Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 976: Chapter 975: Life Beneath the Buddhist Sacred Land

Finding an absolutely safe place where the villagers of Desolate Stone Village can live and escape the harm of their enemies is something Ye Tianchen feels he must do right now. This is very important to him, as he wants to protect the people in this village; otherwise, how could he live up to their trust or Grandpa Shi’s dying entrustment? It’s a responsibility that Ye Tianchen is willing to bear.

”It’s getting late. You should rest first. I’ll go find such a place. I believe I can find it,” Ye Tianchen looked at Dongfang Meng and said.

”Let’s go together. I can’t sleep anyway!” Dongfang Meng said with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

Ye Tianchen was stunned for a moment and nodded. The two figures disappeared into the back mountain of Desolate Stone Village, searching for a place where the ordinary people of Desolate Stone Village could live peacefully. This was very important to them. Whether facing the current bloody slaughter, continuous battles of life and death, or one day when the Blood Killing Organization and the Nine Netherworld, these two ruthless legacies appear, causing apocalyptic events, the villagers of Desolate Stone Village all need a place to hide. The sooner they find this place, the better.

For five whole days, Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng had quietly run through the entire Song Mountain Ancient Martial World but still hadn’t found a safe place. Both of them were a little disappointed. It seems that finding a safe place for the villagers of Desolate Stone Village to live in the Song Mountain Ancient Martial World is not easy.

”Tianchen, why don’t we check out Penglai Ancient Martial World and Heavenly Mountain Ancient Martial World? Maybe there’s a good hiding place there...” Dongfang Meng suggested.

”No, the Song Mountain Ancient Martial World is much more familiar to us and the villagers of Desolate Stone Village. The Penglai Ancient Martial World and Heavenly Mountain Ancient Martial World have always been very mysterious and unpredictable. In those two ancient martial worlds, there are some unknown cultivation sects and cultivation families, or perhaps some hidden experts we don’t know about. Seeking a place to settle in those two ancient martial worlds is too dangerous and filled with too many unknowns. We can’t take that risk,” Ye Tianchen shook his head and said.

Indeed, Ye Tianchen had long thought about it, from wanting to find a safe place for the villagers of Desolate Stone Village to stay, to now where he and Dongfang Meng had almost run through the entire Song Mountain Ancient Martial World and still hadn’t found a place suitable for living. Ye Tianchen had considered looking in the Penglai Ancient Martial World and Heavenly Mountain Ancient Martial World, but, those two ancient martial worlds are filled with so many unknowns. They are unaware of the situation there, and Tianshuang had once calculated that the lair of the Blood Killing Organization is hidden within the Penglai Ancient Martial World. If they were to move the villagers of Desolate Stone Village there, wouldn’t it be throwing sheep into the tiger’s mouth? So, it is best to find a suitable and somewhat protected place in the Song Mountain Ancient Martial World.

”But, we’ve almost combed the entire Song Mountain Ancient Martial World, and haven’t found a suitable place... Wait, this place might work. Let’s go take a look!” Dongfang Meng suddenly seemed to think of a great place and said happily.

”Where?” Ye Tianchen couldn’t help but ask, stunned.

”Buddhist Sacred Land!” Dongfang Meng said earnestly.

Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng together went to the Buddhist Sacred Land, to ”Shaolin Temple”. This is just a name sprouting from the Buddhist Sacred Land within the ancient martial world. Ye Tianchen returning to an old place, his mood couldn’t be called calm; when he first became a martial artist, it was Master Fang Zheng who escorted him and protected him, allowing him to become a martial artist and maintain his Martial Venerate Realm’s cultivation. To let Ye Tianchen inherit the ”Yijin Jing,” Master Fang Zheng even fought with the Sword Emperor of the Beichen One Sword Stream, going down together. He was a senior with great righteousness and broad-mindedness, one of the people Ye Tianchen respected the most.

After becoming a martial artist and obtaining the ”Yijin Jing,” Ye Tianchen left this Buddhist Sacred Land and never came back. He didn’t want to disturb the people here. The people of the Buddhist sect here were all unworldly, caring for the world with compassion, and unless absolutely necessary, they would not come out. Why bring them into the bloody storms of the ancient martial world early on? That would also be unfair to Master Fang Zheng.

When Ye Tianchen arrived at the entrance of Shaolin Temple again, he found that it was even more desolate than before. Ever since Master Fang Zheng passed away, no affairs had been heard from Shaolin Temple. It seemed as though the lineage here was on the verge of breaking off.

”Master, do you still remember me?” Ye Tianchen saw a sweeping monk and couldn’t help but walk forward politely to ask.

The sweeping monk glanced at Ye Tianchen, paused for a moment, and saluted, saying: ”Peace be upon the benefactor, your cultivation has greatly increased, congratulations.”

”Master, you’re too kind; it’s all because of my affinity with the Buddhist sect and Master Fang Zheng’s help that I received the Yijin Jing inheritance. Without Master Fang Zheng, I would’ve likely died long ago. I wonder if I might visit the back mountain...” Ye Tianchen asked with some feeling.

”I’ll lead the way for you!” The sweeping monk nodded and said.

This sweeping monk was the old monk Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng met when they first visited Shaolin. When Ye Tianchen wanted to storm into the Buddhist main hall, an old monk stopped him. This old monk had a profound cultivation battle power, having cultivated both the Kasaya Demon Suppressing Skill and Vigorous Vajra Finger to great success. Ye Tianchen almost lost, and this sweeping monk was that very old monk, so he remembered Ye Tianchen, Ye Tianchen’s arrival surprised him, and he did not know the reason.

Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng were led by the old monk to the back mountain of Shaolin Temple. Ye Tianchen stood on the flat ground of this back mountain, slowly closed his eyes, and projected his strong divine thought, hoping to search, to find even a trace of Master Fang Zheng’s presence, but there was nothing. Master Fang Zheng had transformed, disappeared between heaven and earth, leaving nothing behind.

After a long while, Ye Tianchen opened his eyes and couldn’t help but sigh, saying: ”It’s a pity that Master Fang Zheng couldn’t see me perform the martial arts divine skill above Yijin Jing or witness the power of the Buddhist Holy Skill!”

”The benefactor is mistaken. Brother Fang Zheng attained great spiritual wisdom and is a person of the Tao. Even if he doesn’t have eternal life in the flesh, his spirit is immortal. Receiving the Yijin Jing inheritance is your fortune and grace. All of this is destined. In Buddhism, we emphasize the cycle of cause and effect and opportunity.” The old monk said with hands folded.

Ye Tianchen was taken aback, then returned the courtesy, saying: ”Thank you for the guidance, senior.”

”I don’t know the purpose of your visit this time, benefactor?” the old monk asked.

”Master, I wish to allow some ordinary people from the ancient martial world to live at the foot of the Shaolin Mountain. I wonder if that’s possible?” Ye Tianchen stated directly.

”Hehe, the benefactor has a kind heart, striving for the innocent lives of the ancient martial world. How could I refuse? However, there is something I must say, though I don’t know if I should...” The sweeping monk said.

Ye Tianchen paused and then returned the greeting, saying, ”Thank you, Master. Please do speak.”

The old monk looked at Ye Tianchen, then at Dongfang Meng, and seemed to be contemplating as he said: ”You are inherently kind and have taken many responsibilities upon yourself. Even though you have been blessed with the Yijin Jing inheritance and were saved by Master Fang Zheng, you should be aware that there are some things which are not meant for you to carry alone. The Buddhist Sect remains rooted in the ancient martial world and the mortal world due to its enduring legacy through billions of years. It is not overwhelmed by bloody storms lightly and only intervenes when absolutely necessary, so as not to let those of the ancient martial world become involved prematurely. In this way, it is also out of respect for Master Fang Zheng.”

Ye Tianchen was slightly stunned. The old monk seemed to see through him. Though perhaps he wasn’t able to achieve Eternal Life with his physical self, he was already a spiritually enlightened person; from the ancient martial world to the mortal world, his influence was truly enduring. The claim that the Buddhist sect is an ancient, immortal legacy doesn’t seem exaggerated in the slightest.

”Thank you for your guidance, Master,” said Ye Tianchen, returning the gesture of respect.

”As for whether or not it is possible to let the villagers live at the foot of Shaolin Mountain, I must say something, though I don’t know if I should say it...” the sweeping monk glanced at Ye Tianchen and then at Dongfang Meng, his face showing a thoughtful expression as he spoke.

Ye Tianchen was slightly taken aback, then reciprocated the greeting and said: ”Thank you, Master!”

The sweeping monk shook his head and then said, ”Take care, and remember: Sometimes the greatest protection lies not in changing places, but in finding peace within oneself.”

After leaving the Shaolin Temple, Ye Tianchen and Dongfang Meng trudged down the mountain path. The worries in Ye Tianchen’s heart continued to nag at him.