In the city of Liuli, Almon was lecturing on Buddhism at a Buddhist altar to his followers. Seeing them all kneeling with devout expressions, he felt a great sense of satisfaction.
Suddenly, Almon paused, then shivered, a chill pervading his entire body.
Just moments ago, in a casual glance, he had seen an unexpected figure.
Ma Hao!!!
The other person had only moved away in a hurry, but Almon, a peak-level Imperial Realm expert, could recognize him with just one look.
Why was he here? Didn't he leave with Li Xiaotian?
Almon's mind raced, his scalp tingling. Ma Hao's presence in Liuli City meant that Li Xiaotian might also be here!
Li Xiaotian!!! Almon's heart tightened, and he quickly scanned the surroundings with his divine sense. But as soon as he moved, he hastily reined in his thoughts, not daring to explore recklessly.
"Hoo! That was close!"
Almon breathed a sigh of relief, his spirit trembling. He had been too bold, thinking of searching for Li Xiaotian. He was courting death!
No matter Li Xiaotian's purpose for coming to Liuli City, or even if he had no purpose, if he found him, what choice would he make?
Should he go to greet him, or report to the powerful figures of the Medicine Buddha Sect?
Either choice would be extremely disadvantageous for him.
Forget it, he would pretend to know nothing. He was just here to participate in the grand assembly. Whatever the other party intended to do in Liuli City had nothing to do with him!
Almon made up his mind and stopped thinking about Li Xiaotian. He couldn't fathom the intentions of such an existence.
"Come to the east gate."
Just as Almon had calmed down and resumed his Buddhist lecture, Li Xiaotian's voice suddenly echoed in his mind, startling him so much that he stood up directly from the altar.
"Holy Buddha?"
The kneeling followers below looked confused, not knowing what the Holy Buddha intended to do.
"Cough, cough, Amitabha, I suddenly had an inspiration. This lecture on Buddhist teachings will conclude here for now."
Almon clasped his hands together, his face radiating compassion, then cast a ray of Buddhist light to envelop everyone, and flew towards the east gate.
Almon was filled with anxiety and unease. The voice just now was Li Xiaotian, and he was looking for him. Although Almon was a peak-level Imperial Realm expert, he knew that in the eyes of overlord-level powerhouses, he was nothing.
After Li Xiaotian left last time, he had meticulously studied his experiences and found that not only was he a true demon, but also a harbinger of disaster. Wherever he went, great battles would erupt, and people would inevitably perish!
His sudden arrival in Liuli City must have some unspeakable secret. And now that he had sought him out, it was likely nothing good.
Thinking of this, Almon felt a wave of sorrow. If he had known Li Xiaotian was in Liuli City, he wouldn't have come to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly even if he were beaten to death!
Upon reaching the east gate, Almon saw Li Xiaotian and his entourage. Li Xiaotian was holding his daughter and wife, buying something at a small stall. Behind him followed a man and a woman.
Almon's eyes narrowed. Dragon Fifteen, Dark Plum – he knew these two commanders of the Dragon King Hall. Both were at the late stage of the Imperial Realm, with formidable combat power, no weaker than himself.
Could this lord have brought his entire Dragon King Hall army? Almon thought to himself, then quickly composed himself and walked over with a smile.
"My lord."
Almon spoke softly, bending slightly, and smiling at Dragon Fifteen and Dark Plum.
In doing so, he paid no mind to his current attire as a Holy Buddha, nor the surprised gazes of the stall vendors and passersby. To him, face was unimportant.
Li Xiaotian turned around, smiled, and then spoke.
"What a coincidence, meeting you everywhere."
Almon's heart filled with bitterness upon hearing this. It wasn't a coincidence! He hadn't intended to meet him, but he quickly responded with a smile.
"It is my good fortune and the Buddha's blessing to see you again, my lord."
Hearing Almon's response, Li Xiaotian smiled somewhat helplessly, while Dragon Fifteen couldn't help but show a hint of surprise. Dark Plum, however, had a flicker of disgust in her eyes.
Almon was, after all, a peak-level Imperial Realm expert, yet his attitude was so humble. He was too timid.
"Find a place where we can talk. I have some things I want to ask you."
Li Xiaotian spoke. When Ma Hao had left earlier, his divine sense had been constantly tracking him, so he had also noticed Almon when he spotted Ma Hao.
He knew nothing about the Medicine Buddha Sect. Almon, as the leader of a sect, likely knew a lot about it. This was precisely what he needed.
"Yes, my lord."
Almon quickly agreed, then led Li Xiaotian and his group into a restaurant and requested a private room.
"My lord, this is likely your first time in Liuli City. The Medicine Buddha Sect presides here, with countless Holy Buddhas, making this city the most prosperous and powerful in the eastern part of the Buddhist Prefecture."
Once inside the private room, Almon smiled and introduced Liuli City to Li Xiaotian.
"However, my lord may not know that while Liuli City boasts numerous experts, its cuisine is the most coveted in the entire Buddhist Prefecture."
"For example, the signature dish of this restaurant, the Ganges Dragonfish, cannot be made anywhere else but Liuli City."
"Monks eat meat?"
Li Xiaotian raised an eyebrow.
"Cough, cough, my lord is joking. I strictly adhere to Buddhist precepts, abstaining from meat and lust."
Almon chuckled dryly. He hadn't lied about this. He abstained from meat and lust, but not from killing.
"Alright, no need to introduce anything further. I want to ask you some things. Just tell me what I ask."
Li Xiaotian spoke, interrupting Almon's continued explanation.
Here it comes! Almon's heart tightened. The thing he feared had finally happened. He smiled outwardly, though his heart was filled with bitterness, and quickly said.
"My lord, please ask whatever you wish, and I will tell you everything without reservation."
"Don't be nervous, what I'm asking is not a secret."
Li Xiaotian's tone was calm as he reassured Almon, then asked.
"Tell me everything you know about the Medicine Buddha Sect. How many Holy Buddhas are there at the late stage of the Imperial Realm or above? How much do you know about the sect's internal structure?"
Boom!!!
Instantly, Almon's mind roared, and his spirit trembled. He knew it, he just knew Li Xiaotian's arrival in Liuli City would bring no good!
But what shocked him was that the other party was actually targeting the Medicine Buddha Sect. That was an overlord-level force, the sole overlord of the eastern Buddhist Prefecture!!!
Thinking of this, Almon recalled Li Xiaotian's words.
These matters are not considered secrets? If these are not secrets, then there are no secrets in the entire Buddhist Prefecture.
"My lord, I don't know much about what you're asking. I am merely the leader of a small Buddhist sect. How would I know about the Medicine Buddha Sect's affairs?"
Almon replied with a bitter smile, regretting his decision to come to Liuli City. Earlier, he had thought of relying on Li Xiaotian, but now, he wished he could leave immediately.