Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 2849: The Rising Fame Of The Green Lotus Temple

Having received the White Jade Ruyi Scepter, Lin Mu felt the weight of its authority.

He had returned to his room after obtaining it and spent hours pondering over its implications.

'To think they would give me something like this…' Lin Mu thought to himself.

Monk Hushu had explained more to him about the scepter. Even the old monk was surprised by the gift, having believed the artifact had been lost long ago. Much to his astonishment, the Abbot had kept it hidden all this time—waiting for a rightful new owner.

One must know that even the Abbot himself was unable to truly wield the White Jade Ruyi Scepter. He had merely served as its keeper.

Monk Hushu had gone on to explain that many of the great Buddhist powers across the realms possessed such divine symbols of authority.

There was, for example, the famous Green Jade Ruyi Scepter, which belonged to the legendary Shaolin Temple—one of the most ancient and powerful Buddhist sects in existence.

The bearer of the Green Jade Ruyi Scepter was considered the spiritual leader of all Buddhist cultivators. As such, its significance could not be overstated. While the White Jade Ruyi Scepter did not carry the same global influence, it was still a tremendously important artifact in its own right.

With it, Lin Mu could approach any Buddhist power in the Immortal Realm and request assistance. They would offer their help without question or hesitation.

This wasn't merely symbolic authority, nor did it bestow the title of Abbot in name—it was a power granted by the Buddhist path itself. Even if someone were to steal the scepter, they would gain nothing, for the artifact could only be wielded by one it had chosen.

There were several such Ruyi Scepters known to exist, and only a handful currently had owners—most of whom were the abbots of various temples or leaders of spiritual orders.

Thus, Lin Mu's case was a rare one. An outsider accepted by such a sacred relic was practically unheard of.

Having learned its importance, Lin Mu carefully stored the scepter within his spatial ring, not knowing exactly when he might need to rely on it.

'At least I'll have a place to rest wherever the Buddhist powers are present,' Lin Mu mused.

More than that, he didn't mind the idea of having their support. After all, he had made quite a few powerful enemies—many of whom might not even know of his existence just yet. But that ignorance wouldn't last forever.

If needed, he could summon a nearby Buddhist force to aid him should he face an enemy too great to handle alone. And these were people he could truly trust—not those bound by contract or favor, but by Dharma itself.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lin Mu could command Buddhist sects to march to their deaths for a righteous cause, should he so wish.

Of course, he had no intention of doing that—but the possibility was there nonetheless.

It took Lin Mu nearly a week to grow accustomed to the new reverence the monks showed him. The already deep respect had now grown even more pronounced.

Even the elders had changed the way they addressed him.

No longer was he referred to as "child," but instead as "Fellow Buddhist Lin Mu."

It was a bit hard for him to get used to, but he managed. The only thing he could not accept, however, was Monk Hushu calling him "Elder," which he vehemently protested.

Naturally, Meng Bai soon burst into laughter at this, as it turned out to be a prank the two of them had orchestrated just to see Lin Mu squirm.

Apparently, Monk Hushu was capable of humor when the mood struck him.

Two more weeks passed in relative peace, and the Green Lotus Temple finally opened its doors to outsiders once again.

The news spread like wildfire across the surrounding regions. Curious cultivators, scholars, and pilgrims made their way to the temple in droves. Many were eager to uncover the truth behind the heavenly phenomena that had occurred weeks prior.

Lin Mu felt a tinge of nervousness, not wanting his involvement to be exposed.

Fortunately, the Abbot and the elders shared the same concern and assured him that they would keep the truth under wraps.

They publicly declared that the Green Lotus Temple had held a grand cultivation session, during which many monks had achieved breakthroughs and enlightenment, causing the wide-reaching phenomenon.

The general public was relieved to learn that this was a collective occurrence rather than the result of a single individual. That explanation was enough to quash further speculation—for the time being.

Still, the incident left a powerful impression. Cultivators and regional powers alike sent their best wishes and offerings to the temple, hoping to build or strengthen ties.

Even the likes of the Darkhan Empire and the prestigious Xian Sword Sect had heard of the event. They, too, sent emissaries bearing generous gifts and honeyed words, praising the monks profusely.

It was, by all accounts, a necessary political formality. Thankfully for Lin Mu, the Abbot and elders handled all such affairs, sparing him from the headaches of diplomacy.

But the storm of interest had only just begun.

As word spread about the mysterious energy surge and the spiritual benefits people had received—even those living near the temple's outer periphery—demand to visit the Green Lotus Temple surged.

Many cultivators claimed to have experienced breakthroughs or sudden clarity during the phenomenon. Unresolved doubts that had plagued them for decades had vanished. Their cultivation paths seemed smoother, and their meditative states deeper.

This stirred massive interest from cultivators across the world, many of whom began sending requests to enter the temple and cultivate within its sacred grounds.

The temple, overwhelmed with demand, had to establish a formal queue system.

It was strictly first-come, first-served—as was the temple's way in all matters.

The guest list quickly ballooned to the point that entry slots were filled for the next decade.