https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-640-Others-Can-Read-This-Scripture/12947081/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-642-Bow-to-Me-Before-Bowing-to-the-Buddha/12947083/
Chapter 641: Your Identity and My Cultivation Realm
Chapter 641: Your Identity and My Cultivation Realm
The narrow alley suddenly fell silent.
The two senior disciples stood with their hands clasped, silently staring at Zhi Kong, the monk before them. After a long while, the corners of their mouths curled upwards, "That's good."
"Please hurry and return the Dragon Tiger Scripture to the sect, the elders are still waiting."
Zhi Qing patted Zhi Kong's shoulder, instructing him, "Then we won't disturb you any longer, you have your tasks, farewell."
After speaking, the two turned and walked towards the end of the alley, their footsteps noticeably quicker than when they arrived.
Zhi Kong, the monk, maintained the gesture of his palms pressed together, slowly opening his eyes without turning back, still staring at his toes, "Senior Brother, the elders taught us the meaning of compassion."
He just lacked life experience, he wasn't truly foolish.
He also knew that his reaction would make it hard for others to believe.
Shen Xianyou had indeed read the Dragon Tiger Scripture, but people are naturally curious, and ignorance is not a crime. Moreover, the other party had genuinely saved two innocent lives under Lingguang's hands, preventing the spread of the scripture and averting a major disaster in the mortal world.
The merits and demerits balanced each other out.
The two slowly stopped in their tracks, glancing at each other, their voices turning cold, "Did the elders teach monks not to lie?"
As they spoke, they glanced at the nearby civilian household, and the half-open wooden door swung open without a breeze, revealing an old woman behind it, eavesdropping curiously.
Suddenly discovered, the old woman's sagging face trembled, and she turned to flee into the house, but her stooped body suddenly flew back.
She struggled like a little chick, her head tightly grasped by a rough, large hand.
In the time it took to breathe, the old woman stopped struggling, her eyes dazed, and even after being released, she didn't dare to flee, standing there in a daze.
Zhi Qing retrieved the golden ledger from the old woman and casually tossed it aside.
Rustle—
The edge of the ledger, sharp as a knife, swiftly grazed Zhi Kong's face, leaving a faint trail of blood on his skin, honed to the peak of his cultivation.
The disparity in strength between the two was instantly apparent.
"She's just a mortal, and she has already seen the treasure scripture. This life, she'll sink into the sea of suffering, yet you hesitate and refuse to save her."
Zhi Qing turned and looked towards the end of the alley, smiling gently, "Now I'll save her for you, and also teach you the meaning of compassion."
"Junior Brother, look at how you conduct yourself in the mortal world, what have you become? If the elders find out, they'll be heartbroken. Be careful not to fall into the sea of suffering, for a lack of virtue will prevent you from attaining the fruit position for life."
Zhi Ming, the monk, clasped his hands together, offering a gentle word of comfort, "I see that you've already absorbed a lot of Imperial Qi, so hurry back to the sect and seek the elders' help to make up for your final tribulation. Let's cultivate together and strive to attain the Golden Lotus Realm."
After speaking, the two walked away, quickly leaving the alley.
They sought the content of the Dragon Tiger Scripture, not the scripture itself. Taking it from Zhi Kong would cause trouble, so it's better to get it from that "outsider," and no one could find fault with that.
"Hmm."
Zhi Kong stood in place, his expression dazed.
Monks don't lie, and a lack of virtue will prevent you from attaining the fruit position for life... These words echoed in his ears.
After a long while, he bent down, picked up the golden ledger, and walked over to the dazed old woman, muttering, "So be it."
He sat cross-legged, raised his palms, and the Imperial Qi he had gained through begging and taking on others' tribulations flowed from his lips, slowly seeping into the old woman's head.
In an instant, their expressions seemed to swap.
To utilize the Imperial Qi, one must digest the willpower within it.
Zhi Kong's expression gradually turned blank, while the old woman's eyes became clearer.
However, this time, digesting the willpower seemed easier than before.
Soon, Zhi Kong regained some clarity, and a harsh curse sounded in his ear.
"Thief monk! Murderer!"
The old woman was still immersed in her previous panic, kicking Zhi Kong's chest and fleeing back into the house, slamming the door shut.
"Please wait."
Zhi Kong's face paled, and he smiled helplessly, dusting off his chest before standing up and leaving the alley.
The Imperial Qi, gained through begging, should be used on those who gave it.
...
The Jianyang Prefecture Inn.
Although the Demon Slayer Bureau couldn't openly reveal their identity, they were still considered part of the court, and their accommodations were arranged accordingly.
However, since Shen Yi joined, he had been traveling with Meng Xiuwen, and he hadn't had the chance to meet the prefect yet, so he was a little late and could only temporarily stay at the inn.
He took a short rest in his room and didn't seek out his old friend Hong Ze for a chat.
Greeting the Earth God Temple and the Demon Slayer Bureau was one thing, but getting involved elsewhere was another matter.
With many people around, Shen Yi didn't forget that he still had troubles to deal with.
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
Shen Yi slightly raised his eyebrows, not wanting any more surprises.
When he opened the door, he saw Ye Jing.
Senior Shen Yi, a little child just delivered a letter to the inn earlier. He said it was given by a monk, and that the monk had to go inform others, so he didn't come himself."
"Hmm?"
Shen Yi took the letter and casually flipped through it.
As expected, the only monk he knew in Juyang Prefecture was Master Zhi Kong.
The content of the letter was simple.
Bodhimanda disciples are pursuing us, and they are not benevolent. Please leave Juyang Prefecture as soon as possible and head towards a place closer to the Imperial Capital.
"Is something wrong?"
Seeing Shen Yi's face slightly change, Ye Jing looked over curiously.
This Senior Shen Yi, even when facing the Immortal Official earlier, didn't show any emotional fluctuations.
"..."
Shen Yi slowly folded the letter and looked up at the outside.
After being out for some time, his understanding of Bodhimanda was far beyond his initial expectations.
It was a colossal entity beyond his imagination.
Having taken their items and killed their disciples, it was only natural for them to be pursued.
But he never expected Master Zhi Kong to secretly inform him.
In a normal situation, Shen Yi would have left without hesitation. At the very least, he would wait for Ye Lan, the true powerhouse who could control the situation, to return.
But now—
In this vast Juyang Prefecture, there was a large group of old friends residing.
"Send a message to Team Leader Meng."
Shen Yi wasn't arrogant. He had personally experienced the strength of the Bodhimanda disciples. Even if it wasn't a cross-boundary battle, with his current foundation, the outcome of a same-level battle was uncertain.
Meng Xiuwen, who could slay the bear demon's master, was undoubtedly powerful. Perhaps he was the only person Shen Yi could rely on right now.
Although this was a personal grudge between Shen Yi and Bodhimanda.
But as colleagues in the Divine Dynasty, it was impossible for them to stand by and watch as their own Demon Slayer Official was beaten to death right before their eyes.
"Okay!"
Ye Jing instantly understood the seriousness of the situation. Without further ado, she pinched her fingers, and her Lingguang instantly teleported out of the door.
She pushed open the door and scanned the surroundings. Seeing nothing unusual, she led the way downstairs.
The inn was packed with people, and the long street was still bustling with noise.
"Senior Shen Yi, I feel something is amiss."
Ye Jing walked through the crowd, slowing her steps. She crouched down and picked up a fruit still wet with dew from a street vendor's stall.
"Would you like to try it?" The vendor's smile slightly eased the doubts in the Demon Slayer's heart.
She responded with a faint smile and put the fruit back.
"I guess I'm overthinking things." Ye Jing exhaled lightly. Perhaps due to the recent events, she had become overly suspicious: "Let's go find Team Leader Meng first."
She continued walking but noticed that Senior Shen Yi was still standing in the same spot. She turned back, puzzled.
Shen Yi stood quietly, gazing ahead.
Two women walked side by side, one in a black robe and the other in a white skirt, both possessing rare immortal-like beauty. They curiously observed the land of Shenzhou, discussing the differences between Juyang Prefecture and Qingzhou.
Then, they brushed past each other and continued on their way.
"Tsk."
Shen Yi closed his eyes. It was the same old trick, but what truly frustrated him was that back then, he was only at the Dao Realm and couldn't see through it. Now, having reached the Perfect True Immortal Realm and even receiving the healing of General Yanlan, his cultivation was well-rounded, yet he still couldn't see through it.
The three sects' abilities were indeed beyond ordinary comprehension.
In the moment Shen Yi closed his eyes, the bustling street around them instantly became empty. A wisp of Lingguang transformed into a withered leaf, gently falling at the feet of the two women.
Ye Jing's eyes narrowed, staring intently at the leaf.
It was the message she had sent to Team Leader Meng, but it had been silently intercepted.
In an instant, her palm was already resting on the hilt of her sword. The blinding white light began to gather, attempting to break through the illusion with her True Immortal cultivation.
However, the white light that overflowed from the sword sheath, in the moment it burst forth, retreated back like a tide.
A barely perceptible golden light fell into the gap, preventing her from even drawing her sword.
"Senior Shen Yi, let's go!"
Ye Jing's face turned a rare shade of pallor. Golden light breaks all laws—this was Bodhimanda! As a member of the Demon Slayer Bureau, she was always prepared for revenge from the three sects.
Moreover, this avenger dared to defy the rules and take action within the Divine Dynasty's prefecture. It couldn't be because of a trivial matter.
But she truly couldn't remember offending Bodhimanda in Juyang Prefecture, not even having a chance to react.
The next moment, the familiar street slowly faded away.
It transformed into a magnificent hall, with empty offering altars on both sides. Only in the front stood a majestic golden-bodied statue of a deity, exuding an indescribable aura of nobility.
The robust and tall body was flawless, without a single blemish.
Behind the statue stood an equally massive dragon and tiger.
The dragon soared in a flying posture, and the tiger descended in a mountain-conquering stance, both bound by heavy chains. The other end of the chains was fastened to the deity's body.
Below the offering altar were four meditation cushions.
Two figures were already kneeling there, their limbs forcibly twisted into a respectful posture, and sharp ritual tools were used to fix them in place.
"You have committed sins and must atone with sincerity."
A detached voice echoed, then instantly transformed into a thunderous roar!
"Kneel!"
The roar reverberated repeatedly, like thunder in their ears, echoing endlessly within the grand hall.
The two figures on the meditation cushions convulsed violently, their faces distorted beyond recognition, and they cried pitifully in their misery, "We didn't see anything, we didn't see anything, Master, you're wronging us!"
Before they could finish, the man's head exploded instantly!
A bloodstained fine steel rod was thrust into the ground.
The female cultivator from the Ziyun Sect suddenly lost her voice, her face contorted as she stared at the pair of straw sandals that had appeared before her, not even daring to look at the owner of those sandals.
"You really didn't see anything?"
The ascetic monk slowly leaned forward, and the woman finally let out a shrill scream, "I don't even know what you're talking about!"
"I see."
Monk Zhi Qing nodded, muttering to himself, then turned his gaze towards the distant black-robed youth, "So, that means this sin actually lies with the benefactor?"
His expression remained calm as he spoke, and it was only now that a hint of a smile appeared, "Then why doesn't the benefactor kneel and sincerely admit their mistake to seek forgiveness from the Dragon Tiger Bodhisattva?"
In an instant, he raised his rod again, without hesitation, and struck towards the woman's head.
A crisp metallic hum filled the air instead of the sound of a skull shattering.
A second rod blocked the strike.
A monk with a golden aura suddenly appeared within the illusion, intercepting the blow without a word, his expression indifferent as he looked at Zhi Qing, "Thief monk, you've killed someone."
Hearing this title, Zhi Qing's face changed slightly, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.
But he didn't speak, only summoning his strength to press the rod downwards.
"..."
Monk Zhi Kong's thin arms trembled violently, and despite the golden light enveloping him, he couldn't stop the rod's slow descent.
The Five Tribulation Ascendant and the Six Tribulation Ascendant clashed, a difference of just one tribulation, yet it represented a cultivation gap of 129,600 years.
His arm bones began to creak, his skin stretched taut, and then shattered, golden blood soaking the entire rod, yet he still refused to let go.
A deep bitterness appeared on Zhi Kong's face.
Last time, he had arrived too late, and this time, he was late again.
He always arrived too late.
And even when he did arrive, it seemed he couldn't change anything.
Just then, Zhi Kong suddenly saw a strange smile on Zhi Qing's face, as if he had anticipated something, and he abruptly turned to look into the distance.
Even with his exceptional eyesight, he could only vaguely make out a rod's shadow, striking directly towards Ye Jing's back.
"I prepared four meditation cushions, and not one of them can remain empty." Zhi Qing whispered.
"You... dare talk about compassion?" Monk Zhi Kong's face, rarely showing any malice, now displayed a hint of ferocity. After breaking the precept against lying, he had now broken the precept against anger, one of the Three Poisons.
Among those present, aside from him, no one else could intercept this second rod.
Saving the person before him meant he couldn't save the one in the distance.
With Ye Jing's cultivation, she couldn't even detect the presence of the rod, let alone dodge it.
Boom! Another muffled sound rang out, causing Zhi Kong's expression to freeze for a moment.
The incoming rod had quietly landed in a pale white palm.
Shen Yi stood tall and slender, his eyes closed, and at this close distance, he finally managed to capture the trail of the iron rod.
But capturing its trail wasn't the crucial part; it was how he intercepted it.
"You..."
Zhi Ming, who had launched a sneak attack, tried to pull the rod back, but found it strenuous. The palm that held the rod also emanated a golden light.
Among those present, there was a fourth Ascetic.
This fact alone was shocking enough, but what truly puzzled Zhi Ming was how, with such a faint golden light, this person could withstand his Six Tribulation Lotus Platform with just the Three Tribulation Lotus Platform.
"Why?" He clenched the rod tightly, attempting to pull it out again.
"Because." Shen Yi slowly opened his eyes, and the rod in his palm squirmed like a struggling snake, yet it couldn't escape the constraints of his five fingers.
The black robe rippled, and he suddenly exerted force, lifting Zhi Ming and slamming him onto the ground.
Boom! The entire hall below seemed to shake as if a dragon had stirred, and all the bricks shattered! Zhi Ming's chest tightened, and he looked up in astonishment, only to see the youth tightly gripping the rod, his gaze calm as he looked down, his voice without a ripple.
"I am an official, and you are a thief."
With these few words, Zhi Ming paused, finally seeing through Shen Yi's figure to look towards the sky.
In the sky, Imperial Qi swirled.
All cultivators, whether Immortals or Ascetics, would be greatly suppressed within the Divine Dynasty's realm.
But clearly, this person wasn't affected at all! This immense power was even comparable to that of the Jianyang Governor!
(End of Chapter)
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