Inferno Monk knew about the Beast Deity Cult too. Long before the immortal tragedy, they had clashed before, planting a grudge since then. Now, there was a new grudge on top of the old one.
As for Patriarch Xue Pao, Inferno Monk didn’t know much about him.
But Miao Yan Zhenren did. The two had even met before, but Miao Yan Zhenren never expected Patriarch Xue Pao to have become a malicious being.
After all, no matter how powerful Miao Yan Zhenren was, he couldn’t possibly predict what would happen a thousand years later.
After hearing that Lin Jin could use the Divine Cloud Passage in a painting realm to link it to the real world, both Inferno Monk and Miao Yan Zhenren were dumbstruck.
“That’s a bold idea, but very impressive,” the two profound immortals commented.
They obviously had high praises for such a method. Lin Jin dared not take credit as it was Shu Xiaolou who came up with the idea after all.
She would also be the person to implement everything, so Lin Jin was only a gofer at best.
Returning to the mainland was a dream for these immortals. Now that it was possible to achieve, they were obviously thrilled. However, the risks were equally huge. Although Lin Jin had described the idea so grandiosely, he hadn’t actually tested it. Whether or not they could deceive the immortal devouring beast was just speculation.
If the plan didn’t work, they wouldn’t be able to escape at all.
But Inferno Monk had faith in him. Since the Beast Deity Cult could deceive the immortal devouring beast with their Hell’s Cage, according to Lin Jin, a painting realm could do the same too.
Anyway, Inferno Monk had decided to leave with Lin Jin.
Lin Jin left a painting in the Mystery Dao Sect, one previously painted by Shu Xiaolou, allowing them to enter her previous painting realm. As Lin Jin only had one drop of Cosmos Ink for the Unending Nature Landscape, he couldn’t leave it here.
This painting would serve as a door for Lin Jin and Shu Xiaolou.
So if they had to travel to the extraterritorial land in the future, having this door would be convenient for them.
Using the Cosmos Ink to open a portal, Lin Jin brought Inferno Monk into the Unending Nature Landscape. In the sky above, Clear Wind sensed Lin Jin’s aura, so he transformed into a spark of light and flew down.
“What an amazing immortal sword!” Inferno Monk exclaimed after seeing the sword light.
Being able to obtain praise from a fire profound immortal like Inferno Monk proved just how different Clear Wind’s aura was compared to before. Even Lin Jin felt as if he was getting to know Clear Wind all over again.
No doubt, the past few days of research and cultivating the Cosmic Blade Tome did wonders to Clear Wind. It didn’t take much to figure that out. Back when Clear Wind only learned the Divine Blade Scroll, he achieved immortal sword status as a result. Now, he must have advanced in rank again.
Lin Jin extended his hand and Clear Wind drifted into his palm, turning into a sword. The blade now seemed longer than before and it glistened with an emerald glow.
These were traits Clear Wind didn’t previously show.
“Immortal swords of this caliber are rare even during the peak of our immortal era. Back then, one of the immortal officials, Demon Hunter Great Emperor, had a Demon Hunter Sword that could slay profound immortals. And this sword here has a similar aura to that Demon Hunter Sword,” Inferno Monk said, helping Lin Jin verify his suspicions about the Clear Wind Sword’s grade.
It seemed that Clear Wind had just experienced a process similar to Xiao Huo’s advancement process from Rank 6 to 7.
Now, two of Lin Jin’s most frequently used magic treasures, the Clear Wind Sword and the Four Ocean Gourd, had both been upgraded inside the Unending Nature Landscape.
This translated into a power boost for Lin Jin’s strength.
It was a good thing.
Just then, a Divine Cloud Passage opened and Shu Xiaolou appeared.
She looked very different from before as well. The old Shu Xiaolou was a lively and playful character, but this Shu Xiaolou seemed much more serious and steadfast.
“This is Master Inferno!” Lin Jin introduced and Shu Xiaolou saluted the monk. Inferno Monk seemed frightened and he quickly returned a salute with respect.
Lin Jin figured it was because Shu Xiaolou now had an immortal empress glow around her. After all, this painting was crafted by the immortal emperor, Li Jian, and the immortal empress, Xuan Xuanzi.
After becoming the painting’s spirit, Shu Xiaolou would surely be stained by the two revered figures’ aura. Being a profound immortal, it made sense that Inferno Monk could sense it.
“Master Inferno, I’ve made a painting at Daluo Temple’s Nine Zen Court. Please come with me,” Shu Xiaolou said directly. Lin Jin was silently bewildered. Since when did Shu Xiaolou create a painting in Daluo Temple?
Did she learn how to clone herself?
Then, he found this Shu Xiaolou to be a little weird. Upon careful scrutiny, she seemed different from the Shu Xiaolou he was familiar with.
Perhaps she noticed Lin Jin’s confusion, Shu Xiaolou said, “This is a clone technique I’ve learned. My main body is still at the core painting realm.”
And then Lin Jin understood it all.
Shu Xiaolou had used this clone to draw the painting and serve as their guide. Which was quite convenient.
However, he could also tell that Shu Xiaolou needed more time to research the Unending Nature Landscape. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so occupied to the extent of sending a clone in her place.
Also, for this clone to already have such a daunting aura, what had become of the actual Shu Xiaolou?
Lin Jin really wanted to know.
Shu Xiaolou’s clone brought them to a rather interesting place. They were still on the first layer, but this new location was obviously newly developed.
Lin Jin found the mountain ahead oddly familiar.
“Isn’t that Daluo Mountain?” He figured it out. There was also a temple at the summit that looked exactly like the real Daluo Temple.
Then, Lin Jin understood.
Shu Xiaolou’s powers were amazing. With this, she could link up the Divine Cloud Passage to Daluo Temple. Lin Jin even noticed the three-layer security placed around the temple.
Lin Jin knew what they were for.
Although Inferno Monk couldn’t leave the Unending Nature Landscape to enter Daluo Temple, the temple monks could enter the painting without anyone realizing it.
With this, it would be so much easier for Inferno Monk to manage Daluo Temple and give Buddhist lectures.
This was indeed a clever design.
Simultaneously at Grassy Continent’s Daluo Temple, Zhi Nian looked exhausted. He was fully aware that his knowledge, character, and cultivation level weren’t enough for him to manage Daluo Temple so the past few days had been pressuring for him.
Daluo Temple mustn’t fall, but Zhi Nian was aware that he couldn’t support it. Frankly speaking, when he asked Lin Jin to manage Daluo Temple, he had done so out of desperation. Lin Jin wasn’t a monk nor did he practice Buddhism, so even Zhi Nian felt like he was pushing it, but he couldn’t help it. Fortunately, Lin Jin had said he would find them a top-class abbot who was worthy in all aspects for the position.
But where would Lin Jin find such a person?
Just then, a young monk came running to him with great excitement. “Senior Zhi Nian, Buddhist light! There is Buddhist light shining from the Nine Zen Court!”
Buddhist light?
Zhi Nian didn’t believe it.
Only true Buddhas could emit Buddhist light but there were no more Buddhas alive in this world.
In their version of Buddhism, Buddha would mean an immortal.
Zhi Nian got up and followed his junior outside. The instant he stepped outside, he was dumbstruck. Sure enough, a seven-colored Buddhist light was shining from the Nine Zen Court.
On average, normal Buddhist lights had only five colors. Seven colors meant the Buddha was a profound immortal.
