Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen, this great beauty, the Empress of the dynasty's last days, what was her position in the Northern Land Provinces?
By merely observing the disgraceful acts of those demon army warlords and evil cultivators, one could infer a thing or two, even without seeing anything yet; it was only upon hearing Kongchan mention that "the Devil Concubine will perform a dance" that everyone became agitated.
Some were howling here; others were snickering there; apart from a few like "Shi Zhongsheng" along with his cultivators and army, the rest revealed their true colors.
Upon reflection, it seemed quite normal.
You should know that in the Northern Land Provinces, it's difficult for the more righteous forces to get ahead.
Those capable of dispatching troops and strong individuals to Qiantang, attempting to kidnap Yuan Mingzhen back, were all major demonic forces and army warlords—such existences were not adept at governing troops or the world.
However, not all were so!
At the sub-temple of Qiantang Demon Buddha, the Three Arhats were organizing a "Buddha Birth Technique," mainly aiming to trap all the warlord forces entering Qiantang to refine the Great Transcendence Bodhisattva, but if it were merely for show, it would be easily seen through.
Thus, the three bald old thieves were genuinely holding this ritual. They even grandly sent out many invitations.
Whether it was the Cultivation World or the mundane Seventy-two Provinces, many famous figures had received invitations.
Now, in Qiantang Province City, celebrities gathered, a sight anyone would proclaim a grand event.
Celebrities and strong individuals looked down upon those soldiers and evil demons, and seeing such a chaotic scene, all showed displeasure.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please enter the city."
"In the next three days, have no concerns, just enjoy yourselves to the fullest, as this is the merit of our Buddha's birth."
The speaker was Cheng Arhat.
He seemed to have completely forgotten the humiliation he had received from the "Great Abyss Zen Master" just a few breaths ago.
Still dressed in dragon robe monk clothes, fiddling with skull Buddha beads, he spoke to everyone as if he were a true Emperor, a ruler of a nation.
Accompanied by that demonic, enticing chant of Buddhist hymns, the province city returned to its earlier hustle and bustle.
Many celebrities, warlords, and strong individuals began entering the city.
During the process, they inevitably discussed the recent confrontation between the two great Buddhist Temples.
Those with a strong gambling spirit started setting up private betting.
"Exciting! Truly exciting! Although it was predictable that the Demon Buddha Temple would hold the Buddha Birth Technique, clearly stating the succession of the Dharma, it was bound to be targeted by other Buddhist temples. At first, I thought it would be Han Mountain Temple making a comeback, or the closely related Vajra Temple, but who expected that it would be Great Freedom Temple, the leader of the Buddhist Sect, to make a move."
"Shenxiu Buddha's son, over a hundred Vajra Monks, Auspicious Arhat, Long Meng Arhat, Shanjian Arhat... Geez, Free Temple seems to be getting serious."
"Hey, guess who will win?"
"Why guess? It must be Demon Buddha Temple! After all, Qiantang Province has been in their hands for many days, they have the advantage, how could they lose?"
"How could there not be? First, let's talk about debating scripture; which temple's monks or nuns can debate like those from Great Freedom Temple? Besides, that so-called Beautiful Corpse, a witch, doesn't seem to be good at talking, probably unable to withstand a few sentences from Shenxiu Monk and would just give up, and as for the second round of Dharma combat, that Wu Gou Buddha Son who came from the South Sea, although rumors say he once prevailed over Shenxiu Monk, it's merely hearsay, not to be taken as truth."
"As for the third round, no need to mention, that Great Abyss Zen Master is bound to become a Buddha."
"Well said, facing him, I even feel an impulse to bow in respect, he must be a true Buddha."
"I don't care who wins, I just know that Yuan Mingzhen must belong to our Great Governor. Whoever competes, I'll kill."
"Haha, quite the boastful talk, but may I ask, what if the Three Arhats intervene?" Thе mоst up‑tо‑dаtе vеrsiоn is оn
"The Three Arhats want to conduct the ritual, seek friendship with the major forces of the Northern Land Provinces, and manifest the legitimacy of the Dharma, how could they possibly offend everyone over just a single Devil Concubine... Even if they do intervene, it's merely Ultimate Happiness Realm; do you think I couldn't invite some experts from Ultimate Happiness?"
"Heh heh, isn't that so, our family's elders didn't come forward, only out of deference to the Three Arhats, but when necessary, I too can invite someone from Ultimate Happiness."
"Me too!"
"And me!"
...
Tao Qian, accompanied by Yunrong, the Zhen siblings, and a group of female cultivators, were also in the procession entering the city, naturally they heard these murmurs and comments.
In any other place, they certainly would have laughed at these people's ignorance and bluffing.
But not here.
Tao Qian looked up, admiring the provincial city with gates open to guests from all directions.
Beneath, the crowd surged like a weaving loom, the air graced by flying Buddha and Immortals.
For a moment, it felt like the Western Pure Land was hosting a ritual festival, inviting heavenly immortals, evil demons, devilish creatures, and alien elves.
Earlier, halfway through the journey, encountering Gao Tianci, Yelü Baoshan, Shi Zhongsheng, Zhu Xun, and others who, although being warlords with substantial backing, blended in among many celebrities and strong figures, they did not stand out much.
After the performance of the play involving "Wu Gou Shenxiu, the two Buddha's sons," and "decreeing the three rounds of the ritual," Kongchan and Lian Sha, the two Arhats, were no longer so enthusiastically hosting him, Master Tao.
Instead, they sent a few Demon Buddha Sons along with Zhen Buchi to guide Tao Qian to his residence in the city.
Yuan Gong, though encapsulated within a sculpture, had secret techniques to peer into the external world, and at this moment, he transmitted a sigh:
"A world of great contention, truly a world of great contention."
"Boy, keep your Dharma Eye alert, while I haven't seen any old acquaintance, the energy connections allow me to discern many major forces."
"Visible or hidden, most you can provoke at will, some you'd better be cautious about... Of course, this all pertains to your identity as the Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, by virtue of being part of a Great Daoist Sect, you shouldn't make enemies everywhere."