"If the three of you feel this is inappropriate," my master, Long Meng Arhat, my senior, Auspicious Arhat, and my uncle, Shanjian Arhat, can all arrive within half a day using the Heart Light Escape Technique to contend with the three seniors in a Dharma battle. Should it come to this, the Earthly Buddha Country – which is currently peaceful and intact – may be destroyed, which would indeed be most regrettable," Shenxiu finished, shocking both inside and outside of the city.
It was not that people considered the ugly monk's words to be particularly brilliant; on the contrary, everyone was just puzzled.
Where did this ugly monk get the nerve to think that by relying on "Debating Scripture," he could seize the entire Qiantang Province? Isn't that just a fantastic tale?
In an instant, everyone felt that this Free Temple disciple must have gone mad.
If the three Arhats from the Free Temple were here, there might be a possibility.
But with only a solitary group of youngsters by his side, how could he utter such brazen words?
The crowd was convinced that the next scene should involve Lian Sha Arhat becoming furious and directly subduing him along with those hundred Vajra monks to refine them into Buddha slaves.
Amongst the crowd, only Tao Qian had a different idea in mind:
"Good gracious!"
"It seems Great Freedom Temple is also aware of Demon Buddha Temple's conspiracy by the Three Thieves. Although the specifics are unknown, at the very least they understand that this Dharma assembly must be held; the warlords and strong cultivators from within this province must not be scared away… By threatening the three Arhats, they want to force them to personally admit, to decide the rightful belonging of the Earthly Buddha Country in Qiantang Province in terms of Dharma lineage through a scripture debate."
"If Lian Sha and the others refuse, the Free Temple will immediately have three Arhats arrive within half a day... No, not even half a day, who knows? Maybe those three Arhats are already lurking in the dark, ready to jump out at any moment."
Upon realizing this, Tao Qian's expression turned grave.
In his heart, he vaguely understood another matter and secretly cursed:
"I, Tao Qian, really am too straightforward!"
"I should have guessed earlier that Great Freedom Temple has always liked to meddle in the affairs of the world and to lay plans across the Seventy-two provinces." Nоtе: Chесk М_VLЕМРY_R fоr аny соrrесtiоns.
"How could a disciple of Buddha of Shenxiu's caliber appear in Qiantang Province by accident?"
"This ugly monk must be a scout sent to find excuses."
"And my challenge issued by chance afforded the Free Temple a perfect pretext."
"Could it be that Great Freedom Temple has come to snatch Qiantang Province from Demon Buddha Temple, reaching for the peaches?"
In an instant, Tao Qian understood the causes and consequences and reached a conclusion.
As he silently scolded in his heart, he also heightened his vigilance towards Great Freedom Temple.
He knew that the three directly threatened Arhats must have known even earlier, and they seemed to have been aware of this impending situation.
Upon hearing the words, neither Kongchan nor Lian Sha showed any change in expression.
At the same time, the next moment brought about a change that made Tao Qian curse the Three Thieves for their shamelessness in his heart.
Who could have expected this twist?
The Lian Sha Arhat, who had been filled with a look of rage, suddenly burst out laughing:
"Excellent!"
"My elder brother had long predicted that the Buddha Birth Assembly would not be without turmoil, and indeed this is an opportunity for transformation of our Buddha Country."
"Debating and fighting with the Dharma to establish the True Skill perfectly aligns with our Demon Buddha's intentions."
"Little monk, since your Free Temple has come to provoke and challenge us, once Demon Buddha Temple accepts the challenge, shouldn't the method of debate be decided by us?"
Saying this, Lian Sha did not give Shenxiu a chance to object.
He went straight on to say:
"Such matters of Dharma lineage cannot be taken lightly. Debating, Demonstration, saving the world… None can be omitted."
"Three rounds, then; let us determine the victor through three rounds."
"Starting with tonight's assembly, the first will be Debating Scripture."
"Tomorrow, the second round, Demonstration."
"The day after tomorrow, the third round, saving the world."
"How about it?"
"It should be so!"
Shenxiu Monk, as if also having been instructed beforehand, quickly responded and then asked for the participants.
The warlords and strong people from many other provinces, who did not realize they were already like meat about to be stewed in a pot, were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle; they were also curious about how the combat between the two great Buddhist temples would unfold.
Only to see Lian Sha Arhat smile proudly and say:
"The first round of debating scripture shall be undertaken by my disciple, Beautiful Corpse. In her past, she suffered from disaster and tribulation, lost her Dharma Body, and after her Primordial Spirit reincarnated and re-cultivated, she had a great enlightenment. She has integrated the methods of Heavenly Demon, Guanyin, and Demon Buddha into one and is perfectly suited to experience the Sublime Dharma of your Free Temple's Buddhist Scripture."
"My dear disciple, I know you adore handsome disciples of Buddha and splendid monks. This one called Shenxiu is not worth considering, but these hundred or more Vajra monks should indeed be a feast for your eyes."
No sooner had the words fallen, when a startling scene unfolded in the assembly.
They saw Lian Sha Arhat throw out the Blood Lotus in his hand; as the bud opened, there lay inside a beautifully carved, only-red-diaper-wearing baby girl.
She giggled and flipped over, stepping out of the Blood Lotus.
Step by step, Buddha Light diffused, and a shower of flower petals fell like rain.
In the blink of an eye, she began to grow, one year, two years, three years... In the flash of an eye, a young girl adorned in a white robe, draped in thin Buddhist gauze, with a halo hanging behind her head, and a figure both charming and alluring, her appearance enchanting, her eyes pure, had fully grown.
In a daze, everyone had different illusions.
Some thought the girl was a demoness, seducing all living beings.
Others saw her as an Outer Heaven Witch, awakening in them many desires.
Yet, many more felt she was clearly a "Young Guanyin," sacred and pure, yearning to kneel before her.
The girl's startling appearance, recognized by many as the Young Guanyin, first followed the guidance of Lian Sha Arhat to look over the hundred or so Vajra Monks.
But after only a few glances, a look of annoyance quickly surfaced on her face, and she said in a charming voice,
"Master, why do you underestimate your disciple so?"
"These muscle-bound oafs, so ordinary in appearance, their qi pure but so stiff, utterly lacking in taste, not even as good as that ugly monk."
Having said that, the Beautiful Corpse girl followed her perception.
Suddenly, she turned her head and her gaze, with uncanny accuracy, automatically locked onto Tao Qian.
In an instant, Tao Master inwardly cursed.
While the Beautiful Corpse girl licked her tender pink lips, exclaiming in surprise,
"What a handsome little monk, such pure Buddhist charm."
"Master, Master, I want him."
As she called out these sentences,
Tao Qian felt Yuan Gong inside the statue in his arms laughing hysterically.
And Tao himself nearly lost control, almost taking out the Toad God Tile to throw at her, shattering her skull.
However, the first to react was Yunrong.
The bell sounds that startled the entire territory of Qiantang suddenly echoed, and an extremely eerie pale Buddha Light rolled out like an aurora at the poles. The Female Bodhisattva in the midst of it stared straight at the Beautiful Corpse girl, a smile on her face but an ice-cold voice declaring,
"What a shameless little whore!"
"Say that again, if you dare."
...
This scene caused an uproar, with an atmosphere even more fervent than when they heard about the Demon Buddha Temple and Great Freedom Temple preparing for a showdown.
A chaotic scene?
No matter whether male cultivators or female cultivators, Evil Demons or the Righteous, seeing such a spectacle sparked interest, and who could have expected such a turn of events?
Not even Lian Sha Arhat himself had anticipated it.
Originally, he wanted to stop the Beautiful Corpse girl's moves immediately, as after all, Wu Gou was considered one of their own, with a backing that was by no means weak; it wouldn't do to offend him.
But before he could speak, Yunrong's impolite scolding came forth.
They say when you hit a dog, you must watch its owner.
The Beautiful Corpse was his most cherished disciple, and in such a public place, how could he allow her to be insulted like this?
Even if the Beautiful Corpse was in the wrong first, it shouldn't be the case.
Kongchan Arhat, seeing his brother's intentions, chuckled secretly while inwardly reprimanding,
"Brother needs to change his show-off nature. If he's to choose someone, choose someone, but why cast a spell at this moment to hasten the ripening of the Beautiful Corpse?"
"Doesn't he know this girl inherently possesses a lustful soul, upon seeing Wu Gou, such a handsome little monk, how could she restrain herself?"
"If this little monk had no daoist couple, so be it. Smooching around and achieving a good deed would also bring Qingjing Zen Master over to our side."
"But the problem is that he does have a daoist couple, and I've heard that Qingjing has said in private that behind Miao Yin is Bao Xian, a nun even more mysterious than Qingjing. Why provoke them for no reason?"
Having settled his thoughts, Kongchan Arhat immediately took action.
He began by shaking the Bodhi Branch, and at once the pleasant cicada sounds filled every corner, calming everyone's spirits and also incidentally dispersing the strange Buddha Light emanating from Miao Yin Bodhisattva.
The old monk stood out with a smile, signaled to the Beautiful Corpse girl to hold her tongue with his eyes, and addressed Shenxiu,
"As the little monk has seen, the first round of Debating Scripture will be participated in by my niece, Beautiful Corpse."
"And for this second round of the showdown, my other niece Wu Gou will take the stage."
No sooner had the old thief bald spoken, he pointed at Tao Qian.
Almost immediately, Master Shenxiu showed a look of surprise.
But Tao Da, who had anticipated it, cursed again internally.