Shrouded Sky

Chapter 213 - Buddhist Artifacts

“After Tathagata founded Mount Sumeru, he built a temple there,” the white-robed young nun said. Though she claimed the rosary of six relics bore a traitor’s aura, she kept examining it, as if wanting to pluck each bead apart for scrutiny.

“And then?” Ye Fan pressed.

“What then?” she replied distractedly, engrossed in the rosary.

“What happened to Siddhartha Gautama?” Ye Fan asked, smiling.

“Oh, him? Nothing more...” she said, holding the rosary to the sun, clearly unwilling to continue.

“How could there be nothing more? Little master, the Buddha taught against false speech. You must tell the truth,” Ye Fan teased.

“I’m telling the truth,” the little nun pouted, dissatisfied. Unable to discern the relics’ secrets, she drew a cluster of jade flowers, striking the beads. A fragrant aroma spread, tiny rays like thorns shot out, slashing at the relics with faint sparks.

Yet the six relics remained unchanged, unmoved by the rays or sparks. Ye Fan quickly intervened. “What are you doing? Stop!”

“I think there’s something inside,” she said stubbornly, shaking the jade flowers, sending blades of light to engulf the relics.

“Those are my beads,” Ye Fan protested.

“I didn’t say they were mine,” she muttered, persisting.

Ye Fan’s forehead twitched with exasperation. “Not yours, yet you want to cut them open?” He reached to reclaim the rosary.

“Don’t be so stingy, give me a moment,” she said, her white robes fluttering. Her delicate hand conjured a hazy miniature world, enveloping the beads.

Yao Xi, surprised, asked, “Is this the secret art, Universe Within Palms?”

Ye Fan’s hand entered the miniature world but couldn’t touch the beads, always just out of reach. Smiling, he shifted to grab her wrist, aiming for her vulnerable spot. But the hazy world moved like a dragon to her wrist, blocking him again.

“Pardon me,” Ye Fan said, his fingers forming a seal like a dragon’s head, emitting nine rays, each like a celestial dragon, lunging at her miniature world.

“What’s that?” the nun gasped.

Ye Fan’s seal unleashed nine small dragons, mimicking her brother’s Imperial Dragonforce so closely they could pass for real. Their immense power shattered her illusory space, and in her distraction, he snatched back the rosary.

“What secret art is that?” Yao Xi asked, having seen it clearly, astonished.

Ye Fan had lightly used the Nine Secrets technique, adapted to his fingers, its power obscure to outsiders.

“Let me see it again,” the nun pleaded.

“Tell me more about Tathagata,” Ye Fan said, smiling, holding the rosary in his palm.

“I really don’t know more. His name was erased from history, leaving no trace,” she said, looking earnest.

“I don’t believe you,” Ye Fan said, twirling the beads, shaking his head.

Puffing her cheeks, she glared. “Fine, I’ll tell you, it’s nothing much.”

“Go on, I’m all ears,” Ye Fan said.

“From then on, Buddhism had no Tathagata!” the young princess declared solemnly.

“What does that mean?” Ye Fan probed.

“It’s my conclusion from reading many Buddhist texts, piecing together every clue. It boils down to that one sentence,” she said seriously.

“You’re lying, little master,” Ye Fan said, shaking his head.

“I swear by the Honored One, every word is true. I studied hundreds of Buddhist texts and asked great Buddhist masters, who sighed, From then on, Buddhism had no Tathagata,” she insisted, looking convincing.

“From then on, Buddhism had no Tathagata…” Ye Fan stroked his chin, the phrase sparking endless speculation. What had happened? Was Tathagata no longer Tathagata, or was Buddhism no longer the same? Who was at Mount Sumeru now?

Yao Xi pondered too. Knowing less, she sensed a vague outline from the clues. “Let me see the rosary again,” the nun said, reaching out.

Ye Fan toyed with the beads. “Your brother paled at Tathagata’s name. He knows secrets, how can you not?”

“He knows nothing. The elders just told him not to mention the name,” she said, pouting.

“Why such a warning?” Yao Xi asked.

“How should I know?” the nun replied, tilting her head. “I read Grand Xia’s ancient texts and reached the same conclusion: From then on, the world had no Siddhartha Gautama.”

“From then on, the world had no Siddhartha Gautama,” Ye Fan mused, forming theories, none easily provable.

“Your Highness!” Nearby guards hurriedly saluted.

The Grand Xia prince approached, black hair flowing, tiger eyes blazing, armor gleaming, nine dragons coiling around him, exuding an imperial aura. His brows twitched, displeased with the guards.

“Calm your anger, Your Highness. The princess ordered us to stay back,” the guard leader explained.

“Yao Xi greets Your Highness,” the Radiant Light Saintess said, her smile captivating.

The prince responded courteously, showing no trace of an eternal dynasty heir’s arrogance. “Fairy, radiant as the moon, befriending my sister would be a blessing.”

Ye Fan received no such warmth. The prince, increasingly annoyed, wanted to kick him away from the nun. “Boundless Heavenly Lord, I came to offer an imperial scripture. Since Your Highness isn’t interested, I’ll seek another fated one. I’ll take my leave,” Ye Fan said, stepping away.

“Hey, priest, let me see the rosary again!” the nun called lightly.

The prince glanced at his sister, who muttered something and fell silent. Yao Xi also bid farewell, gliding after Ye Fan. “This way, priest.”

Ye Fan understood, the Jade Pool Saintess was summoning him, Yao Xi merely relaying the message. They passed stone-piled landscapes and arched bridges over streams, entering a serene courtyard. Cobblestone paths led through bamboo groves to a stone table with four stools, tranquil and quiet.

The Jade Pool Saintess was performing a tea ceremony, her delicate hands tracing graceful arcs, blending with the scenery. The faint tea fragrance wafted over.

“Her tea art, like her zither, nears the realm of the Heavenly Dao, rarely shown. She’s treating you as an honored guest,” Yao Xi said, her jade-like skin glowing, her smile enchanting, evoking memories of their past clash, her near-bare form a vivid, alluring image.

“Have you truly cultivated for over 300 years, priest?” Yao Xi asked, smiling.

“Alas, I’ve wasted 318 springs and autumns, achieving nothing,” Ye Fan said, reciting his title.

Yao Xi’s lips curved, hair dancing lightly. “You seem to have a youthful heart.”

Ye Fan’s heart skipped, her keen senses caught a fleeting lapse. He had to be cautious to avoid exposure. “Faced with such a peerless beauty, even a thousand-year-old sage would waver. My brief distraction is natural,” he said.

They entered the bamboo grove. The Jade Pool Saintess’ gentle movements animated the tea utensils, the fragrance spreading. “Please, priest, have some tea,” she said, her voice melodious, offering a cup with delicate hands.

Ye Fan thanked her, asking, “What does the fairy need of me?”

“You’re too kind. I do need your assistance,” she said softly.

“Jade Pool stands at the pinnacle, enduring ages. What can’t you resolve? My abilities are limited, I may disappoint you,” Ye Fan said calmly.

“I’d like you to visit Jade Pool.”

“For what purpose?”

“To appraise some extraordinary stones,” she said, her brief words stirring Ye Fan. Those stones likely had remarkable origins.

“Why not cut them open directly?”

She shook her head. “We can’t until we understand them.”

Ye Fan grew certain they were no ordinary stones. “It’ll likely be a grand stone-appraisal event,” Yao Xi said, smiling.

“Indeed, many distinguished guests will be invited,” the Jade Pool Saintess confirmed.

Undoubtedly, it would be a grand gathering of notable figures.

“Regrettably, I have pressing matters and can’t attend,” Ye Fan declined.

“No matter. If you’re occupied, I won’t insist,” she said, producing a jade pendant. “But if you find time, present this at any Jade Pool stone workshop in the Northern Region. They’ll guide you to Jade Pool.”

Ye Fan thanked her. “Missing such an event would be a great regret. Once my affairs are settled, I’ll visit.”

Leaving the grove, he found the crowd dispersed. Not seeing Wu Zhongtian or Tu Fei, he didn’t search, heading straight out of Richcloud City.

Outside, ten miles away, blazing light pierced the sky, a terrifying aura palpable from afar. A great battle raged, drawing many cultivators. “The Radiant Light Saint is unstoppable!” “Terrifying!” voices exclaimed.

Ye Fan spotted Wu Zhongtian, Blackwater, and others watching. In a reddish-brown wasteland, the Radiant Light Saint stood radiant, a furnace of heaven and earth, his aura trembling others. At his feet lay two white-haired elders’ corpses.

Three more elders roared in the sky, charging him. But the heavens were cloaked in holy light, like a refining furnace. The Radiant Light Saint stood like a god, unmoved as a mountain, bright as the sun, his light blinding.

Boom.

He punched upward, divine light eclipsing the sun, shaking the sky with world-swallowing might. One elder shattered into pieces. Another dove, wielding a terrifying weapon like a comet, slashing with surging killing intent. Yet the Radiant Light Saint’s light shook mountains and rivers, beams filling the sky, refining the world.

Boom.

The light pierced the clouds, dazzling the heavens. The weapon vaporized, its wielder evaporated instantly. As the third charged, the Radiant Light Saint’s golden light flowed, hair dancing, eyes shooting golden beams. “Kill!” he shouted.

Bang. The third elder shattered, his corpse falling, dead instantly.

“Too terrifying!”

“Five elders at the Four Pillars Realm, all slain! The Radiant Light Saint’s divine might shocks his peers!”

“In this realm, he’s nearly invincible, a true prodigy.”

“Even Ji Haoyue’s brilliance or the Jiang Clan’s God Physique can’t overshadow him. He rivals God Physiques.”

Like a deity, the Radiant Light Saint glowed entirely, purifying the heavens. His vitality, like molten lava, repelled all, a furnace capable of refining the world.

“I can’t withstand this aura!” a cultivator groaned, retreating weakly.

“His life force overwhelms half the sky, his blood like blades, naturally harming souls,” another said.

His blood surged like rainbows, forcing all to retreat. Wu Zhongtian sighed, “I’m no match. His Radiant Light Scripture is peerless among our generation. Without God-King Jiang Taixu’s War Paragon Art, none can challenge him.”

“Invincible against all daos, supreme radiant light, refining heaven and earth, unmatched. Far more terrifying than the Radiant Light Sacred Lord in youth!”

“Only Grand Xia’s prince, with the Supreme Emperor Scripture, might stand against him!”

“Sadly, the God-King’s technique is lost forever…”