My body shall be the law for ten thousand generations!
Hearing these words, Meng Qianyuan's breathing grew ragged. He felt as if an electric current had shot through his body, making his scalp tingle.
He was exceptionally talented and held grand ambitions, but he only pursued Body Ascension. Compared to Yi Beidou's goal, his was like a sparrow gazing up at a swan.
'What's so great about Body Ascension? It's merely a method of self-salvation, equivalent to the Fruit Position of Theravada Buddhism. Only a body that could become the law for ten thousand generations could truly be called "Mahayana"—to die, yet have one's enlightenment remain imperishable.'
Zhou Baiwei's mouth was also slightly agape, a strange light flashing in her eyes. Zhao Ping, Sun Hanlin, and the others were struck dumb as if by lightning, frozen in place.
If an ordinary person had said this, they would have dismissed it as empty boasting. But how could a figure like Yi Beidou be considered ordinary?
He had achieved Body Ascension, possessed supernatural abilities, had a will of iron, and united his knowledge and actions. His word was his bond, and his speech carried the weight of karma.
If this scene were to take place in a religious legend, it would be like Ksitigarbha King vowing, "So long as Hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha." This was a great vow that he would spend his entire life fulfilling!
Even Wei Cheng, whose aura had been surging just moments before, paused slightly. The way he looked at Yi Beidou was now completely different.
Originally, he had seen this person as a junior, someone who had just achieved Body Ascension and entered the world. He assumed Yi Beidou lacked experience and was likely uncertain about the path ahead, and so he had wanted to offer some guidance.
Who could have known that the other man's goal was so clear, his will as hard as steel? He was already a true master of the Dao.
Hearing the other man's words, even he felt his blood surge with excitement.
"Hahahaha, what a grand Dao! What a grand Dao! To be born as a Celestial Demon, yet remain self-possessed and free, not wishing to bring chaos to the world as a demon, but instead wishing for your body to become the law for the world. You could move Tai Mountain, Yi Beidou. You are truly worthy of your name. It seems I truly have grown old."
Wei Cheng's aura receded as he shook his head and let out a laugh.
"There is no enmity between us; in fact, we should form a good relationship. Why should we care about a war of words? A thousand grand pronouncements are not worth a single step forward. I endured twenty years of trials before achieving success in one fell swoop. Now I am learning martial arts, and upon meeting a fellow traveler who has achieved Body Ascension, it is only natural to ask for a pointer. I hope you will not refuse me your guidance," Yi Beidou said.
"It should be so. We are both Martial Artists. When Martial Artists meet, what is it but a fine banquet without wine if there is no exchange of fists and feet? I did, after all, achieve Body Ascension a bit earlier than you, so allow me the liberty of demonstrating some of the mysteries that come after Ascension."
"However, a clash between us would be too destructive. Since there's no grudge between us, it's not good to get entangled. It would only harm our friendly relations. Therefore, how about we settle it in a single move?" Wei Cheng said with a smile.
"One move it is."
Yi Beidou nodded in agreement.
"Quick, have someone temporarily lock down the area around the cemetery!"
Hearing their exchange, Zhao Ping immediately gave the order to his subordinates.
A clash between those who had achieved Body Ascension was no small matter. If ordinary citizens were to see it, or worse, film it and post it online, it would likely cause a great deal of unnecessary trouble.
Meanwhile, Meng Qianyuan and Zhou Baiwei, who stood to the side, both looked thrilled.
'How often does an ordinary person get the chance to witness a clash between figures like these?'
In the open space before the cemetery, Wei Cheng and Yi Beidou stood facing each other.
"You've just achieved Body Ascension, so you probably don't know this yet, but Body Ascension is not the end of the Martial Arts Dao."
"After Ascension, one achieves a Transformed Body, which is a qualitative change of the flesh. This opens up all sorts of possibilities. By stimulating the body with a supreme True Intent, one can further reconstruct it."
"Ancient texts speak of 'Mediating Seven Souls, Re-Creating Yin and Yang to forge a Dharma Body.' This is that realm."
"Today, I will let you witness my Dharma Body!"
Wei Cheng said calmly.
The next moment, to the sound of CRACK! CRACK!! as his bones popped and joints shifted, his bronze-colored body suddenly expanded. His height, originally under five-foot-eleven, shot up rapidly.
Six-foot-three.
Six-foot-seven.
Seven-foot-three.
...
In the end, his height settled at a staggering eight-foot-two. His body remained rounded, his mouth held forty teeth, his face was full and perfect, and his shoulders, armpits, hands, feet, and neck were all full and fleshy. His arms hung past his knees, and his fingers were long and slender...
The thirty-two signs manifested.
Furthermore, as he circulated his Qi and blood, the color of his bronze skin shifted slightly, taking on a golden hue as if he had forged a Golden Body.
The official world record for the tallest human was eight-foot-one, and Wei Cheng had now surpassed that height!
'Is this a man or a Buddha?!'
Seeing this, Zhou Baiwei, Sun Hanlin, and some of the other staff felt like their scalps were about to explode. It was as if they were living in a legend, witnessing the Golden Body of a Buddha in person. They almost fell to their knees in worship.
Yi Beidou's eyes narrowed slightly. Now he understood why the old man's clothes were so loose.
When the Martial Arts Dao was practiced to a profound level, a Martial Artist could swell their muscles and stretch their tendons and bones, making it possible to increase their height by four to eight inches, which was already a difficult feat. To circulate one's Qi and blood and increase one's height by over two and a half feet like this was nothing short of a miracle. It was beyond what a human body could do.
This was the so-called "Mediating Seven Souls, Re-Creating Yin and Yang."
The Seven Souls and Yin and Yang referred to the human body.
In ancient legends, the appearance of true masters and Immortal Gods was always different from that of ordinary people for this very reason.
After Body Ascension, having achieved a Transformed Body, different Saints, by relying on different Dao and Skill to delve deep into the body's mysteries, could further develop it, forming a "Dharma Body" that was different from that of an ordinary person.
This kind of body possessed wondrous abilities, Exotic Techniques, and boundless Mana.
"Legend says that the Buddha had a body sixteen feet tall. I have only trained to this extent, so my merits are likely not yet complete. You'd best be careful now."
Wei Cheng's voice was deep and resonant, like the rumble of thunder.
His figure blurred, and he was already in front of Yi Beidou. Despite his great height, his speed was as swift as the wind.
BOOM!!
A massive palm descended from the Sky, the blast of air booming like muffled thunder. But the most terrifying thing was the man's Heart Intent.
Meng Qianyuan's Cultivation of the Killing Mind Zen he had been taught—a philosophy of killing gods if gods block the way, killing Divine Buddhas if Divine Buddhas block the way, all to carve out a world of peace and freedom—had already produced a heaven-shaking killing intent.
As the Saint who had created this concept, how could Wei Cheng possibly be compared to Meng Qianyuan?
In his youth, he had become a monk and studied the Heart Intent Fist. Later, during Donghua Country's national crisis, he renounced his vows to join the army. In foreign wars, he killed countless enemies, his hands stained with blood. He combined multiple Martial Arts with the Heart Intent Fist, infused them with his own murderous nature, and thus achieved Body Ascension, creating the "Killing Mind Zen."
Back in the day, he had been famous among the Martial Artists of many nations, earning the nickname "Killing Heart Buddha." His murderous nature was so terrifying it struck fear into countless hearts. He had restrained his temperament in recent years, not because his fire had been extinguished, but because he was seeking a transformation.
The palm he now struck with was not driven by simple killing intent. It was Great Annihilation, Great Nirvana. With its descent, it would sweep away the world's evils, leaving behind a pure and peaceful land where all could enjoy tranquility.
From Zen to slaughter, and from slaughter back to Zen. Just like the changing of an era, his light boat had already passed ten thousand mountains.
Not long ago, Yi Beidou had compared himself to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Now, a Buddha had appeared to suppress him with the Five Finger Mountain. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
However, Yi Beidou was no Sun Wukong. He was a Free Celestial Demon who would dare to obstruct even the Buddha himself, and he harbored an ambition that soared far beyond the heavens.
Wei Cheng: the body of a Buddha, the heart of a killer.
Yi Beidou: the form of a Celestial Demon, the heart of a god.
Beneath that palm, the blood rushed through his veins and his hormones surged several times over. His Demon Nature billowed as every muscle in his body hummed in unison and his wild hair shot toward the sky, yet his eyes remained as clear as a mirror.
He was exceptionally gifted and already different from ordinary people. He had not needed to go through Mediating Seven Souls; upon Ascension, he had already begun to form a Dharma Body.
At this moment, stimulated by the True Intent of his Saint Body, the True Intent of the Lotus Born in Fire surged from within him.
Lotus Born in Fire. Fire and wood are fundamentally in conflict, yet they give rise to one another through Divine Intent. This was about breaking limits, making the impossible possible.
He possessed a Demon Nature, yet had the heart of a god. The divine and the demonic were in conflict, yet they merged within his single body—another instance of making the impossible possible.
A thousand different Taoist Skills are all the same in the end.
BOOM!!
He struck out with his own palm against the one pressing down from the Sky, his Physical Ability erupting as his Heart Intent followed.
The Demon Body struck its palm forth, questioning the heavens.
This move was called "Celestial Demon Inquiry Dao"!