Chapter 25: A War of Words—My Heart’s Resolve Transcends the Heavens

Meng Qianyuan had no objections to Yi Beidou’s words. He had come to visit, only to initiate a confrontation that damaged the man’s courtyard; that was indeed his fault. However, while he knew how to till the land, he had no experience in masonry. If he tried to repair the tiles and left the ground a riddled mess, it would be quite humiliating. Meng Qianyuan was a man who valued his pride.

Just as he was about to discuss with Yi Beidou whether they could hire a construction crew to repair the courtyard, he suddenly paused. A person of such unfathomable depths would never speak or act without profound purpose; nothing they did was ever without reason. He was suddenly reminded of the *Journey to the West*, where the Monkey King offended Patriarch Subhuti in the lecture hall, only to be struck three times on the head with a ruler. If one could grasp the true meaning behind such an act, it was an opportunity; if not, it was merely a punishment.

*I almost missed a golden opportunity!* Meng Qianyuan felt a sudden jolt in his heart. This man was just like him—gifted with extraordinary talent, a celestial demon incarnate—yet his demonic tribulation was deeper and his age even younger. Despite this, he had already broken through the shackles and attained a sanctified physical form. If he could receive guidance and gain insight from this man, he might be able to take another step toward the realm of sainthood himself!

"What? Are you unwilling?" Yi Beidou’s voice reached his ears once more, as calm and tranquil as water, devoid of any fluctuation.

"I am willing! I gladly accept the punishment and will certainly do it with my own hands!" Meng Qianyuan nodded repeatedly, leaping up from the ground and bowing respectfully with cupped hands. Before he arrived, he had felt a sense of rivalry due to their similar age, but now, he felt only that this man was unfathomably deep and beyond reach. How could he possibly consider himself an equal anymore?

"Wait a moment. I will change my clothes and accompany you to the appointment." Yi Beidou nodded and turned back toward his second-floor room. Before long, he walked down wearing loose sportswear, looking like a young man preparing for a morning jog.

"Mr. Yi! Mr. Yi! There won't be any army coming to surround us now, and since your hostage is of no use, could you please untie me? I don't want to accidentally disgrace your dojo if I can't hold it in any longer!"

As soon as he reached the ground floor, he saw a "maggot" wriggling toward his leg, blocking the stairs. Seeing Zhou Baiwei in this state, Yi Beidou couldn't help but chuckle. A martial arts master who has internalized their skills can control the movements of their internal organs to a degree; while they might not be able to manage seven days of fasting, three days without food, water, or relief was well within their capabilities. She clearly didn't want to miss the chance to witness a meeting of masters who had attained a sanctified physical form. Still, a small lesson was enough.

*Swish!*

Yi Beidou leaned down, his hand sweeping across her form. The ropes snapped instantly, his fingertips sharp as blades. "Follow along," Yi Beidou said, before walking out of the house.

***

Zhou Baiwei hurriedly untied the remaining ropes and scrambled to follow.

On the other side, Sun Hanlin and several agents from the Special Security Bureau were waiting anxiously outside, their faces etched with worry. They had heard a massive tremor from the villa, but it had subsided quickly, and they had no idea what had happened. Soon, they saw several figures emerge from the villa gates. Meng Qianyuan, who had arrived with such aggressive and imposing momentum, was now walking in front, leading the way for Yi Beidou with a humble and respectful attitude. Seeing this scene, they could guess exactly what had transpired.

*Sanctified in flesh—truly an unfathomable figure!* Sun Hanlin and his team felt a sense of awe and reverence.

Shortly after, at the Martyrs' Cemetery at the foot of Lingfeng Mountain in the southern suburbs of Wencheng, two SUVs pulled up. Yi Beidou stepped out and, guided by Meng Qianyuan, entered the deep recesses of the cemetery. Rows of tombstones stood tall, beneath which lay the martyrs who had once fought and bled to defend this land. While other cemeteries felt dark and gloomy, this place felt grand and imposing.

Zhao Ping, the head of the Special Security Bureau, was waiting to the side. An old man in loose casual clothes held incense in one hand and liquor in the other, offering a stick of incense and a pour of wine at every tombstone he passed.

"Director, he has arrived." A staff member reported, and Zhao Ping immediately looked toward the cemetery entrance.

He saw a young man in loose sportswear walking ahead of the group, approaching rapidly. Once inside the cemetery, Yi Beidou’s gaze ignored the others and fell upon the old man walking among the gravestones. To his eyes, the old man radiated a faint light, as if a halo hung behind his head, making him seem as though he existed in a different space from everyone else. Yi Beidou couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"Why does the gentleman laugh?" Meng Qianyuan asked, puzzled.

"I compared myself to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven intending to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace, yet I didn't expect you to actually bring a Buddha. Interesting, truly interesting!" Yi Beidou laughed, clapping his hands, and strode toward the graves.

"Some of my old friends rest here, and I have come specifically to pay my respects. Among them were those with even greater talent and passion than I, yet they sacrificed themselves for the nation. Today, the world enjoys peace; some live in wealth and luxury, others boast of their merits, but I have never dared to claim the credit for myself. For I know that my ability to reach this point—to attain a sanctified body—was not by my own strength alone, but created by the era and the tide of history. A thousand bleached bones pave the way for one man."

"Speaking of which, since you were born in Donghua and raised in Donghua, you too have benefited from their sacrifice. Even if you are a god among men, your feet still tread upon this earth, and you cannot escape the grain. How can the ties of fate be so easily severed? Are you willing to join me in offering a stick of incense to them?" Wei Cheng spoke calmly without turning back, continuing to offer incense and pour wine.

"Naturally, that is no problem." Yi Beidou nodded. A staff member immediately stepped forward to hand him three sticks of incense.

He understood the profound meaning behind the old man's words, yet he felt no resentment, for what the old man said was indeed the truth. This society might have its injustices and its hardships, but it was undeniable that this was the most stable era this land had seen in thousands of years, and the time when ordinary people lived their best lives. He was able to attain the Dao with his demonic body precisely because of what this era had enabled. Had he been born in ancient times—a time of famine, suffering, constant warfare, and resentment—his cultivation of the "Carefree Heart Sutra" would have faced even more terrifying demonic tribulations, leading surely to his destruction. Thus, he had always expressed his profound goodwill toward this era and this country.

Yi Beidou leaned down, inserted the three sticks of incense into the earth at the center of the cemetery, retreated two steps, and bowed slightly in tribute. "I understand your meaning. When I entered the world, I said that I hold high regard for the people and culture of this nation. For the sake of the country and the world, I am willing to contribute and wish for its prosperity, but this path is not my true pursuit."

Yi Beidou then looked at the old man and spoke calmly.

*BOOM!*

In an instant, the peaceful aura surrounding the old man shifted violently. A terrifying presence erupted from within his body, surging like a tidal wave. He turned to face Yi Beidou directly. Although he stood less than 1.8 meters tall, under the weight of this terrifying pressure, he seemed to grow taller and taller, like a colossal Buddha statue suppressing the mortal realm.

*Thump! Thump!*

The people beside the graves felt their breathing hitch; they involuntarily lowered their heads and stepped back, not daring to meet the old man's gaze.

"What is the Dao that you seek?!"

The old man’s voice was no longer peaceful; it was solemn and majestic, thundering like a rolling storm. This was the "Great Thunderclap." A question of the Dao posed by the Buddha, allowing for no falsehoods.

Facing this storm of pressure, Yi Beidou’s expression remained unchanged.

"Since ancient times, looking across human civilization, there has never been an eternal empire, only eternal enlightenment."

"In ancient times, the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and his Dharma body remains immortal to this day. Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, and the three sages of Greece illuminated the wisdom of all ages. In modern times, there are scientific philosophies, and countless sages have strived to change the world, forging the face of the current era. Times change, but their names endure."

"Today, humanity possesses vast thoughts, and the power of science can move mountains and fill seas. Yet, this physical body remains as it has been for thousands of years. Even with a sanctified form, it is but flesh and blood; divine powers cannot rival technology."

"The Great Dao I seek is to shatter the limits of humanity, to shatter the limits of biology, to stand equal to the heavens, or even surpass them, and to push human life into a new era. A single body can serve as the law for all eternity!"

Yi Beidou spoke calmly, yet the will and ambition in his words were enough to overshadow the heavens and all the Buddhas.