Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

Chapter 89 Where is the Buddha?

The Imperial Palace in the capital.

Xie Cangrong sat by the stove, quietly watching the snow falling outside the window.

"Um?"

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked in another direction, his gaze seemingly piercing through the swirling snowflakes to reveal an even more distant place.

With a casual flick of his wrist, "Whoosh!"

A flash of light, and a four-inch square jade seal fell into the palm of the hand.

The national treasures sealed in the Tongtian Pavilion seemed to have broken through space and flew directly here.

An invisible force spread out in concentric circles, giving this simple man-made object a sense of grandeur and sublimity.

The national treasure fell into his palm, and Xie Cangrong gently stroked it.

His eyes gradually became unfocused.

In an instant, his will soared and expanded infinitely, enveloping the vast land and rivers of the Great Xia Dynasty!

"Another sect?"

In this state, Xie Cangrong was like someone opening a mini-map in a game, surveying the entire Great Xia Dynasty. And within this map, the outsider stood out like an enemy marker.

Xie Cangrong was able to find him and even assess his strength.

Only one person came this time, not by flying boat, and his aura was different from that of Xiao Zheng and his group, so they probably did not come from the same source.

Is it the sect that owns the Azure Sky Jewelry?

According to Shi Yu and Chu Xiangyun, it is called the Formless Zen School.

He wielded the iron fist of imperialism on the two previous visits from Taihua.

But this time, he didn't.

Two deterrents are enough.

Every bit of national strength expended is a drain, and someone has to bear the cost. Both experiments resulted in domestic earthquakes.

The fate of the nation is intertwined with that of millions of people. Even if the people are unaware of it, he cannot squander resources. He cannot use a cannon to kill a mosquito. When you are in charge, you must know that firewood, rice, oil, and salt are precious, and this energy must be used wisely.

Anyway, these people aren't here for war, so there's no large-scale invasion.

My target is him; I'll run into him sooner or later.

He can still monitor the other party's movements at any time, so there's no need to waste resources on deterrence and attacks from afar.

If you get closer before attacking, you'll consume less energy.

With his mind elsewhere, he gently rubbed his temples; overseeing the entire situation was quite mentally taxing.

He leaned back in his chair, gently stroking the jade seal.

After the successful experiment with the imperial seal, he tried to use the same method to create other national treasures.

Unfortunately, they all failed.

A sword won't do, a dragon robe won't do, a throne won't do either —

I don't know if there's some kind of cooldown period, or if it requires some special condition or opportunity, or if it needs the Great Xia to become even stronger, or if it needs something that all the people believe in—

Amidst a mix of speculations, he turned his gaze back to the window, where the Crimson Dragon Banner fluttered in the wind amidst the flying snow.

Is the person who came this time a Buddhist practitioner?

Why weren't the cultivators who came this time attacked?

Is that power controlled by His Majesty?

Is flying prohibited?

Or is it that the people who came this time are more powerful?

A flurry of thoughts raced through Song Zhaowen's mind as he calmly examined the newcomer.

A monk, with bright, sparkling eyes, a high, straight nose, thin, pale lips, and fair skin, his earlobes nearly reaching his shoulders, possessed androgynous features. Even in his monastic robes and shaved head, his handsome face was undeniable. In this cold winter, he wore only a robe adorned with a jeweled gold ring, his body half-naked, walking barefoot, yet he was enveloped in an auspicious light, melting the ice and snow wherever he went, bringing a touch of warmth.

With a casual wave of his hand, the lotus leaf in the sea shrank instantly, fell into his palm, and disappeared, along with the shimmering Azure Pearl in the sky.

His compassionate gaze fell upon Song Zhaowen, and he bowed with one hand, his smile as warm as the spring sun: "This humble monk, Cihui, greets the benefactor."

Song Zhaowen was filled with many thoughts.

Cihui also had some doubts in her heart.

He arrived here smoothly without encountering any obstacles.

There was indeed some suppression upon arriving in this world, but it did not possess the formidable power that the Zen master had described, enough to damage the Azure Sky Pearl.

The Zen master would not lie to him.

Is it a no-fly zone? Or is it a ban on large groups of people coming together?

Is that immense force a natural law or something controlled by humans?

but----

In any case, this is a good thing!

Perhaps this place is more accepting of meditation?

Xie Cangrong was unaware that his stingy and meticulous calculations had caused a misunderstanding between the two of them.

Even though the other party was unfathomable, with a solemn and dignified appearance, and seemed to possess great supernatural powers like a god, Song Zhaowen remained as steady as a pine tree, letting the imposing aura pass by him. He cupped his hands in a respectful bow, neither humble nor arrogant: "I am Song Zhaowen, a subject of the Great Xia Dynasty, greetings to the Master."

After the two exchanged greetings, Song Zhaowen asked, "Master, what brings you to my Great Xia after traveling so far across the ocean?"

"Amitabha!"

Cihui bowed with one hand: "Does the benefactor know why the Great Xia Dynasty has been embroiled in conflict for a century, resulting in widespread suffering and starvation?"

Song Zhaowen frowned: "What do you mean by that, Master?"

No one wants to mention the chaotic period three years ago, when the country was shattered and the people suffered.

Cihui's few words and questions were light and casual.

Behind this lies a heavy, cruel reality: countless families withered, countless crying children, countless desperate wives and daughters—the blood and tears of hundreds of millions of lives lost.

Anyone who has experienced it doesn't even want to think about it.

However, this foreign monk is now using it as a starting point to achieve his own goals.

Even a gentleman like Song Zhaowen couldn't help but frown, his voice growing colder.

Cihui merely raised her head slightly, gazing at the vast land of Daxia, her voice filled with sorrow: "Daxia has always lived in a desolate place, unaware of great wisdom. People are all greedy, lustful, and fond of trouble, constantly fighting and strife. Hundreds of millions are drowning in the sea of ​​suffering, their sins difficult to eradicate, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation, unable to be reborn. Evil spirits remain in the human world, committing countless sins."

He pointed to the sky and said softly, "Do you see, benefactor, that evil spirits roam this world, and all things suffer?"

With a gentle wave of his robe, a biting wind swept through, mingling with cries of agony, and ghostly figures seemed to linger in the sky. He clasped his hands together, his eyes filled with compassion: "Excellent—excellent—the Buddha is merciful, desiring to impart the scriptures and spread the Buddha's teachings in Great Xia, to liberate all beings from suffering, to awaken to wisdom, and to cross over with the Buddha to the bliss of wisdom—"

Before he could finish speaking, Song Zhaowen interrupted him: "Master, you are mistaken!"

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, so bright and piercing that they seemed to pierce through Cihui's protective aura and reveal its inner workings.

"Our country has indeed experienced nearly a century of chaos, but now our Great Xia has been unified. Our wise ruler is of great talent and strategy, the government is enlightened, the country is thriving and prosperous, the people live in peace and contentment, and families are reunited. In such a glorious and peaceful era, the country is at peace and the people are safe. May I ask, Master, where do evil spirits come from? Where do sins come from?"

His voice was aggressive, completely disregarding Cihui's unfathomable aura, and he continued to press, "May I ask, Master, since you enlightened beings of great wisdom know that our dynasty is drowning in a sea of ​​suffering, where was Buddha when I, a widow and orphan, cried out in the chaos? Where was Buddha when my country collapsed and corpses littered the fields? How come, now that we ourselves have crawled out of the chaos and vanquished the demons of war, you tell me that all beings suffer, and you have come to save them?"

As Song Zhaowen spoke, his voice grew more and more spirited. He spoke eloquently about all the sorrows of the world. A gentle breeze blew, and his momentum rose with each word. His soul was revealed in each question, his righteousness pure and untainted.

The person opposite, Cihui, was also radiant with auspicious light, possessing perfect virtue and appearing righteous and kind.

However, the "positive" aspects of the two sides are different.

Compassion and wisdom are like the rainbow bridge on the horizon, dreamlike and beautiful, but also ethereal and distant, hard to touch.

But Song Zhaowen was very realistic. He was right in front of him, like a pine tree in winter, standing tall and majestic, quietly standing there.

An invisible force swept over her, suppressing Cihui's state of mind.

He looked down at the person in front of him. This minister of the Great Xia was just a scholar, without any magic power or even martial arts, but somehow he exuded a strong aura that made him impossible to underestimate.

To lay a hand on him—who knows what the consequences would be.

Cihui did not answer Song Zhaowen's question, but lowered her eyes, radiating a gentle power, and spoke in a beautiful voice: "Benefactor, your kindness and compassion are rare. Would you like to take refuge in the Buddha? If you diligently cultivate yourself, you will surely be able to overcome all suffering and return to the Pure Land."

Upon hearing Cihui's words, Song Zhaowen swayed, as if he were seeing a paradise on earth, with countless magnificent temples bathed in auspicious light, making him involuntarily want to immerse himself in it and fall asleep there.

However, Song Zhaowen gently shook his head, and in an instant, his soaring spirit dissipated all the beauty, and the illusion vanished like smoke.

He also has his own pursuits, and he is unwilling to indulge in them.

Song Zhaowen raised an eyebrow: "Master, what are you talking about?"

"It's so good——It's so good————"

Cihui clasped her hands together, shook her head, and sighed softly.

He bypassed Song Zhaowen, intending to head towards the interior of the Great Xia.

His magical power circulated, and the ground beneath his feet shrank by a few inches, only to suddenly expand again after he took a step.

Although he was walking slowly, it seemed as if he could cover a hundred feet in an instant.

only----

"Snapped!"

The next instant, a hand grabbed his wrist: "Master, where are you going?!"

With sharp eyes, Song Zhaowen broke through the protective aura of the man's body with one hand and grabbed him, thus stopping his magic.

"Um?"

Ci Hui frowned and scrutinized Song Zhaowen once more.

From the other person's perspective, a vast and powerful aura was impacting his mind wave after wave. What kind of power was this?

"drive!"

"drive!"

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came.

A troop of soldiers in black armor arrived, their chilling aura overwhelming them, causing Cihui's brows to furrow even deeper.

Is this the prohibition of military force that the Zen master spoke of?

"Why are you blocking my way, benefactor?"

Ci Hui stopped, and Song Zhaowen naturally stopped as well.

With a calm expression, he said to the monk, "Master, our Great Xia has a rule that all people from overseas must be escorted to the capital by our imperial guards."

rule----

Daxia is a very wonderful place.

The laws and regulations are extremely strict, and there are even special monks who can use these rules to cast spells.

Ci Hui glanced at the solemn army, then at Song Zhaowen before him, lowered his eyes slightly, clasped his hands together, and revealed a peaceful smile: "Since that's the case, this humble monk will abide by the rules of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, Lord Song has sent a message."

Xu Jun strode into Zhaolin Pavilion and presented the letter with both hands.

As Xie Cangrong had predicted, Song Zhaowen sent a message in less than half a day.

As time went by, and through Gong Qiao's inventions and improvements, the Daxia Ling Shi version of the telegraph system had matured.

Even Liu Bingxuan, who had traveled tens of thousands of miles across the ocean, could contact the Great Xia, let alone other places within the Great Xia territory.

Although transportation capacity has not made much progress, communication transmission in the Great Xia Dynasty has achieved leapfrog development. Centered on the capital city of Lieyang, communication has gradually spread outwards, and efficient information transmission has greatly strengthened the central government's control over local areas.

Song Zhaowen was not far from the capital, so he was able to enjoy the benefits of upgraded intelligence.

After Ci Hui left, he ordered someone to send a message to Xie Cangrong.

"Truly a Buddhist practitioner."

Xie Cangrong took the letter, casually sat down in the chair, and quietly read it, his index finger lightly tapping the sandalwood handle. His expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Xu Jun, however, felt an inexplicable pressure. The sound of the wooden chair handle being tapped repeatedly seemed to be hitting his heart.

Spending a lot of time with this monarch, one can occasionally figure out a bit of his intentions.

For example, right now, he's not in a good mood.

"The Zen practitioners aren't exactly honest!"

Having taken two blows from the iron fist of imperialism, the people of Taihua Sect knew better than to back down.

However, this new bald monk seems to be a bit ignorant of the rules.

The letter contained very little information, and I finished reading it quickly.

Xie Cangrong squinted and chuckled, then suddenly turned to him and asked, "Xu Jun, do you think I've been too easy to talk to? To the point that people think I'm weak and easily bullied?"

Xu Jun: ————

After a moment of silence, Xu Jun replied, "Your Majesty, no one in the Great Xia would have such thoughts."

Xie Cangrong chuckled softly upon hearing this: "Hehe~ Yes—after all, they aren't from our Great Xia!"

"This place is a sea of ​​right and wrong, a battlefield of words, a desolate land of strife and bloodshed. Very well—if he truly has compassion, persuades people to do good, and can lead the hundreds of millions of people of our Great Xia to escape the sea of ​​suffering, shield them from conflict, and enjoy lasting peace, then why not let him take my throne?"

"Does he even have that ability?!"

"That sounds nice! You're even better at labeling people than I am, making us feel utterly worthless—"

Song Zhaowen disliked mentioning the chaotic past. Xie Cangrong didn't like it either; behind the glory and victory lay countless bones.

The world is at peace, the new dynasty is thriving, and we should look forward to the future.

He himself is an ambitious man, certainly not a virtuous one, but there are many respectable people on this land, many sincere and loyal individuals, and many people who care deeply about their country and its people.

These overseas Buddhist practitioners are now jumping out and standing in high and mighty positions. What right do they have to shamelessly comment on their past, blame the evil of human nature, and talk about transmitting scriptures and spreading Buddhism?

How ridiculous!

He snorted coldly, casually tossed the letter aside, and it fluttered into the brazier, where it was instantly ignited by the charcoal, bursting into bright flames before turning to ashes.

He coldly stared at the ashes in the stove, his voice low and deep: "Since there is so much killing and evil here, and endless fighting, then I, who will win in the end, will be the devil among devils, the most wicked of evils, who has fought my way out of this desperate place."

"I want to see how this merciful Buddha will save this wicked demon who crawled out of this chaotic world!"

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