It turns out I'm a second-generation demon.

Chapter 74 Symposium (Part Two) - Please Subscribe

The Buddha's head holds special significance in Buddhist scriptures; it signifies severing emotional ties, receiving the light of wisdom, and being the root of all dharma. Touching a monk's head is like touching a dragon's scales.

Abstinence's face was flushed with anger, his white robe billowed, and his entire body was poised to unleash its power.

The Buddha head murmured, "Amitabha, be patient."

Abstaining from lust was like a sudden enlightenment; he suppressed his anger, clasped his hands together, and said, "Tolerance leads to Buddhahood. Worldly people are not worth arguing with. Master's words are very true. Your cultivation is still shallow."

Buddha Head shook his head: "What I mean is, if you can't beat someone, just obediently endure it and don't go looking for trouble."

After thinking it over, Jiese was completely convinced: "Master sees through the essence of things and returns to simplicity. Your disciple admires you."

After saying that, he stood quietly by the door, silently reciting Buddhist scriptures, remaining unmoved as his great-grandmother tapped his head.

My great-grandmother was a stubborn girl; she hummed a tune while tapping her head.

"Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this." The abstainer silently recited the Buddhist scripture, then continued, "Shariputra, all dharmas are empty in nature, neither arising nor ceasing, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, my head hurts, my head hurts, thinking about shoveling poop..."

Abstaining from pornography: (#?Д?)

The yakuza successor's mentality gradually exploded...

The Buddha said in a deep voice, "Is that child alright?"

The great-grandmother stopped, finally letting the young monk go, and instead tapped the old monk's bald head: "Fine, very fine, it's just that you died once. My head hurts, my head hurts, thinking about scooping poop gives me a headache..."

Abstinence from pornography: "..."

Thank you, Master, for sacrificing your own flesh to feed the eagle, for your selflessness.

The entire Lianghua Temple was familiar with the Peerless Battle Soul. Li Wuxiang was once the Buddha's beloved disciple and had cultivated in Lianghua Temple for several years. Even though the Battle Soul fought fiercely with the Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall, destroying the pagoda, smashing the plaque, and trampling the Buddha statue, he ultimately did not harm any monks.

When Jie Se entered the temple, Zhan Hun had already sealed his spiritual pearl, and Li Wuxiang had died and his cultivation had vanished. The stories about that senior brother and Zhan Hun were all told by the senior brothers and uncles in the temple. If this scene were filmed and spread, it would definitely cause a huge uproar.

"The old wooden fish is still the hardest." The great-grandmother lost interest in tapping the old bald monk's head and stopped, sighing, "Although I have lived longer than you, I do not see the ways of the world as clearly as you do. There is one thing I cannot understand."

"What troubles you, benefactor?"

The great-grandmother clicked her tongue: "My grandson is different from all the previous generations. The previous generations were at least bound by clan ties, but he doesn't respect his ancestors at all; he only obeys when threatened. He's also more quick-witted than the others, always having some daring ideas. Tell me, is this era good or bad?"

This is similar to how people in the past would instinctively kneel and kowtow upon hearing the word "emperor," while people today would pick their noses and give you a sideways look upon hearing it.

Times are always changing, but in this generation, the times have changed too drastically. The ancestral halo is no longer effective, and unlike Li Wuxiang, who was raised from childhood (the great-grandmother always believed that she raised Li Wuxiang), the great-grandmother could not find a trace of ancestral authority in this great-grandson.

The Buddha said calmly, "This humble monk only knows that when the people are well-fed and clothed, the times are good. As for your troubles regarding that child, I have a few humble opinions, which I will share with you."

"explain."

"Bad luck is not society's fault; if children are not well-educated, what does it have to do with the times?"

"That makes a lot of sense." Grandma curled her lips.

She gazed at the Buddha statue in silence for a moment, then whispered, "Human desires are the source of both prosperity and destruction. The workings of Heaven are the cause of the cycle of life and death for all beings, and the very cause of the world's demise."

......

Outside the main hall, dark clouds hung heavy over everyone's heads. The weather was muggy, and the forecast predicted rain this afternoon. Judging from the weather, a heavy rain was just around the corner.

The square, paved with blue bricks, was furnished with tables and chairs, offering tea, snacks, fruit, and chilled beer. Two bright red banners hung on either side of the venue.

Left side: A warm welcome to the peerless warrior for your guidance.

Right side: All bloodlines under heaven are one family, living in harmony and loving each other.

The symposium was initiated by Wushuang Zhanhun, held at Lianghua Temple, and hosted by Baoze Group.

The inviters included members of the seven major families, prominent figures from the Taoist and Buddhist associations, and independent cultivators with good reputations and clean records.

As the host, Wang Lao Er kept maneuvering between the various factions, cracking jokes and making light of the situation. The meeting was supposed to start, but Wushuang Zhanhun was nowhere to be seen, which drew complaints from some people in the room, who looked dissatisfied.

If anyone was unhappy, Wang Lao Er would step in to appease them with kind words.

Wang Lao Er was thin and dark-skinned, and looked like a middle-aged farmer who worked hard in the fields. He was a lay disciple of Lianghua Temple. His master was the eighteenth disciple of Buddha, and his Dharma name was Puguang. He was well-versed in the Diamond Sutra and the Immovable King Mudra. In his youth, he went down the mountain to gain experience and made a great name for himself. His nickname was: Mighty Vajra.

Wang Lao Er surpassed his master, not only inheriting his true teachings but also mastering several hard martial arts techniques. His smooth and shrewd personality was the complete opposite of his skills. The Thunder and Lightning Dharma King appointed him to preside over this symposium not only because of his relationship with Lianghua Temple but also because his shrewd and adaptable nature made him perfect for acting as a mediator. At the very least, if any trouble did arise, he was like a rock in a latrine, extremely resilient.

"If the symposium isn't going to happen, then we're leaving."

"Are you putting on airs? Since you need our help, don't put on airs."

"Hmph, it's only been born, and it's already thinking about ruling the world."

Discontented voices could be heard from all over the venue, and Wang Lao Er was struggling to cope.

"Bang!"

The doors of the main hall opened, and the great-grandmother, dressed in hot pants and a t-shirt, stepped across the high threshold and appeared before everyone.

The noisy din suddenly stopped, and the scene fell silent.

Twenty years later, the female warrior spirit of the Li family reappeared in the world. The young people who saw her back then have all become middle-aged men. And the middle-aged men have graying temples. The old woman has become even more frail.

She is still in her prime.

The Buddha head followed closely behind, draped in a red robe with gold trim, its face ancient and simple.

The Buddha statue and the Great-Grandmother sat on two large chairs below the plaque of "Mahavira Hall," while dozens of "leader" level figures sat in the square below the steps. Almost none of the younger generation were present; they were all people who could make the final decision in their respective factions, or at the very least, big shots who held the second or third position.

Once everyone was present, Old Wang Er picked up the microphone on the table and coughed, "Welcome everyone to this symposium. As we all know, the Pantheon is about to be born. We are fortunate because this is our opportunity. We are also unfortunate because this is our disaster."

"Every time the Pantheon emerges, it inevitably stirs up a bloodbath. The wounds left on our Bloodline Realm by the demonic Daoist Wangchen eighty years ago are still fresh in our minds, and the turmoil caused by Li Wuxiang twenty years ago is still fresh in our minds." Wang Lao Er said with heartache, "Let's not talk about the demonic Daoist Wangchen, that wretched bastard who brought chaos to the world. But the fall of Li Wuxiang is truly a pity, and those who died at his hands, weren't they all your clansmen?"

"The treasure belongs to the virtuous, and Li Wuxiang is not destined for that; he's just courting death. If he hands over the treasure, no one will make things difficult for him," someone said.

His words drew agreement from the crowd.

The speaker was dressed in a black martial arts uniform, with gray hair and fierce eyes. He was the younger brother of the Wu family patriarch, ranked 60th on the bloodline list, and was known as Wu Qilin, the Soul-Slaying Blade.

"Old Wu is right," Wang Lao Er said in his usual slick manner, "but the treasure was obtained by the person himself through his own abilities, so why should it be handed over to you?"

Wu Qilin snorted coldly: "We also got it by our own ability."

"That's not a very respectable way to put it," Wang Lao Er said with a pained expression, holding up the microphone. "Times have changed. These days, fighting and killing are no longer fashionable. In order to prevent the tragedy from happening again and to maintain social peace, the company and Senior Zhan Hun have decided to share the Pantheon with everyone."

A commotion erupted below, with people whispering amongst themselves.

How do I share it?

"I don't even know where the Pantheon is."

Wang Lao Er smiled slightly: "As you expected, Wushuang Zhanhun knows where the Pantheon is. Once the Pantheon opens, she will take you in. But she has one condition."

Several monks distributed a contract to the bigwigs present.

Wang Lao Er laughed and said, "It's very simple. As long as you, representing your respective families, sign here, guaranteeing that you will absolutely not harm the Li family heir, nor will you monitor or target him before the Pantheon opens, we're all working for the Pantheon. Since the War Soul is willing to reveal the location of the Pantheon, there's no need to keep targeting the Li family heir. Doesn't that make sense?"

The heads of various families, the leaders of Buddhist and Taoist sects, and the abbots were reviewing the contracts.

The great-grandmother, who was clearly the initiator, was leaning back in her armchair with her legs crossed, texting her great-grandson.

Great-grandmother: "Have you taken on any assignments lately? Who's protecting you at the company now?"

Love what you do: "I haven't been on missions lately, I've been working hard at the company. I'm amazing, Grandma! As soon as you left, I defeated a foreigner and solved a big problem for the company."

They chatted using WeChat.

Love what you do: "Where did Great-Grandma go?"

Great-grandmother: "It's not good that the heads of the various families are always thinking about you when we have meetings with them."

Love what you do: "What is Grandma planning to do?"

Great-grandmother: "I told them that if the Pantheon opens, I will take them there, but before it opens, I cannot hurt you."

Love what you do: "My milk, my own milk. [Touching]"

Li Xianyu sent over a picture; it was a high-tech gaming helmet.

Do what you love and love what you do: "I'm being filial to my great-grandmother. Also, I have a small question. Didn't you say you didn't know where the Pantheon is?"

Grandma's lips curled into a smile as she typed rapidly: "[Patting head emoji] Good boy, I haven't spoiled you for nothing. Besides, I definitely don't know the address of the Pantheon."

Love what you do: "Suddenly I have a bad feeling. [Emoji of someone so scared they dropped their dried fish]"

Great-Grandma: "You believe it, but they won't. Rather than letting them keep bothering you, it's better to keep these guys calm for now. You can take this opportunity to develop your strength discreetly."

"Do what you love, love what you do": That makes a lot of sense, but my dad was so awesome back then, and he still died a horrible death, didn't he?

Great-Grandma: "Fool, your father's situation is different. He really did enter the Pantheon and obtain the treasure, just like the Golden Lion King who took the Dragon-Slaying Saber. As long as you don't reveal anything, they'll want to know the location of the Pantheon, so they won't kill you. This is called a delaying tactic."

Whether she knew the location of the Pantheon or not was irrelevant; what mattered was that everyone assumed she did. So she had to know, even if she didn't. Rather than subjecting her fledgling great-grandson to oppression and threats, it was better to bluff and buy him some breathing room.

No one knows when the Pantheon will open; it could be a few months, a year, or even longer. This period of time is enough for Li Xianyu to grow.

The heads of the various families quickly reviewed the contracts.

"If there are no problems, sign your name and stamp it. This symposium will then be successfully concluded," Wang Lao Er said loudly.

"The Chen family disagrees," the head of the Chen family said calmly.

"The Shen family disagrees."

"The Wang family disagrees."

......

"Huang Yunguan disagrees."

"The Crouching Ox Temple disagrees."

Apart from the abbots of Buddhist temples, the heads of the seven major families, and the leaders of Taoist sects, less than one-tenth of them agreed.

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(End of this chapter)