The aura surrounding the Three-Life Stone, or rather, the Qi emanating from it, slowly formed a vortex passage.

Following the order of past, present, future lives, Li Changzhou's present life would emerge from within the vortex.

Time had accumulated, solidifying the "present life" of this particular lifetime for Li Changzhou.

As long as Li Changzhou harbored even a trace of curiosity, future memories — inherently conflicting terms — would pass through the Three-Life Stone and pour into his mind.

Li Changzhou stepped aside.

"Benefactor, have you admitted defeat?" Monk Jigong waved his fan.

"Do I look like a fool, or a reckless man?" Li Changzhou glanced at the monk, "If I were truly desperate, I might have given it a try, but to face you, the Dragon Slayer Arhat, it isn't worth the risk."

Monk Jigong wasn't offended by Li Changzhou's derogation.

It was the truth.

Although he was an Arhat, titled 'Dragon Slayer' with boundless magical power, even Li Changzhou's adversary couldn't possibly defeat all four of them.

He asked Li Changzhou with interest, "Aren't you curious about the future? The Three-Life Stone can grant you memories of your future."

"It's precisely because I am curious that I stepped aside," Li Changzhou said, "I lack willpower; to avoid being killed by curiosity, the best method is not to indulge it. Enough talk, Dragon Slayer Arhat, let's continue, and may the superior mana prevail."

"Wisdom lies in self-knowledge," Monk Jigong waved his fan and shook his head, "If you avoid the Three-Life Stone, why would I, a monk, actively seek you out?"

"Are you running away?" Li Qianxia asked curiously.

"The monk might run but can never escape the temple," Jigong replied, "If I were to leave, what would become of Lingyin Temple, Jingci Temple, and this Lin'an City? They'd all be doomed. Your brother has a heavy killing aura; he's killed not a million, then at least five hundred thousand."

"So, you won't fight, nor will you flee, what do you want?" Li Changzhou asked.

"I, the monk, will surrender my Golden Body to you," Monk Jigong suddenly declared.

"What?" All four were somewhat shocked.

Surrendering the Golden Body was akin to voluntarily presenting himself for capture.

"But you must promise me one thing," Jigong continued, "Whatever Arhat or Bodhisattva you seek hereafter, you must no longer take the common people hostage."

Li Changzhou had no reason to agree; Jigong didn't have the right to negotiate terms with him.

"Agreed," he said.

Unmoving Arhat, Demon Suppression Arhat, he didn't even know where they were; how could he threaten anyone?

As for casually threatening a city, saying, "Come out, or I'll kill everyone"... Hadn't cities been slaughtered before? Which Arhat Bodhisattva ever intervened?

And as for The Bodhisattva Guanyin, having Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing was more than enough.

If they could defeat Guanyin, Li Qianxia's and Turquoise Pool's task would be considered complete, and neither would face any punishment — Li Changzhou himself was bound by no taboos; even if he failed, it didn't matter.

"Living Buddha Jigong, are you truly handing over your Golden Body?" Li Qianxia asked again.

"A monk does not tell a lie," Jigong said with a smile.

Li Qianxia was silent for a moment: "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to."

Jigong's smile deepened: "Don't feel guilty just because I've done a few good deeds. There is unseen evil in good, and unrecognized good in evil; even Arhat Bodhisattvas cannot evade disasters and tribulations; killing them might not necessarily be a bad thing."

"Do you have any last wishes?" Li Qianxia asked.

"The matters of the world are never truly concluded; why be obsessed with conclusions? To leave things unresolved is in itself a resolution," Jigong said as he sat cross-legged, layers of Buddha's light emanating from him.

He looked up at the sky, then down at the mortal world, his face bearing a smile that was not quite a smile, tears that were not quite tears.

"After 2,666 years of cultivation, I, the monk, still cannot achieve the detachment of a Bodhisattva; either fully enlightened or completely heartless. Sadly, I reach neither high nor low, Amitabha."

Jigong appeared to be both ruefully smiling and mocking.

The next moment, his entire body solidified, life extinct, leaving behind only his three-meter tall Arhat Golden Body, cast as if in gold.

Ding~

Ding~

The bells of Lingyin Temple and Jingci Temple rang, and in the distance, the setting sun bathed Leifeng Tower in a red glow, like a lit candle.

Li Changzhou collected the Dragon Slayer Arhat's Golden Body and took the Three-Life Stone into his pouch.

Turquoise Pool summoned the "Treasure Horse Carriage," carrying everyone as they stepped into the air.

The interior space of the carriage was large and luxurious, consisting of six separate bedrooms and a large meeting hall.

The four, along with two snake demons, one white and one blue, gathered in the meeting hall to confer.

"Dealing with monks always leaves one puzzled," Li Changzhou said.

"What do you mean puzzled," Li Qianxia complained, "didn't you learn anything from Living Buddha Jigong's actions and final words?"

"What did I learn?" Li Changzhou pondered, "That the weak are beaten, and not even Arhat Bodhisattvas or the Buddha can avoid this simple truth?"

Li Qianxia glared at him.

Turquoise Pool looked towards Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing.

Dressed in white, Bai Suzhen had an ethereal quality and exuded a hint of compassion; it was no wonder that she was often mistaken for the White Robed Guanyin in various folklore stories.

Yang Qinglan, though also dressed in white, contrasted starkly in demeanor; she was incomparably radiant.

Even among a hundred people, not one would think she was Guanyin, as the first impression that likely sprung to mind was that of a fairy or Chang'e.

Xiaoqing, too, was beautiful, dressed in green, her figure alluring, her skin smooth.

Perhaps because both were snake demons, they both seemed to have particularly slender waists, compellingly drawing the gaze.

"Bai Suzhen," Turquoise Pool said smilingly, "we won't make this difficult for you. Just tell us how to meet Guanyin, and we will release you both."

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