Chapter 36: Heart Lamp Part 1

Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves.

Hulü Guang was stationed at the cliff top to keep watch, while A Huang circled high above, observing for any potential changes.

Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun entered the caves.

These caves had mostly been built over four hundred years ago during the Tang Dynasty, entering a period of prosperity alongside the rise of Kucha. Four hundred years prior, many local wealthy families had donated funds to hire painters to depict scriptural transformation stories, turning them into family temples. During festivals, clan members would stream in continuously to worship devoutly.

Now, most of the caves lay abandoned, with many statues damaged. Time had turned the faces of the Buddha images on the walls grayish-black, and the tops bore traces of soot from incense and candles.

“This is Shakyamuni,” Xiang Xian said. “These are Attendant Servants, just like Chaosheng described—Divine Servants on Kunlun Mountain.”

Xiao Kun: “You’re very knowledgeable.”

Xiang Xian: “Of course, Master has read extensively and knows everything. Come on, let’s check the next one.”

Xiao Kun never held back in mocking Xiang Xian’s laziness, but when praising him, he was equally generous. He said earnestly, “What I admire most about you is that you could identify this as the distant Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves from the mural Ge Liang painted before his death.”

Xiang Xian: “Actually, I learned a bit of everything as a kid. Master taught me how to read paintings.”

Finger Flame bloomed in Xiang Xian’s hand, and he and Xiao Kun searched and inspected cave after cave.

Xiao Kun’s brows were deeply furrowed, making him appear somewhat anxious in the oppressive atmosphere.

They checked dozens of caves in sequence, but found none matching the portrait Ge Liang had painted in his lifetime.

“Wait,” Xiao Kun said. “Put out the light. What do you see?”

Xiang Xian: “??”

They stood inside a cave filled with scraps of rotten wood and torn cloth. Xiao Kun raised his hand, using magical power to levitate a broken plank of wood and seal the cave entrance. The entire cave plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness where one couldn’t see their own hand.

Xiang Xian turned his head in confusion.

“Wait a moment.” Xiao Kun said in the darkness.

“Where are you?” Xiang Xian asked. “Don’t go too far from me.”

Xiao Kun placed one hand on Xiang Xian’s shoulder. In the darkness, the two drew a little closer.

Once their eyes adapted to the pitch blackness, Xiao Kun said, “Do you see it?”

Xiang Xian noticed it too. A faint human shadow appeared on the cave wall. He immediately turned back to look for the light source, but Xiao Kun spotted it first. “Wisdom Sword!”

At that moment, Xiang Xian carried the Wisdom Sword on his back. The blade inside its sheath emitted an extremely faint glow, which cast Xiao Kun’s shadow on the cave wall.

Xiang Xian drew the Wisdom Sword and exchanged a glance with Xiao Kun.

Five talismanic runes appeared on the front face of the Wisdom Sword, representing its other five forms: Demon Binding Rope, Vajra Arrow, Great Sun Golden Wheel, Subduing Demon Pestle, and Moon Eclipse Bow.

On the back face were the seven great luminances condensed from heaven and earth.

“The Golden Crow will one day be eclipsed; the Jade Rabbit will one night retreat; the myriad stars will have a night of fading.” Xiang Xian recited.

Xiao Kun naturally continued, “Fierce flames must one day extinguish. Lightning and thunder will eventually dim; the faint glow of bone phosphorus will ultimately dissipate.”

Myriad Laws Return to Silence. Time stretches endlessly, yet only the Heart Lamp endures eternally like daylight.

Xiang Xian: “The Heart Lamp power in the Wisdom Sword has sensed something!”

Under the dim glow from the talismanic runes, Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun exchanged looks. They finally understood why the enemies, even knowing the Heart Lamp was in the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, had delayed in making a move.

The Heart Lamp’s location was definitely tied to the Wisdom Sword! In other words, without the Wisdom Sword, the Demon King couldn’t make the Heart Lamp appear!

“You’re sure about summoning it now?” Xiang Xian said.

“Certain.” Xiao Kun replied. “No matter what inferno or blade mountain lies ahead, we’ll have to face it head-on sooner or later.”

Xiang Xian fell silent for a moment. He admitted Xiao Kun was right. The enemies were confident they would walk into this trap, and even knowing it was a trap, they had no choice but to proceed.

“The instant the Heart Lamp appears,” Xiao Kun said, “I’ll go all out to absorb it into my Three Souls and Seven Poises. Protect me then.”

“Got it.” Xiang Xian thought to himself that the moment the Heart Lamp manifested would surely be extremely perilous. Though no enemies were visible now, they were certainly lurking nearby. As soon as the Heart Lamp shone, they would face a fierce assault.

Xiang Xian held the Wisdom Sword flat in his right hand and supported the blade with his left, pointing it in various directions. When it faced southeast, the seventh rune glowed a bit brighter, like the needle on a compass pointing north.

Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian left the cave and hurried toward the direction indicated by the Wisdom Sword.

They veered off the plank road, taking a shortcut from one spot to another. At the same time, Xiao Kun glanced upward. Hulü Guang idled in the temporary camp at the cliff top, while A Huang still circled in the sky.

“There are no caves here.” Xiang Xian arrived at an open area.

Xiao Kun placed his hand on Xiang Xian’s sword hilt, turning the Wisdom Sword. The tip pointed downward, and the rune glowed again.

“Underground,” Xiao Kun said. “There must be an entrance nearby.”

Xiang Xian said, “We haven’t run into any enemies yet. Don’t get so tense.”

Xiao Kun realized he was overly tense. The atmosphere had built up to this point, and with the Demon Race yet to appear, his nerves were on edge.

Xiang Xian circled around and found an extremely narrow fissure in one cave, as if formed by an earthquake in the mountain body. A faint breeze came from within.

Xiao Kun: “Let’s check it out. It might lead underground.”