novelraw Chapter 136 : Relic of the Immortal Gods, Evolution of the Lamp-Igniting Method
Chapter 136 : Relic of the Immortal Gods, Evolution of the Lamp-Igniting Method
Chapter 136: Relic of the Immortal Gods, Evolution of the Lamp-Igniting Method
“Hmm? I think it's fine?”
Not far from Ba Lie, a burst of golden light shimmered, from which Jiang Yan’s voice came forth.
As the brilliance gradually faded, a golden lotus-shaped shell emerged, its surface encircled by black-red auspicious clouds. Atop the shell grew a golden tree, with branches spreading out and adorned with golden leaves and jade-like gems, dazzling in radiance.
At the top of the tree, a flame blazed—like a sun suspended in midair, illuminating all things.
A gentle breeze swept past, rustling the golden leaves and the many jewels with a susurrus, composing a wondrous melody.
Like a meticulously crafted piece of art.
Jiang Yan lay within the shell, looking at ease as he approached Ba Lie. His size was over ten times that of Ba Lie, his presence vast and unshaken—his strength not suppressed in the slightest, even enhanced.
If the patients' shells were thatched huts—
Ba Lie and Zhao Yinman’s shells were exquisite wooden houses—
Then Jiang Yan’s was...
A mobile golden fortress!
Utterly the difference between a super-premium VIP and an ordinary player.
In truth, the latter was simply a trial experience of the former.
Lowering his head to look at Ba Lie, Jiang Yan said,
“Old Ba, the tiny you is kinda cute too!”
“Scram!”
Ba Lie dragged his shell and circled Jiang Yan a few times, asking curiously,
“How did you pull this off? Did you cow the backend system of the Diseased Domain?”
Jiang Yan stroked his chin, pensively saying,
“Maybe my luck is just too dazzling.”
“Bullshit! Recharge one for me too! Show me the top-up system—let me get a bigger shell first, I’m getting squished in here!” Ba Lie was anxious. His own smallness was upsetting enough, but someone else being this big? Agonizing.
What men couldn’t stand most—was being small. In all aspects.
Zhao Yinman glanced at her own crimson shell, feeling like something was missing. Then...
She lit a flame!
A blazing shell of fire.
She was immediately satisfied.
Watching Old Ba hop around, Jiang Yan spread his hands:
“This isn’t a game—where would a recharge system come from? But I probably know why. It’s likely related to an ability I possess.”
Naturally, it was the Lamp-Igniting Method.
Lamp-Igniter and Guanyin were both great entities in the Buddhist realm—the former even ranked a tier higher, mastering paths of fate, karma, and more.
It had partial overlap with the 【Sovereign of Compassion】 path, but was stronger.
Therefore, upon entering, Jiang Yan was not suppressed. On the contrary, he was enhanced.
Like returning home.
This place was great!
“The so-called ‘shell’ is actually a product of a karmic path. It likely serves to block prying, adapt to the rules of the world, and undo suppression. Its deeper purpose remains unknown.”
Jiang Yan analyzed,
“Seems we were able to enter because we ate the Golden Fuguo, making the Diseased Domain mistake us for part of the sacrifice. If the shell breaks, it means giving up the disguise.”
Ba Lie’s eyes lit up:
“So that means—the mastermind behind this might not have noticed us yet!”
Zhao Yinman said,
“Then let’s go stab his butt.”
She’d learned that from Jiang Yan—something he said was gamer slang.
Ba Lie shook his head:
“No rush. We still don’t know where we are. Let’s wait for the Historical Long River to provide the mission!”
Whether a History Walker entered a Diseased Domain actively or passively, they would receive mission information from the Historical Long River—to assist in cutting out the mutation.
Destroy the Diseased Domain, and receive rewards.
That was the Historical Long River’s aid to its History Walkers.
“It’s here!”
Soon, Historical Dust gathered, and a mission panel emerged.
【Golden Fuguo Diseased Domain】
【Historical Marker——Obstructed Level（Dike-Break Countdown: 00 Days: 15 Hours: 49 Minutes）】
【Description: Originally a Diseased Domain born of Guanyin faith and associated relics, it has been invaded by an unknown mutation from the depths of history, resulting in distortion and the creation of the ‘Fuguo Tree Guanyin Statue’.
From its branches, it births many Golden Fuguo to bestow upon living beings. Anyone who eats the Fuguo becomes an anchor point, their consciousness transformed into a ‘worm’ on their body, gaining a karmic shell. By consuming enough nutrients, they can climb upward—there are one hundred layers total.
Tree leaves are the base food. Fuguo and the sap in the branches are rich in nutrients. Devouring large amounts enhances the karmic shell. Fasting too long causes the shell to break.
Become the mightiest worm, climb to the top, and you may make a wish upon the golden fruit of the Golden Apple Tree.】
【Main Mission 1: Find the source of the mutation, and sabotage the mastermind’s plans.】
【Main Mission 2: Absorb enough nutrients, reach the top of the tree, behold the golden apple atop Guanyin’s head, and make a wish.】
【As this Diseased Domain is mutating, all missions must be completed to return to the real world. No penalty for leaving early.】
Old Ba, reading the mission info, couldn’t help but complain:
“What kind of ‘real man climbs a hundred layers’ is this? This guy must’ve played 4399 flash games. Even fused in some Holy Grail plot. A total patchwork monster.”
“Not necessarily. This guy doesn’t seem that trendy. This feels more like a Buddhist trial of hardship and cultivation. Defined by hardship, barely achievable, and once surpassed, grants great enlightenment. In Hinduism, it’d even bring divine blessings and a beatdown for the Heavenly Emperor.”
Jiang Yan looked at the countless tree leaves and the trunk stretching toward the heavens, faintly seeing a compassionate ribboned Guanyin statue, covered in lush fruits.
It felt like standing in a pitch-black jungle, with only a faint glow above—like the light of dawn.
Jiang Yan mused aloud:
“So we’re on the body of the Fuguo Tree Guanyin Statue... Climbing it by absorbing her nutrients. Are we reenacting Buddha feeding himself to the eagle? Becoming fodder for worms?”
“Nothing wrong with Buddhist enlightenment—the problem’s with the one using it,” Ba Lie said helplessly.
“For now, we’ve no other option. In these next few hours, we’ll need to gather nutrients and climb.”
After speaking, Ba Lie gave it a try. Though he could forcefully climb using his own strength, he was suppressed by a mysterious force.
Without strengthening the karmic shell, climbing past forty or fifty layers would be the limit.
Thinking this, he bent down and took a small bite of a leaf. Bitter and astringent—like chewing grass.
During chewing, chaotic beliefs assaulted him. This was...
“Power of faith! And undiluted—just the most chaotic and mixed parts!”
The flood of faith power assaulted his soul, even eroding his flesh. Fortunately, Ba Lie’s willpower was firm and he wasn’t distorted.
His shell also expanded slightly—less cramped now—and some of his sealed power was unlocked.
While chewing, he warned,
“Be careful while eating. These leaves are problematic. Even with my power, digestion is slow—and the taste’s harsh. But bear with it—”
Before he could finish, he saw Jiang Yan strolling across the leaf surface. Wherever he stepped, the leaf was consumed, leaving only veins behind.
In the blink of an eye, half the leaf was gone, and his karmic shell expanded by one-twentieth.
Jiang Yan’s expression was odd:
“Old Ba, actually—if you use your transcendent powers to destroy the leaf, its karmic essence gets added to you.”
The patients used their mouths because they lacked transcendent powers.
Which only made them crazier the more they ate.
Nearby, Zhao Yinman silently put down the leaf scrap she was about to put in her mouth. Though she couldn’t ignite it, she could roast it to ash. She turned to Old Ba and said,
“Old Ba, I told you not to eat random things. Otherwise, next time, I won’t take you out to play!”
That’s my line!
Ba Lie looked at the two taking turns roasting him, gritted his teeth:
“Leave me alone. I like eating grass.”
Though he said that, he didn’t stay stubborn. Threads of inky black Weaver Maiden’s Hands spread from him, wielding shuttles, spinning vast webs of thread to extract nutrients from the leaves.
The three began gathering nutrients, slowly growing and climbing upward.
They even tried piercing the tree to get at its sap, but its surface was hard beyond belief. Even Old Ba’s full-force strike left only a shallow mark.
After careful analysis, they found leaf-devouring to be more efficient.
Soon, Jiang Yan’s body size surged to fifteen meters.
The Ash Lamp absorbed massive nourishment, its flame burning stronger. Under its glow, the surrounding leaves began to curl—as if in fear of the heatless flame.
Thus, the trio ate their way from Layer One to Layer Ten—then encountered their first Fuguo.
A massive Fuguo, thirty meters in diameter, hung from the branches, exuding a tempting fragrance.
Ba Lie exclaimed in delight:
“This fruit's gotta be packed with nutrients!”
After all, time waited for no one—they had to hurry to reach the top to stop the mastermind’s plan.
“Heaven-Weaving Maiden — Piercing Thread Spear!”
He did not lower his guard. Behind him, the Weaver Maiden’s arms pressed into the void, and countless threads materialized from thin air, weaving into a giant spear of threads that launched forward, piercing through the enormous Red Fuguo.
With a crisp “kacha”—
Juice splashed everywhere, revealing crisp and sweet fruit flesh, releasing an aroma that whetted the appetite.
Yet Ba Lie did not approach, standing still as he stared at the fruit core. He gathered another thread spear and hurled it, striking the core—only to hear a clanging metallic ring.
Kaka kaka!
Amid strange sounds, a huge black insect crawled out of the fruit core. Its body resembled a caterpillar, but its head did not have a human face—instead, it bore the compassionate visage of Guanyin, mouth constantly opening and closing, chanting sutras:
“When Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva was practicing the profound Prajñāpāramitā, he perceived that all five skandhas are empty, thereby transcending all suffering and distress. Śāriputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different...”
Buddhist light radiated from around her, exuding a terrifying aura. It was like an evolved version of the shell-boring worms, but now lacking a shell, and instead—
Using the Red Fuguo as its shell!
Was this a Fuguo Worm? Or a Guanyin Worm?
Its strength reached Mid-stage Law Seed!
“I knew it wouldn’t be that simple!”
Ba Lie sneered coldly. As a man who’d been screwed over by Diseased Domains countless times and still survived, he’d long developed caution.
Had he rushed over recklessly, he would’ve been swallowed whole.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Ba Lie waved his hand—spear after spear of threads pierced forward. But all were blocked by the Buddha light on the surface, shattered by the rebound force, turning into falling threads drifting like snow.
“Roar!”
The Guanyin Worm also opened its mouth. The chanting of sutras suddenly accelerated, and the Sanskrit words began to materialize, wrapped in golden light, pressing down toward Ba Lie and the others.
“Void-Cutting Threads!”
Countless threads extended in the void—razor-sharp, slicing through the Sanskrit incantation, shattering it into glimmering fragments.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Several Weaver Maiden arms behind Ba Lie began to move, weaving rapidly like a loom. In the blink of an eye, they had woven a doll identical to the Guanyin Worm.
The next second, the doll shattered—vanishing into nothingness.
The Guanyin Worm before them exploded just the same, thoroughly obliterated.
“Idiot. You just stood there dumbly while I drew your Life Threads to weave a 【Life Doll】. If you don’t die, who will?”
Ba Lie sneered and called to the two behind him:
“What are you waiting for? Dig in!”
Jiang Yan looked at Old Ba with surprise—he had seen the Weaver Maiden arms forcibly extract Life Threads from within the Guanyin Worm, using its shape to anchor.
When the woven doll broke, the backlash struck the original.
Even with precautions—so long as one couldn’t fully suppress one’s aura, leaving no leaks—it was hard to defend against this move.
No wonder his nickname was 【Sky-Stealing Shuttle】.
That silent thread-harvesting technique was truly terrifying.
And this was with Ba Lie’s power half sealed, yet his combat ability already approached pseudo-Ancient Talisman level.
If he were at full strength, he might even go toe-to-toe with a regular Ancient Talisman-level foe—and retreat intact.
The only thing he lacked was a Law Domain.
Truly worthy of once being a top-tier genius.
Jiang Yan and the others joined in, dividing up the massive Red Fuguo and continuing upward.
The higher they climbed, the fewer worm-forms of patient consciousness they encountered—not because things were safer,
But because the worms had begun devouring each other—absorbing one another’s nutrients, rapidly growing into massive shell-boring worms covered in faces, gradually mutating toward Guanyin-like forms.
The scene was grotesquely twisted.
Upon noticing Jiang Yan and the others, they attacked without hesitation.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Yet before they could even draw near, they were impaled by the golden tree roots growing from Jiang Yan’s shell, pinned to the ground, unable to move, screaming wildly:
“Don’t steal my wish!”
“I want to get rich...”
“I want wealth and power...”
“...”
Ba Lie’s eyes darkened. “They’re eating people.”
Although subconsciousness wasn’t the soul, injury to it still reflected back onto the real-world body, causing mental trauma.
Too severe—and it could lead to a vegetative state.
Moreover, the mastermind had imprisoned numerous souls. If they were all devoured and fused, forming a single entity, it would mean seizing the anchor point of consciousness.
Those patients in the real world would never awaken again.
Ba Lie wasn’t one for sentimentality. He said to Jiang Yan:
“Finish them quickly. Gather nutrients and climb. If that thing finishes its plan, we’re done for.”
Jiang Yan didn’t object. With a thought, the golden tree swayed slightly, infused with mysterious power.
The next moment, all the shell-boring worms turned to jade at a visible speed—transformed into jade statues, then crumbled to dust.
The Golden Tree Law granted him the ability to turn matter into jade.
Jade belonged to Xin Metal.
The related karmic power was absorbed by his shell, continuing to grow.
Kaka kaka!
At that moment, the Ash Lamp in the depths of his consciousness blazed with fervent belief. Within it surged massive soul force, giving birth to countless Karmic Ash Worms.
Jiang Yan realized—the worm-forms of patient consciousness and the blood of the Guanyin Worms were potent accelerants, causing the Fire Dwelling Flame to burn fiercely and grow ever stronger.
The trio worked in tandem, quickly reaching the fortieth layer. The higher they went, the more Red Fuguo appeared—but the stronger the Guanyin Worms within them became.
Starting at the fiftieth layer, they encountered Peak Law Seed-level Guanyin Worms.
But just as they were pushing upward—
Atop the Fuguo Tree Guanyin’s head was an apple grove, heavy with abundant fruit.
At its center stood a tree like pure gold—its crown lush, though it bore only one golden apple, wrapped in faint divine light, brilliant and dazzling—though part of it was still not fully golden.
On the trunk emerged a blurred face, its eyes gazing down at the earth—upon Jiang Yan and the others. It spoke calmly:
“Courage is the anthem of mankind. In despair, heroes arise. But... this path was flawed from the start. The fruit I nurtured has always been within my grasp.”
It was the architect of this entire calamity.
The Golden Apple Tree!
The Golden Apple Tree laughed:
“Seems you’ve lost this time. The evil in humanity far outweighs the good. All of them became worms that devour you.”
As it finished, the Tree Guanyin gently trembled, and a warm, calm voice echoed:
“All beings have desire. Only then can emotions be born. If you probe with evil, you’ll reap only evil. As with hard objects—if you test when they will break, they already have.”
“I’m not interested in your Buddhist chants. You’re clearly a fake Guanyin, yet you mimic it obsessively.”
The Golden Apple Tree sneered, murmuring:
“Though I’ve lost earlier memories, I don’t know why, as a descendant of the mythical Golden Apple Tree, I ended up in the Historical Long River of Tianxia.
But Heaven favors me still—for through you, I’ve encountered a relic left behind by a Great Immortal God—a main deity, as you would call it.
If you willingly hand over that item and your body, I can allow your soul to leave in peace—and continue your cycle of reincarnation.”
The Fuguo Tree Guanyin said calmly:
“That does not belong to you. Fate has already ordained its true master. I am merely its guardian.”
“There’s an old Tianxia saying—‘A treasure belongs to the virtuous.’”
The Golden Apple Tree said blandly:
“It matters not if you refuse. I’ve already infected you with the Golden Fuguo mutation, spreading the disease, increasing anchor points. Using the faith and will of all beings, I’ve changed you from a Fox Guanyin to a Tree Guanyin. Your path, your origin, have already been eroded by the Will Path. The preconditions for devouring you are complete.
They think they’re absorbing nutrients to climb, but they’re only alive because you’re holding me back. I merely needed a jumbo worm to deliver the fatal blow.
Once I devour you, I’ll use the faith of all beings to ripen the golden apple—let it fall. Then, I’ll make my wish, shed my old shell, and use that item to become a follower of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and ignite divine fire.”
Its ambition was not to summon Immortal Subjects—
But to become one.
From the Golden Apple Tree, it would transform into the Tree of Sovereign Compassion.
And become part of a Great Immortal God.
Once successful, he would gain the potential to become a Heavenly Official, even a Sage, and perhaps glimpse a thread of immortality.
Tree Guanyin warned: “You’ve been consumed by obsession—return, and you may yet find salvation.”
“I don’t belong to the Buddhist system. Your doctrines don’t apply to me. Besides, aren’t you more terrifying than demons? The【Sovereign of Compassion】path—uses the fate of all beings to dictate the course of the world. Have you ever asked for their consent?”
Golden Apple Tree sneered, then said: “The higher-tier worms are powerful. At the top, there are even three pseudo-Ancient Talisman watchers. Even if they’re strong enough to break through them all, they’ll pay a terrible price.
By the time that happens, I will have long digested you and transferred the massive karma of devouring a relic of an Immortal God onto their karmic shells—eliminating future threats and avoiding becoming a pawn of the powerful.”
In truth, it had another unspoken plan:
The worms could replace it by taking over Tree Guanyin’s body.
A perfect gold cicada shedding its shell—
Diverting the attention of the Bureau of Historical Revision.
Meanwhile, it could enter the real world, merge into human society, and quietly use the fate and karma of billions as nourishment—unhindered by disease mutation—to produce a perfect fruit.
To become a Sage would no longer be a dream!
“The script of this story was long written. The hero is merely a puppet of fate.”
Golden Apple Tree chuckled lightly, turning its gaze to the middle of Tree Guanyin, expecting to see how high they’d climbed.
At their pace, they should be at the seventieth layer, right?
But when it looked—only a few oversized worms were wriggling at the seventieth layer, gnawing at leaves and bark.
The sixtieth layer was the same.
Even the fifty-layer breakthrough hadn’t been made.
Golden Apple Tree frowned. These guys were being far too lazy—descending all the way down without discovering Jiang Yan and the others’ traces?
“What’s going on!?”
Just then, a bad premonition arose in its heart. It rapidly searched—and finally found Jiang Yan and the others... on the first layer.
They had descended all the way back to the start.
Were they giving up entirely?
“So naïve. Their heavy karmic shells have already bound them tightly—mere pawns in my hand.”
Golden Apple Tree sneered. The Diseased Domain was already sealed—no one could escape.
They had no choice but to follow the path it laid out.
But in the very next second, its calm was utterly shattered.
“What is that guy trying to do?!”
At that moment, on the first layer of Tree Guanyin, Jiang Yan and the others had left the body of Tree Guanyin and arrived on the ground.
The ground material was strange—like fruit flesh, yet also like brocade, soft and fluffy beneath their feet, as if they stood atop clouds of cotton.
Jiang Yan now gazed at the trunk smeared with the blood of countless transformed patient-worms. In his hand flickered a flame tinged with ashen hues.
It danced softly—not hot at all.
“What is that!?”
Its emergence sent chills down Ba Lie’s spine. The Weaver Maiden’s arms behind him transmitted a wave of fear, retreating into his spine.
Even the intangible... would be burned.
This fire—burned karma, and souls!
“How many terrifying abilities does this kid have!?”
Ba Lie marveled inwardly. Good thing he’d gotten him into the Bureau of Historical Revision early.
If Jiang Yan had ended up alone in the wild, becoming a lone wolf would already be bad—but with his talent, there was no way he’d stay hidden. He’d likely be drawn into the darkness and become a major villain.
If that really happened... it would be the Bureau’s worst nightmare!
Jiang Yan brought the flame close to the trunk.
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted from the top of Tree Guanyin, and a voice roared in fury:
“You dare!?”
“Oops, you startled me—my hand slipped.”
Jiang Yan feigned panic. The flame at his fingertip tilted ninety degrees and suddenly ignited the blood on the trunk. The fire roared upward.
Shiiishiiishiii!
Wherever the flame passed—leaves, bark, Guanyin Worms, patient-worms—all turned to ash. From the boundless karma, countless Ash Worms were born.
Boom!
At the summit, a vast golden light stormed forth like a tsunami, seeking to annihilate Jiang Yan!
Ba Lie readied to intervene—but halfway there, he was blocked by a massive wooden hand.
Tree Guanyin slowly raised its hands and pressed them together in prayer, softly chanting:
“Amitābha.”
“Then let this flame... burn away all sin!”
In that moment, the Golden Apple Tree could only watch the fire spread, howling in helpless rage.
“Look at you—getting all flustered again.!”
Jiang Yan smirked with amusement. He hadn’t expected to catch some infighting as a bonus show.
Did they really think he was some little child?
This was the guy who used Wind Spirit Moon Shadow just to game. Who skipped around when watching vids. Like hell he’d climb layer by layer as instructed.
Even if he did reach the top—he’d just walk into a stage prepped by someone else. That’s no different than suicide!
Which was why he never played by the rules!
The reason he’d cleared up to the fiftieth floor—was merely to stockpile enough fuel to enhance the Ash Flame’s might.
Now, the Ash Flame was powerful enough to burn through the bark. The sap that flowed only fed the flames more, sending its power skyrocketing.
In that moment, the Ash Flame became a wildfire. What began as a mere spark had grown into a sea of flame that could engulf countless lives.
The Guanyin Worms guarding the highest floors didn’t even have time to react—didn’t even qualify as speed bumps—turned to ash in an instant.
This moment—the entire Diseased Domain was illuminated by a sea of Ash Flame.
Had someone been watching from the Historical Long River, they’d have seen this endless fire slowly coalesce into a mysterious treasure lamp.
“It’s... really burning!”
Ba Lie was stunned. He hadn’t expected it to actually work.
After all, even Zhao Yinman’s flames couldn’t ignite the tree. How could Jiang Yan’s fire be stronger?
But then, he remembered what Jiang Yan had said—
If we’re just going to lose to the mastermind, we might as well both go down together.
Only in total despair does a sliver of hope remain.
So he’d agreed—never expecting it to truly succeed.
No wonder the kid scored so highly. This unconventional route was just too exhilarating!
Zhao Yinman gazed at the scene—her crimson pupils rippling, lost in thought.
She had the feeling—
That she had seen this before.
Or rather—
These flames.
Ssshh ssshh!
Countless Ash Worms were now birthed from the flames consuming the Diseased Domain, swarming into the Ash Lamp.
Helping it evolve—bursting forth with divine brilliance.
“With the world as nourishment—Ash Lamp, evolve!”
……
……