Jiang Liu'er was also stunned by Tang Sanzang's audacious words.
He had learned to read and studied some Buddhist scriptures at Jin Guang Temple, knowing that the "Past Buddha, Present Buddha, and Future Buddha" were the Three-time Buddhas of Buddhism, holding an extremely exalted position.
The Buddha revered at Jin Guang Temple was Sakyamuni, the Present Buddha.
The one commonly known as "Sakyamuni Buddha."
Jiang Liu'er could see Tang Sanzang's head adorned with a Vairocana cap and a Five Buddha crown, symbols of a high-ranking monk.
The old abbot of Jin Guang Temple wore the same attire.
In other words... Tang Sanzang, as an enlightened monk, showed no respect for the Three Buddhas. Yet he was about to learn the art of revenge from this predecessor in the chat group.
Hiss!
Jiang Liu'er shuddered. Was this the right choice?
[Ding! "Muscular Tang Sanzang" sent a special red envelope!]
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "@JiangLiuEr, you can claim this red envelope with just a thought."
Was this for him?
Apart from his wet nurse who raised him and Elder Fahai who cared for him at Jin Guang Temple, no one had ever given him anything.
His heart swelled with gratitude.
He quickly dismissed the thought that Tang Sanzang might be as untrustworthy as the Yellow Brow Hermit.
Who would harm someone who showed kindness and gave gifts?
He was a good-hearted person!
He had judged the enlightened monk by his own narrow standards!
With trembling excitement, Jiang Liu'er silently muttered, "Claim."
[Ding! Successfully claimed "Muscle Tang Sanzang's" special red envelope! Congratulation! "Jiang Liu'er" received: One BuddhaTorment Lotus Seed!]
A golden lotus seed materialized out of nowhere.
Startled, Jiang Liu'er reached out to catch it.
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "This is the BuddhaTorment Lotus Seed, originally called the 'Holy Buddha Seed.' It requires three centuries to bloom, three centuries to bear fruit, and three centuries to harvest. For nine hundred years, it must be nurtured by no fewer than a hundred monks chanting sutras daily to gather the essence of heaven and earth."
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "After my refinement, the seed has achieved great transformation, transcending its original form to become the 'BuddhaTorment Lotus Seed.'"
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "Consuming it will cleanse the impure Buddhist aura clinging to your body and implant a lotus within you. The seed grows in your dantian, the roots in your meridians, and the flower blooms upon enlightenment."
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "This is the path to invincibility I chose for you!"
Jiang Liu'er roughly understood the seed's purpose.
It was akin to the "immortal pills" storytellers spoke of.
Anyway, it must be beneficial!
Tang Sanzang was another version of himself from another world. How could he harm his own self? Especially since he showed such concern—definitely a good person!
Jiang Liu'er swallowed his doubts.
After thanking Tang Sanzang in the group, he placed the seed on his tongue and forced himself to swallow it despite the bitterness.
"Ugh, so bitter!"
Suddenly, his abdomen burned fiercely, the sensation spreading instantly throughout his body. His blood raced, his temperature soared, and his heart drummed like a war gong.
Jiang Liu'er gasped in shock.
He felt scorching hot, as if being steamed alive. Black flames erupted from his skin, yet his hair, clothes, and nearby grass remained untouched. Only his flesh endured the searing pain.
Like being roasted in a furnace!
[JiangLiuEr]: "Master, something's wrong! I'm on fire!"
[JiangLiuEr]: "[Image] I'm completely engulfed!"
[Altar Guardian]: "Ho, similar to when the Monkey King was smelted in Laojun's alchemy furnace. @Muscle Tang Sanzang, Master, this lotus seed isn't right!"
[Great Sage Equaling Heaven Sun Wukong]: "Shut up if you can't speak sense."
[Yellow Brow Demon King]: "Tsk, Jin Chanzi, you truly spare no cruelty toward your counterpart in another world!"
[Yellow Brow Demon King]: "Perhaps you crave 'Buddha flesh' now?"
[Yellow Brow Demon King]: "@JiangLiuEr, if I were you, I'd spit out that seed and study my 'Manual of Carnage and Sin'."
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "If you can't endure this, how dare you seek vengeance?"
Jiang Liu'er wanted to scream in agony but held back, reminded by Tang Sanzang's words.
True...
If he couldn't withstand the flames, how could he avenge his parents?
Clutching himself, his frail body trembled in the black flames.
Suddenly, the flames surged upward like sprouting lotus buds. A "stem" formed, then "leaves." A black flame lotus blossomed, petals withering until only a "peduncle" remained, dropping a seed into his body.
The flames vanished.
The BuddhaTorment Lotus was now within him.
The path to invincibility had begun.
"Breath... breath..." Jiang Liu'er panted, his body now revitalized.
Even his missing toe had regrown!
A seed glowed in his abdomen, its energy nourishing his body, making his limbs stronger.
Indeed!
Master Tang Sanzang wouldn't harm him!
Yet the seed's surface now bore grotesque wrinkles forming a demonic face.
[JiangLiuEr]: "@Muscle Tang Sanzang, the flames are gone! But the seed inside me has a demon's face!"
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "Demon face?"
[Altar Guardian]: "Master, did you not know this? Should the disciple spit out the seed?"
[JiangLiuEr]: "Eh?"
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "No need to panic. This BuddhaTorment Lotus was forged with the essence of ninety-nine evil spirits, forty-nine demons, and thirty-six monsters."
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "Minor anomalies are normal during cultivation."
[Muscle Tang Sanzang]: "It won't kill you."
[Altar Guardian]: "(╯°Д°)╯"
...
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