The more True Monarch Yanshi listened, the deeper his brow furrowed. Rising to his feet, he picked up a jade bowl, poured clear water into it, and added a single drop of ink, quietly observing the trails as the ink dispersed.
Suddenly, with a crisp snap, the jade bowl cracked!
The drop of ink dissolved into the air, slowly unfurling like a blooming black lotus!
True Monarch Yanshi snorted. Reaching out, he clutched the black lotus in his fist and snuffed it out before it could fully take shape.
True Monarch Yanshi then took a square of white cloth and slowly wiped the ink stains from his hand. The black stains thrashed back and forth across the cloth, struggling in vain to break free from their cage. Folding the cloth neatly, True Monarch Yanshi placed it beneath the incense burner on the altar table beside him, then inserted three sticks of clear incense.
Wei Yuan was thoroughly astonished. This was the first time he had ever seen True Monarch Yanshi suffer a setback in matters of karmic luck and divination. Having already gained some proficiency in feng shui formations, Wei Yuan could tell that an incense burner paired with three sticks of clear incense constituted an exceptionally formidable suppression method. To think that mere ink stains required such an art to suppress!
That drop of ink had originally been just a primer True Monarch Yanshi used to divine the matter. Yet after catching even a sliver of the karma, it had spontaneously developed spirituality, turning vicious in the extreme. Had True Monarch Yanshi not presided over the formation himself, an ordinary dharma idol cultivator likely would have perished at the hands of that single drop of ink—without anyone ever knowing how they died.
Having suppressed the spiritualized ink, True Monarch Yanshi took his seat, raised his teacup, and took a sip. His hand was trembling ever so slightly. Only after the mouthful of spiritual tea entered his belly did his aura slowly begin to recover.
After pondering for a moment, Yanshi finally spoke: "The karma you entangled yourself with this time is hardly something an Arhat should possess—even a Buddha might be no more than this. If he truly holds merely the karmic attainment of an Arhat, then matters are all the more troublesome. This is no ordinary karma. Still, you cannot be blamed. You were likely unaware at the time, and merely agreed with a portion of that Arhat's ideals in the secret realm. Thus, the true blood acknowledged you as a successor to his mantle, and you inherited the karma on the spot. Did you take anything from the secret realm back then?"
Wei Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He then manifested the Red Lotus Bodhi and said, "The Arhat bestowed this tree upon me."
True Monarch Yanshi circled the Red Lotus Bodhi three times, murmuring in praise, "It is bodhi, yet not bodhi. It carries great compassion as well as great ruin and extinction; it can cleanse samsara and purge karmic debt. Truly a divine treasure!"
True Monarch Yanshi gestured for Wei Yuan to put the tree away, then continued, "It is indeed an inheritance of karma. By accepting this tree, you incurred the karma, and you are bound to uphold the Arhat's mantle."
Wei Yuan gave a wry smile. "If I hadn't entered the Arhat Secret Realm back then, I suppose none of these troubles would have happened?"
True Monarch Yanshi shook his head. "When Immortals and Buddhas lay their schemes, how could you ever escape? This Arhat's methods are far more formidable than Palace Master Pei's karmic destiny angling. Even if you had not entered the Arhat Secret Realm that day, on some other day, through some other event, you would still have stumbled into it.
"This is the traction of karmic luck. You can regard it as an exceptionally potent form of karmic destiny angling. Those bound by destiny will travel ten thousand li of their own accord; the more one tries to evade it, the more easily one takes the bait. Only after biting the hook do the subsequent responses become something you can control.
"To put it simply, you were bound to meet the Arhat, and bound to be given the chance to inherit his karmic legacy. But had you not agreed with his doctrine and principles, the Red Lotus Bodhi would never have reached your hands, and you would merely have made an empty trip through the secret realm. In all likelihood, over the countless years prior, quite a few people must have entered the Arhat Secret Realm, yet all possessed destiny without affinity. Until he met you."
Wei Yuan felt a sudden headache. He had merely taken a tree, yet it brought such an avalanche of trouble. He asked, "And who was that boy just now?"
Yanshi shook his head. "I have no clue either. Only that their conduct seems somewhat distinct from the Great Precious Flower Pure Land—their fundamental doctrines likely differ. They place greater emphasis on karma, carrying the intent of great cataclysm and ruin. This is distinctly different from the Great Precious Flower Pure Land; they ought not to be of the same flock.
"In the Dao of Karma, they possess vast supernatural powers, capable of tracing karmic ties to track their targets and manifest divine abilities. However, their actions appear subject to heavy restrictions. While seemingly sinister and terrifying, the power they can actually wield is exceedingly limited."
"Then what should I do now? Is there any possibility of reconciliation?" Wei Yuan was already beset with affairs from all sides and had no desire to be inexplicably tangled in this karma.
Furthermore, during his instruction at the Palace of Grand Beginning, he had long been taught that whenever one encountered the schemes of Immortals and Buddhas, one should flee as far as possible and avoid getting tainted at all costs; otherwise, one might die without ever knowing why.
True Monarch Yanshi pondered deeply for a moment before speaking slowly: "The karma has already been generated, and the destiny arranged by the Immortals and Buddhas has run its course. From here on out, everything is an unknown variable. In my view, since you accepted this Arhat's karma, you have defied the arrangements of Immortals and Buddhas. There is no possibility of easing tensions—unless you can personally sever the legacy and karma with your own hands and return it all to the other party. Hmm, you must have other karmic ties from the secret realm, surely more than just a single Red Lotus Bodhi. But since you prefer not to say, I shall not pry."
Wei Yuan thought silently for a moment before saying, "I cannot do that."
The Red Lotus Bodhi was merely a minor part of the karma; the true karmic legacy was the Young King of Chu and Consort Yuan. Wei Yuan knew full well how this karma could be brought to an end: he would have to kill the Young King of Chu and Consort Yuan with his own hands. Indeed, the Young King of Chu alone would not suffice; Consort Yuan would have to be slain as well to achieve a complete severance, and this deed could not be delegated to another.
Handing over Consort Yuan and the Young King of Chu would also work, but relying on intuition and what he had witnessed in the secret realm back then, Wei Yuan had a faint premonition that surrendering them would lead to a fate worse than death—far worse than killing them outright.
Thus, it was already too late to sever this thread of karma.
No matter how Wei Yuan and Consort Yuan had begun, they had already come this far. Could he sit by and watch them die merely because it defied the designs of the celestial Immortals and Buddhas?
Even if this was an ill-fated bond, and even if Wei Yuan would not lay down his life for Consort Yuan or the Young King of Chu, within the bounds of his ability, he would still do everything he could to protect them. If one could not even safeguard the people close to oneself, what was the point of cultivating mighty power?
At that very moment, True Monarch Yanshi's expression abruptly shifted. Grabbing Wei Yuan, he vanished from the hall in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the two appeared inside a secluded cave dwelling. The furnishings here were extraordinarily sparse; aside from a prayer mat of spirit treasure caliber, there was not a single other object.
This was Ji Liuli's place of secluded cultivation. Yet right now, she was collapsed on the ground, her face twisted in agony, her breath as faint as gossamer!
True Monarch Yanshi immediately shielded her primordial spirit, pulled out a medicinal vial, and fed her three pills in succession. Only after three whole soul-anchoring, life-preserving immortal pills went down did Ji Liuli's breathing stabilize, her nearly dissipated soul recongealing.
Wei Yuan suddenly turned his head to see the boy materialize once more. His twisted little face was filled with gloating malice, and he hissed through gritted teeth, "You dared burn me! This woman is your warning!"
Wei Yuan abruptly raised his hand, and the Crimson Night Immortal-Slaying Sword swept across the boy's neck!
The boy looked stunned as his bisected body dissolved into nothingness, leaving not a trace behind.
True Monarch Yanshi looked back. "What are you doing?"
"I saw him again just now—that same boy. He said this was merely a warning."
True Monarch Yanshi frowned. "I didn't perceive him at all. It truly seems to be the handiwork of Immortals and Buddhas."
"How is Eldest Senior Sister?"
"We'll speak outside." With a light wave of his wide sleeve, all three were suddenly inside a quiet courtyard. Ji Liuli lay on a bed, still unconscious.
True Monarch Yanshi instructed a maidservant to take good care of Ji Liuli, then walked into the main hall with Wei Yuan. He sighed: "Originally, there was a minor flaw in her Dao heart. But the heritage of my lineage adheres to the principle that Heaven unfolds forty-nine and man eludes as the one; thus, this flaw was of no great consequence. A Dao heart without flaw is actually far from ideal.
"So I paid it little mind at the time, merely using arts of karmic luck to mask the flaw and allow her to choose an opportune moment to achieve her dharma idol. Who would have thought the adversary would exploit this very opening?"
Recalling the boy's bizarre, unfathomable methods—capable of eluding even True Monarch Yanshi—Wei Yuan felt a profound headache coming on. He asked, "Is Eldest Senior Sister in serious danger? Are the methods of Immortals and Buddhas truly insoluble?"
True Monarch Yanshi gave a cold snort. "My Palace of Grand Beginning has Immortals of its own, and the Northern Mountain Gate has seen three Immortal Monarchs enter nirvana right here. Though they possess methods of Immortals and Buddhas that are hard to guard against, the power they can transmit across the void is exceedingly limited; they cannot stir up any great waves. The karma on Liuli has now been cleared, so they can no longer strike at her. It is just that the flaw in her Dao heart has now been magnified. If it isn't thoroughly resolved, she will likely find it difficult to attain a dharma idol."
Wei Yuan said, "This matter arose because of me. If there is anything within my power to do, I will certainly spare no effort."
Yanshi nodded slowly, then began pacing back and forth across the room, circling dozens of times without pause. One had to understand that he stood merely a single step away from Unity, his state of mind naturally transcendent. To pace endlessly like this showed just how perturbed his mind had become.
True Monarch Yanshi suddenly picked up a teacup, pinched the lid between two fingers, flicked off the droplets, and prepared to spin it. This was his world-renowned method of shifting luck, capable of causing someone to die without a sound.
Yet the methods of karmic luck had many limitations, and the opponent possessed profound cultivation in the Dao of Karma. Were Yanshi to spin this lid with two fingers, he would likely have to pay a tremendous price.
Yet True Monarch Yanshi, appearing as a young Daoist, wore a resolute expression, gradually hardening his resolve!
Before spinning the lid, the young Daoist said to Wei Yuan, "This matter is truly intolerable! If I do nothing, they will really think my Palace of Grand Beginning is an easy target to bully! How do you plan to handle this?"
True Monarch Yanshi's original intent with this question had merely been to test him, expecting no real answer. Yet Wei Yuan said calmly, "Since their background remains unknown, this disciple has no great method to counter them either and can only take things one step at a time. My current plan is to take this true blood back and sell it to the Shamans."
Broadly experienced and knowledgeable as True Monarch Yanshi was, he was still taken aback by these words. "Sell it to the Shamans? Why sell it to the Shamans?"
Wei Yuan said, "For hundreds of thousands of years, the Shamans have used humans as sacrifices; no one knows better than them how to exploit the flesh and blood of high-cultivation human cultivators. These droplets of true blood conceal that boy's split soul. Even if we refine them with fire or erode them with water, it would be difficult to harm his foundation. Just now, when I slashed him with the immortal sword, that strand of his split soul was still able to return to his true body without being annihilated.
"However, once this true blood falls into the hands of the Shamans, not only will that strand of split soul have no hope of escaping, but the Shamans will most likely follow the vine to the melon and carve another large chunk straight from his true body. Since he was arrogant enough to lodge his split soul in the true blood to plot against us, he will surely swallow a bitter pill this time—one that will take him centuries to recover from."
Wei Yuan added, "Moreover, this true blood isn't cheap. This disciple can turn quite a profit as well."
True Monarch Yanshi listened in stunned silence. In the end, he could only marvel that old scoundrel Chunqiu truly had a worthy successor—not merely surpassing his master in blue, but so blue that he had turned black!
Chapter 459