Chapter 94: The Ten-day Agreement (Part 2)
She couldn't escape anymore.
Qiao Wan had a clear thought in her mind.
Her chest pressed against the wall, her back pressed tightly by Miaofa, and the Buddha's light instantly penetrated her limbs.
Just as Qiao Wan was about to move, Miaofa caught her, coldly saying, "Stay still!"
The Buddha's light became even more fierce, as if it wanted to break through her veins.
As the Buddha's light circulated faster and grew heavier inside her body, Qiao Wan became pale with pain, gritting her teeth and letting out a cold grunt.
Even if she wasn't good at reading people's expressions, she could tell that Miaofa was definitely angry!
Once his anger flared up, his attacks were ruthless, showing no mercy.
The Buddha's energy circulated inside her without any mercy.
Maintaining this position, Qiao Wan was in so much pain that cold sweat dripped down, her muscles tensed, enduring wave after wave of the Buddha's energy washing over her. Her fingers, pressed against the wall, clung tightly to the cracks, veins bulging.
The fingers showed signs of pulling back.
Miaofa grabbed her wrist, tightened his grip, and applied more force. He lifted Qiao Wan's arm high and pressed her against the wall, pushing a bit harder.
The power of the Buddha was swirling around.
Qiao Wan couldn't help but turn around and ask, "Senior..."
Miaofa interrupted, "Endure!"
Halfway through her sentence, she swallowed her words when she met the gaze of the Venerable One.
That one glance...
Qiao Wan didn't know how to describe it in words.
As their eyes met, Miaofa closed his eyes, took a deep breath.
Qiao Wan was still in awe from that glance.
After helping her suppress the dark energy for such a long time, Qiao Wan almost forgot that Venerable One Miaofa also had his own inner demons.
In her dreams, there was a sea of blood, where dark forces occupied the entire ocean, with a demon army standing on the waves.
Therefore, Qiao Wan didn't dare to make a sound. She was sweating, leaning against the wall, waiting for this wave to pass.
The dark energy and the positive energy inside Qiao Wan's body were engaged in a fierce battle, but ultimately the dark energy backed down and both sides ceased fighting.
The Buddha figure finally let go of Qiao Wan .
Qiao Wan was exhausted and covered in sweat, feeling as limp as a dead fish. She leaned against the wall and slid down, the lingering pain still present in her body, making it so painful that she didn't want to move a finger.
But out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Miaofa. The will to survive compelled Qiao Wan to muster up her strength and obediently kneel in front of the Buddha figure, courteously paying her respects.
"Thank you, senior," she said.
She showed a very remorseful attitude.
Dealing with the dark energy was becoming increasingly difficult.
If this happened a few more times, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
After struggling for a moment, Qiao Wan looked up and offered a sincere suggestion, "Senior, what if you tie me up?"
Thinking she had a good attitude, Qiao Wan didn't expect Miaofa to reply like that at all.
"Why would I tie you up?!"
Qiao Wan hesitated in her response, "To prevent me from escaping..."
Qiao Wan scratched her head and thought carefully. She decided to sit cross-legged on the ground and start analyzing with Miaofa.
Before, when she became possessed, she acted purely on instinct without much rationality. But as she became possessed more frequently and deeply, she seemed to develop some simple thoughts and emotions.
Miaofa, who had just fought her, could sense this change.
If this continued, Qiao Wan couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't do something crazy after being possessed.
In conclusion, it would be safest to lock her up.
She could use her secondary account now, so sacrificing her main account wasn't a big deal.
The Buddhist didn't say it was good or bad.
"Dingren Peak is where I usually meditate," Miaofa explained.
Qiao Wan asked, "What do you mean?"
"Starting today, you will go to Dingren Peak and I will monitor you day and night," Miaofa said sternly.
Day and night monitoring.
Was it the day and night surveillance she thought?
Qiao Wan looked guilty and said politely, "Um... is it too much trouble for senior?"
Miaofa looked even more unfriendly, "It's best that you know! Since you know, stay under Dingren Peak and don't cause any more trouble."
"Yes," Qiao Wan solemnly bowed, "Thank you for your concern, senior."
"This isn't concern," Miaofa glanced at Qiao Wan, her voice cold, "I just don't want another demon to appear while I'm around, and make the disciples of the Great Hall of Light run around to hunt it down."
After speaking, Miaofa coldly left.
Qiao Wan sat cross-legged for a while.
The man with a scarred face's voice drifted coolly, "Little sister, don't be sad. If you are, come into your brother's arms."
"Let me tell you, Miaofa is a hypocrite. Sharp-tongued but soft-hearted."
"What do you mean?" Qiao Wan asked.
The scarred man, known as Gong Lie in the mortal world, lay on the floor of the prison and half-heartedly talked to Qiao Wan while Miaofa was nearby.
In the past, he used to be a prominent member of the Soul Departing Sect. Countless cultivators had died under his blade. Unfortunately, he had accidentally angered the evil Buddha, Miaofa. Once Miaofa got a hold of something, he wouldn't let go. He had chased Gong Lie for days and nights, disabling half of his cultivation. Miaofa demanded that Gong Lie pay for the lives of over a hundred people.
How unfair! In this world, it's either you die or I survive.
If they were killed, it was because they were not skilled enough!
Even now, Gong Lie couldn't figure out where he had gone wrong.
But Miaofa insisted on pressing his head and making him confess. He glared and shouted, declaring that Gong Lie was beyond redemption and deserved to die for the lives of those hundred or so people. Miaofa rolled up his sleeves, ready to send Gong Lie on his final journey.
Fight? He couldn't win anyway.
Finally, Gong Lie straightened his neck with great dignity.
Go ahead, hit me. In my next life, I'll still be a hero.
Gong Lie was not killed by Miaofa with a palm strike. Instead, he was locked up in the dungeon of the Great Hall of Light and listened to the chanting of the Great Compassion Mantra every day, seeking enlightenment from the Buddha.
Every day, he chanted, "Namo, He Luan Da Na, Duo Luo Ye Ye, Namo, A Li Ye..."
Gong Lie shouted in anger and frustration, "Damn it! It would have been better if he had just killed me with one palm strike!"
However, he also realized something. Gong Lie analyzed, "Don't judge Miaofa by his appearance. He may look feminine, but when it comes to fighting, he is a true and mighty warrior."
Qiao Wan agreed with him. She understood this very well.
"But, he also has a soft heart, like a woman," Gong Lie said, shifting his posture and crossing his legs. "He really intended to kill me with one palm strike, but he couldn't bring himself to do it."
"It's also because he has gained some reputation over the years and became a Venerable One. If he were an ordinary cultivator, he would have died hundreds of times already, especially among the monks."
Kind-hearted people don't live for long.
This is almost a universal agreement among cultivators in the cultivation world.
Therefore, Gong Lie came to a conclusion: "This evil Buddha, Miaofa, also cares about you."
Even though he didn't admit it himself.
Since they were moving, Qiao Wan and Gong Lie chatted for a while and, amidst the reluctant farewell greetings from the criminals in the dungeon, they packed up their belongings and moved to Dingren Peak.
Under Dingren Peak, there was only a smooth, green stone belonging to Ru Jing . Other than that, there was nothing else.
Normally, Miaofa would sit in meditation here, practicing Zen.
Qiao Wan looked around, carrying her belongings. She didn't see the figure of the Buddhist monk, so she thought for a moment and decided to switch to her smaller account.
Luckily, even though her main account was restricted, she still had her smaller account to use.
After setting a ten-day appointment with Fang Lingqing , Qiao Wan left Lisheng Peak and returned to the Great Hall of Light.
For some reason, she didn't feel comfortable facing Venerable One Miaofa at this moment, so she decided to go find Cen Qingyou instead.
As soon as Qiao Wan saw Cen Qingyou, she walked up and greeted him cheerfully, "Second Young Master."
Cen Qingyou took a step back, and the pendant on his forehead shook.
The calm and composed young man was startled. "This... immortal friend?"
Qiao Wan remained calm and said, "It's me, Xin Yi."
With Qiao Wan's explanation, the young man finally regained some composure. He looked up and smiled bitterly, "Xin Yi, you scared me."
Qiao Wan said nonchalantly, "It's because of my demonic aura, I can't help it."
The young man's gaze towards Qiao Wan instantly became sympathetic and complicated.
Xin Yi, she was clearly a girl, but because of the influence of her demonic aura, she had to present herself as a boy. It must have been difficult for her.
The gentle and considerate Second Young Master of the Cen family, faced with this handsome and elegant face, suddenly became a bit flustered. He struggled to find the words to say, but after a long pause, nothing came out.
Qiao Wan was very open-minded and took a seat like a bold person.
Hmm...
It was a bit strange.
Qiao Wan, with no expression on her face, straightened the hem of her dress that was hanging down on her knees.
Put it to the left.
Cen Qingyou thought, "He's overthinking!" considering his cautious nature. Qiao Wan decided to seek Cen Qingyou's opinion regarding Fang Lingqing's ten-day invitation.
"Fang Lingqing?" Cen Qingyou pondered. "I have some impression of him. If you need it, Xin Yi, I can prepare a dossier for you tomorrow."
Qiao Wan couldn't be more grateful.
Cen Qingyou asked, "Zhixin, who upholds benevolence and righteousness, is a distinguished disciple of Chongde Ancient Garden. Xin Yi, what do you plan to do?"
When the time comes, the crowd will gather beneath Lotus Seat Peak.
If they lose, they won't be able to participate in the Three Teachings Law Meeting.
Qiao Wan said, "If we lose, there's no need to participate in the Three Teachings Law Meeting."
To win, she must make good use of the ten days and practice diligently.
She now had the Daoist book and "Essentials of Body Refinement" that she had found in Youxian Town.
Thinking of this, Qiao Wan flipped open the book on body refinement.
Skipping the earlier stages, after successfully refining the bones, she had to go back and refine the skin and flesh again.
The first page, refining the skin.
The instructions were clearly written on the page, explaining the detailed steps.
It looked a bit frightening.
First, soak in water for a while, then take it out and put it in a big pot to boil, adding medicinal sauce. Endure this process for three days and nights. After the skin has softened, continue boiling with more medicinal ingredients. Repeat this process several times. Finally, add a special medicinal sauce and take it out of the pot, rinse it with water, and roast it over a real fire. After roasting for about half an hour, hang it up high and let it air dry for a day.
Only then can the refining of the skin be considered complete.
Qiao Wan stuttered, "Is this boiling donkey skin gelatin?"
The question came, whether she was willing to do it or not.
Cen Qingyou was also clearly shocked, looking at the young man in front of him.
The young man was handsome, but you could still see some of his feminine features. In other words, even though Qiao Wan was dressed as a man now, deep down, she was still a girl. The intense training was so brutal that even strong men and wrestlers might not be able to handle it.
Imagine putting a girl in a pot, boiling her, then roasting her, and finally drying her in the wind.
Cen Qingyou was slightly shocked.
Xin Yi, will you really be able to endure this?
Cen Qingyou asked, "Are you really going to follow this training method?"
Qiao Wan hesitated and replied, "Should I?"
Once you choose the path of body refinement, you have to stick with it until the end.
"Okay." After struggling for a while, Qiao Wan gritted her teeth and made up her mind. "Why not give it a try?"
After the split body reunites with the original self, all cultivation and abilities will return to the original self.
Body refinement through the split body will eventually benefit the original self.
Why not give it a try?
"The water of Qieli Pond can nourish your body and bones. If you're really going to..." Cen Qingyou paused, "follow the method mentioned here, you can soak in Qieli Pond."
The two of them were discussing, when suddenly, there was some noise coming from the mountain gate.
Cen Qingyou looked up with a serious expression and said, "They've arrived."
Qiao Wan quickly stuffed the book "Essence of Body Refinement" back into her bag and asked, "What's happening?"
Cen Qingyou replied, "There's going to be a meeting called the Three Teachings Law Meeting."
"You've been in the dungeon these past few days, so you don't know. Today, the elders of various sects will gather in the Great Hall of Light to discuss matters related to the meeting."
After speaking, he turned and asked, "Xin Yi, do you want to go with me?"
Although Venerable One Miaofa held a high position, everyone in the Great Hall of Light was well aware of Miaofa's internal struggles.
Miaofa had not appeared in public for a long time, even this meeting was being presided over by Zen Master Kongding.
The attendance for this small meeting before the Three Teachings Law Meeting was small, but the participants were the leaders and elite disciples of various sects.
Few in number, but full of talent.
Before the Three Teachings Law Meeting is held, each group is secretly competing with each other.
The Law Meeting is a stage for young people, a meeting organized by the Three Teachings for young disciples to compete and learn from each other. The future belongs to the young people. The more promising disciples a group has, the stronger and more successful they are considered to be.
The Great Hall of Light, this time hosting the event, cannot afford to be surpassed by anyone.
Though they belong to the Three Teachings, there is just as much scheming and competition here as in the secular world.
Once they have made up their mind to follow this path, no one can truly avoid getting involved in worldly matters.
Even Venerable One Miaofa is not an exception.
Cultivating immortality, cultivating holiness, cultivating Buddhism.
With the attachment to the self, everyone is tainted by the worldly affairs.
