Embers of Sword

Chapter 312 No Fate, No Guest

Dapudu Temple, the top of the pagoda.

The tiles on the eaves made crisp sounds of raindrops, like the vibration of wind chimes. The continuous rain lines swept in all directions. The young monk standing at the highest point of the pagoda, with his hands behind his back, stood in front of the railing, shrouded in this layer of faint golden light, as if his face was also coated with a layer of gold.

"Uncle Master, can they really get here?"

A childish and curious voice sounded from behind the young monk.

The little monk sat cross-legged at the entrance of the long steps of the pagoda with his back straight. He was responsible for "guarding" the entrance leading to the top floor of the pagoda. In front of him were portraits of eminent monks from the Great Pudu Temple over the past three hundred years. The little guy was reading them very seriously, but confusion lingered between his brows… He knew that there must be a lot of people who wanted to challenge the golden body of the Buddha today, but half a day had passed and no one had been able to step into the pagoda.

The warning that Elder Fayan gave at the gate of the Great Pudu Temple was by no means an empty boast, but a kind advice from the heart.

The Fanyin Temple delegation prepared more than one test on the way to the summit, and the golden light array was just the simplest entry threshold.

"Isn't the test set by Master Uncle a little too difficult?"

The young monk asked with emotion: "We have to step into the golden light array, pass through the Brahma Sound Forest, and finally break through the bronze wall... Only then can we have a chance to see the Golden Body Tower. Can any of these young people in the Great Chu Dynasty really do it?"

"Golden Light Formation, Brahma Sound Forest, and Bronze Man Wall are not that difficult."

The young monk turned his head slightly, glanced at his junior apprentice, and said calmly: "If you can't even pass these three levels, what qualifications do you have to come to see me?"

The young monk was speechless.

At this moment, a faint bell sounded under the Golden Body Tower.

A monk came to report: "Master Buddha, someone has broken through the Bronze Man Wall and is heading towards the Golden Body Pagoda—"

"Oh? Someone's coming!"

The young monk quickly stood up and prepared to leave and go to the tower gate.

He took deep breaths repeatedly to adjust his mentality, but he couldn't help but look worried. He sighed and asked, "Uncle Master, what should I do if I can't stop the climbers?"

"..."

The young monk still had a calm expression. He did not move an inch, whispered the name of the young monk, and said gently: "Miyun, you just need to debate with others, just like in the temple, without worrying about winning or losing, and even less about gains and losses. You followed me to Dachuxidu this time for only one purpose, which is to discuss the Dao with enough people and accumulate enough vows."

The young monk unwrapped the package and took out a long box.

He held the box tightly, his expression solemn, and nodded vigorously: "Okay! Uncle Master, I'll remember it!"

"Go ahead... do your best and leave the rest to fate."

The young monk hummed softly.

After the young monk named Miyun quickly left with the box in his arms, silence returned to the top of the Golden Body Pagoda.

Miaozhen silently gazed at the scenery below the Golden Body Pagoda, his eyes following the rain line down the mountain.

There is a familiar sword energy there.

Getting closer little by little.

……

……

"Little Mountain Master, is it a little too quiet here?"

He walked away for half an incense stick of time.

There was no one in sight.

Duan Zhao realized something was wrong and couldn't help but ask.

“While we were listening to the music in the teahouse, I heard that more than a dozen people had stepped into the Da Pudu Temple.”

Deng Baiyi also frowned: "Where did all these people go?"

This time, the Fanyin Temple delegation did not limit the age of challengers when they gave sermons.

In other words.

As long as you are in the Cave Heaven Realm, you can visit at will.

In this way... the boundaries were greatly relaxed. There were still many famous families in the Da Chu Imperial City. Many of the guests and elders in these families came to the Da Pudu Temple.

After Shang Yi pointed out the weakness of the golden light formation.

You can enter the temple after reaching the fifth level of the cave.

However, after these people entered the Buddhist temple, there was no news of them again.

"Don't worry, they're fine."

Xie Xuanyi silently stared at the bamboo forests on both sides, casually picked up a bamboo branch, and said calmly: "The opening of the forum and preaching in Fanyin Temple this time is indeed overbearing, but this is Da Chu after all... No matter how capable Miao Zhen is, he dare not act rashly here. These people are all on the mountain."

"But little mountain master..."

Duan Zhao was puzzled and said helplessly: "We have been walking for so long and haven't seen the top of the mountain. Are they really on the mountain?"

This is a good question.

We have been walking for so long, why haven’t we reached the top of the mountain yet?
Xie Xuanyi slowly stopped.

All three of them stopped.

"There is a saying in Buddhism: great sounds are silent, and great images are invisible."

Xie Xuanyi sighed softly, turned around to look at his cheap disciple from Wangyou Island, and asked, "Do you think this mountain is high?"

Duan Zhao shook his head.

"So, how far have we walked?"

Lost in thought.

He recalled the path he had taken after entering the temple... He couldn't help but look back, but because of the heavy rain, the mountain road behind him was endless and blocked by fog, so he couldn't see the end clearly.

Been gone for a long time.

Duan Zhao asked uncertainly: "Maybe... half?"

I couldn't see the road clearly either in front or behind.

This is probably about halfway up the mountain.

"Half of this mountain..."

Deng Baiyi murmured, "Is it really that long? Have we just started climbing?"

This statement came out.

Duan Zhao's expression turned strange.

What kind of complicated and strange formation is this?
“For some people, it may just be the beginning, but for others, the mountain has already ended.”

Xie Xuanyi sighed.

After stopping, he was basically sure that there was nothing wrong with his observation.

This long mountain road, with bamboo forests on both sides, seems messy, but is actually very regular... Xie Xuanyi picked up the bamboo branch he had just picked and placed it on the gap of the broken bamboo strip. The gap and the bamboo strip fit perfectly.

"Grass!"

Duan Zhao's eyes immediately turned red, and he yelled, "Fanyin Temple is treating us like donkeys? Are we just spinning in circles?!"

"This……"

Deng Baiyi was a little confused. Was this a maze? She didn't even sense the aura of the formation talisman!
She subconsciously looked at Xie Zhen.

The young man in black looked calm and composed, his eyes as cold and peaceful as ever.

No, that's not right.

This is not a maze. If it were just a maze... Xie Zhen's attainments in formations are far superior to mine. He would not be fooled by such a simple trick and would definitely notice it early.

"It delayed a little... but less than half an incense stick, not too long."

A golden light oozed from Xie Xuanyi's fingertips. He inserted the bamboo stick back into the broken branch and rubbed the golden light twice. The two miraculously became one.

He smiled and asked again, "Do you remember what Fa Yan said when we passed by him when we entered the temple?"

"Ah?"

Duan Zhao's face was filled with confusion, he had no recollection of such a thing happening.

Deng Baiyi is different.

Her eyes lit up and she said solemnly, "After entering the temple, please walk slowly."

If one observes carefully, they will find that Fayan would leave this reminder to all those who enter the temple.

Unfortunately.

Not many people would take it seriously.

"good."

Xie Xuanyi was slightly relieved: "This reminder is well-intentioned... Although you have almost reached the end of the road, it is better to walk slower from now on." Duan Zhao was completely confused: "Little Mountain Master, what does this mean?"

next moment.

Xie Xuanyi took a step back and retreated from the area covered by the paper umbrella.

"The reason why this little incense stick has been spinning in the same place... is because you and I are walking together."

Xie Xuanyi put his hands behind his back, looked at the sky where the gray rain was drifting, and said softly: "From the moment we entered the temple, it was destined that our paths would be different. From now on, we will separate."

Looking at the two people in silence and confusion.

"To break through the golden light formation, one needs to be at least at the fifth level of the cave heaven realm."

Xie Xuanyi continued, "I broke the golden light array, which means I can enter the temple...but Fayan didn't stop you, why?"

"edge."

Deng Baiyi has a high level of comprehension and understands things quickly.

From beginning to end.

The Great Pudu Temple has no requirements on the realm or cultivation level of those who enter the temple!
The only requirement is a connection with Buddhism!
"Yes... fate, it's wonderful."

Xie Xuanyi sighed, patted Duan Zhao on the shoulder, and said seriously: "Even if you know nothing about these things and disdain Buddhism... as long as you have fate, you can enter the temple. After all, the Buddha Miaozhen summoned all the heroes to meet today just to absorb as much luck as possible. People who have reached the perfection of the cave heaven may not have deep luck, so the most important thing for entering the temple is not the realm, but the luck."

"So even if I come alone, I can still enter the temple?"

Duan Zhao scratched his head, full of disbelief: "Am I also considered a person with great fortune?"

"...?"

What kind of a question is this? Xie Xuanyi was silent for a moment, then replied with a complicated expression: "Of course... of course you are."

How many people in the world can have a better fortune than this kid?

Not to mention the small Pudu Temple.

Even the Fanyin Temple would not stop Duan Zhao from entering.

Duan Zhao was a little at a loss.

On the other side, Deng Baiyi fell into deep thought.

She was born in an ordinary family in Yuzhu Town. Is she considered a blessed person now?
Too……

Now she is a disciple of the world's master, Tang Fengshu, and her status is honorable and much more honorable than before.

"So, people like us entering the temple...are actually not a threat to the Buddhists."

Deng Baiyi said: "Whether it's the golden light array or the next level, they won't stop us."

"Yes."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly: "You are guests invited by the Great Pudu Temple. Since you are guests, you should treat them as guests."

He lifted his chin.

He signaled to Deng Baiyi and Duan Zhao that they could continue moving forward.

"You go first. I'll go later."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly: "Don't worry about me, who knows who will be faster."

Deng Baiyi held up a paper umbrella and wanted to say something.

"Little Mountain Master is right, don't worry about him."

Duan Zhao, who had seen the scene of Xie Zhen of Xuanshui Dongtian riding a sword to break the river, got under the umbrella directly and hurriedly pulled Deng Baiyi forward: "Let's walk faster, he will arrive later and we won't be there yet!"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and just watched the two of them leave.

The wind blows and the rain falls, and the bamboo shadows sway.

The mountain road became desolate again.

Xie Xuanyi stood there silently and waited for a moment. Just as he expected... Deng Baiyi and Duan Zhao were both guests of the Dapudu Temple. For them, this mountain road had long reached the "end". As long as they left this uninvited guest behind, they could reach the top quickly.

Well, now things become simple.

I was trapped on this mountain path for almost half an incense stick of time.

This is quite bizarre.

But what's even more bizarre... is that there are no formation patterns on this mountain.

Xie Xuanyi released his divine consciousness and did not sense the aura of the formation talisman... nor did he sense the fourth climber.

This is very interesting.

Wu Yue, the eldest brother of Wu Zong, had been waiting outside the Great Pudu Temple for half a day, waiting for him to enter the temple. So after he broke through the golden light formation, Wu Yue would definitely step into this place. However, during this half incense stick of time, Xie Xuanyi did not see Wu Yue. This meant that the three of them were "trapped" in an independent world.

"A blessed place in a cave, a world of its own."

Xie Xuanyi stared at the golden spire where the gray wind and rain gathered, and murmured softly.

Can do it all.

There are only "rules".

Today's Dapudu Temple is not just an ordinary temple. In the golden light array, there is a cave world with complete rules.

Guests have their own rules.

There are rules for challengers.

The reason why he kept "reincarnating" was because he violated the rules, but now Deng Baiyi and Duan Zhao have both left...

Xie Xuanyi raised his head.

Suddenly, a few blurry shadows appeared on the distant mountain path, and faint Buddhist chanting could be heard on both sides of the bamboo forest.

……

……

The Dapudu Temple, located in the eastern suburbs of the imperial city, was built around the "Red Mountain".

Now, it is spring, but the top of Hongshan Mountain is covered with dense red leaves, which looks bleak and like autumn, which is extremely inconsistent.

After Deng Baiyi and Duan Zhao left Xie Xuanyi.

After a few steps, we reached the top of the mountain.

"Little Mountain Master is right..."

Duan Zhao couldn't help but complain: "These guys from Fanyin Temple are too unkind. They trapped us on the mountain road and told us to walk slower. If it weren't for the mountain master's wit, how long would it take us to walk? Don't you think so, Master?"

"It's quite unkind... Wait, what did you call me?"

Deng Baiyi blushed instantly.

"Although the young master is only one or two years older than me, he is a master of swordsmanship and has extraordinary skills. He taught me most of my swordsmanship."

Duan Zhao's eyes were full of loyalty: "Is it not too much for me to call him Master?"

"Pooh!"

Deng Baiyi was annoyed and scolded: "Who taught you to call me Master's Wife? People with the surname Xie are not decent!"

"No, Miss Deng, don't blame the young master. He didn't teach me..."

Duan Zhao scratched his head and said regretfully, "I learned this from Guard Sang from the library. Guard Sang said that if Master Xiaoshan brings the girl back to Chen's house, it will definitely be right to call her like this."

"what……"

Deng Baiyi held it in for a long time before finally saying, "Don't yell like that anymore."

Although it was a reprimand.

But it is somewhat listless.

"Is that so? Did I say something wrong again?"

The young man scratched his head. He subconsciously observed Deng Baiyi's reaction. In fact, he was not too stupid. After she called him "Master's Wife" for the first time, he could see that there was joy in Deng Baiyi's eyes.

Just the back.

This joy turned into loss and regret.

……

……

(The next update will be tomorrow at noon.)
(End of this chapter)