Hell Emperor.

Chapter 635 Ashoka

The chanting of Buddhist scriptures was deafening, and the oppressive power was overwhelming.

Standing in distant confrontation with the guardians of the ruins, an invisible pressure arises spontaneously.

"Early stage of the Nine Revolutions..."

Feeling that overwhelming pressure, Ye Jie understood how troublesome this person was. Looking around the world, there were only a handful of immortals who could reach this level, and Ashoka in front of him was one of them.

The gray-robed man dared not utter a sound. In front of that supreme Nine-Turn Immortal, ordinary people had no right to speak. If they dared to utter a single word, they would surely die.

Ye Jie's expression was solemn. Even with his current strength, he couldn't help but feel a bit strained to deal with a genuine Ninth-Rank Immortal, especially one who had dominated an entire continent countless years ago.

"You are the guardian of the ruins, the Peacock King? So, the Peacock King Feather is on you."

Ye Jie narrowed his eyes. If he could capture this person, he could obtain the coveted Mingwang Peacock Feather. Not only that, but he might also gain profound insights into the Dao of Reincarnation hidden within the ruins! For this, even taking some risks was not unacceptable.

Sensing the growing hostility within Ye Jie, Ashoka's eyes blazed with fury. The black iron pillar in his hand shimmered with divine light, emanating an overwhelming pressure that seemed to distort even the very fabric of time.

"Those who harbor ill intentions shall die!"

The gust of wind that came straight at him made Ye Jie's hair stand on end. Even with his great Dao techniques, he felt the overwhelming aura of death from that attack. If he hadn't defended himself and had been hit head-on by that iron pillar, his soul would probably have been smashed into mincemeat!

"The Bodhi Mind Method: The Immovable Wall!"

As the crisis loomed, Ye Jie immediately channeled his inner energy, and a thick wall rose from the ground, blocking the incoming attack.

With a deafening roar, the thick wall that had just been erected was shattered from the middle. The so-called immovable wall could not achieve any effect under Ashoka's fierce attack.

Ye Jie sensed something was wrong; it seemed he couldn't defend against the enemy's fierce attack. Just as he was about to change his move, he saw that Ashoka remained motionless for a long time after breaking through the Immovable Wall, as if sensing something.

"Who are you? Why does your technique possess such profound Buddhist foundation? Yet, judging from your appearance, you don't seem to have such attainments..."

After breaking through the Immovable Wall, Ashoka's gaze towards Ye Jie held a more scrutinizing quality, presumably sensing something from Ye Jie's techniques.

Ye Jie was slightly taken aback, then remembered something. He recalled that the Bodhi Heart Sutra did indeed contain a part related to Buddhism. After cultivating to the Great Dao level, he even integrated these Buddhist teachings into the techniques themselves to enhance their power. It seemed that this was what attracted King Ashoka. So he replied, "What I practice is the Bodhi Heart Sutra of the Bodhi Hall. Is this what you're talking about?"

Ashoka understood, and slowly lowered the iron pillar in his hand, but the sternness in his words remained undiminished:

"So this is the cultivation method. The Buddha passed away under the Bodhi tree long ago, and this method arose in response to that, containing profound insights into birth and death. Although you have practiced this path, you have only grasped the path, not the method, which can be described as putting the cart before the horse. In consideration of this method, you may leave the ruins, but you must make a vow never to return. Once you step into this place again, only reincarnation awaits you."

Ye Jie was taken aback. Judging from Ashoka's words, it seemed that he was going to stop fighting and let the people go for the time being because of the Bodhi Heart Sutra. This surprised Ye Jie quite a bit. Although the danger was gone for the time being, where could he find the Peacock Feather of the Vidyaraja and the insights into reincarnation that he lacked?

Seeing this, Ye Jie had no choice but to speak first:
"Wait a minute, what did you mean by that? I'm not saying this to be mean, but my Bodhi Mind Method has reached the level of the Great Dao. Looking across the world, there is no one whose Bodhi Mind Method is at a higher level than mine, and no one has a deeper understanding of it than me. Do you understand the meaning of the Great Dao? What do you mean by putting the cart before the horse? Are you just spouting nonsense?"

Ye Jie's questioning made the gray-robed man beside him widen his eyes, seemingly unable to imagine that anyone would dare to question the words of the Nine Revolutions Immortal.

Faced with this suspicion, Ashoka did not get angry, but merely glanced at Ye Jie:
"The so-called Great Dao is nothing more than a superficial appearance. Although you have cultivated your technique to this level, you have not understood its profound meaning and have not yet attained supreme enlightenment. No matter how high the level of your technique is, it is not considered to have mastered it. If you attain supreme enlightenment and reach the point where all dharmas are extinguished, how could I have broken through that immovable wall? On the contrary, because of the level of your technique, you think you are close to perfection and develop delusions, which is the biggest mistake you have made."

"what?"

Ye Jie was slightly taken aback. From Ashoka's words, he also vaguely sensed something extraordinary. After all, Ashoka was a ninth-level expert from an ancient era. He was not like himself who had altered the records. He was the real deal, having cultivated step by step. His understanding and insights were much deeper.

Judging from Ashoka's words, he seemed to truly understand the Bodhicitta teachings quite well. His recent comments were all based on his understanding of the facts, not mere idle talk. However, Ye Jie wanted to know more, so he pressed on:
"You say my cultivation is inadequate? Then tell me, what should I do to advance my cultivation to the next level? Is there perhaps an even more powerful cultivation level beyond the Great Dao?"

In the end, even Ye Jie himself found it somewhat unbelievable.

Cultivation techniques at the Great Dao level have already reached the pinnacle of heaven and earth. To take another step forward is almost impossible. Even the complete form of the Book of Life and Death, which contains the power of ten main accounts, can only modify the cultivation technique to the Great Dao level at most. There is no room for further advancement. This is too shocking. Ye Jie had never thought of it before. He thought that the Great Dao level was the end of the cultivation technique level!
To this, Ashoka simply shook his head: "You are still fixated on the level of Tao, it seems you are beyond saving."

Ye Jie's lips twitched: "What you're saying is like, have you perhaps practiced the Bodhi Heart Sutra and even cultivated it to a level I don't know about? Otherwise, you're just talking nonsense."

Ashoka looked around and spoke slowly: "Since you don't believe me, then let me ask you, do you know what these stupas are used for?"

Ye Jie was stunned for a moment. If the legend was true, and all the pagodas in the ruins were built by him, then the meaning of these pagodas in the eyes of the pagoda builder must be different from that of explorers in later generations. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"These towers contain wondrous objects, presumably meant to be enshrined, but they also benefited later explorers."

(End of this chapter)