I have been bound in a forbidden place for five hundred years. Why are you crying when I am a casual

"boom--!"

Before the two elders could even make out the person's appearance, the scene suddenly shattered, as if a huge rock had been thrown into a calm lake, and the moon's reflection on it was instantly crushed.

"what happened?"

This sudden turn of events caused the old swordsman's expression to stiffen, and then he urged impatiently, "It's at the crucial moment, why can't I see it? Hurry up and get it done!"

In fact, he didn't need to say anything. The Moon Gazing Supreme was also looking unhappy, his hands constantly forming hand seals, and even his dark moon-shaped eye was radiating moonlight.

After fiddling with it for a while, the Moon Gazing Supreme had no choice but to stop, saying with some resentment, "He succeeded in lighting the lamp, and he has completely refined the power of the Moonlight Divine Flame. I can no longer control or utilize it at all."

“I suddenly realized that this isn’t working for you either. Your previous title of being the world’s number one might have been somewhat tainted.”

"...If you're so good, then you do it!"

"I didn't intend to use any tricks. If I did, I would definitely be able to see it."

"Then you're even less capable?"

"..."

The two world's greatest masters suddenly seemed to have taken off their top halo and stomped on it several times, both looking resentful.

Scratching my head and ears.

Although there was resentment on their faces, the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before, as if layers of clouds had been cleared and the sun had finally risen.

"It seems we won our bet." The old swordsman couldn't hide his joy.

The Supreme Being of the Moon shook his head and retorted: "This is just the beginning. No one knows his background or situation yet. What lies behind this may be a grand scheme that neither you nor I can imagine."

"But at least it's a good start, isn't it?" the old swordsman smiled.

After hesitating for a long time, the Supreme Being of the Moon finally nodded.

indeed.

At least it's a good start; it's better than failing before it even begins.

"Damn it, why did it fail at the crucial moment? Otherwise, we could have seen who this kid saw in his seven emotions of love."

"Since you're so curious, why not die a little later?"

"Just to watch young people's love affairs?"

"That's not all, of course, but if you were to leave this world with these doubts, would you really be content?"

"..."

"Or rather, with such a good start, senior, don't you want to wait and see if there will be any other changes in the world situation in the future?"

"...You have to answer one question for me."

"what?"

"Did you sabotage this projection at the last moment?"

"Haha, you're joking, senior."

"is it you?"

What do you think, senior?

The two stared at each other for a long time, then smiled at each other. The Moon Gazing Supreme took the lead, stepping into the void and heading downwards.

He didn't say anything more, but he expressed his choice through his actions.

He's not dead yet.

He also wanted to see what the future would be like.

At least……

It shouldn't have been such a pointless death.

Watching the departing figure of the Moon-Gazing Supreme, the Old Sword Saint slowly exhaled and turned to the void beside him, saying, "You chose a very good time to make your move. Otherwise, I might not have been able to persuade a powerful figure with a death wish to give up his pursuit of death."

The void remained unchanged, seemingly empty, yet a voice, carrying a hint of righteous indignation, seemed to emanate from an extremely distant place:

"...I didn't do it."

"Not you?" The old sword saint was stunned for a moment, then looked up in surprise at another spot in the sky: "It's you. Does the Heavenly Secrets have such methods?"

"...It wasn't me either." A voice came, as if the stars in the sky were twinkling.

This……

The old swordsman suddenly looked puzzled.

Although the strength of the Moon Gazing Supreme was affected by his current condition, and he might not be able to control the Moon Essence Flame he gave to Gu Xiu so precisely, it was not so bad that he would suddenly lose contact with it at the last moment.

What a coincidence.

He had assumed it was either the Master or the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets who were also watching over this place who had made the move, since both of them were highly skilled and could indeed have accomplished this. However, he never expected that it was not the work of these two.

that……

Who else could it be?

Suddenly, the old sword saint seemed to realize something, and looked in the direction where the Moon Gazing Supreme had left, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

The Master's voice came: "Who did it is not always that important."

"Too."

The old sword saint nodded, then looked at Gu Xiu again, as if he had suddenly thought of something: "Oh no, if Gu Xiu hadn't experienced the tribulation of love before, the backlash from that tribulation would definitely be even more severe when he ignites the lamp of desire this time. Will he be able to get through it smoothly this time?"

These words instantly made the previously relaxed atmosphere tense again.

"I'm afraid that simply undergoing the tribulation won't solve the problem. Even if one manages to overcome the tribulation, it will likely still have an impact."

"This matter might depend on his two wives. They should be prepared and given a heads-up beforehand..."

……

"Get away! Get away from me! Why are you bothering me? Why are you still bothering me?"

"I, Shi Siling, do not need you, I do not need your existence to disturb my Dao heart!"

"I want to transcend emotions, I want to sever ties with the past, I want to shake off all inner demons!"

Compared to Gu Xiu's nerve-wracking tribulation, Shi Siling, who was undergoing the same tribulation in that house in the Western Desert, was in a worse situation than expected.

The seven forked paths seemed to transform into vengeful ghosts, appearing all at once and attacking her. Naturally, Shi Siling was unwilling to surrender so easily. She continuously slashed with the Heart Sword in her hand, trying to kill all the inner demons that represented her seven emotions.

But what I didn't expect was.

These seven emotional demons, which had already caused her immense suffering, were now growing even stronger. No matter how hard she tried to tear them to pieces, they would always regenerate and entangle her once more.

even.

As they continued to besiege and drag her, Shi Siling was horrified to discover that even the void beneath her feet had somehow transformed into a muddy swamp, carrying a kind of power that made her sink deeper and deeper. The seven emotions and inner demons were desperately pushing her into the quagmire bit by bit.

She struggled, she resisted.

Unexpectedly, in this muddy mess, her resistance not only failed to stop her in the slightest, but she could only watch helplessly as she sank deeper and deeper. In the blink of an eye, the muddy swamp had even wrapped around her legs.

She suddenly understood.

If this continues, I will fail, I will fail completely, I will fail to overcome the tribulation of lighting the lamp!

"Calm down, Shi Siling, you need to calm down!"

"Think about what you have come all this way for, think about why you have to start your cultivation from scratch, don't panic, don't be afraid."

"I also have a mental cultivation technique, yes, I have another set of mental cultivation techniques!"

"When a thought arises, be aware of it; once aware, do not follow it. The mind is like still water, its reflection leaving no trace. All phenomena are not phenomena, all emotions are not self; the sword of wisdom hangs in the air, illuminating true reality. One should abide nowhere, yet give rise to the mind; the clear mirror is without dust, freely and perfectly harmonious..."

Immediately, Shi Siling forced herself to calm down, constantly chanting the mantra. As she chanted this mantra, the inner demons around her, who were desperately trying to push her into the mire, gradually began to weaken.

it works!

Upon seeing this result, Shi Siling's eyes lit up, and she immediately continued to calm her mind and silently recite the Heart Sutra.

This is the purpose of her journey westward.

Shi Siling knew that this time the rebuilding would be very difficult. The reason she went west was to come to the Western Desert Buddhist Kingdom to learn and borrow Buddhist scriptures to help her fight against her inner demons.

When she first arrived, Shi Siling thought it would be fraught with difficulties.

Unexpectedly, the Buddhist community was extremely compassionate, and Wen Qing immediately offered the Buddhist Heart Sutra by the roadside. Although Shi Siling had doubts and fears, at this point, only this Heart Sutra could help her.

just.

As the chanting of the Heart Sutra accompanied the gradual fading of the western desert, even the mud beneath one's feet began to give a sense of groundedness.

The seven inner demons suddenly merged into one, transforming into a figure identical to Gu Xiu, looking down at Shi Siling from above:

"Shi Siling, have you forgotten that everything about you is related to me?"

Upon hearing this, the previously stiff ground suddenly softened again. Shi Siling stared wide-eyed at Gu Xiu in front of her, only to see a cold smile on his face:

"You think you can achieve the ultimate state of detachment? What can you forget? What can you sever? If it weren't for me, Gu Xiu, would you have achieved what you once did?"

"Do you really think you're some kind of genius, someone with a bright future?"

"Without me, you're just a lump of useless mud that can't be plastered on a wall!"

"You didn't even dare to kill me when you saw me, yet you have the nerve to talk about being detached from worldly affairs. How could you possibly forget me in this lifetime?"

Gu Xiu's words were like sharp knives, each one piercing Shi Siling's heart.

Feeling the ground beneath her feet turn into a mud pit once more, Shi Siling stared intently at Gu Xiu in front of her: "You are not Gu Xiu!"

"Oh? Then who am I?"

"You are my inner demon!"

"A demon in your heart?" Gu Xiu smiled, then said coldly, "Even if it is your demon in your heart, today it is time... to devour its master!"

Say it.

Gu Xiu suddenly grabbed her shoulder and pressed down on her shoulder. The mud beneath their feet sank instantly, threatening to drown Shi Siling completely!

This move was completely unexpected by Shi Siling. She realized that this was her inner demon, but she never expected that the inner demon would be so powerful. She had no strength left to resist and was completely pushed into the quagmire.

As she sank into the mud, Shi Siling saw the longsword she had just been holding in her hand.

She has a feeling.

This is her last chance, and her only chance to sever her seven emotions and sever ties with "Gu Xiu".

But in the end...

Looking at the familiar features of the person before her, she ultimately did not draw her sword.

But as the swamp's mud surged in and completely submerged her, she closed her eyes, and without realizing it, let out a long sigh of relief, leaving only a murmur:

"I'm tired."

"Supreme detachment from emotions..."

"I can not do it."

Ultimately, Shi Siling ceased to exist in this space.

Gu Xiu, who had originally pushed her into the mire, now transformed into an old monk with a kind face, wearing a kasaya, a scar on his head, and a sneer.

The old monk looked at the mud puddles that had swallowed Shi Siling, and clasped his hands together:

“Amitabha, if I don’t go to hell, who will? Since you know your sins are grave, you want to use this useful body to protect me in Buddhism.”

"Indeed..."

"Great kindness."