The sphere of light swelled larger. Lü Zang, pinned to the ground, struggled violently and cried out a warning.But the eight-legged lion, now terrified of Beimen, ignored Shemen's commands. Yeluo's turbulent heart rendered her powerless. The Medicine Master and the others could only watch helplessly as Beimen advanced, knowing his lethal intent yet utterly powerless to intervene.Suddenly, a staff whistled through the air, embedding itself in the earth before Beimen.Beimen's gaze lowered. He turned slowly.Beneath the splintered tree trunk, a figure bleeding from all limbs hung his head, barely managing to stand. A crow circled him in frantic agitation."Bensheng! Don't push yourself!"Bensheng waved Ananda aside. His sapphire eyes, visible through matted white hair, were dull and listless."Ah, I'd forgotten," Beimen mused, a faint smile touching his lips. "One remains from the Beast Clan, you who have known the deepest inequality. Fear not, I shall improve your people's lot. Naturally, this will occur after your demise."Bensheng's voice was low but firm. "Wrong.""Wrong?""Your path is wrong. An equal and free world... should not be built by such means..."Beimen's expression faltered momentarily before settling into a bitter smile. "It seems I expected too much. I should never have hoped you ignorant children could comprehend the methods of your elders."As the Medicine Master gasped, the sphere of light shot from Beimen's palm, slamming into Bensheng's position with devastating force.The great tree shattered into fragments, its splintered remains scattering around the stump where Bensheng now knelt on one knee, supporting his faltering body.Beimen snorted coldly. His palm lifted, and five spiraling beams of light erupted forth. The forest exploded in a chain reaction, the
resulting shockwave blowing back towards them, forcing Shemen to shield her face from the debris.The Medicine Master's mouth opened soundlessly. He feared to utter the name, expecting only to see a mutilated corpse.As the dust settled, the woodland border lay utterly erased, flattened into barren earth.Yet no body remained.Beimen frowned. A whisper of wind reached his ears. He turned and his eyes widened at Bensheng standing directly before him, swinging a bloodied fist.Beimen flipped backward, skidding across the ground before halting. He stared, astonished. The boy still possessed power? That speed—far beyond mere physical strength—could only be "Creating Paths Underfoot"...Rising with a light laugh, Beimen brushed his sleeves. "Very well. I concede I underestimated you. I never anticipated such growth. Since you insist on opposition, speak your mind."Bensheng murmured, "My mind?""You claim my method flawed. Were it yours to build, how would you forge this equal, free world?"Bensheng shook his head in bewilderment. "I don't know."He lowered his head, the wind stirring his tangled curls."From the beginning, I sought answers. When Lumbini Deer Park fell, I lost home and kin. I believed supreme power was the solution. Yet even at Zhoku Academy, my skills remained mediocre. I cannot even prove my initial quest was justified... I have no answer."Retrieving his staff, Bensheng moved to Lü Zang's side. He reached for the six-colored bindings, but the lights remained immutable."Useless," Lü Zang rasped bitterly. "Leave me. Take them and flee!" He swallowed his unspoken truth: Beimen wouldn't kill him, but this was knowledge he desperately wished to keep from his companions."There must be a way."The words seemed meant for the binding spell, but only Bensheng knew they echoed his cry to Qu Tan years ago—the lost boy shouting, "There must be a way to change the world!"Years later, he could only repeat this hollow mantra, powerless to act."Without answers, why not submit and follow me?" Beimen watched his futile efforts, pity glinting in his eyes. "What are you
doing?"Why indeed? If powerless, why not cease?But like the night he fled Lumbini, when his feet carried him unbidden, so now his hands refused to stop trying to free Lü Zang.His hands, his feet—they faithfully obeyed instinct."Because I am life born into this world." Bensheng frowned, then laughed. "To run and fight—this is my nature."A shadow lunged from the side. Before Bensheng could react, a whip cracked. Shemen stood before him, arm raised, lash retracted, glaring at Ruoqiao sprawled in the distance. "You will not touch him!""Shemen!""I sent Little Treasure away with the Medicine Master and Yeluo," she said, turning with a grin as she scratched her thick curls. "You spoke well. I will fight too. But Little Treasure? Even a divine beast may fear such foes. And this Proctor... he frightens me too."Rubbing her goosefleshed arm, she gritted her teeth. "I'll guard the pretty one. Bensheng, you—"A streak of white light seared past, scorching the earth black. "Bensheng?!" she cried.Wind roared overhead. Bensheng stood, hands clasped, running upon the void.His sapphire eyes blazed with unprecedented clarity."Shemen, thank you.""For what?""You reminded me."Beams of light shot from Beimen's palm, targeting Bensheng.Observing Bensheng's steps intently, Beimen murmured, "A bridge? In another dimension, or..." He directed the beams around Bensheng's feet. Sparks flew, revealing the technique's range. The sixth, composite light spun downward, striking where Bensheng's foot should fall.Bensheng stumbled, plummeting. Beimen instantly followed with a crimson beam, aiming for the opening. At the last second, Bensheng extended his staff, handstanding upon it. The red light struck the staff squarely.Dust cleared. The staff stood unmarred. Bensheng exhaled in relief. "It seems the fairy sister gifted me well!"From afar, Shemen remained bewildered. "Bensheng, I reminded you of nothing!""Respect," Bensheng said, sliding down his staff to crouch. "You reminded me of respect. True equality means honoring all instincts,
even fear. To define all life as ignorant is merely arrogance."Rising, he pointed his staff at Beimen. "Proctor Beimen! Your sacrifice of innocent lives creates no true equality or freedom!"Beimen pressed his hands to the earth. A formation erupted around Bensheng, trapping him."Then what is true equality and freedom?""True freedom means different races..." Bensheng's staff whirled against the formation's energy."Different skins..." Shemen's whip stirred the dust."Even different abilities..." The Medicine Master clutched the lion's mane, glancing back anxiously."Different natures..." Lü Zang's gaze remained fixed on Bensheng."Different emotions—all are valid." Yeluo's voice was distant, her head lifting as if awakening.Bensheng clasped his hands, declaring loudly, "Every life may run toward the future it desires!" He stepped forward, passing through the formation with "Pass Through Walls."Five light spheres pursued him. Bensheng spun his staff, deflecting each sphere, charging to Beimen's flank. In panic, Beimen raised a wall of sealing energy."Equality is awareness, not an environment dictated by the powerful!"Bensheng phased through the barrier again, but his depleted energy made him falter. The sixth light sphere struck, the explosion hurling him to the ground.Beimen ascended on a cloud, looking down. "And when you face inequality again?""Then we fight!" Bensheng leaned on his staff, blood streaming over one eye, forcing it shut. "We will fight for ourselves! Do not underestimate us! When all who fight unite, on that day, we will truly change the world!"Shemen felled Ruoqiao once more. A crow flew past as she turned, worried. "Bensheng..."Beimen sneered. "Fine words. But what strength remains? Your power is spent."Ananda tugged at Bensheng's collar, trying to lift him, but the magic-drained body was leaden, immobile. Bensheng could only gasp for air."You cannot best even me! How will you change the world?"Was this the end?Was he truly defeated?
No.While a shred of strength remained, he would never yield."Even if it costs my life, I will strike you down!"Suddenly, the earth's dust stirred. A wind rose, lifting broken leaves and twigs. Moisture gathered, dew drops hovering. The world grew brilliant.The light... Lü Zang looked skyward, but the sun's radiance was unchanged. This intensifying brilliance emanated from Bensheng himself.A luminous white glow outlined his upright form. A gale howled, dew, leaves, all things swaying with his presence."The Primordial Colored Light?!" Shemen cried, hands over her ears. "Legends say those who breakthrough to Nirvana gain this power—the light of all creation's original hue!"Beimen formed seals, chanting.Golden statues rose layer upon layer, endlessly encircling Bensheng, containing his radiant light."Even if you pierce formations, how will you breach the 'Eighty-Four Thousand Dharma Gates'?" The wound on his arm had clotted. Beimen bit his tongue, and the blood-empowered statues glowed crimson, swelling to engulf even Lü Zang, Shemen, and the distant eight-legged lion.Yet within the red glow, white spots appeared—tiny at first, then expanding. Antlers emerged. A snow-white fawn, staff in mouth, trod upon a bridge of Primordial Light extending beneath its hooves, climbing skyward.Lü Zang stared wide-eyed. Though Bensheng had broken free, the formation had drained much of his light, stripping his human form. As the bridge faded, the fawn missed its step, beginning to fall.A vast shadow swept past."Little Treasure!" Shemen shouted joyfully.The eight-legged lion roared, wings spreading, catching Bensheng and surging forward.Bensheng closed his eyes, focusing every instinct into this moment.Run. Then fight!All sound vanished. Discordant colors dissolved. The world grew profoundly still—so tranquil that Beimen released his hand seals, his habitual polite smile returning unbidden."Like a deer unbound in wild woods, seeking sustenance where it roams, the wise delight in freedom's quest, should wander lone as
rhino roams."Before him, the fawn strove against the final barrier. Its luminous splendor, potent enough to eclipse all worldly hues, cleansed even the six-colored bonds from Lü Zang's body.And within this radiance, the "forest-unbound" fawn possessed everything he sought...True liberty.Bensheng turned his head. The staff struck Beimen squarely across the face, hurling him from his cloudy perch.