After the thunderclap in the sky, all fell silent. The churning clouds dispersed, and correspondingly, the Buddhist light around Arhat Du’e faded.
He opened his eyes, a flash of wisdom sparking in his gaze before quickly subsiding.
Arhat Du’e saw the Buddhist disciples still deep in contemplation, immersed in a marvelous state. In Buddhism, this was the process of insight.
What the eye sees, what the ear hears, the heart understands.
Of course, this was vastly different from Arhat Du’e’s sudden enlightenment.
Arhat Du’e didn’t disturb the disciples’ realization. He brought his palms together and said loudly: “The sage says, ‘In learning, there is no distinction of age; those who achieve understanding become immortals.’ This is the ultimate truth.
“Although Benefactor Xu is not of our Buddhist community, he possesses great Buddhist roots, causing this poor monk to suddenly understand and elevate his thoughts. This precisely verifies the principle that everyone has Buddha-nature, and by seeing one’s true self, anyone can become a Buddha.
“Thank you, Benefactor Xu, for your guidance, allowing this poor monk to understand Mahayana Buddhism. Benefactor Xu should be my teacher. You have won this third trial.”
The profound Buddhist theory was incomprehensible to the common people. From Arhat Du’e’s speech, they extracted the core meaning:
Benefactor Xu is awesome, Benefactor Xu is our teacher, Benefactor Xu, you’ve passed the third trial.
“Just now, did this high monk from the Buddhist community seem to say: ‘Benefactor Xu should be my teacher’?” a man dressed as a scholar in the front row stammered.
My teacher?
The martial artists in the crowd were excited.
For a long time, martial artists had been despised by various systems, seen as brutes who used force to violate prohibitions, crude fighters who only knew how to cause destruction and kill with violence.
Except for being useful in war, they were considered useless in other times and occasions, even a destabilizing factor in Nine Provinces society.
But now, a high-ranking Buddhist monk, a second-grade Arhat, actually said a martial artist “should be my teacher.”
Hearing this, the surrounding martial artists felt a surge of pride, almost wanting to howl to the heavens.
“The entire martial world of Great Feng should remember the name Xu Qi An. He is a true martial artist.”
“Finally, the martial system has produced a capable person. In all my years roaming the martial world, I’ve never seen a martial artist respected as a teacher by a peak expert from another system.”
“When I return to my hometown, I’ll spread this news far and wide. This trip to the capital wasn’t in vain; it’s greatly broadened my horizons.”
“Indeed, when I go back home and drink with family and friends, I’ll have enough to talk about for three days and three nights… Suddenly, I can’t wait to go home.”
In a corner, a still-attractive middle-aged woman reluctantly withdrew her gaze from Xu Qi An and turned to look at her prized disciple — Rong Rong of the Soul-Consuming Hand.
“Rong Rong, your teacher has inquired… this Lord Xu, well, he’s a regular at the teaching courtesans.”
Rong Rong, heavily made up but not appearing vulgar, bit her lip and looked back at the woman: “Master, what are you trying to say?”
“We people of the martial world don’t care much about formalities,” the beautiful woman said softly. “Rong Rong, with your beauty, you might barely qualify to be Lord Xu’s wife, but your status isn’t sufficient. Being a concubine, however, shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I…”
Rong Rong wanted to refuse, but that man was just too dazzling, so dazzling that even she, who prided herself on her beauty, couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter a bit.
…
Xu Qi An climbed the steps, encountering no more trials along the way, until he reached the end of the stairs and stepped onto the small square outside the temple at the mountain top.
This was a single-building temple, with a straight ridge and upturned eaves, no side halls or wing rooms, just one main hall.
“The final trial should be inside the temple. I remember Arhat Du’e saying that if I enter the temple and still refuse to convert to Buddhism, then the Buddhist side loses…”
In an instant, Xu Qi An recalled in his mind the 108 techniques taught by the courtesans of the teaching courtesans, using this to pollute his inner thoughts, coloring his entire being with the hue exclusive to the royal family.
After confirming that he had become a true lecher, he nodded with satisfaction, pushed open the temple door, and entered the hall.
…
Seeing this scene, Arhat Du’e brought his palms together and said: “Once one enters this temple, even a stone can be enlightened and convert to Buddhism.”
What does this mean?
The crowd frowned upon hearing this, then remembered the theme of this duel: converting to Buddhism.
The Western Regions delegation not only wanted to win the Celestial Mechanism Board but also wanted the duelist to convert to Buddhism, severely slapping Great Feng’s face.
“Stinking monk, This Princess wants to see what’s happening inside the temple,” Biaobiao suddenly stood up, her alluring peach blossom eyes unusually flashing with fierceness as she angrily said:
“Who knows what dirty tricks your Buddhist community has set up in there, harming our Great Feng’s Silver Gong.”
She didn’t believe Xu Qi An would enter monkhood, but the Buddhist methods were strange, and forced “conversion” was possible. Unable to see the scene inside the temple, Biaobiao couldn’t stop imagining, imagining Xu Qi An being victimized.
She couldn’t bear it anymore.
“Since this is a duel, it should naturally be open and aboveboard. Arhat Du’e, please show us the scene inside the temple,” Huai Qing said coldly.
The nobles in the pavilion all spoke up.
“That’s right!”
Arhat Du’e smiled with his palms together, waved his wide sleeve, and the Buddhist realm scene switched. The crowd saw the flickering candlelight of the great hall.
Inside the hall sat a golden Buddha statue, six zhang tall, its head almost touching the ceiling.
This Buddha statue had thick, drooping ears, a face like a golden plate, eyes half-closed, seeming to wear a compassionate smile, yet emanating an indescribable, soul-penetrating majesty.
Seeing it, one couldn’t help but bring their palms together in respect.
“There are two dharma images in the temple. This one is the Vajra dharma image. Benefactor Xu, the mystery of the Diamond Sutra is within this golden body. If you can comprehend it, you can cultivate the Buddhist Vajra Invincibility,” Arhat Du’e’s voice came in.
The Diamond Sutra is within the dharma image… Xu Qi An’s eyes immediately blazed with enthusiasm. He had always coveted the Buddhist Vajra supernatural power. If he could cultivate this protective divine skill, he would be invincible at the sixth-grade martial artist level.
Moreover, with this divine skill, Xu Qi An’s last weakness would be compensated. After slashing once, the exhausted Lord Xu could throw down his sword, lie on the ground, and say to the enemy: “Come on, move by yourself.”
No wonder the Director insisted that I represent the Celestial Inspection Bureau in this duel… Director, was all this within your expectations?
Amidst his excitement, Xu Qi An also felt a chill down his spine. The Director was too terrifying.
Outside, hearing Arhat Du’e’s words, the martial artists present had their eyes suddenly light up, looking up at the Buddha statue, wishing they could stare their eyes out and stick them to the statue.
Xu Qi An sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, head held high, scrutinizing the Vajra dharma image.
Arhat Du’e was watching him. The Vajra divine skill was only suitable for warrior monks; monks cultivating Buddhist methods below the Arhat level couldn’t master the Vajra divine skill.
Arhat Du’e was dangling a carrot in front of him, laying the groundwork to lure Xu Qi An into Buddhism.
A Buddha’s child born with wisdom roots — no matter what, Arhat Du’e wanted to convert him into Buddhism, to become a Buddhist disciple.
This wasn’t just about cherishing talent, but more because Xu Qi An was the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, and Arhat Du’e wanted to be the pioneer of Mahayana Buddhism.
In this way, to better promote the concept of Mahayana Buddhism, to transform Hinayana into Mahayana, Xu Qi An’s existence was crucial.
Xu Qi An, the pioneer who proposed the concept of Mahayana Buddhism, must join the Buddhist community. Only then could it demonstrate “orthodoxy.”
The Diamond Sutra is in the Buddha statue? What nonsense, there’s clearly nothing there… Xu Qi An stared at the Buddha statue for a quarter of an hour, without blinking, until his eyes almost hurt.
I really am a crude martial artist without Buddhist roots… he self-mockingly thought.
Suddenly, a warm current surged from his abdomen, rising from the lower dantian, passing through the middle dantian, entering the upper dantian. His brow center suddenly vibrated, like a plastic film being pulled open.
The Buddha statue before his eyes changed…
It still sat motionless, but Buddhist rhyme flowed around it, a profound Zen meaning manifesting before Xu Qi An’s eyes.
Surprisingly, he understood the Zen meaning, understood the Buddhist rhyme contained in the dharma image.
Is it… is it helping me?!
As this thought flashed by, Xu Qi An unconsciously changed his sitting posture, bringing his palms together, eyes half-closed, exactly like the Buddha statue.
This process continued for an unknown time, when suddenly, a point of golden paint appeared on his brow center, then rapidly spread, as if an invisible brush was outlining his body.
In a few breaths, Xu Qi An was covered in brilliant golden light, truly becoming a golden dharma image.
…
Arhat Du’e was stunned.
“He, how did he transform into a golden body?!”
“This, this… has he really converted to Buddhism?”
Seeing this scene, the common people nearly collapsed, their faces instantly falling, deflating like punctured balloons, all previous joy and pride gone.
This lord had passed through three trials, bringing glory to Great Feng, making the capital’s citizens proud. But in the end, he was “converted” by Buddhism.
This slap from the Buddhist community was truly devastating in its effect.
“Vajra Invincibility, he’s cultivated Vajra Invincibility!” Suddenly, a sharp cry erupted from the crowd.
It was a man dressed as a martial artist, pointing excitedly at Xu Qi An, his lips trembling non-stop.
“What Vajra Invincibility? Hasn’t he converted to Buddhism?”
The commoners around the man hurriedly asked.
“Of course not. Not only has he not converted to Buddhism, but he’s actually cultivated the Buddhist divine skill — Vajra Invincibility,” the man dressed as a martial artist explained while gesticulating wildly, laughing loudly:
“They’ve shot themselves in the foot, haha, hahaha! The Buddhist community has shot themselves in the foot. This Silver Gong is a heaven-sent talent, truly heaven-sent.
“Given time, he might even surpass the King of the North and become Great Feng’s number one martial artist.”
The clamor immediately surged like a flood, rolling and tumbling. The common people who didn’t understand cultivation were relieved and started laughing again.
So it wasn’t that Great Feng’s young genius had converted to Buddhism, but that he had cultivated the Buddhist golden body.
Given time, he might even surpass the King of the North… Near Xu Xin Nian, a woman who heard this perked up her ears. She raised her head, gazing at Xu Qi An with a complex expression.
That’s nonsense. How could anyone in Great Feng possibly surpass the King of the North in martial arts?
In the same area, the nine Gold Gongs felt as if they had eaten lemons, their stomach acids churning with sourness. Even they, as powerful fourth-grade martial artists, coveted the Vajra Invincibility.
When combat power is similar, the toughest one wins.
Vajra Invincibility… Wei Yuan frowned, then smiled.
He didn’t pursue the inside story. As long as Xu Qi An could progress bravely in martial arts, it was good to be willfully ignorant sometimes.
The civil officials’ reactions were better, after all, they weren’t martial cultivators. They just marveled inwardly at how terrifyingly talented Xu Qi An was.
The military officials, however, had their eyes wide open, feeling sour inside, both towards Xu Qi An and Wei Yuan.
Such an outstanding seed of martial arts had been obtained by Wei Yuan.
“Father, after today, you might not be an unfilial son anymore,” Xu Xin Nian said softly.
The joyful Second Uncle Xu turned his head, surprised: “Why?”
“Because you’ve nurtured an elder brother who’s such a martial arts genius,” Xu Xin Nian smiled. “From now on, anyone who practices martial arts will give you a thumbs up in praise.”
“Hahaha,” Second Uncle Xu laughed out loud.
Xu Ling Yue puffed out her budding chest, proud and full of glory. This was her elder brother.
“Hehehe,” Lin An curved her eyebrows and eyes in a smile.
“Don’t be too happy too soon, there’s still another dharma image,” Huai Qing said in a deep voice.
On top of the restaurant, Hengyuan was full of envy: “Vajra divine skill…”
“It’s in the bag,” Chu Yuan Zhen patted the big bald head’s shoulder, smiling: “Later, ask Xu Ning Yan for the Vajra Invincibility. Your path as a warrior monk can go further. Advancing to third-grade Vajra isn’t impossible.”
The conversation between the obsessive old monk and Xu Qi An had been heard word for word by those outside. With Chu Yuan Zhen’s wisdom, it wasn’t hard to guess that the next rank after eighth-grade warrior monk was third-grade Vajra.
Amidst the cheers and encouragement, Arhat Du’e chanted Buddha’s name, his voice tinged with a smile spreading across the entire venue: “This trial is called Asura’s Heart Questioning.”
Asura’s Heart Questioning?
The noise gradually subsided and gazes shifted from the secret realm of Buddha Mountain to Arhat Du’e. This included Wei Yuan and First Minister Wang, as well as Emperor Yuan Jing on the top floor of the Observatory Tower.
“This is a Buddhist legend…”
Arhat Du’e began to narrate.
Legend has it that when the Buddha was establishing his sect in the Western Regions, the area was occupied by a group of barbarians called “Asuras.” The Asura race was fierce and belligerent, eating raw meat and drinking blood.
To fight for territory, they wantonly slaughtered Buddhist monks.
When the Buddha learned of this, he came to the Asura territory and meditated for three days and three nights, allowing himself to be beaten and killed without retaliation.
The cruel Asuras immediately attacked with swords and spears. With each slash, skin split and flesh tore, blood flowing freely, but from within the flesh and blood came a metallic sound.
Two slashes, and the skin split and flesh tore, but golden light shone from within the flesh and blood.
After 3,600 slashes, the Buddha shed his mortal flesh and revealed his golden dharma body.
During the three days and nights of chopping, the Asuras gained enlightenment about themselves, achieved great awakening, and from then on, put down their killing intent and converted to Buddhism.
The common people listening were enthralled, but First Minister Wang and other powerful officials, as well as the hereditary nobles, had their faces change drastically.
There was certainly no Buddha in the temple, but since this trial was named “Asura’s Heart Questioning,” its effect must be the same as the Buddha’s conversion of the Asura race.
If even the naturally fierce, raw meat-eating Asuras could be converted, how could they not convert a mere Xu Qi An?
At the same time, in the temple, the squinting Vajra Dharma image suddenly opened its eyes.
In an instant, the majesty of the Buddhist dharma crashed down like a mountain avalanche, like a tsunami, carrying an irresistible force that engulfed Xu Qi An.
The Buddhist light Xu Qi An saw was boundless. This light didn’t make one feel peaceful but rather gave a sense of tyranny and unreasonableness.
It instantly crushed his will and changed his inner heart.
“The eight sufferings of life are meaningless. Joining Buddhism is the only destination…”
“I am the founder of Mahayana Buddhism. The Buddhist community is more suitable for my development.”
“Why hesitate? Do you only want to be a crude martial artist?”
These thoughts flashed by one after another, extolling the various benefits of Buddhism, and Xu Qi An found them quite reasonable.
A person’s thoughts can change, usually requiring a long time, but at this moment, Xu Qi An’s true heart changes in an instant.
He began to yearn for Buddhism, for the Buddhist dharma.
Even the courtesans of the teaching courtesans were no longer appealing.
Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Qi An stood up, slowly drew his black gold long sword, and his other hand pressed on his sable hat…
Damn, I can’t take it off, I can’t take it off!
The immense sense of shame allowed him to regain a bit of his “self.”
Drawing the sword, taking off the hat… this was to shave his head for ordination, but he had no hair. If he took off the sable hat, his bald head would be exposed to thousands of people.
…
“This poor monk’s visit to Great Feng is truly the most correct decision of my life,” Arhat Du’e’s smiling voice rang out. Just from his voice, one could feel his current exhilaration. “In one moment, enlightenment to Mahayana Buddhism, and gaining a Buddha’s child born with wisdom roots. Amitabha, heaven blesses the Buddhist community.”
The crowd was furious.
Yet there were no curses because everyone was focused on watching Xu Qi An, holding their breath nervously. Anyone could see that Xu Qi An was struggling, fighting against the “Asura’s Heart Questioning.”
“Hold on, hold on…” Biaobiao muttered, her delicate little hands tightly wringing her skirt.
Huai Qing’s pupils slightly dilated. In her heart, there was a thought, an incredibly clear thought that turned into two words: Don’t do it.
Xu Ping Zhi stood up, clenching his fists, as if exerting force along with his nephew.
“You don’t seem to care whether he becomes a monk or not.”
The plain-looking woman glanced around, finding that everyone was tense and angry, except for this cousin who wasn’t looking at the libertine, but instead staring intently at Arhat Du’e.
“I do care,” Xu Xin Nian said.
“Then why are you staring at Arhat Du’e?”
“I’m thinking about which angle I should stab him from.”
At the top of the Observatory Tower, Emperor Yuan Jing suddenly turned back, pointing at Xu Qi An in the secret realm, urgently saying: “Director, I do not allow Xu Qi An to enter monkhood and become a Buddhist disciple.
“No matter what method you use, you must stop him.”
The Director smiled and said: “Your Majesty is the supreme ruler. There’s no need to care about a mere Silver Gong.”
“No!”
Emperor Yuan Jing flatly refused, angrily saying: “Great Feng has finally produced a heaven-sent talent. How can we let the Buddhist community convert him? You must stop him, even if we lose the Celestial Mechanism Board.”
The Director nodded: “Your Majesty, rest assured.”
He gripped the wine cup, the wine inside still, reflecting the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, reflecting the common people.
The Director’s old hand, with protruding veins, seemed to be gathering strength.
With the Diamond Sutra obtained, his purpose was achieved. As for the “Asura’s Heart Questioning” trial, it required external force to stop it. Relying on Xu Qi An alone, he absolutely could not resist the Buddhist dharma’s baptism.
But at this moment, the Director suddenly stopped, looking stunned towards the distance. That was the direction of Cloud Deer Academy.
…
“Ah, the dog servant has resisted!” Biaobiao excitedly screamed.
In the Buddhist realm, inside the temple, Xu Qi An released the hand pressing his sable hat. The hat remained on his head.
He briefly regained his self-will, resisting joining Buddhism, resisting those thoughts instilled in him.
Phew… This exhale was the exhale of countless people outside the scene.
Arhat Du’e frowned, shaking his head and saying: “Converting to Buddhism is the only way to escape the sea of suffering and achieve immortality. Immortality is the only way to save others. With such great Buddhist roots, why are you so obstinately confused?”
Xu Qi An’s resistance seemed to provoke the Buddha statue’s anger. The mist on Buddha Mountain violently shook, and a golden dharma body as tall as the sky condensed.
It was like everything in heaven and earth; all things became insignificant. Clouds and mist swirled around it, the face of the dharma body hidden in the sky invisible to the naked eye.
The temple wasn’t even as big as the dharma body’s palm.
The towering dharma body slowly lowered its head, looking at the temple, and then slowly extended its huge Buddha palm.
It pressed down!
In the temple, Xu Qi An’s shoulders suddenly sank, as if a mountain had been pressed onto them.
The overwhelming pressure forced him to kneel.
Can’t kneel, can’t kneel… Xu Qi An’s heart gave a warning. He had a premonition that if he knelt, there would be no turning back.
He would become another self, a Xu Qi An who worshipped and respected Buddha.
Outside the temple, the Buddha’s palm of the towering dharma body pressed down again.
Crack, crack, crack… Xu Qi An’s bones popped like beans, especially his spine, which was visibly protruding, about to pierce through his flesh and blood at any moment.
His head was buried even lower, unable to straighten up no matter what.
The only thing that didn’t change was that his knees didn’t bend.
Don’t kneel, don’t kneel, don’t kneel! Even if I believe in Buddha, it must be of my own free will. No one can tame me.
With his head lowered, Xu Qi An’s face was flushed red, sweat rolling down in drops. His eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted, struggling against the pressure descending from the sky.
He opened his mouth, stubbornly uttering: “Won’t kneel…”
…
Cloud Deer Academy.
At the Sub-Sage Hall, dense pure energy shot straight to the sky, and the entire hall shook once again.
In the academy, students and teachers either looked up or walked out of their rooms, gazing towards the direction of the Sub-Sage Hall.
Inside the hall, pure light flickered continuously. Principal Zhao Shou and the three great Confucian scholars appeared simultaneously.
“What’s happening? Why is the predecessor moving again?” Zhang Shen said in surprise.
The red wooden box hanging above the Sub-Sage statue shook violently. This time, the vibration was extremely intense, as if whatever was inside desperately wanted to come out.
“Is someone mobilizing the power of all living beings again?” Li Mu Bai widened his eyes in disbelief.
Principal Zhao Shou frowned deeply, cupping his hands and saying: “Please be calm, predecessor.”
Buzz, buzz, buzz… Unexpectedly, the red wooden box shook even more violently.
Seeing this, the three great Confucian scholars immediately stirred up their grand righteous energy, joining forces with Principal Zhao Shou to suppress the red wooden box, cupping their hands and saying: “Please be calm, predecessor.”
The red wooden box quieted again but in the next moment…
“Bang!”
The red wooden box exploded. Pure light shook inside the Sub-Sage Hall. Principal Zhao Shou and the three great Confucian scholars were struck in the chest, spewing blood profusely, all flying backward.
A beam of pure light burst out of the box, crashing through the hall’s ceiling, and soaring into the sky.
Principal Zhao Shou chased out of the Sub-Sage Hall, his gaze following the pure light as it swept over the mountains and disappeared into the horizon.
That was the direction of the capital…
…
“Amitabha, I didn’t expect Benefactor Xu’s obsession to be so deep. Surely after converting to Buddhism, his Buddha heart will be even clearer,” Arhat Du’e said, bringing his palms together.
Biaobiao glared fiercely at Arhat Du’e. She suddenly walked out of the pavilion, shouting: “Don’t kneel to the baldies! Dog servant, stand up!”
In the Buddhist realm, Xu Qi An’s shoulders were a bloody mess, his neck was bent at a grotesque angle. His pain was visible to the people outside the scene.
What kind of obsession was this, that could make someone keep their knees straight while bearing such immense pressure?
Was this Xu Qi An?
Was this the glib-tongued, lecherous Xu Qi An?
Those who knew him felt a sudden shock in their hearts.
Suddenly, in the pavilion, an old man in plain clothes stood up. His eyes were red, and with a slightly trembling voice, he shouted:
“Youthful chivalry, connecting with heroes of five cities. Liver and gall open wide. Hair standing on end. Standing in conversation. Life and death are the same. A promise worth a thousand gold… Someone who can write such words does not kneel!”
Governor Zhang.
Xu Ping Zhi shouted: “Ning Yan, stand straight, don’t kneel.”
Xu Ling Yin suddenly let out a cry: “Big brother…”
Wei Yuan patted her head, finishing the sentence for her: “Don’t kneel.”
First Minister Wang stood up, saying loudly: “Great Feng’s martial artists do not kneel.”
In the crowd, someone suddenly raised their fist and roared: “Don’t kneel.”
This instantly lit the fuse, and the watching commoners erupted.
“Don’t kneel.”
“Don’t kneel.”
“Don’t kneel!”
One, two… More and more people shouted, “Don’t kneel.” A father lifted his son high above his head, the child’s clear voice shouting: “Don’t kneel.”
A husband gripped his wife’s hand, shouting together with her: “Children of Great Feng do not kneel.”
From the pavilion to the outside, from nobles to commoners, at this moment, the people of Great Feng present uttered a common voice:
“Don’t kneel!”
…
I seem to feel the power of all living beings again… In his hazy consciousness, a pure thought surged into his sea of consciousness, this thought both complex and grand.
It was conveying a voice to him: Don’t kneel!
In an instant, Xu Qi An’s eyes burst forth with unprecedented light, like an ascetic wandering in darkness finally seeing the dawn.
He still couldn’t straighten his back, but, as if possessed, he raised his arm, as if to grasp something.
Something was coming in the unseen realm.
At the same moment, Xu Qi An roared out the heart’s cry of thousands of commoners in the capital: “I! Xu Qi An, will not! Kneel!”
At that moment, a beam of pure light came breaking through the sky, bringing a “rumbling” sound of space-breaking, carrying an unmatched power, fiercely crashing into the Buddhist realm.
This beam of pure light came in response to the call.
In the Buddhist realm, that towering dharma body seemed to sense something, withdrawing its Buddha palm and slapping towards the pure light crashing into the secret realm.
At the moment of collision, both the pure light and the golden light dimmed simultaneously, silent for a second, before an dazzling cyan-gold light ball exploded.
Then came the “rumbling” explosion sound, shaking the capital’s commoners into scurrying for cover.
Outside the scene, wild winds raged.
The towering dharma body shattered into pure golden light, returning to this Buddhist realm. That beam of pure light then entered the temple, falling into Xu Qi An’s hand.
It was an ancient, black engraving knife.
Xu Qi An slowly, gradually straightened his back, gripping the engraving knife tightly.
“If all beings can become Buddha, why should I kneel to you?”
After saying these words, he calmly thrust out the engraving knife.
Crack… The Buddha statue’s brow center cracked, fissures instantly spreading across its entire body, then shattering.
Rumble!
As the Buddha statue collapsed, the Buddhist realm shook violently, Buddha Mountain crumbled, the earth and sky quaked.
Crack!
Arhat Du’e looked down in shock, seeing cracks spreading across the golden bowl. Finally, with a “bang,” it exploded into powder.
The Buddhist realm vanished along with it.
Two figures fell out: the unconscious Jing Si, and Xu Qi An standing proudly, holding the engraving knife.
Xu Qi An slowly swept his gaze across the entire scene, then his eyelids fluttered, and he fainted.
Before losing consciousness, Xu Qi An pressed down on his sable hat.
This was his dignity.
The entire scene fell into silent stillness.