The Jiangshan Yizhi Map was awash with chaotic light and shadow. But where the crimson light shone, it was as if even this artifact had developed a crack, the crack flickering like intermittent lightning.
Layer upon layer of crimson light radiated in all directions, growing from a spark into a surging tide, becoming more tumultuous by the second.
“sh*t…”
From among the monks of the Floating Temple, a cry of surprise rang out.
Murmurs rippled through the recently arrived Murong Xiao, who froze mid-movement. Who dared speak so rashly?
Upon searching, he found Heng Yuan, the venerable old monk, his face flushed and neck bulging, unable to maintain his composure.
“Master… didn’t you just break your vow of silence?”
“Master, your diction was spot on,” another voice added dryly.
“…,” Heng Yuan fell silent for a moment, realizing he had indeed violated his own vows. “From now on, I’ll communicate through hand gestures.”
The elderly monk resolved never again to let the likes of Murong Xiao rile him into apoplexy, leaving him tongue-tied—like that time he suggested adding a spinning handle to the woodfish.
With a belly full of things he wanted to say, the old monk opened his mouth to speak. Before he could utter a word, Murong Xiao interrupted.
“Master, you who usually maintain such tranquility, why the sudden fright?”
“That… is a Law-Body,” the old monk whispered, his earlier indignation replaced by awe at the Jiangshan Yizhi Map before him.
“Law-Body? Did Brother Li ascend directly from the third stage to the… ultimate stage?”
“Temporarily, yes.”
“How is that even possible?”
Murong Xiao’s eyes widened exponentially. He hadn’t expected such a meteoric rise just by glimpsing Brother Li’s back.
“…Your teacher is at what stage?”
“Sixth stage, Master. You aren’t like the head monk—forgetful, are you?”
“Exactly! Knowing full well I’m at the sixth stage, why the hell did you ask me?!”
Heng Yuan pointed an accusing finger at Murong Xiao.
Fortunately, the old monk didn’t know any regional dialects, or he might have slipped, calling himself “Lin Bei” instead of “your teacher.”
Murong Xiao scratched his head, looking toward Huai Kong.
But the head monk’s sharp eyes betrayed no hint of his usual forgetfulness as they pierced through the air. He sighed with deep meaning.
“The inner vision is the manifestation of what resides in the heart, the outer vision is the projection of the inner vision into reality. Miracles manifest as truths.”
Huai Kong’s solemn voice echoed as he gave an explanation for the confused crowd.
While speaking, he casually plucked a flower, producing a shadow of a flower at his fingertip.
“One flower, one world,” this was his internal vision.
Then he lightly flicked his finger, the flower bloomed vividly in the air, swaying in the wind with its fragrant sweetness, almost indistinguishable from reality, save for its radiant glow.
This was the process of projecting inner visions outward and then solidifying them as tangible manifestations.
“And the Law-Body is the fusion of one’s external projection with oneself, integrating the miraculous emanations of one’s consciousness into physical form, achieving the unity of spirit and flesh. It varies slightly depending on the type of inner vision, but generally falls into several categories.”
“One of the most radical and perilous methods involves allowing the external projection to collapse within you, destroying and rebuilding yourself. Generally, only warriors with a fully developed physique resort to this method.”
Whoosh –
The flower bloomed then instantly disintegrated in the air, its energy rippling through the void.
Although Huai Kong had contained these ripples, the destructive power was palpable.
“But Brother Li hasn’t reached the external projection stage yet?”
“He possesses something far superior and more perfect than an external projection, thus achieving this state under opportune circumstances.”
“Then what miraculous abilities does this Law-Body of his bestow?”
“No miraculous abilities.”
“Huh?”
“The miracle of his Law-Body is the absence of miracles. If he survives this tribulation and one day truly solidifies this Law-Body…”
Huai Kong clasped his hands together, murmuring softly, “All phenomena are mundane. All things return to emptiness. All conditioned phenomena, like dreams and illusions, are ephemeral.”
“Sounds profoundly insightful.”
“Whatever, no time to philosophize. In simpler terms, Brother Li’s Law-Body diminishes all miraculous abilities to the mundane, including his own. The only way to defeat him is sheer physical prowess.”
“sh*t. Doesn’t that make Brother Li practically invincible?!”
Murong Xiao said this with a look of distress. “But first… Brother Li has to survive this calamity.”
He patted his bald head and pulled out a scroll of “The Sutra of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows” gifted by Brother Li. Could comprehending this scripture unlock the secrets of d*ath and reincarnation?
…
Ink City.
Here was one of the few remaining safe havens, as it was during the previous calamity, where everyone marked as part of the city’s defense force toiled tirelessly at designated posts.
With no time even for meals, it seemed that if they wanted the oxen to run, they’d need to ensure the oxen were fed.
“Spit… Spit… Why does this grass taste so bad all of a sudden?”
Dong Ge Yu quickly spat out the grass in her mouth, her face full of shock.
“Uncle Tiezhu, you’ve turned back into a human?”
“Hmm?”
Qi Tie Zhu glanced around, perplexed to find himself restored to human form. “Strange. But why don’t I think the grass tastes bad?”
“I’ve turned back too.”
“Everyone’s turning back!”
“Wah… I thought I’d be a minotaur forever.”
“Wah… I haven’t even had a chance to taste my own milk!”
“You’re a bull, you’ll have no milk!”
The crowd buzzed with discussion, a mixture of relief and confusion. Just then, Dong Ao returned, bringing news—all the volcanoes threatening Ink City had ceased erupting.
“Strange. The calamity appears to be weakening. What on earth is happening?”
Exchanging glances, everyone thought simultaneously of the spectacular scene that had occurred only moments ago.
They stepped onto the city wall, staring in awe at the monumental law-forms towering toward the sky, a radiance growing ever stronger over the wilderness.
…
With another cycle of the moon entering the heavens, all traces of dragonly might disappeared wherever it passed, heading for the moon enwreathed by the Bronze Ancient Tree. More precisely, toward the phoenix manifestation of that moon.
“I am the Empress reigning with celestial virtue. The Phoenix of the Heavens should rightfully be me!”
At this proclamation, a phoenix cry resonated, parting the clouds.
Ying Bing finally emerged from the sun, the nine dragons in her hands transforming into a golden python whip, its stroke commanding the very laws of heaven and earth.
But the moon dissolved into nothingness.
Appearing to be shattered by the whip, in truth, it had simply passed straight through.
Ultimately, it shot directly into Ying Bing’s third eye.
Her third eye gleamed with a divine light several inches long, the divine patterns becoming almost tangible, similar to her now-open eyes.
Clear and cold like a deity, unfathomably deep.
Chuge’s mind was struck by a thunderous tremor, cracks appearing on her face like fractured porcelain. She stumbled back a few steps, too stunned to speak.
“Is this… truly you now?”
She suddenly understood. The person she had faced before was still Ying Bing; Ying Huang hadn’t awakened from within.
Not until now.
Chuge had imagined countless times what it would be like to face her, but only now did she realize she had never truly faced her.
That’s right.
That gaze, it wasn’t coldness. Because even indifference is a kind of emotion.
She was like the heavens. When you looked into her eyes, any mental fortifications would collapse instantly, like a common chicken pretending to be a phoenix.
“Ah!!”
Chuge’s meticulously beautiful face began to crack like a spiderweb as it started showing fine fissures. She turned and ran, fearing even one second’s delay could cost her her skin.
“I am but a single thought, how could there be a resurrection…”
Ying Bing shook her head, making no effort to pursue, instead gazing at the great sun.
The Bronze Ancient Tree, growing in her palm, emanated a swirling chaos-like glow, its mysterious aura resonating, gradually restoring the full majesty of a complete heavenly vessel.
Under this guidance, the great sun began to move toward the Bronze Ancient Tree.
The two fragmented Heavenly Phoenix Domains were finally merging into one.
Infinite lightning surged through the void, heralding a terrifying re-enactment of the primal origin of the world.
Through endless cycles of birth and d*ath, Ying Bing seemed to sense something and turned her gaze backward.
There she saw Ke Mo, bathed in bl**d in a state of Law Manifestation, still smiling at her.
Was it because the system indicated successful investment?
Or was it sheer joy for the “Ice Chunk”?
Perhaps a bit of both.
“Ying Bing” paused, touching her cheek, only to find her hand wet with residual tears.
She didn’t know when she started crying, nor did she understand the strange surge of pain in her heart, rising like a tidal wave.
