Chapter 316: Chapter 189: Other Shore Heart Sutra (2)

The Bitter-faced Ascetic gazed at the corpse of the Withered Butterfly Grandmother, murmuring as if reciting a Rebirth Spell.

Suddenly, the scholar who paints dragons shouted sharply:

"Bitter-faced Ascetic, stop reciting. This person is the Night Emperor, known for his unparalleled Fast Sword and extraordinary Flying Saber!

"Help me hold off by thirty percent, or we’ll both die..."

Underneath Chu Qing’s mask, his eyes shifted slightly, and the Cyan Night Sword was unsheathed.

Just as the scholar who paints dragons finished speaking his last word, the sword’s edge was already at his throat.

Life or death was a moment’s decision, a tremendous force suddenly pulled him away from Chu Qing’s sword.

When the scholar who paints dragons regained his senses, he found himself beside the Bitter-faced Ascetic, feeling a tingly sensation on his neck. Upon touching it, he realized his hand was covered in blood.

Although saved by the Bitter-faced Ascetic, the sword strike still left him wounded.

Chu Qing cast a somewhat surprised glance at the Bitter-faced Ascetic:

"Not slow at all."

"The benefactor is even faster."

The Bitter-faced Ascetic clasped his hands together, speaking sincerely.

From the moment the words ’Night Emperor’ were spoken by the scholar, he had already moved, but even so, he was still a step too late, leaving the scholar injured by Chu Qing’s sword.

The speed of this person’s Fast Sword is indeed well-deserved.

With thoughts stirring, just as he was about to speak again...

He saw that Chu Qing’s sword tip was already at his heart.

His martial arts were ultimately superior, for Chu Qing’s Fast Sword was so swift that others wouldn’t even see it or know how they died.

Though the Bitter-faced Ascetic couldn’t quite see Chu Qing’s sword swing, at the moment the sword’s edge reached his body, he was still able to perceive it.

Immediately, he lowered his arms, catching the sword between his palms.

He executed a move known as ’Child Paying Homage to Guanyin’, but underestimated the force of Chu Qing’s sword.

The sword tip thudded directly at the center of his chest.

However, beneath Chu Qing’s mask, his brow slightly furrowed.

With the sword tip piercing the body, the sensation was vastly different from normal.

This person’s body felt like withered wood and decayed leather; the sword’s penetration elicited no real feedback. More importantly, after just half an inch into the body, the sword felt powerless to advance further.

The resistance was unprecedentedly strong.

Chu Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly, circulating the Inner Breath of the Mingyu Scripture, pressing down the sword.

The Bitter-faced Ascetic’s hands were joined, his palms like deadwood, allowing the sword’s edge to pass without a trace of blood.

His feet rooted to the ground, he decisively closed his eyes.

Like an ancient tree that had stood for centuries upon centuries!

Time could not erode it, nor could anything in the world harm it.

Under the immense pressure of the Inner Strength, the Cyan Night Sword in Chu Qing’s hand slightly bent, continuously resonating, with Sword Qi reverberating throughout.

Yet, he still couldn’t pierce through the ascetic’s chest.

Suddenly, Chu Qing’s sword light intensified, and with a raised gaze, his tone carried a hint of incredulity:

"Bitter-faced Ascetic, have you truly mastered the Other Shore Heart Sutra?"

"The benefactor is well-informed; it is indeed the Other Shore Heart Sutra."

The Bitter-faced Ascetic once again clasped his hands together and spoke:

"So, you cannot kill this humble monk."

The Other Shore Heart Sutra is not exactly a secret technique, but one of the Divine Skills of the Buddhist Sect’s path of arduous cultivation.

Moreover, this Dharma Gate has even spread throughout the Martial World...

It is said that if one perfects this skill, they can attain the Realm of the Arhat, be invulnerable to all things, and become unbeatable.

Even in death, the physical body will not decay for a thousand years.

However, even though this Dharma Gate is somewhat circulated in the Martial World, few choose to practice it.

Because it is too difficult, too arduous, and impossible to endure.

This skill primarily focuses on training the ’body’, but the first requirement for cultivation is ’self-sacrifice’, only by daring to shed the corporeal shell can one reshape the ’Body Boat’.

In the initial practice, one must undergo physical torment, utilizing fists, weapons, blades, needles, and all other extreme methods.

With all kinds of suffering endured, the heart must not waver in the slightest.

Even the slightest hesitation or thought of giving up leads to complete failure.

Only when the body is broken and incomplete, with an unwavering heart, can one proceed with the Secret Technique to enter the Second Layer of the Realm.

And this Second Layer... is ’Inquire’.

Kneel before Buddha for three thousand years, seek Buddha, inquire the heart.

If the heart remains unchanged, Buddha will show mercy.

If the heart lacks sincerity, then one has no affinity with Buddha.

This stage requires entering the mundane world, experiencing human tragedies, going through joys and sorrows, and ultimately questioning the Heart Gate.

If the heart persists solely, one can enter the Third Layer.

It is only at this stage that one truly steps onto the path of practicing the Other Shore Heart Sutra.

The profundity of this skill lies in this place.

It must be released from the heart, inner fortitude strengthening the five organs, muscles and bones, qi and blood, while the external shell diminishes like deadwood.

Creating a scene of external decay and internal flourish.

Without enduring wear, one cannot cross the sea of suffering; without sincerity, one cannot reach the Other Shore.

Step by step, one must progress gradually, only then can it be achieved with time.

But even reaching this point does not mean the end of suffering; one must continue to endure, tempering oneself through pain, transforming the shell into a ’body boat,’ protecting one’s ’true heart,’ until one crosses the boundless sea of suffering and reaches the Other Shore.

It can be said, if this martial skill is truly mastered, it is extremely formidable!

Crossing with the physical body, fearing nothing.

But to master it, those without great determination and perseverance cannot succeed.

Many don’t pass the second barrier; they fail at the first barrier alone.

Even if some can withstand the first barrier, the second barrier is even more dangerous...

This martial skill trains the body and questions the heart; any slight error can waste all prior efforts.

Chu Qing has long heard of the reputation of the Bitter-faced Ascetic.

It has been widely said that what he practices is the [Other Shore Heart Sutra].

Yet few believe in such tales.

After all, how could such a person become an assassin?

But now, as the sword edge enters his body and cannot advance further, even Chu Qing is puzzled, could he really be practicing the [Other Shore Heart Sutra]?

Raising his head, Chu Qing suddenly reveals a slight smile:

"Even if it really is the [Other Shore Heart Sutra], so what? I would like to see whether I can kill you!!"

He holds the sword with one hand, while his free left hand forms two fingers, placing them on the sword’s body.

Immediately, the sword emits a piercing sound!

A powerful force, accompanied by a penetrating cold aura, is transmitted from the blade to the Bitter-faced Ascetic’s entire body.

The Bitter-faced Ascetic notices his hands are unknowingly covered by a layer of frost.

Pushed by the immense force, he can no longer stand rooted in place.

His body is involuntarily driven backwards by the sword’s push.

With each retreating step, the ground on either side trembles loudly.

It’s the sound of inner strength and sword qi clashing.

Invisible waves spread around them, causing the mountain walls to shake and earth and stones to quiver.

However, most notably, the cottage nearby.

The windows and walls crumble, the entire house on the verge of collapse.

As the Bitter-faced Ascetic steps back seven feet, with each footstep the sword edge penetrates deeper, after seven steps, the Bitter-faced Ascetic suddenly lets out a roar.

He takes a step forward, fiercely stamping onto the ground.

A vague dharma aspect of the Buddha appears behind him, Vajra’s Angry Gaze, letting out a roar!

"Put down the butcher knife, become enlightened on the spot!!"

This roar is not loud yet seems to arise from the soul.

Causing one to unconsciously tremble, unable to resist the thought.

Moreover, those with weak resolve might truly put down the butcher knife, give up all resistance.

This is the Buddhist sect’s secret technique [Sudden Enlightenment]!

Besides combat, it has another usage.

That is, elders can use this secret technique to impart martial skills, arts, and experience to disciples, allowing them to gain sudden insight.

Yet at this moment, the Bitter-faced Ascetic clearly doesn’t intend to enlighten Chu Qing.

He intends to crack open Chu Qing’s head...

Yet Chu Qing possesses an icy heart, the Mingyu Scripture renders him immune to all laws.

Not just demon dao’s mind-confusing methods have no effect on him.

Buddhist sect’s martial arts also cannot disturb his thoughts!

Thus, Chu Qing grows increasingly certain:

"You’re not truly practicing the [Other Shore Heart Sutra]!"

Otherwise, he wouldn’t fear his body’s ruin, how would he display Sudden Enlightenment in critical moments?

It’s essential to know, if the heart lacks sincerity, this skill becomes futile.

Anyone who masters this skill is undoubtedly a noble monk of high virtue.

The Bitter-faced Ascetic is far from possessing such qualifications!

Finishing his words, without wasting further words, the sword edge advances forward, and crashes, crashes, crashes, successive breaking sounds emerge.

The Bitter-faced Ascetic watches the long sword entering his body, knowing that life and death hang in the balance, unable to hold back his angry shout:

"Are you done? I’m about to achieve nirvana!"

"I’m done!"

Following the sound of Painter Scholar’s voice comes a resounding dragon roar.

A fierce gust sweeps in, Chu Qing slightly raises his head, and sees Painter Scholar, bare-chested, leaping into the air and charging toward him.