Immortal I Speedrun Supernatural Game

The monk Huiming's words immediately clarified many of the doubts.

Why are there thousands upon thousands of blood-soaked corpses in this Compassion Temple? And according to the dungeon description, which states that worshippers are still going missing, this number is clearly continuing to rise.

It's one thing for someone to simply disappear, but why do some worshippers occasionally return alive?

Now it makes sense.

They were all food for the cicadas of the entire Cibei Temple.

These cicadas, which transformed into various bizarre rules within the Compassionate Temple, were also extremely picky eaters.

If you eat something that doesn't suit your taste, you'll vomit it out. However, once you're affected by this kind of thing, the damage to your body is obviously irreversible.

So those pilgrims who went missing and then returned all became like madmen, only knowing how to chant scriptures and recite Buddhist mantras.

"Too late? What are you talking about?"

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled.

If that's the case, then none of the players have been affected by the Golden Cicada to that extent yet.

Why was it too late to escape?

Monk Huiming sighed and replied, "Because you have already seen another version of me, he will no longer allow Jin Chan to let you out. The back gate of Cibei Temple is also a Jin Chan."

This also served as a reminder to Wu Wang.

He then asked, "And what about the other you?"

These words immediately made Monk Huiming's eyes show a slight melancholy.

Unconsciously, I recited Amitabha Buddha's name a few more times.

He then asked Wu Wang in return, "Does this humble monk still remember where we first met, benefactor?"

【My Palace】!
Wu Wang immediately realized what he wanted to say.

That black-eyed Huiming is the "ego" of this true Huiming!
"That was an obsession I developed after seeing the journal; it constantly disturbs my mind."

"He is Huiming, who, like Abbot Kongbei, has only the goal of helping all sentient beings attain Buddhahood in this Cibei Temple."

"He knows more than Abbot Kongbei."

"For example, he knew where the golden cicada in the temple, which could help people become Buddhas, was hidden."

Monk Huiming raised his head and looked in the direction of Cibei Temple.

To be precise, it refers to the location of the Sutra Repository in Cibei Temple.

With a complicated expression, he said, "The first golden cicada that attained Buddhahood was behind the stone gate of the Sutra Repository at night."

“This humble monk is the son of the Bodhisattva of Salvation, and the blood of all sentient beings and Buddhas flows in my veins. From beginning to end, I have been able to sense that attraction from the soul.”

"It was under that irresistible attraction that I secretly went to the Sutra Repository to find out what was going on in the middle of the night. I then discovered the existence of the log and the stone gate, and an obsession that I could not get rid of was born. That is also the origin of my troubles."

At this point, Wu Wang had already understood.

He simply picked up where the monk Huiming left off.

He continued, "Under the influence of this trouble and the power of the golden cicada's vow in the Compassion Temple, you were split in two, your obsession and your kindness were separated."

"With a kind heart, one practices asceticism every day in order to seek liberation; with an obsession that lingers in front of the stone gate, one tries to break through to become a Buddha."

"Since that obsession in one's heart is only focused on becoming a Buddha, one will naturally not resist the power brought by the bloodline of salvation."

"Because he wanted to monopolize the Golden Cicada that led to Buddhahood, and in order to prevent Kong Bei from discovering it, he recklessly used this power, drawing upon the lives and vows of countless pilgrims, to erase the existence of the Stone Gate from the Sutra Repository and hide it at the very bottom of the flesh and blood steps."

"But I don't understand why that log was chosen as the key to open the door?"

Faced with this question, Monk Huiming looked at his own hands.

He said with some helplessness, "Because the source of this power always comes from the salvation of karma, we can only use objects related to it as the method."

"The log contains everything that Du Ye has ever done, and it is the most suitable thing to know."

“But those things belong to Abbot Kongbei after all. If they are just left there, they will be discovered sooner or later.”

"Therefore, this humble monk's obsession also used the connection between the diary and the emptiness of sorrow to place an unbreakable shackle within it."

"Whenever Kong Bei enters the library, the logbook, along with the original scriptures, will turn into ordinary human skin books, which will only reappear when he leaves. In this way, he will never find the key to the stone door."

This statement also confirms the strange encounter Wu Wang and others had last night.

No wonder Abbot Kongbei didn't see the situation on the ground when he entered the Sutra Repository, and no wonder Heiyan Huiming drove the players out in advance to prevent them from dying under the stone gate.

Of course, the latter was definitely not because Hei Yan Huiming had a change of heart.

Instead, he needs the players to survive at this stage.

As for the point of living...

"You can't get through the stone gate, right?" Wu Wang asked with a smile.

That's what he always felt was a bit off.

Wu Wang believed that the moment he tore off the second half of the diary was definitely when Huiming's obsession was at its most intense.

If the monk Huiming had known back then that there was a golden cicada that would become a Buddha behind the stone gate...

Why didn't you take it on the spot and make it the second Buddha for all sentient beings?
There's absolutely no need to torment yourself with this obsession for so many years.

There is only one possibility left—

Huiming was simply unable to pass the test of those ten Buddha statues!

That's why he became obsessed with hiding the stone gate and didn't stop Abbot Kongbei from screening those pilgrims with Buddhist nature.

Because he also needs those worshippers.

Let these people help him break open the stone door!

The players are not only offerings to lure the cicada in Abbot Kongbei's eyes, but also excellent materials for breaking through the stone gate in the eyes of Heiyan Huiming.

Of course, there would be no further exits for them to leave.

Wu Wang even suspected that even though he was now outside Cibei Temple, no matter where he went, he would never be able to truly descend the mountain.

Over the years, cicadas have long since multiplied beyond Cibei Temple.

The entire mountain is a habitat for cicadas!
“You are indeed exceptionally intelligent, benefactor.”

After saying this, Monk Huiming slowly got up and walked back towards Cibei Temple.

Before encountering the group of monks who were still struggling to descend the mountain.

He added, "Now I only hope that you can spend the seven days peacefully in the Compassion Temple."

"Without any wish placed upon the cicada, its effect will only last for seven days."

"Seven days later, the light will appear."

In other words, as long as Wu Wang and the others do not explore anything and do not reveal their so-called power of will amidst the various abnormal rules of the Compassion Temple.

You can leave normally after staying for seven days in peace.

This perfectly meets the requirements of the main storyline.

However, Wu Wang glanced at his task status bar, which displayed—

Side Quest 1: Unravel the Abbot's Secret

[Completion Progress: 50%]

The level of completion is quite subtle.

If it concerns Abbot Kongbei, it should have been fully revealed in what Venerable Huiming just said.

He already knew both his reasons for allowing pilgrims to stay overnight and his knowledge of all the secrets of the past of the ferryman.

Logically, this side quest should have been completed by now.

But now it only shows 50% progress.

We're only halfway there!

Now there are two possibilities—

Either Abbot Kongbei is hiding something, with information comparable to everything I know so far, or... the abbot in this mission isn't him at all!
Based on what Kong Bei said before, Abbot Duye is still in this Cibei Temple in a sense.

Wu Wang felt certain that the abbot in the mission still referred to Du Ye!

The monk Huiming would certainly not lie to me at this critical juncture.

In other words, there are many more secrets hidden by Duye that Kongbei is unaware of, and naturally, they will not be recorded in that log.

These secrets can now only be found in one place—behind the stone gate!
Wu Wang paused slightly as he followed behind Monk Huiming.

He then smiled with a playful expression and said, "We can only continue to live here."

"But unfortunately, I can't pretend to know nothing and live there like an idiot."

"You want to use me to feed the cicadas? You'd better watch out or the cicadas' teeth will break."

"I'm a tough nut to crack."

His response didn't surprise Huiming too much.

From the moment Huiming met this widowed benefactor, he could sense that she was by no means a peaceful person.

He felt a little ashamed.

Because what I just said could actually be considered a form of provocation.

Although she said she wanted Wu Wang to live peacefully, Huiming actually wanted him to go to Shimen to face his other self.

He had no intention of harming anyone; he simply wanted to use Wu Wang's powerful influence to erase his obsession.

Maybe this is the only way I can truly let go of everything.

Perhaps this is why I have never been recognized by the Buddha statue.

Even if you ask someone else to risk their life to eliminate your obsessions, your own heart remains impure...

Amitabha……

The two had been walking uphill for a short while when they encountered other monks.

The monk Huiming made up a reason to tell them that they didn't need to go down the mountain to buy supplies, and then hurriedly led everyone back to Cibei Temple.

After learning these secrets, Wu Wang also began to notice that strange golden light was faintly flashing throughout the temple.

The door frame of the main gate, the padlocks of the monks' quarters, the Buddha statues in the temple, the monks' scriptures...

At first glance, they appear perfectly normal, yet one can always sense a predatory gaze emanating from them, as if they have spotted some delicious food with greed.

These are all things transformed from cicadas.

It's fair to say that players are currently in a Zerg hive.

Countless cicadas are waiting to devour them until not even bones remain.

"It must be getting late afternoon."

The daytime hours became unusual again.

Even the monk Huiming didn't know why, as there was no record of any similar strange occurrences at Cibei Temple in his logbook.

It seems to be a special situation that only occurs after players enter the temple.

The two first went to the vegetable garden together.

While Xiao Wusheng was meditating in the meditation hall, they pried open the wooden part of the hoe and took out the torn-off second half of the log.

Wu Wang glanced at the contents and found them to be identical to what Huiming had said.

The reason for bringing this up now is simply to convince other players.

Not long after, the other players also returned to the vegetable garden to have their meal.

Looking at their figures, Wu Wang joked, "Hey, where did you guys go mining? You all look so dusty and dirty!"

The players were in a very sorry state at this point.

Most of them had bruises on their bodies.

The skin of the Ashheart and the Fortress is covered with dense, tadpole-like patterns;
Passion Fruit clutched its stomach and walked with a shuffling motion;

The mug was hanging limply with one hand, as if the bones were broken.

So, Ruoshui appears normal on the surface.

However, Wu Xiaoyou would occasionally use the power of the "Old Days" to flash across Ruoshui's face, clearly indicating that Ruoshui's situation was not simple either.

Wu Wang's nonchalant attitude, which made them both furious and helpless, was infuriating.

This guy looks energetic and is definitely in much better shape than them.

"Esteemed benefactors, please come inside and let this humble monk take a look at you."

When Monk Huiming suddenly spoke, a hint of confusion flashed across everyone's eyes.

Is this... considered a new anomaly?
Wu Wang laughed and said, "It's alright. He's an NPC on our side now, and he does have the ability to heal you. Go and take a look."

The group exchanged glances.

They then sighed and took turns going into the hut to be treated by Huiming.

Since Master Wei has said so, there's probably no problem.

After all, injuries like those to a mug are relatively minor physical, but others all suffer from the aftereffects of being affected by the rules to varying degrees.

It would be much more troublesome for them to clean up these strange things themselves.

During this process, Wu Wang also shared the latter part of his log with them.

While everyone was amazed that the thing was hidden right under their noses, they also shared what they had discovered.

“We already know that the dining hall is the experience of the hungry ghost realm. Logically, the other five realms should also be somewhere. However, I only found the experience of the animal realm at the release pond. There are no corresponding places for the other four realms in the entire temple. Perhaps they are hidden in other places after nightfall.”

"Damn it, I almost turned into a wild animal and was released into the wild."

Ruoshui said helplessly, swearing.

Wu Xiaoyou occasionally uses the power of the [Old Days] to help her destroy the very rules that turn people into beasts and livestock.

"The Hall of Arhats is a pure Roman Colosseum. When I went in, they told me I would fight eighteen Arhats, but halfway through the fight they told me that there are actually five hundred Arhats enshrined inside."

"If I hadn't used the escape equipment in time, I would have been beaten to death in the Arhat Hall."

The mug slowly healed the broken arm using healing tools.

He shared it with a dark expression, grumbling under his breath.

“I…I was at the pagoda and I was having a serious debate with a skinny old monk, but I ended up not talking to him.”

"That thing turned into a relic and went into my stomach."

Passion fruit gagged occasionally as she spoke.

The nausea and vomiting made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

“The Dharma Hall is where Buddhist teachings are expounded and gatherings are held in the temple. I think there may be more information about missing pilgrims.”

"The good news is that it is indeed related. The scriptures in the library were made in the Dharma Hall, which has become a living hell for disposing of corpses—human skin is used to make scriptures, flesh and blood are used to build steps, and white bones are used to build high walls."

"The bad news is that we almost contributed to the expansion of Cibei Temple as well."

"Emberheart and Fortress said with lingering fear."

The tadpole-like patterns on their bodies come from this.

If it is not cleaned up in time, the human skin will probably gradually fall off and become scriptures, and the bones will be dismantled to build temple walls.

After hearing everyone's experiences, Wu Wang couldn't help but sigh:

"That's still a little short of what I'm looking for."

"I chatted with this big monk for half a day in the mountains, and I almost died of thirst without drinking a drop of water."

Everyone: "..."

Do you want to listen to what you're saying?
What do you mean by saying we're struggling to survive while you and Huiming are leisurely enjoying yourselves and having long, intimate conversations?
Are we entering the same instance? (End of Chapter)