Chapter 695: 450
A new secret reached his ears, and Tao Qian could not help but blink.
How ruthless!
A spy plan to steal magic skills!
And it had been successful.
Just as Tao Qian secretly considered the Demon Buddha Temple quite shameless and cunning, Yuan Gong suddenly changed his tone and said,
"In fact, it’s not a big deal. Stealing magic skills in the Cultivation World is as common as eating and drinking. The bald monks of the Demon Buddha Temple just do it most extremely and cunningly."
"Speaking of which, if my Secret Demon Sect fancies another sect’s exquisite magic skills, we too would think of ways to steal them. If we can use them, we use them; if not, we modify them a bit and use them to trap others."
"The ’Secret Demon Buddha Corpse Transformation Technique,’ which you previously found very useful, came about in this manner."
"As for your Spirit Treasure Sect, it has several divine powers that are famous in the Cultivation World. Not just us, everyone wants to steal them, but so far no one has succeeded. Take Duobao, for instance—his famous ’Divination Technique’ and ’Ten Thousand Treasures Secret.’ Several of my junior brothers and sisters tried every trick in the book but couldn’t steal even a single phrase."
"Even Old Lady Jiang, she only managed to trick Duobao into teaching her one prediction technique through provocation, but it still wasn’t enough."
"Also, don’t assume that cultivators of the Righteous path are much better. Your Spirit Treasure Sect once had a second-generation master who coveted the secret technique from Da Zhao Temple. He pretended to convert and eagerly went to their temple’s secret realm to ask for the technique. While he managed to cultivate it successfully, he lost his life in the process."
"The Spirit Treasure Sect lost a second-generation master, and Da Zhao Temple gained a Bodhisattva, a huge loss in trade, huh, huh."
...
Originally, Tao Qian intended to eavesdrop on the many secrets of the demon military warlords in the hall but was interrupted by Yuan Gong and turned to listen to the secrets of spies and skill theft among the major Daoist and Buddhist sects.
This took a bit of time, but fortunately, he quickly reacted.
Leaning in to listen again, it was just as the effects of the drug took hold.
At that moment, the warlords, each one revealing their madness, began to spout all kinds of things.
After selecting for a while, these gossips entered his ears:
"You Changqing, this man, is ranked among the top five talents of his generation in the Pure Yang Sect. Not only is he extraordinarily adept in Daoist skills, but he is also born handsome and dashing, quite remarkable. Although he originated from one of the Twelve Major Daoist Sects, he ironically joined the ranks under the Devil God Third Princess, who is Hong Fu, willingly serving under her because of his deep love for Hong Fu... It is now rumored that Hong Fu will unite in marriage with Si Xixin, causing You Changqing’s devoted love to be wrongly placed, truly pitiful."
"After the Yang Sui Uprising, the Seventy-two provinces crumbled, countless warlords and strong people rose, among them Si Xixin, though a weaker newcomer. However, this person is determined and skilled in tactics, quickly rallying support from many Great Sects, including his own Si Family... And whether in conquest or governance, he is incredibly adept, conquering several provinces including Demon City, and is now rapidly expanding."
"Seeing the rise of Zhang Mazi, Si Xixin, and Red Buddha Girl, the three major warlords growing stronger with potential to unify, other major warlords in the Northern Land such as Yelü Baoshan, Song Tiecheng, Wu Shaozu, Guo Zhanlong, Li Siming, and several others intend to unite and form a provisional court to battle the three major warlords and compete for supremacy over the Central Plains."
"Zhang Mazi, the strongest warlord of the Northern Land, recently proposed to marry Hu Yudie, the daughter of the Sect Master of Star Leader Sect, and also sought to marry her younger sister, Hu Caide. He was chased for eight hundred miles by her wielding the ’Seven Stars God Slaying Saber’. Eventually, Hu Caide had no choice but to appear and claim she had long harbored feelings for her brother-in-law, begging her sister to forgive them... Eventually, somehow Zhang Mazi managed to marry both sisters, but at a steep price, all three of his legs were broken, forcing him to lie in bed for a month before he could recover."
"As for the remnants of the Zhu Dynasty, the Heavenly Eunuch Zhu Xun, to fully inherit the Zhu family’s legal system and legacy, sought the secret technique of continuation in private, hoping to successfully marry and unite with the Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen to produce sons."
"In the Southern provinces, several are interconnecting with an apparent intention to promote the inheritor of the Primordial Sect, the chairman of the National Salvation Congress Yan Shi, as the Great Governor of the Southern provinces..."
"Over the last few years, whenever armies from exotic realms have invaded, none have escaped severe damage. Having learned of the capabilities of the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty, they began to mix in and steal techniques and treasures... The marriage of Rashamon Princess An Ya to the Ninth Prince of the Zhu family is one such case. Although there were twists and turns, the princess managed to bring back some of the Demon Dao Skill to Rashamon Country. Many locals began Cultivation, but as soon as they made progress, they revolted, claiming to be demon slaves of the Taishang Heavenly Demon Sect, nearly overthrowing the entire Rashamon Country."
"The Ting Di Sect, Divine Ear Sect, Ten Thousand Miles Sect, and six other sects focused on the paths of knowledge and secrecy, recently united and notified the seventy-two provinces, claiming they would share secrets and jointly publish a catalog called [Longevity Heavenly Pride Map]. The list will name all talents in the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty, regardless of whether they are from the Human Clan, irrespective of their magic veins, anyone meeting the criteria will be listed and known throughout the world."
"This is a complex and magnanimous task, and as of now, the person with the highest acclaim as the top candidate is Tao Qian from Spirit Treasure Daoist—a Tao Master whose current whereabouts are unknown."
"The Nine Sects jointly appraise: If Tao Master can escape from numerous enemies and one day reach Ultimate Happiness, enter Daoist Transformation, and perhaps even reach the stage of Tribulation Immortal... He should be considered the top talent of the time."
...
Inside the Little Leiyin Temple, the scene was extremely lively and also highly abnormal.
The warlords, the strong people, for some reason, did not hold their tongues.
Although no major secrets were leaked, many minor secrets filled the air, and the monks from the Demon Buddha Temple secretly arranging recording duties almost couldn’t keep up.
A few, like Tao Qian,
exempted and also seeing through, kept silent in agreement,
listening along, the information was vast.
However, the atmosphere did not last too long as it was almost time.
The Shipi Arhat, although deep in slumber at the head, suddenly awoke and cried out:
"the hour is upon us!"
"Welcome, my Demon Buddha Tathagata!"
As his words fell, the entire province sprang into operation.
Bells and drums chimed in unison, and the Buddha’s name resounded throughout.
A million faithful, demon monks, Jialan Gatis, Buddha beasts and slaves, Buddha’s sons, and King Arhats all stood solemnly or formally seated in salutation.
As for Tao Qian and the gathering of warlords, they stood ceremoniously and listened as the city praised aloud concurrently: "Prostrate and convert to the great enlightened and supreme benevolent viewers of all suffering beings... Whoever converts to the great enlightened shall not fall into depravity."
After numerous praises, a thick Buddha Incense visible to the naked eye wafted throughout the city.
A million faithful had their heads ignited; spirit, soul, and essence blood began to burn.
This scene almost made Tao Qian lose his composure.
At that moment, Yuan Gong suddenly transmitted a reminder:
"Boy, do not be angry. These few bald monks are conducting this ’Buddha Birth Technique’ to affirm the religious orthodoxy and link it to the fortunes of tens of millions in this place. Hence, they will not forcefully extract but will give some benefits to the people of this city."
"A million Human Incenses can summon a projection of Demon Buddha, but after enjoying these offerings, he must provide additional benefits."
"If not provided, once fortune is invoked, a million people will awaken instantly, all harboring the thought ’Without benefits, why would we worship you?’ These bald monks will then be in massive trouble. Just endure a bit more and see."
Even without Yuan Gong’s words, Tao Qian could have endured.
Yet, hearing them brought a slight comfort.
And Yuan Gong’s words were promptly verified.
As the Buddha Incense thickened suddenly, the skies burst into Buddha Light, instantly turning the entire province,
no, seemingly the whole world, into gold.
Flowers rained from heaven, Earth Bursting Golden Lotus appeared, and the merits’ water sprinkled on the human realm, with countless images of Vajra, Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas revealed.
It was as if the Western Pure Land had descended.
Within the Buddha Light, a supremely majestic, inapproachable, unimaginable, indescribable form of a Buddha appeared.
In an instant, a million people knelt down, tears streaming, incessantly chanting the "Demon Buddha Conversion Heart Sutra."
Tao Qian stood in the hall, head bowed like the others, yet a quiet urge to peek at the incredible projection of the Demon Buddha stirred within him.
But before he could contemplate further, the miraculous, sacred projection of the Demon Buddha appeared to say something to all the faithful and then slowly faded.
The strands of "Human Incense" that had risen ascended back into the bodies of the faithful.
Each individual seemed as though they had consumed a Ten Complete Great Replenishing Elixir, their complexions glowing and their wisdom heightened.
"Our Buddha is merciful!"
"Our Buddha is gracious!"
"Our Buddha is supreme!"
...
Amidst the murmurs of the city’s people, the ceremonial proceedings of the Buddha Birth Technique came to an end.
In Tao Qian’s mind, Yuan Gong’s commentary came again:
"Ha ha ha...just a moment?"
"I thought Kongchan, Shipi, and Lian Sha, these three old thieving baldies, would be more generous since they occupy a prosperous province; how could they be so stingy."
"It appears they are also vying for power and profit within their temple, these three bald monks lacked the means to grab more resources, truly embarrassing."