Corpse Recovery Diver-Chapter 1271 - 232:

As the flames on the green lotus continued to burn, Li Zhiyuan was no longer as calm and composed as before, his face gradually showing signs of pain.

True Monarch Pu Du: "I gave you the chance of fate, but you did not cherish it. Those with great karmic bonds can easily achieve the fruit of the great path, but they can also easily meet with a sudden disaster and die prematurely."

Li Zhiyuan's figure swayed, his eyes showing confusion and bewilderment, but there seemed to be some kind of inertia. The boy's voice remained firm, laced with the same mocking tone as before:

"Earlier, I just didn't want to gamble my life on your mercy; now you say these things again, don't you find it ridiculous?"

True Monarch Pu Du pressed his hands together, and the fire of the green lotus grew even stronger.

Li Zhiyuan let out a muffled groan, falling to his knees, clutching his face tightly with his left hand, his chest heaving up and down.

This was the Illusion Realm, but True Monarch Pu Du's Illusion was lifelike enough to be indistinguishable from reality, every manifestation being a projection as real as the truth.

Li Zhiyuan: "You yourself need to bury everything here to conceal it from His perception; how could you possibly let me leave alive?"

True Monarch Pu Du chanted the Buddha's name: "Amitabha Buddha."

The lotus bloomed, each petal engraved with complex Buddha Patterns, containing ultimate truths.

Li Zhiyuan braced himself on the ground, his body twitching uncontrollably, wisps of black energy seeping from his being. His body began to cast a shadow, as if something was about to separate from him.

However, despite his immense pain, the boy obstinately continued to speak:

"You are so practiced in this process; have you encountered the same thing before?"

True Monarch Pu Du closed his eyes, reciting scriptures.

The lotus petals first detached from the body, then began to rotate around it, scattering sparks of fire.

"Ah......"

Li Zhiyuan let out a wail, his hands clutching the hard black stone on the ground, his body shaking violently, as another figure almost identical to him struggled to break free from within him.

Regardless of how hard this figure tried, it could never fully break free, always falling short by just one step.

True Monarch Pu Du opened his eyes, speaking: "One with great perseverance."

One with great perseverance can transcend the seven emotions and six desires, endure worldly tribulations, and possess a clear mind, unblemished by delusion.

What others seek for a lifetime as the final destination is but his starting point, making it easier to grasp the true essence of the world.

True Monarch Pu Du: "If not for your deep-seated obsessions, I could take you as a vessel of the world; even if you cannot truly enter the Buddhist Sect, you could still promote the Buddhist Law."

Li Zhiyuan abruptly raised his head, his face drenched in cold sweat, the distortion and struggle on his face was real and intricate, with no sign of pretense.

The boy painfully raised his hand, pointing to the scattering lotus:

"How dare you say such a thing?

I just asked you if you had encountered this situation before.

Now it seems that this green lotus must be your body, that you are, in fact, the supreme one's Heart Demon divided in this manner?"

The black earth beneath began to tremble, the wailing and howling in the distance grew more intense, even shadows of spirits could be seen soaring across the sky.

This was the main stage of True Monarch Pu Du's Illusion Realm. The change in his Mind State directly affected the environment here.

Li Zhiyuan: "Is this the Buddhist Sect's way of cutting off the old self?"

The dirty deeds were done by me, but not by my avatar; it was my Heart Demon causing havoc externally. I too am searching for my Heart Demon, but my Heart Demon hides from me. As long as I discover the Heart Demon's presence, I will surely annihilate it.

This is my tribulation, I am undergoing this calamity. Once I pass this tribulation, I will still be myself, a better self after shedding the old shackles.

Even Li Zhiyuan had to marvel at the sophistication and mystery of such a method, akin to catching countless fish with one net.

Moreover, the most intriguing part is that the True Monarch Pu Du before him and the real Bodhisattva are not adversaries; there is a tacit understanding between them.

Truly, the practice of the Buddhist Law has reached an inconceivable level, even to the point of transforming one's Heart Demon for one's own use.

True Monarch Pu Du saw that although the boy was on the verge of collapse, he was still holding on to the last vestiges of strength, he couldn't help but sigh, pointing his finger at the boy.

"Crack..."

A lotus petal flew towards the boy, entering his brow.

The figure that had been constantly shaking on the boy's body suddenly solidified and began to break free.

Soon, it emerged, but just as it was halfway out, the boy reached out to grab it tightly.

"You... come back to me!"

The situation became even more dire, but a new stalemate emerged once again.

True Monarch Pu Du: "The cycle of yin and yang, the law of nature, cannot be forced, nor interfered with."

The True Monarch pointed at the boy once more, and another lotus petal flew out, immersing itself into the boy's chest.

The separated figure further detached, the boy still clutching it, but this time, it was no longer a one-sided restraint, but a balanced tug-of-war between both sides.

True Monarch Pu Du furrowed his brows slightly, genuinely feeling a bit of regret now.

Ordinary people with steadfast mindsets would stir their Heart Demon upon seeing the green lotus.

But this boy not only set the lotus ablaze, even when struck with two lotus petals, he still hadn't truly catalyzed the Heart Demon to emerge.

Even for one with great perseverance, it should not have been this difficult.

Had I known that his temperament had reached such a level, I should have treated him differently.

A person like this, to destroy him, is truly a waste.

However, the green lotus has already been set afire, and two lotus petals have been invested. The outside reality is not completely secured, still leaving a degree of uncertainty.

Therefore, in this Illusion Realm, I must destroy this boy.

Enough, let's proceed with the original plan, to completely bury this place, using its Merit to wash away the karma, then secretly travel the world, reshape the fruit position, and finally seek the Body, to reunite as one.