Illusory Dao Fruit, Illuminating the Mind and Seeing One's Nature

The Primordial Spirit once again probed into the incense thread, going against the current.

A scene similar to the last one came into Yu Tunzhou's view--

Cities, Buddha statues, and swarms of worshippers prostrating themselves in worship—countless fragments of prayers flow like rivers into the sea, refined layer by layer, converging into that vast, all-encompassing net.

He took in all of this, confirmed his location, and memorized the coordinates of more than ten temples, both near and far. Several optimal routes for demolishing the temples quickly took shape in his mind.

Then, he returned to the end of the incense-burning lineage and stepped into the half-withered Buddhist kingdom.

Last time, he was only caught a fleeting glimpse and was immediately driven back by the other party's gaze. This time, he intended to observe secretly, but as soon as his Primordial Spirit touched the border of the Buddhist kingdom, he sensed something was amiss—

The Buddha statue seated in the center of the Buddhist realm had already opened its eyes.

It was as if they had known he would come again, and they were quietly waiting here.

The land of the Buddhist kingdom cracked and spread, withered golden lotuses lay fallen all over the ground, and a Buddha sat at the very center of the incense-filled net, his body shimmering with black and gold light. With each breath, the remaining pure Buddhist light from the surrounding area was swallowed up.

He sat enthroned upon the decaying Buddhist land, like a demonic Buddha rising from ruins, his compassionate face concealing a greed that devoured everything.

"Now that you have seen the true Buddha, why not worship him?"

A grand and majestic voice echoed throughout the Buddhist realm, surging in from all directions. The voice was neither male nor female, neither old nor young, carrying a strange and chilling resonance, as if countless people were collectively condemning the blasphemers of the Buddha.

"Worship you?"

Yu Tunzhou glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the cracked earth, the fallen withered lotus, and the ruins drained of their Buddhist light. He chuckled derisively.

"Does a parasite who survives by feeding on the remnants of a Buddhist kingdom deserve to be called a true Buddha?"

"Even if you weren't a true Buddha, and even if a true Buddha were standing before me, there would be no reason for me, Yu, to kneel and worship!"

These words caused a stir in the Buddhist kingdom.

The Buddha statue still wore a compassionate smile, its lips moving as it chanted Buddhist hymns like thunder.

Those who slander the Buddha will fall into the Avici Hell.

From the depths of the cracked earth, boundless karmic fire surged forth, countless fallen withered lotuses trembled in unison, and the Incense and Fire Prayer Power in the air instantly transformed into golden chains, surging in from all directions, as if to permanently nail him to this Buddhist kingdom and transform him into nourishment for the Buddhist kingdom.

"A fake Buddha and a fake prison, they dare to use them to scare people." Yu Tunzhou chuckled.

Although it was Primordial Spirit, a fist-shaped aura, solid as a substance, burst forth from within Primordial Spirit, containing a pure and ultimate Fist Intent.

Wherever the fist struck, karmic fire split the sea, chains snapped, the wailing from the earth abruptly ceased, and the scene before them crumbled like an illusion.

"That's interesting."

The Demon Buddha's voice deepened, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"No wonder you dared to obstruct my path to enlightenment."

He slowly raised his right hand, and mountains and cities appeared in the lines of his palm, as if he had condensed the entire fortune of the Turbid Kingdom into his palm.

This palm strike was the result of the fanatical power of a nation's people, the accumulated incense offerings of decades, and the immense power of the demonic Buddha that He had gained by devouring the Buddhist kingdom.

"Outsider, you destroyed my temple, cut off my incense offerings, and dared to trespass into my Buddhist kingdom. Do you know the enormity of your sins? Stay here and become the first sacrifice in my Nirvana Grand Ceremony."

The moment the palm struck, Yu Tunzhou's Primordial Spirit had already drifted backward. He hadn't come here to settle a score, let alone on someone else's home turf.

"Offerings?"

The Yu Tunzhou and laughed loudly; its voice traveled along the incense flames and spread throughout the entire Buddhist kingdom.

"I, Yu, have come today for two reasons: first, to familiarize myself with the place, and second, to confirm your current state. It seems that you are indeed insatiably greedy, willing to gamble everything to devour this Buddhist kingdom. No wonder the ones sent to intercept me are just a few empty puppets."

"As for the Nirvana Grand Ceremony... I'll personally come to 'congratulate' you once I've traveled all the way to the capital!"

In the blink of an eye, Yu Tunzhou's Primordial Spirit followed the incense's veins upstream and retreated completely.

The Buddhist kingdom returned to its deathly silence.

The Buddha in the center calmly withdrew his palms, slowly closed his eyes, and the grand and eerie chanting of sutras resounded once more in the Buddhist realm.

This time, however, there was a hint of anticipation in the chanting.

In the wilderness.

Yu Tunzhou opened his eyes and discarded the Yellow Springs Daoist, who had been rendered lifeless after his lifeline was severed.

The surrounding area was riddled with craters, and the scorch marks from lightning strikes and remnants of death covered the barren mountain, as if it had been plowed over.

"Mietian, Kou Ziling..."

Yu Tunzhou whispered, his expression grave, a far cry from his earlier ease.

The second time he used his Primordial Spirit to trace back the incense lineage, he gained a clearer understanding of this person's strength and methods.

The combined Incense and Fire Prayer Power and the remnants of the Buddhist kingdom allowed this person's true strength to far exceed the limits of this world; however, due to the suppression of the world, he was unable to unleash his full potential.

And now, this is attempting to completely control the root of this world, the source of the gathering of incense offerings, the true Buddhist kingdom.

If he succeeds, no one in this world will be able to restrain him. At that time, he will step into a higher level. Grandmaster? No, based on the Buddhist kingdom, he may directly leap into the Immortals and Gods!

In High Antiquity or primordial times, this would be... instant enlightenment, ascending to heaven on a cloud?

If I'm not mistaken, this timeframe will be five days from now, the so-called Nirvana Grand Ceremony!

Considering this fiend's cunning, the original deadline for the Nirvana Grand Ceremony might even be a lie.

The real turning point will come even earlier!

One day, or two days?

Yu Tunzhou instantly realized the seriousness of the situation.

This person's methods far Jingchen and the others.

also...

Yu Tunzhou unconsciously furrowed his brow.

As things stand, the only way to delay or prevent the Mietian is to demolish the numerous temples as soon as possible.

But when he recalled the image of the Buddha seated at the center of the incense-filled net, he had a vague feeling that something was amiss.

For Mietian, was that incense-burning net a constraint, a shackle, or a powerful tool to devour the incense-burning power of the Turbid Kingdom?

Or perhaps, both?

He abruptly turned his head to look at another figure, wanting to take one last look at the location of the Buddhist kingdom.

But when he looked over, he discovered that the third person was already dead, and the incense veins in his body had been severed.

Is this the work of the Mietian?

Why the rush to silence them?

Seeing that Law Seals, Yu Tunzhou stopped thinking about it and prepared for the worst.

Whether it's shackles or sharp weapons, he has no choice but to keep going until the very end.

Then we'll see whether the Buddha's image, now freed from his predicament, is superior, or whether we, blessed by this world, are better.

Yu Tunzhou looked up ahead; the sun was high in the sky, illuminating the road ahead clearly.

He had already memorized the patterns and directions of incense offerings he had observed in the Buddhist realm.

"Sweeping from west to east, we should be able to uproot another thirty temples today."

Yu Tunzhou plans a famous route in his mind.

"Within two days, we should be able to eradicate all the temples. In that case, there are still three days until the Nirvana Assembly... Jingchen and the others should be able to arrive to provide support."

"In this way, we can arrive at the capital city three days earlier..."

"Once we reach the outskirts of the capital, I'll see if this person can still sit securely on their throne."

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, his body rising into the air and transforming into a streak of azure light that shot through the sky.

at the same time.

Fu Tingxue transformed into a streak of light and sped towards the territory of the Turbid Kingdom.

After entering the territory of the Turbid Kingdom, he fully unleashed his Primordial Spirit, sweeping across every inch of mountains and rivers along the way, searching for the aura of Yu Tunzhou.

However, the Incense and Fire Prayer Power within the Turbid Kingdom shrouded the area, limiting his perception range; he could only vaguely detect some residual fluctuations in energy.

"This is... a remnant of Thunder Method? Thunder Method of this caliber!"

Fu Tingxue suddenly stopped, hovering in mid-air, her gaze fixed solemnly on the desolate, ruined hills ahead.

The mountain range, stretching for hundreds of miles, was ravaged beyond recognition. Several peaks were broken in half, and the land was crisscrossed with ravines. The charred marks of lightning strikes were intertwined with the thick remnants of death, and the air still lingered with the chilling fluctuations of the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

"Two supreme experts..."

Fu Tingxue's heart skipped a beat.

Has the Yu Tunzhou been ambushed?!

"... This is indeed Young Hero Yu's Fist Intent!"

Fu Tingxue's expression was solemn as he advanced, searching for the essence of Yu Tunzhou's Fist Intent.

Although the battlefield was horribly scarred, all the traces pointed in the same direction.

The worry on Fu Tingxue's face gradually turned into disbelief.

According to his search, the two unfamiliar and powerful auras were being pushed back all the way, relentlessly pursued by another, even more domineering and tyrannical aura, as if they were being crushed by fire.

The latter was the remnant of Young Hero Yu's Fist Intent, far more vivid than lightning and death aura. It was as if it had been branded into the mountains and rivers within this hundred-mile radius, domineering and without any intention of concealment!

"This guy... he single-handedly overpowered two supreme experts?" Fu Tingxue rubbed her temples. "Are all the people from the Upper Realm monsters?"

Soon, in the center of the battlefield, he found two corpses. He had never seen their faces before, but the lingering aura they possessed made him feel slightly uneasy.

"The rumors are true; Mietian used the Incense and Fire Prayer Power to create five supreme beings..."

After examining the two corpses, Fu Tingxue, who had been dealing with Incense and Fire Prayer Power for many years, keenly discovered the remnants of incense in their bodies.

Now both of them are dead here, but there's no trace of Young Hero Yu...

He looked up into the distance, hesitating whether to continue following.

After much deliberation, he looked at the two corpses in front of him and decided it was best not to cause any trouble for Young Hero Yu.

Given his current strength, he won't encounter any danger unless he's in a predicament.

He bent down, grabbed the two corpses, and turned to rush towards Little Formless Temple.

They need to figure out how Mietian managed to create five supreme experts all at once!

After Fu Tingxue brought the two corpses back to Little Formless Temple, Jingchen and the others looked solemn and shocked.

The mere fact that these two corpses still retained traces of their former lives proves that the news from the palace was true.

What shocked them even more was the strength that Yu Tunzhou had displayed!

Bao Ruyin and Daoist Qingzhi, who were standing to the side, also had their expressions changing.

Daoist Qingzhi had already witnessed the battle between Yu Tunzhou and Fu Old Mo Fenmo, but seeing the corpses of these two men in front of him was still unbelievable.

She and Bao Ruyin exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes, for these two were also renowned figures in the outside world!

Yellow Springs Daoist is Heaven Ranking eleventh on the Heavenly Ranking, and is also the only Rogue Person on the Heaven Ranking. He has no master and has reached the Dharma Aspect Realm on his own.

Beside him was Tantai Yinglong, the pillar of the Tantai Household, Four Great Households of the Divine Capital. He was also at the Dharma Aspect Realm, but he died decades ago in the turmoil of the Great Yan Imperial Palace, and was suspected to be related to Lu Huaiqing.

And right now...

This man died again, this time at the hands of Yu Tunzhou.

Isn't this a kind of destiny?

Jingchen said in a deep voice, "Everyone, let's use our Secret Method and speed things up at all costs. The depth of Mietian has hidden is far beyond our imagination. This old monk suspects that the Nirvana Grand Ceremony in seven days is also a decoy, and the real time may not be seven days later at all!"

The expressions on everyone's faces changed slightly; they all understood what this person meant.

Jingchen's eyes revealed an unprecedentedly cold and resolute determination. "Within two days, encircle and annihilate the Turbid Kingdom!"

Qingshi County, on the western border of the Turbid Kingdom.

The county town is not large, but there is a very large official temple located in the center of the town.

The three-tiered halls rise one after another, their glazed tiles gleaming golden in the sunlight. Incense burns brightly, and worshippers come in an endless stream.

In the square in front of the temple, a gilded Buddha statue, three zhang tall, sits solemnly on a lotus pedestal, its hands forming the Law Seals, looking down at the devout men and women prostrating themselves in worship at its feet.

Dozens of gray-robed monks stood on both sides, holding prayer beads and chanting scriptures incessantly. Incense smoke rose and swirled, enveloping the entire temple in a hazy "Buddha's light."

Everything looked so solemn and dignified, like Buddhist School sanctuary.

Until a sharp sonic boom came from the distant horizon.

Even when a figure was still hundreds of meters away, a fist imprint pressed down from above.

boom--

Smoke, dust, and gravel shot into the sky, and the believers in the square were thrown to the ground by the blast wave, their cries and screams filling the air.

When the dust settled, everyone looked and saw that the three-zhang-tall gilded Buddha statue had been smashed to pieces. A figure in a green robe bent down, picked up a relic from the ruins, and then rose and flew away in a rainbow.

The wind whistled in his ears, but Yu Tunzhou's thoughts grew increasingly calm. His primordial spirit merged with the vast Unity of Heaven and Celestial Person of Primordial Spirit and nature.

Two days.

He swept away more than ninety temples in succession, as if conquering cities and seizing strongholds, and the speed increased as he went on.

The blessing from heaven and earth, after he successively overthrew sixty temples, reached a level almost equivalent to the Martial Fortune blessing in Luofu Grotto-Heaven, allowing his cultivation of Nature Cultivation to cross a critical threshold once again, temporarily standing at the level of [Nature-Seeing Heaven].

At the same time, although his cultivation of Life Cultivation did not directly improve, under the blessing of heaven and earth, the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo gradually underwent some mysterious changes.

What was originally just a tender bud has now, under the blessing of heaven and earth, slowly grown into a section of illusory stem.

At the top of the stem, a faint, ethereal image of a Dao fruit swayed and floated. Though merely an illusion, it exuded a profound and far-reaching Daoist charm.

This illusory Dao Fruit seemed to exist only in the blink of an eye, as if it would vanish in the next instant, yet it undeniably existed, emanating a profound aura far exceeding Yu Tunzhou's current realm, thanks to the unwavering support of this world.

He could clearly feel that with the appearance of this illusory Dao Fruit, the upper limit of the laws that his Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo could bear was forcibly raised by a large margin.

It's like how what was once just a container that could hold a tank of water has now become a deep lake.

In this situation, his Primordial Spirit Inner Form skipped the process of merging with the Inner Heaven and Earth and instead merged with the entire great world.

His every breath was in sync with the energy of heaven and earth;

With each step taken, the power of heaven and earth spontaneously lifts it up;

Wherever his fist pointed, the laws of heaven and earth around him tilted accordingly, helping him to destroy everything in his path.

But for Yu Tunzhou, this is still not the end.

When the number of temples he destroyed exceeded ninety, the entire incense network of the Turbid Kingdom was completely paralyzed, the omnipresent surveillance network collapsed, and even the madness in the eyes of countless Turbid Kingdom citizens gradually faded.

In return, this world gave Yu Tunzhou unprecedented benefits.

boom--

The illusory image of the Dao Fruit suddenly expanded several times, and the entire Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo radiated an unprecedented brilliance!

The union of the Kunpeng Spirit Aspect the vast universe also entered a new stage, gradually forming the prototype of the Dharma Aspect form. This marks the beginning of the External Scenery Third Layer, "Merging the Aspect with Heaven and Earth".

The Kunpeng Spirit Aspect was no longer content to roam within the Primordial Spirit Heaven and Earth of Yu Tunzhou's body, but instead attempted to merge with the entire Buddhist kingdom.

Yu Tunzhou chooses to let this process continue.

He "saw" his Kunpeng Spirit Aspect transform into a giant Kun, silently swimming in the Void. Each swipe of its tail created invisible ripples, which spread out and resonated with the laws and principles of heaven and earth.

Mountains, rivers, cities... and even the lingering Buddhist nature deep within every inch of land trembled slightly in this resonance.

However, this seemingly endless, illusory improvement appears to have reached a certain limit.

When the blessings of heaven and earth reach a certain critical point, the expansion of the Spirit Aspect form in harmony with heaven and earth comes to an abrupt halt.

No matter how much blessing and support Heaven and Earth poured into it, the Kunpeng Spirit Aspect could not advance any further.

Like a seed, no matter how much water or fertilizer you give it, its growing space is ultimately limited before it sprouts from the soil.

"Bottleneck..."

Yu Tunzhou's mind stirred slightly as he recalled the experiences and insights he had accumulated throughout his cultivation journey.

Having reached this stage, all the powerful figures pursued the evolution of their Dharma Aspect in order to achieve a perfect balance of Spirit Form. A crucial step in this process was finding one's own "spirit."

Regardless of the Primordial Spirit Inner Form form that a martial artist cultivates before the Dharma Aspect, the Dharma Aspect cultivated upon reaching the Dharma Aspect Realm will inevitably be based on "self".

The Dharma Aspect is not a projection of some mythical beast or immortal Buddha, but rather an embodiment of the martial artist's self. Even if one awakens the body of Kasyapa or the Dream Arhat, their "form" and "spirit" remain "me".

This is the fundamental difference between the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao.

To complete this step, one's Nature Cultivation cultivation must break through the third level, "Nature-Seeing Heaven," to find one's true self in the vast universe, Mingxin and nature, and achieve self-perfection.

Only by seeing one's true nature can one see "self".

Only by seeing "I" can one use "I" to control the Dharma Aspect.

And Yu Tunzhou... just happened to step into the threshold of the Nature-Seeing Heaven with the blessing of Heaven and Earth.

At this moment, there were no celestial phenomena, no golden lotuses Earth Surge, only a clear and tranquil mind.

He observed himself in stillness and began to understand his own Daoist heart.

It was at this very moment.

He gradually realized that Old Mo's assessment of him might have been correct.

Yu Tunzhou —do you believe in God?

The answer is naturally...

I don't believe it.

Just as he never believed in Buddha or God, because God and Buddha never responded to the suffering he encountered.

And what about God? Naturally, it's the same.

If one doesn't believe in fate, then where does the saying "Heaven will not forsake those who strive" come from? And where does the saying "As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so should a gentleman constantly strive for self-improvement" come from?

Would someone who never believes in God believe that God wouldn't abandon them? And would they, because they believe in God, emulate the unyielding and steadfast Heavenly Dao?

Of course not.

So from the very beginning, from the moment he placed his life on the scales, it was a high-stakes gamble, and the thing he was betting against was everything that was preventing him from living.

So Old Mo called himself a "gambler," and in his gambles there was no winning or losing, only life and death. In this life-or-death game, he only ever trusted himself.

He believed he would be the ultimate winner in this high-stakes gamble.

He also believed that he would eventually shine like a pearl covered in dust, illuminating the vast land.

So, Yu Tunzhou, what makes you so confident in yourself?

Why would one rather gamble with heaven and earth than beg for mercy?

The answer is simple.

Because it's useless!

He was not born with an unbreakable Dao heart; during his three years in Luofu, his spirit had also risen and fallen repeatedly.

Having been born in an orphanage in my previous life, I have tasted all the bitterness of the Mortal Realm and have become accustomed to swallowing some hardships alone, with no one to confide in.

He was not arrogant or proud, nor was he so proud that he refused to bow down to anyone. Rather, the repeated setbacks, the hopeless pleas for help, and the forced retaliation he experienced in his childhood taught him a lesson: bowing down and begging will not earn him any respect, and there is no such thing as dignity without bloodshed.

If a child has no one to rely on, who will stand up for them if they don't fight for their own destiny?

Therefore, it's useless!

Begging and pleading for mercy from heaven is useless!

Seeking help from gods and Buddhas is useless!

It's better to rely on yourself than to ask others for help!

In the end, the only person you can rely on in this life is yourself!

If you don't even trust yourself, who can you expect to believe in you?

I don't know when.

The giant Kun suddenly leaped out of the Void, its two fins transforming into wings, Fuyao and transforming into a Peng that hangs in the sky.

The enormous phantom spread its wings, almost obscuring the entire sky he could perceive; beneath those wings lay the laws and rules that belonged to him.

This is... the Dharma Domain!

Even though this was merely an illusory realm achieved through the blessings of heaven and earth, destined to be short-lived, he still managed to glimpse this realm temporarily!

The gains from this trip alone are enough to pave a complete path for him to the Dharma Domain, creating a smooth road ahead!

Yu Tunzhou slowly raised its head and saw a different world.

The sky is no longer the sky, and the earth is no longer the earth.

Within a radius of dozens of miles, the operation of everything is under his control.

Ever since he confirmed his own Dao Path, Yu Tunzhou had been looking forward to this day.

But he didn't expect it to arrive so soon.

The so-called Dharma Domain is the derivation and manifestation of one's own Dao Path.

His Dao Path lies between Taiji and Wuji, and is called --

[The Outer Dao of No Self Under Heaven].

Within the Primordial Spirit Heaven and Earth, Hun Tian, witnessing Xuandu Xuan Du undergo another great Huntian, inexplicably sensed a...

A chill ran down my spine.

Several times, because of the Dao Path of the Yu Tunzhou, it realized that it seemed to have forgotten something, subconsciously wanting to grasp it, but also instinctively feeling fear, hesitating whether to explore the truth behind it.

Because of the Great Sage's status, the only beings in this world capable of disturbing his memories are supreme beings like Emperor Wa and himself.

If it's the former, it can only mean that a supreme being chose to conceal a part of their past.

But if it's the latter...

This means it severed its own memory!

This day.

King Yang Chong in the palace of the Turbid Kingdom had gone completely mad, because all the lights on the map had been extinguished, leaving only a few scattered lights around the capital and in the city.

And it was on this very day.

Inside the Imperial Preceptor's residence, someone finally managed to escape the entanglements of incense offerings with the help of others, and walked out of the residence with unprecedented ease and contentment.

He stepped into the mortal world and arrived in front of the young novice monk who possessed great Buddhist School fortune in one step, a smile on his lips and a hint of compassion in his eyes:

"May I ask, Buddhist disciple, since all people suffer, where is Thunderclap?"

Birthday leave

I'm going to celebrate my birthday and get together with friends. I'll be taking one or two days off. If things go smoothly, I'll resume updating on Sunday night, which is tomorrow night. If not, it will be Monday morning.

As compensation, cough cough, I'll reissue the previous Extended Net Moon chapters as free chapters, as a birthday gift? Consider it a substitute for taking a leave of absence. Readers who have already read them can skip this.

I need to think about retracting this part of the story. When I return, the Buddhist kingdom will begin its final chapters.

Side Story 2: An Ruyu's Timeline (Free, can be skipped)

Seven months ago.

The main altar for Incense-Smelling.

The statues of twelve old women are arranged in a circle, some standing, some sitting, some with lowered eyes, and some with wide-open eyes. Their postures are different, but they are all lifelike, as if they will open their eyes at any moment and look down on all living beings.

There were no candles in the hall, yet a faint light emanated from between the eyebrows of the statues, casting an irregular glow over the entire hall. However, not all statues had this faint light between their eyebrows.

A middle-aged man dressed in a black and gold robe stood with his hands behind his back.

It was none other than Qingxuzi, the Heavenly King Protector of the Incense-Smelling Cult.

He stood in this place, closest to the divine, his posture as straight as a pine tree, as if he himself had become a statue, waiting for the arrival of some being.

Before long, a silver bell rang out.

The sound was crisp and melodious, as if it came from a very distant place, yet also as if it were right next to my ear.

A figure in pure white appeared in the hall.

The girl's features were exquisitely beautiful, her long black hair reaching her waist, and her temperament was like a secluded orchid in a valley. Her white dress was serene and graceful, like a night-blooming cereus quietly blooming at the foot of a deity.

It was Incense-Smelling Holy Maiden An Ruyu.

"During the time you were gone, your mother issued two decrees."

Qingxuzi did not turn around, his voice neither hurried nor slow:

"First, I order you to go to Northern Chen to investigate the matter of the fake tomb of the Human Emperor and to confirm the source of the Human Emperor's gaze not long ago."

"Secondly, find and kill Yu Tunzhou, who is about to emerge from Luofu Grotto-Heaven. This world has no need for another Lu Huaiqing."

Upon hearing this, An Ruyu tilted her head slightly, seemingly quite interested in a certain name.

"Which old mother issued this decree?"

Her smile was serene, yet it held a profound meaning.

The Incense-Smelling Cult worships twelve old mothers, which has attracted many believers. However, the biggest problem has emerged as the old mothers awaken one by one.

Since its founding, the Incense-Smelling Cult has had nine female deities awakened and given decrees.

Even among the female deities who have been active in the last hundred years, there are four.

The four individuals do not share the same will, and conflicts often arise between them.

This is also the most troublesome problem for the Incense-Smelling Cult to date.

The conflict with Daoism and Buddhism a thousand years ago ultimately stemmed from this.

Qingxuzi did not hide anything. "The first instruction originated from the Mother of the Myriad Stars, and the second from the Earth-Surging Mother."

An Ruyu seemed lost in thought.

She joined the church as a saintess from a young age and had heard that Lu Huaiqing had caused considerable losses to the church and even ruined the birth of a certain old mother.

That past event was a closely guarded secret within the church, and even she didn't know the full story.

But now it seems...

"Also, it's about time to close the net in Pinghu County," Qingxuzi said with a deep gaze. "Go and handle that."

An Ruyu's eyebrows twitched slightly, but she did not respond immediately.

After a moment of silence, she asked, "What are Wang Fujing's plans? Now that Pinghu County is closing in, it will inevitably attract the attention of the Great Yan."

"If I remember correctly, it was Wang Fujing who led you into the sect back then, wasn't it?" Qingxuzi gave her a deep look, as if reminding her, or perhaps warning her, "You are responsible for dealing with this person. If you are to bear the Great Dao of Limitlessness in the future, you cannot have any worldly ties. There are some things you need to settle personally one by one."

An Ruyu's smile remained serene. She nodded slightly, like a willow branch skimming the water in spring, without causing a ripple, before turning and leaving.

Not long after.

An Ruyu returned to her courtyard where she was resting.

An old plum tree grows in the courtyard; it is not yet in bloom, but its branches are gnarled and vigorous.

The maid Xiaoyu was already waiting under the corridor. When she saw An Ruyu return, she hurriedly stepped forward and presented her with a thick stack of documents.

"Miss, this is the information you asked me to find from the church."

An Ruyu took the book but didn't read it. She simply placed it on the table and stared at the old plum tree outside the window, lost in thought.

After a moment, she withdrew her gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips, "I'll give you another task: investigate the Yu Tunzhou in Luofu Grotto-Heaven."

Xiaoyu asked curiously, "Is it that kid who's been all over the news, the one who overestimated himself and courted death?"

She curled her lip, clearly not thinking highly of the young man, "To challenge the Qi Ingestion Realm Martial Ancestor of a thousand years ago with only the Qi Condensation Realm skill is, even in a battle between equals, far beyond the reach of a mere junior, given the Martial Ancestor's experience and combat prowess."

"It's certainly overestimating his abilities, but it's not necessarily courting death," An Ruyu said with a smile. "Lu Huaiqing wouldn't deliberately send him to his death."

Xiaoyu asked curiously, "Miss, do you mean that challenging the Martial Ancestor is actually his only way out?"

An Ruyu's eyes flashed, her smile undiminished, "That's hard to say, but even if he didn't die at the hands of the Martial Ancestor, he might die at my hands."

Without entering the cave, she knew nothing of its entirety and could only make limited deductions.

Xiaoyu asked in surprise, "Miss, are you going to attack him? Is this the sect's intention?"

An Ruyu nodded casually, not taking it to heart.

She looked out the window again, the moonlight shining on her plain white dress, making her figure appear as white as frost and snow.

One month later.

Dusk was approaching.

The middle reaches of the Dongyang River lead directly to the Divine Capital.

Dusk crept in from the mountains on the east bank.

On the river, two figures faced each other from afar.

The girl in Hongyi stood against the wind, the river breeze whipping her clothes, making her look like a fire burning in the twilight.

An Ruyu was still dressed in a plain white dress, her long hair was blown by the wind and spread out behind her like ink. The twilight shone on her profile, outlining her elegant and refined features.

Although the two stopped at the Form Refinement Perfection, the aura emanating from them caused even the Divine Ability Stage Demon Beast in the river to shrink back and sink to the bottom.

Feng Yanleng suddenly drew his sword. The sound of the sword being drawn was extremely light, like the river breeze rustling through the reeds, but the light of the sword was so heavy that it seemed as if the entire river was pressing down on it, sweeping across with immense force!

An Ruyu neither dodged nor evaded, but raised her delicate hand, and a jade-green hand seal appeared out of thin air to meet the blade light that was powerful enough to split mountains and stop rivers.

A deafening roar.

The river water surged backward, and the reeds on both banks fell flat in unison, startling a flock of birds into flight.

Before the Feng Yanleng could be withdrawn, the second slash had already arrived.

This strike was different from the previous one; it was silent and colorless, as if it had blended into the twilight and the river, leaving no trace.

But An Ruyu's pupils suddenly contracted.

She could feel the dagger everywhere.

The shadow of that knife was everywhere—in the sky, on the ground, in front of him, behind him, in all directions; there was no way to avoid it, no way to escape it.

The might of divine weapons?

An Ruyu took a deep breath, reached out her delicate hand, and loosely clenched her fists as if she had grasped something invisible.

The next moment, blades flashed from all directions toward An Ruyu, but passed straight through her body, as if she no longer belonged to this world.

"Sister Feng, are you greeting me with a divine weapon as soon as we meet?" An Ruyu's eyes turned colder, but her tone still carried a smile.

Feng Yanleng finally sheathed his sword, scrutinized An Ruyu, and slowly nodded, saying, "Your Void technique is stronger than before. Has your transformation been completed?"

"Sister Feng's transformation should be almost complete, right?"

"Not quite there yet, but I'm eager to see your path!" Feng Yanleng's gaze was intense, his hands resting on his sword and knife respectively, his fighting spirit surging.

An Ruyu stared intently, then whispered, "Sister Feng, you'll die."

The girl in Hongyi raised her head, as proud as a phoenix, and said, "You are welcome to try!"

As Feng Yanleng Leng's aura grew increasingly sharp and unstoppable, An Ruyu's aura became increasingly faint and almost nonexistent, as if it had merged into this world.

Soon, Feng Yanleng realized that the laws of heaven and earth were leaving her!

"Interesting." Feng Yanleng's gaze was intense, more pleased than surprised. Was this the transformation An Ruyu had achieved?

She lowered her hand from the hilt of the sword and focused her attention on the sword in her hand.

The Sword Intent burned to its zenith, and the wind and waves of heaven and earth seemed to freeze, even the ripples on the river surface were frozen in a single moment.

Feng Yanleng's figure, similar to An Ruyu's earlier one, began to blur, but a phantom became increasingly clear behind her—the manifestation of her Primordial Spirit, burning at this moment.

The terrifying atmosphere of the standoff between the two sides made the Demon Beast at the bottom of the river want to escape but dare not!

However, in the next moment, the world changed before their eyes!

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

They appeared at the bow and stern of a raft.

A man of modest height stood between them, propelling the boat forward. He had a bronze complexion, wore faded linen clothes, was barefoot, and his trousers were rolled up to his knees. He chuckled and joked:

"You haven't even completed your metamorphosis, yet you dare to fight to the death? One of you burned your Primordial Spirit, and the other merged with the Void —you two are truly courageous. Fortunately, I, Old Mo, intervened in time today; otherwise, losing one of you would have been a tremendous loss to the martial world!"

As he finished speaking, the man proudly puffed out his chest. If it weren't for him, the martial arts world would have been missing a stunning beauty. What a great contribution!

Old Mo...

A name that had recently risen to the top of Martial Dao flashed through An Ruyu's mind.

Feng Yanleng's eyes lit up, and he instinctively reached out and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, exclaiming in surprise, "You're the Great Hero Mo?"

Her greatest love in life was swords, and the person before her was the greatest swordsman in the world.

Old Mo gave a thumbs up and said, "You have a good eye, heroine."

An Ruyu seemed to be deep in thought. This person had visited their Sacred Cult not long ago, but unfortunately she was not there that day and was unable to witness his battle with the Heavenly King.

And the news from the preaching--

The opponent didn't use a knife, but only a fist technique, yet he fought the Heavenly King to a standstill!

This person's true strength is definitely not just sixth on the Heaven Ranking!

After that battle, two mothers even issued orders at the same time: one was to do everything possible to eliminate him, and the other was to try their best to win him over.

Faced with these two conflicting decrees, even the Heavenly King Qingxuzi, the protector of the faith, could only shake his head.

Most importantly, Yu Tunzhou suddenly changed from being Lu Huaiqing's successor to becoming the successor of this Great Hero Mo's fist technique.

An Ruyu's mind was in turmoil. If she wanted to understand Yu Tunzhou, the person in front of her was clearly the best way.

Old Mo took the two women with him and steered the river raft towards the Divine Capital.

Along the way, Old Mo, who claimed to have saved two lost girls, volunteered to tell them his story in order to ease the tension, so that the world would not completely forget him, Mo Laoliu, if he never returned from this journey.

So Old Mo said seriously, "The world of martial arts is a long and winding road; it can't be all about fighting and killing. Why don't I tell you two a story?"

"Hmm, a very cliché... tale of a damsel in distress saving a hero."

An Ruyu sat at the stern of the boat, resting her chin on her hand, her black hair fluttering in the river breeze.

Feng Yanleng listened to the story of the Great Hero Mo with great interest, but she found it tedious.

She wasn't interested in stories of female knights and young heroes, after all, she wasn't a female knight.

She is the Incense-Smelling Holy Maiden, but according to the martial arts world, she belongs to the evil and unorthodox path; that is, a demoness or a witch.

The story then leads into the Luofu Grotto-Heaven.

She finally became interested and wanted to learn more about the guy surnamed Yu from him.

How exactly did this guy manage to gain the favor of Great Hero Mo and Lu Huaiqing at the same time?

Upon hearing that the young man had entered the celestial realm, he was met with hostility or indifference from various factions, especially given the precedent set by Lu Huaiqing, Yu Tunzhou's situation was destined to become even more difficult...

An Ruyu suddenly froze.

She looked down at her reflection in the river and felt that she could probably understand the boy's feelings.

But after hearing about the boy's experiences over the next three years, in Old Mo's eyes, this guy surnamed Yu seemed to the Unseen with a Dao and Virtue force, not trying to please anyone, but betting that heaven would not abandon those who help themselves...

An Ruyu narrowed her eyes again, a rare occurrence for her.

This guy is definitely different from her.

When Old Mo described the audacity of someone challenging the Martial Ancestor, Feng Yanleng Leng asked curiously, "Did that person really have the qualifications to challenge the Martial Ancestor back then?"

Old Mo's answer was that at that time, Yu Tunzhou was indeed qualified to make Martial Ancestor throw a punch.

An Ruyu, however, keenly noticed something.

During this process, Old Mo did not seem to mention that he taught the Yu Tunzhou Boat Fist.

However, during his journey of seeking out masters on the Fist Heaven Ranking, this Great Hero Mo claimed more than once that he had found a successor for his fist technique.

Did Great Hero Mo deliberately skip this point?

She lowered her eyes in thought.

Finally, she asked the question that mattered most to her, "Why did Yu Tunzhou ask Martial Ancestor for his fist technique back then? Was that his true intention?"

Was it Lu Huaiqing's dying wish, or Yu Tunzhou already cleverly and keenly foreseen that if he didn't challenge the fist technique, he might face certain death?

And the answer from Great Hero Mo was:

"You brat, you don't know your place."

"Great Hero Mo, is this a derogatory or complimentary term?" An Ruyu asked with a smile.

"Of course it's a compliment," Old Mo grinned and laughed heartily. "Young people should be spirited, arrogant, and ignorant of their own limitations. Before throwing a punch, they should have the unparalleled courage of the world!"

When this journey reaches its destination.

Old Mo casually tossed the straw hat he had taken off to Feng Yanleng, then flicked his finger and gifted An Ruyu a wisp of sword energy.

He pondered, "I've gone to such lengths to pave the way for Tunzhou, and now that I've given him the gift, surely a romance might blossom in the future?"

"Isn't Great Hero Mo being a little biased?" An Ruyu asked, blinking as she looked at the bamboo hat.

The Old Mo feigned ignorance and said, "Ah, I've loved red since I was a child."

Feng Yanleng put on his straw hat, proudly raised his head, and couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

The girl in white, who had never lost in her life, seemed to have suffered a crushing defeat at this moment.

With the departure of the Great Hero Mo, An Ruyu also parted ways with Feng Yanleng Leng.

She headed north, intending to reach Pinghu County.

She pondered to herself, wondering when she would meet that guy surnamed Yu.

Before killing him, she decided she had to Wenqing —why risk her life to question the Martial Ancestor when she was about to leave the town alive to make up for three years of struggling to survive?

She wanted to see whether Lu Huaiqing had chosen a fool or someone who thought himself clever.

Another month later.

The ancient Ascension Platform once again received a signal, and each family used it to send their younger generation into the old site of the Heavenly Court.

An Ruyu entered the Heavenly Court Fragment, coldly observing the battle between Feng Yanleng and Deng Canglan.

The Heavenly Court ruins site was opened at the Southern Heavenly Gate, which is only the outermost edge and has little value for exploration.

Therefore, she chose to step into the Black Tide to temper her own Primordial Spirit.

The key to her Form Refinement Perfection development lies in her own Primordial Spirit, which is similar to but also completely different from Deng Canglan's Heavenly Demon Path.

The black wind howled, like a blade scraping bone.

In the distance, martial artists strode forward, searching for shelter. No one in the Black Tide could withstand the onslaught, but upon seeing the white-clad figure not far away, their expressions changed, and they turned and left without hesitation.

An Ruyu ignored it.

She stood quietly in the wind, her black hair flying in the wind, gazing into the depths of the Heavenly Court, her eyes filled with expectation and fervor.

Suddenly, she sensed the unusual movement of the Heavenly Court Fragment.

She glanced to the side.

A figure, braving the black storm, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and proclaimed from afar:

"My name is Guo Jing. May I ask your name, friend?"

A strange light flashed in An Ruyu's eyes.

How could someone who has entered the grotto-heaven not recognize themselves?

"I am Feng Yanleng." Her smile was reserved yet radiant, an imitation of Sister Feng, who surely wouldn't mind.

But soon, this Young Hero Guo saw through her.

Even after she revealed her real name, the other person's expression remained unchanged.

An Ruyu was somewhat curious; whose chick was this?

An Ruyu stepped forward, her face filled with concern, and said, "Young Hero Guo, the road ahead is dangerous. Heroine Feng has clashed with the Evil Dao scoundrel Deng Canglan, and they are now fighting separately. Let me go with you so we can take care of each other."

"Thank you for your kindness, Heroine An." Young Hero Guo bowed and politely declined, "However, I am used to traveling alone and am not comfortable with companions. Farewell!"

An Ruyu felt a little regretful.

This Young Hero Guo is clearly a novice, but his vigilance far surpasses that of others. In addition, he possesses Heavenly Court Fragment and can leave at any time, so he has no chance to succeed this time.

Judging from this person's personality, it seems that they will never trust someone who has deceived them even once.

However, these same people are also often unguarded with those they trust.

If we meet again, I should first try to gain his trust before trying to seize the Heavenly Court Fragment from him.

In addition, we need to investigate this person's identity to see if they are from overseas.

About ten days later.

Pinghu County.

An Ruyu arrived quietly, met with Zhang Yan and Wang Fujing, and gave the order to storm the county government office. She also met with Wang Fujing afterwards.

"Uncle Wang, it's been a long time," An Ruyu said with a smile.

She sat in the main seat in the hall, her plain white dress spread out on the chair, her hands folded on her knees, her posture dignified and graceful, but her clear eyes revealed little warmth.

Looking at the girl in front of him, whose features were so clear and beautiful, and who seemed like a completely different person from back then, Wang Fujing's eyes were filled with complex emotions, including relief, pain, and sadness.

The bewildered and helpless little girl from back then is long gone.

Only the Incense-Smelling Holy Maiden remains today, a woman of deep thoughts and decisive methods, whose mind is so unpredictable that even the Heavenly King of the sect struggles to grasp her intentions.

Over the years, all the elderly members of the church who were involved in the events of that year have been "disappearing" one after another, and now it's his turn.

This is probably what "severing ties with the world" means.

Wang Fujing chuckled to himself, thinking to himself that it was about time for him to be called.

"Why isn't Uncle Wang speaking?" An Ruyu asked with a slight smile. "Is he afraid?"

Wang Fujing smiled wryly, looked deeply at the girl before him, and said sincerely, "One day, try to leave the Sacred Cult. The old mothers are at odds, and even Qingxuzi dares not interfere. As the Holy Maiden, if you stay any longer, you will inevitably be drawn into the old mothers' struggle."

"Instigated the Holy Maiden to flee the Sacred Cult?" An Ruyu smiled, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "Uncle Wang, your audacity remains as strong as ever."

She paused, her gaze falling out the window:

"You don't need to worry about these things. The church has already seen your efforts in Pinghu County. Prepare for the evacuation tomorrow morning; someone will come to meet you."

Wang Fujing's lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

In the end, he still couldn't bring himself to say the apology.

The following morning.

With the help of his fellow believers, Wang Fujing left Pinghu County.

After walking for a long time along the mountain path, the slightly overweight Wang Fujing wiped the sweat from his forehead and panted, saying:

"Friend, where are we going?"

The person in front ignored him and kept walking.

Wang Fujing sighed inwardly. Was this a way of torturing him a little longer before silencing him?

They walked to the riverbank, and upon seeing the boat ahead, Wang Fujing was filled with doubt and wonder: where was it taking him?

If it's just about silencing them, any place in the mountains ahead will do.

"We've arrived, Old Wang, let's get on the boat."

The masked man who had led him here finally spoke, and his voice was strangely familiar.

Wang Fujing's pupils constricted sharply, and he blurted out, "Lu Yi? Weren't you dead?!"

The masked man kicked Wang Fujing onto the boat, saying irritably, "Laozi die, who's going to pick you up? Enough nonsense, get on the boat now. From today onwards, you're 'dead'!"

In the Wang Household mansion in Pinghu County.

"Holy Maiden, Wang Fujing has been taken away." Zhang Yan knelt on one knee and said respectfully.

An Ruyu stood by the window and responded softly.

Her profile appeared exceptionally soft in the morning light, like a Bodhisattva statue carved from white jade, compassionate yet distant.

Zhang Yan, who had secretly glanced at the list, felt that the titles on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking were indeed correct!

The Holy Maiden is indeed the [Thousand-Handed Jade Guanyin]!

"Get ready, we're going to storm the government office tonight."

"Yes!"

That night, An Ruyu led her men to storm the Pinghu County government office, severely injuring the person in charge of the Gold-Wielding Guard there with a single palm strike. When she tried to sense the fragment using Secret Method, there was no response from the government office.

Suddenly, she sensed a connection emanating from the Heavenly Court Fragment and, without hesitation, abandoned the place and followed the connection.

Soon, a few streets away, she spotted a familiar figure and couldn't help but look on with curiosity.

It turns out that Young Hero Guo is not from overseas.

He didn't recognize himself, yet he possessed Heavenly Court Fragment, and the people around him were the representatives of the Yuhe Zhang Household who had entered the grotto-heaven in this generation...

The girl blinked.

So, Young Hero Guo is actually Young Hero Yu.

Last time, he only lied to Young Hero Guo with one sentence, but Young Hero Guo didn't tell a single truth.

The corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed as they turned up in a smile.

I never expected to meet you here; it's truly an unexpected and wonderful coincidence.

The next moment, she gracefully stepped out, her bright, clear eyes blinking with delight, and said:

"Young Hero Guo, is that really you?"

"Young Hero Guo's " expression suddenly turned serious, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Seeing Young Hero Guo's tense expression, An Ruyu suddenly had the idea of recruiting him into the sect.

Then, Young Hero Guo fooled her once again and jumped into the river to escape.

Young Hero Guo is indeed a big liar.

In the end of this farcical chase that spanned hundreds of miles.

An Ruyu asked Young Hero Guo a question.

I originally only wanted to ask why they wanted to ask about boxing, but for some reason, the words that came out of my mouth were:

"Young Hero Guo, between red and white, which color do you prefer?"

She thought about it afterward and figured it was probably because Sister Wind raised her head too high when she put on her straw hat.

Then, Young Hero Guo's answer satisfied her.

She decided that in their future encounters, until Young Hero Guo had grown strong enough for her to "hunt" him, she would not tell him a single lie.

You need to gain people's trust first.

Several months later.

An Ruyu returned to the main altar from Northern Plains and reported the results of his trip.

The messenger of the Earth-Surging Mother came to visit.

The messenger was hunched over, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood, making his expression impossible to discern. His tone, though seemingly respectful, was in fact coercive:

"Holy Maiden, the Old Mother asks when you plan to deal with that Yu Tunzhou."

An Ruyu sat behind the desk, her long white dress spread out, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, her posture leisurely like a fairy in a painting.

When questioned by the envoy, she smiled and said, "Yu Tunzhou's whereabouts are unpredictable; even within the sect, it's difficult to find his tracks. Let my mother wait a little longer. If I encounter him next time, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"

Side Story 3: Soaring Across the Nine Heavens (Free, can be skipped)

Many years ago, deep in the dense forests of Northern Plains.

The two fled in panic. The patterns on their robes symbolized their origins from the Heavenly Demon Sect, and judging from their aura, both were at the Early Divine Ability Stage.

Not long ago, the Heavenly Demon Sect, Yellow Springs Mountain, and Blood River Dao, along with half of the Six Paths of Evil and Demons, mobilized to intercept and kill Lu Huaiqing, who was on his way to take up a post as the governor of the Northern Dark Continent.

But in the end, it still failed.

Whether it was an internal spy or Lu Huaiqing had anticipated this and instead orchestrated an ambush to kill them, it is unclear.

The two men were on the outskirts gathering intelligence. They managed to escape by sheer luck and fled into the deep mountains in a panic.

Just when the two thought they had shaken off their pursuers and were preparing to rest for a while...

At the end of the mountain road ahead, a person was standing there.

It was a Daoist priest, standing casually in the mountains and forests, his back to them, looking up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.

"Who?" the leading youth shouted in a low voice, his hand already on the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The man turned around, revealing an unremarkable face. A gray sparrow perched on his shoulder, preening its feathers with its beak.

"Two at the Early Divine Ability Stage," he muttered to himself. "I am currently at the Late Divine Ability Stage, hmm, two realms higher than you. One against two, about right."

The two suddenly looked despairing.

Simply because they recognized the person in front of them.

Chen Fuyou of Heavenly Peng Daoist Temple!

Since his debut, this person has never lost a fight. Even with his bad reputation, it means that he has a 100% chance of winning every time he takes a move.

One of them, with nowhere left to retreat, a resolute glint in his eyes, suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter:

"Daoist Fuyao? Hahaha! Chen Fuyou! You, who only know how to bully the weak, actually dare to become Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo? I—"

Before he could even utter the word "spit," a hand had already gripped his throat.

Too fast!

Before he could even see how the person made the move, his neck was gripped tightly by an iron clamp-like hand, rendering his internal Gang Qi useless against it.

He then suddenly remembered that the person in front of him had been described for many years as having the appearance of "soaring across the nine heavens".

This statement was not initially a compliment, but rather a genuine sarcasm.

It was used to mock this person for their quick escape and disengagement, never putting themselves in danger.

The original words were. "His ability to escape is truly soaring across the heavens."

However, as this person climbed higher and higher, forging the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo in the Divine Ability Realm, and after the manifestation of the Primordial Spirit Inner Form, he actually had a bit of the aura of "spreading his wings and soaring across the nine heavens"!

That Dao Sprout Immortal Foundation is the pinnacle of the Divine Ability Realm. Countless Divine Ability Martial Artists cannot even see the threshold, let alone step into it!

now.

The man whose neck was locked by the Daoist priest was still unwilling to give up, and sneered, "Chen Fuyou, is your Martial Dao just about bullying the weak?"

The Daoist priest showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he smiled and said, "What realm and strength do you possess? Do you even deserve to discuss Martial Dao with me?"

The man wanted to say something more, but the Daoist priest didn't give him the chance.

Two sharp sounds followed.

The two bodies lay there in the forest.

After doing all this, the Daoist's clothes were not disheveled at all. The gray sparrow on his shoulder tilted its head and looked at him, raising its wings to indicate that it was heading in another direction.

Chen Fuyou looked up and shook his head, saying, "That's not advisable. That Yellow Crane Rogue Person is a martial artist at the Late Divine Ability Stage realm, the same level as me. Although I am seriously injured, I am too precious to exchange my injuries for my life with him."

The gray sparrow chirped a few times, flapping its wings, looking rather disappointed in the sparrow.

"See, you're in such a hurry again." The Daoist priest didn't seem to care at all. "I've taken their money, so I'm obligated to solve their problems. Lu Huaiqing didn't pay me to deal with someone at the Late Divine Ability Stage."

"Certainly."

He suddenly smiled.

Even if he pays, I will only take the money and not do the service.

The gray sparrow's wings covered its eyes, as if it couldn't bear to look at anything.

The Daoist priest, however, paid no attention. He looked up, straining his gaze, seemingly searching for something.

A Daoist named Chen Fuyou has been having the same dream since childhood, in which he seems to have returned to the primordial era and faced the last Final Tribulation.

Someone repeatedly told him that the Final Tribulation was approaching, this would be the last chance, and the ancient, self-proclaimed Immortals and Gods were destined to return for a final gamble, at which point the order of heaven and earth would collapse.

At that time, how will you, Chen Fuyou, conduct yourself, and how will you untangle this knot, striving to create a glimmer of hope for the Mortal Realm living beings?

At this very moment.

The Daoist priest, standing with his hands behind his back, sighed:

"This is the real unsolvable problem."

Only such difficult problems and formidable enemies could arouse his great interest.

Thinking of this, the Daoist's eyes gleamed, and he turned to leave.

This time, upon returning to the Western Desert, it's time to start working on the External Scenery.

Once one breaks through the External Scenery, one will no longer need to travel outside; one can focus solely on seclusion and breakthrough.

Decades later.

As if without anyone noticing, Daoist Fuyao, who had quietly reached the Peak External Scenery and given all the martial artists in the world a "surprise," arrived in the Northern Dark Continent and finally met his "employer" from many years ago, Lu Huaiqing.

Northern Dark Continent, Solitary Blade Peak.

Snowflakes filled the sky, covering the entire mountain peak in pure white.

Lu Huaiqing stood atop the mountain, his blue robe fluttering in the north wind, his expression calm as he gazed at the Northern Sea, which was about to become a battlefield.

Behind me, I heard footsteps crunching through the snow.

"Senior Lu, I've long admired you."

The middle-aged Daoist priest smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. Just like many years ago, a shivering gray sparrow was nestled on his shoulder. His words were respectful, but his tone was casual, revealing little respect.

"Congratulations, Fellow Fuyao, on ranking fifth on the Earth Ranking." Lu Huaiqing turned around and smiled, "The Heavenly Peng Daoist Temple has finally produced a pillar of strength."

In the martial arts world, anyone who enters the External Scenery can be revered as Grandmaster, but only those who enter the Earth Ranking are truly deserving of the title of External Scenery Grandmaster.

To Grandmaster, one must be at least in the top twenty of the Earth Ranking or at least at the External Scenery Fifth Layer.

Several years ago, Chen Fuyou, who had disappeared from the martial arts world for decades, reappeared and had leaped from the Late Divine Ability Stage to the Peak External Scenery.

For him, there seemed to be no bottleneck between realms; he only needed to focus on seclusion.

The reason this person appeared in the world was because the Heavenly Peng Daoist Temple had offended Grandmaster Earth Ranking the External Scenery Fourth Layer, who then came to their door to attack.

The latter ranked forty-ninth on the Earth Ranking, but unfortunately encountered the Daoist Fuyao, who was skilled at bullying the weak.

The ending was as expected.

Afterwards, the Jixia Academy ranked Daoist Fuyao tenth on the Earth Ranking!

Upon entering the rankings, he immediately rose to tenth place on the Earth Ranking, surpassing half of the Grandmaster. This ranking instantly caused a sensation throughout the land.

The explanation given by the Jixia Academy is that the extreme Yang True Intention displayed by Daoist Fuyao in that battle has surpassed the performance of Heavenly Peng Daoist at the Peak External Scenery, demonstrating that the student has surpassed the teacher.

Giving the tenth place is reasonable and justifiable.

Just when everyone thought that this Grandmaster, who had risen from behind to surpass all his peers and become the first to enter the top ranks of the Earth Ranking, was about to gradually wash away his past "shame"...

This man, however, remained true to his original aspirations, refusing several challenges from Grandmaster. He then took action to settle scores with the powerful enemies Heavenly Peng Daoist Temple had provoke during his seclusion, as well as the old enemies who had troubled and hunted him down in the past.

Those targeted in this purge ranged from those with Divine Ability to those with External Scenery.

One of them was a powerful figure at the External Scenery Second Layer, who also had a past connection with the royal family, but Chen Fuyou showed no mercy.

After killing this person, Ji Yaoyang, who had been stationed in the Divine Capital for many years and ranked tenth on the Heaven Ranking, actually took action himself to capture Chen Fuyou and bring him to the Divine Capital to confess his crimes!

Even with Ji Yaoyang's personal intervention, he was unable to defeat him.

After all, it was once "soaring across the nine heavens."

After many years, his ability to escape has not only not diminished, but has greatly improved, truly possessing the aura of extreme speed in the world, even the Dharma Aspect is difficult to deal with for a time!

And this is just the beginning.

After that, Yellow Springs Daoist was ranked eighth on the Heaven Ranking at the time, also made a move, but to no avail, as the opponent escaped repeatedly.

Later, news spread that the Heavenly Demon Kou Ziling, who had disappeared for many years, actually came out of seclusion specifically to seek out Daoist Fuyao.

But what the final outcome will be remains to be seen.

And so, with each of these "escapes," his ranking steadily climbed, from tenth to fifth.

He is also the only one in the world who did not rise to the top by challenging those ranked higher, but rather proved his strength by repeatedly escaping from the clutches of the top experts on the Heaven Ranking...

Today, this person's reputation has gone from Dao and Virtue to being both praised and criticized.

After all, strength is everything, and the fact that he has been able to escape from the clutches of the Dharma Aspect multiple times is enough to prove his strength.

Furthermore, for all sects and factions, such Grandmaster, who is extremely fast and shameless, is someone who should absolutely not be provoked.

"I wonder what brings Senior Lu here?" Daoist Fuyao joked. "If it's the same job as before, then the price will have to be negotiated."

Lu Huaiqing smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, you guessed correctly. I invited you here because I wish to ask you to live and die with the Northern Dark Sea."

Daoist Fuyao was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. "I never imagined that in Lu Huaiqing's eyes, I would appear to be such a person with a heart for the greater good of the world!"

"It is truly an honor!"

"Unfortunately..."

He shook his head regretfully, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"This cemetery in the Northern Dark Continent is far too small; it cannot hold me, Chen Fuyou."

Looking at the Daoist priest who acted so freely before him, Lu Huaiqing felt a pang of emotion.

For nearly a century, people have generally agreed that the most talented martial artist was Lu Huaiqing, who lived ninety years ago.

As for those who came after Lu Huaiqing, there are many more, such as Jiang Wenxuan of the Jiang Household, the Liaokong monk Shaolin Temple, and the Fazhen of Evergreen Mountain...

These people are all Grandmaster who rank high on the Earth Ranking.

In Lu Huaiqing's eyes, after himself, the person with the highest talent and ability was none other than the Daoist Fuyao before him.

Lu Huaiqing smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Fuyao, have you thought about the path after you attain the Dharma Aspect?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fuyou seemed intrigued and said:

"Everyone in the world believes that I lack the heart of Martial Dao and am unable to break through to the Dharma Aspect. Does Senior Lu have another insight?"

Regarding whether the rising star, Daoist Fuyao, has a chance to break through to the Dharma Aspect, opinions vary widely.

It wasn't until several powerful Dharma Aspect experts spoke up, stating that Chen Fuyou was definitely not among those on the Earth Ranking who had the potential to advance further.

Because this person lacks a Martial Dao heart, or rather, his heart is not pure.

He quickly broke through the realm before the External Scenery by relying on his "cleverness". This self-deceptive method has already cut off his path forward and he is destined to fail the Dao Heart Inquiry of the Dharma Aspect.

Ji Yaoyang believes that Chen Fuyou has never taken Martial Dao seriously; to him, Martial Dao is merely a tool, not the true path.

The Yellow Springs Daoist said that although Chen Fuyou had forged Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo, his path to the External Scenery was fragmented, and it was a miracle that he could reach the Peak External Scenery.

"What exactly is Martial Dao to you, fellow Daoist?" Lu Huaiqing asked instead of answering.

"Martial Dao is the Way, and the Way has no distinction of high or low," Chen Fuyou said calmly.

Lu Huaiqing then asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you know that the path of the Heavenly Peng lineage, after reaching the extreme of Yang, is to generate Yin?"

"Yin arises from yang, and yang arises from yin; I know this, but I will not take it," Chen Fuyou laughed. "Our lineage's patriarch was determined to revive the Kunpeng's path, but I believe that the Heavenly Peng, bearing the Great Dao and embracing the Azure Netherworld, is not necessarily inferior to the Kunpeng."

Upon hearing this, Lu Huaiqing smiled again and asked, "When did you decide on the path of Dharma Aspect, fellow Daoist?"

"Divine Ability." Chen Fuyou smiled.

Lu Huaiqing threw his head back and laughed, his suspicions now completely confirmed.

Not long ago, after anticipating that the war in the Northern Dark Sea was inevitable, Lu Huaiqing visited several Dharma Aspect.

One of them was the Heavenly Demon Kou Ziling.

It was by chance that he learned that the [Heavenly Demon], who was recognized by the world as the most skilled in "calculation," actually regarded Chen Fuyou as a kindred spirit.

He even praised this Daoist Fuyao, saying that if he were to join the Star Palace or the Jixia Academy, he could revive his lineage and become the first person since High Antiquity times to enter the Tao through divination.

Lu Huaiqing could tell that the Daoist Fuyao before him actually surpassed Kou Ziling in talent and ability in the art of "calculation".

This is absolutely incredible!

The true talent of this Daoist Fuyao lies not in Martial Dao at all!

How could a martial artist skilled in calculation possibly have no plan for his future path?

After a thorough investigation, Lu Huaiqing began to have some guesses.

At this moment, Lu Huaiqing asked, "Why are you so eager to break through to the next realm, even unwilling to hone your skills at certain crucial stages?"

With his talent, he is highly likely to achieve great success in the Form Refinement realm.

But he happened to stay the shortest.

He lingered in the Divine Ability Realm for quite some time, until he finally forged the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo.

The subsequent External Scenery were rushed and lacked precision.

Lu Huaiqing could only deduce that he was rushing towards the finish line at top speed, without lingering over the scenery along the way.

Is this person's ultimate goal merely External Scenery, or Dharma Aspect?

Chen Fuyou was silent for a moment, then sighed, "In the end, time waits for no one."

The fantastical dreams of his childhood have left Chen Fuyou with an unsolvable problem.

This unsolvable problem, left to him by someone unknown, had long since become his inner demon.

And finally, his answer was:

Could I be a level above them?

Are the ancient Immortals and Gods about to return and reclaim their rule over this world?

It's alright. Even if they return, they will need time to adapt to the rules of heaven and earth and recover to a higher realm. So I will reach a higher realm before them.

What will become of the ancient Immortals and Gods and immortals then?

Using one's location to intimidate others, one punch will still kill them.

But he didn't have much time left.

That's far from enough to allow him to steadily make his way to the end.

Therefore, he had to find a "shortcut" to quickly break through the current level.

In this world, some people are invincible among their peers, while others can fight against opponents of higher levels. Ultimately, this is because these people have reached an extreme level in their current or even earlier realm.

The cost, naturally, is that they spend more time, more resources, and more energy.

Chen Fuyou's goal was not to gain combat strength at the same level, but simply to break through to a higher realm quickly.

However, this is a paradox.

If you break through to a higher realm too quickly, your foundation will inevitably be weakened. No matter how fast you progress in the beginning, you will eventually encounter a dead end.

Therefore, some trade-offs must be made.

But where should we give up, and where should we keep?

How should we strike the right balance in this process?

And who dares to claim they can control it?

Since High Antiquity times, only the Chen Fuyou.

Therefore, throughout his life, he has never reached the pinnacle; he has always remained just...

Just right.

From the moment he began to Qi Ingestion, he had already "predicted" the paths to the two future realms.

In the Qi Ingestion Realm, he spent a lot of time forging his Immortal Foundation, but he quickly broke through the Form Refinement Realm without any ambition to expand further. After breaking through to the Divine Ability Realm, he spent a lot of time forging his Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo.

When Chen Fuyou was forging the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo, he had already conceived the path to his future Dharma Aspect.

In fact, the time it took him to break through to the Peak External Scenery was much shorter than people thought.

For most of these decades, he has been deducing the path after the Dharma Aspect.

Only after seeing the path did he begin to disregard everything and rapidly push his cultivation level to the Peak External Scenery.

This is also why Yellow Springs Daoist said his journey through the External Scenery was a complete disaster.

He anticipates that he will remain at the Peak External Scenery for five to ten years before breaking through to the Dharma Aspect in one fell swoop.

Once you break through to the Dharma Aspect, reaching the Peak Dharma Aspect Realm is actually a simple matter, which is why he chose the Heavenly Peng Roc inheritance.

Within the Heavenly Peng Daoist Temple, there exists Dragon-Swallowing Secret Technique, which allows one to devour the flesh and blood, and Primordial Spirit, of Dragon Race to rapidly enhance oneself.

Although the side effects are severe, as long as he reaches the Peak Dharma Aspect Realm before the great change in the world, it doesn't matter if his foundation is unstable. At that time, by taking advantage of the key to the great change in the world, he will have the opportunity to forcibly take the final step.

At that time.

He would be a realm higher than those High Antiquity Immortals and Gods who returned to the world and needed time to recover their former glory.

And so, this seemingly unsolvable problem now has a "solution".

The world laughs at Daoist Fuyao for only bullying the weak, saying that the path of Martial Dao is narrow and difficult.

But no one knows that this tiny mayfly never looks at anyone in the world.

That is why he had absolutely no interest in Lu Huaiqing's suggestion.

Compared to his enemies overseas, what he truly cared about were the ancient Immortals and Gods and immortals who were about to return.

But at the end of this meeting...

Chen Fuyou agreed to Lu Huaiqing's suggestion.

He agreed to stay in the Northern Dark Continent and Northern Dark Continent and die with it.

Because Lu Huaiqing, that madman, actually wanted to drag him into a high-stakes gamble.

He didn't understand why Chen Fuyou was so determined to make every second count, but he could try to give Chen Fuyou a chance.

An opportunity to break through to the Dharma Aspect ahead of schedule.

From the moment she embarked on the Martial Dao, Chen Fuyou had already staked everything on the gambling table.

However, it wasn't until they reached the Peak External Scenery that Chen Fuyou discovered a flaw in her deductions.

That is... he didn't know how many Dragon Race remained overseas, or if there were enough for him to break through to the next realm.

Therefore, he must buy some more time.

Therefore, he couldn't refuse Lu Huaiqing's suggestion; in fact, he was more than happy to accept it.

At the end of this conversation.

Chen Fuyou suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Lu, do you think things would have turned out differently if we had known each other before?"

During this conversation, Chen Fuyou finally learned why this martial artist, who was hailed as the most talented in a century, had been unable to break through to the Dharma Aspect for so long, and also understood where his confidence came from, daring to say that he would seize a Dharma Aspect position for himself.

The root of all this lies in the [Cosmic Heaven Grand Array] that is about to be deployed!

if...

If they could do it all over again, with their superior deduction skills leading the way in deduce and comprehend the Cosmic Heaven Grand Array, and with Lu Huaiqing stepping into the Dharma Aspect and continuously breaking through to new heights...

Lu Huaiqing simply smiled and said, "Life doesn't need to be looked back upon."

This was the first time Chen Fuyou had felt admiration for anyone in his time other than himself.

Several years later.

On the battlefield of the Northern Dark Sea, blood has long since stained the vast expanse of the Northern Sea red.

A massive rift opened above the clouds, and deep within it hung a cold, indifferent eye—it had not yet fully descended, but each glance it gave caused the seas to boil and the earth to crack.

Directly below the rift, a Heavenly Peng Dharma Form stood against the azure sky, its entire body radiating a pale golden flame of supreme yang and strength. Its wings spread wide, blotting out the sun and sky, its gaze sweeping over the world with unparalleled arrogance.

Beneath the Heavenly Peng, a Daoist priest stood with his hands behind his back.

His Daoist robe was soaked in blood, indistinguishable between that of someone else and his own.

Beneath his feet lay the corpse of a true dragon, thousands of feet long, lying in the sea.

The dragon's head had been severed at the neck, and golden dragon blood gushed out, dyeing a large area of the sea a striking golden color.

This scene drew fervent adoration from countless Northern Dark Sea warriors behind them.

This is truly soaring through the heavens!

now.

Before the cold and angry pupils in the sky, the Daoist grinned maliciously, and with a flick of his sleeve, he gathered the dragon corpse along with the scattered essence and Blood Qi into his pocket.

The Dragon-Swallowing Secret Technique has been further developed.

After this battle, he can finally shed that "half-step" prefix.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you will never regret buying me at least five years. This will be the most correct and heroic deed you have ever done in your life."

Side Story 4: Deng Canglan and the Buddhist Disciple (Free, skipping is not recommended)

Looking at the scene ahead--

Deng Canglan felt he had probably gone mad.

On his way here, he imagined a hundred different scenarios of meeting the Buddha.

For example, one may have a dignified appearance, a pure heart, and be free from worldly emotions; one may simply sit upright on a meditation cushion and quietly recite scriptures.

Or perhaps they are born with rosy lips and white teeth, like the women of the Bao Household, who are born with a Buddha-like appearance, such as having forty teeth and an innately pure and serene appearance.

Or perhaps, at a young age, they possess a pair of compassionate eyes that see through the ways of the world, feeling pity for the suffering of living beings, unable to bear harming even mosquitoes, and able to see through the worries in their hearts with just a glance...

But he never considered this particular one.

Ahead.

The vegetable garden fence was crooked and leaning.

A brightly colored rooster stands proudly on the ridge, surveying its surroundings with disdain.

A young monk, sleeves rolled up, holding a broken-handled broom in his left hand and a stone in his right, stood in tense confrontation with the pheasant, his expression menacing.

"You ruined my vegetable garden and destroyed my broom! Today, I'll stew you alive!"

A white fox, round and plump from eating, lay sprawled against the wall. It lazily rolled over, exposing its belly to the sun, too lazy to even lift its eyelids.

"Goo-goo--"

The pheasant tilted its head and glanced at the ground with disdain, as if to say, "Can you even hit me?"

Then Deng Canglan saw the Future Buddha chosen by the Vajra Chan Temple. He pounced and swept his broom across, but the pheasant easily dodged it, and he himself fell into a pile of cabbages.

The Buddhist disciple immediately got up, then fell again, and tumbled once more.

After going back and forth five or six times, the Buddhist disciple's eyes gleamed, and with swift eyes and hands, he accurately smashed a stone onto the chicken leg.

"Cluck cluck!" The pheasant lost its footing and fell into the vegetable garden.

The Buddhist disciple immediately pounced on it, ignoring the mud on his face, grabbed the pheasant, pulled it up by the neck, and his eyes crinkled with laughter.

"Buddha, for this humble monk can finally eat meat today!"

The sunlight shone brightly on his bald forehead.

Deng Canglan, who had been dazzled by the Buddhist monk, suddenly felt relieved.

Yes.

I almost forgot something.

The day he became a disciple of his master, his master said that he had long gone mad, and even praised him for being so mad that he was truly a rare find in the world. Even he himself couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for his talent, so he made an exception and accepted him as a disciple, hoping that he would cultivate well and inherit the lineage of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the future.

No wonder, no wonder.

As the saying goes, "Without madness, how can one become a Buddha!"

He and the Buddhist disciple were indeed kindred spirits!

"Who are you? Are you from the mountain?"

A clear, crisp voice rang out, Dingguang, carrying a chicken, curiously examined the gray-robed monk who had appeared out of nowhere.

Deng Canglan opened his mouth, meeting those bright, clear eyes. The words "This humble monk comes from Little Thunderclap Temple" caught in his throat, but he felt they were superfluous.

So he put his hands together and said in a serious tone:

"My Buddhist name is Miemo. I have come here specifically to learn Buddhist teachings from you."

Upon Dingguang, Dingguang discreetly hid the pheasant behind his back and said seriously:

"Come back another day."

Tonight is a good time for an extra meal, but not for extra seating.

Deng Canglan had no choice but to use his trump card. "To be honest, Master, I have known Brother Yu Tunzhou for a long time."

"Oh."

Dingguang remained unmoved.

In the past two years, many people have tried to curry favor by using his senior's name, and he has become accustomed to it.

Besides, it's been two years, and my senior brother hasn't come to see me yet. He must have found a junior brother outside, just like in the book.

Seeing that the Buddhist disciple remained unmoved, Deng Canglan thought to himself, "He truly deserves to be called the Buddhist disciple; he is not swayed by personal feelings!"

He could only respond to each move as it came, clearing his throat and saying, "To be honest, Buddhist disciple, this humble monk also has some skill in cooking. In the past, I traveled all over the country and was known as the East Forest Roast Chicken King."

Dingguang widened, his aloofness gone, replaced by a clear expression of admiration and shared ideals.

A moment later.

Not far from the vegetable garden, by a mountain stream, Dingguang watched Deng Canglan skillfully prepare the pheasant without any awkwardness, which made him believe Deng Canglan's earlier boast even more.

While preparing the chicken, Deng Canglan tried to get closer to this person:

"Have any Buddhist disciples ever seen the woman 'Bodhisattva' in the Bao Household who has a naturally Buddha-like appearance?"

Dingguang shook his head.

Deng Canglan couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Wasn't the Bao Household's daughter who entered the grotto-heaven precisely to meet this Buddhist disciple?

Deng Canglan then probed, "Does a Buddhist disciple believe that having a naturally Buddha-like appearance is important?"

Dingguang raised his head and nodded solemnly, "I've heard of that."

Deng Canglan nodded slightly. He had a natural Buddha-like appearance of thirty-two, all of which were manifestations of his inner virtue and good fortune. In common terms, he was born with deeper blessings and better luck.

"Especially that one with forty teeth," Dingguang said with envy. "With so many teeth, how fast must it eat? The teeth grind the meat into tiny pieces!"

Deng Canglan's expression froze.

That's called the forty-tooth mark, one of the thirty-two marks. Does it mean you eat quickly...?

Interesting. No wonder you're a Buddhist disciple; you always manage to find angles that others can't see.

Deng Canglan prepared the pheasant, but instead of cooking it, he searched around and found some lotus leaves behind the temple. He then wrapped the pheasant inside and started digging a pit.

"Do you want to breed chickens?" Dingguang asked blankly.

Deng Canglan said confidently, "This is the Beggar Sect's way of eating; it has a unique flavor. When I was young, I experienced a famine and joined the Beggar Sect for a while. I learned it from someone there."

Dingguang's eyes lit up. "You were a refugee before? My senior brother was too."

"Young Hero Yu?" Deng Canglan thought for a moment, it must be Yu Tunzhou's encounter before entering Luofu Grotto-Heaven.

Dingguang asked curiously, "Where were you from before?"

Deng Canglan smiled and said, "Is the Buddhist disciple interested in my past?"

"My senior brother said that everyone's life is like a book, filled with that person's story," Dingguang said earnestly. "I love listening to stories."

Deng Canglan couldn't help but smile, but his hands didn't stop; he busied himself lighting the charcoal. He chuckled and whispered, "I loved listening to stories when I was little. It's a pity that no one has told me any for a long time."

The fire was lit.

And so the story begins.

The young man telling the story held a twig and slowly poked at the embers in the fire. The firelight shone into his eyes, not spreading out, but like the setting sun sinking to the bottom of a well, deep and heavy.

How old was he that year?

Nine years old? Ten years old?

He seems to be not much different from the Buddhist disciple before him.

That year, the famine came quickly. First, the fields yielded no harvest, and then the bark, grass roots, Guanyin were peeled away layer by layer.

One day, his father stuffed the last half of a pancake into his hand, saying he was going to find something to eat, and then he never came back.

Two days later, someone told them that his father had been trampled to death while fighting for grain outside the city.

His mother carried him all night to find his father, but because she hadn't eaten for so long, she fell asleep against a dead tree by the roadside before dawn.

When he woke up, he still had the half-eaten pancake in his arms.

He shook his mother, who seemed to be asleep, but this time he couldn't wake her.

He stayed by his mother's side for a day and a night, and finally set off with a gray-robed monk. They were heading south. Along the way, the fields were so cracked that a fist could fit inside, and the grass roots and tree bark had been stripped clean by the refugees.

That road was difficult to travel; the biggest challenge wasn't just hunger, but also the covetous eyes of others.

For example, one night he was being watched by several adults.

In an attempt to save him, the grey-robed monk fought with them. Fortunately, everyone hadn't had a proper meal in a long time and was exhausted. After the monk killed two of them with stones, everyone stopped fighting.

The remaining people dragged one of them away.

The monk dragged another person in front of him, and his stomach churned.

The next day, after finally having a full meal, he continued his journey with the monks.

Along the way, millions of refugees were encountered. All the cities along the route closed their gates, and soldiers stood on the city walls with spears, not allowing the refugees to come near.

They could only continue south.

On one occasion, a Aristocratic Clan opened a porridge shop outside the city to provide disaster relief. Martial artists maintained order, and everyone kept their wild appearance hidden, obediently queuing up, which made him feel both strange and familiar.

When it was his turn, there was only some rice porridge left in the pot, and the Aristocratic Clan lady apologized to him.

He paused for a moment, then silently walked away with the rice porridge in his hand.

Along the way, he could feel the covetous and greedy gazes around him, just like in the wild, which actually made him feel relieved.

That night, the refugees who were resting outside the city seized an opportunity and rushed into the city.

The guards, brandishing their swords, shouted orders from the city walls, but they couldn't stop the tide of people surging into the city.

It was just a county town with few experts. After killing over a hundred refugees, the warriors and soldiers guarding the town were on the verge of collapse as they watched the refugees still frantically pouring into the town...

Someone shouted, "There's a granary over there!" and everyone erupted in a frenzy.

He was swept up in the crowd, stumbling and falling, stepping on soft things, but he didn't dare look down.

All I could hear were heavy breathing, cries, and muffled groans. I felt like rice in boiling porridge, floating and sinking helplessly.

Someone was pulling at his clothes with such force that they were trying to drag him to the ground. He struggled desperately, feeling like he was about to drown in the turbulent waters.

Just then, a hand grabbed him.

The hand wasn't strong, but it was impossible to break free. He quickly looked over and saw the madwoman who had been pulling his clothes fall to the ground, and he also saw the gray-robed monk grabbing him and dragging him out.

He finally escaped the crowd, followed the monk to avoid them, and sneaked into a courtyard where he found clean clothes drying in the sun.

He washed himself with water, took off his stinking clothes, changed into clean ones, and then quietly left. He hid with the monk in a cattle pen, where the air was filled with the stench and a faint smell of blood from the monk.

They began to lie low like wild beasts, patiently waiting for the storm to pass.

The best thing he learned from spending time with the monks along the way was "patience".

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the local powerful families, the county government, and the garrison began to expel the refugees who had broken into the city.

Large numbers of refugees were forcibly deported, resulting in countless deaths.

The city remained under martial law until the second and third days. Refugees continued to be discovered, reported by the city's residents, and then expelled from the city.

He only dared to crawl out of the cattle pen late at night to sneak into other people's houses and see if he could find any leftovers.

He only appeared on the street after the turmoil in the city had gradually subsided, and his clean clothes prevented him from arousing suspicion.

He found the local Beggar Sect, Beggar Sect members were sharp-eyed and recognized his identity, but seeing that he was young, they let him join.

And it was on this very day.

He saw the eldest daughter of the Aristocratic Clan distributing porridge at the market.

She was hanging from a wooden frame, her black hair disheveled, her face pale.

The surrounding people cursed her incessantly, saying that she was a hypocrite who opened a soup kitchen, attracting countless refugees and causing the county town to be destroyed and families to be torn apart.

To appease public anger, her Lineage hung her here, intending to starve her to death in order to calm the people and quell the discontent of other county powers.

Having only received a little rice porridge from the woman, he hid in a corner and quietly watched everything.

Every day, many people pass by or come specifically to see her. Some cry and wail, grieving for their loved ones who died that night. Others utter all sorts of vicious words, cursing her to die a horrible death and throwing rotten vegetable leaves at her.

She kept her eyes closed and her face was pale.

That night...

He quietly approached the woman and picked up the rotten vegetable leaves from the ground.

When he looked up, he met the woman's open eyes.

She looked at him, seemingly recognizing him as the one who had received the rice soup, but said nothing. She simply closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

He hurriedly grabbed the rotten vegetable leaves and ran away without looking back.

That night, he finally managed to eat his fill.

that's all.

During the day, he hid in a corner and watched the woman grow weaker and weaker as she went without food and water for many days, as if she were about to starve and die of thirst.

In the evening, they would pick up some rotten vegetable leaves at her feet to fill their stomachs.

He could even find a bit of humor in his misery, thinking that this wasn't so bad, since he no longer had to beg on the streets and could pick up vegetable scraps every day.

Until that evening.

He saw a man sneak up on the woman, cover her mouth, and start unbuttoning his clothes. She struggled desperately, but had little strength, just like many other people he had seen along the way who were trying to survive.

He clutched the vegetable leaves and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Murder!" The man was so frightened that he wet himself and ran away without even pulling up his pants, stumbling and falling seven or eight times in the process.

That night he stayed in the shadows until the sky began to lighten, then quietly left.

After leaving, he found a monk meditating in a corner of the city and asked in bewilderment, "A kind person who was willing to give out porridge to save people, yet he ended up starving to death. Is this also the Buddhist concept of karma?"

The monk remained silent for a long time.

It went on for so long that he came to believe that monks had no compassion.

Or perhaps even the monks didn't know how to do it.

That night, the monk led him to the execution ground and killed the eldest daughter of a powerful Lineage who had apologized to him.

Before she died, the woman did not struggle; instead, she gave the monk a faint smile.

He felt that she was probably relieved.

Without vegetable scraps to collect, he had no choice but to beg on the streets.

Life in the Beggar Sect ' Sect was far from the free and easy life one could imagine.

He needs to learn to bend over, to reach out, and to fall down before being kicked aside.

One day, he was summoned to a dilapidated temple outside the city. A scarred man, a minor leader, with a blade of grass in his mouth, looked him up and down and said with a forced smile that he was quite agile.

He thought he was being asked to run errands.

But to everyone's surprise, the scarred man slowly added:

"Those who are quick and efficient are hard to get money from. But if you break your leg and lie down on the street, you can get several times more coins."

"A broken hand is fine too; he's just a kid, people will only give him a hand if he looks pitiful."

He paused for a moment, then turned and lunged at the machete beside him, brandishing it to threaten the people not to come closer.

Upon seeing this, the leader burst into laughter, tossed aside the chicken bone, and didn't believe for a second that a little kid could wield a knife.

He was almost in despair at that moment. After all, these people were not the weak and hungry fellows who had fled on the road. He was so scared that he closed his eyes and wildly swung his knife.

But soon, several screams came from inside the house.

A thought struck him, and he guessed that a monk had arrived. He opened his eyes and saw a gray monk's robe stained with blood. Moonlight shone in from behind, casting a long shadow of him.

The monk clasped his hands together and sighed softly:

All people suffer.

yes.

Life is truly bitter.

Later, the man who had tried to take advantage of the woman that night overheard his voice and, suspecting that he had ruined his plans, kicked over his begging bowl and sneered that he would come to "take care" of him every day from now on.

This time, he didn't seek help from the monks; instead, he sneaked into the man's house that very night and slit his throat.

He crouched in the corner, watching the man clutch his neck, blood and foam oozing from between his fingers, gasping for breath but unable to utter a sound, before convulsing on the bed.

He quietly observed all of this until the man became still.

Then, he silently left the house and the city, as if he had never been there.

Later, accompanied by monks, he traveled extensively, visited many places, and survived using all sorts of imaginable and unimaginable methods.

As he walked, day and night became indistinguishable to him; his world had long been submerged by an incessant downpour. He gazed at the night sky, raindrops pelting his face, yet the monk's admonitions echoed in his ears:

Those who blame Heaven lack ambition; those who blame others are impoverished.

It was a long time later, from the age of eight or nine to fifteen, that he finally learned that the great disaster in his hometown was not a natural disaster at all, but a result of a battle between several Aristocratic Clan, whose fighting in the External Scenery altered the celestial phenomena.

Also in that year.

He encountered his master, Kou Ziling, the sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, who was known as the "Demon Under Heaven".

He glanced at the boy, then at the monk standing silently behind him, and said with a smile:

You can leave now without worry.

The gray-robed monk clasped his hands together and bowed slightly, as if to express his gratitude.

After that, he joined the Heavenly Demon Sect and became the closed-door disciple of the Dharma Aspect Master. He was known in the martial arts world as "Little Heavenly Demon," but his master said that he deserved a heavier title and specially asked his senior brother to send a message to the Star Palace for this purpose.

In the second edition of the Dragon and Tiger Ranking, his title was changed to --

[True Demon]

"The rest is unremarkable; it's nothing more than a boring story of a genius martial artist venturing into the martial world."

Deng Canglan poked at the charcoal fire, his tone tinged with a hint of melancholy.

He never imagined that after so much time, those old memories would still be etched into his bones.

It turns out those memories had never been forgotten; they were just buried so deep that he himself thought they had long since rotted away in the mud.

But it's unclear when.

Dingguang held Little White in his arms, his expression serious as if he were cooking.

He has loved listening to his senior classmates tell bedtime stories since he was a child, and he still remembers what his senior classmates said: when others are telling stories, you must be an excellent listener and provide emotional value at the appropriate time.

Dingguang asked:

"And then what? After you met your master, did that monk leave? Why did he follow you?"

Deng Canglan was slightly lost in thought before slowly saying:

"I've never understood this either. Why did he stay with me all this time, never talking about Buddhism, never urging me to do good? He just reached out to pull me out of the abyss when I was about to fall, keeping my heartstrings taut but never truly snapping..."

Dingguang asked curiously, "Did you go look for him later?"

Looking for him?

Deng Canglan slowly turned his head to look.

The grey-robed monk who had stood by his side since childhood, responding to all his cries, questions, and demands with silence, never helping him, and always just quietly watching him...

They stood beside me as always.

He clasped his hands together, a smile on his face, and softly reminded him:

Thus have I heard.

This moment.

Deng Canglan has a solemn and dignified appearance, a heart full of great compassion, and countless Sanskrit characters appear, rotate, and converge in his eyes, as if thousands of scriptures are flowing within them.

He looked solemnly at the Buddhist disciple before him, who had been "reborn into this Saha World," and sincerely inquired:

"May I ask, Buddhist disciple, since all people suffer, where is Thunderclap?"