Hearing Meng Qi’s reflection, Jiang Zhiwei sighed, “Just witnessing the martial arts left behind by legendary and Primordial Unity experts makes one’s heart quiver with fear. It’s unimaginable what their true returning power would be. It’s indeed another great tribulation sweeping through all heavens and worlds.”
At this point, Jiang Zhiwei’s face lit up with a bright smile as she shifted the topic, “However, without such a great tribulation, how could we obtain so many opportunities to break through the constraints of the post-middle ancient era’s cultivation levels? We can now aim higher than merely achieving the Dharma Body, sensing the ‘Other Self,’ seeing the only hope across various worlds, and competing with the great experts from myths and legends, experiencing their mysterious and unpredictable techniques.”
She appeared somewhat entranced.
Blessing lies within misfortune, and misfortune lurks within blessings!
Meng Qi withdrew his gaze and joined her in smiling, “Indeed, without this great tribulation, I might still be ordinary, living an average life, experiencing birth, aging, sickness, death, and endless reincarnation.”
“However, we are still very far away from these great experts currently. If we don’t improve ourselves quickly, we’ll be in a very passive and dangerous situation if we haven’t touched the legendary realm by the time they officially return. After this trip, I will retreat into seclusion for a while to enhance my mastery of martial arts techniques, cultivate and perfect my inner world, and then go in search of the Qingping Sword.”
He paused and continued, “Moreover, if the great experts return, how much inheritance can the current sects and aristocratic families still possess?”
At that time, how many top forces could withstand a single strike from a great expert? They would either be destroyed or become vassals!
Jiang Zhiwei was silent for a moment. The “Supreme Sword Sutra” of the Sword Washing Pavilion directly pointed toward legends, but at least so far, there had been no successful precedent. If her master Su Wuming and herself could not self-certify as legends before the great experts truly returned, where would the Sword Washing Pavilion go?
This was a concern that could not be avoided!
Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she turned her head to look at Meng Qi, “Are you planning to use this fragment of cosmic light as a continuation of your inheritance?”
Meng Qi chuckled, “Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows. How can we not make more preparations? This world has an environment and structure nearly identical to ours. The sects were born from the same ‘source,’ and the martial arts techniques are only lacking the most supreme parts. For the continuation of inheritance, there could be no better choice. As long as we guide and enlighten slowly, they can naturally redevelop and improve. If one day, the sect or family can no longer stand in the real world, they can completely relocate here, merge with them, accumulate strength, and wait for the time to rise again.”
“Moreover, the Dharma Bodies here can also grow. In the future, they might even produce several assistants.”
Jiang Zhiwei slightly furrowed her brows and said while contemplating, “The great experts focus on the real world and the multiverse, relatively neglecting the competition for cosmic light fragments. Moreover, there are no remnants of legendary or higher-level things here, making it less likely to get entangled with the great experts. It’s indeed a good place to continue the inheritance. However, the meeting of the ‘True Self’ and ‘Other Self’ will cause many problems. Mistrust and vigilance are the lighter consequences. It’s normal to lose oneself and develop mental vulnerabilities.”
“So it’s just one of the backup options, a fallback when there are no other solutions.” Meng Qi suddenly switched to mental transmission, “Moreover, the appearance of this cosmic light fragment is suspicious. There might be other secrets involved. We can’t rely on it completely. It’s just one of the three burrows.”
Jiang Zhiwei, always carefree and forward-looking, stopped talking about the matter and smiled, “Where are we going next?”
“To meet the ‘old friends.'” Meng Qi said with a smile, his right hand caressing the black Ming King Wheel inlaid with Buddhist treasures. It was the Wheel of Destroying the Three Poisons and Exterminating the Demonic Heresies!
Although this divine weapon was only at the Earth Immortal level, it was uniquely miraculous and enigmatic, naturally possessing the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom, surpassing even the Mountain-Driving Whip. When combined with his slight ability to manipulate fate, it would have extraordinary effects. It was indeed a great gain.
The Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom was transformed from the eighth consciousness, the Alaya consciousness, capable of penetrating all phenomena, illuminating all things and mysteries in the world, including past reincarnations and countless future possibilities. It was truly the perfect wisdom a Buddha of Primordial Unity level could possess. When Meng Qi’s “Heaven-Shaking and Earth-Shaking Great Law” awakened his latent memories of past reincarnations, it was because it contained a small portion of the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom (Alaya consciousness), illuminating the fragments of past reincarnation memories hidden deep within his mind’s ocean. Otherwise, how could such a mysterious and unpredictable technique exist without reaching the Outer Scenery level?
As for a divine weapon naturally possessing the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom, even if incomplete, it was still extremely rare!
Two figures, one in green and the other in yellow, flew away gracefully, with the autumn scenery on the mountain reaching its peak.
…
Inside the Great Buddha Hall of Shaolin Temple.
Numerous senior monks, renowned for their exceptional Buddhist martial arts, were still immersed in Meng Qi’s recent demonstration of the “Tathagata Divine Palms” general outline combined with “Only I Am Supreme.” The deeper their cultivation and the stronger their Zen hearts, the more they were captivated, gaining more insights.
Unknown to how much time had passed, the sound of approaching footsteps startled them back to reality.
As soon as the sense arose, Kong Wen’s face suddenly changed:
“Amitabha Buddha, I didn’t expect you to come as well.”
The senior monks followed the sound and were all moved, as if facing a great enemy.
The visitor was none other than the former Number One on the Heavenly List, the head of the Secret Buddhist Sect, and the living Buddha, Hutugetu!
He had been in retreat for years to heal his injuries and now, having recovered and made a breakthrough, had come to challenge Shaolin?
This was truly a time of multiple troubles!
Hutugetu’s monk robe fluttered, his gaunt face carrying an expression of tranquility and compassion, his sapphire-like pupils deep in contemplation. Upon reaching the entrance of the Great Buddha Hall, he halted his steps, suddenly pressed his palms together, knelt on both knees, and prostrated before the golden statue of the Buddha. His demeanor was solemn and dignified, yet radiated a touch of effortless elegance.
This… the senior monks were all stunned, even the venerable monk Wusi, whose Buddhist cultivation was profound and whose Zen heart was as calm as a still lake, was bewildered and at a loss.
What was the Living Buddha doing?
He had traveled thousands of miles to Shaolin, just to kowtow to the Buddha.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha, what is it that the Living Buddha seeks?” Kong Wen asked in confusion.
Hutugetu lifted his head, his face filled with the joy of realizing the illusion of the past and the future, “Abbot Kong Wen, this old monk was enlightened by a sudden shout from that gentleman in green robes. I now understand the illusion of past and future lives and realize that my true nature is indestructible. I have finally attained an awakening, knowing that the obstacle lies within me, not outside. Please allow this old monk to stay at Shaolin. I don’t need the position of an elder; being a broom-pushing monk will suffice.”
The Living Buddha wanted to join Shaolin and become a broom-pushing monk? For a moment, all the senior monks understood what it meant that worldly things are illusory and impermanent, and that all phenomena are like dew and lightning.
This was something unimaginable even in their wildest dreams!
“Green-robed gentleman… Amitabha Buddha, congratulations to senior brother on your path to becoming a Bodhisattva,” Kong Wen, sensing the connection to the mysterious Dharma Body, chose to believe.
Hutugetu chuckled, “Abbot, there’s no need for such words. The wrathful deities are empty, the Arhats are empty, and even the Bodhisattvas are empty. What is there to congratulate on?”
He stood up, walked leisurely towards the steps, picked up the broom left behind by the startled servant monk who was going to report, and began sweeping the square in front, chanting casually, “Sweep away the past and future, Bodhisattva and Buddha are not better than ‘me.'”
…
In the northern Zhou’s Yinghua Nunnery, a tranquil Buddhist sanctuary dedicated to the cultivation of Bhikshunis, it was a modest sect.
The atmosphere here was dark green, the quarters quiet, and the passing nuns all wore dark robes, their expressions calm, their faces hidden within the serene cultivation ambiance.
For Bhikshunis accomplished in Buddhist teachings, this was the ideal state. However, for Fu Zhenzhen, a young novice just beginning her journey, it felt monotonous, dull, and oppressively stifling.
During her break, she sneaked out of the nunnery and went to the back mountains, where she finally saw vibrant colors, and her heart and mind felt liberated.
Suddenly, she noticed a white little rabbit with an injured leg lying beside a rock, so she acted on her kind heart and, based on what she had learned, gave it a simple bandage.
Just then, a mighty voice suddenly came from the sky:
“Good deeds will surely be rewarded.”
A golden beam descended, swirling and shimmering, radiating countless rays of light, landing in front of Fu Zhenzhen, transforming into a secret manual inscribed with:
“The Willow Branch Jade Dew Method.”
Fu Zhenzhen looked up in confusion, only to see a man and a woman disappearing into the clouds. The man wore a green robe, and the woman wore a light yellow dress. Their backs were graceful, like immortals.
Though still young, she was no naive child. Staring blankly at the manual before her, she murmured, “I just saved a rabbit…”
Was this such a big deal!
…
In the capital city, at the Prince Wei’s Mansion.
Zhao Heng sat in his room, hidden in the shadows, gazing at the night sky devoid of stars and moonlight, feeling it perfectly mirrored his mood.
He was born with a weak constitution, with no future in martial arts cultivation. His life had already been judged, hopeless.
“There are so many legends of extraordinary encounters in the world, yet I can only be trapped within the mansion, unable to seek them out.” Zhao Heng clenched his teeth. He was no longer young, his studies had just begun to bear fruit, and he had already experienced the coldness and warmth of human relationships.
Suddenly, he saw a brilliant meteor streak across the sky, a very dreamlike sight.
“Even if I can only shine like a meteor, a fleeting beauty, it’s still better than my current half-dead state.” Zhao Heng sighed.
As the sigh just began, his gaze suddenly froze, his pupils gradually constricting, because that meteor was heading straight towards him.
The starlight brightened, enveloping him. Zhao Heng felt an extreme pain, sensing that his body was undergoing some kind of transformation.
The pain was long and endless, and when it finally subsided, Zhao Heng realized that his body had become strong and no longer weak.
Overjoyed, he murmured to himself, “I wonder which great expert heard my plea. Truly, heaven does not cut off a person’s path.”
You’re welcome… Meng Qi whispered softly, and he and Jiang Zhiwei quietly moved away into the night.
…
In a garden in Langya, Jiangdong.
A four or five-year-old chubby little girl was hiding in a corner, holding a fire starter, trying to light a fire to roast the few larvae she had in her hand.
Her parents and all her grandfathers had forbidden her from eating this delicacy!
She shook and shook, making her face dirty, with white and pink spots mixed with black, but she couldn’t ignite the fire pile no matter what.
At this moment, her eyes lit up as she saw a burning finger.
“Uh…” The little girl looked up at the person in front of her. The man was as mature as her father but seemed younger. The woman was very beautiful, giving her a feeling of familiarity.
This thought flashed by, and she was not at all alarmed being at home, just staring intently and seriously at that burning finger, making it hard for anyone not to give in.
“If you want help lighting the fire, you have to share your larvae with us,” Meng Qi said with a smile.
The chubby little girl bit her lip tightly, her big eyes filled with tears, very hesitant and struggling. After a long time, she finally shared two of them, turned her head to hand them over, and gritted her teeth to say, “One for each of you!”
Sharing delicacies was very painful, but after enjoying the delicacies together, everyone became good friends. It was only when the sky gradually darkened that the little girl reluctantly said goodbye to her new friends.
“Let’s go back. There’s no need to help them deal with the evil forces here. Otherwise, the righteous path will be born in worry and die in comfort,” Meng Qi withdrew his gaze and his reflections.
Jiang Zhiwei nodded, and the two quickly disappeared within this cosmic light fragment.
…
Inside the Xuantian Sect’s quiet chamber.
Daoist Shoujing sat on the cloud bed, his eyes deep as he gazed at the sky, seemingly watching Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei depart.
…
Several years later, many new rumors spread across the martial world:
It was said that the “Living Buddha” Hutugetu had attained great mastery and planned to head south to destroy Shaolin. However, he encountered a traveler in a green robe outside Shaolin Temple and was defeated within three moves, after which his whereabouts became unknown.
A mysterious high expert had visited the Southern Wilderness, bringing peace to the area ever since.
The Old Crier from the Western Regions also met the green-robed expert. He was severely wounded by the sword of the woman accompanying him, barely surviving, and had been out of sight for many years.
There were many such stories, too numerous to mention them all.
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