Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

After being flicked on the forehead by Zuo Qiuchi for a while, Chu Mingkong's forehead turned red. However, his head was hard and he was not seriously injured. Only the red handprint on his cheek was quite conspicuous.

Only after Zuo Qiuchi's fingers had gone numb from flicking his fingers and his anger had subsided did she remove her peach-shaped buttocks from his face and say:

"What new trick did you just use?"

Chu Mingkong wiped the blood from his nose and repeated the explanation he had given Feng Ying, but in the end, he still needed to ask her for some advice:

"Master, how did you break free? I feel like anyone can escape this Domain of Annihilation. Do you have any insights?"

"Well, how should I put it? I was able to break free because I had the protection that was just right to deal with this kind of realm of intent. Your Nirvana Realm has a bit of Buddhist intent on it, but it's not pure, otherwise I could have broken through it even faster."

However, under normal circumstances, it is very difficult to break through.

Hearing this explanation, Chu Mingkong felt much more at ease. Now that he had found two people who had been cracked one after another, Chu Mingkong was quite frustrated and developed a deep doubt and distrust of the technique he had just learned. But when he came to his senses, he realized that the two people he had tested on were not ordinary people, which was a reason to comfort himself.

He realized something, and while wiping his nosebleed by pulling on Zuo Qiuchi's skirt, he asked:

“Master, since you have this protection against Buddhism, how did you get trapped in such a sorry state back then? It was inside that bronze statue barrier.”

"The situations are different, so they can't be compared. There is no single best method in this world that can defeat all other methods with one move. You are proficient in many weapons, but you should understand the difference between you and someone who specializes in one, right?"

Zuo Qiuchi's insight into Chu Mingkong's weapon talent was incisive. The realm of a single weapon is by no means the end. Among sword immortals, there are strong and weak, and Chu Mingkong belongs to the weaker category.

However, he didn't care about this relative weakness. Every type of weapon has its shortcomings, and even if you reach the pinnacle, you can only make up for them through other means. So, specializing in one type of weapon will eventually lead to setbacks. The solution Chu Mingkong came up with was to learn a variety of things, which happened to be something he was interested in and had the talent for.

If there truly were an invincible and unsolvable path, he would definitely be the first to charge in. However, this is not the issue that Chu Mingkong needs to focus on right now. The key is to perfect the use of this Annihilation Domain as much as possible.

"Master, do you think my new move will shatter everyone I see? If that's the case, I won't waste my time and energy."

"That shouldn't be the case. You must have misunderstood. After all, you didn't create this Domain of Annihilation. You have to figure out for yourself what the creator intended to use it for. The Domain of Annihilation you're describing doesn't seem to be for killing enemies."

I have heard that the Buddhist concept of 'Nirvana' is not the end or death, but rather a blissful and perfect state of immortality, corresponding to 'Nirvana'.

"If you want to be immortal, you must first let go of your murderous intent; otherwise, it's tantamount to destroying your own realm and your own Dao heart. If you want to let go of your murderous intent, you shouldn't use this realm as a means to deal with people."

"I'm quite curious now, how can the Buddhist way of doing things produce such a state of great compassion?"

"I don't think they are as compassionate as you think. From what I understand, they don't regard those who are hostile to them as enemies, but they think about converting them and turning them into their own helpers. In this way, they are more frightening than killing without any intention to kill."

That's true...

Chu Mingkong meditated and conjured up various scenarios in his mind, pondering the wonders of the Annihilation Domain. He had no intention of converting the other party, so its greater use lay in concealing his whereabouts, and also in entering the Annihilation Domain to buy himself a chance to heal and recover.

He could somewhat understand why this Realm of Annihilation required him to refrain from killing.

Zuo Qiuchi chatted with Chu Mingkong for a while, then couldn't sit still any longer. She slumped down, her body twisting and turning, and nestled into the comfortable, soft bed. She yawned.

"If my wife, Shen Xuejun, could learn your Nirvana Domain, that would be going too far. Her mental state is more stable than yours when using this domain, but I doubt that's possible."

Why?

"It's pretty much what she often calls 'rules.' Shen Xuejun is a person who sets her own rules. She can respect other people's rules to some extent, but she will never accept them. This kind of domain is itself equivalent to a strong rule, which is inconsistent with her principles. If Buddhists want to learn from her to improve similar methods of Nirvana, it will not work, as it will break their own 'rules.'"

"There's another saying..."

As I pondered this, I felt a sense of regret that... things that seem suitable often end up not coming together.

However, this so-called suitability is only in the eyes of outsiders; the actual situation is difficult to know, and only those who have truly cultivated it can know. Take Zuo Qiuchi and him, for example. Outsiders only felt that their master-disciple relationship was inappropriate, but Chu Mingkong knew perfectly well that they were a perfect match the moment he saw Zuo Qiuchi's beautiful buttocks!

"Then I'll go and ask my master's wife for advice. Master, do you think there's any possibility of improvement? I need to hurry up and improve this Nirvana Domain."

We need to ask Zuo Qiuchi for his opinion. If not, then Chu Mingkong shouldn't talk to his master's wife about this. Otherwise, if he asks his master's wife for advice and she asks him for advice, it would be a waste of his time and effort.

"It should be possible. My wife must have some good methods for calming the mind and spirit. Let's see if we can learn them."

"After I finish learning, I'll use it on you again, Master, and see if I can break free this time?"

"Then I might have to slap you again, you traitorous disciple." Zuo Qiuchi pinched the side of his cheek that hadn't been slapped yet, indicating that he was a little eager to try and hoped that he would act prudently.

Touching me is one thing, but you even started licking me? You're asking for it!

------------

In the imperial court, after nearly half a year, the throne, which had been empty for so long, was once again occupied.

The court officials were extremely alarmed, because the emperor's appearance had not been announced at all, nor had any news been sent out for them to prepare. They had all become somewhat accustomed to the unattended morning court meetings.

It's like they're drawing salaries without working. They come every day just to go through the motions. Without the emperor's decision, the ministers simply handle many things themselves. The result of their abuse of power is naturally to make private profits, buy land and property, and they don't even have the mind to go through the formalities of attending court anymore. They might as well be local tyrants in their own homes and reap huge profits.

Amidst this guilty conscience, another scene shocked the ministers. Before the morning meeting even began, a tense atmosphere, like the eve of a sudden downpour, hung in the air.

Just now, the Emperor was reviewing the memorials that Empress Pei had helped to write over the past few days when he suddenly splashed water on Empress Pei's face!

The water droplets, with their subtle force, splashed her pretty face, making it flush red. She looked haggard and pitiful.

Her usually beautiful and elegant face still maintained a proper and dignified smile, but deep in her beautiful eyes, there was only coldness and indifference.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Tongue Nail? ??

The ministers had doubts about this, because Empress Pei was known for her cautious and prudent behavior.

During the Emperor's serious illness, she had the greatest opportunity to interfere in politics and abuse her power, but Empress Pei never made decisions on her own or offered much advice. Only after the ministers had discussed the matter and reached a conclusion would she act as a recorder and make the final decision.

It can be said that if any of the memorials submitted when the emperor was seriously ill had problems, the blame would ultimately fall on these ministers.

For a time, the ministers were uneasy, unable to fathom the emperor's intentions.

Was this an attempt to subtly intimidate the ministers? They should have chosen a minor figure from one faction as a scapegoat, making an example of them to warn the other ministers; there's no reason to take it out on the Empress.

Is this an implication for them, or simply a reflection of their dissatisfaction with Empress Pei?

The morning assembly at court began, and the long-absent shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" resounded throughout the Golden Palace, grand and majestic, clearly audible to the imperial guards on the square outside the palace.

Then came a long silence. The central ministers of both factions glanced at the young emperor. His face was pale, as if he had been bedridden for a long time, but his eyes were bright, and he exuded a majestic aura. He was dignified without being angry, yet he gave people a strange feeling, as if he were sinister or sinister.

This made them even more curious about whether the emperor was truly seriously ill during this period of illness, as they sensed some changes in him.

"Today, all my beloved ministers gathered to discuss the arrangements for the Autumn Festival at the end of the month, as well as the progress of the marriage arrangements for Princess Yongzhen. During my days of illness and confinement, I have been unable to review many memorials, but the matter is now settled. As for the results, I request that the ministers in charge of these matters submit their findings!"

Is this a genuine plan to settle scores later? Does it mean a reckoning, or is it giving them a chance to punish themselves and repent?

"In addition, in a few days, a master whom I have chosen will come to the capital to take up the post of Imperial Preceptor, and will soon be able to meet with all my beloved ministers."

The Imperial Advisor has been appointed? What important matter is it?

Has His Majesty really gone out these days?

The leaders of the two factions, who were at odds due to differing political views, exchanged a bewildered glance, trying to find answers from each other, but only saw the same confusion.

"Your Majesty, may I ask who this master is?"

"He is not a famous person, but his wisdom and insight are truly extraordinary. You will see in time."

------------

Chu Mingkong learned a lesson from his master and practiced demonstrating his speed a lot along the way.

Ahead, several female disciples flew through the air towards Chu Mingkong, but their destination was not him, but their own cave dwelling. They had just finished their sect training and were hurrying back to rest.

"It's been quite a while since I've seen you. I didn't expect to run into you on the way back to the sect. I'm really not used to the demon race's territory. The climate and environment are a big problem. Where did you go for your training this time?"

"The Western Mausoleum of the Celestial Empire has provided assistance near the Abyss and has benefited greatly. At first, I was quite worried—"

As the Domain of Annihilation instantly expanded, the female disciple's words came to an abrupt halt, and the movements of the group froze. Their mouths were about to form the word "worried," but they were unable to utter the words.

In this gray, still space, these female disciples of the sect, whose strength was still shallow, had no means of countermeasures. The fluttering of their skirts froze, and their consciousness and bodies were frozen in place.

Chu Mingkong stared at them, observing their reactions, but after a while he did not find any signs of them struggling.

The Silence Domain was lifted, and the female disciples continued their conversation, smoothly resuming what had been interrupted, and everything returned to normal.

"...I was worried about that extremely Yin energy, but the people in Xiling were quite considerate of us and didn't let us venture into dangerous areas. Under pressure, my cultivation improved a lot!"

After Chu Mingkong left, he encountered some disciples of varying strengths, none of whom could escape the influence of the Annihilation Domain, and none of them were even aware that they were being affected.

"Without any countermeasures like Feng Ying and Master, they couldn't even struggle. It seems that dealing with ordinary cultivators is a piece of cake."

This was relatively optimistic intelligence, but Chu Mingkong immediately became pessimistic again.

Why would he bother figuring out how to deal with ordinary cultivators? Let them use all their trump cards; if Chu Mingkong really wanted to, dealing with them would be a piece of cake.

Before, you could just slash a few times with your sword, but now you're even more shameless. If you don't care about your image, you can bite your lips until they bleed, and then spit like a pea shooter.

"But it's also a new discovery. When you're inside the Nirvana Domain, people outside the domain seem to be invisible. Just now, a few female cultivators stumbled in as if they were trying to scam someone, and they froze themselves. Maybe they weren't strong enough. At least this gives us another way to infiltrate the capital in the future."

However, after trying it out, Chu Mingkong felt a chill run down his spine.

Could it be that someone else used this method to observe him before, but was unable to do anything to him due to the limitation of not being able to take action?

He didn't dwell on these unanswerable suspicions, quickly dismissing them as pointless except for causing himself worry.

At the Sect Master Peak, Shen Xuejun came out of the Sect Master Hall, and Qu Wuyue saw her off all the way to the door. Before she could say goodbye, Chu Mingkong had already concealed himself and arrived beside the two of them.

"During my master's absence, Senior Shen personally came to inquire about my well-being, for which I am deeply grateful!"

Qu Wuyue cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and was about to bow when Shen Xuejun reached out and gently patted Qu Wuyue's waist. Qu Wuyue subconsciously straightened his back.

"You are now the acting sect leader of Xiaoxiang Qin Academy. With this change in status, many of your habits must also change. Do not treat me with the etiquette of a junior."

Shen Xuejun's expression didn't reveal any closeness, but Qu Wuyue had received guidance from her for a period of time before, so she wouldn't feel alienated by her indifferent attitude. She knew that Shen Xuejun was kindly reminding her to do things.

In Qu Wuyue's mind, this was a private meeting with a senior, so there was no need to be so reserved. If she were to speak to her half-teacher with the airs of a sect leader, it would be disrespectful. But now she realized that this was on the sect leader's peak.

As the saying goes, "One should fulfill one's duties in a position of power," and many things cannot be simply approached from her own perspective.

"Thank you for the reminder, Shen Qian... Sect Master Shen!" Qu Wuyue placed her hands behind her back as she was about to bow, her tone still solemn.

Within a few words, Shen Xuejun vaguely sensed a gaze coming from somewhere. The gaze was fleeting, but it did not escape her perception.

The icy mist gradually rose, and Qu Wuyue, seeing Shen Xuejun's reaction, took out a zither, preparing to test the enemy with its music.

However, the Domain of Annihilation had already unfolded. Qu Wuyue's slender fingers touched the strings of the zither, and the strings were pressed down, but she was unable to pluck a note. Everything on the summit of the sect leader's peak was quietly frozen, shrouded in a stillness that was neither born nor destroyed.

Shen Xuejun was also trapped in this desolate place.

Chu Mingkong breathed a sigh of relief. Qu Wuyue was chosen as the acting sect leader. Perhaps his strength and foundation were not yet mature enough, but he was already a formidable talent. He would surpass his master sooner or later. All he lacked was a little time to mature.

"The Realm of Annihilation has finally trapped a decent person. It seems to be working. Qu Wuyue was the first to take out the zither, so the zither should be the leader among the zither and sword."

The pressure her vocal cords must exert must be very strong!

Chu Mingkong reached out and poked Qu Wuyue's cheek. Her skin was delicate and elastic, and a power from the sect's holy land was slowly gathering into her body.