Chapter 465: [Inside the Peach Blossom Spring.]

【Inside the Peach Blossom Spring.】

【One hundred and eighty more sword marks have been carved into the peach tree that counts the days.】

【A year of spring and autumn has passed, yet this place knows no change of the four seasons.】

【There is only a setting sun, forever suspended above the peaks of the distant mountains.】

【The youth in white, with his trousers rolled high, stood in the clear, shallow pond. Suddenly, he leaned down and reached out; when he straightened up, his palms had already caught two silver fish, their scales refracting a fine, shimmering light.】

【"Kid, we're in for a treat today." He shook the silver scales in his hand, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "The fish and birds in Old Third's 'Lamp-Holding Yellow Millet Dream' are not easy to catch; if you use your cultivation base, they just slip right through your fingers."】

【The blue smoke from the burning peach wood rose in curling wisps. The youth used his sword as a blade to gut the fish and skewer them on a branch. The flames licked the silver scales, which gradually turned golden. He suddenly tapped his rhythm and sang: "White egrets fly before Xisai Mountain, peach blossoms flow with the water, and the mandarin fish are fat..."】

【"In the world today, being able to enjoy a leisurely meal of fish is already extraordinary."】

【Seeing that you were still sitting quietly in the pavilion at the heart of the pond, paying him no mind, the Second Master did not get angry.】

【His gaze fell upon the true qi circulating around your body. After three hundred days of diligent practice without pause, your dantian's sea of qi had become a vast, surging ocean.】

【The spiritual energy here was actually three times denser than in the imperial city of Bianjing, and with the help of the medicinal power within your body, your cultivation progressed with half the effort for twice the result.】

【On the path of cultivation, from Ocean Observation to the Ninth Realm of the Profound Dan, how many brilliant and talented people have spent their entire lives trapped here, like those gazing at the Tianmen but unable to enter.】

【In the Ocean Observation realm, one must condense the true yuan of the entire body into a tide, gathering it into a vast sea within the dantian.】

【Those with dull aptitude struggle to see the vast sea in their lifetime; even those with exceptional talent require decades before they can stir the tides.】

【The Second Master recalled that it seemed to have taken him three or four years to break through to the Profound Dan.】

【Moreover, you have not only cultivated the martial path but also the Primordial Spirit; you are likewise only one step away from becoming a Yang Spirit.】

【No wonder the Master once said, "The two words 'cultivation,' for those with true talent in the Dao, are as simple as eating and drinking."】

【"So-called realms are merely hurdles for ordinary people; for them, they count for nothing."】

【The Second Master was deep in thought when he suddenly saw the wind and clouds change abruptly above the pavilion.】

【The youth's robes danced wildly, as if he had become the vortex of the Peach Blossom Spring. Ten thousand strands of primordial energy, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, were all swallowed into his body. That slender figure was now like an inverted chaotic funnel, devouring spiritual energy without ever being satisfied.】

【What was even more astonishing was that under such whale-like gulping, the youth's energy not only showed no signs of stagnation but became increasingly unfathomable.】

【The massive primordial energy entered his body, vanishing without a trace like a clay ox into the sea, yet the spiritual energy from all directions continued to surge in, creating visible tides of spiritual energy within the Peach Blossom Spring.】

【The Second Master clapped his hands and stood up, feeling somewhat strange; clearly, according to Xie Guan's cultivation progress, his Primordial Spirit should have achieved the Yang Spirit a step earlier.】

【Unexpectedly, today it was the martial path that condensed the Profound Dan.】

【He saw golden light suddenly pierce through the youth's dantian, like the rising sun.】

【That was the sign that the supreme realm of the martial path, the "Profound Dan," was about to be formed. A martial artist in this realm has a body that is nearly immortal: when struck by common iron, it produces a metallic ring; not only are they difficult to injure with ordinary blades, but even spells can hardly shake them in the slightest.】

【And the massive amount of true yuan is continuously compressed and collapsed, finally condensing into a single Hunyuan Jin Dan, which is the Profound Dan.】

【Once the Profound Dan is formed, the martial artist's body naturally generates creation, the breath circulates back and forth, as if hiding a spiritual vein within the body, and the true qi is inexhaustible.】

【The Profound Dan is ever-changing; it can condense into armor to protect the body, or become a weapon that can attack outside the body. Regrowing severed limbs is a trivial matter, and it can even bring back flesh to white bones.】

【Unless the head is severed, it is extremely difficult to kill them completely.】

【Martial artists of the Ninth Realm of the martial path are revered by the world as "Martial Gods."】

【The youth let out a clear whistle that shook the entire Peach Blossom Spring.】

【His upper garments were shattered, revealing skin like jade. On his left shoulder, a phantom of a golden Buddha sat cross-legged, with constant Sanskrit chants; on his right shoulder, the patterns of a pitch-black demonic spear were coiled, and the steaming demonic energy condensed into a ferocious ghost face behind him. Buddha light and demonic flames intertwined, neither encroaching on the other, yet gradually merging.】

【The Second Master laughed, "Interesting. The Vajra Undying Body paired with the Profound Fetus Demonic Strength—you've actually managed to refine such incompatible arts. No wonder you've progressed so quickly."】

【The youth's eyes gradually cleared, and the mysterious aura on his body slowly receded.】

【Looking closely now, his skin was as lustrous as mutton-fat white jade, his stature had grown by more than three inches, and his internal acupoints had undergone a different change, with six new acupoints appearing out of thin air on his arms and lower abdomen.】

【After condensing the Profound Dan, it will spontaneously adjust your physique to the best state for your true yuan.】

【The Second Master, seeing your spirited eyes, kicked a peach wood branch at your feet.】

【"Want to try again?"】

【You had exactly that intention. With a light leap, you stood in the air as if stepping on solid ground. Within your meridians, it was like a rushing river, and you seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of true yuan.】

【Three pitch-black demonic spears condensed behind you, the spear bodies coiled with blood-colored demonic patterns. You flicked your fingers, and when the demonic spears broke through the air, they emitted the wailing of fierce ghosts.】

【You followed closely behind, your body covered in glazed Buddha light. As you pressed your palms together and dived, a three-zhang glazed Buddha manifested in the air. The Buddha's palm was one with your movements, crashing down with the force to crush mountains. The peach forest below bowed completely, and the falling flowers in the sky were shattered into powder by the shockwave.】

【The youth in white, however, did not retreat but advanced. The peach branch in his hand spun lightly, trapping five sword intents and shredding the demonic spears. A snow-bright sword light rose against the sky, tearing a line of light through the shadow of the Buddha's palm.】

【The youth in white drew his sword and rose.】

【One person in the air with the Buddha's hand pressing down, the other with sword light rushing to the sky.】

【Finally, the great Buddha dissipated...】

【A figure in white slowly descended, the peach branch in his hand broken into two.】

【The Second Master smiled slightly, "Not eating fish?"】

【Your figure condensed again not far away, and you said sullenly, "Cultivate!"】

【One year has passed, and there are four more years of time.】

【You need to ascend to the Yang Spirit and condense your life-bound soul.】

～

～

On the official road south of Bianjing, five figures stepped through the morning dew as they came along.

They were only fifty miles away from Bianjing.

In the lead was a white horse like snow; the monk in white on the saddle had a face like a crown of jade, and his wide sleeves fluttered in the wind like clouds.

The fat monk held the horse's reins, sweat beads glistening with oil on his ring scars, his whole body drenched in sweat, his big belly exposed on his upper body.

The burly monk carried a scripture banner on his back, the banner pole made of refined iron causing the stone slabs of the official road to sink slightly.

The thin monk clearing the path at the very front held a broadsword, the handle wrapped in faded blood-stained cloth.

This was the party of four monks.

And at the end of the procession, an old monk in gray walked with steady steps; with every step he took, there was an afterimage under his feet—this was the world-renowned Master Lianchi.

The party seemed to be walking slowly, but in reality, they could travel three or four hundred miles a day.

Lianchi walked at the very back, remaining silent the entire time.

At this moment!

The monk in white riding the white horse pulled on the reins.

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

"Whoa, disciples, look at the sky."

Where the clouds parted, four Heavenly Gates stood majestically. With glazed tiles for steps and beaded curtains hanging down, Sanskrit chants and Daoist rhymes were faintly intertwined within the gates.

The monk walking in front holding the broadsword had a flash of sharp light in his eyes, carrying a fierce aura.

"Master, that is the Tianmen recorded in the Buddhist scriptures. Three thousand years ago, our Buddha Sect did not manifest, and the Dao Sect, the Demon Sect, and that Empress Qianyuan ascended and left."

"Now, it is finally our Buddha Sect's turn. This generation should be the day of the Buddha Sect's great flourishing."

The fat monk holding the horse, upon hearing this, collapsed to the ground, his kasaya covered in dust: "M-Master, Yu Shixiong is muddled!"

"Ascension—look, there are only four Heavenly Gates, which means there are only four spots. With how many people are in the world—the Daqi Academy, the Longevity Heaven Demon Sect, the Sanzhen Sect, and a Master who is eyeing it like a tiger—where would it ever be our Buddha Sect's turn?"

The broadsword monk looked fiercely at the fat monk, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

The fat monk, seeing this, looked nervous, swallowed his saliva, and took half a step back.

"Yu Shixiong, why don't we just turn back!"

The broadsword monk had already drawn his blade, "If you say that again, I'll hack you."

The fat monk pursed his lips, just as he was about to speak.

The burly monk carrying the scripture banner mediated, "Eldest Yu Shixiong, Second Yu Shixiong, stop arguing!"

"We came all this way, isn't it for this very matter?"

"We can't just get cold feet at the critical moment."

The fat monk said impatiently, "There are so many experts now, the Ten Great Sects of the world have all come; can the four of us handle it?"

"Not to mention the experts of the Central Plains, the several teachers of the Academy, and a Demon Master—it's not like we haven't crossed paths with them."

"Eldest Yu Shixiong, we were beaten to the point where we couldn't even fight back."

The broadsword monk was furious upon hearing this and was about to raise his blade to hack at the fat monk.

The white-clad monk riding the horse spoke up to stop him, "Fellow disciples, do not break the commandment against killing."

The burly monk also blocked the two of them, "Eldest Yu Shixiong, harmony is precious."

The fat monk, seeing that both of them were on his side, looked happy, "Not to mention the Demon Master, there is also that 'Land Dragon'; we have crossed paths with him too, and Master was almost snatched away."

"Eldest Yu Shixiong, can you beat him?"

The broadsword monk, eyes filled with fierce light, remained silent.

The fat monk then delivered the final verdict, "Therefore, we might as well turn back; why bother wading into this muddy water?"

"Returning to my temple to eat and drink well—isn't that better?"

"Throwing away our lives for nothing is just not worth it."

The fat monk looked at the monk riding the white horse, "Master, if you insist on going, why not let this disciple return to the Southern Buddha Kingdom?"

The monk riding the white horse looked hesitant, his brows tightly furrowed.

The broadsword monk let out a cold snort and had already drawn his blade, "If they can't ascend, does that mean we can't?"

The fat monk wept bitterly, "Master, I still have an eighty-year-old mother at home, and a newlywed wife—the mundane world is not yet finished... I absolutely cannot go."

The burly monk held the furious broadsword monk with his left arm and dragged the wailing fat monk with his right, the copper bells on the scripture banner jingling wildly.

He looked helplessly at the white-clad monk: "Master, what do you think..."

Master Lianchi in the back appeared as if he hadn't heard a thing.

"Ah—"

The white-clad monk was pulled by the others until he stumbled and finally fell off the white horse to the ground.

Amidst the swirling dust, the broadsword monk had already grabbed his collar, the scabbard pressing against his throat: "Are you going or not? If you don't nod today, don't blame me for not respecting the teacher-disciple relationship!"

The fat monk hugged the white-clad monk's thigh, "Master, we can't go!"

The burly monk held the broadsword monk with one hand, "Eldest Yu Shixiong, how can you lay a hand on Master?"

He also grabbed the fat monk, "Second Yu Shixiong, let's discuss this... what exactly is the matter? Get up and speak first."

The white-clad monk was pulled until his robes were disheveled, his jade face flushed red, and his brow grew more distressed.

Suddenly, he heard a Buddhist chant.

"Amitabha."

Master Lianchi's voice was like the morning bell of an ancient temple.

Everyone felt as if they had been struck by lightning, instantly freezing in place.

"Zhu Fuzi, how many miles have we walked from the Southern Buddha Kingdom?"

The white-clad monk hurriedly straightened his clothes and pressed his palms together: "Reporting to Uncle Master, we have traveled fourteen thousand miles."

Master Lianchi asked again, "And how many miles has the Zhu Fuzi traveled alone on his own journey?"

The white-clad monk calculated on his fingers, suddenly showing a look of shock: "I have actually... traveled one hundred and three thousand miles."

After saying this, he was stunned himself!

He then stared fixedly at the four brilliant Heavenly Gates in the sky.

The white-clad monk's eyes were filled with confusion, "The Tianmen has opened..."

Master Lianchi spoke a Buddhist phrase, "All appearances are illusory. If you see that all appearances are not appearances, then you see the Tathagata."

The white-clad monk's whole body shook violently, muttering to himself, "See the Tathagata?... See the Tathagata."

"One hundred and three thousand miles..."

The white-clad monk suddenly sat cross-legged and smiled as he held a flower.

"Passing the light from one lamp to another, until all ten thousand lamps are bright."

Before the three disciples could recover, their figures had already turned into three streams of light.

The broadsword monk's intensity, the fat monk's worldliness, and the burly monk's honesty all returned to the sea like a hundred rivers; the same was true for the white horse, which likewise formed a lotus flower blooming above the white-clad monk's head.

The white-clad monk's aura climbed sharply, and a realm and Zen intent beyond the Ninth Realm of the martial path and the Yang Spirit appeared.

The white-clad monk stood up, his face solemn, like a Buddha walking in the world. He pressed his palms together and said respectfully to Lianchi.

"Many thanks, Uncle Master, for protecting me all the way and for pointing the way at this critical moment."

A smile appeared on Lianchi's face, "Zhu Fuzi, ten years of trekking one hundred thousand miles were not in vain after all. Today, you have subdued the four appearances, clarified your mind, and seen your nature, ascending to the Third Fruit of the Buddha family—the Anagami realm—far from the greed, anger, and ignorance of the desire realm, and have attained the fruit position."

This white-clad monk was the Zhu Fuzi of the Eastern Saint Sect, hailed as one who would not descend for a thousand years—Bukong.

By the age of seventeen, he had already reached the Ninth Realm of the martial path, forged the Glazed Brahma Golden Body, and his Primordial Spirit had achieved the Yang Spirit realm, lacking only the opportunity of creation to condense his life-bound soul.

Bukong had manifested the external four appearances: the white horse, the broadsword monk, the fat monk, and the burly monk.

Zhu Fuzi Bukong's clear gaze looked toward the horizon, "The four fruits of the Buddha family: the first fruit, severing views of delusion; the second fruit, severing thoughts of delusion; the third fruit, far from the greed, anger, and ignorance of the desire realm."

"The fourth fruit, Arhat, completely liberates one from the cycle of life and death, reaching the realm of Nirvana."

"Our Eastern Saint Sect has had dozens of great Zen masters over the generations who reached the third fruit realm, but we have never produced a fourth."

Lianchi looked at the four gateways on the horizon.

"Zhu Fuzi, is this the convergence of causes and conditions?"

Bukong pressed his palms together, his expression solemn, "Namo Amitabha, it must be taken."

Just at this moment.

Two figures came stepping on the clear breeze, one after the other, their steps steady.

"Congratulations, Zhu Fuzi, on ascending to the ranks of the world's Great Grandmasters."

The person speaking had a scholarly face; it was the Demon Master Xu Jiangxian. Following behind him was a middle-aged man with an ordinary temperament—the "Land Dragon" Dugu Sheng.

Lianchi and the Zhu Fuzi looked calm, as if they had long known of the two's arrival.

In fact!

The Demon Master and Dugu Sheng had been here for a long time, not only never disturbing them but even secretly acting as guardians for the Zhu Fuzi to prevent outsiders from interfering.

Lianchi pressed his palms together and nodded slightly: "We meet again, Patron Xu, Patron Dugu."

"Master Lianchi." The Demon Master Xu Jiangxian smiled gently.

Bukong also looked on with curiosity, sizing up the two Great Grandmasters of the world; it was indeed true that they were both teachers and friends.

Dugu Sheng, however, looked slightly constrained, a trace of unnaturalness flashing across his honest face. He raised his hand to rub the back of his head and gave a dry laugh, as if he didn't know how to respond.

After all, he was born into the Buddha Sect and had later betrayed it; encountering the Great Abbot and the Zhu Fuzi of the Eastern Saint Sect made him feel somewhat awkward.

The Demon Master got straight to the point and smiled, "We came specifically to find the two of you for the sake of ascension."

PS: Double monthly tickets, please give me your monthly tickets!

(End of chapter)