Chapter 863 - 858: Transcending Samsara
"Hahahahaha..."
The hearty laughter spread across the Turtle Ship Deck.
Beiming Jihu sat on the deck ground, his Zha Armor cut open with two shallow blood marks crossing on his chest.
Bai Pu stood opposite him, showing no injuries, though beneath his feet, the deck had a giant spiderweb-like crack.
A group of Black Tortoise Oath logistics personnel hurried over to repair the ship.
They whispered to themselves, thankful for the Protective Spell, otherwise this sparring would have dismantled the Turtle Ship entirely.
After laughing, Beiming Jihu slowly spoke, "Remarkable, Gangxin. Although I knew your strength was extraordinary after the battle at Black Heaven Palace, it is only after actually fighting that I am genuinely convinced."
Dong Bochengzhi sat nearby, smiling, "Master Beiming Jihu, have you let go?"
"Yes, I have let go. Being the world’s best is merely an empty title. Instead of striving to be the highest mountain, it is better to be humble and accommodating, to be the deepest sea."
Beiming Jihu spoke eloquently, and his demeanor changed significantly compared to before.
Gone was the crushing aura like a mountain; he now seemed more akin to an unfathomable depth of the ocean.
Bai Pu smiled and said, "Master Beiming Jihu’s strength is formidable, actually in terms of Sword Skill, I am not as good as you; I merely had the advantage of Physique and weapons."
Through this battle, Bai Pu confirmed the results of his two days of Enlightenment and gained considerable insight.
Beiming Jihu stood up and said, "Gangxin, you don’t need to spare my feelings. You still have the powerful Mystical Arts Techniques from the duel with Great Dark Heaven (The Wrath of the Immortal King) yet to recover, strictly speaking, I had the upper hand. You are a force who defeated Great Dark Heaven, losing to you is quite normal."
As he spoke, Beiming Jihu turned to Dong Bochengzhi, "Our duel will be postponed. The duel with Gangxin has benefited me greatly and requires careful reflection."
Dong Bochengzhi nodded in agreement.
After Beiming Jihu and others left, Bai Pu and Dong Bochengzhi stood on the Turtle Ship Deck.
Bai Pu was the first to speak, "Dongbo, do you have something for me?"
Dong Bochengzhi nodded, suddenly saying unexpectedly, "Gangxin, you and Great Dark Heaven aren’t from this world, are you?"
Bai Pu chuckled, unsurprised, "You finally realized. It was during the showdown with Great Dark Heaven, when I was talking to the Black Emperor."
Two days ago, Bai Pu learned from Dongbo Longjie that Dong Bochengzhi had something he wanted to discuss with him.
Bai Pu felt slightly perplexed—Dong Bochengzhi was taking it very seriously. Quickly recalling any past odd behavior from Dong Bochengzhi, Bai Pu remembered Dongbo Chengzhi’s strange expression during the showdown with Great Dark Heaven, seeming to momentarily understand Bai Pu and Great Dark Heaven’s encrypted exchange.
"Yes. I find it strange... your conversation was not secretly conveyed, why did only I hear it, but Master Beiming Jihu and Elder Zhu Que did not?"
Dong Bochengzhi was very confused.
"What about the White Dragon Fang?" Bai Pu asked.
Dong Bochengzhi drew this Cyan Dragon Oath ancestor weapon from his waist.
"You heard it, Beiming Jihu and Zhu Que did not. The reason, we call it the ’World Mystery’. I suspect, the White Dragon Fang helped you break through the limitations of the World Mystery. This might relate to Emperor Qing... or rather, your ancestor Dongbo Yue people.
"He used White Dragon Fang as a medium for memories, then entrusted White Dragon Fang to you, which made White Dragon Fang a bridge for you to break through the World Mystery."
Dong Bochengzhi solemnly asked:
"What is the World Mystery?"
Bai Pu looked at him, "Are you sure you want to know? If you learn all of this, your familial ties, beliefs, even your personality will experience a great upheaval."
Dong Bochengzhi earnestly nodded, "I’m sure."
"Alright... I respect your decision."
With Dong Bochengzhi holding the White Dragon Fang, Bai Pu explained the contents of the World Mystery, unencrypted.
Following Bai Pu’s detailed explanation, Dong Bochengzhi’s expression was very dynamic.
"Our world... is called the Heart Demon World? My memories are altered by some existence... Outside the Heart Demon World, there lies such vast heavens and earth!"
Dong Bochengzhi’s confusion was cleared, as if clouds parted to reveal the blue sky.
But as Bai Pu mentioned, his understanding of the world, including familial and sectarian perceptions, oath camp beliefs, underwent dramatic change.
Dong Bochengzhi couldn’t help but grasp Bai Pu’s hand, "How can I break free from the cycles of the Heart Demon World, like you?"
Bai Pu countered, "Have you seen Black Shark Queen Mei Xi? She has already broken free of the cycle. However, the cost is quite heavy, you may find it unbearable."
There are very few means to help the Natives break free from the cycle.
Bai Pu’s Pure Blood is considered one such means, though with side effects—the Native becomes Bai Pu’s "Pure Blood Servant."
Dong Bochengzhi said based on his understanding, "To become your Demon Servant like the Black Shark Queen?"
Bai Pu quickly explained, "Uh... not considered a Demon Servant because humans, beasts, any Life can be summoned by my Pure Blood."
Dong Bochengzhi hesitated slightly, "I... I want to think about it."
If Dong Bochengzhi were a woman, due to the magnetism of opposites, under Bai Pu’s charm, perhaps he might agree immediately.
This correlates with the Queen Dowager of Sweden, Source Blood Demon Master—Lady Qin.
Similarly, Bai Pu’s Apostles and Slaves are mostly female, due to the attraction of opposites, the interplay of yin and yang, truly the great truth.
Bai Pu said, "Take your time to think. I will be on the Turtle Ship, will ponder for another day or two, then leave this world."
After a pause, Bai Pu continued, "But you need not decide hastily. After I leave, you can still go find Mei Xi. She also possesses the ability to free you from the cycle."
"Black Shark Queen Mei Xi... where is she?"
Bai Pu replied, "After dealing with Jade Fall and Yellow Springs, she returned to the Broken Island Reef, to the underwater flower field."
To destroy the Black Emperor’s Source of Demonic Power, Bai Pu paid a hefty price—giving Mei Xi a drop of Source Blood.
Fortunately, Mei Xi showed resilience, after becoming a Source Blood Apostle, her Template upgraded, reaching Lord Level, comparable to the Demon Servant Blood Bat.
In the underground of Profound Water Palace, aided by the Power of Water Resistance from the Black Shark King Bead, Mei Xi narrowly escaped the impact of Jade Fall and Yellow Springs’ explosion.
Amidst the chaos in Profound Water Palace, she and Blood Bat quietly sneaked back to the flower field of the Broken Island Reef, leading her clan.
After understanding the World Mystery, Mei Xi instinctively wanted the Black Shark Race to break free from the Heart Demon World’s confines.
Yet, at present, she pledged loyalty to Bai Pu, so when it comes to developing Pure Blood Servants within this world, chosen targets must align with Bai Pu’s interests.