Before fusing the arm, Qin Ming still had one thing left to do—open the other treasure chests and see what he'd actually gained this time.
Mainly because… if something did go wrong during the fusion, he might not even have the chance to open them and check what he'd fought so hard to earn.
As he opened the three chests one after another, a soft light shone out before his eyes.
Appearing before Qin Ming were three special items:
[Name: Robe of Silver-Horned King]
[Category: Clothing (Brilliant Gold Quality)]
[Equip Requirement: Spirit 50]
[Effect 1: +20 Spirit]
[Effect 2: Doubles spirit recovery rate]
[Effect 3: +25 bonus to mental defense]
[Description: This is standard-issue equipment for a disciple under the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord (Tai Shang Lao Jun).]
[Name: Replica Banana Leaf Fan]
[Category: Special Item (Faded Legendary Grade)]
[Equip Requirement: None]
[Effect: Upon waving, consumes 10 Spirit Points to launch a large-scale fire attack forward, dealing a fixed 50 fire damage]
[Description: A knockoff fan created by the Gold and Silver Children, mimicking the real Banana Leaf Fan. It only has 50% of the real fan's power, and the flames it produces are just ordinary fire.]
[Name: Jin Chanzi's Relic]
[Category: Consumable (Faded Legendary Grade)]
[Usage Requirement: None]
[Effect: Causes one of your existing skills to mutate upon use]
[Description: Why is it that when monks get cremated, it's called a "relic," but when normal people get burned, it's just a gallstone?]
Among the three items, only the last one made Qin Ming's eyes light up.
Tang Monk's loot turned out to be a legendary-grade consumable—and like the arm of Tathāgata Buddha, it had the ability to induce mutation.
It wasn't quite on the same level as Buddha's arm, of course—it could only mutate skills, not the body—but it was still significant.
Toying with the golden crystal in his hand, Qin Ming's eyes gleamed, and he quickly made a decision.
Since he had already decided to fuse with Tathāgata Buddha's arm, and Tang Monk was technically the Buddha's disciple, they were more or less cut from the same cloth. So using his "gallstone" as a warm-up seemed just right.
Plus, it was a good way to test out how this mutation process actually worked—and whether there were any side effects.
With that, he lifted his hand and shoved the crystal straight into his mouth.
The moment he forced it down his throat, his eyes bulged wide.
Because what he felt wasn't like swallowing a bead—it was like gulping down a scalding fireball!
Qin Ming had clearly forgotten one important detail—he was a vampire!
In the East, that made him a yao—a blood demon!
A creature of darkness trying to swallow a sacred Buddhist relic? Of course something was going to go wrong!
It was a damn miracle he was part of the Nightmare Space, and that his body had already been data-materialized.
If he'd still been a normal demon out in the wild, trying to pull a stunt like this, he would've gone up in flames on the spot.
Seriously—have you ever heard of a vampire walking into a church, chanting scripture, and drinking holy water straight from the font? That's basically suicide!
Hot! It was outrageously hot! Qin Ming's whole body began to steam!
Golden patterns started surfacing across his skin—like a lightbulb covered in black cloth, the divine radiance within him was completely unstoppable!
Wracked by the burning heat from within, Qin Ming let out a muffled groan and clutched his stomach tightly with both hands.
He gritted his teeth and writhed in pain for quite a while before the rejection finally began to fade.
When the pain was gone and he staggered to his feet, he glanced at the mirror and was stunned to see his entire body covered in golden patterns.
Lines of gold extended outward from his chest, branching into all his limbs and meridians. Even his once blood-red eyes now gave off a faint golden glow.
The mix of crimson and gold produced a bizarre visual—one that didn't resemble a legendary monk at all.
If anything, he looked like some kind of edgy Buddhist punk.
Realizing something was off with his state, he hurriedly opened his status panel—and the first thing that caught his eye was a skill that had mutated so drastically, it could barely even be called the same ability anymore.
Passive Defense Skill: Iron Body!
Well, used to be.
Now, its name had changed—transformed into a new S-rank Active Defense Skill: Arhat's Golden Body!
[Name: Arhat's Golden Body][Grade: S-Rank][Effect: All defense is converted into damage reduction. When actively activated, each point of Constitution grants +1 Defense. Consumes 1 Spirit Point every 10 seconds.][Description: The Buddha is merciful. I'm not.]
A skill that used to be a passive defense had now completely transformed into an active one!
And its defense-boosting effect was absurdly powerful—as much Constitution as you had, that's how much defense you gained!
Staring blankly at the fully mutated skill, Qin Ming was in a daze, his mind practically going blank.
Wait a second... did this mean he had… become an Arhat with a golden body?
Had he just taken refuge in the Buddha?
Achieved enlightenment?
Laid down his blade and turned to the path of peace?
Just a moment ago he'd tricked Tathāgata into losing an arm, and now he was applying for a job under his organization? What, was the Buddha hiring now?
Also, since when could bats attain Buddhahood? What would that even be—Bat Buddha?
His hands moved instinctively into a prayer position as Qin Ming activated the mutated skill.
As the golden patterns lit up on his skin, a bright light burst from his eyes.
And in the very next instant—his entire body erupted in radiant golden light, transforming him on the spot into a miniature golden statue!
Golden Body—Activated!
Staring at his now golden self, Qin Ming tapped his chest in disbelief—only to hear a clear clang, like striking iron!
A hundred turns of merit to forge the golden body; from ancient times, it's been said—Subdue demons, banish evil!Karmic debts of past lives cut in a day; lay down your blade and enter the Buddha's gate!The supreme realm of the Buddhist path—Arhat's Golden Body!
As he felt the sheer hardness of his own body and heard the faint echoes of chanting in his ears, Qin Ming's fierce expression suddenly turned peaceful. He sat cross-legged, hands together, quietly muttering a Buddhist chant...
...
Like hell! He didn't know any damn scriptures!
He couldn't even remember more than the first line of the Great Compassion Mantra! How the hell had he become an Arhat out of nowhere?!
Forcefully deactivating the transformation, Qin Ming shook his head violently.
Not good! Those bald bastards really are toxic! That whole "lay down your blade and become a Buddha" thing—it was real! They actually tried to secretly purify him!
What a joke! He had tons of wives! Who the hell wanted to become a monk?! Arhat's Golden Body? Even if Tathāgata himself stood up and offered him his seat, Qin Ming wasn't interested!
Besides, he and the Buddha had already formed a deep grudge. How could he possibly work for the other side?
What if they held a grudge and made his life miserable later? Remember Jin Chanzi? Dude just dozed off during a sermon, and the Buddha called him out, argued one line with him, and bam—banished to the mortal world to suffer!
If even the number one disciple got treated like that, what hope did Qin Ming have?
If he wasn't careful, his wives might all get "liberated" into Nirvana. Then who the hell was he supposed to explore life's mysteries with at night?!
Slapping himself hard across the face to snap out of it, Qin Ming finally let out a long breath and picked up Tathāgata Buddha's severed arm again.
But even after struggling mentally for a long time, he still didn't dare to use it right away.
All this from just Jin Chanzi's relic? That almost converted him! Then what kind of effect would Buddha's arm have? It had to be way more intense.
"…Hey, Nightmare! If I use this, I'm not gonna get purified or anything, right?"
Still feeling uneasy, Qin Ming finally asked aloud.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the cold mechanical voice of the Nightmare Space echoed in his ears:
"No. You're part of Nightmare Space. That bald donkey has no power over you."
"Oh… wait! Then how come that relic almost turned me into a monk?!"
"You're just mentally weak. Read too many novels and psyched yourself out. Go out and kill a couple people—you'll feel normal again."
"Oh... Wait, what?!"
(End of Chapter)