stonecrandall Chapter 355 - 209: Martial World Rumors
Chapter 355 - 209: Martial World Rumors
Ghost Lamp Wuchen!?
Chu Qing was a bit taken aback as he glanced at the Yin Yang Hermit, not expecting this dual-faced fellow to be connected with such a demon?
Chu Qing had some understanding of this person, originally a disciple of the Vajra Sect among the Five Sects.
The Vajra Sect is also known as the Vajra Zen Institute.
It’s the only Buddhist sect among the Five.
Its martial arts, however, encompass a wide range and are out of the ordinary.
Wuchen was initially a direct disciple of a great virtuous and high monk within the Vajra Sect.
But due to his poor aptitude and lack of comprehension, he struggled to make progress in martial arts and was often bullied by his fellow disciples.
During a trip down the mountain with his master, he accidentally obtained the legacy Lamp-Burning Divine Skill from an elder predecessor.
The Lamp-Burning Divine Skill is not a Buddhist secret technique; it’s an evolution of the Imperial Bright Lamp Scripture from centuries ago.
It erased the cruel cultivation methods, based on the four words ’lamp burns eternal’, creating a new foundation.
This skill could ignite a Heart Lamp, illuminating the five viscera, purifying the entire body, thereby igniting the gathering of the three flowers atop the crown.
Not only could it accelerate martial arts progress, but it also improved one’s natural talent.
However, as a disciple of the Buddhist sect, Wuchen’s reckless cultivation of non-sect martial arts was a violation of sect rules.
He dared not practice openly and instead secretly cultivated it behind the scenes.
Little did he know, besides rapidly advancing inner power and improving physique, the Lamp-Burning Divine Skill also amplified both good and evil aspects.
The duality of good and evil was like gods opposed to demons.
When the Heart Lamp illuminates ’god’, benevolent thoughts arise.
Conversely, when it illuminates ’ghost’, heart demons burgeon.
It was said the Heart Lamp reveals one’s truest self... and in Wuchen’s case, it lit up the ’ghost’ side.
Hence, the term ’Ghost Lamp’ came to be.
Initially, Wuchen was unaware of any of this, racing ahead with the Lamp-Burning Divine Skill, and after improving his aptitude, he mastered all the martial arts the Vajra Sect had to offer.
The disciples who once bullied him were thoroughly humiliated.
Everyone marveled at Wuchen’s rapid progress, even the abbot of the Vajra Zen Institute considered him a prodigy waiting to bloom.
Unexpectedly, within days, news spread of Wuchen being discovered secretly practicing the Lamp-Burning Divine Skill. His master intended to punish him according to sect rules, and in his rage, he killed his master and fled the Vajra Sect.
This caused a massive shock throughout the martial world.
Betraying and killing one’s master is never tolerated in the martial world.
Wuchen’s act of killing his master almost made him a public enemy in the martial world.
Yet, like the Mad Beggar Ling Beichen at that time, though many wanted him dead, he couldn’t be killed.
By then, Wuchen had attained extremely high martial prowess.
Even when surrounded and pursued, he managed to escape without being caught.
Those who could catch up to him couldn’t defeat him when alone.
The Vajra Sect dispatched many disciples to hunt him down.
But most returned in defeat.
Furthermore, Wuchen repeatedly infiltrated the Vajra Sect, causing chaos and unrest.
Over time, people came to both respect and avoid him.
He became one of the few demons in the South Ridge.
Yet, unexpectedly, this Wuchen knew the Yin Yang Hermit?
The four-eyed look shared between them, the Yin Yang Hermit blinked:
"How is it that this little monk, like you, has no sense of priority, coming to see me in the dead of night...
"You wait here for a while, I’ll go bring him in."
With that, he walked towards the door.
Chu Qing was a bit stunned, asking the young boy:
"Is Ghost Lamp Wuchen and your master, are they close?"
"I don’t know."
The young boy looked innocently at Chu Qing:
"I’m only so young..."
That made sense.
This child was only seven or eight, back when Ghost Lamp Wuchen was famous, it was nearly twenty years ago.
The boy hadn’t even been born yet.
Regarding these martial world demons, Chu Qing never had any favorable impression.
Although martial world rumors shouldn’t be taken entirely at face value, when something spreads so widely, there must be some truth to it.
Soon, he would see what this person was truly like. If indeed guilty of heinous crimes, Chu Qing wouldn’t hesitate to rid the evil.
In the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the Yin Yang Hermit returned with a monk appearing quite downcast.
Unlike the typical bald monks, Ghost Lamp Wuchen didn’t frequently shave his head.
The hair on his head was messy, about half an inch long.
His hair was gray and white, features haggard, wearing a gray monk robe with Buddhist beads around his chest, and clothes were worn in many places.
The demeanor of Ghost Lamp was not displayed at all, instead more like a down-and-out ascetic monk.
Seeing others in the room, Wuchen paused, glancing at the Yin Yang Hermit.
The Yin Yang Hermit said:
"A young friend has come to visit, it’s fine, come in and we’ll talk."
"Alright."
Ghost Lamp Wuchen nodded slightly.
He entered the door with the Yin Yang Hermit.
Chu Qing just quietly watched him, neither introducing himself, nor did Ghost Lamp Wuchen have any intention of speaking, maintaining a strange mutual respect.
Then heard the Yin Yang Hermit ask:
"What brings you on such a late night visit?"
"...To seek your help, naturally to save a life."
Ghost Lamp Wuchen furrowed his brow, extending his wrist to the Yin Yang Hermit.
The Yin Yang Hermit raised an eyebrow, not rushing to ask more, but first checking his pulse. Moments later, the Yin Yang Hermit pulled back his finger, gasping:
"What a sinister palm force!
"It’s continuously dissipating muscles and disintegrating bones!