Yin Shiren had clearly been astonished by the fact that he had recovered seventy percent of his internal energy in just six hours.
But even more astonished was the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor standing before him.
For the Buddha Emperor understood Buddha Energy far better than Yin Shiren did—and he was fully aware of Yin Shiren's current foundation.
As the Buddha Emperor had mentioned earlier, Yin Shiren's foundation still lagged behind that of other known Supreme Energy possessors.
Yet, this gap only existed when compared to beings like the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor, Yi Ye Shu, or the Twin Buddha Calamities.
Against most martial artists, Yin Shiren's foundation remained exceptionally profound.
Moreover, Supreme Energy was still Supreme Energy—an extraordinarily refined power capable of killing beyond one's realm.
Because of this, while Supreme Energy was far more potent than other energies, its recovery was typically much slower.
Yet, Yin Shiren had restored seventy percent of his expended Buddha Energy in just six hours.
This was naturally something the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor found hard to believe.
However, no matter how unbelievable, the evidence lay right before his eyes.
Truthfully, Yin Shiren himself had been stunned.
After all, he knew very well that in the Pili World, once a warrior's internal energy was greatly depleted, recovery was usually slow—sometimes even arduous.
For example, when Imperial Confucian Supreme's energy was severely drained, he needed to retreat to Mount Yuheng, for only in such a spiritually abundant place could he swiftly restore his depleted reserves.
Another case was Lian Emei—once her energy was exhausted, she could not recover mid-battle.
Of course, this was because both Imperial Confucian Supreme and Lian Emei had inherent flaws in their cultivation.
Another divine being with such a flaw was the Fallen Heavenly Emperor of the Sacred Demon Embryo.
If the Fallen Heavenly Emperor expended too much power in the mortal realm, his Sacred Demon Embryo's imperfection prevented him from recovering demonic energy in the Bitter Realm. He had to return to the Demon's Dimension within the Extradimensional Demon Realm to replenish his strength.
Though these three examples were somewhat extreme, they still illustrated one truth: once internal energy was heavily depleted, recovery was no simple matter.
And Yin Shiren had expended seventy percent of his Buddha Energy—already a massive drain.
In the original timeline, after the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor and Tian Chi Ji Ye's three-palm agreement in the Extinction Realm, the two had spent an entire day and night in meditation, yet only recovered eighty percent of their power.
Naturally, they couldn't have exhausted all their energy in the first two exchanges—they must have retained at least thirty to forty percent.
Meaning, even after twelve hours, the most they had restored was forty to fifty percent.
In comparison, Yin Shiren's recovery of seventy percent in just six hours was nothing short of astonishing.
Of course, Yin Shiren's foundation was inferior to the Buddha Emperor and Tian Chi Ji Ye's, but seventy percent of his energy was no weaker than fifty percent of theirs.
Thus, his recovery speed was effectively twice theirs.
After analyzing this, even Yin Shiren had to admit—he was monstrous.
"I like this. My survivability in the Bitter Realm just skyrocketed," Yin Shiren said.
This monstrous trait pleased him, and he smirked inwardly.
"Benefactor Yin, can you consistently maintain this recovery speed?" the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor asked.
"Probably?" Yin Shiren replied.
Hearing the question, Yin Shiren couldn't give a definite answer.
"There is a matter I must ask for your assistance with," the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor said.
"Speak freely, Buddha Emperor. If it's within my power, I will spare no effort," Yin Shiren said.
Naturally, Yin Shiren didn't immediately agree to the request.
In the next instant, a sword flew out from the Buddha Emperor's protective radiance, landing before Yin Shiren—it was none other than Heavenly Sword, the weapon of YE Xiao Chai, forged from the divine beast Desolate God.
"Could you infuse your Buddha Energy into the Heavenly Sword to help restore the Desolate God's divine power?" the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor asked.
"This…" Yin Shiren said.
Yin Shiren stared at the Heavenly Sword planted before him, deep in thought.
He knew very well that in the original timeline, the Buddha Emperor had used his own Buddha Blood, along with the sacrifice of one hundred and eight high monks' entire cultivation, to restore the Desolate God's power.
Now, the Buddha Emperor hoped to rely on Yin Shiren's rapid energy recovery to replace those one hundred and eight monks.
Thus, Yin Shiren began considering whether this was worth it—whether it would bring him any disadvantages.
However, in the next moment, the System's voice once again echoed in his mind.
Ding. Mission issued:
The Nine Realms Buddha Emperor's Request.
Objective: Use your Buddha Energy to restore the Desolate God's divine power.
Rewards: Buddha Emperor's martial art—Three Realms of Buddha's Path, Desolate God's Dragon Aura.
Hearing the System's announcement, Yin Shiren's eyes lit up instantly.
Forget the Desolate God's Dragon Aura—just the Three Realms of Buddha's Path alone made this mission worth completing.
Heavenly Buddha Venerable, the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor, and Emperor Ru Lai were the three great origins of the Four Realms' Buddhist Sect.
The Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
Among them, the Heavenly Buddha Venerable represented Buddha—the transcendent one.
Emperor Ru Lai embodied Dharma—the universal truth.
And the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor symbolized Sangha—the perfected self.
Each of them possessed a three-stage martial art.
Heavenly Buddha Venerable's Three Proofs of Bodhisattva, Emperor Ru Lai's Three Forms of Initial Zen, and the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor's Three Realms of Buddha's Path.
Though these were not their strongest techniques, they embodied their respective paths.
Therefore—
"Leave it to me!" Yin Shiren said.
Yin Shiren immediately agreed to the Buddha Emperor's request—and, by extension, accepted the System's mission.
Truthfully, the System only issued missions; whether one accepted or completed them, there were no penalties.
But with rewards like these, refusing would mean Yin Shiren had lost his mind.
"Hah—!" Yin Shiren exclaimed.
In the next instant, Yin Shiren began channeling his Buddha Energy into the Heavenly Sword.
He could clearly sense that the sword already contained the Buddha Emperor's Buddha Blood—all it lacked was sufficient power to fully revive the Desolate God.
As the Buddha Emperor observed, the Desolate God's divine power gradually recovered under Yin Shiren's infusion.
Based on the rate of restoration, the Buddha Emperor estimated that Yin Shiren would only need to expend his full energy two or three times to fully restore the Desolate God.
This was far faster than the sacrifice of one hundred and eight high monks.
After all, Buddha Energy was incomparably more potent and refined than ordinary monks' Buddhist Power.
This way, unnecessary sacrifices could be avoided.
For those one hundred and eight monks to sacrifice their entire cultivation would have taken them untold years to recover.
And they were the very foundation of Deer Park Monastery.
If Yin Shiren could maintain this recovery speed, not only would the Heavenly Sword be restored sooner, but the monks' sacrifice would also be spared.
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