Chapter 644

Mastering martial arts to the extreme can make one this strong, even prolonging life is no problem; this leads many to have different thoughts. If they could break through the innate, or go even further, could they also become masters like Lin Lingzu and the Dharma Appearance Chan Master?

However, Ye Qin had no mind to watch the duel of the two great figures in the arena; instead, he sent someone to summon Monk Du Zhen.

A guard stepped forward and said, "Monk, my lord requests your presence; he says he has matters to discuss."

Du Zhen blinked, but quickly realized that the 'lord' here must refer to Ye Qin. He muttered to himself, "What does that guy want to discuss with me? What could we possibly have to discuss?"

He still remembered going down the mountain yesterday to ask Ye Qin for help, only to be arrogantly refused by this Imperial City Guard commissioner, which left him upset all night. But in the end he decided to come see what scheme Ye Qin was up to, saying, "I hope you don't let me down."

The battle in the arena continued, with various parties watching, and they didn't care about this brief moment.

"Sir, you summoned this poor monk—what is the matter?" Du Zhen asked curiously. If everyone's attention weren't captured by the battle in the arena, they would surely realize this is also a major affair.

Ye Qin smiled faintly and said lightly, "Monk, do you intend to discuss matters with me right here?"

Although the battle in the arena drew the martial artists' gazes, discussing matters here would still be improper; if someone with ill intent saw them, it could be used against them.

Monk Du Zhen hesitated a moment, then said, "Alright, follow me."

Anyway, the battle in the arena wouldn't be decided any time soon, so he ordered the Damo Academy monks to watch closely, then brought Ye Qin to a side hall nearby. The place was empty and tranquil. He said coldly, "Sir Qin, spit it out quickly—I'm still busy."

Ye Qin looked around, confirmed no one was eavesdropping, then said, "Monk, let's make a deal, how about that?"

"Huh?" Monk Du Zhen blinked, curious, and asked, "What kind of deal? Though you should know, sir, our Buddhist sect is a pure place and doesn't have much wealth."

"That's why I want to make this deal with you." Ye Qin cut him off, saying lightly, "I think there is something you Shaolin definitely desire, which is useless to me, but could be used to exchange for some benefits. What do you think?"

Duzhen monk's interest was aroused; he hurriedly asked, "Sir, I don't know what it is that makes you value it so much—could there really be such a precious object?"

"Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic!" Ye Qin said softly, looking at Duzhen with a half-smile, "How about that—aren't you surprised?"

Duzhen monk widened his eyes, face full of disbelief, and said, "That thing isn't in the capital? Right, you were the first to enter the Zhao Prince's mansion treasury, so it's only natural the relic ended up in your hands!"

He had originally extinguished the thought in his heart, but now Ye Qin's mention rekindled it—perhaps he still had a chance to obtain the relic.

Seeing Ye Qin silent, Duzhen said in a low voice, "First, it's not yet known whether the relic is really in your hands; relying only on your one-sided account is inappropriate. Second, if the relic is truly in your hands, why don't you use it to break through to the Xiantian realm? Third, if you really want to trade, what do you intend to exchange with our Shaolin?"

These three questions represent the three doubts in Duzhen monk's heart.

Ye Qin nodded and said offhand, "Since the relic is in my hands, I can naturally let you take a distant look at it."

The reason I haven't used it to break through to Xiantian is purely out of necessity. I have tried countless methods, yet I cannot solve the mystery of how the relic enables a breakthrough. In my hands, it is no different from an ordinary relic.

So I thought of your Shaolin; perhaps you have a chance to solve the relic's mystery. But that's none of my concern—I only need to enter Shaolin's Cangjingge, browse all the scriptures and martial arts manuals, remember, all of them. Otherwise, I would rather destroy the relic than make a trade.

Upon hearing this, Duzhen monk hesitated. He secretly thought, "If he truly has the relic, should I exchange it or not?"

Forcible seizure and propaganda are both unworkable; if we anger this guy and he destroys the relic, that would be disgusting.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "I must first see the relic before making a decision!"

Ye Qin nodded and agreed, "Fine. But you'd better decide quickly. To me, this relic is currently useless; holding it is like holding a hot potato. Even if I didn't destroy it, taking it out to trade with the Daoist sect would surely be welcome to them."

This is an outright threat—how could Duzhen monk not hear it? But the relic is of great importance, so he can only endure for now.

Soon, a golden‑shining relic appeared in Ye Qin's palm. After three breaths, he put it away and asked Duzhen, "Monk, have you decided?"

How to decide?

This question came out of the blue, leaving Duzhen momentarily dazed, losing his usual rationality and composure. Ye Qin merely smiled at him, saying nothing and not urging him.

After a while, Duzhen came to his senses, his expression solemn, and said, "This matter is of great importance; I must report it to the abbot."

Ye Qin paused, thought for a moment, then expressed agreement: "Fine. If Shaolin agrees, just notify me to go to the Cangjingge. I'll stay inside for one day, leaving whether or not I finish reading the scriptures and manuals. After I come out, I'll hand over the relic to you."

Moreover, I give you only the time it takes to finish a cup of tea to persuade the abbot; otherwise, I will either destroy the relic or take it to trade with the Daoist sect.

In short: time waits for no one!

Duzhen paused, took a deep breath, and said, "I understand; the time to finish a cup of tea is enough."

He was certain the relic was genuine, although he didn't know why there was no energy fluctuation; surely the Buddha's relic differs from an ordinary one. Still, this matter needs to be known to the abbot and the others.

Soon, Duzhen arrived at Shaolin's inner hall, bowed to the abbot, and said, "Uncle, I have a matter to report to you."

The abbot stared, frowned, and asked, "Did you fail?"

Duzhen quickly shook his head in denial, "Not this matter, but another. Ye Qin, the commandant of the Imperial City Directorate, holds the Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic; he just brought it here hoping to make a trade with Shaolin. I can't decide, so I came specially to report to you for a decision."

The Cangjingge concerns the whole of Shaolin; although he has been promoted to chief of the Dharma Institute, overseeing its affairs, he still cannot manage the entire Shaolin.

What?

The abbot widened his eyes, eyebrows flying, and said in astonishment, "You just said Ye Qin has the Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic?" Duzhen nodded, "Yes, he……"

He recounted the entire process of Ye Qin coming to him for a trade, as well as Ye Qin's purpose and demands, then fell silent. How to decide is the abbot's business, not something he can determine.

The abbot's old face grew slightly solemn as he pondered Ye Qin's true intent. After a long while, he said, "The Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic is of great importance; I will consider it further."

Soon, he summoned some Shaolin elders to discuss it.

"If we cannot retrieve the Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic, I fear even the coffin lid of the Buddha won't stay down—we, as junior disciples, would hardly avoid becoming heinous rebels."

"Duzhen is a rare genius of Shaolin encountered once in a hundred years; since he has confirmed the relic is genuine, it must be true. I just don't know why Ye Qin wants to go to the Cangjingge to have a look."

"It must be for the martial arts manuals. After all, he only has one day, so he can't view much content. I think we can agree to his request."

The Shaolin elders spoke with fiery eyes. "As long as we can exchange for the relic, what's wasting a few martial arts manuals? Moreover, a person's memory is limited; no matter how hard, it's impossible to memorize all of Shaolin's martial arts manuals in a single day."

Moreover, the Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic is priceless. If they could possess it, they might possibly break through to the Xiantian realm, or even go further. Who wouldn't want great strength?

In the face of absolute strength, everything is mere clouds. And the Buddha is the patriarch of Buddhism; what he left behind certainly cannot be comprehended by ordinary people, otherwise it could not have changed hands so many times.

!

After such thinking, they felt this transaction could certainly be carried out.

"Abbot, this matter also brings us great benefits. First, we can befriend Ye Qin, who after all is an official; second, it is also to gather the scattered relics of the Buddha for veneration; third, our Shaolin would gain another supremely powerful monk; fourth, we can also use this opportunity to promote ourselves."

An old monk hurriedly spoke, listing four benefits at once. If not, he could think of more. The benefits are definitely huge.

Hearing this, the Shaolin abbot couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, thinking, "Only if I believed your words would I feel the benefits are many. The Shaolin Cangjingge is after all the foundation of the sect; if we let outsiders swagger in to look, where would our face be?"

Although in years past the Shaolin Cangjingge was once stolen from or secretly studied by various people of the jianghu, with all kinds of methods emerging, that is all past now and no one remembers.

But having said that, the Shakyamuni Buddha's bone relic is important, because he also wants it—"If we could seize this opportunity to break through to a higher level, perhaps……"

He began to indulge in reverie; this might be an opportunity.

Just that, if the Tathagata Buddha himself knew what the Shaolin abbot was thinking, I'm afraid even the coffin lid couldn't hold down and would be flipped over.

"Duzhen, what do you think?" After a moment of thought, the abbot curiously asked the monk Duzhen beside him, "Can this deal be done?"

Eh!

Duzhen froze for a moment, then quickly replied, "Uncle-master, actually I think what all the elders said makes sense, so this deal can be done. Just need to guard against that brat's trickery!"

What if he finishes reading and doesn't give the relics? That would be a total waste!

The abbot nodded and finally said, "You're right. I'll leave this to you to handle. However, the relics must be turned in promptly; we need to discuss with all the elders inside the gate before deciding who gets to study them, understand?"

The relics are as precious as divine pills and elixirs, so he had to take precautions in advance. What if Duzhen runs off with the relics? He'd have nowhere to cry.

Duzhen nodded, laughing and crying at the same time, and assured, "Uncle-master, rest assured—for the great rise of Shaolin, this disciple‑nephew still has that awareness."

"That's very good." The abbot patted Duzhen's shoulder. I don't know what he's really thinking; maybe he's pondering what's about to happen, or perhaps he's worried about Ye Qin and Duzhen.

Before the time it takes to finish a cup of tea had passed, Duzhen pulled Ye Qin to a secluded spot and said, "The abbot agrees to trade with you. But you need to be reminded: you only have one day; if you haven't left Shaolin after that time, we will certainly hold you accountable. Also, regarding the relics……"

Before he could finish, Ye Qin interjected, "I'll hand over the relics when I leave the Cangjingge's main gate. Then, when I depart, no one may block me!"

"Sure!" Duzhen nodded and said, "Come with me."

As for the contest between the Buddhist and Daoist sects in the martial arts arena, how could there be a result in just two or three days? So neither Ye Qin nor Duzhen worries about missing the most exciting part—it's still early anyway.

Following the monk Duzhen all the way into the Shaolin Cangjingge, this building that has stood intact for thousands of years made Ye Qin exclaim, "Everyone says all martial arts come from Shaolin; monk, can you explain why that is?"

Hearing that, Duzhen's face twitched, and he replied testily, "If it weren't for you martial artists of the jianghu constantly coming to mooch off us, the rumor that all martial arts come from Shaolin wouldn't have spread."

Though presented as a rumor, it's actually a true statement.

Many martial artists under heaven have trained in Shaolin Temple's martial arts. The capable borrow and modify them, while those who know their limits simply practice them directly; over time, this rumor arose.

The Qin Lake people stare hungrily; how could Shaolin possibly guard against them completely?

However, Ye Qin seemed to turn a deaf ear to what Monk Duzhen said, smiling, "Shaolin's fame draws envy; being watched is inevitable, but those little sects don't get this 'treatment'."

Duzhen snorted with laughter, "If you say so, is that a good thing for us Shaolin? If that's the case, we'd rather not have it."

Who would be willing to make their secret manuals public, letting them become common?

What if a genius shows up and then feuds with Shaolin? That would be digging their own grave!

Ye Qin shook his head and finally said, "All right, I'm going in. One day later, you meet me at this gate and give me the World Honored One's relics!"

Having said that, he strode into the Cangjingge without looking back. This seven‑story Cangjingge houses not only Shaolin martial arts manuals but also countless Buddhist profound teachings!

Ye Qin muttered to himself, "These foolish Shaolin monks—really, they're making things easy for me."

Shaolin houses the Seventy‑Two Supreme Skills, not to mention the Muscle/Tendon Change Classic and Iron Shirt manuals, let alone the Nine Yang Divine Art that Ye Qin has long dreamed of.

No matter how you say it, Shaolin Temple's martial arts manuals are too many to count, and Ye Qin couldn't be bothered to count them all. Walking the first floor, he casually flipped through a few, then saw specks of light invisible to ordinary people flashing on the sutra rack, flying in clusters into his dantian, where a mysterious vajra bracelet absorbed and merged them. (End of chapter)