Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 14 Lotus Temple

Beside the Li River, inside Dapan Mountain.

A temple built with gold lacquer and jade has been erected, with the smoke of incense and the sound of Buddhist chanting drifting in the air.

An old monk sat in front of the hall, wearing a colorful gold-woven brocade robe with cliff inscriptions, auspicious clouds, and flat water painted on it. He had a square face and a narrow nose, with drooping eyebrows and eyes, and was chanting a sutra.

All the common people in Dapan converted to Buddhism and Taoism. Some poor families, whether they were praying for children, were sick, or had no money, would walk along the mountainside, bowing their heads as they walked, until they reached the main hall, where they would be led by novice monks in yellow and brown robes.

Women who wanted to have children were sent to the Fertility Cave behind the temple to stay overnight. Those who were sick asked the monks to blow on them with Buddhist breath, and those who were poor were given a grain of gold sand.

When these people's wishes were fulfilled, they chanted the Buddha's name and knelt on the ground. The power of incense and wishes faintly gathered on the old monk in the temple.

If those who are not destined to make the pilgrimage die on the way and their bodies are fed to tigers and wolves in the mountains, according to Master Ci Hai, they have accumulated virtue and will be rewarded in the next life.

A warrior monk entered the temple, clasped his hands together, chanted a Buddhist name, then knelt down and said hurriedly:
"Master, Chen Weiyuan has ordered the mountain to be closed and no longer involved in matters on the plain. Zhu Yucheng has reached an agreement with him to give each family forty years to build their foundation."

"Should we take this opportunity to take control of Dajingyuan?"

Ci Hai finally reacted, stood up and walked out of the hall slowly. He had already realized the state of [Sravaka] and was about to enter the state of [Pratyekabuddha]. He was not far from the realm of a Dharma master, and now all he needed was to accumulate his vows.

"It's not yet time."

Ci Hai looked at the devout mortals at the foot of the mountain and sighed.

"Although Chen Weiyuan has closed the mountain, Zhu Yucheng has long regarded it as his own private property. He cannot tolerate us getting involved."

"Now we should think about occupying more of the majestic sacred mountains, gazing at them from afar, and wait for Zhuyu City to destroy itself."

The monk continued to ask:

"Then we must seize Changming now. Chen Weiyuan can hardly protect himself. Now that Dachiguan is left without anyone to protect it, it's the perfect time."

The old monk Ci Hai sighed, waved his sleeves and reentered the temple, and said in a dissatisfied tone:
"Chifa, you still have a superficial understanding. My ascension to the position of a mage is inevitable. Xu Xuan of Dachiguan wants to establish his foundation. He should first ask the Black Wind Valley beside him if he agrees."

"To truly conquer Dachiguan, we have to wait until I achieve my mage breakthrough. All you need to do is hold Xu Xuan back, preventing him from cultivating peacefully and delaying his foundation-building time."

His Highness was filled with deep respect, and felt that the abbot's thoughts were profound and beyond his reach.

Ci Hai has returned to his seat and started chanting scriptures.

"Is it difficult for Chen Weiyuan to protect himself? These new disciples have never witnessed the disaster that happened back then."

Ci Hai closed his eyes, and seemed to recall the scene at that time. At that time, he had just entered the temple and followed his master to practice.

The elegant and majestic young man in black clothes broke into the temple alone. The other party had just broken through the foundation-building stage, and his master was a veteran wizard, but he was killed by a spear, and the golden statue in the temple was smashed to pieces.

The figure holding the gun appeared in his dreams from time to time, making the old monk tremble with fear.

"After all, it is the blood of the ancient Shu emperor, not something that ordinary people can obtain."

Ci Hai raised his head and looked in the direction of Dajingyuan.

My cultivation is low, so what if I can't beat you, Chen Weiyuan? You will still become a plaything of the immortals in the sky. You can't even protect your own children with your self-proclaimed cultivation.

When all the last bit of usefulness of you old and young people in the original place has been squeezed out, that will be the time for me to save your family's bloodline.

The sound of Buddhist chanting began again, and the golden statues of Buddhas in the temple seemed to reveal infinite joy.
-
Baishishan, mine cave.

Xu Xuan arrived at the deepest part of the cave. Before him, a precious tree blazed with fire, its naked fruits emitting a refreshing fragrance. Behind him, the fish in the river pool waited, and beside him, an outer disciple knelt on the ground. Not far away, a corpse, also wearing outer disciple clothing, lay.

"Xiu Li, were you the first to discover this precious tree?"

Xu Xuan turned around and looked at the outer disciple kneeling on the ground.

"Reporting to the Master, I was mining ore and dug up a mica wall. I knocked on the hole and peered inside, and I found this cave."

Qi Xiuli, who was lying on the ground, looked up. He had a middle-aged appearance, and his eyes and brows showed a deep fear, but he still answered carefully word by word without losing his composure.

"Then tell me, how did Li Heishui, who was mining in the same pit as you, die?"

Xu Xuan looked at the corpse not far away, and released a slight aura, making the disciple below, who was trapped in the early stage of fetal breathing, feel as if he was under tremendous pressure. He trembled and said:
"When I saw there were treasures, I thought about reporting it to Senior Brother Chiyu, but Li Heishui said we could take advantage of the night to steal some refined iron. This treasure tree can't be moved. We can take the fruit and break the roots, and then become a casual cultivator. It would be much more comfortable than now."

"Master, I am grateful to my master for one thing, but I am also a coward and dare not do such a calamity. Li Heishui agreed with me on the surface, but took advantage of my unpreparedness and attacked me. I, I, I am -"

Qi Xiuli, who had been staying in the mines for many years, had a cold sweat on his pale face. He didn't know whether the adult in front of him would believe his words, or would just kill him to keep it secret.

Jiang Chiyu, who was standing by, stepped forward and whispered:

"Master, Xiu Li is indeed a timid person who values gratitude and would never do anything that goes against the sect. Li Heishui made some remarks when the ancestor passed away and was punished for them."

Xu Xuan looked at Qi Xiuli, who was kneeling and trembling on the ground. His expression softened a little, and he helped him up and said with a smile:
"Don't be afraid, Xiu Li. Master will never wrong a loyal disciple like you. You were frightened, so go to Luo Qing and recuperate for a few days. I have prepared the elixirs and food supplies. You will be needed to help in this mine when the time comes."

Qi Xiuli was shocked, he had never expected to have such good luck, so he knelt down and kowtowed to thank his family for their cultivation.

"As for Li Heishui, his body will be thrown into the abyss. As for the fish in the pond, carefully investigate his dealings. If he has any connection with the outer sect, all his children and descendants will be escorted to Luoqing for accountability."

Qi Xiuli, who was standing by, felt his legs tremble when he heard this and dared not to have any more thoughts. Jiang Chiyu set up a formation in the cave so that no one could see it. Most of the disciples guessed that Qi Xiuli and Li Heishui had done something wrong, but they didn't know what.

Qi Xiuli, who was standing by, had already asked Jiang Chiyu to take him away. His wife and children also went to Luoqing with him to recuperate.

Xu Xuan naturally would not do such a thing as to casually kill his disciples, but this spiritual object was too precious, and he had no room to show mercy, so he could only guard against it closely.

"First, let Qi Xiuli see what happened to Li Heishui, then let his wife and children go to Luo Qing's jurisdiction, and finally let him take up a position in this mine and take charge of some things. With the interests at stake, he won't dare to have any second thoughts."

Xu Xuan carefully looked at the precious tree in front of him. He had checked the classics in his sect and it should be the [Earth Flame Noon Yuan Tree]. It has the wonderful effect of increasing blood and consolidating the foundation. If it practices the Fire Virtue method, it can improve the physical condition and make it closer to the nature of fire.

It is somewhat similar to the [Xuan Qi Lei Mu] in his body.

The naked fruit produced by this precious tree cannot be released now, and only a few people in the sect dare to use it for cultivation. Once Xu Xuan has established his foundation and has reached a deep level of cultivation, they will be able to show it off.

After coming out of the cave, Xu Xuan hid his body. Only Jiang Chiyu got the news of his trip to Bai Shi, while the other outer disciples who were mining there were unaware of it.

As he rode the thundercloud towards Luo Qing, he was secretly thinking about another thing.

"Now everything is settled. I've broken through to the sixth level of Qi training. Even if Xie Shu attacks, I can withstand it with the help of [Hengguang]. The Lotus Temple hasn't made any moves yet, but they'll be unable to hold back sooner or later. There are few peaceful days these days."

"It's time to arrange Qiyun's marriage and seek support from the Qiuhu Sect."

Thinking of this, Xu Xuan smiled and landed on Dangxia Peak.

　The contract has been signed. Thank you all for your support. Reading the new book is more important. I will still update three times a day from now on.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)