"Benefactor is still so slippery," said the Buddhist Zhen Ru with a suppressed chuckle.

Even though there were three Dao Fruits right in front of him, he showed no concern for the powers of the Dao Fruits. Instead, he talked about the Dao Fruit Perfection of the Fifth Grade Dao Fruit being far off in the future.

Should one say that Jiang Li was down-to-earth, not aiming too high?

No.

He had once again grasped the crux of the matter.

The key was not the Fourth Grade Dao Fruit or even the Third Grade Dao Fruit, but how to quickly achieve Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit Perfection. Since Buddhist Zhen Ru had presented these three items, these three Dao Fruits, it meant he had a way to help Jiang Li achieve Perfect Fifth Rank within a short period.

According to what Buddhist Zhen Ru had said, Jiang Li was supposed to use the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Treasure Iron to suppress the water disaster. If he couldn't quickly reach the Perfect Fifth Rank, and it took another three to five years, by then it would be all over.

And when Buddhist Zhen Ru called Jiang Li "slippery," it was because he had noticed Jiang Li's thoughts.

Knowing the method to quickly reach Perfection, even if he didn't take the three Dao Fruits, Jiang Li still came out ahead.

In simple terms, it was like getting something for nothing.

Buddhist Zhen Ru naturally noticed this too, but he didn't show annoyance and still spoke gently, "However, this isn't something that can't be discussed."

"The Fifth Grade Dao Fruit that the Benefactor accommodates should be Zhuangzi's Dao Fruit, right? This Dao Fruit has a deep connection with the Mazer; although I am unskilled, I do have a fair understanding of this Dao Fruit."

In his eyes, it seemed as if he was revisiting the scenes of that day, seeing the part of the Dao Fruit that had seceded from him.

Initially, when Jiang Li ascended, he used the Karma Collection to complete his Dao Fruit by pulling in the Dao Fruits of Sage Zhuang Zhou and Immortal Nanhua. However, he later faced resistance. The final Dao Fruit was on Buddhist Zhen Ru himself.

He had sensed the power of the Karma Collection, stopping the Dao Fruit from leaving, but he also had parted with some of it, allowing the Karma Collection to take it back and combine it with the other three Dao Fruits, forming Jiang Li's current Dao Fruit—Daoist Zhuang Zhou.

Perhaps it was because of this returned part that Buddhist Zhen Ru became aware of the nature of the Dao Fruit on Jiang Li.

Upon hearing this, thoughts relevant to the subject briefly flitted through Jiang Li's mind, though his expression remained calm, quietly listening to Buddhist Zhen Ru's words.

"The fastest way to interpret the Benefactor's Dao Fruit is to explore the essence of 'Heavenly and Man,' and establish a doctrine of one's own. The Mazer possesses the True Dharma Eye Treasure, using the heart to seal the heart; it can help the Benefactor bypass accumulation, integrate all methods, and achieve Perfection," said Buddhist Zhen Ru with a smile.

The True Dharma Eye Treasure...

Jiang Li carefully considered the origins of the True Dharma Eye Treasure, 'This indeed is a shortcut.'

He had once browsed through various texts in Elder Yun's private library, and although there weren't many books related to Buddhism, they were sufficient for Jiang Li to understand the gist, including the legend of the True Dharma Eye Treasure.

[The Worldly Venerable at the assembly on Spirit Mountain, when he held up a flower to show the crowd, at that time, all were silent, save for Kasyapa who broke into a slight smile. The Worldly Venerable said: I possess the True Dharma Eye Treasure, the Nirvana's wonderful heart, reality without form, the subtle Dharma that does not rely on written words, a special transmission outside the teachings, entrusted to Mahakasyapa.]

This was a well-known Buddhist legend even in Great Zhou, a moment of smiling over a flower, the True Dharma Eye Treasure.

It described a day when the Worldly Venerable taught a great lesson without speaking a word, just holding up a flower like presenting a riddle, which no one but Kasyapa understood and lightly smiled.

Then the Worldly Venerable declared, listen well everyone, I possess the Supreme Divine Skill that could achieve enlightenment instantly; no need for verbal expressions, just a glance and it's communicated, now it has been passed to Mahakasyapa, if you want to learn, ask him.

The True Dharma Eye Treasure is essentially this principle. By eye to eye, heart to heart, immediate comprehension of the Dharma can be achieved; truly a wonderful method of transmission, albeit a bit unfriendly for poor learners.

Buddhist Zhen Ru meant to transmit his understanding to Jiang Li through the True Dharma Eye Treasure, allowing Jiang Li to save time on accumulation and ascend in one step. He could even use Buddhist Zhen Ru's generous gifts to integrate his own learning and establish his own path.

But within this there was a slight drawback.

What Buddhist Zhen Ru would transmit was an understanding of Buddhist Law. After obtaining the technique, since Jiang Li had [Pure Yang Dao Body] and [Carefree Travel], and also had Heavenly Escape Sword Intent to cut off external thoughts, he wouldn't need to worry about becoming fully detached and becoming a monk. But the achievements built on this Buddhist foundation—is it counted as Buddhist Law, or as something else?

Based on Buddhist foundations, even if Jiang Li doesn't become a monk, he is more or less a monk.

'All gifts bestowed by fate have their prices marked secretly; there really is no free lunch,' Jiang Li reflected in his heart.

Buddhist Zhen Ru was truly generous, not even thinking of making conversions like other monks, but his approach was more effective and harder to guard against than conversion.

It could even be said to be impossible to guard against.

As soon as Jiang Li accepted the True Dharma Eye Treasure from Buddhist Zhen Ru, his foundation would shift, and even if he contained the Dao Fruits of Mystic Sect, he couldn't change this foundation; he could only be a Mystic Sect monk in the future.

Or more bluntly, move to Buddha Country, and perhaps in the future, he might even inherit the position of Chief, becoming the big boss.

It seemed that the Golden Hoop and Divine Treasure Iron had future problems, but once Jiang Li accepted the True Dharma Eye Treasure, he became one of their own, and whether there were future problems became irrelevant.

It was truly meticulous care that ensured there were no future worries; Jiang Li, even if he wanted to criticize, found no grounds for criticism.

But if I would simply accept it as a gift...

Jiang Li felt he would not be willing.

"Sigh—"

He slowly exhaled and said, "The words of the lay Buddhist surpass the Enlightenment Zen Sound of the Buddha Country by a hundredfold at least."

"It seems the Benefactor is unwilling," Buddhist Zhen Ru shook his head with some regret.

This statement alone indicated Jiang Li's intentions, showing he had no interest in switching allegiances.

"If it were just the True Dharma Eye Treasure, I would be willing," Jiang Li uttered a statement that astounded.

To refuse the three Dao Fruits yet accept the Dharma Transmission because there would be no hidden dangers afterward to worry about.

Buddhist Zhen Ru gathered his regretful expression and looked at Jiang Li, evaluating him momentarily.

Then, he smiled, a smile warmer than before with a spark of interest, carrying a human expression rather than the constant unfathomable clarity.

"It seems the Benefactor has great confidence," he said with a smile.

To accept the transmission while maintaining one's foundation away from the Buddhist path, one must possess understanding and realization comparable to the teachings, or what is known as cultivation.

It is like adding salt to a cup of water; the ratio of water to salt determines its saltiness.

If Jiang Li's cup has enough water, then the salt (Buddhist Law) added won't make it salty.

Conversely, if there isn't enough water, the salt (Buddhist Law) will penetrate Jiang Li, turning him into a salted fish.

It's a simple analogy, yet it surprised Buddhist Zhen Ru and even moved Hui Neng, who always had a deathly still face, as if his heart was ashes.

"If the Benefactor is determined, how could the Mazer refuse?"

Buddhist Zhen Ru said, gently raising his hand, making a flower-picking gesture, and a yet-to-bloom lotus naturally appeared between his fingers.

"The flower blooms, I see the Tathagata."

He did not speak, but a mysterious voice echoed in Jiang Li's mind; the lotus slowly unfolded, blossomed, with no earth-shattering effects, yet it was stunningly impactful.

As if struck by enlightenment all at once, an indescribable realization emerged within him—utterly contentless yet everything seemed clear in his heart, his mind empty, serene nirvana.

A wonderful method, independent of words, indeed so.

But at that moment, a mixed notion arose, and a vast and immense will shattered this empty state; amidst incessant praises, verses appeared.

"······Generated by Heaven, destroyed by Heaven, the principle of the Dao. The thief of Heaven and Earth, of all things, of people, and all things from people······"

The verses of the "Yin Talisman Scripture" mingled with the wordless method, breaking the emptiness and concurrently causing another golden lotus to manifest in the Sea of Consciousness.

True Dharma Eye Treasure neither relies on words nor forms; those who can display this either possess relevant Dao Fruits or have reached a Buddha-like realm. Thus transmitted, it's nearly Dao-like, inherently formless, but now disrupted, it took form, falling to a lower level, greatly diminishing its effectiveness.

However, because it sunk to a lower level, it provided Jiang Li with an opportunity to consume it.

In the Sea of Consciousness, an eye surrounded by Yellow Clouds collided with the lotus; upon contact, the lotus shattered into countless petals while the vertical eye dispersed into innumerable texts, each cloud of yellow also dissipating into a dense mist.

Jiang Li used Ji Jiji's Yellow Heaven incense to collide with Buddhist Zhen Ru's True Dharma Eye Treasure, much like Ji Jiji's usurpation of the Heavenly Dao, using human thoughts to degrade Buddhist intentions, sending the superior Buddhist intent into the inferior, and thereby dispersing human thoughts with Buddhist intent.

Jiang Li's Primordial Spirit transformed into a Dragon and Snake, flying to where they intersected, shaped like the arc in the center of a Taiji, separating and yet connecting both.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li himself first stilled, mind utterly empty, pure and serene, then suddenly his body shook, carrying a tranquil demeanor, he slowly chanted: "Neither on this shore, nor on that shore, nor in the current, where do you place yourself? Without past mind, without future mind, without present mind, returning to your original face!"

His whole body seemed luminous, his texture clear, like Buddha, like Dao, like Divinity, as if standing alone, apart from the world, the only one in Heaven and Earth, as though distant from worldly affairs.

"The Benefactor's action has indeed caused the True Dharma Eye Treasure to apply to the lower level, originally before reaching the Third Grade, there was no need to worry about cultivation issues," observed Buddhist Zhen Ru, showing a hint of regret.

Originally not bound by words, now it became a mere Buddhist phrase, undoubtedly belonging to the lower level, losing its true essence.

"But it's also the only way to make the layman's things my own, isn't it?" Jiang Li smiled.

He was greedy, unwilling to let go of the opportunity before him, yet not overly so, taking only what he could handle.

"Using falsehood to cultivate truth, leveraging Buddhist intentions and human thoughts to solidify one's own cultivation, the integration of Zhuang Zhou's Dao Fruit finally progresses."

Karma Collection timely updated a line of text.

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