There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 267 What is Popularity?
Mang Shoutuo followed behind Chen Qing and was taken aback when he saw his solemn expression.

Then, after thinking for a moment, he said, “Young Master, you have been living on the Immortal Mountain for so long that you do not know the hardships of those below. In this world, which of the powerful vassal states, major sects, and even those emerging religious sects does not hold military power and have their own agenda? Our East Sea is considered to be in a better position. Relying on the prestige of our Lord and the cooperation of our fellow practitioners in the East Sea Alliance, we can still maintain peace in this region, but it is still like walking on thin ice!”

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Especially recently, the Five Elements Army and the Buddhist factions of the Western Wilderness have been in frequent contact, seemingly forming an alliance. If they attack from both the east and the west, the consequences will be unimaginable! Lord, you have not slept well for months because of this."

Chen Qing remained silent.

He originally only wanted to find clues about the Demon Buddha's Dao Fruit as soon as possible to settle the karmic debt, but the current chaotic situation and the identity of the Marquis of Donghai's heir have complicated things.

"The struggle for lineage, the struggle for territory, the struggle for destiny—this final age of the Immortal Dynasty is like a melting pot."

Chen Qing's gaze deepened, and the sense of alienation he felt from knowing the course of history was gradually replaced by a heavy sense of reality.

Just then, with a slight thought, the Glazed Yin Spirit in his Niwan Palace faintly sensed a very subtle, malicious spying that flashed by from a dark corner in the distance.

Is it Su Yue? Or some other force?
He looked up at the waning moon, which was obscured by thin clouds, and his thoughts were in turmoil.

"Uncle Mang, during the meal just now, from what you said, there are quite a few Buddhist forces distributed throughout this Immortal Dynasty? And these people from the West are quite powerful?"

Seeing Chen Qing's interest, Mang Shou Tuo said, "That influence is truly considerable. Even in the East Sea, eminent monks are honored guests! Not to mention the East Sea, even now, the nobles in the Jade Capital, the powerful families in various states, and many cultivation sects all consider discussing the Buddhism of the Western Wilderness fashionable and befriending eminent monks an honor! This trend has been growing stronger ever since the Golden Platform Dharma Debate three hundred years ago, when several masters from the Western Wilderness defeated several great Confucian scholars and high-ranking Taoist masters from our Immortal Dynasty."

After offering his insights, he focused on one particular place: "Among these, there are several powerful ones, the most prominent being the Great Wheel Temple. It is the main temple of the Western Wilderness Consciousness Zen Monastery in the Eastern Spirit Continent, located on Mount Moyun, which is situated at the border between the western frontier and the central land. It is said that there is a golden Arhat in the temple, and the temple is very popular with countless believers. Even the imperial court has to give it some leeway."

"Secondly, there is Little Sumeru Mountain, which was created by a local virtuous man who claimed to have comprehended the true essence of the Western Dharma. Although it was not directly transmitted from the Western Wilderness, it is said that its founder had traveled and studied in the Western Wilderness for a thousand years, obtained its essence, and then returned to start his own world. He had many disciples, and his actions were both righteous and evil, and he was deeply entangled with various forces."

"Then there is the Lotus Realm. This sect is quite mysterious. It does not establish temples, nor does it accept many disciples. It only secretly transmits its teachings to those with affinity. It is said that its teachings directly point to people's hearts and can see into their past and present lives. Many disillusioned cultivators and impoverished nobles flock to it."

As Chen Qing listened, he gradually realized that Buddhism had grown in power, and he couldn't help but feel emotional. He knew that in his previous two lives, Buddhism had hardly any foothold in the Immortal Dynasty. Now, listening to the introduction, he realized that Buddhism had grown big both openly and secretly, both domestically and internationally.

With this thought in mind, he asked again, "Uncle Mang, what is your opinion on Buddhism?"

"Me?" Upon hearing this, Mang Shou Tuo's thick eyebrows furrowed, and he immediately shook his head, saying, "I don't like monks."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing was intrigued, since this person had just said that Buddhism was also an honored guest of the East Sea, yet he seemed displeased.

Mang Shou Tuo then said, "These monks talk about compassion and saving the world, but they've done plenty of things like seizing sacred fields and interfering in local affairs! What's even more infuriating is that some military generals have also believed in their teachings, saying things like 'lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot,' which is utterly absurd! The current situation on the front lines is critical, and it's inseparable from these people's secret meddling! If you ask me, they're not some kind of profound Buddhist monk; they're just wolves who rely on a few deceptive illusions to take advantage of our Immortal Dynasty's weakness and come to seize territory and steal fortune!"

After listening, Chen Qing seemed to be deep in thought.

The eastward spread of Buddhism from the Western Wilderness and the rise of local Buddhist sects raise many questions. Could these phenomena conceal clues related to the "Demon Buddha Path Fruit"?

He thought to himself, but showed no sign of it on his face. He then asked, "Uncle Mang, you just said that the 'Lotus Realm' is good at prying into past and present lives?"

Mang Shoutuo was taken aback, not expecting Chen Qing to ask about this separately. He replied, "There is such a saying, but it's hard to tell if it's true or not. Young Master, why are you asking this? You can't believe these superstitious things!"

Chen Qing nodded in agreement.

Seeing his evasive words, Mang Shou Tuo's thick brows furrowed even more tightly, and he advised in a muffled voice, "Young Master, the Central Continent has recently been in turmoil, with its earth veins in disarray and numerous tribulations and cultivators rising up. It is no place to stay for long! The East Sea is our true home. The Lord has been longing for your return every day. Why not set off immediately? I think..."

But before he could finish speaking, starlight suddenly shone at the end of the long street, and two figures came stepping on the moon.

The young man on the left, with a pine-like figure and carrying an ancient sword on his back, was none other than Ling Jue, an inner disciple of the Hidden Star Sect.

The girl on the right wore a light blue Taoist skirt, with an octagonal star disc hanging from her waist. She had delicate and beautiful features and was named Yun Shuyue.

The two men stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Disciple greets Martial Uncle."

Ling Jue looked up, his expression solemn: "It is a great blessing that Martial Uncle is safe and sound! Junior Sister Yun and I originally intended to seek help from the former members of the Sky Patrol Division, but we did not expect that Martial Uncle had already escaped first."

Chen Qing's memory flashed, and he realized that the two people in front of him were his fellow disciples who had traveled with him all the way. They were his senior brother's disciples and had served him all the way.

At this moment, after listening to their conversation, he said, "Thank you for your help. I am fine now."

Yun Shuyue hesitated for a moment before saying, "Although the Xuanyu Prison is dilapidated, it is still an old system of the Immortal Dynasty. I was afraid that something might happen, so I specifically asked Sister Murong to go with me to seek help..." She paused slightly, "When Sister Murong heard that my master was trapped, her expression immediately changed. She said, 'Since he has imprisoned himself, he should taste the bitterness.' Then she turned and went west. I know her quite well. She didn't say it, but she was actually going to ask for reinforcements."

Ling Jue continued, "Before leaving, Miss Murong left a message saying that the Kuchan Temple, nine hundred miles to the west, has recently been filled with Buddhist light, and there may be a rare treasure appearing in the world. She asked her disciple to tell her master that if he still wanted to find that opportunity to break through to the next realm, he should leave in advance and go to the temple to search for it."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing felt a headache coming on.

According to the fragmented memories, the Murong girl, Murong Zhiqing, was also one of the confidantes of this "Chen Qiu," and they were quite close. They met during a turmoil after Chen Qiu left the mountain, but it is clear that the girl now harbors resentment because of something.

On the other side, Mang Shou Tuo's expression changed drastically upon hearing their conversation. He exclaimed, "No! That Ku Chan Temple is the territory of the Lotus Dharma Realm! Those bald monks are masters at bewitching people's hearts. Young Master, you must not go there!" Just now, he, the young master, had specifically inquired about the Lotus Dharma Realm, and now he had encountered it. Naturally, he was worried.

at this time.

Suddenly, a long laugh pierced the air at the end of the long street, causing the dust accumulated on the eaves to fall in a flurry.

"Hahaha! Brother Chen, I heard you were tricked by a villain. I arrived a few days late because I was worried you were suffering inside. Luckily, you've escaped!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a tall, imposing figure striding towards them. The newcomer was dressed in rough, close-fitting clothes, travel-worn but unable to conceal his heroic spirit. His face was resolute, his eyebrows sharply angled, and his tiger-like eyes shone brightly. His aura was incredibly powerful, clearly indicating he had already reached the peak of the Golden Core stage, just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage!
Upon seeing the newcomer, Mang Shou Tuo immediately sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from him and instinctively stepped in front of Chen Qing to protect him.

What a hero!
Chen Qing secretly praised him, and fragments of memories surged in his mind, revealing the person's identity.

This man, named Zheng Qingtian, was a close friend of "Chen Qiu" and they recently swore an oath of brotherhood by blood.

Zheng Qingtian was born in the cold northern state and was not a nobleman of the Immortal Dynasty. With his iron fists and extraordinary courage, he built the foundation of the "Rift Cloud Gang" in the chaotic world. He gathered many brave men under his command and opposed sects and powerful figures who bullied the good. He was highly respected among the people.

"Brother Zheng!" Chen Qing cupped his hands in greeting as he remembered, indicating that Mang Shou Tuo had nothing to worry about, and then stepped forward.

However, he couldn't help but smile to himself, thinking that this "Chen Qiu" was quite different from the previous two lives in terms of his wide circle of friends and his unconventional personality. In just a short while, several people came to help him. Whether they were sincere or not, he had enough connections. At first glance, he seemed to have good interpersonal relationships.

Thinking to himself, he asked, "Brother Zheng! How did you come to be here? And how did you hear about me?"

Zheng Qingtian strode over and patted Chen Qing's shoulder with his large, fan-like hand. The force was heavy, but full of concern: "It's good that you're alright! Those scoundrels always resort to underhanded tricks. I was originally on my way to Kuchan Temple to handle an urgent matter, as several of my brothers were being held captive there! On my way here, I learned from my gang members that you were trapped here, so I took a detour. Now that you're safe, I'm relieved!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the sky and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave now. Perhaps we'll meet again someday!"

Kuchan Temple? Kuchan Temple again!
Chen Qing's eyes narrowed.

The extraordinary treasure mentioned by Murong Zhiqing and the brothers that Zheng Qingtian wanted to save both pointed to this place.

The events are interconnected, and the cause and effect are intertwined; it is by no means a coincidence.

"The Dao Yan Lu led me into my dream, and it was never without purpose. This Ku Chan Temple has appeared repeatedly, perhaps it is the key. Could it really be related to the clues to the Dao Fruit of the Demon Buddha? Well, such opportunities are often lost forever. If I don't seize them now, it will be too late if there really are clues to the Dao Fruit inside."

In a flash, he made his decision.

"Brother Zheng, wait a moment." Chen Qing called out to Zheng Qingtian, who was about to turn and leave. "Since you are so concerned about this matter, how can I sit idly by? I will go with you."

"No!" Mang Shou Tuo hurriedly dissuaded him, "Young Master! Ku Chan Temple is the territory of the Lotus Dharma Realm, and the waters there are very deep! Your precious body cannot be risked by yourself. Besides, the Lord is still waiting for you to return in the East Sea..."

Zheng Qingtian frowned and said in a deep voice, "Brother, I appreciate your kindness, but the bald monks at Kuchan Temple have some wicked methods. This journey will be fraught with danger, and given your special status, it is not advisable for you to get involved."

Chen Qing, sticking to his persona, said with a smile, "Uncle Mang, my mind is made up. Brother Zheng is a brother to me, and his affairs are my affairs. Besides..." His gaze swept over Ling Jue and Yun Shuyue, finally settling on the west, "I also want to go to that Kuchan Temple to see what's going on."

Zheng Qingtian gave Chen Qing a deep look, seeing that his eyes were clear and firm, and that it was not just a momentary impulse. He laughed and said, "Good! You are indeed worthy of being my brother, Zheng Qingtian! You have guts! In that case, let's join forces again and venture into that dragon's den and tiger's lair!"

"Young Master..." Seeing this, Mang Shoutuo knew that he could no longer dissuade him, so he could only sigh heavily and grit his teeth and say, "If that's the case, I, Mang Shoutuo, will risk my life to protect you, Young Master!"

"Let's not delay, let's set off now." Chen Qing nodded and said no more.

Zheng Qingtian didn't hesitate. With a swift movement, he soared several feet away like a roc.

Chen Qing walked with ease, shrinking the distance to an inch, and followed closely behind.

Ling Jue and Yun Shuyue exchanged a glance and followed without hesitation.

Mang Shou Tuo sighed, his body surging with energy, which followed him like a shadow.

Just as the figures disappeared at the end of the long street, a whooshing sound came from the air.

Under the moonlight, two figures gracefully landed.

The woman in the lead had long, flowing black hair and a cool, aloof expression.

If Chen Qing were here, he would definitely recognize the person through the fragments of memory.

She was none other than Murong Zhiqing.

At this moment, a Taoist priest in a green robe stood beside Murong Zhiqing. He appeared to be only middle-aged, with slightly graying temples, a gaunt face, and warm, clear eyes. He stood there like an ancient pine tree in the mountains, unmoved by the wind or disturbed by the clouds.

"Is that Chen Qiu, the heir of the Marquis of Donghai? He is quite a handsome man." The Taoist's gaze swept across the empty street. "I told you before that with his status, the Xuan Prison of Tingfeng City cannot hold him."

As he spoke, he shook his head slightly, as if talking to himself: "I heard of him when I visited Dingyuan Mountain a few years ago. He was hailed as one of the three great true disciples of the Hidden Star Sect in this generation. Unfortunately, he seems to be stuck at the threshold of the Golden Core stage in recent years and has not been able to break through. It can be seen that although he has good talent, his temperament is still lacking."

Murong Zhiqing pursed her lips, gazing in the direction Chen Qing had left, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. She then said, "Master, there may be an opportunity that I need in Kuchan Temple. I would like to go and explore it."

Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest's gaze fell upon her face, and he sighed, "Do not cling to worldly desires. This child has some talent, but his temperament is unruly. The Golden Core stage will be enough to stop him. If he can break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future, that will be a great achievement. Your paths are different from his." As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve and pointed to the west, "Besides, the Kuchan Temple is currently rife with turmoil and is not a safe place. You should not go there."

“Precisely because the water is murky, I must go.” Murong Zhiqing’s eyes showed no sign of backing down. “If there is any danger, how can I sit idly by? Master, you don’t need to worry. I am going not for personal reasons, but to repay karma, to bear the burden, and to settle a debt of gratitude.”

The Taoist gazed at her for a moment, and seeing the firmness in her eyes, he knew her mind was made up. He slowly nodded and said, "Very well, then I will accompany you on this journey. I hope that after this trip, you can sever your worldly ties and attain a pure and clear Daoist heart."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved it. Starlight seemed to shimmer in his sleeve, and the two figures gradually blurred and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

(End of this chapter)