Chapter 174: Chapter 93: Sword Intent Fragment (Part 2)

“Sword sweep… a rain of Dharma to bless all!”

The final dot of the character for “sword” was carved three-tenths of an inch into the stone, and a faint, cold air seemed to leak from it. Staring at it, one could almost hear the humming vibration of a sword.

Zhao Rui was horrified.

He hurriedly rubbed his eyes. When he looked up again, the Sword Qi was still there. His pupils widened, and his face filled with terror.

’Is this Sword Intent?’

He quickly looked at the people beside him, only to see that some were astonished, some were calm, some ignored it, and some were indifferent.

It seemed their reactions were not all the same.

Just then, a system notification sound suddenly rang out in Zhao Rui’s mind.

“Sword Intent detected. Extracting replicable Martial Arts…”

“Replication failed. Insufficient samples. Insufficient information integrity.”

Zhao Rui’s pupils widened slightly. ’The system actually reacted! Does this mean if I have enough samples or… whatever… enough information integrity, I can replicate Martial Arts that contain Sword Intent?’

A jolt of joy shot through him. ’Isn’t this just like how I secretly learned Miao Miaomiao’s Six Yi Charm Immortal Technique!’

“Everyone, please enter!”

As he was lost in thought, monks emerged from the entrance to greet them. They stood solemnly on either side, welcoming the group into the Zen Monastery.

Zhao Rui quickly collected himself and followed the group into the courtyard.

He had only taken a few steps when the toll of a bell shattered the air, shaking old pine needles loose from between the roof tiles, causing them to fall with a RUSTLE.

The sound was like the Buddha’s Voice descending upon the world, a deafening roar that enlightens. It was also like a Vajra broom sweeping the filth from one’s heart, allowing one to instantly see their true nature.

The Charm Immortal Technique Heart Method inside Zhao Rui’s body suddenly activated on its own. The lingering Buddha’s Voice was instantly dissipated and gone.

“This…”

Zhao Rui was a bit dazed. ’This method of ringing the bell must contain profound Martial Arts, capable of cleansing the soul through its sound.’

’Unfortunately, the system didn’t give a notification this time. Is it because I’m too far away?’

’Or is this bell-ringing method too crude and not a complete system?’

’In any case, this Emei Sect is really a great place.’

’A casually written character, a simple ringing of a bell… both can contain exquisite Martial Arts!’

’If I were to live here for a while!’

Zhao Rui shook his head, quickly suppressing the enticing thoughts in his mind, and hurried his steps to keep up with the group as they entered the courtyard.

He looked around. The upturned eaves and interlocking brackets were adorned with red and yellow glazed tiles. Many cast-iron Arhats crouched upon them, and wind chimes hanging from the corners of the eaves tinkled in the breeze.

In the center was a great hall. At the top of a flight of stone steps was a main gate painted in vermilion lacquer, studded with nine rows of gilded bronze nails. A pair of Cī-dragon head door knockers were set in the middle.

“Everyone, please follow me!”

A monk did not lead them toward the main hall, but instead along a stone-paved path in the courtyard toward another area.

After walking for another seven or eight minutes, the view suddenly opened up before them. Inside a vast area, large Buddha statues were visible everywhere, and rows of exquisite buildings stood, all new and clean.

There were even bathrooms and gift shops nestled among them.

“This…”

He looked back at the desolate outer gate and the ancient, simple halls from when they first entered, and then compared them to this place, which now looked like a tourist attraction.

Zhao Rui couldn’t help but feel a little disoriented.

’This must be what it means to keep up with the times!’

“Everyone, please follow me!”

The monk continued to lead the way and soon brought everyone inside a massive building constructed in the style of an ancient temple hall.

“Accommodations: Hotel!”

’Alright then!’

’To hold an exchange conference, a place like this is indeed necessary.’

’They can’t just have us stay in side rooms or monk’s quarters like in ancient times, can they!’

After using their IDs to register and check in, a staff member—hmm, not a monk this time, but a proper staff member—appeared.

They handed out the event schedule and a list of rules to everyone.

Zhao Rui stared at the brightly colored event schedule in his hand, momentarily unable to reconcile it with the solemn and dignified Martial Arts Zen Institute he had just seen.

He wasn’t the only one who felt this way; the others also experienced a similar sense of disconnect.

“Opening ceremony… leader’s speech… experience sharing… performance report!”

’This is not what I imagined!’

’Oh well. Since I’m here, I’ll make the best of it.’

After putting away his luggage and resting for a bit, Zhao Rui left the room with Captain Gu and headed to the buffet restaurant.

The two of them were picking out their food for a while when Ye Jingqiu also gracefully walked over.

The three of them sat down at a table and began to wolf down the food on their plates.

After a long journey and half a day of climbing the mountain, the three of them were starving.

“I heard from my roommate that although this event is hosted by the Emei Sect, for the past ten-plus years, it’s been contracted out to the local Martial Arts Association…”

“They can do that…?”

Zhao Rui was stunned.

“But, there will indeed be an Emei High Monk to explain Buddhist Martial Arts, and disciples from the Emei Sect will be there to exchange experiences. It’s just that the focus has shifted to the local level.”

“Oh well, whatever. As soon as the event is over, we’re heading back to school anyway.”

Zhao Rui smiled.

Seeing Zhao Rui’s lax attitude, Ye Jingqiu shook her head and said, “Even so, if we perform poorly at the exchange conference, we’ll still get a lecture when we get back!”

“Oh, got it, Senior Sister!”

Zhao Rui replied casually and started wolfing down the egg fried rice on his plate.

He had to admit, the buffet tasted pretty good.

After the meal, Captain Gu and Ye Jingqiu both returned to their hotel rooms to rest and meditate.

Zhao Rui’s mind was preoccupied with the Sword Intent at the entrance gate. Unable to stay put, he finished eating and strolled back toward the main gate of the Emei Sect.

Along the way, he saw quite a few people who were attending the exchange conference walking and strolling in the corridors between the courtyard walls.

However, they were all restricted to this area and not allowed to enter the Emei Sect’s core territory.

Following the path he had come on, Zhao Rui soon arrived at the plaque above the Emei Sect’s main gate.

He had originally thought he was the only one interested in this gate.

But when he got there, he found about a dozen people sitting cross-legged in front of it.

Everyone was maintaining an orderly distance from each other.

Some had their eyes closed in meditation, while others stared intently at the calligraphy on the plaque.

They were all clearly trying to comprehend something.

“…”

’As expected, the one thing this world doesn’t lack is geniuses.’

Zhao Rui had arrived a bit late, so he could only find a spot further back, sitting about ten meters from the plaque.

After settling down, he focused his gaze on the character for “sword” on the plaque.

Immediately, a sharp Sword Intent pierced through the brushstrokes and slashed toward his sea of consciousness.

Since the system couldn’t replicate it for now, he could only come over and try to see what he could comprehend with his own perception.

It seemed the people of the Emei Sect knew what they were doing, as they had specially sent two monks to stand solemnly behind them, preventing passersby from disturbing them.

As more people entered the Zen Monastery, more and more of them came out to comprehend this gate plaque.

Eventually, no fewer than thirty people had gathered there to comprehend the Sword Intent and Zen mystery.

The moon set, crows cawed, and the sound of the bell was long and melodious.

The dew was heavy in the mountain forest, and a cool breeze began to rise.

Zhao Rui slowly opened his eyes and shook his head slightly. Although he had gained some insight, it was like scratching an itch through a boot—he just couldn’t grasp the main point.

By now, the sky was dark, and most of the people who had been comprehending it had left.

’In any case, I’ll be here for several more days, so there’s no rush.’

Zhao Rui stood up, walked over to the accompanying monk, and asked politely, “Master, I was wondering, does your esteemed sect have any other works left behind by this senior?”

Hearing this, the monk nodded and said, “There are indeed more, but it is not convenient for you, Benefactor, to view them.”

“Oh! Alright then, thank you!”

Zhao Rui was slightly disappointed, but he also knew that this kind of thing wasn’t something they would just casually show to people.

’Leaving aside its value in Martial Arts, its historical value alone would qualify it as a cultural relic.’

’There must be a profound reason for this plaque to be placed here.’

’Otherwise, they would have hidden it away long ago.’

Seeing that he didn’t get the result he wanted, Zhao Rui didn’t linger any longer and turned to head back to the hotel.

Captain Gu was already resting by this time. Zhao Rui didn’t say much, quickly washed up, and went to sleep.

「The night passed without incident.」

The next day, at the faint light of dawn, the bell had already begun to ring.

The morning bell was solemn and melodious!

It was time for the masters of the Emei Sect to begin their morning scripture readings.

Zhao Rui already had a habit of waking up early, so when he heard the bell, he got out of bed as well.

The frost and dew were heavy at the mountain gate; mist hid the leaves, and the air was crisp and cold.

As Zhao Rui strolled outside the courtyard walls of the Emei Sect, a feeling of tranquility and peace suddenly washed over him.

This serene experience was exceptionally relaxing.

’The mortal world is full of splendors, but transcendence is not without its own elegance!’

Following the path along the courtyard wall to the main gate, the first thing he saw were five Martial Artists from the exchange conference, sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Zhao Rui smiled. He didn’t join them, but instead followed his leisurely mood down the steps and slowly walked onto the mountain path.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep