Not kneeling
A clap of thunder sounded in the sky, then silence fell. The churning clouds dissipated, and correspondingly, the Buddha's light emanating from the Arhat Du'e subsided.
He opened his eyes, a glint of wisdom flashing within them, which then vanished in an instant.
When the Arhat Du'e saw the Buddhist School disciples, he was lost in thought, entering a sublime state of mind. In Buddhist School, this is the process of enlightenment.
What the eyes see, what the ears hear, and what the heart understands.
Of course, this is a far cry from Master Du'e's sudden enlightenment.
The Arhat Du'e did not disturb his disciples' comprehension. He put his hands together and said loudly, "The sage said, 'Learning has no age limit; those who attain enlightenment become immortals.' This is the ultimate truth."
"Non-Self Buddhist School, he possesses great Buddhist potential, which has enlightened this humble monk and elevated his thoughts. This precisely verifies the principle that everyone has Buddha-nature, can see themselves, and can become a Buddha."
"Many thanks to Benefactor Xu for your guidance, which has enabled this humble monk to understand Mahayana Buddhism. Benefactor Xu should be my teacher. You have won this third test."
The profound and esoteric Buddhist theories were incomprehensible to ordinary people, but they extracted the core meaning from the words of the Arhat who saved them from suffering:
Master Xu is awesome! Master Xu is my teacher! Master Xu, you've passed the third test!
"Just now, this eminent monk from the Buddhist School seemed to be saying: 'Benefactor Xu should be my teacher?'"
In the front row, a man dressed as a scholar stammered.
My teacher?
The martial arts practitioners were excited.
Throughout history, martial artists have been despised by all systems. Martial arts are seen as breaking the law with force, and crude martial artists only know how to cause destruction and kill with violence.
Aside from being useful in war, it is utterly useless at other times and in other situations; on the contrary, it is a destabilizing factor in Kyushu society.
And now, a dignified Buddhist School monk, a second-rank Arhat, actually says that a martial artist "should be my teacher."
Hearing this from the surrounding martial arts practitioners, they felt incredibly proud and wanted to roar to the heavens.
"The entire Great Feng world of Da Feng should remember the name Xu Qi'an; he is a true martial artist."
"The martial arts system has finally produced a capable person. In all my years of wandering the martial world, I have never seen a martial artist so revered as a master by the top experts of other systems."
"When I get back to my hometown, I'll tell everyone about this. This trip to the capital was definitely worthwhile; I've learned so much."
"That's right. When I go back to my hometown and drink with relatives and friends, I can talk about it for three days and three nights. Suddenly, I can't wait to go home."
In a corner, the still-charming woman reluctantly withdrew her gaze from Xu Qi'an, turned her head, and looked at her prized disciple—the Enchanting Hand Rongrong.
"Rongrong, I've inquired about this Master Xu. Hmm, he's a regular at the Imperial Academy of Music)."
Rongrong, heavily made up yet not vulgar, bit her lip and looked back at the woman. "Master, what do you want to say?"
"We women of the martial world don't care about titles or ranks," the beautiful woman said softly. "Rongrong, with your looks, you might be a stretch to be Lord Xu's wife, but your status wouldn't be high enough. Being a concubine, however, would be no problem."
"I"
Rongrong wanted to refuse, but the man was just too dazzling, so dazzling that even a woman as confident in her beauty couldn't help but be tempted.
Xu Qi'an climbed the steps and encountered no further obstacles along the way, until he reached the top of the steps and stepped into the small square outside the mountain temple.
This is a standalone temple with a straight roof ridge and upturned eaves. There are no side halls or wing rooms, just a main hall.
"The temple should be the final test. I remember the Arhat Du'e said that if someone still refuses to convert to Buddhist School after entering the temple, then Buddhist School has lost."
In an instant, Xu Qi'an recalled the 108 moves taught by the Imperial Academy of Music, using them to corrupt his heart and imbue his entire being with the colors exclusive to royalty.
Only after confirming that he had become a lecherous old man did he nod in satisfaction, push open the temple door, and enter the hall.
Seeing this, Arhat Du'e clasped his hands together and said, "Entering this temple, even a stone can be transformed and converted to Buddhist School."
What does this mean?
Everyone frowned upon hearing this, then remembered the theme of this contest: conversion to Buddhist School.
The Western Regions delegation not only wanted to win the Heavenly Secrets Disc, but also wanted to convert the contestants to Buddhist School, thus severely damaging the reputation of the Great Feng Dynasty.
"You stinking monk, I want to see what's going on in the temple!" The woman abruptly stood up, her alluring, passionate eyes flashing with a rare ruthlessness as she roared:
"Who knows what despicable tricks your Buddhist School has used to harm my Great Feng's Silver Gong?"
She didn't believe Xu Qi'an would become a monk, but Buddhist School methods were unpredictable, and forced "conversion" was possible. Unable to see what was happening inside the temple, Biao Biao kept imagining what Xu Qi'an would suffer.
I couldn't hold back any longer.
"Since this is a contest of magic, it should naturally be a grand and peaceful occasion, like a serene and enlightened event. Please take a look at the temple's scenery," Huaiqing said coldly.
The nobles in the pavilion began to speak.
"Rational!"
Du'e Arhat smiled with his palms together, and with a wave of his wide sleeves, the scene in the Buddhist realm changed, and everyone saw a grand hall with flickering candlelight.
Inside the hall, a six-zhang-tall golden statue sat cross-legged, its head almost touching the ceiling.
This Buddha statue has thick, drooping ears, a face like a golden plate, and half-closed eyes, seemingly with a compassionate smile, yet exuding an indescribable, soul-stirring majesty.
Upon seeing it, one cannot help but put their hands together in a gesture of respect.
"There are two statues in the temple. This one is the Vajra statue. Benefactor Xu, the secrets of the Diamond Sutra lie within this golden statue. If you can comprehend it, you can cultivate the invincible Vajra of Buddhist School."
Master Du'e's voice came in.
The Diamond Sutra was right there in the Dharma image. Xu Qi'an's eyes immediately burned with desire. He had always coveted the Vajra supernatural Divine Ability of Buddhist School. If he could cultivate this protective divine skill, he would be invincible in the sixth-grade martial arts realm.
Moreover, with this divine skill, Xu Qi'an's last weakness will be compensated. After finishing the strike, the exhausted Lord Xu threw down the sword, lay on the ground, and said to the enemy: Come on, do it yourself.
No wonder the Director insisted that I represent the Bureau of Astronomy Observatory in a contest against him. Was all of this within your expectations?
While Xu Qi'an was excited, he also felt a chill run down his spine; the supervisor was too terrifying.
Outside, after hearing what the Arhat Du'e said, the warriors present suddenly had bright eyes. They looked up at the Buddha statue, wishing they could pop their eyes out and stick them to it.
Xu Qi'an sat cross-legged on the futon, head held high, scrutinizing the Vajra Dharma Image.
The Arhat of Salvation was watching him. The Vajra Divine Skill was only suitable for martial monks. Monks who practiced Buddhism could not master the Vajra Divine Skill until they reached the Arhat realm.
Du'e Luohan was dangling a carrot in front of him, paving the way for Xu Qi'an to join the Buddhist School order.
No matter what, the Arhat who saves people from suffering will guide a Buddhist School disciple into the monastic order.
This is not only because of the appreciation for talent, but also because Xu Qi'an was the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, while Du'e Luohan wanted to be the founder of Mahayana Buddhism.
Therefore, Xu Qi'an's existence is crucial for better promoting Mahayana Buddhist concepts and transforming Hinayana into Mahayana.
Xu Qi'an, the pioneer who proposed the Mahayana Buddhist concept, had to join the Buddhist School in order to demonstrate "orthodoxy".
The Diamond Sutra is inside the Buddha statue? What nonsense! It's clearly not there! Xu Qi'an stared at the Buddha statue for a quarter of an hour without blinking, his eyes almost getting sore.
"I really am a crude and uncouth brute with no Buddhist roots," he thought to himself with a self-deprecating laugh.
Suddenly, a warm current surged in my abdomen, starting from the Dantian, passing through the middle Dantian, and entering the upper Dantian. My brow twitched, as if a plastic film had been pulled open.
The Buddha statue in front of me has changed.
It remained seated motionless, yet a Buddhist aura emanated from its body, revealing a profound and mysterious Zen spirit before Xu Qi'an's eyes.
Surprisingly, he understood the meaning of Zen and the Buddhist essence contained within the Dharma imagery.
Yes, yes, you're helping me?!
The thought flashed through his mind, Xu Qi'an unconsciously changed his posture, putting his hands together and half-closing his eyes, just like a Buddha statue.
This process lasted for an unknown period of time. Suddenly, a spot of gold paint appeared between his eyebrows, and then quickly spread, as if an invisible brush was drawing lines on his body.
In the blink of an eye, Xu Qi'an was enveloped in brilliant golden light, resembling a Movement Method.
The Arhat Du'e was utterly astonished.
"How... how did he transform into a golden body?!"
"This... this person has really converted to Buddhist School?"
Upon witnessing this scene, the common people nearly collapsed. Their faces instantly fell, and they deflated like punctured balloons, their previous joy and pride completely gone.
This man overcame three trials, bringing Great Feng glory to the Great Feng Dynasty and making the people of the capital proud. In the end, however, he was "converted" by Buddhist School.
The effect of this slap from Buddhist School was truly devastating.
"Invincible Vajra! He has achieved Invincible Vajra!" A sharp cry suddenly erupted from the crowd.
It was a man dressed as a martial artist. He pointed at Xu Qian excitedly, his lips trembling non-stop.
"What invincible Vajra? Isn't it just about converting to Buddhist School?"
The people around the man immediately pressed for more information.
"Of course not. Not only did I not convert to Buddhism, but I also practiced the magical skill of Buddhism - the Vajra Invincibility." The man dressed as a charlatan explained while dancing and laughing wildly:
"Trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead, hahaha! This is Buddhist School trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead. This silver gong is a genius, a genius indeed!"
"Given time, he may very well surpass the Prince of Zhenbei and become the number one martial artist in the Great Feng."
The clamor erupted like a floodgate opening, surging and churning. The common people, who knew nothing of cultivation, were relieved and laughed again.
It turns out that it wasn't that the young genius of Great Feng converted to Buddhist School, but rather that he cultivated a golden body within Buddhist School.
Given time, he might even surpass Xu Xinnian, the Prince of Zhenbei. Upon hearing this, the woman's ears twitched. She raised her head and gazed at Xu Qi'an with a complex expression.
That's a lie. How could anyone in the Great Feng surpass the King of Zhenbei in Martial Dao?
In the same area, the nine Golden Gongs felt as if they had eaten lemons, their stomachs churning with sourness. Even as powerful as fourth-rank martial artists, they were also drooling over the Invincible Vajra.
When combat strength is roughly equal, whoever is the toughest will win.
Wei Yuan, the invincible warrior, frowned, then smiled.
He didn't investigate the inside story; as long as Xu Qi'an could make great progress in Martial Dao, it was good to play dumb for a while.
The civil officials reacted relatively well, after all, they were not Martial Dao, and they were inwardly amazed at how terrifying Xu Qi'an Qi'an's talent was.
The military officers stared wide-eyed, their hearts filled with envy, envying both Xu Qi'an and Wei Yuan.
Such an outstanding Martial Dao talent was actually obtained by Wei Yuan.
"Father, after today, perhaps you won't be considered an unfilial son anymore," Xu Xinnian said in a low voice.
Second Uncle Xu, who was in high spirits, turned his head and asked in surprise, "Why?"
"Because you nurtured such a Martial Dao genius as my eldest brother," Xu Xinnian said with a smile. "From now on, everyone who practices martial arts will give you a thumbs up."
"Hahahaha." Second Uncle Xu burst into laughter.
Xu Lingyue puffed out her budding chest, feeling proud and elated; this was her older brother.
"Hehehe." Lin'an raised his eyebrows.
"Don't be too happy yet, there's still one more Dharma image," Huaiqing said in a deep voice.
On the rooftop of the restaurant, Hengyuan exclaimed with envy, "The Vajra Divine Skill!"
"It's a sure thing." Chu Yuanzhen patted the bald man on the shoulder and laughed, "Go ask Xu Ningyan for the Vajra Invincible later. Your path as a martial monk will be much longer, and advancing to the third-rank Vajra is not impossible."
The people outside heard every word of the conversation between the obsessive old monk and Xu Qi'an. With Chu Yuanzhen's wisdom, it wasn't hard for him to guess that the next rank after the eighth-rank martial monk was the third-rank Vajra.
Amidst cheers and encouragement, the Arhat Du'e chanted Buddhist mantras, his slightly amused voice echoing throughout the arena. "This trial is called 'Asura's Questioning of the Heart'."
Asura Asks the Heart?
As the commotion subsided, gazes shifted from the Foshan Secret Realm to Master Du'e. Among them were Wei Yuan, Chief Minister Wang, and Emperor Yuanjing on the top floor of the Star-Gazing Tower.
This is a story from our Buddhist School tradition.
The Arhat who had saved him from suffering spoke eloquently.
Legend has it that when the Buddha founded his school in the Western Regions, the region was occupied by a group of barbarians called "Asuras." The Asuras were fierce and warlike, and they ate raw meat and drank blood.
In a struggle for territory, they wantonly slaughtered Buddhist School monks.
When the Buddha learned of this, he personally went to the territory of the Asuras, meditated for three days and three nights, and allowed himself to be beaten and killed without ever retaliating.
The cruel Asura clan immediately attacked with swords and spears. With each strike, skin was torn open and blood gushed out, yet a clanging sound emanated from within the flesh.
With two cuts, the skin was torn open and flesh was ripped apart, and a golden light shone from within the blood and flesh.
After three thousand six hundred cuts, the Buddha shed his mortal flesh and blood, revealing his Movement Method.
After three days and three nights of hacking and slashing, the Asuras realized their own limitations and attained enlightenment. From then on, they abandoned their murderous intent and converted to Buddhist School.
The common people watching listened with great interest, but the chief minister and other powerful officials, as well as the hereditary nobles, had drastic changes in expression.
Of course, there would be no Buddha in the temple, but since this trial is named "Asura's Questioning of the Heart," its effect must be the same as the Buddha's salvation of the Asura race.
Even the brutal, bloodthirsty Asura race could be reformed, so why couldn't they reform Xu Qi'an?
At the same time, in the temple, the Vajra statue with its eyes half-closed suddenly opened its eyes.
In an instant, the majesty of Buddhism, like a mountain collapsing or a tsunami, with its overwhelming power, engulfed Xu Qi'an.
The Buddha light that Xu Qi'an saw was boundless and limitless. This Buddha light did not make people feel peaceful; on the contrary, it gave people a feeling of domineering and unreasonableness.
It crushed his will in an instant and changed his heart.
"The eight sufferings of life are meaningless; joining Buddhist School is the only true refuge."
"I am the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhist School is more suitable for my development."
"What are you hesitating for? Are you really content to be just a crude brute?"
Thoughts flashed through his mind, recounting the many benefits of Buddhist School, and Xu Qi'an found them all quite reasonable.
People's thoughts can change, and it probably takes a long time for them to change, but at this moment, Xu Qi'an changed his mind in a very short instant.
I began to yearn for Buddhist School and the Dharma.
Even the most beautiful courtesans in the Imperial Academy of Music weren't appealing anymore.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xu Qi'an stood up, slowly drew his black and gold longsword, and placed his other hand on his fur hat.
Holy crap, we can't pick it! We can't pick it!
The immense shame allowed him to rediscover a glimmer of his "self."
He drew his knife and removed his hat. He was about to shave his head, but he had no hair. After removing his fur hat, his large, bald head was exposed to thousands of people.
"My visit to the Great Feng was truly the most correct decision I have ever made in my life."
The Arhat Du'e's smiling voice rang out, conveying his exhilarated joy. "To have suddenly attained enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism, and to have gained a disciple with innate wisdom. Amitabha, may Heaven bless the Buddhist School."
Everyone was furious.
Instead of insults, everyone was focused on Xu Qi'an, holding their breath in tension. Anyone could see that Xu Qi'an was struggling, resisting the "Asura's Heart Inquiry".
"Hold on, hold on," Biao Biao muttered to herself, her delicate little hands tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.
Huaiqing's pupils dilated slightly. A thought, an incredibly clear thought, settled in her mind, and it became two words: No.
Xu Pingzhi stood up, clenching his fists as if he were exerting force together with his nephew.
"You don't seem to care whether he becomes a monk or not."
The plain-looking woman glanced around and noticed that everyone was tense and angry, except for her cousin, who ignored the lecher and stared intently at the Arhat.
"I do care," Xu Xinnian said.
"Then why are you staring at the Arhat of Salvation?"
"I'm thinking about from which angle I should stab him."
At the Star-Gazing Tower, Emperor Yuanjing suddenly turned around, pointed at Xu Qi'an in the secret realm, and said urgently, "Supervisor, I will not allow Xu Qi'an to enter the Buddhist order and become a Buddhist disciple."
"You must stop it, no matter what it takes."
The supervisor laughed and said, "His Majesty is the supreme ruler; a mere silver gong is nothing to him."
"No!"
Emperor Yuanjing flatly rejected the idea, angrily saying, "The Great Feng has finally produced a prodigy, how can we let Buddhist School take him? You must stop him, even if it means losing the Heavenly Secrets Disc."
The supervisor nodded. "Your Majesty, please rest assured."
He grasped the wine glass, the wine inside calm, reflecting the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, and the common people.
The supervisor's aged hands, with bulging veins, seemed to be gathering strength.
With the Diamond Sutra in hand, he had achieved his goal. As for the "Asura's Questioning of the Heart" trial, only external force could stop it. Xu Qi'an alone was absolutely unable to withstand the Buddhist initiation.
But then, the supervisor suddenly stopped and stared in astonishment into the distance. It was the direction of the Cloud Deer Academy.
"Ah, the dog slave resisted!" Biao Biao shrieked excitedly.
Inside the Buddhist temple, Xu Qi'an released his grip on the mink hat, which remained on his head.
He briefly gained self-will, resisting joining Buddhist School and the ideas that were instilled in him.
Whew. That exhale was the exhale of countless people outside the arena.
Du'e Arhat frowned and shook his head, saying, "Only by taking refuge in Buddhist School can one escape the sea of suffering and achieve immortality. Only with immortality can one guide others. You clearly possess great Buddhist potential, so why are you so stubbornly deluded?"
Xu Qi'an's resistance seemed to provoke the Buddha's wrath, causing the fog of Foshan to tremble violently, and a towering Movement Method to condense.
It was like everything in the world, making all things seem small. Clouds and mist swirled around it, and its face was hidden in the high sky, invisible to the naked eye.
The temple statue is not even as big as the palm of a Buddha image.
The towering Buddha image slowly lowered its head, gazing at the temple, and then slowly extended its enormous Buddha palm.
Press down!
Inside the temple, Xu Qi'an felt a sudden weight on his shoulders, as if a mountain was pressing down on them.
The overwhelming pressure forced him to kneel.
He couldn't kneel, he couldn't kneel. Xu Qi'an felt a sense of foreboding; he had a premonition that once he knelt, there would be no turning back.
He will become another version of himself, a Xu Qi'an who reveres and worships Buddha.
Outside the temple, the Buddha's palm, reaching towards the sky, pressed down once more.
Crack, crack, crack. Xu Qi'an's bones cracked like popping beans, especially his spine, which bulged outwards, as if it could pierce his flesh at any moment.
His head was lowered even further, and he couldn't straighten it up no matter what he did.
The only thing that remained unchanged was that his knees did not bend.
I won't kneel, I won't kneel, I won't kneel! Even if I were to become a Buddhist, it would be a belief I willingly embrace, and no one can subdue me.
With his head bowed, Xu Qi'an's face was flushed, and sweat dripped down his cheeks. His eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was ferocious as he struggled against the pressure descending from above.
He opened his mouth, then stubbornly uttered, "I won't kneel."
Cloud Deer Academy.
The Temple of the Second Saint was filled with a rich, pure aura that soared into the sky, causing the entire temple to tremble once again.
Inside the academy, students and teachers alike either raised their heads or stepped out of their rooms, gazing in the direction of the Temple of the Second Saint.
Inside the hall, a series of clear lights flashed, and Dean Zhao Shou and three great Confucian scholars appeared simultaneously.
"What's going on? Why did you move again, senior?" Zhang Shen asked in astonishment.
The mahogany box hanging above the statue of the Second Saint shook violently; this time, the tremor was extremely strong, as if what was inside desperately wanted to come out.
"Someone is mobilizing the power of all living beings again?" Li Mubai's eyes widened in disbelief.
Dean Zhao Shou frowned and cupped his hands, saying, "Please be quiet, senior."
A buzzing sound rang out. Unexpectedly, the mahogany box began to vibrate even more violently.
Seeing this, the three Confucian scholars immediately mustered their Vast Righteous Qi and joined forces with Dean Zhao Shou to suppress the mahogany box, bowing and saying, "Please be quiet, senior."
The mahogany box fell silent again, but then, in the next moment...
"Bang!"
The mahogany box exploded, and the light within the Temple of the Underworld shone brightly. Dean Zhao Shou and the three great Confucian scholars felt as if they had been struck in the chest, spitting out blood as they were all thrown back by the shock.
A beam of clear light burst out of the box, pierced through the roof of the palace, and soared into the sky.
Dean Zhao Shou chased after the Temple of the Second Saint, his gaze following the clear light as it swept across the mountains and disappeared into the horizon.
That's the direction of the capital.
"Amitabha Buddha, I never imagined that Benefactor Xu's obsession was so profound. Presumably, after converting to Buddhist School, your Buddhist heart has become even clearer." The Arhat Du'e clasped his hands together.
Biao Biao glared fiercely at Du'e Luohan, then suddenly stepped out of the pavilion and shouted, "Don't kneel before that bald monk, you dog slave, stand up!"
In the Buddhist realm, Xu Qi'an's shoulder was a bloody mess, and his cervical spine was bent at an eerie angle. His pain was clearly visible to the onlookers.
What kind of obsession could allow someone to keep their knees straight under such immense pressure?
Is this Xu Qi'an?
Is this the same smooth-talking, womanizing Xu Qi'an?
Those who knew him were suddenly struck by a jolt.
Suddenly, in the shaded pavilion, an elderly man in plain clothes stood up. His eyes were red-rimmed, and in a slightly trembling voice, he called out loudly:
"A young man of chivalry, befriending heroes from five capitals. Their hearts are open, their hair stands on end. In conversation, they share life and death. Their word is as precious as gold. One who can write such words deserves no kneeling!"
Governor Zhang.
Xu Pingzhi shouted, "Ningyan, stand up straight, don't kneel."
Xu Lingyin suddenly yelled, "Big pot!"
Wei Yuan patted her head and finished her sentence for her. "Don't kneel."
The Grand Secretary Wang stood up and declared loudly, "Martial artists of the Great Feng Dynasty do not kneel."
Suddenly, someone in the crowd raised their fist and shouted, "No kneeling!"
This immediately ignited the fuse, and the onlookers erupted in excitement.
"I won't kneel."
"I won't kneel."
"I won't kneel!"
One, two, and more and more people shouted "No kneeling!" A father lifted his son high above his head, and the child's clear voice cried out, "Don't kneel!"
The husband held his wife's hand and shouted with her, "People of Great Feng, we will not kneel!"
From the covered walkway to the open field, from nobles to commoners, the people of Great Feng present at this moment spoke with one voice:
"I won't kneel!"
I seemed to sense the power of all living beings again. In the hazy state of consciousness, a pure thought surged into his sea of consciousness. This thought was complex and vast.
It's sending him a message: Don't kneel!
In an instant, Xu Qi'an's eyes shone with an unprecedented light, like an ascetic wandering in darkness who had finally seen the dawn.
He still couldn't straighten his back, but, as if possessed, he raised his arm, as if to grasp something.
Something from the the Unseen has arrived.
At the same moment, Xu Qi'an roared out the sentiments of tens of thousands of people in the capital, "I! Xu Qi'an, will not! Kneel!"
At that moment, a beam of clear light pierced through the air, accompanied by a thunderous roar and an unparalleled force, crashing into the Buddhist realm.
This radiant light came as summoned.
Within the Buddhist realm, the towering Buddha seemed to sense something, withdrew its palm, and struck the clear light that had crashed into the secret realm.
In the instant of the clash, the clear light and the golden light dimmed simultaneously, remained silent for a second, and then the dazzling blue-gold light burst open.
Then came the deafening explosions, which sent the people of Beijing scattering in panic.
Outside, a fierce wind was blowing.
The towering Dharma image shattered into pure golden light, returning to this Buddhist realm. That clear light then entered the temple and landed in Xu Qi'an's hands.
It was an old-fashioned, black carving knife.
Xu Qi'an slowly straightened his back and gripped the carving knife tightly.
"All sentient beings can attain Buddhahood, so why should I kneel before you?"
After saying that, he calmly thrust the carving knife into the ground.
A crack appeared between the Buddha statue's eyebrows, and the cracks instantly spread throughout its entire body before it collapsed.
Rumble!
As the Buddha statue collapsed, the Buddha-themed area trembled violently, the Buddha Mountain crumbled, and the earth shook.
Click!
The Arhat Du'e looked down in astonishment and saw the golden bowl crack open with cracks, and finally, with a "bang," it exploded into dust.
The Buddhist realm then vanished.
Two figures tumbled out: the unconscious Jing Si, and Xu Qi'an, standing proudly with a carving knife in his hand.
Xu Qi'an slowly scanned the entire room, then his eyelids rolled back and he fainted.
Before he fainted, Xu Qi'an held onto the mink hat.
This is his dignity.
The entire room was completely silent.
On the Star-Gazing Tower, the Supervisor had left the Eight Trigrams Platform at some point, his sharp gaze fixed on the carving knife in Xu Qi'an's hand.
PS: Thank you to "Brother Pei" and "Chengbei Xugong" for the generous donations. Brother Pei's ID looks familiar... Is this the Brother Pei I know? Did he change his name?
I took a nap while writing last night; I was so tired. I didn't have much time to catch up on sleep during the day, so I couldn't stay awake and dozed off for a few hours. Phew, at least I managed to write a long chapter.