Hou Jin's Heart Defenses Crumble Before Chan; Lingguang's Soul Shatters, and a Mournful Bell Rings

----A few days later

"Damn it, I've never heard of Cloud Trust being able to run like this before!" Fei Tianqin transformed his body into a ten-foot-long shape, and only after landing back beside Chan Master Huiming did the old bird's chatter subside somewhat.

The latter showed no regret, after all, only Nascent Soul True Person cultivator truly knew the immense power Nascent Soul True Person possessed.

If it weren't for his many years of lying low in the Three Southwest Circuits, it would have been incredibly difficult for Chan Master Huiming, who was also a newly Nascent Soul cultivator, to scheme against someone like True Person Cloud Trust.

"Kang's location was quite accurate, but it's also impressive that Cloud Trust had so many methods at his disposal. However, this small achievement should be enough to satisfy his two senior brothers in the sect."

Chan Master Huiming silently murmured to himself, feeling quite content.

However, seeing that the old monk remained silent for a long time, Fei Tianqin became somewhat anxious, glancing frequently in the direction of Joyful Sight Mountain, his eagerness undisguised.

Chan Master Huiming naturally understood what this old bird was thinking, but ultimately, considering the latter's status and seniority, he didn't look down on him, a Zen master, and thus spoke gently:

"Marquis of Fengcheng, since we have already sent a letter to the Mountain North, and True Person Cloud Trust are still unknown, we might as well return to Joyful Sight Mountain and await the imperial decree."

"What the Zen master says is very true," Fei Tianqin replied carefully, without trying to hide the underlying meaning.

After all, this old bird doesn't remember whether Chan Master Huiming, when he used the alias Buse, ever used such a sarcastic tone on this Original Buddha Sect elder. Now, he needs to be careful.

However, Chan Master Huiming remained as warm and gentle as ever. His large ears and bare chest, which would not have stood out much on Master Yijia, appeared perfectly natural on Zen Master Yi.

As soon as the old monk finished speaking, lotus flowers bloomed beneath his feet, carrying him into the void. Fei Tianqin didn't follow exactly in step, but he did flap his wings as well.

As soon as they began their return journey, Chan Master Huiming's lotus flower slowed for a moment. Only after Fei Tianqin walked to his side did he speak and ask, "Marquis of Fengcheng, do you know where Sect Leader Kang has gone?"

"His previous letter said that his injuries were quite serious and that he had already gone to Joyful Sight Mountain. If you and I travel quickly, we might be able to meet him on the way." Fei Tianqin was also filled with lingering fear when he heard Chan Master Huiming mention Kang Dabao.

One concern is that if the most capable son-in-law of the Ying Prefecture Fei Household had died at the hands of True Person Cloud Trust, then Fei Nanying would lose a powerful ally after he ascends to the throne.

The second concern was that if Fei Donggu had been brought along during the selection process, Fei Tianqin didn't believe the young man would have survived the heavily injured True Person Cloud Trust.

Fei Tianqin's idea might be a bit conventional, but to be honest, no matter how close or intimate a son-in-law is, he can never be as trustworthy and reliable as one's own son.

Although this old bird is not human, it has served as the clan's guardian spirit beast for thousands of years and the family head, Elder Brother, for hundreds of years.

His thoughts and ideas were no different from those of ordinary human ancestors, so it was normal for him to have such thoughts.

However, after traveling for a while longer, its interest was quickly dispelled.

Once he thought about Joyful Sight Mountain, which he was about to truly take over, a sense of eagerness arose in his eyes. After all, although Joyful Sight Mountain had fallen into disrepair and was far inferior to what it used to be, even a broken ship still had three thousand nails.

With a Nascent Soul by his side, Fei Tianqin couldn't stop them from opening the Joyful Sight Mountain Treasury.

As for the rules established hastily by the You Longzi in the past, they are naturally invalid since Nascent Soul cultivator personally arrived.

Even if Chan Master Huiming were ruthless, the Ying Prefecture Fei Household would still gain a great deal. Perhaps even his younger brother's resources for Nascent Soul Formation would be obtained from it.

Of course, if the True Person Tiger Spring, whose fate is currently unknown, were to suddenly reappear, it would be appropriate to do him a favor.

After all, what the Ying Prefecture Fei Household needs most in the future is True Person human support.

True Person Tiger Spring and Fei Tianqin had a personal relationship in the past. Although it wasn't entirely reliable, it was still much more trustworthy than those whose backgrounds were unknown.

Fei Tianqin's expression could not be hidden from Chan Master Huiming, nor did he intend to. The latter, however, did not care what the old bird was thinking, for he saw much further ahead than Fei Tianqin.

This time, at the behest of Huihai, he removed the covering from his body, causing True Person Cloud Trust to be seriously injured and leave. This was also to make it clear to the various factions of the Immortal Dynasty that the Original Buddha Sect, like the Buried Spring Mound and Hehuan Sect, had placed a heavy bet on the clan member Kuang Liuting.

The Original Buddha Sect was the ancestral temple of the Buddhist and Exoteric Buddhism within the territory of Great Wei. Even though the Buddhist and Daoist sects were weak and far from being able to compete with the Daoist sects, the sensation it brought to the entire Immortal Dynasty was still considerable.

At least tens of thousands of monks who uphold the precepts must have grown quite disgusted with the people around them who wear official robes. Moreover, although the struggle between Buddhism and Daoism has never ceased, just like Daoism, the two schools of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism have never reached the point of irreconcilable conflict throughout history.

Most of the time, however, they still choose to stay in one place.

Therefore, the actions of Abbot Chan Master Gelie of Original Response Temple at these times are particularly noteworthy.

"I suppose the Jade Immortals will be gathering at Supreme Unity Temple again to discuss important matters," Chan Master Huiming chuckled, then temporarily suppressed the thought.

Regardless of how things unfold in the future, at least the Original Buddha Sect made a significant investment, being willing to bury a Zen master here for a century.

The stalemate between the Star-Picking Pavilion and the Office of the Duke of Qin was thus resolved, and the Three Southwest Circuits, and even the Ancient Mysterious Circuit, may be returned to the direct control of the Great Wei Clan.

For many who admire Emuro, this is a very encouraging thing.

For Chan Master Huiming, this was far better than the Joyful Sight Mountain Treasury that was about to be opened.

One was extremely excited, the other was deep in thought; neither of them uttered many words on their way back to Joyful Sight Mountain.

Standing atop the mountain peak, Fei Tianqin looked down and Joyful Sight Mountain and the Fei Household's allied forces were now clearly separated.

This is understandable. Given the lustful eyes still lingering in the Fei Household's formation, it would be strange if those from Joyful Sight Mountain, from the You Longzi down, weren't on guard.

However, to Fei Tianqin's slight surprise, apart from the Fei Lineage soldiers, the only ones who could still maintain some semblance of rationality were the Chongming Sect members under Yuan Jin's command.

"It is truly remarkable that these cultivators from remote border regions, having landed in the Baoshan of Nascent Soul sect, can still maintain morale and keep their minds clear."

Fei Tianqin, unusually, inwardly praised the short, stocky Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, but afterward, he didn't look at him much, nor did he greet the other cultivators of the Fei Household, nor did he have time to ask whether Kang Dabao had returned. He simply flew towards the person below.

After the old bird landed in the mountains, it led Chan Master Huiming behind it to the side of the You Longzi, who was half hopeful and half horrified, and whispered:

"Nephew, Chan Master Huiming comes from the ancestral temple of the Immortal Dynasty and is a highly virtuous master of the Exoteric Buddhism school of Buddhism. This time, at your request, I have invited him here to inquire about that fellow Hou Jin, so that we can find out the whereabouts of True Person Tiger Spring as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Uncle."

You Longzi Chan Master Huiming and learned that there was Nascent Soul hidden in the Fei Household's formation much earlier than Fei Tianqin. During this time, he also received various promises from Huiming in the letter. Otherwise, even if he was eager to save his master, he would have found it difficult to make up his mind to fight against his own family.

However, seeing that the man and the bird had indeed kept their promise, You Longzi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The two people and the bird abandoned the cultivator in front of them and headed towards the Heavenly Punishment Cliff of Joyful Sight Mountain, which had been handed over to the Fei Household cultivators for guard.

This place was originally the site where Joyful Sight Mountain suppressed evil spirits and demons. At its peak, it was said that even several ancient demons were housed within it.

However, by this time, it had already fallen into ruin along with Joyful Sight Mountain, and many of its magical restrictions had been rendered useless, now only used to punish disciples. Even so, it was still enough to make many high-ranking cultivators in Joyful Sight Mountain turn pale at the mere mention of it.

When Chan Master Huiming first arrived at Heavenly Punishment Cliff, he could even suppress the Dao heart of Nascent Soul Cultivator, yet he was still somewhat impressed by the remaining starlight power here.

Fei Tianqin's eyes were filled with solemnity, and a hint of caution arose as he looked at You Longzi's back.

Hou Jin was bound to the center of the stone wall by the Spirit-Locking Chains. Bloodstains on his black Daoist robe were frosted with blood, and his spiritual power was locked away, leaving it lifeless. Yet, the arrogance in his eyes burned like an inextinguishable flame. Seeing the two people and the bird enter, he sneered with his cracked lips, "You Longzi, you traitor, you actually brought a bald monk from the Buddhist sect and Demon Race demon to defile the forbidden land of my Joyful Sight Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, You Longzi's face turned ashen, but he offered no explanation. He simply bowed deeply to Chan Master Huiming and asked for his instructions.

The old monk slowly walked to the side of the stone pillar, without approaching Hou Jin. He simply raised his hand and formed a "Chan Heart Clarity Seal," from which a wisp of pale golden Buddhist light emanated.

It contained no sharpness, but rather a gentle, Zen-like spiritual energy that flowed slowly along the Xuan Yuan Zhen Xin patterns on the four walls, subtly resonating with the spiritual energy of Joyful Sight Mountain's earth veins, and finally condensing into a thin thread of light, as fine as a hair, gently hovering three inches between Hou Jin's eyebrows.

"Fellow Daoist Hou, this humble monk will not argue with you about your treasonous views, nor will I force you to speak." Chan Master Huiming's voice was not loud, yet it seemed to be wrapped in the spiritual essence of the mountain wind, seeping into Hou Jin's ears along the earth's veins.

"Fellow Daoist surely knows the whereabouts of True Person Tiger Spring. This humble monk's method of 'Chan Heart Clarity' will not seize your sea of consciousness, but only reveal your true nature. If you can truly guard it, this humble monk will depart now."

A fierce glint flashed in Hou Jin's eyes. He suddenly channeled the remaining power of his Dao Heart to protect his sea of consciousness.

As a Nascent Soul disciple, Hou Jin, the upper cultivator, naturally heard about his many extraordinary abilities.

He had already learned the "Heart-Locking Secret Method" from Cloud Trust, and he thought that even if a True Person used brutal methods to search his soul, he would hardly notice. However, veins bulged on his forehead and a trace of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. He was actually strengthening his mental defenses by self-harming, trying to throw his sea of consciousness into chaos and cover up his secret.

"Stubborn fool!" Fei Tianqin watched impatiently from the side, his feathers trembling slightly as if he were about to take action, but was stopped again by Chan Master Huiming.

The old monk's fingertips shimmered with Buddhist light, and the wisp of light hanging between Hou Jin's eyebrows suddenly transformed into countless finer points of light, seeping into Hou Jin's sea of consciousness like spring rain.

Unlike ordinary soul-searching techniques, this "Chan Heart Clarity" method does not destroy the sea of consciousness, but rather reflects the hidden True Intention like a clear mirror. Even if Hou Jin deliberately confuses his memories, the information deep within his heart will still appear in the Buddha's light.

After a while, Hou Jin felt a warm sensation in his mind, not pain, but something that terrified him even more than pain.

The Buddha's light, like an all-pervasive stream, bypassed the layers of barriers he had deliberately set up and reached the deepest part of his Dao heart.

He could clearly feel that the memories within were being "illuminated," and no matter how he activated the Heart-Sealing Secret Method, he could not stop the penetration of that Buddhist light.

"No! How dare you!" Hou Jin roared, suddenly raising his head, his eyes bloodshot and filled with ferocity.

The Golden Core within, seemingly disregarding the threat of cracking, began to spin rapidly—a Wuwei act that seemed to guarantee its survival.

But the moment he moved, the Buddha's light gently enveloped his head, causing all his thoughts and actions to suddenly come to a halt.

He could only watch helplessly as the secrets in his heart were gradually revealed, like layers of a cocoon being peeled away: the whereabouts of Tiger Spring, the location of the sect's treasury, and the persuasive words of True Person Qingxuan of Supreme Unity Temple.

All the crucial matters that True Person Cloud Trust had reassured him about were crystal clear in the Buddha's light.

Chan Master Huiming closed his eyes and chanted a mantra. The Buddhist light and spiritual energy at his fingertips gradually stabilized. Although he did not speak, You Longzi and Fei Tianqin, who were standing to the side, could sense from the spiritual aura around him that the whereabouts of True Person Tiger Spring had been discovered.

After another short while, Chan Master Huiming slowly opened his eyes. The Buddhist light at his fingertips dissipated, and Hou Jin collapsed onto the Soul-Locking Chain as if all his strength had been drained, his eyes filled with confusion.

Hou Jin slumped onto the spirit-locking chain, his eyes glazed over, forgetting even to wipe the black blood from the corner of his mouth.

His supposedly impregnable defenses were utterly powerless against Chan Master Huiming's Divine Ability. Not to mention his secrets, even his desire to die melted away completely, like snow lying in the warm sun.

Chan Master Huiming withdrew the Buddha's light from his fingertips and spoke slowly to Fei Tianqin You Longzi:

"The Tiger Spring Benefactor is hidden in the 'Broken Stone Hollow' on the western slope. That valley is full of withered trees and snow, indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape. Cloud Trust has also set up a 'Mysterious Origin Concealment Formation' at the entrance of the valley, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to detect anything unusual even if they pass by."

"Broken Stone Hollow?" You Longzi suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with urgency. "It's very far away. My Uncle Cloud Trust and I used to go there." His voice suddenly stopped, remembering that everything in the sect had changed, and he sighed.

Fei Tianqin spread his golden wings, the tips brushing against the spiritual light settling on the ground, and said softly, "There's no time to lose! I'll go with the Zen Master. You, my dear nephew, stay here and keep the Fei Household cultivators in check, lest Hou Jin cause any more trouble!"

Although it was eager to take control of Joyful Sight Mountain as soon as possible, it also understood that rescuing Tiger Spring was the most important thing at the moment.

With Tiger Spring, a true True Person of the orthodox lineage, taking over the Joyful Sight Mountain treasury and gathering the old Joyful Sight Mountain will be much smoother in the future.

Compared to the future of the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, and even more important than the unknown treasures for Nascent Soul Formation in the Joyful Sight Mountain treasury, it is better to cultivate a fairly complete Nascent Soul sect and gain favor with True Person.

Chan Master Huiming had the same idea. It would be a lie to say that he had no interest in the Joyful Sight Mountain, but he was far less eager than Fei Tianqin.

Since the Original Buddha Sect has already entered the game, it naturally hopes that the Immortal Dynasty can have more resources so that after Kuang Liuting ascends the throne, he can cleanse the world as soon as possible.

However, after the man and the bird inquired about the location of the Broken Stone Hollow from the You Longzi, they heard the resounding tolling of a bell from Yuejian Joyful Sight Mountain. Immediately afterward, a sorrowful hue seeped into the sky as well.

Before Chan Master Huiming and Fei Tianqin could have been filled with doubt for long, a Golden Core elixir-wielding monk rushed in, weeping bitterly.

You Longzi was already extremely nervous, but when he saw his junior brother enter, he mustered his courage and took a gamble. "Junior Brother Lei, is this Uncle Cloud Trust?"

"Senior Brother, the soul lamp in the Lingguang Hall has shattered. Master must have already ascended to immortality!"

"What?!"