"Master all Twenty Heavens and you become the World-Honored One?"
Quinn's eyes lit up. Great Thunderclap Temple truly deserved its reputation as the supreme Buddhist sanctuary, and the Grand Buddha Mahayana Scripture was worthy of being the sect's core scripture—on par with the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra and the Fourteen Dao Sword Chapters.
The three great sacred lands truly live up to their names.
The Everpeace Empire was suffering a blizzard, but here it was spring all year round. Many refugees from Everpeace had fled to this place and settled in the temples, with quite a few converting to Buddhism.
"Great Thunderclap Temple's actions seem a bit opportunistic," Quinn murmured, studying the temples on each mountain peak.
Grandpa Blind shook his head. "Shepherd, don't worry about their motives—watch what they do. Great Thunderclap Temple saved these people's lives, and that's a good deed. Whether they're using this to grow Buddhism and spread their teachings, the fact remains they're doing good. If you obsess over their intentions and ignore their actions, you'll end up like Tyson Li."
Quinn felt a chill in his heart and nodded in agreement.
A person's life is a long cultivation, easily led astray by extreme ideas. Any thought not deeply reflected on or carefully examined can cause one's heart to go off track.
These days, spending time with Tyson Li had influenced Quinn without him even realizing it.
The former Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon, deeply demonic and extreme in mindset, was nonetheless a great master. His words always sounded reasonable, and if one wasn't careful, it was easy to absorb his ideas unconsciously.
Dragon-Qilin climbed to the Golden Summit, the fire clouds beneath its feet sinking lower and lower, until it touched the ground. The summit rose above the clouds, mist swirling below their feet, and the ground was paved with white jade, as pure as the clouds themselves.
Arriving here felt like stepping into a fairyland.
Quinn glanced around, secretly impressed. Loulan Golden Palace was luxurious, but it had the air of a nouveau riche. Great Thunderclap Temple was also lavish, yet much more dignified, every detail radiating the solemnity and culture of Buddhism.
On the Golden Summit, Buddhist towers rose in clusters. One pagoda stood out as the grandest, with long-browed monks sitting inside, some perched atop its spire or eaves, chanting scriptures, their voices echoing with Buddha-sound.
"Could that be the Thousand-Buddha Pagoda?" Quinn wondered.
A white-robed bodhisattva approached, holding a pure water vase. She bowed slightly and said, "Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon, King Ma, Cult Mistress, and this elder friend—the World-Honored One has been waiting for you. Please, follow me."
Quinn replied, "Thank you, elder sister."
"Elder sister?"
The bodhisattva stifled a laugh. "Cult Master Quinn, you jest. Please, this way."
Quinn and the others followed her steps. On the Golden Summit, high monks radiated Buddha-light, each seated among the clouds, golden halos forming brilliant rings behind them.