Deer Garden Mandala was once again left with only Yin Shiren inside.
The Nine Realms Buddha Emperor had already departed to attend to other matters—after all, with the reappearance of the Twin Demonic Buddhas, he was exceedingly busy.
Meanwhile, Yin Shiren continued pouring his Buddhist energy into the Heavenly Sword, restoring the divine power of the Primordial God.
As he channeled his energy, he pondered the nature of his golden finger.
Three missions have been issued so far: the disappearance of the Corpse Puppet and Emperor Peng's grudge, Yao Rulai's request, and the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor's request, Yin Shiren mused.
Except for the first one, the second and third missions were only issued after someone sought my help, Yin Shiren continued.
And the reward was their most proficient ability, Yin Shiren noted.
Could it be that my system grants rewards when others ask for my assistance? Yin Shiren wondered.
Based on the pattern of the first three missions, Yin Shiren arrived at this conjecture.
Of course, he could not be entirely certain yet—more evidence was needed.
Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Yin Shiren resumed infusing the Heavenly Sword with his Buddhist energy, revitalizing the Primordial God's power.
Not only did he desire the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor's Three Realms of Buddhist Path, but he was also unwilling to relinquish the Primordial God's draconic aura.
After all, the Primordial God was a sacred entity born from the primal energies of creation, akin to a divine dragon. Its draconic aura contained immense power and the ability to shape destiny.
Moreover, the Primordial God could counter the power of Death.
As his Buddhist energy flowed into the Heavenly Sword, Yin Shiren could feel it—like a bottomless abyss, endlessly devouring power.
"No wonder it required the combined efforts of 108 high monks to restore its divine power," Yin Shiren remarked.
Mentally sighing, he continued his task.
Soon, half of his Buddhist energy had been depleted.
Recalling his prior experience of absorbing ambient Buddhist energy to replenish himself, Yin Shiren instinctively split his focus—pouring energy into the sword while simultaneously drawing in the surrounding Buddhist aura.
Before long, he re-entered that transcendent state—merging with the heavens, the earth, and the underground Buddhist leyline.
Countless streams of Buddhist energy surged into his body like swallows returning to their nest, transforming into pure Buddhist power before being channeled into the Heavenly Sword.
This time, consciously aware of his condition, Yin Shiren realized his current state—as if he had become one with the underground Buddhist leyline, a spirit nurtured by heaven and earth, capable of freely wielding its boundless power.
Medicine Buddha's Platform
Su Huanzhen lay unconscious on the ground.
Yao Rulai treated him with the Seven Divine Needles, observing his condition while Po Xia Qiu Chan stood nearby, concerned for Su Huanzhen's well-being.
At that moment, Yao Rulai stepped forward to examine him.
"Hmm..." Yao Rulai murmured.
With a wave of his hand, he withdrew the Seven Divine Needles from Su Huanzhen's body.
As the needles were removed, Su Huanzhen's eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Su Huanzhen, you're awake," Yao Rulai said.
Rising to his feet at Yao Rulai's words, Su Huanzhen clasped his hands in gratitude.
"Many thanks, Great Master," Su Huanzhen said.
He knew well that Yao Rulai had healed him.
Yet, even as he expressed his thanks, his gaze swept the surroundings, searching for something—or rather, someone.
"Where is Senior Feng Huangming's body?" Su Huanzhen asked.
Not seeing Feng Huangming's remains, Su Huanzhen's voice trembled with barely concealed grief.
"The Mermaid Ancestor and Feng Jingsheng have taken the body. They declared their retreat from the martial world," Po Xia Qiu Chan explained.
"The Buddha Emperor has arranged for Deer Garden to handle the matter properly," Po Xia Qiu Chan added.
Su Huanzhen let out a heavy sigh.
"Your injuries are severe," Yao Rulai observed.
"You've been traveling for days with disrupted internal energy, physically and mentally exhausted, leading to qi deviation and internal backlash—hence your collapse," Yao Rulai continued.
"Hmm..." Su Huanzhen acknowledged.
"Yet your injuries seem self-inflicted," Yao Rulai noted.
"Su Huanzhen, with your cultivation, qi deviation should be impossible. Why was your internal energy in chaos?" Yao Rulai questioned.
"This..." Su Huanzhen hesitated.
"Did you use Three Oaths to Heaven?" Po Xia Qiu Chan asked.
"Indeed," Su Huanzhen confirmed.
"According to my deduction, this technique requires the full expenditure of your true essence. If you retain even twenty percent, the recoil will backlash into your body, injuring yourself," Yao Rulai explained.
"That is why you were wounded by your own power," Yao Rulai concluded.
Yao Rulai is truly divine, Su Huanzhen thought.
"Moreover, while executing this move, you simultaneously employed a technique akin to Soul-Siphoning Grand Method—gathering and extracting at once," Yao Rulai said.
"Su Huanzhen, I do not know whom you faced or why you did this," Yao Rulai admitted.
"But such reckless energy manipulation carries grave risks," Yao Rulai warned.
"If next time, the backlash isn't twenty percent but eighty, even my Inky Suspended Divine Needles will not be able to save you," Yao Rulai cautioned.
Yao Rulai's tone carried a hint of reproach—displeased that Su Huanzhen would gamble with his life so carelessly.
"This Su owes the Realm of Consciousness too much. As long as there was a sliver of hope, I could not abandon it," Su Huanzhen defended.
"To refrain from killing your opponent while also extracting and reforming their spirit… it was indeed a difficult task," Yao Rulai conceded.
"But such risks must not be taken lightly again," Yao Rulai insisted.
"This Su shall remember the Great Master's warning," Su Huanzhen promised.
"Hmm..." Yao Rulai acknowledged.
"By the way, during my days in the Extinction Realm, how fared the battle against Death?" Su Huanzhen inquired.
"It failed," Po Xia Qiu Chan answered.
Su Huanzhen stiffened, then urgently asked:
"What of Ye Xiao Chai and Senior Liu Zhu Yi?"
"Su Huanzhen!" the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor called.
"We pay respects to the Buddha Emperor!" Yao Rulai and Po Xia Qiu Chan chorused.
"Su Huanzhen greets the Buddha Emperor," Su Huanzhen said.
"Su Huanzhen, though the battle against evil failed, Liu Zhu Yi and Ye Xiao Chai are unharmed—saved by Yin Shiren's intervention," the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor announced.
"Corpse Puppet?" Su Huanzhen exclaimed.
"The 'Yin' of Shang Dynasty, the 'Shi' of 'bestowing kindness without seeking repayment,' the 'Ren' of benevolence," the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor corrected.
"Hmm?!" Su Huanzhen gasped.
"Ten days ago, Tai Xue Zhu went to Glazed Immortal Realm. The Corpse Puppet and Emperor Peng perished by his hand," the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor recounted.
"Afterward, this Yin Shiren appeared in Glazed Immortal Realm, wielding the Dragon Bone Sacred Blade, and rescued Liu Zhu Yi and Ye Xiao Chai from Tai Xue Zhu," the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor continued.
"The Dragon Bone Sacred Blade?!" Su Huanzhen cried.
The Nine Realms Buddha Emperor had sent men to locate Qin Jiaxian and the Corpse Puppet, only to learn from Qin Jiaxian that the Corpse Puppet had died.
They then proceeded to Glazed Immortal Realm, where Qing Shi Buh Jianhe and Zhiyu Changxin informed them that Yin Shiren had suddenly appeared after Tai Xue Zhu's departure.
"Furthermore, this Yin Shiren has mastered the Tenth Form of the Bodhisattva Seal," the Nine Realms Buddha Emperor added.
"Su Huanzhen understands," Su Huanzhen said.
"Might Su Huanzhen meet this Yin Shiren?" Su Huanzhen requested.
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