The Minister of Personnel's hand, which was stroking his beard, suddenly froze. In his daze, he pulled out a tuft of beard, causing him to grimace in pain. He dared not cry out and endured the pain to send a message to an official in Present Village:
"Quickly investigate a Buddhist cultivator named Pudu."
After giving the order, the Minister of Personnel stuffed the pulled-out beard into his pocket, his brows furrowed, and his mood plummeted.
The title of Buddha, in the eyes of the world, was just a vague concept of a great Zen master, likely nonexistent, merely the imagination of those bald monks.
But unexpectedly, the Buddha truly existed and had created an organization called Sacred Mountain!
"Pudu Buddha… How powerful must he be?" the Minister of Personnel thought to himself.
Dongfang Liuli was equally astonished and asked, "Is there really a Buddha in this world?"
Meng Qingzhou nodded slightly, his tone tinged with emotion, "Indeed, the Ten Thousand Mile Buddhist Kingdom, with countless monks meditating and chanting, all the temples enshrine golden statues of Pudu Buddha. The vast incense offerings all converge on Pudu alone, gathering the power of all people to create a deity."
Hearing this, Dongfang Liuli unconsciously clenched her fists, forcing a smile, and said, "It is said that Prime Minister Jiang Canghai led an army to secretly infiltrate the Buddhist Kingdom, still searching for an opportunity to investigate the mastermind behind it. Do you think… he will be discovered?"
Meng Qingzhou raised his eyebrows, quite surprised.
Wasn't it supposed to be a straightforward declaration of war? How did it turn into a covert infiltration?
But he didn't think much of it; it could be a slip of the tongue or a misunderstanding.
"The Western Buddhist Kingdom is extremely mysterious. Pudu Buddha reached the half-step Sky-Reaching Realm hundreds of years ago. Prime Minister Jiang Canghai's plan to use the Map of Mountains and Rivers to hide an army of millions is unrealistic. In my opinion…"
Meng Qingzhou shook his head and sighed lightly, "The Prime Minister was probably detected by Pudu Buddha the moment he entered the Buddhist Kingdom."
"Never underestimate Pudu Buddha. He is not just any half-step Sky-Reaching cultivator; he has already half-stepped into the Sky-Reaching Realm…"
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Liuli's eyes narrowed.
For a cultivator to break through to the Sky-Reaching Realm, it requires not only cultivation insights but also the complete integration of the principles of their cultivation into themselves.
Before the Sky-Reaching Realm, cultivation is in resonance with the heavens and earth, and the principles do not fully belong to oneself.
But a Sky-Reaching Realm cultivator integrates the principles into their body!
They become the Dao, they become the heavens and earth! Even if a Sky-Reaching Realm cultivator dies, a principle will remain forever.
Pudu Buddha has already completed most of the prerequisites, fully integrating the Dao into himself. He only needs to refine and perfect the cosmic space within his body to naturally break through to the Sky-Reaching Realm.
"A pseudo Sky-Reaching…" Dongfang Liuli took a deep breath, and three words floated in her mind.
The Western Buddhist Kingdom actually harbors a pseudo Sky-Reaching cultivator. No wonder Meng Qingzhou said Pudu has already achieved the golden body of a Buddha.
In ancient times, a Buddha once showed compassion for all beings and left a saying: Zen cultivators, upon reaching the Sky-Reaching Realm, can be called Buddha.
Meng Qingzhou continued, "Moreover, the Sacred Mountain created by Pudu Buddha is not to be underestimated. Sacred Mountain is divided into eighteen Arhats and four Great Bodhisattvas, all at the Morning Glow Realm."
"So, even if Pudu Buddha hasn't discovered the Prime Minister leading the army, the eighteen Arhats and four Great Bodhisattvas, who constantly monitor the Ten Thousand Mile Buddhist Kingdom, will eventually notice something."
Dongfang Liuli said, "Then the Prime Minister… isn't he in danger? Should we inform the Empress?"
Meng Qingzhou shook his head with a smile, stroking her smooth black hair, and said, "No need. Jiang Canghai, with his Mountain Moving Realm cultivation, holds the title of pillar of the state due to his profound knowledge and extraordinary strategy."
"Everyone has their own fate. The gratitude I owe to Great Jin has been repaid. How far they can go in the future has nothing to do with us. I don't want to see you put yourself in danger for Great Jin."
This time, the sudden visit from the Ji family of Sky State sounded an alarm for Meng Qingzhou.
Previously, he thought that with the death of the overpowered protagonist, there would be no threat, and he had fewer concerns, acting slightly beyond the standard.
If he were alone, he wouldn't need to worry much, but now it's different; he has a family behind him.
He has the naive maid Su Qingqiu, Wu Die, a virtuous wife, Big Yellow, and the enthusiastic villagers. These people are all very ordinary and cannot withstand the great storms of the cultivation world.
Getting involved in the plot is like putting a chain of cause and effect on oneself. When the time comes to face the consequences, it might implicate those around him, which would be irresponsible to his loved ones.
Therefore, Meng Qingzhou resolutely decided not to participate, not even a little, and to be a complete bystander.
Hearing this, Dongfang Liuli didn't know whether to laugh or cry, unsure if she should be happy or cry her heart out.
"Yes, I know you mean well…" Dongfang Liuli said awkwardly.
Being cared for by the one she loves is heartwarming, but isn't he being too indifferent to the Empress?
"How do you know these secrets of the Buddhist Kingdom? Many heroes throughout history have tried to uncover them without success. Did you see them through the Dao of Space-Time?" Dongfang Liuli looked at Meng Qingzhou like a curious baby, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Meng Qingzhou felt embarrassed, unconsciously touching his nose, and vaguely said, "Uh… sort of."
Dongfang Liuli was silently amazed.
People's understanding of the Dao of Space-Time is too narrow, far underestimating the horror of this forbidden Dao.
At the early stage of the Morning Glow Realm, one can already glimpse ancient secrets and foresee the future…
What if one breaks through to the Sky-Reaching Realm? Wouldn't that defy the heavens!
"Sometimes, I really feel that our first meeting on that rainy night three years ago was like a dream." Dongfang Liuli suddenly became emotional, hugging Meng Qingzhou's neck, sitting on his lap, her cheek resting on his shoulder, and whispered.
Dongfang Liuli secretly pointed a finger towards a side room behind them.
The three people who were peeping suddenly felt as if their eyes were covered with a black cloth, unable to see anything, and even their hearing was blocked.
"Well!" The Minister of Personnel was completely helpless, "It must be time for the Empress and the Empress' Husband to have some private conversation."
"Wow, is this what it feels like to be the Empress' Husband? It's different from what I imagined. The blind don't see darkness but an empty void without any color. It's suffocating." Su Qingqiu transmitted to Wu Die, feeling both curious and a bit disappointed.
So, the Empress' Husband has to endure this torment every day.
Wu Die sighed, "Perhaps this is the price of cultivating a forbidden Dao. There is a balance in the world; with gain comes loss, and that is the Dao."
…
"A dream? What do you mean?" Meng Qingzhou asked, puzzled.
Dongfang Liuli hugged him tighter, as if afraid he would suddenly disappear, and murmured, "A dream, so illusory and fleeting. I always feel incredibly fortunate, as if all my luck in this lifetime was used up on that day."
Meng Qingzhou laughed and said, "Oh, a lifetime of luck? That's quite a price."
"But it's worth it." Dongfang Liuli closed her eyes and said gently.
…
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