On the night of the eighth day, another visitor came to the mansion.
It was the bronze-skinned monk, Bu Jie, who, like the others, entered without knocking.
He repeated Yang Shanyu’s words, attempting to sow discord between Gu Wen and the Zhao family, as if he had assumed that Gu Wen was already a domesticated servant of the Zhao family.
Gu Wen wondered whether he had hidden himself too well, or if his mortal identity had lulled them into a false sense of security.
But then he thought that if these visitors could see through him, there was no reason the Zhao family wouldn't have noticed.
"Amitabha, benefactor, you are deeply mired in a quagmire. My Buddha is compassionate and should help you escape this sea of suffering." Bu Jie’s expression was kind as he pulled a string of prayer beads from his sleeve.
They were filled with spiritual energy, clearly a magical artifact.
"These prayer beads can protect your soul from being harmed by demonic arts and also prevent Zhao Feng from using you to refine the Sanxiao token." Gu Wen took the beads and asked, "Master, why don’t you give me a powerful treasure so that I can kill Zhao Feng?"
"Amitabha, my Buddha is merciful and cannot take lives." Bu Jie’s words were somewhat hypocritical, but then he changed his tone, "Of course, if the benefactor wants enlightenment, you should offer some alms."
"What does the master want?"
"This humble monk enjoys wine and meat but cannot seek it himself as it would break my vows."
"Wait here."
Gu Wen left the room.
Though it was late, as a marquis, his kitchen was always stocked with food and drink.
A stick of incense later, he returned with a chicken and a jar of good wine, handing them to Bu Jie, who insisted that Gu Wen place them in his bowl.
After receiving the food and wine, Bu Jie solemnly bowed to Gu Wen with hands clasped, "Amitabha, thank you, benefactor. The Buddha helps those with affinity. This humble monk is willing to provide for the benefactor."
Is this monk practicing Mahayana Buddhism?
Gu Wen had some understanding of Buddhism.
Almsgiving could be interpreted as providing enlightenment, blessings, or relief from disaster.
It was one of the Six Perfections, the first of the Six Perfections.
He asked, "How does the master intend to provide for me?"
Bu Jie said, "You are facing a great calamity, one where survival is slim. This humble monk lacks the strength to save you with boundless Dharma."
"Master, could you be more straightforward?"
"I can't defeat the Dao Emperor. Even my Buddha cannot, so you must save yourself."
"....."
Very honest.
Gu Wen smirked, "Where is my path to survival?"
Bu Jie answered, "Amitabha, endure and be patient. The major immortal sects do not wish for the Great Qian Dynasty to thrive. While we dare not kill Zhao Feng, we can ensure your survival."
Gu Wen asked, "What if someone kills Zhao Feng?"
Bu Jie responded without hesitation, "That person will be targeted by the most powerful True Sovereigns of the immortal realm. Their death will be inevitable. Be cautious in your words and actions. I seek to help you, not harm you."
"Zhao Feng is not important. He took your opportunity but cannot refine it, indicating his talents are not exceptional…."
Gu Wen pondered this information.
Despite Zhao Feng’s lack of extraordinary talent, his lineage protected him.
The various factions were circling, but none dared to make the first move against someone with a Dao Emperor as a father.
Gu Wen held the prayer beads, his mind churning with the implications.
The Dao Emperor's shadow loomed large, making direct confrontation impossible.
Yet, the repeated offers of protection hinted at a fragile balance, one where Zhao Feng's position was not as secure as it seemed.
His thoughts were interrupted by Bu Jie’s continued explanation, "While Zhao Feng may not be able to fully utilize his opportunities, his position and the protection he enjoys make him a formidable adversary. However, your survival is intertwined with this delicate balance. Patience and subtlety will be your greatest allies."
With this, the monk stood up, bowing once more before making his exit, leaving Gu Wen to contemplate the intricate dance of power and survival that lay ahead.
There were still two days until the investiture ceremony.
"Master, what do you think of me?" Gu Wen suddenly interrupted, looking into the monk's eyes with a hint of curiosity.
Bu Jie hesitated for a moment but did not truly scrutinize Gu Wen, dismissing him as a mere mortal.
He politely replied, "Benefactor, you lack the blessings. Even if your talent surpasses Zhao Feng's, you likely won't reclaim the immortal fate."
Gu Wen understood.
The monk implied that without a powerful background, even a waste like Zhao Feng was better off than him.
He smiled, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance."
"Amitabha, benefactor, do not be discouraged. My Buddha is compassionate and will surely help you escape this sea of suffering." Bu Jie offered some comforting words before taking his leave.
As he opened the door, he found someone standing outside.
He Huan, dressed in white, smiled broadly, "What a coincidence, Master."
"Is Benefactor He here to offer alms as well?"
"Naturally."
He Huan entered the room and saw Gu Wen sitting in the chair.
He did not recognize him as the 'Brother Dao' he often addressed.
Without wasting time, he placed a talisman on the table.
"In gratitude for the few taels of silver you once gave my wife, I won't beat around the bush. A drop of blood on this talisman will allow you to escape ten miles. Run as far as you can right now, or you will surely die." Seeing that Gu Wen remained unmoved, He Huan was exasperated.
"Are you scared? Or do you truly believe the Zhao family won't kill you? They wiped out your entire family and won't hesitate to kill one more. They’ve kept you alive only for today's purpose." Gu Wen still did not move, sitting in the chair and gazing at the bright moon outside.
It was unclear if he was entirely lost in thought.
He Huan and Bu Jie, unfamiliar with the man known as Gu Wen, turned and left without further persuasion.
This was the effect Gu Wen had once desired.
He wanted to hide himself thoroughly, using layers of defense and obfuscation.
Even though he was now in the midst of the whirlpool, the various forces would subconsciously overlook his presence.
Even at this moment, with everyone converging on him due to Zhao Feng's damaged Dao foundation and inability to refine the jade pendant, they still saw him as a mere mortal.
Not like Yu Hua, who had pulled him out of the mud, cleaned him up, and shown him the warm sunlight outside the mire.
"When will you become the foremost talent, the supreme genius?"
Gu Wen looked at the bright moon, feeling more connected to the high-hanging silver disc than to the crowd around him.
"Indeed, there are mice lurking around."
A noise came from outside, followed by a figure flying through the door and windows, engaging in combat with He Huan and Bu Jie, successfully driving them away.
The door remained open, and the Grand Eunuch, Feng Bozhou, dressed in black court attire, entered.
He was the third visitor of the night.
Seeing Gu Wen still seated, not rising to greet him, Feng Bozhou, a third-realm powerhouse, didn’t mind these formalities.
Given Gu Wen’s situation, he did not want to provoke him further.
"Gu Wen, by the emperor's decree: 'I, the emperor, embrace the mountains and rivers. You shall assist the Crown Prince in refining the Dao weapon, and you shall be granted a hereditary title.'"
Gu Wen did not stand up, his deep, dark eyes quietly observing Feng Bozhou.
Feng Bozhou assumed he was not in his right mind and continued, "I don't know what those juniors told you, but you eat the emperor's food and receive his grace. You should fulfill your duty as a subject. Even if the jade pendant is returned to you, can you protect it?"
Gu Wen remained silent, pondering the layers of entrapment around him.
"Da Qian took your immortal fate, so naturally, they will bear the karmic consequences, granting you a lifetime of wealth and honor. You need not worry about the court taking your life; they are merely spreading rumors to cause fear." But this would completely reduce him to a mere mortal.
Gu Wen was not ignorant.
He had thoroughly studied the techniques given by Yu Hua and understood the consequences of having his destiny siphoned away.
The concept of destiny might sound mysterious, but it essentially referred to one's essence, energy, spirit, luck, and foundation.
"These things shouldn't be in your possession," Feng Bozhou said as he waved his hand, collecting the items from the table and turning to leave, though he did not go far.
Gu Wen remained still, seated in his chair.
As the candle burned out, he was enveloped in darkness, with only the faint sound of his breathing.
It was as if a giant dragon was undergoing its final hibernation, like a tiger crouching before its descent from the mountain.
None of them dared to kill Zhao Feng; everyone feared the Dao Emperor.
They urged him to accept his fate, believing that he had no right to be compared to Zhao Feng, solely because Zhao Feng's father was the Dao Emperor.
They lectured, persuaded, domesticated, admonished, and intimidated him, all while looking down on him.
Did they even deserve to do that?
Gu Wen was resolute in his decision to kill Zhao Feng.
The more they feared and opposed it, the more determined he became.
He not only wanted to kill Zhao Feng but also to do so after Zhao Feng was declared Crown Prince, in front of the entire world.
He wanted to trample the Crown Prince of Da Qian underfoot and erase the last offspring of the Dao Emperor!
Because...
"My path of the spear is one of brightness and ferocity. To be bright and righteous, to kill with ferocity." Within his sea of energy, a crimson dragon with five claws roared skyward, filled with killing intent.
His dharma form was his intent, and his intent communicated with the heavens, thus becoming a divine power.
A divine power that reaches the heavens and the earth is the profoundness of the fourth realm.
Refining essence into qi forms the sea of energy; refining qi into spirit shapes the divine mind; refining spirit to return to emptiness integrates the divine with the Dao; refining emptiness and merging with the Dao manifests the dharma form.
Yet a simple dharma form is considered inferior; the pinnacle of this practice, known as the supreme, is achieved by very few even after a lifetime of effort.
Within the realm of refining emptiness and merging with the Dao, there are those who attain perfection, leading to divine powers.
When the dharma form is refined to its utmost, divine powers emerge.
Condensing a spiritual form is the mark of a genius; nurturing it into a dharma form qualifies one as a prodigy, and divine powers merely mark the threshold to invincibility.
Gu Wen’s dharma form had not yet reached this stage, but he had comprehended a sliver of divine power, a nascent divine ability.
As his fate stirred, the last four years of heavenly essence flowed into his dharma form, causing the crimson dragon to tremble slightly.
This step could not be achieved by four years of heavenly essence alone; even a hundred years might only advance it marginally.
However, Gu Wen could step onto the path of invincibility in one stride, using the cracks in the heavenly flow and fleeting insights to grasp the brilliance of a nascent divine power amidst countless obstacles.
Zhaolie Spear Divine Power: Killing
This was not a true divine power but a residual image derived from his understanding, yet it was already a superior martial technique.
As a streak of purple light emerged from the east, the sky gradually brightened.
The gates of the imperial palace opened, and a large contingent of armored guards surged out, their formations cutting across half of Bianjing City, extending all the way to the Dragon Bridge.
The entire city was filled with the gleam of golden armor.