In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 469 The Cause of Another Day, the Effect of Today

The monk's gaze fell on Gu Shaoan, his expression remaining calm and undisturbed.

But when that gaze truly landed on Gu Shaoan's face, the old monk's eyes paused imperceptibly for a moment—as if he had confirmed a name long forgotten on a face. Then, his gaze moved down to the sword Gu Shaoan held in his hand.

The Heaven-Slaying Sword.

The scabbard was simple and unadorned, yet it exuded a cold and austere air. The sword, still sheathed, possessed a sharp edge like a sliver of frost hidden in the night, brushing against the heart. The old monk's gaze lingered on the sword for a moment, then returned to its usual calm.

He uttered a Buddhist chant in a low voice, which steadily drowned out the wind whistling through the cliff.

"Amitabha, it turns out to be Young Master Gu of the Emei Sect."

Gu Shaoan remained calm, showing neither surprise at the other party's immediate revelation of his identity nor any concession due to the other party's seniority or cultivation level. He nodded slightly, his tone almost indifferent:

"Gu Shaoan of the Emei Sect greets Master Tonghai of Shaolin."

When the words "Tonghai" were uttered, even the mountain breeze seemed to slow down.

In the martial arts world, Shaolin's seniority system has always been strict, and the inheritance of its name is also very particular.

For hundreds of years, the seniority system in Shaolin has been arranged according to the twelve characters: "Yuan, Tong, Ling, Xuan, Xu, Tian, ​​Wu, Hong, Du, Kong, Yuan, Hui".

A monk's Dharma name, even with just one character, reveals his seniority and which generation of Shaolin lineage he belongs to.

The old monk before us has the Buddhist name "Tonghai".

The fact that the monk in front of me has the Dharma name "Tong" means that he is nearly three hundred years old.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he is the oldest person in the entire Kyushu region right now.

Master Tonghai gently raised his eyes and looked at Gu Shaoan. There was no murderous intent or warmth in his gaze, only a calmness and scrutiny that came with the passage of time.

"I never expected that there would still be people in the martial arts world who know my Buddhist name."

Gu Shaoan said calmly, "When people die, they return to heaven and earth. If it were other monks of the 'Tong' generation who have already turned into bones, there would naturally be no need for people to remember them. However, Master Tonghai is currently the strongest Celestial Realm master in Shaolin. In the martial arts world, it is not only I who know that Master Tonghai is still in Shaolin."

Looking at Gu Shaoan's cold face, Monk Tonghai pondered for a moment before speaking again: "Young Master Gu has come all this way, but instead of going through the main gate or paying respects at the Buddha Hall, he has come to the back mountain to seek favor. It seems that Young Master Gu's visit to Shaolin today is not as a guest."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan said calmly, "I thought that Master Tonghai had lived for so many years and was wise enough. In the end, all these hundreds of years have been wasted. I have already appeared in Shaolin. Does Master Tonghai not know why I have come here?"

Monk Tonghai sighed and said, "Today, it is Young Master Gu who has come, but Xuanmie and Dushan have not returned yet. It seems that something has happened to them. Death absolves all debts. Are two Celestial Realm warriors not enough to appease Young Master Gu's anger?"

Gu Shaoan simply smiled after hearing this.

The smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, it was like a crack in the surface of ice, chillingly cold.

"Clouds are not fixed, and winds are not constant."

"The deaths of Xuanmie and Dushan were indeed their own fault. Since they dared to set up a trap to kill them in Yixiantian, they should have been prepared to die and perish."

As he said this, his gaze fell on Tonghai, as if he had finally turned his true sharpness towards the vital point.

"But I cannot agree with the master's statement that 'debts are extinguished upon death'."

"Looking across Shaolin, in terms of status and influence, who can surpass Master Tonghai? Without the master's approval, how dare Xuanmie and Dushan join forces with Zhu Houzhao and the people of the Great Yuan Kingdom to besiege Gu in the First Line of Heaven?"

Buddhism teaches about cause and effect.

"What you did yesterday, you will reap today."

"What you caused, you will reap."

"Master Tonghai is not dead, and his karma is not yet cleared. How can there be any talk of debts being cleared upon death?"

The wind howled even louder.

The branches and leaves of the ancient pine trees on the cliff were blown like waves, and amidst the surging clouds and mist, there was a faint sense of "the mountain's momentum gathering".

Gu Shaoan stood there motionless, yet it was as if he stood on the spine of an invisible giant sword, its sharpness unsheathed, yet already commanding respect.

Monk Tonghai remained silent for a few breaths.

The silence was not out of fear, but rather as a weighing of things. After a few breaths, the three flowers within Monk Tonghai's body trembled slightly, and his aura spread outward like a tide.

At the same time, Tonghai's voice resonated around him instantly under the influence of his spirit and energy.

"Now that Master Zhang has arrived, why should Young Master Gu push him forward while you hide in the shadows?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Monk Tonghai's gaze swept across the surrounding area once more, his aura forming a net that enveloped the area within a hundred feet around the cliff top.

However, as the monk Tonghai finished speaking, the surroundings remained silent. Apart from his and Gu Shaoan's auras, there was no other person's presence or energy.

This scene made Tonghai frown even more, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

At the same time, listening to Monk Tonghai's words, Gu Shaoan knew exactly what Monk Tonghai was thinking.

They actually thought that Gu Shaoan's appearance at Shaolin Temple today was not alone, but with Zhang Sanfeng.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan was not surprised.

After all, besides Gu Shaoan, only Shangguan Jin Hong knew what happened at Yixiantian that day.

The monk Tonghai, who was far away in the Shaolin Temple of the Great Wei Kingdom, naturally did not understand the situation.

Seeing that Monk Tonghai's gaze was still fixed on his surroundings, Gu Shaoan had already cut off his probing, saying in a calm tone, "Master, you are overthinking it. Today, only I, Gu, have come to Shaolin to inquire about the debt. Master Zhang did not come with me."

Upon hearing Gu Shaoan's words, Monk Tonghai slightly raised his face and looked back at Gu Shaoan.

The doubt that had crossed his mind earlier had been suppressed, replaced by a deeper scrutiny, as if he wanted to read the confidence of the young master of the Emei Sect standing here today from Gu Shaoan's breathing, posture, and even the strength with which his fingers rested on the hilt of his sword.

After a few breaths, Monk Tonghai spoke up: "This old monk has a question. I wonder if Young Master Gu could answer it for me?"

Before Gu Shaoan could speak, Monk Tonghai continued, "Since Master Zhang did not travel with Young Master Gu this time, how did Young Master Gu leave through the First Line of Heaven?"

The wind swept across the cliff, and the clouds and mist churned even lower, as if pressing their voices close to the rock face.

Gu Shaoan said slowly, "Of course, kill all those who ambushed me in Yixiantian."

Gu Shaoan's voice was soft and even casual, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

The Heaven-Slaying Sword remained unsheathed, and his hand showed no sign of exertion, yet that calmness sounded to Tonghai more like a deliberate understatement.

After listening, Monk Tonghai gently shook his head.

"If Young Master Gu is unwilling to speak, he should simply say so. Why resort to such words to mock this old monk?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Tonghai's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't move, but his aura subtly deepened, as if he had gathered all his energy and spirit into a tiny space.

At the same time, the pebbles beneath his feet were pushed around halfway by the wind. "A joke?"

Gu Shaoan smiled lightly.

"Om~"

The next instant, the sword pellet inside his body trembled slightly.

The tremor was extremely subtle, yet it was like a soft tapping on the veins of heaven and earth.

In an instant, a wisp of heaven and earth energy condensed above Monk Tonghai, remaining stagnant and chilling. It then transformed into a slender sword aura, descending straight down from above.

When the sword energy fell, there was no whistling wind; instead, it was like a cold light cutting through the clouds, pointing straight to the Heavenly Spirit of the Sea.

The monk Tonghai's expression changed slightly.

The next moment, the three flowers within his body trembled, and his essence, energy, and spirit instantly condensed into a protective aura around his body.

Once the protective energy is formed, it is like a transparent circular wall covering the entire body, with fine golden patterns faintly emerging on the surface, as if Buddhist scriptures were instantly imprinted on it.

However, just as the sword energy was about to strike, the protective aura was pierced through by the sword energy at a speed visible to the naked eye.

First, a ripple-like crack appeared on the top, then the crack spread downwards, and the golden pattern of the protective aura was forcibly torn open with a narrow slit.

Without the slightest pause, the sword energy pierced straight inward, until it was three inches from the forehead of Monk Tonghai, then two inches, and then one inch.

The sword energy vanished in an instant at that very inch.

The wind filled the cliff top again, but Monk Tonghai felt a slight chill on his forehead and a coldness rising deep in his spine.

His protective aura was still there, but it was noticeably thinner, like glass that had just been scraped by a sharp weapon, with faint tremors remaining on its surface.

This single action sent a chill down the spine of the monk Tonghai.

Before Monk Tonghai could recover from the terrifying power of Gu Shaoan's sword energy, a series of buzzing sounds suddenly made his heart sink.

The wind direction at the cliff edge suddenly changed, the clouds and mist were drawn into thin ribbons, and the heavy atmosphere in the mountains and forests was also lifted up.

Immediately afterwards, hundreds of sharp beams, formed from the power and momentum of heaven and earth, appeared from all directions like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Some jut out from between rock crevices, some condense above pine branches, and some emerge from behind clouds and mist.

Each strike is like an invisible sword, yet colder, heavier, and more unreasonable than any sword.

The sword energy condensed and then rushed towards Monk Tonghai in a special order.

"These are all sword energies condensed from the power and momentum of heaven and earth?" Upon sensing the special aura within these sword energies, Monk Tonghai's expression changed drastically.

He didn't retreat, but slowly raised his palms, palms facing outwards, fingers slightly clenched, as if pressing some ancient method back into the depths of his body in an instant.

At the same time, his vital energy circulated along a special route, with layers of energy rising up as fast as a series of beating drums.

The surrounding forces and power of heaven and earth were also affected at this moment.

The power of heaven and earth that was originally drawn by Gu Shaoan was forcibly intercepted by Tonghai using himself as the axis, and golden aura rapidly gathered around him.

In an instant, a golden bell, seemingly tangible, took shape. Its walls were thick and heavy, with a calm luster. Faint Sanskrit characters and fine Buddhist patterns could be seen on the bell's surface, as if it were slowly turning in the wind.

It is one of the 72 Shaolin Arts.

Golden Bell Cover.

As soon as the golden bell was completed, hundreds of sharp beams of light from heaven and earth arrived, crashing into the bell's walls. When the first beam struck, the bell emitted a dull echo, like bronze and iron clashing, but even thicker.

Then the second and third bells fell in succession, echoing in a continuous stream. The golden light on the bell wall flickered, and the Buddhist patterns rose and fell accordingly.

The monk Tonghai stood inside the bell, his robes still being torn by the gale, but his body remained perfectly still.

Gu Shaoan's eyes flickered slightly as he took in this scene.

Among the 72 Shaolin arts, the Golden Bell Cover is only considered the last in the list of protective techniques, and is often regarded as the foundation for beginners in martial arts.

In terms of level and power, it is far inferior to the "Invincible Vajra Divine Skill" which grants an almost indestructible body, and it is also inferior to the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill," a top-level body-refining martial art that suppresses everything with its brute physique.

However, the Golden Bell Shield that Tonghai was using was not ordinary at all.

The outer wall of the Golden Bell is not simply formed from condensed Qi, but rather its structure is based on essence, Qi, and spirit, with the power of heaven and earth forming its flesh, thus solidifying the protective aura into a substantial and weighty object.

More importantly, it has a profound and weighty feel.

Gu Shaoan spread out his sword intent, clearly sensing with his sword intent the several completely different kinds of energy surrounding the golden bell. Some were as fine as sand, flowing along the bell wall, specifically designed to break through sharp piercing forces; some were like layers of tides, specifically designed to deflect impacts and shocks; and there was also an extremely restrained and concentrated energy, like an iron ingot pressed to the bottom of water, specifically designed to suppress the intrusion of all external energy.

These energies intertwined, giving this otherwise weak "Golden Bell Cover" technique a touch of indestructibility.

This caused the sword energy that Gu Shaoan had gathered to strike the golden bell, yet it was difficult to break through it.

This is not because the martial arts itself are so advanced, but because Monk Tonghai constantly explored and used his own abilities and skills to push the "Golden Bell Cover" to another higher level.

Just as Gu Shaoan's thoughts flashed through his mind, the nearly one hundred sword energies condensed from the power and momentum of heaven and earth had all fallen.

The last few strikes hit the bell wall, each dull thud heavier than the last. The golden light on the bell body dimmed and brightened suddenly, and the Buddhist patterns seemed to pause for a moment before resuming their normal flow.

The next moment, the sharpness of the heavens and earth dissipated, and the cliff top suddenly became quiet.

Looking around Monk Tonghai, the area was already devastated.

The cliff face was crisscrossed with cracks of varying depths, and pine needles and broken leaves were shaved into fine powder by the powerful force, which rolled up close to the ground with the wind.

The residual force from when the sword energy clashed with the Golden Bell Shield left clearly visible marks on the ground and tree trunks, as if they had been repeatedly scraped by an invisible blade.

However, Monk Tonghai himself, and the area within a ten-foot radius where he stood, were completely unharmed.

The gravel remained unmoved, the dust did not settle, and even the thin layer of topsoil on the ground was not disturbed.

Tonghai stood inside the golden bell, his robes still being torn by the gale, yet his figure remained unmoved, his breathing steady, and his aura unchanged, as if the hundred killing intents from just now had never truly landed on him.

Gu Shaoan's gaze darkened slightly, and he thought to himself, "As expected of someone from the Tong generation, their strength is indeed extraordinary."

If it were a martial artist of the Great Three Harmonies Realm like Ba Shi Bana, facing this round of Heaven and Earth Sword Qi, even if they could withstand it and not die, their energy would inevitably surge, their protective aura would shatter and then reassemble, and they would eventually reveal a flaw.

Ke Tonghai not only blocked all of them, but also maintained such a calm demeanor, which is enough to show that his control over his essence, energy and spirit has reached a level that is difficult for ordinary people to reach.

Based solely on the "Golden Bell Cover" technique that Monk Tonghai is currently displaying, Gu Shaoan can conclude that Monk Tonghai's strength is likely even above that of a master like Meng Chixing.

(End of this chapter)