Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 968 We are all our own people

Other eminent figures within the sect also took on disciples and followers to varying degrees, spreading their understanding of the White Lotus Sutra and forming various branches and schools.

Imagine if the White Lotus Saint Mother had not perished midway, with her extraordinary talent and the vigorous development of the White Lotus Sect, after three hundred years of accumulation, she might have truly gathered enough fortune to shake the destiny of heaven.

He cut off the path to the arrival of the "future Maitreya Buddha" and became the ruler of his own Buddhist kingdom.

Unfortunately, the way of Heaven is unfathomable, and those who defy it will eventually face numerous calamities.

Despite possessing extraordinary abilities, he ultimately failed to overcome the most perilous pass and vanished into the Three Realms, bringing his grand ambitions to an abrupt end.

However, the development path she pioneered, which encouraged branches to gather their fortune, has been preserved as her most valuable legacy.

This is why, even though the White Lotus Sect suffered a devastating blow from the combined forces of the imperial court and the righteous path thirty years ago, it was still able to lie dormant like resilient grass after a wildfire, waiting for the next opportunity to make a comeback.

Of course, when an organization develops to such a powerful level, it will naturally attract the fear and attacks of all the major powers in the world.

The imperial court regarded it as a major threat, and the orthodox sects regarded it as a heretical sect that must be eradicated.

However, the White Lotus sect achieved a delicate balance under this pressure.

They can be eradicated but not completely wiped out; they can be killed but not exterminated.

Often, just as one area is suppressed, another sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, one cluster in the east and one in the west.

One reason for this is that its core inheritance of the Divine Soul Dao is inherently adept at concealment and infiltration, making it extremely easy to hide in the streets and countryside.

On the other hand, the White Lotus doctrine has a strong seductive and attractive power for ordinary people who are struggling with poverty and yearn for change.

After the fall of the White Lotus Mother, she successfully transformed into a cancer cell within the empire.

Hou Sheng talked about the macro environment and the micro environment, and then lamented that his own circumstances were somewhat unfortunate.

His initial affiliation was with the White Lotus "Benjiao" system, and his early partner was Li Shaoweng, who later stirred up trouble in Jianye.

The two were accomplices in their past misdeeds. One was skilled in formations and elixirs, while the other was adept at illusionary arts. They accomplished quite a few "big things" in the local area and lived a rather comfortable life.

Later, Li Shaoweng took on the important task of finding the "Zhenlongtai" and went south to Jianye.

Hou Sheng was sent to investigate the strange phenomenon of "ghost soldiers borrowing a path in Dazexiang".

As a result, the task was taken over by the Great Wisdom Dharma King, and Hou Sheng was naturally assigned to the Great Wisdom Dharma King's command.

Unfortunately, he was not a direct descendant of the Great Wisdom Dharma King, and his abilities were not top-notch. In the end, he was "exiled" to this small place in Ji County to guard this nearly completed ritual, far away from the power center of the religion.

"Fortunately...fortunately, I have now been recruited by Your Majesty the Great Compassionate One!"

Hou Sheng's tone was filled with relief, then he lowered his voice and said with a hint of mystery, "Speaking of which, the news that the Great Compassionate Dharma King had perished in Jiangnan was originally spread within the sect by the 'Dream Goodness Society'... Now it seems that this was all a smokescreen set up by Your Majesty! Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

While he flattered her, he sighed inwardly: Sure enough, none of those who can sit on the throne of the Dharma King are not ruthless; they are all very cunning!
Hou Sheng now has no other wish than to perform well under his new boss, the "Great Compassionate Dharma King," to make contributions and improve his cultivation.

Once you break through to the third realm, your status within the sect will be completely different.

At that time, he might be sent out to find a suitable small place to start a branch of his own, and that would be considered a real breakthrough.

"What else do you know?"

Xu Xuan's calm words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, jolting him back to his senses.

He bowed deeply, his tone filled with utmost sincerity and trepidation: "Your Majesty! I... I have told you everything I know!"

That's not entirely untrue.

In order to gain the trust of this seemingly ruthless but perhaps "fair-minded" new boss, he had already voluntarily handed over all the White Lotus Cult contact points and rosters of infiltrators he knew in Ji County and even the surrounding counties, almost emptying all his intelligence reserves.

They fantasized that by using this complete "honesty," they could gain the favor of the Great Compassionate Dharma King, become his confidant, and reach the pinnacle of life.

Xu Xuan looked at his eagerness to show off and nodded with a sigh.

'How come you managed to squeeze all your usefulness dry so quickly?'

"Furthermore, a close examination of your past reveals that as a long-time follower of the White Lotus sect, the heinous acts you committed for the sake of your so-called 'religious cause' and personal gain are truly unacceptable."

'That's enough, that's enough.'

Xu Xuan had already made up his mind.

Let this old man pass away peacefully, as a final act of decency to this "honesty".

Of course, as someone who considers himself a reasonable person, Xu Xuan also dislikes "punishing without prior instruction."

Then he posed the final question, his voice still calm, yet sharp enough to get to the heart of the matter:

"Hou Sheng, I have one last question for you—"

"Are you truly willing to give everything for the Virgin Mary...?"

Hou Sheng was taken aback at first, then a surge of joy welled up inside him!
What did the Dharma King mean by asking this? Was he testing my loyalty?
Everyone in the church knows that the Great Compassionate Dharma King has always been known for his utmost loyalty to the Holy Mother!
This is the perfect opportunity to make a lasting impression on your new boss!
He immediately straightened his slightly worn robe, cleared his throat, and his face instantly switched to a complex expression mixing piety, reminiscence, and excitement. He began his performance in a slightly choked voice:

"Your Majesty, you are unaware of this... I... my mother is..."

Thus began a vivid and moving account of her "journey of the heart".

From the confusion and pain of witnessing human suffering and injustice in my childhood, to the ecstatic joy of seeing the light and finding direction in life when I accidentally came into contact with the White Lotus teachings, and now to the fortunate opportunity to meet the Great Compassionate Dharma King and personally feel the shock and inspiration brought by Your Majesty's unwavering loyalty to the Holy Mother...

He spoke with utter passion, a few cloudy tears even welling in his eyes. His emotions were palpable, his voice rising and falling, vividly portraying the journey of a lost sheep finding its final refuge in faith. Finally, he knelt down with a thud, banging his head on the ground, and swore an oath in an almost screaming voice:
"For the Holy Mother, for our homeland of Vacuum, I am willing to give up everything!"

In short, the core idea can be summed up in two words:

Loyal! Sincerity!
Xu Xuan revealed a very "satisfied" expression.

You said it yourself.

"Ahem, I'm a very stubborn person." These words were spoken lightly, yet they sent a chill down Hou Sheng's spine for no reason, as if something had been completely nailed down.

“In that case,” Xu Xuan changed the subject and gave direct instructions, “you must immediately go and carefully study how to activate the nine-tiered altar and open the gate to the underworld. This matter concerns the great undertaking of welcoming the Holy Mother back, and there must be no mistakes.”

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye.

A sharp sword light pierced through the sky and landed steadily on the wasteland, revealing Li Yingqi's dashing figure.

Behind her followed a woman dressed in red with an elegant demeanor; it was none other than Yu Ji.

"Huh? What's going on here...?" Xu Xuan asked, somewhat surprised.

Li Yingqi sheathed his sword, bowed crisply, and replied, "Reporting to my senior uncle, it was my master who sent me a message saying that you may be short of capable men and ordered me to come here immediately to await orders."

He stepped aside to let Yu Ji pass, saying, "It just so happens that Miss Yu... Miss Yu is quite interested in the story of Chen Sheng, so she came along with me."

Xu Xuan understood instantly.

Yu Ji's eagerness was probably due to the news that Chen Sheng was able to recruit soldiers in the underworld and intended to return to the world of the living, which ignited hope in her heart.

If Chen Sheng could do it, could Xiang Yu, the mighty overlord with unparalleled strength and spirit, also do it?
She probably hoped for a tragic love story between a demon and a ghost, separated by death, to rekindle their past romance.

But this hope is truly slim. Given the arrogance that runs deep, even if the true spirit of the Overlord is not extinguished, he would probably never stoop to using ghost soldiers to disrupt the order of the human world and do such sinister things.

However... Yu Meiren is inherently stubborn and extreme, and one could even say that she has a bit of madness and obsession in her bones.

Since she wants to come, let her go. Perhaps witnessing it with her own eyes will make her give up completely, or... find a new direction for her obsession.

Just then, Hou Sheng, who had been carefully observing from the side, saw his "colleague" arrive and quickly put on a smile and stepped forward, intending to become acquainted with him.

Xu Xuan casually introduced, "This is Hou Sheng, who will be considered a member of my Mengshan Society from now on."

What a shrewd person Li Yingqi was.
She was a core member of Xiaoqing's sect back in Xin'an County, and she followed Bao'an Hall as a core member, committing murder, arson, and causing trouble when it was just a small pharmacy.

Just like his master, although he was not highly educated, he was very talented at doing bad things.

From this seemingly casual introduction alone, three layers of meaning can be instantly discerned:
First of all, this old man named Hou Sheng is definitely not one of our own, and we need to be wary of him.

Secondly, my senior brother is currently using the pseudonym "Mengshan Society," so he must act and speak according to this identity.

Finally, and most importantly, this old guy is probably in big trouble.

She remained outwardly calm, even giving Hou Sheng a smile that could be described as "kind," but inwardly she was already lighting a candle for this new "colleague."

Hou Sheng's fawning smile froze instantly. Although the other party was kind, he remained wary.

Not only did they not introduce themselves, but they also didn't exchange any polite words, clearly to prevent unrelated people from knowing their background and thus avoid being cursed by evil magic in the future.

Then, Li Yingqi led Yu Ji straight to another corner of the courtyard and sat down cross-legged to meditate.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Hou Sheng's face, but considering that he was a newcomer with little experience, he couldn't show it.

He could only suppress his displeasure and awkwardly retreat to the side, but he had already firmly memorized the appearance of the two people in his heart.

'Hmph, a mere swordsman still wet behind the ears, and a little demon who's only recently taken human form—they truly don't understand the hierarchy of the cultivation world, utterly lacking in manners!' He secretly vowed, 'Once I've made a name for myself under the Dharma King, I'll definitely teach these two arrogant brats a lesson!'

However, this simmering resentment did not last long.

About half a day later, as Hou Sheng was engrossed in studying the runes of the altar, he suddenly felt an extremely strong aura pressing down on him, causing his mind to tremble violently!

He looked up at the sky in horror.

A demonic aura soared into the sky, but it was not the sinister aura of ordinary spirits. Instead, it exuded a majestic, ancient, and profound aura, clearly indicating that the newcomer had extraordinary bloodline and profound cultivation!

What's even more alarming is that, around that immense demonic aura, like stars surrounding the moon, there were four pure and incomparably sharp sword energies from Mount Shu!
What a bizarre combination!

The demonic energy and the sword energy did not repel each other; on the contrary, they subtly formed a mysterious balance and resonance!
Only after the clouds were dispersed by the sword energy and demonic energy did he see clearly that there were five figures standing on the earth like rocks.

The leader was a young girl in green, and the demonic aura originated from her. Behind her stood four extraordinary young men and women carrying ancient swords, each with a chilling sword aura, who were the most orthodox successors of the Shu Mountain!
"Dharma, Dharma King... who are these people...?" Hou Sheng's voice trembled slightly as he pointed at the five people and looked at Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan didn't even lift his eyelids, his tone as flat as if he were saying the weather was nice today: "Oh, it's also from our Mengshan Society."

Hou Sheng: "..."

A strong sense of unease instantly gripped his heart.

In total, seven or eight people from the "Dream Charity Society" have arrived, but they cannot sense even a trace of the familiar White Lotus Sect's magical power on these people!
Even if they are different branches with different focuses of cultivation, there should still be a trace of the original aura of the white lotus at the root, right?

Cold sweat began to bead on Hou Sheng's forehead. He turned to Xu Xuan with difficulty, his lips trembling, trying to say something:
“Your Holiness…actually I…I think…”

　Preparing for the typhoon. I'll update tomorrow depending on the situation. If the power goes out, there's nothing I can do.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)