Inside the Shaolin Temple, within the grand hall of the Great Hero, a sorrowful and solemn atmosphere filled the air.
Kong Wen sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, still manifesting the golden form of the Vanquishing Dragon Arhat. Yet, tiny golden lights cascaded from his body like glazed porcelain and lotus blossoms, swirling and gradually dissipating into the air.
“Indeed, body and mind have entered Nirvana, the Mystic Pass reforged; half a step forward, and transcendence is within reach,” he murmured, his long white eyebrows twitching slightly as he looked at Xuan Bei beside him, whose face was filled with grief.
“Grandmaster…” Xuan Bei clasped his palms, his eyes brimming with sorrow, unable to continue.
Kong Wen chuckled softly, “We who cultivate Buddhism and meditate must understand that all phenomena are empty, and worldly matters are but illusions. We have long transcended the concept of life and death; why then show such worldly emotions?”
“Abbot…” “Master…” cries of grief rose simultaneously.
Kong Wen ignored them and handed the nine-ringed staff to Wu Si, the head of the Bodhi Academy: “The position of abbot is entangled in worldly affairs, bringing calamity rather than fortune. As my disciple, you must shoulder this responsibility without hesitation.”
“Yes, Master.” Wu Si, whose appearance resembled withered wood, struggled to conceal his sorrow. His hands trembled slightly as he accepted the nine-ringed staff.
Kong Wen then turned to Kong Hui and Kong Jian: “My younger brothers, the transmission of Shaolin is no easy task; I entrust it to your care.”
Kong Hui and Kong Jian, having experienced the passing of many seniors and peers, remained relatively calm and responded in unison.
Kong Wen gave instructions one by one and finally looked at Xuan Bei: “The Old Crier has already been killed by your disciple. All past grudges and grievances have become fleeting clouds. I can now rest assured that the Bodhi Academy will be in your capable hands.”
Xuan Bei was first stunned, then showed a hint of relief. Deep-seated hatred had always haunted him, and the act of vengeance contradicted the true essence of Chan Buddhism, creating an inner conflict that was the greatest flaw in his cultivation of Chan. Upon hearing of the Old Crier’s death, a sudden realization dawned on him—that all things in the world were illusory, and he experienced a moment of enlightenment.
Kong Wen withdrew his gaze, his hands forming the Seal of Nirvana. A serene smile graced his face as he softly chanted sutras:
“One flower, one world; one leaf, one Tathagata. When spring comes, flowers bloom; when autumn arrives, leaves fall. Infinite wisdom flows freely; speech and silence, movement and stillness—all are naturally in harmony.”
Golden flames surged from his body, engulfing his golden form in radiant light.
Shortly afterward, the flames extinguished, leaving behind a golden, translucent pearl-like relic, rolling slightly on the ground, reflecting infinite tiny lights, symbolizing boundless wisdom.
…
Lying in a pit, Meng Qi breathed in the air rushing to fill the void, absorbing the vast ocean of primordial energy, rapidly restoring his strength.
Gazing at the blue sky with both eyes, Meng Qi saw purple meteors streaking across the heavens and various other extraordinary phenomena. A sudden realization struck him, and he sat upright in shock: “Senior Chonghe has perished?”
A deep sorrow surged from the depths of his heart, leaving him disbelieving.
Could it be true that the kind and noble Senior Chonghe had perished? The “Lord Lingbao Tianzun,” who shared all his martial arts techniques selflessly, had fallen?
Even if the righteous side suffered setbacks, Meng Qi had always believed that Lu Daxian and Daoist Chonghe, both at the Earth Immortal level, could survive as hopes for future change.
How could this happen? Meng Qi calculated other matters and found that the righteous side’s situation had not worsened but improved, leaving him even more puzzled.
Without waiting to fully recover, he leapt into the air and flew toward Huamei Manor.
…
Inside Huamei Manor, Master Lu was briefly retreating into meditation to recover from previous battles and hidden injuries.
Yeyuqi, the Fairy of Cold Ice, stood at the side of the flower pavilion, gazing at dripping eaves. Her thick, black hair fell loosely, and her face, like a lotus rising from clear water, bore a faint trace of sorrow. This was the scene Meng Qi witnessed upon entering.
“Senior Chonghe has perished?” Meng Qi still found it hard to believe, blurting out the question.
Yeyuqi turned and nodded slightly: “He chose to burn his Dharma body to severely wound Gourdo.”
“They shouldn’t have been so desperate together… Was there another Dharma body involved in the battle?” Meng Qi inhaled deeply, suppressing his grief, his mind filled with confusion.
Yeyuqi shook her head: “No. My brother-in-law also couldn’t understand his choice.”
Frowning, Meng Qi paced restlessly, suddenly struck by an idea: “Unless…”
“Unless he had no choice but to do so.” Yeyuqi continued.
What reason could compel Daoist Chonghe, a cultivator who had mastered the Sword Array of Zhuxian, to choose death? Meng Qi could only think of one answer: the Master of the Six Dao Reincarnation!
From the beginning, cultivators were controlled by Him. Even after growing into Earth Immortals, there were likely many hidden dangers within their bodies, making them easily controlled. Thus, He could truly manipulate or force Daoist Chonghe.
Their eyes met, understanding each other’s thoughts. Meng Qi then transmitted his voice: “Fairy, let’s return to Biyou Palace to search; perhaps there is a message left by the Tianzun.”
Yeyuqi made no other gestures but raised her voice: “The grassland forces are currently at their weakest. With Daman dead and Gourdo’s true soul barely clinging to life, it will take many years for them to recover. Now is the time to eliminate the remaining Grandmasters and cut off their future.”
Understanding her meaning, Meng Qi immediately said: “I shall accompany the Fairy northward.”
Together, they departed from Huamei Manor, first heading north and then turning east, eventually arriving at “Crescent Moon Pond” near Lulong—one of the gateways to the Immortal Traces.
Putting on their masks, Meng Qi and Yeyuqi passed through the entrance and flew to Biyou Palace, where they saw the bewildered Jiu Niang.
“The battle goes poorly?” Jiu Niang knew the outside world was in the midst of a righteous-evil war. Seeing the sudden arrival of the Fairy of Cold Ice and Kuangdao Su Meng, she assumed the battlefield had deteriorated, and they had come to seek refuge.
As a wandering cultivator, she was not bound by clans or sects, thus relatively free to frequently guard the immortal relics.
Yeyuqi, wearing the mask of “Doumu Yuanjun,” said calmly: “It’s over. The righteous side barely won. Did Tianzun leave any messages in Biyou Palace?”
Jiu Niang exhaled in relief, her mind racing—battlefields everywhere probably required “cleaning up”!
Suddenly struck by an odd thought, she wondered why the Fairy of Cold Ice and “Kuangdao” Su Meng were asking about messages from Tianzun? With the close relationship between Huamei Manor and the Chunyang Sect, and the current ceasefire after the battle, why not just ask Tianzun directly?
“Has Tianzun encountered misfortune?” Jiu Niang asked, concerned.
“Tianzun has perished…” Meng Qi found it hard to say the words.
Jiu Niang swayed, her clear eyes fixed on Meng Qi: “You’d better not be joking with me! Tianzun is an Earth Immortal; how could he… how could he…”
As a wandering cultivator who had endured the cycles of reincarnation and cultivated to her present realm, the assistance from the Immortal Traces and the guidance of the Heavenly Lord had been indispensable. She had long considered Daoist Chonghe as a quasi-master. Upon hearing the sudden news, she found it difficult to come to terms with it.
“Tianzun burned his Dharma body to severely wound Gourdo.” Doumu Yuanjun repeated the previous words, her cold, indifferent voice hiding the sorrow of worldly impermanence.
“That bastard… I’ll… I’ll…” Jiu Niang muttered, her eyes misty, tears welling up.
If even the Fairy of Cold Ice said so, then it must be true.
She inhaled deeply, almost sniffling, then rushed into Biyou Palace, running as she said: “Tianzun left behind a question.”
Inside the meditation room where Tianzun often resided, a jade pendant lay quietly on the table.
Doumu Yuanjun, Yeyuqi, did not summon it but hurried over, gently picked it up, and activated its recorded voice.
“If the Master of the Six Dao gives a task that violates one’s true heart—such as killing one’s parents or betraying one’s sect—what should one do?” The voice of Daoist Chonghe, kind yet slightly solemn, echoed in the room.
Meng Qi’s heart stirred, and he blurted out: “Tianzun died to resist the Six Dao’s task!”
Although he had long known that cultivators were merely playthings of the Six Dao, their lives and deaths determined by its whims, the reality of experiencing it firsthand still filled him with surging anger, hatred, and helplessness.
Tasks given by the Six Dao aligned with one’s faction, gradually increasing in difficulty, always leaving a glimmer of hope. Items obtained, though sold by greedy merchants, were of guaranteed quality. Yet all these were merely illusions atop cruelty, numbing the cultivators like poppies!
“How could this be? Weren’t the Six Dao’s tasks always divided by factions…” Jiu Niang shook her head in disbelief.
Meng Qi clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, his eyes stinging slightly as he speculated: “Perhaps it’s because Tianzun was seeking the true form of the Six Dao.”
It was all his own encouragement that led to this… Meng Qi gritted his teeth, feeling self-blame surge within.
“Items are exchanged through the Six Paths, injuries healed through the Six Paths, techniques and cultivation also relying on the Six Paths. As long as one depends on it, one cannot resist it.” Yeyuqi suddenly spoke, her calm voice tinged with slight self-mockery. “Every reincarnation cultivator, as long as they retain their self and possess some strength, tries to escape the Six Paths. Tianzun was no exception. Even without you, he would have sought the true form of the Six Paths.”
Reassured by her words, Meng Qi felt slightly better, his mood gradually calming. But suddenly, he recalled Gu Xiaosang’s words—that if a “fish” disobeys, refuses to stay in line, and tries to escape, the awaited fate would be the deaths of teachers, friends, and family.
Just after the Yuxu Palace incident, a task forcing Senior Chonghe to death appeared. Was this a warning from the Six Dao?
Absurd, furious, hateful, confused, and lost—these emotions swirled within him. Even with Meng Qi’s refined mind and extensive experiences, he now felt his breath growing labored, his body trembling. Would he simply accept his fate?
Was he willing? No, he was not!
“If Tianzun has cycled through many lifetimes, he should have accumulated enough merit to obtain the Bishell Talisman, right?” Meng Qi forced himself to stay calm as he asked.
Yeyuqi’s gaze grew profound as she regarded Meng Qi: “Would the Six Paths permit cultivators to escape? A senior who once co-founded the Immortal Trace with the Heavenly Lord, relying on a stroke of fortune, managed to amass sufficient merit, exchanged it for the Bishell Talisman, and received an escape mission—only to meet his demise, as expected.”
“Then… did Tianzun have no backup plan?”
“Perhaps he did, but it failed to evade the Six Dao and never took effect. The soul lamp within the Chunyang Sect has completely extinguished.” Yeyuqi turned her gaze away, a faint sigh escaping.
Meng Qi stood still, thinking of his Earthly self. Even if he tried to escape by dying and transferring his Yuan Shen, it might not fool the Six Dao. He would need other preparations…
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: “Yuanjun, with the Immortal Trace suffering such a heavy blow, it cannot be left without leadership. Please take charge of Biyou Palace.”
He regarded himself as an ill-fated individual; if he were to become the leader of the Immortal Traces, he might bring calamity upon many.
Yeyuqi remained silent for a long time before saying: “It seems we have no choice.”
Seeing her agreement, Meng Qi felt slightly relieved and turned his thoughts to his own matters. It was time to address the Overlord’s “past matters fading into oblivion”!
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