Zhou Yi looked out from the 31st floor, noticing the main island had many stone hillocks and hills, though their slopes were relatively gentle, which did not affect Jade City's slow walking pace.

On the land, trees were dense, and the underbrush was thick, with plenty of small animals around.

As Jade City took its slow steps, many birds circled around it, unafraid of this enormous newcomer.

Zhou Yi then noticed a large object moving along the horizon.

The Red Kestrel was taking focused photographs from high above.

Beneath the lens was a stone giant with clearly defined features, its head covered by numerous bun-like protuberances, with a square face and long, broad earlobes. Its eyes were slightly downturned, giving it a solemn expression, with a small dot between its eyebrows.

The stone figure was walking slowly from afar, employing a bipedal human-like gait, leaving large footprints on the ground.

Zhou Yi watched with wonder.

It was, astonishingly, a walking Buddha statue.

Behind the Big Buddha, there were two protectors, one on each side.

The protectors were much shorter than the Big Buddha but still stood out starkly next to the forest. They wore high, pointed headdresses and skirt-like armor, also having square faces and wide noses, contributing to their solemn appearance.

Many birds also circled the Big Buddha, seemingly drawn to it.

As the camera zoomed in further, Zhou Yi could also see signs of human activity.

On the shoulders and back of the stone Buddha were several large black spiders with metallic legs and square mechanical bodies. Each spider had a control room on its back, with people inside directing their movements.

There were a total of eight mechanical spiders, firmly attached to the Big Buddha.

They affixed a column-like device onto the surface of the statue, using it as a node, and wrapped iron chains around the Buddha's shoulders and chest, creating a bizarre layer resembling an iron-thread cassock.

The mechanical spiders also sprayed some black oil, using brush-equipped limbs to evenly spread it across the surface of the Big Buddha.

Zhou Yi realized immediately.

These chains were obviously Light Blockers.

The waxy black oil was Light-blocking Oil.

Combined, they could affect the architectural life's ability to absorb nature's Death Light and even interrupt partial mechanical operations, serving as a specialized weapon against architectural life forms.

At this moment, two mechanical spiders were also sketching silver graffiti-like designs on the Big Buddha's surface, resembling some kind of electroplated tattoo, reminding Zhou Yi of the Light Spine and Light Wall inside the enhanced ship.

He asked Qin Xie, who had come over to look at the screen, "Are they installing a Light Imprint?"

"Yes."

Qin Xie attentively watched the spiders on the screen, "These are the 'Spider Cars' of the Mechanical Knights; they can navigate various complex terrains. The Mechanical Knights are controlling them, likely affixing an advanced Light Imprint on this large alien surface. The complexity and coverage area seem to be of B-level strength, either 'immobilization' or 'Forbidden Altar.'"

He pointed at the chain cassock on the Big Buddha, "This is a specially modified large Light Blocker, capable of holding together the Light Imprint Structure. These chain structures are essentially being laid out..."

Suddenly, stripes of flames erupted on the Big Buddha from the iron chains, which, combined with the silver Light Imprint, made the imprints start to flash one by one.

This made the steps of the stone Buddha even more labored and slow.

However, it continued to walk with its arms naturally hanging down, seemingly unaware of its surroundings.

The two protectors likewise followed without any reaction.

"It seems to be 'immobilization.'"

Qin Xie murmured, "'Forbidden Altar' is good too, but it consumes too much and needs to be deployed in a fixed area. 'immobilization' can lock down the mechanism, and it also consumes less..."

He briefly explained.

"'Forbidden Altar' can be understood simply as a sealing ability, preventing its target from using its inherent active skills, more akin to an instant effect.

"'immobilization,' as the name implies, makes it difficult for life forms like the Guangna Species or Aliens, which use Death Light as energy, to move. However, it takes time and space to gradually take effect, ultimately causing the target to nearly come to a standstill."

"Doing such advanced Light Imprint work requires an extremely stable environment... It seems this alien has a good temperament, or maybe it's not even aware of the risks it's facing."

Zhou Yi quietly took note.

The distance between Jade City and the stone Buddha was getting closer.

The stone Buddha's broad brows and gentle eyes bore a slight smile.

It was nearly level with Jade City, with wide shoulders and long arms, and clear toes and fingers on its feet and hands. The two protectors were also about sixteen or seventeen meters tall.

This look was somehow familiar.

Where had he seen it before...

Zhou Yi's eyes suddenly widened.

Damn.

It was the Leshan Buddha!

He had visited it and taken pictures, even descending the crowded and steep path beside the Buddha to view the sculptures.

He hadn't expected to encounter it again in the Wasteland Era, and in such a manner.

Zhou Yi immediately made up his mind.

He needed to lend a hand.

This was truly one of his own.

He maneuvered Jade City to glide across the ground, swiftly arriving in front of the Big Buddha.

Finally, the stone Buddha stopped walking.

Its ancient eyes met Zhou Yi's through the floor-to-ceiling window, the Buddha standing quietly.

This caused some panic among the Mechanical Knights, who drove their Spider Cars behind the Big Buddha to hide, unsure of what was happening.

"I'm going outside to check things out."

After saying this to Qin Xie, Zhou Yi pushed the door open and left.

He rode the Hunter across to the Big Buddha and landed on its shoulder.

Below the feet lay slick, light-blocking oil, and beside it was a crisscrossed mesh of iron chains.

Zhou Yi glanced behind him.

The Spider Car lay cautiously on the back of the Big Buddha, not rashly approaching this area or making any moves.

Zhou Yi placed his hand on the Buddha's large earlobe.

Energy input.

Consciousness synchronization initiated.

...

"Big Buddha, are you okay? Do you need help?"

After a moment.

A deep voice came from within his mind, "I am well. You are the first external consciousness I have encountered besides myself. Who are you?"

Zhou Yi said, "I saw you before you became a living structure."

"Oh?"

The other party seemed surprised, "You've seen the earlier me?"

"Yes."

"What was I like back then?"

"Not much different in appearance from now, sitting at the edge of a mountain, immovable. Many people used to come and pay their respects to you, for you represented a monument of prehistoric humans..."

As Zhou Yi spoke, he got somewhat carried away.

"So the past me was like that."

Big Buddha slowly said, "No wonder I always remember having many names, Lingyun Great Idol, Jiu Ding Great Idol, Jiading Big Buddha... but Leshan Buddha is the most vivid."

"So these were all my names in different eras. Those prehistoric humans who created me were truly incredible beings. I wish I could go back to that era to see the other Big Buddhas."

Zhou Yi cut to the chase, "Your current situation is very risky. The Mechanical Knights are lying on you... It's best for you to keep a distance from them to avoid being trapped."

After hearing this, the Big Buddha said, "Understood. However, this is my spiritual practice."

"Spiritual practice?"

Zhou Yi did not understand.

"Yes."

Big Buddha said, "Ever since I awoke, I found myself drawing many lives to me. They always come here. Even the most ferocious creatures become friendly to me if they stay for a while."

"Not long ago, a group of people walked all over me and even went into my ears and nose as if looking for something. In the end, they too treated me well and even gifted me a Light Seed."

"With patience and tolerance, they all end up being kind to me."

For a moment, Zhou Yi was dumbfounded.

The abilities of the Leshan Buddha were incredible.

Was it really about putting down the butcher's knife to become a Buddha immediately?

Big Buddha explained, "This ability doesn't strip them of their ability to attack. It just makes them friendly towards me, which takes time to influence and soothe them."

"Moreover, by touching and influencing other angry, violent lives, I too evolve and perfect myself. Initially, this ability was weak... but after many years of accumulation, it has greatly surpassed its original state."

"Zhou Yi Buddha, thank you for your concern, but I am fine."

This form of address gave Zhou Yi a bittersweet chuckle.

In the cognition of the Leshan Buddha, every life was a grand Buddha.

It believed it was influencing others towards goodness while they helped it gain clearer and smarter consciousness—this is spiritual practice.

Zhou Yi then felt relief.

He immediately activated the invitation mode, promising not to affect its spiritual practice and to greatly assist it in further guiding people towards goodness.

"Our population is larger, which is more beneficial for your spiritual practice, and we will also visit other lands. You could join us then..."

In the Wasteland Era, such a vital cultural relic as the Leshan Buddha obviously needed good protection.

After hearing this, the Big Buddha said, "Zhou Yi Buddha, but I cannot leave here because I still have many parts up in the cliffs at the island's center. I am supposed to return to the place I came from at the end of my walking practice."

Zhou Yi replied, "That is no problem; we can help you move. Our company has a living architecture that can cross seas... As long as you are not an entire mountain, you should be movable."

"To encounter such a miraculous kin."

Big Buddha marveled, "Indeed, my experiences are still limited; I need more spiritual training to improve."

"Then I'll be troubling you, Zhou Yi Buddha."

Zhou Yi felt immensely pleased inside.

Just finding the Leshan Buddha made this long journey worthwhile.

"There's one more thing. Have you seen a Flying Star? It looks like..."

After Zhou Yi's inquiry, he gained quite a bit of information from the Big Buddha.

"Then see you later."

"Alright."

He rode the Hunter back the way he had come.

Jade City restarted.

The Big Buddha slowly raised its long arms and made a gesture of pressing the hands together in reverence.

Zhou Yi maneuvered Jade City to return the bow.

Two giants passed by each other, continuing their respective journeys.

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