484: Chapter 58: The Tidal Wave 484: Chapter 58: The Tidal Wave Setting out from Central State, heading eastward.
The Chu Country and the Li Kingdom, divided north and south, also slice the east from the west, with the people of Li calling the Chu “northern bumpkins,” while the people of Chu, in turn, refer to those from Li as “southern barbarians.”
Even during peaceful years,
the two nations continue to jostle with each other beneath the surface.
However, now…
within the East Tour Mission, there has emerged the rare sight of Chu and Li coexisting peacefully.
The mission has been traveling for three days.
During these three days, the monks from Fan Yin Temple were responsible for standing guard and keeping watch at night, bringing meals on time every day to Xie Xuanyi and his companions.
True Master Jun Shan wanted to slip into the talisman formation of Mi Yun again.
But this time, it wasn’t so simple.
Miao Zhen personally accompanied Mi Yun, guarding the entrance to the formation so tightly that even Xie Xuanyi had no chance to step inside.
The Buddha Bone from Great Pudu Temple, imbued with the Karmic Path of Tanluan.
These few days,
they are the crucial moments for Mi Yun’s seclusion.
Miao Zhen personally guarded the retreat.
Today, the Golden Light Array shrouding Mi Yun shone exceptionally bright, radiant with Buddha’s light, and despite being protected by numerous formations, one could still see the phenomenon of the Golden Lotus churning.
With such phenomena, it was impossible to continue on their journey.
Miao Zhen ordered the mission to steer into a dense forest and rest overnight.
…
…
“Not letting me see is not letting me see.”
True Master Jun Shan sat by the campfire, frowning and muttering, “Does he really think I’m so eager?!”
The night was deep and the wind was cool.
Inside the dense forest, almost none of the monks from Fan Yin Temple had fallen asleep.
The Golden Light Array glowed brightly in the darkness.
Although they did not know what Mi Yun was enduring…
they had a faint feeling that this night was extraordinary, and the monks spontaneously protected the surroundings of their carriages, standing guard even though their flesh and blood bodies were far less solid than the Golden Light Array.
“But these monks are indeed surprising.”
True Master Jun Shan rested his chin on his hand, looking into the distance and couldn’t help but reflect, “If only Taoism had this kind of cohesion…”
“Taoism is already the foremost sect in the world.”
Xie Xuanyi said indifferently, “The reason why Fan Yin Temple is so united now is because they have been driven to desperation by Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong.”
Between Chu and Li, although Fangyuan Square exists and there appears to be mutual exchange on the surface,
most news involving “secrets” are tightly sealed off.
“I can’t understand—”
True Master Jun Shan spoke with a hint of sarcasm, “With a figure like Zen Master present, how could the Buddhist sect be pushed to this plight?
A hundred years ago, Zen Master said he was too old to welcome guests…
I heard from my senior brother that two hundred years ago, Zen Master used the same excuse.
Could it be that this time he’s truly old, so old that he can’t even take care of the Buddhist sect?”
True Master Jun Shan was always frank and loud in his speech.
This comment,
drew the attention of Fan Yin Temple’s monks.
Several young monks keeping watch looked expressionlessly towards their campfire.
“…If you don’t know how to speak, then speak less.”
Deng Baiyi quickly smoothed things over, “Zen Master has his own considerations.”
True Master Jun Shan huffed in annoyance.
Who was he in Taoism?
A Reincarnated True Person!
Chong Kan’s junior fellow!
Both Tai Shang House and Yuqing Pavilion Masters were his disciples!
Who dared to speak to him like this?
Only Deng Baiyi did.
After reincarnation, he was still a “straightforward person,” but his “fiery temper” had been somewhat tempered.
Oddly enough, facing other Taoist disciples, True Master Jun Shan still maintained the habit of being bossy, and would scold them severely when encountering something displeasing.
But when it comes to Deng Baiyi, True Master Jun Shan simply couldn’t get angry at her.
He shook his head in resignation and said, “You haven’t seen Zen Master, you don’t know what kind of person he is.
That guy is not much different from the immortals in the heavens.”
Deng Baiyi had already set up the Silence Talisman.
“Every living person experiences birth, old age, sickness, and death.”
She spoke seriously and earnestly, “If Zen Master is as you said…
and two hundred years ago declined visitors due to old age, then he is indeed very, very old now.
The decline of the Buddhist sect to this state should not be mocked this way.”
True Master Jun Shan was momentarily stunned.
He was touched by her seriousness and nodded, “Indeed.”
For him,
these two hundred years passed like swiftly flowing water, a fleeting moment amidst spring blossoms and autumn moons.
Apart from the harrowing Battle of Poison many years ago, with its severe casualties, True Master Jun Shan hadn’t experienced any other farewells.
He was a lucky one.
Even the nine-deaths-and-one-life reincarnation had been a successful stroke of fortune.
In this life, True Master Jun Shan subconsciously thought that everything seemed to remain unchanged; his senior brother was still there, as was Zen Master.
Little did he realize,
the times have long since changed.
“However, I’m still curious.”
True Master Jun Shan took a deep breath, gazing at the campfire and murmuring, “Nalan Xuance, who hails from Xuanwei Island, has an unparalleled ‘Control String Skill,’ I can understand his ability to wrestle with the Buddhist sect.
But who is Chen Chong?
I had never heard of this person before, how could he pose a threat to the Buddhist sect?”
“Chen Chong is not as simple as you think.”
With a swish,
as her words fell, the Silence Talisman’s formation hanging above the campfire was gently brushed aside.
A tall monk in blue robes, grasping a Golden Mallet, came before the campfire.
Although Miao Zhen seemed calm, sweat could be seen seeping from his forehead, indicating the extraordinary phenomena within the Golden Light Array had taken a toll on his Heart Power.
“Living Bodhisattva, are you finished with your tasks?”
True Master Jun Shan couldn’t help but display a hint of mockery, the purple light in his third eye surging as his Flying Sword Zi Xiao was already eager to be unleashed.
“I didn’t come to fight you.”
Miao Zhen’s demeanor underwent a subtle shift.
Xie Xuanyi noticed that the first time he met him at Moss Ridge, Miao Zhen radiated a tremendous Killing Intent.
But now,
that Killing Intent was completely retracted.