Volume 1, Chapter 180: The Truth of the Pure Land

"Good job, kid. A dozen more Void Transformation Realm Level 1 warriors, and you'll be ready to advance!" 

Lord Cauldron cackled, devouring Monk Wuxing outright. 

"Lord Cauldron, what is the Pure Land, and what is the Vinaya School?" Lin Yu asked, recalling Wuxing's words. 

"Legend has it that after Buddhism left Shenzhou, Penglai, and Manggu Continents, they occupied a continent called the Pure Land. They preach there, aiming to build a Buddhist kingdom on earth." Lord Cauldron searched through devoured records. "The Vinaya School is just one of Buddhism's sects. Did you think Buddhism was unified? Factions there also vie for power. Wonder if their 'Buddhist kingdom' ever came to be." 

"No wonder I thought that monk was honorable. His霸道 (tyranny) was no different from devil cultivators'." Lin Yu苦笑 (smiled bitterly). 

"Not all Buddhist sects are good—some are cruel and evil." Lord Cauldron chuckled, retreating to Lin Yu's sea of consciousness to refine Wuxing. 

Lin Yu headed out of the forest, having found many spiritual herbs and fruits but few rare treasures besides Wind Spirit Meteor Gold. With Lord Cauldron's guidance, his meager haul felt like bad luck. 

Emerging into another mountain range, he sensed eyes watching him. Entering a valley, he stopped and turned. "Come out. How long will you follow?" 

Two figures emerged, clad in black robes. One revealed a lithe form; the other掀开 (lifted) their hood—a maiden with an exotic beauty, freckles dusting her cheeks like a草原猎豹 (steppe cheetah). 

"Monk Wuxing?" Lin Yu was surprised they tracked Wuxing. 

"So this monk is from the 'Wu' generation." The other hooded figure—a lean, muscular youth—unveiled himself. 

"Why follow me? If you seek revenge for Wuxing, attack now. I don't waste time." 

"Revenge? We wanted to kill him ourselves!" The dark-skinned maiden, 阿桑 (Asang), shook her head, eyes fierce. 

"We tailed that monk to strike. When you killed him, we followed to see if you're an enemy of those monks." The youth, 阿云 (Ayun), explained. 

"I had no grudge with Wuxing—he tried stealing my art and failed. You're both Myriad Manifestation Realm Level 9. Why risk death against him?" Lin Yu wondered. Even together, they couldn't scratch an Arhat Golden Body. 

"Knew those monks were rotten!" Ayun snorted, hating Buddhism. 

"We don't know Wuxing." Asang's reply stunned Lin Yu. 

"Then why attack?" 

"Because all monks deserve death!" Ayun's voice shook, eyes bloodshot. 

"I'm Asang, he's my brother Ayun. We're from the Pure Land." Asang revealed their origin. 

"Pure Land?" Lin Yu realized they shared Wuxing's homeland. 

"Yes. Elders said we live in the Pure Land. Periodically, a portal opens to other worlds, full of spiritual treasures. Advancing here helps our tribe resist Buddhism." Asang's voice softened. "When the portal appeared, elders and warriors sacrificed to send us through—many died to Buddhist hands." 

"Wait, isn't Spirit Mountain open to all who climb the altar?" Lin Yu interrupted. 

"Buddhism controls the Pure Land's portal. Only disciples can pass. We needed tribal alliances to sneak in—so many perished." Asang's eyes reddened at the memory of warriors charging Buddhist forces. 

"Buddhism controls Spirit Mountain's entrance? That's outrageous." Lin Yu shook his head. Without meeting Wuxing, he'd never have believed it. 

"Buddhism is tyrannical. For millennia, they've enslaved Pure Land tribes. We're no more than walking lambs to them." Ayun's eyes bled fury. 

"How can this be?" Lin Yu stared. He'd hoped Wuxing was an exception, but the Pure Land's Buddhism sounded no different from demons.