As in countless days, the melodious morning bell rings again, echoing between the Sumeru Mountains, reverberating in the misty mountain wind. It has gone through countless years and will continue to do so in future days.

  Day after day, it echoes on.

  Standing in the morning light of dawn, Gui Li stood with his hands behind his back and listened intently.

  He slightly closed his eyes, as if the bell's sound was lingering and he wanted to savor it carefully. At this moment, Gui Li, for some reason, didn't seem to have changed in appearance, but somehow gave off a feeling of being a different person. From his demeanor and expression, compared to before, there was an added hint of composure and a reduced air of arrogance.

  Perhaps it was indeed those Buddhist Dharma formations that took effect?

  This question has been among the monks of Tianyin Temple for a long time. After Gui Lian woke up, many people had this doubt in their hearts.

  The day before yesterday, Kiei woke up again and was carefully examined by Fuhonshin and others. His body had no major problems, and even the slight shock from the severe impact seemed to be non-existent on Kiei's body. Fuhonshin was overjoyed, but to be on the safe side, he still asked Kiei to stay in Tenonji for a few more days. Kiei did not make any excuses and stayed at Tenonji.

  These days, Gui Li has been even more silent and taciturn than usual. As for someone who had actually enraged the heavens and brought down heavenly punishment, many of the monks from Tianyin Temple also kept their distance, with only Pu Heng Shangren and Fa Xiang not minding anything, often coming over to visit him. Gui Li himself seemed to be unaware of the things happening outside, never leaving his house, except for every day at dawn when the bell tolled and at dusk when the drum sounded, he would walk into the small courtyard, quietly listening.

  "Bang..."

  The last toll of the bell, with its lingering echo, reverberated in the air above Tianyin Temple for a long time before finally fading into silence. Only then did Gui Li slowly open his eyes.

  Bathing in the morning breeze of Tianyin Temple, his breath was full and surging under his calm appearance, as if he wanted to fly up. The monks of Tianyin Temple would not know, but Gui Li himself knew it clearly in his heart.

  In the silent and wordless jade wall, what unexpectedly appeared was the fourth volume of the legendary demonic sect's scripture, the "Tian Shu". Others might not understand, but he was the only person in this world who had cultivated the first three volumes of the "Tian Shu", and with one glance, he recognized that it was the crucial fourth volume he had been searching for on his path to enlightenment.

  In the past, countless problems that seemed insurmountable and impassable during his cultivation have now been grasped at their core. What lies before him is almost a broad and flat road, with no limits in sight. He even feels that walking this path will be very smooth for him, and perhaps he can catch a glimpse of certain realms that he dared not hope for in the past.

  It was as if he had a transcendent feeling when looking at the emotions of the past and the people in front of him, as if he had gained a new realm, re-examining the past.

  But for some reason, in his heart, under such good circumstances, he still had a faint sense of loss, but couldn't describe it, that vague and elusive feeling of something being off, always lingering in his mind.

  The ghost stood still for a long time, no one knew what he was thinking, and no one came to disturb him. Until he suddenly turned around, for the first time in many days, he walked out of this small courtyard.

  When he left the yard, he didn't look back even once.

  ※※※

  He walked slowly along the steps under his feet, and it is said that this road was once built by a monk to spread Buddhism, with great vows and great divine power. Now, countless people are still walking on the road he built, but how many people know that he has long been reduced to ashes?

  Walking on this road, the layered stone steps are simple and unadorned. As I step on it, a sense of flatness is transmitted upwards. After that unexpected battle of magic that shook the mountains a few days ago, the temples and halls on Mount Susumu were damaged to varying degrees, but only this simple stone-paved mountain road was unaffected, still firmly laid on the ground, allowing countless people to walk over its chest.

  Perhaps for the unpredictable gods above, this road also carries some special emotions?

  Guilian didn't know, nor did he want to know. He walked on this road, silently recalling past events and old friends. In his memories, he slowly arrived at the Xiaotian Temple on Mount Sumeru.

  The gate was slightly ajar, and the place was as quiet as usual. The ghost slowly walked past, and from behind the door, faint voices could be heard.

  He knocked on the door.

  The sound inside the door suddenly disappeared, and someone seemed to be surprised, lightly saying "hmm", a moment later, the door creaked open with a "creak", and Fa Xiang appeared behind the door.

  Jian was a ghostly figure, his Buddhist appearance revealed a smile. The ghost nodded and said: "Is the Great Master Fang in?"

  Fashang smiled and stepped aside, saying: "Please come in."

  The ghost walked in and saw Pu Heng Shang Ren sitting cross-legged on the meditation bed, smiling at him.

  Kui Li walked up to Pu Heng and bowed, saying: "Master Fangzhang."

  Pu Heng Shang Ren looked at Gui Li walking over, his eyes scanning from top to bottom, finally focusing on his feet, and nodded slightly, clasping his hands together: "Unexpectedly, in this short period of time, the master's Tao has made great progress, truly a joyous occasion!"

  The ghost raised an eyebrow, but didn't speak. Fa Xiang was slightly startled and carefully observed Gui Li from the side.

  After a moment of silence, Gui Li slightly bowed his head towards Pu Heng and said: "A few days ago, for my sake, the sacred Wordless Jade Wall of your temple was damaged. I have been feeling uneasy about it in my heart."

  Pu Hong shook his head lightly and said calmly: "It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning."

  The demon's expression changed slightly, and he said, "But that wordless jade wall is the temple's treasure, isn't it precious?"

  Pu Heng Shang Ren He Shi Dao: "The world is ever-changing, all living beings are impermanent, who can know what happens after death? Today's precious and heavy things, how can we know what will happen tomorrow? If the donor has a mind," he pointed to the window outside, "turn right at the big stone outside Xiaotianyin Temple, the donor may understand the Buddhist Dharma."

  Kui Lie nodded and said: "Yes. However, I came here today to bid farewell to the Great Master Fangzhang."

  Pu Heng's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected Gui Li to speak in such a manner. He merely nodded and said, "If the donor wishes to leave, I dare not stop him. However, before the donor departs, I have a few words that I would like to say."

  "Please speak, Master," said Gui Li.

  Pu Heng said, "The donor has been through many tribulations during this period, but ultimately broke through one by one and made it through. I see that the donor seems to have gained some insight, is that so?"

  The demon nodded after a moment of contemplation, "Master's wisdom is indeed keen. After my reincarnation, I have had some epiphanies. Looking back on half my life, I have many regrets."

  Pu Hui's eyes flashed, and he said: "The donor is a person of great wisdom. Since you have already seen through it, why not see through the worldly emotions and return to Buddhism? In my humble opinion, what you are thinking in your heart is just one word 'quiet', how about it?"

  The demon's face was stern, and after a long time, he stood up, bowed to Pu Heng, and said faintly: "Master has enlightened me, I am very grateful. However, what I have realized in my heart is not about seeing through worldly emotions, but rather that worldly affections are precisely what I cannot bear to abandon."

  Pu Heng said with a shake of his head, "The Buddha says: Color is emptiness! All things in the mundane world are like this. Love and hate, beauty and ugliness, all are but an illusion, a mere 'color' that bewilders people's minds, disturbs their tranquility. Why must you, donor, be so overly attached?"

  The demon looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and burst out laughing. He turned around and left, saying loudly: "Master, you are wrong! Color is emptiness, and emptiness is also color. You want me to see through worldly emotions, but do you know how to see through them? I am in this world, surrounded by love, hatred, and enmity - these are the circumstances of my life. You want me to see clearly and be calm, but do you know that after seeing through, it is still me?"

  His voice gradually subsided and was no longer heard, the man had already left the Zen room far away. Fashang remained silent for a long time before saying to Pu Heng: "Master, you have enlightened him several times, unfortunately..."

  Pu Heng said calmly, "He has comprehended the Taoist principles and cultivated himself. In the future, he may become the most extraordinary person in the world. However, such a remarkable person cannot see through his own heart demon. What will happen to him in the future depends on his own destiny."

  He lowered his head, clasped his hands together in reverence and silently chanted Buddha's name, never speaking again.

  ※※※

  Gui Li left the Xiaotian Temple and walked out of the temple gate. At that moment, he suddenly stopped his footsteps, paused for a moment, and turned to the right. After walking a few steps, he indeed saw a large stone more than half a person's height lying on the ground.

  He walked up to the large stone and examined it carefully, but only saw that the stone was covered in stains and marks from top to bottom, without a single word or sentence, nor any signs of artificial carving, and he couldn't figure out what was special about this stone.

  The ghost frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly his eyes fixed on something, which was being attracted by a boulder above.

  This large stone is mottled all over, and it's clear that it has been through countless years of wind, frost, and sword, with scars all over its body. However, in one place, a pattern shape can be faintly seen. Only after many years, it's difficult to identify.

  The ghost stretched out his hand, gently sweeping away the dust on the stone, and carefully examined it. After a long time, he finally recognized that this was originally a shell-shaped object, but after years of weathering, it had turned into a stony substance and merged with the large stone.

  The ghost then looked at the big stone again and didn't find any other strange places.

  His gaze returned to the shell again, could it be that what Pu Heng wanted him to see was this ordinary shell? Was there some profound meaning behind it?

  He thought over what Puhe said in his mind again, and his eyes gazed at the shell, slowly brightening. The Mustard Seed Mountain range was towering, within a thousand miles near and far, there was no deep sea water, but this stone was clearly from the top of the Mustard Seed Mountain. A million years ago, this place might have been a vast ocean, it was unknown.

  A man's life is like the movement of heaven and earth, the rise and fall of the world, yet it is but a grain in the vast ocean, a mustard seed that can be covered.

  He silently turned around and bowed towards the quiet little temple, but when he turned back, his face was still calm.

  His robes fluttered, and a faint white light emerged. His figure transformed into a ray of light, flying up to the sky and gradually disappearing into the vast expanse.

  See through!

  Who can see through it?

  The world is ever-changing, but how can it compare to the fleeting moments in my heart, that brief flash of insight.

  ※※※

  Qingyun Mountain, Dazhu Peak.

  The Qingyun War has passed for a while, and after that, Daoxuan Zhenren has been keeping an eye on the people of Dazhu Peak for some time because of the matter of the ancient sword of exterminating immortals. However, recently it seems that the disciples of Dazhu Peak have indeed become very honest, and the pressure from the sect leader's side has also decreased. Originally, in the hearts of the Dazhu Peak disciples, although this matter is important for the sect leader Daoxuan Zhenren, his actions are indeed somewhat excessive and not measured.

  But anyway, after all, it's been a long time since the last disturbance, and Da Zhu Peak has gradually returned to its usual calm. Wu Deyi and He Dazhi's injuries have also improved, and after Su Ru's examination, they are almost fully recovered now. The two can walk freely on the ground, but they still cannot do heavy work for the time being.

  So, as usual, the task of sweeping the room of the young master who had already left the quiet corner continued along with the sweeping of everyone else's rooms. On this day, Song Daren and Du Bishu walked towards that room once again.

  Two people chatted and laughed as they had countless times before, walking into that courtyard.

  But at this moment, suddenly, a gray shadow flashed by in that small courtyard which should have been quiet.

  That gray shadow was extremely fast, but Song Daren and Du Bishu almost simultaneously saw it. The two were shocked and immediately put down the things they were sweeping with their hands and rushed up in a flash. However, that gray shadow disappeared in an instant, and after searching the entire courtyard, including the rooftops, they still couldn't find any clues.

  Standing in the courtyard, Song Daren and Du Bishu stared at each other, Song Daren furrowed his brow and said: "Could it be that we were mistaken?"

  Du Bishu tilted his head, thinking for a moment, just about to speak when he suddenly let out a startled cry and whispered: "Big Brother Master, look over there." He pointed behind Song Daren's back.

  Song Daren hastily turned around to look, and saw that in the direction of Du Bishu's pointing hand, the room where his younger brother used to sleep was closed tightly, but on the window beside the door, a small gap had been opened at some unknown time. In the past, no one lived here, so the windows were naturally closed tightly.

  Song Daren and Du Bishu exchanged a glance, both seeing the uncertainty in each other's eyes. Song Daren composed himself and said in a low voice, "Let's go take a look."

  Du Bi Shu suddenly felt a bit tense, nodding his head while suppressing his voice to say to Song Da Ren: "Big Brother Master, could it be... could it be Little Brother..."

  Song Daren's eyes twitched, apparently what he was thinking in his heart was similar to Du Bishu's, but this idea seemed to make him feel afraid too. Perhaps, when he really saw that now unfamiliar little Shidi, he didn't know how to face him either?

  As his hand touched the wooden door, Song Daren and Du Bishu exchanged a glance again. Then, as if he had made up his mind, Song Daren gritted his teeth and shouted loudly, "Who's there?" As he did so, he suddenly pushed open the door.

  Almost at the same time as the door was pushed open, a gray shadow flashed through the room, seemingly startled, jumping from the table inside the house to the bed in an instant, turning around, two eyes rolling around, staring at the two people standing at the door with their mouths agape, "Squeak squeak squeak" cried out.

  "Little Gray!"

  Song Daren and Du Bishu were called out at the same time.

  ※※※

  "Hmm."

  Xiao Hui swallowed the fruit in his mouth and picked up another mountain fruit beside him, biting off half of it. He was eating with great relish. On the quiet Da Zhu Peak, at this moment, all over the ground were the fruit pits that Xiao Hui had gnawed on, scattered everywhere, which compared to its usual solemn and majestic appearance, was quite comical.

  At this moment, everyone on the top of Dazhu Peak gathered here. Even Tian Bu Yi, who had a bad temper, looked at this scene and only frowned, but did not get angry. His face was gloomy, and it was unknown what he was thinking about.

  For these ten years, everyone knew that Xiao Hui was always with that person and never separated, but now Xiao Hui is here, where is that person?

  On that day, at the Fantian Cave Mansion in front of Tongtian Peak on Qingyun Mountain, Song Daren and others saw Gui Li with their own eyes, and also witnessed the scene where the little Shidi was severely injured by the Zhuxian Ancient Sword. Afterwards, countless people surrounded and chased him, although there was no news of him after that, and it was rumored that he had been rescued by his accomplices.

  But why did Little Gray appear here?

  Xiao Hui appeared, where is that person again?

  The same doubt, lingering in everyone's mind, makes one's heart heavy. In the quiet hall, only Xiao Hui was eating fruit with abandon, and apart from that, there was another person who was extremely happy, completely different from the people around him!

  Rhubarb

  This big dog is extremely excited at the moment, completely ignoring its owner's gloomy face. It keeps barking "Woof woof woof" and running around the table where Xiaohui is sitting, with its bright yellow tail wagging back and forth in extreme joy. From time to time, it jumps up on its front paws, puts its head next to Xiaohui's body, sniffs her all over, occasionally sticks out its tongue and licks Xiaohui a few times.

  Xiao Hui burst out laughing, scratched his head, and casually picked up an apple from beside him. He waved it in front of Da Huang, then suddenly threw it outside the Guan Jing Tang. Da Huang let out a loud "Wang" and immediately jumped up, sprinting with all four legs, rushing out of the Guan Jing Tang. Everyone was shocked, looking outside to see that Da Huang had actually caught the apple before it hit the ground, snatching it from mid-air. He then ran back, pounced onto the table, opened his jaws, and let the apple roll around on the table a few times.

  Everyone was stunned, and Tian Bu Yi let out a cold hum.

  Duxiao Hui "heh heh" laughed non-stop, apparently meeting an old dog friend, in a great mood, the monkey's tail wrapped around, jumped down from the table, but landed on Da Huang's broad back, hugging Da Huang's body.

  The big yellow dog barked "wang wang wang" but no one listened, it ran out with its head held high and chest out. Who knows where the monkey and dog will go to cause more trouble? Song Daren looked at Tian Naiyi and Su Rou, stood up, just about to chase after the two beasts, but only heard Tian Naiyi say coldly: "Let them be. The monkey has lived on this mountain for many years, since it's here, it won't leave."

  Song Daren responded with a sound and slowly sat down.

  Tian didn't stay silent for a moment and said: "Apart from this monkey, neither you nor Lao Liu saw any other figures?"

  Song Daren and Du Bishu shook their heads simultaneously, saying: "No."

  Tian's face was difficult to look at, and he suddenly waved his hand, saying: "Alright, you can go now."

  Song Daren and others looked at each other in dismay, but the teacher's orders were like a mountain, and they didn't dare disobey. They slowly retreated, and when they went out, He Dazhi asked Su Ru carefully: "Teacher, do you want us to sweep this place?"

  Su Ru hadn't spoken yet, but Tian Bu Yi was already slightly angry and said: "We'll talk about it tomorrow, did you hear that? Get out!"

  He Daizhi was as silent as a cicada in winter, and with a sudden movement, he retreated and disappeared from sight.

  Su Ru Bai said with a calm expression, "What's the point of taking it out on them?"

  Tian's face was heavy with thoughts as he paced back and forth, suddenly raising his head to Su Ru: "You said Lao Qi... that person, could they also be nearby?"

  Su Ru hesitated for a moment, then said lightly: "He's always been someone who values emotions the most. If he has a mind to see you, it's also reasonable. It's just that with his identity, he probably can't show up in person either."

  Tian's face changed, and his chubby face was unpredictable, with an inexplicable strangeness. Su Rou looked at him and sighed, saying: "I know what you're worried about in your heart. On that day, outside the Huan Yue Cave Mansion, although he was injured by the Xianjian Ancient Sword, he didn't die after all. Moreover, it's said that there were accomplices who rescued him, right? After Da Ren and the others reported back to us, they all mentioned that the gray gibbon wasn't by his side. In my opinion, perhaps he knew about the danger at the time, so he intentionally didn't bring the gibbon with him. And after he escaped with serious injuries, the gibbon wandered in the mountains and wilds of Qingyun Mountain, unable to find its master. It's not strange that it ran to our place under such circumstances."

  Tian's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and he suddenly muttered to himself in a low voice, as if scolding someone. Su Ru didn't hear clearly and asked, "What did you say?"

  Tian Bu Yi didn't respond, but instead let out a hum and walked towards the back hall with his hands behind his back. Su Rou looked at his back, shrugged her shoulders, feeling quite helpless. Just as she was about to turn around, Tian Bu Yi suddenly called out from behind her, startling Su Rou, who quickly turned around, her face flushing with embarrassment.

  Only Tian Naiyi was not an ordinary person, his cultivation was so high that he stabilized his body in just one move. Even so, Su Rou had already burst out laughing.

  In front of his wife, Tian Naiyi was slightly embarrassed and felt a bit ashamed. His face turned even darker as he cursed in a low tone: "Damn monkey, one day I'll skin you alive and see if you still dare to eat!"

  After finishing speaking, she went into the back hall without looking back, leaving only a floor full of fruit pits in the quiet hall, Su Rou smiled and stood still.