The cultivation journey does not only depend on one's aptitude.

Sometimes, a bit of luck is also needed.

Or rather, destiny's favor.

Time and fate decree that born in an age of peace, naturally one cannot become a hero.

In his past life, Xie Xuanyi was innately flawed, so no matter how stubbornly he clung to the "second Sword Dao," he was doomed never to realize the Divine Embryo.

"I reckon it won't be long before we hear your former name renowned throughout the lands once again."

Miao Zhen spoke earnestly.

Though his gaze was clear and his face showed no trace of envy, there was nevertheless a tinge of regret hidden deep within his heart.

Xie Xuanyi saw through to the thoughts Miao Zhen kept at the bottom of his heart with just one glance.

Miao Zhen was a Martial Fool.

Before the battle at the Golden Body Tower, Xie Xuanyi had sensed the strong "War Intent" on Miao Zhen. On the night they exorcised demons at Moss Ridge, Miao Zhen already longed for a duel with him. But out of consideration for "Fan Yin Temple," that battle was postponed time and again. Now that the two of them had become sworn brothers in life and death, it would be very difficult to fight again no matter what.

Xie Xuanyi said softly, "Once you've healed, I will come to Fan Yin Temple to fight you."

Miao Zhen was taken aback.

He hadn't expected to hear such words from Xie Xuanyi.

Fan Yin Temple raised its banner and issued a challenge for seven days on Red Mountain.

Xie Xuanyi listened to music in the alleys of the Imperial City for seven days.

This guy, isn't he too lazy to compete with others?

"Sword Dao, Martial Dao, in the end, they are all the same."

Xie Xuanyi said slowly: "The hardest thing in this world to find is a true companion, the hardest to seek is an equal opponent. Someone who is a match in strength, difficult to distinguish as superior or inferior, is something that comes by chance but cannot be sought after. If there comes a day when we meet again, I hope the Golden Body that Brother Miao Zhen cultivates will not disappoint me."

Hearing these words, the extinguished light in Miao Zhen's eyes reignited.

"I shall remember these words," said Miao Zhen.

Miao Zhen bowed.

He spoke again, changing the form of address, no longer calling him benefactor: "Brother Xie, as we part, this separate advice you offer must be for a serious matter, right?"

"The Zen Master has passed away," Xie Xuanyi said bluntly, staring straight into Miao Zhen's eyes.

Upon hearing this, Miao Zhen's lips trembled slightly.

"..."

Miao Zhen let out a bitter smile and said, "Brother Xie, you know about this too?"

"Before long, the whole world will know," Xie Xuanyi said calmly. "Chen Chong successfully made a breakthrough, ascending to a Yang God. Not only did the Zen Master's residual will fail to kill him, but it even helped him make the breakthrough. I wanted to finish him with one last sword strike, but I was stopped."

He briefly recounted what happened in Taoyuan.

Although Miao Zhen received the memory infusion of the Karma Principle, Mi Yun did not witness the scenes within the Buddha Country.

"Amitabha..."

Miao Zhen sighed, saying with a headache, "I really don't understand why, if the Zen Master had precautions in place, he chose to deal with it in this way."

He always believed in one principle.

The Buddhist teachings are great, and people are willing to listen mainly because the Buddhist fist is strong enough.

If they could only talk about vague principles, what use would that be in the chaos of Li Kingdom? When scholars meet soldiers, reason doesn't matter.

"In the River of Destiny, I saw the Zen Master," Xie Xuanyi continued speaking, not really caring about how the Zen Master chose to handle things.

As long as he could safely return to Chu Country, whether Chen Chong lived or died was inconsequential to him.

Xie Xuanyi raised his palm.

Using his Primordial Energy, he conjured the image of the River of Destiny as he had seen it.

A golden cicada, crafted from Primordial Energy, fluttered its wings, slowly ascending towards the Heavenly Peak, only to be engulfed by the sands in a blink of an eye.

"What is this?"

Miao Zhen didn't understand.

"This is the 'thing' that the Zen Master gave me in the River of Destiny,"

Xie Xuanyi said, "A cicada."

"A cicada?"

I thought that by finding Miao Zhen, I could at least get some clues.

But Xie Xuanyi didn't expect that Miao Zhen seemed to have even less of an idea than himself, his brows furrowing as he stared at the cicada, his face full of confusion.

After thinking for a long time, Miao Zhen asked, "Is there anything special about this cicada?"

"It is golden all over, nothing else special."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head and said, "I checked multiple times, it is just an ordinary cicada, and then I let it fly away."

As a cultivator with such exceptional talent, having Sword Heart Clarity, and extremely precise Heart Lake Sensing,

If this cicada contained a great opportunity, a great creation,

letting it fly away, one would surely feel a sense of loss.

But Xie Xuanyi did not feel such emotions... This was what he couldn't understand.

This cicada was not an opportunity, not a creation.

Yet it inexplicably consumed one of the Zen Master's chances to take action in the River of Destiny.

"In fact, in the past 60 years, except for the Ninth Prince, no one has seen the Zen Master's figure."

Miao Zhen sighed and said, "The place where the Zen Master entered seclusion is named 'Red Pearl Cicada Country,' a nearly perfect Cave Heaven Buddha Country. This mission I'm on, the 'Great Mighty Buddha Country' that I carry, is part of what is split off from Red Pearl Cicada Country. Normally, in Fan Yin Temple, only cultivators who have achieved the fruit position of 'Arhat Venerable' have the opportunity to step into Red Pearl Cicada Country."

The fruit position of Arhat Venerable in the Buddhist tradition is equivalent to the realm of Yin God outside.

Xie Xuanyi roughly understood, this Red Pearl Cicada Country is equivalent to the "Xuanshui Cave Heaven" of Da Sui Sword Palace.

The most precious treasures of Fan Yin Temple are all hidden here.

"The Zen Master has cultivated for hundreds of years, understanding the complete 'Path of Life.'"

Miao Zhen said anxiously, "He has lived too long, for too long, apart from Reincarnators like myself, nowadays within the Buddhist faction, there are very few who have had real conversations with him..."

"Perhaps, this is a hint?"

Miao Zhen rubbed his forehead, not quite certain as he spoke, with a hint of speculation.

"A hint?" Xie Xuanyi fell into contemplation.

"To meet in the River of Destiny shows that you indeed have a destiny with the Buddhist path,"

Miao Zhen said with conviction: "But the secrets of heaven must not be revealed, hence the Zen Master could not speak directly within the river, elucidating 'destiny,' therefore he could only choose such a method to give a reminder."

Having said this.

Miao Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Wait..."

Miao Zhen looked at Xie Xuanyi and murmured: "I suddenly recall, many years ago, the Zen Master once told me a story."

Xie Xuanyi held his breath, "What story?"

Instead of answering, Miao Zhen posed a question to Xie Xuanyi: "Do you... believe in reincarnation?"

Reincarnation?

Xie Xuanyi's brow furrowed, thought for a long time, and then slowly shook his head.

He did not believe that there was reincarnation in this world.

Just as he did not believe that there were two exactly identical flowers, two exactly identical rivers in this world.

"The Zen Master told me that in his dreams, he had seen his past life,"

Miao Zhen's voice hoarse, slowly said: "He said that in his past life, he was a golden cicada. Born during the awakening of insects, dead at winter solstice; his life was extremely short, but he had seen spring rains, summer solstice, autumn harvest, winter snow..."

Xie Xuanyi was puzzled.

"This story seemed absurd to me at the time,"

Miao Zhen said in a heavy tone: "Even though I believe in fate and connections, I do not believe in an afterlife. If there really is an afterlife... shouldn't there also be a next life?"

Having said that, Miao Zhen suddenly stopped.

Absurd.

Indeed very absurd.

Because the "self" who was saying this had already lived a second life.

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