost their minds.

In addition, there was a burly man dressed in tight-fitting clothes, holding a nine-ringed sword tightly in his hand.

At the same time, Luo Fu noticed Zhu Xiaolian and the others, and naturally also saw the kind-faced old monk who looked like a highly enlightened monk.

"Master, this is..." Luo Fu looked bewildered.

The old monk put his hands together and nodded slightly, saying, "Amitabha, this humble monk greets you, benefactor. These three, like you, are also guests of this temple."

"Guests?" Luo Fu raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face. "Master, isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? What kind of guest would steal your soul?"

His eyes suddenly narrowed, and a fierce glint flashed in the old monk's gaze—a glint that belonged absolutely neither to Buddhism nor Taoism, nor even to any orthodox esoteric sect.

But that hint of ferocity vanished in an instant.

The old monk explained, "You may not know this, but our temple was built precisely to suppress the evil spirits in this place."

After a slight pause, the old monk pointed to the mural on the side and said, "This mural is where the evil spirits are sealed and suppressed."

Luo Fu keenly sensed that the old monk seemed to have some connection with the world depicted in the mural.

At the very least, his words were not only a reminder to Luo Fu, but also a reminder to the world within the painting.

At the very moment his words fell, Luo Fu had already sensed a faint yet incredibly powerful surge of demonic energy emanating from the mural, like a turbulent undercurrent beneath the deep sea.

The sudden surge of demonic energy convinced Luo Fu that the mural was now far more terrifyingly attractive to the soul than before. Even a single glance was enough to draw the soul to this mural world, without requiring any mental focus.

Unlike Zhu Xiaolian and others, Luo Fu's unique nature might cause him to be instantly absorbed into the world of the mural.

Luo Fu was not fooled. He didn't even glance at the so-called mural from beginning to end. Instead, he stared intently at the old monk and asked, "May I ask how you are called, Master?"

"This humble monk remains unmoved."

His pupils contracted sharply, but Luo Fu said calmly, "Master's Dharma name is quite arrogant and domineering."

Immovable may seem like a very ordinary Buddhist name at first glance, but don't forget that it is also the name of a very high-ranking deity or bodhisattva in Buddhism.

No monk could possibly bear such a Dharma name.

It is important to understand that in a world with extraordinary powers, a name itself possesses its own power.

The karma of sharing the same name as a powerful being is something that ordinary cultivators simply cannot withstand.

However, judging from the information Luo Fu had previously obtained, the gods and Buddhas of the heavens should have completely disappeared a hundred years ago.

Otherwise, the Buddhist and Taoist lineages would not have suffered such a severe loss of strength all at once, and many lineages that communicated with and relied on the power of gods and Buddhas would have been completely severed as a result.

In this situation, it is clearly abnormal for a monk claiming the Dharma name "Bu Dong" to suddenly appear out of nowhere.

It's not that Luo Fu doubts that the monk Fudō might actually be related to Fudō Myō-ō.

On the contrary, Luo Fu now suspects that the Immovable Monk wants to usurp the throne.

The Immovable Monk is clearly not an isolated case. You should know that the current Imperial Preceptor in the capital is directly claiming to be a thousand-year-old centipede spirit, ostensibly dedicated to saving all sentient beings.

This Dharma name is even more prestigious; in this mundane world, it is even more powerful than that of Acala.

The power of compassion and universal salvation is almost exclusively associated with the Buddha.

Aside from Buddha, only Guanyin Bodhisattva can be described as compassionate and savior.

A centipede demon who directly uses the name of universal salvation is almost no less than a self-proclaimed Buddha in the human world.

Besides the one who saves all beings, now another monk named Bu Dong has appeared. This is truly a case of the devil being one step ahead of the saint.

The positions of the orthodox gods and Buddhas of the Three Realms have clearly been coveted by these demons and monsters, who intend to usurp them.

"Why do you say that, benefactor?" Monk Budong smiled and said, "A Dharma name is just a title."

The idea that all beings are equal and that a Dharma name is just a title is something to be taken with a grain of salt.

How could Luo Fu possibly take it seriously? You have to understand, before entering the shared space, Luo Fu himself grew up in a temple.

While Buddhism may seem to emphasize equality for all beings, its internal rules are actually much stricter, with a hierarchy of superiors and inferiors that is almost absolutely inviolable.

Seeing that Luo Fu was not in a hurry to refute him, Monk Bu Dong seemed to be eager for Luo Fu to see the mural, and took the initiative to introduce it: "Although this mural was created by our temple to suppress evil spirits, it also has other mysteries. If you have the opportunity, you may be able to see the secrets that our Buddhist sect does not pass on."

The more the monk Bu Dong tried to entice Luo Fu to look at the mural, the more cautious and vigilant Luo Fu became.

“Master, I have no intention of becoming a monk, and besides…” Luo Fu paused slightly and smiled, “To be honest, I recently returned to secular life from Buddhism.”

“Doesn’t this just prove that you have a connection with Buddhism?” Monk Budong said with great joy, “It is possible that the opportunity between Buddhism and my Buddhist sect lies precisely in my temple.”

"It seems the master is quite eager for me to glimpse this mural," Luo Fu murmured. "But I wonder, is this mural used by Buddhism to suppress evil spirits, or is it audacious demons and monsters masquerading as the true Dharma, fulfilling Mara's prophecy?"

The prophecies of Mara, the Demon King, are very famous in Buddhism and are recorded in many Buddhist sects.

You don't even need to know much about Buddhist scriptures. Even if you know some Buddhist koans, you've heard of the dialogue between the Buddha and Mara.

(End of this chapter)