Chapter 119: Chamber of Chaos (1/2)

Below the golden pagoda, a solitary temple stood in the vast snowy meadows.

When Padmapani informed them of their arrival, Hermes slowed down the chariot and gently landed on a patch of thin snow near the temple.

The temple wasn't extremely conspicuous, but the architecture was unique.

It was a fusion between the Buddhist temples of India, which incorporated tall and rounded spikes, and East Asian architecture, which prioritized symmetry and sharp roofs.

Padmapani bowed a few times to the temple and invited them in.

The three removed their footwear and then entered through a sliding door.

The temple was quite large and centered around a courtyard.

Padmapani turned to Hermes and Ashoka, ”Sirs, The Buddha requests only Sir Alex, I will lead you to a waiting room.”

Hermes pouted and jokingly replied, ”We're being chased off~~?”

”I'll be quick, Hermes,” Alex rolled his eyes at Hermes' childish attitude.

After that, Padmapani explained to him that the courtyard was beyond the sliding door in front of them, and then led the two others somewhere else.

Alex was starting to feel nervous.

'I've met quite a few powerful deities, but The Buddha still seems a step above those...'

However, he recovered his composure and with one swift move, he slid open the door.

'Wow...!' Astonishment couldn't describe what Alex felt at the sight of the courtyard.

The meadows outside of the temple were snowy, yet, this courtyard was lush and green.

A small and still pond was in the corner of the courtyard, and an isle with a gazebo rose from the waters, to which a small bridge led.

In the center of the courtyard, a tall and thick tree with heart-shaped leaves stood.

Alex's eyes moved all around the courtyard searching for Siddartha Gautama, but he did not find him.

However, a leaf suddenly turned into a man.

The man then fused with the tree bark.

However, that man was then in the shape of the tall grass under the tree.

Alex was bewildered.

If he did not concentrate, he could not see the man at all, and only the flora of the courtyard would be visible.

And, when he focused, the man would turn from an object to another.

Alex stood in his place, confused.

”Hahahahahahaha,” A pleasant voice started laughing.

It came from the direction of the tree, and suddenly, the shapeshifting man appeared.

He sat under the tree, in a lotus position, and his eyes were closed.

Then, he opened his eyes.

Alex blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw a gargantuan statue in front of him.

But, when he observed the surroundings, he discovered that...

'I'm in his palm!?' Alex was standing on a crease of the palm of the Buddha, whose body seemed to be the size of the entire world.

His fingers reached into the sky, and his clear eyes looked down on Alex.

Suddenly, Alex blinked again, and he was back in the courtyard.