How high can human desire swell?High enough to covet the position of Comprehender so fiercely that one would willingly borrow the power of demons.The Inner Demon, formed of gathered sand and soil, merely lowered its giant hand and swept it lightly. Entire rows of houses in the capital were lifted, countless commoners screaming and fleeing.Bensheng's gaze sharpened. The earth responded, firmly anchoring all things on the ground, struggling against the Inner Demon.But even so, it was hard to stop it. It was too massive, not only huge but continuously absorbing more sand and soil. The crow-filled black cloud above connected with Lüzang's spiritual power, and the demon was born from Lüzang. Resonating with each other, the crows all began flying towards the Inner Demon.Vast stretches of light returned to the world, but also cast a
giant shadow upon the earth.Empowered further, Bensheng couldn't hold on. That patch of ground with the houses was torn up by the roots and smashed down. Fortunately, the commoners had used this respite to scatter and escape, unharmed.But dodging once by luck didn't mean they could dodge a second time. Bensheng caught his breath and looked up.Compared to it, life was far too insignificant.This was a demon.A demon none could defeat except by a blood sacrifice.Bensheng slowly stood up. His gaze met Yeluo's, who was stumbling out of the ruins.In that single glance, Yeluo saw what he intended to do and cried out in grief."No..."Bensheng smiled faintly, reached up to wipe the blood from his lips, and brought his palms together...But just then, his fingertips felt a coolness. Drops of water were falling on them.He looked up, staring incredulously at the sky.A sweet rain fell against his face."It's raining!" Yeluo's sorrow turned to joy. She reached out excitedly. "Bensheng, it's raining! This is..."A light, melodious flute song drifted in, carrying the scent of spring rain and apricot blossoms."Fairy Sister! Thank you!"The giant demon roared wildly. But no matter how it struggled, it couldn't stop the sand and soil composing its body from getting soaked by the rain, turning into heavy, sloppy mud, and gradually sloughing off."Yeluo, subdue the demon now!" Bensheng shouted over his shoulder.Yeluo reached behind her back, grasping empty air. Not good, she thought. The Bodhi wooden sword had been lost somewhere during the shockwave from the demon's emergence.Her eyes sharp, she immediately recited an incantation, her right hand spreading its fingers wide. From within the distant ruins of houses, a long sword broke through the earth from afar, flying into her hand.The Three-Pronged Vajra Sword.She gripped the hilt tightly. Surging spiritual power flowed back
and forth between her and the sword, growing stronger and stronger.Seeing this, the Inner Demon roared and swung its palm. Bensheng gritted his teeth fiercely. Pressing both hands to the ground, Primordial Colored Light surged up from the earth, like iron chains, firmly entangling the demon's arm and fingers.But its massive lower body was beyond his remaining strength to control. Sand and soil churned into a sandstorm, rolling outward, devouring everything.It was about to engulf the innocent commoners. But at that moment, a stream of wind power soared into the sky, meeting the sandstorm head-on, creating a sizzling sound of tearing wind.The eleven leaves of a fan rested in pale, trembling fingers.Lüzang, clutching his bleeding right eye, forced himself upright and swung the fan.Bensheng's brow relaxed, a great smile spreading across his face. "You! Always picking the perfect moment to make an entrance!"The Three-Pronged Vajra Sword finally coalesced into a blade of majestic, righteous energy, raised high by Yeluo..."'Those who see my body contemplate Prajna; those who hear my name repent their faults; those who hear my Dharma discern good and evil; those who know my mind become Comprehenders!'"And then, she brought it down.A profound silence——The moment the sword's blade dispersed the Inner Demon; everyone lost their hearing.But the image remained clearly imprinted in their eyes.The Inner Demon turned to dust. The crows were transformed by the majestic righteousness into starlight, flying out in all directions to find their spiritual power's owners.The rain clouds dissipated. Clearing light slanted down. The long-absent sun cast its dazzling rays."Bensheng, we won!""We defeated the Inner Demon!""Ancestors! After one hundred and eighty years, we've defeated the Inner Demon again!"Tremendous cheers erupted throughout the capital. Different races, different bloodlines, all embraced each other, celebrating the hard-won victory.Bensheng released his hands from the ground. Breathing slightly heavily, he stood and walked to the center of the training ground. Only after finding the crow lying safely on the ground did he relax.
He crouched and gently picked it up.Ananda sniffled. "We won?""We won." Bensheng heard footsteps behind him. He didn't need to look back to know it was Lüzang approaching.Lüzang took Ananda, carefully cradling him in his palm."I will go to the Mountain God of Fanjing Mountain to apologize, beg her to rescind the punishment and change you back. I will bear all consequences."Ananda shook his head gently, smiling. "Brother, I don't blame you."Bensheng looked around, watching familiar faces approach him.The Pharmacist, Ruoqiao, Shuda, Shakra, Sanbao... and Old Huang, supporting the recently recovered Supervisor Youshui and Shemen, giving him a thumbs up.All their tribulations stemmed from this unequal and unfree world. Trapped in the whirlpool of desire, even pure and good people could transform into demons. The journey they had traveled was but a drop in the ocean. He was far from having changed this world.The path is obstructed and long.He still had much to do."What do you plan to do with me now?" Lüzang looked at him with a bitter smile. "Because of my personal bias, I hurt everyone. I will bear this bitter fruit, along with the negative karma towards Ananda."Since there was much to do, he naturally needed the help of companions. He curved the corners of his lips."You..."Agurgle—a stomach rumble—interrupted Bensheng. The group froze collectively, then turned their heads in unison towards Shuda.Shuda was taken aback, looking left and right. "It wasn't my stomach!""Who else could it be but you?" Shakra sighed, facepalming. "Such a good atmosphere, ruined!"Shuda, enraged, swung a fist, but was tightly held back by the Pharmacist. "Your power just recovered; you can't beat him now!""What are you talking about? I could take him with one finger...""It was me."Bensheng made a fist and coughed lightly, looking away embarrassed. "That... The Corridor of a Thousand Ancestors was a long walk, and we've been fighting all day. Actually, back in Zhaoyun Kingdom, I didn't get to eat properly. I'm starving!"
Yeluo couldn't hold back a "pfft" of laughter.Sanbao simply burst into hearty laughter. The laughter spread from one to ten, to a hundred; everyone present joined in.The laughter almost pierced the clouds. Bensheng wondered if the Venerable Ones on Kunlun could hear it... He looked up at the blue post-rain sky."Let's go!"Yeluo put her arms around Bensheng and Lüzang, squinting with laughter. "Remember that rice noodle shop in Yongle Kingdom where Shuda ate ten bowls in a row?"Shuda's eyes gleamed, instantly ditching Shakra. "Yes, yes! Take me with you!"Shakra snorted coldly. "Ten bowls in a row? A pig?"... Another great battle was imminent.Amidst the sounds of punches and kicks, everyone eagerly discussed how to get there.Yeluo said, "I'll do it. The Three-Pronged Vajra Sword can carry this many people. We'll travel by sword flight."Bensheng said, "I'll use Path Beneath Feet. One step covers ali. Better to come with me."Lüzang said, "My Sky-Stepping is the fastest! I was the one who brought you back from Yongle Kingdom last time!"Just as things were heading towards a "contest of each displaying their powers"..."Wait—!"An aged voice came from afar.From a distant street, the Old Dean, leaning on his cane, was hurrying towards them. He moved extremely slowly, his long beard nearly tripping him several times, making them watch with bated breath.Clouds scudded by. Shuda and Shakra had already finished another round of fighting by the time the Old Dean finally reached the group.His two leaf-like white eyebrows drooped slightly. Squinting his long eyes, he pressed his palms together and spoke slowly."Shanlai. You have not yet struck the Bell of the Moment, Comprehender."Comprehender?Bensheng looked around and suddenly realized everyone was looking at him."Wasn't it Lüzang?"
Lüzang smiled and shook his head."Child," the Old Dean stepped forward, his kind eyes filled with deep apology, "Can you forgive me? I committed the same error as my senior brother. I did not treat you equally with the other disciples; I removed your name from the Comprehender candidate list."Bensheng was astonished, but soon smiled. "Even if I weren't the Comprehender, all of us would do our part to subdue demons, aid the world, and save all living beings.""'Faith, Wisdom, Courage, and Compassion'—you have already achieved them. You should become the Comprehender and strike the Bell of the Moment."Faith, Wisdom, Courage, and Compassion.Believing in oneself, using wisdom to judge, courage to fight, yet still holding a heart of great compassion and mercy for all living beings.He had already done it. He was the continent's deserving Comprehender.The Bell of the Moment rested in the bell tower deeper within the Main Shrine.This was the center of the entire continent, the place where time stood still.The ancient bronze bell, having endured ten thousand years, showed some fading of its bronze color. It didn't look like a divine artifact bearing the title of "the greatest."Greatness and ordinariness were always intertwined.Bensheng lifted the bell striker."Go on, child," the Old Dean showed his familiar turtle-like smile. "We await you, to herald the new temporal age."The earth shook, hills flattened; withered trees met spring, flowers bloomed in two colors; golden lotuses surged from the earth, turbid waters cleared themselves.The worlds in the ten directions emitted boundless light.Man was repairing the feathery leaves of the Parichhattra Tree when he heard footsteps approaching on the clouds behind him.She was dressed in neat blue-green robes, her long black hair flowing down, her countenance bright and clear. Gazing at the deep red tassel flowers falling into the cloud layer, she said regretfully, "I actually missed the sight of your tree in full bloom, Heavenly God. What a pity."Man rested his chin on his hand, considering whether to point out she had only been gone a few days.
Even after Nirvana, she still seemed very much like that Zhongli Xi.But, since things were as they were, perhaps he shouldn't disturb her.Thinking this, he smiled slightly. "This Venerable One seems unfamiliar. Have you recently attained Nirvana and the Way, ascending to Kunlun?"She still wore a faint smile, but her lively, radiant eyes betrayed her true nature. Man was slightly startled, then immediately understood. "You rascal, Zhongli Xi! Fooling a Heavenly God...""Hahahaha... I just wanted to see you act less serious and rigid!"Their gazes once again traversed time and space, seeing the scene below."The Venerable One actually allowed you to keep your worldly memories? What if it hinders your cultivation?""Relax. The Venerable One has deeper intentions for this. He... permitted us to wait for those two who have returned from their lost path to cycle through rebirth, to embark on the path anew." She caught a falling tassel flower. "Compared to the growing youths, our journey is actually even longer. How shameful!""Not so," Man laughed. "The youths still need to run, to fight. Because a new journey lies ahead."Dang—The long, resonant sound of the bell filled heaven and earth.The Comprehender had finally been born.
(End)