Chapter 573: The Bodhisattva Sees Heaven

Leshan.

The entrance to Leyang Village.

There was a dilapidated temple here.

From ancient times to the present, there have been all kinds of natural and man-made disasters, as well as countless people burning incense and praying to gods and Buddhas.

A temple itself is nothing strange, but this temple was somewhat peculiar; the plaque hanging outside the door did not state which god or Buddha's Dao Field it was, but only had one very simple character—"Temple." It was as strange and laughable as a city that, instead of a name, simply had the word "City" written on it.

The interior of the temple was even more dilapidated and cramped than its exterior. As the sky grew dark and dusk approached, not a single villager could be found inside to pay their respects. Yet, the temple was abnormally filled with a layer of stinging, thick smoke, making it impossible to see exactly which deity was enshrined before the altar.

Amidst the thick smoke filling the room, a person was sitting in a dark corner, appearing to be the temple keeper. Due to the obstruction of the smoke, one could only vaguely discern a somewhat bloated and fat man, with disheveled hair, looking like a beggar.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, the man opened his terrified eyes and let out a painful groan. His pupils contracted as if he were enduring immense agony. His long hair parted, revealing a particularly terrifying face. A single glance was enough to make anyone unable to eat for three days and nights.

This face was covered in dense, bean-sized poisonous sores. Under the pain, he had already scratched them open, and festering, yellowish pus and blood flowed out, covering his entire face, smelling so foul it made one want to vomit.

"Heavenly Weeping... Heavenly Weeping... Why did I have to look at the Heavenly Weeping... Why did I have to leak the secrets of Heaven... No, isn't it precisely because the will of Heaven is unfathomable and living beings suffer that I do this for the sake of all living things... Heaven does not tolerate me... Ah!"

"

The man let out a desperate and shrill wail, in such unbearable pain that it sounded like a vengeful ghost being tortured in hell. Or perhaps, the pain he suffered was something even the evil ghosts of hell could not reach.

Heavenly Weeping, Heavenly Weeping.

That which is listed on the Ranking of Terror, possessing the power to make even the heavens weep—how could a mortal possibly endure it?

It is unknown how much time passed before the pain that made him wish for death finally receded like the tide.

The man gasped violently, rested for a moment, finally sat up, and offered a few more sticks of incense to the statue shrouded in mist.

If one looked closely, this statue seemed to bear a striking resemblance to the man himself, only without the poisonous sores all over its face.

Who exactly was he?

Why was there a clay statue of himself sitting on the altar?

In this world, there are gods, there are Demons, there is Heaven... and naturally, there are Bodhisattvas.

He was a Bodhisattva, a Bodhisattva who wished to peer into the heavens and ferry all living beings, yet found it difficult to save himself—Ni Pusa.

The heart-wrenching pain from before had accompanied Ni Pusa for half his life; he was already accustomed to it, so he did not remain dejected for long. After resting for a while and tidying up slightly, he sat back in his original position.

Not long after, footsteps came from outside the temple, and a slightly youthful boyish voice spoke up: "Feng, look, the name of this temple is quite interesting. Why don't we go in and take a look to see which god or Bodhisattva is enshrined here? How can it not even have a name?"

"Alright, let Brother Yun come along too."

A voice as gentle as a spring breeze spoke.

Although the reply from "Brother Yun" was not heard, it was assumed he had nodded or given his silent consent, and the footsteps soon entered the dilapidated temple.

Appearing before Ni Pusa were three boys who looked to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old. Because the things the three had experienced were unimaginable even to adults, and they possessed martial arts, they looked more mature than their peers; their true ages might be even younger than they appeared.

Among these three, the oldest was dressed in black, wearing a black cloak, looking as if he had come from the Darkness and would return to the Darkness. His expression was as cold as ice, as if he held no emotion for all living things. One could only wonder what kind of experiences could create such a peculiar boy.

The second boy had a handsome face, a faint smile like a spring breeze always on his lips, and a light gait, showing he possessed superior lightness skills.

As for the third, he was relatively thinner. Although he also had a handsome face, a hint of ferocity was faintly revealed between his brows, and his laughter carried a three-part air of cynicism.

These three were Bu Jingyun, Nie Feng, and Duan Lang.

Without the interference of the uninvited guest Yu Liancheng, these three had finally embarked on the same path as originally intended. Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng successively became disciples of Xiongba. Especially Bu Jingyun, who became Xiongba's capable assistant, opening up territory for him. Although he was very young, he had already grasped the essence of the Paiyun Palm and had even earned the nickname "Buku Shishen."

Duan Lang was more miserable; lacking the destiny of Wind and Cloud, he was used by Xiongba to make a show of force, becoming the lowest of servants, cleaning stables all day and living among horse manure.

This time, Nie Feng and Duan Lang had come to Leshan to mourn Nie Renwang and Duan Shuai, who had been dragged into Lingyun Cave by the Fire Qilin, while Bu Jingyun had been sent by Xiongba to prevent the two from escaping.

In the thick fog, Ni Pusa looked at the three carefully, then suddenly sighed: "Tragedy, all tragedy. Even if one perceives the secrets of Heaven, it is a tragedy that cannot be changed."

Nie Feng couldn't help but ask: "Senior, what are you talking about?"

"I am a person who perceives the secrets of Heaven, but unfortunately, I am also a person who cannot escape the secrets of Heaven. But since I have seen you, I should fulfill my duty and give you my final advice..." Ni Pusa seemed to be talking to himself, then turned his gaze to Duan Lang: "Child, ambition is like a prairie fire; you had best restrain your heart. Otherwise, you will eventually lose the most precious people and things in your life. Sending charcoal in the cold night, do not forget, do not forget..."

Duan Lang scratched his head, not understanding, and was just about to ask when Ni Pusa turned to look at Nie Feng: "Coming like a clear breeze, going like a clear breeze; child, you are kind-hearted and overly benevolent. You will sacrifice yourself for others your whole life. Your destiny is 'sacrifice,' and your greatest ability is also sacrifice. Perhaps one day, you will sacrifice everything for this world. All love and hate, all people and things."

Finally, Ni Pusa looked at Bu Jingyun. The tragic emotion in his eyes was even deeper, thicker, and heavier: "Clouds have no fixed form; it is hard to be a soulmate and hard to be an enemy. Although you are not the 'Heavenly Fated Loner,' you are close to it. You think you are miserable now, but in reality, you will suffer all the pain in the world. Everyone who cares about you, and everyone you care about, will have 'deep feelings but shallow fate' with you, becoming the painful memories of your life."

"As for the wish you now hold in your heart, for which you would endure all suffering to complete—you will one day have your wish fulfilled, but after the wish is fulfilled, sigh..."

A desolate sigh, full of sorrow and helplessness.

The more he spoke, the more mysterious it became. Duan Lang and Nie Feng were both deeply confused, but Bu Jingyun knew what was what. He watched the man before him who knew him like the back of his hand. This death god, who never showed joy or anger, actually had sweat appearing on his palms.

Duan Lang was not convinced: "A wandering fortune-teller, just spouting nonsense. Feng, don't believe him."

Ni Pusa chuckled: "Since you don't believe me, then I will tell you a prophecy."

Even Nie Feng became interested: "Senior, please speak."

Ni Pusa said: "A great disaster is about to occur in this Leshan area, a monstrous disaster, a disaster that will sweep across all living things."

Regarding this prophecy, the three left the dilapidated temple, all completely confused.

"Alright, it is time for me to leave as well."

Ni Pusa did not wish to be involved in the coming disaster, but just as he stood up and his peripheral vision fell upon the backs of the three, his body suddenly trembled.

"What is happening? The Luck has changed. No! It hasn't just changed, it has been blurred for the most part, even becoming blank. Even I, Ni Pusa, who has mastered the art of physiognomy and has seen the Heavenly Weeping, cannot calculate their future. What is going on? The secrets of Heaven are becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend."

"Bodhisattva, could you cast a divination for me?"

Just then, an ethereal and clear voice rang out. At the same time, a man in black stepped into the dilapidated temple with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, his demeanor refined and transcendent.

And when Ni Pusa saw the newcomer, this Bodhisattva who claimed to calculate all heavenly secrets and know everything, actually showed a look of horror, as if he had encountered the most inconceivable existence of his life.

In his eyes, what had descended into this dilapidated temple was not a person, but an aura—an ethereal, vast, and unfathomable aura.

Like Heaven, like Earth.

Like a god, like a Demon.

Under this aura, all things in heaven and earth seemed to become as small as dust. Even the aura of heaven and earth itself was twisted and changed by this majestic and unfathomable aura.

Ni Pusa finally understood why the futures of Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, and Duan Lang had become blurred or even blank; it was because they would intersect with this inconceivable, peerless figure, and their destinies would naturally deviate from their original tracks.

As for why this person before him possessed such inconceivability and was not within the destiny already set by the Heavenly Weeping, Ni Pusa could not understand, but he had a faint, sudden realization.

The Heaven Cry records the past, present, and future of this world.

If this person comes from beyond the heavens...

Or perhaps, this person is an existence that transcends the Heaven Cry...

But regardless of which it is, it is an existence that he, Ni Pusa, dares not provoke.

Ni Pusa looked at Yu Liancheng as if gazing up at the firmament above his head, his heart trembling incessantly: "Your Excellency is as high and unfathomable as the heavens; how would I dare to speculate on the secrets of heaven?"

Yu Liancheng chuckled: "Have you not already been speculating on the secrets of heaven for half a lifetime?"

"It is precisely because I have speculated on the secrets of heaven for half a lifetime and ended up in such a state that I have become all the more respectful and fearful of heaven," Ni Pusa said respectfully.

He added in his heart that the firmament and high heavens above, after all, possess no spirit. Leaking the secrets of heaven only results in the backlash of heaven's secrets. But this "high heaven" before his eyes is a real, living person; the heart of heaven is hard to fathom, but the human heart is even harder to fathom. If he were to accidentally touch the other party's reverse scale, it would be a combination of heaven and man striking together, turning the world upside down.

That is certainly not something a mere Ni Pusa like him could withstand.

"Hehehe." Yu Liancheng chuckled: "Then why don't you guess why I have come to seek you?"

"Your Excellency's secrets are unfathomable, and I am merely speaking nonsense. If I have offended you, please forgive me." Ni Pusa hesitated for a moment before slowly spitting out two words: "Heaven Cry."

Nothing but the Heaven Cry.

He truly could not understand why such an existence would seek out a Bodhisattva like him who could barely protect himself.

"You guessed right." Yu Liancheng chuckled: "Take me to find the Heaven Cry. The poisonous sores on your body are the result of leaking too many secrets of heaven, and they are also the curse of the Heaven Cry. If I can control the Heaven Cry, perhaps I can cure you."

"Yes."

Boom!

Just at this moment, a loud rumbling sound suddenly came from all around.

The entire temple suddenly shook as if the earth were moving and the mountains were swaying, as if a thousand-catty Iron pillar were being struck heavily again and again.

A monstrous wave descended from the sky, and with a loud "Boom," it smashed the entire temple gate into pieces on the spot, sweeping toward the two people with the force of a landslide and a tidal wave.

"The great disaster of Leshan has arrived."

Ni Pusa muttered to himself.

He had not calculated wrong.

It truly was a great disaster.

It was a flood.

Boom!

However, this flood, which was enough to destroy the heavens and extinguish the earth, had only just reached three zhang in front of Yu Liancheng when it seemed to be blocked by an invisible Iron dam, forced to split to both sides—it was extremely miraculous.

"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. It seems that today I shall have seven hundred, seven thousand, seventy thousand-story pagodas..."

Even Ni Pusa, who had not shown the slightest movement when facing Yu Liancheng's ability to sever waves and divide the sea, finally showed a trace of disbelief: "Heaven, too, will show mercy to man."

"Hehe!"

On the other side.

Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, and Duan Lang also witnessed this monstrous wave.

Nie Feng was traveling at high speed, his movement technique shifting like a raging gale, his Internal Force pushed to the limit.

Ahead, not far away, was a market town. With Nie Feng's nature, how could he sit idly by and let countless people be buried in this natural disaster? Bu Jingyun and Duan Lang followed closely behind; their light-body techniques were not as good as Nie Feng's, so they could only trail several zhang behind.

"The flood is coming, everyone run!" Nie Feng was like a gale as he swept into the town, ignoring the need to regulate his breath, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Although he poured his Internal Force into his voice to make it carry far, the crowd just stared blankly at the panting Nie Feng. Some even looked curious, craning their necks to look around, wanting to see what this flood looked like. From beginning to end, not a single person moved.

Duan Lang and Bu Jingyun had also arrived. Duan Lang shouted: "The Min River side has already been flooded, and the water level has even surpassed the Qingyi River. Time is urgent, everyone run for your lives."

Once these words were spoken, it finally caused a panic: "Ah! The flood is coming."

"Village Chief, what should we do?"

For a time, everyone was discussing it heatedly. The village chief saw that just three children had already made everyone anxious, and he could not help but turn livid: "You little brats, I ask you, if there were a flood, why didn't the local government notify us? And who are you? You are not villagers of this village, why notify us? Don't tell me you saw it with your own eyes; could the three of you be faster than the flood?"

Nie Feng, Duan Lang, and the others were stunned upon hearing this, not expecting that after exhausting their energy to rush here, they would be met with suspicion and interrogation.

"Heh, kid, speechless now, aren't you? Tell me, what is your motive for coming here to spread rumors and cause trouble?"

"Haha, just a mere child, and you've scared everyone like this."

"Take these little brats to the government office for using rumors to confuse the people."

Everyone sneered incessantly, thinking they had exposed the boring tricks of a few children.

Bu Jingyun stepped forward, his expression cold and stern, intending to use thunderous means to force everyone to leave, not caring if he became a "Demon" in the eyes of the crowd.

However, Nie Feng, who possessed the Ice Heart Art and had extraordinary hearing, had his expression change. He looked behind him, his tone nearly desperate as he muttered to himself: "It's too late, it's too late."

"What's wrong, Feng?" Duan Lang asked in confusion.

But soon, he knew the reason.

Boom!

Boom-boom!

All the noisy discussions were suppressed.

In everyone's field of vision, a black shadow swept over with great momentum. In the blink of an eye, it was right before them, and they discovered that it was actually a monstrous wave. It smashed down, and all the buildings in its path were instantly turned upside down, collapsing in a single sweep.