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

Chapter 91 Slaying the Buddha

The monk walked barefoot through the ice and snow, and a warm and peaceful energy emanated from him, seemingly calming the hearts of those around him.

Wherever a person of great supernatural power goes, they exude an aura that draws attention. People unconsciously look up and see auspicious light emanating from them, and the sound of chanting filling the air. A holy monk carrying a sun disc on his back, whose every gesture is full of divine charm, slowly enters their field of vision.

She was not adorned with glittering gold ornaments, nor did she carry any extraordinary magical treasures; she simply stood there, yet possessed an extraordinary aura. Cihui's appearance in this manner was even more sacred and magnificent than when she crossed the sea to meet Song Zhaowen.

Lu Junfeng, who was communicating with officials, paused abruptly, looked up, and frowned slightly in the direction from which the Buddhist chant was coming.

"Venerable Cihui?"

What brings you here?

The Wuxiang Zen sect actually sent this person?

What do they want to do?

In the horse farm, Xie Cangrong also glanced at the high-profile monk with interest: "He certainly put on quite a show."

Chu Xiangyun glanced at it only once before looking away, pursing her lips and showing no reverence for the powerful figure. She simply turned to Xie Cangrong and said, "Your Majesty, are you coming or not?"

Xie Cangrong simply smiled and nodded: "Come on!"

This was an entertainment event, mainly for fun, not for entertaining anyone. Xie Cangrong simply left Ci Hui aside and focused on playing polo with the pretty girl.

"start!"

With the waiter's shout, a new round of the competition began, and it did not stop because of the appearance of a monk.

Despite not receiving a formal meeting with Xie Cangrong, Ci Hui remained calm and observed the entire event with a serene expression. Like everyone else, her gaze was focused on the monarch galloping across the riding arena.

Hearing information is never as real as experiencing it firsthand. After arriving in the Great Xia, he was indeed surprised by the strange and bizarre things that happened in the officials, the capital, and the army.

According to the Zen master, this ruler either possesses a great treasure or has some special abilities and a strong aura that can overshadow a seventh-realm expert like Xiao Zheng.

However, as of now, he hasn't sensed any overwhelming aura from the other party.

The biggest obstacle to the return of the Great Xia to the heart lies with this person. As long as Xie Cangrong is converted, the Great Xia will be converted.

He lowered his eyes, chanted Buddhist scriptures, and gently made a mudra with his palm.

Time flowed slowly, and Xie Cangrong naturally wouldn't stay on horseback forever. When someone scored a goal, Xie Cangrong and his companion went off the field to rest.

"This humble monk, Cihui, greets Your Majesty."

Inside the tent, Xie Cangrong sat imposingly in the main seat, looking at the person in front of him with great interest.

The surrounding civil and military officials also cast probing glances at him, their expressions varying—some nervous, some fawning.

"So it was the compassionate and wise monk!"

Xie Cangrong looked at him directly, showing neither great reverence nor rudeness. He laughed heartily and said, "It's just in time for our dynasty's New Year, Holy Monk, your arrival is truly timely."

"Holy Monk, can you see the prosperity of our Great Xia capital, and the grandeur of our Xinfeng Festival?"

Cihui clasped her hands together and smiled, saying, "The Great Xia is prosperous and its people are at peace. Your Majesty is a man of great talent and wisdom, and a sage of virtue. You are truly a blessing to the world and all living beings."

Xie Cangrong then asked, "Does your place have the same magnificent scenery as our Great Xia?"

Cihui replied, "My White Elephant Sacred Continent is a blissful land that reveres Buddhism. Auspicious light shines everywhere, everyone is inclined to goodness, there is no disaster or strife, no disease or evil, and we all strive together for the Great Way to Ultimate Bliss."

Xie Cangrong narrowed his eyes, a hint of interest in his expression: "You mean, all the people there are the same?"

Cihui shook her head: "No, no!"

"People are all different, but the common path of worshipping Buddhism and doing good is what we all follow."

"Really?"

Xie Cangrong did not continue to nitpick, but simply asked, "What brings the Holy Monk to our Great Xia?"

"This humble monk, following the Zen Master's instructions, crossed the sea to deliver the relics of the Sangha, to convey to Your Majesty the kind intentions of our Wuxiang Sangha in forming an alliance."

He stretched out his hand, and a round, orange-yellow stone lay quietly in his palm, radiating a soft glow and looking quite extraordinary.

"Haha~ I thank the holy monk for his kindness!"

Xie Cangrong accepted all offers without hesitation, casually waving his hand to signal the waiter to accept them.

Cihui lowered his eyes, seemingly with some regret: "I had a good deed to offer Your Majesty, which would surely grant you eternal bliss and free you from the entanglements of the mortal world. However, in this humble monk's view, Great Xia is not destined for good deeds, so I will abandon this matter."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Xie Cangrong raised an eyebrow, but waved his hand magnanimously: "Since we are not destined to be together, I will not force it. We should be content with the status quo."

Cihui pressed her palms together and chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha!"

"Your Majesty's magnanimity is admirable."

Xie Cangrong didn't respond, and Ci Hui didn't press the issue either.

However, he did not resort to the same excuse he had given to Song Zhaowen.

The brief conversation ended.

Cihui presented the gift to express the Zen sect's desire for friendship.

Xie Cangrong also accepted the gift.

There was no argument or conflict between the two sides.

It seems to be much better than the previous meeting with the Taihua Sect.

After resting for a while, Xie Cangrong looked towards the horse racing track, where Gong Qiao was already waiting for him. He smiled at Ci Hui and said, "I'm going to race now. Would the Holy Monk like to join in?"

Cihui clasped her hands together, her smile serene: "Your Majesty, please proceed."

"good!"

Xie Cangrong waved his hand and mounted his horse.

Ci Hui stood quietly in place, watching Xie Cangrong's back, a warm light flowing in her eyes.

"drive!"

"drive!"

Horses galloped across the paddock, and Xie Cangrong swung his polo mallet, enjoying the game.

However, at that moment, his eyes sharpened.

Suddenly, he pulled on the reins.

"Neigh~"

The horse suddenly reared up, raised its head, and let out a long neigh.

It's completely out of control.

"His Majesty!!!"

The eyes of the civil and military officials watching the game suddenly narrowed, and they exclaimed in surprise.

Gong Qiao, who was catching the ball not far away, was shocked and stood there staring blankly at Xie Cangrong, her eyes full of disbelief.

The out-of-control horse reared up, throwing Xie Cangrong to the ground before its massive body crushed him. Xie Cangrong could clearly feel the sound of his body being crushed.

In that instant, the world changed dramatically.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, everything faded to gray, and all people and all living beings vanished.

Xie Cangrong got up from the ground and quietly looked at the world before him.

"Xie Cangrong, your lifespan has come to an end."

Suddenly, the heavens and earth trembled, and a series of extremely majestic and vast sounds entered his ears, as if a judgment had been handed down upon him.

A blood-red path stretched outwards from his feet, leading into the distance with no end in sight. Countless withered arms sprang up from both sides of the road, waving wildly, creating a terrifying and chilling sight.

Death is inherently frightening. Throughout history, regardless of the civilization, people have indulged in countless imaginings about what happens after death. Where do people go after they die? Where does their soul go? Is there a chance of resurrection? Will the things we did in life bring retribution after death?

Buddhism, rooted in the cycle of birth and death, has established its own doctrines.

Xie Cangrong stood quietly in place, expressionless, without making any movement, and showed no sign of fear.

Is it heavy?

The voice reached my ears and asked again.

Xie Cangrong paused, feeling as if a mountain of immense weight was pressing down on his shoulders.

He looked up at the sky—

"Tick-tock—"

"Tick-tock—"

Blood rained down, and before anyone knew it, chunks of flesh and blood gathered on top of their heads, merging and reforming into hideous heads and terrifying faces. They had blue faces and fangs, gaping mouths dripping with saliva, a sight that chilled the soul.

And all of these things were carried on his shoulders, all staring at him with chilling gazes.

"Give me back my life!"

"Give me back my life—"

"I'm innocent!"

"Why did you kill me?!"

"Your Majesty, why?"

Countless violent roars and wailing pleas echoed in his ears.

"In this land of suffering, millions of lives are drowning in misery, their souls wandering aimlessly, and vengeful spirits roaming freely. Xie Cangrong, all this is due to your murderous and wicked sins. You have committed many killings and indulged in many desires, your sins are grave, and you shall be condemned to eternal damnation, never to be reincarnated."

The majestic voice echoed in his ears, exuding the utmost reverence. He was powerless to resist. The countless evil spirits pressed down on Xie Cangrong's shoulders, gnawing at his flesh from behind, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

The withered arms that sprouted from all around him swung wildly, slowly approaching him, grabbing his legs and tearing at them. Resentful cries echoed incessantly in his ears, pulling him into the abyss.

Xie Cangrong remained silent throughout.

Time flowed slowly, and I don't know how much time had passed.

It seems that everything is over, and nothing will change.

He suddenly raised his head, a wild smile spreading across his calm face: "That's it?"

The next instant, the gray world was shattered like glass.

Cihui stood there, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Is this what you wanted?"

"You want me to beg you?"

"You want me to beg you to extend my life?"

"You want me to lead the entire nation in Buddhist practice to deliver these wronged souls from their sins?"

A snicker came from behind him, and he looked up.

The monarch who had fallen from his horse and been crushed to death was sitting comfortably in his chair, propping his cheek with one hand and watching him with great interest.

Everything, everything, was nothing more than a fleeting dream, a mere illusion, during a brief respite.

But—who is it that is indulging in this illusion?

"Amitabha!"

Cihui clasped her hands together and looked at Xie Cangrong with a peaceful expression: "Your Majesty, you are attached to appearances."

Even after his plan was exposed, he remained unfazed.

"Hehe~ I will not argue with you about good and evil, right and wrong, nor will I argue with you about those messy Buddhist doctrines."

You can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep.

They are good at defining good and evil, right and wrong. They wholeheartedly acknowledge their own authority, and there's no need to waste time on useless empty talk.

Song Zhaowen has already asked the questions he needed to ask, but what was the result? They won't respond to the questions, they won't explain, and they'll only circumvent the questions they can't answer, they'll only define them, and they'll only keep asking.

This is the secret of those in positions of power.

Since they are cultivating their minds, they are already firm enough. There is no need to argue. Xie Cangrong cannot argue with them, and they cannot persuade Xie Cangrong either.

Those principles are meaningless.

He was unwilling to discuss these useless things with Cihui.

All he cares about is profit, the situation, and reality.

Xie Cangrong chuckled and stood up from his chair.

Now he has an excuse.

In that instant, his aura suddenly changed, as if a volcano that had been accumulating for a long time had suddenly erupted.

The immense power of the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers converged upon him, welcoming the monarch's return. His figure seemed to expand by tens of thousands of feet, displaying utmost majesty and power, surpassing any dharma or demonic form in grandeur. He looked down upon all living beings from his lofty position, making people dare not look him directly in the eye.

Ci Hui frowned slightly.

In that instant, all the great magical power he had painstakingly cultivated and the omnipotent divine abilities seemed to vanish in an instant. He was locked onto by Xie Cangrong and could not even escape.

Xie Cangrong is the true master here. He can control everything. In the face of the great power of heaven and earth, Cihui, a person of great supernatural power, is as insignificant as an ant.

Xie Cangrong slowly walked towards him.

With each step he took, he felt the opponent's power grow stronger, like a mountain of immense weight crushing his spine bit by bit.

He clasped his hands together and stood still, the earth and stones beneath his feet crumbling.

When his own magical powers and supernatural abilities are suppressed, he can do nothing.

Now he understands just how powerful the force is, even for cultivators like Xiao Zheng.

"Excellent, Your Majesty! The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore."

His face remained calm, showing no fear, but filled with compassion as he looked steadily into Xie Cangrong's eyes and continued to advise him.

Unfortunately, Xie Cangrong wouldn't argue with him; he had a lot of reasons to give, but he couldn't articulate them, and he couldn't delay any longer.

After Xie Cangrong took three steps, the bright, auspicious sun behind him vanished. His body finally could not withstand the endless pressure, his knees shattered, and he collapsed to the ground.

Even the radiant and majestic holy monk who made his entrance must now kneel and look up at the king as he slowly approaches.

Xie Cangrong lowered his gaze to him and asked calmly, "I've heard that cultivators have twelve realms. I wonder which realm you've reached?"

"Eight Realms————"

Is the state of mind attained through Zen meditation different from that of Taoist practice?

Xie Cangrong knew that inviting Cihui to this grand event would be a disappointment, but knowing it didn't mean he wouldn't be bothered by it. After asking half of his questions, he waved his hand, his interest waning: "Never mind—I don't want to know your messy names anymore."

He suddenly looked up and shouted in another direction, "Qi Xiu!"

In the ensuing silence, a stern-faced minister stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty!"

Xie Cangrong only asked, "Tell me!"

"According to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, what crime should be punished for bewitching the Holy One?"

Qi Xiu stood tall and spoke in a clear voice: "Execute him immediately, and exterminate his entire family."

Xie Cangrong looked down at Ci Hui's bald head and chuckled softly, murmuring, "Execute him immediately, execute him immediately—"

"Your head contains many things I want to know, and many things that are beneficial to Great Xia."

"but----"

"I no longer wish to contend with you."

"I've had enough of all this red tape!"

"Do you think I possessed this empire merely by talking?"

Facing Cihui's calm and compassionate eyes, he flicked his hand, "Whoosh!"

One of the guards drew his sword from his waist and it fell into Xie Cangrong's palm.

"Your Majesty, you have fallen into demonic possession—"

Even at the very end, Cihui remained compassionate and continued to persuade Xie Cangrong.

The next instant, "Pfft!"

A flash of sword light, and blood splattered.

A bald head flew into the sky.

Seeing the blood splattered everywhere, Xie Cangrong, holding his longsword, sneered: "Look, even the holy monk's blood is red."

He was always so kind and calculating, so much so that people almost forgot he had crawled out of a pile of corpses in a chaotic world.

A benevolent ruler cannot conquer the world.

In the silence, the blood-stained longsword was sheathed.

Unseen by the naked eye, something seemed to fly out from Ci Hui's body. Xie Cangrong raised his hand and grabbed it.

He examined the object in his hand with great interest: "What is this called? Divine Sense? Divine Soul? Or Primordial Spirit?"

The other person struggled in his grasp, trying to escape, but to no avail.

"I die, yet I live on; my soul returns to paradise. Your Majesty lives, yet you die; you are drowning in the sea of ​​suffering."

"The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore—"

Ci Hui's voice still echoed in Xie Cangrong's ears.

Even in this predicament, he did not beg for mercy, nor was he afraid or panicked.

The next instant, under the oppressive force, everything vanished.

The first cultivator perished in Great Xia.

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