Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 808

In the 7,670th year of the Xia calendar, within the mysterious Unknown Star Domain.

An unnamed desolate planet exists here, devoid of water, with meager air, and vast expanses of yellow sand everywhere. Nights bring temperatures plummeting below freezing, while days skyrocket to seventy or eighty degrees. No ordinary person can endure beyond twenty-four hours in such extremity.

Right now, eleven Buddhist cultivators lurk on this world. These are the eleven arhats who arrived alongside Bodhisattva Puxiang. They first triggered the Stargate for escape yet avoided heading straight back to Lingjing Star—too distant a journey on one hand, and an unwillingness to admit failure on the other.

"Senior Brother Chengzang, where should we head next?"

They've concealed themselves for quite some time, with all their powers severely drained. Supplies inside their storage bags dwindle fast. An arhat addressed their leader, Chengzang—the strongest among them, already half a step toward the Bodhisattva Realm.

"Brothers, word from Lingjing Star reveals Bodhisattva Puxiang has ascended to paradise, a massive blow to our Buddhist sect. Let us uphold Bodhisattva Puxiang’s will and complete our duty to propel Buddhism forward grandly. Press on into the deeper realms of the Eastern Star Domain’s other worlds. What say you all?"

"Senior Brother Chengzang, those cultivators harbor intense grudge against us, boasting formidable power. Rash actions might prove overly dangerous, no?"

"Risk exists for sure, yet if we shy from it and sit idle, how will our Buddhist sect expand? Lacking sufficient merit, how can we rise to Lingjing Star and claim the true Buddha fruit position?"

Chengzang explained that preaching forms their merit; greater the followers, vaster the merit. Crucial this is for attaining the true Buddha fruit position. Only ample merit allows ultimate ascent to Lingjing Star and bliss in paradise.

"Senior Brother, what's your plan for us?"

"The prior planet we found lacked lifeforms, so that other world isn't there, though close by it must be. Divide into groups for scouting. Avoid the Stargate Secret Technique; slip through stealthily on foot to pinpoint that world's spot. Scout the inhabitants' circumstances first."

"Bodhisattva Kongyan’s wisdom guides us true. Doubtless, more Bodhisattvas approach. Prepare now, and soon—be it disseminating Buddhism or leading souls—we'll forge mighty accomplishments."

"Fine, we'll heed Senior Brother Chengzang."

"Then, split into three teams to hunt an exit. Spot the other world, and share the intel."

The assembly wrapped their talk, opting to divide into three directions seeking that other world's location.

········

Blue Star, Huaxia

Puxiang’s storage bag lay opened. Few items filled it—merely some spirit stones plus standard pills, texts, and magical tools.

Lin Jiang dispatched the pills to Lin Huafei for analysis. Lin Huafei soon responded: pill refinement differed slightly from Blue Star's ways, nothing drastic. Full recipes and methods obtained would yield real insights.

Lin Jiang and Cao Ying examined the texts and magical tools. These volumes held Buddhist cultivation techniques, yet flaws marred them—methods present, foundations absent.

Blue Star's cultivation arts mostly integrate method and theory fully, unlike these incomplete ones. Perhaps designed to bind lesser cultivators.

"These scriptures vary a bit from my recollections, though some match. Wonder if some link binds them."

Lin Jiang gazed at the books. Though a liberal arts student before with broad reading, Buddhist lore escaped him mostly—only snippets of tales and koans familiar.

Like the heart stirs but banner stays put, or Buddha offering flesh to eagle. Heart Sutra rang a bell vaguely, prajna paramita echoing in memory, content fuzzy.

Yet scanning these scriptures, ties to Blue Star's Buddhist lore surfaced strongly, stirring thoughts of roots.

"What has you so deep in reverie?"

Cao Ying entered, spotting Lin Jiang entranced, voice laced with worry.

"Nothing much. Handled Puxiang’s Zen staff yet?"

"Indeed, my magic treasure devoured its Item Spirit."

Cao Ying noted Yang Luo's old disclosure of spiritual treasure refinement, inner and outer. Plus a dark art: absorb Soul Changing-plus cultivators as Item Spirits for others to consume.

Lin Jiang and Cao Ying grasped this too, deeming it sinister, kept secret. Huaxia's cultivation faction ignorant, other awakers sternly cautioned against spread.

This instance exceptional; for Lingjing Star's secrets, Cao Ying let her magic treasure's Item Spirit feast on Puxiang Zen staff's over years.

"So your magic treasure advances tiers?"

"Nearing top-grade status now."

Cao Ying affirmed. Lin Jiang owned plentiful top-grade magic treasures: Lin family Sagittarius Bow inherited, plus Qing State relics—all elite pinnacles.

Beyond Lin Batian’s Overlord Spear, Lin Jiang hoarded the rest selfishly. Cao Ying lacked prime gear.

"Crafting paths exist for many top-grade magic treasures, techniques rudimentary, materials short. But in time, flawless ones for us both."

"Zero curiosity about Lingjing Star?"

"Curious as hell! With you here, how not?"

"Haha, such faith won't disappoint. Lingjing Star hides troves of mysteries. Millennia ago, no Buddhist world it was, akin to our Blue Star—a genuine cultivation realm. Stronger than us slightly, ten-ish Transmigration Stage experts, hundred-odd Tao Achievers. Yet in mere millennium, turned fully Buddhist."

"Buddhist sect wields such might?"

Lin Jiang reeled. A Blue Star-like cultivation world eradicated in a thousand years? Buddhist sect so ruthless, Dao obliterated even.

"The Puxiang Zen staff Item Spirit, once a cultivator, embraced Buddhism's call. Failed Transmigration trials, chose willingly to become Puxiang's Zen staff—a temple heirloom across eras."

Born late in cultivation era, Item Spirit blind to Buddhism's origins, only its meteoric rise.

"Distill the process into a spell, send it over; I must view."

"Sure."

Cao Ying agreed, fingertip glowing with spiritual light pressed to Lin Jiang’s brow. Light pierced, info flooding his mind.

Item Spirit's grasp incomplete: by training start, Buddhism dominated. Temples dotted lands, disciples roamed preaching, amassing believers. Offerings poured resources without domain hassles.

Item Spirit recalled vividly Buddhism's surge. Absorbed rogue cultivators—forbidden arts practitioners, offenders—urging lay down arms for Buddhahood. Sect shield boosted their rapid gains.

Subdued rivals through ploys. Expansion sparked clashes; Buddhists intervened for common folk and lone cultivators' sake, halting wars, earning renown.

Actively snagged prodigies too. Talents spotted young, dubbed Buddhism-linked, fed doctrines till they joined.

Resistance futile; tricks abounded, like compelled awakening. Item Spirit recalled Lingjing Star's late unification: famed sword cultivator from top sect, innate sword physique, instant sword art mastery.

Youthful fame from Qi Refining challenges against elites, ever at peak. Buddhists decried his slaughter lust, demonic taint—branded Sword Demon. Sent Bodhisattva powerhouse to seize and enlighten him into sect guardian.

"Damn, reeks of familiarity!"

Lin Jiang absorbed the Item Spirit memories, bellowing, "A classic formula, that same old flavor!"