Chapter 58: The Decision Is That You Will Be the Abbot

Chen Ye looked up at the sky, holding this posture for a long time.

The night sky, originally as dark as ink, seemed to become an undried canvas, wiped by a giant hand until the sky lost its color, leaving behind a clear, flowing palm print.

Chen Ye stared at this palm print for a long time, lost in thought, until the sky brightened greatly, until that palm print vanished.

He had heard Hearing Mo Ci say before that the great battle between Righteous and Demonic paths back then had shattered the heavens, leaving traces still visible after a thousand years.

Chen Ye had been half-skeptical at the time, finding it truly hard to imagine what kind of scene that was.

Only now, seeing with his own eyes this palm strike from the Void Return realm that had slapped the sky into a distorted shape, did Chen Ye understand what was meant by the mighty power to move mountains and fill seas.

"Mr., there is no need to envy. With your talent, reaching the Void Return realm is only a matter of time."

Su Chunyi's voice came from behind; Chen Ye then withdrew his gaze.

Turning back, he saw Su Chunyi's face flushed, her spirit greatly restored.

Chen Ye asked, "Has Miss Su's injury already healed?"

Su Chunyi nodded and said, "Master Fang Yuan's pill has miraculous effects; I have fully recovered. This disaster has actually allowed my cultivation to advance a step further."

She flicked her fingertip, and a sharp sword intent appeared in the air. Chen Ye did not understand sword techniques, but he could see this sword intent was clearly more agile than before.

Chen Ye smiled and said, "Congratulations, Miss Su."

Su Chunyi stared into Chen Ye's eyes and asked in confusion, "Mr., is something on your mind? Are you holding a grudge against Master Fang Yuan for his previous offense?"

Chen Ye looked toward the Monk Fang Yuan, who was devoutly chanting scriptures nearby.

This Gao Seng was performing the morning recitation of a monk, yet he was no longer the sloppy figure of yesterday.

After slapping out three stars on the horizon with a single palm, he had shaved off his messy hair, changed into a clean monk's robe, and transformed from the appearance of a ragged old beggar into a kind-eyed, virtuous Gao Seng.

This old Monk said he had not shaved his head nor changed his clothes for eighty years while tracking Ku'e; now that Ku'e was dead, he had finally put down the heavy burden in his heart and could be a Monk again.

Chen Ye said to Su Chunyi, "After yesterday, I have understood many things. For Master Fang Yuan, whether a mere ant like me holds a grudge is actually meaningless. Mountains do not converse with drifting mist; we mortals will be a pile of bones in a few years, truly not worth mentioning compared to immortals who live long and see eternity."

Before yesterday, Chen Ye still felt he was quite talented, truly a dragon among men.

Even a Demon Lord of the Tongxuan realm had been resolved by him with a narrow escape; he was truly impressive, making Chen Ye unconsciously believe he was very powerful, the kind of protagonist in stories who challenges higher levels.

Until Master Fang Yuan slapped out the three stars on the horizon with a single palm.

This was not even a true immortal, only the Void Return realm, yet in a single palm strike, he could leave a mark on heaven and earth.

In a daze, Chen Ye felt he was just an ant, an ant that had just grown teeth and was showing off its strength.

What a transmigrator, what a protagonist, what brilliant talent—if one cannot live to the end, how much difference is there from an ordinary person?

From mortal to immortal, it takes hundreds or even thousands of years; any mistake during this period would lead to eternal damnation.

On this long, treacherous path like walking on thin ice, could he reach the other shore?

Chen Ye originally thought Su Chunyi would say some comforting words, but unexpectedly she only nodded and agreed, "Mr. speaks correctly. In the vast heavens and earth, we mortals are but ants. If we wish to break free from this cage, we must become immortals."

"I thought Miss Su would advise me not to be depressed."

Su Chunyi smiled gently and said to Chen Ye, "Mr. is not a depressed person; why would I need to speak out of turn?"

Chen Ye also smiled, not expecting Su Chunyi to understand him so well.

"Correct. Reflection is reflection, cultivation is cultivation. Since we know ourselves to be like ants, we should even more seize the present. Miss Su, are you returning to Qinghe next?"

"Correct, I too should return to Qinghe to cultivate diligently."

Su Chunyi did not elaborate in detail, but it was obvious this trial had brought her considerable gains; returning to seclude and cultivate diligently, the next time they met, she would likely no longer be in the Tongxuan realm. Just thinking of the imminent parting, Su Chunyi felt a bit reluctant to leave.

Though they had known each other for not long, Su Chunyi always felt Chen Ye was a soulmate in life; she truly wanted to take him back to Qinghe and introduce him to the elders of her sect. Thinking of this, Su Chunyi could not help but say, "However, before returning, I will go with Mr. to the Incense Burning Sect to facilitate the exchange of the Heavenly Book secret techniques."

Chen Ye heard this but shook his head and said, "I will not go to the Incense Burning Sect. That Wei Changsheng was taught a lesson by Master Fang Yuan; he must hold a grudge against us. Going there would only be asking for embarrassment and adding much trouble."

Su Chunyi asked in confusion, "But Master Fang Yuan was the one who taught Wei Changsheng a lesson; why would he hold a grudge against us?"

"Hehe, this... is complicated to explain. However, I am too lazy to go to the Incense Burning Sect; I only wish to improve my cultivation as quickly as possible. Once I find my master, I will find a place to cultivate diligently."

Chen Ye did not want to discuss such treacherous human hearts with Su Chunyi.

Su Chunyi suggested, "Mr. currently needs a secret technique to quickly strengthen the Qi Sea; why not return to Qinghe with me?"

Even though Chen Ye had already refused, Su Chunyi still wanted to ask once more, just in case he changed his mind.

Chen Ye looked at Su Chunyi's eyes full of expectation; though reluctant, he still shook his head and said, "The waters of Qinghe are too clear; a small fish like me, born from the mud, would not adapt there."

Su Chunyi already knew Chen Ye had a master trapped in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner; this matter could not be hidden from the Qinghe Sword Sect. If they asked a few questions then, Chen Ye's entire background would be exposed.

With the Qinghe Sword Sect's rules so righteously twisted, Su Chunyi's plea would likely be useless.

Chen Ye feared that if he went, he would be locked up, and Hearing Mo Ci would scatter his soul and spirit. Having just experienced the feeling of life and death being out of his own control, why gamble on the Qinghe Sect Master's attitude?

Seeing Chen Ye's tone firm, Su Chunyi stopped persuading and asked, "Then where does Mr. intend to go to cultivate diligently?"

Chen Ye did not answer immediately but looked toward the Monk Fang Yuan, who was sitting in meditation and chanting scriptures.

Su Chunyi was greatly startled and asked in panic, "Are you preparing to become a Monk?!"

Chen Ye looked at Su Chunyi in surprise; having known her for a long time, he had never seen this Miss lose her composure so much.

"I am not... just..." Su Chunyi blushed and said softly, "The Cixin Temple is, after all, a heterodox sect."

Before Chen Ye could speak, the Monk Fang Yuan's voice came from the side, "Benefactor Su, I cannot pretend not to hear these words."

Su Chunyi hurriedly said, "Master Fang Yuan, I did not mean to offend."

The Monk Fang Yuan laughed, "Hehehe, it is fine, it is fine. What Benefactor Su said is also correct; the Cixin Temple is indeed a heterodox sect. It is only because our Buddhist scriptures are incomplete, and the Niepan Sect, such a demonic path, has ruined the reputation of Buddhist disciples, so it is not strange to be misunderstood by the world. However, the Cixin Temple is dedicated to doing good; I beg Benefactor Su to clarify for our Cixin Temple when you return to the Qinghe Sect, so that your sect's master does not misunderstand."

After saying this, the Monk Fang Yuan spoke to Chen Ye again, "Benefactor Chen, I see you do not wish to become a monk. Meeting is fate; let us speak openly and discuss."

"Master's wisdom is sharp; I merely wish to exchange the Heart Sutra for the Cixin Temple's sect secret technique. I have just reached the Qi Sea realm and need a secret technique to accelerate the strengthening of the Qi Sea; I assume the Cixin Temple has one, I just do not know if it can be exchanged."

The Monk Fang Yuan laughed, "It can be exchanged; how could it not? But there is no need to exchange."

"No need?" Chen Ye did not understand the Monk Fang Yuan's words.

The Monk Fang Yuan explained, "Of course there is no need. I said, I came to find the two of you to repay a debt of gratitude. If Benefactor Chen needs this, what harm in giving it to you? However, the cultivation methods of the Cixin Temple have many taboos and may not suit Benefactor; moreover, they are certainly inferior to the secret techniques of the Qinghe Sword Sect and the Incense Burning Sect."

Chen Ye hurriedly said, "Master is too modest. For a rogue cultivator like me, having one is already good; how could I be picky? However, does Master not want the full text of the Heart Sutra?"

Chen Ye did not want to go to the Incense Burning Sect to trade; these so-called Righteous Sects were not necessarily so reasonable. If he encountered someone who ate black and spat black, a rogue cultivator like him would truly have no one to call to heaven or earth. On the contrary, the Monk Fang Yuan looked like a virtuous Gao Seng; trading with him was at least safe.

In any case, those Buddhist scriptures were useless to Chen Ye, so he was not greedy; he only exchanged for things that could quickly elevate his cultivation.

Although Master Fang Yuan was kind-hearted, he was not foolish; he could see Chen Ye's thoughts and spoke bluntly: "The object the donor seeks, this poor monk can guess a little. However, Cixin Temple is utterly destitute, with few treasures to offer. And as the donor mentioned earlier, knowing many lost Buddhist scriptures—that would likely exhaust even the entire Cixin Temple and still not be enough to exchange for them."

"How about this, donor? Follow me back to Cixin Temple. I will explain the matter to my senior brother, the Abbot, and make you the next Abbot. What do you think?"