Eastern Wasteland Divine Body [Monthly Ticket, Investment Requested]

"Let's go. Time to leave seclusion."

Jiang Ming left the cave abode with Nannan, wearing unusually non-mainstream black makeup.

Outside the cave abode, disciples had been carrying out tasks nearby all along, mainly to wait for Jiang Ming to emerge from seclusion and report it to Hua Yunfei at once.

Five days earlier, Jiang Ming's breakthrough had drawn tribulation lightning, alarming quite a few people in the Taixuan Sect—not only the elders and peak master of Star Peak, but also people from the other main peaks.

Legend had it that ancient cultivators would face tribulation lightning as a test when breaking through realms.

In fact, even Ye Fan, that cheat, had only started getting struck by lightning after breaking into the Four Extremes Secret Realm.

In other words, Hua Yunfei had never been struck by lightning either. When he broke into the Four Extremes Secret Realm in the future, it might happen to him.

After all, the original plot had mentioned that people like Ji Haoyue and the Yaoguang Sacred Son had also drawn tribulation lightning when they broke into the Four Extremes Secret Realm.

When the disciple waiting for Jiang Ming saw the cave abode's door open, he immediately looked over in delight. Then he saw Jiang Ming wreathed in demonic qi and went completely blank, as though his brain could no longer process what he was seeing.

"Fellow Daoist, do not panic. I have just completed a breakthrough into a new realm, and my sect's secret art has also advanced. I have comprehended the mystery of becoming a Buddha in one thought and a demon in another.

"Amitabha Buddha. The realm perishes with the heart, and the heart vanishes with the realm. Neither arises in either place; all is tranquil, empty, and luminous."

Jiang Ming was clearly wreathed in demonic qi and surrounded by demonic clouds. As he walked, he resembled an unrivaled great demon on parade. The black demonic qi gleamed darkly, and staring at it for too long could even leave one mentally dazed. Yet he maintained the appearance of an enlightened monk.

After he finished speaking, the originally brilliant crimson Dao Pattern between his brows turned black, flickering with dark light. Behind his head appeared a black sun dharma wheel, its demonic radiance shining everywhere.

The Star Peak disciple's lips twitched as he forced out a strained smile. "Master Sanzang, p-please wait a moment. I'll go find Senior Brother Hua right away."

All he could think was, You look like this, and you're telling me everything is normal? Who are you trying to fool? Forget it. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. I'll leave this headache to Senior Brother Hua Yunfei!

Trouble was contagious and transferable.

Hua Yunfei soon arrived. His steps remained steady, but his figure shifted like streaks of starlight, so fast that within a few breaths, he had reached a point a hundred meters from Jiang Ming.

"Brother Sanzang, what is this?"

The moment Hua Yunfei saw Jiang Ming, he suspected that Jiang Ming had also inherited the Heaven Devouring Demon Art. No, compared to Jiang Ming, he was the counterfeit one.

"Brother Yunfei, you are fixated on appearances. All appearances are illusory; all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning. One should view them thus.

"If the heart holds Zen, Zen is everywhere. If the heart holds Buddha, Buddha is seen at all times. Zen arises from the heart, and Buddha resides within it. Sitting is Zen, walking is Zen; Zen is the meaning of life, and prajna is freedom."

Jiang Ming's expression was calm and solemn. Even with demonic qi soaring from his body, he remained unruffled and composed. The Zen intent and Dao rhythm in his words had grown even more profound, leaving no room for rebuttal.

"Brother Sanzang, you were only in seclusion for a few days, yet your changes have been far too great."

Hua Yunfei was no ordinary man. He himself had secretly learned the Heaven Devouring Demon Art from Ruthless's inheritance, so seeing Jiang Ming like this actually made him feel closer to him.

Everyone in the world disguised themselves and pretended to be respectable. Suddenly, there was a monk pretending to be improper, and he actually seemed rather interesting.

Even in this state, Jiang Ming's smile remained gentle, and the little girl still clung to him. That was enough.

"Alas, appearances arise from the heart. When anger fills the heart, the mystic art reverses, and a demonic appearance is born. To let go or not let go—this is a secret art of my Mount Sumeru."

Jiang Ming smoothly spun a tale and shifted the blame onto Mount Sumeru.

He remembered that later in the original plot, an Amitabha Buddha formed from condensed faith had emerged from Mount Sumeru and killed all the believers in the Western Desert. That was true enlightenment into becoming a Buddha in one thought and a demon in another.

Given the chance, he really ought to visit the Western Desert, make friends with that Amitabha Buddha, and discuss what was Buddha and what was demon.

"Hahaha, fellow Daoists of Star Peak, this old man Ji Hong has come to pay a visit."

At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and even the blazing sun was obscured. A figure appeared above Star Peak with a young man in purple at his side, speaking in a clear voice.

Darkness surrounded that figure. His arrival seemed to swallow all light, like a bottomless abyss. In an instant, it was as though night had fallen here. His entire body seemed to merge with the void itself. Standing there, he resembled a black mountain, filled with oppressive force and embodying the profound intent of boundless emptiness and a Dao as deep as an abyss.

Dark light flowed between Jiang Ming's brows, reflecting the heavens. With a mind like a clear mirror, he saw a white-haired old man dressed in black. Jiang Ming had long guessed his identity: someone from the Ji Family, one of the Desolate Ancient Families.

"Fellow Daoist, please come down so we may speak."

At that moment, a figure in pristine white robes appeared atop Star Peak. The instant he appeared, seven stars emerged in the sky, outlining the Big Dipper. They actually pierced through the black canopy of heaven and shone down upon Star Peak. This was a Great Ability, the master of Star Peak and Hua Yunfei's grandfather.

"Impressive. The methods of a Great Ability are indeed profound. Though my clan's Great Void Technique is even more mysterious, before absolute strength, you still found its flaw. It seems my skills remain lacking."

Ji Hong shook his head, glanced at Jiang Ming, and walked toward the summit as he spoke.

The heroic young man beside him descended from the sky and arrived at the cliff where Jiang Ming stood.

"Brother Ji Hong, you are too modest. With your abilities, I believe it will only take a few years before you become a Great Ability."

"Come, let us play a game of Go."

The Star Peak master spoke with great courtesy and ease.

Clearly, word had spread about Jiang Ming's breakthrough some time ago and the tribulation lightning it had drawn.

And it had spread quickly. Presumably, other forces would soon send people as well, bringing their younger generation under the pretext of making friends to meet Jiang Ming, this eminent monk from the Western Desert.

The sky, which had just been so dark that one could not see one's hand before one's face, was layered with dense black clouds. The dark clouds pressed overhead, making even low-level disciples feel as though they could barely breathe, as if a stone weighed upon their hearts.

"A true man should be like this."

Jiang Ming could not help murmuring to himself.

"Once we grow strong, we will surely replace them."

At that moment, Hua Yunfei also revealed a rare hint of sharpness.

"Hahaha, well said, brothers. This calls for a great drink. Would the two of you honor me with your company?"

At that moment, the young man in purple laughed.

Ji Haoyue looked only seventeen or eighteen years old, yet he had already entered the Dao Palace Secret Realm.

"Brother Haoyue, a year ago, after you entered the Dao Palace Secret Realm, you came to spar with me. Now, you seem even more valiant and extraordinary."

Hua Yunfei knew Ji Haoyue, and they had even fought once.

"Brother Yunfei, speaking of it, you are the one who truly surprised me. I possess the Divine Body, yet with your ordinary physique, you forced me to go all out before I could gain the slightest edge over you. Ever since that battle, I have felt that you were still hiding your strength. How about another fight today?"

Ji Haoyue's face was resolute, and he strode like a dragon and tiger. He looked at Hua Yunfei with battle intent blazing in his eyes. It was obvious he had not enjoyed their last fight enough.

"Uh, Brother Haoyue, you are too modest. If you want a fight, I recommend Brother Sanzang. Look at how greatly his temperament has changed after leaving seclusion this time. He is perfectly suited to be your opponent."

Hua Yunfei's mouth twitched. He should never have fought Ji Haoyue that time. He had gotten a little too carried away and exposed some of his true strength, and now this guy had fixated on him.