Longzang

Chapter 1223 The Perfect Solution

The underground level has four floors, half of which is a pure land of Buddha, and the other half is a hell on earth.

Sun Yu divided all the mages into two groups: one group underwent various examinations and experiments, while the other group served as a reference for comparison.

The monks in the reference group meditated and chanted sutras every day. The half of the area where they were located was filled with Buddhist light, and illusory lotus flowers would occasionally bloom on the road. The walls and ceiling were filled with a faint Buddhist light. The great formation set up by Sun Yu could hardly suppress the strange phenomena.

In the other experimental area, there were no screams echoing from the upper level, only chanting, sandalwood incense, and words of encouragement to do good and lay down the butcher's knife, all spoken softly.

The people on this level who were actually in danger were all wearing special robes, with talismans on their bodies and pills in their mouths. They had taken the best possible precautions, but everyone seemed extremely nervous. After all, these sounds would occasionally reach their ears, and if they heard them too much, they would turn into monsters.

Wei Yuan scanned the laboratory next to him with his divine sense. The mage inside looked to be no more than thirty years old. His internal organs had been removed, and his lower body was nowhere to be seen. One of his arms was just a skeleton, while the other was intact.

However, with his hands forming mudras and a smile on his face, he calmly and peacefully expounded the scriptures, explaining profound meanings in simple words. One of the girls seemed somewhat engrossed, her eyes occasionally showing a thoughtful expression.

Sun Yu immediately rushed in, grabbed the girl, and discovered that she had secretly removed her earplugs and had been listening to music for who knows how long.

Sun Yu immediately sealed her sea of ​​consciousness and ordered, "Send her to the next level."

The girl had been crying and pleading at first, but suddenly stopped crying, her face becoming solemn and calm. She said, "Master Sun, you and I have shared three intimate moments, forming a fleeting bond. For the sake of this bond, I cannot bear to see you sink deeper and deeper into the demonic path."

The saying goes, "Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot." The Buddha said…

Sun Yu's face turned icy. He sealed her mouth with his Dao power and shouted sternly, "Send her to the third floor and include her in the experimental materials!"

Several disciples and attendants then dragged the girl away.

Sun Yu said coldly, "No matter who it is, no matter what relationship they have with me, anyone who dares to get involved in these matters will die! Unless you can get into the Realm Lord's bed, there will be no exceptions!"

Wei Yuan frowned slightly, knowing that Sun Yu was not joking.

Sun Yu led Wei Yuan to a tightly sealed laboratory. Upon entering, they saw seven or eight sorcerers, both men and women, sitting cross-legged on a couch against the wall. They were all completely naked, yet their appearances were solemn and dignified. They appeared to be meditating, but in reality, they were just empty shells; their consciousness had withered, and their souls were nowhere to be found.

Just then, Wei Yuan's heart stirred, and he caught a sound of chanting. The scripture seemed familiar, as it was a scripture chanted by Buddhist disciples before their passing, but it was also somewhat ambiguous.

Wei Yuan immediately extended his divine sense and locked onto a mage within the reference area. This mage was of medium age, somewhat overweight, and unremarkable in appearance. He sat quietly with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep, but in reality, he was chanting the Rebirth Mantra.

As he recited the scripture, his physical essence suddenly receded inward, and then it was as if a bucket of hot oil had been ignited within him, instantly burning! In that instant burst of vitality, his sea of ​​consciousness evaporated, his soul turned into light, and finally condensed into a lotus seed!
The lotus seed burst through the top of the head and flew towards the sky.

Wei Yuan snorted, his divine sense transforming into a large hand, and gently grasped it. But the lotus seed was as if it were nothing, passing directly through Wei Yuan's hand and disappearing into the sky.

Wei Yuan's expression hardened, and in a flash, he appeared in the mage's room. The mage sat naked, a smile on his face, radiating joy and peace, his body empty, having already been reborn into bliss.

Having seen this, Wei Yuan already understood. This was no ordinary magic trick; it was likely one of the top supreme techniques in the Pure Land. He just didn't know what the purpose of that lotus seed was.

At this moment, Wei Yuan understood why Sun Yu insisted on calling him over.

Sun Yu then said, "You don't need to give orders, nor do you need to do it yourself. Just let me know when you feel the time is right, and I'll take care of everything." Wei Yuan looked at the mage's body, pondered for a long time, and then said, "Wait a little longer."

After leaving Xuanming Medical Hall, Wei Yuan returned to his immortal abode, sat down behind his desk, and wrote a letter with great speed. He then ordered it to be sent to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, insisting that the Prince of Jin open it personally.

……

In the third month of the second year of Zhaoning, spring was just beginning, but the weather was still cold.

The Eastern Jin court was silent, the faces of the officials so cold they seemed to be covered in frost. Prince Jinxuan, on the other hand, wore a worried expression, his eyes sunken, indicating he hadn't slept well the night before.

"What should we do? What should we do? My dear ministers, please come up with a plan!" King Jinxuan urged several times, but none of the officials spoke.

Just then, an official who looked to be under forty stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

The official stood very far back, and Prince Xuan had to squint to see his face clearly before saying, "Speak your mind."

That official was the youngest and lowest-ranking among all those in the hall, yet his voice boomed like a bell, saying, "Lin Shuang, Qing He, Jin Cheng... a full eight prefectures!" Wei Yuan mentioned eight prefectures right off the bat!

I have long said that Wei Yuan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, greedy and insatiable, and we must never compromise with him! Otherwise, if he cedes one prefecture today and another tomorrow, before long, will our Great Jin still exist?
But the King's words back then were resounding: "Using the resources of the Great Jin to win Qingming's favor! Today, Qingming demands eight commanderies. I would like to ask the King, how can we possibly win Qingming's favor now?! And how many times can we win such favor?"

The entire court was visibly shaken. Over the years, Wang He had wielded immense power, and anyone who dared to utter a single dissent would be torn apart and their family ruined. This lowly official dared to openly criticize him in court; he was truly courting death.

Prince Xuan was also taken aback, and a hint of panic appeared on his face. However, he composed himself and said slowly, "My dear minister, do you have something to say?"

Wang Hexian straightened his clothes before stepping forward. He had a few long wisps of beard and exuded an air of refinement, appearing almost otherworldly. Judging by his appearance alone, no one would guess that he was a powerful and ruthless prime minister.

Wang He spoke in a clear and gentle voice, saying, "Wei Yuan was able to develop Qingming from a barren land into the behemoth it is today in just a few decades, and he cultivated to the Yujing level before he was fifty. His talent is unparalleled in this era!"
We can speculate about this kind of person however we like, but we cannot consider him foolish or arrogant. Before refusing, let's consider this: these eight prefectures, lined up from west to east, divide our Great Jin into north and south. What use does he have for these eight prefectures?

For once, Prince Xuan displayed remarkable quick wit, his eyes lighting up as he exclaimed, "He intends to take the route to attack Qi!"

Wang He immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise! Wei Yuan wants land, but instead of seizing the fertile southwest, he wants these eight counties that run east to west, five of which have always been barren. What he wants is not land, but a passage to Northern Qi!"

The young official exclaimed, "Isn't that still going to cede territory from my Great Jin?"

Wang He smiled slightly and said, "Lord Liu is still young, and his insight is somewhat shallow. Wei Yuan actually controls most of the Western Jin, but he has not expanded his own military governor's territory there, and still regards the king as the supreme ruler. What he wants is access, and he wants our Great Jin to not interfere with his attack on Qi."

Therefore, I believe that ceding territory is absolutely unacceptable, but resorting to war is also a path to national ruin. I have a solution that can achieve both!

King Jinxuan hurriedly asked, "What method is it?"

"The land will be converted from quarrying to rent, for a period of ninety-nine days!"

King Jinxuan clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant!"

(End of this chapter)