Chapter Five, I possess a pearl, long sealed by the dust of toil

In private, Yang Heng also began to secretly comprehend the Iron Armor Divine Art passed down by his father. He had heard from his mother that if this Iron Armor Divine Art could be cultivated to the pinnacle, not only would it be impervious to the slightest harm from the forceful winds and palm techniques, but it would also fear no celestial weapons or demonic treasures. It is truly a remarkable and unparalleled art that can be compared to the indestructible teachings of the Buddhist Vajra.

"You have already said it, what else do you want me to explain?" Master Mingdeng deliberately said with a stern face: "Watch closely!"

More than a month later, Yang Heng's injuries had healed. That night, Master Mingdeng indeed honored his promise from that day and took him to the peach blossom forest.

His time in the mountains is neither short nor long; in the past, I have heard people mention this Master Kongzhao, who is revered as one of the Four Saints of Xianlin, known as the "Buddha Saint." He is indeed a celestial figure on par with his grandfather, Yang Weiyan. However, this old man has retreated to the back mountains of Emei for many years, and even the current master of the Yunyan Sect, Master Mingjing, has rarely had the chance to meet him. I never expected that he would actually be the master of Master Mingdeng

Yang Heng felt an unbearable itch in his heart and urged, "Good Master, please teach me quickly!"

As for the Moonlight Goddess, it is indeed true that in addition to teaching Buddhist scriptures, she also imparted the essence of the Heart Sutra and the Pure Dharma Body to Yang Heng as appropriate. However, the relationship between the master and disciple remains lukewarm, showing no signs of change

"Reversing the universe?" Yang Heng asked curiously, "Could it be that this sword technique clashes in both directions, catching people off guard and killing them unexpectedly?"

Yang Heng lifted the blanket and sat up, exclaiming: "You are not allowed to insult my father!"

Yang Heng's face showed excitement as he smiled and said, "Just hearing the name of this sword technique, one can tell it must be very powerful"

Yang Heng jumped up from the steps, stood behind the man in the black robe, pointed, and shouted: "Hey, who are you calling a coward? Quickly put Senior Brother Zhen Cai down and sincerely apologize to him"

When Yang Heng was about to speak, he waved his hand and continued: "I have mentioned before that I am a wild monk who took up the monk's path halfway. Therefore, what I will teach you is a set of sword techniques that I used before becoming a monk. This set of sword techniques consists of thirteen forms, and is thus also referred to as 'The Thirteen Forms of the Zhou Tian'"

To return to the main topic, let us discuss the Thirteen Movements of the Zhou Tian: if it can be practiced in conjunction with the Zhou Tian Zheng Qi, the effects will be even better. However, since you have already cultivated the Sarva-Prajna Mind Method of the Yunyan Sect, there is no need to start from scratch and go through great trouble. Moreover, the Sarva-Prajna Mind Method is indeed a top-tier skill in Buddhism; if one can comprehend the state of Great Perfection, its power surpasses my Zhou Tian Zheng Qi.

Master Mingdeng clapped his hands and said: "Well done, well done, the child is teachable! Now it is your turn to demonstrate this transformation for me."

Qionglai Shanjun nodded and said: "Indeed, I have been searching for him for over ten years, and I have finally managed to uncover this information"

The monk Zhen Cai looked at the man in the black robe and felt a bit uneasy. He clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, there is no one by the name of Yan Chongshan in this temple. Perhaps you have come to the wrong place?"

Due to the lack of guidance from mentors and the concern of being noticed by others, he practiced with great caution. Although his progress was slow, he managed to avoid the risks associated with reckless ambition and an unstable foundation

The Moon Goddess scolded, "Wretched being, do you not understand the heartfelt intentions behind my teachings at https://m.hetushu.com? I teach you to read the Buddhist scriptures in hopes of using the compassion of the Buddhist path to alleviate the violent temperament inherited from your father’s demonic lineage! Look at yourself, in what way do you resemble a disciple of the Buddhist order?"

Four people were taken aback when a newcomer kicked open the temple door with a loud "bang" and stormed in, saying: "Yan Chongshan, it has taken me over ten years to find you! This time, let's see where you can escape to!"

Yang Heng did not expect that after a heated argument, Mingyue Shennie would actually agree to pass on the heart method of the Yunyan Sect to him. Feeling somewhat surprised, he snorted and said: "This is not me begging you!"

Yang Heng imitated him and chuckled, saying: "You old monster have quite a bit of courage, daring to cause trouble at Emei."

Like a sudden awakening, Yang Heng realized: "Indeed, what the master wants to teach me is the essence of the sword! No matter how marvelous the techniques are, they lack soul and can always be countered by others. Only the enduring and boundless essence of the sword remains eternal."

Yang Heng inwardly exclaimed, "This old monster has come to seek revenge on Master Mingdeng, so he must possess considerable skills. Even if we all join forces, we are likely not enough for him to deal with using just one hand"

Master Mingdeng waved his hand and said: "Where do so many methods and secrets come from? Even if you memorize them all perfectly, the sword techniques you employ will merely resemble a dead snake, lacking any spirit. Do you think everyone can learn my set of the Thirteen Styles of the Zodiac? You still need to practice for me to see!"

The years in the mountains are long; in the blink of an eye, Yang Heng has already lived in the Faron Temple for more than five years. The peach blossoms outside the temple have fallen and bloomed again, and he has gradually grown from a nine-year-old child into a handsome young man.

Master Mingdeng said with a smile, "Not bad, young friend. Your study of the Buddhist scriptures has not been in vain; you have actually grasped the meaning behind the title that Master Kongzhao bestowed upon this humble monk."

Yang Heng expressed his confusion: "Master, you have yet to explain the sword techniques and the essentials of drawing the sword to me."

Yang Heng exclaimed in surprise, "Are you a disciple of Master Kong Zhao?"

Yang Heng stared intently and saw that the newcomer was in his fifties, broad-shouldered and stout, with a fierce countenance. His head was bald, and his face was adorned with thick, twisted yellowish-purple whiskers. He wore a black robe, with a belt made of water and fire silk, and two three-pronged flame forks were slanted in his back, their handles densely covered with red talismanic inscriptions, shining brilliantly in the sunlight

The courage of the true monk is even less than that of the true Zen master, and his round face instantly turned as pale as a white steamed bun, stammering, "Quick, quick, let go, I, I didn't, didn't..."

"Not in the temple?" The Mountain Lord of Qionglai flashed a fierce light in his eyes and said, "Then I will smash his turtle nest to pieces first, and see how he continues to pretend to be a turtle!"

Upon hearing this, Qionglai Shanjun realized that Master Mingdeng was certainly not on the mountain. He felt both disappointed and angry, raising his palm, as large as a fan, to grab Yang Hengdao, saying: "You little rascal, do you dare to deceive me!"

Due to the prolonged absence of Divine Doctor Duanmu, Xiaoye chose to remain at the Faron Temple. Under the care of Master Mingdeng and the companionship of Yang Heng, Zhenchan, and others, she grew up happily day by day, gradually blossoming into a beautiful young woman with bright eyes, white teeth, fair skin, and flowing hair, immersed in books.

Before his words had finished, his body suddenly curled up into a ball, leaping into the air like a windmill, spinning rapidly. The branch in his hand also flickered and danced in accordance with his body's swift movements, moving unpredictably.

The Moonlight Nun was extremely disappointed in her disciple and said no more, simply stating: "You should rest for now; I will come to visit again tomorrow." After saying this, she turned and left the room.

The man in the black robe disdainfully spat a thick phlegm on his face and scolded, "Monks are all useless cowards"

He asked, "Do you know his current Dharma name?"

The man in the black robe turned his head to look at Yang Heng and said with a smile, "You little monk do have some courage, daring to shout at me."

Yang Heng, upon hearing Xiao Ye's surprise exclamation of "Ah," felt a stir in his heart and thought: "So this old monster's nickname is 'Qionglai Mountain Lord.' Isn't he the master of Qiu Baisheng?"

Yang Heng vaguely guessed that the "Yan Chongshan" mentioned by Jun Kou of Qionglai Mountain referred to someone specific. Furthermore, he deduced that this person must have obtained some clues from Qiu Baisheng, which led him to seek out Emei.

Over the years, Mingyue Shennie has been astonished to find that Yang Heng is like an endless sponge; no matter how much clear water she pours into him, this child can always absorb it quickly and effortlessly, transforming it into his own knowledge without much effort. This is true for Buddhist scriptures, and even more so for the various unique skills of the Yunyan Sect. She has no choice but to repeatedly go over the same material, having him practice the various techniques of the Nianhua Finger and the key points of the finger techniques again and again, while desperately picking out mistakes for him to study.

The man in the black robe, perhaps noticing that the monk was slightly older than Yang Heng and the others, disregarded them and approached him, saying: "I have come to find Yan Chongshan"

Yang Henghui understood: "I see, after all, the opponent is not a peach tree and can react in various ways at any time. Therefore, we cannot seek the sword by carving the boat; we must adapt to changes and do so more swiftly and skillfully than they do"

Suddenly, a thunderous shock reverberated in Yang Heng's mind, causing all illusions to vanish without a trace. Filled with an ever-changing and mysterious sword intent, he became completely absorbed in the moment. With a clear whistle, he soared into the sky, his slender body curling into a ball and rolling forward, as if flowing like clouds and water, embodying the boundless spirit of a celestial steed, executing a move that turned the world upside down

What a scoundrel! The Moonlight Divine Nun, who had cultivated her Zen heart for decades, was provoked to the point of losing all composure by these two sentences. Trembling all over, she said, "Do you dare to speak to your master like this?"

Yang Heng gazed at his master's back and couldn't help but think: "So the old nun is actually doing this for my own good, but why does she always hold a grudge against my father? It's truly strange." He then felt a bit proud and thought: "Do I really cherish her teaching of the Yunyan Sect's ultimate skills? Without her, Master Mingdeng would teach just the same!"

Yang Heng was filled with a surge of energy and blood, a wave of passionate emotion rising within him, and he nodded emphatically, saying: "Yes!"

For some unknown reason, the Divine Nun of the Bright Moon was taken aback by the young man's aura, momentarily at a loss for words. After a brief silence, she said: "Zhenyuan, you have deeply hurt my heart! Very well, I will impart to you the ultimate teachings of the Yunyan Sect, but you must also remember the lesson I impart today—whether to do good or evil lies entirely in a single thought. Do not stray onto the wrong path!"

He plucked two peach branches from the tree, held them in his hand, and gently tapped them, not in a hurry to give them to Yang Heng. He said, "You are a disciple of the Moonlight Goddess, and the unique skills of the Yunyan Sect should naturally be taught by her. I cannot overstep my bounds."

He quickly came up with a clever response, saying: "Brother Zhen Cai, you must be mistaken! Didn't Master Ming Deng say that he went to the Golden Summit Zen Monastery to discuss Buddhist studies with Abbot Ming Jing?"

She pushed the door open and entered the room, looking at Yang Heng lying on the bed, and scolded him with a tone of frustration: "You, this child, are so reckless. If anything goes wrong, how am I supposed to explain it to Junior Sister Ming Tan?"

Xiao Ye exclaimed, "Are you looking for Master Ming Deng?"

The Master of the Bright Lamp had unknowingly arrived opposite him, gently brushing aside the branches with his hand, and said with a smile, "Do you understand now?"

Master Mingdeng handed a branch to Yang Heng and said: "Let me be clear, my teaching you swordsmanship is merely a whim, and I do not intend to be your master. We should continue to regard each other as old friends, just as before. Otherwise, it would lose its charm."

Master Mingdeng said: "Our teaching method is unique; it is essential to start with the final move, 'Inversion of Heaven and Earth.' This sword technique is the most peculiar and also the most difficult to learn. If you can gain a preliminary understanding within a month, the rest will not be a challenge for you."

Yang Hengchong exclaimed: "A single lamp can dispel a thousand years of darkness, and a single wisdom can extinguish ten thousand years of ignorance"

Having come to this realization, he slowly closed his eyes, replaying in his mind each movement of Master Mingdeng as he performed "Inversion of Heaven and Earth." Waves of enlightenment flowed into his heart like clear spring water, as if a lamp were gradually being lit in the realm of his spirit.

In his leisure time, Yang Heng remained the same mischievous boy who would gather friends and cause trouble throughout the mountains. His circle of friends grew larger, not only including the true Zen and true meat practitioners at the Faron Temple, but also the young monks from various Buddhist temples and Zen monasteries on Mount Emei, who became close brothers with him, joyfully forming a tight-knit group.

The man in the black robe suddenly grabbed the collar of the monk Zhen Cai, lifting his nearly 200-pound body off the ground and holding him in front of him, fiercely saying: "Do you dare to deceive me?"

The man in the black robe snorted: "So what? Don't think that just because Yan Suishan has joined the Yunyan Sect, I won't dare to seek revenge! Aside from a few old geezers from the empty character generation, I, the Lord of Qionglai Mountain, truly do not take the Yunyan Sect seriously!"

Yang Hengdao: "You came to the Faron Temple to find Yan Chongshan, presumably to inquire about his monastic life here, correct?"

The branch lightly struck the peach tree, and Yang Heng's feet returned to the ground. Looking at the branch in his hand, he was overwhelmed with joy and sincerely expressed his gratitude, saying: "Master, Master..."

The man in the black robe was delighted, throwing the monk Zhen Cai behind him, and walked towards Yang Hengdao: "Where is Yan Chongshan?"

Master Mingdeng nodded in satisfaction and said: "Not bad, not bad, I appreciate your temperament. This set of the Thirteen Styles of the Zhou Tian is quite different from the sword techniques of various schools in the Xianlin. Although it is not the sword of the righteous path, it embodies a profound righteousness hidden within its clumsiness. If you truly comprehend it, you will surely not be at a disadvantage even when facing top-tier experts."

Zhen Cai and He - the picture - the book, however, is to keep a distance, only then dare to respond: "My master has come down from the mountain and is not in the temple."

The Moonlight Divine Nun did this merely to delay the time for imparting other profound skills to Yang Heng, as she truly could not ascertain whether Yang Heng would follow the same misguided path as his father and grandfather upon reaching adulthood. At the very least, deep in her heart, she absolutely did not wish for her junior sister Ming Tan to entrust her beloved son to her, only for him to grow into a ruthless little demon who kills without hesitation

In a monastery inhabited by monks, the presence of a young girl is undoubtedly more shocking than that of a nun who has taken male lay disciples. Fortunately, Master Mingdeng has always followed his own path, and his master is a formidable backing. Others may grumble in private, but they cannot speak out openly.

Yang Heng saw that the Moon Goddess was truly angry, and he felt a bit scared. However, he gritted his teeth and said, "Is there a master who does not teach their disciple the true skills? You keep talking about my mother, but have you ever considered how furious she would be if she knew how you treated me?"

Yang Heng nodded slightly, thinking to himself: "So he also has a past that he is reluctant to mention"

Xiao Ye, having no relatives or support, thus took up residence at the Faron Temple.

Master Mingdeng said: "Are you stunned? In fact, whether it is the empty illumination or the bright lamp, they are merely symbols; there is not so much reasoning behind them."

How could one know that the truly honest monk was excessively straightforward, and he said in a daze: "That's not right, Master clearly said he went down the mountain"

Master Mingdeng gracefully descended and smiled, saying: "This is the seventh transformation that turns the world upside down. If you encounter an opponent whose movements are not agile, you can win with a single move. Your Sabannuo heart method and pure dharmakaya have a certain foundation; it is not difficult to replicate what you see. The challenge lies in comprehending the essence of the sword and mastering the timing, being able to adapt and seize the initiative in the heat of battle."

The Master of the Bright Lamp resumed his lazy and playful demeanor, laughing as he said: "As long as you understand, that is good. I possess a bright pearl, long obscured by the dust of toil. Today, the dust is washed away, illuminating the mountains and rivers with myriad blossoms"

The next day, Yang Heng returned to the Faron Temple on Emei Mountain with Master Mingdeng and Xiaoye to recuperate. Two days later, the Divine Nun Mingyue also hurried back to Emei upon receiving news, not even stopping at Xuedou Monastery, and went directly to see Yang Heng

Although his grasp was a spur-of-the-moment decision, it is known by the name "Divine Grab." As the name suggests, this move possesses immense power, with his five fingers forming a barrier that seals off all avenues for the opponent to evade. Aside from a direct confrontation, the opponent can only await their fate.

At that moment, the monk Zhen Cai heard a commotion in the backyard. While chewing on his unfinished lunch, he hurried over and said: "This is a sacred place of the Buddha; who is making such a loud noise here"

Master Mingdeng chuckled and said, "Silly child, can a name hold any weight? My Dharma name is Mingdeng, yet my hair is a tangled mess, resembling a pile of weeds. How could I possibly resemble a bright lamp?"

***

Yang Heng smiled and said, "Alright, from now on we will continue to sneak around together, stealing chickens and catching frogs to roast and eat"

The man in the black robe glared and said: "You little bald donkey dare to deceive me, I have inquired thoroughly, Yan Chongshan is hiding in this temple!"

As he was about to collide head-on with a peach tree, Master Mingdeng's figure suddenly floated upward. With a swift motion, he glided past the branches, facing the peach tree, and with a sword thrust, lightly struck the trunk of the tree with a sound of "huh." Since it was merely a demonstration and not executed with force, the branches retracted upon contact.

Yang Heng listened attentively, but his old habit resurfaced, and he asked, "Master, you must have been a remarkable person before you became a monk, right?"

Unexpectedly, although Yang Heng was small in stature, his agility was remarkably exceptional. He rolled on the ground for several feet and swiftly picked up a broom made of bamboo that was used for cleaning the temple. He sprang up and said, "Brother Zhen Cai, hurry to Xuedou Monastery for help"

He strode into the temple and saw only a few children around fourteen or fifteen years old sitting in front of the main hall. He was taken aback and said, "Where is Yan Chongshan? Tell him to come out and face his death!"

More than ten days later, Yang Heng's injuries gradually healed. However, despite the full efforts of the Yunyan Sect and Master Mingdeng's repeated descents from the mountain to investigate, they were still unable to uncover the whereabouts of Divine Doctor Duanmu, nor did they have any clues about the identity of the group that had taken him. As for the main culprit behind all these upheavals—Wei Wuzhi from the Six Demons of Qilian—he had vanished without a trace, presumably having long since escaped.

After lunch that day, Yang Heng, Xiao Ye, Zhen Chan, and Zhen Hun gathered on the stone steps in front of the main hall, discussing where to go for fun after the lesson from the Moon Goddess was over. Just as everyone was enjoying the conversation, they suddenly heard a hoarse voice calling from outside the temple gate: "Yan Chongshan, come out here!"

***

Seeing his master in a state of anxiety and agitation, Yang Heng initially felt a twinge of guilt. However, upon hearing her scolding him without restraint, his stubborn temper flared up again, and he exclaimed: "Who told you to obstruct me from learning the secret arts of the Yunyan Sect! Besides, if I were to truly die out there, wouldn't you be quite pleased to have some peace and quiet?"

He was eager to rescue Zhen Cai the monk, and said: "Aren't you looking for Yan Chongshan? I know where he is. First, let go of Brother Zhen Cai, otherwise I won't say a word even if you kill me"

In recent years, Master Mingdeng has generously imparted his lifelong proud skill, the "Thirteen Postures of the Zhou Tian," and has also taught him the secret technique of the "Nine Ultimate Shuttles" as a hidden weapon; Yang Heng's practice of the Sarva Prajna Heart Method has made remarkable progress, successfully entering the third level of mastery, while simultaneously refining the Flower Picking Finger Technique to the fourth rank

Qionglai Shanjun furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment, then replied in a tone that was not entirely certain: "It seems to be called Ming... Zhu or Mingdeng."

Yang Heng, hearing his foul language, felt anger rising within him and said, "If you continue to insult, I will throw you out!"

Zhen Zhan was timid; upon seeing the sinister appearance of the man in the black robe, her small face turned pale as she shrank behind Yang Heng. Zhen Hun, however, was rather bold and, relying on his courage, said: "There is no Yan Chongshan here; go look elsewhere."

Master Mingdeng said: "I have forgotten everything before becoming a monk; now that I am a monk, I only focus on matters pertaining to being a monk. You need not ask so much; in any case, you will come to know in the future."

Realizing the situation was unfavorable, he intended to lead the Lord of Qionglai Mountain to the Jinding Zen Monastery. There, experts abound, and it is also home to Master Mingjing, one of the four great monks known as "Mirror Flower, Water Moon." No matter how formidable the Lord of Qionglai Mountain may be, he could still be subdued there.

What!