Chapter 143 - 123: Annihilating Your Entire Clan in the Past
After bathing, Chen Yi lit a lamp in the study, furrowing his brows as he pondered the road ahead.
The strange poison that the Empress Dowager used on him was the "Bodily Relic Soup," inspired by the Buddhist imagery of the "bodily relic." It was said that enlightened monks who had mastered Buddhist Law, upon passing, left behind incorruptible bodies, their appearances as if still alive.
It was rumored that the Sixth Patriarch Huineng of Zen Buddhism had a body that did not decay after his death, resembling a relic. To this day, it is enshrined in a temple, attracting countless pilgrims to offer incense and prayers.
But a legend was just that—a legend. More often than not, these bodily relics were simply the dried remains of recently deceased monks, coated in gold leaf to craft sculptures aimed at drawing in pilgrims.
The Bodily Relic Soup originated from the Western Secret Sect. According to legend, in the Western regions, highly attained monks who foresaw their passing within a few years would drastically reduce their food intake. At intervals, they drank the soup to artificially block the flow of Primordial Qi between heaven and earth. This prevented encountering any unexpected serendipities that might extend their lifespan, ensuring they passed away at the "right" time.
The Empress Dowager had long been devoted to Buddhism, but she did not use this exotic poison on herself to become some kind of bodily relic. Rather, it was to exert control over herself, ensuring her plans remained uncompromised.
Chen Yi reflected for a moment on how he had neutralized the poison in his past life.
If memory served him correctly, he had not obtained the method of detoxification from the Empress Dowager. When he managed to counteract the poison, he was no longer in the Capital City but at Yin Sword Mountain. During the Lingxiao Martial Doctrine Conference, he earned the favor of the Taoist Master of Penglai, who gifted him a fortuitous opportunity, enabling him to consume three kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to alter his destiny and thus extend his life.
In truth, it wasn’t so much detoxification as it was a forced alteration of fate.
The current situation was different. Ever since the incident in the underground palace, the Empress Dowager had been watching him closely. It was nearly impossible for him to leave the Capital Region now, let alone attend the Lingxiao Conference three years later.
Chen Yi exhaled deeply and thought of another approach.