...
Tao Qian had once again acquired secret information, which let him understand the causes and effects of past events, enabling him to better favor his own plans. Thus, he no longer lingered in the dream of Yuan Mingzhen and left directly.
Completely disregarding the Devil Concubine's attempt to detain him with promises of a dance.
The woman now fully understood Tao Qian's nature and knew that this Spirit Treasure Daoist posed no obstacle to her path to becoming Emperor; collaborating with him might even allow her to inherit the fruits of victory without effort and gain control of the lands of three provinces.
Confident and unafraid, she would often reveal her true nature, attempting to bridge the gap between them.
Master Tao was fully aware of this play-acting, too.
Outside, the Demon Buddha Temple, a host of warlords, the Tiannan Gao Family... naturally, none were aware of the hidden siblings' plans and were still restlessly making their moves, all eager to explode into action.
Three hours passed in a flash.
A ray of sunrise cast golden light from the Little Leiyin Temple, spreading across the whole Qiantang Province City.
At Han Mountain Temple, the Heavenly Phoenix shrieked, and the Free Temple's group arrived as scheduled.
The third session of the Buddhist ceremony began ahead of time.
Both sides had their assurances of victory, smiles on their faces, entirely indifferent to the Peeping Secret Sects such as the Divine Ear Sect, Ting Di Sect, and Ten Thousand Miles Sect setting up their Spirit Mirrors and Crystal Balls once again.
Although last night's event of "Si Xixin claiming the throne" had almost attracted the attention of all seventy-two provinces,
It had also turned this dispute into the center of universal attention.
Why?
Everyone now knew that a great battle in the Central Plains was about to erupt.
And most likely, it would be Zhang Jinluan joined by dozens of big and small warlords in a united attack against Si Xixin and Hong Fu.
However, a conflict of this scale required substantial time to prepare and develop.
Conveniently, Qiantang Province City had gathered representatives from all provinces and warlords of the Northern Land, including Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen and Spring and Autumn Chariot, these "super attractions."
Everyone regarded the outcome of today's event as the harbinger of the Central Plains' great battle, a prelude.
Like Gao Tianci and Yelü Baoshan, who had received messages from their respective masters last night, they were to seize Yuan Mingzhen and the Spring and Autumn Chariot at all costs.
For this reason, each side had sent even more powerful reinforcements.
Shipi Arhat was only too pleased with this situation; he now saw himself as the ultimate hunter, having dug a huge pit in the city, simply waiting for these expendable and treasure materials to jump in, aiding him in the creation of the Eighteen Great Transcendent Bodhisattvas... by then, even if the powerful backers of these people were dissatisfied, it would be useless.
The fusion of eighteen Bodhisattvas would invoke the "Namo Nirvana Buddha," capable of cutting through Daoist Transformation, enough to protect Tiannan and Qiantang provinces. Who would dare provoke them?
It was in such a bizarre and restless atmosphere.
Almost steeped in grease, Cheng Arhat, infamous for his double-dealing, made the first move.
The corpulent monk suddenly rose from the Dragon Chariot, and a pillar of mixed Buddha Light and Dragon Qi shot into the sky; this monk, who always maintained a strange smile, ascended to the heavens like a "Buddha Emperor," for all in the seventy-two provinces to witness his repulsive face.
What was strange, though, was that everyone could not help but swallow down their saliva, all harboring a desire to consume the "golden sesame oil" that continued to flow and drip from his body.
In their minds arose a single thought: to eat that substance would grant Longevity and Extraordinary Power.
At that moment, the Buddha Emperor no longer acknowledged the existence of his opponent, Great Abyss Zen Master.
It seemed this was not a duel, but rather his own day of enlightenment.
His feigned compassionate smile, as if to fill the world with fragrant oil... Cheng Arhat's figure and face suddenly seemed to appear before every believer of Qiantang Province.
Under the witness of the masses, he proclaimed his grand vow:
"I am Cheng Arhat, Lord of the Earthly Buddha Country."
"My vow to all sentient beings in Qiantang: when I attain Bodhi in a future existence, should any living creature be troubled by hunger and thirst, and commit evil deeds for food, upon hearing my name and maintaining it devotionally, I will first satisfy them with exquisite food and drink..."
With each word Cheng Arhat uttered,
the Buddha Light from his body flared even fiercer.
In a trance, the sky cracked open, and amidst the surging golden light, it seemed as if the Western Heavenly Bliss Land descended upon Earth, from which a treasure fell.
That treasure turned out to be a majestic and towering Glazed Buddha Tower.
Constructed with glass, inlaid with Demon Buddha's All Treasures, its base made of mortal white bone.
Cheng Arhat leapt into the tower, his grand vow echoing repeatedly.
As he pronounced "I invite all beings of Qiantang to chant my name, and fragrant oil from heaven shall descend, satisfying body and soul, dissipating sins and resolving calamities,"
The White Bone Glaze Tower suddenly expanded to almost the same size as the city, every glazed tile reflecting the faces of countless mortals.
The devotees revealed by the light all felt a startle in their body and soul, receiving some kind of message.
Then, in unison, they began to chant the name of Cheng Arhat.
The next moment!
A shocking scene unfolded throughout Qiantang Province.
Across the province's boundaries, in every city, every market, every county... wherever people chanted Cheng Arhat's name, sweet rain began to descend.
But this was no ordinary rain.
It was oil!
Golden, thick, incredibly sweet fragrant oil!
The common people, the devotees, seemed to go mad.
Together they rushed outdoors, opening their mouths to catch the drops of fragrant oil falling from the sky.
Their throats moved, constantly swallowing.
During this process, miraculous scenes continuously played out.
Those who were hungry were sated, those suffering from illness were cured, those bound by love and hate were released...
These sights seemed to confirm: Lord of Buddha Country had not lied.
Especially since everyone could see, as the "fragrant oil rain" kept falling, the figure sitting upon the Glazed White Bone Tower, resembling a mountain of flesh, was rapidly slimming.
In the end, like a monk on the verge of passing into nirvana, he became skeletal.
Even so, he was still smiling, full of compassion.
For a time, millions of people chanting the venerated name of Cheng Arhat grew louder, and without agreement, incense began to burn above their heads.
Plumes of "Human Incense" wafted up, converging towards the Glazed Tower, burrowing into Cheng Arhat's body.
Though his skeletal frame did not regain its fullness because of this.
Yet, the various warlords present all saw a sense of unprecedented comfort flash across Cheng Arhat's face.
That manner!
It looked just like those opium addicts in the Mortal World, crazed by a smoke high.
Low-level cultivators, at this time, might not understand the situation, even truly believing Cheng Arhat was emulating Buddha, making grand vows, offering himself, thus moving the people and about to attain Buddha status and save the world.
But somewhat knowledgeable cultivators, seeing this scene, sneered.
Particularly Tao Qian, who reached out her hand, allowing a drop of golden sesame oil to fall onto her palm.
A Record instantly erupted.
After Tao Qian read it, she couldn't help but angrily say,
"This fatso really made a killing!"
"His body's fragrant oil indeed benefits the Mortals, but there's also not a small amount of spiritual pollution."
"Cheng Arhat first divested himself of these, using the Power of the Demon Buddha Glaze Tower to artificially rain down a fragrant oil sweet rain."
"Millions of people consumed his fragrant oil, gaining benefits but also sharing the pollution."
"Unknowingly, they are all grateful and indebted, in return chanting his honored name, voluntarily lighting Human Incense, offering up their pure Will Power, Blood, Soul Essence and such from within their bodies."
"In giving and in getting, Cheng Arhat not only completely enlightened these millions of people but also reaped tremendous benefits, breaking through the barrier of the Ultimate Happiness Realm in a leap, becoming a bona fide Arhat-level strong presence."
"Looking at this spectacle, this display, it wouldn't be surprising if this fatso's future title is called 'fragrant oil Arhat.'"
"No wonder Shipi and the other two were certain this battle was sure to win."
"Now, with millions of civilians frenziedly swallowing fragrant oil, to resolve this situation, one must first offer greater benefits... Not to mention whether giving them would cover the costs, just offering benefits equal to this fragrant oil is beyond most, let alone delivering them into the hands of millions of people, which is even harder."
"In such a state, whoever it was would likely have no way to turn the tables,"
"If it were me up there, there are indeed some methods to use, like taking out the Toad God Tile and continuously beckoning above my own head. Such a performance would surely move the Toad God, then I would implore Him to scatter Golden Ingots to every single person in the millions of Qiantang Province, that should be no problem."
"Unfortunately, I cannot reveal my identity for now, so I must refrain."
"At present, we can only see what techniques the Great Abyss Zen Master has..."
As these many thoughts settled, Tao Qian's gaze involuntarily turned towards the direction of Free Temple.