Chapter 379: Chapter 267: His Highness the Buddha Prince Endures Hardship, Truly a Divine Man

"Indeed."

"Prohibition two: No one is permitted to use the Power of Rules."

Yang An understood this one. The Power of Rules was a devastating weapon. If someone of a lower rank were to attack a higher one—for instance, a Corpse Transformation trying to fight a Zombie God—unleashing the Power of Rules would be suicide.

"Prohibition three: Everyone will receive a Buddhist Shrine. If incense is lit in the shrine, you must cease your actions and can no longer vent your Demon Barrier."

No wonder it was called the Joyful Shrine Association. Yang An finally understood.

But on second thought, something else occurred to him.

’Everyone will receive a Buddhist Shrine... the Joyful Shrine Association... Could it be that the purpose of the Association is to collect something for the Buddhist Shrines?’

Yang An hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to ask Guang’an.

This matter was likely a secret among the upper echelons. Guang’an was just a Gami; he wouldn’t necessarily know.

When the Joyful Shrine Association began, perhaps he could use his special ability to appraise it.

At the same time, Yang An found himself faintly looking forward to this Joyful Shrine Association.

He had originally planned to use the contribution points earned from his trip to the Four Buddha States to trade for materials for the Cultivation of the Jade Kala Vajra Body at the Grand View Cave Zen. He desperately needed these materials to advance both his Jade Kala Vajra Body and his Red Wheel Infinite Body.

But now, he had dismissed that idea.

Since the Joyful Shrine Association was coming, why waste his hard-earned contribution points? Why not just wait a few days and openly rob people during the event?

He refused to believe that when the time came, none of those bald-headed old coots from the Great Virtue Temple would be eyeing cultivation resources for themselves.

With no further instructions, Guang’an withdrew, leaving Yang An alone in the Zen Room.

’Then again,’ he thought, ’an event as big as the Joyful Shrine Association... I wonder if the Golden Thread Pavilion knows about it?’

’If the Golden Thread Pavilion knew, they should have contacted me to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s strange that there’s been no news at all.’

「Four days passed quickly.」

On this day, Qing Xin returned.

His return was like a great military victory; when Qing Xin came back, many people throughout the Great Virtue Temple celebrated.

A Demon Fiend uprising in a State Territory was no small matter.

But Qing Xin had seized this opportunity to annihilate nearly all the Demon Fiends.

According to his own account, he had annihilated a total of six great Zombie God Great Demon Fiends, countless other Demon Fiends, destroyed the Demon Fiend lair on Blood Sea Mountain, and completely eradicated over ninety percent of the Demon Fiends in the Four Buddha States.

Such a battle record was a monumental achievement!

This would serve as a powerful boost for his future promotion to the rank of Bodhisattva.

After returning to the Great Virtue Temple and meeting with Hai Shu Bodhisattva, Qing Xin headed straight for the Mingxin Zen Courtyard to pay Yang An a visit.

"It was my miscalculation that placed the Buddha’s Son in danger. I am filled with guilt and have brought this item as a token of my apology. I hope the Buddha’s Son will find it in his heart to forgive me."

Hearing Qing Xin’s words, Yang An knew the old monk was here to give him something. How could he possibly refuse?

’Not only did you use me as bait, resulting in my capture by Demon Fiends, you also tried to attack me in that illusion, and then again in the Immortal Origin Land.’

’Your sins are great indeed!’

Yang An grumbled inwardly.

However, if Qing Xin hadn’t done so, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to escape Qing Xin’s watch and accomplish what he wanted to do.

One could say it was all a matter of fate—every cause has its effect. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Of course, on the surface, Yang An still put on a pleasant face for Qing Xin and obediently accepted the item he offered.

The item Qing Xin presented was a Magical Artifact made from countless Demon Fiend teeth.

The teeth of Demon Fiends were foul things. The moment Yang An took it, he was hit by a nauseating stench, as if countless Demon Fiends had opened their putrid mouths at him all at once.

But the information box that appeared before Yang An’s eyes told him that this was no ordinary Magical Artifact.

This Magical Artifact was called the "Demon Fang Chain," and it was a functional, control-type Magical Artifact.

By inputting Mana, one could restrain a person. The filth from the Demon Fiends on the fangs would then transfer into the restrained person’s body, causing them to suffer unbearable pain.

’You have to admit, these bald-headed old coots sure are twisted. They’ve even come up with chains.’

The price for using this Magical Artifact was that if the user had any open wounds, there was a fifty percent chance the filth on it would backlash and infect them after use.

It was a good item. Yang An casually used Purification on its price and then put it away.

’I’m one of these bald-headed old coots now, too. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Nothing wrong with being a little twisted.’

"Thank you for your kindness, Zen Master. It was I, De Ji, who was careless this time and burdened you. I hope you won’t dwell on it."

The two exchanged some compliments, putting on a show of the friendly, harmonious, and wonderful atmosphere within the Great Virtue Temple. Both host and guest were pleased.

Qing Xin then brought up the matter of the Joyful Shrine Association.

With the Joyful Shrine Association imminent, this was precisely the reason he had returned to the Great Virtue Temple as early as he did.

"The time of the Joyful Shrine is approaching. Is there anything Your Highness the Buddha Prince wishes to accomplish?"

Qing Xin asked.

But Yang An was already on his guard against this man and simply smiled and shook his head.

"I, De Ji, have only recently joined the temple, so I don’t have much of a Demon Barrier in my heart. I will simply participate and enjoy the festivities with everyone."

"There is one thing the Buddha’s Son may not know. The Buddhist Shrines obtained during the Joyful Shrine Association are also divided into nine grades. Grades one through three are designated as Spiritual Shrines, grades four through six are Zen Shrines, and grades seven through nine are Holy Shrines.

"If Your Highness can obtain a Buddhist Shrine of the third grade or higher and light its incense, you will receive considerable benefits."

"There’s such a thing?"

Yang An was a little surprised. ’As expected, this level of information isn’t something a mere Gami like Guang’an would know. If Qing Xin hadn’t told me, I would have remained ignorant until the Joyful Shrine Association began.’