Chapter 169: Mind-Reading Divine Art!

In the Great Yan Palace, Jiang Ningan sat beside Hearing Liu Qingmeng like a maid.

Watching Fang Can step forward and suppress the urge to speak, he finally waited for Fang Can to ask first.

Facing the question, the girl unconsciously smiled, then slowly composed herself.

'The Master said to restrain myself, but since Fang Can asked first, I naturally must answer.'

Thinking this, the girl politely said, "Thank you, Junior Brother Fang, for your concern. I have made considerable progress in martial arts these past few days."

'Huh?' Fang Can unconsciously looked at the girl with confusion; why did this answer feel out of character for her?

Just as he was about to press further, Hearing Liu Qingmeng beside him interrupted, "Enough. Let's catch up later. How is your pre-match preparation?"

"No problem," Fang Can replied with a confident smile. "Senior Liu, just watch my performance later. But does the champion not receive any other rewards?"

"With that spear of yours?" Amidst Jiang Ningan's resentful gaze, Hearing Liu Qingmeng noticed the long spear on Fang Can's back. "Why switch to a weapon this time?"

"I'm a genius. Using my flesh and blood to stab and gore before was so uncouth. I can handle any weapon, but the spear just feels more natural."

Fang Can answered with a smile, reminding those around of the various weapon mastery evaluations from the previous Ascending Dragon List.

'And... he's so relaxed.' Watching Fang Can's easy and carefree demeanor facing a Fourth Transformation, the crowd didn't know how to comment.

Even the guys from Jie Jian Mountain nearby had subtle expressions, feeling their Sect Master was too easygoing.

Without standing on ceremony, seeing an empty seat beside Hearing Liu Qingmeng, Fang Can said directly, "Senior, is someone sitting here?"

"There was, but they said disciples shouldn't overstep, so they all stood. If you want to sit, go ahead."

"Then I shall not decline the honor." Fang Can smiled, walked directly to Hearing Liu Qingmeng's side, and sat properly. Only then did he have the chance to observe the surroundings.

Only then did he have the chance to observe the surroundings; his gaze swept around, and he unexpectedly saw many familiar faces.

The entire venue was divided into two areas in a semi-circle: the royal family and officials sat together, while the various sects and schools formed their own clusters.

Among the sect area, the most notable were divided into four blocks: Dian Dao Men, Jie Jian Mountain, Tai Xuan Men, and Tian Sha Hun Zong; these four were top-tier sects with Fourth Transformation experts stationed there.

Dian Dao Men primarily cultivated flesh and blood, generating energy through visualization of friction between particles within the body; they were all big, burly fellows.

Jie Jian Mountain consisted mostly of female swordsmen who, after ascending the Path to Heaven, entrusted their light of the heart to the precious swords in their hands.

Tai Xuan Men was all Daoist Priests; they did not cultivate lineages but only their life and nature. After the First Transformation, they could draw talismans and perform spells to slay ghosts and demons.

As for the last one, Tian Sha Hun Zong, they were all dead spirits. When shedding their mortal bodies, they tempered their flesh and blood; upon the First Transformation, they directly entered Nirvana, letting their souls devour the flesh and blood, fighting with an appearance of lingering evil spirits.

Besides these four major sects, basically all Ascending Path martial artists in Great Yan who could be contacted received invitations.

Among these sects, Fang Can even saw Hu Sha Men's Sect Master, Yang Duan, but the other party currently kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, acting as if he didn't know Fang Can.

After all, the initial angel investment was given by Sect Master Yang. Since the other party didn't want to expose it, Fang Can also didn't want to go up and talk.

In the area of the royal family and officials, besides Prince Qing and that princess, Fang Can also saw an old acquaintance, Old Yang.

The other party was currently wearing armor that shone with golden light, sitting cross-legged with perfect posture in the area near the core.

Seeming to notice Fang Can's gaze, Hearing Liu Qingmeng said, "What? Do you know General Yang?"

"General Yang...? Senior Liu, you know him?" Fang Can turned back in confusion. It was one thing for a Fourth Transformation to know a First Transformation, but to be addressed with such a title?

"Of course. General Yang Qifeng, at the peak of the Third Transformation, commands the hundred thousand Imperial Guards. When they charge in battle formation, even I must temporarily avoid their sharp edge." Hearing Liu Qingmeng said calmly.

"Third Transformation... peak?" Fang Can turned back blankly, looking at that old general.

No wonder. That old guy clearly looked like he was about to die, yet his fists were terrifyingly heavy. So I was fighting monsters above my level.

Their conversation didn't avoid others, so Old Yang knew he was exposed. Facing Fang Can, a simple, honest smile appeared on his face, which made Fang Can's fists clench.

"Do you know him?" Hearing Liu Qingmeng asked.

"Too well. I thought he was First Transformation and got beaten up for half a month straight." Fang Can said speechlessly, but the content of his words made those around turn and look.

"I said I've fought First Transformations before; it's not that ridiculous," Fang Can muttered to himself.

Just then, the announcer outside the banquet shouted, "The Elder of the Western Buddha Kingdom's Fan Yin Fanyin Fanyin Baocha, Master Luo Yanmo, has arrived..."

With the shout, everyone looked toward the door and saw a Gao Seng in pure white monk robes slowly stepping onto the stone steps illuminated by sunlight.

This Gao Seng had a peaceful face, eyes half-closed, revealing immense compassion between his brows. He held a string of ancient Buddhist beads in his left hand. Though a monk, he had shoulder-length black hair, carrying an air of otherworldliness.

The other party's steps were light and slow, unhurried. His monk robe was spotless, as white as snow in early winter. The moment everyone saw him, they felt the noise in their hearts purified.

The Gao Seng bowed with one hand, his tone calm: "Amitabha. This poor monk, Luo Yanmo, greets all benefactors."

'Something's wrong. This Monk is a bit off.' Sitting in his seat, Fang Can frowned.

Upon seeing this foreign Monk, Fang Can felt a sense of peace in his heart, thinking the guy's eyes were incredibly pure, and unconsciously believed the guy was a good person who would absolutely not harm him.

But this subconscious thought was immediately rejected by his reason. Fang Can unconsciously felt he had been cast under an illusion. After the Wang Peng incident, Fang Can was somewhat sensitive to such things.

"Senior Liu, am I being affected by an illusion?" Fang Can said unconsciously. "Why do I unconsciously feel this guy is a good person?"

Not just him, many martial artists present also noticed the difference in their hearts.

"This is the supernatural power of Fan Yin Fanyin Fanyin Baocha: 【Tian Xin Tong】." Hearing Liu Qingmeng spoke lightly, explaining it to those present.

"Buddhism preaches that monks do not speak falsehoods. To prove this, naturally, one must reveal one's attitude to all sentient beings."

"Chan Buddhism has three levels of enlightenment: seeing the mountain as a mountain, seeing the mountain not as a mountain, and seeing the mountain still as a mountain."

"And this Buddhist Chan 【Tian Xin Tong】 has been cultivated by the Master to the third level of perfection, truly displaying the Master's profound state of mind cultivation."

"The first level of so-called 【Tian Xin Tong】 is to penetrate the hearts of others."

"It allows one to feel others' emotions toward oneself, understand others' thoughts, and achieve a state where the human heart has no obstacles."

(End of Chapter)