Chapter 378: Chapter 267: His Highness the Buddha Prince Endures Hardship; Truly a Divine Man

He wondered why Hai Shu hadn’t asked him about the destruction of Blood Sea Mountain.

By all rights, Hai Shu should have received the news. He had, after all, annihilated the entire Demon Fiend lair with a single arrow; there was no way the Qing Xin Association in the Four Buddha States wouldn’t have noticed. Yang An had even prepared an explanation.

It seemed this old man had claimed all the credit for the Great Virtue Temple, while graciously bestowing a portion of it on him—the one who had actually destroyed the Demon Fiend lair.

’That made sense.’

The dignified Buddha’s Son of the Great Virtue Temple, abducted by Demon Fiends and taken to their lair... If word of that got out, it would tarnish the Great Virtue Temple’s reputation.

But what if the Buddha’s Son had simply played along? What if he’d braved the danger, infiltrated the Demon Fiend lair, and coordinated with a Zen Master from the inside to strike at their very heart, annihilating the Demon Fiends in a resounding victory?

The whole story sounded completely different that way.

’He’s a Bodhisattva, after all. One look at that old man’s shiny bald head, and you can just tell it’s brimming with wisdom.’

Zen Master Qing Zong received the decree and quickly left the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall. Hai Shu turned his gaze back to Yang An.

"For your service in the Four Buddha States, you shall be rewarded based on your merits. It is also time for a new Dharma name."

Yang An said nothing. Matters like a Dharma name weren’t for him to decide. Even if it was time for a change, the decision had to come from Elder Monk Hai Shu.

For a Monk, this was an incredibly sacred event.

"Since your Cultivation Level has already reached Corpse Transformation, from now on, your Dharma name shall be De Ji."

"De Ji thanks you, Bodhisattva!"

Although he was the Buddha’s Son, a Dharma name from the "Yuan" generation was for an ordinary Monk in the Great Virtue Temple. A name from the "De" generation, however, was reserved for an Abbot. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Possessing a Dharma name of this generation meant he could now wield true authority—at the very least, he could preside over a city’s Glazed Tower and guard the surrounding region.

’Not bad. De Ji sounds better than Yuan Ji,’ Yang An thought, accepting it gladly. ’It sounds a bit like KFC, but who in this world has ever heard of KFC?’

"De Ji, you may go to the Grand View Cave Zen to exchange for cultivation resources. Do not grow lax in your practice."

"Yes."

Yang An rose and took his leave, preparing to exit the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall. He truly did need the materials for the second physical transformation and refinement of his Jade Kala Vajra Body. He would use them to deduce the second level of the Red Wheel Infinite Body.

But just as he was about to leave the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall, before the heavy bronze doors had opened, Hai Shu seemed to remember something.

"Today is the seventh. In a few more days, on the fifteenth of the fourth month, it will be the Joyful Shrine Association in our Land of Great Virtue and Goodness. Whatever you wish to do, do not hold back. Unleash the Demon Barrier in your heart."

’Joyful Shrine Association?’

Yang An realized he had no idea what the old monk was talking about.

’Whatever. I’ll find someone to ask after I leave.’

He nodded respectfully, took his leave, and left the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall.

「Mingxin Zen Courtyard」

Inside a Zen Room, Guang’an had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Yang An, he was overcome with joy.

"Your Highness the Buddha Prince! A few days ago, word came from the Four Buddha States that you had been slain by Demon Fiends. I never would have imagined that you had actually infiltrated the Demon Fiend lair on purpose, coordinating from the inside to annihilate them in one fell swoop!

Your Highness, to endure such hardship for the greater good... you are truly a man of divine caliber!"

"..."

’I made the right choice picking him as my attendant monk,’ Yang An thought.

’Music to my ears!’

Smiling and waving his hand, Yang An asked about the Joyful Shrine Association.

The Great Virtue Temple was always holding various Buddhist Assemblies, but for Elder Monk Hai Shu to mention one personally, it had to be something special.

The moment he brought it up, a look of excitement and anticipation—plain for all to see—spread across Guang’an’s face.

"Your Highness the Buddha Prince, you may not be aware, but the Joyful Shrine Association is a major event for our Great Virtue Temple, held only once every three years. On this day, all of us Monks of the Great Virtue Temple can unleash the Demon Barriers we’ve suppressed for so long! There are no restraints, no taboos!"

Yang An mulled over Guang’an’s words, finding them hard to believe.

"You’re saying, on this one day, you can do anything?"

Guang’an nodded excitedly.

"You can do anything!"

"Murder and arson?"

"Yes!" A distinctly bloodthirsty glint flashed in Guang’an’s eyes.

"What about abducting women?"

"Yes!" A faint blush crept onto Guang’an’s face.

"Tear down the temple?"

"Yes!" Guang’an’s body began to tremble with excitement.

"Kill Zen Masters and Bodhisattvas?"

"Yes... Uh!" Guang’an almost blurted out his agreement but caught himself just in time, a shudder running through him.

"Your Highness the Buddha Prince, that... well, normally no one would dare to commit such a heinous act. Besides..."

Guang’an trailed off, but his meaning was clear: even if you were the Buddha’s Son, you couldn’t kill a Bodhisattva.

’If just anyone could kill a Bodhisattva, could they still be called a Bodhisattva?’

Of course, if someone really was suicidal enough to go after a Bodhisattva on that day, no one would stop them.

After all, the Bodhisattvas were also participants in the Joyful Shrine Association.

Yang An nodded slowly. No wonder the atmosphere in the Great Virtue Temple had felt a little different upon his return. It turned out all these monks were just waiting for the fifteenth of the fourth month to let loose.

But then he had another thought. ’That’s not right, either.’

He looked at Guang’an.

"If anything goes, what are you so excited about? Aren’t you afraid the Bodhisattvas and Zen Masters will get carried away and kill everyone?"

Guang’an suddenly let out a sly chuckle.

"Your Highness, if you’ll allow me to explain. While we say there are no taboos, the Joyful Shrine Association does have three prohibitions."

"Out with it!"

’I really want to slap this guy for trying to be so dramatic,’ Yang An thought.

"Prohibition one: Within the Land of Goodness, no one may initiate an attack on those weaker than themselves."

"So you’re saying a superior can only attack if an inferior provokes them first? And this prohibition is void outside the Land of Goodness?"