The Villain's Counterattack

Chapter 492: The 9-word mantra

"Amitabha, it is my fault for disturbing your leisure time. I just heard your name and was eager to meet you. I hope you can forgive me." An old monk in a gray robe walked towards the dark forest. Although he seemed to be hunched over, his steps were quite agile and swift. He was in front of him in a blink of an eye.

Without raising his head, Yang Xuyan played a melodious and pleasant zither in his hand, like the sound of flowing water in the mountains or the surging waves in the sea. The old monk had just approached within a few feet when his body swayed slightly, his expression remained unchanged, but his steps became disordered. He raised his hands above his head, clasped them tightly like flower buds, with his ring finger slanted and his fingers touching each other, and uttered the word "Lin".

"What a great mantra of nine words. I wonder where you come from? What's your relationship with Master Ge from the Jin Dynasty?" Yang Xuyan paused for a moment and then stopped after hesitating for a moment. He bypassed the two female cultivators, Bu Tan Bu Chen and Ci Hang Jing Zhai, and successfully met Bi Xiuxin and Shi Qingxuan, but the tyrant Yue Shan was out and had not returned yet.

As his health gradually recovered, Na Yueshan's absences grew longer and longer. Yang Xuyan knew from his own sources that he had been tracking the whereabouts of Xi Ying, the Celestial Monarch. However, Xi Ying had been defeated by the Heavenly Blade and fled to the Western Regions. It would likely take ten years for him to return, or for him to fully develop the Purple Qi Heavenly Net. After all, without significant advancement in martial arts, he didn't have the courage to continue stirring up trouble in the Central Plains, fearing he would be killed by Song Que if he wasn't careful.

In the original novel, Xi Ying was easily defeated by Xu Ziling, who had mastered the Nine-Character Mantra. At that time, Xu Ziling was only a novice Grandmaster. Although he had laid a solid foundation and possessed the magical skills of the "Eternal Life Secret," his combat power was extraordinary, but it was still conceivable that Xi Ying's Purple Qi Heavenly Net was still not the best. Perhaps it wasn't his martial arts that were lacking, but rather his own shortcomings. However, for the septuagenarian Yue Shan, this master, ranked fourth among the Eight Great Masters of the Demon Sect, was still a difficult task to overcome.

If the two of them faced off now, Yue Shan would most likely have the upper hand, just like thirty years ago. However, if it were ten years later, the situation might be different. By then, Xi Ying would have mastered the Zi Qi Tian Luo technique, and Yue Shan would be even older. The situation would probably be reversed.

Yang Xuyan, unconcerned about Yue Shan, told Bi Xiuxin about the monk outside Youlin Xiaozhu and reiterated that he had no intention of becoming famous at this time, arguing that hidden sects had their own rules and practices. He also casually mentioned that Lu Miaozi's injuries had healed and were no longer in danger. Bi Xiuxin, aware of her actions' dishonesty, admitted it was an unintentional mistake, vowed to resolve the matter, and promised generous compensation.

It was difficult to get her to hand over her husband's painstakingly crafted "Immortal Seal Scroll," not to mention the Cihang Jingzhai's fundamental martial arts, the "Cihang Sword Canon." As for the other compensation, Yang Xuyan really didn't think much of it. After all, Youlin Cottage was Shi Zhixuan and Bi Xiuxin's beloved nest. Others dared not approach without reason. Even Jingnian Zen Temple and Cihang Jingzhai had their share of taboos. Yang Xuyan spent three leisurely days in the company of the two beauties, Bi Xiuxin and Shi Qingxuan. Then, he borrowed a zither and, in the darkness of the night, reached a hilltop outside the cottage.

After several lifetimes, Yang Xuyan's accomplishments in all aspects have already become extraordinary. In the last few years of his last world, he discussed the mysteries of Taoism with several great masters and mastered many skills, including the sonic wave skill.

However, the world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is different from the world of Twin Dragons. The spiritual realm is more important, and it can draw on the power of heaven and earth, which is far beyond the comparison of the world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. In the world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Yang Xuyan could only draw on the formation, but in this world, he can mobilize the power of heaven and earth with his personal strength, which allows him to see more possibilities.

I don’t know if it’s because my personal strength has become stronger, but the many mysterious formations of Taoism have declined. However, after he verified it many times, the power of the formation has not weakened but increased. Naturally, he will not give up easily, but pay more attention to it.

With a simple amplification formation, the integration of sonic power from various schools, and the help of a famous zither, Yang Xuyan easily lured out Monk Zhenyan. When the two met for the first time, they both found that the other was not simple, and the aura on their bodies was also unpredictable like the deep sea.

"Amitabha, I have been a Taoist for many years and have entered Buddhism. My past is sealed and I will not talk about it." Monk Zhenyan stared at Yang Xuyan with eyes as hot as fire and said, "Although you call yourself a Taoist child, your cultivation is hidden and unexpressed. Your spirit is clear and profound, without any impurities. I am truly amazed."

Yang Xuyan looked at the old monk in front of him, thinking silently in his heart, and then frowned and said, "Dao is the source of all things and can control all forms. Daoyou has used his supreme Dao cultivation to pursue the origin of the Buddhist hand seals. I admire you! I originally thought you were just an ordinary seeker of the Dao, but I never thought you were also a hundred years old, almost the same age as me. No wonder you have such spirit and energy."

Upon hearing this, the monk Zhenyan's eyes suddenly flashed with a fierce gleam, and then his brows knitted slightly: "Donor, you are so arrogant and your realm is unfathomable, but this body..."

Yang Xuyan laughed heartily and said, "Buddhism emphasizes spiritual transcendence and regards the body as a useless shell. Even the Buddha once cut off his flesh to feed an eagle, but you, fellow Taoist..."

Monk Zhenyan shook his head slightly and said, "The human body is a precious raft for navigating the world. It contains the secrets of heaven and earth, so how can it be discarded lightly? The donor is also a great hermit. Why do you, like those ordinary believers, believe in nonsense and fail to see the true Dharma of Buddhism?"

"Over the past century, I have traveled to over 5,000 renowned temples and monasteries both in China and abroad, ultimately condensing all these seals into the Nine-Character Mantra Mudra. My Nine-Character Mantra Mudra connects me with the universe through the Three Mysteries, the human body, achieving the state of unity between heaven and man, enlightening my mind and seeing my true nature, and attaining Buddhahood in this very body. At this moment, I have transcended the constraints of Buddhism and reached the source. There is no such thing as Buddhahood or the mundane world; I am simply human and cannot become anything else."

Monk Zhenyan suddenly felt a surge of childishness. "The Three Secrets of Buddhism are body, speech, and mind. Practice and thought are equally important. Body equals speech, speech equals mind, and mind equals body. Although three in name, they are one in reality. Since the donor repeatedly claims to be a Taoist child, why not use this nine-character mantra to position the soldiers and fight in front?"

Yang Xuyan was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then he laughed loudly towards the sky. The laughter could be heard for miles. An inexplicable sense of ease spread from the inside out. A shackle in his heart disappeared silently. Although his skills did not improve and his realm did not break through, the shackles were indeed removed and he could communicate with heaven and earth.

This world is very different from the previous ones. Yang Xuyan was unable to truly adapt for a while. Even the martial arts he learned gradually moved closer to the previous computer room world. His moves and strength improved greatly, but there was always a gap and he could not be truly satisfied.

After hearing what Monk Zhenyan said today, all the barriers were swept away and he truly integrated into this world. He absorbed all of Yang Xuyan's Bu Tian Dao martial arts and incorporated his martial arts into the rules of this world.

When the monk Zhenyan saw his transformation, countless thoughts turned in his mind, and finally turned into a cry of "Amitabha".

"I am over a hundred years old and have long since abandoned Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. This Nine-Character Mantra Hand Seal is the fruit of my life's labor, and only those with a predestined affinity can inherit it." Monk Zhenyan intended to pass this secret technique on to Yang Xuyan, who accepted it without hesitation, but said, "How could you have known that I would be able to learn this secret technique? You must know that a technique is passed down through predestined affinity. Those without predestined affinity, regardless of their strength or level of cultivation, simply cannot learn it."

Monk Zhenyan shook his head slightly and said, "You have been able to comprehend the true meaning of the Five Hundred Arhats in Dashi Temple. Even without my instruction, you might still be able to comprehend it on your own in the future. The great Indian monk Kumarajiva was a master of both Buddhist teachings and martial arts, yet he never taught martial arts to his disciples, only the Buddhist teachings. The statues he designed embody the true meaning of Buddhist hand seals, and I have benefited greatly from them. However..."

However, apart from himself and the free and easy Taoist boy in front of him, he had never seen a third person. As he was old, he was afraid that he would become the second Kumarajiva and would not be able to see the true successor, so he hurried to the Youlin Cottage to find out the truth.

And Yang Xuyan did not disappoint him. Although it was just a Lin character seal, he saw Yang Xuyan's real reaction. What's more, he vaguely found that he had only performed it once, and he had learned 70% or 80% of it. If he explained it again, he might only be his master for one day.

Such a gifted disciple is a blessing and also a misfortune for all teachers in the world.

The hand seals of the nine-character mantra are the immovable fundamental seal of "Lin", the great Vajra wheel seal of "Bing", the outer lion seal of "Dou", the inner lion seal of "Zhe", the outer binding seal of "Jie", the inner binding seal of "Zhen", the wisdom fist seal of "Lie", the sun wheel seal of "Qian", and the treasure bottle seal of "Xing".

Yang Xuyan learned them one by one and couldn't help but sigh, "This method is as mysterious as the 'Eternal Immortality Secret'." Then, his mind suddenly moved, and he blurted out a sentence: "Could it be that the Taoist Six Jia Secret Blessings have been lost?"

Monk Zhenyan was shocked when he heard this. He stared at Yang Xuyan, speechless and unable to utter a word.