Chapter 253: Emergence of the Divine Dragon

The Sky-Rending Demonic Energy was laughing now.

Within the dantian, the bustling, pure internal energies of Buddhism and Daoism were, to the Sky-Rending Demonic Energy, merely things bound by mortal destiny.

The Sky-Rending Demonic Energy was the essence of Angra Mainyu, of Ahriman. It was the God of Destruction spoken of in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the preordained apocalypse destined to annihilate everything by dropping a colossal star to facilitate the world's recreation.

Thus, the Sky-Rending Demonic Energy simply sat back, observing with aloof detachment.

No matter how fiercely these ephemeral True Qis of mortals raged, they would ultimately scatter and return to nature once the physical body perished.

Then, the energy that remained, the strongest True Qi, would inevitably become the Sky-Rending Demonic Energy, immortal until the destined future.

The Sky-Rending Demonic Energy was merely pausing, indulging the excitement of these short-lived existences, like watching children at play...

Thwack! Thump! Thump!

The Bliss True Qi, which had been diligently pounding away at the hideous demonic energy stubbornly stuck in a corner of the dantian again today, tilted its head curiously.

What the? This bastard's laughing?

The Sky-Rending Demonic Energy was an utterly alien, bizarre demonic force.

The typical mindset of demonic energy was thoroughly wicked, constantly whispering to its host, urging them toward cruelty, lewdness, and heartlessness.

However, the Sky-Rending Demonic Energy embodied only destruction. Peeking inside while it was being vigorously beaten and fractured revealed a pure destructive impulse, even harboring a sacred yearning for new creation.

After pounding on the rock-hard Sky-Rending Demonic Energy for a good while, the Bliss True Qi ultimately found no amusement again today.

Seeking entertainment, it whipped its gaze around. The demonic energies under the command of the Purple Lightning Demonic Energy, which had been pretending not to watch while huddled in a corner, began to stealthily creep towards the exit of the dantian.

They anticipated that the crazy True Qi would start chasing and beating them again.

The Bliss True Qi watched them calmly, adopting an attitude of 'try and run if you want.'

Then, it stomped one foot hard! The startled demonic energies flinched and simultaneously kicked at the dantian door—

—only to be violently struck and sent tumbling across the dantian as the door unexpectedly swung inward.

And riding grandly upon a tray held aloft by a dragon and an elephant, a new family member appeared!

The dragon and elephant are considered the most auspicious beasts in Indian Buddhism, which is why gleaming golden dragons and golden elephants are indispensable elements in Indian Buddhist art.

The Great Tranquil Zen Qi narrowed its eyes, uncertain.

The atmosphere feels Buddhist, but why is it so gaudily adorned with the dust of the secular world?

However, the Qi derived from the Inverse Marrow Washing Sutra, originally forged from the teachings of India, recognized the familiar scent of its homeland.

Thus, the Inverse Marrow Washing Sutra Qi dramatically embraced the True Qi from its homeland upon meeting it. Only then did the Daoist True Qis watch the reunion with gentle, parental smiles.

At this, exclaiming "Fuck this, I can't stand to watch this anymore," the Purple Lightning Demonic Energy stormed out of the dantian, followed by the other demonic energies.

And the Sky-Rending Demonic Energy, like mold clinging to the wall, just kept laughing. Though for some reason, tears streamed down its face.

The Sky-Rending Demonic Energy was laughing...

Qing had thought she should talk to Gongson Yoye when she appeared, but according to Nanah's testimony, she seemed busy participating in clan events for a while.

"She shows up at every banquet, just standing there looking like she has no idea what to do," Tang Nanah said. "Well, either the Gong Clan or the Sima Clan will likely take the vacant spot among the Ten Great Clans, so it's the time for making rounds and greeting people."

"Hmm. Is that so?" Qing murmured. "Ah. Right. Nanah-yah. If I use up my True Source Qi, can it be replenished with something else?"

"What the heck!?" Nanah reacted sharply. "You look like that, and you're thinking of using your True Source Qi too? If you do that, I'm really not going to see you anymore, Qing-ah. I mean it."

Tang Nanah laid down a firm ultimatum.

"No, it's not that I'm going to use it," Qing countered. "And anyway, what do you mean, 'that look'? What about me—"

"What do you mean, 'what about you'?" Nanah interrupted. "You got bruised on top of bruises, and then got hit again, and with an Internal Explosive Qi Strike of all things? Hah! All your fine channels practically burst! Why don't you get hit on the other side too, just to balance it out? Walking around with one lopsided boob swollen up like some sweet potato! And I can't even say you look like 'that'? It's so upsetting, I swear."

"You said it'll go back to normal once the swelling goes down," Qing started. "It'll all heal eventually anyway—"

"What!?" Nanah snapped. "Should we chop off your arms and legs and reattach them too? As long as we cut them cleanly without damage and stick them back on well, they'll be perfectly fine, right?"

Tang Nanah glared fiercely, her eyes like axes.

"...Sorry," Qing conceded softly.

"Anyway, just try not to get hurt."

"Okay." Qing nodded obediently.

"So, why ask about True Source Qi?" Nanah asked. "Did you pick up something like a Jamlamdan somewhere again?"

"No, I mean, hypothetically, if there was a martial art like that," Qing clarified.

"Ah. That kind?" Nanah said. "Well, it varies depending on the martial art, but usually, you'd mix a little True Source Qi with your True Qi, right? Doing that makes the flow of True Qi explosively faster. Of course, your fine channels will get damaged bit by bit too. Just like someone's swollen titty with all the blood vessels burst."

It seemed some resentment still lingered.

"I said I'm sorry," Qing repeated. "So, if I rest well or take elixirs, can the True Source Qi be replenished? Like a Great Restoration Pill?"

"You don't necessarily need a Great Restoration Pill; a well-made elixir pill can have the effect of nourishing True Source Qi," Nanah explained. "But, the very act of drawing it out in the first place, how should I put it? Ah, right..."

True Source Qi wasn't originally meant to be drawn upon; it was the very fuel that sustained a person's life naturally, like the beating of the heart or breathing.

That's why it coiled in the center of the torso, near the heart, also known as the Middle Dantian.

But if you kept drawing on it, the force that sealed the Middle Dantian shut – metaphorically speaking, the door – would become loose.

"A newly fitted door doesn't let even a speck of wind through, right?" Nanah continued. "But if you keep opening and closing it, it can get a little warped, and the paper window can get small scratches or even holes."

"And the door can't be fixed?" Qing asked.

"You should assume it can't be fixed?" Nanah replied. "Maybe once during Overhaul Rebirth? Or perhaps when you reach the Profound Realm. From the Profound Realm onwards, the body can repair damaged parts itself and generate new flesh even in an aging body."

This was the phenomenon known as rejuvenation.

"Hmm. That sounds really bad then," Qing mused.

"You think?" Nanah said. "It's better than dying, but don't even think about learning anything like that. If people have something, they tend to use it. So rather than learning the martial art, you'd be better off just getting a Jamlamdan— ah. Right. Here, take this."

Tang Nanah, who had been rattling on, suddenly pulled out a wooden box from her robes.

"It's an Explosive Qi Reinforcing Pill. The effect only lasts about two ke(30mins), so use it to escape in a dangerous moment."

"Oh. Thanks," Qing said. "I feel like I'm always receiving things from you."

"Hm? Hmm. Hehe. If you're thankful, don't just say it with words... Ah damn, you had to get injured. Consider it credit. I'll collect later."

"Credit?" Qing asked. "What are you going to collect? Aren't I the Tang Clan's benefactor? You're just saying that, right? It's not like this is business."

"Ugh." Tang Nanah grimaced as if frustrated.

"Just kidding. Thank you, always. For always looking out for me." Qing said this, then gave a gentle eye-smile with an embarrassed expression.

At that, Tang Nanah's expression momentarily went blank, her mouth falling open slightly.

"Ah damn. I'm going crazy..." she muttered under her breath.

"Hm?" Qing asked.

"It's nothing! Hey, I-I gotta go?" Nanah said quickly. "Suddenly remembered something urgent. Yeah. Might have left an elixir bath simmering. Well, see you next time!"

And then, bathed fully in the crimson light of the setting sun, she vanished in a flash.

Qing's hand, which had reached out to stop her, awkwardly swiped at the empty air.

"Hmm. I was going to ask if she wanted to go to Mumyeong Temple together..."

Well, what could be done? She'd have to go alone.

Qing walked off, clanking and clattering.

Off to deliver the Buddha Palm secret manual to Mumyeong Temple.

Mumyeong Temple, originally named Tianjing Temple, was said to have been one of the four great temples of the Northern Song Dynasty, an extremely famous monastery.

Its prosperity could be gauged by the fact that it had even erected a nine-story pagoda reaching high into the sky.

Unfortunately, it was completely swept away by a flood. This highlighted the basic reason why temples and Daoist monasteries are situated high up in the mountains.

Thus, silt accumulated, another temple was built on top, only to be swept away again by another flood. Then more silt piled up on top of that...

This cycle repeated until only the top three stories of the nine-story pagoda remained. After several layers of temples were buried beneath, the land was deemed inauspicious and abandoned for a long time.

So, this place became Mumyeong Temple, and the pagoda with only its top three stories remaining is the Fan Pagoda, one of Kaifeng's two famous pagodas.

But why is everyone staring?

Did something happen?

Well, the now-famous veiled woman, the transcendent beauty whose moniker varied depending on who you asked, was walking along, swaying her extraordinarily generous backside that far surpassed the Central Plains average.

It was a man's fate; the moment she entered their vision, it was impossible to look away. Mesmerized, they could only gaze at her captivating rear view.

If this wasn't a spectacle, there weren't many things left in the world that could be called one.

Yet, somewhere, there seemed to be the sound of a wooden block being struck, and the clinking of silver coins.

Thus, leaving behind only men who awkwardly halted in her path, suddenly reciting scriptures, Qing arrived at Mumyeong Temple in a corner of Kaifeng.

Qing had actually visited once before when she first came to Kaifeng, curious about the two famous pagodas.

Back then, it was a desolate, abandoned ruin. But after the Shaolin martial monks made some rough repairs and lit incense, it somehow managed to look and smell somewhat like a proper temple.

As Qing stepped into Mumyeong Temple, an old monk clad in the yellow-orange Kasaya of Shaolin seemed to materialize out of nowhere and greeted her.

"Amitabha. Mistress Ximen."

"Yes," Qing replied. "Is Venerable Monk Muhak inside?"

"He mentioned you'd probably arrive in three or four days," the old monk said. "It seems even the Venerable Monk can be mistaken sometimes. He is currently observing the disciples in the Main Hall."

"Ah. Yes. Then," Qing began.

"Wait," the old monk interrupted gently. "Hmm. However, the Luohans are currently training intensely in the Main Hall. If the Luohans were to see you, benefactor, they might be afflicted by Mara. Would you mind waiting in that room over there for a moment? I will call him shortly. But it seems you have completed the secret manual?"

"Yes," Qing confirmed. "Ah. Should I give it to you now? If Venerable Monk Muhak is busy, there's no need for me to take up his time by delivering it personally, right?"

The old monk smiled gently.

"How could I allow that?" he replied. "How could a mere nameless monk receive such an important message and send the guest away? Please, go and wait."

Since the nameless monk insisted, Qing complied obediently.

Watching Qing's departing figure, the nameless monk – Abbot Wolhyeon of Shaolin Temple – was inwardly astonished.

What on earth is with that gait? If the Luohans had seen that, tomorrow morning would surely have seen quite the... blossoming of night flowers[^(“Night Flower” is a common euphemism for the smell of semen, derived from the scent of chestnut blossoms.)].

In any case, Qing didn't have to wait long at all. Muhak, upon hearing the news, abandoned the Luohan monks and appeared in a flash.

Muhak wore a very sour expression.

"Eh?" he began. "You finished writing the entire secret manual in just one day? Didn't I tell you to write each character carefully and beautifully, pressing down firmly, as it will surely last for ages?"

"Hey now," Qing retorted. "I wrote it very beautifully. You'll be shocked when you see my handwriting! Even a Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy couldn't help but admire my calligraphy."

"Hmph. Rushing through it in a day, what's there to admire? Let me see," Muhak scoffed.

Muhak, holding the book, abruptly stopped talking.

He hadn't even opened it; just seeing the four characters written on the cover – Buddha Palm 여래신장 – froze him solid.

What is this!? This script, with strokes extending like Mount Tai, imbued with such a powerful spirit!

It is truly unparalleled under heaven, a masterpiece of calligraphy that everyone would fight to possess even for a thousand gold pieces!

The core mindset of Shaolin was the Immovable Mind, Mount Tai.

Thus, Shaolin calligraphy had always striven to emulate Mount Tai.

But now, he realized that the pride he felt in Mount Tai from all of Shaolin's signboards was utterly misplaced.

Here was calligraphy that was the true embodiment of Mount Tai itself. Had they merely been boasting about the prominence of their backyard hillocks?

If all of Shaolin's signboards were immediately replaced with script like this, wouldn't those words truly befit Shaolin, the Pole Star of Mount Tai...

"Hah! Amitabha! Heavens..." Muhak breathed.

"Ah! What's wrong?" Qing asked, concerned.

"It is nothing. Phew. How dizzying," Muhak replied, composing himself. "I thought I had already severed my desires. I, too, still have so far to go, merely one sentient being among many..."

Muhak muttered, disheartened, realizing his own desire.

Such exquisite calligraphy, capable of inciting desire even in the greatest monk of the largest temple under heaven.

"Is this your handwriting?" Muhak asked.

"Yes. It's good, right?" Qing replied brightly.

"Good or not... Hmm," Muhak grumbled, still skeptical. "But you finished writing like this in just one day? Hmph. The inside must be sloppy."

Muhak, flipping through the pages pa-ra-rak, froze once more.