Beast Tamer Ascension

Vol 2 Chapter 39: Buddhist Techniques

"Buddhist techniques?"

Hearing Lin Jing's request, Zhang Hu couldn't help but be puzzled.

In the Ancient Celestial Kingdom, although Buddhist followers were scattered across the Nine Domains, their influence was shallow, and their overall power was weaker than even second-tier cultivation sects.

Why would Lin Jing want to cultivate Buddhist techniques? What’s even worth learning in them?

"There are some…" Zhang Hu mused for a moment. Although Buddhism wasn’t mainstream in the Ancient Kingdom, Lin Jing was actually asking the right person.

This was because almost every Buddhist expert who entered the Ancient Kingdom was roped into working for the Demon-Slaying Bureau as guest elders. Naturally, the Demon-Slaying Bureau had amassed a large collection of Buddhist techniques.

"Why would you even want to cultivate that stuff? Aren’t you worried about going bald?" Zhang Hu asked, perplexed. Beside him, Gao Sheng also looked equally puzzled.

"You go bald cultivating Buddhist techniques? Isn’t that because monks shave their heads?" Lin Jing was startled, hearing this for the first time.

Lin Jing didn’t bother hiding anything. "A Buddhist expert once unlocked my potential, so cultivating Buddhist techniques benefits me more and is easier to learn."

"Ah, I see!" Gao Sheng laughed. "You’re so skilled at beast taming; you don’t need to worry about being led astray by Buddhism. Go ahead and cultivate it."

He suddenly paused to think—Lin Jing was sort of half a Gu cultivator. Did that make him a dual cultivator of Buddhism and demonic techniques?

"Cultivating Buddhist techniques is fine, but I recall there are only three such techniques recorded here, far fewer than other methods. Not sure if you’ll like any of them," Zhang Hu replied. "They are the Diamond Fist, the Death Burial Mantra, and the Buddha-Demon Pearl."

"I’ll explain them to you."

"The Diamond Fist is a martial technique with demon-subduing effects. Once you master it, you’ll be immune to all kinds of evil influences. After performing executions, practicing a set of Diamond Fist techniques can effectively dispel negative effects."

"It’s a bold, powerful technique, especially suited for body cultivators."

"The Death Burial Mantra is a chant recited before killing. It can partially protect you from the negative effects of taking lives, such as murderous energy, resentment, and killing aura, preventing them from clinging to you."

"Reciting the mantra requires some mental energy, though."

"As for the Buddha-Demon Pearl… it’s a sealing technique." Zhang Hu thought for a moment before continuing, "It’s the most effective and high-potential technique among the three."

"Oh?" Lin Jing showed interest. "Senior Zhang, what can you tell me about the Buddha-Demon Pearl?"

Zhang Hu explained, "The Buddha-Demon Pearl involves condensing a Buddha Pearl within your body. This pearl can seal negative energies like killing aura and demonic energy inside it without affecting you.

"With enough mastery, the pearl can even seal living demons or magical creatures, far surpassing the cultivator’s own strength in terms of sealing power."

"There was once a Buddhist prodigy who suppressed a calamity-bringing Demon God by sacrificing himself and saying, 'If I don’t enter hell, who will?'"

"Many Buddhist disciples cultivate the Buddha-Demon Pearl. However, it has a major drawback: if the sealed negative energy within the pearl isn’t purified in time, the Buddha Pearl can turn into a Demon Pearl, causing the cultivator to fall into demonic ways!"

"There are many tales of demonic, evil, or corrupted Buddhas in Buddhist history. Most of them arose during the cultivation of the Buddha-Demon Pearl when the practitioner was overwhelmed by its power."

"Wait," Lin Jing asked, "does the Buddha Pearl have any additional functions beyond sealing demonic power?"

Zhang Hu nodded. "Not much else, really. The more demonic power it seals, the less it radiates Buddhist qualities. Even when it does display its Buddhist essence, at best it makes you look like a virtuous monk. Not really practical in combat."

"Displaying Buddhist essence might cause wandering ghosts and spirits to avoid you. For mortal monks, that could be useful, but for us cultivators? If we encounter such beings, we just exterminate them!"

"Probably only those pearls from top-tier Buddhist experts who used their lives to seal demons would have divine effects," Zhang Hu added.

"I see," Lin Jing smiled. "That’s great, then! I actually like techniques that prove I’m a good person."

"I’ll cultivate the Buddha-Demon Pearl."

"As expected," Zhang Hu sighed. "Among the three techniques, this one is indeed the most advanced, so it’s a reasonable choice. But it’s also the most dangerous. While it can help you subdue demonic power, don’t forget to purify the energies sealed inside regularly."

"Don’t worry," Gao Sheng interjected. "With me keeping an eye on him, there won’t be any problems."

Zhang Hu hesitated, glancing at Gao Sheng, finding him somewhat unreliable. However, looking at Lin Jing, who appeared upright and capable, he felt a bit reassured. Lin Jing’s name was familiar to him, and though Zhang Hu rarely entered the city, he had heard some things about him.

...

Soon after, Zhang Hu led Lin Jing and Gao Sheng to a room where they waited while he retrieved the cultivation method for the Buddha-Demon Pearl.

Before long, Zhang Hu returned with a tightly closed Buddhist scripture. It appeared sealed, with no visible pages.

"Lin Jing, the Buddhist techniques left in the Demon-Slaying Bureau are quite unique. They all have seals, and only those deemed ‘fated’ with Buddhism can open them."

"But honestly, this is as pointless as putting pants on over your underwear. I’ve never met anyone who couldn’t open a Buddhist scripture."

"So, everyone is ‘fated with Buddhism,’ huh?" Gao Sheng scoffed. "These Buddhist missionaries sure know how to sell themselves."

Zhang Hu chuckled. "Indeed, while everyone can technically open these scriptures, actually cultivating Buddhist techniques requires talent. Here in the Demon-Slaying Bureau’s immortal prison, almost no one chooses these techniques because they’re much harder to master compared to other exorcism methods. Even those who do select them often take forever to get started."

"But since a Buddhist expert once recognized your potential, you should have no problem cultivating this technique."

He handed the scripture containing the Buddha-Demon Pearl technique to Lin Jing.

Taking it in his hands, Lin Jing immediately opened the scripture without encountering any resistance. As he did, Buddhist light radiated from the text, and the scripture’s glowing words imprinted themselves directly into his mind.

Much like opening a jade slip of cultivation methods, a wealth of information flooded Lin Jing’s consciousness.

Buddha-Demon Pearl!

A single Buddha Pearl, sealing ten thousand demons.

Lin Jing immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating his true energy. To his surprise, the method required merit to form the pearl. Those who hadn’t performed good deeds would struggle to condense one.

"Use the Heart Mantra to guide the power of merit, condensing energy into the pearl," Lin Jing read.

He couldn’t even remember what good deeds he’d done, but as the Heart Mantra activated, traces of merit within his body were drawn out. Images replayed in his mind—donating to disaster relief, giving up his seat to a pregnant woman, rescuing an injured bird that had fallen outside his window. All these small, forgotten acts of kindness had transformed into strands of merit, now merging with his true energy.

Following the method detailed in the scripture, Lin Jing began constructing the pearl. It wasn’t just a simple sphere. Its intricate structure resembled a miniature pearl-shaped immortal prison—deep, complex, and incredibly sturdy.

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