Chapter 67

This was Kongwen’s choice, and with choices come consequences.

His gaze shifted to the relic in his hand.

Faintly, he heard a floor-sweeping monk’s voice, low and resonant in his ear:

“Young friend, your grasp of karma surpasses mine. Our karma begins today.”

…

Song Dynasty Shaolin Temple.

In front of the Sutra Pavilion, beneath pine and cypress.

An old monk holding a broom paused, his blurred eyes slowly lifted, looking at the sky, a complex mix of regret and remorse.

“Ming Dynasty Shaolin perishes from today.”

“Perhaps the old monk shouldn’t have agreed to Kongwen’s plea.”

“Karma, karma, the past causes, present effects; when will the cycle of karma end? Despite two hundred years in Buddhism, the old monk still cannot see through the mortal world.”

“Refining the Buddha’s heart in worldly life, it’s easy to enter, so hard to escape.”

“The young True Immortal of Wudang is favored by heaven and earth; now he’s the old monk’s heart devil, oh why such sorrow.”

The floor-sweeping monk bent over, swept the ground, thoughts flowing unspoken to outsiders.

“Our karma begins today.”

No matter how bleak the heart devil, it must be dispelled.

This is why he laments his failure to understand fully. He cannot accept his path ending here. With three hundred years left, if trapped in stagnation, it would be his torment.

He stepped slowly, his figure increasingly hunched.

Beneath the gentle breeze, fallen leaves fluttered.

Only a pool of golden Buddha blood slowly evaporated in place.

In the shadows, two fierce black-clad figures exchanged glances, astonishment and shock within their eyes.

“What being could inflict such injury on this unfathomable old monk?!”

Ejecting Buddha blood implies a damaged origin.

They were unaware.

Of everything occurring on Celestial Pillar Peak, far off in Ming’s Wudang.

The floor-sweeping monk’s Buddhist thoughts were refined alongside heavenly thunder fire; coupled with forcibly maintained true Buddha power, all refined by the thunders, how could he emerge unscathed, even as he resolved to settle karma, it must await healing first.

…

Celestial Pillar Peak.

Listening to the floor-sweeping monk’s final words, Ning Changge smiled faintly.

He mastered a small cause and effect technique, though sometimes aligning with heaven’s timing, never feared karma. If the floor-sweeping monk sought, he should come; perhaps it’d add another Buddha tomb to the Heaven-Men’s Tomb!

He simply looked at the relic in his hand, delight unfurling in his eyes.

Upon the faint golden relic, spiritual light swirled.

Clearly, it’s a spiritual artifact.

Though the energy dissipated significantly post-Kongwen’s use, it remained a cherished treasure. Once refined into a spiritual pill by Ning Changge later, enough to escalate his cultivation further!

With a wave, the relic vanished into his Yuan Storage Ring.

Though it should’ve been a miraculous moment amidst prior powerful spectacles, the crowd found it unremarkable.

Still intoxicated by the terrifying scene of thunder fire refining the Buddha.

After all, it was a Buddha!

Despite not being an actual presence, but harnessing relic and Buddha thoughts to manifest part of a land-dwelling immortal’s power, still terrifying, qualifying as a half-step land-dwelling immortal, its potency undoubtedly unapproachable by Heaven-Man.

Such a formidable existence though was suppressed and refined by Ning Changge with a mere gesture.

Imaginable.

The terror Ning Changge embodied.

Not a land-dwelling immortal, surpassing one!

If before, referring to Ning Changge as the Little True Immortal bore some flattery, having witnessed his duel with the Buddha, now devoid of flattery.

Little True Immortal, genuinely deserved!

“Well, he’s but nine years old!”

The very thought caused breaths to pause.

Nine-year-old small True Immortal, commanding martial world awe, utterly terrifying. Given time, what terrifying heights could he achieve?

Likely he could dominate Nine Provinces for half a millennium!

Upon this notion.

Inevitably everyone bowed respectfully:

“Little True Immortal’s divine might! Witnessing this today, is a once-in-three-lifetimes fortune!!”

Even the exceedingly proud Heaven-Men like Yao Yue bowed in tribute, a gesture of respect and reverence for supreme power and to martial arts itself.

Hot gazes darted to the altar, yet dared not directly behold that figure.

Ning Changge smiled lightly:

“No need for this; in seeking the Dao, there’s just precedence. I merely took a step ahead.”

He referred to the Immortal Dao.

Yet they construed it as humblement concerning martial arts.

Dutifully, they bowed again.

Most were immensely thrilled, excited to have witnessed such a scene today, an encounter with power that shed enlightenment upon their martial paths.

Yet some remained restless, unable to secure peace daily.

For instance, Sun Moon Sect, Full Moon Manor, Money Gang, and Shaolin.

Premier martial forces of Ming who had previously contested Ning Changge, leading figures fallen, or buried in the Heaven-Man’s Tomb, pondering what fate awaited.

They could only await judgment.

Ning Changge casually surveyed.

Addressing Song Yuanqiao:

“Master, leave their fate to you.”

These menial matters he wished not to distract himself. Even without those Heaven-Men, Wudang could effortlessly eliminate loose ends.

Song Yuanqiao understood Ning Changge’s meaning, promptly nodding:

“Worry not, junior brother, I’ll handle things properly.”

His heart swelled with fervor.

Following this event, Wudang would be revered as Ming martial sanctuary, its influence reverberating, pondering ways to handle these people was preoccupying.

At worst, acquiring all texts and treasures from these sects into Wudang sufficed.

Enhancing Wudang’s standing and sire junior brother with resources, achieving dual aims.

Concerning specific details, pondered post-today; he’d ensure no worries for junior brother, mighty foes may lie beyond help, yet these simple matters demand perfection.

Ning Changge nodded with a smile.

His finger beckoned, instantly receiving the Dragon-Slaying Sabre from Jinling, suddenly all recalled, the day’s primary aim was sabre destruction.

Though now.

Sabre destruction seemed least significant.

Are you kidding?

In the face of a pseudo-land-dwelling immortal Ning Changge, what was the trifling Dragon-Slaying Sabre?

In this world, few treasures could stir a land-dwelling immortal’s interest.

Ning Changge spoke casually:

“I’m about to destroy the sabre; does anyone wish to hinder?”

Heads flocked in unison, resembling rattlers.

Hinder?

Seeking death wasn’t played this way.

Ning Changge’s eyes briefly held disappointment, having prepared for a land-dwelling immortal’s arrival today, reaching here, it ended merely with Buddha Relic and floor-sweeping monk’s Buddhism thoughts, regarded as a half land-dwelling immortal.

Some trump cards remained unused.

Were it truly opposing a land-dwelling immortal, more insights and techniques might have sprouted, clarifying the path to the Immortal Dao.

Disappointment faded from his eyes, a carefree smile emerging.

Gain and loss in mind, nothing was done deliberately.

Seeing no further resistance.

Ning Changge pointed a finger, Pure Yang True Fire flared, landing upon the Dragon-Slaying Sabre.

Within breaths.

The Dragon-Slaying Sabre transformed into a liquid pool, so simple, rendering previous dramatic ends insignificant.

In Jianghu, tumult had raged across the land, yet the Dragon-Slaying Sword now vanished entirely from history’s river.

Ning Changge waved lightly, liquid vanishing; none minded.

Ning Changge’s voice was calm:

“Today’s matters are concluded; gentlemen, at your discretion.”

He intended to leave.

At this moment, Yao Yue bit her lips, couldn’t help stepping forward, addressing:

“Would the Little True Immortal stay!”

All eyes turned to her, even as the master of Island Flower Palace, peak Heaven-Man, an inescapable pressure weighed upon her.

Especially with Ning Changge’s indifferent gaze directed, her body tensed.

Yet, her silver teeth gritted, courage summoned, gaze ardent with desire for knowledge upon Ning Changge:

“May I ask the Little True Immortal a question?”

Ning Changge stood silent, recalling how she had protected Wudang’s disciples earlier from harm, softening his expression.

Assisting earlier merited answering her question now.

He then replied:

“Ask.”