Chapter 355: Jue Ming, The Venerable
Chapter 355: Jue Ming, The Venerable
"Ah!"
A sudden and piercing scream echoed through the void.
It was Yu Xue, the Great True Monarch! His Blood Escape Technique was broken, and the demon armor on his body quickly melted under the Great Sun True Flame, reducing his physical form to a pile of ashes.
Only a robust Nascent Soul, black as ink, remained. Countless golden swastika runes submerged it, transforming it into a golden puppet that landed in Fang Xing's palm.
"Hmm?"
Fang Xing was a little surprised and looked towards the direction of Xu Yun, the Great True Monarch: "You managed to withstand two attacks from an Incarnation, your potential, strength, and luck... are all superior to that Demon Path Great True Monarch."
Xu Yun revealed his true appearance, a face with distinct features, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, indicating severe damage to his vitality.
Seeing Fang Xing now was like encountering an Incarnation Venerable, filling him with despair.
What's more tragic was that he had previously used the 'Mountain River Map' to seal the nearby void, making it impossible to even attempt an escape using various void techniques. It was like being bound by his own cocoon.
After all, who could have imagined that what was supposed to be an easy capture would require the mobilization of two Great True Monarchs, only to encounter such an exasperating situation?
If there had been an Incarnation-level combat power among the Yuan Shen Sword Sect, they would have rebuilt the Holy Land long ago, and the Five Clans wouldn't have suffered such a tragic decline for so many years.
'I... will keep my promise to you.'
Driven by the desire for survival, Xu Yun couldn't help but transmit a message to a mysterious existence.
"Hmm?"
Fang Xing raised an eyebrow and saw the Heavenly Earth Essence Energy gathering in front of him, faintly forming a Bodhisattva Golden Body.
An incredibly terrifying surge of Essence Energy appeared.
"Benefactor, when you spare others, others will spare you."
A hoarse voice emanated from the golden face of the Bodhisattva giant.
"An Incarnation cultivator, manipulating the Heavenly Earth Essence Energy?"
Fang Xing's Martial Dao will soared into the sky, transforming into the Great Sun Buddha's dharma image, instantly sweeping away all spiritual pressure. Hearing this, he coldly smiled: "It seems like an Incarnation cultivator who didn't die thoroughly, leaving behind only a wisp of Primordial Spirit... What is this? A personal bodyguard? As expected of a Great True Monarch, each one is a protagonist in their own right... Die for me!"
At this point, Fang Xing was fearless, even daring to challenge a living Incarnation cultivator. Naturally, he wouldn't be scared away by a mere remnant soul.
He struck out with a palm, and behind him, the Great Sun Buddha's dharma image instantly transformed into Vajra Wrathful Eyes, becoming the Immovable Wisdom King, who struck down with a giant hand.
The red and green Heavenly Earth Essence Energy clashed like tidal waves, creating a towering tsunami.
And then...
The Bodhisattva Golden Body was submerged by the red Heavenly Earth Essence Energy...
"Not good, this junior lacks martial morality. We must leave quickly."
Xu Yun, the Great True Monarch, was startled upon hearing the thought transmitted by his Venerable's remnant soul.
This was his last trump card.
But it seemed to be ineffective against that Body Cultivator Great True Monarch! This 'Jue Ming, the Venerable' was someone he had obtained in a relic cave when he was at the Foundation Establishment stage, a great opportunity he had kept secret.
Without the other party's guidance, he wouldn't have been able to condense his Nascent Soul and break through to the Nascent Soul Late-stage.
But he never expected that even Jue Ming, the Venerable, would be unable to defeat Fang Xing!
"I will soon use a Primordial Spirit secret technique to shake that junior's heart and mind... If you miss this opportunity again, you will undoubtedly die."
Fortunately, Jue Ming, the Venerable's voice sounded again, easing Xu Yun's worries: 'Venerable Jue Ming, if I can escape, I will refine a new body for you! Live a second life!'
And then...
He heard the scream of 'Jue Ming, the Venerable'.
"Ah!"
Jue Ming, the Venerable's voice was filled with shock and pain... and then it fell silent.
Before Xu Yun could speak, he saw Fang Xing approach him, and a hint of despair appeared on his face...
...
A moment later.
Fang Xing collected the Nascent Souls of the two Great True Monarchs and checked their storage bags one by one.
"Hmm? As expected of Great True Monarchs, they are indeed wealthy, with quite a few top-grade Spirit Stones..."
"Hmm? There's even a 'Infancy Strengthening Pill'? My cultivation clone will be blessed, and it will surely break through to the Nascent Soul Mid-stage..."
'And these few bottles of spirit herbs should further enhance my Essence Energy...'
Suddenly, a spiritual light flashed in his hand, and a black wooden carving appeared.
The wooden carving depicted a Bodhisattva sitting in lotus position, with a kind and benevolent expression, and soft lines.
The entire wooden carving was pitch-black, and a refreshing sandalwood scent wafted from it.
Fang Xing took a light sniff and felt his spirit rejuvenated: "This is... Yan Po Sandalwood? According to rumors, it is one of the three greatest treasures for enhancing Divine Perception, alongside the Soul Nourishing Tree and the Heaven Heart Wood?"
Judging by its grade, it was at least a Fifth Stage treasure.
And within the Bodhisattva statue, there was a faint Primordial Spirit fluctuation that Fang Xing was very familiar with.
"An Incarnation cultivator, after death, only a wisp of Primordial Spirit remains, relying on the Yan Po Sandalwood to maintain life? Indeed, the higher the cultivator's realm, the harder it is to truly die..."
Fang Xing shook the statue in his hand: "Don't hide..."
"Amitabha... I, Jue Ming, have met the benefactor." A delicate Divine Perception transmission came from within the Bodhisattva statue: "The benefactor's talent for cultivation is truly astonishing. Even those Refine Void Grandmasters in history, at the Nascent Soul Late-stage, were far inferior to the benefactor... Could it be that you are a reincarnated True Immortal?"
Jue Ming, the Venerable's voice carried a hint of flattery.
"If you have nice things to say, say more of them..."
Fang Xing smiled and gazed at the wooden carving, causing Jue Ming, the Venerable, to fall silent, feeling that this Body Cultivator Great True Monarch had a very different personality from other cultivators.
"As a Buddhist practitioner, my specialty is the Lotus Tongue Technique. I was previously constrained by others, and had no choice but to act as a shield, so please forgive me, Patron..." The Buddhist practitioner Jue Ming spoke with a faltering voice.
Fang Xing maintained his smile, "You were quite courageous before, even daring to attack me with your Divine Perception."
Jue Ming was momentarily speechless.
This was the part that confused him the most.
Being a Buddhist cultivator and an Incarnation Heavenly Venerable, his understanding and application of Divine Perception were exceptionally high.
Yet, he never expected that his full-powered 'Golden Buddha Lion's Roar' would have no effect on the Great True Monarch before him, and it even backfired. His Soul Body, which had barely recovered, almost entered Nirvana...
'Could it be... that he's truly a True Immortal reincarnate?'
A thought crossed Jue Ming's mind.
"Jue Ming, as an Incarnation Heavenly Venerable, how did you end up in such a state? It's rare to see Buddhist cultivators in the Greater Xia Cultivation World, but why are you in such dire straits?" Fang Xing asked curiously.
Being an Incarnation Heavenly Venerable, Jue Ming was already at the top of the Greater Xia Cultivation World. Theoretically, he shouldn't have been so unlucky.
Could it be... that he encountered an Incarnation Heavenly Venerable?
"Sigh... In this world, the Dao traditions are mostly focused on the Immortal Dao, and they tend to reject Buddhist cultivators. The 'Vajra Wisdom Temple' I belong to was left behind by a powerful Buddhist cultivator from the upper realm during the last Descension. I, I have little Buddhist heart, and after cultivating for many years, I finally advanced to the Incarnation stage. I originally wanted to spread the Buddhist teachings, but I never expected to encounter the ancient demon's chaos!"
Fear crept into Jue Ming's voice, "That ancient demon's abilities are astonishing, and it's suspected to be a Grandmaster who fell from the Essence Transformation realm. For the sake of all living beings, I had no choice but to confront the demon with my limited cultivation. Alas, my Bodhisattva Golden Body was shattered by the ancient demon, and my Soul Body was almost annihilated... Fortunately, a trace of my Soul Body remains, residing within this Buddha statue, barely keeping me alive..."
"So, you're another unlucky person caught in the ancient demon's chaos." Fang Xing sighed.
Many great figures had died at the hands of the ancient demon, and their deaths were kept secret.
'In this world, Nascent Soul True Monarchs live for a thousand years, Incarnation cultivators live for around two thousand years, and only by ascending through Essence Transformation can one escape the worry of a limited lifespan... This Jue Ming, if he calculates the days, his lifespan limit isn't far away either, at most a few hundred years...'
Fang Xing asked, "What do you mean by 'descending to the mortal realm'?"
"Patron, there's something you may not know... The Greater Xia Cultivation World where we are is attached to the Primordial Universe. In the Buddhist view, there are 129,600 such human realms like the Primordial Universe, where countless cultivators and living beings thrive and cultivate. Once one breaks through to Essence Transformation, they can transcend realms and ascend to the upper realm. However, there are several upper realms, including the Spirit Realm where cultivators from this world ascend, the Demon Realm where the ancient demon belongs, and the Buddhist Realm where my master came from..."
'So, it's a spatial intersection!'
Fang Xing immediately thought of the Intersection Realm in the Greater Xia World, which was essentially an overlap of two spaces.
"I see. It's understandable for lower realm cultivators to strive for ascension, but why would upper realm cultivators descend to the mortal realm?"
Fang Xing had a doubt, "Could it be that the Primordial Universe has something special?"
"Amitabha... My Buddha delivers all beings. The reason for sending Buddhist disciples to the mortal realm is to spread the teachings..."
Jue Ming explained, "As for why the ancient demon descended and what grudge it has with the Primordial Soul Sword Sect, I truly have no knowledge of that."
"I see."
Fang Xing nodded, seemingly convinced.
Jue Ming quickly continued, "Although my knowledge is shallow, I believe I have a good understanding of the Greater Xia Cultivation World. I also know of several ancient sites and Buddhist treasures. I'm willing to offer them all to you, Patron, in exchange for staying by your side and helping you resolve your troubles."
"Haha... You're so used to having a personal attendant, or are you afraid I'll eliminate you?"
Fang Xing laughed, slightly tempted but quickly dismissing the idea.
After all, he wasn't a true native, and he had too many secrets.
Having a personal attendant was nothing to him.
Moreover... this Incarnation Heavenly Venerable might not be telling the truth, and his Ten Thousand Minds secret art was still incomplete, making it difficult to soul-search an Incarnation cultivator.
Fortunately... his abilities weren't limited to the secret arts of Ten Thousand Minds.
"I do have a selfish request, Patron. I'm willing to offer everything I have to you, in exchange for you refining a body for me in the future..." Jue Ming's voice was sincere.
"Very well... Then please enter my Sea of Consciousness, and I'll consult you whenever needed."
Fang Xing grabbed the Arhat statue, and with his overflowing spiritual power, he located the dim golden Soul Body deep within the statue.
Then...
He opened his Sea of Consciousness and welcomed the other's Soul Body.
(End of Chapter)
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