Chapter 256

"Huh?"

Upon hearing Feng Yi's words, Jiang Zhiwei and the others' expressions stiffened slightly, and the words on their lips didn't know how to be spoken.

Dressed in a monk's robe, his whole body exuded Buddhist aura, and he was even acquainted with the little monk from Zhen Ding; you say you're not a person from Shaolin Temple?

Sensing the spiritual fluctuations of the few people, Feng Yi shook his head, not explaining too much, but reminded: "You just need to remember that what lies behind the Six Paths of Reincarnation space is not Shaolin Temple; you can treat it as a training ground to hone yourselves. Remember, do not rashly seek to uncover the secrets of the Six Paths, for the price is not something you can bear now. Once you violate the rules of this place, even a Dharma-body cannot protect you."

"Dharma-body."

Zhang Yuanshan and the others were startled, for in their understanding, the Dharma-body was already the most powerful existence in the martial world, listed on the Heavenly Rankings, lofty and exalted; calling them earthly immortals is no exaggeration.

Such an existence actually can't do anything about this mysterious Six Paths of Reincarnation space?

Logically, this white-clad monk before them is likely deceiving them; the other party is very likely a person from Shaolin Temple, or even the mastermind behind this mysterious Six Paths of Reincarnation space, so they shouldn't believe his words.

But for some unknown reason, the moment they heard the other's words, they instinctively believed what he said, and some thoughts in their hearts changed accordingly.

At the same time, sensing the casual tone with which this white-clad monk spoke of Dharma-body-level earthly immortals, their curiosity about his identity grew even stronger.

After Feng Yi finished his reminder, he said no more; with his current cultivation, even ordinary words could affect Jiang Zhiwei and the others' minds, preventing them from speaking out the Six Paths' secrets in a heat of the moment and being erased by the Six Paths.

Afterward, Feng Yi did not linger there; he nodded at Meng Qi, his heart stirred, and the space before him became hazy.

Taking a step forward, his figure seemed to enter the void, vanishing directly before Meng Qi and the others' eyes.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuanshan and the others' hearts couldn't help but startle.

Is this lightness skill?

No!

It's more like directly entering the void!

Such a miraculous way of moving, I'm afraid even their sect's elders couldn't do it, right?

Dharma-body?

Besides the Shaolin abbot and the Dragon-Subduing abbot Kong Wen, they had heard of no other Buddhist Dharma-bodies in the martial world!

Could it be from the legendary Lanke Temple?

That doesn't seem right either!

Just who is this white-clad monk?

With thoughts turning in their minds, everyone seemed to think of something, all turning their gazes to look at the handsome little monk at the center of the square.

On the other side, seeing Feng Yi's extremely casual way of leaving, a hint of envy appeared in Meng Qi's eyes.

Indeed, this big shot completely treats the Six Paths of Reincarnation space as nothing, able to come and go as he pleases.

What infinite flow, in front of this big shot it completely loses its pretentiousness.

This is exactly the style I've been longing for!

When will I be able to become as strong as this big shot!

If I could really have this big shot's style, being a monk wouldn't actually be a big deal!

Pah!

After reacting, Meng Qi hurriedly shook his head to dispel the thoughts in his mind.

It would be best if he could return to secular life!

Or perhaps the style of the cold, white-clad, snow-like swordsman suits me better!

Various thoughts kept surging in his mind; suddenly, Meng Qi seemed to sense something, turned his head, and found that Zhang Yuanshan and the others were all looking at him with strange gazes.

Uh-oh!

The big shot left so nonchalantly; how should I explain all this?

Facing the staring crowd, Meng Qi's face showed an embarrassed smile, and he softly said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I say I'm not at all acquainted with that big shot just now; do you believe me?"

Zhang Yuanshan and the others immediately surrounded them, and Jiang Zhiwei smiled sweetly as she said, "Little monk, what do you say?"

After a while, cries of alarm rang out:

"Buddha!"

Indeed, he is not a person from Shaolin Temple, but the object of worship of Shaolin Temple, and even the ancestor of the entire Buddhist faith!

Lian Tai Mountain, Shaolin Temple.

Inside a meditation chamber, the void became hazy, and a white-clad monk stepped out from within—it was Feng Yi.

Just as he steadied his stance, Feng Yi's spiritual sense twitched slightly; he felt that the karmic star-thread between himself and the Six Paths of Reincarnation space had been severed directly, making it impossible to locate the coordinates of that space again.

"It seems those old fogeys behind the Six Paths of Reincarnation space are indeed wary of the Buddha!"

This thought arose in his mind, Feng Yi's lips curled slightly, his expression not changing much.

Although the old fogeys behind the Six Paths of Reincarnation space are each crippled or wounded, or sealed away.

But with the Demon Buddha, who is on the other shore, and several other peerless divine weapons of the other shore, severing his link with the Six Paths of Reincarnation space is not difficult.

Anyway, Feng Yi's purpose has already been achieved, and he won't go back for the time being.

As for any future need to trouble the Six Paths of Reincarnation space, he can simply seek out Meng Qi.

Unless the Demon Buddha and others completely abandon the reincarnator team developing in the real world, otherwise Feng Yi wanting to find the coordinates of the Six Paths of Reincarnation space is not difficult.

With thoughts turning in his mind, Feng Yi set this matter aside for now and took out a sarira entwined with glazed Buddhist light.

This sarira contains one of the strongest inheritances of all heavens in this realm, originating from the Buddha's supreme Dharma gate of the half-fruit Dao, the Tathagata Divine Palm.

One could say that this inheritance contains the most complete cultivation system of all heavens in this realm, a true great way to the heavens, and can also be considered the strongest cultivation inheritance Feng Yi has obtained in his travels through the heavens.

"Although it comes from that Demon Buddha, this two-faced traitor, with the Buddha's banner flying, I believe the Demon Buddha wouldn't dare to casually deceive; it should also contain genuine things."

Thinking of this, Feng Yi's heart and spirit stirred slightly, using his mind to activate the genuine intent inheritance contained within.

Hum

The heavens and earth became vast, a venerable ancient bodhi tree appeared between heaven and earth, swaying its branches, scattering specks of pure, wise light.

A monk with a flesh bun and spiral hair sat cross-legged beneath the bodhi tree, lecturing on sutras and teaching the Dharma.

His expression alternated between sorrowful suffering, compassion, solemn dignity, reverent awe, sometimes manifesting a sixteen‑foot golden body, sometimes turning into an ordinary monk, displaying various aspects.

"All forms are illusory; to see form as no‑form is to see the Tathagata."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a grand feeling that gave Feng Yi a sense of being bathed in nectar, a clear realization of the essence of the Dharma.

As the monk's lecture sounded, gold‑colored characters that were neither Sanskrit nor seal script appeared one after another, evolving into swastika symbols that continually circled Feng Yi.

Countless Buddhist doctrines merged into his mind, joining the many worldly Buddha names he contained; taking the sutra's sound as foundation, he returned to the origin and reshaped himself.

In a daze, Feng Yi felt as if he had become a golden great Buddha reaching heaven and earth, and instinctively uttered a mighty Buddhist sound: "Above heaven and below earth, I alone am honored!"

The moment the Buddhist sound rang out, countless swastika symbols, countless maxims, countless Buddhist principles arose in Feng Yi's mind, transforming into golden great Buddhas each forming different hand seals.

The hand seals continually shifted, eventually merging into one, reforming into a golden great Buddha that filled the three realms.

Feng Yi suddenly opened his eyes and met the gaze of the monk beneath the Bodhi tree, seeing a pair of smiling eyes.

Although it was merely a lingering resonance of the True Intent Inheritance, Feng Yi felt as if he were gazing upon the true Buddha.

In an instant, Feng Yi looked back at himself and realized he had unknowingly shifted position—from listener to the monk lecturing beneath the Bodhi tree.

Around the Bodhi tree appeared many golden Buddha aspects: Amitabha, Bodhi, Burning Lamp, Corpse‑Abandoner, as well as Maitreya, Guanyin and other great bodhisattvas.

Numerous Buddhas, great bodhisattvas, and great arhats manifested the aspect of myriad Buddhas paying homage, simultaneously uttering low murmurs:

"Thus have I heard!"

Boom—

A mighty Buddhist sound rang out in Feng Yi's mind, as if he had fully comprehended himself; he leapt up, took seven steps, and once again assumed the form of one reaching heaven and earth, solemn and majestic: "Above heaven and below earth, I alone am honored!"

As this Buddhist sound sounded, Feng Yi felt a special change within himself, an ineffable affinity for the Tathagata Divine Palm arose, countless insights surfaced in his mind, and he gained a fundamental understanding of the cultivation system of this realm.

In the meditation chamber, Feng Yi's body radiated warm, auspicious Buddhist light, while his internal energy swiftly underwent reorganization and transformation, becoming ever more profound and inscrutable.

Behind him, a Bodhi tree continually shedding specks of wisdom light had appeared at some point, and his whole person seemed to have directly become the monk lecturing in the True Intent Inheritance.

Journey to the West world, Spirit Mountain.

What should have been the Buddha's pure land of luxuriant trees is now a desolate, ruined apocalypse.

Countless Buddha remnants corrupted by demonic and deathly qi, their perfect golden bodies lost, shed tears of blood from their eyes; the lingering obsessions and resentments still issued repeated angry howls:

Ananda.

A golden hoop staff like a heavenly pillar stood at the very center of Spirit Mountain, surrounded by blooming lotuses, lightning flashing and dying, demonic qi coiling; in an instant countless worlds were born and countless worlds destroyed.

Not far from the golden hoop staff stood a mountain peak resembling five fingers.

The peak is not tall, yet it feels extraordinarily heavy; upon it grows a wondrous Bodhi tree flashing seven‑colored light, entirely crystalline and translucent, filled with the Buddhist virtues of great purity, great wisdom, great brightness, and great freedom, as if suppressing whatever lies beneath Five Finger Mountain.

At that moment, the wondrous Bodhi tree suddenly burst forth with brilliant Buddhist light, illuminating heaven and earth, causing the whole Spirit Mountain holy realm to pause slightly, and the apocalyptic scene faded a little.

Upon Spirit Mountain, countless Buddha remnants suddenly pressed their palms together and whispered:

Thus have I heard.

Beside Five Finger Mountain, a figure clad in dark‑gold robes narrowed his pupils and hoarsely whispered: "It really is you."

Master.

East of the River.

The combined name of River Prefecture and Flourishing Prefecture, located east of the Great River, also called Left of the River.

In this realm, humanity rose from East of the River; the dragon terrace where the Human Emperor once forged his sword lies in East of the River, truly a place where the human race's fortune converges.

Moreover, in the successive great calamities of the real world, East of the River suffered the least damage, its people retaining an ancient charm, and today it is one of the most prosperous regions of the age.

The decked boat drifted downstream; Feng Yi stood on the deck, delightedly admiring the beautiful scenery on both banks, utterly unlike that of God Capital.

And around him coiled strands of solemn, sacred golden light, bearing the aspects of emperors, generals, fishermen, woodcutters, farmers, and scholars; faintly, human‑Dao light coalesced, adding a touch of majesty and dignity to his bearing.

This is the Astonishing Book, the orthodox transmission of the God Capital Zhao clan's Human Dao technique—a genuine Human Dao art that can draw upon the strength of all beings to aid one's cultivation.

The body that Feng Yi's Human Emperor status has derived into at this present juncture is a person of the God Capital Zhao clan, and he has also received the transmission of this Human Dao technique.

Having chosen to merge into this realm's heavens and walk the Human Emperor's path, Feng Yi naturally ought to earnestly cultivate this realm's system, at first trying not to reveal too many peculiarities.

Furthermore, the upper limit of this realm's cultivation system is also high, allowing Feng Yi to more systematically integrate his own practice; when he later unites with his true self, it will also deepen his foundation.

After careful study, Feng Yi found that this realm's cultivation system is indeed perfect, even saying it is the most complete among the many worlds he has experienced.

For example, the first step in this realm's cultivation is a hundred‑day foundation building; whether secular martial arts, Daoist quietude, or Buddhist meditation, they differ little—all generate true qi, fill one's foundation, and complete the foundation.

Although this stage seems simple, it possesses the power to transmute decay into marvel, laying the firmest groundwork for future cultivation.

The greatest trait of this stage is its universality, with few restrictions.

Even someone of the poorest aptitude can achieve this stage by calming the mind and taking sufficient nourishment; it is merely a matter of how long it takes.

Once the hundred‑day foundation is completed, the apertures fill themselves and all meridians open; the practitioner's training aptitude then undergoes a thorough transformation.

In other worlds, one who has finished a hundred‑day foundation is practically equivalent to a pseudo‑innate genius with all meridians open, a talent in training.

Afterward come the stages of breath‑accumulating body‑training, opening apertures, external manifestation, dharma body, legendary, creation, and the far shore.

Each stage interlocks, all laid to lay the groundwork for future cultivation, not merely a pure pursuit of combat power.

Thus, this realm's cultivation system shows little early combat power, merely building foundations; but in the later stages, each major realm breakthrough is a tremendous internal‑to‑external transformation.

Especially the leaps from dharma body to legendary, from creation to the far shore, which are as terrifying as ascending dimensions.

Perhaps this is also related to the origin of this realm's cultivation system.

In this realm's heavens, many cultivation systems originate from the lofty heavenly will of the far shore; the various technique lineages are merely by‑products of their pursuit of their own fruition, constructed top‑down in a lofty, all‑encompassing manner, hence they have become as refined as to be called tightly knit.

For Feng Yi, mastering such a perfected cultivation system also enables him to more systematically organize his past practice, accumulating resources for forging his own future path.

As insights of this realm's cultivation system circulated in his mind, at that moment Feng Yi felt a stir, gathered all his human‑Dao radiance inward, and turned his gaze.

In the distance, a splendid decked boat approached from afar and drew near to the boat Feng Yi was on.

The zither's melody was leisurely and lofty, pure and clear, winding between heaven and earth, stirring changes in the cosmic principles.

Heaven and man as one!

Looking up, a young noble in flowing white robes sat on the deck, wearing a headscarf and playing an ancient zither.

This young lord is as beautiful as a maiden, yet his complexion is deathly pale, giving a sense of frailty, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

And upon seeing this white-clad young lord, deep in Feng Yi's eyes appeared an ancient, simple object resembling a tortoise shell, bearing black-and-white spots and the numbers of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements; simple yet revealing endless complexity, as if a book containing all the heavenly principles of numbers and the world.

Gazing at this tortoise-shell-shaped mysterious object, Feng Yi's mind conjured his true form's natal item, the River Chart and Luo Book.

The two share great similarity.

"Peerless Divine Weapon, Luo Book"

"Calculating All Beings, Wang Siyuan"

These two names surfaced in his mind, and a faint smile appeared in Feng Yi's eyes.

Have you finally come?

(End of Chapter)