At the same time, utilizing the resources of the Buddhist sect to assist in Core Formation and Alchemy.

The Buddhist sect abounds with Vajra Bodies; there should be an opportunity to comprehend the Innate Golden Dao.

Indeed, Song Lin plans to use his sixth Golden Core to gain insight into the path of the Innate Golden Dao.

If this Dao is realized, one would likely require true Immortal Power.

If two more Golden Cores could be formed, reaching eight or nine in total, it would then be possible to confront the Jade Emperor and the Buddha.

At that time, the conflict between the Buddhist and Daoist sects could be resolved, and karma completed.

Whoosh!

The lotus flower closed again.

Inside the lotus, its base appeared pitch-black and ominous. Upon closer examination, a mass of black mist swirled slowly, faintly echoing with the anguished wails of ten thousand demons.

Wutian Buddha Ancestor continuously absorbed the demonic qi of ten thousand demons. His demonic thoughts grew increasingly vast, as if he embodied the very incarnation of all demons.

Sixty years later.

The Lord Ziwei emerged from secluded self-contemplation, and Xuanguang—the reincarnation of Xuanhuang—formally embarked on the path of cultivation.

Jin Naluo Bodhisattva also emerged from seclusion.

He first paid homage to the Buddha and requested permission to descend to the mortal world to cultivate.

"Go and rest."

The Buddha spoke faintly, closing his eyes and entering meditation.

Song Lin departed from the Great Leiyin Temple, passing by numerous golden Buddhist statues along the way, until one caught his attention.

Pointed snout, sunken cheeks, fiery eyes—this was unmistakably the visage of a monkey. Could this be the Victorious Fighting Buddha Sun Wukong?

The more Song Lin observed, the more convinced he became. Ever since Sun Wukong became the Victorious Fighting Buddha, he seemed to have lost his former liveliness, becoming far more wooden and spiritless.

The nature of a monkey is inherently playful and uninhibited. If it were the past, the Western World would not go three days without a minor disturbance or ten days without a major one.

It seems that even attaining Buddhahood is not necessarily a blessing.

Aside from the Three Buddhas, most of the other Buddhas were symbolic titles or functional roles. Very few had truly reached the level of True Immortal.

It appears vigilance is warranted.

Song Lin descended to the mortal world.

He flew towards the country of mortal men, transforming into a Taoist to arrive at Xuanguang's place of cultivation.

Zhongnan Mountain.

The night was deep, the moonlight pristine.

The cool silvery mist of moonlight enveloped the figure of a Taoist in white robes. The Taoist had an elegant demeanor, with a noble air that was indescribable.

This was Xuanguang, the Crown Prince of Jingluo Country, who was now the Taoist Xuanguang.

Even as a Crown Prince, he was renowned for his magnanimity and tolerance. Later, in a dream, he gained enlightenment from the immortals, embarking upon the path of cultivation.

A gentle breeze lifted the curtain.

Xuanguang's eyes opened, and before him appeared a figure in white robes, whose arrival was unknown.

"Who are you?"

Xuanguang did not panic, nor did he cry out. To appear silently before him, this person must have exceptionally high cultivation. If he truly wished to kill him, Xuanguang reasoned, he'd likely already be dead.

"Xuanguang, why do you linger in slumber?"

Song Lin called out lightly, his palm radiating light as he struck Xuanguang's forehead.

In an instant, memories of past lives surged into Xuanguang's mind.

The memories of Liu Changsheng, Xuanming, and Xuanhuang—three past lives—returned.

"These are my previous lives? And you are… Emperor Ziwei?"

Since Song Lin now bore the appearance of Le Tian, Xuanguang did not recognize him.

"That's correct."

"So that's why… No wonder my advancement has been so swift; it turns out I was once an errant immortal of the heavens." Xuanguang responded with a serene smile, indifferent to past injustices.

"You…"

Song Lin sensed something amiss. He approached, disregarding Xuanguang's attempts to resist, grasping his Tianling cover firmly and probing Xuanguang's soul with divine thought.

What he discovered shocked him greatly. The Jade Emperor had tampered with Xuanguang's primordial spirit and nature.

True reincarnation would not alter a person's disposition—in other words, no matter how many times someone reincarnates, their true nature remains constant.

Yet Xuanguang's temperament had significantly changed, able to view past injustices with indifference. This was clearly unnatural.

Upon closer investigation, Song Lin discovered that the Jade Emperor had manipulated Xuanguang prior to his reincarnation, forcibly altering Xuanhuang's character through some unknown method.

"So, that's how it is."

Song Lin drew out the God-beating Whip and struck Xuanguang's head with a resounding blow.

The God-beating Whip possesses the ability to change the essence of life—transforming Dao into Buddha, Buddha into Dao, and even altering people's divine souls.

With one strike, the Jade Emperor's tampering was undone, and Xuanguang's divine soul was rendered truly autonomous, no longer part of the Jade Emperor's trio of souls.

If not for direct investigation, the exact alterations would have remained undiscovered.

Soon after, Xuanguang awoke. With the changes wrought by the God-beating Whip, he now understood that his previous incarnation was one of the Jade Emperor's three souls.

"Congratulations—you're free now. From now on, you are nobody's incarnation; you are simply yourself."

Song Lin put away the God-beating Whip.

"Thank you, Emperor…" Xuanguang was overwhelmed with gratitude, at a loss for words. He feared that one day the Jade Emperor might reclaim him, but with Song Lin's intervention this worry had dissolved.

Equipping Xuanguang with the God-beating Whip, which transformed him into a complete individual, akin to being reborn, Song Lin became like a second father to him—a relationship that Xuanguang could only deeply cherish.

"Remember to keep this secret. When Central Heaven Ziwei ascends above all the heavens, it won't be too late to reveal it then."

"Disciple understands."

"The Jade Emperor sent down an incarnation to the mortal world to establish his dominion over the lineage of the Star Lords. For now, let things proceed as intended."

"And you, Master…"

"My ambitions lie elsewhere. Do you know whose body I now inhabit?" Song Lin asked cryptically.

"I don't know. There's a faint aura of Buddhism about it."

Xuanguang scrutinized him briefly, scratching his head in puzzled uncertainty.

"Jin Naluo Bodhisattva…"

"What…" Xuanguang froze in shock, his mind thrown into chaos.

During the rivalry between Jin Naluo and Song Lin, Xuanguang had been wandering in the mortal realm, unfamiliar with Jin Naluo's appearance—though the name, of course, was well-known.

To learn that the two were actually the same person was utterly unexpected.

Just how grand was this scheme? Xuanguang couldn't help but deeply admire it.

"My aspiration is to restore peace to the Three Realms. Only by addressing the Buddhist and Daoist sects can true harmony be achieved. Are you willing to aid me in this endeavor?"

Song Lin posed the question, awaiting Xuanguang's answer.

"Disciple is ready to command the lineage of the Star Lords and become the sword that clears the path for Master."

"Good."

With Xuanguang's resolve set, the confusion in his heart dissipated entirely.

In the world today, only individuals of their caliber could restore order to the cosmos.

Since the Jade Emperor, as the Lord of the Three Realms, could not fulfill his role, they would assume the responsibility themselves.

"This is the God-beating Whip. I'll teach you how to use it shortly…"

Thereafter, Song Lin disguised himself and took Xuanguang back to Lingjiu Mountain.

"Jin Naluo is merely one of my avatars. Soon, you will pay a visit to me in my true form."

At the base of Lingjiu Mountain, Song Lin spoke to Xuanguang.

"Understood."

Xuanguang ascended the mountain.

Song Lin watched him leave.

"Hmm?"

Song Lin sensed something amiss.

The presence of Lingjiu Mountain seemed peculiar.

The mountain appeared to retain faint traces of Buddhist intent.

Lingjiu Mountain was originally the sanctuary of Randeng Buddha, a fact Song Lin was well aware of. However, countless millennia had passed—why did traces of Buddhist intent still remain? And why had he not sensed this earlier?

Following his gaze, Song Lin saw sunlight converging upon Golden Bowl Cliff, forming a radiant golden wheel. The wheel spun ceaselessly, faintly radiating the burning essence of a great sun, emitting a zen-like aura of enlightenment that illuminated all beings.

The golden wheel seemed to connect to some other world.

High in the heavens, divinities stood watch—the Thousand-mile Eye, Sharp-Hearing Ear, and countless others who continuously monitored his cave mansion.

If he tried to ascend now in stealth, he might be discovered.

With this thought, Lingjiu Mountain's true master awakened and opened the door to his chamber.

This attracted the attention of countless immortal gods in the sky. Taking advantage of the fleeting instant, Song Lin swiftly flew into the golden wheel.

A powerful suction force pulled him forward—indeed, it connected to another world.

Transported to the other side, before he could fully grasp his surroundings, Song Lin felt a scorching heat wave inundate the area. Blinding white light suffused the space, its radiance seemingly infinite, threatening to dissolve his very form.

He had no choice but to reveal his Wutian form, standing upon the Destructive Black Lotus as an innumerable tide of demonic qi surrounded him, shielding him from the relentless brilliance and heat.

Once settled, he looked up to see a massive golden solar orb.

"Shariputra relic?"

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