Chapter 1042: Immortal Explanation

Zong Chang's words echoed in the night. Wei Xuanyin, dressed in flowing white, quietly looked at her and said softly, "Since you mentioned Martial Nephew Qi... there's no need to test me."

"Qi Lanyan is indeed my martial nephew and a cultivator from Zhixuan Pavilion, but he is also the head of the Qi family. What he does and how he should do it are his own concerns. You know Li Zhouwei is in the position of Mingyang, unable to act on his own. But how many on both sides of the river can truly act freely? Everyone seeks to achieve their own path; there isn't so much freedom."

"I only learned about his arrangements on the riverbank one step before you did."

The Grand Preceptor of Great Zhao stepped forward, his expression finally showing a hint of complexity, and he said meaningfully, "He seized his own opportunity and wants to change something, perhaps even helping me. But from our perspective... what we seek is too precious. If it can be achieved, it will be; if not, we will perish. Myriad karmic causes originate only within myself and not by external factors."

"As for Li Zhouwei..."

His expression was dignified as he quietly said, "He will eventually reach my stage, perhaps even surpassing me in seeking the ultimate truth. Of course, I know he is doomed, but the secrets of heaven lie in a sliver of change. If there is even a remote possibility... that he truly achieves enlightenment in plain sight, bringing light to the world, that is his capability, that is his path. I would also congratulate him on achieving true fruition, accept defeat, and harbor not a single trace of resentment."

Zong Chang looked at him coldly, her lips moved, but she said nothing. Wei Xuanyin shook his head and chuckled, "You cultivate Jueyin, while I seek the Dao. This is the difference between us. I intend to seek the Dao of balanced Yin and Yang and peace throughout the world. It would be even better if Li Zhouwei achieves enlightenment. Even if Li Zhouwei achieves enlightenment, or even if Li Qianyuan is resurrected, I will still pursue my path."

Silence fell over the mountains. Wei Xuanyin stepped forward and quietly looked at Zong Chang, "Fellow Daoist Zong, the Dao of Jueyin is maternal and should not poison living beings. I understand you wish to convert to Buddhist cultivation, but the Buddhist path is one of great indulgence. It appears to release desires, but in reality, it clutches the greatest desires deep within the heart. If you enter it, you will merely become a pawn for others..."

"It would be better to cultivate the righteous path of immortal methods; perhaps there is still a chance for redemption."

Zong Chang stared at him blankly, then laughed with a hint of disdain, and replied, "Wei Xuanyin, aren't you glorifying your pursuit of immortality too much? Do you think everyone is like you, born into a major sect, cultivating Zhixuan, perusing great Dao scriptures, and enjoying boundless immortal resources? Your every word and action today are incredibly unrestrained, yet beneath your feet lies the very flesh and blood of common families and minor rogue cultivators, exploited for a thousand years by the Guanxie sect in Ji. We both hail from Chen State; who can your Guanxie sect's foul temper intimidate?"

"When I was cultivating in Long, I was just a minor cultivator, merely hoping for peace for my family. But all the river mulberry flowers I cultivated were forcibly acquired by your sect at low prices. I had to leave my home, with nowhere to go, resorted to killing and taking blood to survive, and thus stepped by step reached my current position. If not for my master's guidance, I would simply be a struggling demonic cultivator in Long. When you Guanxie cultivators grandly spoke of seeking immortality, was I, Zong Chang, silent because I didn't want to?"

"And today you accuse me, saying I poison living beings... Is it possible that the position of the righteous path has been occupied by you for a thousand years, so firmly entrenched, so airtight! The world seeking Buddhism or demonic paths is precisely due to the incompetence of your so-called righteous path, your so-called immortal path!"

The woman's face was cold. She tossed aside the wine flask in her hand, and her affected demeanor vanished. She simply stood up silently and cursed, "Wei Xuanyin! If you fail to achieve enlightenment, how will you face anyone! Only the useless hangers-on of Guanxie will remain... Qi Lanyan, Yin Baiyue, and their ilk will merely exert their futile dominance for five hundred years! What good will that do this world?"

The woman swept her sleeves and departed, leaving a faint demonic wind lingering in the air. Wei Xuanyin stood desolate in the mountains, watching the moonlight fall upon his sleeves.

All the light was gathered into his sleeves. After an unknown period, his figure also vanished.

Mount Dayuan Guangyin.

Temples stood dense, colorful light like mist. The lowest steps were quiet and empty, reflecting a glazed hue. One tall and one short monk were walking on the steps.

Monk Minghui Mahā's expression was strange. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he smacked his lips, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth: "This is utterly chaotic..."

Monk Mingxiang, a head taller, had a subtle reddish glow on his jade-like face. He winced slightly as he touched his cheek, then looked at his junior brother's distracted demeanor and shook his head, smiling, "Minghui... look at your senior brother. After taking a halberd from Li Zhouwei, my cheek is still burning with Mingyang's fire. You're lucky! Safe and sound."

Minghui turned to look at him, feeling a sense of frustration: "Why didn't it stab you to death..."

Nevertheless, Minghui also shook his head and asked, "How is Bai Lin? His injuries seem quite severe to me."

Mingxiang stroked his chin and replied, "Far from it..."

His gaze showed a hint of surprise as he continued, "My three Dao-protecting treasures have been refined in the incense censer for over three hundred years. My master said these three items are unlike ordinary Buddhist artifacts; combined with my cultivation and techniques, even a typical mid-Purple Mansion stage cultivator would be no match for me... Yet he easily withstood them... Even when suppressed by that Li Fire spiritual treasure, it shows the strength of his Dharma Body."

Mingxiang seemed somewhat regretful: "Somehow, he learned the Dharma Body of the Tuoba family; it looks familiar... Three of the Twelve Demonic Dharma Bodies of Observation are with the Tuoba family; it must be an evolution of one of them..."

"This Dharma Body can suppress Xi Qi. Otherwise, how could a renowned treasure like the Xiguang Dividing Platform, which even caused Li Shu's death, merely inflict Xi Qi on him?"

He sighed deeply at this. Minghui listened, greatly distressed as if he had lost a parent, but Mingxiang chuckled and transmitted a message, "Didn't I perfectly settle things and avenge your grudge against Taisi? He's having a terrible time now! It's just a shame I couldn't seize one or two spiritual artifacts..."

"This is the best outcome now. Although Bai Lin was cornered and endured the blades, he wasn't forced to fight to the death. All the drawbacks were absorbed by Taisi... We're doing quite well."

Minghui clasped his hands together, mentally exclaiming "sin." After a few steps, he saw Monk Yanbai descending from the mountain. Yanbai nodded to them and said softly, "You two have worked hard!"

Minghui felt a little guilty and nodded silently. In truth, the Xiuwu Star was bright, and the forces on the riverbank belonged to the Great Desire Dao, so he hadn't truly affected the casualties of either side much. But being thick-skinned, he felt nothing amiss and returned the smile.

Yanbai, however, casually remarked, "Just now, the Venerable one in the hall saw me and inquired about the lake shore. Now it's your turn, Fellow Daoist. Please enter."

Minghui heard only this sentence and suddenly widened his eyes, his heart instantly clear: 'The Venerable one has arrived, and they want to question me!'

He was startled and surprised, then forced a smile and replied, "Thank you for informing me, Great Being..."

Yanbai was expressionless: "Everyone is watching you. Go in."

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Minghui. But Mingxiang, beside him, narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Which Venerable one? And why do they need to see my junior brother?"

Yanbai walked away without another word. Minghui had no choice but to push his senior brother aside and said with a bitter smile, "Fortunately, you won't be implicated."

So he stepped forward, passed through the glittering corridor, and pushed open the massive golden doors. Inside, golden pillars reached the sky, a brilliant light shone overhead, and the floor was crystal clear. In the center sat a bronze cauldron, flanked by numerous Dharma Bodies of varying sizes and postures, densely packed. Their sizes seemed to be determined by their status, extending from both sides all the way to the highest principal seat.

The solemnity of the occasion was clearly far different from when Zhelu presided. The highest golden body stood towering to the sky, seemingly extending into the heavens with an ethereal quality. Its massive hand was raised high, like a small mountain, its white-jade-like palm lines distinct as ravines.

At a slightly lower position to one side, there was a tall golden lotus, on which sat the only man of normal stature. He held a bowl in his hand, meticulously observing it as if no one else were present.

'Connected with the Buddhist Pure Land... Chief Jiang is also here; things are troublesome...'

Minghui took only one glance, then knelt with a thud, kowtowing and saying, "Minghui greets all Great Virtues!"

Above, there was complete silence, only the gurgling sound from the bronze cauldron. After an unknown period, the enormous golden body hummed, its voice reverberating through the hall: "Chief Jiang... this is Minghui."

Minghui knew clearly that the one occupying the principal seat was Tianlang Zhi, the leader of the Sea of Desire Mahā Strength and the Great Desire Dao... His method of secretly harming Taisi might not have been obvious, but the other party absolutely could not be unaware!

He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly, only then noticing that the oil and water in the bronze cauldron before him were boiling. A person was lying in the cauldron, their skin torn and flesh lacerated, constantly tossing and turning, emitting plumes of white smoke.

'Wumu.'

In the cauldron was none other than Wumu Lianmin!

This cauldron was no ordinary item. Once inside, all divine abilities were suppressed, making one like a mortal, unable to use magic to protect the body. The pain of being deep-fried was bone-chilling! Minghui's eyelids twitched just by watching: 'He also tried to get away with something... But I have my master and the Shangle Dao as my backing, so no matter what, there will be a judgment... Whereas Zhelu is incompetent; how could he protect him? Of course, he ended up in the oil pot!'

As Minghui pondered this, a moment passed, and the man from above said indifferently, "Mahā Strength is being too polite. I know him."

Tianlang Zhi chuckled, his tone bland, "The war was unfavorable... It would have been fine if we hadn't gained any benefits, but we even lost Kongwu Dao Mahā. As I understand the situation, it seems Monk Minghui Mahā harbored resentment and secretly harmed him."

"I've always heard that the subordinates of the Lotus Temple are one after another close to immortal cultivators, and they were criticized harshly at Mount Dayang. It seems the same now; the Lotus Temple is simply ineffective."

Upon hearing this, Chief Jiang raised his eyebrows and looked down condescendingly, saying indifferently, "Mingxiang did his best. As for this Minghui... he's notoriously reckless. Back at Mount Dayang, he should have been punished at the foot of the mountain, forbidden to return... or even executed to humiliate Jinlian... Now that he holds the position of Mahā, he's considered an important figure in the Shangle Dao, so it's not easy to execute him."

Minghui listened, both frightened and suspicious, not daring to ponder too much, becoming flustered: 'How strange... What kind of situation is this, to warrant such calls for blood and death!'

What the two said wasn't wrong. Minghui had done many deceptive and cunning things. Although Kongwuxiang was now jointly controlled by all phases, it ultimately didn't harm the foundation of the Great Desire Dao. Why be so petty?

'This doesn't seem like punishment for trickery, but rather for spoiling someone's plans... Qi Lanyan... Qi Lanyan's unprovoked reshuffling of personnel probably wasn't without reason. There must be many people's schemes afoot on this Mount Dayuan Guangyin, and I must have harmed someone's interests...'

However, Tianlang Zhi didn't seem to like Chief Jiang's words and fell silent for a moment. But then the envoy from Mount Dayang smiled, his voice much softer, echoing only between the two, and he said hauntingly, "Mahā Strength... Do you know about the affairs of Liao River? Of the disciples from Liao River back then... only one survived. After many twists and turns, traveling the world, he actually returned to Liao River."

Tianlang Zhi's expression changed, showing a hint of sternness, and he asked, "With a destiny that defies normal Dharma Forms, how did he end up walking into a trap?"

Chief Jiang shook his head with a grave face and replied, "This is a long story... That fool from the Wrathful Manifestation back then... ran all the way to find him, and was used to calculate the state of the Wrathful Dharma Form. Our Elder also went to plan together, and that person should have gone..."

"Since he went, the situation is different. Our Elder and that person from the Murong family acted together. For now, they have temporarily stabilized the location of the Buddhist Pure Land. Now it's a matter of seeing who this immense opportunity will fall upon..."

Tianlang Zhi's heart stirred upon hearing this, and at the same time, he suddenly understood, replying, "I knew it... I'm afraid our Dao's Venerable one is also busy with this matter, otherwise, why would Peacock... Oh, bother!"

Chief Jiang pursed his lips with an unclear meaning and replied, "There are several candidates right now, and the Elders' intention is... The Wrathful position has been vacant for a long time, and this matter shouldn't be publicized, but whoever is sent in must be capable... As for me, I still think Yaosa Chengmi can give it a try..."

Tianlang Zhi immediately understood and chuckled, "At the next Dharma Assembly, I will certainly recommend him."

Chief Jiang smiled, shook his head, and naturally continued, "It was precisely that fool's actions that caused a very different change in that Liao River successor. Now, not only is the Precepts Dao protecting him, but the Great Mu Dharma Realm also highly values him. Two individuals personally went to Liao River, causing a major shift in the situation..."

"Just think, how many things are stirring up trouble now? Gaofu seems to have seized an opportunity and has gone into seclusion. He's finally broken through the Purple barrier that had held him back for so many years. Qi's prestige is about to rise again... And his relationship with our various Daos isn't good..."

"The Dragon Clan is in conflict with Ci Bei again over the 'Hetian' matter. Although Ci Bei has been very powerful these past years, they still fear the Dragon Clan. The Great Mu Dharma Realm also seems stuck in an awkward position. Without the Shangle Dao's intervention, future matters will indeed be quite difficult to handle..."

Tianlang Zhi shook his head slightly, a faint trace of anger in his eyes, and quietly replied, "At this time, we do need people, but where is he needed? Gongsun Bei is inclined towards us, and I finally managed to persuade Qi Lanyan. Now, with things in such a mess, how can I explain it to the two of them!"

Chief Jiang's gaze was cold as he said indifferently, "Qi Lanyan isn't in a hurry, so why is Mahā Strength? If you want to kill Bai Lin, how can it be done without one or two Elders suppressing the situation? All the Elders are currently preoccupied, and this profit is so substantial; you mustn't offend people carelessly!"

Hearing this, Tianlang Zhi finally fell silent. Chief Jiang soothed him, "It's not that he can't be killed; at most, we'd have one conflict with Jinlian... It's just that Mingxiang is diligent. If Shangle abandons his responsibilities then, we would be at a disadvantage instead."

Tianlang Zhi closed his eyes for a long time, then suddenly sighed and replied, "If the mountain doesn't care about this, there will be a second time. What happened today will definitely reach the ears of all the various Daos. When that happens, several factions will send people, and won't we just be stepping stones for others? I'm afraid we'll cause trouble in vain... only to benefit others in the end!"

His gaze was cold as he sighed, "Do you believe it? Once the Murong family finishes their current affairs, even they will head south. With their strength, if they can't save Li Zhouwei, can't they at least save people like Li Jiangqian?"