For a whole day and night, Fo Lian pondered her countermeasures, her final plan being to gather Dong Ling Temple's thirty thousand devotees, letting these innocent people assemble around the temple and defend it with their lives!
In Fo Lian's view, Qin Ye Xuan's strength was unfathomable, making direct confrontation impossible.
Moreover, he was deeply cunning, changeable, yet extremely cautious in his actions, rarely making a move unless he had a hundred percent certainty.
Before departing this time, Qin Ye Xuan had secretly summoned Li Tian Xing to the island and made arrangements for many people to be on standby.
Fo Lian had no confidence in Dong Ling Temple's defenses, yet she absolutely could not abandon the foundation of her rise. Thus, she devised the ingenious plan of using the devotees.
Qin Ye Xuan's greatest weakness, besides the Su sisters, was his so-called reputation as a national scholar of the Great Xia.
No matter how frenzied or ruthless he was, he wouldn't dare slaughter innocent civilians in public, would he?
Yet now, on the plane, before even landing, Qin Ye Xuan had blurted out her ingenious plan. How could Fo Lian not be shocked?
"Miss Lian Hua, what's wrong? Your complexion is terrible?"
The private jet had landed, and Qin Ye Xuan asked with feigned concern.
Fo Lian forced a smile, "I'm worried. Dong Ling Temple using its devotees as human shields is indeed shameless and despicable, but it's certainly ruthless. I haven't had enough time to explain clearly to those devotees. Forcing our way in might lead to casualties."
"Who said I was going to force my way in?" As he stepped off the plane, Qin Ye Xuan laughed heartily. "The devotees gathered around Dong Ling Temple already exceed twenty thousand. The island's management is about to cry; they have to feed and care for over twenty thousand people."
As he spoke, Li Tian Xing and Qian Nan Hai arrived to greet him.
Qin Ye Xuan and Qian Nan Hai went aside to chat.
Qian Nan Hai handed him a relic bead: "Found in the Coral Cave. And I've sorted out that Lotus Platform as well."
Qin Ye Xuan smiled, "You've performed a great service this time. Go back and claim your reward."
Qian Nan Hai said proudly, "This time, the boss can't brag about how invincible he is, how many merits he's earned, or how many monsters he's slain. Old Qian is still useful."
Qin Ye Xuan patted his shoulder, showing great satisfaction.
After arranging for Qian Nan Hai to board the top-tier private jet, Qin Ye Xuan said, "Once the matter in Cha Ge is settled, this plane will be given to the brothers from the dormitory. You can all travel around then."
Qian Nan Hai was stunned and almost jumped for joy.
After sending off the second elder of the dormitory, Qin Ye Xuan returned, and Li Tian Xing hurried to meet him.
He first glanced at Fo Lian, then whispered, "The island can't hold on any longer. All supplies here rely on external transport. Now, feeding over twenty thousand devotees has become a problem, and these people are incredibly stubborn. They've been brainwashed for years. No matter how we try to persuade them, they won't leave."
Qin Ye Xuan said calmly, "Withdraw everyone."
Li Tian Xing's face was full of worry, "I mobilized the propaganda team of the military, splitting them into over twenty groups, constantly explaining and propagating to those devotees. They nearly beat my subordinates to death. These people are beyond saving."
Qin Ye Xuan chuckled, "That's why I told you to pull them back, then notify the logistics base to send them food and water. Not a single person shall starve."
Li Tian Xing's eyes lit up as he thought of something, "Does sir intend to use the Mind Control technique?"
Li Tian Xing and his disciples understood the profoundness of the Mind Control technique all too well.
But Qin Ye Xuan immediately shook his head, "Mere mortals cannot control the minds of tens of thousands of people, especially these devotees who have been brainwashed for years and possess incredibly strong willpower. If just one monk from Dong Ling Temple rallies them, all my Mind Control techniques will be useless."
Ah!
Li Tian Xing became anxious again.
Qin Ye Xuan said displeasively, "Tian Xing, since when have you become so muddle-headed?"
Li Tian Xing gave a wry smile, "Sir..."
He was truly worried for his revered master, whose physical body had only recently been reformed. This reincarnation was rushed, and he feared his elder would suffer a loss.
Qin Ye Xuan walked directly towards Dong Ling Temple, "Don't worry, I'll do the brainwashing too!"
Li Tian Xing felt a sliver of comfort and immediately went to the base to procure grain.
Qin Ye Xuan, with Fo Lian in tow, ascended the Myriad Buddha Platform of Dong Ling Temple.
At this moment, around Dong Ling Temple, from the Myriad Buddha Platform to Buddha Mother Ridge, dense crowds of devotees had gathered.
There were men and women, old and young.
Some even came with their entire families, carrying children and supporting the elderly.
On Mount Buddha Finger, at the center of the island, the crowds were like ants, filling the mountain paths until there was no space left.
The colossal statue of the Peacock Ming King stood atop the peak, and behind it lay the majestic Dong Ling Temple.
"Lian Hua, Dong Ling Temple is where your nightmare began. You don't need to come. Wait for me here on the Myriad Buddha Platform."
Fo Lian was inwardly delighted that he said this, feigning shame, "I'm sorry, I'm truly useless. I originally wanted to help you."
"It's alright. I brought you here so you could personally witness Dong Ling Temple being wiped out in one fell swoop!"
Fo Lian sneered inwardly, but outwardly she expressed immense gratitude.
As Qin Ye Xuan ascended Mount Buddha Finger, her figure flickered, her demonic energy swirling. She finally unleashed her demonic arts with satisfaction. Soon, she stealthily entered the temple.
Faling, a monk in her confidence within the temple, rushed out overjoyed and immediately knelt, "Supreme Buddha Mother, Buddha is merciful. You have finally arrived."
This monk had a fair and handsome face, exuding an aura of purity. When he stood, it was as if a spiritual breeze followed, his monastic robes fluttering, truly embodying the demeanor of a Buddhist master.
He was the junior brother of the puppet abbot Fa Wu. Fo Lian had specifically chosen him for his appearance and promoted him to be the venerable abbot of this generation.
Donning the long robe woven from Dragon Sparrow Feathers, placing the Dharma hat inlaid with nine jade Buddha bones, and wrapping her arms with prayer beads made from Bodhi from Putuo Temple, Fo Lian transformed into the Buddha Mother of Dong Ling.
She veiled her face with jade cicada silk and, utilizing the power of the peacock feathers, emitted a brilliant spiritual light all over her body.
Cheers erupted from within and outside Dong Ling Temple.
This spiritual light shimmered, illuminating the entire mountain. Below the temple, in a specially constructed secret chamber, hundreds of laborers and monks were burning a special incense.
This sandalwood incense, carried by the wind through the ventilation shafts, quickly permeated the entire mountain.
The twenty thousand devotees knelt in excitement, chanting, "Supreme Buddha Mother, supremely holy, our Buddha's immortal spirit, ethereal Buddhist incense, bless me..."
On the sprawling mountain, the chanting of Buddhist scriptures and prayers rose and fell, the atmosphere reaching an extreme fervor.
Fo Lian, hidden behind the scenes, instructed Faling to don his kasaya and go out to confront Qin Ye Xuan!
She was ecstatic: Such a spectacle would make even Li Tian Xing's army tremble. Qin Ye Xuan, Qin Ye Xuan, I've cultivated these twenty thousand devotees for so many years, and they are utterly devoted to me. Now, let's see how you handle this!
Qin Ye Xuan leisurely ascended the mountain, his hands behind his back...