The mural carried a kind of soul-stirring magic power.
Yin Tingxue froze for a mont, then a flash of blade light streaked across.
The entire mural of celestial maidens scattering flowers was ruthlessly split apart by the Brocade Spring Blade, leaving hideous cracks.
The deafening sound made Yin Tingxue cry out, "Ah!"
"What are you doing?"
Chen Yi’s blade had completed its stroke, leaving the mural utterly ruined. He felt his Heart Lake return to tranquility, and Yin Tingxue snapped out of her daze.
"What am I doing? Didn’t you see it yourself?"
Chen Yi shook his blade, scattering sand and debris with a faint rustling noise.
Yin Tingxue felt sowhat dumbfounded but dared not scold him. She only muttered softly:
"It’s just so sudden, and..."
"And you’re a Buddhist, so you disapprove of my blasphemy against the Bodhisattvas?" Chen Yi asked casually.
He saw Yin Tingxue pause for a mont, then his mocking laughter spilled out. It seed his guess was right.
Yin Tingxue replied uneasily, "There’s profound Buddhist philosophy in it..."
"I don’t care."
Chen Yi’s voice was calm but firm.
Looking at the shattered mural of celestial maidens, Chen Yi slowly sheathed his blade.
Celestial maidens, profound Buddhist philosophy—whatever. Crimson skeletons, all the sa. If it tries to shake my heart or harm those I care about, then why not cut it apart with a single stroke?
If it harbors malice toward , should I sit down and reason with it? No, I’ll strike it down directly—swiftly, unexpectedly, without giving myself even a mont to hesitate!
Following one’s heart and desires—this was the essence Chen Yi had grasped within the Heaven of Transformative Freedom.
The roots of this insight dated back to the underground palace, when Yin Weiyin fell into demonic madness yet remained bewitchingly alluring, prompting him to stop comprehending doctrine and indulge in her charms.
As for the details of the mont, he recalled the tiless verses: "A maiden’s youthful beauty soft as cream; distant grass is bright yet fades up close."
But then, he was unaware of the existence of "intent."
Later, in the Practice Tower—akin to the Heaven of Six Desires—as he exchanged three glances with Yin Weiyin, celestial maidens revealed crimson skeletons, originally ant to enlighten him in Buddhist Law but, by so twist of fate, helped Chen Yi vanquish the thief within his heart instead.
Chen Yi chuckled softly to himself. "Though crimson skeletons, I pursue still."
You’re a crimson skeleton? So what? Do you think I wouldn’t charge forward just because of that? I’d still charge ahead without hesitation.
This kind of intent perfectly aligned with the killer blade—a blade with a single edge turned toward its enemy, devoid of extraneous thoughts, ant solely for killing.
However, at this mont, Chen Yi had only begun to comprehend it; he still didn’t know how long it would take to fully grasp its aning.
Yin Tingxue glanced regretfully at the destroyed mural but didn’t dare say anything to Chen Yi.
The others were nowhere to be seen, and Chen Yi chose not to delay further. He took her hand and began walking forward step by step.
On the way, Chen Yi noticed her troubled expression and spoke softly:
"I know you don’t like this. But if you hesitate when you should act, you’ll only invite turmoil. Since this unsettled you, I cut it down with a single stroke."
"That’s not right..."
Yin Tingxue instinctively protested but quickly caught a detail in his words.
"It unsettled , so that’s why you...?"
Chen Yi chuckled lightly and replied openly:
"Of course—why else? You’re my girlfriend."
Yin Tingxue blinked, her lips curling faintly upward. "Mm."
"Am I good to you?"
"...Good."
Yin Tingxue could hear the genuine care behind his words. This ti, she didn’t go against him, obediently agreeing.
Chen Yi rubbed her palm playfully and teased, "I’m so good to you—why don’t you repay by bearing a few more children?"
Yin Tingxue suddenly flinched, darting a quick glance at him before lowering her head, afraid to et his gaze.
His tone seed to suggest that having children was already a certainty. Yin Tingxue didn’t dare rebuke him, fearing that clarifying the topic would rob her of even the chance to deflect him.
Seeing this, Chen Yi softened his voice. "I know you’re afraid of , and perhaps you even hate . But do you rember? I promised not to hurt you—in Yintai Temple, I wouldn’t even bully you. You’re so obedient, and I’m willing to treat you kindly and care for you. After all, you’re destined to stay with for life—don’t you want to be good to you?"
Yin Tingxue finally turned her head to look at him, nodding slightly.
Chen Yi gently patted her head, understanding her fragility. He coaxed her, saying, "No matter whether we have children in the future, I will always be good to you. Do you rember the paper flower? That’s the token of my vow."
Yin Tingxue widened her eyes and nodded repeatedly. She had carefully tucked that paper flower away in her clothing.
That ant, as long as the paper flower remained, he would always treat her well...
Yin Tingxue took a deep breath and felt the area where the paper flower was stored, her worries easing sowhat.
"How good will you be...?"
As they turned a corner, Yin Tingxue suddenly asked softly.
"As good as your mother was to you," Chen Yi replied after a montary hesitation.
Though he didn’t want to be perceived as her mother, he understood Yin Tingxue’s vulnerability. At this mont, she was slightly opening her heart. If he didn’t provide a reassuring answer, she would feel anxious and lost.
The little fox blushed slightly, murmuring, "I didn’t mistake you for my mother... Fine, whatever, you’re my boyfriend anyway."
Chen Yi stifled a quiet laugh.
The two continued forward, exploring their surroundings. Various vivid Buddhist murals adorned the walls, attracting attention. The ornate decorations of the dicine Buddha Tower painted a vision much like the Eastern Pure Luminous Buddha Country described in the scriptures, where dicine Buddha was the eastern counterpart to Shakyamuni Buddha.
As they ventured deeper, an enormous mural unfolded before them: Shakyamuni Buddha sat at the center, facing dicine Buddha.
dicine Buddha sat cross-legged on a lotus throne, wearing a crimson kasaya, holding an alms bowl to his chest, flanked by five-colored long-life banners. On either side stood the two Bodhisattvas, King of dicine and Supre dicine, symbolizing the intention of bestowing dicine to alleviate the suffering of all beings.
However, in the mural, despite dicine Buddha’s evident compassion, his face appeared absent, as if it had been destroyed.
Sohow, Yin Tingxue’s eyes grew slightly misty. She blinked and looked again, only to be shocked to see dicine Buddha bore facial features similar to hers.
Moreover, the Bodhisattva Supre dicine beside dicine Buddha resembled her mother to so extent.
This was a great blasphemy. Yin Tingxue recoiled in shock and lowered her head, chanting a brief scripture.
In Chen Yi’s eyes, dicine Buddha still lacked any facial features.
A dicine Buddha facing Shakyamuni Buddha, yet missing a face—what could this signify?
Piecing this together with prior knowledge about a clue from the Western Secret Sect regarding Immovable Radiance Buddha replacing dicine Buddha as one of the Five Buddhas...
Could it be that dicine Buddha had already perished?
But weren’t Buddhas beyond the cycle of life and death...?
Chen Yi furrowed his brows tightly. There were too few clues to draw a conclusion.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed toward them.
Chen Yi turned around and saw that it was Dong Gong Ruoshu.
Her stride was urgent, her face tense.
Dong Gong Ruoshu spotted Chen Yi but didn’t dwell on why she had encountered him here.
She said hurriedly, "Sothing’s wrong! The Taichua Goddess—your lady—she’s in danger!"
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