"Such a sight... the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom truly deserves its reputation as the place where the Buddha achieved Nirvana and where Buddhism redeems all beings."
Feeling the all-encompassing Buddha light, Mu Qiuyao felt a sense of ease wash over her.
"Redeems all beings? Tch~"
Shen Zhao interrupted her, his face full of disdain.
"You, the Empress of the Immortal Dynasty, don't even understand what kind of crap the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom is?"
"Don't speak nonsense! The Western Buddha Sect Kingdom has produced countless high monks. Don't think you can disrespect the Buddhist country just because you have some cultivation."
Mu Qiuyao was very displeased with Shen Zhao's attitude.
Shen Zhao snorted coldly and asked, "Then how much do you know about Buddhism?"
Mu Qiuyao didn't hesitate: "The Buddha saves all beings, with compassion in his heart, rescuing the masses from suffering."
Shen Zhao nodded, then pointed at the giant Buddha opposite them: "Then, in your opinion, is this what is meant by saving all beings and having compassion?"
Mu Qiuyao looked in the direction Shen Zhao indicated, and saw a solemn Buddha statue carved from white jade. The facial features were so lifelike that they inspired reverence.
"The statue is solemn and exquisitely crafted, it's truly amazing."
Shen Zhao sneered: "Your answer confirms a saying: the great roc spreads its wings for ninety thousand miles, unable to see the ants on the ground."
Mu Qiuyao's face turned cold: "What do you mean?"
Shen Zhao: "You only see the solemnity of this Buddha statue, but you haven't looked closely at how miserable the sculptors are. Look carefully, how many people are struggling around the Buddha statue."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qiuyao looked closely and indeed found that under the giant Buddha statue, countless laborers, like tiny specks of dust, were carrying heavy stones and walking on winding paths towards the top of the statue.
Behind these laborers and craftsmen, a group of Ascetic Monks in yellow robes were continuously wielding whips, brutally lashing them.
Mu Qiuyao was speechless, her pale cheeks becoming even paler.
"Is this what you call equality for all beings?"
Shen Zhao sneered.
Mu Qiuyao hurriedly shook her head, defending herself, "Perhaps this is just the custom of the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom…"
"Heh, do you even believe that yourself?"
Shen Zhao unhesitatingly cut off Mu Qiuyao's pale and weak defense, then turned and walked down the winding path towards the mountain.
Mu Qiuyao hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed.
At the mountainside, Shen Zhao encountered a group of Ascetic Monks. They were chanting scriptures, earnestly prostrating themselves every three steps as they slowly climbed towards the summit.
Mu Qiuyao, standing opposite him, couldn't help but speak, "These believers are truly devout. If the officials of my Immortal Dynasty could be as loyal to me, I wouldn't have so many worries."
As an Empress, she prioritized controlling her power and ensuring the absolute loyalty of her officials and the people.
Perhaps faith was a direction to explore.
Seeing the devoutness of the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom's believers, she considered introducing their faith within the Immortal Dynasty to balance the various factions.
Shen Zhao, however, watched their actions with a cold eye.
Because he knew that these so-called "believers" were a bunch of beasts who used the name of Buddha to commit atrocious acts.
Thinking of this, he glanced at Mu Qiuyao and shook his head with pity, thinking to himself:
"Naive Empress, with your beauty, if you didn't possess the cultivation of a Great Emperor, you would likely become a living lotus flower for the Western Buddha Sect, your remaining life exceedingly miserable."
Shen Zhao didn't know at this moment that Mu Qiuyao's cultivation had already been sealed because of his palm strike, making her no different from a mortal.
An Ascetic Monk bowed down in worship. When he stood up again, he suddenly saw Mu Qiuyao standing not far away. His eyes immediately lit up. Then, more Ascetic Monks stopped and stood up straight, staring at her intently.
Mu Qiuyao's scalp tingled from being stared at. She thought it was her attire that displeased these monks, so she quickly covered her exposed skin and then smiled and bowed to them.
But how could her thin, cicada-wing-like robe conceal such a delicate and alluring figure?
Mu Qiuyao could clearly feel the Ascetic Monks' rapid breathing and couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly, a hint of wariness and panic flashing in her heart.
"Hey! You monks, I have a question, how do I get to the Lion Camel Country?"
A shout broke the eerie atmosphere.
The Ascetic Monks immediately shifted their gaze from Mu Qiuyao to Shen Zhao.
"May I ask where the benefactor comes from? And why do you wish to go to the Lion Camel Country?"
The leader, a monk with long hair, asked cautiously.
Shen Zhao smiled, "I am a wandering cultivator, fond of traveling the world and seeing its wonders. I've heard of the Lion Camel Country within the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom, and I'd like to experience it myself."
"Amitabha!"
The Ascetic Monk chanted a Buddhist name, then smiled, "It seems the benefactor also learned of the Lion Camel Country from that book?"
Shen Zhao nodded, "Could the master please point me in the right direction?"
The Ascetic Monk said, "The Lion Camel Country lies west of here, another eight thousand miles away."
"Thank you."
Shen Zhao then glanced at Mu Qiuyao across from him, gave her a meaningful look, and walked down the mountain path alone.
Mu Qiuyao also noticed the changes in the Ascetic Monks and quickly followed Shen Zhao down the path.
Suddenly, a seated Buddha statue stood at the exit of the path, facing the labor camp where the giant Buddha was being repaired.
Shen Zhao examined the statue, but saw that its eyes were closed, and its face was filled with helplessness and desolation, completely different from the unfinished towering giant Buddha.
After some thought, he continued to walk around the statue towards the exit.
As soon as they landed, Mu Qiuyao immediately approached Shen Zhao and asked, "Why did those believers look at me like that just now?"
Shen Zhao chuckled and teased, "Your Majesty, any normal man would inevitably have thoughts about you in that state.
"Of course, I'm an exception. I'm not one of those carbon-based lifeforms who think with their lower half. You can rest assured about that."
Mu Qiuyao quickly pulled down her partially exposed shawl and the leg that was showing, embarrassed, and said, "But this is the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom, where countless high monks are born. How could they possibly..."
"So what?" Shen Zhao retorted. "How much do you really know about the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom? Are you so sure everyone here is a high monk who's attained enlightenment?
Let me tell you, the Buddhist sect here is completely different from what you imagine. It's fortunate that your cultivation is high, and no one can do anything to you. Otherwise..."
Shen Zhao stopped speaking and walked directly towards the busy construction site ahead.
As he approached the construction site, the first thing he saw was emaciated commoners everywhere, doing heavy labor under the whips and curses of a group of monks.
In the distance, groups of commoners, with bare feet covered in wounds, were laboriously carrying baskets of jade that were far heavier than their own weight. They walked step by step on the bloodstained gravel road, struggling towards the Buddha statue.
On the other side, a group of elderly people, shirtless, were squatting in front of a stone mine, laboriously chiseling the giant stones in front of them. If they were not careful, someone would immediately collapse from exhaustion and pass out at their work station.
The supervising monks showed no mercy, immediately whipping any laborers who slacked off.
Insults, beatings, and bullying filled this land, once hailed as the "Thorn Land."
Mu Qiuyao was stunned. In her memory, the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom was a holy land where Buddhas gathered and all beings were equal. She had thought the people living here were so fortunate, but she never expected this situation.
Shen Zhao was unusually calm. Having experienced nine lifetimes, he had witnessed the suffering of mortals countless times, and was indifferent to everything before him.
He turned to Mu Qiuyao and said, "Alright, let's go our separate ways here. I advise you, if you have any grievances, come to me. But don't cause trouble for my friend."
"Friend? You're afraid I'll harm Yu Xiyan?" Mu Qiuyao asked with a sneer. "Heh, I'm really curious, what kind of attraction does Yu Xiyan have,
that you would go to such lengths to protect her? You can't even get into her bed, what's there to be so attached to?"
Shen Zhao frowned: "What are you talking about? What Yu Xiyan? I don't understand a word you're saying?"
"Still pretending?" Mu Qiuyao shook her head with a smile. "Everyone knows you, Shen Zhao, can't live without Yu Xiyan. Even if her heart isn't with you, you'd give everything for her."
As she spoke, Mu Qiuyao didn't realize her tone was filled with jealousy and resentment.
Shen Zhao was speechless. What the hell was this all about? Had this woman been hit in the head by his palm?
"I can't be bothered to waste words with you. I'm just warning you: if I find out you're causing trouble for my friend, even if it's the Northern Region Immortal Dynasty, I'll still go and stir things up."
"Boy, I admit you have some cultivation, but the gap between a dynasty and an Immortal Dynasty isn't something you can imagine.
The Profound Heaven Immortal Dynasty has six Quasi-Emperor realm experts alone. Any one of them could turn the Yin Heaven Dynasty to ashes. Are you sure you want to be my enemy?"
"Heh, six Quasi-Emperor realm experts are so impressive? You'd better not be so sure of yourself. Besides, what does the Yin Heaven Dynasty have to do with me? Go ahead and destroy it if you want. The Immortal Martial Nine Realms aren't exactly sealed off."
Shen Zhao turned and walked away.
Mu Qiuyao instinctively wanted to follow, but Shen Zhao stopped her: "We said we'd go our separate ways, why are you still following me?"
Mu Qiuyao sized up their surroundings and whispered, "In this unfamiliar country, we're better off together, we can look out for each other."
"No need!" Shen Zhao flatly refused. "You take your path, I'll take mine. We're not on the same road, goodbye!"
With that, Shen Zhao quickened his pace.
He was going somewhere to retrieve a cultivation technique that he hadn't obtained in his previous nine lives.
This was crucial for dealing with the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom and the Nine Nether Yellow Springs in the future.
He had originally planned to deal with the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom after a few years when he had settled Su Yunying's affairs. But since he was here now, he might as well solve everything at once.
Seeing Shen Zhao leave, Mu Qiuyao immediately prepared to follow.
After taking two steps, she was stopped by a burly, unkempt monk.
"This female benefactor, I am Ximalaya. I sense that you seem to be internally injured. Would you like to be treated by me?"
A foul stench emanated from Ximalaya, clearly he hadn't bathed in ages, which made Mu Qiuyao, who was accustomed to a life of luxury, feel disgusted.
Out of respect for the monks, she politely declined, "I'm sorry, Master, I don't need treatment. Please, if you would, move aside."
But how could the monk let her leave? Instead, he spread his arms and said, "Female benefactor, your injuries are too severe and require immediate treatment. Not a moment can be spared. The Buddha saves those with affinity. Please follow me into the house to heal."
Seeing a strange smile appear on the monk's face, and feeling the dozen or so monks around her slowly closing in to surround her, Mu Qiuyao's anger flared.
"How dare you! What do you want?"
However, this weak threat did not scare these monks. Instead, it further aroused their animalistic nature.
"This monk is doing you a favor by healing you, don't be ungrateful. Come with me, and I'll personally examine your injuries!"
With that, the evil monk reached out to grab Mu Qiuyao.
Instinctively, Mu Qiuyao grabbed the evil monk's wrist and, with a tug, flipped him onto the ground.
"You dare to have impure thoughts about me? The Empress's authority is not to be trifled with, you lecherous monk, today I will cleanse the Buddhist sect for them."
Thinking this, Mu Qiuyao immediately channeled her spiritual energy, intending to kill him.
But upon trying to circulate her energy, she discovered that her cultivation was sealed, and she couldn't summon any spiritual energy.
During this moment of distraction, the evil monk had already gotten up from the ground, spat out some dust, glared at Mu Qiuyao fiercely, and then angrily said, "Female benefactor, you have angered this monk. Since you don't appreciate the offer, then be prepared. Get them!"
With a command, more than ten Body Tempering Realm monks around them all attacked Mu Qiuyao.
Suddenly, Mu Qiuyao composed herself, relying on her footwork and martial arts to dodge and barely defend, trying to find a way to escape.
At this moment, she was a little panicked and shouted loudly towards Shen Zhao's figure in the distance: "Boy! Don't go yet! Come back and help me!"
Shen Zhao turned his head and glanced at her, sighing helplessly. He muttered, "Is it popular to play the underdog now? There are only dozens of Body Tempering Realm cultivators and two Qi Condensation Realm trash, and you could annihilate them with a flick of your fingers. Why are you pretending to be weak? You're a thousand or two years old, and you're still playing such childish tricks. Aren't you ashamed? Sigh, the world is going downhill."
Then, he continued walking forward, humming a little tune.
Seeing Shen Zhao just leave like that, Mu Qiuyao was really about to cry for the first time.
With her current state, once she fell into the hands of these evil monks, the consequences would be unimaginable.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)