"You're talking nonsense!" The two clones of Book Emperor Wang appeared instantly on his left and right, and the three attacked in unison: "Ice and Fire Double Heaven!"
"Yi Hai Wu Fo..."
The monk shook his head, and with a flick of his finger, he diffused all three moves. He remained unassailable, his expression calm and composed.
Book Emperor Wang was aghast, "Who exactly are you? How have I never heard of you?"
"Yi Hai Wu Fo..."
The monk shook his head slightly, then smiled, "I am but a commoner, I help the needy and relieve the poor, and I never leave my name. It's normal that you don't recognize me. Yi Hai Wu Fo... May Buddha be merciful. Heaven has compassion for all living beings. If you leave now, you can accumulate virtue and do good deeds, benefiting the suffering of the world. Yi Hai Wu Fo..."
Book Emperor Wang channeled green light into his sword and slashed at the commoner monk: "Poison Dragon Slash!"
The commoner monk did not dodge, and took the attack head-on, yet he calmly diffused it into nothingness.
Book Emperor Wang refused to believe it and unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, attempting to slice the monk into a thousand pieces, but the result was the same: he remained unharmed.
"Yi Hai Wu Fo..."
Book Emperor Wang was startled and quickly retreated to create distance, "Are you even human? How can you be unharmed?"
The commoner monk continued to make hand gestures: "Yi Hai Wu Fo... Put down your butcher's knife and turn back to the shore."
Book Emperor Wang was stunned. He put away his magical weapon and said to Ming Zhi Tian, "Boy, you are lucky. This Emperor cannot kill you today, but if we meet again, I will surely cut you down! Hmph."
Book Emperor Wang left, leaving the commoner monk and Ming Zhi Tian. Ming Zhi Tian tentatively asked, worried he might have escaped one danger only to fall into another:
"May I know your esteemed name? Why did you save me?"
"Yi Hai Wu Fo..."
The commoner monk said, "My Dharma name is Shi Kong, and everyone calls me Master Shi Kong."
Ming Zhi Tian bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Master Shi Kong, for saving my life. This junior, Ming Zhi Tian, pays his respects."
Master Shi Kong waved his hand gently, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. I merely saw injustice and drew my sword to help. This proves that Heaven has compassion for all living beings, and also proves that you, Benefactor Ming, are not destined to die, and that I met you."
"Is that really so?" Ming Zhi Tian murmured to himself. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Master Shi Kong said, "Yi Hai Wu Fo, may Buddha be merciful. Benefactor, I must take my leave now."
Ming Zhi Tian wanted to stop him, but the man had already vanished, "Master Shi Kong! I still wish to treat you to a meal to express my gratitude."
A voice drifted down from the sky, "If fate brings us together, we meet even across a thousand miles; if fate does not, we do not meet even looking down. Yi Hai Wu Fo..."
Ming Zhi Tian scratched his head, "What a strange person."
...
Book Emperor Wang returned to Cloud's Edge, still thinking about the commoner monk. He decided to inform Emperor Hong Xuan of Ming Zhi Tian's whereabouts. He fabricated his reason, claiming only that his informants had found Ming Zhi Tian.
Emperor Hong Xuan had initially intended to let Ming Zhi Tian go, but with Book Emperor Wang's embellishments, he had to personally intervene to save face.
...
A projection appeared in mid-air. The majestic Emperor Hong Xuan roared, "Ming Zhi Tian!"
Ming Zhi Tian looked up, his pupils dilating in shock. What was this?
Emperor Hong Xuan extended an invisible hand from the projection, intending to pull him in!
Ming Zhi Tian felt no fear, for he could tell from his Immortal Emperor's Eye that this projection was not his true form, but more akin to a clone-like ability.
"Azure Flower Sword Art!"
Ming Zhi Tian, wielding the Dragon Bestowing Sword, struck the projection!
Although it was merely a projection, the strength of the Floating Void Realm was still present. Emperor Hong Xuan casually waved his hand, and Ming Zhi Tian's sword strike instantly vanished into nothingness.
Ming Zhi Tian adopted a hit-and-run tactic: "White Character Art! White is not White! The Way is not the Way!"