Chapter 1830: Revisiting the Buddha Tower

Sword Heart Island.

Sword energy crisscrossed.

Qin Sang and True Monarch Zhijian sat in the central courtyard, holding cups, looking up at two orchid leaves crisscrossing and interweaving. The sword energy emanated from the orchid leaves. Using the orchid leaves as swords, the two practiced their sword arts.

An incense stick's time later, the two orchid-leaf swords touched and immediately separated, their clear ringing echoing across Sword Heart Island.

"Oh?" True Monarch Zhijian was about to drink the wine from his cup when his movement paused slightly. His gaze fell on Qin Sang. "It's been many years. Your swordplay has become increasingly refined, almost transforming into something new."

Qin Sang took a sip of wine and nodded with a smile.

The Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter and the legacy of the Shadow-Bearing Sword could mutually verify each other. As Qin Sang made progress in his cultivation technique, his sword arts naturally improved. However, Qin Sang felt no complacency. He clearly sensed that True Monarch Zhijian had held back considerably during their earlier exchange.

"Once my cultivation level is on par with True Monarch Zhijian, I wonder if I can force him to use eighty percent of his power..." Qin Sang believed that with the Poison God Scripture, his cultivation speed was unmatched, and catching up to True Monarch Zhijian shouldn't be difficult. However, he wasn't as confident in his sword path.

This sparring session was, in fact, also a form of guidance. The stronger Qin Sang became, the more deeply he appreciated True Monarch Zhijian's profound mastery of the sword, sighing inwardly.

"This humble Taoist is increasingly looking forward to the day your sword path reaches mastery, and we can have a true battle!" True Monarch Zhijian laughed heartily, drained his cup, and pointed his finger at his orchid-leaf sword.

In an instant, the night sky rustled. Sword light flashed like lightning, and the sword's momentum changed abruptly, like a sudden storm, making those who witnessed it feel breathless. Soon after, Qin Sang's sword was utterly shattered.

Qin Sang smiled wryly, cupped his hands, and begged for mercy. The sword light suddenly retracted. A single orchid leaf softly drifted to the ground, making it hard to imagine that such an incredibly sharp sword art had been wielded with it.

True Monarch Zhijian rose to his feet, gazing up at the sky. The bright moon was at its zenith, and its essence flowed like water. He seemed to be admiring the moon, yet also looking into the depths of the night sky, murmuring, "In the way of the sword, the sword heart is paramount. Do you possess a sword heart, my friend?"

Qin Sang stood stunned, closed his eyes, and fell into deep contemplation.

In Qin Sang's observation, True Monarch Zhijian's heart was entirely devoted to the sword, seeking nothing external. He, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. His knowledge was remarkably eclectic; anything that could help him improve and bring him closer to immortality, whether righteous, evil, demonic, or monstrous, he would equally value, learn, and use.

Even a mixed path had its benefits. Qin Sang had come this far by relying on the Jade Buddha, avoiding the flaws of various techniques and not being confined to any single one. The combination of different techniques could sometimes lead to unpredictable and wondrous changes. When facing enemies, Qin Sang had always held the advantage; his opponents would be more or less suppressed by him, and no matter the danger, he could always find a countermeasure.

However, with his current strength, facing True Monarch Zhijian, he felt no certainty of victory!

To reach the 'sword heart' realm True Monarch Zhijian spoke of, must he, like the True Monarch, focus solely on the sword?

"My cultivation method nourishes the sword, and the Shadow-Bearing Sword transmits sword intent... it seems the path of the sword is my best choice. But can I truly abandon other paths?"

Qin Sang frowned. "Was True Monarch Zhijian's remark a warning to return to the righteous path, or a reminder not to be lost in the allure of the sword?"

The moon's shadow began to slant westward. By the time Qin Sang regained his senses, True Monarch Zhijian was gone, leaving behind only the remnants of their meal, the cool night breeze, and the orchid leaves in front of the courtyard.

As he flew away from Sword Heart Island, Qin Sang was still deep in thought.

Leaving the immortal lake of Star Island, he headed southeast towards Jingtai Temple. The appointed time from years ago was drawing near; it was time to ascend the Buddhist Pagoda again!

On the perilous mountaintop, Qin Sang stood at the summit, overlooking the official road below.

As night approached, the official road was still bustling with people, some even lighting torches, preparing for night travel. Most people were traveling eastward; very few were moving in the opposite direction.

This place was not far from Jingtai Temple, located precisely at the border between the human forces of Jushan District and the demon nation. These mortals were actually voluntarily migrating to the demon nation.

In the past, mortals in the demon nation were treated as livestock, food for demon beasts, wantonly slaughtered, and suffered unspeakably. Countless mortals risked their lives to flee, seeking refuge with their own clans and sects. Now, however, the situation was reversed.

Qin Sang did not sense any demon cultivator's aura nearby, nor was anyone driving these mortals along the official road; these mortals were voluntarily seeking refuge in the demon nation.

Qin Sang paused for a moment, changed direction, and followed the flow of people into the demon nation's territory. After investigating, he thought, 'Sure enough.'

The demon race was greatly promoting the path of demon gods. The primary goal of demon gods was to gather believers; the more believers, the better, to ensure a constant supply of incense and to change their past practice of harming mortals.

Various rumors flowed into the human territories. In the human territories, while mortals weren't in danger of being killed, life was still full of hardships, and wealth was hard to come by. Learning that demon gods not only protected their believers but also granted their wishes and performed miracles periodically, requiring only sincere devotion, some bold individuals crossed the border to investigate. Finding the rumors to be true, they called their friends, and now it had become a widespread trend.

Within the demon nation, there was a scene of prosperity.

Qin Sang quietly withdrew from the demon nation without stopping and returned to Jingtai Temple.

It seemed Venerable Zhenru had given instructions in advance; as soon as Qin Sang arrived at the temple gate, before he could even announce his monastic name, the gate-keeping novice monk's face lit up with surprise. He immediately opened the temple gate, respectfully welcoming Qin Sang inside.

Venerable Zhenru was in secluded cultivation, but upon receiving the notification, he immediately came out to greet Qin Sang.

Entering a quiet room and dismissing his attendants, Venerable Zhenru sighed deeply. "Esteemed Taoist, you have made this humble monk wait so long. Have you made your decision?"

"This humble Taoist has indeed come for the agreement," Qin Sang stated calmly. "This time, upon re-ascending the Buddhist Pagoda, there should be over a seventy percent chance of breaking through the final seal!" His tone carried confidence.

Venerable Zhenru was overjoyed by these words, but he didn't immediately go to the pagoda. Instead, he first took out several treasures. These had been carefully collected by the eminent monks of Jingtai Temple, intended to help resist the threats within the pagoda. Qin Sang readily complied, choosing a few of them and refining them under Venerable Zhenru's guidance.

After making thorough preparations, the two entered the mountain stream and arrived before the pagoda's entrance.

Having breached it multiple times decades ago, Qin Sang was very familiar with the Buddhist Pagoda, so there was no need for much discussion.

The two cooperated tacitly, ascending five floors in one go, reaching the seal of the sixth floor. With the help of the treasures, their condition remained excellent.

Venerable Zhenru raised his hand and pressed it against the seal. After glancing at Qin Sang, he forcefully shattered the seal.

The moment the seal shattered, Qin Sang rushed into the sixth floor like a whirlwind, witnessing a familiar scene.

The Eighteen Bronze Monks were facing the entrance, in the midst of bowing, when Qin Sang, without a word, charged forward, reached them, and threw a punch!

'Boom!' The force of his punch roared like thunder.

The Eighteen Bronze Monks' expressions remained unchanged. They formed a formation to meet him, and eighteen bronze staffs simultaneously struck towards Qin Sang.

'Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...' Streaks of fierce wind converged into a single gust.

Based on Qin Sang's understanding of the Eighteen Bronze Monks, this strike was one of the strongest variations of their formation. Normally, they should guide the Eighteen Bronze Monk Formation to reveal a weakness, then break it apart piecemeal, rather than engaging in a head-on clash.

However, this was precisely the most energy-efficient method of breaking the formation that Qin Sang and Venerable Zhenru had comprehended after their analysis.

'Boom!' A massive sound, as fist met staffs, and Qin Sang's body jolted violently. Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Qin Sang's fist pressed against the eighteen bronze staffs. He then grunted, his aura surging wildly, and a faint golden light, not the radiant glazed light, flowed around his entire body.

At this moment, his right fist seemed to swell, carrying the momentum to smash through all obstacles.

The Eighteen Bronze Monks were not to be outdone; golden Buddhist light connected them, and they roared in unison, pressing their bronze staffs down fiercely.

'Boom!' A powerful explosion of aura. Qin Sang retracted his fist and retreated repeatedly.

The bronze staffs of the Eighteen Bronze Monks were all bounced back. Two of the monks even swayed, causing an almost imperceptible delay in their battle formation.

It was precisely this delay that provided an opening for their opponents.

A giant jade-white palm suddenly appeared above the head of one of the bronze monks, and without a word, it slammed down.

Venerable Zhenru had been waiting for this very opportunity, holding back his strike. This attack was extremely cunning, giving the other bronze monks no time to rescue their comrade.

With a 'snap,' the bronze monk's head exploded, golden dust scattering as its body collapsed to the ground. With one monk dead, the formation's weakness became even more pronounced.

Qin Sang's retreat halted. He turned and charged into the formation, like a fierce tiger pouncing into a flock of sheep, moving like a phantom.

The bronze monks hastily organized a counterattack, but unfortunately, with Qin Sang and Venerable Zhenru attacking from inside and outside, the chaos became increasingly apparent.

The Great Vajra Wheel Seal, which included the Lotus Seal, was inherently a powerful combat movement technique. Coupled with his Heavenly Eye Divine Ability, none of the battle formation's changes could escape Qin Sang's sight.

Qin Sang moved as if in an empty land, throwing three consecutive punches. 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' Three monks exploded.

Venerable Zhenru watched Qin Sang unleashing his mighty power, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. He noticed that the Seven Master Buddha Seal Qin Sang was using had a different aura compared to decades ago.

However, because Qin Sang had deliberately disguised it, it was difficult for ordinary people to guess that he had obtained the complete Great Vajra Wheel Seal; they would only assume he had been inspired by the recorded image and significantly improved his cultivation.

Working together, Qin Sang and Venerable Zhenru quickly eliminated the Eighteen Bronze Monks until only six remained.

Next, the scene that had previously forced them to retreat reappeared.

The bronze staffs clashed in the air, and a golden sun materialized. As each bronze monk merged into it, the golden light became incredibly intense. A terrifying scorching heat enveloped the two.

Both felt their mouths dry and their tongues parched, developing the illusion of being melted by the great sun.

Venerable Zhenru, without hesitation, sat cross-legged on the ground and raised his hand, sending out a shroud of gauze. The gauze transformed into an umbrella shape above his head, resisting the scorching sun. At the same time, various precious lights flickered around Venerable Zhenru's body.

Even with the protection of various treasures, Venerable Zhenru could only barely protect himself. He dared not be distracted, fully activating his protective secret arts, placing all his hopes on Qin Sang.

Qin Sang glanced at Venerable Zhenru, then fixed his gaze on the golden sun. He actually leaped up, actively flying towards it.

Golden light shone everywhere. For a moment, Qin Sang seemed to be cast in gold.

His back resolute, he advanced into the golden light, submerging into the dazzling radiance, his body seemingly dissolving within the scorching sun.

His eyes slightly closed, he felt a stinging pain and a terrifying power erupting from the golden sun.

At this point, there was no need to hide anymore. Qin Sang fully unleashed the Great Vajra Wheel Seal, his body like pure glazed glass, though the radiant glazed light was completely overwhelmed by the golden light.

As he activated the Buddha Seal, Qin Sang was about to gather momentum for a powerful charge when his heart suddenly stirred. The moment he unleashed the Great Vajra Wheel Seal, the golden sun's scorching heat seemed to weaken somewhat.

"This is..." Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes, which glowed golden, as if he wanted to see through the golden sun, dimly guessing something.

The next moment, his speed increased instead of decreasing. He pushed the Great Vajra Wheel Seal to its limit, gathering the power of the Buddha Seal into his right fist, aiming at the center of the golden sun, and unleashed this punch with immense force!

'Rumble!' The Vajra Pagoda shook violently.

Where Qin Sang's punch struck, at the center of the golden light, a black dot suddenly appeared. As the black dot expanded, the golden sun shattered, and streams of golden light scattered everywhere, sweeping across the entire sixth floor.

This punch seemed to have opened a barrier, and a suction force erupted from the black dot. Qin Sang's body tensed, but he didn't struggle, allowing the suction to pull him into the black dot.

Venerable Zhenru, who had been struggling to hold on, was also enveloped by the suction force and felt a sense of relief.

After the two departed, the sixth floor quickly returned to normal. The golden light re-formed the Eighteen Bronze Monks, who stood silently in place, awaiting the next challenger to the pagoda.

'Splash, splash...' The sound of flowing water entered their ears. Qin Sang and Venerable Zhenru entered a strange space, one after the other.

According to their deduction, this should be the seventh floor of the Vajra Pagoda. The scene on the seventh floor was completely different from what they had imagined. There was a great river here, its waters vast and mighty.

The sky was high, the clouds sparse, and the great river flowed, resembling a real world.

Above the vast river, a monk stood on its surface. He appeared young and handsome, dressed in simple monastic robes, wearing straw sandals, and carrying nothing else.

The monk stood with his hands lowered, his gaze directed towards the flowing river, his eyes profound.

The moment Qin Sang and Venerable Zhenru entered, the monk slightly turned his head and looked at them.

The instant their eyes met the monk's, both were deeply shaken. The feeling of that gaze was indescribable; they felt as if they were not facing a person, but mountains, rivers, seas, even the very heavens and earth. How minuscule they felt before him.

Qin Sang quickly recovered from the shock. It was an illusion. The monk wasn't looking at them; his profound gaze seemed to pierce through the void behind them.

Then, the monk raised his right hand and formed a hand seal.

His movements seemed slow yet were incredibly swift, each one like a brand, deeply imprinted within their hearts.

Both were greatly shaken in mind, entering a strange state from which they could not extricate themselves for a long time. That seal was engraved in their hearts, and the monk's movements endlessly cycled within their minds.

Immediately after, they were startled awake by dazzling golden light. They saw a golden sun rising from above the monk's head, hanging high in the sky.

The golden sun illuminated the world, vast and boundless. This golden light seemed capable of incinerating everything!

They were greatly alarmed, almost thinking they would perish there, but then realized it was an illusion; the monk was merely a phantom.

"This seal... is the eighth of the Nine Great Light Seals, the Sun Wheel Seal!" An ethereal voice echoed in their ears, and then the monk and the golden sun gradually faded together. Eventually, both the monk and this segment of the great river shattered into nothingness.

The illusion dissipated, and the two found themselves in an empty room—this was the true seventh floor of the Buddhist Pagoda.

The two gradually regained their senses, exchanging glances, their eyes filled with both self-mockery and pleasant surprise.

As expected, this Vajra Pagoda was indeed a pagoda for transmitting teachings! Everything on the lower six floors was a test preceding the transmission of teachings.

Their self-mockery was directed at themselves. After seeing the monk demonstrate the seal, they immediately understood that the golden sun created by the Eighteen Bronze Monks was precisely the Sun Wheel Seal.

If their comprehension had been sufficient, they wouldn't have needed to force their way into the seventh floor. They could have gained inspiration from the bronze monks themselves, gradually comprehending the Sun Wheel Seal, and thus earning the right to enter the seventh floor.

Evidently, neither of them had achieved this, nor had any of the great virtuous monks of Jingtai Temple throughout history.

The pleasant surprise, naturally, was the harvest from this trip. Qin Sang deeply understood the power of the Nine Great Light Seals. He hadn't expected to obtain another one in this realm. The two seals shared a common origin, which was why the pressure he experienced at the very last moment had weakened.

Without a word, the two eagerly sat cross-legged to comprehend.