The simple cloth robe he wore seemed filthy and somewhat short and ill-fitting under the luminous aura flowing around him.Yet it did nothing to diminish his bearing."You... how...?" Lüzang was slightly astonished. It had only been a few months, yet Bensheng had already become a tall, sturdy youth.Bensheng smiled wryly. Due to the chaotic flow of time across the continent, he, Yeluo, and Lüzang had experienced differing passages of years.Everything must end immediately, letting the Comprehender herald a new temporal age.
Thinking this, he took a deep breath."Idiot."Lüzang's eyes widened, then he glared fiercely. "What did you say?!""Aren't you an idiot, causing such a huge commotion." Bensheng sighed somewhat helplessly. "And making me clean up your mess... But between you and me, this battle was indeed always destined to happen."From the very beginning, he had identified Lüzang as his rival. Fate had twisted and turned, yet still led to this day."Then make your move." Lüzang drew his folding fan from his sleeve.Bensheng looked up at the black cloud formed by the converging crows, his expression gradually turning serious."Do you intend to face me using this evil power? Lüzang."Lüzang sneered. "Why not? 'The return to origin is of one nature, though the expedient means are many.' Power is power. As long as it leads to victory."A massive flock of crows poured down.Bensheng hastily moved the Primordial Colored Light enveloping Shuda, placing him near the Pharmacist. Seeing the Pharmacist nod at him, he then rose and began to flee.He ran, leaped, wielded his staff, dodging left and right. But the crow flock remained close behind."It's just like a whole flock of Anandas." Bensheng stuck out his tongue, pressed his palms together. "Yeluo."Deep in the Zhoku Forest, Yeluo sat in the full lotus position, using her spiritual connection to sense the flow of energy in the earth's veins.She quickly sensed Bensheng's call. Gripping the Bodhi wooden sword with both hands, she plunged it into the earth.A mass of vines erupted from the ground behind Bensheng's feet, densely weaving into a net that ensnared the crows.Bensheng plopped down on the ground, wiping his sweat. "That was close."Before the word "close" fully left his mouth, another massive flock of crows cascaded down.At the foot of the mountain behind Zhoku, Ruoqiao, having met Shakra's group who were carrying the unconscious Shuda, prepared to lead them away.The Pharmacist looked back towards Zhoku, worried. "We can't
rely solely on Bensheng's power. These crows are about to spread across the entire continent."Ruoqiao said solemnly, "Don't worry. Now is the time for everyone to unite. The warriors from Buzhou Kingdom have already set out; they will eliminate those crows.""But the crows are the physical manifestation of the spiritual power Lüzang absorbed from all the Adepts. If the crows die, those Adepts will likely be injured."Ruoqiao was stunned. "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"Shakra looked down at the unconscious Shuda. "This lord will go. I will command all warriors not to harm the crows, but we will definitely stop them from blotting out the sky.""Good." Ruoqiao looked at Shakra. It was his ancestors who had brought disaster to the Elephant Tribe. But now, he felt no hatred. "I leave it to you."Inside the Zhoku Forest, Yeluo, hearing the conversation of Ruoqiao and the others relayed by the plants, allowed a slight smile to touch her lips. But she soon grew serious again. The crows were frantically pecking at the vine net. At this rate, it wouldn't hold them much longer.Bensheng, you must hurry!Back on the training ground, Bensheng had already rolled on the ground several times, his whole person disheveled and covered in grime. Lüzang finally grew suspicious.Why won't he leave the ground?Lüzang flicked his fan open. A whirlwind sprang up, coiling around Bensheng's feet. Caught off guard, Bensheng was thrown high into the air. A massive flock of crows rushed at him head-on."Not good..." Bensheng only had time to raise his staff in front of him.The crows' sharp beaks scratched his body, shredding his robe into ribbons. Bensheng grunted, his strength failing as he fell from the sky, crashing hard into the ground."Cough..." Bensheng pushed himself up, seeing a pair of white boots standing nearby."Where is your Primordial Colored Light? Why aren't you using your full power?"Bensheng shook his head bitterly. "I have no spiritual power left." He looked at his hands, scratched by the crows. "'Sacred Light of the Earth' exhausted all my power."Lüzang was enraged. "Are you looking down on me?" The eight
leaves of his fan unfolded. Countless sharp winds shot straight towards Bensheng. Bensheng was sent spinning through the air by the gale, flung far away.A sliver of light suddenly broke through at the edge of the sky, slanting down to earth, happening to let a breath of light fall, landing on Lüzang.Unnoticed, the sky-full of crows had been cleared more than halfway by the nets and wooden arrows of the Buzhou Kingdom warriors. Furious, Lüzang raised his hand, fingers spread wide. Countless crows rushed towards his palm as if seeking death, coalescing into an unfathomably deep black dot. That dot seemed capable of swallowing all surrounding light..."'Void Annihilation'."Amidst the dust and smoke, Bensheng wiped the blood from his lips and stood up. He finally saw the killing intent in Lüzang's eyes.At this moment, he had become a true enemy."Even without spiritual power, I will defeat you." Bensheng closed his eyes and pressed his palms together.One is All, All is One.The myriad phenomena of the world, the "All" in their infinite diversity, can also exist within the "One" that is the true Suchness. Their essence is without distinction.His spiritual power had transformed into sacred light, merging with the earth. And the earth nurtured new Primordial Colored Light within him.I am the Earth, the Earth is me..."'Dharmadhatu Origination'."Radiance surged up from the entire earth, continuously gathering, condensing before Bensheng.A single, weak crow struggled to fly between the two massive streams of power."Bensheng, Lüzang... Stop! If this continues, you'll only injure each other!""Ananda?"Bensheng frowned. "Even if we injure each other, we must stop him. Don't block me!""No, Bensheng." Ananda hung his head. "Actually, I never managed to tell you... Lüzang is my kin, my older brother!"Bensheng was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. Connecting his mind with Yeluo through the earth, he gradually recalled those past moments...
"This old man has also been away from home for a long time. But as long as home is in your heart, home forever exists.""...Among the common people, crows are often called 'Filial Birds'. This crow looks very similar to the ones my family keeps.""That was long ago. My younger brother, because he was unfilial to our mother, was punished by the spirits, turned into a lowly crow. He must undergo three thousand trials before he can regain his original form. I don't know where my brother flew off to? I heard he went to Zhaoyun Kingdom.""Back then, I had just arrived in Zhaoyun Kingdom. I didn't know how to avoid beasts and eagles, often getting injured...""Ananda, didn't you say your relatives are in the Saptaparna Kingdom? Why haven't I seen you go look for them?""I'm fine. Just seeing them live safe and healthy is enough."...So that was it. He had relied too much on Ananda's care but had forgotten to think more about it, had overlooked its feelings.But now..."Ananda," Bensheng looked at the growing void in Lüzang's hand. Lüzang was staring coldly at them, showing not the slightest regard for Ananda's fragile body. "Get out of the way quickly. Lüzang has no intention of sparing familial bonds. Why risk yourself for him?""No, he wouldn't, Bensheng. Leave it to me." Ananda turned around, nearly getting sucked into the void. It fought with its wings to stabilize itself. Facing Lüzang, it pleaded, "Brother, please stop!"Lüzang sneered. "An unfilial son, daring to show your face again.""It's not like that, Brother!"Ananda pulled a small, narrow-necked bottle from beneath its black feathers and drank the potion inside. The weak crow's body emitted countless vapors."Please, remember quickly! Our story!"Lüzang watched as the figure within the spreading vapor grew larger, his pupils slowly contracting..."Brother, you eat. I'm not hungry.""We brothers share everything. If I eat, you eat too.""But the First Wife says we are different. You are the legitimate son. In the clan, you are much more valuable than I.""Don't listen to her. We are brothers. With you here, I won't be lonely. If I have food, I will definitely share it with you!"..."Look, Ananda! Haha, isn't this egg pretty? I found a bird's nest. The
eggs inside have five colors. It's on Fanjing Mountain. Let's go steal the eggs."..."Mountain God, please calm your anger. It's all my son's fault for not knowing his limits, for offending the Mountain God.""We, the Buyi clan, will surely give the Mountain God an explanation.""Brother—""Let go! Why are you capturing Ananda?!""Lüzang, you remember this! All of this is your fault!""Then let me take the punishment! I was the one who took Ananda to Fanjing Mountain. If you want to capture someone, capture me!""But you are the legitimate eldest son of the North Gate family, destined to become a Comprehender. You must be a man without faults. So, forget Ananda!"..."Heh, so you are that Ananda, the one punished and turned into a crow for stealing the Mountain God's eggs.""So shameful. I wish I didn't have a brother like you.""Since you've become a crow, then go live in Zhaoyun Kingdom, the land full of Beast Tribe."...Yeluo, hearing the information relayed by the plants, exclaimed, "That's Ananda?... So, this is his story."Compared to her own suffering, forced by her parents to cultivate arduously for family honor, Ananda's plight was a hundred times more innocent and painful. Yet, with his crow's body, he lived small and weak, yet strong.The vapor dissipated. A delicate, handsome young boy ran out swiftly.His appearance was so outstanding, like an immortal from a painting, yet without a trace of resentment. His large, dark, soft, bright eyes looked up at Lüzang with admiration."I used Wuni's potion. This potion enables the 'Shape-Shifting Art'. So, I secretly hid it, just wanting to see you one day with the face familiar to you, Brother Lüzang!"Lüzang trembled violently. His hand loosened, the void instantly vanishing. In its place, his right eye began to emit black smoke from the pupil, rapidly taking over the entire eye socket.Lüzang cried out in pain, clutching his eye as he knelt.
"This is..." Bensheng withdrew his hand, the Primordial Colored Light instantly returning to the earth. He hurried over. "Ananda! Lüzang!"Yeluo also rose on her sword from the Zhoku Forest, flying towards them."How could it be... how..."In his right eye, fragmented, torn memories were brutally pieced together. A woman's cries; a man's roars."Without Mara's power, it cannot be activated...""But using this art will harm him!""He must forget Ananda. We can't let him continue to degenerate."Lüzang could no longer bear it. He threw his head back and let out a cry of agony. "Ah—"A massive shockwave erupted. Bensheng and Yeluo, caught off guard, were thrown far back.Beneath the overwhelming black cloud, a giant shadow gathered. It continuously absorbed sand and dust from the ground, gradually growing arms and five-fingered hands."Inner Demon..."Outside the capital, Sanbao stood with a group of warriors, gazing in terror at the giant shadow.One hundred and eighty years later, the Inner Demon had once again appeared upon the continent.