The Buddhist realm within this arena feels different from the preceding days.
Indeed. My prior comprehension was lacking, yet an even stronger aura surged forth, compelling me to start anew. I managed to condense it successfully in one go!
Perhaps this is the extraordinary nature of the Buddhist realm itself. Otherwise, how could it be counted among the Three Pure Lands?
...
With the experience from the first stage, as the tenth day drew to a close, many participants began to awaken from their insights. A hint of confusion flickered in everyone's eyes.
After some discussion, they quickly pinpointed the source of the change.
However, regarding the transformations within the Buddhist realm, everyone attributed it to the realm itself, with no one harboring any other thoughts.
"This Li Xuan is truly remarkable, having also condensed the sixth layer of the Buddha statue." Li Liqing paid no heed to the surrounding discussions, his gaze sweeping across the area as he mentally noted down all participants who had successfully condensed the sixth layer.
Upon seeing Li Xuan, his eyes showed a flicker of surprise. But after a moment, Li Liqing relaxed, realizing that an opponent who could contend with him to that extent would naturally not be weak.
"It seems that fluctuation that was masking the aura has vanished."
While the participants inside the Buddhist realm were discussing, outside Mount Maitreya, both Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable and Guanyin Buddha Venerable could once again sense everything within the Buddhist realm. After a slight sensing, Guanyin Buddha Venerable looked at Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable and said,
"Astonishingly, over sixteen thousand individuals can enter the third stage. This year's selection competition for the Buddha's Child has surpassed all previous ones." Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable nodded slightly upon hearing this.
"Although the numbers are high, only a thousand participants can advance to the final contenders. Time is pressing, let us continue." Guanyin Buddha Venerable also nodded, then, together with Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable, they acted again, two golden lights instantly shooting into the Buddhist realm.
"It has begun!"
As Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable and Guanyin Buddha Venerable infused their hand seals into the Buddhist realm once more, the changes within immediately drew the attention of those still present.
Simultaneously, participants who had only condensed the first and second layers of Buddha statues were bathed in a golden light and vanished from their meditation cushions.
"Heaven's chosen, I hope you are among the thousand." Ananda also sensed the changes in the Buddhist realm, clasped his hands in prayer, and slowly closed his eyes again.
"Li Xuan, I hope to battle you again in the final contenders!" Li Liqing cast a glance at Li Xuan, his thoughts also stirring as he closed his eyes.
"Hmm, it appears the true competition for the Buddha's Child selection has officially commenced." Li Xuan sensed the gazes from Ananda and Li Liqing. With a slight smile, the light in his eyes gradually sharpened.
Li Xuan was determined to obtain the Snow Ganoderma Nine Lotuses. However, to achieve this, he had to enter the top ten Buddha's Children. Therefore, Li Xuan began to take this seriously.
Hum.
As golden light continuously flashed within the Buddhist realm, many participants concentrated their minds. In an instant, the scene within the Buddhist realm shifted. The original scene of shimmering Buddha light transformed as if by a great divine being, revealing a magnificent starry sky.
Within the starry sky, countless stars twinkled. The participants were filled with awe, shock, and confusion. But soon, they all adapted.
Clearly, all of this signaled the beginning of the third stage.
"The insights of the third stage are of sentient beings in their myriad forms, each with their own Buddha. Each person's path to Buddhahood is different, and their faith in Buddha is not the same. Within the Buddhist realm, there are myriad Buddhas."
"The Buddha statues you condense and the Buddhist paths you sense will fully manifest the Buddha who guides you. To receive one or two pointers from a Buddha can lead to the Buddha Heart. Buddha Hearts are graded, and after ten days, a thousand Buddha's Children will emerge."
The stars in the sky grew increasingly bright, and Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable's voice suddenly echoed.
Everyone, including Li Xuan, immediately sat up straight.
From Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable's words, Li Xuan understood the key to the insights of the third stage. Clearly, in this third stage, the residual insights of fallen Buddhas left within the Buddhist realm would appear. How much one could comprehend depended on oneself.
Only those who could successfully condense the insights of their manifested Buddha would qualify to be among the thousand Buddha's Children.
"This Buddhist competition is quite interesting. To condense a complete Buddha statue within ten days will likely eliminate many participants. Moreover, even if a complete Buddha statue is successfully condensed, it will still depend on this so-called Buddha Heart. But after these thousand Buddha's Children emerge, how will the Buddhist sect arrange them?"
Li Xuan pondered inwardly, then shook his head. The third stage had just begun, and he needed to secure his qualification first.
Hum.
Just as Li Xuan finished his thought, the stars in the sky began to fall. Among the many stars, some shone brighter than others. Above each participant's head, the Buddha statues they had condensed now appeared, allowing these stars to weave around them.
Seeing everyone close their eyes, Li Xuan moved his mind and adjusted his entire being to its optimal state.
Boom!
As Li Xuan's Buddha statue emerged, a massive and radiant star instantly shot into the Buddha statue above Li Xuan's head. The Buddha statue flickered with golden light, appearing to solidify.
"Heaven's chosen, are you willing to heed this Buddha's words?"
As the golden light spread, an ancient, resonant voice suddenly echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Hearing this, Li Xuan immediately opened his eyes. Before him stood an old monk in yellow robes, gazing at Li Xuan with a benevolent expression.
"Senior, who are you?" Li Xuan stood up immediately upon seeing this. However, as he stood, Li Xuan realized that the participants who had been around him moments ago had now vanished.
For a moment, Li Xuan felt that the person before him was unfathomable. If not for the monk's attire resembling that of Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable and others, Li Xuan would have felt as if he had been tricked.
"This is the realm of this Buddha's residual consciousness. You need not worry. Furthermore, this Buddha passed away many years ago and can do you no harm. During my lifetime, my name was Ran Guang." The old monk seemed to sense Li Xuan's thoughts and said with a slight smile.
"Buddha Ran Guang! Junior Li Xuan pays his respects to Buddha Ran Guang. May I ask what you wish to tell this junior?" Li Xuan was startled and immediately bowed deeply to Buddha Ran Guang.
It was known that within the Buddhist sect, Buddha Ran Guang was an expert on par with the current Shakyamuni Buddha. Moreover, Buddha Ran Guang had led the Buddhist sect before Shakyamuni Buddha. Therefore, Buddha Ran Guang's significance was far greater than Shakyamuni Buddha's.
The establishment of Buddhism was credited to this very Buddha Ran Guang.
To commemorate Buddha Ran Guang, he was revered as the First Ancient Buddha Ran Guang of Buddhism.
However, Li Xuan was deeply perplexed. He had no prior connection with Buddha Ran Guang. His sudden appearance, and his ability to draw Li Xuan into the realm of consciousness without his knowledge, left him bewildered. If this being had intended harm, Li Xuan would have been powerless to resist.
While inwardly grateful, Li Xuan was also curious about what Buddha Ran Guang wished to tell him.
"The Dao of Heaven is vast and eternal. One person can be a calamity, whether small or great, depending entirely on a single thought. This Buddha hopes that in the future, when facing all sentient beings, you will also be able to lay down your butcher's knife. A single thought can be of Buddha, a single thought can be of demon. Becoming a Buddha or a demon is but a fleeting moment."
Buddha Ran Guang said, joining his hands in prayer and reciting a Buddhist chant.
"May the Buddha enlighten me further." Li Xuan frowned slightly. Buddha Ran Guang's words left Li Xuan utterly confused, and he had no choice but to ask again.
"Heavenly secrets cannot be divulged. What is destined to come will eventually arrive. This Buddha only wishes that at that time, you will have less killing intent and more compassion. Do not treat all beings as mere straw dogs, lest you disturb your own state of mind. This Sarira of mine is given to you, hoping it can help suppress your killing intent at a critical moment. Sadhu, Sadhu."
Buddha Ran Guang's expression turned solemn, and he sighed slightly.
As his words fell, his body rapidly condensed into a golden bead. Before Li Xuan could react, it shot into Li Xuan's forehead.
The moment Li Xuan reacted, the golden light emanating from his body was instantly retracted. Then, his vision blurred, and he found himself back in the starry sky.
Unbeknownst to Li Xuan, all the stars in the starry sky suddenly let out a mournful cry, filling the entire firmament with a somber atmosphere.
"What is this..." Li Xuan did not notice, but the twelve supreme experts, Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable and Guanyin Buddha Venerable, instantly sensed it.
"The lament of all Buddhas, to exalt the Buddha's aura. It is one of our ancient predecessors who has completely relinquished the opportunity for reincarnation and cultivation. I wonder which senior it was who thus gave up everything. Could it be related to the heaven's chosen?"
Guanyin Buddha Venerable sighed softly upon hearing Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable's words. A hint of sorrow also flickered in his eyes.
Only beings at or above the Buddha Venerable level could enter the state of consciousness within the Buddhist realm. The complete demise of one such being naturally evoked deep empathy from Guanyin Buddha Venerable.
"Among our Buddhist followers, those who sacrifice themselves to become Buddhas are not few. Regardless of which predecessor it was, their choice was voluntary. We can only bid them farewell." Golden Wheel Buddha Venerable also looked at the Buddhist realm with a complex expression, then closed his eyes and moved his lips.
"Ancient Buddha Ran Guang, is this your choice? A full thirty thousand years, solely for this person. Sadhu, Sadhu." At the summit of Spirit Mountain, as Buddha Ran Guang transformed into a Sarira, Shakyamuni Buddha's closed eyes simultaneously opened.
His gaze seemed to pierce through countless mountains, looking towards the Buddhist realm within Mount Maitreya.
As for Li Xuan, the individual involved, a monumental transformation was occurring within his body. With the integration of the Sarira formed by Buddha Ran Guang, an extremely dense Buddha light permeated him from the inside out. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth now flowed into Li Xuan's body unceasingly.
Finally, the Sarira settled upon Li Xuan's Dantian, as if it were naturally part of him, gradually merging as one.
Even more unexpectedly, as the Sarira integrated, a peculiar symbol appeared on the body of the master sword within his Dantian.
Perhaps due to the Sarira, the Buddha statue above Li Xuan's head rapidly condensed to the eighth layer after two days. And its speed showed no signs of slowing. However, Li Xuan was completely unaware of all this.
Because, in his mind, a golden scripture, radiant and adorned with flowing runes, was appearing.
As these runes materialized, Li Xuan's state of mind became unprecedentedly peaceful. Unconsciously, he experienced a sense of boundless cosmic vastness. Even Li Xuan's bottleneck showed signs of loosening.
"This Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra bears some resemblance to the 'Jing Zi Jue' that Peak Master Zi Mo once gave me." After a quarter of an hour, Li Xuan opened his eyes, a glimmer of enlightenment appearing within them.
Hum!
Just then, a humming sound arose.
Li Xuan looked up upon hearing it. He saw that the Buddha statue above Ananda's head had fully illuminated. Then, as if it had come alive, the Buddha statue suddenly opened its eyes.
A Buddhist chant echoed through heaven and earth.