Chapter 1634: Restraining Desire (II) |
So this was his true plan!
Now matters had culminated to a head. The [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus] had already been planted upon the mountain; every necessary condition was in place; and the whole world seemed to be pushing this affair toward fruition. As Nuzi thought it through, his mind briefly drifted before he finally understood why Que Liyu had spoken of Guangchan with such subtle mockery.
He was right. This is a great karmic convergence unseen in a thousand years. If this scheme succeeds, not only will it succeed spectacularly, but neither Guangchan nor Beigu will even come close to matching him. It will also pave an incomparably brilliant path for him to remain among the highest ranks…
If Yuan Huzhong could join the Buddhist Dao, and attained Maha, he could earn a seat to speak at the Dayang Mountain Dharma Assembly. Then, once Que Liyu accomplished his goal, it was entirely possible that a few centuries from now, he would be one of the great figures seated upon the platform, expounding the Dharma himself!
Could something of this magnitude possibly proceed without a great lord pulling the strings behind the scenes? If no such lord had given his approval, how could Que Liyu have obtained six streams of Valley Water from right under the Liangli's nose?
At that instant, Nuzi felt a chill run through his heart, and his thoughts became startlingly clear.
Did that lord truly never react? The hidden treasury of the Peacock Sea was stolen, and several peacocks died one after another. How could any of that have happened without reason? It must have been one of the great lords testing the waters from the shadows…
That lord never responded because he intended for the Peacock Clan to be slowly maneuvered into this position, waiting for Que Liyu to personally step into the game and bring about what has happened today!
His heart turned ice cold as he silently lowered his head. For a scheme to have been laid out over so many years, that lord must have received word long in advance… But who warned him? Who wanted to drive the Seven Dharma Forms even further apart? Was it someone from the heavens… or from below?
He walked across the earth as though taking ordinary strides, yet each step spanned vast distances. At an astonishing speed, he headed south. Wherever he passed, heavenly music swelled into the air. Whether the ground was muddy or barren, lotus blossoms bloomed beneath his feet. Wild beasts bowed in submission, ponds shimmered with radiant light, and the landscape resembled a Buddhist land brought into the mortal world.
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Simin Prefecture.
Dense gray flames rose into the sky as lively music drifted gently into the prefecture. Yet inside the great hall, all was deathly quiet, broken only by the soft flicker of lamplight.
The seat of honor at the head of the hall remained empty, while the seats on either side were filled with the outstanding young talents of the various families. They sat in orderly rows, some lowering their heads to sip tea while others remained silent. The only sound was the occasional clink of porcelain cups.
Most of them waited calmly, showing little sign of anxiety. Only Li Jiangliang kept his brows tightly furrowed as he stared at the map spread across the table. Every so often, attendants approached from below with fresh reports, allowing him to mark the route of the black-clad Buddhist cultivator.
Once he passes Quanwu, every move will affect tens of thousands, perhaps even more…
Li Jiangliang adjusted the teacup in his hand, visibly restless. He raised his eyes and swept his gaze across the hall.
Having been entrusted with establishing the rites, Li Jiangliang had not entered the hall for quite some time. Many of the people standing in the great hall had changed, yet, as expected, they were all descendants of immortal families and Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
He was still lost in thought as a commotion suddenly arose, and a middle-aged man in coarse robes entered the hall. His hair and beard were streaked with gray, his expression stern, and a gourd hung from his waist. The moment he stepped inside, several people immediately came forward to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lingu! Congratulations!"
"The divine ability has been achieved. The news has truly astonished every corner of the realm…"
Li Jiangliang knew exactly who he was. It was Lingu Lie of the Lingu Family. He had once been an overlooked clan elder who wandered the world, but had now become the family head.
The Lingu Family's pool of talent had long since withered. Back then, many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had rushed into seclusion in Linhai Prefecture the moment an opportunity presented itself. Those truly gifted cultivators had all fallen, leaving Lingu Lie, a clan elder who had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm at nearly a hundred years old, to be summoned back and shoulder the family's heavy responsibilities.
As soon as Lingu Lanying achieved success, Lingu Lie instantly became one of the most sought-after figures in the hall. While everyone crowded around to flatter him, he still found the time to look toward Li Jiangliang and offer a respectful salute from afar.
Li Jiangliang acknowledged him with a smile. Lingu Lie promptly made his way over and said with a grin, "My respects, Lord Li!"
Li Jiangliang had no choice but to set aside what he was doing and respond warmly, "You are too courteous, senior!"
Lingu Lie sighed with emotion. "Our family has always shared a certain bond with your esteemed family. Back then, our Daoist Master fought alongside your family and was truly of the same generation as Daoist Master Zhaojing. He has always spoken of your family with great fondness, and even asked me to pay you a visit!"
Li Jiangliang smiled and replied, "With the Buddhist cultivator heading south, a great battle could break out at any moment. The congratulatory gifts from the various families will probably be delayed. Since we're both here in the hall, let me offer my congratulations in advance!"
Lingu Lie was just about to bring up some old stories when his expression suddenly stiffened. Li Jiangliang's smile also faded as he sensed something.
Thump… thump, thump…
The tea in the cups on the table suddenly began to boil for no apparent reason, rattling the lids with a loud hum. Layer upon layer of water and fire surged into existence, accompanied by the faint rustling of scales. Li Jiangliang reacted instantly. Startled, he sprang to his feet and rushed out of the hall in two strides.
He looked up to see white cranes circling overhead. Layer upon layer of water and fire shone across the heavens like stars, summoning streak after streak of descending immortal light. At the sight, Li Jiangliang merely turned to glance at the cultivators still standing bewildered inside the hall.
"Come down and pay your respects to the lord."
The crowd hurried out of the hall and, led by Li Jiangliang, knelt in unison. Feathered robes and magnificent garments spread across the ground, reflecting the radiance of the water and fire overhead in dazzling splendor.
Boom!
Blue, azure, and indigo water and fire intertwined with hues of black, crimson, yellow, and gray across the sky. Countless white cranes descended from above, dissolving the endless torrent of Karmic Fire pouring down and bathing the entire prefecture in brilliant light.
Li Jiangliang slowly raised his head, only to find a pair of black boots standing directly before him. His heart skipped a beat. He slowly lifted his gaze, letting it travel over the man's elaborately patterned black robe before finally settling on his face.
An utterly ordinary, unremarkable face.
Yet it was precisely that perfectly ordinary face that left one's mind completely blank, making it impossible to remember even a single distinguishing feature. His aura was utterly still, as though he were nothing more than an ordinary mortal.
Li Jiangliang, however, noticed that the man's attire resembled that of his wife, Yang Tianyou. Lowering his eyes slightly, he realized that everyone around him seemed completely oblivious to the man's presence, as though they had noticed nothing unusual.
Only then did he rise and speak, "My respects, senior."
The man before him gave a slight nod and smiled. "You are Bright Yang's son."
Li Jiangliang bowed and replied, "My father is Daoist Master Minghuang."
The man nodded in satisfaction and said softly, "Please deliver a message to those at the lake for me. Tell them that Yang Ruiyi of the Simin Yang Family invites the Daoist Masters at the lake to come to Simin, so that we may discuss an important matter together."
Li Jiangliang hesitated for a moment. The man from the Yang Family smiled, gave him a meaningful look, and added, "Daoist Master Guanxuan, Yang Tianya, is also in Simin. He has been waiting for your esteemed family for a long time and wishes to catch up with the descendants of old friends."
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