Chapter 1722 (Raw 1733):
Although the Army Breaking Saber Technique reached its peak, Xiao Chen still could not figure out how to achieve the heaviness and solidity that Ye Zifeng mentioned.
Xiao Chen clearly used his full power in every move, sinking in his momentum and aura. The moves were ferocious and tyrannical.
However, why did Ye Zifeng say that it was just flashy, just having the appearance?
Xiao Chen thought very hard but still could not understand. Perhaps, it was like his senior brother said; he had to seek out an expert of the saber of his generation to have an exchange.
However, in this vast Grave Sea, Shangguan Lei was already the strongest bladesman of Xiao Chen's generation. Even so, he was not a match for Xiao Chen in terms of saber skills.
If not for the difference in cultivation, Xiao Chen would not care about Shangguan Lei at all. Purely in Saber Techniques, he far surpassed Shangguan Lei.
Perhaps the expert of the same generation that Senior Brother mentioned refers to a person who comprehended the Saber Dao's Great Dao Energy, like me.
If that was the case, Xiao Chen had to put down his cultivation of the Saber Dao for now.
So, Xiao Chen shifted to something that he had not done in the past, refining the Heavenly Flame and the Heavenly Snow Divine Flame.
These two flames were both of the Primal Chaos Grade. This was especially so for the Heavenly Snow Divine Flame, which already reached Rank 3. There was no need to refine it for now.
The one that needed refinement was the Heavenly Flame. This extremely tyrannical yang-attributed flame was only the Origin Flame at the moment, not even reaching Rank 1 yet.
The fastest way to raise the rank of a flame was to make it swallow another flame.
Xiao Chen had already made preparations for this. He had the Solar True Flame that he previously used, the Purple Thunder True Fire that was born from the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation, and the Dazzling Sunlight True Flame that he bought at an auction in Purple Sun City.
[TL Note: Previously, the Purple Thunder True Fire was already consumed by the Solar True Flame. The only explanation that I can think of for this is that the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation created more Purple Thunder True Fire after that, especially after breaking into the next layer.]
These three flames were all already Rank 8 or higher.
However, the grades of these flames were far inferior to the Heavenly Flame's. Primal Chaos Grade flames were the most ancient flames in the world.
Xiao Chen had heard that there was even a Primal Chaos Flame Ranking. If one obtained any one of the flames in the ranking and nourished it to its peak, one would be able to turn it into a powerful weapon and sweep through any place.
Xiao Chen did not know if either of the two Primal Chaos Grade flames he had were on the ranking or not, or if it was, what rank it was.
He did not think about this for now. Instead, he took out the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron.
Seeing the familiar appearance of the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron, Xiao Chen's thoughts wandered. This cauldron already followed him for many years.
[TL Note: The Dragon Phoenix Cauldron had broken in Chapter 1412 when Xiao Chen used it to refine Pride with the Destruction Throne, resulting in Pride chopping up the cauldron. However, it is possible that Xiao Chen had the cauldron fixed in between then and now.]
After some hesitation, a flame appeared in Xiao Chen's palm. This was the famous Heavenly Flame of the Kunlun Realm.
Xiao Chen blew gently, and the golden Heavenly Flame slowly entered the cauldron.
"Boom!"
The flame immediately started blazing in the cauldron. Strong heatwaves came out of the cauldron, washing over Xiao Chen's face.
The temperature was intense. He had to use his Veritable Essence Energy to block it. Otherwise, it would eventually injure him.
"Crack! Crack!"
Just as Xiao Chen was about to add in the Purple Thunder True Fire, cracks appeared in the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron, then continuously grew larger.
"Bang!" The Dragon Phoenix Cauldron exploded.
The golden flame quickly contracted into a small clump of blazing flame quietly floating in the air.
"Damn it! My Dragon Phoenix Cauldron was ruined for nothing."
A pained expression appeared on Xiao Chen's face. The Dragon Phoenix Cauldron had followed him for so long, carrying many memories of the Kunlun Realm. Yet, it broke at the drop of a hat. This was truly unexpected, catching him off guard.
"It's all my fault for not putting enough thought into this. This Dragon Phoenix Cauldron was an imitation in the first place. How could it endure the might of the Heavenly Flame?"
Xiao Chen withdrew the Heavenly Flame and looked at the shards of the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron. Then, he sighed softly.
Right now, he needed a good cauldron.
"Martial Uncle, there's someone looking for you!"
Just at this moment, Ling Yu's voice rang out from the outside.
If there was nothing, Ling Yu would not come to disturb me, Xiao Chen thought before going out in a flash.
"Why are you looking for me?"
Ling Yu smiled and said, "That monk, Zhen Yuan, came to apologize. Even his master came along. The Sect Master said that he would leave the decision to you. If you insist on it, that Zhen Yuan will definitely end up in a sorry state, possibly meditating in isolation for ten years."
"Where are they now?"
"Just right outside our courtyard. I left them hanging. Why should I pay attention to them?" Ling Yu said.
Zhen Yuan's master, isn't that the Venerable Xuan Bei?
No matter what, Xuan Bei saved my life before. This is this, and that is that. I cannot be slow in entertaining him.
"Make some preparations to entertain an honored guest. The Venerable Xuan Bei saved my life before."
Xiao Chen feared letting the Venerable Xuan Bei wait for too long. In a few flashes, he quickly arrived outside the courtyard's gates.
"Benefactor Xiao, how have you been?"
Seeing Xiao Chen arrive, the Venerable Xuan Bei held up his palm vertically at chest level and bowed.
Zhen Yuan, who was beside Xuan Bei, bowed in tandem with a sincere expression.
Xiao Chen bowed slightly and said, "Venerable is too polite. If you are here for your disciple, there's no need to worry. I have no intention of pursuing it."
The Venerable Xuan Bei smiled kindly. Not finding this surprising, he thanked Xiao Chen.
However, Zhen Yuan was astounded. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen would so easily give up on such a great opportunity to punish him.
Xiao Chen waved his hand in invitation, saying, "Venerable, please, come in."
Inside the hall, Ling Yu already prepared tea. Then, everyone sat according to proper etiquette.
"Benefactor Xiao, I was impulsive in the Fiendish Demon Battlefield. Although you have already forgiven me on account of my master's face, please do accept this apology gift."
Zhen Yuan stepped forward and proffered a brocade box to Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen just casually accepted it and did not open it.
No matter how Zhen Yuan had made things difficult for Xiao Chen, the Venerable Xuan Bei had saved Xiao Chen before, and that was enough to make up for Zhen Yuan's harassment.
Xiao Chen's acceptance of the gift meant that he had written off this matter and would not mention it in the future.
The Venerable Xuan Bei looked at Xiao Chen and asked, "Benefactor Xiao, what are your plans after this? Your complexion looks good, and your aura is stable. There is no sign of instability in your cultivation despite just going through an advancement. You probably will be going away for experiential training soon, right?"
Xiao Chen had a firm and stable cultivation with every aspect at the peak. Naturally, one could not remain in closed-door cultivation in such a state.
Ordinary sect disciples would normally take on sect missions and go out for experiential training. Xiao Chen was not a person of the Purple Flame Sect and could not do that, so he could only think of other methods.
Xiao Chen nodded and said, "I'm still thinking about it. For now, there is nothing fixed. I still have some things that I need to do."
The Venerable Xuan Bei smiled faintly. After some silence, he sent Zhen Yuan away, appearing to have something to discuss with Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen immediately noticed that, so he likewise sent Ling Yu away for now and prompted, "Venerable, you have something to say?"
The Venerable Xuan Bei took a sip of tea, then placed the teacup down. He said softly, "I naturally was not worried about Zhen Yuan's matter when coming here. No matter what he had done or how overboard he went, I believed you would give me some face and not harp on it. However, I would like to speak about the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique."
Xiao Chen's expression changed, his face sinking. However, he still did not completely understand.
Was the Venerable Xuan Bei representing the Buddhist sect to take back this Saber Technique?
Xiao Chen would not allow that. Even if the Venerable Xuan Bei had saved his life, Xiao Chen could not hand this saber manual to the other party and let him cripple his Breaking the Mundane and Resolving the Mundane.
The Venerable Xuan Bei said, "You will need to hand over the saber manual and also abolish the moves that you already learned. This old monk will give you appropriate compensation."
I really guessed it…
Xiao Chen did not know how to answer for a while. The Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique was indeed a Buddhist sect Martial Technique. There was no denying that.
Furthermore, it was not an ordinary Buddhist sect Martial Technique but a consummate technique of the Buddhist sect that was derived from a Primogenitor Grade Cultivation Technique.
The large sects had always considered their Cultivation Techniques their exclusive property, the foundation of their sect.
These sects would not casually teach such things to outsiders. When these consummate skills leaked out, they would send their experts to investigate and take it back.
The other party was a high-ranking monk of the orthodox Buddhist sect. The Profound Light Temple definitely had some connection with the Hidden Spirit Temple. As they belonged to the same faction, it was equivalent to having a superior and subordinate kind of relationship.
The Venerable Xuan Bei making such a request was morally justified and appropriate, not overboard at all.
The crux was that Xiao Chen did not want to offend the Profound Light Temple now. After all, he had just dealt with the Black Lotus Church problem temporarily.
He considered for a while, then asked, "Venerable, can I not hand it over?"
The Venerable Xuan Bei smiled and said, "Naturally, you can."
"How?"
"Convert to Buddhism. I can personally preside over the tonsure for you and give you a recommendation to join the Central Great Realm's Hidden Spirit Temple."
Xiao Chen felt speechless. This Venerable Xuan Bei still had not given up on making a Buddhist of him.
"Is there no other way?"
"The Venerable Xuan Bei shook his head and said, "At the very least, you have to surrender the saber manual. You should know that I am not trying to make things difficult for you. In the future, if you go to the Central Great Realm and reveal this Saber Technique, the people of the four Buddhist temples will come and seek trouble for you. You have no one to stand up for you, which will make things even more difficult.
"At that time, people of the Monastic Discipline Institution will make a move. They will treat you as a traitor. Furthermore, the four great temples can influence the four dynasties."
The Venerable Xuan Bei was highly accomplished in the Buddhist principles. He had also completely seen through the ways of the world and human nature. He very obviously hinted that this method of resolution was already him helping Xiao Chen.
"If you hand the saber manual to me and then swear never to teach another person the Saber Technique, the situation will be very different. You will not only gain ties with the Hidden Spirit Temple's line but also receive care from the Buddhist sect. I will also give you appropriate compensation."
The Venerable Xuan Bei used both emotional and logical reasons to advise Xiao Chen not to be stubborn.
Xiao Chen analyzed mentally. That saber manual had only three moves of the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique, which he had already comprehended.
Even without the saber manual, he could complete the final move, Entering Hell.
However, there was still the value of the saber manual itself. Back then, the Savage Blood Star Venerate had coveted it so much that he had destroyed a sect.
Just this alone proved the value of this Saber Technique.
Never mind, handing it over is fine. The Buddhist sects are a large faction. I really don't want to stir up trouble with them.
After Xiao Chen made up his mind, he took out the painting that was the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique's saber manual and handed it to the Venerable Xuan Bei.
"Breaking the Mundane, Resolving the Mundane, and Entering Hell, a total of three moves. I can swear that the saber manual in my hand had only these three moves."
The Venerable Xuan Bei did not pursue the matter. He only looked at Xiao Chen and asked, "Benefactor Xiao, how many moves have you learned?"
"I already understand the true meaning of Breaking the Mundane and Resolving the Mundane."
The moment Xiao Chen said that, the Venerable Xuan Bei felt that it was a pity, making an extremely disappointed expression. "This Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique is a forbidden art of my Buddhist sect. Ordinary people are not able to practice it successfully. Benefactor, you are an outsider, and yet you managed to practice two of its moves. This is…"
After all the trivial stuff was settled, Xiao Chen swore on a Heart Demon that he would not teach anyone this Saber Technique.
Then, the Venerable Xuan Bei handed Xiao Chen a golden page with words that he personally wrote: "In the future, the people of the Buddhist sects cannot make things difficult for Xiao Chen over the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique."
Xiao Chen could take this out as proof, and the people of the Buddhist sect would not make trouble for him. They would even treat him with respect.
"This is the Golden Letter Honorary Gift, one of the highest Honorary Gifts of the Buddhist sects. I hope Benefactor Xiao will treasure it."
The Venerable Xuan Bei handed this page to Xiao Chen with a serious expression. Then, he took out a storage ring containing the compensation for Xiao Chen. "Here are some secular gifts. I hope you will accept them, as well. We will meet again in the future."
After the Venerable Xuan Bei and Zhen Yuan were long gone, Ling Yu rushed in and asked, "Martial Uncle, what did that old monk want from you?"
Xiao Chen looked at the golden page in his hand and the storage ring. Then, he replied softly, "Nothing much. However, today, I realized that people who hide a dagger behind a smile are actually the scariest. There is no way for you to reject them at all."
