Chapter 220

"Who could be chasing me?"

While riding swiftly on horseback, Qin Shuo pondered the possible dangers that might appear behind him.

He was very clear that leaving Yunzhou City this time would surely attract the attention of many interested parties.

Besides, Wang Lihu and Xiao Yingqi would certainly take action.

After all, Wang Lihu had already made preparations in the Demon Suppression Division, intending to use him to take the blame for the Xiao family.

If he died, it would be perfect to charge him with fleeing to avoid punishment, and thus the Xiao family being framed would follow naturally.

By then, even if Fu Lingyuan returned, though unwilling in his heart a hundred ways, he would absolutely not wage war on Mysterious Weapon Mountain for his sake.

The world has five Dao and nine provinces.

Mysterious Weapon Mountain alone occupies one Dao, sharing the world with the imperial court; its power and strength absolutely surpass imagination.

Although he guessed Fu Lingyuan's identity was not ordinary, very likely coming from the Tianhuang Dao Heaven-Suppressing King's mansion,

the two of them were ultimately just chance acquaintances, colleagues in passing.

By reason and emotion, it was impossible for them to go to war with Mysterious Weapon Mountain over him, a subordinate.

Therefore, he was certain that as long as he left Yunzhou City, he would surely draw pursuit from Xiao Yingqi and others, possibly even the Ghost Mother Sect.

Yet he still left the city, and even deliberately had the teahouse owner mislead those tracking him from behind.

Because his thought was very simple.

They wanted to use him to take the blame for the Xiao family, but he did not want to play any game of proving his innocence.

The Earth-Escaping Zombie that the Demon Suppression Division had failed to find for several consecutive days—how could he possibly find it alone?

But it didn't matter; if he couldn't solve the problem, he would solve the person who caused it.

"You want to use me to take the blame for the Xiao family, don't you?"

Kill you all, and the problem will naturally be solved.

Thinking this, he and his horse had already arrived at the foot of Panlong Mountain.

Unlike the imposing grandeur of Wind Thunder Valley, Panlong Mountain, where Dalong Temple is located, could be said to be utterly unremarkable.

The mountain is no higher than a hundred meters; from foot to summit, temples are connected in a row, blue tiles and yellow walls, bell sounds faint and lingering.

Even before approaching, Qin Shuo had already smelled the strong incense aroma.

As the number one sect in Yunzhou, Dalong Temple already has over ten thousand monks, and the number of visitors and pilgrims coming to offer incense is even more countless.

Although it is already evening, the flow of carriages and horses before the mountain gate remains continuous, and pedestrians come and go without cease.

Qin Shuo led his horse forward, about to ask a monk for directions, when he did not expect two guest-receiving monks to actively come forward to meet him.

"Are you the Demon Suppression Division Captain, Qin Shuo?"

"Do the two masters know me?" Qin Shuo showed slight surprise.

"We do not."

The older guest-receiving monk gently shook his head, his expression kind as he said:

"It was Abbot Liaokong who instructed that today, Captain Qin would come visiting with a bow on his back and a sword at his side, so he specially sent us two to receive you here."

"Fate-Knowing Power?"

Qin Shuo raised his eyebrows.

When he was in Fengyang City, he had already experienced the power of the old monk's Fate-Knowing Power.

He did not expect that this divine ability could truly foresee the future, even knowing that he would come to Dalong Temple today.

"Exactly."

The guest-receiving monk smiled slightly, extended his hand forward to guide the way, saying: "Young master, please."

Dusk fell, dyeing the stone steps on the mountain path with a faint chill.

Qin Shuo followed the two guest-receiving monks and soon arrived at a Zen courtyard on the mountain peak.

Inside the abbot's courtyard, the lights were warm and moist.

Liaokong Dashi wore a bright yellow kasaya, his right hand twisting his snow-white long eyebrows as he stood in the corridor, smiling gently as he looked toward the doorway.

Seeing Qin Shuo step in, the old monk descended the steps, personally walking two steps to greet him, his smile undiminished.

"Since our last parting, less than a month ago, Qin Shuo, your martial arts have made progress again..."

As Qin Shuo approached, the Chijiao Heshang pressed his palms together, lowly recited a Buddhist name, and inwardly could not help but feel somewhat moved.

Others might not notice anything, but he could see clearly,

compared to the progress in Blood-Qi Martial Dao, the enhancement of this youth's soul cultivation was what truly surprised him.

Divine abilities originate from the soul, relying on individual spiritual will—or rather, soul power—for manifestation.

The stronger the soul, the greater the divine ability's power that can be exerted.

But the method of cultivating the soul has been rare since ancient times.

Buddhist meditation and enlightenment on the Dao counts as one, but the effect is not significant; often it takes years or even decades to see results.

Thus, Buddhist high monks often grow older, their practice deeper, and their strength stronger.

Martial artists are different; after their prime, qi and blood begin to decline. Once qi and blood are exhausted, even a Martial Saint must fall.

In just one month, Qin Shuo raised his soul power from the accomplished stage of Refining Viscera to a level comparable to the Great Perfection of Refining Viscera,

such progress truly surprised the Chijiao Heshang.

"Slight progress, where does it deserve the master's mistaken praise?" Qin Shuo was very humble.

Back in Fengyang City, if not for the other party's wholehearted assistance, he would by now already have grass three feet high on his grave.

The other party's transmission of the Divine Ability of Divine Steps to him had also enabled him to repeatedly turn danger into safety within Yunzhou City.

By reason and emotion, he had every reason to maintain proper respect toward this smiling old monk.

"Master, I have come this time for the Longxiang Divine Ability."

Qin Shuo opened the door and saw the mountain, stating his purpose.

"With your current fleshly body cultivated externally, you can barely withstand the second layer of the Longxiang Divine Ability."

Liaokong Dashi's mind was like a clear mirror as he twirled his long eyebrows, gesturing for Qin Shuo to sit down.

"Second layer of the divine ability?"

Qin Shuo raised an eyebrow, humbly asking: "Could it be that this Longxiang Divine Ability has many layers?"

"Not bad."

Liaokong Dashi poured Qin Shuo a full cup of clear tea, then brightened the oil lamp beside him before speaking slowly:

"Not only the Longxiang Divine Ability, but all Martial Saint divine abilities can generally be divided into three layers.

Each time one advances a layer, the power undergoes a world-shaking change.

Taking the Longxiang Divine Ability as an example,

The first layer is the power of the Four Symbols, also called the Diamond Force.

The second layer is the power of the Ten Elephants, also called the Heavenly Dragon Strength.

The third layer is the power of the Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants, also called the Wisdom King Strength.

Three layers of divine ability, three layers of heaven and earth.

Each layer requires sufficient comprehension of the Longxiang power and the Vajra Buddha Nature to be cultivated."

When mentioning divine abilities, Liaokong Dashi's tone and expression became several degrees more solemn.

"What layer of the Longxiang Divine Ability has the Master currently achieved?" Qin Shuo asked curiously.

"The first layer."

Liaokong Dashi concealed nothing, almost blurting it out.

"What?"

Qin Shuo's eyelid twitched.

Back in Fengyang City, he had personally witnessed this old monk's move.

That display of brutal, overwhelming force left even the mountain tyrant Tiger King, renowned for brute strength, no match.

Such power actually still falls within the scope of the first layer……

As if sensing what Qin Shuo was thinking, the Chijiao Heshang smiled and said:

"Qin Shuo, are you wondering why, though we both possess the first layer of divine ability, your Longxiang Divine Ability is far weaker than mine?"

"Exactly."

Qin Shuo nodded heavily.

He knew the other party's Other-Mind Power could capture others' thoughts, so he had nothing to hide.

"The power of divine ability stems from the soul, or rather, one's Martial Dao Will.

The stronger the soul, the more intense the Martial Dao Will, and the greater the divine ability's power naturally becomes."

The old monk spoke at length, continuing: "The three layers of divine ability do not have fixed power levels.

So-called Four Symbols Power, Heavenly Dragon Strength—these are merely markers upon entering this realm.

As the soul's cultivation grows and the Martial Dao Will strengthens, the corresponding power naturally increases as well.

Take Qin Shuo as an example: the Longxiang Divine Ability you now wield has already far surpassed the Four Symbols Power."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shuo could not help but nod in agreement.

From Heishui City to Yunzhou City, along this journey, his Longxiang Divine Ability has indeed been growing.

Especially after absorbing the demon spirit of the Xiaoyue Yaowang, his Longxiang power increased by leaps and bounds,

Jumping from being on par with the peak of the Condensing Truth Realm Xiaoyue Yaowang to suddenly reaching a level capable of crushing the Green Forest bandit Situ Long, who had achieved success in Organ Refinement.

Afterwards, he refined the Absolute Heaven Blade Intent, and his soul power grew again,

Enabling him to split open the three-hundred-strong Mountain Guarding Formation of Wind Thunder Valley with a single strike, and then repel Yuwen Tai of the Wind Thunder Hand with the Gonggong Fist.

Now, his soul has been tempered in the Divine Weapon Secret Realm, reaching a level comparable to the Great Perfection of Organ Refinement, so the Longxiang power he can unleash is naturally not merely the Four Symbols Power.

If one were to quantify it, he feels he has already reached the strength of Six Symbols, an increase of over fifty percent.

If one includes the enhancement from the Longxiang Golden Body, he believes his pure physical strength alone is at least around the level of Eight Symbols.

This is also why, despite not having achieved success in Organ Refinement, he could still defeat Cao Gang, who had attained the Great Perfection of Organ Refinement.

Simply put, his soul power far exceeds his own Martial Dao cultivation, resulting in a severe imbalance.

"Master, your power has already surpassed the Ten Elephants Strength—does this not count as having achieved the second layer of divine ability?" Qin Shuo asked, puzzled.

"Divine ability is not merely power."

The Chijiao Heshang slowly shook his head, then smiled again: "Do you think, between ten catties of cotton and one catty of black iron, which is heavier?"

"Naturally, the cotton." Qin Shuo replied without hesitation.

"Then which hurts more when used to strike someone?"

"The black iron……"

"Master means that the second and first layers of divine ability are not merely a difference in magnitude of power, but also a distinction in essential nature?"

"Not bad."

The old monk's smile was full and bright, revealing an expression of one who could be taught,

"Qin Shuo, your talents are keen; perhaps you can break the iron law that divine abilities in the world have no second layer—I await with anticipation."