Chapter Fifty-Four: Fated Encounter (Part One)

The Bridge of Illusion?
Was the series of carved lotus platforms we just crossed truly the Bridge of Illusion?
According to ancient scriptures, the Bridge of Illusion is called “Seeing Through”—a trial from the Buddhist realm to test the faith of those who cultivate to become Buddhas in the human world. Once one steps upon it, they must see through the dust and distractions of the mortal world, affirming their inner devotion to Buddha.
Only now did I understand why such a vision had occurred earlier, why I found myself trapped in a dreamlike state at the center of the Bridge of Illusion. It turns out, I have never possessed pure senses, and naturally, neither has Zhao Wen.
Thanks to Xiyue’s help, we managed to arrive here safely. Otherwise, we would have perished long ago.
“Senior, we entered without intent to offend. We seek only rare herbs and treasures to heal our wounds. Please, allow us to enter the true tomb of the Buddha!”
Standing in the great hall, I beheld in front of me a succession of resplendent palaces, golden and radiant. The ruined, dim halls I had seen earlier were now replaced by absolute magnificence and grandeur—and this was no illusion, but reality itself.
As the old woman with a human head and serpent body, coiled on the throne at the center of the hall, breathed heavily, pure energy began to surge through the space. Unlike the sinister aura I had encountered before, inhaling this energy made my whole being feel clear and comfortable, as if my body had been cleansed in a pool of celestial pure water—what bliss, what ease.
“Master, we’ve struck it rich. This is spiritual energy, not the usual yin or yang energy. It’s said that such energy doesn’t exist in the human realm, only in other great worlds. The human realm is vast, spanning countless trillions of miles, and spiritual energy is in constant shortage there. Moreover, many hidden masters are cultivating, so over time, spiritual energy has transformed into yin, yang, and the essence of plants.”
My heart trembled. I had read about this spiritual energy in the Azure Dragon Secret Arts. Its terrifying power lies in its ability to alter one’s constitution, expelling impurities with every breath. In fact, much of the magic Xiyue and the others used requires spiritual energy as its foundation.
Naturally, Tu was not idle. He flew out from my cloak, transforming into a miniature Blood Slaughter Array, spinning above my head. As it rotated, I could see changes with the naked eye.
A giant vortex appeared before me, and as the old woman breathed, countless formations in the space seemed to awaken. Above our heads, the true form revealed itself—a terrifying starry veil of light. Within this cosmic curtain, another ancient diagram appeared, resembling a mirror.
At this moment, the old woman’s serpentine lower half slowly transformed, finally taking the form of an aged crone, her face bearing the marks of wisdom and experience.
She approached us step by step, watching as we greedily absorbed the spiritual energy she had released, and laughed. “Among you, there is surely one destined by the Buddhist realm. Now, all of you may enter!”
As she spoke, a demonic wind suddenly swept over me, icy and piercing. By the time warmth returned, I was no longer in the hall.

A warmth rose from within, enveloping me completely.
“Tu!”
I called out, for I sensed that the Blood Slaughter Array was no longer with me, and neither Xiyue nor Zhao Wen were by my side. All around was mist, nothing visible.
“Master, I’m here! I absorbed so much spiritual energy just now, I’m undergoing a transformation—my soul has grown stronger again, hahaha…”
Hearing Tu’s childish voice, excitement surged through me. The stronger Tu grew, the safer I felt.
Now, I could only rely on the Blood Slaughter Array. The ancient, broken All Beings Sword seemed to have its own mysterious origins; Nie Xiaoke was still studying it, but for now, its power paled compared to Tu.
“Tu, where are we? What about Xiyue and the others…”
“Master, this is the mirrored world we saw atop the great hall. This artifact is called the Buddha Diagram, but it’s just a shadow, not the true form.”
“I’ve seen the Buddha Diagram once before. That time, the old man of Yin and Yang tried to collect it, hoping to complete the set of nine Yin-Yang Array diagrams with this tenth, but the artifact spirit of the Buddha Diagram was too fierce and defeated him. Since then, I never saw it again. Its power is immense. Since the old demon said one among you three is destined, I suppose only the fated can enter this treasure realm.”
With his soul restored, Tu recalled many things, speaking fluidly.
I listened, astounded, as if doors to worlds I had never imagined were slowly opening before me.
“Master, this should be the world within the Buddha Diagram, much like the Bridge of Illusion—a test for you!”
I nodded, and as the fog before me dissipated, countless shadows appeared. The scene around me changed rapidly—I knew this was a trial.
Yet, as I stepped forward, everything before me felt so real, I could hardly believe it.
I was back in high school.

But the version of myself sitting in the corner possessed all the experience I have now, even Tu had transformed into an electronic watch on my wrist.
At first glance, I saw Su Ying.
“Xiao Dong, are you alright? Do you feel unwell?”
It was so vivid, I almost cried.
Su Ying was just as I remembered, ponytail swaying, dressed in sportswear, white sneakers on her feet.
I shook my head and grabbed Su Ying’s hand.
In that moment, I wished time would stay forever.
“Xiao…Dong…like this…”
Su Ying instantly pulled her hand back as if shocked, her face flushing as red as if she were drunk.
Only then did I realize we were in the classroom, and my impulsive gesture had drawn the attention of my classmates. My own face reddened in turn, realizing I had been too emotional and ignored everyone else.
Shortly after I sat down, Su Ying, who sat in front of me, handed me a note.
“Xiao Dong, meet me in the grove after class…”