The legend begins with becoming a white deer.

"Wanzhen Cang Embankment... Qingliao Embankment Section... Xuanyin Grottoes..."

Someone in the crowd was repeating the place name in a low voice.

Many of the people present had traveled extensively and most had heard of the name "Wanzhen Cangdi".

This is a giant dike built more than 500 years ago by more than 20 countries south of the Yunxi Great Marsh, who conscripted laborers and spent 30 years constructing it along the southern bank of the marsh.

The dike stretches for more than 400 kilometers, like a sleeping dragon lying across the riverbank, blocking the raging floods during the flood season and protecting tens of millions of people along the river.

At the same time, because the dike was too long, it was divided into many sections.

Where the railway line was close to the borders of the various states, it was guarded by soldiers stationed in sections by the respective states along the line, with soldiers patrolling and repairing it year-round.

However, areas like the "Qingliao Embankment Section," which are deep in the wilderness and far from cities, have always been sparsely populated. Except for the annual flood season when nearby countries send people to conduct simple inspections, they are almost never visited on ordinary days.

The fact that the human traffickers established their headquarters here was clearly a well-thought-out decision.

... ... ...

The room was filled with discussion and arguments.

The core of the debate remains the three characters "Wanfo Temple".

"How could Wanfo Temple do such a thing? A reputable sect with hundreds of years of history, would they really stoop to this?"

Some people still refused to believe it, finding it too absurd. The plaques of the Ten Great Sects held immense weight in people's hearts.

"You can't see into someone's heart."

Some people sneered: "Didn't we all hear about what happened to that cloth merchant? Just because someone is associated with one of the Ten Great Sects doesn't mean they're all good people. It's better to believe it than not."

"But......"

"alright."

Su Yanji spoke, her voice not loud, but it steadily drowned out all the discussions.

She glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Whether it was Wanfo Temple or not, words alone are not enough. Once we go to the Xuan Yin Grotto, we will be able to tell at a glance whether it is true or false. If it was indeed Wanfo Temple, then there must be their experts there. At that time, the truth will be exposed on its own."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, agreeing that it made sense.

"President Su, put everything else aside, count me in for this job," the burly bodyguard shouted again.

"This utterly depraved beast deserves to be killed by everyone!"

"Count me in too. I have a dozen or so guys working for me who can lend a hand."

"Although I'm just a businessman and not particularly capable, I've got the manpower, vehicles, and supplies all covered! If this deal falls through, so be it; compared to this, it's nothing!"

In an instant, responses came one after another.

Bodyguards, wandering swordsmen, merchants, and even a few frail ordinary people all blushed and said they wanted to do their part.

Su Yanji felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, saying, "You are all very righteous. I will remember this. There are indeed a few things that require everyone's joint efforts right now. The most urgent task is to settle these rescued children. I know that you may want to rush to the human traffickers' headquarters immediately, but the children here do not have that energy. We cannot abandon them here. We must settle them first. In addition... those stone sculptures of children in the underground palace also need to be buried in a suitable place. All of this requires manpower."

"President Su, don't worry, we'll do whatever you say."

"Alright, let's rest here for the night, and take the children back to town to settle down tomorrow morning, and then set off for the human traffickers' headquarters immediately."

Everyone readily agreed and immediately split up to get to work.

... ... ...

Night was falling.

Although Black Stone Fortress was mostly destroyed by Qi Ji's "Ten Thousand Trees Paying Homage", the outer rows of side rooms were still relatively intact.

The group cleared out some clean rooms, lit a fire for warmth, and set up a stove to cook.

The aroma of the food quickly wafted up.

But the children were all timid and dared not step forward.

When a kind woman brought over a bowl of porridge, they were so frightened that they hid behind Qi Ji, their small bodies shrinking back, their eyes wide with fear, like startled little animals.

The adults watching felt both embarrassed and heartbroken.

Finally, the food was placed on the open ground next to Qi Ji.

The children squatted in a circle around him, holding small, rough porcelain bowls, and shoveling rice into their mouths.

Some of them, while eating, would have tears streaming down their faces and falling into their bowls, but they didn't dare to cry out loud, their shoulders just trembling.

Qi Ji lay quietly on the ground, letting the children lean against him and tug at his mane.

He knew that the fear the children experienced in the Black Stone Palace could not be erased overnight.

All he could do was stay here for the moment, giving them a little bit of security.

As the meal progressed, the younger children couldn't stay awake any longer. They started to fall asleep, their heads nodding and leaning against their friends.

Congratulations on obtaining Legendary Spirit Points! Legendary Spirit Points +2

[Current Legendary Spirit Points: 46/120]

Qi Ji's mind stirred slightly as he glanced at the group of children sleeping peacefully around him. A very faint golden mist emanated from his body, gently enveloping each small figure.

The light was dim, carrying a warm glow, like a sun-dried quilt, allowing the children to sleep more soundly and stay warm.

Qi Ji looked up and gazed at a house not far away where a fire was still burning.

Several figures were reflected in the window.

Su Yanji was still inside interrogating Duan Chi and the vicious monk.

According to her, these two were extremely guilty, and it would be too easy for them to die like this. More importantly, they needed to extract more information from them about the specific location, defenses, mechanisms, and number of people at the Xuan Yin Stone Cave headquarters in order to ensure that the subsequent operation would be foolproof.

The woman in black was also inside.

With her illusion magic, she can pry open many mouths that are otherwise impossible to open.

Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard.

Qi Ji turned his head and saw Xu Ling walking towards him step by step.

Ever since he heard the words "Wanfo Temple", the young monk seemed to have lost his soul.

At this moment, he lowered his head, the hem of his monk's robe was covered in dust, his usually bright eyes were dull and lifeless, his lips were tightly pursed, and his whole body exuded an inescapable sense of dejection.

He walked over to Qi Ji, sat down silently, hugged his knees, and looked at the sleeping children on the ground without saying a word for a long time.

After a long while, he spoke in a low voice, which was a little hoarse, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were talking to Qi Ji.

"Lord Bailu, do you know that I was picked up by my master when I was a child and grew up in Wanfo Temple?"

"My master is an elder of the Yuanjing lineage. He taught me to read scriptures, to practice martial arts, and to be compassionate as a monk. I have always felt that Wanfo Temple is the cleanest place in the world. Even though I know that there is indeed factional infighting in Wanfo Temple, as Benefactor Su said, I still feel that Wanfo Temple is a truly pure Buddhist place."

"I never imagined... that one day, Wanfo Temple would be associated with human traffickers and such heinous things as using children to make medicine."

The spirit raised its head, its eyes red, filled with a sense of bewilderment and helplessness, like a lost child.

"If... if it really was Wanfo Temple that did it, then what about all the Buddhist teachings I've practiced and the principles I believe in?"

Qi Ji looked at him without saying a word.

He could somewhat understand that feeling.

In his past life, there were people in his world who were supposed to protect ordinary people, but instead became protectors of evil forces.

Those who should have been practicing medicine and helping the world were instead blinded by greed and treated human life with contempt.

The feeling of faith collapsing is never pleasant.

He couldn't comfort the spirit by saying "No, it won't," because the truth was still unclear.

Qi Ji couldn't say "even if it is, it doesn't matter," because for a child who grew up in a Buddhist community, this was a devastating event.

After a moment, Qi Ji let out a soft deer cry, his voice gentle yet calm.

What Qi Ji meant was: "If Wanfo Temple really committed these sins, then it should pay the price. As for whether your belief in Buddhism is right or wrong, you have to see for yourself and think for yourself."

Xu Ling lowered his head and remained silent, it was unclear whether he had understood Qi Ji's meaning.

Just then, a small figure timidly walked over.

She was a girl around eleven years old. She wasn't asleep yet. She was tall and thin with big eyes.

She was one of the oldest children in the group.

She walked up to the spirit, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Little Master..."

The spirit looked up and stared at her blankly.

The girl bit her lip and whispered, "I don't know if those bad guys are backed by the Wanfo Temple you mentioned, but... the day I was taken away, they killed my parents and tried to take my brother. An old monk appeared, fought with those bad guys, and even managed to save me and my brother."

Xu Ling's expression froze for a moment: "An old monk?"

"Um."

The girl nodded, her body still trembling slightly as she recalled the scene: "He was wearing a greyish-white monk's robe, not very tall, and thin. He couldn't beat those bad guys and was injured by several of them. In the end, he was captured. And when he was fighting those bad guys, something really shiny came out of his hand..."

"The Primordial Pure Bright Light Seal?!"

The spirit cried out in shock, its voice trembling.

He grabbed the girl's arm, his eagerness bordering on irrationality: "Did that old monk call out that name? Did he?"

The girl was startled by his sudden excitement and nodded subconsciously: "Hmm... I think that's the name... And those bad guys, they seemed to say something like 'Yuan Jing is an old stubborn man, he's asking for death' or something like that..."

The ethereal figure clenched its fists tightly, its eyes no longer showing the bewilderment and dejection of before, but only surging shock and pain.

That old monk.

The old monk who was arrested.

It was his master.

Because currently, within the Yuanjing lineage of Wanfo Temple, only his master is capable of performing the Yuanjing Bright Light Seal...