Chapter 691

Chapter 691

Allowing himself a moment to bask in smug satisfaction, Goujian stifled a chuckle as he watched young Gen falter and fall.

Though the young hunter once had promise, Goujian always knew Gens tenuous grasp of the Razors Edge would be his undoing. While he pushed his limits to progress faster and further than most, he was prone to fits of unrestrained rage and lust, so his downfall was all but inevitable once his luck finally ran out. Promising as he might seem, Goujian believed it was only a matter of time before Gen was left behind by other young talents, such as Yuanyin, Mitsue Hideo, Mao Jianghong, or even the Chieftain of Chieftains Vithar. Against all expectations however, this once future Emperors path had come to an early end thanks to hubris and impulse, and Goujian found it fitting to see Gens Transcendent form to bear a twisted expression of fear and despair, complete with two metallic tears embedded upon his frozen, metallic grimace, an eternal testament to his cowardly inner nature.

Such a shame for this once promising dragon among men to be ruined by the Uniters unsound teachings.

That was the only explanation for it, because as talented as his opponent might have been, there was no way the half-cat slave girl should have been able to defeat young Gen so easily. While the ruined Emperor established his Transcendent Form, Goujian replayed the battle in his minds eye and noted all the oddities he couldnt quite explain. The half-cats movements hinted at a superb level of mastery in the Forms, comparable to Goujians famed first Disciple Wen Zhong, who himself was considered a prodigy of the sword. However, even as outstanding as she was, Li Songs skills were still inferior to young Gen, yet for some reason, hed been unable to muster up a proper response in the face of her all out offensive. Some of it could be attributed to her uncanny ability to chain her Movements together with superb timing and precision, but this alone wasnt enough to explain young Gens panicked reactions and lacklustre defences. Goujian had seen the boy keep pace with some of the finest Chosen of Heaven, and while the half-cat was likely to eventually reach the pinnacle of the Martial Path, at the moment, she was still somewhat lacking when compared to the best of her peers.

So how was she able to overwhelm Gen so easily and topple him off the Razors Edge?

Do not underestimate the girl. Startled out of his thoughts by the unexpected Sending, Goujian turned his gaze upon Wisdom Vyakhya. Though he stood head, shoulders, and chest above the hunched-back monk, the aged ascetics unsightly scowl made Goujian feel like a child again, one who was about to be caned for making a stupid mistake. Even you with your refined body and decades of experience might have fallen before her blade, for her Aura is formidable and insidious to behold.

Her Aura? How could that possibly have been the reason for Gens defeat? Scouring the battlefield for a glimpse of the half-cat, Goujian realized both she and the Transcendent Gen had both disappeared from view, though the battle continued to rage all throughout the monastery. Your student is lacking and does not understand. In what way is her Aura formidable?

The Dao is boundless and without limit. Tearing his eyes away from the battlefield, Vyakhya regarded Goujian with solemn gravity. The world at large sees Aura as a binary function, Imperial or Defiled, courage or terror, an emotional assault which is easily countered by its opposing force, but this is merely the most basic and elementary function of Aura. Frowning, he added, Though your time under my tutelage has been sorely limited, surely Mahakalas teachings were not so lacking?

Reminded of his brush with Mahakala in Nan Ping, Goujian shuddered at the memory of his former Mentors terrifying Aura, one which set him to gibbering inside his tent until Yuanyins arrival. But Gen has an Aura as well, Goujian Sent, still not entirely understanding how ones Aura could be considered formidable, And the Chosen had long since unleashed their own Auras, so surely he must have been well protected. How was it possible for the half-cats Aura to penetrate through so many defences and affect him? The only reason Mahakalas Aura had overwhelmed Goujian at the time was because he was unprepared to defend against it, but surely things were different with Gen.

A frog in a well who knows not the heights of Heaven. Shaking his head in abject disappointment, the Wisdom Sent, You hear, but do not listen. The Dao is boundless and without limit, yet you refuse to accept that there is more to the world than what you have already experienced. You are akin to a child swinging a stick and pretending to be a Warrior, while wholly unaware of the true intricacies of swordsmanship. With this monks help, you have progressed further than most, and few under Divinity can match you in raw strength, speed, and reflexes, but these are not the sole measure of a Warriors strength. The body is vital, but so too are the mind and spirit, and whether it be through luck or cunning, the half-cat utilized an attack which targeted Gens glaring weakness, that of his meagre mental fortitude. Throughout their duel, she subjected him to an advanced Aura of crippling despair, which is the best explanation this monk can give without delving too deeply into the mysteries of the Dao, though you should keep in mind that matters are far more complicated than this, as it is less of an Aura and more a targeted empathy. Her personal despair became his and he was unable to bear the weight of her emotions, and so a once promising young Warrior has been toppled from his formerly lofty heights, a fate which you might soon share should you be caught unawares. Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo.

A terrifying prospect, though Goujian felt that Vyakhya gave him far too little credit. How could the trials and tribulations of a young slave compare to what he suffered through? Still, he was suitably humbled by his Teachers lecture as prior to this, Goujian wasnt even aware of the existence of mental or spiritual attacks, or rather would never have categorized them as such. Now that the concept had been introduced however, he recognized the veracity behind his Teachers words, for hed encountered other such mental attacks firsthand. One example was the power of illusion, as wielded by certain powerful Transcendents, and another was the indecipherable chants of the Brotherhood and the Spiritual Tiger Rakshasas sub-vocal growls, though Goujian knew little to nothing regarding the mechanics behind these various attacks.

What constituted a Spiritual attack, then? The question burned away at the back of Goujians mind, but he knew the Wisdom would look down on him if he asked without first contemplating the issue himself. Now was not the time for self-study however, so all this musing would have to wait until later. First, there was a battle to be won, and though the Chosen of Heaven vastly outnumbered the gathered monks of the Brotherhood, Goujian was taken aback by the overwhelming prowess of these supposedly pacifist monks. More impressive than their actual skills was the atypical manner in which they fought, wielding all manner of tools and objects which Goujian once would have said had no place upon the battlefield, but now he realized how closed minded hed been. The Dao was boundless and without limit indeed, and upon seeing these monks Reinforce stone pestles, Hone bristled brushes, Resonate rhythmic drum beats, and utilize miraculous Chi skills for which he had no name, Goujian was made aware of a myriad of new possibilities which hed never known had existed.

And yet none were more impressive than the Abbots sole Disciple, whose Martial prowess was easily a match for any Peak Expert Goujian had met firsthand. Standing at the forefront wielding a spade identical to Mahakalas, there was nothing remarkable about the hefty Monk Anand at first glance. A portly, chubby cheeked fellow whose persistent grin made him seem like the very soul of congeniality, all this changed as soon as he took to the battlefield and exchanged his customary smile for a fearsome, ferocious glower. Unleashing all his pent up emotions, the once jovial monk lost himself in a frenzy of rage and resentment to become an unstoppable force of bloodshed and violence. Though the Wisdom claimed he was not yet a Half-Step Divinity, Monk Anand cut a swathe through the Chosen elites like a farmer reaping his harvest, one burdened by grief and regret for the pain he caused his crops. Truly a conflicted individual, the fearsome monks demeanour offered Goujian a glimpse of the Truth, one which was in some way superior to the Truth he himself had discovered, and he yearned to take this mans comprehension and make it his own.

Go, Vyakhya Sent, once again reading Goujians thoughts as if lifting them from his mind. So long as this monk guards you from Mental and Spiritual attacks, then you will undoubtedly emerge victorious in a clash of brawn. Do not let overconfidence cloud your judgment however, and remember to study his movements well, for there are few under Heaven who can challenge you like Anand will.

A lonely prospect, to have so few peers left to challenge, but such was life when approaching the peak. Only Divinities still stood above Goujian, so he meant to make the most of this opportunity to learn and improve. This being said, he felt ill-equipped to fight Monk Anand with naught but his bare fists. A personal failing, because he knew his refined body should be more than capable of stopping a Honed Spiritual Weapon so long as he took the proper precautions. However, seeing how this was his first battle as a half-step Divinity, Goujian was anxious to achieve victory and reaffirm the veracity of his current Path. To this end, he made a quick stop on the battlefield and picked up a two-handed greatsword, one dropped by a fallen Chosen of Heaven who would no longer require it. Giving the too-light weapon a few casual one-handed swings, he familiarized himself with its use while reflecting on his recent lessons with Wisdom Vyakhya.

The Martial Path is flawed from conception, the aged monk had proclaimed during their first lesson following Goujians recovery, the first of many throughout their two week-long journey to the monastery. The Martial Path is wide and far-reaching, encompasses anything and everything which falls under its purview. A grand undertaking, but one humans struggle to understand, for though the Dao is boundless, our mortal perception limited and insufficient to the task, so it is better to work within our limits and pursue a more defined Dao. The Martial Path is too broad for this monks tastes, and while the Abbot would claim too much demarcation would only make matters more complicated in the end, he speaks as one who has never struggled to understand the Dao. Goujian detected more than a hint of jealousy in Wisdoms Vyakhyas tone, and he sympathized with the sentiment. The Heavens were prejudiced to the extreme, doling out talent in uneven proportions, but even without talent, great men like Goujian and Wisdom Vyakhya were able to reach the pinnacle of mortality and were now poised to take the next step beyond false Divinity.

What followed was a brief introduction to the various Daos from Wisdom Vyakhya, one he categorized himself and included the Sword Dao, Spear Dao, Fist Dao, Axe Dao, and other such Martial Daos, but also more esoteric subjects like the Dao of Painting, Calligraphy, Music, Sculpting, Cooking, and even Farming. Anything and everything could become a Dao, but many could be gathered together under a single label, so after countless decades spent categorizing the various Daos, monk Vyakhya came up with just over three-thousand distinct Daos to focus on. While Goujians first thought was to devote himself to the Dao of the Sword, his gut reaction to this decision was to steer clear from this decision, for he was no Warrior, but an investigator. In his eyes, the sword was merely a required tool to help complement his true Dao, so while he was not adverse to studying the Dao of the Sword, he could not devote himself to the sword and nothing else.

Wen Zhong clearly followed the Dao of the Sword, and Li Song a proponent of the Dao of the Sabre, but to this day, Goujian still had no clear epithet for his personal Dao. The Dao of the Confessor was the closest he could come up with, a Dao that resonated with him and him alone, which Wisdom Vyakhya wholeheartedly approved of. Fitting for you to lay claim to a unique Dao, he said, nodding as he considered Goujians answer, For you yourself are a unique individual, with a Path no other could ever follow.

This led Goujian to wonder why even bother labelling the various Daos in the first place, but he was not so foolish as to side with his teachers rival so soon into their relationship. Whats more, even though his personal Dao did not fit into one of his teachers three-thousand classified Daos, Wisdom Vyakhya was not wrong to have his students focus on one aspect of the Dao at a time. Take the Dao of the Sword for example, which Goujian studied despite his initial reservations. There was more to Sword Dao than merely how to swing a blade or move ones feet, for the Dao encompassed more than just the mere physical. A sword was a tool, but the Dao was limitless, and so too was the Dao of the Sword.

Holding out his left palm for Goujian to inspect, Wisdom Vyakhya began yet another lesson with, This is the physical world, one you are no doubt familiar with. Here, we have everything you see, smell, touch, hear, and taste, the trappings through which our mortal shells are encased within. Offering his right palm, he continued, And this is the metaphysical world, one which your senses cannot perceive, but is there all the same. You are familiar with this as well, if only by another name.

Recognition dawned almost immediately, for Goujian had long since suspected this Truth. The Void.

A good a name as any, Wisdom Vyakhya agreed, before placing his right palm over his left and pressing them both together and interlacing his fingers. These two worlds exist in two separate planes, yet are interwoven together at an infinite number of points, a concept which even this monk is unable to comprehend. For your purposes, it is enough to accept that this is the Truth, until we can prove otherwise. Separating his hands again, the Wisdom raised his left hand and continued, Martial Warriors almost all focus solely on the physical world, because it is the only world they are able to perceive and understand, but as this monk explained before, the two worlds are intertwined in more ways than one. Thus, by focusing on the physical world at the detriment of the metaphysical, this means any Insights gained into the latter are achieved through sheer luck and happenstance. Most dont even realize theyve stumbled across an Insight into the metaphysical, which is why so many Martial Warriors fail to pass down their unique skills and Insights to the next generation.

A frog in a well indeed. Goujians physical prowess was near unmatched, but there was more to the Dao than the Forms could encompass. Only now did he sympathize with young Gens plight, for who could endure such a torrent of unexpected emotion without faltering?

Directing Chi to mend his injuries, Goujian pushed himself up on one elbow with great difficulty and scowled at his foe, who stood over him with one hand held in prayer while the other pointed Mahakalas spade at Goujians throat. The Right Livelihood means to abstain from causing suffering, Monk Anand intoned, his eyes and tone laced with grim determination. But you yourself are a source of suffering this monk cannot allow to exist any longer. May you fare better in your next life, apostate.

As the spade drove down, everything shifted around Goujian, and he found himself several meters away from Monk Anand, whose spade was now driven into the ground. Standing atop the steel weapon as if it were a pliable wooden pole was none other than Wisdom Vyakhya himself, a sight which sent relief and regret coursing through Goujians body, glad to be alive but embarrassed for being so weak that his Divine Teacher was forced to personally intervene. Not even a half-step Divinity, the Wisdom began, his tone more curious than annoyed, Yet you are stronger than you should be. How is it possible for you to Manifest your Domain to restrict this battlefield and injure my student without first Shattering the Void?

Domain Manifestation? Goujian had never even heard of such a thing, but he had no time to ponder the implications while Healing his internal injuries. Such arrogance, such sin. Arranging his free hand in a Mudra of intent to argue with conflict, Monk Anand sneered and lectured the Wisdom. This has always been your greatest flaw apostate, your pride and inability to see beyond your own Path. You believe that your Path was the only Path to Divinity, but all Paths invariably lead back to the Dao, so long as one has the time and determination required to see their journey through to completion. Expert, Peak Expert, Half-Step, and Divinity, these are all vague measures of strength used to gauge ones progress along the Path, but this only applies to the Martial Path. Straightening up and offering the Wisdom a glare of challenge, Monk Anand patted his chest and declared, Your meaningless labels are nothing to this monk, for I do not tread the Martial Path. I seek the Dao, and in doing so, have found inner peace and happiness. What have you found on your Path of betrayal and bloodshed, apostate? Naught but sin and suffering as you compromise your morals and slip further and further from the Noble Eightfold Path.

Good, good. Shoulders shaking with anger and resentment, the Wisdoms body sank atop the spade as it bent beneath his increased weight. How this was possible, Goujian wasnt entirely certain, as there had to be more than simple Lightening at work here. Even if this was the Wisdoms real weight, unsupported by Lightening or even reversed to increase the downward pressure his body exerted, there was simply no way for his slender, frail body to contain so much mass. Youve hidden your progress well, as prodigious a young talent as ever, so let this senior here take the full measure of his juniors strength and see where he sits upon the meaningless measurement of Martial Strength. For the purpose of upholding the Treaty, of course.

Having said this, Wisdom Vyakhya made no move to attack, but Monk Anands expression twisted in exertion as the spade bent even more under the spindly Wisdoms weight. Seconds passed with agonizing slowness as Monk Anands back bent with effort, his cheeks flushed and rage unsightly to behold. His feet barely above the stone slabs, Wisdom Vyakhya shook his head and sighed. Manifestation is one thing, but you are sorely lacking in control, else this monk would not be able to easily do this. The stones cracked underneath his feet and the illusion shattered as the world returned to whence it was, lacking in neither colour nor vibrancy, but somehow lacking in spirit and vitality, as if viewed through a thin veil that made everything seem just a little off. To Goujian, it was a rude awakening indeed, but as the subtle weight lifted off his mind and body, he found it so much easier to breathe. Not so for Monk Anand, who staggered in place as he spewed a mouthful of blood into the air, but still the man stood with body bent double and blood dripping down his chin while refusing to let go of his weapon.

The Warrior in Goujian admired his opponents unyielding tenacity, even as he took pleasure in the formidable monks unpleasant plight. Wisdom Vyakhya could not be said to have broken the Treaty, not when testing the limits of a possible Divinity, and so long as Monk Anands life remained intact, any injuries could be waved off as incidental. Whatever this Domain Manifestation might entail, it was clear it had something that could only truly be done by those who Shattered the Void, meaning that even though Monk Anand had somehow accomplished an incredible feat, his results paled in comparison to the real thing. Good news for Goujian then, as he slowly pushed himself to his feet, his injuries not yet wholly mended but still able to continue the fight. If it pleases you Teacher, he began, gingerly retrieving his greatsword from where it lay, Allow this incompetent student to finish what he started.

Waving a hand in careless approval as he stepped off the spade, Wisdom Vyakhya shuffled away into the crowd without looking back. Or at least he would have were it not for another monk calling him out. So this is how you mean to reconcile our differences? The monk in question was the same one who admitted to being used by Wisdom Vyakhya, an ancient, decrepit elder whose wrinkle skin hung loosely from his thin, skeletal frame. By eliminating all those who refuse to accept your views without question? What happened to you, stranger whom I once called brother? You who were named for Clarity of Thought should have been the most open minded of us all, and it pains this monk to see you fallen so far.

Snorting in open contempt, Goujian had no intentions of allowing his Teacher to waste his breath on a fool, but as he raised his greatsword to deliver a killing blow, the undernourished ascetics gaze fell upon him and drove the air from his lungs. There was no blow or impact, and yet Goujian was concussed all the same, unable to understand how these seemingly harmless monks were able to surprise him time and time again.

Careful, Brother Dama, the Wisdom warned, and the fog lifted from Goujians mind as his Teacher stepped in to defend him once again. You have stood upon the precipice of Divinity for so many years, and no one prayed for your success more than this one, but if you mean to act here and now, then this one can only offer his apologies before sending you on to the next life. It would be a shame for one so close to the apex to have his Path cut short before having run its course, and this monk would grieve to see it happen.

Deflating at the obvious attempt at intimidation, the emaciated Monk Dama spirits rallied as he straightened to full considerable height, which only made him seem all the more gaunt and haggard. Threats and violence will not sway me from the Right Effort, not when this ones mistakes are largely to blame. I will do as my conscience demands, and whatever may be, may be. Raising his gaze to the Heavens, Monk Dama stood in place as two tears trickled down his cheeks, and though he spoke in what sounded like a bare whisper, Goujian heard the monks words as clear as day. For decades, I denied myself the pleasures of the flesh in search of the way forward, abstained from food, flesh, and for a time, even the company of friends until recent calamities forced me out of secluded meditation. So much has changed in the time I spent locked away, and now I look back on those years and wonder why I ever even bothered. What use is Divinity if it costs us everything we hold dear? I have given so much in pursuit of this goal, but now, it seems so meaningless and empty as those who I considered friends and family war amongst themselves. Is this my trial? Must I sever these ties of karma binding me to mortality before I can ascend to Divinity? This I cannot do, for my conscience will not allow me to watch my brothers suffer so, not when I have the means to save them. If their lives are the cost of Divinity, then I will not pay it, because then it would be better to live and die as a mortal, unfettered and free. The battlefield brightened as the monk glimmered in place, his frail body emitting a soft, golden glow, and beside Goujian, Wisdom Vyakhya hissed in surprise. Perhaps that is the lesson we are here to learn, Monk Dama continued, and Goujians heart frozen in his chest as the Heavens came alive around him, surging down towards the emaciated monk as he pressed his palms together as a string of wooden beads materialized around his hands and forearms. That True Divinity is not meant for mere mortals after all.

For the second time, the monastery shimmered around them, but this time, the difference was as stark as night and day. The soft golden glow permeated every square centimetre in sight, even somehow illuminating the shadows without casting any more. Plants sprouted from between the stone slabs and blossomed into various exquisite flowers, while fruit-bearing vines formed and matured to ripeness all along the monastery walls. As if this werent enough, fallen Chosen and monks alike began picking themselves back up all around them, those who had yet to die finding their bodies whole and unharmed once more. Even the corpses on the ground had their wounds mended by this holy light, but their soulless bodies stayed where they lay, which came as a relief to Goujian because at least now he knew there were limits to what Monk Dama could do. Even though nothing about the bony monk had physically changed, his bearing emanated warning and threat without ever meaning to, a testament to the power he now wielded.

The power of the Heavens themselves.

And so the Void has been Shattered, Wisdom Vyakhya muttered, unable to hide his astonishment. The declaration sent a jolt of awareness through Goujians mind, and he could only lament at how far he still had yet to go. It was both awe inspiring and underwhelming at the same time, to see someone take that final step with so little pomp and circumstance. A Divinity was born today, but Goujian would not have ever guessed if not for his Teachers explanation. Despite the torrent of Heavenly Energy still surging around him, Monk Dama was just as old and decrepit as his mortal form from mere minutes ago, which just didnt seem right. Where was his renewed youth and increased vigour? Where was his overwhelming power and majestic character? Aside from the strange golden glow, there was nothing that made the wizened old monk stand out, and Goujian took personal offence at this glaring transgression.

Heedless of their thoughts, Monk Dama lowered his head and fixed his gaze upon the Wisdom. Junior Brother Jorani, he said, speaking to the confused half-rat standing slack-jawed in the crowd, his clothes still burnt and tattered from Gens fiery conflagration, but his skin healthy and whole once again. I fear this might be the last lesson I can give, so bear witness to my actions and use what you learn as your conscience demands.

A gilded replica of Monk Dama stepped away from his body, only this monk was younger, healthier, and far more intimidating to behold, his former self cast in golden flesh somehow made whole in reality. Wisdom Vyakhya moved to intercept, only to be blown away by the first exchange, and before the clouds of dust and shattered stone obscured his sight, Goujian saw none other than the Ancestral Mammoth stride forth to meet the golden Warrior Monk in battle, their fists raised and on course to collide in a veritable clash of Divinities.

Stay your hands!

Silly to think that mere words would be enough to stop this clash of titans, but interrupt them it did as both combatants took a step back. The gargantuan behemoth of a Defiled Divinity was far more clever than he appeared, a cunning Ancestral Beast who not only survived where few others could, but thrived as well. He knew just how disastrous an exchange between Divinities could be, and was unwilling to commit without first uncovering the full extent of the Enemys strength. As for Monk Dama, it was clear that violence was not his first choice, and thus he too took a step back, or rather his wizened body stood in place as he recalled his golden incarnation. Striding in-between the two formidable Divinities with a confidence Goujian admired, Monk Anand shook his head and sighed. Mentor would never allow the sacrifice of so many merely to save his own life, nor does this monk care to burden Brother Rain with the guilt of so many deaths in his name. Narrowing his eyes in the Wisdoms direction, he asked, Even after seeing all that your actions have wrought, are you still wholly set on this Path of death and violence? You would rather see the Treaty shattered than take a step back and reassess your view?

My faith and conviction have never been stronger, Wisdom Vyakhya declared, but Goujian heard just a hint of doubt in his teachers voice, his thoughts thrown into disarray after seeing how easily Monk Dama Shattered the Void to overpower him in a single exchange. My Path is clear, and if the Brotherhood insists on standing in my way, then my conscience is clear.

May the Heavens have mercy on your soul, apostate. Closing his eyes and bowing his head, Monk Anands shoulders heaved in silent sigh before turning to Monk Dama. Senior Dama, if you would be so kind as to guide our guests to the Abbots place of convalescence. I believe if either one of them were here, they would agree to this monks decision, loath as I am to make it.

Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo. Weeping as he accepted the command, Monk Damas regret was clear as day, but so too was his reluctance to do violence. This was a man who cherished life, not one who took them, as evidenced by his Healing of friend and foe alike. Perhaps he did it to give everyone a chance to survive the ensuing clash, though as Monk Anand pointed out, everyone present would have likely died if Monk Dama traded blows with the Ancestral Mammoth in the monastery. Come, he said, his radiance dimming and flaring out before he and his golden incarnation disappeared from sight, and Wisdom Vyakhya and the Ancestral Mammoth followed suit, alongside the other Divinities Goujian suspected were lurking in Concealment. Only just barely able to catch a glimpse of their movements, Goujian Cloud-Stepped after his teacher in hopes of seeing this through to completion, for hed come too far to let Falling Rains death go unattended, especially considering how easily Monk Anand capitulated to their demands.

Because regardless of what he told himself at night, Goujian would never rest easy until he saw the Undying Falling Rain dead and burnt to ashes, for there was no telling what miracle the man might accomplish next.

Chapter MemeUpdated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m