Star Dao Diagram [Monthly Vote Request, Investment]

"You're a monk from the Western Desert? How do you prove that you're a monk?

Senior Brother Hua is so gentle that every stray cat and dog from the Eastern Wasteland comes running over to mooch off him."

At that moment, a young man in white strolled out from a cave dwelling on Star Peak. His gaze was indifferent, flowing with azure starlight. His entire body was shrouded in a faint stellar radiance, like a Star Lord walking the mortal world.

"It's Senior Brother Chen Feng. It seems Senior Brother Chen Feng intends to make a move and test this newcomer's background.

Senior Brother Hua is already a great cultivator of the Dao Palace Secret Realm. How could he have time to receive people who pop up from who knew where every day? Some of these people are even thick-skinned enough to come, eat and drink their fill, then ask for heavenly treasures.

Senior Brother Hua is kind and gentle, and he loves making friends. Every time, he generously gives them aid and befriends those people."

"Why put it so tactfully? This man is wearing low-grade robes and is clearly second-rate. He rode the most basic Azure Feather Crane here, yet the moment he arrived, he demanded to see Senior Brother Hua. Who does he think he is?"

"Maybe he just likes keeping a low profile!"

"..."

Other Star Peak disciples immediately emerged around them, looking at Jiang Ming and discussing him in hushed voices.

Jiang Ming's ears and eyes were sharp, and he heard every word. He was truly speechless. These people had such sharp judgment—they had seen at a glance that he was a fraud.

Still, even if he was a fraud, he was one convincing enough to pass for the real thing.

"Chen Feng, right? Go ahead and attack. Whatever methods you have, I'll take them all. You'd better go all out."

Now that he knew why this man was blocking his way, there was no need to waste time. Jiang Ming remained composed, his tone calm.

"You should put the little girl on your shoulder aside first and let Junior Sister Li watch over her, lest she gets caught in the crossfire. I don't have the habit of bullying the weak."

Chen Feng maintained the bearing of an aloof true disciple of a great sect as he glanced at Xiao Nannan.

"Thank you, but I'll protect Nannan myself. Don't worry. One hand is enough to beat you, and it'll be enough to protect her."

After hearing that, Jiang Ming decided to hold back thirty percent of his strength when beating him later, leaving him a little dignity.

"Arrogant!"

Chen Feng coolly spat out those two words. The next moment, he stepped forward like a meteor streaking across the sky and slammed toward Jiang Ming.

Star Peak disciples cultivated the Star Scripture, drawing down the power of the stars to temper their bodies. They were invincible among those of the same realm, and Star Peak was Taixuan Sect's most forceful and powerful main peak.

A point of dazzling azure starlight circulated in the center of his palm. His entire arm and chest became crystalline and translucent, like a brilliant star. His skin resembled lustrous white jade, and even the veins and bones within his body were clearly visible, flowing with stellar radiance.

He lightly extended his palm, ripples of starlight trailing a long, brilliant tail flame. The lines on his palm seemed to form a Star Dao Diagram as they struck toward Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming finally made his move. In an instant, a divine mark as red as dripping blood appeared between his brows, blazing with crimson radiance. Countless scarlet rays transformed into a red sun that floated behind his head.

In an instant, Jiang Ming and Nannan were both draped in a crystalline scarlet glow. Buddha's Light Illuminates All, as if a divine Buddha from the Western Heaven had descended into the world to save all living beings.

Within the range of the scarlet radiance, Jiang Ming appeared impervious to all techniques. All evil retreated, and nothing could break through. The twenty-li radius around him transformed into a bright pure land, a domain that imprisoned space and time.

Back then, the first-generation successor of the Ancient Monk Lineage possessed two innate divine marks, first-generation Dao Patterns of incomparable power. He had been the Ancient Monk Lineage's most outstanding disciple of his generation and had already entered the Heavenly God Realm. Unfortunately, he had not had time to grow before perishing in the Immortal Ancient Era, at the Purple Bamboo Grove in the Southern Sea.

Chen Feng froze rigidly in midair. He felt like an ordinary person deeply trapped in a swamp—desperate and helpless. The more he struggled, the more powerless he became to change anything.

"Amitabha. This humble monk had initially planned to use this palm of mine, as big as a fan, to shatter half your bones and leave you bedridden for ten days or half a month, so that you would learn your lesson and understand that there is always a higher heaven, a taller mountain, and a greater person.

Heaven cherishes life. The fact that you noticed Nannan, this little girl, proves that you still possess compassion. This humble monk sees that you have considerable wisdom. Why not follow me, shave your head and become a monk? From then on, your six senses will be pure, free from all worries and troubles."

Jiang Ming pressed his palms together and uttered an "Amitabha." This time, no one doubted that he was a fake monk anymore.

That was because many of the people around them were frozen in various poses within his Buddha-Light Pure Land, unable to move.

"Ding ding dong dong."

At that moment, a pleasant zither melody that seemed capable of cleansing the soul drifted over. "Brother Sanzang, my junior brother was discourteous. I apologize to you on his behalf. Please spare him this once. His six senses are impure, and he has too many attachments in the mortal world. He is simply not suited to becoming a monk."

"Yunfei has already prepared fine spiritual tea for you. I hope you will honor me with your presence and allow me to play a tune for you."

At that moment, a warm and magnetic male voice rang out from a cliff face near the summit of Star Peak.

Jiang Ming looked toward the precipice and seemed to see an elegant man in blue playing the zither. His slender, jade-like fingers moved gently like fluttering butterflies. He appeared even more beautiful than a woman; at the very least, the Star Peak junior sister who had led the way could not compare to his temperament.

"Fortunate indeed. A song that breaks the heart—where under heaven can one find a kindred soul?"

Jiang Ming smiled while pinching a flower between his fingers. With that solemn smile that seemed to save all living beings, the Buddha-Light Pure Land around them transformed into golden lotus flowers that shattered and vanished into the void, restoring everyone's movements.

Chen Feng could not stop his momentum and still struck forward, but his palm hit empty air. Jiang Ming had already used Shrinking the Earth to an Inch and vanished from where he stood, hurrying toward the cliff where Hua Yunfei was.

"Thank you, Master, for showing mercy."

Chen Feng shook his head with a sigh, smiling self-mockingly.

"It was nothing. If you are willing, you may come find me to register at any time. I'll reserve a place for you as an attendant novice under me."

Jiang Ming said, glancing back at him.

"No, no, Master, there's no need to be so polite."

Chen Feng's face instantly turned pale at those words. What a joke. He was also a true disciple of Star Peak, and he still had confidantes waiting for his affection. Why would he become a monk?

Nannan neither cried nor made a fuss as she sat on his shoulder, her bright eyes curiously observing everything around her. Even when there was fighting, she was not afraid. Instead, she watched with curiosity.

They arrived at the cliff, where clouds and mist swirled, rosy vapors gathered, strange rocks rose amid lush vegetation, and thin mist like smoke curled around the mountaintop.

Deep within the cliff, a clear stream babbled downward. A man in blue sat on a bluish stone beside an ancient pine, and the setting was exceptionally tranquil and natural.

His movements as he played the zither were lively and elegant, light yet solemn. He seemed to merge with every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stream around him, becoming part of a tranquil ink-wash painting.

Hua Yunfei. Jiang Ming had finally met him.

Some said it was a pity.

Some said he possessed a little wisdom and strategy.

Some said he was too calculating and deeply scheming, with luck that was good, yet not quite good enough.

In any case, he was a tragic figure, a living supporting character.