bookbashuk Chapter 64 Mysterious Origins, First Appearance of Buddhist Treasure
Chapter 64 Mysterious Origins, First Appearance of Buddhist Treasure
Zhang Nanshan lit another cigarette, and his voice, filled with reminiscence, drifted through the smoke.
"The Feng family has some connection with my Longhu Mountain ancestors, and her father is even closer to me. That year, her family suffered a disaster. Enemies came to their door, and the whole family... Alas, when I received the news and rushed there, only the infant fawn was hidden in a secret room by her mother, and she narrowly escaped the calamity."
Chen Anran was shocked. He had never heard his third senior sister mention her background before. He only knew that she seemed to be someone his master had brought back to the sect when he was traveling in his early years.
"I took her back to Longhu Mountain to raise her for a while, but at that time, Longhu Mountain was not a unified entity. She was a girl with no ability to protect herself, burdened with a blood feud, and leaving her on the mountain was not a safe option. It just so happened that your master was traveling in Longhu Mountain. She had a past with me and felt sorry for Xiaolu's situation, so she suggested taking Xiaolu back to Yunyin Sect to raise her, away from the strife." Zhang Nanshan sighed, "Your master was a good person. Although Yunyin Sect was poor, it gave Xiaolu a peaceful childhood. I just didn't expect that, after all the twists and turns, this trouble would still come knocking, and it was even bigger than I imagined."
He looked at Chen Anran with a complicated expression: "I feel guilty towards the Feng family for failing to protect them. Now that I've watched Xiao Lu grow up, although she's become a bit impulsive, she has a pure and kind heart. I can't bear to see her fall into a desperate situation again."
"Helping you is, in a way, making up for my regrets from back then and supporting the descendants of the deceased."
Chen Anran remained silent. He hadn't expected that his third senior sister had such a painful past, and he understood why Zhang Nanshan had taken such good care of the Yunyin Sect, especially Feng Xiaolu.
This "goodness" is not without reason, but stems from a heavy past and an unfulfilled promise.
Chen Anran couldn't help but ask, "Is there no one else in the Feng family now?"
Zhang Nanshan said, "Yes, the Feng family is a very large cultivation family. Only Feng Xiaolu's branch was wiped out."
"Then why...?"
Zhang Nanshan suddenly interrupted, looking at Chen Anran with a solemn expression, "I didn't want to mention this past matter to you, but I don't want you to harbor any resentment or think I have ulterior motives. As for why the main branch of the Feng family sat idly by while Xiao Lu's branch was wiped out... it involves a great deal of complex issues, including the dirty dealings and exchanges of interests within the aristocratic families, so it's best not to go into details. You only need to know that if Xiao Lu's identity is exposed, the trouble might not be any less than that caused by the 'Ice Pure Jade Snow Technique.' The Feng family today might not be happy to see her alive."
Upon hearing this, Chen Anran knew the gravity of the matter, as it involved the safety of his third senior sister, so he naturally took it to heart. "I understand. I will not investigate the Feng family's affairs, nor will I allow the Feng family to find my third senior sister."
Zhang Nanshan patted Chen Anran on the shoulder, then stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and stuffed the two booklets of his reflections into Chen Anran's hands.
"Take it. Your foundation... is indeed different from the Yunyin Sect's style. When I observed you fighting, there was a hidden fierce and sharp intent, which might be more compatible with my 'Samadhi Pure Yang Foundation Building Experience'. As for the 'Five Thunder Orthodox Method Experience', its techniques and insights on attracting and controlling thunder might be of some reference value to your control of that Arhat's power. How much you can comprehend depends on your own destiny."
This time, Chen Anran did not refuse. He carefully put away the two booklets and the Buddhist artifacts, and bowed deeply: "Thank you for Zhang Tianshi's kindness in spreading the Tao."
"No need for thanks." Zhang Nanshan waved his hand. "I should be going now. That kid Qingyun is probably getting impatient waiting in the car. I'll handle things at Jingang Temple. If anything happens in the future, you can contact me by phone. Feng Ya has my contact information."
He paused, looked at Chen Anran, and said in a relaxed tone, "It's still a long way from the full recovery of spiritual energy. Those old monsters won't be able to come out for at least forty or fifty years."
Chen Anran replied solemnly, "Even so, I must seize every moment to improve my strength before my spiritual power fully recovers. Only when I am strong enough can I protect those I want to protect."
Zhang Nanshan laughed heartily, "You're really good, kid."
After saying that, Zhang Nanshan didn't linger. With a flicker, he appeared dozens of feet away, and then disappeared into the hazy morning mist and forest.
Chen Anran stood there, tightly holding the two booklets and several magical artifacts in his hands, feeling the lingering warmth and powerful aura on them, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
The crisis has been temporarily averted, but a greater shadow has already fallen.
He faces formidable enemies in the future... The road ahead is difficult, but he has no way out.
Chen Anran took a deep breath of the crisp, cool air, her gaze hardening once more.
He took a step forward and first checked on the three senior sisters. After confirming that they were breathing steadily and were just asleep, he felt relieved.
Afterwards, Chen Anran returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and laid out the "Buddhist treasures" that Zhang Nanshan had given him in a row in front of him.
Two strings of dark brown wooden prayer beads, a golden amber-shaped stone the size of a pigeon's egg, and an antique bronze mirror with a broken edge and engraved with Sanskrit.
He first picked up the two strings of prayer beads. They were warm to the touch, and he could faintly feel a trace of residual Buddhist power. However, deep within this Buddhist power was an indescribable chill and evil, which must have been caused by Shi Haisheng's long-term exposure to evil magic.
Consciousness sank into the sea of consciousness, arriving at that magnificent and mysterious Museum of Evolution.
Chen Anran focused her attention on the prayer beads, and the information from the museum immediately flooded her mind:
"Item: 2 strings of sandalwood prayer beads imbued with eerie Buddhist power (can be placed together)"
Status: Evolvable
"Evolution Path: Detoxification Bead (Estimated Time: 360 hours)"
"Effect: The wearer can resist all poisons. (Note: The evil Buddhist power within must first be purified; the purification process will be included in the evolution time.)"
Chen Anran's eyes lit up.
The [Guardian Vajra Amulet] can only defend against physical attacks. Just like this time, even though his three senior sisters all wore the [Guardian Vajra Amulet], they were still knocked unconscious by Shi Haisheng's sinister techniques.
And this [Detoxifying Bead] perfectly fills this gap.
After that, Chen Anran looked at the evolution information of the other items.
Item: A broken "telepathic" Buddhist mirror
Status: Evolvable
"Evolutionary Path: Mirror of Enlightenment (Estimated Time: 1080 hours)"
"Effect: Slightly enhances spiritual perception, with a certain chance of seeing through illusions and sensing good or bad intentions."
Upon seeing this, Chen Anran felt that even if this thing evolved, it wouldn't be of much use.
But the last item surprised Chen Anran greatly.
"Item: Golden Cicada Amber Containing Pure Buddhist Power"
Status: Evolvable
"Evolutionary Path: Vajra Relic (Emergence) (Estimated Time: 1440 hours)"
"Effect: Contains pure Buddhist power, which can slowly release gentle Buddhist power to nourish the wearer's body, slightly enhancing physical strength and foundation, and providing additional benefits for the cultivation of Buddhist supernatural powers. With long-term wear, there is a chance to comprehend low-level Buddhist protective supernatural powers."