Chapter 248: White‑Haired Sword Demon

The meditation hall isn't as luxurious as Yan Buji imagined, but the Vajra Temple seems unlike ordinary cultivation sects, still maintaining the layout of a mundane temple; even if one becomes a cultivator, it remains so?

Guang Jue laughed, "Is this Daoist Master Yue Jin's first time coming to a Buddhist site?"

"I've seen it among the mundane before, just didn't expect the Vajra Temple to be the same." Yan Buji let out a laugh.

Guang Jue nodded, "The Buddhist path does not emphasize purity or impurity, but cultivates the original mind. If one distances oneself too far from the mortal world, one fails to see sentient beings, betraying the original purpose of Buddhism's founding."

Yan Buji said, "I expound the Mahayana teaching, liberating suffering sentient beings."

Guang Jue laughed loudly, "I don't feel that way; the world doesn't know the Buddha's name, only seeks the Buddha's power. They wish the Tathagata's blessings to fall upon themselves. And the Buddhist monks, by this awaken themselves and others; those whose awakened practice is complete are called the awakened. If three are present but one is lacking, then they are not awakened and cannot be attained."

Yan Buji suddenly understood, "Ah, being able to awaken oneself, then awaken others, achieving perfect awakened practice—that is why they are called Buddha."

Guang Jue nodded, "Daoist Master Yue Jin truly has a seed of wisdom… oh no, I'm not here to discuss Buddhist sutras with you. Back in the Kan Dao Imperial Capital, I followed the Elders and left early; I still don't know why the capital was never held."

Yan Buji shook his head, "I, the humble monk, don't know much either; I also left early when the city fell, otherwise I wouldn't be here today."

"Then…"

"However… before leaving, I sensed that a certain great formation had been set up inside the Kan Dao Imperial Capital, and that's why I thought to depart first." Yan Buji isn't a fool; even if he knows what happened in the capital, he dares not speak recklessly.

Do you really think the Eight Daoist Sects are vegetarian?

If you talk too big, someone will come to catch you the next day.

Guang Jue was startled, frowned, and said, "The great formation… I see, were the Elders' conjectures true?"

"Conjecture?"

Guang Jue looked around, smiled, and asked, "Do you know why I went to Kan Dao?"

Yan Buji shook his head, "I truly don't know; weren't you going to travel and endure hardships? It seems that's not the case."

Guang Jue laughed, "Because within the Kan Dao Imperial Capital there is a terrifying thing, and I've heard the Vajra Temple also has one. The Elders speculate that the master of the Xuan Kan Dao orchestrated this human‑demon war to deal with that trouble."

"Huh?"

Yan Buji's pupils contracted.

Great Demon Remnant Limb!

"That's all I know, so don't ask further."

Yan Buji nodded, "I understand. Oh, by the way, just now at the foot of the mountain I saw a cultivator bearing a fierce sword intent—was he also from the Vajra Temple?"

"Sword intent??" Guang Jue was puzzled, then suddenly exclaimed, "Is that the White‑Haired Sword Demon?!"

"Huh? Who is he?"

Yan Buji feigned surprise, thinking to himself that his guess was correct—Yunhua must have caused trouble and fled here.

Guang Jue's face turned bitter, "Now that you mention it, I'll probably have to go with the Elders to capture him soon."

"What crime did this person commit?"

Guang Jue said, "The White‑Haired Sword Demon is said to have originated from Kan Dao, slaughtering countless mortals in his human days. After becoming a cultivator he grew even more ruthless, consecutively killing many cultivators from various factions, then attracted pursuers and vanished without a trace. The crucial point is that this fellow obtained a Nascent Soul‑stage demonic cultivator's legacy from a thousand years ago."

"Huh?!!!"

Yan Buji's face twitched; fortunately he hadn't killed Liu Qingqing back then, or he would have become a name in their battle record and possibly be classified among the countless mortal slayers.

"Is it his sword intent? I glanced at him earlier and felt something very odd."

"Exactly. This person's sword intent originates from that Nascent Soul demonic cultivator; the sword intent is said to Devour a cultivator's Qi, spirit and vigor to enlarge himself, far more outrageous than ordinary evil arts. The Devoured Qi, spirit and vigor not only pose no threat to him, but actually increase his own magical power, further sharpening the sword intent!"

Guang Jue waved his hand, "I also heard this person once repelled a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a nine‑layer refined Qi strike, relying solely on that all‑penetrating sword intent to wreak havoc—just a glimpse of his power."

Yan Buji's expression changed, he coughed, "Then Master Guang Jue, I wish you luck; I await your good news."

"Hey, hey, hey, what about this: if we catch him together, the reward is still sizable. Not to mention the bounty notices each sect has issued; even within the Vajra Temple, anyone who captures him receives a generous prize. Does Daoist Master Yue Jin know about the Spirit‑Opening Pill the Vajra Temple produces?" Guang Jue blurted, apparently trying to enlist Yan Buji in the hunt.

Yan Buji frowned, "For such a ferocious figure, no matter how many rewards, one must have the fate to obtain them."

Guang Jue sensed Yan Buji's refusal and didn't press further, "If that's the case, I'll first report to the Elders and ask them to make a decision."

Guang Jue saw that he didn't seem like someone who would keep the reward for himself, otherwise he wouldn't wear a worried expression.

Yan Buji thought for a moment, then said, "Earlier I saw that demonic cultivator close to a young woman, seeming to act together; could it be that the demonic cultivator abducted her for amusement?"

Guang Jue was startled, then realized, "I've heard he has a daughter… oh, yes, that scoundrel isn't human; he abducted an innocent girl to use as a shield, and I happen to be coordinating with the Elders to rescue her from the flames."

Yan Buji smiled, "In that case, I'll depart now, not delaying your important matters."

"Alright, when you capture him, also invite the Daoist Master to bear witness," Guang Jue laughed.

"No need, no need; I don't expect to stay here long."

Yan Buji smiled lightly, merely offering a hint, and Guang Jue understood to seize that girl to deal with Yunhua.

However, I'll not involve myself too much in this matter; although deeds from my mortal days may not be highly valued in the cultivation world, reputation should still be maintained a bit.

Unless forced, Yan Buji does not wish to expose his mortal‑life actions too much, lest a day comes when a formidable enemy tracks the clues all the way to his identity as a Taoist of Qingfeng Temple.

After leaving the Vajra Temple, Yan Buji stayed a night in the market town at the foot of the mountain, planning to depart after touring the area.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Guang Jue found the Elders of the Vajra Temple and reported the discovery of the White‑Haired Sword Demon; indeed, the temple's higher‑ups took it seriously.

A Nascent Soul‑stage demonic cultivator's legacy, regardless of its nature, cannot be allowed by the Vajra Temple's monks to let such a demon run amok in the world!

"If you ask this humble monk, we should directly employ the Tian Gang Subduing Demon Great Formation to subdue this beast!"

"Indeed, the heads of each hall are busy with that matter, and we cannot call upon a High‑Level Nascent Core cultivator now. If we act, we should aim for stability and prudence."

A bald, muscular man with a twisted knot of hair nodded, "Since that's the case, we'll follow Guang Jue's plan: first rescue the woman beside the White‑Haired demonic cultivator, then use the Tian Gang Subduing Demon Great Formation to subdue him. Otherwise harming an outsider would tarnish our Vajra Temple's reputation."

"Yes!"