Martial Cultivator

"Master..."

Chen Chao looked helplessly at the old monk Pingdu before him.

Who would have thought that such a leader of Buddhism would turn out to be such a person?

“That night, the moonlight was truly beautiful.”

The old monk Pingdu sighed again, his voice filled with endless reminiscence.

Chen Chao was silent.

The old monk Pingdu smiled and said, “My junior brother once foretold that a member of the Chen imperial family would come to Deercry Monastery, and that person would inherit his legacy. When I first heard this prophecy, I pondered for a long time about who it might be. One of the three princes? But I never imagined it would be you.”

Who would have thought that the renowned black-robed Nation Teacher, who had changed the ruler of the world, would select someone from among the former dynasty to become his disciple?

Perhaps this is why no one in the world could ever fully understand this Nation Teacher.

Chen Chao said, “The Nation Teacher was an extraordinary man.”

If he were not extraordinary, he would not have chosen to leave Deercry Monastery to pursue those things.

“My junior brother was always peculiar and unconventional. He liked wearing black robes and reading history books but disliked studying buddhist scriptures, though his understanding of Buddhism was exceptionally profound. In those years, I often sought answers to buddhist principles from him for things I couldn't comprehend.”

“Among the disciples of that generation, he was the most likely candidate to become the abbot of Deercry Monastery.”

As old monk Pingdu spoke, he recalled that night many years ago, the last time he and his junior brother met.

At that time, his junior brother already appeared to be nearing the end of his life. They spoke of many things, including the matter of becoming the abbot.

“Whatever I don't want, even if you give it to me, I still won't want it. Whatever I want, even if you don't give it to me, I'll snatch it.”

Recalling those words, old monk Pingdu sighed, “How could someone like that seem like a monk?”

Chen Chao remained silent.

He was still wondering why that black-robed Nation Teacher had known he would one day come here, even planning to take him as a disciple.

The old monk Pingdu looked at Chen Chao for a long time before slowly saying, “Come with me. There’s something I need to give you.”

But Chen Chao did not move. He stood where he was and asked, “What about the master who went to the Sublime Bright Sect back then?”

Old monk Pingdu looked at Chen Chao and said, “He has entered seclusion. You won't be able to see him this time.”

Chen Chao said, “That master told me back then that if I came to Deercry Monastery, I would find the answers I wanted.”

“But is the question from back then still a question now?” Old monk Pingdu chuckled and said, “So much time has passed. Has the question stayed in your heart all this time?”

Chen Chao replied, “Living in this world, there are naturally always new questions.”

Old monk Pingdu said, “I may not call myself an eminent monk, but I think I can still manage to answer some questions.”

“You're being modest, Master."

Chen Chao sighed emotionally. If even the Abbot Master standing before him could not be considered a great monk, then perhaps there truly were no great monks in this world.

“But from what I see, even if you have new questions, you probably already have the answers.”

Old monk Pingdu looked at Chen Chao and spoke with deep meaning, “The world is not limited to just Deercry Monastery for eminent monks.”

Chen Chao did not speak.

There were many cultivators in this world, but those who could be called truly mysterious were likely limited to these monks.

Old monk Pingdu led Chen Chao past the rear courtyard and stopped before an extremely secluded meditation room, and prepared to push the door open and enter.

Chen Chao suddenly said, “Even if the Nation Teacher wanted to take me as his disciple, does that mean that this junior wouldn't have refused?”

Old monk Pingdu smiled and said, “Why bother arguing with a dead man? It's just some items to hand over to you. As for the talk of discipleship, that was merely nonsense from this old monk.”

"... ..."

Chen Chao truly did not know how to respond to this Abbot Master before him.

As the door to the meditation room was pushed open, a cloud of dust rushed out. Chen Chao failed to dodge in time and ended up inhaling a noseful of dust.

Standing to the side, old monk Pingdu watched with a smile that was not a smile.

When the dust settled, the old monk finally stepped inside, with Chen Chao following close behind.

The meditation room was sparsely furnished. There was nothing else inside except for a single meditation cushion.

This had once been the place where that black-robed Nation Teacher cultivated in seclusion.

Old monk Pingdu lifted the meditation cushion and pulled out a small booklet from beneath it. Handing it to Chen Chao, he said, “Everything he learned in his lifetime is recorded in this. It was always meant for you. Take it.”

Chen Chao accepted the booklet and, for some reason, recalled the time when he and Xie Nandu had nearly unearthed that Nation Teacher's grave on a mountain outside the Divine Capital.

The black-robed Nation Teacher’s life’s work, whether was it dragon-slaying techniques, military strategy, or something else entirely, was the stuff of dreams for many.

At that moment, Chen Chao suddenly understood something.

This might not have been left for him but rather for Xie Nandu.

Thinking about this, Chen Chao found it even stranger. Could it be that the black-robed Nation Teacher was truly a divine figure, capable of foreseeing even events after his death?

“The sword strike that the Sword Sect's Sect Master comprehended incorporates the essence of both Daoism and Buddhism. Yet achieving mastery in it should not be easy."

The old monk Pingdu suddenly said seriously, “Therefore, the most critical moment will be the battle in the Divine Capital.”

“He may perfect his sword, truly becoming the strongest sword cultivator of the past thousand years. Or his sword may shatter, sending him plummeting into despair.”

The old monk Pingdu continued. “But the best outcome would be to prevent him from going to the Divine Capital altogether."

Chen Chao understood this reasoning as well. The battle in the Divine Capital was naturally targeted at His Majesty the Emperor.

Win or lose, such a battle would likely result in less favorable outcomes than if it never happened at all.

Chen Chao said, “Things aren't that simple.”

Old monk Pingdu replied, “The Infatuation Daoist Temple even handed over the Dao Ancestor's sword artifact to the Sword Sect's Sect Master. Their intentions are as clear as day.”

“Once this battle begins, it will absolutely not end easily."

The old monk added. “Which is why, from the very beginning, this old monk didn't want him to ascend the mountain.”

Chen Chao said, “Now, not only has he ascended the mountain, but he has also fulfilled his wish of meeting the person he wanted to see.”

“What Senior thinks, what Senior does, none of it is within our control. So all we can do is let nature take its course.”

Old monk Pingdu took out a Buddhist scripture from his robe, handed it to Chen Chao, and said, "This old monk has a scroll of buddhist scripture here, you can take it back to His Majesty."

Looking at the tattered scripture, Chen Chao had already guessed it was something extremely significant.

"If this battle truly happens..."

Chen Chao hesitated for a moment.

Old monk Pingdu said, "There are many things in this world that we cannot stop or interfere with. We can only watch as they unfold."

Chen Chao said, "I want to try."

Old monk Pingdu was a little curious. "How will you try?"

In terms of cultivation realm, Chen Chao was far, far removed from the Sword Sect's Sect Master.

Chen Chao thought of that single sheet of paper.

Old monk Pingdu smiled and said, "Even if you have some means to change things, it's best not to act, because you know very well what kind of person your emperor truly is."

Chen Chao pondered for a moment and was not in a hurry to speak.

He raised his head, his gaze directed toward the distance, where the small temple behind the monastery stood at the edge of his vision.

After some thought, Chen Chao said, "I want to go take a look."

Old monk Pingdu looked at Chen Chao and remained silent for a long time before saying, "The monastery's rules... don't allow it."

"Rules can be changed, especially when Senior is the abbot."

Chen Chao looked at old monk Pingdu earnestly.

For a moment, old monk Pingdu seemed lost in thought. The words Chen Chao had just spoken felt eerily familiar.

Oh... a long time ago, his junior brother had said the exact same thing.

"The monastery's rules do not allow it, but this old monk can allow it. If you want to take a look, then go ahead. This old monk will pretend that I know nothing about this."

Old monk Pingdu pointed toward a certain direction and then turned to walk away into the distance.

Chen Chao glanced at the old monk Pingdu's retreating figure before looking toward the place he had pointed at. There stood a courtyard door.

Beyond the door lay the small temple at the back of the monastery.

For many years, no one had been able to pass through this door because meeting that old monk was never an easy matter.

If the old monk did not wish to see you, you would not be able to pass through that door.

Chen Chao did not understand the intricacies of it all, he simply took a few steps forward until he reached the courtyard door.

He placed his hands on the door and abruptly exerted all his strength to push it.

The door did not budge an inch.

Chen Chao furrowed his brows.

Then he pushed again with greater force.

With a creaking sound, the door opened.

Behind the door was a narrow path stretching far into the distance. At the end of the path stood a small temple.

Outside the temple sat a sword immortal.

The most powerful sword immortal of the present age.

Chen Chao walked toward the sword immortal.

After taking a few steps, Chen Chao grasped the hilt of the saber at his waist.

Cloud Mud began to tremble within its sheath.

Traces of qi slowly began to seep out.

The Sword Sect's Sect Master had his back to Chen Chao, but it was clear he must have been aware of everything happening behind him.

Chen Chao made no attempt to conceal his intentions.

Nor could he have concealed them.

The distance between the two gradually closed, and in an instant, only a few yards remained.

The Sword Sect's Sect Master suddenly rose to his feet and slowly turned around.

Their eyes met.

Chen Chao drew his saber from its sheath.

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