Chapter 83

All eyes suddenly turned to Xuanbei, some in realization, some in doubt, and some with furrowed brows.

"Eh?" Mengqi looked at his master in shock, not understanding why he would take the blame for something that had little to do with him. Shouldn't he be more curious and want to find out where his "Anan Pajiedao" came from?

"Amitabha, sin, sin." Kongwen softly chanted a Buddhist phrase, his eyelids lowered, his face showing no joy or sorrow, remaining calm and kind.

As the head of the Discipline Hall, Wujing looked sharply at Xuanbei: "Xuanbei, why did you privately teach Zhen Ding the 'Anan Pajiedao'?"

His eyes seemed to gather golden pupils, resembling a deity or a Buddha.

Xuanbei lifted his head and looked at Wujing frankly: "Zhen Ding loves saber techniques, so I lent him many to study, preparing to guide him in the future. However, one day, he accidentally saw me practicing the 'Anan Pajiedao' and became extremely fond of it, showing great talent. I love talent and couldn't bear to delay his saber cultivation. Considering his progress in the Golden Bell Cover, it seemed natural that he would open his acupoints soon, so I was momentarily confused and privately taught him the 'Anan Pajiedao.'"

Wujing didn't seem to see anything amiss, and Xuanbei's explanation was reasonable. Everyone knew that Zhen Ding had broken through the first four levels of the Golden Bell Cover in three months, and opening his acupoints was just a matter of time. At that point, he could borrow the 'Anan Pajiedao' from the scripture hall, covering up the private teaching. No one could have predicted that Zhen Ding would encounter a situation where he needed to use the 'Anan Pajiedao.' Normally, he wouldn't have a chance to use it fully in the temple for a hundred years.

"Is that so?" Wujing turned to look at Mengqi.

Mengqi's mind raced, knowing that lying wouldn't fool Wujing. In a flash, he followed his master's words and had a plan, looking at Wujing without fear: "Head of the Discipline Hall, thanks to my master's kindness, I have initially mastered the 'Duan Qingjing' technique, and it has nothing to do with Zhen Yong or Zhen Chang."

Every word he said was true, but the meaning of his honesty and what others understood were completely different—Mengqi meant that without Xuanbei practicing the saber techniques, he wouldn't have been able to think about variations while practicing the Golden Bell Cover, and thus wouldn't have initially mastered 'Duan Qingjing.' However, after hearing Xuanbei's confession, others would assume he learned the first technique of 'Anan Pajiedao' from Xuanbei.

As for the connection with Zhen Yong and Zhen Chang, Mengqi was guilt-free and spoke with confidence.

Wujing nodded slightly and said nothing more, turning to Kongwen: "Abbot, Xuanbei violated the rules by privately teaching a supreme technique and should be heavily punished. Zhen Ding, knowing it was wrong, still practiced the 'Anan Pajiedao' and should also be punished."

"Wujing, as the head of the Discipline Hall, what do you think the punishment should be?" Kongwen asked calmly.

Wujing thought for a moment and said: "Xuanbei should receive a hundred strokes, copy the 'Prajna Sutra' a hundred times, and not be allowed to enter the scripture hall or learn new supreme techniques for five years."

"Zhen Ding should receive twenty strokes, copy the 'Prajna Sutra' ten times, and not be allowed to enter the scripture hall until he opens his fourth acupoint."

"Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui discovered Zhen Chang and Zhen Yong stealing scriptures, which is a great merit. Please let Brother Wusi decide the reward."

His principle was always to punish wrongdoing and reward merit, but not to offset one with the other, to prevent people from breaking the rules because of their merits.

Mengqi, who had indeed "stolen" the 'Anan Pajiedao,' secretly sighed in relief. If the secret of being the 'Master of the Six Realms' was discovered, he would have no place to hide. If he didn't reveal the 'Master of the Six Realms,' he couldn't escape the connection with Zhen Yong and Zhen Chang stealing the scriptures. Therefore, just twenty strokes and ten copies of the sutra were not much, especially since he had the Golden Bell Cover.

The heavier punishment was not being allowed to enter the scripture hall until he opened his fourth acupoint. Mengqi had planned to read the experiences of predecessors practicing the 'Anan Pajiedao' and choose two or three auxiliary techniques related to point striking, acupoint opening, and soul shifting after opening his acupoints. Now, his plans had to be delayed, but compared to exposing his secret or being falsely accused, this was not heavy at all.

Kongwen looked at the other heads and elders and slowly nodded: "Amitabha, the punishment is appropriate. I have no objections. Wusi, you decide the reward."

The withered-looking head of the Bodhi Hall, Wusi, chanted a Buddhist phrase: "Zhen Hui practices the 'Nianhua Finger,' which cannot be combined with other supreme techniques, so he will be rewarded with a string of 'Dueru Beads' to clear his mind and protect him with Buddha's light. Zhen Ding, who cannot enter the scripture hall until he opens his fourth acupoint, will be rewarded with the opportunity to choose one technique or skill."

Some of the "Fifty-Four External" supreme techniques are techniques or skills, not divided into Qi Storage or Acupoint Opening stages, like the 'Anan Pajiedao,' which has five techniques, all at the External Stage, and can be practiced during the Qi Storage stage, though only the basics can be learned, and the power is limited. Few can understand the true meaning of a technique like Mengqi.

Of course, some techniques or skills require opening acupoints or even reaching the External Stage to practice.

When Zhen Hui was rewarded with a string of beads that were clearly a sharp weapon, Mengqi was quite anxious. If Wusi gave him a sharp weapon-level戒刀 (ritual knife), wouldn't he have wasted the points he spent on the 'Red Sun Evil-Exorcising Knife'? Fortunately, Wusi's words put his mind at ease, and he began to hesitate, wondering whether to choose a point-striking or acupoint-opening technique or a Heavenly Demon Body Dissolution technique.

As for soul-shifting or mental interference techniques, he already had the Illusionary Form Technique, so there was no need to choose another one.

After thinking for a while, Mengqi secretly mocked himself: "I don't even know what the 'Fifty-Four External' techniques are, so why am I worrying so much?"

"If there is a Heavenly Demon Body Dissolution technique, I'll choose it!"

"Amitabha, I have no objections." Wujing agreed with the reward given by the head of the Bodhi Hall, Wusi.

Since the head of the Discipline Hall, who was responsible for rewards and punishments, had no objections, the other elders and heads naturally did not oppose, nodding in agreement.

Thus, Wujing said to Xuanbei and Mengqi: "Xuanbei, Zhen Ding, the private teaching of supreme techniques must be punished in front of the abbot. I and Xuan Kong will not hold back."

In the Great Hero Hall, only he and Xuan Kong were Discipline Hall monks.

"I am willing to accept the punishment." Xuanbei took off his shirt, knelt properly, and bowed.

Mengqi followed his example, kneeling and exposing his back, standing straight.

Wujing grabbed his hand, and a translucent, ethereal Buddhist staff formed from the light of glass beads. He struck Xuanbei's back forcefully.

Bang!

After the strike, a sound like the evening drum and morning bell echoed. Xuanbei did not resist, and a mark appeared on his back.

Although his expression remained heavy and self-blaming, he showed no pain, but his face turned slightly pale, clearly indicating that Wujing had not held back.

Xuan Kong borrowed a copper rod from outside the hall, walked behind Mengqi, and struck him hard.

Mengqi could not activate the Golden Bell Cover during the punishment and had to endure it, his skin turning dark gold, and the intense pain shooting to his head.

Strike after strike, blood marks appeared on Mengqi's back. If not for the automatic protection of the Golden Bell Cover, he would have been severely injured.

But he still kept his back straight, with no sign of weakness.

What is this pain? When I was shot by crossbows and pierced by Cui Xu's sword, and when my chest was cut open by a long saber, what is this pain?

Strike after strike, the twenty strokes quickly ended. Mengqi put on his clothes, slowly stood up, and looked at his master, who was still being punished, feeling very grateful.

Thanks to his master's efforts, the consequences could have been unimaginable.

But why is he so good to us, willing to take the blame for something unknown?

How should I explain the 'Anan Pajiedao' to him privately...

With mixed emotions, Xuanbei also finished his punishment, and Kongwen told him to take Mengqi and Zhen Hui back to the courtyard to rest.

Under the moonlit night, the autumn air was slightly cold. On the way back to the courtyard, Mengqi kept thinking about how to explain to his master.

Suddenly, Xuanbei spoke softly ahead: "Zhen Ding, what's done is done. Don't think about it anymore."

"Master?" Mengqi looked at him in confusion.

Xuanbei walked ahead without turning back: "No matter how you learned the 'Anan Pajiedao,' it's in the past. I won't ask. Just remember to follow the rules in the future."

"However, through the incident with Zhen Yong and Zhen Chang, I must remind you not to be greedy. Once greed arises, it's easy to fall into endless suffering."

"I can save you once, but not for a lifetime."

"Yes, Master." Mengqi's vision blurred as he answered, regardless of what his master imagined or whether he had doubts, he was deeply moved at that moment.

...

In the Great Hero Hall.

"Brother Wusi, how should we handle the incident at Vajra Temple?" Kongwen asked the head of the Bodhi Hall, Wusi, as if in casual conversation.

Wusi pondered for a moment and said: "Abbot, our Shaolin has always acted openly. We should do the same here. First, we should send monks to the major sects and families to explain the situation and show our fairness. Second, we should send an elder to Vajra Temple to question them and see how they respond. Then we can decide whether to subdue the demons or show compassion."

"Unfortunately, I wasn't there when Zhen Yong and Zhen Chang died, otherwise, I could have questioned their residual souls, making the evidence more solid." The head of the Discipline Hall, Wujing, said with a hint of regret. "However, Zhen Yong's meridians, acupoints, and flesh all bear traces of Vajra Temple's martial arts, so they can't deny it."

Kongwen chuckled: "They could say we fabricated the evidence or killed Vajra Temple disciples and impersonated Shaolin traitors, but Brother Wusi's response is good. Let's do as he suggested."

"Abbot, which elder should we send to Vajra Temple?" The head of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Wuding, asked, as assigning tasks was his responsibility.

Kongwen pondered for a moment: "Him."

...

In the scripture hall, after carefully selecting from the third and fourth floors, Mengqi gave up on techniques like the 'Anan Tuo Finger' and chose this supreme technique, the 'Self-Sacrifice Technique.'

It is similar to the Heavenly Demon Body Dissolution Technique, one of the seventy-two supreme techniques. After using it, one burns their essence and blood, restoring and enhancing their power by thirty percent for a short time, and can concentrate all their power into one strike, producing a terrifying effect, subduing demons with the body.

However, after using it, the user may suffer a serious illness, with their martial arts regressing, or in severe cases, their meridians may be severed, leaving them as good as a cripple.

Of course, with the 'Master of the Six Realms' or a teammate with exceptional medical skills, none of this would be a problem!

After copying the 'Self-Sacrifice Technique,' Mengqi returned to Xuanbei's courtyard with a happy heart and no pressure. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Xuanbei waiting for him.

"Zhen Ding, pack your things," Xuanbei instructed.

"Eh?" Mengqi was puzzled.

Xuanbei nodded slightly: "The abbot has sent me to Vajra Temple to question the scripture theft. You and Zhen Hui are important witnesses, so you will accompany me."

Mengqi was both surprised and delighted. He could leave the temple?

(End of Volume 1)

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