Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2673 - 986: Fallen Buddha, Earthly Buddha Country

"Degradation? What does that signify?" Luo Chen questioned.

"The straightforward meaning."

"Hmm?"

A slight frown creased Luo Chen's brow as he gazed at the white-robed monk in bewilderment.

With a soft sigh, Master Xuan Du whispered, "This incident reaches back five hundred years..."

As the tale unfolded from his lips, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang at last grasped the concealed truths of the Buddhist sect.

Mahakala, a once-in-a-generation prodigy!

Proclaimed the most innately Buddhist and gifted genius the Hanging Temple had seen in a thousand years.

His profound insight into Buddhist scriptures and lightning-fast cultivation speed left ordinary folks in awe.

Prior to turning 300, he had already broken into the Vajra Realm.

The former abbot appointed him head of the Prajna Hall at a young age.

His cultivation advanced at breakneck speed, and he single-handedly tamed the Fourth Order Wild Beast Golden Wing Roc back then, granting the Hanging Temple a new Guardian Spirit Venerable.

These feats elevated Mahakala's status within the temple to unprecedented heights.

In the end, he fulfilled the hopes of the temple's many eminent monks by ascending to the Arhat Realm five centuries past.

"That's equivalent to the Divine Transformation Stage," Master Xuan Du clarified for Luo Chen and Qing Shuang's benefit.

Luo Chen nodded in acknowledgment. "I know a bit about that. But precisely what transpired after he reached the Arhat Realm five hundred years ago, leading to this so-called degradation?"

"Degradation didn't strike abruptly; it unfolded slowly over time until now."

Master Xuan Du chanted a quiet Buddhist verse before elaborating, "Brother Jia Luo advanced far too rapidly. Despite his extraordinary Buddhist nature and superior grasp of scriptures over us, the duration was insufficient. He wielded Buddhist law masterfully yet struggled to fathom its deeper principles. Thus, hidden perils took root."

"Five hundred years back, upon attaining the Arhat stage, he discovered how few in the Hanging Temple had achieved the Arhat Fruit Position—far fewer than in Daoist sects like Mingyuan or other sacred grounds. Observing his fellow brothers' flaws, a bold notion struck him: to enlighten the Guardian Spirit Venerable Golden Wing Roc."

"Yet he never foresaw that his superficial grasp of Buddhist principles would render his divine powers helpless against karma, allowing the Golden Wing Roc to plunder thirty-six eminent monks' relics and abandon the Hanging Temple."

"That alone might have been tolerable, but this initial setback in his life birthed heart demon seeds from karma, steadily twisting him toward extremism."

"Back then, Brother Hui Ping declared that Jia Luo had fallen under the influence of heaven and earth!"

Influence of heaven and earth?

Luo Chen knew this concept well; it equated to assimilation.

Regardless of the cultivation path, nearing the Fifth Order meant deeper entanglements with heaven and earth.

In that phase, practitioners drew heavily from nature, unlocking the essence of laws. Yet the deeper the insight, the greater the risk of assimilation by the cosmos.

A single misstep could shatter one's Dao Heart, plunging into endless torment.

This might sound vague at first.

But consider True Master Shenyuan's tragic end for a clear example.

In demonic deviation, grasping power beyond one's station led only to doom!

Luo Chen keenly noted a familiar name in the monk's words.

"Monk Hui Ping?"

Memories flooded back: Monk Hui Ping originated from the Hanging Temple too, departing just a few centuries ago to found his own sect in the Eastern Wasteland and propagate Buddhist teachings.

"Was it because of this that he departed the Hanging Temple?"

Master Xuan Du gave a faint nod. "Exactly!"

Luo Chen fell silent for a moment. "I never realized you two were brothers before—especially since your Dharma names show no obvious link."

"Buddhism stresses equality. Seniority is just a practical label. Besides, Brother Hui Ping traces to the Zen Sect line, while Brother Jia Luo hails from the Pure Sect line. Dharma names differ accordingly, but cultivation disregards strict hierarchy, so we follow the Immortal Cultivation World's norm of addressing the stronger first for simplicity." Xuan Du clarified before resuming, "Brother Hui Ping outranked us in realm and held one of the eight key seats among the 108 eminent monks then. He first detected the anomaly in Brother Jia Luo. Failing to sway him, he departed solo under the guise of disseminating Buddhist Dharma."

Silent until now, Qing Shuang interjected abruptly.

"Monk Hui Ping was truly powerful. When Eastern Wasteland's three top cultivators united against me, only he could clash directly with my strikes. Without unveiling my True Body of Cyan Simurgh, I might have fallen to his suppression."

Luo Chen, who had clashed with the True Body of Cyan Simurgh's might, appreciated its terror best.

Even the Great Five Elements Sword Formation paired with Five Elements Suppressing Law Cones and Soul Weaving Needle failed to overcome it, compelling him to unleash his Lifebound Magic Treasure Mix Yuan Cauldron for a narrow suppression.

Refining it proved an arduous ordeal regardless.

The former Monk Hui Ping confronting the True Body of Cyan Simurgh upfront meant, in Body Refinement terms, he rivaled Luo Chen's present Late stage of Wilderness Ancient Period prowess.

Master Xuan Du eyed Qing Shuang without a hint of astonishment.

Clearly, he had researched her background thoroughly.

He pressed on, "Once Brother Hui Ping departed, I too sensed Brother Jia Luo's temperament shifting. To guard against disaster, I left the Hanging Temple as well. Beyond that, during Brother Jia Luo's secluded cultivation, I covertly spirited away the Buddhist treasure Glazed Pure Land, denying him its devastating potential against the world."

Luo Chen pondered these revelations deeply.

The very space enveloping him now stemmed from the transformed Glazed Pure Land, mirroring the outside realm in nearly every aspect.

This marvel outshone even the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven and Yin Yang Residual Realm.