Chapter 42

"Who is he?" Tang Yan was now certain that the inheritance of the Ten Thousand Buddha Seal had a significant connection with the golden figure that was resisting the dark shadow in the abyss. However, who exactly was he, and why did he control the blood doll?

Wuzhen clasped his hands together, his expression devout and solemn: "An uncle master."

"Is he... still alive? Can he explain today's events?"

Wuzhen shook his head: "The uncle master is independent and often travels across the continent, visiting ancient sites. He only returns occasionally. About ten years ago, the uncle master left the Dusty Edifice and has not been heard from since. The ancestor sent people to search many times but never found him. Two months ago, the life stone imbued with his essence blood suddenly shattered, indicating that the uncle master had met with misfortune."

Misfortune? Tang Yan's heart trembled slightly. How could this be? Two months ago? Was it during the time I received the baptism? It seemed that a special struggle occurred within my body at that time, and the blood doll also appeared then.

"Uncle master's power is vast, and the Ten Thousand Buddha Seal is incomparably powerful. It's impossible for him to fall without reason, so... the ancestor issued a strict order to investigate the truth. Not long ago, my master sensed a familiar aura from the stone carvings with the Buddha Seal, right here in the Great Zhou Empire's Illusion Forest."

Tang Yan decided to tell the other party what happened: "I accidentally fell into a bottomless deep pool and found a huge stone coffin inside. I still don't understand exactly what happened, but it seems that your uncle master saved me."

"Deep pool? Stone coffin? Young benefactor, could you provide more details?" An ordinary-looking old man slowly approached, nodding slightly to Tang Yan, quite politely.

Tang Yan hurriedly stood up, clasped his hands together in a bow, and guessed that this must be the master Wuzhen mentioned: "When I fell into the deep pool, the stone coffin was slowly opening. There was a blood-colored shadow and a golden figure, and they seemed to be fighting. In the end, they both entangled with me."

"Oh?" The old man pondered for a moment, then extended his hand: "Young benefactor, may I examine your qi sea?"

"Please."

The old man placed his finger on Tang Yan's wrist, and a warm energy spread through the meridians. Tang Yan was initially hesitant but eventually opened his heart to let the other party examine him clearly.

After all, the series of strange events that happened to him were too bizarre, and he needed someone to investigate them clearly.

"Hmm?!" The old man's expression suddenly changed, and his gaze toward Tang Yan was filled with inexplicable meaning.

"Master, what's inside my body..."

The old man did not immediately respond, continuing to examine for a long time before stopping and sighing softly: "Good karma is predestined, and everything is beyond our control. The senior brother could not bear to create evil, leading to the destruction of his soul. Young benefactor, no matter what happens in the future, I hope you remember one thing... protect the Buddha heart, and never lose your true nature."

Tang Yan was somewhat puzzled but still accepted the other party's advice.

"The senior brother planted the Buddha heart in your body, hoping that you would inherit the Ten Thousand Buddha Seal he created over a thousand years. These seals are stored in ten thousand stone carvings, each containing a Buddha imprint forged by the senior brother. Today, I have only brought two of them, which you have already absorbed and should be able to feel their uniqueness."

"Master, where are the other stone carvings?"

"Ten years ago, most of the stone carvings shattered for some reason, and the Buddha imprints inside were destroyed. Some of the stone carvings are scattered across various regions, used by the senior brother to suppress evil. Now, the stone carvings remaining in the Dusty Edifice are very powerful, and you cannot bear them for the time being. If you have the opportunity in the future, you can visit the Dusty Edifice to gain new insights."

"Can I know... his... dharma name?"

"The senior brother's dharma name is Dukong."

"...Dukong..." Tang Yan murmured softly, silently memorizing it. For this high monk whom he had never met but who had passed on this extraordinary martial technique to him through various coincidences, he should call him... Master.

"Young benefactor, please listen to one more thing from this old monk. Regarding today's events, please keep them in your heart for now. Do not mention the Dusty Edifice or the senior brother to others. Treat everything as a dream, a trace left in the heart. This old monk is willing to wait for your visit at the Dusty Edifice, but that day... is best after ten years..."

"Ten years?" Tang Yan looked at the other party with confusion, not quite understanding this vague advice.

The old man smiled and nodded, not explaining further, and turned to disappear into the dim forest.

Wuzhen's chubby face broke into a radiant smile: "Young man, introduce yourself?"

"Tang Yan, from the Tang family in the Northern Wasteland of the Great Zhou Empire."

Wuzhen rubbed his bald head with a simple smile: "We will meet again, don't worry about the years. My master is old and sometimes overly cautious. I hope we can meet soon. Remember, I am Wuzhen, waiting for you at the Dusty Edifice."

"Sure, I'll come, but I have one more question..." Tang Yan was about to ask, but the little monk had already darted into the dense forest, disappearing in an instant.

Ailinda walked over and said, "Congratulations, you have formed a good connection with the Dusty Edifice. This is an opportunity that others pursue their entire lives and can hardly obtain. Even I am somewhat envious."

"You should have told them that you are my wife just now. They might have given you some gifts. Such a large sect, the gifts should not be bad."

Ailinda was speechless. This guy was incorrigible. "I calculated the time, and it's almost two months. The tracking from the royal family should be ending soon. Should we go back now, or stay a bit longer?"

"It's time to head back. Juxiang City has calmed down." Tang Yan took a deep breath, a mysterious smile on his face. This return might cause another upheaval and endless troubles, but... what must come will come, and what must be fought will be fought to the end!

They rested in the valley for a night and set off on their return journey early the next morning. Although it was easy to get lost in the Illusion Forest with its crisscrossing mountains, they had struggled to survive here for nearly three months and had adapted to the environment, allowing them to make some vague judgments.

Tang Yan did not expect to leave the Illusion Forest easily, so he extended the time to a month, treating it as a training period.

Ten days passed, and the two continued to hunt and train, seeking a way out. During this time, they hunted seventeen level-three beasts and jointly killed a level-four beast, the Golden Ring Python. The Spirit Source Liquid was carefully stored by Ailinda.

That evening, the two walked through the forest in the fading light of the sunset, looking for a relatively safe place to hide.

"We don't know what kind of trouble we will face when we return. I've been thinking... should we report this to the dean?" Ailinda had been struggling with this question for a while. The best approach would be to remain silent, but her silence did not mean that the Spirit King of Zhou would ignore it. After much consideration, Ailinda felt that reporting to the dean was best, at least to gain some protection.

"Do you know the dean well?" Tang Yan, while familiarizing himself with the trajectory of the seal, asked casually.

"Not really, I've met him a few times."

"Do you know any other powerful elders in the academy?"

"Not really." Ailinda's background was very ordinary, and because she was usually cold and aloof, she rarely interacted with the upper echelons of the academy. She had not even met some of them, let alone be familiar with them.

"Then that's it. Without evidence, no one will believe you, and they might think you are making false accusations. If the academy's old, conservative elders fear the Spirit King of Zhou or have already colluded with him, your actions could be even more dangerous."

"Should we just passively wait?"

"Of course not. There are always ways, but it depends on the situation. I will report to my old man when I return. He should believe me and take necessary protective measures."

"What about me?"

"You?" Tang Yan stopped, looking Ailinda up and down. Due to the prolonged fighting in the forest, her originally fresh and elegant blue clothes were torn in many places, revealing glimpses of her tender skin.

"You!! Still a pervert! What are you looking at?!" Ailinda, perhaps resigned, only glared at him, not as strongly resistant as before.

"Teacher Ailinda, what type of man do you like?"

Ailinda replied irritably, "Is this relevant?"

"Of course it is. Answer me seriously. What type of man, and do you have any age restrictions? Is it okay to be a bit flirtatious? Of course, flirtatious doesn't mean promiscuous." Tang Yan adjusted his tattered shorts, striking a casual and cool pose.

Ailinda had no way to deal with him and wisely chose to ignore him, continuing to search for a suitable resting place.

"I'm not joking, I'm being serious. You will be in danger if you stay at the academy. You can stay at the Tang family, but as a teacher at the academy and a female teacher, you need a reason to enter the Tang family. So... I plan to make a great sacrifice and marry you. Everything will be solved then."

"Thank you for your kindness, but I appreciate it in my heart!"

"Teacher Ailinda, I feel we are quite a match. A talented man and a beautiful woman, a perfect pair. Although I am a bit young now, I have a lot of room to grow. The age difference is not a problem. When you are thirty and fierce, I will be strong and healthy, avoiding many family conflicts." Tang Yan teased Ailinda without any reservations.

"What do you mean by 'thirty and fierce'?" Ailinda was a bit puzzled.

"Uh... this is a bit profound. We can discuss it in detail at a suitable place." Tang Yan blinked, his smile becoming more meaningful.

"Pass." Ailinda ignored him, leaping onto the treetops ahead, preparing to spend the dangerous jungle night there.

However...

"Is there a fire?" Tang Yan and Ailinda were almost simultaneously alert. In the increasingly dark forest ahead, they could vaguely see a small fire point flickering on the ground.