SCT-Novel #304 - I'll steal a tripod first!
#304 - I'll steal a tripod first!
Inside the Abbot's chamber.
Qin Hong was playing chess with the Abbot of Tian Can Temple.
They were discussing how to conclude the situation in Lingzhou.
The conversation progressed to the point where the Abbot asked Qin Hong if he knew the background and origins of Xu Chengxian.
Qin Hong seized the opportunity to ask, instead of answering, whether the Abbot had been investigating the person behind the White Maiden Temple during these past few days.
Had he discovered any results?
The Abbot shook his head, saying no.
Otherwise, he would have made a decisive move long ago and wouldn't have delayed until now.
"Behind my Xiangji Mountain Tian Can Temple is Bodhi Temple," the Abbot said. "Behind the Sea Soul Gate, there is a Golden Core Realm expert in the late stage."
Then, he bluntly told Governor Qin that how this situation would end depended on the strength of the person behind Xu Chengxian.
If they were not too different in strength, they would find a way to turn hostility into friendship and work together for a common cause.
If they had no background, were just ignorant and fearless small fries who jumped out to disrupt the situation, they would quickly deal with them.
And start a new game.
Qin Hong then asked what they would do if the person was stronger than them.
The Abbot smiled and said, "If there is a Nascent Soul Realm Venerable behind the White Maiden Temple, then we will have to retreat."
"What about above the Nascent Soul Realm?" Qin Hong asked with a smile. "I heard that if a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator ascends to the Heavenly Realm, they can become a Dao Lord, but before becoming a Dao Lord, there are still two realms to pass through. I wonder what those two realms are?"
"They are Spirit Officer and Feathered Master," the Abbot laughed. "Those Xuanmen cultivators, when they ascend to the Heavenly Realm, first become Feathered Masters, then Spirit Officers."
Xu Chengxian happened to hear this sentence.
The reason why the Abbot laughed was, of course, because he simply didn't believe that there would be a Nascent Soul Realm existence behind the White Maiden Temple.
"Governor, don't joke around," he said with a smile. "Nascent Soul Realm cultivators of the Daoist lineage, just like our Buddhist Venerables, reside within spirit mansions and pure lands, and rarely set foot in the mortal world."
Upon hearing this, Xu Chengxian's eyes lit up.
Oh, ho!
They don't set foot in the mortal world?
That means they rarely come to the various human dynasties.
So, the most feared combat power will not appear.
This is good news!
Looking at the Abbot again, the fluctuations of his magical power were very weak.
Although he didn't understand the cultivation realms of the Buddhist school, he estimated that he was equivalent to the second level of Qi Refining.
"My Buddha is merciful, and I am not afraid to tell the Governor. This matter of the Accumulating Goodness Cauldron is of great importance," the Abbot said. "Bodhi Temple had previously sent a message saying that if necessary, they could send the Eighteen Arhats, three Venerable Arhats."
As he spoke, he looked at Qin Hong with a smile, "Therefore, Governor, you must think carefully about what to do."
"Abbot, was this message sent before the appearance of the White Maiden Temple?" Qin Hong calmly placed a chess piece, "Didn't you just say that there is only one Golden Core Realm expert in the late stage in the Sea Soul Gate?"
"Why does the Abbot have such arrangements?"
If it was cooperation, the strength of both sides should be equal.
Why did it sound like Tian Can Temple was so cautious?
It seemed like they were guarding against the Sea Soul Gate.
He asked this, of course, to see if there was any opportunity to take advantage of.
The muddier the water, the better.
The muddier the water, the better for him to govern Lingzhou and have room to maneuver.
"Hehe, Governor, there is no need to test me anymore. This is just because my founder suffered a loss at the hands of a Daoist, so he is prepared," the Abbot smiled. "Even if the Governor doesn't ask, I will tell the Governor."
"Why?"
"Lest the Governor also fall for the Daoist's tricks!"
"Then I would like to hear the details."
"This matter happened a long time ago. About forty years ago, when the founder achieved the Arhat status, he met an old Daoist. He lost a battle to him and had to grant him a request."
"What was the request?"
"The old Daoist gave the founder a Black Qilin and asked him to raise it."
"Is this request too much?"
Xu Chengxian, who was listening outside, also felt that there was no problem.
Raising a Black Qilin, isn't that a good thing?
Although he had never seen this kind of spirit beast, the Qilin was an auspicious beast. Stealing some fur and blood would be good things.
"Is it difficult to raise?" Qin Hong asked.
"It's not difficult to raise," the Abbot shook his head.
"Then what is it?"
"It's just that this Black Qilin, as the name suggests, has black fur and scales all over its body," the Abbot said with a wry smile. "But that old Daoist wanted my founder to raise it to be white and fat, only then would the promise be fulfilled."
"… …"
"… …"
Oh, ho!
Xu Chengxian barely managed to hold back his laughter.
This old Daoist is also a divine person!
"Did your honorable founder agree?" Qin Hong asked inside the room.
"No, my founder said, 'I'll raise your grandpa!'" the Abbot continued.
"… … This is, committing verbal karma, right?" Qin Hong frowned.
"That's right," the Abbot nodded. "The founder said that he was only an Arhat at the time and couldn't hold back."
"And then?"
"And then," the Abbot said, "That Black Qilin, he really had a grandpa."
"… …"
"… …"
凸(艹皿艹)
Xu Chengxian almost laughed out loud.
What kind of story is this?
This Abbot of Tian Can Temple, isn't he a comedian?
This story even has three twists and four shakes!
"Governor, do you understand this story?" the Abbot said, "So the founder once said that unless it is absolutely necessary, never join hands with Xuanmen people, those people are really too treacherous!"
As he spoke, he stared at Qin Hong and said again, "Governor, could it be that you have also fallen for the Daoist's trick?"
"What do you mean by that, Abbot?"
"If you hadn't fallen for the trick, why would you arrest innocent people."
This was openly questioning Qin Hong why he had turned against them and arrested the heads of the Zheng family, Wang family, and Sima family.
"Alas!" Qin Hong sighed, put down the chess piece and said, "To be honest, Abbot, I had no choice but to issue such an order."
"The Daoist forced you?"
"It was the situation he created that forced me."
Governor, he's starting to sell out his teammates.
""
With a soft "click", as if the lock was awakened, an ancient and powerful force surged out from the cauldron, instantly permeating the entire temple.
The lid of the cauldron slowly rose in the astonished eyes of the crowd, and a rich fragrance wafted out.
It was the incense of countless sacrifices and offerings, mixed with the spiritual energy and mystery of heaven and earth.
Inside the cauldron, a clear and transparent liquid flowed quietly, with a few strange flowers floating on it, the petals crystal clear, emitting a faint light, like the brightest stars in the night sky.