Dark Tresses

The eminent monks exchanged glances, their eyes turning cold. As the debate had progressed, their impression of the Moonlight Bodhisattva had shifted. This person truly lived up to the reputation, possessing a profound understanding of Buddhist scripture and doctrine, speaking from commanding heights with impeccable logic. They had already prepared themselves to lose this debate and present their scriptures with both hands. Once defeated, they would have no right to demand that the opponent strip away the title of "Bodhisattva." Yet unexpectedly, the situation had changed! "So this was your true objective?" Venerable Chengzhen glared at the Moonlight Bodhisattva, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes. Upon learning of trouble at the temple, their first reaction was that this was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Moonlight Bodhisattva. The Moonlight Bodhisattva had emerged from the depths of the Western Desert, mysterious in origin. After making a name across the Snow-Linked Mountains and the Three Thousand Buddhist Kingdoms, the Bodhisattva had approached the Vast Sea step by step. The entire world watched closely. Throughout this journey, the Moonlight Bodhisattva sought out eminent monks everywhere to debate scriptures, with a pure and unwavering goal: the sole demand was that upon defeat, the opponents must offer up precious texts treasured in their Scripture Depositories. Never had there been any sinister intent. Although the Moonlight Bodhisattva had caused the Buddhist sects to lose face, their vigilance against the figure had actually lessened. For this very reason, Zhulan Temple had dispatched two Venerables, along with experts from various other temples, to come and witness how capable this Moonlight Bodhisattva truly was. In the cultivation world, conspiracies spanning a century or even hundreds of years were commonplace. It made complete sense if the Moonlight Bodhisattva had patiently laid a trap just to lure them away from their temple. Until today, when the dagger was finally revealed! The Moonlight Bodhisattva was of mysterious origin. The thieves who had infiltrated Zhulan Temple were likewise mysterious experts whose backgrounds were unknown. With such coincidences lining up, it was hard not to suspect a connection. In the blink of an eye, the jade pendant at Venerable Guan Hui's waist also shattered, as the disciples in the temple finally managed to activate a transmission array and send a brief message. The contents of that message caused both Venerables to draw in a sharp breath of cold air. In such a brief span, the temple's supreme treasure had been stolen, its protective spirit array breached, and even when Venerable Chengyuan used a self-damaging secret art, he had failed to stop the culprits. *Crack!* Veins throbbed at Venerable Chengzhen's temple as he crushed his prayer beads, wooden splinters showering down from between his fingers. *Whoosh! Whoosh!* Figures flashed in rapid succession as the monks surrounded the Moonlight Bodhisattva on all sides. The younger monks had grown dizzy and frustrated from listening to the debate earlier, already disliking the Moonlight Bodhisattva. Receiving the signal, they rallied their spirits and swiftly formed a battle array. Better to kill by mistake than let a culprit slip away! Returning to Zhulan Temple now would be too late. If the Moonlight Bodhisattva was indeed the mastermind, capturing this figure would still offer a chance to turn the tables. Noticing the strange turn, the Moonlight Bodhisattva cut short the laughter, slightly raising the head beneath the bamboo hat. With the Moonlight Bodhisattva's sharp mind, even without knowing the details of what had occurred, the tone of Venerable Chengzhen and the behavior of the monks were enough to guess a fair portion of the truth. "A bunch of fools!" Besieged by the monks, the Moonlight Bodhisattva showed not the slightest fear, only tossing out mocking words. Despite being so close, the Bodhisattva's voice still held an ethereal quality, impossible to distinguish as male or female—fitting the legends of a Bodhisattva transcending gender, assuming ten thousand forms and manifestations. "Insolent demon, submit your head!" Venerable Chengzhen bellowed in furious rage, first branding the Moonlight Bodhisattva as an insidious demon. "Demon, submit your head!" The monks lowered their brows and shouted in unison. Their voices roared like lions, bringing a chilling, solemn air laden with the power to cow the spirit. In an instant, the monks moved in unison, shifting at extreme speeds like illusions or lightning, until the naked eye could no longer tell whether beneath the bodhi tree stood a single monk or thousands. Only the Moonlight Bodhisattva stood alone, encircled so tightly that not even wind could slip through, with no way to flee. Yet in the next moment, an astonishing scene unfolded. The Moonlight Bodhisattva sat cross-legged where they were; without any visible movement, the figure suddenly vanished into thin air. Right from the center of the array formed by the monks, vanished without a trace. Venerable Chengzhen knew that the Moonlight Bodhisattva was bound to have means of escape and had prepared various divine abilities and treasures in anticipation. Yet unexpectedly, none proved of any use. He could not perceive in the slightest what method the Moonlight Bodhisattva had used to get away. "Overestimating yourselves! You think you few could hold this Bodhisattva?" A mocking shout echoed from the void into the monks' ears. The Venerables reacted with great speed, shooting into the sky and fanning out in all directions upon hearing the voice. Yet all they saw was a cloudless sky of ten thousand li and yellow sand everywhere; the Moonlight Bodhisattva was already long gone. Exchanging glances, the Venerables wore expressions of helpless resignation. Finding nothing after a meticulous search, they had no choice but to lead the monks back to the temple in dejection. Once the monks had departed, the Moonlight Bodhisattva stepped out from the shadow of the bodhi tree, looking toward the direction of the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea. A huff of annoyance came from beneath the bamboo hat. "How dare you use this Bodhisattva as a pawn and ruin my business. You'd better hope I don't catch you!" Before the words had completely faded, the Moonlight Bodhisattva strode into the sea of sand, trailing the monks in secret toward the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea. With steps deceptively slow yet remarkably swift, the figure vanished among the dunes in an instant. *** Zhulan Temple. Qin Sang and Liuli finally broke out from the temple-protecting spirit array. No longer constrained as they had been moments ago, they also did not have to worry about being caught like turtles in a jar. Qin Sang's gaze quickly swept over their surroundings. Besides Venerable Kongyu, several points of light were flying over from afar; the Nascent Soul Venerables from other temples were nearly upon them. "Go!" Qin Sang barked in a low voice. Liuli gave a nod. With a wave of her jade hand, she recalled the Fourfold Tengshe Seal, paid no heed to anything else, and plummeted downward. In a few flashes, she melted into the vast sea of people, disappearing among the city streets. This had been Qin Sang and Liuli's prearranged plan. Liuli was not skilled in escape arts, and wielding a spirit treasure consumed enormous energy. Qin Sang naturally took it upon himself to bring up the rear. Naturally, before disengaging, Liuli had not forgotten to direct the lingering might of the Tengshe to pounce toward Venerable Kongyu. Seeing the majesty of a spirit treasure, Venerable Kongyu was terrified, though his reflexes were swift. Inverting the alms bowl in his hand, he capped it over himself for protection while retreating in rapid succession. Venerable Kongyu was not entirely devoid of counterattacking strength. In his other hand, he held a pair of iron cangues in secret. As his sleeve fluttered, he was just about to hurl them at Liuli when he suddenly heard Venerable Chengyuan's urgent shout, hastily redirecting his aim toward Qin Sang. The iron cangues appeared exceedingly heavy. With a sharp clang, they split in two, linked by chains formed of light that carried a potent binding force. Crashing down toward Qin Sang with the momentum of thunder, judging by this ferocious display, it was meant to smash Qin Sang into minced meat rather than capture him. Unfortunately, the external incarnation had been keeping a close eye on Venerable Kongyu. The moment the iron cangues were unleashed, the Jinchen Sword whistled through the air, forcing Venerable Kongyu back again so he could no longer threaten Qin Sang. At the same time, dazzling blue light erupted in the void between Qin Sang and Venerable Kongyu, forming a thick wall of ice. *Boom!* A gaping hole was smashed through the ice wall, sending shards of ice flying in every direction. Though the iron cangues were heavy and powerful, their momentum was hindered, and the chains swinging between them slowed noticeably, greatly weakening their binding force. Qin Sang's escape light swerved, effortlessly breaking free from the iron cangues' lock. Immediately after, he felt a violent gust surging from behind, knowing that Venerable Chengyuan was pursuing him. *Whoosh!* The demonic fire converged into a flame dragon, clashing head-on with the precept saber. Without the empowerment of that saber intent, the weapon's power was drastically reduced and failed to pierce the demonic fire. Having forced Venerable Kongyu back, the external incarnation recalled the sword. The secondary Nascent Soul merged back into the main body, while the physical incarnation slipped into the corpse puppet bag. Qin Sang let out a hearty laugh and sped away in flight. The two Venerables pursued him for a while, but outmatched in speed, they could only watch helplessly as Qin Sang escaped into the distance. By the time the other reinforcements arrived, it was all in vain. *** Deep in the desert, far from any oasis. Upon an unremarkable stretch of Gobi, several rocky hills connected to form what could barely be called a mountain range cutting across the terrain. Bare and rocky, without a speck of green, they blended seamlessly into the surrounding desert. The only trace of life was perhaps the scattered bodhi trees across the Gobi; in the depths of autumn, their yellowed leaves fluttered to the ground, desolate and forlorn. Having shaken off the pursuers, Qin Sang had flown here without a moment's pause. Here lay a secluded cave dwelling they had established beforehand, their agreed meeting spot. Shortly after he landed, a figure emerged from the desert—it was Liuli. The two looked at each other; seeing that neither was harmed in the least, both wore relaxed smiles. Qin Sang reined in his smile and said gravely, "Something is wrong with the relic. It must be refined right now..." Liuli nodded. "I will stand guard." The cave dwelling was sealed. Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the ground, finally having the time to examine the relic closely. That power was already nearing the brink of bursting through his suppression. Unfolding his palm, the relic shone brilliantly, forming rings of multicolored halos that lit up the cave dwelling truly like Buddhist radiance. The halos rose and fell, as if breathing. Qin Sang gazed at it for a moment, then half-closed his eyes, cautiously mobilizing his divine sense to perceive the energy inside the relic. The instant contact was made, Qin Sang's brows furrowed. What he sensed within was not merely violent energy, but also vague, chaotic thoughts, as though entering the mind of a madman filled with demonic delusions. After a brief hesitation, Qin Sang carefully loosened his control. A surge of energy rushed wildly into his body, immediately subjecting his Nascent Soul to a tearing, agonizing pain. Not only that, auditory hallucinations rang in his ears as remnant demonic delusions incessantly assaulted his essence soul. Naturally, these demonic delusions could not sway Qin Sang. He focused entirely on steadying his Nascent Soul, enduring wave after wave of pain. This sensation was somewhat akin to being in the Body Cleansing Pool, yet fundamentally distinct: only the Nascent Soul was enduring the impact, while his physical body and meridians remained unaffected. The Body Cleansing Pool enhanced one's talent for absorbing spiritual energy—to use an analogy, it improved the structural foundation of the Nascent Soul. Now, after assimilating this energy, the Nascent Soul became more solid and condensed than before, refined through the crucible of pain. It reminded Qin Sang of the bodhi initiation mentioned in Buddhist scriptures; this state clearly held immense benefits for future breakthroughs. At this point, Qin Sang roughly understood the whole story. This energy originating from the exotic treasure was both an opportunity and a peril, and it must have been far more violent back then. When Venerable Hongyi sought to break through with this treasure, he had failed to endure the dual shock to his Nascent Soul and essence soul, perishing on the spot. In his dying moments, Venerable Hongyi had somehow merged his life's essence into the exotic treasure to leave a legacy for posterity. Alas, he had lacked the strength to leave behind any explanation, leaving this precious gem covered in dust. Because of this event, with Venerable Hongyi's "seal" serving as a buffer, Xiaoxiangzi had judged that later generations would face vastly reduced danger when refining the relic. However, that "seal" had worn thin with time. Now that the relic was on the verge of collapse, it had grown dangerous once more. Naturally, it was nowhere near as perilous as in the beginning, for they could still guide the energy before the "seal" completely vanished. "Quickly, seal the cave dwelling and let us refine this treasure together!" Qin Sang called out, then swiftly turned his attention back to stabilizing his Nascent Soul. Liuli was slightly taken aback. Confirming there was no anomaly outside, she sat cross-legged opposite Qin Sang, raised her jade hand, and touched the relic. When their divine senses touched, Liuli instantly understood what was happening. Following Qin Sang's direction, she took over a portion of the seal, guiding a stream of energy into her own body. In the next instant, Liuli let out a muffled groan, her body trembling. She had no jade Buddha to protect her, nor had she undergone the baptism of the Body Cleansing Pool. Facing the dual shock, she nearly collapsed on the spot from the excruciating pain, but managed to endure through her formidable willpower. Inside the cave dwelling, Qin Sang and Liuli pressed their palms together, wrapped in the multicolored halos, presenting an image of serene tranquility. In truth, tempestuous waves battered the inside of their bodies without cease. After an incense stick's time, Liuli was the first to reach her limit and pulled her hand back sharply. Calming her ragged breathing, she slowly opened her eyes, a dazed look in them as she had not yet fully awakened from the relic's influence. The demonic delusions lingering in the relic were not pure madness; fragments of information had flooded into their minds along with them, making them feel as if they had become another person, nearly submerging them in that foreign world. Fortunately, the information was broken and disjointed, allowing Liuli to retain her sense of self. Most of it was useless, yet certain pieces held immense value. It was precisely from this that Liuli's confusion stemmed. Gradually, clarity returned to Liuli's eyes. Her gaze fell upon Qin Sang and saw that he was still refining the remaining energy of the relic, showing no signs of flagging for now. Her eyelids fluttering gently, Liuli closed her eyes once more, remaining in the chamber to lend a hand should anything happen to Qin Sang. Before long, the glow of the relic gradually faded, its energy finally spent. Qin Sang awoke from his meditation and exhaled a long breath. As he came to, the information gleaned from the demonic delusions rushed like a tide into his mind. Looking at Liuli, a complex emotion surfaced in Qin Sang's eyes. He sighed silently, rose, and went to another chamber to meditate in peace. *** Suffering! Origin! Cessation! The Path! Four golden characters blazed brightly in Liuli's mind, seeming to hold boundless wisdom that deafened the ears and stirred the spirit. While refining the relic, they had unexpectedly obtained a secret art for severing mortal entanglements and cutting through emotion with the sword of wisdom. What she valued was not how powerful this secret art was. To rid herself of the evil cultivation brand, Liuli had previously tried Locking Emotions with Silver Needles and Freezing Heart with Ice Soul. For various reasons, all had failed. At Mount Jiujia, she had listened to the Moonlight Bodhisattva debate scriptures with the monks, gaining a deeper understanding of the Dharma. Inspired back then, the thought of seeking deliverance through Buddhism had taken root. She had never expected to obtain it so soon. Only, to cultivate this method, one had to enter the Buddhist order, sever mortal ties, and purify the six senses before any attainment could be reached. Without realizing it, Liuli had opened her eyes, a faint ripple stirring in her clear gaze. Before the Sacred Ground opened, though she had crossed paths with Qin Sang several times, she could hardly claim to know him, knowing of his deeds mostly through hearsay. It was not until the battle in the Sacred Ground that she fought side by side with Qin Sang for almost the entire journey. Facing the formidable Yin Changsheng, unleashing technique after technique, giving his all, never giving up—just as he had done when cornered by Earl Dongyang's schemes, fighting to the death for a sliver of hope. Facing a horde of demons that included two great cultivators, charging into the dragon's lair with her and suppressing them all with peerless mettle. Letting slip no possibility, traveling across countless li to Zhongzhou in search of an ethereal opportunity—such devotion to the Dao was something she resonated with deeply. And then... Clearly able to easily claim a Nascent Soul-stage servant, yet holding firmly to his bottom line and keeping the impact on her to an absolute minimum. Carrying a person on his back, journeying across thousands and tens of thousands of li to seek a way to save her life—such perseverance and tenderness. Yet. When all these impressions of Qin Sang converged onto the brand of that evil art, they all paled in comparison. The terrifying feeling when the brand was completely released was like a nightmare; whenever it returned in her dreams, Liuli shuddered from head to toe. Was it real? Was it an illusion? *** The ward was touched. Qin Sang awoke from his meditation. Seeming to sense something, he rose rather slowly and gently pushed open the stone door. Liuli stood outside, resting the Fourfold Tengshe Seal and a jade slip in her palm. "Inside is the complete Tongbao Formula," Liuli said softly. Qin Sang looked into Liuli's eyes and took the treasures with both hands. Though he understood what choice someone of her decisiveness would make, he could not help asking, "You have decided?" Liuli nodded. "If I receive word of the Ghost Mother, I will send word through Liuzhou Hall." Qin Sang parted his lips, but ten thousand words melted into a single phrase: "Thank you." Liuli lifted her eyes slightly, letting her gaze linger on Qin Sang's face. "Fellow Daoist Qin, until we meet again!" With that, Liuli pressed her palms together, turned, and walked down the mountain. Her steps were firm as she set off to seek her own Dao. The setting sun sank in the west, scattering golden radiance across a sky filled with evening clouds of gold. She undid her cloak; beneath, she had already donned a monk's dark robe and straw sandals. The sword of wisdom severed the threads of emotion! Three thousand strands of dark hair fell; lotuses bloomed with every step. The evening glow fell upon her, like the illumination of Buddhist radiance, as if entering the Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli. Qin Sang stepped outside the cave dwelling and leaned against a bodhi tree, watching Liuli's retreating figure, speechless for a long time. Suddenly struck by a feeling, he gently raised his right hand. A strand of black hair, carrying a wisp of delicate fragrance, drifted into his palm and coiled around his fingertips, swaying softly in the breeze. Standing there for a long time, Qin Sang opened his fingers. Together with the withered leaves filling the sky, the dark strand was swept into the boundless wind and sand, as if transforming into the shadow of a butterfly, dancing gracefully, drifting farther and farther away.