"Have you heard? Crown Prince Dayan went to the Western Regions and outright defeated Master Huixuan of Buddha Light Temple!"
"That’s old news. If I’m not mistaken, Crown Prince Dayan is only ten this year, right? That’s terrifying! When has our Martial Dao ever seen such a young Grandmaster!?"
"If Crown Prince Dayan can break through to the Grandmaster Realm at age ten, doesn’t that mean he has a chance of becoming a Great Grandmaster?"
"You’re thinking too small. Far too small. A ten-year-old Grandmaster? With talent like that, forget about becoming a Great Grandmaster—even the Land Immortal Realm might not be his final destination!"
"For real?"
"What you’ve heard is already old news. According to the latest reports, those old bald donkeys from the Buddhist Sect couldn’t stomach their defeat, so they sent three consecutive waves of Grandmasters to Buddha Light Temple. But what happened? Crown Prince Dayan cut them all down. Now the Buddhist Sect is in a real bind, so humiliated they’re about to lose their temper and flip the whole board!"
"Watch what you say. It’s one thing to talk big, but don’t just spew bullshit. None of this has been confirmed; it’s all just rumors from the grapevine!"
A group of Jianghu Martial Artists were gathered, shooting the breeze.
They were arguing endlessly over the recent events at Buddha Light Temple. Their back-and-forth squabbling was no different from a group of aunties haggling in a crowded market.
But you couldn’t really blame them for their narrow perspective.
The truth was, any Martial Artist with real ability and a broader perspective was already on their way to Buddha Light Temple, if they hadn’t arrived already.
After all, who wouldn’t want to witness this miracle of the Martial Dao, something not seen in a thousand, or even ten thousand, years?
Those still drinking here were all small-fry from the bottom rungs of the Martial Dao, left to satisfy their craving for excitement with secondhand news from taverns and teahouses.
...
Clearly, Li Chang’an’s series of wagered duels outside Buddha Light Temple had ignited discussions across the land. Countless eyes were fixed on the Western Regions, where every new development was followed with bated breath.
For all the risks he took, Li Chang’an’s rewards were naturally enormous. The pile of treasures behind him had grown so large it could barely be contained.
Even members of the Four Top Sects couldn’t help but turn green with envy as they stared at the small mountain of rare treasures, magical items, and Cultivation Techniques Secret Manuals piled up behind him.
Unfortunately for them, Li Chang’an’s reputation had grown too formidable. Although countless people outside Buddha Light Temple coveted those treasures, none dared to make the slightest move.
It was no joke. The number of Grandmasters who had fallen to Li Chang’an already exceeded the fingers on one hand. Who would be foolish enough to challenge him now?
With this seemingly invincible record, where he swept aside all challengers, Li Chang’an had forged a legendary reputation for himself in the Jianghu.
After sitting there for the better part of the day with no new challengers, Li Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh. He rose to his feet and announced, "So I ask, are there any heroes left in this world? Since no one else dares to step forward, I suppose I’ll just pack up and head home!"
As he spoke, he shot a meaningful glance toward the members of the Shadow Guard who had already gathered nearby. Moments later, dozens of horse-drawn carriages rolled up.
By all appearances, he truly intended to load these priceless, rare treasures onto the carriages, crate by crate, and transport them all the way back to Great Derivation.
Just then, waves of Brahma Sound suddenly echoed from within the long-silent Buddha Light Temple. At the same moment, the Buddhist Pagoda—a structure even more magnificent than the Imperial Palace—began to radiate a brilliant, golden light.
The golden light pulsed, drawing closer, blooming with a dazzling radiance as if it were alive.
A figure resembling the Maitreya Buddha materialized in mid-air. His gaze fell upon Li Chang’an in the crowd as he spoke in a serene tone, "Patron, I must ask you to return the abbots and Magical Treasures of our Buddhist Sect."
The moment his voice was heard, nearly everyone outside Buddha Light Temple held their breath.
There was no other reason for it; the presence of this figure was simply too overwhelming. He seemed to have merged with heaven and earth itself, and his every move, his every word, carried an unparalleled, divine aura.
Buddha!
Although the newcomer did not introduce himself, the same name flashed through the minds of every Jianghu Martial Artist present.
It was a manifestation of his sheer presence, an expression of his Dao.
From a great distance, one could feel that he was utterly different from ordinary beings.
A chilling smile touched Li Chang’an’s lips. ’So, the main event of this farce is finally here,’ he thought. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "The rules of the wagered duels were crystal clear: the loser leaves something behind to buy back their life."
"Every other Sect in the world acknowledged this rule. Only your disciples from the Buddhist Sect refused to give up anything. The fact that I didn’t kill them on the spot was an act of extreme mercy. And now you demand that I return them to you? Don’t you find that laughable?"
"Or has your Buddhist Sect simply become accustomed to such gangster logic, to acting without regard for the rules?"
Even though his opponent was a Buddha, a Great Grandmaster whose name alone struck fear into the hearts of the Jianghu, Li Chang’an showed not a trace of fear. In fact, his tone grew even colder.
Watching this, the surrounding Jianghu Martial Artists broke out in a cold sweat on his behalf, yet they couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up in their hearts.
After all, everyone else had played by the rules. Only the Buddhist Sect had been obstinate, adopting a defiant attitude of ’kill us if you want’ after their losses.
Weren’t they just banking on the fact that this was Buddhist territory, with a Buddha watching over them, certain that Crown Prince Dayan wouldn’t dare to *actually* harm them?
And now that a Buddha had truly appeared, he was continuing the tradition of shamelessness, demanding the return of his people right from the start.
Seeing Li Chang’an’s blunt response, the Buddha’s tone hardened slightly. "Patron, you have many misunderstandings about our Buddhist Sect. However, since you have established these wagers, I am willing to abide by your rules. If you can withstand a single palm strike from me, I will gift you one Bodhi Fruit. If you cannot, then you will return everything that belongs to the Buddhist Sect."