After an indeterminate amount of time, Song Yan opened his eyes in the dimly lit Zen courtyard. The Bodhi Tree in his heart had become firm, and the eighteen Demon Monks had become his slaves, awaiting his command.

He glanced at the side altar, where a red silk cover draped over it, beneath which was a blurred-faced statue of the Buddha.

The bookshelf was empty, and beside it was a lavish, luxurious soft couch, accompanied by mind-bewitching incense.

The eighteen Demon Monks whispered among themselves, some saying, "How can the Abbot be without the company of beauties?" Others said, "Without fine wine and rich meats, it truly desecrates our Buddha." Some shouted, "Kill, kill, kill, let's kill some people to entertain the Abbot. This room doesn't even have a head pot, how shabby, hardly befitting the Abbot"…

"Silence."

The myriad of buzzing, fly-like whispers came to an abrupt halt.

The meditation room returned to silence.

Song Yan swept his gaze over the panel.

With his ascension from "Four Truth Demon Monk" to "Abbot Bodhi," his panel underwent changes.

"Little Heavenly Dao Texts - Introduction" (23/100)

"Little Heavenly Dao Text - Sacrifice" (30/100)

"Little Heavenly Dao Text - ??"

He stared at the character "Sacrifice," falling into deep thought.

He recalled when a mysterious and obscure Heavenly Dao character emerged around him. He first extracted "Introduction" from this mysterious Heavenly Dao character, simplifying it a bit.

Now, he had also extracted "Sacrifice," further simplifying the Heavenly Dao character, leading Song Yan to feel it should also be an independent Heavenly Dao character.

Clearly, the original Heavenly Dao character he saw was not a single character but three characters intertwined. Now, having obtained the character "Introduction" from the Dragon Burial Law and the character "Sacrifice" from the Celestial Demon, the remaining character... was meant to be his own.

"Introduction," to gather the profound.

If he followed the path of the character "Introduction," he might very well tread the path the universe's master had laid for him.

This path may lead to immense glory, comparing to the ancient Celestial Venerables of the past, but is it his path?

As for "Sacrifice"... Song Yan thought of the scene he had just witnessed where the Fire Demon Dragon absorbed his blood to grow stronger. That is sacrifice, sacrificing flesh and blood to strengthen oneself.

If he followed the path of the "Sacrifice" character, it would mean embarking on a path with the Celestial Demon, with no return.

This path, then, is to abandon everything, sink into the Sea of Suffering, and partake in one end-of-world carnival after another, vying for a seat at the feast to devour all beings. Is this... his path?

No.

Neither of them.

Song Yan's initial crossing of the Sea of Suffering was motivated solely by the desire to reach the other shore and step into a new Realm.

But now, he realized that the process was more crucial than the endpoint.

Unlike others who might only comprehend one Lifebound Character, he had three.

But having more may not be better; how could mastering eighteen martial arts compare to a swordsman's lethal move?

At this moment, he felt a sense of burden.

Song Yan pondered briefly, his eyes showing determination. He stood up, pushed open the Zen door, and then the temple gate, stepping out.

There is no concept of time or waiting in the Sea of Suffering.

When Song Yan went in, the Demon Mother and Demon Dragon were outside, and they still were when he came out.

...

Whoosh...

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle...

The bubbles of the Sea of Suffering rapidly ascended.

During this, the obsessions of the Sea of Suffering, attracted by the Life Divine Soul, surged wildly toward Song Yan, greedily pressing against him, but they were pushed back by the Profound Dragon Sword Divine Thought Shield, unable to do more than cluster densely upon it.

"Oh, sir, you truly are one of the Buddhist Sect." The Demon Mother regarded Song Yan with amazement, as a being from the Sea of Suffering and part of the Buddhist Sect system, it naturally could easily detect the scent of the black robe on Song Yan, but then it snorted coldly, "It's a pity... you are still tainted, having become Abbot Bodhi, yet you retain that foul skin."

The Fire Demon Dragon's eyes glinted cunningly. From the Demon Mother's words, it understood that the man before them had advanced to "Abbot Bodhi" after entering the Buddhist Sect in the Sea of Suffering.

Abbot Bodhi was an existence of the same Rotting Thought Layer as it and the Nine-Child Demon Mother.

However, wearing a flesh-body within the Sea of Suffering was akin to shackling oneself, like surrendering Martial Arts, causing significant weakening.

The Demon Mother smiled insightfully at Song Yan and said, "Though you have harmed and wronged me, as long as you fully transform into Abbot Bodhi, we can still resolve our resentment, for such a fate is rare even within the Sea of Suffering's Buddhist Sect. Then, we shall be celestial lovers in that pure land of the Buddhist Sect, indulging daily, and together go to the human world to sacrifice all beings, wouldn't that be grand?"

The Fire Demon Dragon unexpectedly did not launch an attack, but said in a rumbling voice, "You killed my fourth brother, I seek you for vengeance. However, since you are also of the Sea of Suffering, remove this body quickly and merge with the Sea of Suffering, and our grudges will be wiped clean."

Song Yan glanced at the Demon Mother.

The Demon Mother looked back at him alluringly.

Song Yan then looked at the Fire Demon Dragon.

The Fire Demon Dragon feigned loyalty and righteousness.

"Ha..."

Song Yan couldn't help but grin before bursting into wild laughter, "Hahaha!"

Boom!

He burst forth, standing suspended above the sea, with a flick of his arm, droplets from the long sword flicked from its tip. He looked down, grinning menacingly, "Celestial Demons in love, Celestial Demons with deep feelings, do you really take me for a three-year-old child?"

Once the words fell, both the Demon Mother and the Fire Demon Dragon showed strange smiles.

The Fire Demon Dragon said in a rumbling voice, "I told you we couldn't fool him."

The Demon Mother said, "We had to try, what if he really believed it?"

With that, the three shadows continued their entangling combat.

...

...

The seawater of the Sea of Suffering surged wildly, clusters of Demon Dragon Karmic Fire exploded under the gray sky; the Demon Mother, having lost a lock, became increasingly cautious, only poking its head out of the waves to harass when Song Yan was exhausted, swift and quick, retreating into the water with a missed strike.

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