The reason deep reason is shallow

"Continue! I can lead us to our destination, not far away!" The puppet's voice trembled with anxiety. "Our time is running out."

"Very well," Lu Li replied, unfazed. He held the flare in one hand and grasped the Buddha's head in the other. As they proceeded, Lu Li couldn't help but notice the weight of the Buddha. It felt as if there was an indescribable protective force emanating from it, reducing the sinister aura that lingered in the darkness.

In this place, the sense of time seemed to vanish. Lu Li, known for his keen perception, couldn't determine its passage. From the moment he discovered the Buddha, they had walked for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, as the puppet halted, a magnificent mountain came into view. It radiated a resplendent light, seemingly connecting the heavens and earth. At the summit, a temple could be seen. However, the path leading to it consisted of seemingly endless steps, and Lu Li could spot Corpse Demons dashing about in the steps. Strangely, these Corpse Demons seemed to fear the light emanating from the mountain.

"This mountain is illusory," the puppet revealed. "It is a barrier created by someone. As long as the concept remains, the mountain will be infinitely high, and no one can reach its summit. Only those who can eradicate the concept can truly ascend."

"What should we do then?" Lu Li asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Reason! The Buddha is the key," the puppet replied mysteriously. "Most of these monsters were once Buddhist priests or followers of the temple. Based on their beliefs, they can only approach the temple to a certain extent, and the infinite distance is limited by their reasoning."

The puppet pointed at the closest Variant Corpse Demon to the temple and continued, "That monster and the temple have a significant connection, allowing it to come closer. But others, no matter how close they try to get, will be burned by the protective light."

"But you are an exception," the puppet said, looking at the Buddha head in Lu Li's hands. "In your reality, you are a living person, not bound by the constraints of reason. You don't need to expend reasoning to resist. Furthermore, you possess the Buddha head, which is the most powerful reason of all."

"We will eventually be separated as we climb the mountain due to our different reasons. Although I have a way to reach the top, it will be slower than your progress. So, please proceed to the temple, and be cautious. Only when you reach the forefront of that monster, I will join you."

"Understood. Time is of the essence. Let's go quickly," Lu Li said, his interest piqued by the mysterious nature of the mountain. If the puppet's earlier explanation was correct, this mountain must be intertwined with the concepts of cause and effect, and reasoning played a crucial role. If one's reasoning was shallow, they might never reach the summit, just like the ghosts who were constrained by reason.

Without hesitation, Lu Li stepped onto the steps. As he ascended, the scenery around him changed. He no longer saw any Corpse Demons, and the puppet was nowhere to be seen. It felt as if he had entered a solitary realm.

Clutching the Buddha head, Lu Li gazed at the nearly extinguished flare in his hand. Without discarding it, he began to climb, finding the journey surprisingly easy. The evil aura emanating from the temple grew stronger.

"Could that be... the treasure?" Lu Li speculated aloud. He then assured the unseen presence, "Don't worry, I'm not here to suppress you."

As he spoke,

Lu Li sensed a hostile retreat and a more relaxed atmosphere. It was as if he was being praised for his strength, with the request to take it away from this place. Various fluctuations passed through his mind, stirring the corruption within his heart.

Climbing the steps didn't cause a drop of sweat on Lu Li's brow. He breathed in the dense air as if taking a leisurely stroll. After taking a few turns, he reached the final level of the steps effortlessly, a feeling of absurdity washing over him.

Continuing up the stairs, Lu Li saw a flat stretch of road ahead. There was no mountain in sight. The surroundings were enveloped in divine light, with the Corpse Demons encircling the perimeter. They panted heavily but couldn't move. The puppet was still a short distance away, occasionally ascending a couple of steps. The Variant Corpse Demon that was closest to Lu Li seemed to be approaching rapidly. "Hmm? What's that?" Lu Li suddenly noticed tears flowing from the eyes of one of the Corpse Demons. They were crying! The Corpse Demon wore a string of sandalwood Buddhist beads on its wrist and tattered Buddhist monk's robes. Its face conveyed a sorrowful expression. No, it was he who was crying!

As a Buddhist priest, he couldn't approach the temple. As a living being, he couldn't return home. It was a truly pitiful situation. Lu Li couldn't help but mutter, "You're so pitiful, unable to find your way home. Let me help you."

Approaching the Corpse Demon, Lu Li held the Buddha head in one hand and the nearly extinguished flare in the other. He reached out and pulled the Corpse Demon towards the temple, causing its flesh to melt and its fingers to fall off. However, its eyes transitioned from red to normal, and a terrifying yet serene smile formed on its lipless face. It was as if it had seen the true Buddha. Lu Li heard a faint voice saying, "Namo Amitābha!"

The Buddhist priest turned into liquid and dissipated, leaving behind a crystal. Lu Li picked up the crystal, which triggered a prompt: [Obtained Rule Module Will].

"This will serve as my token of gratitude," Lu Li murmured, raising the crystal before proceeding towards the temple. As he entered, he discovered that the interior was similar to the real world but renewed.

Suddenly, he heard a roar and turned to see the Variant Corpse Demon approaching. Its body emitted white smoke, its eyeballs melted but quickly regenerated, and its tongue writhed in its mouth, grotesque and repulsive.

Seeing the puppet not far behind, Lu Li smiled. Holding the nearly burnt-out flare with one hand and the Buddha head with the other, he opened his arms as if greeting the Variant Corpse Demon. But the creature didn't appreciate the gesture; instead, it let out a ferocious roar and charged directly at Lu Li.

"My muscles have 40 seconds left, and my brain has 10," Lu Li mumbled. His body, once that of an ordinary student, had transformed into that of a muscular man. Sensing the feedback from his body, Lu Li muttered to himself, "In just ten seconds, my muscles will probably reach their limit..."

Facing the oncoming Corpse Demon, Lu Li swung his fist, the force of his muscular arm colliding with the creature's head. Scarlet blood sprayed through the air, but it was futile. The Corpse Demon continued its attack.

The Buddha in Lu Li's hand began to emit heat, while the Corpse Demon started to emit smoke and its skin melted. However, it persisted, ignoring the pain and charging forward. Its sharp claws

aimed at Lu Li, forcing him to dodge and causing his scalp to ache as the gust of wind blew his hair.

With one hand clenched into a fist, Lu Li struck the Corpse Demon's abdomen, halting its assault. The other hand held the Buddha, striking the creature's body. His brain's liberation increased by another 3, allowing him to analyze the Corpse Demon's movements. Only three seconds remained until he reached the limit of his muscle's endurance

As the Corpse Demon swooped towards him, Lu Li's muscular arm swung with force, striking the creature's head. Scarlet blood sprayed through the air, but it proved ineffective as the Corpse Demon retaliated by throwing itself at Lu Li.

The Buddha held in Lu Li's hand began to emit heat, and the Corpse Demon emitted a smoky haze. Its skin started to melt, yet the transformed creature continued to roar and charge, paying no attention to its own deteriorating state. Its sharp claws aimed for Lu Li, causing him to quickly crouch down, the gust of wind tugging at his hair and causing his scalp to sting.

With one hand tightly clenched into a fist, Lu Li struck the Corpse Demon's abdomen, momentarily halting its attack. The other hand firmly gripped the Buddha, delivering a powerful blow to the creature's body. His brain's liberation degree increased by 3 once again, enabling him to continuously analyze the movements of the Corpse Demon. In his mind, the remaining time for his muscles to endure their limit was a mere three seconds...