At this moment, Ye Kunlun was faintly enveloped in a golden Buddhist light, a light that contained a power that left Jing Kong utterly shocked.
Even within the golden Buddhist radiance, celestial dragons seemed to be roaming.
"This is... the power of the Eight Divisions of Celestial Dragons?!" Jing Kong could no longer maintain his composure, his face etched with astonishment.
"How is this possible?" Jing Kong's heart was stirred by a tempest. "He is not a Buddhist disciple, so how could the Eight Divisions of Celestial Dragons manifest upon him?"
As a prodigy disciple of the Floating Temple, Jing Kong naturally knew what the Eight Divisions of Celestial Dragons were!
They were the legendary guardian deities of the Western Pure Land, possessing unfathomable power.
Gazing at the golden Buddhist light emanating from Ye Kunlun and the phantom images of the celestial dragons, Jing Kong felt an inexplicable sense of reverence welling up within him.
He was filled with curiosity about Ye Kunlun's identity.
"Benefactor, who exactly are you?" Jing Kong put away his shock, gazing at Ye Kunlun, and asked.
Hearing Jing Kong's question, Ye Kunlun's mind cleared.
Just moments ago, as Jing Kong chanted the "Great Compassion Mantra," Ye Kunlun had gained a profound realization.
He recalled the days when his fourth master had explained Buddhist teachings to him on Kunlun Mountain.
"Disciple, although the Dharma is boundless, it also emphasizes subtlety.
There is a saying in Buddhism: 'A thought is like an arrow, one thought pierces gold,' meaning thoughts are as swift as arrows, capable of piercing metal with a single notion.
Our thoughts directly influence our actions and state of mind.
Once our thoughts deviate from the righteous path, we are easily controlled by evil forces.
However, if we can constantly maintain righteous thoughts, holding faith and reverence for the Dharma, we can control our thoughts and make them aids to our cultivation.
Your master hopes you will remember this saying and always keep it in mind."
The earnest words of his fourth master echoed in Ye Kunlun's ears.
Unknowingly, Ye Kunlun had become immersed in the profoundness of his fourth master's Buddhist teachings from back then, remaining oblivious to the changes happening around him.
It was only when Jing Kong spoke that he came back to his senses, and the Buddhist light and phantom images of the Eight Divisions of Celestial Dragons around him vanished.
"Who are you?" Hearing Jing Kong's question, Ye Kunlun chuckled. "You hail from the Floating Temple, and my master is from Little Mount Sumeru."
Ye Kunlun offered a simple explanation.
"Little Mount Sumeru has never accepted lay disciples," Jing Kong replied, yet Ye Kunlun did not seem to be lying.
"Whether or not Little Mount Sumeru accepts lay disciples, why do you care so much?" Ye Kunlun retorted.
Jing Kong was taken aback and clasped his hands together. "Amitabha, it seems this humble monk has been too attached."
Regardless of whether Ye Kunlun was a disciple of Little Mount Sumeru, his ability to discern Jing Kong's identity as a disciple of the Floating Temple was enough to prove Ye Kunlun's extraordinary background.
"Are you certain this Evil Buddha relic is not problematic?" Ye Kunlun steered the conversation back to the main issue.
Jing Kong nodded. "My power can suppress it for the time being, but resolving the root cause still lies with the barbarians."
Ye Kunlun had not informed Jing Kong of his plan to infiltrate the barbarian territory at night.
Although Jing Kong's Buddhist teachings, combined with the Diamond Hand before him, could suppress the barbarian's ill fortune, human hearts were unfathomable!
Moreover, his meeting with Jing Kong was rather sudden, and he knew little about Jing Bei Temple.
Ye Kunlun had to exercise caution.
"What name does Benefactor go by?" Jing Kong gazed at Ye Kunlun, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Ye Kunlun!" Ye Kunlun announced his name.
"Does Benefactor Ye have any methods to resolve the barbarian's power of misfortune?" Jing Kong asked with a serious expression.
Ye Kunlun shook his head and replied indifferently, "Not at the moment."
Ye Kunlun then recalled Long Qi's bloodline curse and asked, "Little bald one, Buddhism has considerable research into dispelling curses. Do you know how to resolve a curse that causes a bloodline to gradually petrify?"
"A cursed bloodline gradually petrifies..."
Upon hearing Ye Kunlun's words, Jing Kong fell into contemplation, seemingly unbothered by Ye Kunlun's appellation of "little bald one."
"I once saw a similar curse in the temple's scripture repository."
After a moment, Jing Kong spoke.
Ye Kunlun's eyes lit up, and he pressed further, "Are there any methods to resolve it?"
"Let me think... the book mentioned no method of resolution, only that this curse originated from the Witch Tribe."
"The Witch Tribe, it truly is the Witch Tribe!"
Killing intent flashed in Ye Kunlun's eyes.
He had harbored suspicions but dared not be certain that Long Qi's bloodline curse was also related to the Witch Tribe.
He never expected that his own affairs would be linked to the Witch Tribe, and that Long Qi, as royalty, would also have his bloodline matters connected to them!
From this, it seemed the Witch Tribe had begun laying a grand scheme much earlier.
Sensing the killing intent radiating from Ye Kunlun, Jing Kong chanted a Buddhist phrase. "Amitabha, although Benefactor Ye possesses Buddhist nature, his killing intent is too strong. Be wary of inner demons..."
"Inner demons? Heh!" Ye Kunlun scoffed, dismissing Jing Kong's words. "Whether I am a demon, a Buddha, or even a god, none of that matters. What matters is maintaining one's original heart!"
"Alright, I was merely passing by the Buddhist hall, so I won't disturb you any further."
With that, Ye Kunlun prepared to leave.
"Benefactor Ye," Jing Kong called out to stop him. "Feel free to visit Jing Bei Temple if you have the time."
Ye Kunlun did not respond to Jing Kong's invitation and strode out of the Buddhist hall.
Within the Buddhist hall, Jing Kong turned back to look at the bowed Diamond Hand, a subtle, eerie smile curling the corners of his lips.
—
The sun set in the west.
Shasha finally returned, and Ye Kunlun immediately noticed something was weighing on her mind.
However, he didn't press the issue and directly told Shasha, "I'm planning to scout the barbarian territory tonight. Can you draw me a simple map?"
"Master is acting so soon?" Shasha snapped back to attention, concealing her inner thoughts. "The barbarians seem to have been making some moves recently. Perhaps Master should wait a little longer?"
Ye Kunlun shook his head. "Draw it."
Shasha said no more, and soon a simple map was completed.
Although the map was rudimentary, it marked several important locations, such as the site of the temple.
Ye Kunlun glanced at it and committed it to memory.
With a wave of his hand, the map turned to ash.
"Master, please be careful," Shasha cautioned.
Ye Kunlun caught a flicker of hesitation in her eyes and smiled. "Thank you for accompanying me to the Northern Territory. I have the map now, so you don't need to trouble yourself with anything further. You can leave anytime!"
"Also, I have some good news for you. There's been a lead on the mirror you're looking for."
When Ye Kunlun left in the morning, he had received a message from Wu Dao.
The Blood Shadow Tower had already found information about the mirror Shasha was searching for.
"There's a lead?"
Shasha was momentarily stunned, her face lighting up with excitement.
"Yes, but we haven't obtained it yet. You'll have to wait a bit longer," Ye Kunlun replied.
"Thank you, Master."
Shasha was filled with gratitude, having thought Ye Kunlun's words were mere politeness. She hadn't expected news so soon.
"Furthermore, the Blood Shadow Tower has uncovered something else."
Ye Kunlun looked calmly at Shasha. "I think I should tell you."
Hearing this, Shasha felt an inexplicable nervousness creep into her heart.
"Black Jack is someone from the Northern Territory King."