Sword Meeting Answers

The Pudu River.

A river not considered large by cultivators' standards, yet now it was impassable.

Yuan Gui True Buddha's expression was solemn and stern. Looking across, he could see Huang Miao sitting on the opposite bank, roasting food with a handsome young man.

This handsome young man was now quite famous within the Buddhist sects, so of course he recognized him—Chu Xingchen.

These two really had interesting hobbies, not anxious in the slightest.

A Luohan behind him presented a jade slip.

Yuan Gui True Buddha reached out and took it, his eyes scanning the contents. In mere moments, a smile appeared on his face.

The Venerable Buddha Ru Nan was currently leading a host of Buddhas from the Great Thunderclap Monastery, rushing here.

The Great Vehicle Dharma?

Indeed, not being of the Buddhist faith, one wouldn't understand what this meant.

The struggle over the teachings' foundation is a struggle to the death of the heart.

For Buddhist cultivators, it is no different from destroying their very roots.

Even destroying the Great Thunderclap Monastery might not have provoked such fury from the Buddhist sects.

Yuan Gui crushed the jade slip in his hand, his gaze lifting once more to look at Huang Miao and Chu Xingchen, who were leisurely roasting food. The frustration that had built up in his heart over the past days dissipated considerably.

Roast, then.

They should be allowed this final bit of good mood.

On the other side of the Pudu River.

Chu Xingchen gently turned the meat skewers in his hands. He hadn't done this himself since teaching Ning Qianqian.

Doing it now again, he felt somewhat unpracticed without realizing it.

A slight smile played on Huang Miao's face.

This kid was more interesting than he had imagined.

He couldn't even remember how long it had been since he last ate something like this, utterly useless for cultivation, purely for leisurely enjoyment.

The fragrant aroma of sizzling meat oil stirred up some memories within him.

Huang Miao looked at Chu Xingchen's calm and composed expression opposite him and asked:

"Is it ready?"

Chu Xingchen took out seasonings from his spatial ring and sprinkled them on, replying offhandedly:

"Although with Senior's cultivation, eating it raw would just be a change of taste, it's more delicious when fully cooked through."

"Your temperament is quite good. But if you don't finish roasting it soon, we might not get to eat it later." Huang Miao's gaze crossed the river. "You have skill, kid. The Great Vehicle controversy that once shook the Buddhist sects has emerged again."

"I don't know how you persuaded that so-called Bright Buddha, but don't underestimate the Buddhist sects' stance on this."

"The struggle of ideologies is the foundation of the Buddhist faith."

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded: "Naturally, I understand. Otherwise, why would I personally make a trip here? After all, things are still busy over there."

"Oh? I thought you came specifically to thank me," Huang Miao said with a laugh.

Picking up the roasted skewers, Chu Xingchen handed them to Huang Miao, saying:

"Senior should savor this properly. Ordinary people don't get to taste my cooking."

Huang Miao reached out and took them:

"Ordinary people also don't get the chance to offer me food."

"In that case, it's my honor."

"Perhaps it's my honor," Huang Miao replied with a smile, then took a bite of the skewer.

No astonishing, unforgettable flavor.

Huang Miao had lived too long; there was little of quality he hadn't tasted.

The somewhat simple roasted skewer tasted fairly good, but what he savored more was perhaps the atmosphere.

Huang Miao, at this moment, carried no airs. After finishing the skewer, he lightly pursed his lips.

"Does Senior feel something is missing?" Chu Xingchen asked with a smile.

Huang Miao nodded gently: "It does feel like something is missing."

Chu Xingchen didn't keep him in suspense. He took out from his spatial ring one of his few remaining bottles of Chun Nuan—the small version.

Only enough for two or three big gulps.

He really didn't have much of this wine left. Senior was a senior, but one still had to be frugal.

Seeing the small bottle Chu Xingchen took out, Huang Miao instantly understood.

Chu Xingchen gently shook the small bottle: "Genuine Chun Nuan from the Tianyan Sect. A fine thing that even Sect Leader Lü might not necessarily get to drink."

"My own stock is pitifully small; I can't bear to drink it myself."

Huang Miao's reaction was more pronounced this time. He reached out, took it, undid the seal on the bottle cap, and an extremely clear, fragrant, and wonderfully subtle aroma wafted from the wine.

The smile on his face deepened. He raised the bottle and took a large sip:

"It's been a long time since I've had this either."

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to the opposite bank of the Pudu River.

There was no need to probe with spiritual sense.

Just seeing the rosy clouds stretching for miles and the golden light spilling everywhere made clear the grand scale of the approaching party.

Huang Miao's expression showed a hint of regret. He had thought he could savor it more slowly, but it seemed the timing wasn't right.

Yet, he didn't show too much reluctance. After two more swigs, Huang Miao finished the Chun Nuan.

"Young man, the sentiment is enough. Go and do what you need to do," Huang Miao said, standing up. "Perhaps you don't know my former title."

Chu Xingchen became curious upon hearing this: "What title?"

A brilliant light swirled around Huang Miao's waist. He raised his hand slightly, and a spirit treasure longsword, radiating sharp, cold light, fell into his grasp.

A fierce, ruthless smile appeared on his face as his voice boomed across the river:

"Huang Butui!"

"Even faced with ten thousand enemies, even when outmatched, I have never retreated."

"The creed of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect is thus, and so am I!"

Chu Xingchen also stood up:

"Does Senior think I came here so you would fight to the death without retreating, while I run for my life alone? That would be underestimating me too much."

Huang Miao's smiling eyes narrowed slightly. Suddenly, he changed the subject with a somewhat unrelated reply:

"You're an interesting kid, and very much to my liking. It's been a long time since I've met someone as interesting as you. There are too few people like you in this world; otherwise, it would be much livelier."

Chu Xingchen's gaze fixed on the increasingly approaching brilliant light:

"That's good. But too much liveliness isn't necessarily a good thing. Peace has its own happiness too."

Huang Miao nodded in deep agreement upon hearing this, then soared into the air, positioning himself at the center of the Pudu River, unleashing his peak Soul Transformation stage aura to its limit.

Even though the aura wasn't directed at him, Chu Xingchen still felt his breathing grow somewhat heavier.

"Huang Miao! Clear the way!"

Ru Nan's majestic voice arrived even before his resplendent canopy was visible.

Huang Miao's expression remained calm:

"Is that how you address me? You didn't seem so disrespectful when you called me 'Senior' in the past."

"Now that you've become a Venerable Buddha, you've forgotten propriety? Should this senior teach you today..."

"What it means to be a senior?!"

The spirit sword in Huang Miao's hand shot out.

The spirit sword transformed into a massive stream of light, cleaving the river and splitting mountains, its pressure coiling like wind blades.

The stream of light charged straight towards the resplendent canopy, mercilessly crushing a corner of Yuan Gui True Buddha's vast procession along the way. The Buddhist cultivators unfortunate enough to be in its path were silently annihilated, without even causing the slightest pause in the sword light's speed.

It just crushes straight through.

A giant golden Buddha's hand stretched out, meeting that terrifying spirit sword.

Boom!

Golden light erupted brilliantly.

The clash of ultimate Dao principles unleashed terrifying shockwaves.

Yuan Gui True Buddha also had to act to block the aftershocks, protecting the Buddhist cultivators under his command at this moment.

"Huang Miao, I respected you in the past because you upheld righteous principles. Now you slaughter the innocent and further obstruct the spread of the True Buddha's teachings here in the Western Continent."

Ru Nan's voice was firm and resonant. The giant golden Buddha's hand slowly shrank until it reached normal size. From behind the golden light, Ru Nan's face and figure were revealed.

His gaze fixed on Huang Miao:

"If the heart is not righteous, even with ten thousand abilities, one only invites scorn. The title of 'Senior'—can you still bear it?"

Ru Nan raised his hand, transforming his palm into a fist, and directly blasted the spirit treasure longsword away.

The smile on Huang Miao's face did not diminish. He raised his hand and recalled the spirit sword to his grasp:

"The sword in my hand will answer that question for you."