Free Web NovelChapter 1125: Chapter 344 A Fortuitous Encounter
Yue Leng was still intently watching the compass, speaking intermittently with Li Youjue.
The wind from Star Moon Plain, by the time it reached here, had already lost some of its strength.
"Something seems off..." Yue Leng muttered.
Although, according to the "Heavenly Net" in his hand, everything on Star Moon Plain seemed calm, and Jiang Qingyang, who he was particularly watching, was bathing in the starlight without any abnormalities.
But his spirit perception still felt a slight discordance.
Without another word, Li Youjue "opened his eyes."
With that look, he saw Jiang Wang drawing his sword, rising into the air, slashing horizontally across the sky. That stroke drew a line that divided heaven and earth, severing life and death.
It was precisely "a nobleman in despair retains his grace, haunted for a decade by an unresolved vendetta!"
Yet, there were no enemies before him, it was as if he took the heavens and the earth themselves as his opponents.
This sword strike was indeed extraordinary, but it lacked specific aim.
"Something’s wrong!"
Li Youjue shot up from the ground and headed straight in the direction of Jiang Wang.
Yue Leng, on the other hand, directly flipped the compass in his hand over and covered it with his other palm.
Upon Star Moon Plain, suddenly, a dazzling twelve beams of starlight descended from the sky, covering an area of about fifteen zhang in radius centered on Jiang Wang.
Brilliant as heavenly pillars, the starlight instantly shook the night on Star Moon Plain.
Splendid and dazzling, the light shone in all directions.
Each beam of starlight seemed to connect heaven and earth, reaching up to the night sky and down into the deep earth.
The distance between every two beams of starlight was exactly equal, dividing this realm evenly.
Within the columns of starlight, countless lines of starlight shot out, intertwining and connecting with each other.
Almost immediately, they formed an airtight cage, enveloping Jiang Wang within, offering protection as well.
This was... the Heavenly Net!
It was the treasured possession of the Imperial City Inspection Mansion, as renowned as another treasure known as the Earth Web.
Yue Leng had specially requested this magic artifact from the Inspection Mansion for this trip, to ensure Jiang Wang’s safety and prevent any members of Equality Country from escaping.
At that moment, he pressed down with the array of the Heavenly Net, remotely protected Jiang Qingyang and sealed off the scene. Then, supporting the disk of the Heavenly Net, he swiftly followed Li Youjue into Star Moon Plain.
Although he was being cautious, it was clear that he had wasted the opportunity to use the Heavenly Net...
As Li Youjue and Yue Leng flew into Star Moon Plain one after the other.
Jiang Wang, who was sheathing his sword in the air, shouted from afar, "Someone attacked me just now; they should be in the northwest direction!"
The two divines in the God Descending Realm, holding the Green Cards, without saying another word, quickly headed towards the northwest.
And Jiang Wang, looking at the star column cage that firmly trapped him, though he did not know its origin, could still feel the commanding authority of the Legalists that made escape impossible. He couldn’t help but be speechless...
"Lord Yue, please retract your Divine Skills!" he called out from where he stood.
Fortunately, he had a good control over the Five Immortals’ Dream Order vocals, and Yue Leng’s ears were still sharp; moving swiftly, he casually lifted the Heavenly Net disk and retracted the array.
The pillars of starlight dispersed, leaving Jiang Wang standing alone under the night sky, once again submerged in silence.
The great commotion that occurred here had naturally alarmed many. However, the scattered forces on Star Moon Plain dared not come to investigate.
Thus, after the disappearance of the Heavenly Net array, Star Moon Plain became even quieter.
"Master Guan Yan... I truly apologize," Jiang Wang said in his heart.
Although Master Guan Yan had claimed he had nothing to hide, not descending last night was a clear sign that he detected someone observing Jiang Wang and thus stayed silent.
It was only when the mysterious power of Equality Country tried to influence Jiang Wang that he had no choice but to take action.
Jiang Wang owed him a great deal for this favor.
Initially, when he had returned Master Guan Yan’s robes, he had not asked for any reward.
But since then, Master Guan Yan’s several pointers had actually surpassed any thanks. And then there was tonight’s incident...
Master Guan Yan’s voice, descending through the Yuheng Star power, still carried a gentle smile: "Though I have left the Hanging Monastery, renouncing monastic life and returning to secular life, no longer a disciple of Buddhism, I cannot stand by and watch others lead you, an innocent being, astray."
The monastic code of Buddhism uses rules more stringent than legal ones to bind people’s evil thoughts. They ensure that a cultivator’s every word and action fall within the "good" as defined by Buddhism.
But the true "Buddha," the true "Bodhi Heart," can completely abandon these precepts, not needing any constraints and yet still be able to act in accordance with their true nature.
This is also what the Confucianist sages meant when they said, "At seventy, one can follow the desires of the heart, without transgressing the bounds."
According to the Confucian classics, one who has diligently studied the "rites" for seventy years can cultivate to a realm where they do as they wish while still fitting within the proper outline.
In Jiang Wang’s eyes, Guan Yan was such an existence.
His five hundred years of teachings in the Forest Sea Source Realm, and his discourse on Zen Heart with that mysterious strong person from Equality Country tonight... all earned Jiang Wang’s utmost respect.
Although the man had returned to secular life, he was like an immortalized Golden Body, truly a Buddha.
Jiang Wang sighed, "I truly don’t know how to repay Master’s virtue."
Guan Yan smiled and said, "If you see this as virtue, then repay heaven and earth for me. Accumulate good deeds in this world on my behalf, and that will count as continuing my cultivation."
Jiang Wang earnestly replied, "Doing good and punishing evil is in my nature, Master need not say so; I would do it regardless. I cannot shamelessly claim to repay you."
Guan Yan laughed again, "If so, I have already received repayment."
He then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, out of the three summoned envoys who originally came to the Forest Sea Source Realm, I am now only in contact with you. I wonder how the other two are doing?"
Master Guan Yan was clearly still concerned about the few "acquaintances" he had in this world.
Jiang Wang didn’t try to flatter Guan Yan by concealing anything and shook his head, "It’s embarrassing to say, ever since returning to this world, I’ve been entangled in mundane affairs and have lost contact. I only know that something happened in Wu Quji’s sect, but it was also due to official business..."
Although they had fought side by side in the Forest Sea Source Realm and formed a bond, making promises to keep in touch after returning to this world, as time passed, each was busy with their own matters.
Su Qiyun traveled the world collecting materials to shape a body for Fish, and given her expertise in stealth from Tianfu, people didn’t even hear news of her, let alone see her.
In Gold Needle Sect, where Wu Quji was from, there had been a storm of controversy recently when his uncle Wu Yi severely injured the Sect Leader and stole the secret scriptures of the Golden Needle, meant for averting disasters...
Jiang Wang’s own journey had been fraught with constant twists and turns.
Without any special circumstances, it was indeed difficult to make contact again.
Having listened to Jiang Wang’s tale of Gold Needle Sect, Guan Yan merely sighed softly and said no more.
He had simply thought of them and asked casually. Whether or not Jiang Wang kept in touch with Su Qiyun and Wu Quji, or how their relationships were, was Jiang Wang’s own business. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
He would not interfere.
The Yuheng Star Power surrounding him grew denser...
Jiang Wang’s Burning Fire Bone Lotus was almost instantly recharged.
And Guan Yan’s voice said, "I have left a chant in your heart, if that person comes again, it should provide you some protection. However, this is after all only a symptomatic treatment..."
The methods of that mysterious strong person from Equality Country were indeed hard to guard against and impossible to avoid.
If not for Master Guan Yan tonight, he wouldn’t even have known how he fell victim.
He also didn’t know if that person could still use such methods outside of Star Moon Plain...
"Many thanks for Master’s kindness, I am deeply grateful," Jiang Wang said earnestly, "May I ask how to address the root of the problem?"
Guan Yan replied, "Establish a Saint Tower early."
"Of course, reaching the God Arrives Realm early could work too," he quipped unusually.
Then he said, "This day is auspicious, so let us leave it at that. Take good care of yourself, Jiang You." freёwebnovel.com
Jiang Wang could clearly feel through the Burning Fire Bone Lotus.
The dense Yuheng Star Power was beginning to dissipate...
...
...
ps: The quotation from "Analects·Weizheng": "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning; at thirty, I stood firm; at forty, I had no doubts; at fifty, I knew the decree of heaven; at sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth; at seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right."
Clearly, Confucius didn’t mean that one needs to study rites for seventy years to do as they wish. The author has merely adapted it into the cultivation system, hence the deliberate reinterpretation, the so-called "six classics are my notes"!
It’s the same as the previous uses of "ignorance," "how can one sweep the world clean if he cannot sweep his own house," "heart like a bright mirror stand," and so on.
To prevent accusations that my knowledge of our national studies is weak which is admittedly quite average I’m explaining this once.
I won’t explain it anymore in the future.
There is no intention to insinuate anyone; I’ve simply become overly cautious due to past unfounded criticisms.
Thank you all for your understanding.
