Chapter 58
Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Forging the Golden Core (1)
I nearly nodded without thinking to accept the fortuitous encounter, but I steeled my resolve and stopped my head from bobbing.
"Why the hesitation?"
The remnant soul of the Battle Guardian Buddha eyed me curiously, but I held firm, recalling the changes that had overtaken Yeom Suk after he accepted this very fortune.
"Elder Battle Guardian Buddha, might I hear a rough outline of the cultivation method's abilities?"
Thankfully, the remnant soul didn't refuse my request and began explaining its powers.
"If a child of the mortal world like you cultivates this method, you'll gain the lifespan of an immortal and wield far greater power than others at the same realm. Moreover, you'll house Auspicious Spiritual Power within your body..."
As I listened to the Battle Guardian Buddha earnestly describe the method, a strange feeling crept over me.
So I waited until the explanation finished before speaking again.
"Elder, there are a few points I don't quite understand."
"What might they be?"
"What is the true reason you left your remnant soul behind, Elder Battle Guardian Buddha?"
At my question, the remnant soul clamped its mouth shut.
A moment later, it gazed at me steadily and asked,
"Why do you question this one so?"
"Gaining an immortal's lifespan just from cultivating this method is undoubtedly impressive, but it clashes with the Buddhist Sect's pursuit of liberation and nirvana over mere longevity."
"......"
"Furthermore, granting an immortal's lifespan is only necessary for mortals who haven't ascended. For a Buddhist Sect established in the Immortal World, most of its members would have already reached the immortal realm, making such a method largely unnecessary for mortal world denizens."
The Battle Guardian Buddha settled into a posture urging me to continue, and I swallowed hard—my throat parched—as I pressed on.
If these words offended the remnant soul before me... my very soul might dissipate into oblivion.
Yet the Buddha's name was Battle Guardian Buddha.
A Buddha who fought and protected to aid others—truly fitting for a Dharma Protector of the Buddhist Sect.
Trusting in the compassion and uprightness revealed by that Buddha name, I continued.
"Thus, what you intend to pass to me now cannot be a secret art of the Buddhist Sect... nor something worth descending to the mortal world and leaving a remnant soul to guard."
And yet, the Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul stood plainly before me.
"Likely, Elder, you left your remnant soul to protect something else entirely, using this cultivation method—one that would irresistibly tempt any mortal—to conceal it."
"......"
"Am I mistaken in my guess?"
"......"
The Battle Guardian Buddha stared at me with a stern face for a long while before suddenly breaking into a gentle smile.
"To resist the temptation dangled before you and strive to grasp the truth beneath—truly commendable. You possess a pure mind and an unshakeable resolve."
"Ah... thank you."
"You are correct. The method I described is merely a lure to hide the true treasure concealed here."
The Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul began recounting its tale softly.
"180,000 years ago, the Annihilation Tribulation descended upon the Buddhist Sect."
"To survive it, we needed to drastically reduce the sect's aura, so we sent our most vital and powerful treasures to the mortal world to diminish our presence."
The remnant soul spoke thus, its expression turning sorrowful.
"We planned to retrieve them all after 100,000 years once the tribulation passed safely. Yet for some reason, this one and the treasure remain here, lingering another 80,000 years."
"......"
"That the treasure I guard persists means grave trouble has befallen the Buddhist Sect. Thus, I resolved to find someone worthy to entrust it to, testing all who discovered this place."
That test must have been the 'fake secret art' the Battle Guardian Buddha offered me—and which had been passed to Yeom Suk in the original story.
"Children of the mortal world are all too easily swayed by power and fortune, blinded by the illusion of longevity into making poor choices. I dangled what they most desire to test their hearts."
"......"
"You, child, have guarded an unwavering mind, piercing to the essence with caution and keen insight. You have passed my trial."
The Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul smiled warmly as it spoke.
"What I shall now bestow upon you is the Buddhist Sect's most treasured supreme-grade immortal treasure."
At the words 'supreme-grade immortal treasure,' my eyes widened in shock.
A supreme-grade immortal treasure? Far more powerful than standard immortal treasures of the Immortal World, it ranked just below dao treasures—the pinnacle for immortals.
"Its power was sealed to send it to the mortal world, demoting it to a supreme-grade dharma treasure. Given your realm, an even greater seal will be needed for you to bear it. Many will covet it once they recognize its value, becoming a heavy burden on your path."
Unlike with the secret art—where it had only touted benefits—the Battle Guardian Buddha now warned of the dangers ahead. I listened calmly, steadying my pounding heart.
"Moreover, to bear this treasure, whether you wish it or not, you must make it your lifebound dharma treasure. Child of the mortal world—can you swear to shoulder the Buddhist Sect's treasure and protect it?"
"Please grant me a moment to consider."
A supreme-grade immortal treasure.
Its value dwarfed that fake secret art. Even Mun Yoo, the original protagonist, acquired few such treasures, relying on them heavily even after obtaining a dao treasure until the story's end.
Even with layers of seals, the Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul offered a treasure of such worth.
'The Immortal World's Buddhist Sect faced an Annihilation Tribulation 180,000 years ago... A proper sect would never abandon a supreme-grade immortal treasure. They'd stake their lives to reclaim it. The fact they haven't means they lack the capacity.'
In Black and White Immortal Chronicle, the Buddhist Sect even recruited yokai and demonic cultivators, bestowing Buddha names to bolster their forces.
Utterly bizarre for a Buddhist Sect. Anyone could become a Buddha, sure—but granting Buddha names to pull yokai and demonic cultivators to their side, rather than waiting for enlightenment?
Such villainous portrayals of religious groups are common in novels, so I hadn't dwelled on it...
Perhaps even 10,000 years later—when the protagonist ascends—they hadn't fully recovered from the tribulation's damage, resorting to such extremes?
'If the Buddhist Sect is that weakened, even if I claim this supreme-grade immortal treasure and ascend, I might not need to return it?'
In other words, could I keep this supreme-grade immortal treasure forever?
'But treasures draw commensurate dangers.'
Especially one of supreme grade.
The Buddhist Sect—a colossal force—had layered seals upon it, so few would discern its true value. But if some being capable of piercing those seals appeared, I might face death at the hands of an overwhelming expert the moment I ascended, losing the treasure.
'...I'm already at odds with Mun Yoo. I've shouldered every danger imaginable. So what more is there to agonize over?'
As I pondered, thinking of Mun Yoo made me realize my worries were trivial.
Right. The priority was ascending before him within 10,000 years—and erasing his existence so he couldn't reincarnate.
I had no leisure for other concerns.
Thus, I must seize every opportunity available.
"I may be sorely lacking, but since you, Elder Battle Guardian Buddha, have placed your trust in me, I swear gladly to protect the Buddhist Sect's treasure."
"Very well. Your answer, born of utmost caution, earns my respect for your will."
With that, the Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul pointed at me and began chanting an incantation.
As the incantation rang out, the space I'd thought a dark pit began roiling wildly. Soon, vine-like tendrils rose from the floor, climbing my body.
"This is!"
I tried to flee in alarm, but whether by the remnant soul's doing, my body wouldn't even twitch a hair.
Examining the black tendrils closely, I realized each was a verse from a scripture.
'Is this... a Buddhist sutra?'
The verses soon blanketed my body in blackness, burrowing into my soul and heading for my spiritual root.
I channeled my Five Elements Spiritual Power to guide the sutras smoothly, and they swiftly coiled around my spiritual root.
"......!!"
Then something astonishing happened.
The sutras meticulously enveloped the Five Elements Spiritual Root within, kneading it like dough until it fused into one.
No pain afflicted me in the process. As if reshaping my spiritual root was trivial, everything unfolded naturally and gently.
Soon, my Five Elements Spiritual Root transformed into a single golden spiritual root. I recognized it as a mutated spiritual root attuned to the Buddhist Sect's Auspicious Spiritual Energy.
Its aptitude had leaped realms, voraciously devouring the surrounding Auspicious Spiritual Energy.
'...Is this the quality of a single-element spiritual root?'
Like water vanishing into parched desert sands, the newly forged spiritual root absorbed Auspicious Spiritual Energy madly, refining and storing it as Auspicious Spiritual Power in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, my cultivation surged, swiftly reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection—and pushing toward Core Formation.
'Just accepting a treasure causes changes like this?!'
Even heavily sealed, a supreme-grade immortal treasure was no joke?
The sutra verses enveloping my spiritual root soon melted it into a single drop of liquid, then began forging my golden core from it.
Forced breakthrough by external power, yet no heavenly tribulation descended, nor any issues arose.
Dazed as if watching from afar, in an instant my spiritual root became a golden core. I had successfully entered Core Formation Realm.
...This easily?
The changes didn't end there.
With the core formed, even more sutras flooded ceaselessly into me, settling around my spiritual root.
The impenetrable darkness I'd traversed to reach here was layers of stacked sutras; as they entered my body, the surroundings grew clearer.
This wasn't a pit but a dharma hall built by the Buddhist Sect for rituals, made of warm-glowing stone that soothed the mind.
As enough sutras entered to reveal the pit's true form, they intertwined complexly, taking shape.
A pagoda? Is this... a pagoda?
Before long, the sutras had formed a ten-story pagoda encircling my golden core.
With the final verse entering my soul to complete the pagoda's form, the fully expended remnant soul of the Battle Guardian Buddha scattered like dust, uttering,
"This treasure's name is the Pagoda of the Eighty-Four Thousand Sutra Verses. A supreme-grade immortal treasure forged from the eighty-four thousand verses embodying the Buddhist Sect's true teachings. It shall be your shield against harm, your weapon to vanquish foes, and your guide upon the path. However, child of the mortal world."
The Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul gently stroked my head with a massive hand, smiling.
"Such a treasure is, in truth, nothing at all. What truly matters are the sentient beings lost in suffering, seeking the teachings—and guiding them. Should this treasure bring danger to you... cast it away. It is permitted. Do not let greed for treasure blind you to what is truly important."
With those final words, the Battle Guardian Buddha's remnant soul vanished, leaving me alone atop the glowing pedestal.
Feeling the pagoda now within my soul, I pondered the remnant soul's parting words.
Then, I rose quietly and bowed deeply toward where it had faded.
Now I understood the meaning in its Buddha name.
A Buddha who fought for the defenseless, shielded the weak, and aided those in need.
If I ascended, I hoped to meet the true Battle Guardian Buddha and converse.
Thus, I prayed it had survived the Buddhist Sect's Annihilation Tribulation.
Immortal World, Sixth Layer Heaven.
A giant sat in meditation, palms pressed together, eyes serenely closed—stakes as thick as a grown man's arm piercing his body.
The giant's name was Battle Guardian Buddha.
Once a Dharma Protector of the Buddhist Sect, he had vanished from the Immortal World for tens of thousands of years after being caught in the sect's Annihilation Tribulation.
His lower body was being devoured by countless insects, his once-muscular frame wasted to bones and skin.
Silently enduring agony, the Battle Guardian Buddha suddenly sensed something and opened his eyes.
Clear auspicious light poured endlessly from them, frightening the insects clinging to him into frantic retreat.
'...The remnant soul I left in the Pagoda of the Eighty-Four Thousand Sutra Verses has vanished. No one in the mortal world could vanquish it, so it must have expended its power willingly.'
For his remnant soul to exhaust itself fully, there was only one possibility: bestowing the pagoda upon a mortal child too weak to bear it unsealed, layering extra seals.
'Whomever my remnant soul chose can be trusted. A proper seed of the Buddhist Sect has been planted—fortunate indeed.'
As the Battle Guardian Buddha smiled in relief, flames erupted from his body, vaporizing the stakes binding the giant form and incinerating the surrounding insects.
'A mortal child will take but tens of thousands of years at most to ascend. In that time, I must build the power and forces to protect and nurture them.'
But first, escape this forbidden space imprisoning him—though the Battle Guardian Buddha harbored no worries there.
He was the Buddha of battle.
No matter how diminished his strength, none in the mere Sixth Layer Heaven could bar him.