Just as everyone was searching for the source of the voice, they discovered a Blue Ox leisurely approaching through the sky.
The Blue Ox seemed to be strolling leisurely through the air. What was even more incredible was that as it walked, it was as if it was shrinking the ground to inches. In less than a few breaths, it had already appeared right before everyone's eyes.
Everyone focused their gaze and saw that there was a person sitting on the ox's back.
It was an unkempt, slovenly old man—a mad monk wearing ragged clothes, a tattered hat, and broken shoes, holding a worn-out fan in his hand. He sat on the Blue Ox's back with perfect ease, one leg crossed over the other, shaking his tattered fan while drinking wine from a gourd.
Seeing this person, everyone found it strange, not knowing who this mysterious figure was.
What was even more astonishing was that when this slovenly old man appeared, Pudu and the other dozen or so Western Buddhas actually bowed respectfully to him, saying, "Pudu pays his respects to Grand Ancestor Da Xing!"
Good heavens!
Pudu was the ruler of the Buddhist Path in this world, and his status within the Western Buddhist Path was not low. Yet he was bowing to this old man and respectfully addressing him as Grand Ancestor Da Xing?
Could it be that this slovenly old man drinking wine was a revered monk from the Western Heaven Buddhist Path? Or perhaps he was some Grand Ancestor Da Xing?
No one knew.
Everyone found it quite extraordinary.
However, when Ye Tianlan of the Female Sect and the three mysterious titans saw the old man riding the Blue Ox, they were all greatly shocked. This was especially true for Su Hua. While others might not recognize this old man, she, having been the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens in her previous life, knew his identity.
This was a true and proper revered monk, his Dharma name Da Xing.
He wandered perpetually through the Three Thousand Great Worlds, curing illnesses to aid the world, spreading boundless compassion and propagating the Buddha-Dharma, saving all sentient beings. He was known as a Living Buddha. Because of his mad, eccentric nature and his fondness for wine and meat, he was also called Da Xing the Mad Monk. He held extremely high prestige, both in the Three Thousand Great Worlds and in the Great Desolate Celestial Realm.
Even more astonishing was that this Da Xing the Mad Monk possessed boundless Dharma power. It was said that the worn-out fan in his hand was bestowed by the Ancient Buddha, Ran Deng the Ancestor. With just a gentle wave, whether you were a Monster King, a Devil King, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, or a Golden Body Arhat, you would all be reduced to ashes.
It was just that this Da Xing the Mad Monk wandered constantly through the Three Thousand Great Worlds. His whereabouts were elusive, he had no fixed abode, and he was like a divine dragon—seen only at the head, never the tail. Why would he appear in this world at this precise moment?
Without hesitation, Su Hua immediately bowed and saluted, saying, "Su Hua pays her respects to Senior Da Xing."
"Well now, little Su Hua has grown so big already! Good, good. Counting the days, it's been quite a few years since we last met. I'd heard from your Eldest Senior Sister long ago that you had reincarnated into this world. I've always wanted to come and see you."
Clearly, Da Xing the Mad Monk knew Su Hua, and Su Hua naturally knew him as well.
That was back in her previous life. Because Su Hua's master's lineage had deep connections with the Zen Sect of the Western Heaven Buddhist religion, she had met Da Xing the Mad Monk when she was very young.
"But, little Su Hua girl, how could you be so careless, getting into such a sorry state that even your Immortal Spirit almost burned out..." Perhaps noticing that Su Hua here was extremely weak and her Immortal Spirit severely damaged, Da Xing the Mad Monk, sitting on the Blue Ox, couldn't help but mutter, "Damn it all, those brats from the Great Dao are really going too far. His grandmother's, if they mess you up, they'll have plenty to cry about later."
As he spoke, Da Xing the Mad Monk gently waved his tattered fan. A pure aura of life enveloped Su Hua. Immediately, her originally damaged Immortal Spirit instantly recovered to its original state, and her weakened body gradually improved as well. It was truly miraculous.
"Thank you, Senior Da Xing, for saving me."
After expressing her gratitude, Su Hua pleaded, "Senior Da Xing, can you save Little Jin'er?"
"No rush, no rush. I, this Buddha-Lord, came precisely for this matter."
Hearing this, Su Hua's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately recalled Nalan Qianqiu's words. Her Senior Martial Sister had said that facing such a stalemate, there would always need to be a mediator to come and resolve the conflict. Moreover, her Senior Martial Sister had also said this person must have some connection with Gu Qingfeng.
Could it be that Da Xing the Mad Monk was the so-called mediator that her Senior Martial Sister mentioned?
But did Da Xing the Mad Monk have any connection with Gu Qingfeng?
Just as Su Hua was pondering this, Da Xing the Mad Monk jumped down from the Blue Ox, walked over, patted Gu Qingfeng on the shoulder, and said with a laugh, "Brother Gu, long time no see. I trust you've been well."
As he spoke, Da Xing the Mad Monk flipped his palm and produced several jars of fine wine, saying, "Last time, I gave you a jar of Nine Lives, Nine Deaths, and you just tossed it away. Made me lose a lot of face. So, I managed to get a few more jars this time. You can't throw these away again. Almost got myself killed trying to get these few jars of Nine Lives, Nine Deaths."
This scene left Su Hua somewhat puzzled.
Back when she was searching for Gu Qingfeng, she had walked the paths he walked, been to the places he went, and met the people he met. In her memory, Gu Qingfeng didn't seem to have met Da Xing the Mad Monk in this world. Moreover, as far as she knew, Da Xing the Mad Monk had never visited this world either.
So how did they know each other?
Su Hua recalled that after Gu Qingfeng was judged by the Immortal Dao, he had disappeared for a full three hundred years. Although Gu Qingfeng said he had just wandered around the Great Desolate Celestial Realm, Su Hua hadn't believed it. Now it seemed her suspicions were correct. Otherwise, how could he possibly know a Living Buddha like Da Xing the Mad Monk, who was as elusive as a divine dragon? And not only did they seem to be on good terms, they even appeared to be addressing each other as brothers?
In fact, Su Hua's guess was correct. Gu Qingfeng had indeed met Da Xing the Mad Monk in the Great Desolate Celestial Realm.
But they were merely acquaintances.
There wasn't much of a connection between the two.
For Gu Qingfeng, Da Xing the Mad Monk could at best be considered a friend who wasn't quite a friend, and also a benefactor who wasn't quite a benefactor.
To call him a friend was because they shared a common obsession: wine. They had met because of wine.
To say he wasn't a friend was because Gu Qingfeng had a history of conflict with the Buddhist Sect. At that time, this Da Xing the Mad Monk had stepped in to persuade him, and in the end, the two had fought fiercely.
As for being a benefactor: Back then, Gu Qingfeng had offended a Great Buddha, not only facing the combined assault of three Great Sages but also facing purification by Buddhist Source. In the end, it was this Da Xing the Mad Monk who stepped in and helped him out of the predicament.
To say he wasn't a benefactor was because even if this Da Xing the Mad Monk hadn't stepped in, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't have feared the purification.
Of course, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't deny this favor.
Therefore, when Da Xing the Mad Monk arrived, Gu Qingfeng this time did not continue to remain silent. He only said lightly, "They sure know how to pick their people. How did they manage to get you to come?"
"No choice. Your reputation precedes you, kid. In all the heavens and earth, who doesn't know you're not someone to be trifled with? Who would dare come when called?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk gulped down wine, glanced at the Blood Moon in the sky, and said, "So, I don't know how they found me. Later, when I heard it was about you, I refused on the spot. Said I wouldn't come no matter what. Your business, kid—I don't want to get involved, and I can't afford to. But there was no way. You know, after all, I'm from the Western Heaven side. On top of that, they went and called in this Ancestral Patriarch, found that Ancestor, pulled strings, opened doors, coaxing and threatening, even playing the sentiment card from time to time. I just couldn't hold out anymore, so I had to brace myself and come."