In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 169 Undercurrents (Thanks to the Silver Alliance of the Law Master)
On the evening of October 2nd.

Lin Zhiyan had another long phone call with Lu Zhao. During their three-hour chat, Lu Zhao did not tell Lin Zhiyan about the monk.

Because it's unnecessary and not a big deal.

Unless necessary, Lu Zhao rarely asks Lin Zhiyan for favors. The last time was to make personnel arrangements for Zhang Like to ensure that the other party could remain in the top position after he left.

But Lin Zhiyan still found out the next morning.

Because she was wary of the Buddhist community and the collateral branches of the Lin family, she would naturally pay attention to whether anyone was causing trouble for Lu Zhao.

Buddhist practitioners with extraordinary abilities must report their travels. Lin Zhiyan instructed his steward to liaise with the relevant departments so that he would know as soon as they arrived in Fang City.

October 3rd, morning.

Upon learning that a monk had gone to Fang City, Lin Zhiyan immediately sought out the head of a collateral branch of the Lin family.

Her uncle, Lin Baixuan, was a forty-year-old middle-aged man and a second-tier transcendent.

Among aristocratic families, those who handle affairs generally do not have a high level of life development, because they have to deal with many things and do not have time to focus on life development.

On the other hand, it's also because they lack talent.

If you have talent, then focus on the path of life development.

Inside the Lin family's old house, in the living room.

Lin Zhiyan's face was frosty as he asked, "What do you want to do by sending people to Fangshi?"

Lin Boxuan has a handsome appearance with a light beard, making him look like a middle-aged man.

He was visibly taken aback when he heard the question, and said, "We didn't send anyone to Fangshi."

"I just received news that a group of monks have arrived in Fangshi. What are you planning to do?"

Faced with Lin Zhiyan's questioning, Lin Baixuan replied helplessly, "It's normal for you to have prejudices against us uncles, but we are not bandits or gangsters, and it's impossible for us to send people to be killed by Lu Zhao."

"I really don't know anything about this; it was all done by the Buddhist sect themselves."

Lin Zhiyan's marriage had already spread throughout upper-class circles, and people were warned not to discuss it publicly.

Anyone who dares to spread this message or cause discussion among the public will have to taste the iron fist.

The Lin family's collateral branches were wary of Lu Zhao, but they weren't gangsters or bandits. Even gangsters and bandits wouldn't dare kill an official.

This is modern times, not the Ming Dynasty, so there isn't such a strict hierarchical system.

Seeing that Lin Baixuan couldn't get the reason, Lin Zhiyan went to Liu Hanwen and begged him to order the monks to be driven away.

Liu Hanwen was still angry and criticized, "They went to Fangshi through proper procedures, and Lu Zhao is not a child. He is a soldier who dares to carry explosives."

"Stop worrying about that. Let's focus on getting through the lungs first."

"Oh."

Lin Zhiyan nodded in disappointment, then asked, "Lu Zhao has also reached the second level. Can I also give him some potions to help him break through the fifth level?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanwen laughed in exasperation.

This isn't a fake marriage at all; they're clearly favoring outsiders.

He warned him sternly, "You cannot provide him with any development drugs in private, and you certainly cannot give him yours to use."

Lin Zhiyan asked, "Why?"

"There's no reason why, it just won't work."

"Master Liu~"

"If you say no, you can't."

In the end, no matter how much Lin Zhiyan pleaded, it was no use; instead, he was sent to cultivate.

Liu Hanwen turned to his secretary and instructed, "From now on, make sure to supervise Xiao Yan when she takes any medicine."

"Yes."

Secretary Liu nodded.

He could understand the leader's intention. After all, this was Lin Zhiyan's first time dating someone of the opposite sex, and it was normal for him to act this way when he was in the throes of new love.

However, subduing dragons and tigers is a political issue, and Chief Liu is grooming Lu Zhao to be a military commander.

If Lin Zhiyan had found someone less capable, she wouldn't mind raising pigs; what mattered most was for the couple to live a stable and prosperous life together.

But Lu Zhao has ability, merit, and a distinguished family background. Regardless of whether Lin Zhiyan takes a liking to Lu Zhao, Chief Liu will promote and cultivate him.

Even if Chief Liu doesn't make a move, Secretary Liu will still be promoted.

Moreover, Lu Zhao's choice to inherit the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Technique may seem like the result of Lin Zhiyan's willful behavior, but in reality, it has already been tacitly approved by the Liu faction and its various factions.

Lu Zhao has become a pawn in the game, just like the Buddhist disciples sent out by the Buddhist sect.
-

October 3rd.

Yesterday, a group of monks came to the district. They first went to various local gangs, showed off their skills, and won over the followers.

Then they spent money to buy food, set up venues, and had the gangsters inform the public that the religious ceremonies would be held in various open spaces or old stadiums.

The broadcast system played the Great Compassion Mantra again.

The people rushed to the Dharma assembly for eggs and steamed buns, and after they had eaten their fill, they sat on the ground to listen to the Buddhist scriptures.

The monks, seated high on the Dharma platform, had kind and benevolent faces, and they relieved the people's suffering.

Suffering in this life is the result of sins committed in the previous life. If you wish to be reborn as a Chinese citizen in the next life, you must do good deeds, accumulate virtue, and abide by your duty.

Some of them had a loud voice that could be heard for miles around, others were bathed in Buddha's light, and some even sat directly on the fire.

The three categories of supernatural powers—sound transmission, light illumination, and fire prevention—are commonly used in Buddhism, and most of them are minor and weak, belonging to the two levels of supernatural powers.

On the one hand, these are unregulated life bones, and their inheritance and purchase do not require qualifications or review.

There are many restrictions on unofficial superhumans. Using their supernatural powers in public can be illegal, and in serious cases, it can be a criminal offense.

Aggressive superhumans must report to the local security system whenever they go to a new place.

While Buddhism and Taoism enjoy privileges, they are still subject to certain restrictions. Those with minor supernatural abilities face fewer complicated procedures.

On the other hand, it is weak and small with low requirements, and can accommodate any first-order superhuman.

Unlike those at the intermediate level or above, which require qualifications.

Many monks who chant scriptures and preach are actually human mouthpieces, their sole purpose being to win over followers.

The fact that he possessed supernatural powers was no secret, but that didn't stop a large number of people from believing in them.

Religious belief is never about a person's intelligence, but rather whether they need spiritual support.

Buddhism has an unparalleled ability to stabilize the lives of ordinary people.

The federal government's emphasis on Buddhism stems from this: only those who are useful have a voice, and only those who make contributions have power.

Religion is undoubtedly the lowest-cost and most effective way to govern a region. Central Plains Buddhism, after thousands of years of refinement, is also the least dangerous compared to other religions.

Any religion that accepts federal command is a good religion.

Conversely, all such groups should be labeled as cults.

For a time, the area inside and outside the state resembled a Buddhist holy site.

The leading monk, whose Dharma name is Jingxian, is the third generation of the Buddhist lineage.

In the course of continuous historical transformation, Chinese Buddhism has absorbed a great deal of traditional Central Plains culture, one of the major characteristics of which is the lineage of Dharma masters.

A variant of the patriarchal clan system, with genealogical records similar to family trees, and notably characterized by the use of courtesy names.

Every generation has one word in common.

The oldest living members of the Buddhist community are Hui, Fa, and Jue. Those still alive today are all at the fifth level and are over a hundred years old.

They follow ancient methods, not modern life development.

The second-generation Dharma name is Qing, which means "pure and enlightened."

This is the generation that holds power, the de facto high-ranking members of the Buddhist community.

The third generation of Jing (净) is named after the phrase "to cleanse oneself of worldly troubles and escape the cycle of reincarnation."

This is the generation that controls the purse strings; the backbone of Buddhism, belonging to the management level.

The fourth generation of emptiness, taking the character to sever ties with the mortal world, is pure in the six senses.

This generation has entered the Buddhist community through Buddhist studies entrance exams or by visiting Buddhist temples, symbolizing a complete transformation of Buddhism in the new era.

In today's turbulent society, Buddhism is the best place to go outside of the system.

Inside an office at a nightclub.

Venerable Jingxian spoke with Atipeng, the head of the Bangqu district.

That's the Siamese man who met Lu Zhao a while ago.

"How much influence does Lu Zhao have locally?"

"They're very powerful, practically the second-in-command. I heard that the border defense has been reorganized and they've become the Border Garrison Corps, so even the city can't control them."

"What's his relationship with the city's executive branch?"

"We should say we have a grudge. Zhao, the mayor, was almost brought down by him a while ago. If it weren't for flood relief efforts, he might be inspecting the ponds by now."

Atipong asked curiously, "Master, just who is this Lu Zhao?"

Not to mention the monks who came to them to inquire about the situation, many local bullies in Fangshi wanted to know where this Lu Zhao came from, this Sun Wukong.

I didn't know his title before; I heard he was just a low-ranking platoon leader patrolling the mountains.

As soon as the task force arrived, they unleashed a barrage of attacks on the city's leaders, taking down countless of them.

For a time, he directly took over the Confederate districts, and Atipon was so frightened that he ran to the Cangwu Confederate District to avoid trouble.

Even a third-tier superhuman cannot defeat an army, let alone a superhuman who comes from a humble background and often cannot acquire good supernatural abilities.

Like Zhao De's Golden Light Sword, there are only a handful of them in the entire region.

"A gigolo who lives off the Lin family's influence."

Jingxian looked disdainful and then didn't explain the Lin family's background to Atipeng.

Unlike Western societies, the top aristocratic families in the Federation rarely show their faces in public, and can only be approached by those who reach a certain level.

Even a third-tier transcendent being wouldn't be able to come into contact with a citizen like Atipon.

"Please continue your investigation; I need all of his information."

For the next three days, Venerable Jingxian and his fellow monks did nothing but preach in the Bang District, intending to establish themselves in Fang City.

At the same time, an application was submitted to establish a temple to help stabilize the state area.

They're not fools; they know that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake, and they have to complete all the procedures before taking action.

These days, even Buddha has to obey federal orders.

Zhao De initially refused the temple's application, but a powerful force from the capital city pushed through the process.

On October 6th, the border garrison corps completed its upgrade process and officially became a regimental-level unit.

That afternoon, the Yulin County Security Bureau received an order from the capital, stating that they had received a report that the commander of a border garrison under its jurisdiction had violated regulations by assuming the position of the top leader.

The Border Garrison Corps is a regimental-level unit. Lu Zhaocai, a captain, was appointed in an emergency. Now that the state of emergency has been lifted, he should be transferred immediately.

The Yulin County Public Security Bureau immediately launched an investigation, dispatching specialists to conduct an on-site inspection and promising to provide a response as quickly as possible.

Security Commander Liang Chengyun summoned the investigation commissioner and said, "This is a federal order, and there can be no delay. We must go to Fangshi as soon as possible to investigate thoroughly."

"If you arrive in Fangshi in three days, I'll promote you next year. If you can arrive in Fangshi within three days, you'll be a great hero, and I'll bestow upon you the title of Marshal Tianpeng next year."

On that day, all the official vehicles of the Yulin County Public Security Bureau broke down, and train and plane tickets were unavailable. The commissioner, undeterred by the hardship, rode his old bicycle to Fangshi.

(End of this chapter)