Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Great Vajra of Supreme Protection

Mount Tianzhu of the Hundred Flowers Sect

“Having descended from the mountain this time, what have you realized?” Yan Dongjue looked steadily at Lin Feng, speaking in a tone neither warm nor cold.

“The disciple is dull-witted and has not yet...” Lin Feng replied humbly.

“Have your cultivation skills improved?” Yan Dongjue asked again.

“My sword control has quickened somewhat, and I have also learned two new Daoist techniques. As for my realm... it remains in the early stage,” Lin Feng answered softly.

“Never neglect your cultivation for even a single day; you must remember this!” Yan Dongjue said solemnly.

His master was not angry. Lin Feng looked up and said, “When I returned to the mountain, I heard rumors that a celestial treasure is about to emerge within the sect…”

Yan Dongjue waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t make a fuss over this. In the wilderness, which year passes without a rumor of some treasure appearing? You should focus solely on your cultivation. Take this Wind-Controlling Exquisite Pill and consume it.”

Yan Dongjue opened his palm and tossed him a white jade bottle.

“Thank you, Master!” Lin Feng accepted it joyfully. The Wind-Controlling Exquisite Pill was a rare elixir that greatly enhanced foundation-building stage cultivation, but such precious pills must not be taken in excess; one was enough, more could cause poisoning.

“Hmm... Starting today, I will enter seclusion for a month. If you go out to the world for experience, be cautious. The demonic path is rampant nowadays. The sect leader is negotiating with other factions regarding this matter, and a decision will soon be reached.” Yan Dongjue’s eyes flashed with sharp light. He continued, “Last time, you two were pursued by Teng Chong. This time, you must not provoke trouble with the wild demonic cultivators again.”

“I will follow my master’s teachings strictly.” Lin Feng bowed, then looked up to find Yan Dongjue already departing alone. He had intended to plead for Wuzhui and Qian Cai but could only swallow the words back.

After taking the Wind-Controlling Exquisite Pill, Lin Feng needed two hours to refine it with his energy. Half a day later, he finished cultivating and stood at the summit of Tianzhu Peak, contemplating his next move. The liquid spiritual power in his dantian was growing thicker; he was but a step away from the mid-foundation stage. Should he continue cultivation to break through this bottleneck, or venture out for experience, perhaps visit Futuo Temple on the way?

At his current stage, many possibilities lay before him. Urgently awaiting his comprehension were four or five methods: the second form of Overlord Strength—“Hurricane Overwhelming Wave,” the subsequent parts of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Technique, the Secret Scripture of the Mind’s Dispersal in the Lotus of the World, and the practical application of the Sky-Expanding Technique... not to mention in-depth study of refining instruments and elixirs, as well as talisman crafting.

Calming his mind, he decided to stay at the sect for a month to thoroughly study these major techniques before completing the task entrusted by Cai Yi. Without sufficient strength, it would be far too difficult to stealthily obtain the Buddha’s relics.

The study of cultivation techniques required a solid foundation; the higher the realm, the greater the comprehension and speed. Therefore, raising his level was urgent.

The harvest from this trip exceeded Lin Feng’s expectations. Taking out the yuan spirit stone, he began cultivation on the mountain’s summit platform.

This was his first time using a spirit stone to aid cultivation. Unable to discern its grade yet, he focused only on one thing: rapidly increase his cultivation and break through the mid-foundation bottleneck. Holding the yuan spirit stone in his palm and invoking the Spirit Control Formula, pure spiritual energy surged like an endless river, instantly filling his meridians and flowing directly into his dantian. He circulated and refined this energy continuously, replenishing his dantian. His cultivation speed was twice as fast as usual!

The spiritual power in his dantian grew increasingly pure. After more than ten days, it formed a paste-like liquid energy, and his cultivation finally reached the mid-foundation stage. The yuan spirit stone was nearly depleted, reduced to the size of a peanut. After fully refining it, Lin Feng exhaled a breath of stale air, stood up, and flew down to his residence below.

The greatest difference between early and mid-foundation stages was visible externally: he could now fly a certain distance without relying on sword flight. Of course, this flight had distance limits and consumed tremendous physical and spiritual power. Even Golden Core or Nascent Soul experts rarely relied solely on spiritual power for flight, preferring to use their treasured artifacts—this was why.

Washing away the grime in Banyue Lake, he sat quietly by the shore, recalling the essentials of the Overlord Strength manual. The second form, “Hurricane Overwhelming Wave,” used the body as a fist, requiring softness outside yet hardness within, restraining momentum before unleashing a sudden strike. The power was inwardly firm but outwardly gentle, a rapid explosive move—strong but bewildering, for how could a mere body match the strength of a magical weapon?

“Boom!” A tremendous roar burst from the lake as the ice cracked down the middle, as if split by a giant sword. Two great waves surged upward, violently striking the lake surface, exploding and rushing toward the shore. Where the ice was split, a fierce wind howled ceaselessly. Only after a long while did Banyue Lake settle.

The great noise disturbed no one. Law was strict on Tianzhu Peak; the elders in the main halls each fulfilled their duties and did not interfere beyond. Most senior disciples were in seclusion. The entire peak seemed to hold only Lin Feng.

“Still not enough. Such an attack has great momentum, effective against low-level cultivators, but insufficient against flying sword weapons,” Lin Feng thought as he emerged from the lake bottom. He headed toward the Wentao Pavilion to consult Buddhist scriptures.

The “Secret Scripture of the Mind’s Dispersal in the Lotus of the World” mentioned a Buddha, three Vajras, and two Bodhisattvas, all surely grounded in Buddhist lore. Lin Feng’s purpose was to verify the origins of these great beings.

Spending half a day in the pavilion, he found annotations in the Buddhist classic “Golden Light Buddha Sutra.” The three Vajras were the Broad-Eyed Demon-Subduing Vajra, the Great Might Dharma-Protecting Vajra, and the Ten-Wheel Dharma Seal Vajra. The two Bodhisattvas were named Sunlight Avatamsaka Bodhisattva and Moonlight Kalan Bodhisattva. These five great beings served the World-Viewing Great Bright Buddha, one of the ten major Buddhas revered in Buddhism.

The “Secret Scripture of the Mind’s Dispersal in the Lotus of the World” was indeed a precious Buddhist secret scripture!

“All forms are illusions; all conditioned dharmas are like dreams, bubbles, and shadows. The World-Viewing Great Bright Buddha, practicing Prajnaparamita, perceives the emptiness of the five aggregates and transcends all suffering and distress. Shariputra! All dharmas are empty in nature—neither born nor destroyed, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Observe the self, observe the world, observe stars, sun, and moon, sever greed, hatred, and delusion to form the dispersed mind, guard the pure heart, and naturally one can perceive Bodhi, molding the great bright golden-bodied Buddha...”

In his solitary hut below the mountain, Lin Feng unfolded this secret scripture and studied it carefully. The more he read, the more vivid appeared the World-Viewing Great Bright Buddha—sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful, sometimes wrathful—so lifelike he seemed ready to leap out and stand in the void.

Opening the door, Lin Feng stood by Banyue Lake, gazing up at the starry sky, pondering deeply: “People hate others, crave pleasure, and cannot let go of attachments. These three poisons cannot be eradicated, so they cannot attain Buddhahood. Yet if one does not abandon them but refines them into dispersed spirits, there is a method. Using the power of these three great Vajras to guard one’s natural nature, one may cultivate the wondrous Bodhisattva path. The scripture says so. But is it really so easy to refine evil thoughts?”

Lin Feng resolved to try. The six-armed Demon-Subduing Vajra of Master Kuran he had seen that day had resisted a full strike from Hong Yun without defeat. Even mastering a tenth of its power would allow him to compete with Golden Core cultivators.

He spread a square carpet by the lake, lit incense, bowed, and sat cross-legged to meditate. Buddhist cultivation differed from Daoist in that it refined the mind and spirit, severing all external ties to cultivate one’s true nature.

Among the three poisons, Lin Feng chose greed to refine. Compared to ordinary people, he believed his greed was not strong, but his delusion and hatred were excessive.

Observing his own heart, eliminating distractions, he followed the scripture’s guidance to contemplate the cycles of cause and effect and reincarnation, treating illusions as reality, gradually delving deeper into his mind.

Coolness permeated his body, bathing in myriad cosmic phenomena, making him feel transcendent. One by one, illusions appeared:

He saw gold, silver, jewels, magical treasures, and wealth; beautiful women shedding their robes, countless beauties entwining and drifting by, fragrant breezes caressing his face, boundless allure.

Then he saw hordes of demons soaked in blood, fierce battles, mountains of corpses and bones, chaos everywhere.

Next appeared his enemies and foes: Nangong Ke, Zhou Kuigang, Yin Chaozong, Mu Hong, Teng Chong, the Killing Arhat... all wearing ferocious, wild grins.

The illusions shifted again, showing Cai Yi, Xia Tong, Leng Linglan one after another, their faces full of grievance and deep affection...

Such illusions could not be clung to; they must be severed and cut away to cultivate the Vajra dispersed spirit.

Yet, with the last furious shout of Yan Dongjue, all illusions vanished like smoke, and Lin Feng emerged from the cultivation soaked in cold sweat.

“All just illusions?” He opened his eyes, feeling as if he had experienced a terrifying life, his soul shattered and scattered, heartbeat racing like the first time he flew with his sword.

After a moment of breath adjustment, he tried again, imagining all illusions without clinging or pondering, letting them pass by as mere observers.

At last, after the illusions passed, his spiritual consciousness cleared like a cosmic starry sky, embracing all, resembling the dawn of heaven and earth, utterly pure.

“Greed alone—only I walk this path; all things in the world are but emptiness. Broad-Eyed Demon-Subduing Vajra, manifest!”

Boom! Countless greedy desires surged in, worldly lusts and divine cravings coalescing in his spiritual palace, gradually revealing a vague shadow. Though indistinct, it was undoubtedly the Broad-Eyed Demon-Subduing Vajra!

However—

Before this Vajra form could solidify, it burst like a bubble in his spiritual awareness. Everything returned to the beginning.

“What’s happening? This Vajra form shouldn’t be fake. Why did it vanish? Could it be that my greed is insufficient?” Lin Feng was filled with doubt.

“Fool, why are you cultivating a monk’s method? I have the Great Xun True Demon Curse here for you to learn, but you insist on the three poisons. How about we swap? I’ll also try to cultivate a Vajra Bodhi form,” said Li Chi.

“Go sleep quietly. I’d rather die than cultivate demonic arts. Hmph!” Lin Feng’s eyes twitched as realization dawned. If a demonic spirit like Li Chi could form a Vajra transformation, it would be a powerful trump card—but he probably wouldn’t help him easily.

Sighing, Lin Feng decided to rely on himself and attempt to refine delusion.

Attachment is delusion; deep affection is delusion. This delusion was tens of times stronger than greed. Within his spiritual palace appeared a clear image of the Great Might Dharma-Protecting Vajra, armored and helmeted, holding a precious pagoda in the left hand and a trident in the right.

“All dharmas arise from the mind; delusion takes form. Great Might Dharma-Protecting Vajra!” Above his head in the void appeared a furious-eyed Vajra shadow, only several inches tall but radiating brilliance like fireworks.

Delusion took shape—the Great Might Dharma-Protecting Vajra form!