The place of utmost evil of which Guan Yan spoke, was, of course, the Senhai Source Realm of the Dark Period.

And the flower of utmost bliss he referenced, could only be Xiao Fan.

“Throngs of beings, devoid of throngs of suffering, yet receiving myriad joys, hence named Utmost Bliss.”

The world of Utmost Bliss was the lifelong aspiration of many Buddhist disciples.

Yet, for Guan Yan, within the very heart of the Senhai Source Realm, he had already discovered his “utmost bliss.”

It was only at this juncture that Jiang Wang learned Guan Yan had, in fact, possessed the opportunity to depart the Senhai Source Realm, yet chose not to.

His request for Jiang Wang to return his monk’s robes to Xuankong Temple was solely for the purpose of bidding farewell to his faith, and to his departed master.

From that point onward, he could calmly abandon Buddhism and depart. No longer bound by pure rules and precepts, free to love what he loved.

As the snow-white monk’s robes in the air burned the last vestiges, Guan Yan’s voice too vanished without a trace.

Jiang Wang bowed in a solemn rite, then straightened his form and took his leave of the monks of Xuankong Temple: “The pure land of Buddhism, worldly folk dare not linger. Matters here resolved, Jiang Wang shall depart first.”

“For the affairs of Master Guan Yan, we have troubled the benefactor,” Abbot Ku Ming said, pressing his palms together. “Pray, tarry a moment. This old monk shall have someone fetch some Buddhist affinities.”

The so-called “Buddhist affinities” were merely a polite expression for rewards.

In truth, even if Ku Jue had not pressed the matter, a sect of Xuankong Temple’s standing would not allow Jiang Wang to leave empty-handed. Naturally, the level of “Buddhist affinities” would be adjusted accordingly.

Xuankong Temple possessed a vast family and formidable strength, and with Ku Jue stepping forth to advocate, the “Buddhist affinities” that Abbot Ku Ming dispatched someone to fetch would inevitably be of significant value.

Yet, Jiang Wang still refused: “Senior Guan Yan is a person I deeply respect. He was willing to trust me, and I am willing to do what is within my power for him. There is truly no need for any rewards. Moreover, the monk’s robes have already been consumed by fire; this matter now holds no connection to your temple. I would not have accepted before, and even less so now.”

The burning of Guan Yan’s monk’s robes signified the exhaustion of his ties with Xuankong Temple.

Jiang Wang, by pointing this out, left Ku Ming with no reason to insist on offering gifts. In his heart, however, his estimation of this youth inevitably rose further.

“Xuankong Temple shall remember the benefactor’s kind intentions.” Ku Ming pressed his palms together before him and recited a Buddha’s name: “Namo Shakyamuni Buddha.”

Jiang Wang returned the rite once more, then turned and departed.

As he took but a single step, Ku Jue immediately squeezed forward, his face alight with smiles: “As a master, I shall see you off.”

Jiang Wang could not refuse, and even if he did, it would be futile. He could only politely respond: “Then, I have troubled the great master.”

Ku Jue stubbornly regarded himself as a master, while Jiang Wang, without tiring, maintained distance, addressing him as “great master” at every turn, clarifying their relationship, absolutely unwilling to allow any ambiguity. In terms of persistence, for a time, it was difficult to discern who was superior.

Ku Jue followed Jiang Wang and left, and the monk Jing Li naturally trailed along happily.

Xuankong Temple’s abbot, two head seats, remained before Ding Yu Tower.

After a period of silence, the head seat of Guan Shi Yuan, Ku Di, was the first to speak: “Guan Yan’s rebellious departure from the mountain gate – how is this matter to be handled? There must be a procedure.”

“Only a wisp of true spirit remains, how can it be handled?” the head seat of Jiang Long Yuan, Ku Bing, ‘shouted’.

One could see he was already trying his utmost to speak softly, but it was still ear-splitting.

Fortunately, everyone was long since accustomed.

“I see it not necessarily.” Ku Di shook his head: “How can a wisp of true spirit communicate with people, how can it entrust people with matters? Moreover, he can still project power from the Yu Heng Star Domain.”

At this moment, Ku Ming spoke: “I see Jiang benefactor’s nature is sincere, without deceit.”

“He may or may not have lied. But with his cultivation, can he perceive the truth?” Ku Di countered.

Ku Bing, in a booming voice, said: “He was lost in the secret realm world for five hundred years, utterly unable to let us know he was still alive. He still specifically asked someone to send back his monk’s robes to bid farewell to the mountain gate, which fully demonstrates his feelings towards the sect.”

“That is his affair, and his choice.” Ku Di remained unmoved: “I only know the mountain gate rules are thus. No one is permitted to overstep. His entire path of cultivation, all is from Xuankong Temple’s resources. All superhuman creations, all is what Xuankong Temple paid for. How can he simply say ‘this life finally shall not become Buddha’ and easily detach from the mountain gate?”

Ku Bing held no feelings of dissatisfaction; he knew Ku Di was simply such a rigid person. And when it came to temple rules, he truly had nothing compelling to say, thus he only asked: “Then, what do you say should be done?”

“First, find him. If indeed only a wisp of true spirit remains, the suffering he endured is sufficient to repay his karma, and Xuankong Temple shall pursue no further. If not so, then at least his entire body of learning must be abolished, and he must be beaten back from the superhuman realm, so that Xuankong Temple’s secret methods do not spread outside.” Ku Di’s expression was serious, leaving no room for maneuver.

Ku Bing also had to admit that although Ku Di might be a bit severe, he was indeed upholding the mountain rules.

Just at this moment, a monk with no eyebrows seemed to appear out of thin air, landing behind them.

“The merit of five hundred years of teaching, is it not enough to repay this master’s grace?”

Ku Bing hastily turned around. With the status of abbot, he still first performed a rite: “How did you come?”

“The breath of an old friend stirred the Zen mechanism.”

The no-eyebrowed monk had a fierce countenance, but his voice was very gentle: “Let the matter of Guan Yan cease here.”

“Zen Master Zhi E.” Ku Di still did not alter his tone: “This small monk is merely following the mountain rules.”

This no-eyebrowed monk was, in fact, a high monk of the “Zhi” generation, higher than Guan Yan by one generation, and a full five generations higher than Ku Di and the others. No wonder even Ku Ming had to first perform a rite.

But generation was generation. Ku Di, as the current head seat of Guan Shi Yuan, did not need to act against his will for him.

Zen Master Zhi E of no eyebrows sighed: “Guan Yan was the disciple taken in by Zhi Xiang. Among all ‘Guan’ generation disciples, he entered the latest, was the youngest, and was the little junior brother of all ‘Guan’ generation disciples.”

“When Zhi Xiang passed away, he entrusted Zhi Xiu to look after him. Later, Zhi Xiu also passed away. It was the abbot…”

The no-eyebrowed monk said here, then glanced somewhat apologetically at Ku Ming and changed his words: “It was senior brother Zhi Nian who personally looked after him.”

In the mouth of Zen Master Zhi E, senior brother Zhi Nian was, naturally, the Xuankong Temple abbot at that time.

That person had long since passed away; his left golden body was precisely in this tower forest.

Ku Di frowned: “The mountain gate treated him with such care, he should be even more loyal and unwavering.”

“In the past, senior brother Zhi Nian intended for him to succeed as abbot. Unfortunately, he later became lost in the secret realm world, with no news. We did not expect that after so long, we could actually receive news of him.”

Zen Master Zhi E shook his head: “Among all the Buddhist disciples I have seen, from that year to now, his enlightenment is the first. Unfortunately…”

“Since he is so outstanding, even more so he cannot just be allowed to leave like this!”

Ku Di was truly somewhat dissatisfied. Rules were rules. Zen Master Zhi E was of course of high generation and very worthy of respect, but he, as the head seat of Guan Shi Yuan, was here discussing rules, yet that person kept recalling the past, which was truly unpleasant.

To put it nicely, he was just chattering. To put it badly, he was somewhat relying on age to sell old!

Zen Master Zhi E looked at him and smiled bitterly: “The head seats of Guan Shi Yuan have changed so many, yet they are all like carved from the same mold. Each one rigid. Seeing you, I suddenly feel as if I am still in the past.”