I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 978: Chapter 272: The Ghost Buddha Path (Thanks to YellowTail for the grandmaster reward~)

Unless one is a fool, it’s clear after hearing Gu Han’s words that the Ancient Blood Tower possesses countless sect secrets and martial arts techniques. Moreover, those sect members who grew with the assistance of exchanges through the Blood Tower have become its greatest supporters, as there has never been a shortage of traitors in this world.

Since Xu Sheng engraved the “Spiritual Power Analysis” on the stele of Tian Nan, any martial arts techniques below the Earth Level no longer held any secrets, even the mystical arts and divine abilities could be deduced using the method of spiritual power analysis if one understood the way of cultivation. The encryption used by sects could only prevent outsiders, not the insiders.

The cleverest thing about the Ancient Blood Tower was that it operated under the guise of exchange. In other words, with every transaction, the Ancient Blood Tower could obtain two sets of secret techniques, while the two traitorous disciples would each gain one.

Did these people not know they were trading the lifeblood of their sects for personal gain? Of course, they knew, but that’s just human nature.

When it doesn’t concern their own interests, people’s words can be righteous and high-sounding, and their reasoning can be compelling and resounding.

However, as soon as there is even a slight conflict of interest with themselves, they would change their tune, and the more righteous their previous words were, the more sordid and despicable their subsequent methods would be.

Such matters, however, are always conducted in the shadows and it’s not hard to imagine the disaster that would befall many sect members in high positions if the regular clientele list of the Ancient Blood Tower were exposed.

No wonder even the powerful enforcers of the Dutian Heavenly King struggled to uncover the hidden dealings of the Ancient Blood Tower. It’s possible that many of the inspectors within the Dutian Heavenly King’s ranks are frequent customers of the tower!

“The founder of the Ancient Blood Tower truly is a talent,” Tang Luo exclaimed. “Under the pretext of sharing, they leech off the very marrow of sects, no wonder they have been targeted by the Dutian Heavenly King enforcement.”

“Tang Tianjiao is indeed astute and perceptive, seeing through it in an instant!” Gu Han nodded in approval. “I wonder if I have the honor to invite the young prodigy to a small discussion to explore the martial path?”

“I see no need for that!”

Tang Luo shook his head, looked Gu Han up and down a few times, then gave a sigh, “The method of cultivating both Buddhist and demonic practices, using Buddhist techniques to forge an indestructible Vajra body, and then using corpse Sha refining the body and integrating it with the power of vows in hopes of breaking the shackles of corpse refining. If master succeeds in merging the two, becoming either a Ghost Buddha or Corpse Buddha, perhaps indeed it could be written into the annals of Zen history, but it all depends on the master’s own fortune.”

“I am but a martial artist with modest cultivation, following an unremarkable path of body tempering. I truly cannot keep up with master’s innovative ideas. Even if I reluctantly engaged in a discussion, it would be like a chicken talking to a duck, meaningless.”

Upon hearing Tang Luo’s words, Gu Han first felt a sense of sadness, then a spark of inspiration lit up; because of practicing the Corpse Sha method, he was expelled from Buddha’s Country and became a reject of Zen. People saw only his corpse body and failed to see his Buddhist bones.

Beneath that darkly refined corpse, what flowed was the legitimate power of Zen vows—the Arahant scriptures!

Zen had cultivated Buddha for thousands of years, honing the power of vows to perfection, yet no Buddha had appeared. Even the Four-sided Buddha Lord had only completed the Bodhisattva Visualization.

The Buddha Position is the obsession in the heart of every Zen disciple, and Gu Han, who had grown up in the temple, was no exception. He had suggested several times that the reason Zen had not realized the way of Buddha was that the nature of their vows was too exclusive. For this, he was scolded by his seniors as being frivolous.

But that was exactly what Gu Han believed. To a certain extent, the nature of Buddha power was quite similar to the stubborn Corpse Sha. What would happen if one cultivated both simultaneously?

This idea grew stronger and bigger in Gu Han’s mind until one day, unable to bear the torment any longer, he began to attempt the fusion of Corpse Demon techniques with the Arahant scriptures.

Dead on the outside, alive on the inside, demon skin and Buddha bones, Gu Han had truly embarked on a hitherto unprecedented path of a demon-Buddha.

Ever since he was excommunicated from the monastery, everyone said that the Corpse Monk had fallen into the demon path, but who knew that he still maintained all the habits he had cultivated during his time in the monastery, without fail, attending the five daily sessions of scripture study.

His cultivation of the golden body was far superior to that of his fellow Arhats, nearly reaching the permanent standard of an Arahant; the rumors claiming that his mind had been clouded by the corpse-shattering evil were utter nonsense. The Buddha’s bones within him flowed with the purest intentions of Zen power. With such Buddha force within him, how could he possibly be corroded by corpse evil!

Over the years, Tang Luo was the first to acknowledge the Buddha’s bones within him, and so, he regarded Tang Luo with an unusual closeness in his eyes.

In this life, it is hard to find a true confidant, especially at his level where it is almost impossible to find friends who speak the same language. Unexpectedly, outside Lotus Pass, he met someone who truly understood him.

Gu Han sighed and said, “Rumor has it that Tang Tianjiao is the youngest martial arts master of the Longxi Alliance. I have always thought that it’s just flattery by the ignorant masses. Meeting you today, I understand that there is indeed substance behind the reputation. With just one glance, you could discern the roots of this monk. Tang Tianjiao’s insights are even sharper than those of some sect martial arts masters!”

“The master is too generous with his praise.”

“Ever since I was targeted by the Dutian Heavenly King, I have rarely had such happy days. I wonder if you have any needs for secret arts or supernatural abilities—just ask. Anything the Blood Tower has, this old monk can find for Tang Tianjiao!”

Gu Han waved his hand grandly, but Tang Luo shook his head repeatedly, “The master is too kind. Cultivating physical techniques is about putting in the hard work. I haven’t even mastered my own lineage’s fist and palm techniques, and I dare not be greedy. I must take my leave!”

It wasn’t that Tang Luo was really that noble, but the identity of the Ancient Blood Tower was just too sensitive. What he wanted, the Great and Small Wishful Incantation, at least had a definite location. If, for the sake of convenience, he reached an agreement with Gu Han, the problems that would follow could never be fixed.

If the Tang Clan’s true secrets were exposed at this time, it would certainly spell disaster for the clan. This importance was still something he should recognize!

Gu Han did not expect Tang Luo to reject his offer so decisively and could only express his regret: “Since Tang Tianjiao is so firm, this monk naturally will not force you.”

As he spoke, he took out an ancient coin from his robes and tossed it to Tang Luo, “If in the future you have any need for martial arts or secret techniques, merely take this coin to Beimang Min City, and hand it to the Ji Clan; they will know how to find this monk!”

Tang Luo, who had intended to refuse, swallowed the words “No need” upon hearing the words “Ji Clan”, and tucked the ancient coin into his sleeve. Striving to remain composed, he said, “In that case, I thank the master, farewell!”

“You are too courteous, Tianjiao!”

…

Heeding the Corpse Monk’s instructions, Yan Ruoyu endured hunger in the broken temple until the evening. While waiting, he made use of the temple’s offering table and plaques to construct a simple coffin.

The Sixth-Rank White Stiff possessed nearly endless strength, comparable to a pack animal, and under the nourishment of the Yin power, he hardly felt fatigue from typical exertion.

Yan Ruoyu had the White Stiff carry the coffin while he himself sat inside, heading northward.