Chapter 121
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Chapter 121: The Formless Monk
Wang Chen suddenly turned around.
He saw a gray-robed monk standing about twenty or thirty steps away.
The monk was tall and thin, with a gaunt face etched with the marks of time, and he carried an old Buddhist lantern on his back.
In response to Wang Chen’s gaze, the old monk smiled lightly, joined his palms, and offered a bow.
"I am Formless from Lanta Temple. It is a pleasure to meet you, young friend."
Wang Chen took a deep breath and returned the greeting with an upright palm, saying, "I am Wang Chen, an inner sect disciple of Yunyang Sect. It is an honor to meet you, master."
The man appeared quite aged, looking weak and frail.
But in this remote mountain area, deep in the heart of the Evil Nests, and at this late hour, it was remarkable that Wang Chen could remain calm in the presence of such a person who seemed to possess great secrets.
He activated the Spirit Eye technique as he turned around.
However, he could not discern the monk’s cultivation level at all!
Monk? Sorcerer? Zen Master?
Wang Chen dared not think further.
The cultivation level names of the Buddhist sect were different from those of the Taoist sect, corresponding to Transcendence, Qi Training, Purple Palace, Golden Core, and Yuan Ying.
He was one hundred percent sure that this old monk was definitely not an ordinary monk.
He was likely more than just a sorcerer!
In any case, he could easily overpower Wang Chen.
Wang Chen could only pull out the Yunyang Sect’s tiger skin, hoping to make the monk think twice.
Originally, he wanted to use a fake name for himself.
But his intuition told him that doing so in front of this old monk would be quite ridiculous!
The monk bore no ill intentions whatsoever.
Thus, while introducing himself, Wang Chen also suppressed the impulse to escape using the Shadowless Divine Movement.
"Ah, so you are a young friend of Yunyang Sect."
Formless smiled and said, "I apologize for the intrusion. I have just arrived here to tie a karmic bond. I hope you can forgive me."
The old monk’s politeness made Wang Chen feel a bit embarrassed. "Master, please feel free."
He felt a strong curiosity arise.
He couldn’t understand what the monk was truly after!
But there was no doubt about the absence of malice.
Otherwise, he would have directly captured him without so much unnecessary talk.
The monk’s gaze fell on the shovel in Wang Chen’s hand. "Young friend, may I borrow your shovel for a moment?"
Wang Chen’s heart suddenly raced, and he immediately handed over the shovel in his hand.
"Thank you."
Formless accepted the shovel, which Wang Chen had levitated with his magic.
Then he began to dig beside him.
Wang Chen observed his every move, finding no difference from an ordinary person.
It felt profoundly mysterious!
Before long, Formless unearthed a gray, dusty urn from the ground.
He cradled the urn in his hands and softly said, "You may come out now."
After a moment, a young girl in a simple dress emerged from the tangle of graves, holding a lantern.
She looked timidly at Formless, hesitating to approach.
Formless displayed a compassionate expression and said gently, "Child, I have come to take you home."
Wang Chen was instantly taken aback by what he witnessed.
The girl was clearly a lantern puppet.
But in his Spirit Vision, she still maintained the figure and appearance of a human.
Upon hearing Formless’s words, the girl no longer hesitated and flew toward the urn that he held.
In an instant, she vanished!
Formless brushed off the dirt from the surface of the urn and carefully placed it in the Buddhist lantern on his back.
Wang Chen couldn’t help but ask, "Master, who is this?"
After all, he had just annihilated dozens of lantern puppets!
"A poor soul," Formless sighed. "I have been entrusted to find her and return her to her homeland, allowing her spirit to rest in peace."
Wang Chen offered his respects, "Master is compassionate, very well said."
Formless returned the gesture, "I observe that young friend has a significant connection with the Buddha."
Wang Chen immediately became cautious and forced a laugh, "I am a disciple of the Taoist school; master thinks too highly of me."
Even though this old monk seemed to have no ill intentions and appeared to be an enlightened master,
Wang Chen truly feared that he might say, "You have a connection with the Buddha," and then forcibly take him away to shave his head!
The original owner had indeed heard similar stories before!
Formless shook his head, "Young fellow, at such a young age, you have cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method to the advanced level. This kind of talent is among the very best even at the Tianlong Temple in the Western Region."
Wang Chen was left speechless, his posture straightening, "Master, I already have a mentor!"
If the other party truly wanted to force him, then he…
would have to accept his fate.
As the saying goes, "A wise man does not suffer immediate loss," but one’s knees must not bend too easily; a cultivator’s integrity must be upheld!
However, Wang Chen had overthought the situation.
Formless smiled gently, "The Buddha aids those destined for his path; poor monk has no intention of imposing."
He produced a Jade Slip, holding it in his hand as a lightly glowing light flickered.
"Meeting you is fate; thus, I shall bestow upon you the technique from the third level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method!"
No sooner had he spoken than the Jade Slip, along with the shovel, appeared instantly before Wang Chen!
Wang Chen’s mind was profoundly shaken.
Not only had this old monk discerned his cultivation level in the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method, but he also gifted him the subsequent techniques.
Moreover, it seemed as though the Jade Slip had been crafted on the spot!
Wang Chen had previously inquired at the Four Seas Trading Association and learned that the techniques beyond the sixth level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method were not available for purchase.
To acquire them, one would have to seek them within the Buddhist community!
Given the influence of the Heavenly Dragon true form, Wang Chen had no intention of advancing further in this technique.
He never anticipated that Formless would directly present him with a set!
Formless continued, "It is not that poor monk is withholding secrets; the third level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method is a closely guarded secret of the Tianlong Temple, only to be comprehended by observing the temple’s treasure, the Great Might Heavenly Dragon True Soul Diagram."
With a snap of his fingers,
a pearl emitting a soft golden light immediately floated into view before Wang Chen!
"This Dragon Subduing Relic has the power to suppress the Heavenly Dragon true form within the Sea of Consciousness, and I shall also give it to you."
Gazing at the Jade Slip and the relic suspended before him, Wang Chen’s mindset raced.
He promptly bowed, "I dare not refuse such a generous gift; I am unworthy."
Then, Wang Chen retrieved the wooden essence he had just excavated from his storage bag and offered it to Formless.
"This is but a small token of my gratitude; I hope Master will kindly accept it!"
The Buddhist path places great emphasis on karma, and one should not take a monk’s possessions without offering something in return.
By accepting Formless’s gifts of the technique and the relic, Wang Chen reciprocated with a treasure he had risked his life to obtain.
Regardless of their value, their intentions were now balanced!
Formless smiled as he accepted the wooden essence.
Wang Chen quietly sighed in relief and bowed once more, "I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."
Formless pressed his palms together, "We shall meet again if destiny permits."
He watched as Wang Chen’s figure vanished into the vast night.
Standing still, he remained motionless.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a brilliant sword energy suddenly sliced through the air.
It landed before Formless.
As the sword light dissipated, a palace-dressed woman appeared, her voice cold as she inquired, "May I ask, great monk, what brings you here?"
Formless bowed and said, "I have come to settle a matter of karma."
The palace-dressed woman glanced around and inquired, "Has it been settled?"
Her tone carried a sharp edge, as piercing as an unsheathed sword.
She had just received a message from the Grand Elder of her sect, informing her that a master had appeared near the outer mountain gate.
She was dispatched to investigate.
After a prolonged search on her flying sword, she finally arrived at this place.
To her surprise, the so-called master turned out to be a monk!
She harbored no goodwill towards followers of the Buddhist path.
Were it not for her apprehension regarding the other’s mysterious aura, she would have drawn her sword immediately!
"It has been settled," Formless replied, indifferent to the palace-dressed woman’s demeanor. "This poor monk shall take his leave now."
The palace-dressed woman curtly responded, "I won’t see you off."
Before her words faded, she summoned her flying sword again, transforming it into a streak of light that shot towards the heavens.
Formless, carrying the Buddhist lantern, walked forward, slowly traversing the graveyard.
"Joy and sorrow return to dust; all beings suffer, and only through self-liberation can one find peace…"
The sacred chant whispered and spread in all directions.
Among the desolate graves and dry tombs, ethereal spirits, both real and illusory, began to emerge.
They all bowed respectfully to Formless.
Then, they silently dissipated into the void.
Formless’s expression deepened with compassion, his frail body faintly emanating Buddhist light.
He walked alone into the distance.
Meanwhile, Wang Chen had already returned to his home.
His wildly beating heart finally calmed down.
Tonight’s encounter had been exceedingly intense.
Especially that Formless, an old monk whose cultivation level was unfathomable; perhaps no one in the entire Yunyang Sect could rival him.
Wang Chen felt a sense of pride for having communicated with such a figure politely and respectfully!
He had been under immense pressure at that moment.
This incident served as a reminder to Wang Chen that he could no longer recklessly venture into the outer domain.
He was about to enter the inner sect.
It was time to be serious and maintain a low profile for a while!
Pe551
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