Scripture of Days Past

"I was on the cusp of a breakthrough in my martial arts cultivation, so I've been cultivating in seclusion," Chu Qiguang explained. "I thought my absence wouldn't even be noticed with Deputy Hundred-Man Commander Ning overseeing things."

Han Jueyong's brows furrowed slightly at this. Before he could give Chu Qiguang a piece of his mind, however, Bai Shihe raised a hand to stop him.

"I heard Zhong Shan'e is trying to nurture you into the Fiend Assassin Faction's next Dao Comprehension Seed. Is that right?" Bai Shihe asked. He raised a bent index finger toward Chu Qiguang, then abruptly flicked it through the air, unleashing a burst of gale force.

This was the first time Chu Qiguang had seen someone generate gale force so quickly and with so little preparation. Of course, a casual attack of this caliber, even from a Dao Comprehension-state martial god, wouldn't be enough to leave a scratch on him.

However, since he was posing as a fourth-state martial artist, Chu Qiguang raised his hands to protect himself, pretending that he regarded the incoming burst of gale force as a threat.

The gale force slammed into his body like a giant hand, sending him stumbling back several steps.

Bai Shihe gave a slight nod of approval upon seeing this.

"It's very impressive that you're able to do this at your age. Given your aptitude, it's no surprise that Zhong Shan'e wants to nurture you into a Dao Comprehension Seed. However, your current abilities are still nowhere near enough to keep everyone in line at the Ba Manor.

"Li Yaofeng may have been forced to retreat this time, but it'll take him a year at most to recover from his injuries. Given his vindictive nature, he'll undoubtedly return to the Ba Manor for revenge. If I were you, I'd use my connections to leave the Ba Manor, and ideally Shu Province, as soon as possible. That is my advice to you. Make of it what you will."

Although his attitude was far from friendly, he was still much more amicable than Chu Qiguang had anticipated. It seemed that despite the tension between their factions, Bai Shihe didn't allow it to cloud his personal judgment.

"I heard that the Hunter Hand Faction has a special bodily refinement medicine reserved for its Dao Comprehension Seeds. Would I be able to purchase some from you?" Chu Qiguang asked.

Bai Shihe raised an eyebrow. "You're interested in the Naga Bodily Refinement Ointment?"

Chu Qiguang nodded. "I'm willing to pay."

Bai Shihe burst into laughter, his booming voice so powerful that it shook the ground beneath his feet.

"The Naga Bodily Refinement Ointment is reserved exclusively for Dao Comprehension Seeds of the Hunter Hand Faction," Han Jueyong said. "Only a limited amount is produced each year, and we don't even have enough for ourselves. There's no way we would sell any to you."

Chu Qiguang ignored Han Jueyong, keeping his gaze fixed on Bai Shihe. Everything had a price, and the Naga Bodily Refinement Ointment was surely no exception.

***

After leaving the courtyard, Chu Qiguang made his way to the Daoist temple's scripture library.

Once I master the Vajra Laws, I'll only need to obtain the Buddha flame and the Naga Bodily Refinement Ointment to fulfill all the prerequisites for mastering the Sumeru King Scripture.

Ever since the first large-scale demonic tainting event over two hundred years ago, cultivation of the twenty-five orthodox arts had grown increasingly dangerous with each passing year.

That was why the Vajra Monastery had begun researching ways to improve the chances of reaching the Dao Comprehension state through the cultivation of the Sumeru King Scripture.

As far as the Hunter Hand Faction was aware, the Vajra Laws, the Steel Tendon Iron Bone Arts, the Primordial High Zenith Qigong, and the Naga Bodily Refinement Ointment were the only things that could assist in one's cultivation of the Sumeru Strength Scripture.

However, through his extensive reading, Chu Qiguang had learned that the Vajra Monastery had once attempted to use the Buddha flame to assist in the cultivation of the Sumeru King Scripture.

Shu Province had once been the territory of the Vajra Monastery, so Chu Qiguang had found many scriptures concerning the Vajra Monastery here. Those scriptures had provided him with even more leads and ideas.

Reading Buddhist scriptures is becoming less and less effective, and I'm also close to mastering the three physical cultivation arts. I have to find a way to obtain the Naga Bodily Refinement Ointment from the Hunter Hand Faction. As for the Buddha flame...

Chu Qiguang suddenly thought of Li Yaofeng's ability to enter the Buddha Realm.

The Vajra Monastery apocrypha stated that the Buddha had left the Buddha flame in the Buddha Realm. Chu Qiguang had a feeling that if he wanted to maximize his cultivation of the Sumeru King Scripture, he would eventually have to venture into the Buddha Realm and secure a Buddha flame.

All of a sudden, he stopped in his tracks as a burst of heat from his Ring of Ignorance snapped him out of his thoughts.

He reached out for a certain book, and as he did so, a passage of text appeared before his Dao pursuer eyes.

"Secret Buddhist scriptures transcribed by a nameless monk. The nameless monk was banished by the Maha Monastery, yet he still yearned to uncover the secrets of the Buddha Realm. It is said that the Maha Monastery and the Vajra Monastery share the same origins, and that both possess keys to the Buddha Realm."

Chu Qiguang opened the book and discovered that it contained transcriptions of various Buddhist scriptures recorded by a traveling monk. One particular story concerning the Buddha Realm immediately caught his interest.

It was said that in order to resist the threat of demonic tainting, the Maha Monastery had once sought help from the power of the Buddha Realm, and their efforts were reciprocated by the Buddhas of the Buddha Realm.

They granted their followers the power of the Buddha to ward off the effects of demonic tainting. They also taught mortals how to become Buddhas themselves.

As a result, some people became new Buddhas, and countless monasteries emerged as more and more people began to worship the power of the Buddha.

After finishing the story, Chu Qiguang fell into deep thought.

Right now, the dominant religion in this world is the Heavenly Master Religion, and worshiping the Profound Origin Dao Lord really does seem to ward off the effects of demonic tainting. If Buddhism used to be just as prevalent at some point, would it stand to reason that worshiping the Buddha could also protect one from demonic tainting?

Li Yaofeng was able to use the Buddhist relic of that fallen monk to bring the Buddha Realm to the Ba Manor... Does that mean that the Buddha Realm is omnipresent and can be accessed from anywhere?

All of a sudden, the entire scripture library disappeared before Chu Qiguang's eyes. In its place stood an enormous Buddhist pagoda. The warm sun hung in the sky above, while his feet rested on golden sand.

A peculiar fragrance filled the air, making him feel as though he had suddenly been transported to another world. However, the hallucination vanished in the next instant, and Chu Qiguang found himself back in the scripture library.

All memory of what he had just read faded away, replaced by a boon from the Ring of Ignorance.

Chu Qiguang had reached the first level of the Vajra Laws.