Chapter 1020: For Difficulties

Fachang's expression initially showed doubt, but then Minghui smiled and said, "You may not recognize me, Senior, but I've heard your name. I was also at the Dayang Mountain Dharma Assembly then, watching from below the steps... I recognized you!"

His words were undoubtedly a bit unpleasant to hear. After all, Fachang had gone to Dayang Mountain to face criticism, and Minghui's claim of watching from below had undoubtedly given him a clear view of Fachang's disgraced and awkward situation. Yet Fachang merely sighed, "You must find this amusing, Minghui!"

Minghui smiled. "Amused, Senior? You're too polite; that's hardly the case! When you descended the mountain and went silently to its foot, I was the next to ascend. The elder struck me so hard my head nearly came off. It struck me, but the pain was felt by my master!"

Fachang was instantly speechless. Though he possessed an excellent disposition, he was not foolish. He understood perfectly in his heart: *To strike you, Minghui, was to slap Jinlian's face.*

While the Shanle lineage nominally followed Dayang Mountain's commands, they were privately the most rebellious. They dared not openly disobey, but they frequently engaged in cunning and deceitful acts. Moreover, the Shanle Dao sect was unyielding; unless they committed a fundamental error, Dayang Mountain truly had no effective recourse. Therefore, striking a disciple's face was nothing more than an act of helpless frustration.

Fachang immediately sensed from his tone that the Shanle Dao sect still harbored resentment towards Dayang Mountain. And it was precisely this cunning and evasive spirit that he sought!

However, he could not speak freely. The esteemed figures of the Great Mu Dharma Realm had actively engaged in Dayang Mountain affairs over the years. Their aim was to use Dayang Mountain's influence to restrain the Seven Phases and truly realize the vision of a paradise on earth. Not only did they greatly leverage Dayang Mountain, but they were themselves inheritors of its tradition. Therefore, he did not respond to Minghui at that moment, remaining silent.

Minghui glanced at him, understanding that this stubborn monk still held some respect for Dayang Mountain. He adjusted his sleeve and smiled, saying, "Please come inside for a detailed discussion!"

*At least Lotus Temple has someone with a normal mind...*

Fachang had been standing alone for some time, feeling genuinely awkward. He quickly nodded, took two steps forward, and seeing Jinlian swaggering up, he simply couldn't restrain himself. He turned, pressed his palms together, and pleaded, "Great Bodhisattva, please put away your Dharma artifact!"

Jinlian's eyes widened, and he appeared about to unleash a scolding. Minghui, somewhat awkwardly, stepped forward, breaking their line of sight, and smiled, "Please do not take offense, please do not take offense..."

As he spoke, he drew a golden kasaya from his sleeve. He gently unfurled it and draped it over Jinlian's body, tying a knot at the chest to conceal Jinlian's private parts. Then he smiled, "Please!"

Fachang's expression greatly softened. He passed by and ascended the golden steps behind the grand hall. Jinlian sneered, "Fachang! You are fixated on mere appearances! My sect views people as mere skeletons; further contemplation reveals only the Five Virtues and Twelve Qi, and the Lapis Lazuli View of the Sacred Teaching. If you cannot let go of a bit of nudity, how can you let go of all sentient beings?"

Fachang took a step forward, pressed his palms together, and said, "It is precisely because I cannot let go of all sentient beings."

Jinlian laughed, "If you cannot let go, you cannot take up; if you cannot take up, you cannot save. Those who cannot let go of sentient beings will seek to govern them, to manage them... ultimately becoming masters of sentient beings. One becomes a master, another becomes a master, and between masters, infinite animosity arises; what then becomes of the sentient beings? Only those who can truly let go of sentient beings can transmit the sacred teachings, teaching sentient beings to be responsible for themselves. Fachang! This inability of yours to let go is precisely what all cultivators find undesirable."

This Mahā, so brazen and like a bandit chieftain, had a smile on his lips. For a fleeting moment, his eyes brightened slightly, gaining a touch of radiance and a hint of the sacredness befitting the master of Lotus Temple. Fachang turned his head, offering no reply.

Minghui did not adhere strictly to doctrine, but he knew how much trouble his master could be, and his heart pounded.

The first time Jinlian visited Dayang Mountain, upon returning, with one foot barely inside Lotus Temple, he immediately began spouting audacious claims. He declared the Great Mu Dharma Realm the "Great Landlord Realm" and the Great Desire Dao the "Petty Proprietor Realm"—the latter being like a distant, awkward offspring of the Landlord, merely waiting for the Landlord to die.

The Empty-Nothingness Dao he called the "Brainless Dao," and the Discipline Dao, the "Selfish Mute Dao." As for "Wrathful Ignorant Donkeys" and "Compassionate Hybrids"... these were the other heretical paths that greatly deluded the populace.

At that moment, Minghui hastily interjected, "Only our Shanle is truly enlightened!"

But Jinlian merely scoffed, "Bah! Neither good nor joyful; it's the path of bitter suffering!"

With this prior experience, Minghui genuinely feared what his master might say about the "Great Landlord Realm" in front of Fachang. He raised an eyebrow to mediate, indicated a place for Fachang to sit, and quickly interrupted, smiling, "May I ask what arrangements Senior has in mind!"

Fachang pressed his palms together and replied, "I need to borrow two Mahās; if that's truly not possible, one will do... But I will need more compassionate ones. After all, Lotus Temple's spiritual lineage is flourishing, and its offerings are abundant... There is no shortage here."

Minghui nodded, glancing at his master. Jinlian was also looking at him, and the master and disciple exchanged knowing glances.

*Going south... definitely means confronting those by the lake...*

This matter was exceedingly troublesome. Lotus Temple had suffered losses before, and Minghui felt an ineffable dread as he listened. Jinlian, however, stared intently at Fachang and said softly, "Fachang is determined for me to go south."

Fachang frowned and replied, "Forgive my directness, but this could also be beneficial for a Mahā. It would even assist you in refining your Dharma Body... Friend, what exactly do you mean by this?"

Minghui's heart sank. Jinlian, however, remained expressionless, sneering, "I need no assistance; I can achieve it myself. But should I be injured, all previous efforts might be in vain. Lotus Temple has always abstained from this matter precisely for stability..."

Fachang became even more perplexed and whispered, "Naturally, I don't wish to compel Great Bodhisattvas to act. But why aren't the Mahās of your esteemed sect... or rather, this Mahā Minghui, not tempted?"

Minghui cursed inwardly, but outwardly lamented, "I cannot bear to see sentient beings suffer!"

"Ah?"

Fachang's words caught in his throat, and he paused as if to speak but then refrained. Then, realizing something, he replied, "Friend, please state your requirements freely!"

Master and disciple fell silent. Fachang then gritted his teeth and said, "If two Great Bodhisattvas are willing to undertake this journey for me, to reduce the slaughter in the south, I will cede this time's Purple Auspice Three Venerable Fruit of the Dharma Realm to you two!"

Minghui frowned. Jinlian, beside him, slapped the table, spread his legs, rested his hands on his knees, and laughed, "The Great Bodhisattva is decisive!"

"Then it's settled... I won't disturb you further!"

Fachang breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to avert his gaze. He quickly rose, fearing Jinlian might say more, and without uttering another word, stepped into the void and vanished.

In the empty golden hall, only the master and disciple remained. Minghui hesitated, as if to speak, but he saw Jinlian rise, his smile gone, his expression icy. "This matter cannot be postponed," he said. "After all, it's a good opportunity. The North-South conflict has already been deferred once; deferring it again would inevitably arouse suspicion and drive up the price. We must accept."

Their concerns were identical. Minghui whispered, "I have dragged you into this, Master!"

When Minghui caused trouble back then, Jinlian merely glanced at his Dharma artifact and incurred a great disaster. Not only was his painstakingly cultivated Pure Buddha Body shattered, but his soul also suffered, taking a full century to recover. This indirectly impacted the opportunities during the North-South conflict, pushing Minghui's position as Mahā to this point today. Yet, neither of them harbored any resentment.

For no other reason than that venerable one's methods were too terrifying. Although Jinlian was not within the Buddha Land, he was still under the direct observation of a great power. He had dared to peer so recklessly back then because a sliver of his true spirit was anchored in the Buddha Land, safeguarded by a Dharma Manifestation behind him! Once he peered, any disturbance would surely affect the Dharma Manifestation. If all was well, he could claim it for himself!

Yet, despite a sliver of his true spirit being anchored in the Buddha Land, he suffered such an injury, and not a single cultivator noticed! Even Mahā Hongshan, upon personally witnessing Jinlian, merely sighed over his failure to cultivate purity. And this power merely stemmed from looking at Minghui's severed arm within the Dharma artifact!

*Either it's the Netherworld, or it's another True Monarch. If it were the Netherworld, they could have easily obliterated Minghui, or as before, rendered it impossible for anyone to divine anything. Why would they choose this method?*

Although neither knew what Jinlian had truly experienced, nor the nature of the method that affected his soul, they had long since identified the suspect as a True Monarch, one who clearly possessed the means but could not openly manifest them in the outside world!

Later, when the Li clan's Mingyang emerged, Minghui immediately reported it. Initially, with little thought, they immediately pinpointed their target: the sovereign, Emperor Li Qianyuan of Wei.

*It truly fit...*

But upon careful consideration, Jinlian realized something was amiss: *Given the Heavenly Might of Wutu, how could such a flaw exist? If Li Qianyuan possessed such means, why would he stand by and watch Luoxia be harmed?*

The Mingyang tradition is one of enlightenment, yet also one where the strong prevail and the weak falter. The state of the Mingyang tradition is widely known, having reached the pinnacle of defiance. If Li Qianyuan still possessed such capabilities, it would imply he was in peak condition, able to deliver two slaps to a Dharma Manifestation without anyone daring to protest. Why would he go to such lengths?

Furthermore, no matter how profound that person's divine power, the northern cultivators' reverence for Luoxia was undeniable; they genuinely refused to believe Luoxia could miscalculate. Consequently, they shifted their suspicion to the Douxuan Dao lineage:

*It's a True Monarch from the Douxuan tradition... currently unable to reveal themselves... Or perhaps there's some grand design. Since there's turmoil in both north and south, perhaps they intend to use us at this very moment!*

Jinlian dared not speak further, only whispering, "Now is not the time to discuss this. I had intended to pursue the path of light to its very end, but over the years, my cultivation has encountered issues. My soul is abnormal, and my progress has stagnated. I've had to resort to secretly cultivating a method of avatar separation, dividing my soul to conceal my injuries..."

"Though it's concealed now, I still cannot leave the Buddha Land, and I require a large quantity of Soul-listening Mulberry Wood, which doesn't offer much assistance. I will send your senior brother with you; he is unaware of the full situation... You must supervise everything carefully... don't make it appear too obviously feigned..."

Minghui nodded frantically, his heart filled with bitterness. *If not for the fear of others' suspicion, I would never have agreed to go south. Even if I went south and Li Zhouwei slapped my face, I would say 'Thank you, thank you,' and if he came to kill me with a halberd... I would bare my chest and accept it! Now... I can only observe how the situation unfolds...*

But before he could speak, his expression abruptly changed. He drew a gleaming jade talisman from his sleeve. He watched as the patterns on it continuously shifted, then shattered with a clang, dissolving into white sand that trickled from his fingertips.

Trembling slightly, he looked up at Jinlian and whispered, "Yinzhou... there's news!"

"Yinzhou?"

Mahā Jinlian was startled for a moment, then reacted almost instantly.

*It's something entrusted to others... news about the means of trading with the Li family!*

The two monks sprang up in alarm, their eyes meeting. A tingling premonition simultaneously arose in their hearts: *Could it be... that venerable one... intends to use us at this very moment?*

***

The East Sea. Wind and rain surged, and fierce gales raged.

On the island, golden light shimmered and Dharma radiance intertwined. A few cultivators flew to and fro across the island, seemingly on patrol. The waves roared on either side, and midway through their journey, they spotted a person.

This person had a refined demeanor, appearing much like a scholar. Dressed in a simple white robe, his bearing was excellent. He sped urgently through the air, the pouring rain striking his Dharma light and making it gleam brilliantly.

It was Cui Jueyin.

This direct descendant of the Cui family had returned home many years ago, and his cultivation had grown increasingly profound. Perhaps he had practiced a secret art, for his eyes glowed with keenness.

But his usually steady brows were now etched with unease. The escape light beneath his feet sped faster and faster. He quickly rode the wind to descend into the sea, where the water beneath his feet was dim and dark, as if countless flood dragons swam beneath the surface.

From afar, Chongzhou Island could be seen, its shores teeming with cultivators of the Cui family. Various altars and treasure halls had been erected, appearing extremely solemn. Before he even set foot on the island, a middle-aged man rode the wind to meet him, his face filled with bitterness as he sighed, "Second Brother!"

Cui Jueyin nodded silently, his gaze following his brother's into the distance. Clouds were rising in the air, transforming into a dim, merging light, resembling cascading waterfalls, shimmering as they intertwined.

The middle-aged man whispered, "Second Brother... what are we to do? You... you always have a solution!"

Cui Jueyin heard his words and sighed deeply.

Indeed, his words were not inaccurate. When Li Ximing visited the island back then, Cui Xianye was genuinely apprehensive. The disciple he presented, Cui Jueyin, though not the most gifted among all disciples, was the one most adept at handling daily matters—not out of loyalty, but purely out of fear that his descendant might be ignorant and offend Li Ximing, thereby bringing disaster upon the island.

Cui Jueyin, having held crucial posts at Wangyue Lake for decades, was accustomed to intrigue and deceit. He was far more remarkable than the Chongzhou disciples who lived in perpetual peace. He gently shook his head and replied, "Juechen, since they are visitors from the sea, what measures can we take? We can only show sincere deference and serve them well."

No sooner had he spoken than the seawater beneath his feet surged, accompanied by a dull roar. The water arched up like a hill as some colossal creature emerged from the depths, sending a spray of water everywhere.

A dark, heavy shadow instantly enveloped the entire island shore, and waves swept up. Two dark, imposing forms appeared, revealing a colossal beast, mountain-sized and covered in scales.

The light reflected by its scales illuminated the water, and the entire coastline instantly quieted, shimmering with ripples. Cui Jueyin silently stepped aside, and Cui Juechen, somewhat timidly, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "I, Cui Juechen of the Cui clan of Chongzhou, greet the esteemed envoy!"

The colossal beast let out a long hum from its mouth, sending up a spray of white foam. Then, from the beast's back, a casual, cold, and arrogant rebuke resounded: "Who are you? Where is Cui Xianye?!"

Cui Juechen instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Before he could reply, the colossal beast before him suddenly roared, and from the sky, a blue fish descended, with scaled fins beneath its gills. Its enormous fish eyes glared at him, clearly displeased, and it sneered, "You dare to be negligent in affairs of the Dragon Palace! How audacious!"

These domineering words caused a stir among the Cui family, who began whispering amongst themselves. Cui Jueyin also frowned subtly: *I heard that when this Dharma Protector visited a few years ago, he was very courteous... A few days ago, when we went to report to the Dragon Palace, he refused to see us. Now he arrives with such an aggressive demeanor, and indeed, his attitude has worsened considerably... Could it be that he found the bribe insufficient... and is now trying to extort more?*

This was also his first encounter with this Sea Patrol Envoy, who, he heard, had been transferred from the south. Originally a minor demon, he had somehow gained favor and ascended rapidly through the ranks, making him particularly difficult to deal with now!

It should be known that the Cui family had once offered spiritual treasures to Dongfang You. Over the years, they had consistently maintained a certain standing under the Dragon Clan. When several highly respected elders achieved breakthroughs and subsequently perished years ago, the Dragon Palace had even sent representatives.

But without a Purple Mansion realm cultivator, all their past honors were hollow, diminishing day by day. The previous generation of Sea Patrol Envoys was already impolite. Now, a minor demon, transferred from who knows what obscure corner, has become the Sea Patrol Envoy and can boss the family around!

"Hui Patrol Envoy... Hui Patrol Envoy, you misunderstand!"

Cui Juechen had already experienced his troubles in the sea and was clearly uneasy. His body trembled, and he bowed to the ground, weeping, "My grandfather failed his breakthrough last year and perished!"

He clearly thought along the same lines as his elder brother. He took out several storage bags from his sleeve, offered them with both hands, and respectfully said, "We deeply regret the delay in our report. These spiritual resources... are offered to you, esteemed one, as compensation!"

The blue fish-like demon sneered, snatching the storage bags from his hands as swiftly as a gust of wind. His expression, however, remained grim. He clutched the storage bags tightly and sneered, "Apology? I, your grand-paternal elder, came here to take up my post, not to listen to your apologies! I originally showed your family some deference because of your connection to the lake, but it seems I've given you too many smiles, and now you've become ungrateful!"

His face was grotesque, and drops of viscous liquid dripped from it. Though he had pocketed the storage bags, his tone was sarcastic: "Oh... who dares to cause trouble... Master Yangya... what an immense temper!"