Chapter 718: Chapter 461: Earthshaking Transformation, Heart Cleansing Emperor_3
Everyone originally thought that either the magical confrontation would continue, or Master Shenxiu would retort.
However, what followed was a scene in which Master Shenxiu wore a look of joy and thanked Tao Qian with a bow, saying again,
"Thank you, Daoist, for the teaching. Should Shenxiu achieve fruition in the future, it would surely be thanks in part to Daoist."
Tao Qian also smiled upon hearing this, not only returning the gesture but also intentionally speaking up to validate the master’s sincerity and dispel any suspicion of impartiality.
"Master need not be polite. Wu Gou was simply delighted by the hunt, seeing that the master is a person with great merit, great potential, and great enlightenment, just a step away from Perfect Merit. It was out of boldness that I helped the master lift that veil."
"With this revelation by Wu Gou, the master has received the merit without having to bear the evil power. Those who have received the Magic and Divine Skills have reaped the benefits without paying the price. Isn’t this a win-win situation?"
"Excellent indeed!"
"Daoist is compassionate and magnanimous; this monk admits his inferiority and acknowledges defeat in this battle."
As soon as Master Shenxiu uttered these words, a great uproar swept through the entire Cultivation World, across the vast seventy-two provinces.
He was, after all, one of the leading sons of Buddha from the Free Temple, humbling himself as a stepping stone for the Wu Gou Monk who came from the South Sea, admitting his shortcoming and aiding him in gaining fame—how could anyone not be shocked?
Add to that the Golden Cymbal, People Species Bag, Fishing Poem... and other such factors.
Suddenly, the reputation of the South Sea Pure Lineage soared.
Many cultivators knew: within the many great temples of the Buddhist Sect, another formidable force had emerged.
Those close to the South Sea Territory were already contemplating seeking apprenticeship and holding onto the coattails of power.
...
Tao Qian returned to the Little Leiyin Temple, in the face of the questioning gazes from a gathering of demon monks, and even Cheng Arhat and Shipi.
Their doubts centered around why Tao Qian would remove the false accusation placed upon the head of Monk Shenxiu.
If left unaddressed, who is to say whether this Buddha’s son with a great future at the Great Freedom Temple wouldn’t develop a Heart Demon, mutate, and explode to death because of it.
Tao Qian was well aware of this and chuckled, voluntarily "revealing" the mystery,
"The Buddha’s verse I recited contains a part of my master’s lineage."
"After taking Shenxiu into the bag, it was also to have him unconsciously assimilate the inheritance so that when the time comes... perhaps this Master Shenxiu could even become my junior brother."
Upon hearing these words, the demon monks saw the brilliance and once again praised the Wu Gou Buddha Son for his extraordinary methods.
Shipi Arhat, still whittling away at his own flesh, eyes suddenly bright as though he’d spotted a blind spot, joyfully exclaimed,
"I was saying, with such a high level of Cultivation and such a good magic vein, how could Qingjing only take one disciple, you, his nephew. I thought it was because Qingjing had high standards but it turns out there’s a larger plan."
"The Buddha Dharma encapsulated in that [Fishing Poem] is indeed extraordinary, and I find it quite engrossing to chew over."
"Also, Qingjing’s way of snatching disciples is rather profound. It’s worth learning to employ this tactic... if in the future I feel inclined to take disciples, I might use this move..."
Shipi kept praising once he heard the explanation, full of admiration for Zen Master Qingjing.
Little did he know that at that moment, the remnant soul of Yuan Gong within the bosom of his ostensible nephew before him was thoroughly mocking the old acquaintance,
"Poor Shipi, to have ended up like this."
"What a waste of such a formidable reputation, to be tricked into such a foolish figure by this shameless master-apprentice duo."
"Hahaha..."
Yuan Gong laughed heartily, but Tao Qian was quite tense.
It was not because he was worried his half-truths might give him away, but because he feared that Shipi would come to his senses and demand the return of that Golden Cymbal.
In his mind, thoughts flashed,
"That Golden Cymbal is truly a wonderful treasure, an excellent match for my People Species Bag."
"Giving it back to Shipi for that coarse monk to use would be a waste. It’s only right for me to use it."
"Yes, it should be so."
"I, Tao Qian, am a True Inheritor of Duobao, how could treasures that fall into my hands be returned? "
Master Tao pondered, while firmly making up his mind.
If Shipi truly asked for it back, he would employ a delaying strategy, claiming some gains from using the treasure and needing to study it for a day or two.
As long as he could delay past the next day, when the great battle erupted, it would be a question of whether Shipi could look after himself, let alone a Golden Cymbal.
Just as Tao Qian was smugly calculating, an unforeseen event suddenly occurred in the gathering.
The second round of the Dharma Assembly’s confrontation concluded!
One would expect everyone to return to their respective places, the Free Temple to accompany the Devil Concubine and their group back to Han Mountain Temple while the Various Warlords in the Little Leiyin Temple continue their revelry.
All the Spirit Mirrors and Crystal Balls, maintained by the Divine Skills of the cultivators from the Divine Ear Sect, Ting Di Sect, and Ten Thousand Miles Sect, should have been packed away.
But at that moment, all the Spirit Mirrors and Crystal Balls exploded with brilliance.
Dozens of Daoist Sects seeking the secretive knowledge sent stationed cultivators in the Imperial City to simultaneously broadcast a shocking message from the direction of Imperial City, echoing throughout nearly every city in the seventy-two provinces.
The Qiantang Province City, naturally, was no exception.
Amidst the brilliance, millions heard a clamor of voices mixed together in the Spirit Mirror Crystal Balls, exclaiming,
"Urgent news! Urgent news!"
"Tonight at 7 p.m., the Great Governor who controls the Demon City and the provinces of Ancient Yu, Tiandu, Hanxi, and Wu Jun, master of the Xixin Mansion, recognized as the Future Emperor Talent Hidden Dragon Si Xixin, personally led a hundred-thousand-strong army, esteemed Daoist and Buddhist experts, powerful families, Heterodox Sects, Divine Species, and so on, to launch a surprise attack on the Imperial City."
"In just one hour, they ended the in-fighting among the various little warlords in the Imperial City, slaying Zhang Jinluan, Song Tiecheng, Wu Shaozu, Yelü Lushan, and the remnants of the armies left behind by various warlords."
"Three breaths ago, Si Xixin announced to the nation that he had taken command of the Imperial City."
"In the coming days, he will marry Devil God Third Princess Hong Fu in a lavish ceremony, restore the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty, and re-establish the imperial system."
"Great Freedom Temple, Vajra Temple, Heavenly Dragon Temple, Canxuan Sect, Pure Yang Sect, Mixed Element Sect, Zhengyi Sect, and the Si Family, Qin Family, Bai Family amongst thousands of heritage families, as well as Heavenly Mechanism Building, Fungus Sect, and many other Heterodox Great Sects... A myriad of forces have followed suit with announcements, expressing their willingness to support Si Xixin’s proclamation as emperor."
...
Suddenly, as if a bolt from the blue struck a clear sky.
The entire Qiantang Province City and even all seventy-two provinces were shaken by this unexpected news.
All people couldn’t help but stare at those Spirit Mirror Crystal Balls with expressions of unfathomable shock.
ps: Five thousand words, pushing hard. I seek the support of a double monthly ticket, now’s the most beneficial time to cast your vote, Fat Fish thanks you.