Chapter 844: Returning Home in Glory

The sky was clear and bright, adorned with floating clouds, as the lotus-shaped hills presented a delightful scene.

Meng Qi did not conceal his presence. A streak of light cut across the sky and landed at the foot of the mountain. Out of respect, he ascended the stone steps one by one toward the Half-Mountain Pavilion.

Inside the Half-Mountain Pavilion stood a stone tablet inscribed with the Diamond Prajna Paramita Sutra, handwritten by Yuan Kong, the sixth patriarch of Shaolin. Facing a deep valley, each character on the tablet embodied a unique form. Yet, all forms were essentially formless, revealing the essence of purity.

This time, however, the figures inside were not clad in gray robes but two yellow-robed reception monks. They joined their palms and intoned respectfully, “Amitabha, the Abbot invites Lay Devotee Su to enter the monastery.”

“Please lead the way,” Meng Qi smiled in return. Compared to his previous visit to Shaolin, this reception was clearly much more formal.

The two reception monks turned and led the way. As they stole glances at Meng Qi, they observed his youthful features, his dashing figure clad in green robes, his poised stance, and his weapon-free hands. Though he still bore the spirited air of a young martial hero, his formidable presence was entirely contained, radiating an inscrutable profundity.

This intriguing blend of traits harmonized perfectly, creating an impression of profound insight. Indeed, he was the youngest Grandmaster of the current era!

Sighing inwardly, the two monks, both of the Zhen generation, felt a complex mix of emotions. At the same age and starting point, he had become a renowned figure shaking the martial world, while they were still stuck at the seventh or eighth gates, handling reception duties.

They walked in silence, the usual garrulousness of the monks subdued. Meng Qi sensed their feelings and deliberately remained quiet.

The scenery on both sides seemed familiar, yet Meng Qi strode forward with ease. Soon, he saw the yellow walls and black-tiled roofs, and the dark red gates, just as he had seen them before.

However, this time the gates were fully open, revealing the plaza and the main hall behind. Outside stood a group of monks in red robes. At their head was Wu Si, the former head of the Bodhi Hall and now the Abbot of Shaolin, ranked twenty-seventh on the Earth List. His beard and hair had fallen out, his face gaunt like withered wood, and he held a nine-ringed staff.

To Wu Si’s left stood Kong Jian, head of the Dharma Hall. To his right was Meng Qi’s master, Xuan Bei, the current head of the Bodhi Hall, whose appearance was handsome and dignified.

Other senior monks, except for a few who were in retreat, had come as well. Zhen Hui remained at the scripture pavilion and stupa, so he was absent.

This was Shaolin’s most solemn reception: full opening of the main gate, the Abbot personally greeting, and all the heads of halls present. Such a ceremony was usually reserved only for the most honored guests. Before Kong Wen’s passing, even when several Dharmakaya masters visited, such a ceremony had never been held. Even now, with Shaolin’s influence somewhat diminished, only the leaders of top sects were considered worthy of such treatment.

This grand reception surprised Meng Qi. Only now did he fully realize his own status: the foremost expert below the Grandmaster level, a martial artist whose prowess rivaled even a Grandmaster. He possessed peerless martial arts skills, and aside from lacking a divine weapon, he was capable of establishing a great sect. With friendships among several Dharmakaya experts and numerous favors owed by top sects, his reputation as a chivalrous hero was at its peak, placing him on par with the current Shaolin Abbot.

“Amitabha, I regret not welcoming you from afar,” Wu Si raised one hand in greeting.

Meng Qi clasped his hands in return, “Your reverence, such a warm reception makes me feel undeservedly honored.”

Then he turned to Xuan Bei. Seeing the melancholy in his master’s eyes had greatly eased, Meng Qi felt relieved and bowed deeply, “Disciple greets my master.”

Witnessing that Meng Qi, once expelled from Shaolin, had become a martial expert ranked among the top thirty in the world, including Dharmakaya masters, yet still maintained the respect of a disciple toward Xuan Bei, the senior monks who had only heard rumors about him were deeply impressed. They realized that his reputation did not do him justice.

After all, how few could maintain loyalty and gratitude!

Xuan Bei’s lips trembled slightly before finally breaking into a smile of deep satisfaction:

“Good, good, good!”

These three “goods” expressed all his emotions. He was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, unable to put them into words.

A good disciple! A good nephew! A good young hero!

The grief over the old man’s death had erased his past grudges. Now, with his disciple and nephew becoming one of the top figures in the world, he no longer worried about worldly affairs, as if another layer of dust had been wiped from his heart.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wu Si and the other senior monks led Meng Qi into the monastery. Passing several meditation halls and courtyards, they heard the martial monks practicing the Arhat Fist, their chants echoing in the distance. Their postures varied, some standard, others awkward.

Meng Qi glanced sideways and smiled, “The Arhat Fist was my first martial art.”

Back then, he had to painstakingly clean the scripture pavilion just to obtain the Arhat Fist, seeking guidance from Zhen Yong, who harbored ulterior motives. Now, he had mastered parts of the Tathagata Palm, the Seven Swords of Heaven, the Primordial Gold Scripture, and the Eight-Nine Mystical Art. He could even look down on inferior Dharmakaya martial arts. It felt like a dream, evoking deep nostalgia.

“The Arhat Fist encompasses the most fundamental transformations. Returning to simplicity, it can be used all the way to the ninth gate,” Wu Si remarked with a smile.

The martial monks, whose minds were not yet fully focused in meditation, were easily distracted by the gathering of senior monks and the arrival of an esteemed guest. Their movements became momentarily disordered, prompting scolding from their instructors. Yet, even the instructors could not help but pay attention to the scene.

That young man in green robes, unarmed and without a saber, was the famed “Crazy Saber” known throughout the land?

He was said to be unbeatable below the Dharmakaya level, prompting many disciples to learn the A-nan Breaking-the-Vows Saber Art.

Once, he had been just like them, sweating and practicing the most basic martial arts here. But how many years had passed? He had become a figure nearly equal to the Abbot.

What an example! This was the example they should follow!

Meng Qi accepted their gazes with a smile and continued forward with Wu Si and the other senior monks. Outside the Great Buddha Hall stood several masters at the External Manifestation and Opening the Orifices levels, including Meng Qi’s familiar “Martial Arts Enthusiast” Zhen Ben and his former instructor Zhen Miao.

The former had already reached the state of unity with nature, his breath harmonizing with the natural world, while the latter was still at the stage of interaction between heaven and man.

Neither had chosen to break through but instead chose to accumulate and wait.

Their eyes met briefly. Zhen Miao averted his gaze uncomfortably, while Zhen Ben gave a slight nod.

Meng Qi did not greet them and stepped into the Great Buddha Hall.

The hall doors closed. The two monks exchanged a glance and sighed. Indeed, they had made significant progress, but he had already become one of the top martial experts in the world. They were no longer on the same level.

Inside the Great Buddha Hall, after some brief conversation, Meng Qi addressed all the senior monks in red robes, “During my travels in the south, I encountered a lineage descended from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. They possess the complete Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls and a damaged version of the Mahavairocana’s Pacifying Demons Fist.”

Most of the monks changed expressions. The complete Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls?

This was something Shaolin had been desperately searching for over the years!

Xuan Bei immediately understood his disciple’s intention. After a moment of surprise, he felt even more gratified and smiled, “You worry too much.”

In fact, just having this thought was enough.

Wu Si, with his gaunt face, hesitated for a moment and asked, “Do they want to exchange the Sutra of Ksitigarba’s Deliverance of Souls for the Mahavairocana’s Pacifying Demons Fist?”

He wanted to clarify their intentions first. As for whether it was true or not, that was something to consider later.

“Yes, they have entrusted me to deliver a copy of the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls,” Meng Qi’s words shocked everyone.

All the monks were shaken. The other party actually trusted Su Meng so much that they directly entrusted him with the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls!

They had expected the negotiations to take several rounds before even seeing this scripture.

Understanding their reaction, Meng Qi relayed the words of the foolish monk, “The master in charge said, ‘Until hell is empty, I will not attain Buddhahood. Only when all sentient beings are saved will I achieve Bodhi. This is the great vow made by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Practicing this path, one puts oneself last. How could one have selfish intentions? Our temple inherits from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and shares similar compassionate thoughts. If spreading the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls can help more tormented souls find liberation, why not?'”

“Amitabha, truly great compassion. This old monk feels ashamed in comparison,” Wu Si praised with admiration. Then, he exchanged messages with the senior monks in red robes through telepathy. Within just a few breaths, they reached a decision. “Please let the lay devotee show the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls to Master Xuan Bei. If it is genuine, our temple will not be reluctant to share the Mahavairocana’s Pacifying Demons Fist.”

Just as I expected… Meng Qi handed the copied scripture to his master with both hands. Watching him sit cross-legged and activate his inner energy, the image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva appeared.

Then, Xuan Bei began chanting the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls. As the rhythm and pronunciation unfolded, with each word and phrase, his body’s orifices suddenly responded. One after another, they lit up, emitting a lapis lazuli glow, revolving around the profound meaning of life and death.

By the end of the sutra, his entire body radiated a lapis glow, both inside and out, clear and pure, overlapping with the image behind him. It was hard to distinguish whether it was Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva or Xuan Bei!

He had used the sutra to cross the third heavenly ladder and step into the realm of a semi-Dharmakaya!

No wonder the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls was needed to attain Dharmakaya… Meng Qi watched with joy.

“Amitabha, the Sutra of Ksitigarbha’s Deliverance of Souls is genuine beyond doubt,” Xuan Bei opened his eyes and confirmed.

Wu Si smiled and asked Meng Qi to wait briefly. Soon after, Xuan Bei had already copied a version of the Mahavairocana’s Pacifying Demons Fist.

Feeling the deep blue cover, Meng Qi exhaled in relief. Finally, his efforts had not been in vain.

Shaolin’s attitude toward him became increasingly positive and warm. They discussed martial arts, Buddhist scriptures, and Daoist texts until evening, when Xuan Bei led Meng Qi to rest.

Passing through numerous halls and pavilions, Meng Qi suddenly spotted the Servants’ Courtyard in the distance and chuckled, “If not for a fortunate coincidence, perhaps I would still be there.”

“Xuan Xin is a descendant of Bai Ze, a demon in transformation,” Xuan Bei recalled upon hearing the Servants’ Courtyard.

Meng Qi knew there was a demon in transformation but did not know it was Xuan Xin. Hearing this now, he was quite surprised, yet it also made sense. Long ago, Zhen Guan was expelled from the Servants’ Courtyard but halfway entered the mountains, becoming a half-demon. That seemed quite coincidental!

Another wave of nostalgia passed through Meng Qi as he returned to his former residence. He saw his young apprentice brother sleeping soundly. His face was rosy, his blood and spirit full yet empty, in an incredible state.

“Is the little apprentice still sleeping? Is he trying to achieve the Arhat’s Golden Body in sleep?” Meng Qi’s lips twitched slightly. Judging from his physical condition, the little apprentice had already reached the External Manifestation level!

Didn’t he learn the “Flower-Picking Finger”?

“Dharma is practiced and Zen is realized in dreams; it’s not necessarily about achieving the Arhat’s Golden Body in sleep,” Xuan Bei said with satisfaction.

Because he needed to stabilize his cultivation level, Xuan Bei asked Meng Qi about his experiences since they last met and then went to meditate in a quiet room. Meng Qi looked at his young apprentice brother once more, climbed onto the bed, placed his hands behind his head, leaned against the wall, and suddenly felt like he had returned to his days in the Servants’ Courtyard. Yet his mindset was calm, joyful, and relaxed.

The events of the day passed through his mind, and he suddenly chuckled. He mused inwardly, “Today’s experience can be described in one sentence: The famous hero Su Meng, ranked among the top thirty martial experts in the world and the foremost expert below the Grandmaster level, visited Shaolin as an honorary divine investigator of the Six Gates. He was warmly and cordially received by the Shaolin Abbot Wu Si and the head of the Bodhi Hall, Xuan Bei, among others. The two parties reviewed the past and looked forward to the future, reaching a consensus on a strategic cooperation agreement. During the visit, Master Xuan Bei even led the hero Su Meng to revisit the places where he once learned and fought. Su Meng expressed his hope that the younger generation would strive harder and scale new heights…”

Thinking about it, Meng Qi almost burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

After a while, he calmed down, sat cross-legged, retracted his spirit, and manipulated the movements of his other body through a mysterious and hidden connection.

In Zhoudi, Luoyi.

Meng Qi’s Earth body had already changed his appearance and was now gazing at this magnificent ancient city, preparing to step inside.

He was also at the eighth heaven, with no difference at all.

The reason Meng Qi did not redeem time for cultivation was to avoid the uneven flow of time affecting the subtle connection between his two bodies!