Chapter 852: Banquet

"Strange, why are the lamas from Zhongyin Temple looking for the White Lotus Society?"

Seeing the lamas from Zhongyin Temple enter the White Lotus Society's hall, Chun Xiaoman felt uneasy. She bid farewell to the beggars and quietly followed them. When she saw that their destination was Bai Lingmiao's residence, Chun Xiaoman quickened her pace. Although these lamas were unlikely to act within the capital city, she was still worried.

However, before she could catch up, a faint, almost imperceptible sense of death spread from all around, making her scalp tingle and her fingers grow cold as she stood rooted to the spot. Chun Xiaoman struggled desperately, trying to pull out the jagged sword from her waist to perform spirit possession, but at that moment, her limbs seemed to be paralyzed, unable to move even an inch. Just then, Chun Xiaoman suddenly saw the back of a head in front of her. At first, she thought it belonged to one of the Zhongyin Temple lamas, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was her own!

"That's me in front? Then who am I?"

Shivering, Chun Xiaoman forced her gaze downwards, only to discover with immense shock that her original body was nowhere to be seen!

"Am I... dead? Is this my soul?"

This feeling came and went quickly. As the Zhongyin Temple lamas slowly walked past Xiaoman, she uncontrollably bumped into her own back, instantly waking up. Touching her body, which she had regained, Chun Xiaoman looked with lingering fear at the departing lamas.

"Those lamas' methods are too strange. What exactly are they doing here?" Chun Xiaoman quickly picked up her pace, rushing towards Bai Lingmiao's residence.

"Lingmiao? Are you alright?" Chun Xiaoman anxiously asked Bai Lingmiao, who was seated on a lotus pedestal.

Bai Lingmiao gently shook her head, her expression very calm, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.

"The masters from Zhongyin Temple merely came to request a statue of Wusheng Laomu. Zhongyin Temple needs a new Mahakala, and I agreed." As it would allow more people to believe in Wusheng Laomu, Bai Lingmiao had no reason to refuse, and it was also Wusheng Laomu's will. Moreover, in exchange, Zhongyin Temple offered some secret techniques. From now on, White Lotus Society followers would not only be able to perform spirit possession but also harness the Dao of Death, just like the lamas of Zhongyin Temple. Although it was said that cultivating Zhongyin Temple's secret arts required extremely high innate potential, the White Lotus Society currently had no shortage of people; they could simply find suitable candidates among their followers.

Hearing that her friend was safe, Chun Xiaoman finally let out a sigh of relief. She had almost wanted to order the White Lotus followers outside to intercept those lamas.

"But Lingmiao, why would they ask for a statue of Wusheng Laomu?" Chun Xiaoman was puzzled by their actions. No matter how she looked at it, this arrangement seemed to benefit the White Lotus Society more. Why would someone be so eager to offer such advantages? She found it hard to believe.

As the White Lotus Saintess, Bai Lingmiao naturally knew more, especially after she had specifically learned more from Suisui. However, she wasn't sure how to explain it to Chun Xiaoman, as it concerned the Dao of Heaven, and directly telling her might lead to undesirable consequences.

"Hmm... how should I tell you..." Just as Bai Lingmiao was struggling for words, a White Lotus follower hurried in from outside.

"Saintess, the Emperor of Daliang summons you."

Bai Lingmiao and Chun Xiaoman exchanged glances, a hint of confusion on their faces. They couldn't understand why Gao Zhijian would want to see them at this moment. Although she didn't know the reason, since he was a former comrade, Bai Lingmiao didn't think much of it and started to leave.

"I'll come with you," Chun Xiaoman, still a little worried, stepped forward and linked arms with Bai Lingmiao.

The two boarded the exquisite carriage sent from the palace. As the copper-clad wheels rolled, the carriage swiftly headed towards the Imperial City gate. The carriage didn't stop at the palace gate but drove directly inside. The palace guards offered no resistance. When Bai Lingmiao alighted, a majestic palace stood before her. Looking at the building, Bai Lingmiao's delicate brows furrowed slightly. This place seemed more suited for official matters than for reminiscing.

"Let's go." Bai Lingmiao lifted her long skirt with both hands and, with her white cloth shoes, stepped onto the smooth marble, walking towards the grand palace before them.

The hall was very spacious. As soon as she entered, Bai Lingmiao, using her keen spiritual insight, instantly saw the several people dining at the center of the main hall. The Emperor of Daliang, the Khan of Qingqiu, the Emperor of Siqi, the Emperor of Houshu, and the Emperor of Nanping. All five Dragon Vein Emperors were gathered, and they all looked directly at her. Under the gaze of the five emperors, Bai Lingmiao suddenly felt a mountain-like pressure rush over her.

Gao Zhijian, from behind the table, set down his wine goblet. With a pleasant expression, he gestured to a nearby seat and said, "Junior Sister Bai, come, let's eat and talk." When he noticed Chun Xiaoman beside Bai Lingmiao, Gao Zhijian's expression paused slightly. He then raised his wine goblet again, this time towards the Emperor of Houshu on his right.

An imperial banquet was naturally completely different from outside meals. There was emerald-juice chicken and tofu soup, stir-fried water bamboo and asparagus, Buddha's Temptation, winter melon and fish meatballs, crab roe stir-fried osmanthus shark fin, and braised scallops with fairy mushrooms. These dishes, no matter the color, aroma, or taste, were incomparable to anything found outside. The most skilled chefs in all of Daliang had been brought into the imperial kitchen. However, looking at these delicacies, Chun Xiaoman recalled the fruit peels the beggars had eaten earlier, and a bitter feeling arose in her heart. What was discarded here as waste were precious items that people outside couldn't afford. Yet, no matter how exquisite these dishes were, no one present kept their gaze on them for long.

Bai Lingmiao sat down at the table, replaying the scene of her entrance. "They started eating without waiting for me. This doesn't seem like inviting someone for a meal."

"Come, we toast to the Saintess. The passing of this natural disaster owes much to the White Lotus Saintess's invaluable contribution," Gao Zhijian said, and the other four emperors also raised their wine goblets.

Hearing this, Bai Lingmiao raised her cup, swirled it, and took a small sip from its rim. The bitter wine didn't show any effect on Bai Lingmiao's face. Once she set down her goblet, she directly and straightforwardly addressed the Emperor of Daliang before her: "Gao Zhijian, if you have something to say, just say it. We've all been through thick and thin together; we're family."

"Hahaha," Gao Zhijian burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this. "Excellent, excellent. Back then, we left Qingfeng Temple together, braving the elements along the way. Thinking about it now, I feel quite nostalgic."

"Since we're all family, I won't stand on ceremony. My invitation to Junior Sister Bai today concerns the White Lotus Society."