Xu Qi'an's state was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads, causing the high spirits to drop and the cheers to gradually fade.

"That little monk on the mountain, the one who has been sitting at the Southern City Heroic Platform for half a month."

"It is said that he is the invincible Vajra of the Buddhist sect, truly invincible. In the past five days, many heroes and warriors have challenged him on the platform, but no one has been able to break through his golden body."

At this moment, the people of the capital and the outsiders from the martial arts world recalled the fear dominated by the Vajra body of Jing Si.

They remembered the formidable aspects of this handsome monk.

For some of the common people who did not live in the Southern City and were not very familiar with this, the reaction was intense after inquiring:

"Is this true? Don't just listen to rumors. The rumors in the market are always exaggerated and unreliable."

"It's not an exaggeration. I also heard that some time ago, a very powerful swordsman made a move, it is said that he could summon stones as swords, quite remarkable. But he still lost to this little monk."

"The Buddhist sect is too strong. Compared to them, our people seem to be facing insurmountable difficulties and obstacles."

The people of the capital were disheartened.

From the battle between Jing Si and Jing Chen, to the preaching of the Dharma last night, the Buddhist sect had made a great impact on the people of the capital, leaving a strong impression.

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

"I remember, Xu Ningyan's ultimate skill is the 'Heaven and Earth One Sword Slash'. Does he still have the strength to unleash another slash?" Heng Yuan, number six of the Heavenly Dragon Temple, shook his head, clasped his hands together, and sighed softly:

"The second level of the Vajra Formation is a martial arts battle. He only has the strength of one sword, but he has exhausted his strength in the Eight Sufferings Formation."

Chu Yuanzhen couldn't help but laugh and said, "Number six, you are too narrow-minded."

Heng Yuan frowned in confusion.

Chu Yuanzhen did not answer, and continued, "However, unless he can unleash a second slash and break through the second level of the Eight Sufferings Formation, otherwise, no matter what, he won't be able to break through Jing Si's golden body."

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

Inside the cool pavilion, a fierce debate was unfolding.

"If his strength is not enough, he can rest. There is no time limit for this battle. As long as Xu Qi'an can unleash a power not weaker than the previous slash, breaking through the Vajra Formation is not a problem."

After a nobleman expressed his opinion, it immediately drew rebuttals from others.

The one who rebutted Lord Weihai was also a nobleman, with no less cultivation: "Lord Weihai, do you really think that the slash just now was something that a mere seventh-grade warrior could unleash?"

The surrounding dignitaries listened to the two men's debate very seriously.

Princess Biao Biao waved her hand and said crisply, "Lord Weihai, Lord Pingding, you two make it clear. How confident is Xu Qi'an in breaking through the Vajra Formation?"

Lord Pingding was a middle-aged man in his forties, in the prime of his life, with a burly figure and bright, spirited eyes. He stood up and bowed to Princess Biao Biao, "Your Highness, in my opinion, Xu Qi'an has no chance of winning."

Princess Biao Biao frowned, "Why do you say that?"

Lord Pingding sighed, "Xu Qi'an is only a seventh-grade warrior, and even Chu Yuanzhen cannot break through Jing Si's Vajra body, let alone him."

A civil official frowned and spoke, "Lord Pingding, you may not know that although Xu Qi'an is only a seventh-grade warrior, he is very powerful, with a record of breaking through two sixth-grade warriors with copper skin and iron bones."

Lord Pingding shook his head, "The Vajra invincibility of the Buddhist sect cannot be compared to the copper skin and iron bones of a warrior. Furthermore, this little monk has been sitting in the Southern City for half a month. If Xu Qi'an could win, he would have made a move long ago. Why has he been holding back?"

The civil official nodded, Lord Pingding was a nobleman who had participated in the Mountain and Sea Battle twenty years ago. His insight was not to be underestimated. Since he said so, it was probably the truth.

Princess Biao Biao thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with a rebuttal, so she said angrily, "Lord Pingding, how can you boost someone else's morale and destroy your own prestige? What benefit is it to you if Xu Qi'an loses?"

Lord Pingding helplessly said, "I am not boosting someone else's morale. Xu Qi'an is representing the Bureau of Heavenly Masters in this battle, and also representing the court. I also hope that he can win, but... the chances of winning are too slim."

It should be noted that most of the civil and military officials and the ladies present were laymen. Just now, when they saw Xu Qi'an break through the formation with one slash, their confidence suddenly rose, and smiles appeared on the faces of each and every one of them.

But now, after listening to the analysis of Lord Pingding, the insider, the civil officials and the ladies realized that the situation was not optimistic.

Lord Weihai snorted and said loudly, "Lord Pingding, how do you know that Xu Qi'an cannot unleash a second slash?"

At this time, Jing Chen, who had been meditating and silent, spoke up, "The slash just now, I presume the Bureau Chief lent him his strength. Otherwise, how could a mere seventh-grade warrior unleash such a terrifying sword energy?"

"The physical strength of a seventh-grade warrior is limited, how could he withstand the infusion of such power again?"

Lord Pingding shook his head, this was also what he wanted to say.

The cool pavilions fell silent, the civil and military officials lowered their heads to drink, and the ladies deliberately turned their heads to avoid looking at the monks of the Buddhist sect.

There was nothing more to say, but they were still dissatisfied in their hearts.

"Father, what do you think?"

Miss Wang looked at the Prime Minister with a smile.

The Prime Minister Wang said lightly, "Observe more and speak less. It is too early to draw conclusions at this time."Even if he had already decided that Xu Qi'an was not a match in terms of martial arts, he was already considering the next candidate. But after the previous humiliation, Prime Minister Wang would not make another hasty conclusion.

A prime minister would not fall in the same place twice.

"I have an idea, though."

Miss Wang smiled and looked at Monk Jinchun, saying loudly, "This master, the Eight Sufferings Formation is used by the high monks of the Buddhist sect to temper the Buddha's heart, and has nothing to do with combat power. Even high-ranking martial artists would find it difficult to break the formation. Isn't that right?"

Monk Jinchun nodded, "Instead of letting a high-ranking martial artist enter the formation, it's better to find a child."

Miss Wang smiled, "Just now, Master Du'e said that the Great Feng has three chances, right?"

"Of course."

Miss Wang's delicate and gentle face revealed a bright smile, "Now that the Eight Sufferings Formation has been broken, even if Xu Qi'an is exhausted and unable to pass the Vajra Formation, can the court send a high-ranking martial artist to break the formation? The Vajra at the foot of the mountain might be able to stop him?"

Monk Jinchun was stunned, then frowned and remained silent.

The eyes of the crowd lit up, with a feeling of sudden enlightenment and various thoughts surging.

No one knew why the supervisor chose a seventh-grade bronze gong to fight, and now that Xu Qi'an had broken the Eight Sufferings Formation, Miss Wang had made the stakes clear.

The minds of the crowd opened up instantly.

"So Xu Qi'an is just a pawn, can't we bring out someone else? Replace him with a high-ranking martial artist to break the formation."

"Well, there are plenty of high-ranking martial artists in the capital, and it's likely that they can break the Buddhist Vajra."

"When it comes to martial artists, our Northern King is undoubtedly the most talented in the Great Feng for the past two hundred years."

The topic gradually shifted to the Northern King.

Miss Wang stole the limelight, and she casually glanced at the area where the Nightwatcher was, seeing Xu Xinnian looking at her, which pleased her.

Before their eyes met, Miss Wang quietly shifted her gaze.

"The one who spoke just now is a woman from the Wang family? It seems to be his daughter..." Xu Xinnian withdrew his gaze with disdain. He had a very negative impression of the Wang family because the Wang and Wei factions were political enemies, and the Wang faction had persecuted his elder brother several times. Xu Xinnian had long regarded the Wang faction as his future imaginary enemy.

"The Northern King is known as the most talented martial artist in the Great Feng for the past two hundred years, but unfortunately he is not in the capital, otherwise this group of bald donkeys wouldn't be so arrogant," a woman next to Xu Xinnian commented.

"This woman knows quite a bit. This insight is not something an ordinary woman from an ordinary family can compare to. I wonder where my brother knows such a married man," Xu Xinnian thought to himself.

"My brother is also a martial arts genius," Xu Lingyue said.

The woman smiled and did not argue.

But Xu Lingyue could tell the meaning behind the smile, which was that she couldn't be bothered to argue, just like a person who held the truth and didn't bother arguing with someone who used strong words to seize the truth.

...

Foshan.

Xu Qi'an rested for a moment and continued to climb the steps. Along the way, he did not encounter any more checkpoints and came directly to Monk Jinsi.

At this moment, Monk Jinsi was as if he had been cast in gold, emitting a faint golden light.

I envy that. If I could learn this kind of divine skill, my whole body would be golden... the word "Golden Spear Unbreakable" naturally came to Xu Qi'an's mind.

"Master Jinsi!"

Xu Qi'an stopped and sat down on the steps below, saying, "Can I rest for a while?"

Monk Jinsi sat cross-legged, smiling and nodding, "Guest, feel free to rest."

Xu Qi'an raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you afraid I'll come at you again?"

Monk Jinsi smiled, "Guest, with your meridians burning like fire at the moment, can you still withstand the force you exerted just now?"

"It's not a matter of whether I can withstand it, it's just that the skill needs to cool down," Xu Qi'an grinned.

The body is like a container, bearing the external force beyond capacity, entering the time of the wise. But this is only one reason, and another reason is that he can no longer mobilize the power of sentient beings.

This is like being able to pick up money only once a day, and you have to wait until tomorrow to continue picking up gold. So the skill needs to cool down.

Using the secret method of No. 4 to mobilize the power of sentient beings... the secret method should only be a means, and the core of the problem lies within myself, that I can mobilize the power of sentient beings... I suspect this is an upgraded version of strange luck... obviously, Shen Shu knows about my ability, so the supervisor naturally knows... I remember Shen Shu said that he and I are the same kind of person, and even his parasitism in my body is for this reason... this is a bit terrifying when you think about it!

Xu Qi'an thought to himself.

"Master, have you been a monk since childhood?" Xu Qi'an chatted.

Monk Jinsi nodded.

"Is the master practicing Zen or martial arts?"

"Both Zen and martial arts," Monk Jinsi replied."Is there such a thing as cultivating both martial arts and Buddhism? This little monk's talent is quite astonishing... " Xu Qi'an nodded and said, "I heard that Buddhism emphasizes entering the world before leaving it. Master, you have been ordained since childhood, without even a family. What family are you leaving?"

Monk Jingsi heard that Xu Qi'an wanted to debate Buddhism with him, and fearlessly said, "Ordination means cutting off worldly troubles and entering the Buddhist monastic life. There's no need for the donor to quibble over words."

"I have practiced Buddhism since childhood, traveling through the Western Regions, experiencing the suffering of the world, and experiencing the eight sufferings of life."

"Rubbish about experiencing the eight sufferings of life. You, who have never experienced mortgage, car loans, and exorbitant dowries, are talking nonsense in front of me," Xu Qi'an complained in his heart.

"Master, what do you think about the pleasures of women?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Like a sharp knife!" Monk Jingsi succinctly evaluated.

"This statement is premature. Master has never experienced the pleasures of women, so how do you know that it is not the most wonderful thing in the world?"

Every word of their conversation was heard by the onlookers.

"Isn't this supposed to be a debate about martial arts? Why are they talking about Buddhism now?"

"They're not talking about Buddhism, they're clearly talking about women. This gentleman's words are truly insightful and have touched my heart," the men all smiled knowingly.

The women blushed and secretly scoffed.

"Oh, how can the servant speak such nonsense," the girl's face turned red as she lowered her head slightly.

"Mother, big brother is becoming more and more improper," Xu Lingyue stomped her foot.

Auntie remained silent, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Uncle Xu felt both embarrassed and ashamed. What nonsense is this kid talking about? In this place where high-ranking officials and dignitaries are gathered, and with thousands of people watching, it's best not to say anything that is difficult to justify.

...........

"I have a few things I'd like to ask the master," Xu Qi'an stared at him and sneered, "Have you ever supported your parents? Have you worked hard to take care of a family? Have you ever picked up a hoe and worked in the fields?

"The Buddhist monastic life does not involve production. You spend your days reciting scriptures and chanting Buddha, relying on the offerings of worshippers. I ask you, what scriptures do you recite, and what Buddha do you chant?

"By observing the world from the perspective of a bystander, do you think you have truly understood the suffering of sentient beings? You, Jingsi, have only experienced birth among the eight sufferings of life, and nothing else.

"You are just a fake monk."

Monk Jingsi pondered for a long time and replied, "Buddha observes all things in the world, so naturally he understands the suffering of the world."

"Good!" Xu Qi'an nodded, drew out a black and gold long knife, and cut a bloody wound on his arm. He covered the wound and looked at Jingsi.

"Master, do you think I am in pain?"

"With a blade against the body, of course there is pain," Jingsi clasped his hands together.

"Do you know how much pain I am in?" Xu Qi'an asked again.

Jingsi fell silent. With his diamond body protection, the blade could not harm him, so he truly could not answer.

"Master, don't you understand," Xu Qi'an sighed, "This is your so-called 'observation.' You only know that I am in pain, but you don't know how much pain I am in. You only know the suffering of the world, but you certainly don't know how truly painful it is.

"If you can't even understand the suffering of the people, how can you talk about saving sentient beings? Isn't it a joke? Let me tell you a story."

Jingsi did not speak, but assumed a listening posture.

"One year, there was a severe drought, and the people had no rice to eat, resulting in countless deaths. A wealthy young man heard about this and astonishingly said one thing. Do you know what he said?"

"What did he say?" Jingsi asked.

Xu Qi'an stared at the little monk Jingsi, with a mocking smile, and said word by word, "Why... not... eat... meat... porridge."

Monk Jingsi was struck as if by lightning, his pupils slightly dilated, his face blank.

"Well said!"

"The little monk is speechless. Look, the little monk is speechless."

The crowd outside cheered loudly.

The monk was best at debating and speaking in Zen, and could talk anyone into submission. But Xu Qi'an's words left the little monk from the Western Regions speechless.

This feeling of defeating them in the area where they excelled in Buddhism was even more refreshing from the perspective of a bystander than the blow Xu Qi'an struck with his knife.

Their morale soared.

The court officials remained silent, unable to break through the diamond formation. They wondered what Xu Qi'an's purpose was.At this moment, Xu Qi'an threw the black and gold long knife in front of Monk Jingsi, and said in a deep voice, "Master, if you think what I said is wrong, if you think you can truly experience the suffering of the people, why not give it a try?"

Jingsi raised his head and murmured, "Give it a try?"

Xu Qi'an nodded, "Take off the Vajra Indestructible, make a cut on your arm, and you will understand my pain, understand the true Buddha Dharma, instead of abstaining from meat."

"No, no..." Jingsi shook his head, as if trying to convince himself not to try, "If I take off the Vajra Indestructible, then I lose."

"Monks should be detached from everything, but you are so fixated on winning or losing, you have already fallen to a lower level," Xu Qi'an said persuasively, "Losing a battle, but seeing a broader sky, experiencing the true Buddha Dharma, which is more important, it's up to you to decide."

Monks should be detached from everything and not be fixated on winning or losing... abstaining from meat, abstaining from meat... Jingsi's expression gradually became complex, showing a look of conflict and struggle. He slowly reached out and grabbed the black and gold long knife.

A smirk appeared on Xu Qi'an's lips.

"I see." Chu Yuanzhen praised, "Jingsi has been practicing in the Buddhist temple since childhood. Perhaps his understanding of the Buddha Dharma is profound, but he lacks the worldly experience, which is his weakness. Xu Ningyan is indeed clever."

Jingsi, like a gifted scion of a noble family, has been practicing in the family since childhood. He has the strength, but his state of mind is not complete, lacking in experience and maturity.

"Amitabha," Heng Yuan chanted the Buddha's name, feeling desolate.

He thought of his younger brother Heng Hui, who was also a highly talented disciple of the Buddhist family, but lacked worldly experience and was swayed by worldly desires, leading to a great disaster.

Well done! The civil officials' eyes lit up, secretly applauding.

Conquering the mind is superior to conquering the city, this step is in line with the art of war, ingenious to the extreme.

Compared to fighting and killing, Xu Qi'an's breaking of the Vajra Formation is more relatable to the civil officials.

Involuntarily, the thought emerged again: It's a pity if this child doesn't study!

Instinctively, another thought emerged: Xu Pingzhi is not worthy of being a human.

Prime Minister Wang nodded secretly, Xu Qi'an's actions gave him a feeling of sudden enlightenment, which was a response he had not thought of before.

During the tax and silver case, he did not pay attention to Xu Qi'an, but he realized his potential after the Sangbo case. Suddenly, he realized that this child's future is limitless.

It's a pity that he belongs to Wei Yuan, and can only be an enemy, not an ally.

At that moment, along with the chanting of the Buddha's name, a voice echoed in the sky, "Jingsi, you have been deceived."

While this sentence rang in the ears of everyone, it also entered the painting and reached the ears of Monk Jingsi.

The handsome young monk was startled, as if struck by lightning, and quickly clasped his hands together, chanting the Buddha's name incessantly.

Gradually, his eyes cleared.

"Absurd!" Prime Minister Wang slammed the cup and stood up in anger, "Du'e, a Bodhisattva of the Buddhist temple, can't accept defeat?"

Behind Wei Yuan, nine golden gongs stood up simultaneously, holding onto the hilts of their swords.

Monk Jinchun said calmly, "The supervisor can secretly assist, why can't the Buddhist temple?"

He was insisting that Xu Qi'an's previous strike was secretly assisted by the supervisor, or that the corresponding means were implanted in his body in advance.

Prime Minister Wang sneered, "Is it up to your Buddhist temple to decide the principles of this world? You say the supervisor secretly assisted, so he did."

The high-ranking officials showed angry expressions, but they were still relatively restrained. The onlookers and the bold figures of the martial world didn't care as much, and there were angry curses, and even acts of provoking the forbidden army.

"Shameless bald donkey, this is clearly cheating. We don't care, the Vajra Formation has been broken."

"The dignified Buddhist temple is so shameless, if the Buddhist temple wins today's battle, we won't acknowledge it."

"......"

Master Du'e ignored the thunderous insults, looked at Monk Jinchun, and said calmly, "You are also deceived."

"Disciple is guilty," Monk Jinchun bowed his head.

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

The monks outside the arena could hear my conversation with Jingsi... is it possible? There are both literary and martial battles in the battle, each relying on their own abilities. It's too much to intervene forcefully from the outside... Xu Qi'an felt annoyed in his heart.

He immediately stopped talking and began to meditate.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Qi'an opened his eyes, picked up the black and gold long knife, and sheathed it.

Holding onto the hilt of the knife, Xu Qi'an said loudly, "I will only make one strike. With this strike, I take full responsibility for life and death."

The voice passed through the painting and reached the outside.

Only one strike?!

Whether they were outsiders or insiders, commoners or nobles, after hearing this, they all found it unbelievable.

Is it just a bluff?

Xu Qi'an settled all his emotions, restrained all his energy, and the breath inside his body collapsed inward, and his dantian was like a black hole, an essential process for the Heaven and Earth One Strike.Since you guys are cheating, don't blame me for using cheats......... He closed his eyes, and his spiritual power collapsed and retracted, connecting to a huge blood and energy force in his body.

That was the essence of Shen Shu's blood.

On the way back from Yunzhou to the capital, Xu Qi'an absorbed this drop of essence blood, and with the immortal warrior's essence blood, he was resurrected, but part of the power still remained in his body.

When Xu Qi'an saw Du'e Arhat let Jing Si enter the battle, he immediately realized that he couldn't avoid this "Vajra" no matter what, and with the Vajra invincibility blessed by the Buddhist realm, it was impossible for Xu Qi'an to break through with his own power.

At that time, he hid in the Bureau of Heavenly Masters and communicated with Shen Shu, not worrying about being noticed by Du'e Arhat in the Bureau of Heavenly Masters.

The advice given by Shen Shu was to mobilize the essence blood in his body and release this remaining undigestible power.

This power would not expose Shen Shu's existence, and in order to allow Xu Qi'an to absorb the immortal essence in the blood, Shen Shu had long since worn off its "attributes".

It was now essentially just the essence condensed by a warrior.

The dormant power in his body was revived, and it transformed into pure energy throughout Xu Qi'an's body, turning into pure vitality.

There was no wind in the Buddhist realm, but Xu Qi'an's long hair moved on its own, and he still had his eyes closed, like a sleeping overlord, gradually awakening.

The heavens and the earth trembled and quaked for his revival.

"What's going on? Am I seeing things, or does it feel like the world is trembling?"

"It's the Buddhist realm, the Buddhist realm is trembling, it's the Buddhist realm trembling........."

Outside the arena, someone suddenly exclaimed, "It's Xu Qi'an, he's going to draw his sword."

No one was blind, and they all saw that it was Xu Qi'an who caused the tremors in the Buddhist realm.

"Amitabha!"

Jing Si formed hand seals, motionless, but the clouds and mist in the Buddhist realm moved, casting down fine golden light that merged into the golden body.

As a result, the golden body became even more brilliant and rich, radiating thousands of rays of light, like the rising sun.

A standoff!

Huai Qing suddenly stood up, stepped out of the cool pavilion, looked up, and in her eyes, she stared at the brilliant golden light, holding her breath.

More people stood up and walked out of the cool pavilion, looking up with wide eyes, even forgetting to breathe.

Including Prime Minister Wang.

Wei Yuan rose slowly, strolled outside the cool pavilion, and said leisurely, "The great roc rises with the wind in a day, soaring ninety thousand miles."

Was this also within your expectations, Minister Wei? The gongs and drums looked at his back.

Clang!

The sound of drawing the sword was like thunder, echoing through the heavens and the earth.

There was no other sword in the world that could attract so much attention, stirring the hearts of countless people.

There was also no sword in the world as resolute, as if it wanted to cut off everything, even if it meant being shattered.

Of course, there was no sword in the world that was so fast that the naked eye couldn't catch it.

However, the people outside the arena clearly saw the golden body shatter, and saw the layers of golden light being scattered like mist, driven away by an unparalleled sword intent.

The Vajra that had remained undefeated outside the southern city for half a month, the golden body that had been on the minds of the people in the city for five days, had finally been defeated.

On the stage, Xu Qi'an stood proudly.

Jing Si fell to the ground, the sword marks entering his bones, visible damage to his internal organs, his face pale, unable to maintain his sitting posture.

Fine golden light reassembled and merged into his wounds, repairing his flesh and blood.

"I said, I'll only make one move!" Xu Qi'an said calmly.

At this moment, the entire capital fell silent.

There was probably about four or five seconds of silence, and then, abruptly, the sound wave came.

Some people screamed, some cheered, and some even had tears in their eyes, dispelling the pent-up emotions of the past few days.

"Our Great Feng is the orthodox of the Nine Provinces, with literary and martial arts skills that are the best in the world!" a scholar shouted hoarsely.

"Xu Shi Kui's martial arts are unparalleled, the best in the world."

At this moment, everyone remembered the words that had come from the secret realm just now: I'll only make one move!

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".

It wasn't until this moment that they understood the confidence and boldness in that sentence.

Emperor Yuan Jing, standing on the top of the Bureau of Heavenly Masters, faced the sound wave, and also saw the boiling blood and the impassioned people.

"The Vajra formation has been broken."

The old emperor showed a sincere smile, "The Bureau Chief, you really had confidence, good, very good, and Xu Qi'an is also very good, not in vain has he been cultivated by the court."

"Heroes have always emerged from the young......."

Miss Wang heard her father muttering softly.

He really is an extraordinary hero....... Miss Wang thought to herself, she looked around and saw many familiar young ladies, looking at the steps of the Buddhist realm, where the proud and upright young man stood, their eyes filled with infatuation.

Among them were even some graceful noblewomen, their eyes full of aggression, staring intently at the young man, without blinking.

Even the top scholar doesn't have his kind of glory. Miss Wang added in her heart.

Thump, thump, thump, thump....... Miss Wang heard the pounding of her own heart, a fierce pounding that she hadn't experienced in over twenty years.

Looking at her gloriously radiant older brother, Xu Lingyue was a little infatuated.Auntie clicked her tongue and said, "My lord, after this magical duel, our doorstep will surely be worn out by the matchmakers... My lord?"

Xu Pingzhi's eyes brimmed with tears, his face full of gratification.

My elder brother is getting stronger and stronger. As he advances bravely in martial arts, I must not fall too far behind... Xu Xinnian quietly clenched his fist.

Even when Prince Huai was young, he wasn't as dazzling as him... the old auntie thought to herself.

...

"Master, please rest well."

Xu Qi'an sheathed his sword and continued to climb the mountain.

Winding through the misty forest, after a quarter of an hour, the path suddenly cleared, revealing rugged rocks and sparse vegetation, with a huge bodhi tree and an old monk sitting cross-legged beneath it.

Xu Qi'an knew this was the third challenge.

And at this moment, he was nearly at the summit.

Passing this challenge, there should be one more at the peak, the final one... Xu Qi'an brought his palms together: "Master, what shall we compete in for this challenge?"

The old monk chanted a Buddhist mantra and slowly said, "Benefactor, your heart is not at peace."

He starts off with the old Zen master routine... Xu Qi'an complained inwardly, and retorted, "Why should it be at peace?"

"When the heart is at peace, there is Dharma; with Dharma, there is Buddha; with Buddha, one can transcend the sea of suffering," the old monk replied.

"Why should one transcend the sea of suffering?" Xu Qi'an asked again.

"Why not transcend?" the old monk countered.

"Why should one transcend?" Xu Qi'an argued.

"Why not transcend?" the old monk said leisurely.

...

"What are they talking about?"

"They're discussing Zen riddles, can't you understand?"

"Did you understand? Then tell me."

"Nonsense, if I understood, I'd be a high monk. But it's precisely because I don't understand that it contains profound mysteries."

"I see."

The common folk outside whispered among themselves, reacting differently. Some furrowed their brows, chewing over each word of their dialogue, trying to grasp the essence of the Zen riddle.

Others nodded slightly or shook their heads, appearing to have some insight.

Then, everyone, from the royal family to the commoners, heard Xu Qi'an say:

"Master, let's speak plainly, I was just spouting nonsense earlier."

...

PS: The price of ponies has risen a bit too much!! I've already been mocked by several authors.

In at most two chapters, this plot will be finished, and I'll feel relieved. Oh, not yet, I still need to keep writing.

There's just this one long chapter today. I mentioned it at the end of this morning's single chapter.