"Father Emperor."
"Ministers."
"Use every moment to strengthen your power."
"Very soon"
"The Great Qin will no longer be able to remain hidden."
"Perhaps it won't be long before we must directly face the Heavenly Court's crusade."
Zhao Feng swept his gaze across the court, his expression serious as he spoke.
The Heavenly Court had just suffered a major loss.
Zhao Feng could already predict their next moves.
If they couldn't find or kill him directly, they would undoubtedly aim for his weaknesses.
And what was Zhao Feng's weakness?
Naturally, the Heavenly Court would realize it was the mortal realm, it was Great Qin itself.
So next, they would try everything they could to pull the mortal realm into the Earth's Immortal World. Once that happened, the mortal realm would become a legitimate target of the Heavenly Court's assault, and Zhao Feng would no longer be able to stand aside. He would be forced to intervene, no longer a lone wolf, and that made him much easier to deal with.
Zhao Feng had already anticipated this.
"We shall obey Your Highness's decree," the ministers responded solemnly.
"How are the other Human Emperors of our race doing?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile.
Recently, Zhao Feng had either been in seclusion or stirring up trouble in the Heavenly Court.
He hadn't kept up with the Human Emperors' current situation.
"Feng'er," said Ying Zheng, "the Human Emperors are indeed among the greatest powers between Heaven and Earth. The overall rise in our strength is largely thanks to their contributions."
"To help strengthen Great Qin, each month one Human Emperor enters the Heavenly Profound Mirror to give a lecture to our cultivators."
"Their teachings contain profound truths of the laws of Heaven and Earth. Anyone above the Martial Dao Transcendence Realm, be they martial cultivators, immortal cultivators, or Buddhist cultivators, all benefit greatly."
"Not only that Suiren excels at crafting tools, Fuxi is a master of formations, and Shennong is unrivaled in alchemy. Their knowledge has greatly advanced our auxiliary arts."
Ying Zheng laughed with great satisfaction.
"Father Emperor."
"Since the Human Emperors are confined within the Huoyun Cave, you must prepare mortal-world luxuries for them fine wine, delicacies, all sorts of goods. We must not treat them poorly," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Rest assured, Feng'er."
"I've already ordered Chancellor Han to oversee it personally."
"Whatever Great Qin has to offer, we will not forget our Human Emperors," Ying Zheng replied with a laugh.
"Very good."
"The Human Emperors, trapped in the Huoyun Cave, must live rather dull lives. Giving lectures has probably become their form of entertainment."
"But their kindness toward us must never be forgotten."
Zhao Feng's expression turned solemn.
The Human Emperors understood the suffering of the human race. Though powerless to intervene directly, they were unwilling to sit idle. The rise of Great Qin gave them hope for changing the Earth's Immortal World.
And so, they spared no effort in supporting Qin.
As true Human Emperors, they had never failed the human race.
Now, as they lectured and aided in the rise of Great Qin, their kindness was not just something the current Qin should remember but something future generations must forever honor.
"We understand," the ministers said in unison.
"Alright then."
"Father Emperor."
"I shall enter seclusion again."
"This time, I've stirred up quite a storm in the Heavenly Court. Accelerate our expansion, and seize as much land and population as possible."
Zhao Feng gave a final smile before the illusory projection formed by the Heavenly Profound Mirror faded from the great hall.
After Zhao Feng's departure
Ying Zheng looked around at the assembled ministers.
"Ministers."
"You all heard what the Crown Prince said."
"I won't waste words."
"State Commander."
"Your Majesty."
"I command you to accelerate expansion. Before we're fully exposed to the Heavenly Court, claim as much territory as possible."
"I obey."
"Prime Minister."
"Your Majesty."
"You are given full authority over civil development establishing academies, passing on cultivation methods, building teleportation arrays. Our territories in the Earth Immortal World must be connected, and every citizen of Qin must step onto the path of cultivation."
"I obey."
"Chen Ping."
"Reforge all the battle armor and weapons with full effort."
"Chancellor Han."
"Speed up the mining of spirit stones and celestial crystals."
…
Ying Zheng issued decree after decree to the gathered ministers.
Turning his gaze
After handing over his spoils to his father and understanding Qin's current situation, Zhao Feng severed the connection with the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"Qin's development is now stable."
"We've already taken control of nearly 30% of Dongsheng Divine Continent, and the Heavenly Court hasn't paid it any attention."
"That, in itself, is a blessing. After all, in the eyes of the Heavenly Court, Dongsheng Divine Continent is the least likely place for anything unexpected to happen."
Zhao Feng sneered coldly.
Zhao Feng snapped back to reality.
He looked toward his attribute panel.
Host: Zhao Feng
Age: 45
Traits: …
Law-Forged Qi: 453,000 points [Martial Dao Supreme – Fourth Tier]
Power of the Grand Shaman: 999,999 points [A single punch carries the peak power of the Ninth Tier Grand Shaman. The physical body rivals the Grand Shaman peak, enhanced by the power of law.]
Void-Step Divine Ability: 453,000 points [One step covers 40 million li]
Innate Dao Body: 453,000 points [Absolute affinity with Heaven and Earth, capable of deeply comprehending the laws of nature and absorbing spiritual energy]
Divine Sense: 453,000 points [Able to detect 40 million li above ground, and probe into the depths of the Netherworld below]
Indestructible Soul: 453,000 points [Even if the body perishes, the soul can split into thousands and never be extinguished]
Lifespan: Infinite [Each breakthrough summons a tribulation. Survive nine tribulations to attain eternal life]
Merit: 211,302,304 points
Karma: 830,203 points
Personal Space: Unlimited [Cannot store living beings]
Cultivation Method: Ninefold Chaos Scripture [Seventh Cycle]
"This harvest was pretty good. Another 200,000-point boost across all attributes. But... it seems the Power of the Grand Shaman has reached its limit. Could it be that it won't evolve again until the other attributes catch up?"
Zhao Feng was quite satisfied with his current attributes.
Though he was a little surprised when he saw the Grand Shaman stat.
Still
His strength was real and tangible.
"After the Grand Shaman power, the next stage should be the power of the Ancestral Shaman... That would mean my body enters the Quasi-Saint realm."
"No rush."
"As for tribulations, I've concealed my presence with the Wheel of Heavenly Dao. I can even hide from the tribulations of this world. Now that I've reached the Fourth Tier of the Martial Dao Supreme realm, that means I'm due for four waves of lightning tribulations. If I unleash my full power and drop the concealment, I'm sure the lightning will come crashing down."
"My merit has also greatly increased. The karma, compared to merit, is negligible."
"It's true most of the Heavenly Court's gods and immortals today are wrapped in karmic debt. If not for Ling Yun shielding them, prolonging their lifespans, and avoiding tribulations, they'd probably have been struck dead by lightning many times already."
Looking at his panel, Zhao Feng reflected quietly.
This time, all his stats had risen by another 200,000 points.
His power had once again surged.
This trip to the Heavenly Court had been incredibly rewarding.
"Open the treasure chests," Zhao Feng said, unable to contain his anticipation.
"Command received. Opening two Tier-Seven chests."
"Obtained Innate-Grade [Sun True Fire Seed]."
"Obtained Innate-Grade [Moon True Fire Seed]."
The panel displayed the results.
"This..."
Seeing the treasures, Zhao Feng was slightly disappointed, even though they were both innate grades.
Sun True Fire is arguably the most intense flame in the entire primordial world surpassing even Samadhi and Fivefold Divine Flames in ferocity.
Moon True Fire was its counterpart, equal in strength, but representing yin instead of yang.
"Still not bad."
"Once refined, they'll make for powerful offensive techniques." Zhao Feng shrugged and didn't dwell on it.
He directly extracted the two flames.
Sun True Fire. Moon True Fire.
As soon as the two-spirit flames appeared, they were drawn to each other.
But since items from the treasure chests had already had their spiritual imprints erased, they were ownerless making them easy for Zhao Feng to refine.
"Kunlun Mirror."
"Top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasure."
"Said to be in the hands of Queen Mother of the West."
"Should I extract it?"
At that moment
Zhao Feng remembered another treasure he had obtained earlier the Kunlun Mirror.
"Since there are no lingering marks after extraction, keeping the treasure in my hands is the safest bet." After a moment of thought
Zhao Feng immediately extracted the Kunlun Mirror.
A radiant mirror appeared before him, gleaming with celestial brilliance.
Compared to the Spatial Mirror, this one's glow was even more dazzling. If not for the concealment array Zhao Feng had placed around the cave, its brilliance would've lit up the sky. After all, the Kunlun Mirror hadn't yet been refined.
It was a top-tier innate spiritual treasure with thirty-nine layers of seals.
Zhao Feng would need time to fully refine it.
....
Xiniu Hezhou.
Ling Mountain, Great Thunderclap Temple.
"Jin Chanzi, you've been gone for days. Why have you returned without capturing that demonic being?" Duobao Tathagata sat calmly upon his lotus throne, his gaze fixed on Jin Chanzi standing at the center of the great hall.
The countless Buddhas seated to the left and right also turned their eyes toward Jin Chanzi, many of them filled with suspicion and scrutiny.
"That man is not a demon."
"Moreover, his strength is formidable. I was unable to subdue him," Jin Chanzi replied, palms pressed together in a respectful gesture.
Monks do not speak falsehoods.
Jin Chanzi spoke nothing but the truth.
Although he couldn't discern Zhao Feng's exact realm, he knew full well that he couldn't defeat him let alone capture or kill him.
"No signs of battle were seen. Where have you been these past few days?"
"It seems to me that you deliberately let the demon go."
"Indeed."
"Jin Chanzi, with your strength, capturing a Da Luo-level being should be no challenge. You allowed the demon to escape."
"What was your intention?"
The voices of accusation rose from all sides as the Buddhas openly rebuked him.
Even Duobao Tathagata's gaze turned sharp and inquisitive.
"If this is how all you Buddhas choose to view Jin Chanzi if you've already decided my guilt"
"Then I accept it."
"But"
"On this journey, I witnessed a different kind of Buddhism. I saw monks unlike those in this temple."
"In the past, the Saints once said: the purpose of Buddhism is to save all beings, to lead them to the Pure Land, to free them from suffering and sorrow! That is true Dharma, and that is how we bring salvation to all beings."
"But now, here in the Great Thunderclap Temple atop Ling Mountain, surrounded by thousands of Buddhas, I see no such Dharma. I see no Buddhas easing the suffering of the people. Instead, I see Buddhas who treat mortals as ants, who steal their vitality, who slaughter them without remorse."
"Is this still Buddhism?"
"Are these still true Buddhas?"
"Master, I don't understand."
"All these countless Buddhas and monks here in the Great Thunderclap Temple are they truly practicing the Dharma?"
"If Dharma is meant to bring salvation, why do we treat all living beings as worthless? Why do we not offer them salvation? Why do we harm instead of help?"
Jin Chanzi bowed deeply, palms pressed together, his face filled with confusion but also with bold questioning. He was not just questioning his master, Duobao Tathagata, but the entire Buddhist order of the Great Thunderclap Temple.
At these words
Many of the Buddhas' expressions changed instantly.
All turned toward Jin Chanzi with eyes blazing in anger.
"Jin Chanzi."
At that moment, a woman in pure white monk's robes stood atop a lotus platform. She was a Bodhisattva, radiant and holy, looking toward Jin Chanzi with deep concern. She seemed as though she wanted to speak, but as countless hostile gazes fell upon him, she could only call out his name softly.
Beyond that
She didn't know what else to say.
She was none other than Guanzizai Bodhisattva, known for her compassion within the Buddhist order.
If Zhao Feng had seen her, he would have noticed the pure, untainted light of true Buddhist cultivation surrounding her. In this corrupted Thunderclap Temple, she was like a lotus untouched by the muddy waters.
But unlike Jin Chanzi's bluntness, she carried her compassion in quiet strength.
"Jin Chanzi!"
"How dare you!"
"You dare question the Buddha's Dharma?"
"The Dharma we practice today is none other than the Buddha's teachings it is the Mahayana path that has made our sect strong."
"What you speak is heresy! You've fallen into demonic ways!"
"Mortal suffering is their karma! A life of hardship in this world ensures peace and bliss in the next. That is their reward!"
"How dare you distort the Dharma?"
"Jin Chanzi, you have gone astray. Your arrogance knows no bounds!"
"World Honored One!"
"Jin Chanzi must have been bewitched by demons. I beg Master to punish him!"
"Yes, please, World Honored One! Jin Chanzi is beyond saving!"
"World Honored One…"
The hall echoed with harsh accusations from every side as the Buddhas pointed at Jin Chanzi, demanding his punishment from Duobao Tathagata.
Clearly
Though Jin Chanzi's words came from true compassion, they had touched a taboo within today's so-called Buddhist order. He had torn away the mask that covered the ugly truth of these "enlightened ones."
Now, almost every Buddha in the Great Thunderclap Temple saw Jin Chanzi as a common enemy.
Upon the lotus platform, Duobao Tathagata stared deeply at him and finally spoke in a heavy tone:
"Jin Chanzi! You have fallen into darkness."
Hearing this, Jin Chanzi lifted his head, face solemn and resolute:
"In this disciple's eyes, it is the Buddhas who have fallen into darkness.
True Dharma does not harm the people
True Dharma protects and saves them."
Seeing how unyielding Jin Chanzi was, Duobao Tathagata sighed and shook his head:
"So stubborn. Then fall into Samsara!"
As his words echoed through the hall, many Buddhas were shocked but some showed a look of understanding.
Jin Chanzi was at the peak of the Da Luo realm.
If he was cast into reincarnation, all of that cultivation would vanish.
To the Buddhist order, it was no small loss.
But compared to the grand design of the sect, it was a sacrifice they could easily accept.
"This disciple will hold firm to his heart."
"The Dharma of Ling Mountain is flawed."
"Even if I fall into reincarnation, I will remain true."
Jin Chanzi met Duobao Tathagata's gaze, unwavering.
"Then into Samsara, you go."
Duobao Tathagata said no more.
With a wave of his hand, a boundless surge of divine Buddhist power struck Jin Chanzi.
Though his cultivation was great, before this blow, he was as fragile as an insect.
In an instant, his body was destroyed.
Only his soul remained drifting down toward the underworld.
"Amitabha."
"Jin Chanzi has fallen into demonic ways."
"Rebirth through Samsara will awaken his true heart."
"Manjusri Bodhisattva go to the underworld and find King Kṣitigarbha. Have him make the proper arrangements," Duobao Tathagata said calmly.
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