Wei Yuan smiled and nodded, then said in a gentle voice:
“Please, Arhat Du’e, come up into the carriage and have a cup of tea.”
Such an inexplicable invitation… Arhat Du’e frowned deeply. He studied Wei Yuan for a moment, then glanced at Kou Yangzhou, who was acting as the coachman, and said expressionlessly:
“I came here to kill.”
“Kill?” Wei Yuan nodded first, then asked in return:
“Is Arhat Du’e here to kill me, or Kou Yangzhou, or perhaps the countless innocent common people in the capital behind me?”
Arhat Du’e said slowly:
“Whoever stops me, I will kill.”
He had come east this time to defeat the beyond-mortal experts on the side of the Great Feng, to create an advantage for the Church of the Warlock God in their attack on the capital, and to strike at the root of those Great Feng beyond-mortals attacking Ananda.
As for exactly whom he would kill, there had been no clear stipulation.
“No matter, no matter.” Wei Yuan waved a hand with a smile.
“Whoever you want to kill, it doesn’t stop us having tea. Senior Kou, please withdraw a thousand feet. There’s no need to mind me.”
Kou Yangzhou was not one of Wei Yuan’s subordinates. Hearing this, he nodded.
“If you get killed, don’t blame me.”
He rose on the wind and truly retreated a thousand feet.
Wei Yuan turned and walked back to the carriage. He paused beside it, looked back with a smile, and issued the invitation once more:
“Arhat Du’e, please!”
With that, he boarded the carriage and ducked into the compartment.
Du’e hesitated briefly and looked towards the distant Kou Yangzhou. This time he did not refuse, and followed Wei Yuan into the carriage.
If Kou Yangzhou had not left, he truly would not have dared enter. If a martial artist got close, the only consequence was death.
Inside the spacious and luxurious carriage stood a long tea table and two large chairs draped with tiger pelts. Wei Yuan sat on the inner side, his left hand pressing down his right sleeve while his right hand lifted the teapot and poured bright yellow, crystal-clear tea into the cups, steam curling softly upwards.
“This is top-grade fragrant tea grown by the Flower God, a treasure you can’t get in the Western Regions.” Wei Yuan pushed one of the cups towards the old monk and smiled.
“Have a taste.”
Arhat Du’e inhaled the fragrance filling the carriage, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. His expression showed a hint of surprise.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that this was the most delicious tea he had ever drunk in his life.
The sensation on the taste buds was secondary. This tea nourished the body and eased fatigue. For ordinary people, it was practically a divine medicine that prolonged life.
Arhat Du’e had no need to prolong his life, but as a tea-drinking experience, it really was excellent.
Perhaps because one softened after accepting another’s hospitality, Arhat Du’e took the initiative to raise a topic. In a deep voice, he said:
“If I wanted to kill you now, it would be as easy as turning my hand.”
No matter how fast Kou Yangzhou was, he couldn’t protect Wei Yuan at this moment.
Wei Yuan smiled.
“I’m already a cripple. What value is there in killing me?”
Du’e said flatly:
“For a generation’s military god, true terror has never lain in cultivation.”
Still wearing a smile, Wei Yuan asked in return:
“Does Arhat Du’e think the future trend will still be battlefield wars that commit armies of a million at every turn?”
Du’e said nothing. He merely looked at him quietly, waiting for Wei Yuan’s explanation.
The man in dark azure robes, frost at his temples, said with feeling:
“Haven’t you noticed? The situation in Jiuzhou is completely different from twenty years ago. The various Beyond-rank beings are about to break free, and in the beyond-mortal sphere, the number of experts has clearly surged. There are rising stars like Xu Qi’an, Her Majesty Huaiqing, and Lady Flying Swallow.
“There are also those who built up their strength over time before bursting forth, like Kou Yangzhou and al-Asura. There is also Shenshu, whose fleshly body is about to be reassembled, and the god-demon ‘Desolation’ who has returned from overseas.
“I can guarantee that on the battlefields of the future, the beyond-mortals will be the protagonists.”
Arhat Du’e gave no opinion and said coolly:
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“I personally came to receive Arhat Du’e because I want to discuss a deal with you.” Wei Yuan smiled.
“A deal?”
Wei Yuan nodded. “I heard from al-Asura that you wanted to promote Mahayana Buddhism and had been actively preaching throughout the Western Regions, but Samantabhadra Bodhisattva had shown little interest. Agaruka Bodhisattva, meanwhile, had long made his position clear. He reveres the current Buddhist doctrine and would not permit the promotion of Mahayana Buddhism.”
Arhat Du’e understood at once and let out a cold laugh.
“You want to use this to buy me off, so that I betray the Buddhist sect and defect to the Central Plains?”
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. He said lightly:
“Agaruka Bodhisattva is indeed resistant to Mahayana Buddhism, but ever since the war in the Central Plains ended, I have been preaching Mahayana Buddhism throughout the Western Regions, and Agaruka has tacitly allowed it. The people of the Western Regions are extremely receptive to Mahayana Buddhism. In less than a hundred years, I dare guarantee that Mahayana Buddhism will bloom everywhere in the Western Regions.
“Wei Yuan, why should I betray the Buddhist sect and wallow in the mire with you lot?”
Wei Yuan took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and said unhurriedly:
“Don’t be so quick to refuse. When discussing a deal, one should first have a proper talk.
“Agaruka tacitly permitted you to spread Mahayana Buddhism because after al-Asura’s betrayal, among the Buddhist sect’s beyond-mortal experts below the Bodhisattva level, only you remained. Naturally, at a juncture like this, he wouldn’t press too hard.
“But no matter who wins or loses this war, once the situation stabilises, he will sooner or later settle accounts and snuff out the flame of Mahayana Buddhism completely.”
Arhat Du’e frowned. On this point, he had actually already sensed something vaguely. Vaidurya Bodhisattva’s attitude had told him that Agaruka was merely enduring it, not that he had truly accepted Mahayana Buddhism.
But he still refused to simply believe Wei Yuan and refused to be drawn into his rhythm. He retorted:
“Since you know that the Buddhist sect is in urgent need of manpower, then you should understand that this reckoning will come a very, very long time from now. If by then Mahayana Buddhism has taken deep root, he may even be forced to accept it.”
Because Vaidurya Bodhisattva was neutral, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in truth leaned somewhat towards Mahayana Buddhism; Ananda was not ruled by Agaruka alone.
Wei Yuan nodded to show agreement, then posed his own question:
“Arhat Du’e, what do you think of the Buddhist sect? For example, Dharmapara Bodhisattva. For example, the Buddha.”
Arhat Du’e’s gaze suddenly sharpened, locking onto him.
The carriage filled with killing intent.
Wei Yuan remained completely at ease and smiled.
“Al-Asura already told us the situation. Xu Ningyan and I largely share the same view. The cries for help you heard were most likely from that long-vanished Dharmapara Bodhisattva, not the Buddha.
“But regardless of who it really was, something has gone wrong with the Buddha. Right now, you can’t even determine whether the one sleeping in Ananda is truly the Buddha. Perhaps the Shenshu attacking the mountain now is the real Buddha.
“Against such a backdrop, cooperating with the Central Plains wouldn’t be betraying the Buddhist sect. It would be abandoning darkness for the light. Those three Bodhisattvas certainly know some inside details, yet they haven’t revealed a single bit to you. Do you truly feel no resentment at all?”
Du’e fell silent.
Recently, he had indeed felt this deeply—that he was not one of the Buddhist sect’s core figures.
Wei Yuan continued to fan the flames:
“If something has gone wrong with the Buddha, or if the Buddha was already replaced five hundred years ago, or if Agaruka’s opposition to Mahayana Buddhism is in fact the Buddha’s own will, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s change in attitude is for the same reason…”
Wei Yuan leaned forwards and stared at Arhat Du’e.
“Then how are you to conduct yourself?”
Without waiting for Arhat Du’e to answer, he sighed and said:
“Of course, if you give up preaching Mahayana Buddhism, then none of this is a problem, and today you may also kill me. But the Sage once said, ‘To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is enough.’ Search your heart. Are you willing to give up Mahayana Buddhism?”
Seeing that Du’e remained expressionless, yet had lost all interest in speaking, Wei Yuan knew these words had struck straight at the other man’s heart.
They had robbed him of the desire to argue and stirred up his worries.
“The fact that you were willing to sit down and hear me out means you may not be without thoughts of cooperation. In your heart, perhaps there is also some inexpressible expectation. After all, Mahayana Buddhism did not come from the Western Regions, but from the Central Plains, from Xu Ningyan. Arhat Du’e, do you believe it or not, the fortune of Mahayana Buddhism does not lie in the Western Regions, but in the Central Plains.”
Wei Yuan moistened his throat and said:
“If you agree, I can make the decision and permit you to preach in the Central Plains and spread Mahayana Buddhism. The court will honour you as National Teacher and proclaim the Buddhist sect you establish as the state religion. Your ideals will bloom everywhere in the Central Plains.
“You will become the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, and your name will endure through the ages and be recorded in history.”
Those final words scratched exactly where Arhat Du’e itched.
Even so, Arhat Du’e still refused, saying in a deep voice:
“I have believers in the Western Regions. I won’t abandon them.”
On the surface it was a refusal, but in truth, he had raised a condition.
Wei Yuan laughed.
“If those believers are willing, you may bring them to the Central Plains. The court will open up a place for them to settle. Conveniently enough, if Mahayana Buddhism is to spread quickly in the Central Plains, you’ll need their help.”
Arhat Du’e fell silent for a moment, then said:
“Why should I believe you?”
Wei Yuan shook his head.
“You don’t need to believe me, but you may believe Xu Qi’an. Today’s conversation was at his instruction, and it is his promise. You know him well enough. The Great Feng may go back on its word, but he won’t.”
Wei Yuan looked utterly sincere, as though that were the plain truth.
But in fact, Xu Qi’an knew absolutely nothing about it.
Yet those words completely dispelled Arhat Du’e’s final hesitation.
“I need time to think about it.”
Arhat Du’e slowly let out a breath.
“Understandable!” Wei Yuan nodded and said, “But I hope that the next time I come to find you, you’ll already have made your decision.”
The two men raised their cups at the same time and drained the tea in one gulp.
Wei Yuan rose and left the carriage, walking towards Kou Yangzhou.
“Done?”
Kou Yangzhou asked.
Although from beginning to end, he had had no idea what Wei Yuan’s purpose was in coming to see Arhat Du’e this time.
Wei Yuan nodded and transmitted his voice:
“It’s done. Fight him for a while. He’ll appropriately take some injuries, and afterwards you can go help the National Teacher and the others.”
Kou Yangzhou gave an “mm” and asked curiously:
“What did you talk to him about?”
“I was trying to win him over.”
Kou Yangzhou was startled. “He agreed… Since that’s the case, why keep acting? Let’s charge over directly and slaughter those two third rank Masters of Wisdom of the Church of the Warlock God.”
Wei Yuan frowned and replied by voice transmission in a flat tone:
“What’s the point of killing two third-ranks? Besides, Du’e isn’t a fool. You need to watch a while longer.”
Although Arhat Du’e was tempted, he still wanted time to consider it. It wasn’t because his resolve to spread Mahayana Buddhism wavered, but because he wanted to wait and see how the current situation developed.
That depended on how the battle at Ananda turned out.
Moreover, even if Du’e agreed at once to join the court, Wei Yuan still wouldn’t let him work with Kou Yangzhou against the Church of the Warlock God, because the Great Warlock certainly couldn’t be killed.
If that happened, Du’e’s betrayal of Buddhism would become known to Ananda.
On the surface, his attempt to win over Arhat Du’e was to gain a second rank beyond-mortal expert. In truth, he was laying plans for the future.
In the short term, Buddhism wouldn’t purge Du’e. It would turn a blind eye to his spread of Mahayana Buddhism, and that was the opportunity.
As long as Du’e worked hard enough, he could gather a great number of followers in the Western Regions. If those people migrated to the Central Plains, what would be weakened would be Buddhism’s fortune, the fortune of that one in Ananda.
This was the killing move!
What Wei Yuan was plotting against was a Beyond-rank existence, absolutely not the two insignificant Masters of Wisdom of the Church of the Warlock God before him.
…
The Western Regions.
After the Vajra Dharma Aspect collapsed, Agaruka Bodhisattva immediately formed a seal with both hands and summoned the “Immovable Lord”, sitting cross-legged with lowered brows.
The next moment, with a clang, twelve pairs of fists smashed through the barrier of space and hammered brutally into the Immovable Lord Dharma Aspect.
Agaruka Bodhisattva’s posture didn’t change. Like a statue sent flying by a blow, he shot backwards violently, crashed into the mountains and forest with a boom, and triggered a massive landslide.
An opportunity!
Xu Qi’an and the other beyond-mortal experts’ eyes lit up.
Shenshu’s Dharma Aspect pressed the advantage. Xu Qi’an was wreathed in blood mist, al-Asura revealed his asura bloodline, and each of them pushed their strength to the limit, determined to break Agaruka Bodhisattva’s Immovable Lord in the shortest time possible.
Wave after wave of terrifying auras bore down on him. Agaruka Bodhisattva kept his brows lowered and expression stern, but inwardly his sense of danger surged, and he smelled the threat of death.
Al-Asura was one thing, but Xu Qi’an and Shenshu were the truly terrifying enemies. If the two joined forces and unleashed their violence freely, the Immovable Lord definitely wouldn’t last three breaths.
After all, even the defensive grand array hadn’t been able to stop them.
A glint flashed through Vaidurya Bodhisattva’s beautiful eyes. With her foothold as the centre, the colourless lapis lazuli domain rapidly spread, stripping all surrounding things of colour and turning everything into pure black and white.
That included Shenshu, Xu Qi’an, and the beyond-mortal experts behind them.
It froze their thoughts, and froze their movements.
The twelve pairs of arms of Shenshu’s Dharma Aspect stabbed into the void and tore hard. At the same time, Xu Qi’an made the same movement.
Bang!
The air let out a muffled sound. The colourless lapis lazuli border was like a mirror, and two gaps appeared in it at the same time, one from Xu Qi’an and one from Shenshu.
Under the two men’s brute force, the colourless lapis lazuli domain didn’t last even a second.
At this moment, Shenshu, Xu Qi’an, and al-Asura were already within arm’s reach of Agaruka Bodhisattva.
Suddenly, Sanskrit chants echoed between heaven and earth, scattering brilliant golden light that shone upon the young monk Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Above his head rose a Dharma Aspect with a compassionate face and palms pressed together.
The Great Mercy and Compassion Dharma Aspect.
At the instant the chanting sounded, Li Miaozhen and Daoist Jinlian immediately let their Yang Spirits leave their bodies. The former’s Yang Spirit couldn’t completely resist the influence of the Great Mercy and Compassion Dharma Aspect, and inevitably compassion arose in her heart.
The same was true for Daoist Jinlian, though he fared slightly better than Li Miaozhen.
But being unable to muster battle intent didn’t mean they couldn’t respond.
The two Yang Spirits lunged at Xu Qi’an at the same time, intending to combine their strength and, by possessing him, dispel the influence of the “power of compassion” for him.
With Xu Qi’an’s cultivation, so long as there was an external opening and even the slightest push, he could break free on his own.
Boom!
Thunder roared across the sky, and bolts as thick as water vats crashed down, swallowing the two Yang Spirits.
In the distance, Nalan Tianlu made his move to stop them, using lightning punishment to counter the two Yang Spirits.
Beneath the radiance of the Great Mercy and Compassion Dharma Aspect, the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox, Sun Xuanji, and Zhao Shou all revealed compassionate expressions, and almost pressed their palms together to chant “Amitabha”.
Among the three charging into battle, Shenshu’s movements stiffened slightly. Xu Qi’an and al-Asura were both affected by the Great Mercy and Compassion Dharma Aspect and revealed compassionate expressions.
Only Xu Qi’an’s compassion was mixed with daze and resistance, whereas al-Asura was completely immersed in the atmosphere of compassion.
Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Agaruka Bodhisattva sprang up and, amid a rapid thudding of footsteps, pounced towards al-Asura.
He had no confidence in killing Xu Qi’an, but al-Asura had not reached first rank. Even without the Vajra Dharma Aspect, Agaruka Bodhisattva was still confident that, if the other party did not resist, he could inflict grave injuries, or even kill this traitor.
Elsewhere, after the thunderbolts fell, Li Miaozhen and Daoist Jinlian changed tactics. From within his Yang Spirit, the latter separated a Dharma Aspect covered in stone armour. This stone form swelled, then turned into a stone shield above everyone’s heads.
Earth countered fire, and could likewise counter lightning.
Li Miaozhen, meanwhile, plunged straight into the body of the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox. She had originally wanted to possess Zhao Shou, but Zhao Shou was protected by righteous qi, invulnerable to all evils, and a Yang Spirit couldn’t possess him.
The Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox’s alluring body trembled, and she recovered a trace of clarity.
No, no good, I still can’t recover my will to fight… countless thoughts flashed through the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox’s mind. After realising she still hadn’t completely cast off the influence, she made a snap decision and threw back her head with a shrill screech.
The howl was like a demon cry, carrying an extremely powerful piercing effect.
This was one of the Nine-tailed Fox’s innate divine abilities. Back when she had retaken Wanyao Mountain, she had used this very move to break the brainwashing of the Buddhist scriptures.
Under the piercing demonic sound, Zhao Shou and the others regained a sliver of reason, but still couldn’t completely break free of the Great Mercy and Compassion’s influence. Yet when that demonic sound, which affected the primordial spirit, reached Xu Qi’an’s ears, it was like the evening drum and morning bell, instantly helping him shake off the influence of Great Mercy and Compassion.
Sharpness returned to his gaze. Xu Qi’an swept his eyes around and saw Agaruka Bodhisattva smash al-Asura’s head apart with a single punch.
Elsewhere, Shenshu’s twelve pairs of arms closed together and swallowed Samantabhadra Bodhisattva like a flytrap devouring an insect.
The Great Mercy and Compassion Dharma Aspect immediately dissipated.
Everyone regained their will.
Using the Walker Dharma Aspect, Vaidurya Bodhisattva appeared in the distance together with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Shenshu embraced empty air.
Agaruka Bodhisattva immediately gave up on al-Asura and was just about to evade Xu Qi’an.
At that very moment, the headless al-Asura spread his arms. Flames coiled around his left arm, dazzling light bloomed from his right, and both arms clamped tightly around Agaruka Bodhisattva like iron pincers.
If he could kill Agaruka Bodhisattva, al-Asura didn’t mind staking his life on it. That was his resolve.
A sharp light flashed through Agaruka Bodhisattva’s eyes. His muscles bulged explosively as he was just about to form a hand seal and summon the Immovable Lord Dharma Aspect to shake this traitor to death.
Daoist Jinlian stretched out his palm through the air towards Agaruka Bodhisattva, weakening part of his good fortune and increasing his bad luck.
In perfect tacit understanding, Li Miaozhen took out the Stupa tower. Above its top emerged the Great Wisdom Dharma Aspect, and the light wheel turned in reverse.
Agaruka Bodhisattva’s mind buzzed, and for a brief moment he lost the ability to think.
Ordinarily, the Stupa tower’s grade was not enough to affect Agaruka Bodhisattva effectively, but Daoist Jinlian had weakened his fortune, and his luck had worsened.
Meanwhile, on top of its own foundation, the Stupa tower received Li Miaozhen’s fortune as a boost. One side rose as the other fell.
Sun Xuanji swept out to support them, flicked his hand and threw out a pale black rope, binding Shenshu and al-Asura together. At the same time he pushed forward with his palm, sending out a formation that turned the ground beneath their feet into a swamp.
Mud climbed up along their legs and bound them tightly.
The Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox rose into the air. Behind her, her nine tails spread wide, enchanting and beautiful. They swept through the sky and wound al-Asura and Agaruka Bodhisattva together.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva pressed his palms together. Golden light behind him surged and transformed into a huge wheel, a wheel inscribed with the “six paths”.
Crack, the wheel gave a metallic turning sound. The Sanskrit characters for “human”, “asura”, and “yao” lit up. He intended to use the Six Paths of Samsara Dharma Aspect to weaken the enemy’s combat strength.
Just then, with a boom, a bolt of lightning struck Samantabhadra Bodhisattva viciously and hit the Great Samsara Dharma Aspect.
The wheel did not collapse, but as though jammed, it failed to turn as intended, and the lit Sanskrit characters went dark.
Nalan Tianlu had made his move. He coordinated with the beyond-mortal experts of the Great Feng and stabbed his ally in the back.
The Confucian sage’s carving knife in Zhao Shou’s hand and the Confucian cap above his head erupted with dazzling clear light, and he declared in a ringing voice:
“The Walker Dharma Aspect must not be used.”
As his words echoed out, Vaidurya Bodhisattva’s figure manifested not far from Agaruka Bodhisattva.
“Pfft!”
Zhao Shou tilted his head back and spat out a spray of blood. The light of the Confucian cap and carving knife dimmed.
He had restricted a first-rank Bodhisattva’s Dharma Aspect, not by indirect interference, but by direct suppression.
Without the enhancement of the carving knife and Confucian cap, his laws follow commandments would’ve had no effect. Likewise, without those two artefacts bearing part of the backlash for him, Zhao Shou would already be a dead man.
Even so, he was still heavily wounded.
At this moment, Xu Qi’an and Shenshu had already closed in. One stabbed towards Agaruka Bodhisattva’s back heart, the other smashed down viciously with twenty-four fists.
With the brute force of two martial artists, even the Immovable Lord Dharma Aspect could be broken open, let alone now, when Agaruka Bodhisattva had not raised his Dharma Aspect domain.
But at that very instant, from the depths of Ananda, a great sun slowly rose.
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