Chapter 1050: Chapter 1044: Unworthy
Dusheng Nunnery.
Li Kuanghua’s breakthrough radiated with brilliant Buddhist light.
At this moment, Nun Dairou sat cross-legged alongside Dharma Master Hongzhen and Dharma Master Hongdan.
Chants echoed in overlapping layers, and the entire Buddhist pagoda was covered in Buddhist runes.
“Dharma Master Hong Kuang’s breakthrough is imminent. It wasn’t in vain that we built a Buddhist temple and erected a Buddha statue for her.”
It had been a year since Dharma Master Hongdan’s incense offerings were stolen. By now, she had long forgotten those unhappy matters.
Watching Li Kuanghua’s Buddhist light, she felt extremely gratified.
“Dharma Master Hong Kuang’s Buddha statue has received the gift of vital blood and energy from martial artists.
Given time, breaking through to the Body Integration realm is just around the corner.”
“You two must not slack off either.”
Nun Dairou urged, “Spread the Buddhist Dharma. When I break through, we will no longer have to fear Holy Monk Yidian.
The day the Crown Prince returns to the court will be the day our Buddhist Dao flourishes.”
“Nun.” Dharma Master Hongzhen’s expression held some doubt.
“Back then, Holy Monk Yidian exterminated our Buddhist sect, and in Shadowfell Prefecture… we were the first to retreat, causing Shadowfell Prefecture to fall.
Will the people of the world still be able to tolerate us?”
“I have my own plans.” Nun Dairou’s expression was calm; she already had a well-thought-out strategy.
“Hongdan is already at the extreme limit of the Void Refinement realm, and Hongzhen has even reached the Half-Step Body Integration realm. Now we also have Hong Kuang.
Let alone the fact that I have my own calculations in how I act, when the time comes, and our Buddhist sect has three Body Integration experts, and we summon the Buddhist disciples of the world, what in this world will there be to fear?”
“Yes, Nun.”
Hongzhen deeply agreed.
Their Buddhist Dharma was profound, and the people of the world who received the Buddhist Dharma knew to repay the grace.
Coupled with the fact that there were few Buddhist sects in the world today, the speed at which their Bodhisattva statues spread the power of faith was even faster than they had anticipated.
For Void Refinement realm experts like them, this kind of speed surpassed any opportunity in the world.
Hongzhen was confident that in another few hundred years, their single sect would have more Body Integration experts.
“Nun, there is one matter that still makes Hongzhen feel uneasy to this day.” Hongzhen still had a somewhat solemn expression.
“A year ago, Hongdan’s incense offerings were stolen. Since the other party had the means to steal our incense offerings, they must have had a motive.
Yet they only stole it once and then made no further moves, leaving us completely clueless as to who did it.”
“Senior Sister, you really had to bring that up.”
Hongdan clenched her fists tightly. She had a habit of saving up her faith power.
She simply couldn’t resist the thrill of saving up a massive amount of faith power until she could break through a realm in one fell swoop, even if it was just a minor realm.
But it was precisely this habit that had harmed her, allowing the incense offerings she had saved for over twenty years to be stolen by someone.
“Shameless little thief, breaking precepts (the five Buddhist precepts: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication) before the Buddha. Don’t let me find out who did it, otherwise I’ll let them see the Wrathful Bodhisattva.”
Dharma Master Hongdan let out a cold snort.
Just as the three of them were talking, they all furrowed their brows and looked toward the cloudy sky of the Dusheng Nunnery’s Grotto-Heaven.
Dharma Master Hongdan was straightforward by nature and immediately shouted, “Oh no, someone has found the location of our Buddhist sect!”
Within the cloudy sky of the Dusheng Nunnery’s Grotto-Heaven, a cold gleam could be seen piercing through the clouds and flying into the Grotto-Heaven.
With a twirl, it landed inside the Buddhist pagoda where the three of them were.
It was a dagger.
The dagger was a common weapon, pitch-black all over, standing slanted right in the middle of the three of them.
From the dagger, a wisp of Void Refinement absolute limit Spiritual power emanated, and a voice transmitted through the lingering resonance of the Spiritual power.
“The Azure Cloud Li Clan is coming to kill. Flee quickly.”
The expressions of the three changed.
The Dusheng Nunnery’s Grotto-Heaven transformed into a green lotus and hid within the void; this was the concealment method they had used for many years.
They acted with extreme caution.
Even when sending disciples to the mortal realm to build Buddhist temples and seize faith, it was done by having Nun Dairou put the disciples into the cauldrons to seize bodies using the Buddhist Dharma of the “Sutra of Rebirth.”
Inside the cauldrons, the disciples’ memories would be washed away. Absolutely no one knew their location.
Even when they extorted faith, it was stored inside the Buddha statues, and they would cautiously and meticulously bring the Buddha statues back.
“Wait, this dagger… it has the aura of the person who stole my incense offerings.” Dharma Master Hongdan grew even angrier. “Bastard! This is a provocation!”
“No, it is not a provocation.”
Nun Dairou’s phoenix-like brows furrowed tightly.
“The person sending the message has no reason to provoke us.
Since he stole Hongdan’s incense offerings and then hid, absolutely refusing to be greedy for more, it proves that his schemes are even greater.
This kind of person wouldn’t provoke us easily.”
“Then this…”
Hongdan looked at the dagger in confusion. “And his message…”
Nun Dairou said, “The only possibility is that this person has an ulterior motive, and what he said is true.
The Azure Cloud Li Clan was, most likely, lured here by the person sending the message.
The messenger wants us and the Azure Cloud Li Clan to go to war, thereby allowing him to sit back and reap the fisherman’s profit.”
“This…” Dharma Master Hongzhen and Dharma Master Hongdan exchanged a glance.
Dharma Master Hongzhen said, “Nun, your calculations are truly divine.”
“No.” Nun Dairou looked at the dagger indifferently.
“I can simply sense the aura on this dagger. Having cultivated in Shadowfell Prefecture for so many years, Benefactor Yun Hongcai is still as despicable as ever.”
“Yun Hongcai?!!”
Dharma Master Hongdan’s expression was ugly.
“The ancestor of the Yun Clan whose lifespan is nearing its end?
His Yun Clan has already been exterminated by the Azure Cloud Li Clan, yet he still dares to provoke our Dusheng Nunnery and lure the Azure Cloud Li Clan here!
Nun, if the Azure Cloud Li Clan dares to trespass into our Dusheng Nunnery, we will send them to meet the Buddha!
And Yun Hongcai—he can only go down to the eighteenth layer of hell!”
“To seek revenge against my Dusheng Nunnery, the Azure Cloud Li Clan is unworthy!”
“To reap benefits from my Dusheng Nunnery, he, Yun Hongcai, is unworthy!”
At this time, at the border of Deston Prefecture.
Heavenly Venerable Jiande, his face pale, flew toward Shadowfell Prefecture.
He asked Fairy Tinglan, who was rapidly walking through the void shoulder-to-shoulder beside him, “Fairy, are you certain that Zhao Guang of the Department of Immortal Suppression has come personally?”
“I am certain!”
Fairy Tinglan’s expression was solemn.
“After we passed the intel to the Azure Cloud Li Clan, my spy in the Imperial Capital has been keeping an eye on the Department of Immortal Suppression.
Just as the Boss predicted, once the Azure Cloud Li Clan confirmed the location of the Dusheng Nunnery, Li Chang’an personally went to the Department of Immortal Suppression.
Half a month ago, Zhao Guang of the Department of Immortal Suppression led his subordinates out of the Imperial Capital, heading in the direction of Deston Prefecture.”
Everything was exactly as Yun Hongcai had predicted, but looking at the expressions of Heavenly Venerable Jiande and Fairy Tinglan, one would know that Yun Hongcai’s prediction wasn’t completely accurate.
“Why would they send Zhao Guang?”
A look of fear flashed through Heavenly Venerable Jiande’s eyes.
Heart-Devouring Holy Lord Zhao Guang, the number one person under Commander Wu Neng of the Department of Immortal Suppression.
Tens of thousands of years ago, he was already at the Body Integration realm limit. He was someone whose lifespan should have been exhausted thousands of years ago, yet Zhao Guang simply refused to die!
One must know that upon reaching the Body Integration realm, killing someone in the same realm was extremely difficult.
Even if a Mahayana realm expert made a move, as long as a Body Integration realm cultivator fled for their life, they would have a chance.
Yet even Heavenly Venerable Jiande and Fairy Tinglan knew that in the time Zhao Guang had lived until now, four Body Integration experts had already lost their lives at his hands!
“It’s not just Zhao Guang. The Department of Immortal Suppression has also sent four Void Refinement cultivators, as well as experts from hidden factions recently recruited by the Department.
They have all received orders from the Department of Immortal Suppression and are currently on their way to Deston Prefecture.”
Fairy Tinglan broke out in a cold sweat.
Even Yun Hongcai hadn’t anticipated that the Department of Immortal Suppression’s regard for the Crown Prince would reach such an extent.
Generally speaking, in order for Wu Neng to deal with the other factions in the Imperial Capital, it was simply impossible for him to dispatch a formidable expert like this.
After all, Wu Neng also had to consider whether sending him out would result in someone making a move against himself.
But Wu Neng did exactly that!
Holy Monk Yidian had once exterminated Buddhism; Nun Dairou of the Dusheng Nunnery might be able to exchange a few blows with Holy Monk Yidian.
But facing Zhao Guang… if they truly dared to fight, it would be a dead end!
“The Boss has already informed the Dusheng Nunnery of the news, letting them prepare a response.”
Heavenly Venerable Jiande took a deep breath.
“It’s fine. The Dusheng Nunnery is Nun Dairou’s home turf.
She has definitely made ample preparations. Even if Zhao Guang has come personally, she surely possesses means to deal with him.
After all, the Dusheng Nunnery has existed for so many years; they must certainly have a few grand Array formations.
Moreover, over these past few decades, the Dusheng Nunnery has madly accumulated faith. The few old demonesses inside are not simple.”
Fairy Tinglan let out a long sigh.
“To think the Li Clan could actually persuade Zhao Guang to come personally. It can only be this way. We just have to hope they are evenly matched, so we can wait for the opportunity to…”
But before she could finish speaking, the two walking through the void exchanged a glance, immediately nodded in unison, concealed their figures, and blended into the void.
In just a moment’s time.
In the cloudy sky, over a dozen figures wearing smiling masks and white robes could be seen advancing upon trigram boards, vanishing into the clouds.
It wasn’t until the time it takes to drink a cup of tea that Heavenly Venerable Jiande and Fairy Tinglan reemerged from the void.
The two exchanged another glance, both seeing the horror in each other’s eyes.
Heavenly Venerable Jiande said blankly,
“They are at the Body Integration realm. Looking at their attire… the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion of the Imperial Capital.
Fairy, you didn’t mention that the people from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion were coming either…”
“How was I supposed to know?!”
Fairy Tinglan said anxiously.
“The Boss was the one who said the situation in the Imperial Capital is complex.
To save Li Kuanghua’s life and rescue Crown Prince Fei Heng, the Azure Cloud Li Clan would at most inform the Department of Immortal Suppression.
Who knew that even the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion would come!”
“Then can Nun Dairou handle them?” Heavenly Venerable Jiande gnashed his teeth. “Are we still going or not?”
“We’re going!”
Fairy Tinglan took a deep breath. “That is where our opportunity for a breakthrough lies. I refuse to believe there are even more people!”
…
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital.
Li Chang’an stood together with the rotund Li Yuanshang, respectfully seeing off Wu Neng, whose anger had yet to subside.
“Great-Great-Grandfather, he… he wouldn’t smash our chamber of commerce, would he?”
Li Yuanshang swallowed hard. His already obese body was dripping with sweat from nervousness.
Looking at the puddles of water dripping onto the ground, Li Chang’an raised his eyebrows.
So many years had passed, and Li Chang’an had never seen Li Yuanshang sweat this much.
He thought to himself that if he invited Wu Neng over more often, perhaps it could help Yuanshang lose some weight.
Cursing inwardly, Li Chang’an replied, “Although Wu Neng is petty, he won’t go so far as to smash our chamber of commerce. Besides, I didn’t even do anything.”
“You didn’t do anything, Great-Great-Grandfather? He told you to keep the matter of the Dusheng Nunnery a secret, but you brought it up right in front of his face during the court assembly.” Li Yuanshang smiled bitterly.
“Now look what happened. The entire imperial court knows that Fei Heng is being controlled in the Dusheng Nunnery.
Terrified that Fei Heng will be used as a puppet by the Dusheng Nunnery, they have no choice but to mount a rescue.”
“Calling it a rescue sounds nice, but the people in the imperial court all have different motives.
And then there’s the Empress, who has been regent for decades—will she let Fei Heng live comfortably?
As for those heading to the Dusheng Nunnery, whether they are going to save Fei Heng or kill him is truly hard to say.”
Li Yuanshang’s expression grew increasingly ugly. “Great-Great-Grandfather, oh Great-Great-Grandfather, it hasn’t been easy for us to support such a Crown Prince in the court.”
Hearing this, Li Chang’an also frowned slightly.
Back when he was in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, he was very familiar with Fei Heng.
After arriving in the Imperial Capital, Fei Heng had also treated him extremely well; their Li Clan and Fei Heng were as close as family.
If Great-Great-Aunt Yaowen hadn’t told him to do this, he definitely wouldn’t have acted this way.
“It’s over, it’s completely over. This time, the Crown Prince is definitely heading to the Netherworld to meet our clan’s First Ancestor.”
Li Yuanshang wrung out a completely soaked towel and wiped the cold sweat from his head.
Li Chang’an pondered for a long time. “Stay calm. The Empress and I also had a very pleasant conversation.”
“…”
Li Yuanshang stared blankly. Just listen to this. Is this something an elder should say?
Looking again at his Great-Great-Grandfather’s eyes, something wasn’t quite right; he looked completely serious.
After hesitating for a long time, Li Yuanshang asked anxiously, “Great-Great-Grandfather, you… this ‘pleasant conversation’ you mentioned… is it this kind of pleasant conversation, or that kind of pleasant conversation?”
—
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