"Time to go. I'm out of seclusion."
Jiang Ming left the cave dwelling with Nannan, wearing rather unconventional black makeup.
Outside the cave dwelling, disciples had been carrying out tasks nearby the whole time, mainly so they could report to Hua Yunfei the moment Jiang Ming emerged from seclusion.
Five days earlier, Jiang Ming's breakthrough had drawn tribulation lightning, alarming quite a few people in the Taixuan Sect—not only Star Peak's elders and peak master, but also people from the other main peaks.
Legend had it that ancient cultivators would face tribulation lightning as a test when breaking through a realm.
In fact, even Ye Fan, that cheating bastard, only started getting struck by lightning after reaching the Four Extremes Secret Realm.
In other words, Hua Yunfei had never been struck by lightning either. Perhaps he would be when he broke through to the Four Extremes Secret Realm in the future.
After all, the original story mentioned that people such as Ji Haoyue and the Yaoguang Sacred Son had also drawn tribulation lightning when breaking through to the Four Extremes Secret Realm.
When the disciple waiting for Jiang Ming saw the cave door open, he immediately looked over in delight. Then he saw Jiang Ming wreathed in dense demonic aura and was completely dumbfounded, feeling 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 profundity of becoming a Buddha in a single thought, or a demon in a single thought.
"Amitabha Buddha. The realm perishes with the heart; the heart vanishes with the realm. Neither arises, and all is silent, tranquil, and empty."
Jiang Ming was clearly wreathed in demonic aura and surrounded by demonic clouds. As he walked, he resembled an unrivaled Great Demon setting out. The black demonic aura gleamed darkly, and staring at it for too long could even leave one dazed. Yet he maintained the appearance of an enlightened eminent monk.
After he finished speaking, the dazzling crimson Dao Patterns at his brow turned black, flickering with dark radiance. A black sun Dharma wheel emerged behind his head, bathing everything in demonic light.
The Star Peak disciple's lips twitched into a smile, forcing out an awkward grin. "Master Sanzang, p-please wait a moment. I'll go find Senior Brother Hua at once."
All he could think was, And you expect me to believe this is normal? Who are you trying to fool? Whatever, if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Let Senior Brother Hua Yunfei worry about it!
Trouble was contagious and transferable.
Hua Yunfei arrived very quickly. His steps remained steady, but his figure shifted like trails of starlight, fast beyond measure. Within a few breaths, he had reached a point a hundred meters from Jiang Ming.
"Brother Sanzang, what is this?"
The instant Hua Yunfei saw Jiang Ming, he suspected Jiang Ming had inherited the Heaven Devouring Demon Art as well. No, compared to Jiang Ming, he himself was the counterfeit.
"Brother Yunfei, you are attached to appearances. All appearances are delusions; all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning. One should contemplate them as such.
"If the heart holds Zen, Zen is everywhere. If the heart holds Buddha, Buddha is seen at every moment. Zen arises from the heart, and Buddha resides within it. Sitting is Zen, walking is Zen; life is steeped in Zen, and prajna brings freedom."
Jiang Ming looked calm and solemn, his treasure-like appearance dignified. Though demonic aura surged into the heavens from his body, he remained unruffled and serene. The Zen intent and Dao resonance in his words had become even more profound, leaving no room for rebuttal.
"Brother Sanzang, you were only in seclusion for a few days, yet your changes are far too great."
Hua Yunfei was no ordinary person. He was also a man who had secretly learned the Heaven Devouring Demon Art from Ruthless's inheritance. Seeing Jiang Ming like this instead made him feel closer to him.
Everyone in the world disguised themselves and pretended to be respectable. Suddenly, a monk pretending not to be respectable appeared, and he actually seemed rather interesting.
Even looking like this, Jiang Ming's smile remained gentle, and that little girl was still attached to him. That was enough.
"Sigh. Appearance arises from the heart. When anger fills the heart, the mystic art reverses, and a demonic visage is born. To let go or not let go—this is a secret art of Mount Sumeru."
Jiang Ming skillfully spun his tale and shifted the blame onto Mount Sumeru.
He remembered that later in the original story, an Amitabha Buddha formed from gathered faith had emerged from Mount Sumeru and killed all the believers in the Western Desert. That was the true meaning of becoming a Buddha in one thought and a demon in another.
Given the chance, he really would have to visit the Western Desert, make friends with that Amitabha Buddha, and discuss what Buddha was and what demons were.
"Hahaha, fellow Daoists of Star Peak, I am Ji Hong, here to pay a visit."
At that moment, the sky abruptly darkened, and even the great sun was blocked out. A figure appeared above Star Peak with a purple-clad youth at his side, speaking in a booming voice.
Darkness surrounded that figure. His arrival seemed to swallow all light, like a Bottomless Cave. In an instant, it was as though night had descended here. His entire body seemed to merge with the Void, and he stood there like a black mountain, full of oppressive force, embodying the artistic conception of boundless Grand Void and a Dao as deep as an abyss.
Dark light flowed across Jiang Ming's brow, reflecting the heavens. His heart was like a bright mirror, and he saw a white-haired old man dressed in black. He had long guessed the man's identity: someone from the Desolate Ancient Family, the Ji Family.
"Fellow Daoist, please come down so we may speak."
At that moment, a figure dressed in a pristine white robe appeared atop Star Peak. The instant he appeared, seven stars emerged in the sky, outlining the Big Dipper. They directly pierced through the black canopy and shone upon Star Peak. This was a Great Ability, as well as Star Peak's master and Hua Yunfei's grandfather.
"What fine methods. The methods of a Great Ability are indeed profound. Though my clan's Great Void Technique is more mysterious, before absolute strength, its flaws were still found by you. It seems I have not mastered my craft well enough."
Ji Hong shook his head, glanced at Jiang Ming, and walked toward the peak summit as he spoke.
The valiant youth beside him descended from the sky and landed on the cliffside where Jiang Ming stood.
"Brother Ji Hong, you are too modest. With your abilities, I believe it will not be many years before you become a Great Ability as well.
"Come, let us play a game of Go."
The Star Peak master spoke in a very courteous, easygoing manner.
Clearly, news of Jiang Ming's breakthrough and the tribulation lightning it had drawn some time ago had spread.
Moreover, the news had spread quickly. Other forces would likely soon send people over with their younger generation, using friendship as a pretext to come meet Jiang Ming, this eminent monk of the Western Desert.
The sky, which had been so dark that one could not see one's outstretched hand, had just been covered in layer after layer of black clouds. The dark clouds pressed down overhead, making even low-level disciples feel suffocated, as though a stone weighed upon their hearts.
"A true man should be like this."
Jiang Ming could not help muttering to himself.
"When we have grown stronger, we shall surely take their place."
At that moment, Hua Yunfei also revealed a rare hint of sharpness.
"Hahaha, well said, brothers. This calls for a grand toast. Would the two of you honor me with your company?"
At that moment, the purple-clad youth laughed loudly.
Ji Haoyue looked only seventeen or eighteen now, but 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 heroic and extraordinary."
Hua Yunfei knew Ji Haoyue, and they had even fought once.
"Brother Yunfei, speaking of it, you are the one who surprised me. I possess a Divine Body, yet you, with an ordinary body, forced me to go all out just to gain a slight edge over you. Ever since that battle, I have felt that you were still hiding your true abilities. How about we fight again today?"
Ji Haoyue had an upright face and moved with the gait of a dragon and tiger. Looking at Hua Yunfei, he was brimming with fighting intent. It was obvious he had not enjoyed their last fight enough.
"Uh, Brother Haoyue, you are truly too modest. If you want a fight, I recommend Brother Sanzang. Look at how drastically his temperament changed after emerging from seclusion this time. He is very suitable to be your opponent."
Hua Yunfei's mouth twitched. He never should have fought Ji Haoyue that time. He had gotten a little carried away and revealed some of his true strength, and now this guy had set his sights on him.