“The Empress’ Husband has left,” Qin Fenghuo said.
A group of villagers from Present Village watched as a black-robed youth, accompanied by two women, walked out of the Imperial Capital and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The court officials had anticipated this and were waiting at the city gate, watching the Empress’ Husband step into the river of time and space.
“The Empress’ Husband ventures alone to the Buddhist Kingdom, risking his life. We must not slack off.”
“Let’s go back!”
“With the fortune of Great Jin today and the inexhaustible resources at our disposal, we must strive to add ten more Morning Glows by the time the Empress’ Husband successfully rescues the Prime Minister!”
Qin Fenghuo turned to look at the cultivators at the peak of the Moon Shine Realm, just a step away from Morning Glow, and said:
“The national treasury’s resources are at your disposal! As long as you can break through to Morning Glow, even if it means wasting a hundred or a thousand times the resources, it won’t be too much!”
These people were the last remaining reserves of the Great Jin Dynasty. Despite the heavy casualties in the battle with the World Sect Alliance, the Guardian Beast and the Empress bore most of the pressure, allowing twenty Moon Shine cultivators to survive.
On the day the Empress’ Husband left the capital.
All twenty late-stage and peak Moon Shine cultivators of Great Jin announced they were entering closed-door cultivation, refusing all visitors.
The national treasury was opened, and all resources were poured into these cultivators.
The entire nation’s strength was exhausted to support a hundred Moon Shine cultivators breaking through to Morning Glow!
…
…
Langya Kingdom.
Bordering the far west, beyond the boundary marker lay a vast red desert, while behind it was fertile black soil, lush mountains, and clear waters.
Langya Kingdom was a small border country, its highest combat strength being the Langya King, who was at the peak of the Moon Shine Realm.
At this moment.
Langya Capital.
A group of three, including an ordinary-looking man carrying a black sword, was touring the city’s sights.
“Master, every household in Langya Kingdom worships the Buddha. There are even some bald monks on the streets, which you never see in Great Jin,” Su Qingqiu said, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.
“What bald monks? They are Zen cultivators!” Wu Die corrected.
The man carrying the black sword was none other than Meng Qingzhou, who had changed his appearance.
There was no choice. Ever since the battle with the World Sect Alliance, the appearance of Sword Saint Meng Qin had spread throughout the Wilderness. Everyone knew him.
If he didn’t change his appearance, the news of the Sword Saint visiting the west would spread across the Wilderness before he even left Great Jin’s borders.
Meng Qingzhou was worried that the Western Buddhist Kingdom would become desperate, so he disguised himself.
As for Su Qingqiu and Wu Die, the former was only somewhat famous in the Imperial Capital of Great Jin, while the latter’s true identity was known only to Meng Qingzhou and Dongfang Liuli after Zhao Gou’s family was wiped out. She had never shown her face in public.
“Buddhist Kingdom cultivators rely on incense offerings, drawing on the wishes of all beings for their cultivation. Since the Buddhist Kingdom has completely controlled the far west, it’s natural for them to want to infiltrate the outside world,” Meng Qingzhou said calmly.
On both sides of the street.
Occasionally, a monk in a robe, twirling prayer beads, would pass by. Whenever they did, the crowd would part, and people would respectfully call out, “Master.”
Meng Qingzhou even heard from Wu Die that a great demon at the Sea Covering Realm was being led on a leash by a small monk at the Cloud Ascension Realm, under the pretext of taming its evil nature.
The intelligent great demon at the Sea Covering Realm was docile and respectful, not daring to show any aggression, its beastly eyes full of fear.
“The status of Buddhist Kingdom cultivators is truly revered,” Wu Die marveled.
Not only that.
Even the flag of Langya Kingdom bore the Zen swastika symbol.
It was rumored that the Langya King ate vegetarian meals and recited Buddhist scriptures daily, enacting laws that declared Buddhist Kingdom cultivators as the most honored guests of Langya Kingdom. The Buddha was the god of Langya Kingdom! Anyone who offended a Zen cultivator would be sentenced to death!
Meng Qingzhou’s expression grew colder as he listened along the way.
The Buddhist Kingdom was indeed a cancer. On the surface, they preached detachment from the world, but in reality, they bound all beings with rules, enslaving them as tools to cultivate without worry, pursuing higher realms.
Meng Qingzhou found an inn, booked three rooms, and settled down to rest.
At lunchtime.
The three of them sat around a table in the inn, eating while eavesdropping on the conversations of the other patrons.
A burly man with a red face from drinking, slurred, “Heh, let me tell you, my second daughter was chosen by a master last month. He said she had great potential and took her to the Buddhist Kingdom to study the Mahayana Buddhism! She might become a great Zen cultivator in the future!”
The burly man spoke with pride, his words filled with hope and anticipation.
The people at the table were full of envy.
One of them couldn’t help but exclaim:
“Old Huang, you’re really lucky! Not only were your wife and eldest daughter taken to the Buddhist Kingdom to study Buddhism, but now even your second daughter has such an opportunity. In the future, you’ll be the family of three great Buddhist scholars. How honorable!”
Old Huang smiled modestly, waving his hand, “It’s uncertain. The master might find them dull and send them back home.”
They laughed and chatted.
Suddenly, someone stumbled in, shouting:
“Old Huang! Old Huang! Something terrible has happened!”
“Your second daughter is in trouble!”
Hearing this, Old Huang sobered up instantly, his face turning pale.
Gradually, the news spread.
It was said that Old Huang’s second daughter had died, her body discovered by a passerby in the forest.
Her corpse was naked, her death terrifying, her skin clinging to her bones as if she had been drained by some evil method.
…
…
Meng Qingzhou tapped his finger on the table, saying softly, “Wu Die, go investigate this matter.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wu Die stood up and left.
In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Wu Die returned, her face grim, her voice cold as she spoke softly:
“There’s indeed something fishy!”
“The girl was drained of her essence, her body covered in wounds, her Sea of Consciousness completely shattered. She must have endured inhumane torture for days before being devoured…”
“I found traces of Buddhist techniques on her wounds…”
Meng Qingzhou sighed, “As expected.”
At this point, he had a vague impression of the Western Buddhist Kingdom.
Evil Buddhas and wicked monks!
True Zen cultivators would never carve out territories and dominate the world!
They were not Buddhas, but demons!
If they were true Buddhas, practicing genuine Mahayana Buddhism, Meng Qingzhou might have felt respect. But now…
All he felt was boundless killing intent!
Wu Die continued:
“Also, on my way back, I heard that the Langya King has captured an angelic girl to present to the Buddhist Kingdom.”
Hearing this, Meng Qingzhou clenched his fists, “Did you find out the name of this angelic girl?”
“I did.”
“Tell me!”
“Lian Yue…”
Bang!!!
Meng Qingzhou’s aura leaked slightly, and in an instant, the entire inn shattered, the ground cracking with fissures.
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