Embers of Sword

Chapter 705 Paper Man
"Thank you, Lord Mountain Master."

"Thank you for your help over the years... The Buddhist community is deeply grateful."

Liguo, Yuzhou.

Amidst the swirling sands of the desert and the dimming of the sun and moon, a monk in a robe stands solemnly in the sand, speaking respectfully.

This person is none other than Yin Chanzi, the current Buddhist disciple of Fanyin Temple.

Due to the causal changes in the Divine Travel Line, neither Miaozhen nor Junshan Zhenren appeared in this world... Because no reincarnated Bodhisattva appeared, Yin Chanzi did not relinquish his position as the Buddha's disciple. Under this series of causal entanglements, Buddhism and the Crown Prince were completely on opposite sides.

Yin Chanzi bowed.

During these five years, Xie Xuanyi traveled in Liguo and helped many suffering people.

To hold such a high position and possess such great virtue... even the Arhats of Buddhism could not do what Benefactor Xie has done in sacrificing himself for others.

The name of the Ten Heroes of the World has faded into obscurity.

Those "prodigies" who were Xie Xuanyi's peers back then have successively broken through to the Yang God Realm and become true great cultivators standing at the top of the mountain.

Tang Fengshu, Chen Jingxuan, Chen Chong...

But Xie Xuanyi is still only a "Yin God".

The so-called invincible Yin God has slowly become a thing of the past. His peers have all reached the Dao Condensation stage, so what good is an invincible Yin God? Many people say that "Master Xie," who was once invincible, has now become just an ordinary person. He has not broken through that threshold for nearly ten years and may never have the chance to become a Yang God in this lifetime.

For the past five years, no one has known Xie Xuanyi's whereabouts.

Except for the hidden cicada.

"No need to thank me."

Xie Xuanyi stood on the other side of the sandstorm, adjusted his straw hat, and said calmly, "The reason I helped is because I have a 'good connection' with Buddhism."

The many taboos surrounding "spiritual travel" were all reminders given by Zen masters.

Yin Chanzi was a disciple of the Zen master.

Xie Xuanyi never liked owing favors, so he naturally remembered the Zen master's help.

"Sow good seeds, reap good fruit."

Yin Chanzi said gently, "Benefactor Xie has not had much contact with Buddhism in the past... It seems that this so-called 'good karma' is related to my master."

"It is indeed related to the Zen master."

Xie Xuanyi simply smiled and said nothing more.

Even setting aside the Zen master's cause and effect, he would still leave Da Chu and come to this Li Kingdom.

He wanted to see turmoil in the "spiritual travels of the world".

Da Chu was too stable.

The chaos and turmoil that occurred in the foreign land could very well happen in the real world.

Over the past five years, Xie Xuanyi has witnessed almost every intense struggle and major turning point in this war.

For him, this was also a great gain.

five years.

The chaos of war in the country is nearing its end.

Relying on its millennia-old heritage, the Buddhist sect withstood the fiercest and most brutal encirclements by the Crown Prince's iron cavalry... This "battle" was not actually a truly life-or-death struggle; the Crown Prince's morale was waning, and this three-year-long war was nearing its end. As the saying goes, "One effort, then decline; then exhaustion." With the three years of bitter fighting over, it was time for the Buddhist sect and the Ninth Prince to launch their counterattack.

Xie Xuanyi already knew the answer to the outcome of this struggle against the foreign lands.

He decided to leave the country.

Unexpectedly, Yin Chanzi insisted on seeing them off, and the two came to the Yuzhou desert for their final "farewell".

"Thank you, benefactor."

Yin Chanzi hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."

"But it doesn't matter."

Xie Xuanyi smiled nonchalantly.

"If I am not mistaken, Benefactor Xie is practicing a technique similar to the 'Way of Life'."

Yin Chanzi pondered for a moment and slowly said, "My teacher is the most accomplished practitioner of the 'Way of Life' in the past thousand years. He left behind some insights and achievements, which he entrusted to me to deliver to the right person at a crucial moment."

talking.

Yin Chanzi took out a blue box from his sleeve.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the blue box and was momentarily moved. He did not accept it directly, but instead asked with a smile, "Since it is a gift, why is it difficult to ask?"

Please forgive my intrusion.

Yin Chanzi held the green box and smiled helplessly: "Over the years, I have been thinking about what exactly the 'critical moment' that Master spoke of was, and who the 'right person' was. It was only after these three years of war that I gradually understood Master's instructions. The person Master probably wanted to entrust is Benefactor Xie."

There was a brief pause.

“I have a feeling that this will probably be the last time I meet you, benefactor.”

Yin Chanzi said sincerely, "Benefactor Xie, you must have something very important to do upon returning to Da Chu this time, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuanyi raised his eyebrows slightly.

These five years of travel.

Xie Xuanyi saw many possible "causes and effects" in the original world. His departure from Li Kingdom this time was to try to end the "divine journey".

In a sense.

This was indeed the last time "he" met Yin Chanzi.

"This blue box will be delivered to Benefactor Xie today."

Yin Chanzi smiled and said, "I'll leave Master's words to Benefactor Xie to consider. When to open the box depends on Benefactor's mood."

Xie Xuanyi took the blue box and prepared to leave.

Yin Chanzi suddenly said again, "...Thank you, benefactor!"

Xie Xuanyi turned around.

The sandstorm obscured the young monk's face.

"nothing."

Yin Chanzi bowed again and said, "This humble monk only wants to express his gratitude once more on behalf of these refugees from Li Kingdom."

……

……

Xie Xuanyi rode his sword back to the Great Sui Sword Palace, not bothering to communicate with anyone.

He went directly to the Lotus Forbidden Area.

Although many years have passed, the forbidden area has remained unchanged.

The lotus carvings on the mountain wall were slightly dimmed, but the patterns on the large array on the ground exuded a sharp sword intent... Sunlight streamed down from the cracks in the mountain peaks, falling on the empty futon.

Xie Xuanyi stood in front of the prayer mat, not surprised by the empty forbidden area before him.

He already knew it.

The Master is not in this "divine travel world".

So after he woke up, he never stepped into this place again.

"Master, I've come to see you."

Although the prayer mat was empty.

But Xie Xuanyi still spoke up. He came to the gap where the sunlight was streaming in and spoke to himself in front of the swaying light and shadow.

"Whoosh..."

A gentle breeze blows, and the grass leaves flutter.

Xie Xuanyi sat down beside the large rock and slowly said, "I have been here for five years. In these five years I have traveled to many places, and as you said... I have seen a lot of scenery."

The cause and effect of the divine journey has changed.

Old friends, but strangers.

White hair sends off black hair.

Everything here is "fresh".

Xie Xuanyi sat alone in the forbidden area bathed in sunlight, slowly recounting the things he had seen and the scenery he had experienced over the past five years.

He spoke slowly and meticulously, sometimes deliberately keeping the audience in suspense.

It was as if the Master was truly listening beside them.

"Five years is pretty much the limit of my 'daydreaming'."

Xie Xuanyi lowered his eyes and said softly, "So, staying in one world for too long really does make you forget who you are... I'm almost forgetting about that world, and I'm almost forgetting the meaning of stepping into this river of destiny. My spiritual journey has only lasted five short years, but it feels like a full sixty years have passed." Spiritual journeys... come at a price.

Five years of wandering in the spirit.

Xie Xuanyi's soul "decayed" at an extremely fast speed; no, rather than decay, it was more like "returning to its rightful place."

He had a premonition.

If I stay here any longer, my soul will probably be destroyed by this world.

These past five years... have been like the original "Xie Xuanyi" being possessed by a soul that didn't belong to him, and then the possessing soul's will gradually being worn away.

……

……

"What exactly happened to Senior Brother Xuan Yi?"

"Disappeared for five whole years..."

"As soon as they returned, they went straight to the Lotus Forbidden Land!"

At this moment, the Great Sui Sword Palace was quite noisy. The news of Xie Xuanyi's appearance had spread throughout the peaks, and many disciples had come to the Lotus Forbidden Area to watch and wait.

Everyone wants to know.

Where did Xie Xuanyi go and what did he do in the past five years?

Boom.

The forbidden lotus garden suddenly opened.

"I'm coming!"

Amidst the clamor, a streak of sword light shot out, and Xie Xuanyi rode his sword into the sky, heading straight for Jade Screen Peak.

The sword light was too fast.

Even if an elder wanted to intervene, they wouldn't have had the time to do so.

In the blink of an eye.

Xie Xuanyi then landed on the summit of Jade Screen Peak.

Jiang Miaoyin sat before the waterfall, her beauty ethereal yet her posture like that of a meditating old monk. A resounding clang echoed from the Sword Washing Pool as countless swords surged forth, their reflections hanging and cascading, truly resembling a magnificent waterfall. Xie Xuanyi stood before this dazzling, silvery-white waterfall of swords, his hands behind his back, facing Jiang Miaoyin's silhouette.

The waterfall at Xijianchi murmurs incessantly.

The woman's voice transmitted a plaintive tone: "So you still know how to come back?"

Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "This shouldn't be a big deal. For you, not seeing me for five years is a good thing."

"..."

Jiang Miaoyin remained silent.

"In the past five years, I have traveled abroad and saved many people."

Xie Xuanyi suddenly spoke.

Jiang Miaoyin slowly stood up, turned around, and looked at Xie Xuanyi across the waterfall of swords.

She remained silent.

"Of course, I also killed many people."

Xie Xuanyi continued, "After all, as you know, I'm better at killing than saving people. I killed the 'Five Masters' under Nalan Xuance, the three Sword Hidden Venerables of the One Blade Sect, and the Grand Elder of the Tide Sound Pavilion."

This statement came out.

Jiang Miaoyin's expression changed slightly.

"I plan to kill a few more people next."

Xie Xuanyi stood with his hands behind his back and calmly said, "King Yanle, Lord Xue, Emperor Chu..."

At this point, I was finally interrupted.

"Xie Xuanyi, have you gone mad?"

Jiang Miaoyin spoke coldly, her voice carrying a chill.

The meeting between the two on the mountaintop was not obstructed by any large formation.

In other words.

These voices have actually already leaked out.

"What, are you scared?"

Xie Xuanyi smiled: "I kill people... what do you have to fear?"

This sounds reasonable, but it is actually illogical.

Everyone in the world knows it.

Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Miaoyin are Daoist partners... If Xie Xuanyi commits a heinous crime, how can Jiang Miaoyin be completely absolved of responsibility?
"Shh!"

Jiang Miaoyin quickly raised her sleeve and, using her position as the sovereign of Jade Screen Peak, activated a grand formation to completely envelop the two of them, preventing them from being detected by divine senses or detected by the outside world.

"What...are you trying to say?"

The woman's face was completely shrouded in frost.

"What do I want to say?"

Seeing this, Xie Xuanyi chuckled softly. He exhaled a sigh of frustration, casually found a large rock to sit on, just as he had done before in the Lotus Forbidden Area.

This time, it was just a casual chat.

"So it really is you, surnamed Lu."

Xie Xuanyi said expressionlessly, "Although the Book Tower has captured a lot of information about you, there is no record of the 'Paper Doll Technique' at all. I have always suspected that the puppets and spies who have been implanted with the 'Paper Doll Technique' can transmit everything they see and hear into your mind sea. It seems that I was right."

Near the sword waterfall, the woman gradually raised her hands behind her back—a gesture Jiang Miaoyin wouldn't normally make…

However, she remained expressionless and unmoved.

"I've always felt that this world is unbelievably peaceful."

Xie Xuanyi spoke softly, "After all, the Holy Empress was a figure at the ninth or tenth level of the Yang God realm... Even if she was trapped by the Supreme Emperor's Formation, she shouldn't have vanished without a trace. Such a person, even if she were to die one day, shouldn't have died 'quietly'... But here, it's as if she was forcibly erased. Even my master probably couldn't have done such a thing, right?"

After a long silence.

Jiang Miaoyin spoke.

She sneered, "You think I can erase 'Yuan Huang'?"

This single word is tantamount to acknowledging one's identity.

In fact, at this point, it doesn't matter whether Lu Yuzhen admits her identity or not.

The moment Xie Xuanyi arrived at Jade Screen Peak, it was to have this conversation with Lu Yuzhen.

“You can’t do it, but Emperor Chu can.”

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "If you can't lift a stone, someone else can... That's the meaning of the existence of 'Paper Doll Technique'."

The Grand Emperor's Formation requires the blood of the emperor to nourish it.

Lu Yuzhen couldn't kill Yuan Huang...

But Emperor Chu, who knew the "future" in advance, certainly could.

“Continue,” Jiang Miaoyin said.

There is no medicine for regret in this world. Cause and effect, once there is a cause, there will be an effect...

Xie Xuanyi said softly, "However, you are an exception. You can use the [Great Dao Brush] to travel through the River of Destiny. Normally, disrupting the River of Destiny is not good for anyone... But you are not the kind of being that conforms to the norm. You are a special and unique individual who can freely travel with the [Great Dao Brush]. Of course, you want to use this authority to plant the 'cause and effect' that you want to see."

"And so, this world came into being."

Xie Xuanyi said, "Here, you gave up 'Yuanhuang' and chose 'Chudi', thus deducing a brand new causal line. This causal line went very smoothly, and the Great Chu Dynasty became more peaceful than ever before, until my arrival."

"Yes."

The woman sighed and said regretfully, "If I had known you would come, I would have been more careful. Did you sense something was wrong when you met with King Yanle?"

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the King of Banquets."

Xie Xuanyi chuckled softly: "It's just that the blank sheet of paper was too big and too conspicuous... so much so that I couldn't help but overthink it. If Emperor Chu is your 'paper man,' then Prince Yanle must be too... You must have cultivated many capable confidants over the years, right? Perhaps there are even more than I can imagine."

"That blank sheet of paper, the King of Banquets?"

Jiang Miaoyin was somewhat surprised to hear this.

After listening, she shrugged and smiled helplessly, "It's just a coincidence. This guy simply likes to draw..."

"There are many coincidences in this world."

Xie Xuanyi said, "King Yanle likes painting, and Jiang Miaoyin likes me. The real flaw is not in the Northern Border, but in 'you'."

(End of this chapter)