CHAPTER 731: CHAPTER 274: TO STUDY ZEN AND BUDDHISM, FIRST CONTEMPLATE DEATH

This guy might be of some use, right?

After ending the call, Ji Jingqiu thought to himself.

"Heavenly Person Swordsmanship?"

Upon hearing Ji Jingqiu’s inquiry about Marshal Ji’s inheritance, Hel calmly said,

"Stay away from this guy in the future. If it truly comes to a point where sacrifice is needed, this guy won’t show mercy. Ji Tianxing was such a person in the past."

Ji Jingqiu furrowed his brows, pondering for a moment, then gradually relaxed.

He began to organize the troubles he would have to face next.

What Ji Anquan described today was largely the situation after the upheaval of Heaven and Earth’s rules, two years later.

But before that, he first had to deal with the Four Demon Followers once mentioned by the Divine Weapon Bitter Boat.

These people are very likely to have already infiltrated the Federation, and their target is the Four Guardian Stars.

Ji Jingqiu was unsure how many of their members were within the Federation.

And the recent trouble was his cultivation.

To stand before the Heavenly Human Boundary, he must achieve Heart and Body Unity.

Given the strength of his physique and spirit, this would originally be an extremely slow process.

Because his physical body and spirit were too strong, the difficulty of integrating the two also increased.

But now, with the Formless Heavenly Demon Technique allowing Divine Travel across realms, he found a channel, but obviously, it’s not always this lucky to be "invited" into a Cosmic Light Fragment upon entering other realms.

"I wonder how many people are now searching for the Heavenly Saint Lake’s Tian Qiu..."

Ji Jingqiu muttered to himself.

To say the least, the Formless Heavenly Demon Technique is indeed handy; not to mention appearance, even qi aura and spiritual waves can be concealed, without fear of exposure.

"How did you acquire this Heavenly Demon’s Lifebound Technique?"

Ji Jingqiu attempted to explore.

"It’s from the past lifebound technique," Hel corrected, "It’s not as hard to acquire as you think, but it’s truly difficult to cultivate, and it seems to indeed be compatible with you."

"Are you planning to enter again? I think you can try to infiltrate a sect or dojo."

"Of course, you need to assume a different identity. If you continue under the identity of Tian Qiu, once you join, it’s highly likely to attract the attention of strong figures at the Heavenly Venerable level, or even the gaze of Dao Ancestors or True Saints."

"With your current cultivation, even with the Formless Heavenly Demon Technique, you cannot escape their deduction of fate face-to-face."

Ji Jingqiu thoughtfully said, "Actually, even if it’s truly exposed, it’s not a problem, of course, this needs to be extra cautious, I’ll think more about it."

"Besides, I won’t go to other realms for now, I need to organize this time’s gains and try to further improve my [Heart Flame All Phenomena Lamp]."

Hel was also a bit curious, is this guy planning to rely on luck again?

In the ensuing time, aside from maintaining a state of unity with the Ming and Heaven, Ji Jingqiu devoted himself entirely to exploring the [Heart Flame All Phenomena Lamp].

Along the way, Ji Jingqiu also asked Hel for the Big Dream Technique she had mentioned earlier.

For unknown reasons.

Perhaps wanting to see the limits of what Ji Jingqiu called his astounding wisdom;

Or perhaps wanting to see what kind of tricks Ji Jingqiu could come up with.

Hel taught her past lifebound technique "Big Dream of Thousands of Autumns" to Ji Jingqiu.

Whether it’s "Big Dream of Thousands of Autumns" or "Formless Heavenly Demon Technique," they were her and Heavenly Demon’s lifebound techniques before shedding their old selves.

In terms of utility and divine skill power, they surely match any Supreme Method in this world.

But the word Supreme, does stand for recognition and blessing from the Heaven and Earth Dao, signifying a "Dao Fruit" in this world, and compared to this world, their methods can only be considered [Outer Path], naturally not able to bear the term Supreme.

Hel really wanted to see how long it takes Ji Jingqiu to assimilate this lifebound technique of hers, and even integrate it into his divine skills.

During Ji Jingqiu’s period of tedious settling, Hel had nothing to do, casually wandering around Ji Jingqiu’s Inner World.

She glanced at Fatty Hu, who for once found work and was diligently sharpening his knife, and then at the dead fish in the pond, still calm and happy.

A gust of formless, shapeless wind brushed past her ear, swirling around, lifting a few strands of hair, and then disappeared in a blink.

As for that Bodhi tree, it rustled, its clear light undiminished.

Although this guy is far inferior to Mu Shitian’s, it seems closer to immortality, or rather it has solid roots.

Hel observed for a long time and finally confirmed the reason, lying in the fact that Ji Jingqiu’s Bodhi tree was irrigated with Bitter Sea Water!

If a tree wants to soar skyward and break through the Heavenly Dome, it’s no exaggeration no matter how solid its roots are.

Hel squinted, really wanting to traverse time and see if this Bodhi, if faced with the problems Mu Shitian once encountered, could hold on for two more seconds.

Leisurely, she reached the edge of Pure Land, where the two Protecting Gods, who became Ji Jingqiu’s alternative Dharma Body, continued their arduous cultivation amidst the Bitter Sea Water.

However, that "knock-off Wuwang Mountain" in the distance, for some reason, seemed to have thinner mist, or maybe it was her illusion.

Hel had always thought Mu Shitian was pretty shameless, or rather, those in the Federation were pretty shameless.

There’s a saying in the World Venerable Lineage, called "Zen," which everyone can ponder.

What is Zen?

It’s just like the doctrines of Gods of various directions; the interpretation is up to oneself. In a sense, the World Venerable Lineage and the Holy King Lineage are both Demigod Paths.

So-called Demigod Path means initially proceeding to transcendence, then midway turning towards the path of faith in Divine Dao.

But no matter which path, which God, in Hel’s eyes, none could "talk big" compared to Mu Shitian.

That one’s explanation of Zen was an important path from the This Shore world to the Other Shore world.

Tsk.

The grandiloquence.

For any strong person who has advanced to the Eight Realms, with one foot in the Heavenly Destiny River, transcendence means reaching the Other Shore from the This Shore.

Hel thought about asking Ji Jingqiu when he finishes his retreat this time, being a descendant of the World Venerable Lineage, have you comprehended this Zen, have you found a path to the Other Shore?

At the end of everything, when it was most dull, Hel turned her gaze towards the Four Guardian Stars, not only her, but also including He who was on the Four Guardian Stars.

She genuinely wanted to know, what exactly was hidden beneath the Divine Temple of the Four Directions God, could it really be the Eye of the Sea of Suffering?

That person in the past who told her, "To practice Zen and study Buddha, one must first contemplate death," and then said, "Though brightness is extinguished, the lamp and hearth remain," has he truly died completely?

After a seven-day retreat.

Ji Jingqiu awoke slowly as if he had been in countless Big Dreams, a wisp of Heart Lamp sprouting like a lotus flower, blooming and fading, swaying gracefully.

Hel stared at the flame at his fingertips, suddenly sighed, and said:

"Ji Jingqiu, do you really want to become a Buddha?"