Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Outlasted

Dragon-Subduing Arhat gazed deeply at Cold Crow Pass. The figures of the Demon Cultivators patrolling the walls were as minuscule as ants. "...This man’s fate is now intertwined with mine. I cannot kill him today. In the next life... we will surely meet again."

As his final word fell, the dragon tattoo on his neck completely faded, like an ancient lamp burning out.

Chenmu and Ci Hang exchanged a look, each seeing understanding in the other’s eyes.

Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s surrounding Buddha Light gradually dimmed. The tattoo on his neck, which once coiled like a golden dragon, had now lost all its luster, becoming as wrinkled and withered as old tree bark.

The aura of this old Arhat, who had been in Cultivation for nearly four hundred years, was decaying at a shocking rate. Like an autumn leaf touched by frost, he showed signs of his life force being completely depleted in the blink of an eye.

The Vajra Pestle in Chenmu Arhat’s hand trembled slightly. Though he had a fiery temperament, he understood the intricacies of the situation.

The reincarnation Decree from Puchen Pure Land was always transmitted only to the individual concerned.

Such matters, involving the secrets of Reincarnation, could not be shared even with one’s closest sect brothers.

The Buddhist Sect emphasizes "bearing one’s own karma." Even if a Bodhisattva mercifully bestowed a Decree, the recipient had to face the solitary lamp alone and receive it with their lifebound Buddha Nature.

Although an Arhat could reincarnate of their own will, the blessing of a Bodhisattva’s Decree added a layer of security to the path of Reincarnation.

A Bodhisattva’s Decree was like a guiding lamp in the cycle of Reincarnation, pointing the way and allowing a Cultivator to avoid lowly paths such as the animal realm.

This was especially true for those with little Merit and heavy karmic hindrances. A single Decree was the key assurance for being reborn as a human.

In Puchen Pure Land, monks with negative Merit were rare, if not nonexistent. But within the Primordial Sect, it was a completely different story.

A True Monarch’s Decree was considered a priceless treasure there, for it not only protected one during Reincarnation but also paved a smooth path for Cultivation in the next life.

Those Demon Cultivators who had killed excessively and were burdened by heavy Karmic Force would often spare no expense, giving everything they had, just to obtain a True Monarch’s Decree and avoid falling into an evil path.

"Senior Brother... In the next life, I will personally guide you onto the path."

Cihang Arhat’s white eyebrows drooped, and the knuckles of his clasped hands turned slightly pale.

He could clearly see specks of golden blood seeping through Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s robes—a sign of his Lifebound Buddha Essence leaking out.

The old Arhat was forcing his ailing body to drive them away, but in truth, he was afraid that witnessing his decline would needlessly damage their Buddha Heart and Cultivation.

The mountain wind whipped the prayer flags, making them flutter loudly as if urging them on.

Chenmu Arhat suddenly slammed his Vajra Pestle into the rock. The flying debris came to an abrupt halt three inches before Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s monastic shoes.

This was the Buddhist "Halting Ritual," signifying they would not step any closer.

Ci Hang understood. He silently retreated to Chenmu’s side. The two of them began chanting the Rebirth Spell in unison, their voices like the lingering resonance of a Golden Bell, echoing through the mountains three times before ceasing.

When the last word of the spell dissipated, a faint smile actually appeared on Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s withered face.

He shakily raised his right hand. A weak point of Buddha Light bloomed at his fingertip, which he used to trace a Buddhist Golden Seal in the air.

The seal hung in the air for three breaths before scattering like fireflies.

This was the Buddhist Ritual of "Go and Be Delivered."

Chenmu and Ci Hang once again put their palms together in a salute. When they turned, their monastic robes billowed like clouds, and they did not look back again.

Dragon-Subduing Arhat watched their departing figures disappear, his head hanging slightly low.

His withered body stood silently on the mountaintop like an ancient pine, his cloudy gaze fixed unwaveringly on Cold Crow Pass.

An incense stick’s time later, the pass remained as quiet as ever, with only the Yin Evil Qi churning atop the city walls.

The dim dragon tattoo on his neck vanished completely. Cracks appeared on his Dharma Body, and golden blood seeped from his robes, reflecting a tragic, beautiful luster in the setting sun.

"What a Demon Sect..."

The old Arhat’s hoarse voice was mixed with flecks of blood. Twenty years of waiting had not yielded a single opening from his opponent.

He couldn’t help but curse inwardly. If not for the need to save face, Dragon-Subduing Arhat would have let out a string of curses. His opponent was simply too good at hiding.

Chenmu and Ci Hang had already left, leaving him alone, yet Xu Yunfan still showed no reaction.

In his Mud Ball Palace, his lifebound Buddha Light was already a candle in the wind.

If he didn’t receive the guidance of a Bodhisattva’s Decree within three days, he would have no choice but to reincarnate immediately.

He had now gone through three cycles of Reincarnation, and it was becoming harder to awaken his Innate Wisdom with each life. Without a Bodhisattva’s Decree, awakening his Innate Wisdom in the next life would likely be extremely difficult.

"So be it..."

’Worst case, I’ll just start over in the next life. When I return to the Daoist Master level, I’ll definitely find a way to slay him.’

’The True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture was originally the path to the Bodhisattva Fruit Position set by Miaodi Bodhisattva, but the Primordial Sect snatched it first. I can only plan again slowly.’

Before the old Arhat’s sigh could fade, a dazzling rainbow light suddenly burst from his body.

His withered physical body gradually turned ethereal in the rainbow light, leaving only a dragon-shaped golden silhouette that tore through the sky. This was the secret Rainbow Transformation Escape Technique of Puchen Pure Land.

Although this technique allowed one to travel ten thousand li in an instant, it required burning what little Lifebound Buddha Essence he had left. He would never have resorted to such a risky move unless forced into a desperate situation.

As the rainbow light streaked across the sky, Xu Yunfan, inside his cave-dwelling in Cold Crow Pass, suddenly opened his eyes. The vertical mark between his brows opened and closed slightly, emitting streams of flowing radiance.

With a Divine Technique like the Martial Arts Celestial Eye, he could naturally sense the disappearance of Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s aura.

The True Martial Sword trembled lightly in its sheath, its edge reflecting the cold smirk at the corner of his mouth. "Old bald donkey, in the end, you were the one who couldn’t hold out."

’Trying to bait me out? A complete pipe dream. You finally couldn’t take it anymore.’

’I’ll definitely find a way to kill your reincarnated self!’

With this thought, Xu Yunfan slowly rose, his rear end finally leaving the cattail cushion he had been sitting on for nearly twenty years.

After stretching his muscles a bit, he was finally ready to leave the cave-dwelling for a breath of fresh air.

After twenty years of ascetic sitting in the cold pass, the three Divine Techniques within him had reached Perfection. He had also mastered the True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture to the point where he could use it both forwards and backwards. Now, he was just one final strand of Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends Qi away from stepping into the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm.

As a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master, using the method of Spiritual Sense Reflection, Xu Yunfan’s Divine Sense could already reflect the auras within a ten-thousand-li radius.

At this moment, he closed his eyes and focused his spirit. In his Mud Ball Palace, the Martial Arts Celestial Eye opened and closed slightly, and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within a three-zhang radius around him rippled outwards.

The unique Clear and Muddy Qi of the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm circulated around him, resonating with the three Divine Techniques inside his body and creating a subtle harmony.

He formed a Spell sign with his fingertips, and his Divine Sense spread out in all directions like a spiderweb.

The unique Spiritual Sense of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator allowed him to clearly perceive all fluctuations of aura in this part of the world that were compatible with his own Dao Foundation.

Those faint, almost imperceptible pulling forces were the guidance of heaven and earth for Cultivators. Once one’s Cultivation reached such a Realm, as long as the Celestial Secret was not obscured or one’s karma was not obstructed by others, one would naturally sense fortuitous opportunities in the unseen world.

’There are three sources of Gang Evil Qi at the confluence of the Northern Continent’s Earth Veins...’

Xu Yunfan silently recited the results of his deduction in his mind. Wherever his Divine Sense passed, the contours of mountains and the flow of Earth Veins were as clear as the lines on his palm.

The unique "Celestial-Human Communication" of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was on full display, allowing him to clearly identify the location of the Gang Evil most suitable for his Dao Foundation.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly.

He closed his eyes and focused his spirit. The Martial Arts Celestial Eye between his brows opened and closed slightly as his Divine Sense spread out like ripples, deducing the location of the opportunity in the void.

"Hm?"

The distribution map of the Northern Continent’s Gang Evil that should have appeared in his deduction was now as indistinct as looking at flowers in a fog.

’There are no Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends that are compatible with the True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture?’

Xu Yunfan instantly understood. The Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm didn’t have the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends he needed. If he wanted to advance further with the True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture, he would probably have to re-enter the Divine Martial Realm to find them.

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