Chapter Forty-Five: The Treasure’s Hiding Place (Part Two)

As I spoke, I walked a few steps toward a spot not far away. With a simple gesture, a broken sword flew directly toward me. This was the Sword of All Beings. Now that it had been tainted by my vital energy and blood, the faintest stir of my mind allowed me to sense its presence, however subtle.

“Ning Xiaoke, step inside. From now on, you shall be the spirit of this Sword of All Beings.”

With these words, I sent the sword toward Ning Xiaoke. Because her form was suffused with my own aura, she blended seamlessly with the sword, without the slightest resistance. The moment she entered the Sword of All Beings, I felt a surge of Buddhist radiance shoot to the heavens, echoing throughout the space. A chorus of chanting monks seemed to envelop me, as if I had stepped into a realm filled with the sacred intonations of the Buddha.

At the same time, I saw the sword enveloped in waves of Buddhist light, its surface coiled with obscure scripture, nearly visible to the naked eye.

A resonant hum filled the air.

It was only after more than ten minutes that the brilliance began to fade. Beneath its lingering glow, the Sword of All Beings appeared even more spirited, pulsing with life. The sword, now radiant with Buddhist light, flew directly into my grasp.

For the first time, I truly saw the sword in my hand. Its ancient blade was etched with patterns whose meaning eluded me.

Within the sword, Ning Xiaoke—now the core spirit controlling its great array—spoke.

“Master, this blade contains countless seals. For now, I can only use the Buddhist light within me to activate its core formation. If we wish to unlock the deeper mysteries and ancient arrays within the Sword of All Beings, we must gather many wandering souls and treasures of heaven and earth to nourish and refine these formations.”

I nodded. In truth, the moment I gripped the Sword of All Beings, I sensed everything within it. This sword was vastly different from the Diagram of the Blood-Slaughtering Formation. The diagram already possessed the spirit Tu, and it had been terribly damaged countless years ago. But this sword was once an unnamed ancient blade. Though it had somehow been broken, even just this half of its blade inspired fear in all the monsters and demons bred within the formation. This alone revealed the sword’s enigmatic origins and its immense power at its peak.

Moreover, my blood seemed to possess some special quality. After I consecrated the sword, it became a treasure under my control. Now, with a spirit to inhabit it, I was, in effect, forging a new magical artifact and could command every aspect of the Sword of All Beings.

“Tu, tell me in detail about the hidden treasure you mentioned earlier.”

I truly needed both rare treasures and countless wandering souls.

Tu perched on my shoulder, gazing at the sword wrapped in Buddhist light. “I’m not as clear on this as Sister Xiaoke. Let her explain.”

That made sense.

With a thought, Ning Xiaoke emerged from the Sword of All Beings.

“Master, I know what you wish to ask. Let me first explain the origin of the Buddhist light within me.”

I nodded.

At this moment, Ning Xiaoke had shed her former aura of gloom and floated before me like an immortal sage or enlightened Buddha.

After she leapt from the building, she heard a voice—a Buddhist chant. She recited it in her heart, and instantly felt herself drawn into a wondrous space, much like the one we now inhabited. In that realm, vast halls glimmered with Buddhist light. She entered and saw a clear lake stretching before her, and on the distant shore, lotus platforms rose, each bearing grand, ancient temples, solemn and magnificent.

Hearing this, I could not help but recall the scene of radiant Buddhist light, glimpsing the austere world of ancient Buddhas.

A voice seemed to guide Ning Xiaoke ever forward. She understood she had died and believed this was the Underworld. Out of curiosity, she stepped into the water, surprised to find she could walk upon its surface, reaching a lotus platform on the far shore. There, she saw a gigantic ancient Buddha. She could not recall what the Buddha said; even now, those words were lost to her memory. When she awoke again, she found herself lying on the ground, her resentment strangely diminished, fading over time. Yet, to survive, she made it her goal to kill Li Hongbo. Many times she prepared to strike, but always held back, for she saw how Li Hongbo supported many university students. His death would leave them without hope.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qianqian, who died after her, became a vengeful ghost, but was purified by Master Wuwang, transformed into a pure stream of wandering soul.

“I never understood before. Just now, as I merged with the sword’s great formation, the Buddhist light within me seemed drawn by some force. I distinctly sensed that beneath the dormitory where I died lies an ancient temple, containing rare treasures. I also sensed that this place has already been discovered by others, and faintly, I feel a summons from the Buddha’s heart.”

Her words sent a slight tremor through me.

“Not only us?”

Ning Xiaoke nodded.

“Yes. Shortly after I died, I often saw several geomancers investigating at night, as well as monsters and fiends appearing after dark. No one but me ever noticed.”

At this, a new resolve took root in my heart. I must quickly pinpoint the exact location of that ancient temple, enter it, and claim its treasures. This was not only to restore the Immortal Lady and strengthen myself, but also to prepare for my journey to Eyebrow Village.