Two days later, Shen Zhao and Mu Qiuyao arrived outside the City of Corpses, at a place called Jialan Town, in a horse-drawn carriage.
The scene in the town made Mu Qiuyao feel deeply disappointed with this so-called Buddhist pure land.
On the street, a hunched young man accidentally bumped into a passing cultivator and was immediately criticized on the spot by the law-enforcing monks, who then poured hot oil down his throat.
On the other side, two red-robed monks were wielding whips, lashing a scantily-clad child until he rolled on the ground. The reason? The child had failed to deliver the temple's required vegetables on time that day, delaying the meal by the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
On both sides of the low, humble houses, one could see disabled people everywhere, missing arms and legs. When they saw Shen Zhao's carriage pass by, they only showed an extremely humble and respectful attitude, not even daring to raise their heads.
A scream caught Mu Qiuyao's attention, and she pulled up the carriage curtain to look outside.
A cultivator in the distance casually wiped his longsword. At his feet, an old man lay in a pool of blood, lifeless.
The passersby seemed accustomed to this. Many didn't even glance at the scene, simply walking past the corpse.
Then, the cultivator took out a handful of copper coins and tossed them to the two family members of the deceased, who were kneeling on the ground, before walking away.
After the cultivator left, the family members kept kowtowing in the direction he had gone, muttering words of "gratitude."
"Murder in the street? Doesn't the government do anything?"
Mu Qiuyao couldn't help but ask.
"This is a Buddhist holy land. Where would there be a government?" Shen Zhao retorted. "Besides, the cultivator has already compensated the deceased's family. According to the Buddhist kingdom's rules, he has already paid the price."
"A life, just for a few dozen copper coins?"
"Surprising? The Western Buddha Sect Kingdom divides people into different classes, and from the moment they're born, everything about them, including their lives, has a price tag."
Mu Qiuyao was so angry she could barely speak, and her last bit of hope for the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom was shattered.
Everything happening before her eyes was indeed as Shen Zhao had said, all of it coming true.
The huge contrast in beliefs gave this battle-hardened Empress of the Northern Region a strong sense of suffocation.
"Don't they understand how to resist?"
"You can ask someone."
Mu Qiuyao pondered for a moment, then immediately told Shen Zhao to stop the carriage. She walked over to the family of the deceased: "He killed your family member, and you don't want to seek justice for your family member?"
Unexpectedly, the family member of the deceased replied with a smile: "You're from out of town, aren't you? You shouldn't speak of that cultivator like that. We are born as lowly people. Only by enduring the hardships of this life and atoning for our sins can we have the opportunity in the next life to escape reincarnation and be born into a wealthy family."
Mu Qiuyao fell silent, instinctively wanting to help the poor family, but then remembered she didn't have any worldly possessions with her. Her gaze drifted towards Shen Zhao.
"Get in the carriage!"
Shen Zhao ignored Mu Qiuyao's look, instead, he tapped on the carriage door, signaling for her to enter.
Mu Qiuyao sighed softly and could only enter the carriage.
"Don't give them anything. Otherwise, their fate will be even worse."
"Why?"
"If you give them money, not only will the monks here take it all, but the whole family will also be beaten."
"Is this a Buddhist kingdom or hell?"
"It's a Buddhist kingdom, but also a hell," Shen Zhao sneered. "But for the so-called Buddha's salvation, those at the bottom with no power or influence are destined to be exploited."
"The hierarchical system of the Buddhist kingdom is strict. Cultivators with cultivation, even at the lowest Body Tempering Realm, are untouchable existences to ordinary people in the Buddhist kingdom.
They can execute the common people at the bottom of the Buddhist kingdom as easily as crushing an ant, and the consequences they need to bear are very low.
If a cultivator is willing to join the Buddhist kingdom's sect, their status will also rise, and even if they make meritorious contributions in the future, it is not impossible for them to become nobles.
As for the common people at the bottom, the only way to rise is to become cultivators, but the Buddhist kingdom is different from other realms. All the cultivation resources have already been divided up by the ruling classes of the Buddhist kingdom.
Therefore, ordinary people living in the Buddhist kingdom are destined to spend this miserable life under both physical and mental exploitation."
After listening to Shen Zhao's explanation, Mu Qiuyao felt as if something was blocked in her chest, very oppressive, so she stopped speaking and let the carriage drive on the bumpy road.
Passing by a place of entertainment, Mu Qiuyao saw through the carriage curtain a few old women over sixty years old who were dressed up in a flowery manner, standing at the door to solicit customers.
"These are the descendants of the Xiliang Women's Kingdom from the Journey to the West. After the Xiliang Women's Kingdom was destroyed, all the citizens in the city were distributed by the Buddhist Kingdom to various places.
They were engaged in the most lowly jobs because the children born from their wombs would inevitably be female infants. Therefore, they would engage in the lowly profession of prostitution for generations,
until the moment of their death, when all of this would be relieved."
Mu Qiuyao couldn't bear to listen any longer, and quickly asked, "Kid, what do you plan to do?"
"Whew~"
The carriage stopped in front of an inn.
"I want to inherit Master Xuanzang's last wish and restore the Western Buddha Sect Kingdom to its original appearance."
"Alright, I, Mu Qiuyao, representing the Profound Heaven Celestial Dynasty, will unconditionally support any action you take against the Buddhist Kingdom!"
Shen Zhao fell silent upon hearing this.
A sense of bewilderment welled up within him.
He had been with Yu Xiyan for so long, and invested so much, yet he wasn't supported like Mu Qiuyao, who he had only known for less than half a month.
So, he had "licked" for nine lifetimes and failed to get her. Aside from the system, the one who issued the tasks, he could only say he deserved it.
"Let's rest here for the night. We'll head to the City of Corpses tomorrow morning."
Upon entering the inn, a young female shopkeeper immediately greeted them: "Do you two want to stay the night?"
As she spoke, her gaze frequently drifted towards Mu Qiuyao beside Shen Zhao.
Shen Zhao replied, "Yes, and prepare some vegetarian food for us, please."
The female shopkeeper immediately replied, "How many rooms would you like, esteemed guests?"
Shen Zhao was about to say two rooms, but Mu Qiuyao spoke first, "Just one room, and please send the food to the room."
The female shopkeeper acknowledged and asked, "Are you two planning to attend the Lotus Gathering in the City of Corpses? Tomorrow is the opening day of the Lotus Gathering.
Many accomplished monks will be present to preach, and it is said that the Three Head Monks of the City of Corpses will also be present. This is a rare opportunity."
Shen Zhao said, "Naturally. We have long admired the City of Corpses. How could we miss such a grand event?"
The female shopkeeper smiled, her eyes once again glancing at Mu Qiuyao, revealing a meaningful smile.
Just as they finished the check-in procedures, a burst of Buddhist chanting suddenly sounded from outside.
A group of monks entered the inn, holding prayer wheels, wearing red kasayas, and with ruddy complexions.
The young monk at the front seemed to be their leader. The moment he entered the inn, the other monks immediately split into two groups, respectfully welcoming him.
The female innkeeper immediately went forward, bowing respectfully to the leading monk. "I didn't realize Buddha's Disciple had arrived. I wasn't prepared to kneel and welcome you. I beg Buddha's Disciple to forgive me."
Buddha's Disciple had a kind face and a gentle smile. He clasped his hands together. "It doesn't matter. I've only just arrived myself, female benefactor. No need to be nervous."
At that moment, he saw Mu Qiuyao's appearance, and his eyes lit up.
His gaze then swept over her, sizing her up without restraint.
If only this old lady had even a sliver of her former imperial aura, this group of lecherous monks would have died a hundred times over!
Mu Qiuyao felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at. As a dignified empress, being treated like prey was utterly disgusting.
"Let's go!"
Shen Zhao glanced at the Buddha's Disciple, the corners of his mouth tilting slightly, and then he took Mu Qiuyao back to his room.
As soon as they left, the Buddha's Disciple immediately asked, "Female benefactor, who are these two guests?"
"Oh, them? They just arrived in the Buddha Kingdom, and they came to participate in the City of Corpses Lotus Gathering tomorrow, and they want to listen to the Three Head Monks' sermons."
The Buddha's Disciple responded, and then said, "This Buddha's Disciple can feel that the aura emanating from that female benefactor is extraordinary. If her Flesh Lotus is used as a magic weapon,
it would be a thousand or a hundred times stronger than all the Flesh Lotuses at present. Once the magic weapon is made, perhaps there will be no need to hold the Lotus Gathering for the next hundred years."
The female shopkeeper's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Buddha's Disciple, is what you said true?"
The Buddha's Disciple clasped his hands together: "A monk does not lie."
The female shopkeeper was extremely excited: "Buddha's Disciple, if this commoner can help the Buddha's Disciple obtain this Flesh Lotus, can you ask the Three Head Monks to let my sisters go?"
"How dare you! You dare to bargain with the Buddha's Disciple? Who do you think you are!"
A Dharma-protecting monk next to him immediately shouted at the woman.
The woman's heart trembled, and she immediately knelt on the ground, begging for mercy: "Buddha's Disciple, please forgive me, it was this commoner who asked for too much, Buddha's Disciple, please forgive me."
The Buddha's Disciple raised his hand: "Please rise, female benefactor. This Buddha's Disciple doesn't blame you. This Buddha's Disciple knows that you and your sister have depended on each other since childhood and are reluctant to be separated. This is only natural, and this Buddha's Disciple understands."
"Thank you, Buddha's Disciple, for your forgiveness."
The female shopkeeper rose cautiously.
The Buddha's Disciple took a step forward, sighed, and said, "Actually, this Buddha's Disciple a hundred years ago also proposed abolishing the Lotus Gathering because it was too bloody.
Unfortunately, the laws of the Buddha Kingdom are strict, and this method cannot be abolished without Buddha artifacts. Now, seeing a perfect Dharma artifact to house,
"Once you refine it, that Buddha's Disciple will have sufficient reason to raise objections again, and your sisters can return and reunite with you."
The woman shopkeeper hurried, "Buddha's Disciple, as long as you agree to release my sisters before the next Lotus Gathering, I am willing to personally deliver this woman to you."
"Amitabha!"
The Buddha's Disciple softly chanted the Buddha's name.
"Female benefactor, remember not to force things, everything depends on fate."
"Buddha's Disciple, rest assured, I am willing!"
When the woman spoke, her eyes were filled with determination.
Inside the inn, Shen Zhao sat on the ground while Mu Qiuyao sat on the bed with her eyes closed, regulating her breath.
After a full cycle, Mu Qiuyao felt a slight loosening of her cultivation. Her cultivation had also recovered to around the Qi Condensation Realm, level three.
With cultivation to protect herself, Mu Qiuyao's anxious heart finally relaxed.
Looking at Shen Zhao again, there were a few more curious looks in her eyes.
Indeed, the decision to stay by his side was the right one. In these past few days, the cold poison in my body hasn't acted up at all, and the speed at which my cultivation is unsealed is much faster than expected.
Thinking of this, she had other thoughts.
I heard that this lad had improved many flaws in cultivation techniques. Perhaps I should ask him if he has a way to improve the Bright Jade Profound Yellow Technique. Maybe the opportunity to break through the ninth level lies with him.
-----------------------
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