The Dao Pursues the Non-Human, Not the Non-Human the Dao

"Diligently cultivate."

"You must know, it is not man who pursues the Dao, but the Dao that pursues man."

"You have consumed the blood of Xiao Tong, and for the time being, you possess the blessing of the Xiao Liang dragon qi."

"Therefore, within ten days, your progress in cultivation will surely be as if aided by the gods."

Faci closed his eyes.

As the night deepened, the light from the candle stand beside him gradually grew dim.

In the meditation room, more darkness crept toward the center of the light.

It completely swallowed the figures of the two.

Three days later.

"Finally, I have ignited the second layer of True Fire on my left shoulder."

"The pill refined from the blood of Xiao Tong truly has immediate effects."

Zhu Yuanzhang rose, and as the sky outside the window hovered between dark and dawn, he draped the tiger-skin monk's robe over his shoulders.

He chanted the Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Mantra, transformed into the form of a fierce tiger, and entered a state of restrained breathing.

"Not only have I received direct empowerment from the voice beyond the heavens, teaching me the true method to break through barriers and forge a Dharma Form."

"Even the scriptures that once felt obscure and difficult to understand, now, as long as I recall them slightly, I am enlightened."

Despite such rapid progress in his true cultivation.

There was no sign of joy on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

He recalled his experiences since consuming the great pill refined from the blood of Xiao Tong and comprehending the Dharma Form.

And that Ancient Buddha Dingguang who stood on the other shore, guiding all living beings.

Considering the consistently wretched nature of secret histories.

The words "as if aided by the gods" from the mouth of Faci.

Were likely not as simple as a mere adjective.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

"Crow-crow-crow!"

Outside the meditation room, the morning crowing of roosters rang out.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang had completely transformed into a bright yellow giant tiger.

He lay lazily on the ground, concealing all traces of his human aura.

It was the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month, in the first year of the Taiqing era.

Hou Jing raised an army with a mere eight thousand remnants of Xianbei and miscellaneous barbarian tribes.

First, he broke the naval forces of Chen Xin and crossed the Yangtze River.

Then, he captured Wang Xiao Ning of Huainan and broke through Dangtu.

The imperial troops collapsed in disarray.

In just over ten days, with the assistance of Xiao Zhengde.

They crossed the Zhuque Passage, broke through Jinling, captured Jiankang, and besieged Taicheng.

This was something no one had anticipated before.

Taicheng, the political hub of Xiao Liang.

Where the dragon qi resided, it was now shrouded in panic.

After transforming into a fierce tiger, Zhu Yuanzhang's "vision," "hearing," and even "sense of smell" had been greatly enhanced.

This allowed Zhu Yuanzhang to easily hear the whispers of palace maids and eunuchs in the hidden corners of Taicheng, worrying about their own fates.

And the scent of fear radiating from the Xiao Liang nobles and servants who had retreated into Taicheng with cartloads of gold, silver, and wealth.

"My two senior brothers are about to make their final stand."

The gaunt monk Faci, who had awakened three days ago, suddenly opened his eyes.

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, who had successfully integrated the Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Mantra with the technique for wielding the tiger-skin monk's robe, his gaze revealed a touch of appreciation.

"Remember, three days from now, when my two senior brothers have failed and perished, leave this place immediately."

"This disciple obeys."

The candle flame beside Faci suddenly radiated a great, brilliant light.

The flame flickered back and forth, as if portending the final, desperate madness of the monks at Tongtai Temple.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not mean to ask why at all.

Instead, he answered very prudently.

There was no other reason.

Compared to the previous few days, the aura surrounding Faci appeared exceptionally chaotic.

It faintly revealed a touch of madness.

"It will be within these few days."

"Faci will not last much longer than Fajue or Faming."

While Faci stared at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang was simultaneously observing Faci.

Under the effect of his heightened senses, he could easily observe the trace of struggle in the gaze Faci directed at him.

Ferocity, compassion, reluctance, self-doubt... and finally, it became resolute once more.

And Faci, this high monk of Tongtai Temple who had delved deeply into the Sangqiwo Jataka Sutra, could likewise see the deep, hidden wariness in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

In the dim meditation room.

There was only a single candle.

It was permeated with the bloody scent of weapons and slaughter rolling in from the Qinhuai River.

Countless Xiao Liang nobles, palace maids, and eunuchs gathered before the nine-story Pagoda, chanting Buddhist scriptures in terror.

They prayed for the protection of the Buddha.

And they cursed the source of all this turmoil in their eyes: the monster Hou Jing, who was leading his army to besiege the city.

The sounds of chanting, weeping, and hushed consolations surrounded the meditation courtyard.

Amidst this complexity, carrying hope, hatred, and the obsessions of life and death, they were surrounded.

One man and one tiger, one old and one young, separated by the candle stand, stared deeply at each other.

"Ah!!!"

A scream came from outside the window!

Inside the meditation room, the candle flame suddenly extinguished.

The world plunged into darkness.

Then, it reignited.

The next moment, a rich scent of sandalwood instantly filled the entire meditation room.

"Cough, cough..."

Faci coughed twice.

Zhu Yuanzhang could vaguely hear the faint sound of bones cracking coming from Faci's body, accompanying those two coughs.

"Fajue could not hold on..."

Faci's voice was filled with deep emotion.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not answer.

He remained motionless, maintaining his original posture, half-crouched directly opposite Faci.

His gaze remained fixed on the monk who looked like a desiccated corpse.

Outside the window, the prayers suddenly turned into terror.

"Blood... so much blood!"

"What is that thing!"

"There are Demons and Monsters in the sky!"

"Run!"

"Zen Master! Where are the high monks of Tongtai Temple? Save me!"

The meditation room shook, accompanied by the rising and falling screams from outside the window.

Strands of gray moss broke through the ground, and the vermilion paint on the wooden door began to peel away.

A scent of decay and dryness permeated the meditation room, like meat air-dried for many years.

Snap!

The oil-coated window paper shattered in response.

Revealing the terrifying scene outside the meditation room.

Rolling blood formed a lake, occasionally revealing the stark white bones beneath.

Things resembling water weeds, or perhaps water snakes, darted beneath the river of blood.

Several eunuchs of Taicheng turned around, screaming.

But almost in an instant!

Several blood-red, fist-thick fleshy worms pierced through the eunuch's chest.

Following a horrific "rip" sound.

In the blink of an eye, several living people were reduced to a pile of minced meat.

Screams, wails, and low growls filled with terror erupted.

The river of blood continued to spread in all directions.

The slaughter continued.

Above the river of blood, one after another, pitch-black shadows suddenly appeared.

They looked like the blue smoke from an incense burner.

Or perhaps like the thin mist of early morning.

But when these ghost-like shadows touched the backs of those attempting to flee in the opposite direction of the meditation room.

Through the gaps in the dilapidated windows of the decaying meditation room, Zhu Yuanzhang saw body after body fall straight to the ground.

Their faces were coated in ice shards, still frozen in expressions of terror.

They were submerged into the surging blood beneath their feet and torn to pieces by those blood-colored tentacles.

"Junior Brother Faming is also about to reach nirvana."

The desiccated corpse said softly.

It sounded as if he were lamenting, or perhaps reminiscing.

Yet, a pair of withered eyes, no larger than mung beans, remained fixed on the fierce tiger before him without a single blink.

They shimmered with an eerie, emerald-green light.