Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

The person in front is likely the Buddhist practitioner referred to by the Pharmacist, someone he had never interacted with before. He had to be on guard.

"Amitabha Buddha, this matter is quite a long story... Perhaps ten years ago, I felt I had begun to understand Buddhist Dharma and decided to leave the temple to travel to Qingzhou... When I reached Canglan South County, I met that villain Gongsun Xin in the commandery city. That thug invited me to travel together, but my ignorance led me to be deceived by him, leading to this calamity..."

"However, I consider myself to have some Buddhist Dharma, and that villain hasn’t had an easy time these years, either."

At this point, Zen Heart paused, lightly chuckled, and extended his arm.

The thin arm bore shocking scars, as if someone had sliced the flesh off with a knife, with some wounds not yet fully healed, clearly inflicted recently.

"As for why that villain brought me back to Canghe County and spared my life... It was only to use my flesh and blood to refine elixirs."

In a hoarse voice, the cruel and horrifying truth was revealed with a calm tone.

Su Mu narrowed his eyes at these words. If what Zen Heart said was true, the Human Pill was likely refined using the flesh and blood of the person before him as the main ingredient.

For a moment, Su Mu’s doubts were cleared up.

Why would someone as powerful as Gongsun Xin willingly stay dormant outside an unnamed town in Canghe County? Normally, even without becoming a king like the Black Mountain Army, he shouldn’t be so low-profile.

Generally speaking, before meeting Yan Xiaolan, Su Mu knew nothing about Taiping Dao, which seemed quite unreasonable.

"Now it all makes sense... Gongsun Xin ambushed Zen Heart but was also injured by Zen Heart. His injuries were likely severe, forcing Gongsun Xin to lie low these years."

"It is rumored that Vajra Temple has its roots in Qingzhou... Perhaps there is some fear of Vajra Temple at play here."

Through Zen Heart’s simple explanation, Su Mu instantly understood many things, and a sense of admiration and vigilance grew within him.

In Huaxia’s thousands of years of history, one of the top ten tortures was known as ’lingchi’.

For almost a decade, the person before him had fallen into Gongsun Xin’s hands and suffered more than a thousand cuts, knowing that his flesh was being used to refine elixirs. Such cruelty was both physically and mentally devastating.

Yet, this Zen Heart not only survived but also remained sane, which was terrifying given such determination.

"If the senior escapes, what would your future plans be?"

"Young benefactor, by slaying Gongsun Xin, your Martial Arts are exceptional, but I am unworthy to be called a senior. If you don’t mind, you may call me Zen Heart. Should I escape, I vow to eradicate the demonic path and the Taiping Dao... Never to rest until death!"

Su Mu observed every reaction of the person before him, forming a rough judgment. After tonight, he and Taiping Dao were no longer allies.

As the enemy’s enemy is naturally a friend, Zen Heart will trouble the Taiping Dao once freed, which was advantageous for Su Mu.

Furthermore, Su Mu sensed that Zen Heart might become someone significant in the future. To die here would be a pity, and Su Mu had no fear of Zen Heart after being able to kill Gongsun Xin.

Quickly coming to a decision, Su Mu, without further hesitation, slashed the chains binding Zen Heart with his Red Flame Spear.

"Amitabha Buddha, I express my deep gratitude to the young benefactor for the assistance."

Zen Heart recited a Buddhist Verse, immediately reaching with trembling hands to the steel nail on his scapula, and with a swift pull, blood spurted as the barbed nail tore through flesh, sending bits of flesh flying.

Yet Zen Heart remained silent, showcasing incredible resilience. Golden rays flowed from the blood-gaping wound momentarily, quickly stopping the bleeding. Swiftly, the flesh contracted and healed at a visible pace.

"Clang!"

The first steel nail fell, freeing the restricted Power within Zen Heart, followed by others one by one.

"The Pharmacist once said that in the early stage of Buddhism and Martial Arts, both are not distinguished. It is true that Buddhist practitioners also cultivate the body, yet that golden force is the result of a Buddhist Dharma Gate... or is it the marvel of the Little Vajra Secret Realm?"

Su Mu inwardly murmured with curiosity, although he chose not to ask directly but instead began to collect items from the hidden chamber.

There were three locked iron chests in the hidden chamber. Su Mu broke the lock with his spear, and upon opening the first chest, he was hit with an overwhelming stench, revealing numerous exquisite sandalwood boxes inside.

"So many Human Pills...?"

From the smell alone, Su Mu recognized it immediately, and after a quick glance, estimated there were nearly two hundred Human Pills in the chest.

Su Mu initially wanted to destroy the Human Pills outright, but ultimately stored them all in the Sumeru Ring first, all while secretly observing Zen Heart’s reactions, who seemed indifferent to the whole process.

Then Su Mu opened the second iron chest. Similarly, the stench hit his nose, but he distinctly identified it as not the scent of human blood, but Demon Blood.

"It’s not Demon Blood."

Within the iron chest were two Jade Jars containing a congealed unknown substance that shone like blood-colored amber, emanating a high aura, likely no less than Seventh Grade.

"It’s the Demon Beast Blood Marrow... Gongsun Xin has mentioned multiple times before me that the Human Pill was refined using my flesh and Demon Beast Blood Marrow to craft a Pill Embryo..."

Su Mu wasn’t overly surprised by this revelation, having somewhat anticipated it in his heart.

"The young benefactor is quite remarkable."

"Zen Heart praises me too highly, this is the first time I, Lin Mou, have received such an evaluation."