Chapter 2431: Sword Across the Eyes

Chapter 2395

A Sword Across the Eye

"Fog-Lost Old Forest, Moon-Confused Sword Sea, Paddle-Boat Ride Deer — Two Are Not Seen."

"They all say sword practitioners are obsessed, not knowing the words on the sword."

"A sword across the eye for six hundred years."

"The Dao that can be Dao is originally right in front of the eyes!"

The brilliant light in Wan Xiang Jian Zhu’s eyes seemed like a sea of clouds suddenly retracting, instantly converging into a sword shape, reflecting in his pupils. At first glance, it was just a vertical strand of light, but on closer inspection, one could see the divine edge.

From his seat, he lightly took a step forward—the person sitting in front of him was exactly Bao Xuan Jing, who at this moment was looking at him with naive, surprised eyes—there was a considerable gap between the front and back seats. Wan Xiang Jian Zhu took this one step to walk to Bao Xuan Jing's front, completing the ascent to the top just right.

Inside the Chao Ting Tian Gong, sat a multitude of seekers of the Dao, witnessing a true person who had embraced the sword for many years, thus walking up to the absolute peak.

Truly Hearing the Dao!

Wan Xiang Jian Zhu had guarded the Tian Di Jian He for over six hundred years.

His fame of "invincible within ten steps of holding a sword" had also lasted for over three hundred years.

Even before guarding the Tian Di Jian He, he was already known as "Jian Chi," once ranked alongside Qin Chang Sheng, the "Dao Chi" who chased time with a knife.

But Dao Chi Qin Chang Sheng had long ago proven the Dao as a Zhen Jun, and in recent years, he sat in Wan Yao Men, repeatedly battling heavenly demons without falling behind.

He, however, had sat within the Tian Di Jian He and did not come out, with little news of him.

Gradually, no one compared "Jian Chi" and "Dao Chi" anymore.

He had long cultivated to the realm of "Ben Wo Wan Xiang," and within the Tian Di Jian He, he had mastered an infinite number of sword techniques.

To say he was the most profound master of sword techniques under heaven was no exaggeration.

One could even say he himself was the world's sword canon.

At least at the level of Zhen Ren, no one understood sword techniques more than he did.

Jiang Wang held the Yan Fu Jian Yu in his hand, with a complete small world, and performed sword techniques non-stop, yet in terms of the quantity of mastered sword techniques, he did not reach even one ten-thousandth of Wan Xiang Jian Zhu's.

His strength was beyond doubt, but he always lacked one step to reach the top.

As he grew stronger, he increasingly did not know how to take that crucial step.

He was extremely obsessed with the sword, dreaming for six hundred years, gradually not knowing who was "I" and who was the "sword." Sword techniques formed a barrier, just like searching for "I" in the deep mountains and old forests and not finding it. The stronger the sword methods, the harder the barrier in front was to cross.

Jiang Wang, who had achieved the Dao with his true self, was precisely his best object for seeking the Dao.

All six Dao Dharma Phases were refined true, the ten thousand worlds flooded but could not move I, so he called Jiang Wang "I Zun."

In his view, this young Zhen Jun who had struggled to seek the sword within the world's sword box was truly someone who could cut out his self from the ignorant forest.

By rights, this kind of ultimate question, except for Pavilion Master Si Yu An, he should not have spoken to anyone else on the Dao. Even if Jian Ge had that bit of fate with Jiang Wang, it was not enough for this affection of seeking the Dao—this was exactly the meaning of the Chao Ting Tian Gong.

Sometimes it was just separated by a layer of window paper, but if it was not pierced, it could not be seen clearly no matter what.

Wan Xiang Jian Zhu's beard and hair hung down strand by strand. They had always been messy from the past to the present, but from past messy disorder, they now seemed like Dao marks strand by strand, appearing different upon seeing them.

A crowd of seekers of the Dao saw him ascend to the top, but they also leaped up at the same time, how could it be just him?

The person lecturing the Dao in the Chao Ting Tian Gong was also a seeker of the Dao!

The reason why the indifferent and emotionless heavenly person phase also showed compassion was precisely the proof of his phase. It was because before Jiang Wang enlightened Wan Xiang Jian Zhu with the "sword guest, sword method, sword" three treasures, he also received feedback from the "San Bao Ru Lai Jing"—

In the past, he sat and chanted the "San Bao Ru Lai Jing" in the vast sea of heavenly Dao, covering Zhen Jun with his palm, transmitting the law to the ten thousand worlds. He was the assistant Daoist of San Bao Ru Lai.

Now his pure ritual body had transformed into thirty-two kinds of Dharma phases, achieving the honor of a great Bodhisattva, and his sentient being phase also soared into the sky, becoming a Dharma body!

Hence, all phases showed compassion.

Wan Xiang Jian Zhu was not enlightened by Jiang Wang alone, but with the joint help of him and pure ritual, he parted the clouds to see the sun and saw the path ahead.

"Thank you, Dao friend, for completing this!" Wan Xiang Jian Zhu gained enlightenment in one morning, and his sword eyes were not as bright as before; his whole person appeared much more ordinary, and also much more normal. Liberated from the obsessed state and returning to worldly emotions, he actually still remembered courtesy and gratitude.

From ancient times to the present, the world's swords, a single blade of grass carried stars. Jian Ge having such two honored Zhen Jun, the name of Sword Overlord seemed to still have to be carried for a long time.

Jiang Wang left his seat to avoid the courtesy, only saying: "Drawing the sword breaks the moon, boundless divine edge. Piling soil becomes a mountain, not my merit. It is the years not failing, the sword master himself becoming so."

"If there is any spiritual light breaking through, it is also in the Tathagata, not in I." He then put his palms together again, and softly chanted: "Namo... San Bao Ru Lai!"

He had pointed out to Wan Xiang Jian Zhu, and Wan Xiang Jian Zhu did not need to keep it in his heart. When he first entered the Tian Di Jian He to practice sword, Wan Xiang Jian Zhu had also given him enough patience.

But the help of the "San Bao Ru Lai Jing," Wan Xiang Jian Zhu should remember.

If pure ritual had the opportunity in the future to achieve the honorable Buddha of the true San Bao Ru Lai, Wan Xiang Jian Zhu should repay today's cause and effect.

Pure ritual perhaps did not care at all, but he had to care for pure ritual.

It is said that when the World Honored One achieved the Dao that year, all sides came to congratulate, and gods and ghosts rejoiced together.

The World Honored One had no obstructed Daoists; all heavens and ten thousand worlds were intimate.

Those who knew his name chanted his name, and those who chanted his name helped him achieve the Dao.

There was a small monk on San Bao Mountain, previously called pure ritual, now called Fan Shi Jue, and also named Wang Wei.

His beloved master passed away. He began to be a little vigilant towards this world.

He had no friends.

He only had one relative left.

He sought a home in the empty door, but in the end, it was a fish in water and a moon in the field—all empty.

San Bao Mountain was only a small hill, San Bao Temple was a broken house, Ku Jue’s knowledge, Ku Jue’s experience, Ku Jue’s wisdom, scattered like flying dust, nowhere to accommodate.

He was not a brave person, yet he had to face pain. He was not a wealthy person, yet he constantly lost.

Not many people helped him achieve the Dao.

But he had a very, very, very formidable little junior brother.

That youngest Zhen Jun in history, who last year led the Tian Hai Zhen Chang River, was today lecturing the Dao in the Chao Ting Tian Gong. When he proved the Dao throughout all heavens, he propagated the law for this clumsy senior brother, transmitting the "San Bao Ru Lai Jing" to the ten thousand worlds!

Pure ritual's great Bodhi vow was to wish his little junior brother to achieve the Dao.

The little junior brother was very formidable, and simultaneously very difficult.

He had also long decided to become a very formidable person.

Not necessarily a Bodhisattva, not necessarily a Buddha, but must be formidable.

Because he was the senior brother, after the master died, he especially should bear the responsibility of supporting and protecting the junior brother.

Of course, knowing Xiong Zi Du in prison also pushed him a bit.

Xiong Zi Du said, prison friends also counted as friends.

Xiong Zi Du also said at the same time, friends were friends, but accounts had to be settled clearly. They helped each other, and neither could owe the other.

Eating vegetarian, chanting Buddha, as a monk ringing the bell, it was always this principle.

When the national teacher worked, he agreed.

National power pushed and came, the fruit position was not complete.

If he could not return with great power, his golden body would still retreat in the future.

It was not that everyone could "enjoy the weight of the country"; it was that he was originally close at hand.

Many self-confident cultivators would not rely on national power; even in a high position, they would let go of national power's help and go alone.

In worldly affairs, there is taking, and there must be giving. Consuming national power to ascend to the top means one must give feedback to national power. Taking away national power now means one must return more later, otherwise, unable to return with great power, one still has to use one's own power to fill the gap—this is the key reason why the absolute majority of official Dao cultivators fall in realm after retirement.

But for him, who was "heaven-born to achieve the Dao," stepping onto the absolute peak one step earlier meant proving the complete "San Bao Ru Lai Jing" one step earlier.

He already understood more and more.

Some things, being one step earlier or one step later, were too different.

It was a pity he understood too late.

"Little monk! Ah no, now I should call you National Teacher adult!" Xiong Zi Du shouted: "The various adults are gathered in the Ju Ji Dian; there are still court matters to discuss. We just got out of prison and don't know the hardships of the world; it's not good to rashly speak up. Let's walk around and see first, then think about how to bring peace to the country—go, follow this crown prince, let's go to my Tai An Palace and take a look."

Fan Shi Jue swallowed all the Buddha light into his eyes, converging the thirty-two phases, instantly returning to that ordinary appearance.

Perhaps it was precisely because he was ordinary that he had all kinds of possibilities—Xiong Zi Du designed this face precisely to express this "design concept."

Fan Shi Jue also did not care what he looked like; he only cared about whether the position of the great Chu national teacher could help him do what he wanted to do.

Hearing Xiong Zi Du shout this, he said "oh" and then turned to follow Xiong Zi Du out. He was simply a little foolish in appearance, seemingly not remembering at all who had granted him the title of national teacher. He only remembered who had asked for the title for him.

Probably in any country, this was a dangerous statement that needed to be nipped in the bud.

The Son of Heaven of Chu, who always held both military and political power and never allowed anyone to covet it, did not say a word about this today.

"Right!" The moment he walked out of the great hall, Xiong Zi Du turned back and, across the hall door, smiled brightly and said in a loud voice: "Ninth brother and I have very deep emotions. Father, let your son take him back to the palace to play, is that alright?"

This time, he was not standing inside the Ju Ji Dian, and he could call him "Dad" again.

The ninth prince of the great Chu, Xiong Ying Geng, was startled at this moment! Only then did he react, he had followed the crown prince to kneel down, but he had forgotten to follow the crown prince to stand up. At this time, he was sweating profusely and felt his legs were weak.

What did the crown prince want to do?

Settle accounts after the autumn harvest?

He looked pleadingly towards the Dan Bi above, hoping his father emperor could manage things.

Yet he only heard the voice from the Dan Bi above say: "Go."

Go!

Not even a meaningful admonition, just "go!"

Where was this partial heart going?!

Xiong Ying Geng, at this time, on the contrary, felt a kind of annoyance—

Let's see what the crown prince could do to him!

One son is bullied to death by another son; could the wise and martial emperor majesty truly be at peace?

"Crown prince, wait a moment!" He looked up at the Dan Bi with a stiff neck, but he never met that gaze: "This minister brother is coming right away!"

Thus he stood up and walked out of the hall with big angry steps.

He walked too quickly and nearly tripped at the hall door.

Xiong Zi Du reached out with a smile to support him: "My ninth brother, what's wrong with you? Let brother support you a bit."

"No need to trouble!" Xiong Ying Geng suddenly flung his hand away!

Xiong Zi Du retracted his hand, his smile unchanged: "Alright then, younger brother, follow up yourself."

Saying this, he stepped past him and walked forward with big strides.

Fan Shi Jue looked at him curiously and followed Xiong Zi Du out.

Xiong Ying Geng almost gnashed his teeth as he climbed up, hanging far behind the two people.

The vast imperial road in front of the Ju Ji Dian was, at this moment, the world's longest journey of punishment.

Two people wearing prison clothes walked in front, and a man wearing luxurious robes followed behind. It was not clear who was escorting whom.

They just like this came to the carriage representing the Tai An Palace—

Eight heavenly horses pulled a luxurious carriage shaped like a flying corner building. The carvings were done by master craftsmen, large-scale flower and bird paintings.

A standard crown prince's ceremonial carriage.

His father emperor had prepared everything for him!

Xiong Ying Geng's heart ached as he looked, his feet became heavier, and his teeth bit tighter.

The crown prince boarded the carriage, then turned back again, reaching out with a smile to pull: "Ninth brother, come."

Xiong Ying Geng did not reach out, and said stiffly: "This minister brother dares not overstep etiquette; crown prince, please board the carriage first."

"Good younger brother, you are always this careful!" Xiong Zi Du laughed heartily and then钻 into the carriage himself.

Xiong Ying Geng did not climb up at once and nearly fell a tumble again.

This crown prince's carriage looked extremely large from the outside, but upon entering, one saw a different world. It was simply a mobile palace!

Xiong Zi Du casually found a seat and then attended to himself, opening a cabinet and taking out a bottle of wine.

Fan Shi Jue, of course, sat by his side.

"Drink a cup?" Xiong Zi Du asked.

Fan Shi Jue shook his head: "Monks don't drink."

Xiong Zi Du said with a smile: "You are now the great Chu national teacher. Monk's rules are good, companion's rules are good; it's all up to you to decide."

Fan Shi Jue said: "My master didn't let me drink alcohol."

Xiong Zi Du said no more.

Xiong Ying Geng entered the carriage, glanced at Xiong Zi Du, but unlike outside, he was not as respectful and had a stance of a dead pig not fearing boiling water: "It was me who said bad things about you in front of father emperor, and it was also me who fabricated the prophecy of 'Hunt Bear Person Main East Palace'. I have done many things—say it, how do you want to deal with me?"

"Ninth brother, you think too much!" Xiong Zi Du smiled: "If you say it's a fact, how will I deal with you? Didn't I main the East Palace? This is called foresight!"

"Don't play your阴阳 weird, cotton-inside-hide-needle game with me! I don't buy it!" Xiong Ying Geng was aggressive at this point: "Yes, I can't contend with you, you're formidable, I lost. I have nothing to say; I just have this hundred jin of meat here. Kill or cut, you decide!"

Xiong Zi Du laughed happily: "You're still the same as childhood. Hard mouth and stubborn temper."

With a thought put down, everything seemed open.

Xiong Ying Geng appeared more and more at ease, also found a seat, and slanted his eyes, saying: "My good elder brother, if I won, I would also evaluate you like this."

Xiong Zi Du looked at him and said leisurely: "A superhuman cultivator, divine and clear, possessing countless imperial family secret techniques, yet would trip and fall on his own, twice—ninth brother, don't you feel strange?"

Xiong Ying Geng stiffened there.

It was not incomprehensible for a divine and clear superhuman cultivator to trip and fall; being sealed, suppressed, bound, there were too many possibilities.

But for him to be completely unsurprised by this strange matter, that was indeed very strange!

It was even... thrilling!

Xiong Zi Du shook the wine pot, listened slightly to the sound of the wine, and said slowly: "You seem to have forgotten that you have power, and you didn't even know when it was taken away by me. Your power, just like your power and wealth, is all rootless duckweed, ah. Ying Geng."

Puff!

Xiong Ying Geng suddenly knelt on the ground, so frightened that tears burst out: "Elder brother! Ying Geng was wrong! Forgive Ying Geng this time, ah!"

Xiong Zi Du twisted open the wine seal and began to pour the wine slowly and methodically: "Doing wrong things should be punished. You tell me, how should brother punish you?"

Xiong Ying Geng kneeled to Xiong Zi Du's front and looked up: "However elder brother says to punish, so be it. Kill or cut, Ying Geng will absolutely have no resentment!"

"Then—" Xiong Zi Du smiled and put down the wine pot: "Punish you by drinking one cup."

Xiong Ying Geng froze for a moment, only then remembering that his imperial brother had quit alcohol a long time ago.

Only then did he realize that this cup of wine was poured for himself!

He held the cup of wine with both hands and drank it in one gulp. He then flatteringly showed the bottom of the cup to Xiong Zi Du: "Bro, look, I drank it clean!"

"Ninth brother, good alcohol tolerance." Xiong Zi Du smiled and patted his shoulder.

With just this one touch, Xiong Ying Geng instantly felt his power had returned.

Such divine means, lost and regained superhuman power... it completely destroyed his psychological defense.

He threw away the wine cup, hugged Xiong Zi Du's leg, and wailed: "Elder brother, your younger brother was confused, ah!!!"

"Ai, what are you doing?" Xiong Zi Du supported him, then carefully helped him wipe away his tears and helped him sit to the side: "We brothers haven't seen each other for so many years; don't be estranged from me. To say something disrespectful—in the future, when brother sits in the great position, won't I still need you brothers to help govern the world, ah? How can I rest assured with outsiders?"

"From now on, this minister brother will only follow the crown prince's lead!" Xiong Ying Geng stopped wailing and raised his hand to swear: "If I dare to be disloyal to the crown prince, may Ying Geng be torn apart by five horses and die a bad death!"

Xiong Zi Du held his hand: "I don't want you to die a bad death; I want you to live well. Ninth brother, the family and country will last for thousands of years; how can there be no king with the surname Xiong? Among the several brothers and sisters, I always look upon you most favorably."

Xiong Ying Geng was full of ambition for a time: "This minister brother will exert his utmost effort and must not disappoint the crown prince's trust!"

Xiong Zi Du smiled, suddenly thinking of something, and said again: "Right, ninth brother, I heard that inside the mansion of the New Yang Earl, there is a kasaya that seems to have been left by some Ku Xing Zen Master... is that so?"

The New Yang Earl Wu Shou Jing was exactly Xiong Ying Geng's maternal grandfather, the birth father of Consort Wu in the palace.

"Seems to be?" Xiong Ying Geng was not too sure, but his attitude was very clear: "If it is useful to the imperial brother, this minister brother will immediately bring it!"

Xiong Zi Du laughed lightly: "This kasaya is of no use for you to keep; brother has been researching Buddhism lately and is a bit interested—if it's convenient, just help brother bring it."

"Of course." He lightly dusted his clothes corner: "Being close to Buddhism is not a good thing for the royal family, ninth brother, don't learn that."

"This minister brother understands!" Xiong Ying Geng nodded hard: "Before sunset, this piece of kasaya will be delivered to the crown prince's palace. I guarantee no one will know about this matter. If mother asks, this minister brother will just say I wanted to use it myself!"

"Good younger brother." Xiong Zi Du smiled warmly: "Brother didn't spoil you for nothing."