Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 289 Peerless Leader
Ren Shaoyang had never encountered someone with such a strange fate as Ying Yuan.

Pang Ban possessed unparalleled demonic skills and extraordinary abilities, but his methods still fell within the realm of martial arts; Lang Fanyun's swordsmanship was superb, almost reaching the Dao, yet it was still traceable.

These two formidable enemies and fellow Daoists in the present world not only troubled Ren Shaoyang with how to deal with them, but also benefited him greatly.

But the eagle's fate is different.

He gained merit but forgot it, abandoning martial arts after learning it, and instead cultivating a strange mental power, or what could be called the spiritual path. Through the perfection of the mind, he achieved the state of "breaking through the real with the unreal."

This fulfills Lao Tzu's saying "something comes from nothing" and Buddha's saying "the clouds are empty but not empty".

At this moment, Yingyuan was like a torrent of water overflowing a deep valley, its righteous spirit filling the heavens and earth, nowhere yet everywhere.

Therefore, those who want to kill him cannot kill him; only those who "do not intend to kill" can help him find liberation.

As their eyes met, they were drawn to each other like magnets, and an invisible aura surged forth in waves.

Suddenly, the two felt the world rapidly expanding while they themselves were shrinking rapidly. Ren Shaoyang suddenly realized that he was like an observer, standing quietly to the side.

Watching the handsome monk Yingyuan leisurely appear in a pure white place, he put down an object that was also shimmering with the same white light.

He smiled, flicked his sleeve, and was about to make his next move.

Suddenly, Ren Shaoyang's memories began to regress uncontrollably, flashing through his mind like lightning. In an instant, he was back to the scene of traversing Lonely Cloud Island.

The memory flashed back to this moment, then suddenly surged, like a wild donkey turning from a main road onto a side path, and from there it was unstoppable.

Ren Shaoyang and Ying Yuan stared at each other, momentarily stunned.

The next moment, the world turned upside down, and time and space shifted.

The sound of waves rose, seagulls hovered, and the surrounding area was an endless expanse of blue water.

Ren Shaoyang then saw Ying Yuan's figure flash by and appear on an island, his white robe fluttering in the sea breeze.

"This... isn't this Lonely Cloud Island?"

Ren Shaoyang looked at the island scenery and was amazed, but at this moment he was just an observer. Although he was anxious, he was powerless to affect anything.

Just then, a deep, resonant voice suddenly rang out: "Big brother, is that you?"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Ren Shaoyang's heart skipped a beat: "Hero Xiao!" He then looked in the same direction as Ying Yuan.

On the island path, Xiao Feng suddenly turned around, his eyes filled with surprise as he looked at the bamboo forest in the distance.

big brother?

Is Xiao Daxia's elder brother?

Ren Shaoyang was suddenly shocked: "Could it be the leader?" He quickly followed the monk's perspective and stared intently.

The scene shows a figure even more imposing than Xiao Feng, standing tall with his hands on his hips in the bamboo forest.

This man was draped in a black and gold cloak, with an air of domineering arrogance. His black hair was loose over his shoulders, fluttering in the wind like a lion's mane.

This person, this person is the leader?
Unlike Ying Yuan, who was almost scared out of his wits, Ren Shaoyang recognized at a glance that this person was exactly the same as the statue on the mountaintop. That's right, he was the legendary leader!

Xiao Feng's voice came through: "Brother, are you... are you real or fake?"

The burly man laughed heartily, his voice like muffled thunder: "Second brother, it's been sixty years, and you don't even recognize your old man?"

"Brother, it really is you!" Xiao Feng was overjoyed and rushed forward, embracing him tightly. "I never thought I would see you before I die!"

The burly man burst into laughter, patting him on the back and shouting, "Death? What nonsense! I've been by your side for three days and three nights, how could I not cure you?"

Xiao Feng was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly looked inward and found that his true energy was lively and his blood and qi were flowing like a dragon, with wisps of life slowly rising.

Even the evil thoughts that used to plague him shrank back like a puppy meeting its master.

Xiao Feng looked somewhat stunned and said, "This, that's it?"

The burly man grabbed Xiao Feng's arm and laughed heartily, "Now that I, Yan, am here, it's not like you can die even if you want to!"

Xiao Feng shook his head and laughed, "Sixty years have passed, and you're still as domineering as ever, brother."

“To defy fate is to be domineering.” The big man stretched and said with a smile, “It’s been too long since I’ve had my sister-in-law’s cooking. I’m starving and really miss it.”

Xiao Feng laughed heartily and said, "That's wonderful! If A'Zhu sees her elder brother, she will be overjoyed."

The two tall, imposing men walked arm in arm, chatting and laughing uncontrollably. Their laughter carried far and wide, echoing through the mountains and valleys, and resonating like the calm waves of the sea.

Xiao Feng's voice slowly drifted over: "Brother, now that you've watched for three days, what do you think of Brother Ren?"

The burly man pondered, "This kid lacks talent, but his temperament suits my taste. It's just a pity that he hasn't developed what he has yet."

Xiao Feng asked curiously, "Oh, what is that? I don't see it." The big man laughed and said, "I can't say, or it will run away."

"Very well, everyone has their own destiny." Xiao Feng sighed, then asked, "By the way, where have you been all these years, elder brother?"

The burly man laughed loudly, "I've been to many places! This time, I'm bringing my second and third brothers with me." He paused, then snarled, "We're going to find someone and give him a good beating!"

"Oh? Who could possibly make my elder brother so angry?"

The burly man sneered, "Back then, during the battle at Shaoshi Mountain, that man slashed me with a sword and a blade from across the void. Now that I've finally found his location, I'll naturally fight my way there to avenge that grudge! But the waters there are a bit deep, so I'll need my second and third brothers to help me."

"Brother, what are you saying?! This is my duty, of course!" Xiao Feng laughed loudly, then asked, "May I ask what that person's name is?"

The burly man casually replied, "Oh, his name is Dugu Xingye."

"Nice name!"

The two walked and talked, while the phantom of the monk Yingyuan silently followed.

Ren Shaoyang was completely numb.

The leader stayed right next to me for three whole days, and I didn't even notice?
His appearance immediately resolved Xiao Feng's impending death.
Also, are they going to cause trouble for "Xuantian Evil Emperor"?

Ren Shaoyang was completely bewildered.

Suddenly, the burly man paused slightly and glanced at him sideways.

Caught off guard, the monk Yingyuan turned his gaze and met the eyes of the burly man, who seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

The two looked at each other without saying a word, yet it seemed as if they had exchanged a thousand words.

Boom~!

Although Ren Shaoyang was an observer, he was as frail as bamboo, seemingly devoid of physical form.

Even now, he still felt his blood rushing upwards, his internal organs burning, a tingling and numb sensation sweeping through his entire body, and all the hairs on his body standing on end.

A fierce force, like divine punishment, pressed down on him like an impenetrable wall, pushing and entangled him, emitting a low, muffled sound, like thunder echoing from the ends of the earth.

With a snap, the world before my eyes shattered like a mirror.

In an instant, Ren Shaoyang screamed and suddenly woke up.

But before them lay the same tranquil place, surrounded by stone houses, streams, and lush bamboo groves.

But before him stood a handsome monk, as upright as a cypress and as serene as an unfathomable ocean.

At this moment, however, blood was flowing from all seven orifices, and he sat motionless.

He seems to be somewhat dead?

Ren Shaoyang suddenly felt as if his whole body was about to fall apart, and blood rushed to his mouth and nose. He couldn't help but cough and spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Hey, Living Buddha, you didn't get glared at to death, did you?"

Ren the Rascal coughed twice and then poked his finger into Yingyuan's nostrils.

“Ah, Benefactor Ren, please have some self-respect.”

Suddenly, Ying Yuan sighed, his bloodshot eyes looking at the white-robed man opposite him with a look of utter helplessness.

Ren Shaoyang saw two lines of bloody tears hanging on his cheeks, his handsome face contorted in a grimace, yet his spirits were surprisingly high. He couldn't help but withdraw his hand, scratching his head like Ding An, and chuckled:
"Haha, I was just worried about you~"

Ying Yuan smiled slightly, put his palms together, and said, "This monk thanks Brother Ren."

"No, please!" Ren Shaoyang waved his hands repeatedly. "You're old enough to be my great-grandfather, just call me Shaoyang."

“Very well, Shaoyang.” Yingyuan smiled and said, “The workings of fate are truly wondrous. If I hadn’t met you, I would never have had the chance to transcend.”

Ren Shaoyang raised his eyebrows and said, "Can the Living Buddha leave at any time?"

Ying Yuan smiled faintly and said loudly, "We still need to wait for Brother Li to arrive."

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "As expected, you need to continue your unfinished battle with him."

Yingyuan said, "The wonder of life lies in the countless choices formed by the interweaving of countless pieces of information without our knowledge. I am a lucky monk, born one step ahead of others. Now, I have received the mercy of that gentleman, who has given me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for transcendence."

Ren Shaoyang said, "Congratulations to the Living Buddha in any case."

Yingyuan looked at him and smiled faintly: "Shaoyang, the monk has already passed on the final move of shattering the void to you." The handsome monk stood up. He was tall and had an extraordinary bearing. He smiled softly and said, "I have seen your memories and received your kindness. Now I give you my most precious memories."

"Then we're even."
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P.S.: I love Xiao Feng so much, the more I write, the more I love him. I can't bear to see him grow old like a hero, so let Old Yan take him to a wider world.

(End of this chapter)