The Four Noble Truths

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flickered.

As the voice that resonated directly into the depths of his heart grew clearer, so too did the light.

Inside the room, the candlelight burning on the Lotus Platform base atop the incense table grew increasingly brilliant.

The glow, which had originally only been able to dispel half a foot of darkness, gradually spread to a full zhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang finally saw the entity sitting upon the Lotus Platform.

It was a desiccated corpse, the kind of mummy Zhu Yuanzhang had only ever seen on television.

Because it had consumed vast quantities of cinnabar in the years leading up to its death, the body had undergone constant dehydration, leaving it withered beyond recognition.

Waxen-yellow, emaciated, it resembled a skeleton draped in human skin.

Yet, the eye sockets of the corpse emitted a faint green glow, proving that this thing draped in a Tiger-Skin Kasaya was still alive.

It appeared even more eerie than an ordinary mummy.

"You wonder, since my two senior brothers are so dangerous, why I would still remain here to accompany them?"

The corpse's tone was indifferent, the green candlelight in its eyes flickering as if it could peer into the human heart.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent, the corpse in the Tiger-Skin Kasaya let out a cold laugh.

"Compared to my two senior brothers, the Dao Sin within my body still requires some time to fully awaken."

"However, my two senior brothers are not confident that they can suppress the Dao Sin within themselves once more during the coming catastrophe."

"Therefore, they joined forces to abduct me to this place and set up this formation to keep each other in check, all so that I might save their lives at the critical moment!"

"Does Minghe still have questions?"

The tiger-skin corpse asked.

"How should we survive this tribulation and preserve the heritage of our Tongtai Temple?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Faci had revealed a great deal of information to him.

A great deal indeed.

Even if he had to restart the cycle now, it would have been worth it.

This made Zhu Yuanzhang think of the last kind soul he had encountered, Master Mingshan of Yinglong Temple.

Two people existing in different spaces and times seemed to be facing the exact same predicament.

It was truly a strange occurrence.

"There is no need to do anything."

The tiger-skin corpse shook its head.

"Let everything be determined by the heavens."

"Since Fahui sent you to find me, he clearly intended for me to offer you some protection while I remain lucid."

"But the Dharma cannot be imparted lightly."

"Are you willing to take me as your master? While I can no longer teach you any true techniques, I can bestow upon you a treasure that will at least ensure your safety for three days."

There was such a good thing?

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang kowtowed immediately, fearing the other party might change their mind, and spoke loudly.

"This disciple greets Master."

"Good, good, good..."

A smile appeared on Faci's withered face.

"Although you practice both the Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique and the Mountain-Shrinking Fist—two conflicting arts—and have thus lost the chance for transcendence, the Great Wisdom Zen Technique acts as a mediator."

"With the three techniques keeping each other in balance, your lifespan will far exceed that of an ordinary man, comparable to a Yaksha Arhat."

"But since we have reached this tribulation, there is no use worrying about such things anymore."

Faci opened his hand, and a black medicinal pill appeared from nowhere.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at it by the candlelight and could see faint, blood-colored patterns flashing across its surface.

"One can only consume their own lifespan to gamble for a sliver of survival."

"This is a Great Medicinal Treasure Pill refined from the essence blood of the Xiao Liang royal family."

"Although it will deplete your lifespan, it is enough to allow you to cultivate the first level of the Dingguang Buddha's Precious Appearance."

The essence blood of the Xiao Liang royal family?

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the pill in Faci's hand, his expression a mix of shock and uncertainty.

"This is the last one. Most of the precious blood and medicine have already been carved up by my two senior brothers; what was left for me was merely the dregs."

As he spoke, the desiccated corpse before him stood up once more and stripped the tiger-skin monk's robe from its body.

It handed the robe to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Take it."

"This disciple thanks Teacher, but how does one condense the Dharma Aspect?"

Zhu Yuanzhang draped the tiger-skin robe over his shoulders, clutching the medicinal pill in his hand.

He hesitated for a moment, asking with a look of confusion.

However, upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's question.

Faci's expression suddenly turned rather strange.

But immediately after, the desiccated corpse shook its head and sat back down upon the Lotus Platform.

"Do not be attached; with the aid of the Great Medicine, everything will come to pass as naturally as water flowing into a channel."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang still harbored doubts in his heart, he steeled himself.

He tilted his head back and swallowed the pill.

Hot! Scalding!

An incomparable sensation of burning!

It felt as if his entire being, from the inside out, was about to be consumed by a great conflagration.

"Ah!!!"

He let out a cry of pain by instinct.

Following this, Zhu Yuanzhang began to silently recite the Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique.

He saw flames, endless, boundless flames.

They hung in the air, descending upon a black ocean.

They took the shape of men!

In the darkness, a sudden realization dawned upon Zhu Yuanzhang.

Everything before his eyes was the "Impermanence Aspect."

The moment he understood this!

Sounds of Sanskrit chanting suddenly echoed in his ears.

"All phenomena!"

"Are born and perish in an instant!"

"There is nothing that remains constant or eternal!"

Boom!

The black sea surged, instantly swallowing the countless human figures composed of flame.

"This is the Bitter Sea!"

Zhu Yuanzhang blurted out.

And beside his ears.

The Sanskrit chanting rang out once more.

"The Three Realms are not at peace! They are like a burning house!"

"Use the power of skillful means to ferry across the Bitter Sea."

The Bitter Sea churned, flames roared, and the darkness of suffering was endless.

Only on the other shore did the Dingguang Buddha stand, holding a lamp, his body transformed into light, waiting to guide all living beings.

"Dingguang Buddha—"

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke these words through gritted teeth.

Because the very instant Zhu Yuanzhang saw that silhouette of light holding the lamp.

Endless knowledge—knowledge regarding how to achieve the "Impermanence Aspect"—poured into Zhu Yuanzhang's mind in an instant.

"To cross the Bitter Sea, one must cultivate the 'Four Noble Truths'."

"Truth of Suffering (the essence of the world is suffering)"

"Truth of Origin (the cause of suffering)"

"Truth of Cessation (the cessation of suffering) (Nirvana)"

"Truth of the Path (the method to end suffering) (Eightfold Path)"

Zhu Yuanzhang opened his eyes.

By now, the Zen Courtyard of Tongtai Temple in Taicheng was nowhere to be seen.

Everything around him was pitch black.

From the places where vision failed, the sound of surging waves drifted forth.

Occasionally, a few flickers of firelight could be seen.

But they were quickly submerged into the water.

The world returned to darkness.

Yet, because Zhu Yuanzhang was buoyed by the Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique.

He was able to stand upon the surface of the water.

He did not continue to sink downward like the others.

Watching the image of the Dingguang Buddha standing on the other shore—seemingly infinitely distant, yet still clearly visible.

A flash of realization crossed Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

"Now that I have beheld the Bitter Sea, I have already cultivated the Truth of Suffering!"

"Having seen the guidance of the Dingguang Buddha, the Truth of Origin is already achieved!"

"Next... is to cultivate the Truth of Cessation."

"Then, Nirvana! To become another form of 'life'."

"Only then will I be qualified to grasp the Truth of the Path."

"And thereby cross the Bitter Sea."

"It is a pity that my accumulation is insufficient; to have cultivated the Truth of Origin in this lifetime is already a stretch."

"It is fundamentally not enough to touch the Truth of Cessation or cross the Bitter Sea."

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.

[Due to consuming the "Xiao Liang Royal Aura," your Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique has greatly improved]

[You have glimpsed the Bitter Sea]

[Because you possess the Fixed-Light Demon-Subduing Art, you have comprehended the method to cross the Bitter Sea: obtained the Four Noble Truths]

[You have glimpsed the existence of the other shore]

[You have seen an image of the Dingguang Buddha (Buddha Lamp Fire) in history]

[You have obtained the blessing of the Dingguang Buddha]

[You have met all the conditions to cultivate the Impermanence Aspect]

[You have cultivated the first aspect of the Dingguang Buddha: Impermanence Aspect]

Following the end of the system prompts!

With a boom!

The heavens spun and the earth turned.

Zhu Yuanzhang returned once again to the meditation room of Faci.

He opened his eyes once more.

The scene before him had instantly become completely different.