Chapter 129: Thorough and Round

Thorough and Round

How could the smell of the Donghua Sword be smelled even in memories?

Was this just the memory of the sword seed's soul that had not dissipated, with Ruan Ci entering the dream with her body, or did she rely on the sword seed to cross over to that period of time before its death?

Most time spirit objects were named after "dream", "illusion", or "faint", because the past seen by taking spirit objects was mostly a period of memory where one was lost. Ruan Ci originally believed deeply that she was reading a period of memory before the sword seed's inner landscape dissipated—just like all the cultivators beheaded by the Donghua Sword, their inner landscapes were all frozen at the moment of shattering, and the life memories that flew out were broken into by her. It was just like seeing the various illusions simulated by Liu Yin's inner landscape after his death. The original intention was to read a record of the past, and she could not participate in it herself. Of course, to say that she could cause an impact on the fate of the owner of the memory, that was naturally even more impossible.

This cognition was simple, but it could not be shaken. After all, her intersection with these sword seeds began with that sword strike slashed by Xie Xie Yan Huan. Not to mention things in the time dimensions of past and present, just talking about cause and effect, if she could find a way to influence the fate of the sword seed, then it would be impossible to cross over to this place. This contradiction in cause and effect was difficult to resolve. As soon as she thought of it, she felt depressed in her heart, and her sea of consciousness was swaying, as if in an instant, a chaotic force opposite to the real number surged up in a big wave, rolling forward. Her connection with this place also became distorted and inexplicable, as if she could lose it at any time, and her own consciousness would fall into the imaginary numbers and could never return.

Fortunately, she had two magic treasures with her, which transmitted a sense of peace and stability at the right time, resolving the invisible crisis. I don't know if it was a coincidence, but Lingyuan gave a Buddhist chant, and the vibration of Sanskrit singing faintly came from the air. Her heart jumped, and the surging imaginary numbers gradually faded, and in the end, they failed to take Ruan Ci away. She was still frightened, thinking to herself, "It may not be that it smelled me. Lingyuan's true spirit was contaminated with sword soul. Perhaps that residual soul smelled the taste of the sword seed..."

This was not impossible. At least it was enough to deceive herself at this moment. Ruan Ci's divine sense was even more tightly attached to Lingyuan, fearing that there would be changes again. She heard the residual soul smile in her ear, "Little monk, why did you suddenly perform Buddhist magical powers? Is your heart chaotic?"

Lingyuan gave a low Buddhist chant, put his hands together and said, "Benefactor, little monk's heart is not chaotic. It was just that the imaginary numbers attacked, and the little monk repelled them."

That residual soul was full of interest and smiled, "You are only Foundation Establishment, and you can sense the imaginary numbers?"

Lingyuan touched his bald head and explained first, "The North Youzhou is a place where reality and illusion intersect. Because the North Mingzhou was abandoned by the reincarnation wheel, the souls of cultivators must pass through the North Youzhou and gather to the imaginary numbers. The barrier here is even thinner. Since we entered the Dao, we have been constantly squeezing out the imaginary numbers, and over time, we have had some shallow senses."

Ruan Ci's heart stirred. Although she could read all of Lingyuan's memories, and even the cultivation method he practiced could not be hidden from Ruan Ci, these insights seemed to be buried deep in the sea of consciousness, just like the past of Lingyuan and the residual soul. If it weren't for the cause and effect, she would not be able to read them.

However, this did not have much impact on her. Ruan Ci entered the dream mainly to inquire about the control of magic power and divine sense by Upper Realm cultivators. She could sense these clearly. The rest of the experience was just an addition. That is, Lingyuan was a resident of the North Youzhou, which made Ruan Ci very curious. Otherwise, if it were the memories of Fifth Cang, she would feel nauseated when recalling them, and naturally, she would not have the interest to investigate them carefully.

At this moment, the memories were turning, and Ruan Ci already knew that what Lingyuan said was correct. The North Mingzhou and the North Youzhou belonged to the Nether Earth in the old universe. This place was a great heaven created by the Dao Ancestor of Nirvana. Those Nirvana Dao soldiers came to the North Mingzhou to wait for reincarnation after death, while mortals merged into reincarnation in the North Youzhou. After the creation of this universe, cultivators could not reincarnate, so the North Mingzhou was abandoned. Over time, Yanshan gradually rose in the wasteland. Because the Nether and You continents were once Nether Earth, the barrier between reality and illusion here was extremely thin, which was just right for the cultivation of the Demon Sect. Yanshan achieved the reputation of the first Sheng Sect of the Demon Sect of the Langhuan Zhou Tian in the North Mingzhou. Even the Xuanpo Sect had its ancestral mountain in the North Mingzhou, but Yanshan grew big and was expelled by the Demon Lord.

Perhaps there were many more stories in this, but what Lingyuan knew was only these. As for those related to the Dao Ancestor of Nirvana, it was Ruan Ci's own guess. However, this was already much more detailed than what the residents outside the continent knew. Because cultivators could not reincarnate, the Langhuan Zhou Tian almost did not care about the affairs of the Nether. Even that cultivator souls would pass through the North Youzhou and gather to the imaginary numbers was said by Lingyuan, and Ruan Ci only then knew that there was such a thing.

"Also, you... this cultivator residual soul, should have gathered to the imaginary numbers, but you used means to deceive the heavenly machine and stayed in the North Youzhou to squeeze into reincarnation. You should be extra careful. How can you still speak so boldly about insights that only cultivators have." Just as she was thinking, Lingyuan complained stutteringly again. He rarely blamed others. He only spoke a few sentences of this strong condemnation, and his face flushed, very uncomfortable. He fiddled with the corner of his clothes, finished speaking with difficulty, and said, "I, I will not go to Master to report you... Alas! No, you must be careful, otherwise, otherwise I can only report you, otherwise if Master knows, he will punish me."

That residual soul was amused by him and smiled endlessly. The look in his eyes when he looked at him was also very gentle. He said, "Little monk, why have you been taking care of me for three hundred years? Every time, it is you who come to pick me up. What is it for?"

Lingyuan said stammeringly, "I... I don't know either..."

Unknowingly, the man and the soul sat together on the wasteland, looking at the gray sun on the horizon. The sun was like a piece cut from black paper, pasted on the horizon, looking indescribably crude. But for Lingyuan, this was the sun he had watched since he was a child, and he could not see anything wrong with it at all.

"At first, I was very curious. Among the souls of the dead I transcended, you were the only one who was a bit different." Lingyuan would occasionally rest his feet before returning to the temple, but this was the first time someone accompanied him. He was really fresh and happy in his heart, and he told the heart thoughts that he had never dared to confess to his fellow disciples. "Every day, many cultivator souls fly past in the air, and finally fall into the Forgetful River, gathering to the imaginary numbers. You were also a great cultivator before you died. You should know that the souls of cultivators coming to this place are already at the end of their rope and can no longer stay. The imaginary numbers are the final liberation. Only souls with great obsession, great perseverance, and great ability in their hearts can find a trace of the flaw in the Heavenly Dao and stay in the North Youzhou. Even more, they can deceive the reincarnation wheel and enter reincarnation. But this outcome, for cultivators, is a more desolate result than gathering to the imaginary numbers. Once they could carry mountains and cross the sea, after entering reincarnation, they can only turn into mortals, their lives pass in the blink of an eye, and they spend their whole lives in the dust, struggling for life. For the general trend of the world, they don't even have the qualification to watch."

He said the last sentence in a dull tone. In fact, he was just reciting the teachings of his teachers. After Lingyuan finished speaking, he was also a bit embarrassed, secretly stuck out his tongue, and said, "At first, I wanted to know what obsession the benefactor had to stay in this world. But over time, I was no longer curious. I just wanted... for the sake of this matter, the benefactor did not hesitate to reincarnate in the world again and again, suffering that disability. It must also be very hard. If every time the benefactor dies, what he sees here is a familiar face, will he be happier? Will there be a moment when he forgets the fear and suffering in his heart, forgets that endless obsession."

"Will the benefactor feel that there is still Lingyuan in the world who cares about you? Will you also have one less worry because you know I won't report it to Master, but will send you into reincarnation?"

Lingyuan recited a low Buddhist chant again and said softly, "This has actually violated the rules in the temple. Little monk sometimes thinks about whether doing this is right or wrong, but little monk thinks again, just need the Buddha in the heart, why care about those many precepts. Little monk helping the benefactor, my heart is already satisfied. If I am punished by Master in the future, it should be the suffering that little monk is about to go through in this life."

He sat cross-legged, his shoulders and back slightly bent, lacking a bit of the uprightness of an attained high monk, but his face was shining with treasure light. The residual soul looked at him and did not speak for a long while. When he spoke again, his voice was a bit hoarse. "Little master's compassion, I have felt it, I have received it."

Lingyuan felt a sense of peace in his heart and smiled, "That is a happy event."

He wanted to get up and take the residual soul to reincarnation, but the residual soul said, "Little master, let's sit for a while longer, okay."

Lingyuan sat back, looked at the residual soul curiously, and smiled, "This is the first time the benefactor wants to stay here for a while longer. I know that the souls of you cultivators are very uncomfortable in this place."

"Not bad. The longer you sit in this place, the more you can sense the urgent call of the imaginary numbers, and even more from the bottom of your heart, you want to enter that final destination." That residual soul said, "That's why I have to reincarnate constantly, avoiding that constantly strengthening call, but... today I still want to sit with little master for a while longer."

For Lingyuan, this was naturally fine. He took out the wooden fish and occasionally rang it, disturbing the pulse of the imaginary numbers, which made the residual soul feel slightly more comfortable in this place. The residual soul sat for a while and asked Lingyuan, "Little master, do you know the taste of death?"

Lingyuan shook his head, "Although I have seen many memories and transcended many dead souls, I have not truly felt the feeling of mortals when they die."

Thinking that this person was a cultivator, he added, "Cultivators falling, I don't know what it is like even more."

The residual soul raised his hand, stroked his face, and muttered, "It won't be very painful. It's just for a moment, and it will end soon."

Lingyuan did not know what he meant and could only respond. The residual soul asked again, "Little monk, do you like your master?"

Lingyuan nodded, "Master treats me very well..."

But he was actually a bit afraid of his master, so after saying this, he felt a bit embarrassed, so he rushed to ask the residual soul, "Benefactor, do you also have a master?"

The residual soul smiled, "I naturally have one."

"Does your master treat you well too?"

"My master is like my father, and he treats me very well." The residual soul said in a low voice, "But... I hurt my master's heart. I betrayed the sect and hurt my master's heart. I didn't do anything wrong, and I never regretted it, but when I think of my master, my heart is very painful. Little monk, do you know, compared to the pain of that moment when I died, this kind of concern is the torture that will never end."

Lingyuan had never had such an experience, ignorant and confused, responding vaguely, a flash of inspiration in his heart, and asked, "Is it this pain that makes the benefactor stay here?"

That residual soul was surprised and said, "Little master is truly wise. Not bad, it is this pain that allows me to stay in this place under the call of the imaginary numbers, rather than flying to the Forgetful River and entering the destination."

Mentioning the destination, there was a trace of longing in his tone, as if the imaginary numbers were the paradise he was most yearning for at this moment. Lingyuan knocked on the wooden fish again, the residual soul smiled at him, and said again, "Little master, later, when I come again, my heart will have to hurt a few more points."

Lingyuan asked, "Why is this?"

That residual soul shook his head, but did not answer the question, looked at Lingyuan and said in a low voice, "Sometimes I miss my master very much, hoping that there will be someone who can treat him well, hoping that there will be someone who can truly understand him. I hurt my master's heart. I didn't do anything wrong, but I really shouldn't..."

He was in a low mood, burrowed into Lingyuan's prayer beads, and did not make a sound again. Lingyuan did not pursue it either, sat on the river for a while, and for some reason, looked at the surroundings with nostalgia, and then slowly returned to the temple. At this time, the evening class was about to begin, and he did not have time to go to the incense burner to pour out the souls. He was called by his senior brothers to the main hall, found a futon at the end of the hall, and sat down, singing the "All Tathagata Heart Secret Whole Body Sarira Treasure Box Seal Dharani Sutra". This sutra was exactly the magic sutra that Lingyuan practiced. He listened to the scriptures, just like sweet rain irrigating the top, and the Sanskrit singing was even more like a milk swallow returning to its nest. Unknowingly, he had integrated into that infinite and wonderful realm.

When he recovered, the monks in the hall had all left. Only Lingyuan's master was sitting cross-legged in front of the hall. In the huge golden hall, only two futons remained. His master looked down, his expression neither happy nor angry, and said, "Disciple, you come forward."

Lingyuan knew that it must be about the residual soul, walked to his master, knelt on both knees, and was about to plead guilty, but his master asked, "Do you know that for these forty-nine days, the morning and evening class hours have been doubled?"

In this North Youzhou, time actually had no meaning. Lingyuan woke up when the bell rang, did his morning class, went out of the temple to transcend the souls of the dead, returned to the temple before sunset, did his evening class, sometimes slept, sometimes sat in meditation, so he did not pay attention to time. Hearing this, he was slightly stunned, and counting with his fingers, he knew that his master was right. The morning and evening classes had indeed doubled in time. He could not help but be slightly stunned, "Could this matter be related to the disciple?"

He was about to reflect on his spirit platform to see if he had been possessed by a heavenly demon, but his master said, "No need to look, your spirit platform is clear, it is just that you are naturally born with evil spirit. This evil spirit does not come from your original heart, but from within the true spirit. Lingyuan, do you know that before you were born, your true spirit was contaminated and adsorbed with sword soul fragments. You are the reincarnation of the Donghua Sword Soul."

Lingyuan had been transcending the souls of the dead all his life, so how could he know what kind of spirit treasure the Donghua Sword was? Hearing this, he was confused and said, "Could it be that the disciple is also the incarnation of a great cultivator who escaped the imaginary numbers after falling?"

His master sighed, "Yes and no. Lingyuan, let me ask you, if you are really the incarnation of that great power escaping the imaginary numbers, now that you belong to the imaginary numbers, are you willing?"

Lingyuan felt a slight shock in his heart. He had known since he was a child that he had entered cultivation and would not be able to enter reincarnation in the future. If he could not cultivate into a Buddha, one day he would also enter the imaginary numbers. It was just that he had not expected this day to come so suddenly.

At the moment of life and death, there was naturally a little fear, but he soon remembered what the residual soul had said, so he cast it aside, put his hands together, and said, "If my time has come, I am naturally willing to follow the fate."

He remembered looking at the familiar Nether Earth before returning to the temple, and satisfaction surged in his heart, thinking to himself, "It turns out that I also have induction. My fate has ended here. It seems that my cultivation is not bad."

His master asked again, "If your death is a piece in the game, and your falling in the middle is the opportunity for others to cultivate, are you still willing? Is there any grievance in your heart?"

Lingyuan heard these words, and joy suddenly arose in his heart. He raised his head and smiled, "One spirit is lost and one spirit is born. My nirvana originally did not have a trace of ripples in the world. If it is actually the opportunity for others to open their wisdom and improve their cultivation, it is my cause and effect, and it is the principle of the reincarnation of all things. Why would there be any grievance?"

Seeing his master's eyes turning red, he could not help but ask, "Master, why are you sad?"

His master shook his head, "Because I am not as thorough and round as Lingyuan, and I have great wisdom."

He rubbed Lingyuan's head and said, "Lingyuan, you carry the Donghua Sword seed. This sword is the creation spirit treasure of this universe. It naturally contains the Great Dao of life. However, after falling, the broken sword became a sharp weapon for killing, stirring up countless killing causes and effects, stained with infinite evil spirit, and is most capable of shifting feelings and changing nature. I have performed dharma affairs for you for forty-nine days. Can you tell me whether that evil spirit has melted or not?"

Lingyuan closed his eyes and sensed. His spirit platform was clear and pure, and he actually seemed to reflect Ruan Ci's figure on it. Ruan Ci was panicked in her heart and felt unbearable, wanting to avoid it, but there was no way to hide. In her intention, she seemed to be looking at Lingyuan's clear eyes. The two looked at each other for a while. A joyful smile suddenly appeared on Lingyuan's lips. He bowed and replied, "Master, the female benefactor is naturally formed, not stained, so why does it need to be melted?"

He seemed to have failed to see Ruan Ci's true self, but he seemed to reflect a little bit. He asked innocently, "Female benefactor, have you been following me all along?"

Ruan Ci nodded, and not knowing what Lingyuan was asking, whether it was following him since birth, she hurriedly shook her head. Lingyuan seemed to have understood, smiled, "May the female benefactor's spirit platform be always bright and her state of mind be thorough. Don't worry about the little monk. No matter where this Dao path goes, it is fate. One day in the future, perhaps we can meet again in the imaginary numbers."

Ruan Ci felt an indescribable sense of unbearable sorrow in her heart. Just as she wanted to look away, she realized that doing so would only betray Ling Yuan's compassion. Before she knew it, her eyes were already blurred with tears. Ling Yuan turned back to perform the three-kneel and nine-kowtow ritual to his Master, then sat down cross-legged. Seeming to sense something, he looked up and whispered, "They are here."

In the prayer beads, the residual soul sighed lightly. In Ruan Ci's eyes, tears rolled down. She raised her head with Lingyuan, only to see a big star on the horizon suddenly brightened. Severe pain struck, and she and Lingyuan were sucked in by the big star, falling into infinite darkness.

Before her consciousness was lost, she vaguely heard Lingyuan whisper, "The female benefactor turned out to be so good-looking..."

And said, "Female benefactor, do you have to die with us every time? It must be very painful, right? Don't be too sad, it actually doesn't hurt very much..."

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Updated. Sorry for the long wait, everyone. I forgot to update, and only then did I remember. To express my apology, I will send red envelopes to everyone in this chapter.

This is also a chapter that I personally like very much.

. Thanks to the little angels who cast overlord votes or irrigated nutrient solution for me during the period 2020-10-20 15:24:18~2020-10-20 15:24:18~

Thanks to the little angels who cast landmines: Banmu Fangtang, Wu Mingya, Yu Yu Wan Yao, Daodao, Wantang x1;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Mo Me x20 bottles; miaomiao, 303 x10 bottles; Mingji x5 bottles; Daodao, Wa Wangwang, 18205385 x1 bottle;

Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard! ===== CHAPTER 130 =====