Passing Each Other By

However, Duanmu Die waved her hand dismissively, saying, "It's just an extra, a freebie."

Chapter 584 Passing By

Duanmu Die's destination was also Glazed Temple, so the group could travel together without having to accommodate anyone else.

After obtaining the "Mysterious Extreme Divine Firmament Art", Si Ming began to cultivate it. However, in order to cultivate the Divine Firmament Soul Body, he first had to improve his Spirit Essence. Only by accumulating knowledge can one unleash its power. Just like body refinement, even though he had the talent for sudden enlightenment, he could only accumulate knowledge slowly.

However, Si Ming's growth rate far exceeded that of ordinary people. It usually takes eight years for a genius to master the Divine Firmament Soul Body, but he can achieve mastery in just half a year.

Furthermore, he easily mastered all the Thunder Method recorded in the Cultivation Method, except for the final ultimate move.

The captured Ximen Chou was very obedient throughout the journey, taking on the responsibility of steward and taking care of the group's food, clothing, and lodging. Whenever the group arrived at a place, he would make a reservation at a restaurant in advance and arrange for a local chef to prepare local delicacies. He would also introduce the local attractions, making everyone feel like they were traveling together. It was hard to understand why he, as the leader of a sect, knew how to serve others so well.

Si Ming ordered him to mobilize the Ghost Fort forces to investigate the Deaf Ear Society. He then commanded his subordinates to do everything in their power to investigate, even using their connections to inquire about information from other Daoist Gate. In the end, they successfully located one of the Deaf Ear Society's strongholds—unfortunately, by the time Si Ming arrived, the place was already deserted.

Sometimes Si Ming would deliberately reveal a flaw, giving Ximen Chou a chance to escape, but this guy just wouldn't fall for it, showing a strong intention to "abandon darkness and embrace light." As a result, Si Ming couldn't find an excuse to punish him and couldn't help but regret that he should have directly crippled the other party's Cultivation Body in the first place, but now it was difficult to do so.

Si Ming doesn't support the view that "all evil people should be killed." If someone can truly repent, he's not unwilling to give them a chance. However, you can't judge a book by its cover. In most cases, you can't be sure if someone is genuinely trying to reform or just using it as an excuse to get away with it. They might even genuinely repent on the spot but relapse into their old ways after a while. If he had to monitor everyone, he wouldn't be able to do anything. It's better to kill them with One Sword and be done with it. At least that would prevent them from harming others again.

However, Ximen Chou has already shown signs of reforming his ways, or rather, currying favor with powerful figures. Si Ming cannot refuse to give him a chance and will leave him for now to observe his future actions. If any aggrieved parties come to complain, he will not make any special exceptions for him; he will punish them as appropriate.

Several days later, the group finally arrived at Glazed Temple.

As soon as Si Ming revealed his identity, Abbot Fahong took the initiative to lead people out to greet him.

"Namo Lapis Glazed Medicine Buddha, it has been two years since I last heard from the Alliance Leader. I never expected that he would remain silent until he made a stunning appearance. The moment the Alliance Leader appeared, he saved the Evil-Slaying Sword School from its peril, then defeated the two heroes and killed Li Ban. His series of heroic deeds are breathtaking. This old monk is truly impressed."

Si Ming laughed and said, "Master, why are you also learning to flatter like a commoner?"

Fahong smiled and said, "It is precisely when you are focused that you are not focused at all. Explaining things in a roundabout way is tedious, while speaking directly is effortless. Being without focus is precisely what is used; being constantly focused is precisely what is absent. The point I am making about being without focus is no different from having a focused mind."

This Zen poem is very profound, but when said here, it means, "I didn't mean to flatter; I was just speaking the truth. Those who don't care won't think it's flattery, but to those who are interested, it will give them the illusion of flattery."

Si Ming was delighted to hear this. These words were indeed an extremely skillful flattery technique. However, this was also a common practice in the underworld: to flatter someone upon meeting them, so that everyone would be on good terms.

"I wouldn't visit your temple without a reason. I'm sure you understand the purpose of my visit. I wonder if they are still here?"

Fahong said, "The Alliance Leader is late. Five days ago, the Alliance Leader's wife left this temple and went to the Western Martial World."

"Oh, why?"

Fahong hesitated for a moment, then said carefully, "I heard that there's been some trouble at the Heavenly Martial Alliance, and the Alliance Leader's wife is in a hurry to go back and oversee things."

Seeing that the other party seemed somewhat hesitant, Si Ming said, "Master, we have a life-or-death bond. What is there that cannot be said? A monk does not lie. Just tell me the truth."

Fahong nodded slightly and said, "I've heard that someone has harbored thoughts of usurping the throne. After all, the Alliance Leader has been gone for two years, and there hasn't been a single word about it in the martial world. Moreover, the position of leader of the Heavenly Martial Alliance is even more powerful than the imperial power in the secular world. With the position vacant for so long, it's understandable that someone would develop greedy thoughts. As for the specifics, I'm not entirely clear on the details."

From his perspective, it's understandable that he has reservations about interfering in the private affairs of the Heavenly Martial Alliance.

Si Ming snorted, "A bunch of brainless idiots. Don't they ever consider their own worth before acting? An incompetent person in a high position will only bring about their own demise. Is the position of leader of the Heavenly Martial Alliance so easy to hold?"

If he hadn't returned for twenty years, and people were gambling that he would never come back, that would be understandable. But he's only been gone for two years, and these people are jumping out in such a hurry. Haven't they considered at all what would happen if he did return?

As the art of war says, "Consider defeat before victory."

If they want to usurp the throne, they should at least have the strength to resist him. They jump out without considering the consequences at all. Have these guys been blinded by greed and lost their minds?

Si Ming thought about it and realized it wasn't impossible. For example, there are countless examples of people who seem quite shrewd, but one day they suddenly do something that even ordinary people would find stupid. Besides, people die for money and birds die for food.

"Forget it, since she dared to set off, she must have been confident. She doesn't need my help... It's too troublesome to chase after her all the way. I'll trouble your temple to send someone to inform her."

"It's nothing."

Fahong found a disciple and instructed him to ride at full speed to the headquarters of the Heavenly Martial Alliance in the Western Martial World. He then said to Si Ming, "Although your wife and third wife have left, there are still two benefactors who claim to be friends of the Alliance Leader remaining at this temple. Please help us verify their identities."

Before long, the young novice monk who was in charge of summoning them brought over two people, namely Nie Wanzhi and Ying Zhou.

Si Ming exclaimed with delight, "So you two are here too! Now we've found everyone, right?"

Ying Zhou said irritably, "Thanks to you, they at least didn't treat us as thieves who stole their skills and kill us."

Si Ming immediately remembered that one of them had cultivated the "Brahma Sea Asura Art," and the other had cultivated the "Chan Sun Martial Scripture" and the "Shi Moon Dharma Scripture." It was understandable that the Glazed Temple would misunderstand them as stealing their masters. They were not punished on the spot, probably because they thought that even if someone was a master thief, it was impossible for them to steal all of their sect's unique skills.

"Didn't Si Jingyu and the others come forward to testify for you two?"

"We just happened to be out of the loop and didn't run into each other. We were arrested four days ago."

"That's just bad luck. You two are just unlucky, you can't blame anyone else."

Ying Zhou could not refute the claim and could only accept the fact that he was an Africa.

Fahong said, "So you two are indeed friends of the Alliance Leader. Please forgive me if I have offended you before."

After all, they had learned someone else's martial arts from them, and it was based on private authorization from a third party, so it was only natural that they would be misunderstood. Ying Zhou and Nie Wanzhi did not complain about it.

"Gentlemen, it's been a long time since we last met. I imagine you have much to discuss, so I'll take my leave now."

Fahong wisely took his leave without mentioning that Si Ming had secretly taught Glazed Temple martial arts. After all, Si Ming had done Glazed Temple a great favor, and compared to killing the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King, revealing martial arts was nothing. If a powerful figure had said that he would be willing to eliminate the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King if Glazed Temple revealed its secret techniques while the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King was still alive, he would have revealed all his secret techniques without hesitation.

Before leaving, Fahong instructed his disciples to serve the distinguished guest carefully and not to be impolite. Then he went to the side hall in the backyard, where Duanmu Die was already waiting.

"It's been a long time, Abbot Fahong."

Duanmu Die picked up a cup of tea and said familiarly.

"It has indeed been a long time since we last met, almost eighteen years, I suppose," Fahong recalled. "Duanmu remains as beautiful as ever, no different from eighteen years ago."

"Ha, let's just call it a secret to preserving youth. As promised, I brought the complete method for forging Buddhist weapons, which is enough to further improve the Wheel-Turning King Sword. All I need to do is seal the array into the sword and then pour in abundant Buddhist Power to temporarily enhance the user's physical body... But now it seems that it's unnecessary."