Chapter 2546: No Longer a Young Man

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Seven days passed.

Zhang Ruochen sat under Sundial. He had immersed himself in studying the sword technique for seven years.

Sikong the Younger turned away all the visitors, standing guard in the yard.

In seven years, the number of Precepts in Zhang Ruochen’s body had broken through another ten billion. The Precepts of Swordsmanship accounted for a large proportion. He had read the five volumes countless times and understood many of their mysteries. Of course, he was still far from fully comprehending them.

Zhang Ruochen’s understanding of Swordsmanship had reached a new level.

On this day, Zhang Ruochen saw the sunlight pouring in from outside the window. According to the carvings on the window, it projected faint patterns on the ground.

The pattern was like a flying dragon.

After a long time, a smile appeared in his eyes. He was no longer confused. He finally figured out the path he should take next.

His Swordsmanship should be the purest light.

It should be fast and merciless.

Whether Path of Truth, Intergold Precept Marks, or all kinds of Paths in the world were like the decorations on the window. They were all different, yet the nature of the sword wouldn’t change. The light remained the same. But after it shone, different patterns could appear on the ground.

What he needed to do now wasn’t to think about how to make the patterns on the ground look better but to light up this beam of light. The light had to be absolutely hot and eternal.

Creak

Zhang Ruochen pushed open the wooden door. His masculinity shone on his face.

In the yard.

Sikong the Elder had woken up three days ago. He held a bowl-thick staff and a stack of white paper. Sikong the Elder roared at Tian Shuzi, “Zhen Nu! You’re a Banshi Isshou Realm Supreme Saint. Can’t you copy a single volume of Maitrī Sunyata Sutra? Did you do it on purpose?”

Tian Shuzi’s hair had been shaved clean. He wore a gray monk robe that only the lowest level Buddhist disciples wore.

Being scolded like this by a Neverwilt Realm Supreme Saint, Tian Shuzi’s anger was about to flare up.

Boom

Sikong the Elder struck and pressed down on Tian Shuzi’s right shoulder with his staff. Tian Shuzi bent his legs and knelt on the ground.

Leaves flew around him.

“What are you staring at? Master reprimanded you for your own good. It’s to help you cultivate your inner peace. Do you still have any objections? I gave you this Dharma name in the hope that you can restrain the anger and develop a calm heart that won’t be disturbed by anything.”

Sikong the Elder took back his staff, squatted down, and unfolded the stack of paper. He said earnestly, “Look at this, look what you have copied? Your second master has taught you nothing these past few days. You haven’t listened at all. Zhen Sha, Zhen Tan, and Zhen Wang. The three of them have been very obedient. They copied everything without missing a single word. Plus, they had neat handwriting.”

There was no Buddhist scripture on the white paper on the ground. All that was written was the word “Kill.”

Tian Shuzi gritted his teeth, and his entire body trembled. If he was not imprisoned by Curse of Light and Dark, he would definitely slap this monk to death. He would not be able to wait for even a moment! Absolutely no way!

Sikong the Elder patted Tian Shuzi’s head and sighed. “I know you still won’t listen to me, but you must understand that I’m hitting you for your own good. I’m teaching you to be a good person. A wrongdoer may become a man of virtue once he does good.”

Que Shenzi, who was also wearing a monk’s robe and had his hair shaved, could not help but laugh.

Sikong the Elder’s bell-like eyes stared at him and roared, “Zhen Se, what are you laughing at? Do you think you’ve copied well? Your handwriting is sloppy. Copy a hundred times more!”

Que Shenzi’s eyes darkened. When he saw Sikong the Elder pick up his staff again, he smiled and said, “You’re right, master. I’ll copy it now.”

“Good boy. I’ll check it later.”

Just as Sikong the Elder was about to continue to guide Tian Shuzi, the sound of the wooden door rang out. Zhang Ruochen walked out.

Sikong the Elder was delighted. He rushed over and smiled. “Senior Uncle, you’ve finally come out. Have you recovered? I have something important to tell you!”

Zhang Ruochen nodded in understanding.

Tian Shuzi got up from the ground. He rushed to Zhang Ruochen and said, “Zhang Ruochen, name your conditions. As long as you let me go…”

Bang!

Before Tian Shuzi could finish his words, Sikong the Elder had already struck his head with his staff. It made a loud sound and crashed Tian Shuzi to the ground.

He knelt before Zhang Ruochen and bent his knees to the ground.

Sikong the Elder cursed in exasperation, “Bastard, this is your Ancestral Master. How can you call him by his name? Kneel down and reflect on yourself.”

Zhang Ruochen glanced at the seven monks in the courtyard. He was a little absent-minded. Finally, he looked down at the monk kneeling in front of him. Who else could it be but Tian Shuzi of Fane of Death?

Tian Shuzi clenched his fists and stood up from the ground again. He glanced at Sikong the Elder who was glaring at him like a tiger. In the end, he chose to compromise. He said in a low voice, “Name your conditions. How can you let me go?”

“Call him Ancestral Master,” Sikong the Elder said.

Zhang Ruochen reached out a hand to stop Sikong the Elder, who was about to swing his staff at Tian Shuzi. He said, “As long as the hatred between us is completely resolved, you can leave anytime.”

Tian Shuzi said, “There is no hatred between us anymore.”

Zhang Ruochen shook his head.

Tian Shuzi said, “I swear to god that as long as you let me go, I will never take revenge on you.”

“Me too, I can swear too.” Que Shenzi rushed up.

Zhang Ruochen still shook his head, “You just want to escape. You haven’t really put down your hatred. Even if I believe you will keep your oath, you might take revenge on me using other people’s hands. Moreover, you may turn your target from me and deal with my friends, relatives, clansmen, or anyone related to me.”

Tian Shuzi and Que Shenzi promised, “No, absolutely not.”

“You don’t have to say anymore. I can sense whether you have put down your hatred or not. When that day comes, you can stay or go as you wish,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Sikong the Elder looked at Zhang Ruochen with admiration and respect. He nodded in agreement, “Once they enter the Door of Sunyata, they will no longer have anything to do with the secular world. They will represent the new generation. That’s why I gave them Dharma names. They’re the Zhen generation.”

“His name is Zhen Nu.”

“His name is Zhen Se.”

Que Shenzi’s face twitched.

Zhang Ruochen looked at the three former White Reapers and asked, “What about the three of them?”

“Zhen Sha, Zhen Tan, and Zhen Wang,” Sikong the Elder said.

Zhang Ruochen nodded, “Anger, lust, kill, greed, and delusion. The five precepts of Buddhism. Very good! Next, I’ll leave the five of them to you and Sikong the Younger. You must teach them well and resolve their killing intent and resentment.”

Sikong the Younger walked over, “Zhen Nu and Zhen Se are easy to deal with. One is stubborn and hard to teach, while the other pretends to be obedient, but he has a lot of resentment. Yet I believe that under the influence of Maitrī Sunyata Mantra, they will be wholeheartedly devoted to Buddha and become a Saint Buddha who saves the sick one day.”

“If that’s the case, it will definitely go down in history. The five top saints of Deathkin will enter the Door of Sunyata together. It will be a legend! Not bad, not bad at all,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Sikong the Younger said, “But Zhen Sha, Zhen Wang, and Zhen Tan had all trained to cut off emotions by Fane of Death from a young age. They only have killing intent in their hearts. What should we do?”

“It doesn’t matter. When I have the chance, I’ll buy some Desires Pills to help them recover,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Sikong the Younger chanted the name of Buddha and said, “If that’s the case, Senior uncle will be doing immeasurable good.”

After thinking for a while, Zhang Ruochen walked up to Zhen Sha, Zhen Wang, and Zhen Tan. He thought for a while and slapped Zhen Sha’s forehead.

Brilliant Light of Truth flew out of his palm and poured into Zhen Sha’s body.

Zhen Sha’s body was like a holy lamp shining. Countless starlight spots circulated in his body. Wisps of Death Qi and killing intent were squeezed out of his body and dissipated.

When Zhang Ruochen withdrew his palm, Death Qi on Zhen Sha’s body faded a lot. The hostility in his eyes almost completely disappeared.

Then, Zhang Ruochen used the same method to help Zhen Wang and Zhen Tan.

Que Shenzi and Tian Shuzi stood to the side and watched with fear. They didn’t think that Zhang Ruochen was helping the three White Reapers. Instead, they thought that Zhang Ruochen was going to fight to the death with Fane of Death.

Fane of Death had spent countless resources and eliminated numerous failures to cultivate a White Reaper in Banshi Isshou Realm.

Zhang Ruochen had destroyed three in an instant.

How could Fane of Death let this go?

This was a notable feud!

Zhang Ruochen turned his gaze to Que Shenzi and Tian Shuzi.

Their expressions changed. They were afraid that Zhang Ruochen would also destroy their Paths in this way.

“I’ll go and copy Maitrī Sunyata Mantra first.”

Que Shenzi took out a pen from the collar of his monk robe and walked toward the stone table. He squatted on the ground and began to copy.

Tian Shuzi’s expression changed several times. “I’ll copy too.”

Zhang Ruochen asked Sikong the Younger to supervise them to copy the scriptures and chant. He brought Sikong the Elder into the room and released the Spatial Domain to prevent one from eavesdropping on their conversation.

Sikong the Elder quickly said, “Did Senior Uncle ask Cang Jie to go to Kunlun to find Fairy of a Hundred Flowers?”

Zhang Ruochen nodded.

Sikong the Elder sighed. “You might not know this, but after you went to Infernal Court, Fairy of a Hundred Flowers went back to Qianrui Realm. She wasn’t in Kunlun at all. He went to Endless Abyss and found Miss Kong there. But something seemed to have happened to her in Endless Abyss. Miss Kong couldn’t leave, so she sent a message to the Sikong Zen Temple, asking us to look for Fairy of a Hundred Flowers.”

Zhang Ruochen asked, “What was the result?”

Sikong the Elder said proudly, “It’s not like you don’t know my abilities. Everything will be safe in my hands. My junior brother and I went to Qianrui Realm and claimed to be the bodhisattva of the western Buddhist world. Fairy of a Hundred Flowers didn’t suspect anything when we sent your letter. She followed us to Royal City of Hundred Clans.”

Zhang Ruochen was slightly relieved.

“But…”

Sikong the Elder’s expression became complicated, “Before we entered Royal City of Hundred Clans, we met Saint Devourer. She told us that something big happened in Infernal Court that involved Fairy of a Hundred Flowers. We told her to hide her face and better not enter the city.”

Zhang Ruochen said, “So, they’re outside the city now?”

“They’ve already entered the city,” Sikong the Elder said.

Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly and said, “Do you have something to say? Can you finish it all at once?”

Sikong the Elder smiled embarrassedly. “It’s like this. Fairy of a Hundred Flowers seems anxious to see you, so she must’ve entered the city. Moreover, there is a secret hideout in Qianrui Realm in Royal City of Hundred Clans. She can hide there.”

Qianrui Realm was a vital realm. Having a hideout in a place like Royal City of Hundred Clans was not strange.

Sikong the Elder told Zhang Ruochen about the secret stronghold. He winked and smiled. “Senior uncle, you are indeed a Yuanhui-level genius. You are very charming. In my opinion, that fairy must have fallen in love with you a long time ago. She misses you very much. Senior uncle, you’d better meet her quickly. Don’t make her wait so long.”

“Can you be like your junior brother and be an undesirous monk?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“Senior uncle’s words have enlightened me.”

Sikong the Elder quickly stopped smiling and closed his mouth. He put his hands together and nodded cautiously.

Zhang Ruochen knew that he was pretending. He sighed helplessly. Suddenly, he sensed something and stared out of the yard through the wall. Then he pushed the door open and said, “Your Highness, what can I do for you?”

Wearing plain clothes, Pan Ruo walked into the courtyard. She looked at the five masters of Fane of Death in monk robes.

Que Shenzi was overjoyed. He felt that his savior had finally arrived. He threw the pen on the ground and said loudly, “Your Highness, I have a question. I want to ask you.”

Pan Ruo said, “Please do.”

Que Shenzi said, “Fane of Destiny often tells us that the ten races of Infernal Court should unite and fight against the myriad realm of Celestial Court together. As a cultivator of Immortal Vampires, Zhang Ruochen captured us and forced us to be slaves. Is this against the will of Fane of Destiny?”

Snap!

Tian Shuzi broke the pen and stood up abruptly. He said in a low voice, “Zhang Ruochen is not a pure cultivator of Infernal Court. I suspect he is trying to create internal strife in Infernal Court and stir up disputes among the clans.”

Que Shenzi said, “How ambitious! Scioness, I dare say that Zhang Ruochen is the spy sent by Celestial Court to Infernal Court.”

Pan Ruo stared at Zhang Ruochen and said, “They are top Supreme Saints of Fane of Death after all. Isn’t it too humiliating to make them slaves?”

Zhang Ruochen said, “I didn’t make them slaves. I just wanted to dissolve the hatred and resentment in their hearts and let them practice Buddhism. My two martial nephews even took them as disciples. How can they be called slaves?”

Que Shenzi sneered. “Practice Buddhism? Buddhism is crap.”

“We kill Buddhas,” said Tian Shuzi.

Pan Ruo’s eyes turned cold. She put her hands together and holy Buddhist light radiated from her body.

A Class 72 lotus platform grew out of the ground. It lifted her up from the ground.

Que Shenzi and Tian Shuzi’s faces froze.

“I cultivate Buddhism too,” said Pan Ruo.

Boom

Sikong the Elder raised his monk staff and slammed it to the ground. He roared, “You two bastards, how dare you insult Buddha. Let’s see how I’ll deal with you. Kneel down and repent!”

The two staff landed instantly, knocking Que Shenzi and Tian Shuzi to the ground.

“Where’s the pen? Copy Maitrī Sunyata Mantra 200 times. No, 1,000 times. Unacceptable!” Sikong the Elder cursed as he retrieved the pen from the fallen leaves and threw it to the two.

Pan Ruo put away the Buddhist light on her body and ignored them. Her beautiful eyes fell on Zhang Ruochen, trying to see through him.

If Zhang Ruochen had been possessed, he could fool others, but he could never fool her.