Chu Caiwei pursed her lips, her bright almond eyes following the figure until he disappeared into the golden bowl. The beautiful woman couldn't shake off the scene from her mind.

"Such an imposing presence..." she thought to herself.

"Master Xu is truly extraordinary," the white-robed sorcerers exclaimed from the bottom of their hearts.

The way he presented himself in front of everyone was too avant-garde and innovative for them, causing a great impact on their hearts.

Compared to that, Senior Brother Yang, who kept repeating "There's no one like me in the world," seemed rather inferior.

Thinking of this, the white-robed sorcerers and Chu Caiwei subconsciously looked at Yang Qianhuan, only to see him convulsing.

"So it can be done like this... It can be done like this..." In the eyes of countless people in the capital and the nobles of the Great Feng, drinking boldly, reciting poetry, and generously accepting challenges.

"Why do I feel my brain trembling just by being involved? This is the ultimate pursuit for me, the feeling I want, but I never expected him to achieve it so effortlessly..."

"No, this was supposed to be my chance, my chance... Senior Master..."

On the rooftop of the wine house, Chu Yuanzhen sighed, "Impressive, truly impressive. This kind of showmanship is unparalleled. Even when I was the top scholar, I couldn't compare to his splendor."

"Amitabha, that's why Master Xu is a master of the moment," Heng Yuan laughed.

A person with Master Xu's character is much more interesting than a rigid scholar and much easier to get along with than a martial artist who draws his sword at the slightest provocation.

This is probably why the courtesans in the Official Brothel Sector like him so much. In addition to being enamored with his poetry, his personality also appeals to women.

"He's gone in."

In the crowded crowd, some people pointed to the "painting" projected in mid-air. At the foot of the towering mountain, a man in a cloak appeared.

...

"This wave of pretending, I give myself a score of 99, the only point I'm missing is that it feels a bit awkward... But as long as I pretend not to be awkward, then it's a 100-point gem... Occasionally indulging in a bit of adolescent behavior feels quite refreshing..." Xu Qi'an summarized the operation of presenting himself in front of everyone, while looking around.

This world seems so real, perhaps it is real. He has come to a small world opened up by the great supernatural powers of the Buddhist sect.

The towering Buddhist temple, shrouded in clouds and mist, is like a fairyland outside the world.

Faint chanting in the ears unconsciously calms the mood, abandoning all the troubles of the world, leaving behind peace and joy in the heart.

In front of him is a winding stone staircase that extends into the depths of the clouds and mist.

Expanding his thoughts, Xu Qi'an sensed for a moment, but did not detect any signs of life, with no trace of insects, birds, or beasts.

"Junior Monk Jingsi sits on the mountainside. It shouldn't be the first test. What is the first test?"

With doubt in his mind, he began to climb the mountain.

After walking peacefully for about fifteen minutes, Xu Qi'an saw a small stone tablet at the edge of the stone steps, with the words "Eight Sufferings" carved on it.

...

"The eight sufferings of life: birth, old age, sickness, death, love and separation, resentment and hatred, seeking what is unattainable, and the raging of the five aggregates..."

The compassionate voice of Master Du'e resounded, echoing in the ears of the audience, "This first test is the Eight Sufferings Formation. Only those with a firm mind are qualified to climb the mountain and continue to undergo the test of Buddhist teachings."

On the Eight Trigrams Platform, Emperor Yuan Jing, dressed in Daoist robes, stood at the edge, overlooking the square, and said in a deep voice, "I have heard of this formation. Master, how powerful is this Eight Sufferings Formation?"

"It's not a matter of how powerful it is, it's a particularly tormenting formation," the Master explained to Emperor Yuan Jing as he sipped his wine.

"If a child enters the Eight Sufferings Formation, they can easily come out. The more experienced a person is, the harder it is to break the formation. In the Buddhist sect, this Eight Sufferings Formation is used by monks to temper their state of mind.

"Some people have experienced the test and their state of mind becomes more complete. Others fall into the Eight Sufferings and their Buddhist heart shatters."

Emperor Yuan Jing suddenly became solemn, "If even the high monks of the Buddhist sect are like this, what about him?"

The Master smiled, "It's not easy to win against the Buddhist sect. Just this Eight Sufferings Formation alone, in the capital, there are only a few who can pass through it unscathed."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuan Jing frowned.

In the capital, there are only a few who can pass through the Eight Sufferings Formation unscathed. He didn't believe that Xu Qi'an was among the "few." This has nothing to do with talent, but with character, enlightenment, and the system.

How can a martial artist face the Eight Sufferings Formation used by the monks of the Buddhist sect to temper their hearts?

If the Buddhist sect emphasizes a thorough Bodhi mind, then a martial artist is unrestrained, with a heart that is murky.

"If I lose this battle, the originally balanced and harmonious alliance will tilt..." Emperor Yuan Jing thought to himself.

This is what he is most worried about. Compared to twenty years ago, the Great Feng's decline in national strength has long been unable to compare with the Buddhist sect of the Western Regions.But this was an unspoken understanding, and no one would say anything. But if he lost this battle, it would be recorded in the history books, which would be equivalent to exposing the matter.

In the future, when people study this period of history, they will think that in his later years, Emperor Yuan Jing, the Great Feng's national power weakened. He was not the ruler of prosperity, but a foolish emperor.

"I can't lose, no matter what, I must win. There are three chances. If Xu Qi'an loses, you'd better choose a capable person," Emperor Yuan Jing said word by word.

...........

"Is the formation really so terrifying?"

Chu Yuanzhen was shocked after hearing Heng Yuan's explanation.

"With Xu Ningyan's temperament, I'm afraid he won't be able to pass the test of the Eight Sufferings Formation," Chu Yuanzhen pondered.

"Perhaps you should be more confident and remove the 'terror' from it," Heng Yuan said helplessly. "This Eight Sufferings Formation is used by the high monks to temper the Buddha's heart. If a martial monk falls into it, their state of mind will be shattered, and they may go mad, losing their sanity."

This... Chu Yuanzhen's face changed slightly. "The Buddhist sect is too cruel. Do they want to destroy Xu Ningyan?"

Heng Yuan said in a deep voice, "The Eight Sufferings Formation has another function..."

.............

"There's no aura fluctuation, no danger feedback, the Eight Sufferings Formation won't attack me." Xu Qi'an stood at the stone tablet, not taking a step forward for a long time.

Regardless, he had to break the formation first.

Xu Qi'an took a step onto the stone steps, entered the formation, and in an instant, the scenery changed. The Foshan faded away, the steps faded away, and darkness covered his vision.

"Wow..."

He immediately heard the crying of a baby, the crying tearing through the darkness. He saw white walls, white sheets, and a crowd of people in white uniforms.

A nurse was wiping the newborn baby's body.

A woman with a pale face and drenched in sweat lay on the bed, her features extremely familiar.

"Mom...."

Subconsciously, Xu Qi'an called out.

This was not the birth of Xu Qi'an in the Great Feng, but the birth of Xu Qi'an in the New China, born and raised under the red flag.

As the child grew up and experienced the happiest childhood, he was forced to go to school. Day after day, year after year of schooling, heavy coursework dominated his youth.

Finally, after graduating, he grew up and was ready to enter society.

At this time, his already visibly aged parents patted his shoulder and said with shame, "You've finally graduated from the police academy. Your mom and I can't give you anything. You have to work hard on your own, buy a house, a car, and get married. It's all up to you."

He entered the unit, working day and night to save up for the down payment for a house. Finally, he made the down payment for a house.

But then another problem arose, he didn't have enough money for renovations...

Deeply pondering, Xu Qi'an left the unit and started a business. The business failed, and he struggled for ten years.

Ten years later, he finally had a well-decorated house and some savings. It was time to start a family.

At this point, his father fell ill... a serious illness that almost bankrupted him. His father's health deteriorated, and he had to take care of both elderly parents.

As a result, his girlfriend of many years left him.

Shouldn't I have died of alcohol poisoning by now... he wanted to mock himself, but his heart became particularly heavy.

The scene changed, and he finally got married before the age of forty, marrying a decent wife. The next year, their child was born, and the couple had a big fight over sending the child to a better school.

From then on, they lived for their child, raising him, providing for his education, until one day, the child said, "Mom, Dad, I'm getting married, but I want a house. The bride doesn't want to live with you."

"Oh, and before that, you need to prepare tens of thousands of dollars in dowry, just use Dad's retirement pension."

Fine, let's tighten our belts, use up half a lifetime of savings to pay off the mortgage for the child. Isn't that what life is all about?

So, the son got married, got a house, and started his own life. Then, a grandson was born, and his wife was taken away because she had to take care of their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild.

Xu Qi'an began a life of solitude...

At the end of this period of life, he lay on his deathbed, ending his life. Before he left, there was only an equally aged wife by his side.

At this moment, Xu Qi'an felt a sense of relief, as if he could finally rest.

One cycle ended, and another began.

From birth to death, he had been a social animal, always striving to "live." When he was young, he carried a heavy workload, fought for the future in his youth, fought for his children in middle age, and continued to fight for his children in old age.

Except for carefree childhood, he only truly felt "free" when he breathed his last breath, feeling as if he had finally unloaded all his burdens.

"Is this the Eight Sufferings of life? Birth, aging, sickness, death, love, separation, resentment, and unfulfilled desires... What's the meaning of such a life? My life isn't like this, it shouldn't be like this."In the cycle of reincarnation, Xu Qi'an's thoughts of entering the empty door became heavier and heavier, and there was a voice in his heart that kept saying: Rest, rest, life is meaningless.

Put it all down, and you will be free.

"No, no, there's something wrong with my will..." He immediately realized that his thoughts were wrong, as if he had schizophrenia.

One tempted him to enter the empty door and seek freedom. The other was firm in his own beliefs and ideas.

The two consciousnesses collided within him, and Xu Qi'an held his head in pain.

"Think of something else, think of Fu Xiang's snow-white buttocks."

.............

All his actions were seen by the onlookers, and countless people were worried for him.

"What's wrong? He looks like he's in a lot of pain? But nothing seems to have happened."

The Eight Sufferings Array affected the mind, and outsiders could not see Xu Qi'an's spiritual world, so they could not empathize.

"........This is only the first level, and he's already in so much pain. How can he continue climbing?"

A martial artist sighed, "It's clear who's superior. This time, the battle is probably lost."

They didn't understand what the Eight Sufferings Array was, they just saw Xu Qi'an enter the "painting" and start climbing, but he ended up like this after a few steps.

Disappointing.

In the royal pavilion, Biao Biao clenched her fists, tense and staring at Xu Qi'an without blinking, showing her inner tension.

Huai Qing held a teacup and never put it down.

"Mother, big brother seems to be in a lot of pain," Xu Lingyue said with a trembling voice.

Aunt quickly looked at her husband, seeing his serious expression, she didn't dare to ask, and comforted her in a low voice, "It's okay, it's okay. Your big brother has always been promising. He's not afraid of tens of thousands of rebels in Yunzhou. Why would he be afraid of these few bald donkeys?"

"Uncle, what's wrong with my big brother," Xu Lingyin pointed to the sky.

"It's nothing."

Wei Yuan's tone was calm, but the veins on the back of his hand holding the armrest bulged, and his body leaned forward unconsciously, his eyes always fixed on the "painting," never moving away.

"The Eight Sufferings Array!"

Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen snorted, "This array is used by the high monks of the Buddhist sect to temper the mind. If a warrior is trapped in it and cannot break the array, his state of mind will be shattered and he will be useless. If he can pass the array unscathed, it means that he possesses the Buddha nature. You should take the opportunity to guide him into the Buddhist sect."

"Du'e Luohan is so cunning. By doing this, he's not afraid of offending the dignity of our Great Feng and its million elite soldiers."

As the Prime Minister of Great Feng, with the Emperor absent, Wang Zhenwen was in charge.

He had extensive knowledge and mature political skills, and he quickly figured out Du'e Luohan's intentions.

Du'e Master chanted the Buddha's name, speaking in a relaxed tone, "To convert to the Buddhist sect is also a kind of fate."

Chu Yuanzhen finally understood another function of the Eight Sufferings Array, and also understood why the sixth member, Heng Yuan, hesitated just now.

Du'e Luohan's plan was indeed a bit sinister.

The first level tests the Buddha nature. If there is no Buddha nature, Xu Qi'an will be ruined. If there is Buddha nature, there are still several levels to come. This way, the Buddhist sect not only wins, but also humiliates Great Feng.

In the various pavilions, the officials and nobles all changed color, and the noble ladies and young ladies who were originally just watching the excitement also put away their playful attitudes and stopped chatting.

Biao Biao suddenly became nervous, her eyes widened and her peach-blossom eyes slightly raised, urgently saying, "Huai Qing, Huai Qing, the Prime Minister said that if the array is not broken, the dog slave will be useless, and if the array is broken, the dog slave will become a monk. What should we do?"

Huai Qing frowned, although she was knowledgeable and well-educated, she was lacking in the field of cultivation, and the current situation was beyond her capabilities.

"Do you want him to be useless, or become a monk?" Huai Qing asked in return.

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"I..." Biao Biao opened her mouth, but didn't say the answer in her heart.

Not only the officials and nobles in the pavilion were angry, but also the onlookers, the common people. In Great Feng, the people living in the capital were the proudest, because they lived in the core city of the court and had the pride of the people of a great nation.

Because of the recent "provocations" of the Bureau of Heavenly Masters and the Buddhist sect, the people of the capital had long been resentful. Today, the Bureau of Heavenly Masters agreed to compete with the Buddhist sect, and before dawn, the place was crowded with onlookers.

"Such bullying. The court is so weak, being ridden over by the Buddhist sect several times."

All eyes focused on Xu Qi'an, with nervousness and bated breath.

Aunt suddenly heard a "click," it turned out that her husband had crushed the armrest of the chair beside him.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she said in distress, "Why did we choose Ning Yan to compete? How, how can this be good?"

For the sake of laying a foundation for his nephew, her husband had worked hard to cultivate him for twenty years. If it was true, as the old man said, that he would be useless if he didn't break the array, then the twenty years of cultivation by her husband would be ruined.

Breaking the array was also not a good thing. The main branch only had Ning Yan as the sole heir. If he became a monk...

Aunt looked back at her son and daughter, Xu Xinnian frowned, Xu Lingyue bit her lip, her pretty face full of worry.............

"There is a third way to break this formation."

In the midst of the spiritual pain like a split personality, a thought entered Xu Qi'an's mind, it was the voice of Monk Shen Shu.

"Do not respond, do not think about anything related to me, just listen to what I have to say. This formation is used by Buddhist practitioners to temper their state of mind. Those who enter the formation will have two results: their state of mind will become more clear, or their state of mind will shatter.

"For those who are not part of the Buddhist sect, if they can withstand the Eight Miseries Formation, it means they possess the Buddha nature."

No wonder I had the thought of entering the Buddhist sect. The Buddhist sect wants to destroy my mind... he thought to himself as he endured the distorted mental pain.

Monk Shen Shu's thoughts came again: "In addition to the above two, there is another method: to break the formation with the power of all living beings!"

Xu Qi'an waited for a moment, but Monk Shen Shu did not speak again. Out of caution, he did not call out to Monk Shen in his mind.

The power of all living beings to break the formation... what does that mean? The Eight Miseries of life, so it requires the power of all living beings to break it? But where do I get the power of all living beings? This is obviously not an ability that a martial artist should possess...

The cycle continued, and the Eight Miseries Formation "corroded" Xu Qi'an's mind. What's worse is that the idea of entering the Buddhist sect did not intensify. Instead, the collision of the two "personalities" made his mind even more distorted.

This means that Xu Qi'an really does not possess the Buddha nature. If he cannot break the formation, what awaits him is a shattered state of mind.

Xu Qi'an examined all his methods: Heaven and Earth One Sword Slash, Heart Sword, Lion's Roar, Face-changing Technique, Nurturing Intention... Huh?

Nurturing Intention?

Chu Yuanzhen taught him the technique of nurturing the sword intention, using his own emotions as strength, and integrating them into the sword to wield.

My current emotions are indeed very bad, but they are not enough to break the Eight Miseries Formation... but, if I change my approach, why do I have to use my own emotions?

Why not try to use someone else's emotions? To nurture the sword intention with the emotions of others.

This thought arose and became uncontrollable.

He closed his eyes and used the secret technique taught by Chu Yuanzhen to sense the emotions, but the target changed from himself to the outside world.

To his surprise, he actually sensed the emotions of the outside world, which came from the people in the capital... these emotions were like an ocean, mainly filled with tension and anger.

Are you also angry?

Then lend me your strength.

Xu Qi'an immersed himself in the flood of emotions, absorbing the anger. Gradually, an immensely strong anger rose from the depths of his heart.

Like a raging tide, like thunder, like a raging fire.

Unconsciously, he pressed down on the scabbard, as if he was about to draw the sword.

"Not enough, still not enough..."

............

Clear Cloud Mountain, Yunlu Academy.

The statue of the Second Sage suddenly vibrated, and waves of righteous energy surged into the sky.

A red wooden box hanging above the head of the Second Sage statue trembled, as if something sealed inside wanted to break free from the box.

In the midst of the shimmering light, the dean Zhao Shou appeared in the temple, staring at the red wooden box with a look of surprise and doubt.

Immediately after, three flashes of light appeared, and the three great scholars Li Mubai rushed over to see what was happening.

"What's going on? Why did the statue of the Second Sage move again..."

Li Mubai's voice suddenly stopped, and he stared at the red wooden box in disbelief, stammering, "It, what's wrong with it?"

Dean Zhao Shou said softly, "Someone has stirred the power of all living beings, and it has been revived."

The three great scholars looked at Dean Zhao Shou as if he were crazy.

Dean Zhao Shou ignored them and bowed, "Please be quiet, seniors."

The three great scholars, as if waking from a dream, all bowed, "Please be quiet, seniors."

The trembling of the red wooden box weakened and gradually returned to calm.

..........

"He's about to draw his sword!" someone hoarsely shouted.

Among the onlookers, some felt relieved because Xu Qi'an finally took action and was no longer immersed in pain, which made them feel as if they had taken a calming pill.

It's good to have a response, the worst thing is to lose without any resistance.

Wei Yuan was puzzled by Xu Qi'an's actions, and so were anyone who understood the Eight Miseries Formation.

The Eight Miseries Formation is not an enemy, so what's the use of drawing a sword?

Is he going to cut himself?

"Father, what does he want to do?" Miss Wang asked in a low voice.

"He can't do anything." Prime Minister Wang shook his head, disappointed. "The best result is for him to withstand the Eight Miseries Formation... I really don't know why the Chief Justice chose him."

High above the building, Emperor Yuan Jing said in a deep voice, "Chief Justice, is this the person you chose?"

In his view, Xu Qi'an's behavior was no different from that of a desperate person.

"Your Majesty... you didn't feel anything at all?"

The Chief Justice looked at him, with an unmistakable look of disappointment in his eyes.

Biaobiao said loudly, "Draw the sword, draw the sword."

As soon as she finished speaking, she was stopped and reprimanded by the Queen, "Stop making a fuss, it's unseemly."

"Why isn't he drawing the sword, hurry and draw the sword."

At this moment, someone in the crowd shouted.

"Draw the sword!"

Immediately, others echoed.The chorus of agreement grew louder and more resounding until, at last, the sound of "drawing swords" filled the air.

"Draw your swords, draw your swords..."

The clamor surged like a tide.

...

"Enough!"

And so, Xu Qi'an drew his sword.

Clang...

In the tranquil Buddhist realm, a blinding light suddenly burst forth, like the dawn piercing through darkness, like a ray cleaving through chaos.

This light was not a concentration of Xu Qi'an's power, but the collective strength of tens of thousands of citizens of the capital, a unity of wills.

Crack!

The stone stele inscribed with "The Eight Sufferings" was riddled with cracks, and then shattered with a "bang."

Boom...

The entire Buddhist mountain trembled at this moment, as if on the verge of collapse.

The target of this slash was the Array of Eight Sufferings. The power of the array stemmed from this Buddhist realm.

Therefore, this slash was aimed at the power of the Buddhist realm itself.

"Crack!"

Another crisp sound echoed, but it did not come from the Buddhist mountain, but from the outside world.

Master Du'e looked down in astonishment to see a crack forming in his golden alms bowl.

"The golden bowl is cracked, the golden bowl is cracked."

Biao Biao stood up screaming, pointing at the golden bowl and stamping her feet incessantly.

The girl's screams reverberated.

Hearing Biao Biao's cries, the dignitaries in the pavilions instinctively looked down at the golden bowl and indeed saw a crack.

"What, the golden bowl is cracked?"

The commoners and martial artists on the periphery, unable to see the golden bowl clearly, were anxious and desperately sought confirmation:

"Is it really cracked? Is the golden bowl truly cracked? I can't see clearly."

The martial artists at the front stood on tiptoes, jostling those around them to adjust their position, and finally saw the golden bowl beside Arhat Du'e.

Upon closer inspection, they saw a crack on the surface of the bowl.

"It's really cracked, the golden bowl is truly cracked."

With that exclamation, a tidal wave of cheers erupted, one wave higher than the last.

"Stupid bald donkey, thought you were so mighty, huh? Did you really think The Great Feng had no one?"

"Get lost back to the Western Regions, the capital is not a place for you to strut around."

This was a true uproar.

The commoners were busy hurling insults and laughing, while the martial artists were focused on Xu Qi'an.

At some point, another astonishingly talented young man had emerged in the capital, and they had never heard of him before.

...

Atop the Star-Gazing Tower, Emperor Yuan Jing, overlooking his jubilant subjects, revealed a smile.

"Not bad!"

He praised, satisfied, and then asked, "Supervisor, what was that slash just now?"

How had Xu Qi'an become so powerful?

The Supervisor ignored him.

In the pavilion, Miss Wang pursed her lips, looked at Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen, and whispered, "Father, didn't you say he was bound to lose? Didn't you say that to pass the Array of Eight Sufferings, only..."

"Alright, alright!"

Prime Minister Wang hurriedly waved his hand to interrupt, "Father admits he was mistaken, are you satisfied now?"

Though he spoke thus, his demeanor was not one of annoyance.

He took a relaxed sip of tea and said, "Wei Yuan has gained another formidable general."

It was then that his tone carried a hint of gloom.

In the Nightwatcher's area, Wei Yuan exhaled softly, patted Xu Lingyin's head, and said indifferently, "That slash was decent, right on the mark."

"But if it were you, could you break the formation with one slash?"

The Nightwatchers hung their heads in shame.

The martial fanatic Yang Yan couldn't help but ask, "How did he do it?"

Wei Yuan's expression froze for a moment, then returned to normal, still with a calm demeanor, "Wait for him to come out, then ask him yourself."

So Wei Yuan had known all along, no wonder he had been so composed... The Nightwatchers realized in their hearts.

The happiest was Xu Pingzhi, who grinned widely, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.

"Not bad," the old aunt muttered.

This scoundrel was indeed formidable, and she had to acknowledge that.

Atop the tavern, Heng Yuan sighed, "An unbelievable slash, how did Lord Xu achieve it?"

Turning his head to look at Chu Yuanzhen, he found Number Four in a daze, muttering, "How is this possible, how is this possible..."

As if he had gone mad.

What kind of profound impact had Lord Xu's slash just now had on Number Four?

Heng Yuan was astonished.

At that moment, Master Du'e's voice rang out, clear and distinct, reaching everyone's ears:

"The Array of Eight Sufferings is only the first challenge; the second is the Vajra Array. After witnessing the Silver Gong's slash, the poor monk sees he is exhausted and out of breath. Does he still have the strength to overcome the second challenge?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately looked up at the "scroll."

Xu Qi'an sat on the stone steps, gasping for air, his face pale.

Even those who were not versed in cultivation could tell that Xu Qi'an was in bad shape.

This made them realize they had celebrated too soon; they had only passed the first challenge and were still at the foot of the mountain, far from the summit.

...