Yinshan Record

Chapter 804 Testing the Mystery of Transformation (Part 1)

As one of the leaders of the Eight Families and the head of the Lingkong Venerable lineage, Hanako Ryu's residence is very low-key, which is not consistent with his illustrious status in the Longevity Sect.

This place is more like a study than a sleeping quarters.

The entire structure is made of bamboo and wood, exuding a light and airy feel, with various books and scrolls neatly arranged everywhere.

Now, this master of the Void Steps, looking weary, is receiving Su Che's visit in the flower hall.

"I heard that Junior Brother has been working hard on alchemy these past few days, even breaking several alchemy furnaces. I was wondering why you're interested in coming to see me today, since you're busy refining some great medicine?"

Hanako Ryu picked up the teacup in her hand and took a small sip.

"Senior brother, you seem to be in high spirits, having time to drink tea here?"

Su Che looked at the teacup in front of him. It was just an ordinary utensil, and the tea leaves inside were nothing special.

It smells somewhat like Jiankang's new tea.

"This is Phoenix Feather Tea, freshly harvested from Jiankang. There is one wonderful thing about the mortal world: that touch of everyday life."

Hanako grumbled twice: "I was asking you a question, but you're asking me one instead. Could it be that you've made some progress on that insect?"

"Is my purpose in contacting you simply to show off my skills?"

Su Che picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Jiankang is theoretically my hometown, but I only stayed for a few days. I don't know how the little fox is doing now.

It's laughable, really. In this vast universe, with heaven and earth so boundless, it seems like I have nothing to cling to except for the life I hold in front of me.

Naked and carefree.

Su Che sighed for a moment, naturally unable to escape Hanako Ryu's spiritual senses.

"What's wrong, my dear brother? You seem to be feeling something?"

"Suddenly I felt a sense of vastness and the infinity of the universe."

Su Che put the teacup aside: "Senior brother, do you think the taste of this tea is different from that of the Five Emperors of the Five Directions in ancient times? Will people in the future cherish this taste?"

"Why bother with them? Brother, you've come to discuss metaphysics with me? Why don't you go find your senior sister who specializes in bone drawing? She's the best at this."

Hanako Ryu also put down her teacup.

"What exactly is it about? It's not that I'm being paranoid, but you're asking all sorts of irrelevant questions. You're from beyond the void, what business do you have with the Five Emperors of the Five Directions?"

I almost forgot about his whereabouts.

Knowing he had made a careless mistake, Su Che quickly tried to make amends, saying, "I've run into some trouble with my alchemy these past few days, so I've been reading to calm my mind and spirit. That's why I've been reading a lot of history books."

"It's best to read less history books, after all, they're about you and me. Take the Guzhu Kingdom for example, if they were to compile a history, wouldn't it just be a series of trivial matters we've already discussed? Even if our sect were to compile its own scriptures in the future, it would still be a matter between you and me, so why bother reading theirs?"

“I just sent my disciples to retrieve the Records of All Heavens, but they said the contents I wanted were with you, sir. I figured there was no better time than now, so I came here to ask you for them.”

"Oh? Why are you looking at that Records of the Heavens? It's just a bunch of deceptive rituals, recording hearsay and nonsense as if it were some kind of secret, and then keeping it on a high shelf as if it were something very serious."

Hua Ziliu shook his head and said, "It's all just to deceive the disciples below. From Ancestor Dan Chenzi to the newcomers who have just entered the sect, they all talk about respecting the holy path and worshipping the Demon Lord, but have they ever had a trace of piety? They are just seeking to transcend the mundane world."

"Senior brother, you are a well-fed man who does not know the hunger of an starving man. When I was in the outer void, I was under the rule of Buddhism. I had never heard of such superficial things as worshipping the Demon Lord. Of course, I need to catch up."

"That's my fault; I forgot about that part."

Hua Ziliu looked at Su Che and said, "Then why don't you come over here yourself and ask that guy under your command, Sun Cheng, to come and tell him that I'll have someone bring you those volumes of 'The Lord of the Annihilation of the Demonic Law'?"

“Senior brother, you’ve got it wrong. What I need to borrow is the ritual for worshipping the Demon King of Juntian Guangle.” As soon as Su Che said this, Hua Ziliu’s expression changed slightly.

"These are just words between the two of us brothers. They came out of your mouth but entered my ears. You must never say such things to outsiders."

Hanako pointed out the key points inside: "Otherwise, people will think you're going to change your route."

"What? Is this journey too difficult?"

As soon as Su Che finished speaking, Hanako Ryu's expression completely changed.

"Elder Yang, are you perhaps bored today and have come here specifically to amuse yourself?"

Is it just to amuse you?
The fact that Hanako-ryu is so cautious suggests that Venerable Lingkong may indeed be plotting to change his path. It's just unknown how long they have been preparing for this and how far they have progressed.
At best, this is an act of betraying one's master and ancestors; at worst, it is an act of abandoning the Demon Lord. Either way, it is enough to make the Lingkong Venerable lineage pay a considerable price.

With the Demon Lord in Hemp Robes about to turn on them, it's a good opportunity to fabricate some ready-made charges against them, giving us a legitimate reason to launch our attack.

"Senior brother, we still have a big business deal to do, why would I tease you?"

As Su Che spoke, he took out a small wax pellet from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

Hanako Ryu scanned the area with her divine sense: "But what have you figured out?"

"This thing does not belong to the Five Elements, and it is difficult to distinguish between Yin and Yang. It has countless wonderful uses, but it must have an origin."

Su Che looked at Hua Ziliu and said, "I have roughly drafted a pill formula, but I don't have the materials to test it, so I have to ask you, senior brother, where did this stuff come from?"

Hanako Ryu looked at Yang Sui with some caution, unsure of what the kid in front of him really meant.

Did he see some clues, or did he guess something based on the wax pellet in front of him?

We still need to keep this kid calm and see what he's really up to.

"Junior brother, you might as well speak frankly."

"I think this thing has probably drawn on some Buddhist teachings, but its approach comes from the Holy School. The combination of the two is what created this insect with extraordinary power."

Su Che looked at Hua Ziliu and said, "If you want to extract the transcendent power within, I can do it. However, there are other things inside besides the transcendent power. I wonder if you want to keep these?"

"Can you really see the mystery here?"

Hanako Ryu's expression changed, while Su Che nodded.

"Given my humble background, I naturally know exactly what's going on inside."

Su Che paused for a moment before continuing.

"Senior brother, you are a member of the Holy Sect. Do you know why there is no harmony between the Holy Sect and the Buddhist Sect, like fire and water?"

Whom are we not at odds with?

Hanako Ryu was about to ask a question, but the words that came out were: "Junior brother, please explain in detail."

"They all originate from the Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon is born from the void and has no spiritual awareness of its own. It can only obtain it through transformation."

"But Buddhism is based on spiritual awareness. If one could be as free as a sword cultivator, cutting through all things, that would be one thing. But Buddhism uses spiritual awareness as a barrier, building upon it to accommodate the nine transformations. Even a being like a demon, which has no spiritual awareness, will develop 'spirituality' upon encountering it and be converted by it. Senior brother, what do you think is the difference between the Dharma protectors of Buddhism and the demons of the Holy Path?"

Su Che's words were spoken from the heart. Although he had not delved deeply into Buddhist teachings and had only scratched the surface, the Third Young Master Su had lofty aspirations, having emerged from the Future Star Tribulation Scripture. Such insight naturally surpassed that of a mere Void Step like Hua Ziliu.

"What do you mean, junior brother?"

"Senior brother, I thought this dragon pupa was created through the Buddhist method of transformation, so I have to ask, where did this thing come from?"

(End of this chapter)