The talismanic script glowed, and Zhao Wuya widened his eyes, saying, "The Washing Away Injustice and Returning to the Palace Talisman?"

Its full name was indeed "Washing Away Injustice and Returning to the Palace Talisman," the title clearly written on the cover.

"You can truly see it."

Zhou Xuan spoke.

This talisman could only be seen by those suffused with Buddha energy. Figures like Lady Hong Guan and Lord Jian, though possessing high spiritual incense flames, were not of the Buddhist sect and could not perceive it.

Zhao Wuya merely looked from afar for a moment, and then his gaze transformed.

In his eyes, there now lay an abyssal spring of depth, unlike his originally clear and lucid look.

After his gaze changed, he assumed the lotus throne posture, his back straightened like a pole, and closed his eyes to meditate, with only his nostrils faintly flaring,

flaring in a rhythm so precise that the pages of the Washing Away Injustice Talisman seemed to turn by themselves.

It was as if a subtle breeze was stirring the pages.

"The breeze knows no words, so why trouble to turn the book?"

The wind prompted by Zhao Wuya's breathing likewise appeared illiterate, as it was only drawing in scents.

"I sense a familiar scent of my junior brother."

"Zhao Wuya" said calmly.

"Junior brother?"

Zhou Xuan felt certain that this term did not refer to himself.

Since arriving at Jing Country, Zhou Xuan had not interacted much with anything Buddhist—he had merely lectured Lady Lianhua of Ping Shui Prefecture.

"Junior brother? By 'junior brother,' do you mean Master of Wine?"

Zhou Xuan asked Zhao Wuya. Ever since Zhou Xuan had obtained the Washing Away Injustice Talisman, only one person had ever touched this particular talismanic script—Monk Zhu Jiu of Qiye Temple.

Zhao Wuya did not reply directly but continued to say, "It's the scent of my junior brother, unmistakable… Junior brother, are you faring well these days?"

Zhou Xuan did not respond but instead drew Bai Gu Monk out from the Secret Realm.

Bai Gu Monk was forged from the remnants of Monk Zhu Jiu's bones.

To descend into the Blood Well and enter ancient times, Zhou Xuan had to rely on Bai Gu Monk as his lifeline. Should danger arise beneath the well, Bai Gu Monk would pull him back to save him.

The moment Bai Gu Monk appeared,

Zhao Wuya clasped his hands together and sighed, "Centuries have passed, and my junior brother has ultimately become nothing but white bones. Yet, the tangled grudges of the past have not vanished."

"Junior brother, your elder brother has wronged you deeply."

Upon these words, "Zhao Wuya" unexpectedly knelt down and bowed sincerely to Monk Zhu Jiu.

"So you are indeed Qiye Exalted One."

Zhou Xuan recalled a recent occasion when Zhao Wuya had emerged from Hui Feng Medical College. Passing by the minor shrine of the "Qiye Exalted One," Zhao Wuya had paid for incense offering.

Afterwards, Zhao Wuya's body underwent peculiar changes, with the intensity of incense flames fluctuating wildly.

"Having defiled the name of Buddha, how could I dare speak of my former titles?"

"Enough idle words." Zhou Xuan did not favor the Qiye Exalted One and spoke brusquely.

If not for the Qiye Exalted One occupying Zhao Wuya's body, Zhou Xuan might have dealt with him already.

This same Qiye Exalted One

had once been the top monk of Qiye Temple, hailed as the Sky Dome Buddha of Mingjiang Prefecture. However, this Buddha was deeply selfish. To preserve Buddhist strength, he had imprisoned Monk Zhu Jiu—who was resolved to renounce monasticism—in the Forbidden Tower of Qiye Temple.

Later, he even formed illicit ties with Alien Ghost Covering Star, one of the Human World Guardians of that time, giving birth to the Buddha's son, "Six Desires."

When this scandal came to light,

Covering Star and Qiye Exalted One were both subjected to judicial punishment.

The position of the Sky Dome Buddha was then left to Green Robed Buddha alone.

"Qiye Exalted One, stop speaking in riddles. Tell me—when exactly did you enter Ya Zi's body?"

"I am myself. It wasn't I who entered my own body."

Qiye Exalted One replied.

The phrase "I am myself" implied… Was Qiye Exalted One and Zhao Wuya the same person?

"So Ya Zi is your reincarnation?"

Yun Ziliang inquired.

"I cannot discern for sure, but I know—we are one and the same."

Under the influence of the Washing Away Injustice Talisman, Qiye Exalted One's consciousness appeared highly stable this time.

"You came to me seeking divinations; for what purpose exactly? State clearly—I am in no mood to guess."

Zhou Xuan said decisively.

"I once committed grievous sins, led astray the monks of Qiye Temple, jailed…"

Qiye Exalted One seemed intent on narrating at length, wanting first to articulate his deeds—thoroughly and explicitly.

"There's no need for recounting all your sins—I already know. Just pick out the important parts."

Zhou Xuan interrupted, stopping Qiye Exalted One from rambling on.

"You are absolutely right, sir."

Qiye Exalted One reorganized his words and said, "I committed great sins and faced judicial punishment as a consequence—this I accept without complaint.

However, after my punishment, my Divine Soul was not obliterated but instead entered the Old Dream Land to begin anew through reincarnation.

My consciousness would occasionally awaken, only to return to slumber afterward.

Sometimes, I am unable to distinguish whether my thoughts are part of an eternal dream or arise from some inherent cause."

"They arise from inherent causes."

Zhou Xuan replied.

"Then, within these cycles of reincarnation, what is the will directing me onward? After so many cycles, I wish to seek an answer."

"No one can give you that answer."

Zhou Xuan thought to himself, "Why not just embrace reincarnation as it is? Going through it again and again while chasing some 'endpoint'—isn't this simply overcomplicating things?"

"Sir, I hope you can help me locate the Ancient Buddha and ask for clarification. Having entered cycles of reincarnation while preserving some consciousness—what profound intention does Jing Country's will harbor?"

If it deems me guilty, so be it—I accept annihilation. If it considers me unworthy of Buddha stature, I surrender my Buddha energy willingly.

Yet, living in this mix of lucidity and confusion leaves me endlessly wondering about my origins, with my heart ceasing to find rest."

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