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墨書 Inktalez
At the Crimson Flame Temple, over a hundred people were instantly killed by Datong Zen Master. Silence fell over the scene as everyone present was left speechless. Initially, many confused cultivators whispered among themselves or expressed their anger; after all, taking lives so casually was cruel and against the principles of righteousness. Strength may grant one power, but it should not allow for tyranny.
However, it didn't take long for the higher-ups of various sects to silence their disciples. Fear flickered in their eyes as they recognized who Datong Zen Master was.
Datong Zen Master did not disguise his identity or use any form of concealment; he looked down upon such actions.
The younger generation of disciples had no idea what was happening. Although some among them had committed acts of violence, witnessing someone like Datong Zen Master, who could wipe out an entire sect without a second thought, was unprecedented. He seemed to do it with ease, killing and then turning away as if he had merely crushed a few ants or trampled some flowers, not even glancing back, completely unconcerned.
The Crimson Flame Temple was thus obliterated for provoking someone they should not have.
Xuanfo Temple was situated on the third floor of Sky One Tower. There were no other Five Great Sects above them; aside from Xuanfo Temple, most were smaller sects, with Crimson Flame Temple being a standout among them.
All the smaller sects mobilized. They too could not make a name for themselves at the Ten Thousand Methods Conference, so many reclusive elders from these sects emerged to lead their disciples in hopes of securing a better rank in the upcoming reorganization of sects in Zhongzhou. They aimed to bring glory to their sects and leave their mark in the Rivalry Among Hundreds of Ships, striving to ascend to the pinnacle of the cultivation world.
If someone dared to annihilate a sect before all the other cultivators, it would typically invite scorn and challenges from many.
Yet after Datong Zen Master slaughtered everyone at Crimson Flame Temple, there were initial cries of terror followed by occasional shouts of anger, but soon after, silence enveloped the area.
Those who knew Datong Zen Master's former identity sternly reprimanded any disciples within their own sects who dared to voice complaints or insults at that moment. Some elders even used Realm Pressure to ensure their disciples stood obediently in place, fearful of provoking trouble.
After a while, the managers of Sky One Tower arrived with people to clean up the bodies. They wrapped the remains of Crimson Flame Temple's members in burial cloth and used corpse-dissolving liquid to turn them into sludge.
Before long, the lively atmosphere returned as if nothing had happened. The area where Crimson Flame Temple once stood was now vacant, and some disciples from other sects walked about casually where the bodies had lain.
Thus, a sect known as Crimson Flame Temple vanished from the cultivation world. What had once been an imposing presence became nothing more than gossip among those aware of the incident; everything else would fade into rumor.
The Crimson Flame Temple, rooted in the Fire Path, is a sect where many disciples cultivate True Fire. Their attack power is exceptionally terrifying, and they reign supreme in the region of Fire Mang Mountain in the western part of Zhongzhou, gaining a notorious reputation. They have committed numerous misdeeds both openly and secretly, charging fees for their temple, engaging in pillaging, and swallowing up dozens of smaller sects over the centuries. For years, they have coexisted peacefully, as the experts at the Nascent Soul Stage along the borders of Zhongzhou are far removed from their affairs.
At this year's Ten Thousand Methods Conference, the Central Sovereign issued a decree allowing all sects to participate and to reclassify the rankings of the Five Great Sects. Thus, the invincible Crimson Flame Temple, which had never known defeat since its inception, boldly chose to challenge Xuanfo Temple.
Initially, it was intended for the disciples of Crimson Flame Temple to challenge those of Xuanfo Temple in a fair duel. However, the Grand Elder of Crimson Flame Temple spoke out too much and inadvertently angered someone he should not have.
"Isn't he a monk?" A girl in the corner whispered timidly, her voice barely audible. She dared not speak louder because their elders had warned them not to utter a word; otherwise, they would be stripped of their cultivation on the spot. She was one of the most valued disciples of her sect, having devoted her life to studying and practicing swordsmanship with dreams of one day ridding the world of evil. Yet now, her upright masters insisted she remain silent.
"He has become a monk, but he is not human," an elder replied protectively to her. "In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. Before coming out this time, it was said that you would see the true face of our realm; we are a small sect and are no different from a swarm of ants to the Five Great Sects."
"The monk who just acted is called Datong. For decades in the cultivation world, there has been a saying: 'Better to kill a Sword Saint than to provoke King Yan.' In this saying, King Yan refers to the current Divine Monk Datong." Finally, an extremely elderly Old Master revealed Datong's name before he became a monk.
Before joining Xuanfo Temple, Datong was known as King Yan.
For decades since entering Xuanfo Temple, he had listened day and night to Buddhist scriptures and vowed to put down his slaughtering knife and cease creating bloodshed.
However, as the saying goes: good people can be bullied while kind horses can be ridden. Some former enemies heard that the infamous mountain bandit had become King Yan in the cultivation world and had renounced killing. They formed a group to confront Datong.
At that time, leaders from several major sects personally brought their followers to seek revenge for their most elite disciples who had met tragic ends at his hands. There were also some powerful Loose Cultivators who had previously been defeated by Datong Zen Master.
So many people sought to kill Datong and burn him at the stake with the most brutal flames of hellfire.
In that battle, Great Compassion, Great Kindness, and Great Suffering Zen Master had an extremely close relationship with Datong; they recognized him as their junior brother and acknowledged his status within Buddhism as part of the Divine Monks.
It was none other than this existence behind Xuanfo Temple that classified Datong Zen Master among the Divine Monks.
In the back mountains of Xuanfo Temple, Master Datong listened to the teachings of the existence for three days. After bathing and fasting, he was bestowed with the Dharma Name of Datong. Shortly after, that existence vanished without providing any guidance on what they should do next.
The three Divine Monks sought counsel in the back mountains, fearing that a battle for supremacy would tarnish the reputation of the Buddhist Sect. Having been established for three thousand years in the cultivation world, the Buddhist Sect was still relatively young compared to numerous ancient sects that were more qualified to dominate the cultivation realm. Thus, the Divine Monks of Xuanfo Temple, known for promoting the path of goodness, were uncertain about how to proceed.
Xuanfo Temple had become one of the Five Major Sects in the cultivation world not only due to the high cultivation levels of the Three Great Monks but also because of its teachings in Buddhism. Countless texts on Essence and Buddhist Principles circulated among people, providing them with faith and making it a well-known sect with a strong belief system.
However, in the competitive landscape of Rivalry Among Hundreds of Ships within the cultivation world, this sect was merely a rising newcomer. If they preached Buddhism while resorting to violence, it would be akin to selling dog meat under the guise of mutton—an act that would only serve to undermine their own integrity.
The reputation of Xuanfo Temple could very well be at stake.
The existence in the back mountains provided them with a response consisting of just two words: At Will.
At Will represented a state of life that only masters from the Buddhist Sect could attain. Human beings are inherently lazy and curious, driven by a desire for knowledge and exploration. This often leads them to engage in wrongful acts—eating forbidden foods, viewing inappropriate things, or committing unworthy deeds—all considered wrong for sentient beings. Therefore, members of the Buddhist Sect must practice self-discipline and adhere to rules; many regulations exist within the sect, such as prohibitions against killing, eating meat, engaging with women, and consuming alcohol.
Only those who follow these rules can be called members of the Buddhist Sect. This is known as Lesser Vehicle Buddhism. Buddhism promotes universal salvation and embodies truth, goodness, and beauty; however, these ideals require self-discipline. Humans possess desires, and when driven by them, they act accordingly—like water flowing downhill or flowers wilting. Those who practice self-discipline often go against what is considered normal behavior; they are referred to as Buddhas. Over time, they transcend human limitations and develop new qualities through their long-standing habits of self-discipline. Their every action becomes an expression of goodwill without any malice; their instincts and desires align with kindness. These actions are performed At Will—without deliberate thought about how to act.
They become Buddhas.
The existence in the back mountains of Xuanfo Temple provided this answer.
The abbot of Xuanfo Temple conveyed this meaning to everyone within the temple.
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment; although they did not fully understand, they grasped its essence.
In their understanding, "At Will" simply meant doing whatever one desired.
They had been pent up for too long.
Thus, Datong Zen Master and the other three Divine Monks took the initiative to strike against all those who came to challenge them. The battle was fierce, darkening the skies, and all the high-ranking members of the sects that dared to attack were slaughtered. The Four Divine Monks pursued some sects they had long held grievances against, leaving no survivors among their disciples, truly embodying "At Will."
The Four Divine Monks annihilated several sects but publicly claimed that it was Datong alone who was responsible. From that day on, no one dared to provoke Datong again, and those who had always believed that Xuanfo Temple was merely a name became even more cautious in discussing it.
For decades, Xuanfo Temple became a place that no one dared to challenge due to the fearsome reputation of Datong Zen Master. In turn, Datong Zen Master enjoyed peace under the protection of Xuanfo Temple. With some supreme beings not emerging, no one could rival Datong.
The saying "Better to kill the Sword Saint than to provoke Datong" has since spread widely.
Datong and the Sword Saint were contemporaries, both legends in the eyes of Ordinary Cultivators, though the Sword Saint's fame was relatively greater.
The Sword Saint is the current leader of Sword Sect Azure Dream Palace and a prominent figure in the swordsmanship world. His sword techniques have reached an extraordinary level, and no one knows how high his cultivation truly is. While the phrase "Better to kill the Sword Saint than to provoke Datong" conveys the danger of provoking Datong, it does not imply that anyone would underestimate the Sword Saint.
This sentiment arises not because the Sword Saint is easy to provoke, but rather because Datong Zen Master could easily wipe out entire families, while the Sword Saint could defeat opponents of equal rank with a single strike. Throughout his career, he has faced countless masters and has astonished them with his skill, leaving them unwilling to continue fighting. Some have even been killed by a single blow from him. Thus, he has become a symbol among all sword cultivators—a representation of invincibility and the ultimate pursuit of swordsmanship in the cultivation world, becoming a faith for sword practitioners.
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