594: Chapter 117: Cicada (Part Three) 594: Chapter 117: Cicada (Part Three) Xie Xuanyi’s gaze upon the emaciated monk turned increasingly piercing and cold.
“Indeed…
You are not Fa Cheng.”
During this period, he had searched Fa Cheng’s body with his Divine Thought countless times.
After each search, Xie Xuanyi found no traces of residual Primordial Power.
All signs indicated that Fa Cheng was just an ordinary mortal who had never embarked on the path of cultivation.
But now it seemed, the truth was not that simple.
“Indeed, I can no longer be considered the ‘Fa Cheng’ you know.”
The emaciated monk let out a light sigh and said, “However…
since Master Xie has already used ‘Chen Ke’, you should allow others to reveal their identities, right?”
“Heh…”
Xie Xuanyi laughed at hearing this.
That made sense.
But how could a mere mortal, who had not cultivated and lived unobtrusively, recognize Chen Ke?
“The poor monk knows that not long ago, Master Xie used the Lotus Sword Energy at Qu River to slay Yuan Jimo.”
Fa Cheng bowed slightly and spoke gently: “The me you see now is probably akin to a strand of that ‘Lotus Sword Energy.’ The Pure Yang Sect Leader has infused his will into the Lotus Sword Energy, while the Zen Master has infused his will into this ‘droplet’ here.”
He extended two fingers, touching them to the spot between his eyebrows.
Mist rose around him.
“…Undying Spring?”
Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes.
The droplet of Undying Spring before Fa Cheng was already half depleted.
No wonder the rain falling from this sky was so warm…
So this ‘Rain of Life’ was acquired in such a manner.
“That’s right.”
Fa Cheng sighed: “This was a parting gift from the ‘Zen Master’ before his death, and is also the reason why you and I are able to meet today.
In a way, you could consider the current me as an embodiment of the ‘Zen Master’s’ will.
Though I am a Zen Master, the Zen Master is not me, for I have only developed three Divine Skills: ‘Heavenly Eye’, ‘Divine Steps’, and ‘Destiny Power’…
As for the other Divine Skills, my limited abilities prevented me from attaining them.”
Xie Xuanyi took in all these words.
“Wait…”
Xie Xuanyi’s expression changed abruptly: “The Zen Master is on his deathbed?
The Zen Master has died!”
These four words were truly jarring.
This news would surely shock the world!
“Yes, the Zen Master has entered nirvana.”
Fa Cheng sighed again, his tone filled with sorrow as he spoke, “Before his long rest, he gave away the Undying Spring and, using the power of ‘Destiny Power’, laid plans within the River of Destiny.
My appearance is to sway Chen Chong’s stance to avert the impending calamity that ‘Suyang City’ is facing.”
Having said that.
He slowly extended a palm.
The Undying Spring trembled gently—
Within the dim Buddha Country, a ring of golden light ignited, forming a portal.
Fa Cheng invited Xie Xuanyi to step into the “Destiny Power” with him to witness the scene of the impending great calamity.
Xie Xuanyi hesitated in silence for a moment before choosing to enter the “Destiny Portal”.
In a short while.
The River churned, the fire of light blazed.
Everything was frozen in place, and he saw the same scene Chen Chong had seen before, the entire Suyang City being crushed under the Iron Cavalry, countless Buddhist monks suffering a massacre.
This was the true “Destroying Buddha”, incomparable to the present calamities.
“…”
Xie Xuanyi watched the tragedy in silence.
If the Zen Master had already passed away, then indeed Fan Yin Temple was in a dire situation.
The great calamity in Suyang City revealed by the Destiny Power was but a glimpse of the larger calamity facing the Buddhist community.
Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong had already taken preliminary control of the Li Kingdom’s power.
These two formidable individuals, one in charge of Fangyuan Square, honorable as the State Preceptor.
The other held command of the Three States’ Iron Cavalry, having tremendous sway over court and country.
With these two joining forces and striking with heavy fists, the example set in Yuan Province with Destroying Buddha will lead to an even more massive momentum!
As long as these two do not make a move to personally appear at Fan Yin Temple, the Buddhist community would find it difficult to resist.
The hidden ‘Yang God Realm’ powers of the Buddhist community are left with virtually no choice.
Either it’s a thunderous strike, gambling life and death with Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong…
Or, one could only watch helplessly as Iron Cavalry’s torrential forces sweep across Da Li, wiping clean and flattening the thousand-year accumulation set by the Buddhist in the Four Realms!
“So, you hope that I spare Chen Chong’s life?”
Xie Xuanyi felt it was somewhat ironic, still unable to understand: “The ongoing grand scheme of Destroying Buddha in Yuan Province is Chen Chong’s personal doing…
Do you believe that by today’s act, he will stand against Nalan Xuance when the greater catastrophe comes?”
“Plant a cause and reap the fruit, no one can escape it.”
Fa Cheng lowered his eyelids: “The monk had intended for Chen Chong to accept a complete drop of Undying Spring Water, to attract destiny, to plant the seeds of causality, so that in the great catastrophe of Suyang City, he would have no choice but to save the people.”
“Alas, Chen Chong was unwilling to appreciate the gesture…”
His expression one of regret, he slowly said: “The man is also one of resolute character, training for years for no other cause than to battle the Zen Master and break through to the Yang God Realm, his mind fixated to near obsession, unresolvable.
Thus, the poor monk could only expend this ‘vapour’ and deploy the Divine Skills left by the Zen Master…”
Upon saying this, Fa Cheng paused for a moment, lifting his head to look around.
Xie Xuanyi had already noticed— this Buddha Country is terrifyingly majestic and spectacular, and even as it starts to dissipate now, it still radiates an inviolable sacred aura!
Is this the Divine Skill left by the Zen Master?
The presence of the Three Sects’ Leaders at this realm is indeed not to be defiled.
In this battle, Chen Chong’s defeat is not unjust.
“Nobody knows what the future holds.”
Fa Cheng pondered for a moment, speaking with compassion: “Even the scenes reflected in the River of Destiny could just be an illusion.
Within the Destiny Power left by the ‘Zen Master,’ I perceived signs of an impending great disaster; everything in this world, all have birth and death, all have longevity.
Fan Yin Temple, the Taoist Sect, Da Sui Sword Palace, these thousand-year legacies of the Three Religions Holy Land, will sooner or later face the great tribulation.”
“All of the Three Religions’ Holy Lands will face a great tribulation?”
Xie Xuanyi arched an eyebrow: “This great tribulation, is it akin to the Battle of Poison from years past, starting with the Demon Country?”
“Benefactor Xie, please forgive me for not being able to answer.”
“With the poor monk’s mana, I am unable to discern the specifics of this great tribulation…”
Fa Cheng gave a bitter smile, honestly said: “If it were the complete Zen Master standing in this spot, you would certainly be able to obtain a satisfactory answer.
But sadly…
the poor monk is but an incarnation of Divine Thought, and in the River of Destiny, I am no more than a speck of dust.”
Xie Xuanyi was somewhat disappointed.
“However…”
Fa Cheng changed the subject, slowly saying: “After awakening the ‘Destiny Power’, the poor monk once saw the figure of the Zen Master in the river.
Though he has left, he left behind some words.”
“What words?”
“The Zen Master said, every tribulation of the Three Religions, every tribulation of the world, needs a relief person, a Tribulation Responder.”
Fa Cheng gently chanted a Buddhist invocation.
“Benefactor Xie.”
He looked at Xie Xuanyi, saying softly: “You are the ‘Tribulation Responder’ chosen by the Pure Yang Sect Leader.
During the Battle of Beihai, you survived thanks to the Undying Spring.
This reincarnation and relearning signifies that you are bound to shoulder the great tribulation of the Sword Palace…
The Tribulation Responder and relief person for Da Sui Sword Palace should all be you.”
This claim moved Xie Xuanyi.
He couldn’t help but fall into contemplation.
“And in the River of Destiny, the ‘Buddhist Great Tribulation’ responder that the poor monk saw, is Mi Yun.
The relief person is then Chen Chong.”
“This is why the poor monk, no matter what, wishes to spare Chen Chong’s life.”
The monk bowed deeply, his attitude humble as dust, yet his voice was earnest and strong: “Buddhism believes in ‘destiny’ and also in ‘causality.’ The poor monk awakens ‘Destiny Power’ today and meets Chen Chong, it seems to be prearranged by fate.
Benefactor Xie, for the sake of the living beings of Suyang City, please do not drop this sword.”
“There’s no need to invoke these noble reasons.”
Xie Xuanyi shook his head, speaking coldly: “I’m from the Chu people, with enough troubles within my own realm, how could I care about the great calamity of Suyang City?”
Pausing for a moment.
“If I can safely return to Great Chu, whether or not the sword drops, whether to kill him or not, really doesn’t matter.”
That Chen Chong could break through to become a Yang God in this battle is truly impressive.
But Xie Xuanyi did not consider him worth much notice.
He only cares about whether he can safely return to Chu Realm.
After returning to Chu, the pressing threat of surrounding Iron Cavalry would be extinguished, and after that, whatever turmoil arises from the Destroying Buddha in Li Kingdom, however tumultuous, would be none of his concern—
As for Chen Chong…
Xie Xuanyi is very clear, once he ascends to the Yang God Realm, he will only be stronger than Chen Chong!
“But you should be aware, during this time, Chen Chong’s lead Iron Cavalry has nearly trampled every Buddhist Temple in Yuan Province.”
“Even though Fan Yin Temple had sent away disciples in advance, many innocents died amidst this calamity…”
Xie Xuanyi said: “Recently on Qixia Mountain, he even ordered his subordinates to slaughter all envoys of monks.
If it weren’t for me and Jun Mountain risking our lives to save, Mi Yun who carries the ‘Tanluan Buddha Bones,’ might have perished within this tribulation, as you said.
If Buddhism even loses its Tribulation Responder, what need would there be to speak of salvation amidst such a great calamity?”
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(PS: The next update will be tomorrow noon, around 12 o’clock.)