"Golden Body?"
The campfire crackled and popped.
Wukong turned to look at Tripitaka.
Not far behind him, Tripitaka was quietly sorting through their few remaining belongings.
The horses were gone, and most of their luggage had sunk with the boat into the Blackwater River. The few scriptures and pieces of clothing they had left had all been rescued by Marshal Silver.
Seeing Monkey King turn around, Tripitaka spoke softly: "When a Buddha attains enlightenment, it is the spirit that ascends and cultivates Buddha-light. The mortal body is left behind in meditation, becoming a Golden Body. This is very different from Daoism. Depending on the Buddha's rank, the Golden Body's power varies—sometimes strong, sometimes weak—and it is a rare and precious relic. Many temples flourish because they possess a Buddha's Golden Body. As for the specifics, I am not too sure myself."
The soul becomes Buddha, and the flesh turns into a Golden Body?
Monkey King had heard of this before, but even after all those years of war with the Buddhist Order, he had never seen them use such a thing.
If you really want to talk about it, the only example would be Lord Buddha's 'Six-Zhang Golden Body,' which Wukong smashed while in Heaven's Way-level cultivation.
But was that really the same thing? If so, then this could be quite troublesome.
Back then, a few swings were enough to smash it, but that was with Heaven's Way-level cultivation. If it were now, Wukong might not be able to handle it at all.
Based on Wukong's experience, that Golden Body was equivalent to the Buddha's combat power at the same rank on the Traveler's Path. Of course, Shakyamuni attained Heaven's Way, but his Golden Body did not. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy for Wukong to destroy it.
As for other Buddhas' Golden Bodies... logically, none should be as powerful as Shakyamuni's 'Six-Zhang Golden Body.' Otherwise, how could he be the Buddha Patriarch?
Raising his eyebrows, Wukong glanced at Tripitaka, then at Marshal Silver. "So, what exactly is the deal with this Golden Body? Is it considered a Buddha's innate treasure?"
"Not exactly," Marshal Silver replied softly. "When we were fighting across Western Ox Continent, I studied this because the Buddhist Order could intervene at any time. Every Buddha produces a Golden Body when they attain enlightenment, but not every Buddha dares to keep theirs."
"To become a Buddha, one must shed the eight sufferings, let go of attachments, and sever the past. The Golden Body actually represents the past. Aside from a few high-ranked Buddhas with extremely stable hearts, who would dare keep their Golden Body nearby? Even knowing its power, a single misstep could mean total annihilation. Those like Shakyamuni, who dare to cultivate their Golden Body, are extremely rare. So, most Buddhas eventually abandon their Golden Bodies, and they disappear into history."
Marshal Silver paused for a moment, then continued, "But every Golden Body that survives is formidable."
Hearing this, Wukong couldn't help but laugh. "Listening to you, becoming a Buddha sounds like going to prison! This is forbidden, that is dangerous... so many taboos. No wonder Daoists live more comfortably."
Tripitaka listened quietly, not commenting.
After his chuckle, Wukong changed the subject and asked in a low voice, "If the Golden Body is here, could the Buddha himself also be present?"
Marshal Silver nodded slightly. "It's possible, but not very likely."
"Can you estimate where the Golden Body might be?"
"At the core of the main formation, serving as the array's eye. It's the source of all the riverbed formation's power."
"Where would the array's eye be?"
"That, I'm not sure."
The three of them fell silent.
After a long moment, Monkey King spoke slowly, "So, the best solution right now is to break the Blackwater River's black waters directly? If we break through, those guys will have nowhere to hide. Then everything will be much easier."
Marshal Silver nodded silently.
Monkey King glanced around and suddenly asked, "Where's Aiden Ao? Where did he run off to?"
......
At that moment, on the other side of the enclave, Aiden Ao was striding through the water toward the Blackwater River. He stopped only when the water reached his waist.
Taking a deep breath, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Jack Rivers! Get out here, you bastard!"
His voice echoed through the air, fading into the distance.
Under the night sky, the river was pitch black, nothing could be seen—only the sound of the waves remained.
"Jack Rivers! Get out here now! You ungrateful traitor! Get out here now!"
Aiden Ao shouted again, panting as he scanned the area.
After a moment, he suddenly sensed something breaking the surface behind him and quickly turned around.
By the faint starlight, he could just make out Jack Rivers standing less than five zhang away.
For a moment, Aiden Ao froze.
Jack Rivers stood silently across from him, his brow furrowed, eyes flickering as if unable to meet Aiden's gaze.