From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 359 Qingguangzi

Fire is everywhere in the canyon.

The filth left by the poisonous rain was completely gone, and everyone was in the fire, yet they felt no burning sensation.

Upon seeing this strange phenomenon, the slaves of the Xiangji Kingdom initially scattered in panic, but then, seeing that the flames did not harm anyone, they stopped and began to look at the person who had set up the fire.

Without any guidance or instruction, the slaves chattered and discussed for a while, and then they all knelt down before Meng Yuan, muttering some Buddhist scriptures.

Su Xin had long been fed up with the slaves of Xiangji Kingdom, so she wasn't surprised by the situation. Instead, she grabbed Su Wen and said, "Brother Meng is going to be king, what are you going to do?"

Suwen had no time to pay attention to any of this. As a descendant of a medical family, she felt that the fires that filled the canyon were strange.

Although the fire had spread throughout the valley, it was not fierce or harmful; on the contrary, it was gentle and even had a calming effect.

Suwen looked at Meng Yuan and felt that his life force was surging up and raging, illuminating the entire area.

“Your fellow member has taken this step, and the next step should be to slay gods and prove your Dao.” Jie Kaiping was covered in dirty mud, and he had already sensed the change in Meng Yuan’s aura. However, this fire did not have the domineering and sharpness that a martial artist should have. Instead, it was very gentle, as if it was someone else who had just killed Dugu Sheng.

Reaching out, I scooped up a wisp of flame. Unfastening the screen, I saw that the flame was tiny, reduced to specks of fire, yet it never went out.

Feeling these tiny sparks closely, one can sense that these sparks are immortal and inexhaustible, and that life is endless. If the wind rises in the future and the sparks become a force that burns down a city, one wonders how violent they will become.

Moreover, one's mind is clear, as if after interacting with a spark, there is no obstruction in the mind, and all kinds of chaotic thoughts and evil thoughts have disappeared, as if they have been burned away.

Thinking of this, Jie Kaiping couldn't help but look at Dugu Kang beside her.

Dugu Kang was also dressed in tattered and dirty clothes, with mud smeared on his bald head. The faint Buddhist aura around him was gone, flames swirled around his feet, and he held a wisp of starlight in his hands, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Junior brother?" Jie Kaiping touched his bald head, just about to take the opportunity to give him some pointers, when he saw Dugu Kang's face suddenly contort, as if he was enduring great pain.

Jie Kaiping was very knowledgeable, so he quickly stepped back a few steps, then back again and again, saying, "Be careful, senior sisters!"

He retreated behind Su Xin and Su Wen, but still felt it wasn't enough, so he retreated behind Meng Yuan.

"Has he finally gone mad?" Su Xin stood protectively in front of Su Wen, frowning as she looked at Dugu Kang by the pool. She said with certainty, "Anyone trained by that stinky rat is bound to be strange!"

After speaking, Su Xin glanced at Jie Kaiping and said disdainfully, "What are you afraid of? You two were just arm in arm, and now you don't dare to say a word?"

Jie Kaiping shook her head vigorously and said, "I can smell the master's aura."

“What master…” Su Xin hadn’t finished speaking when she suddenly realized who the master was. She was startled and pulled Su Wen to stand behind Meng Yuan, completely losing the composure she had shown when she criticized Jie Kaiping.

Holding her sword, Mingyue saw that Meng Yuan was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, so she stood in front of everyone.

Everyone was focused and on guard, keeping a close eye on Dugu Kang.

Dugu Kang's fat face was twisted and grotesque, as if he were enduring great pain, and his face occasionally showed a rat-like appearance.

Dugu Kang was covered in flames set up by Meng Yuan. These flames were different from those elsewhere, and they kept drilling into Dugu Kang's body. Then, it seemed that something was hidden inside Dugu Kang's body, so the flames and the host creature were fighting for territory with Dugu Kang as their battlefield.

"Junior sister, can you save him?" Su Xin asked.

"I... this isn't an illness."

Suwen could see clearly that the life fire on Dugu Kang's body seemed to have changed. Although the vitality was great, there seemed to be a wisp of blue light hidden within it.

Suwen vaguely felt that the blue light resembled a cuckoo's egg that had been lodging in another bird's home.

"Was that controlled by Qingguangzi?" Su Xin asked blankly.

"This is the Guru's method of compassion for those below him. This method is not an ordinary method of planting thoughts, but one that consumes the mind and spirit. First, one uses great light to cleanse the thoughts of others, and then takes a wisp of thought from their heart. Only the most outstanding disciples are qualified to be valued by the Guru in this way." Jie Kaiping had been Qingguangzi's disciple, so he was obviously very experienced. "If something happens, the Guru will be able to sense it and see it from a thousand miles away. He can even use some kind of object to show some of his power."

Jie Kai shrank back and moved closer to Meng Yuan, saying, "I suspect that Meng Feiyuan's Transformation Flame is abnormal, trying to dispel the Master's will from my junior brother's heart, which is why the Master noticed it."

"You mean Qingguangzi is really going to descend here?" Suxin frowned. She looked up at the sky and saw that the sunset was over a vast expanse, and the flames in the valley were still burning, without any sign of disturbance.

“The master has only just broken through to the next level, he wouldn’t come here for something like this.” Jie Kaiping said confidently, “But it’s possible that he might come to see for himself.”

“A third-rank Holy King of Light…” Mingyue recalled the power manifested by the Arhat of No Birth. She felt that the power of the third-rank Arhat was like the sea, and a wave surging from his strength was something that no one could withstand.

Of course, Meng Yuan, who had just advanced to the fourth rank, was present at this time and place, and was capable of fighting against third-rank experts from other sources.

Soon, everyone saw that Dugu Kang could no longer bear the pain, and he knelt on the ground with his hands on the ground, his face constantly changing with various strange lights.

After waiting a moment, Dugu Kang stood up, clasped his hands together, which were covered in mud, and looked at Mingyue and the others from afar.

Dugu Kang's eyes no longer held the cowardly look they had before, nor the sparkle they once shone. Instead, they revealed a hint of condescension, a touch of pity, and a hint of madness.

Even more so, it carries a sense of supreme authority, as if he were the only one worthy of respect in the world.

At this moment, Mingyue and the others realized that this was not Dugu Kang, but Qing Guangzi, or even his true form.

Dugu Kang's eyes seemed to reflect the heavens and the earth, revealing all the ugliness and depravity of the world, and even the disharmony in everyone's hearts.

The slaves were utterly bewildered, as if their minds had been manipulated. They all knelt before Dugu Kang, then prostrated themselves on the ground, burying their faces in the mud.

Jie Kaiping had been keeping his head down, not daring to meet Dugu Kang's gaze. But now he realized Dugu Kang was watching him, and suddenly felt like he was being watched by thorns.

"Master." Jie Kaiping, who never cared about saving face, knelt down with a thud. "You've come, Master! I..."

He was no longer as smug and composed as usual; sweat poured down his face, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

My mind was blank, unable to think of anything to say. But when I unfurled the screen, I suddenly realized that the all-seeing gaze had moved away from me, and I felt as if I had escaped into the bright light where there was no shadow to hide.

Seeing that the gaze had shifted away, Jie Kaiping remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to move, his hands pressed into the mud, not daring to breathe heavily, and he didn't even dare to lift his eyes.

Su Xin glanced at Jie Kaiping with disdain, muttering to herself, "What a disgrace to our bald guy."

After cursing in her heart, Su Xin saw Dugu Kang slightly shift his gaze and look at her.

In an instant, Su Xin felt that she had nothing left to hide, that everything had been seen through, and even that her secret of secretly reading the forbidden books circulating among her senior sisters at Yunshan Temple had been discovered.

When Su Xin blushed with shame and dared not look up, Su Wen grabbed Su Xin's hand and frowned as he looked at Dugu Kang.

Suwen was a descendant of a medical family and had studied Buddhist scriptures since childhood. His ability to cultivate his mind and practice Zen was extraordinary. However, at this moment, he was just like Suxin, feeling that everything in his heart had been seen through. The more he tried not to think about it, the clearer and more he understood it.

"..." Su Wen was bewildered and at a loss, her eyes losing their luster. She blushed with shame and glanced at her senior brother Meng, who was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed. Then she felt overwhelmed with shame, realizing that all the Buddhist teachings she had cultivated over the years had been wasted, and that she had even disgraced the Buddhist community. Unfortunately, the Holy King of Light, who had descended in the body of Dugu Kang, did not pay much attention to the two sisters, Su Xin and Su Wen, nor did he give his former beloved disciple a second glance.

Even so, Su Xin and Su Wen knelt down, as if accepting their punishment and repenting for their sins.

"Qingguangzi?" Mingyue drew her sword and frowned as she looked at Dugu Kang.

Dugu Kang's eyes seemed to see through all illusions, all thoughts and ideas, and even the past and future of all kinds of people and events.

After Mingyue asked the question, she felt that Dugu Kang had changed his appearance and become incredibly tall. His eyes held a calm and carefree attitude that seemed to see through all things, so much so that all of her past had been seen through and all of her future had been determined.

Jie Kaiping lay prostrate on the ground, his body touching the ground. He first saw Su Xin and Su Wen, the two little bald boys, kneeling down, and then heard Mingyue speak, so he knew that Mingyue was about to kneel down as well.

Today, I personally witnessed the aura of my guru again. When I untied the veil, I felt that my guru was even more domineering than the Arhat I met at Lanruo Temple.

Sure enough, although Mingyue had a sword in her hand, she felt that she should not hold a sword in her hand, but should instead repent day and night under the dim light of the ancient Buddha, breaking countless wooden fish and chanting countless scriptures, so that she could be freed.

Just as she was about to drop her sword and prostrate herself on the ground, Mingyue felt someone press down on her shoulder.

He knelt on the ground, having just removed the screen. He was cultivating the state of Nirvana, unlike Suwen and Suxin who were lost in their own minds and only knew shame. He was very clear-headed and was simply afraid.

At this moment, Jie Kaiping prostrated himself on the ground, feeling that the flames covering the ground were even more magnificent than before.

Jie Kaiping mustered her courage and looked up, only to see Meng Yuan had already stood up, his whole body ablaze with fire, one hand resting on Mingyue's shoulder.

For a moment, Jie Kaiping thought Meng Yuan and Mingyue were strangely well-matched, but then she couldn't help but recall Meng Yuan's past collusion with the woman in the red cloak, "They're sisters..."

Just as she was lost in thought, she saw Meng Yuan step forward, his hand on his sword, standing in front of Mingyue and then in front of everyone else.

Soon, when the screen was opened, the flames on Meng Yuan's body intensified, and the surrounding area was also engulfed in flames.

Upon removing the screen, one immediately sensed that the flame of transformation seemed to block the master's piercing gaze, as if even under the endless light, there were places that the light could not reach.

Under these circumstances, Jie Kaiping felt much lighter and her mind was clear and unobstructed. Meanwhile, Suwen and Suxin, the two bald fellow practitioners, had already stood up and were glaring angrily at Dugu Kang.

Unlike Suwen and Suxin, Jie Kaiping was not blinded by greed; he was simply afraid. Seeing that everyone had gotten up, he remained lying on the ground. After hesitating for a moment, he finally got up, but still kept his back bent and dared not raise his head.

"I never expected to have the honor of meeting you in person today." Meng Yuan held his sword and looked at Dugu Kang, who was devoutly clasping his hands together.

Dugu Kang had been staring at Meng Yuan for a long time before slowly saying, "The unity of heaven and man, the spread of fire across ten thousand miles, its momentum is complete."

Dugu Kang's eyes were like torches, and he had an air of dominance over the world, as if he were the only one who could do it. "Kowtowing to the Buddha will grant you the status of an Arhat."

Jie Kaiping bent over and secretly glanced at Meng Yuan's back. He then realized that the master's arrival was probably due to his appreciation of talent after seeing the Flame of Life.

Jie Kaiping was quite familiar with Meng Yuan and knew that Meng Feiyuan was determined and indomitable. Apart from being a gentleman who was fond of women, he was truly unyielding and his will could not be broken.

Sure enough, as soon as the screen was untied, Meng Yuan said, "The Arhat rank is too low. I wonder what rank one can attain by killing a Buddha?"

Upon hearing this, Dugu Kang's expression remained unchanged. There was fire beneath him, but it could not reach him. "The fires of the world, if they wish to illuminate all directions, should be under my great light."

Dugu Kang's eyes were resolute as he said, "Only I am the light."

Meng Yuan completely ignored Qing Guangzi's words, and simply stepped forward with his sword, his whole body engulfed in flames, and the ground around him was ablaze with fire, so much so that the valley was filled with raging flames.

When they got closer, they were no more than ten steps away from Dugu Kang.

Only then did Jie Kaiping dare to straighten up, wipe the sweat and cement from his bald head, and look up.

The two were about ten paces apart. Meng Yuan was engulfed in flames, while Dugu Kang was surrounded by light.

One is the only one who shines with light, denouncing the filth and darkness of the world; the other spreads fire across vast distances, wishing to burn away the filth with sparks.

Even after removing the veil, one cannot be certain of the true power of the descending guru, yet a sense of unease lingers in the heart.

Just as he was pondering, he unfurled the screen and saw Meng Yuan suddenly step forward, then transform into a sky full of starlight, completely obscuring Dugu Kang.

Dugu Kang originally possessed the aura of light, but under the pressure of endless starlight, the light was also shadowed, to the point that the aura of light collapsed and disappeared.

Dugu Kang's eyes shone even brighter, and a compassionate smile appeared on his face. "I will personally guide you, you lost flame, back to your own doom."

As he spoke, the myriad sparks on Dugu Kang's body surged into his body. Then the Buddhist light dissipated, his face changed color, and then a wisp of green light vanished without a trace, turning into a wisp of green smoke.

Dugu Kang seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he knelt down on the ground again.

Countless sparks flew, then slowly coalesced and fell, revealing Meng Yuan's figure.

The flames that filled the canyon all subsided and converged on Meng Yuan, then he disappeared without a trace.

"They were chased away?" Su Xin asked blankly. Seeing that Meng Yuan did not answer, she turned around and patted the bald head of the man who had unlocked the screen, saying, "I'm asking you!"

"The master is merely borrowing my junior brother's stinking body; it doesn't count as being driven away." Jie Kaiping, being a man of principle, didn't flatter Meng Yuan this time, but instead spoke her mind.

Hearing this, Su Xin felt much relieved. She wanted to say something more, but then she saw Su Wen step forward to check on Dugu Kang's injuries.

"No need," Meng Yuan said, reaching out to stop Su Wen.

Suwen was very obedient, but her face turned red, and she stood beside Meng Yuan with her head down.

Mingyue frowned and glanced at Suwen, but ultimately remained silent.

Everyone came forward to see, and saw Dugu Kang kneeling on the ground, as if he had something stuck in his throat, and was vomiting painfully.

Soon, Dugu Kang spat out his leftover food, and finally, as if all his strength had been drained, he vomited out a lump.

It turned out to be a piece of Buddha bone, resembling a finger, but exceptionally thin and long, with a faint blue hue.

"It was the master's doing." Jie Kaiping was very knowledgeable. "Junior brother is out of danger."

Meng Yuan spread his hands, and a wisp of spark flew out, landing on the Buddha's bones, which then turned to ash.

"Master Liaokong." Meng Yuan squatted down and patted Dugu Kang's shoulder with a smile.

Dugu Kang was still kneeling on the ground, his hands pressed against the ground, panting heavily, but there was a relaxed look on his face. "Long time no see."

(End of this chapter)