Primordial Era: A God-Level Choice, Possessing Zhao Gongming at the Start.

Chapter 477 Buddhist Water and Land Ritual

But the evil spirit in Li Shimin's dream was none other than his eldest brother Li Jiancheng and his third brother Li Yuanji.

The Xuanwu Gate Incident of that year has become a thorn in Li Shimin's side, one that he can never remove.

In the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he successfully ascended the throne, but he also acquired a stain that could never be washed away.

But was the outcome of the Xuanwu Gate Incident really what he wanted to see?

No one knew his predicament. Before the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he was already at odds with his elder brother Li Jiancheng and his younger brother Li Yuanji.

It's either you die or I die. He didn't want to die, nor did he want Guanyinbi to die, so he had to strike first!

He succeeded in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, but at the same time, he also earned a terrible reputation!

Li Shimin sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and forced himself to rest!

Tomorrow, there are still tomorrow's memorials to deal with. If I don't get enough rest, how will I manage government affairs?

Soon, Li Shimin fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, the scenes changed constantly. Before he knew it, two shadows slowly appeared!

The shadow grew larger and larger, eventually becoming two human figures!

Dressed in fine clothes, one was handsome and the other ugly, but at this moment, the two of them were ghostly and covered in blood. Their pale faces and dark pupils were devoid of any spirit as they stared blankly at Li Shimin.

"Second brother, give us back our lives!"

"Second brother, I died so unjustly!"

The sounds were like a curse, and in the next moment, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji suddenly pounced on Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was suddenly awakened from his dream, his clothes already soaked!

"Eldest brother, third brother, so many years have passed since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, are you still unwilling to let it go?"

Unbeknownst to Li Shimin, a fierce expression appeared on his face!

Early the next morning, Li Shimin ordered a notice to be posted, inviting a master to come to the palace to exorcise evil spirits.

In Chang'an, there was a temple called Jin Guang Temple. The abbot of Jin Guang Temple, Xuanwu, was over eighty years old and highly respected. He was invited to the palace by Li Shimin.

After looking around the palace, Xuanwu followed Li Shimin to the Taiji Hall.

In the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin asked expectantly, "Master Xuanwu, have you made any discoveries?"

"The evil energy in Your Majesty's palace is extremely concentrated, and coupled with the haunting presence of vengeful spirits, prolonged residence there is extremely detrimental to one's health."

Li Shimin asked, "May I ask, Master, is there a solution?"

"There are solutions, of course."

Xuanwu said, "Holding a Water and Land Dharma Assembly and inviting all the highly respected monks in Chang'an to the palace to exorcise evil spirits can dispel the malevolent energy gathered there!"

"A Water and Land Dharma Assembly?"

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows. "How many people are needed, and how long will it take?"

Xuanwu said, "The more people, the better; the optimal time is seventy-nine days."

Li Shimin nodded, "Alright, I'll make the arrangements right away."

Soon after, Li Shimin posted another notice, inviting all the eminent monks in Chang'an to gather at the palace for a Water and Land Dharma Assembly.

Soon, with preparations made by Xuanwu and many eminent monks, the Water and Land Dharma Assembly began.

Although Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were spirits, they had been nurtured by Buddhist supernatural powers for so many years, so they were naturally neither dull nor stupid.

He left the palace a day before the Water and Land Assembly began.

What's the point of a water and land ceremony? They're not even in the palace, so it's all for nothing.

They'll go after the Water and Land Dharma Assembly is over; they won't believe it.

Once the Water and Land Dharma Assembly begins, it cannot be interrupted. Throughout the entire palace, one can hear the faint chanting of Buddhist hymns, which never ceases to resonate in the ears and mind!

On the first day of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, Li Shimin had a rare good night's sleep and felt incredibly refreshed!

Li Shimin was overjoyed. This grand water and land ceremony was indeed effective. Perhaps it was just as Master Xuanwu had said. As long as it was performed for forty-nine days, the evil aura would dissipate completely, and there would be no more vengeful spirits seeking death.

In the blink of an eye, forty-nine days have passed, and the Water and Land Dharma Assembly is about to end.

During this period, Li Shimin slept very well and had no more nightmares.

Li Shimin approached Master Xuanwu and inquired, "The forty-nine-day Water and Land Ritual has concluded. I wonder if the evil aura in the palace has completely dissipated?"

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment, allow me to take another look."

Xuanwu walked around the Taiji Hall again, and sure enough, the thick malevolent aura from before had completely dissipated and was nowhere to be seen.

"Your Majesty, the evil aura in the Taiji Hall has completely dissipated. Your Majesty can now reside here with peace of mind."

After seeing Xuanwu off, Li Shimin finally felt relieved and continued reviewing memorials.

Soon, night fell. After washing up with the help of palace servants, Li Shimin lay down on the dragon bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.

After Li Shimin fell asleep, he immediately became dazed and confused, and unknowingly found himself in an extremely dark and cold place.

Li Shimin looked at the scene before him and suddenly shivered!

This... isn't this Xuanwu Gate?

Why would he dream of Xuanwu Gate?

Just as Li Shimin was thinking, suddenly, the dark and cold Xuanwu Gate burst open!

Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, clad in armor and wielding weapons, exuding a chilling aura, burst forth from Xuanwu Gate.

Behind them, countless bizarre and grotesque demons, with blue faces and fangs, exuding a sinister aura, emerged from hell.

A slight smile played on Li Jiancheng's pale lips. "Second brother, we meet again. I've missed you so much!"

"Big Brother."

Li Shimin was terrified, and his nightmare resurfaced once again!

"Second brother, how cruel you are! We are brothers born of the same mother, yet you show no brotherly affection whatsoever, and cruelly kill us. Second brother, come join us!"

Feeling deeply wronged by his elder and third brothers' criticism, Li Shimin shouted loudly.

"Eldest brother, third brother, if you hadn't pressed me so relentlessly back then, how could the Xuanwu Gate Incident have happened? I tolerated you at every turn, but you disregarded brotherhood first!"

"Enough with the nonsense, prepare to die!" Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji's faces were frighteningly cold. They opened their blood-red mouths and pounced on Li Shimin, tearing off chunks of flesh.

The excruciating pain overwhelmed Li Shimin. He suddenly opened his eyes and found himself still on the dragon bed, surrounded by silence. But Li Shimin's heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

Eldest brother and third brother never intended to let him go!

The water and land assembly had absolutely no effect!

At this moment, Empress Zhangsun heard Li Shimin's heavy breathing and rushed over to comfort him, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Did you have another nightmare?"

"Guanyinbi, I dreamt of my eldest brother again. My third brother and the others came to take my life. So much time has passed since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, but they have never thought of letting me go."

Li Shimin's face was full of pain.

Empress Zhangsun gently stroked Li Shimin's shoulder and said softly, "Chang'an is so big, with countless talented people and extraordinary individuals. There will always be a way. Before, countless renowned doctors couldn't cure my illness, but in the end, wasn't it Jiang Liuer who cured me?"

Li Shimin nodded slightly, then suddenly raised his head as if he had thought of something!

Empress Zhangsun's expression also changed slightly!

"Jiang Liuer!"

Yes, and there's Jiang Liuer too. The Water and Land Dharma Assembly was ineffective, but there might be a way to deal with Jiang Liuer!

(End of this chapter)