The mountain was majestic, stretching high into the clouds and towering over everything.
It was big enough to fill the vast space all on its own.
Even Austin, who had seen many amazing things in his time, was in awe when he looked up at the
mountain in front of him.
'I can't believe such an extraordinary mountain has been hidden on Earth!
And if it weren't for Julian's heightened sensitivity, I would never have found it!'
Austin mused, with excitement and intrigue bubbling inside of him.
His strength was at such a terrifying level that no one in the Sea of Chaos, or even the supreme
universes, was a match for him.
And yet, standing before this mountain, he actually felt insignificant.
'Did a god of chaos create this mountain?'
This thought suddenly popped into his mind as the only explanation he had.
What surprised him even more, was the many other mountains floating around the gargantuan one in
the middle. He could not be sure whether they were real or not.
"Huh? What's that?
There's water at the foot of the mountain. It looks like the sea,"
Julian exclaimed, pointing at the bottom of the mountain.
Austin looked in the direction his son gestured at and caught sight of the vast ocean that lay there.
How had he missed it? It was almost as magnificent as the mountain itself.
The water was crystal clear, calm and still, serenity prevailing over it.
If one wished to go up the mountain, he'd have to cross that sea first.
'Could this be the legendary Sumeru Mountain?
And is this sea the Treasure Pool?'
The picturesque scenery in front of Austin reminded him of the tales of the legendary mountain.
The water in the Treasure Pool was known as the Water of Merit, and had eight distinct characteristics.
It was clean, cold, sweet, soft, moist, calming, thirst-quenching and nutritive.
It was rare and very beneficial; monks dreamed of getting just a sip.
Fully aware of the magic water's value, Austin waved his hand.
He couldn't let this opportunity pass by.
Without wasting any time,
he released his spiritual sense to investigate the magic water and see what he could learn about it.
"Just as I suspected, the water contains abundant essence which is good for creatures who practice
Buddhist cultivation methods,"
Austin murmured to himself with glee and pride.
Both Ivy and Sue cultivated the Buddhist methods. He knew this would mean a lot to them.
He did not hesitate and took out a jade bottle, putting its mouth to the sea.
A strange force came out of the bottle, going towards the water, trying to suck it in. But then, the sea
glowed with golden light and deafening chants of Buddhist scriptures roared from it.
The water gave off a power that stopped Austin from acquiring even a single drop.
Austin snorted with displeasure.
This was not the end of it.
A large amount of great cosmos force gushed out from his body along with oceans of blade energy and
strong law of reincarnation.
His three powers charged at the water to suppress it so that he might get his prize.
Austin aimed the bottle at the surface of sea once more, the force pulling at the water again.
Finally,
the Water of Merit was sucked into the jade bottle.
A moment later,
it was filled with water.
The Treasure Pool's water level then lowered, even to the naked eye.
"Come on, Julian. Let's make our way up the mountain and have a look at what's there,"
Austin suggested to his son.
Although the mountain was like nothing else and might have been tremendously dangerous, Austin
believed that with his current strength, he could protect his son and himself.
Taking Julian by the hand, Austin flew towards the towering mountain.
The mountain was lit by a gentle glow and released a pure Buddhist power, giving off a peaceful aura.
What was more interesting was the mysterious mist it was shrouded in.
Austin noticed a silver glow on its surface, covered by golden light consisting of an immeasurable
amount of the pure power of faith.
The entire mountain was being nourished by this insurmountable power.
"Incredible!
Rumor has it that the Sumeru Mountain is so powerful because it is covered by the mind power coming
from Buddhists. Seems like the rumor is true!"
Austin remarked jovially.
The faith of Buddhist followers would cross the void and a part of it would end up at the Sumeru
Mountain, becoming one with it.
Looking at it from afar, the whole mountain was filled with faith. This was what gave it its magnificent
look and caused it to inspire such wonderment.
With Julian in hand, Austin flew across the Treasure Pool and up to the Sumeru Mountain.
When they began their ascent, seemingly infinite Buddhist power rushed up to them.
So much power in fact, that it was quite overwhelming.
"Humph!" Austin scoffed.
He activated his bodily movement skill and a winding path appeared beneath his feet. He and his son
walked along it calmly, and no Buddhist power could harm them anymore.
He was surprised to find that the Buddhist power was also unable to hurt Julian even a little.
It would simply split and fly past him like he was a rock in a river.
It took only a moment before the father and son were already halfway up the mountain.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Suddenly, an ear-splitting gong of a bell rang out from the Sumeru Mountain. It had come from a
temple within.
With every ring of the bell, another wave of immense energy swept at Austin and Julian, stopping them
in their tracks.
"Humph!
You think you can stop with some pathetic sounds?
Who are you? How dare you be so presumptuous and insulting?" Austin asked with a sneer.
He then strode up to the temple without flinching from the chimes crashing into him.
Then,
an old monk appeared, blocking their way forward.
"Amitabha! What has brought you here, sirs? This is a sacred place for the Buddhists. No trespassing
is allowed. Please, I urge you to go back,"
he said in a kindly manner.
He was an old man wearing an old robe and seemed amiable enough.
Austin paused, taken by surprise and not entirely sure what to do about this.
"Are you trying to get in our way?" he asked, looking the mysterious monk up and down.
"Sirs, this is a very important place to us Buddhists. Please leave,"
the old monk responded, pleading still.
"The sacred places for the Buddhists are open to all those who believe in Buddhism.
This mountain does not belong to you.
Besides, Buddha guides the chosen ones. Since the two of us are here, it must mean we were
destined to be here. You have no right to expel us,"
Austin reasoned calmly.
The old monk fell silent. He had nothing to say to this.
"Please don't make things difficult for me,"
the old monk said after a moment of silence.
"All right then, I won't waste any more time trying to talk sense into you,"
Austin replied with a wicked smile.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Austin unleashed the energy of the law of reincarnation and took aim at the monk.
Whoosh!
He raised his hand up high and performed the Reincarnation Sword Skill.
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