Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 624 - 405: Burning Incense Buddha Mantra Nourishing the Demon Monk, Wu Gou Buddha's Son Performs the Lion's Roar_2

"This is...?"

Both people showed shock on their faces.

Yunrong naturally resisted with a spell, and Tao Qian frowned as he pinched a thread of it.

In his mind, the Record burst forth:

[Name: Human Incense.]

[Record Type: Alien.]

[Record: This substance is the incense of the Human Clan and Buddha, originating from the Secret Book "Burning Incense Scripture" of the Demon Buddha Temple. There is a Buddha's verse in the scripture, stating that any life, as long as they're sincere in their heart, chanting that Buddha's verse can ignite themselves to emit Buddha Incense. This fragrance, created by kneading the soul, essence, and qi, is beneficial to any Buddhist Practitioner, especially for those monks from the Demon Buddha Temple, who, upon smelling it, can increase their cultivation.]

[Note 1: To consume Human Incense, one must fulfil the wish of the human, otherwise, the intense toxins of greed, anger, ignorance, and hatred contained within will backfire due to the karma.]

[Note 2: The desires of mortals are nothing more than mundane things like wine, beauty, wealth, and power; once fulfilled, one can unimpededly consume the Human Incense, continuing until the "incense master" dies. The faster the incense burns, the faster the master expires, all the while experiencing no pain, indulging in pleasures, offering their very beings for the nurturing of Buddhist Practitioners, truly seeking only the Ultimate Happiness in this life, not looking forward to Taiping in the next.]

[Note 3: The monks from the Qiantang Branch Temple of the Demon Buddha Temple deliberately spread the Burning Incense Buddha Mantra, with the most collections attributed to "Kongchan Arhat," who has been supported by millions of incense masters and has now cultivated the Demon Buddha's Magic White Bone Glaze Tower. Today, his supernatural power far exceeds that of his time in the Demon City.]

[Note 4: A total of 9,873 "incense masters" have sent offerings and requests... exempt from all costs!]

Merely a wisp of Buddha Incense, yet it contained such complex and shocking secrets.

At this moment, Tao Qian felt not only an increase in knowledge but also fully understood why Kongchan Arhat, despite his outwardly good appearance, was associated with the temple known as the "Demon Buddha."

These two words could not be more precise.

The anger on Yunrong's majestic face became even clearer after becoming aware, saying:

"These people, be they men or women, as well as the old and children, are all seeking pleasure from you and me."

"Money, beauty, food, power... their thoughts are filthy, unbearable to witness."

"Let's go down and take a look."

Tao Qian, seeing the means of the Demon Buddha Temple for the first time, was both angry and curious.

The two of them descended upon the small town of thousands of people.

As they approached, the layered chanting of the Buddha's verse grew clear:

"Burn my body, Heart Soul, for the Buddhas in all directions."

"To eradicate karma and break barriers is a fine method, together we ascend to the joy of Ultimate Happiness."

These four lines echoed over and over.

Standing on the Lotus Platform, Tao Qian listened to the Buddhas' verse and observed the various scenes in the town below.

This town was called [No Suffering Town].

The characters on the archway were quite new, presumably recently renamed.

If one didn't see the twisted, insane expressions on the faces of the nearly ten thousand people, just looking at the scenery would make Tao Qian believe that this was a village town devoted to worshipping and respecting the Buddha.

Buddha Incense, scriptures, Buddha Bells, and Buddha statues were everywhere, and even most of the town's people were directly dressed in monks' robes.

Before this, their festivals might have been Bodhisattva Day or Arhat Festival.

Statues of Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Vajras of various sizes filled the streets.

Tao Qian's appearance now, needless to say.

Miao Seng, Buddha's son!

That dignity and grace, naturally accompanied by the Buddha Light charm, had already driven the townsfolk mad.

Nearly ten thousand people, just like that, all at once.

They simultaneously lifted their heads with an extremely crazed look of worship, staring fixedly at Tao Qian.

But, there were no grand gestures.

They just looked on like this, and the sound of chanting the Buddhas' verse from their mouths grew more intense, more devout.

Yet, what Tao Qian heard in his mind was a multitude of jumbled thoughts:

"We've succeeded, we've made it, this time we actually attracted a Buddha's son, a Bodhisattva, we are blessed, Buddha's son, Bodhisattva, please consume my incense, and then grant me wealth, One thousand taels of silver coins, that's all I ask for, beg the Buddha's son to have mercy."

"Hahaha... fantastic, all-powerful Buddha's son and Bodhisattva, please consume my incense, I want beauties, one, no, at least two great beauties, just like the widow and her daughter next door."

"Mine, mine, Bodhisattva quickly consume my incense, I want gourmet food, let me eat for three days and nights straight without running out."

"I hope this Buddha's son and Bodhisattva who came this time are stronger than the last few, consume all my incense, I want to experience wealth and beauty, I am willing even to die if my wish is fulfilled."

"Seeing the style, this must be stronger, the last few weak monks only consumed incense for just an hour, fulfilled a few dozen people's wishes and couldn't bear it, dropping dead on the spot, their flesh and blood covering the Bodhisattva Arhats' statues, and it took us so long to clean up... eat mine, I wish to live only three more days. In these three days, I want to be intertwined with a Fox Demon, to die happily, and at the moment of death, regardless, I must be joyful."

"I, I want to be a high-ranking officer, to be the Emperor, even if just for half a day."

"Goddess of Mercy, please enjoy this believer's Buddha Incense. I don't ask for much, just that I no longer go hungry, no longer suffer from the cold, no longer fall ill, and no longer endure the abuse of others..."

"Buddha's son above, please eat my incense. You can take most of it, just leave a little so I can live for a few more months, then please return my father and mother to me, so we can live together again for a few more months."

...

Tao Qian concentrated and listened intently, while also opening his spiritual vision, carefully observing and covertly applying the Secret Technique, Soul Search.

Soon, he understood what had truly happened in this so-called "No Suffering Town."

The town was originally named Changle Town.

Although it was small, it was nonetheless located in the rather prosperous Qiantang Province. Compared to fellow members of the Human Clan in other provinces, the townspeople's lives were rather passable.

They were not wealthy but could barely assure food and clothing and had just encountered a good new mayor who had returned from studying abroad.

First he built schools, then set up factories; they watched as their days gradually improved.

But then calamity struck!

Cheng Arhat, the Great Governor of Qiantang Province, established an Earthly Buddha Country.

Within the province, everything underwent tremendous change.

The "Burning Incense Buddha Mantra" had few believers when it first spread.

But soon, monks from the Demon Buddha Temple travelled all over the province, demonstrating Miracles.

Simply chant the Buddha verse, and whatever you want, you would have.

If one could obtain things without effort, who would still wish to toil?

Even the ambitious, passionate new mayor, "Wang Jinyin," after an experimental recital seeking the Cultivation Method and getting a response, rapidly fell from grace.

Today's Changle Town is in decline, with prosperous businesses failing, fields lying fallow, fishing and farming neglected, not to mention the newly built silk-reeling factories outside of town.

Everyone participated in various Buddhist festivals, reciting the Burning Incense Buddha Mantra, eager for passing high monks and Bodhisattvas to visit.

To eat their incense, to grant their wishes.

Even those few whose wishes were not so greedy seemed to have lost their willpower.

For the most basic needs—food and clothing—they thought to rely on the Buddha verse.

The cost? The cost was themselves.

The original population of Changle Town was 31,000. After more than a month, only 9,873 remained.

"What a Demon Buddha Temple!"

"Foolish children, awaken quickly."

After Tao Qian sighed, he suddenly took action.

He shouted loudly, and amidst the surging Buddha Light, the Lion Roar that could terrify hundreds of animals and calm the hearts of all beings echoed throughout the town.

This Divine Skill originated from the Buddha Bird Protector, the Blue-furred Lion. Master Tao could borrow it for a moment.

It was not like the original version, but his Mana was immense.

Nearly ten thousand people affected by the [Lion Roar] immediately showed expressions of pain, clutched their heads and wailed, and black pus flowed from their seven orifices, falling to the ground where it spontaneously combusted and vanished without a trace.

With the Karma cleansed, they awoke.

They knelt and bowed their heads. This time their movements were not neat, but they thanked Buddha's son and Bodhisattva for saving their lives with all kinds of disordered voices.

However, at that moment, Tao Qian heard a telepathic message from Yuan Gong:

"Young man, what you're doing here might only be a temporary solution, not addressing the root cause."

"Do you know why the Demon Buddha Temple, with only one faction's power, can withstand the encirclement of other great temples like Guanyin Temple, Great Freedom Temple, Dharma Cakra Temple, etc.? Aside from that Demon Buddha who will not perish even after countless calamities, the real reason lies in those ever-emerging, extremely troublesome Demon Buddha Secret Methods."

"The Burning Incense Buddha Mantra is just one of them."

"You've temporarily cleared the filth from the hearts of these Mortals with the Lion Roar, but while external toxins can be removed, inner demons are harder to eradicate."

"Especially in today's world, where Mortals live in uncertain times, plagued by unpredictability. Rather than struggle to survive, many would choose to enjoy a period of bliss and pass away peacefully."

"Once you and Yunrong leave, it won't take many days before these people recite the Burning Incense Mantra again, igniting themselves to offer to passing demon monks."

...

ps: First update of 4,000 characters, more later, don't rush.