Daqin Zhentiansi

"puff--"

Huijue forced down a mouthful of blood that was rising in his heart, but this caused his Buddhist energy to become violently disordered. His body surface faintly emitted a dark golden light, which then quickly dimmed, like a candle flickering in the wind.

He fell down with a thud on the stone steps outside the teahouse.

He held his head in his hands, his eyes were empty and unfocused, and he unconsciously murmured fragments of scripture, as if terrible cracks had appeared in his spiritual foundation.

The passersby around the teahouse were all shocked by what they saw and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

On the other side, Master Jingtan and several fellow Mahayana practitioners chose another street corner to gently spread out scriptures and expound the true meaning of Mahayana Buddhism.

"Buddhism is in the world; enlightenment is not separate from the world."

"Use compassion to perform expedient means."

"To help oneself is to help all sentient beings."

……

These ideas, which are more in line with human nature and emphasize worldly concerns, have a great appeal to many low-level monks who are overwhelmed by heavy Buddhist teachings and secluded ascetic practices, as well as ordinary believers who yearn for stability.

Many people's eyes lit up, and they began to gather around to listen carefully. Some monks even shed tears silently when they heard something particularly moving.

More than ideological clashes, the tangible benefits brought by caravans were more likely to ignite the enthusiasm of the general public.

After receiving Zhang Yuan's tacit approval, the caravan leader set up a large "Eastern Sea Treasures" stall on the open ground next to the post station!
When those "Ice Soul Jade" pieces, each containing pure water element and shimmering with a lustrous glow, were displayed.

A string of "ten-thousand-year-old coral prayer beads" from the bottom of the deep sea, resembling natural ritual objects, and faintly emitting a sound like the chanting of Sanskrit, have appeared in the world.

Especially when the "Seven-Leaf Lotus for Salvation from Calamity," which was carefully presented in a special glass jar and had seven jade leaves of different colors that seemed to carry the light of reincarnation and radiate strange Buddhist energy, was revealed, the entire Golden Lotus Street was in an uproar!
"My God! That's...that really is the Ice Soul Jade! A supreme treasure that can calm inner demons and solidify the soul! I've only ever seen it in Buddhist scriptures!"

"A thousand-year-old coral Buddhist rosary! It carries the Buddhist essence of the sea and sky, and if worn for a long time while reciting scriptures, it will enhance one's spiritual power!"

"Seven-Leaf Lotus for Salvation! A sacred relic from the Ruins of Return! It is said to cleanse karmic obstacles and increase Bodhi wisdom! A treasure that even Buddhas dream of possessing!"

"Make way! Make way, all of you! I want that biggest piece of cold jade! I'll offer any amount of Buddhist power as I wish!"

"Get out of my way! Nobody try to take that string of red coral prayer beads from me! The temple I worship at is... Ah! Who stepped on me!"

The crowd surged toward the stalls like a floodgate had been opened. All sorts of dignitaries, wealthy merchants, representatives of major temples, and even some martial monks with considerable skill went wild!

The scrambling, pushing, shouting, and making promises instantly plunged the scene into chaos.

Several noblewomen, in their haste to get closer to the display stand showcasing the cold jade, had their hairpins and jewels askew, their usual composure completely gone.

Even more powerful individuals secretly unleashed their magical power to try and clear the area, but this only provoked several even stronger backlashes, causing a chorus of screams.

This is no longer a transaction, but a naked, almost frenzied struggle!

The treasures from the East China Sea brought by the Qin caravan were far more valuable than the monks and laypeople of Liangzhou could have imagined, instantly igniting the most primal flames of greed in their hearts.

……

The chaos and ideological upheaval in Jinlian Street spread like wildfire, reaching the ears of the high-ranking members of the Liangzhou Buddhist community immediately.

Deep within the Hall of Reception.

A secret room filled with ancient runes.

Grandmaster Miaozhi's face turned ashen.

Seated to his left were prominent figures such as the Huayan Abbot and Juezang, the head of the Vajra Monastery.

The lingering fluctuations in their auras indicated that they had also sensed the chaos and impact from the outside world.

"What a brilliant move! What a clever 'going out' strategy!" Miaozhi gritted his teeth, his voice still carrying a trace of lingering rage. "How dare they so brazenly spread heresies in my holy land, bewitching monks and disturbing the peace!"

"That Confucian scholar was sharp-tongued, every word piercing to the heart! The remnants of Mahayana Buddhism were aiding and abetting the wicked! And those treasures..."

"They are trying to undermine our Buddhist lineage from the ground up! They want to shake the foundations of our Liangzhou Buddhist tradition!"

The Venerable Huayan said with deep concern: "That Mahayana teaching is indeed...quite persuasive."

"Many outer disciples and lower-level believers have already wavered. The temptation of those treasures is too great; if they are allowed to spread further, people's hearts will be scattered!"

Abbot Jue Zang of the Vajra Monastery slammed his fist on the table, his voice booming like thunder: "We can no longer stand idly by! We must suppress them immediately! Arrest all these charlatans who are spreading heresy!"

"Get back to Jingxin Temple and seal it off! Who cares about any mission! This is Liangzhou!"

"Excellent! Immediately summon the Dharma Protectors!" Miao Zhi's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he made a decision. "On the grounds of 'disturbing the peace of the sacred site and spreading heretical rumors,' drive all those who preached in the street, as well as that group of audacious merchants, back to Jingxin Temple!"

"Seal off the entire compound and prevent anyone from entering or leaving! Make it impossible for them to move an inch!"

He must take a hard line and uphold the absolute authority of Buddhism.

Soon, a large number of heavily armored, fierce-looking monks swarmed towards Golden Lotus Street and Jingxin Temple.

The rude shouts and shoving violently interrupted the Confucian scholar's lecture, dispersed the audience, and forcibly pushed Jingtan and others back.

The treasures on the stalls were roughly covered with cloths to conceal them, and the caravan members were driven off the street.

Furthermore, squads of martial monks surrounded the Jingxin Temple in layers, and golden Buddhist light barriers instantly rose around the temple walls, forming a huge light shield that isolated the inside from the outside!

The entire Zen temple seemed to have transformed into a giant golden cage, and the atmosphere instantly became incredibly heavy and somber.

Inside the Jingxin Zen Temple, panic was palpable. Sun Ming, his face ashen, cried out, "My lord! Lord Ji! They've made their move! They've surrounded us all! What... what are we going to do?"

The golden Buddhist light barrier outside exuded a powerful sense of oppression.

Ji Yuntang finally put down his paintbrush. The pine tree on the plain silk was finished, its gnarled branches as hard as iron.

He didn't look at Sun Ming, but instead looked at Zhang Yuan, his eyes calm yet carrying a hint of profound meaning.

Zhang Yuan walked into the courtyard, looking at the golden light shield hanging high above, and feeling the dense and powerful aura outside.

Outside, one could hear the shouts of martial monks and the humming of Buddhist energy circulating.

Zhang Yuan's gaze was icy, and he only said one word to Chen Wu beside him: "Break."

"Yes, sir!" A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Chen Wu's eyes, and he roared like a tiger: "All troops! Imperial Chancellor!"

It was still that small courtyard.

"Roar—Awooo—!!!"

The murderous aura of the three thousand guards erupted like a dormant volcano!

A dense, dark aura of bloodlust surged into the sky and coalesced once more! The imposing, ancient, majestic, and supremely murderous Xuanwu Emperor's image suddenly appeared in the world!

This time, it didn't defend itself in the void passage, but appeared directly in the heart of Liangzhou Buddhist Kingdom—the Tranquil Meditation Temple!
As soon as the pitch-black imperial image appeared, its cold vertical pupils swept across the golden Buddhist light barrier above its head.

The Emperor's Image didn't even make a "pressing down" move; its natural, domineering "momentum" as it condensed and took shape caused a violent tremor in space!
"Crackling sound—BOOM!!!"

The seemingly sturdy golden barrier, formed from the Buddhist essence of countless Vajra warrior monks, shattered instantly like a paper lantern under the impact of Emperor Xuanwu's almost tangible pressure!

Countless golden specks of light poured down like a torrential downpour of shattered glass.

The terrifying shockwave of malevolent energy swept out of the courtyard wall like a destructive storm!
"Pfft-!"

"Uh!"

"How can it be?!"

Screams kept coming!
The warrior monks who were surrounding the area were the first to be hit!
The dozens of heavily armored monks closest to the scene were sent flying by the terrifying aura that exceeded their limits, before they could even utter a sound. They spat out blood and crashed heavily into the crowd or walls in the distance!

The protective aura emanating from them vanished like bubbles!

The other monks were also struck hard, their blood and qi churning, their formation in disarray, and they staggered backward like straw blown by a strong wind!

The colossal body of Emperor Xuanwu stood above the Zen temple, radiating a terrifying aura like a world-destroying demon.

Its cold eyes were like an abyss, mercilessly looking down at the Liangzhou monks who were caught in a panic below!
The entire Wanfoping area seemed to have been put on pause, deathly silent!

Countless monks and believers turned pale, their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and they even had difficulty breathing!

They couldn't understand why such a terrifying and destructive presence would appear in a sacred Buddhist site.

“Zhang Yuan! Marquis Qingyang!” Miaozhi’s voice finally came through, trembling with shock and rage. He and several high monks appeared in the distance, their faces equally pale. “You…you are going to start a war with the entire Liangzhou Buddhist Kingdom? How dare you use such demonic methods in the holy land!”

The colossal Xuanwu Emperor slowly lowered its head, the black serpent on its back seemingly coming to life, its scarlet tongue flickering nervously. Zhang Yuan's voice, clearly penetrating the Emperor's form, resounded coldly throughout the entire Wanfoping like a decree of heaven:

"War? I have come here on the orders of the Emperor of Qin to discuss Buddhism."

"You all avoid seeing me and shut your doors to visitors."

“When my people come out to preach and expound the Dharma, you should treat them as if they were facing a formidable enemy and use force to surround and block them.”

"Since you are neither reasonable nor courteous, then all that remains is..."

Zhang Yuan's voice paused slightly, and the murderous aura emanating from the Emperor's Prime Minister surged once more, distorting and deforming the space around it, emitting a teeth-grinding creaking sound, as if it could not bear the weight.

"war!"

The chilling word "war" was like a horn from hell, shaking everyone to their core!

Miaozhi trembled violently, her finger trembling as she pointed at the Emperor, her lips quivering, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his monk's robe.

Sun Ming looked up in front of the side room.

Only now did he truly understand the terrifying meaning behind Zhang Yuan's words, "Two people can take down Liangzhou."

Marquis Qingyang truly possesses the absolute power to crush and force Liangzhou to submit!
Not going to talk?

Then hit!
Fight until they're willing to talk!
Just then, an even more aged voice, seemingly imbued with the wisdom of countless ages, pierced through the pervasive malevolent aura, resounding like a morning bell and evening drum, carrying a soothing power:

"Amitabha."

"Lord Qingyang, please calm your anger. It was we who were negligent."

"Please, Lord Marquis, Lord Ji, and all esteemed gentlemen, move to the center of Wanfoping—the Debate Platform for Buddhas."

"Seven days from now, the Buddhist sect of Liangzhou and the envoy from the Great Qin will hold a forum here to discuss Buddhism and debate the Great Way!"

An old monk, dressed in simple linen robes, with a withered face like an ancient tree, holding a wooden nine-ringed staff, and exuding a profound aura like the sea, slowly appeared in everyone's sight.

He looked at Zhang Yuan, his gaze as calm as still water.

Zhang Yuan's gaze met that of the old monk for a moment. The earth-shattering aura emanating from the Xuanwu Emperor slowly subsided, but it did not dissipate. Like an ancient divine mountain poised to unleash its power, it remained silently pressing down on the hearts of every Liangzhou person.

He nodded, his voice regaining its calmness, yet carrying an undeniable penetrating power: "Okay."

"Seven days later, at the Buddha Platform, witness the Great Way."

The phantom of the Xuanwu Emperor slowly faded away, but its terrifying pressure seemed to have been imprinted on the air of this sacred land.

The golden cages surrounding Jingxin Temple have long since disappeared, replaced by a grand Buddhist ceremony that is destined to shake the thirty-six continents in seven days!

----------------

Wanfoping.

On Buddhist altars.

The seven-day period passed in the blink of an eye.

When the first rays of dawn pierce through the clouds and shine upon Wanfoping, this sacred Buddhist land is completely transformed into a sea of ​​people and a vast ocean of air.

The Buddha Altar is a giant circular altar built on a single piece of ancient Bodhi wood that is hundreds of millions of years old, and carved with millions of ancient Buddhist scriptures.

Standing at the very center of Wanfoping, it is about ten zhang high and a hundred zhang in circumference. Its sacred solemnity is enough to inspire awe in anyone.

The altar is divided into three layers, one on top of the other, like a nine-tiered lotus platform rising from the ground.

At this moment, the three-tiered Buddhist altar and the surrounding area within a thousand feet were already completely packed with people, making it impossible to move.

The air became thick and heavy due to the presence of millions of people.

The deep chanting of Buddhist hymns converged into a sound wave that enveloped heaven and earth.

Beneath this solemn atmosphere were countless tense, expectant, and bewildered gazes.

The upper Buddhist altar embodies the true essence of Liangzhou Buddhism.

Nine "elder monks," clad in purple-gold robes, with Buddhist wheels hanging behind their heads like the sun in the sky, and whose auras were either as vast as the sea, as deep as the abyss, or as sharp as a knife, sat cross-legged with their eyes closed.

The leader was none other than the mysterious old monk who, seven days ago, had a withered appearance and held a nine-ringed wooden staff.

At this moment, his eyes were slightly closed, like a clay sculpture, yet his aura was integrated with the entire Bodhi Buddhist altar, obscure and difficult to understand.

Renowned monks such as Jue Zang, the abbot of the Vajra Monastery, and Hua Yan, the senior monk, were all seated beside him.

Together with dozens of other powerful monks at the Dongxuan Dharma Body Realm, they constitute the highest level of power in Liangzhou Buddhism.

Grandmaster Miaozhi was also among them, his expression grave as he surveyed the scene below.

The middle-level Buddhist altar had even more people, bringing together abbots and elders from various temples in Liangzhou.

In addition to the local guardian deities of Liangzhou and wandering monks with profound cultivation, there were hundreds of them. The Buddha's light rose and connected, forming a golden lotus sea.

Among them, several Venerables of the Mingwang Sect stood out, wearing robes with blazing flame patterns, exuding the fierce and domineering true meaning of the Mingwang, with stern expressions.

The lower level and the surrounding area were packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

Countless devout believers, ordinary monks, ascetics, and people from all walks of life in Liangzhou surged toward the direction of the Buddhist Debate Platform like the most devout waves.

The crowd was so large that it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

If it weren't for the warrior monks protecting the area and doing their best to maintain order, they would have been unable to move an inch.

A strange atmosphere, a mixture of fervor and solemnity, permeated the air.

In the area specially designated directly opposite the Buddhist altar, the Qin camp attracted countless eyes.

Grand Secretary Ji Yuntang, dressed in a deep purple official robe embroidered with a qilin, had a lean face and calm, wise eyes, sitting upright in the center like a pillar of strength.

Beside him were Taoist masters dressed in black robes with an air of otherworldly elegance and several Confucian grandmasters.

Master Jingtan, Master Huixin, and other representatives of Mahayana Buddhism stood solemnly to one side, their expressions a mixture of expectation and gravity.

Sun Ming, Wang Ping, and dozens of young Confucian scholars and officials from the Qin Dynasty stood at the back, each with a tense expression.

Feeling the immense pressure of this magnificent Buddhist kingdom, they felt even more reliance on the Qin delegation.

The sundial's pointer finally pointed to the appointed time.

"Om-"

A deep and resonant Buddhist chant rang out.

It did not originate from a single person's mouth, but rather from the natural sounds emanating from the old monk holding a wooden staff at the very top of the Buddhist altar.

In an instant, it suppressed the whispers and chants of hundreds of thousands of people, and its clear sound resounded throughout the entire Wanfoping area.

"The Buddha's teachings are boundless, saving all sentient beings. Today, it is truly an honor to have the delegation from the Great Qin Dynasty travel thousands of miles to my Liangzhou to discuss the Great Dao..."

The old monk's voice was unhurried, flowing like an ancient spring, containing a strange and comforting power.

He was preparing to elaborate on the purpose of this discussion on Buddhism, clarifying Liangzhou's stance on core issues such as the orthodoxy of the Dharma and the eastward transmission of Buddhism from the Qin Dynasty—

"Wait a minute!"

A voice, deeper and harder than a Buddhist chant, carrying the intent of war and conquest, suddenly exploded like a thunderclap!

The sound wasn't a roar, but it tore apart the peaceful atmosphere created by the old monk with an irresistible force, abruptly interrupting the opening remarks!

"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

Hundreds of thousands of gazes, as if drawn by an invisible giant hand, instantly focused on a single point!
The source of the sound was in front of the Qin camp.

One person stepped out from the crowd.

It was none other than Marquis Qingyang, Zhang Yuan! (End of Chapter)