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More importantly, the martial arts flourishing in Xiaoshan, which has been cultivated with decades of hard work, has been deeply ingrained in his bones. How could others possibly learn it?

Putting aside everything else, simply raising the status of martial arts cultivators, allowing them to stand on equal footing with magic cultivators in their localities, hits the nail on the head for other forces.

The core of those forces has long been controlled by magic cultivators; how could they tolerate martial arts climbing over them?

Moreover, while the flourishing of martial arts and the emergence of thousands of powerful martial artists can certainly enhance strength, it also harbors enormous hidden dangers.

Not everyone has the strength of Xiao Shan, who can subdue all the unruly martial arts masters with a single slap.

To put it bluntly, the situation in Xiaoshan and the Northwest is already firmly established. Even if someone wanted to follow suit, it would be too late.

Those who learn from me will live, those who resemble me will die!

The Northwest is just that domineering and unsolvable these days!

Anyone who isn't blind can see the trends in the world.

If this were a mortal world without supernatural powers, Xiao Shan replacing the Great Chu royal family would have been a foregone conclusion long ago.

But here, immortals and gods appear in secret, and all forces still have a final means to turn the tide.

The simplest yet most ruthless method was to use underhanded tactics, directly eliminating Xiaoshan, the backbone of the organization!

Once he dies, the situation in the Northwest will naturally collapse; it's that simple.

This is also the reason why Xiaoshan has been frequently targeted recently.

But he wasn't in a hurry at all.

With the situation firmly in our grasp, it's those clowns who should be anxious.

This is true.

Xiao Shan remained calm and composed, even after losing twelve subordinate gods, he didn't change his expression and continued doing what he was doing without revealing the slightest flaw.

This really frustrated those who were plotting against him in the shadows.

The reason they resort to underhanded tactics is because they simply cannot win in the open and might even get themselves into trouble.

After all, not everyone is like Xiao Shan, a bachelor with no ties.

Seeing that Xiaoshan was unyielding, these people decided to go all out and simply jumped out to draw fire, displaying a rather shameless attitude of "If you don't come first, then I'll force you to take action."

"My lord, the Great Chu National Preceptor, the Holy Monk Manjushri, has sent a challenge!"

That day, the bodyguard Xiao Yao ran in, holding a challenge letter that was shrouded in a faint Buddhist light.

The Buddhist sentiments flowing through that challenge letter concealed a fierce, Vajra-like pressure, which was tantamount to a direct provocation to a powerhouse of Xiao Shan's caliber!

"Manjushri Bodhisattva?" Xiao Shan picked up the invitation card that shimmered with Buddhist light, casually tossed it onto the table, and a playful smile curled at the corner of his lips. "This old bald monk, still has the leisure to play tricks on me?"

Chapter 916, The Seven Star Sect: A Fear of Unintended Consequences! (Please Subscribe!)

By taking over the territory of the White Water Demon, the Northwest Magic Alliance got along quite well with the Seven Stars Sect and also learned a lot about the Seven Stars Sect's inner workings.

Take Yan Nanxing for example; he was an anomaly among the core disciples of the Seven Star Sect.

The other core disciples are all holed up at headquarters cultivating.

After all, the headquarters has a large spirit-gathering array, and the concentration of spiritual energy is ten times that of the outside, making it a treasure land for cultivation.

Even the elders who were sent to guard the branch were old guys who had no hope of cultivation.

Core disciples like Yan Nanxing, who are in their prime, should be the focus of the sect's cultivation.

Last time, when they rescued people in the Netherworld, the Seven Star Sect mobilized experts from several nearby states, as well as core disciples who happened to be traveling there.

But Yan Nanxing has a stronger sense of chivalry than anyone else, and his temper is as fiery as a firecracker. He loves to meddle in other people's business and fight for justice all day long.

He even said he couldn't stand the rules and regulations of headquarters and would rather be a free-spirited wanderer, but in the end he went to Baiyun Temple to become the temple's keeper.

This matter caused the higher-ups of the Seven Stars Sect a huge headache, but they could only let it go as it was, as long as he still considered himself a member of the Seven Stars Sect.

When Xiao Shan first heard the news, he just smiled and didn't say much.

The Seven Stars Sect is happy to indulge them, and Yan Nanxing is happy to cause trouble, so why should others bother with such trivial matters?

"Prime Minister Turtle, go and send a message to the Seven Star Sect." Xiao Shan summoned his subordinate Prime Minister Turtle and instructed, "Tell them that I know the details of that Manjushri Saint Monk very well. Ask them what they want to do with such a demon."

Gui Lian hurriedly accepted the order, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

He left the Water Mansion directly and headed straight for the White Mountain Range. He then traveled through the Underworld Passage to the Netherworld Ghost City, where he, as the special envoy of the Blackwater River God, invited the Seven Star Sect's representative stationed in the Netherworld.

“Logically, I shouldn’t be speaking out of turn.” Seeing the Taoist in charge hesitate, the Turtle Xiang paused and then said, “But what the River God means is that the Seven Star Sect, as the leader of the Great Chu Daoist sect, should take responsibility for such a monstrous talent as Manjushri. If the River God personally takes action or sends his elite troops to eliminate that fellow, the Seven Star Sect’s reputation will be in jeopardy.”

That hits the nail on the head.

The head Taoist priest, stared at by the tortoise-like figure's piercing little eyes, sighed helplessly and said with a bitter face, "The tortoise-like figure is right. The sect has long known about that Manjushri monk's background and originally intended to eliminate him to rid the people of this scourge, but..."

At this point, he changed the subject, his face showing great difficulty.

"Could it be that the Holy Monk Manjushri has some powerful backer?" Turtle Xiang's mind raced. "According to the information we've gathered, that guy is only at the Refinement stage. Does the Seven Star Sect really fear the power behind him?"

The Taoist priest in charge glanced at the tortoise-like figure, secretly thinking: You old tortoise who just entered the Nascent Soul stage, you still have the nerve to say you're "just at the Void Refining stage"? Why don't you try it yourself?

But he dared not say that out loud, because the Blackwater River God behind the Turtle Form was a real expert at the Integration Stage or above!

The fact that he could kill a ghost king like the White Water Demon shows that, regardless of the methods he used, his combat strength was definitely sufficient.

Not to mention that the other party is the King of the Northwest. Right now, the Great Chu Empire is teetering on the brink of collapse, and the Northwest forces are the most likely to take its place.

I've heard that the Northwest Army has no fewer than fifty martial arts experts at the Refinement of Void stage. Just thinking about that kind of strength makes my scalp tingle.

The Taoist priest in charge pondered for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "Why don't you take a look at the Dharma name 'Manjushri Holy Monk'? Don't you have any thoughts about it?"

Turtle-faced's eyes lit up: "You mean... Buddhism?"

“Exactly!” The Taoist priest in charge nodded and said, “Without the approval of the Buddhist sect of Great Chu, which cultivator would dare to use the title ‘Manjushri Holy Monk’? Wouldn’t that be courting death?”

The tortoise instantly understood.

He dares to use the title of Manjushri Bodhisattva. If this holy monk Manjushri didn't have the support of Buddhism, he wouldn't dare to do it even if you gave him the guts!

Without the approval of Buddhism, who would dare to harbor such thoughts, whether human, demon, monster, or ghost?

If Manjushri Bodhisattva's Buddha light truly shines upon all the heavens, wouldn't he have some thunderous methods?

"Hmph, but we can't let such a monster run rampant!" The Turtle Prime Minister knew the truth perfectly well, but he still refused to admit it. He rolled his eyes and curled his lips in annoyance, "Do you think the Seven Star Sect is afraid of us?"

"Afraid? Of course not!" The head of the Seven Stars Sect quickly denied, then rubbed his hands with a bitter face, "It's just that the Holy Monk Manjushri is the National Preceptor, deeply trusted by the Great Chu royal family, and is even in cahoots with His Majesty... The sect is hesitant to act rashly, as we are afraid of harming him!"

Ha, in the end, they still have a lot of concerns and never really intended to take action to deal with that so-called national advisor!

The Turtle Prime Minister, too lazy to waste any more words, went straight to the point: "My River God has ordered that we inquire what your sect's intentions are. If you are unwilling to take action, then the River God will dispatch another elite force to accept the Grand Preceptor's challenge!"

"This..." The Taoist priest in charge twitched his cheeks, extremely embarrassed, but how could he dare to pat his chest and make a guarantee?

He could only smile wryly and say, "Don't worry, Prime Minister, I will send a message back to the sect immediately. Whatever decision the sect makes, I will inform your family as soon as possible!"

"That's good." The tortoise nodded and transformed into a beam of water that shot into the sky.

Asking those few questions was already fulfilling my duty, and it also gave the Seven Star Sect some face. As for what they ultimately thought, that was none of my business.

Just as he flew out of the underworld passage and slowly made his way to the Water Palace, a faint scent of sandalwood quietly filled the air.

"Amitabha, the elder invites you to come and have a chat."

Several figures draped in kasaya robes suddenly appeared, and the aura of the leading monk was as terrifying as an abyss.

Almost the instant the words fell, a golden light enveloped the tortoise-like creature like a cage, instantly locking it firmly in place.

"Do you know the consequences of acting this way?" The Turtle Minister was startled at first, but then forced himself to remain calm and stared at the group, saying coldly, "I am the chief Turtle Minister under the Blackwater River God!"

"You audacious scoundrels, how dare you run rampant in the Baishan Mountains! Surrender at once, or we will annihilate you both, body and soul!"

Just then, several streaks of light tore through the clouds, and terrifying auras of powerful figures spread out like a tsunami.

One of the figures roared, the sound reverberating through the valley, clearly audible for miles around.

A cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage raised his hand and waved, unleashing a whirlwind that forcefully separated the tortoise-like figure and the Buddhist cultivator into two separate places.

Brush brush!

Several agile figures descended like eagles swooping down on rabbits, their martial arts aura solidified into a tangible form. Before the Buddhist cultivators could react, they were already firmly positioned between the tortoise-like figure and their opponent.

"Amitabha, are you all going to make enemies of our Buddhist sect?" Upon seeing this, several Buddhist cultivators suddenly radiated a surge of Buddhist light.

The two men appeared as wrathful Vajra figures, while the others rose into the air, their prayer beads flying as they chanted captivating Zen mantras.

Chapter 917, The Buddhist Sect is Causing Trouble! (Please Subscribe!)

"So what if they're enemies of Buddhism? Daring to mess with my River God's people in the Northwest region, they're asking for death!"

The two martial arts experts blocking the turtle's body roared and threw punches in unison.

The force of the punch tore through the air, bypassed the raging tornado, and engaged in battle with the Buddhist monk who had manifested the Vajra Dharma Body.

The spellcasters in the air were equally formidable, their various spells instantly intertwining and colliding.

In an instant, this nameless hilltop was completely transformed into a battlefield.

Lightning and thunder danced wildly like dragons and snakes, howling winds whipped up flying rocks and broken trees, sword energy crisscrossed and almost tore the sky apart, and the condensed power of fists and palms carried the might to shatter mountains and split rocks.

The Buddhist side also unleashed their supernatural powers, with golden palms descending from the sky, the phantoms of the Eighteen Arhats appearing and disappearing, and the twelve-foot Vajra's punches flying like the wind, displaying astonishing defense.

In just a few breaths, several surrounding hills were completely flattened.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, the earth trembled violently, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.

Those Buddhist monks were ruthless characters; even knowing they were in an area controlled by the Northwest Army, they still fought fiercely and were not at a disadvantage in the slightest.

Judging from their attitude, they didn't take the Northwest forces seriously at all!

"Fellow practitioners of the Northwest! I am Turtle Minister, under the command of the River God of the Blackwater River!" Taking advantage of the opportunity, Turtle Minister broke free from his restraints and retreated to a safe area, shouting at the top of his lungs, "These bald monks want to kidnap me, they must be after the River God! They might even be connected to the mastermind behind the previous assassination attempt on the River God!"

"That bald thief! How dare he scheme against my master!"

These words ignited the fury of the Northwest cultivators and martial arts experts who were already fighting fiercely, causing their attacks to become even more ferocious.

They've come to bully us right on our doorstep. If we hold back now, how will we ever gain respect from the adults?

Just then, a deafening sound of footsteps approached from afar, and an earth-shaking military might stirred up clouds of dust.

Tens of thousands of Northwest soldiers clad in black armor surged in like a tide. Their concentrated killing intent and military might were enough to make any cultivator with a weak will lose their composure on the spot!

"go!"

Seeing that the situation was not good, the Buddhist monks dared not continue the fight.

Suddenly, a burst of Buddhist light forced the opponent back, and they transformed into several streaks of light, fleeing in a sorry state and disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

……

In the main hall of the Blackwater River Water Palace, Xiao Shan sat on the divine throne, quietly listening to the turtle minister's report.

"So, the Buddhist sect is determined to make trouble for me?" After the tortoise minister finished speaking, he lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, his tone calm but with a hint of coldness, "Aren't they afraid that I will tear down their temple gates?"

The tortoise lowered its head and remained silent. If it could have guessed the Buddhist monks' thoughts, it wouldn't have almost been kidnapped.

"Very well, since the Buddhist sect of Great Chu is not giving me face, I need not be polite either." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Shan's eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Pass on my order to have the Northwest Border Army cooperate in taking down all Buddhist temples within their jurisdiction!"

With a single command, all Buddhist forces within the entire Northwest region were instantly wiped out, completely eradicated, leaving not even a single temple gate behind.

This really stirred up a hornet's nest.

The reaction of the Buddhist sect of Great Chu was astonishingly fast and frighteningly intense.

Countless Buddhist cultivators gathered at the northwest border like a swarm of locusts crossing a river, and more than a hundred skilled warriors blocked the upper and lower reaches of the Blackwater River. Judging from their posture, they actually wanted to rush into the Water Palace along the river!

Xiaoshan, naturally, was equally determined. The spirits of the Blackwater River's water palace poured out, and cultivators from the Northwest Magic Alliance and a vast number of martial arts experts rushed to their aid, laying a tight net along the Blackwater River and engaging in a tense standoff with the Buddhist cultivators.

No one expected that it would be the seemingly weaker Buddhist sect of Great Chu that would break the deadlock first!

Various Buddhist supernatural powers rained down on the Northwest camp, instantly unleashing a boundless energy storm.

The sorcerers, martial arts experts, and water spirits of the Northwest were equally formidable, unleashing a barrage of spells, martial arts techniques, and supernatural powers, engaging the Buddhist cultivators in a fierce battle!

"Amitabha Buddha, King of the Northwest, do you dare to come and pay your respects?"

The Buddhist chants, like the resounding tolling of a bell, carried immense Buddhist power, disregarding spatial distance, and forcefully penetrated Xiao Shan's ears.

Xiao Shan's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he controlled his avatar to leap out of the Blackwater River and look towards the direction from which the sound came.

In just a few flashes, they had traversed a hundred miles and landed in front of a peak in the Baishan Mountains.