Accumulated, it was already beyond remarkable.
Although a host of warlords and strong people did not understand how those knowledge-seeking cultivators managed to convince the three Arhats of the Demon Buddha Temple, they were all thrilled at the prospect of such a high-profile event.
Tao Qian took one look and was amused.
This thing was all too familiar to him, just a fantasy version of a live broadcast.
"So-called debating scripture and competing in magic skills is just a pretense, all for show."
"Neither the Demon Buddha Temple nor the Free Temple are under any illusions."
"It takes a great deal of effort for any one family to conquer the territory of a province, and when Master Shenxiu was provoked into agreeing to the wager by me, the Free Temple took the opportunity and smoothly sent some power over to cause trouble. They don't necessarily aim to take over Qiantang but are content as long as they can spoil the Demon Buddha Temple's plans."
"And the three Arhats, feeling they have the upper hand, are confident in their hold over the Free Temple, and decisively stir up a big sensation with their promotion."
"And today, there is yet another reason to draw attention in a clandestine manner; the more attention this event receives, the more covert the assault of Kongchan and Liansha, the Two Arhats on the Tiannan Gao Family, can be."
"Hmm, everybody is quite the player."
After murmuring these points, Tao Qian also began his own maneuvers.
Now, the images projected thousands of miles away to major cities across the seventy-two provinces predominantly showed the demon monks preaching, which must be one of the conditions imposed by the three Arhats. Apart from generating hype, they also took the opportunity to teach, casting their net wide with the hope of catching some fish.
Tao Qian, of course, did not approve and, as luck would have it, the Beautiful Corpse, Lady You Rui, had invited him to preach.
Seizing the opportunity, he readily climbed onto the stage with Yunrong and truly began to deliver his teachings.
He neither knew much about Buddhist teachings nor were they appropriate for him to discuss.
But his current persona was extraordinary, supported by the narrative of "Ten Lifetimes of Resentful Couples" alongside Yunrong.
The story between the two of them not only contained profound Buddhist principles but also had a plot full of ups and downs, which easily could be divided into hundreds of chapters and last for nine thousand installments, allowing him to speak continuously for a day and a night if he wished to.
As Tao Qian lectured, the popularity soared.
By the end, the entire Qiantang provincial city, with millions of inhabitants, had come to listen.
Even Shipi Arhat, within his own Little Leiyin Temple, was trimming flesh while listening with great interest.
Occasionally, he even exclaimed:
"Qingjing Daoist is truly devoted to cultivation, not only does he possess divine powers superior to mine, but he also understands Buddhist teachings more deeply than I do. No wonder he was able to transcend the tribulation of Daoist transformation before me."
"Daoist friend has asked to use my territory to first promote his fame; I, as a Buddhist practitioner, should logically refuse. However, since the Daoist friend has already promised to ascend to the Demon Buddha on the day of pulse opening, it is only right that I offer him the Convenient Gate."
...
Clearly, the laypeople were enjoying an exciting story.
But the cultivators who were proficient in Buddhist teachings and had deep cultivation were listening to the profound Buddhist principles contained within.
Tao Qian gradually noticed something amiss; the story of the Ten Lifetimes of Resentful Couples, which he thought was absurdly melodramatic and put together by Duobao Daoist, seemed to have a magical allure, drawing in large crowds to listen.
He even surmised that if it was like this here, then the many cities and towns currently watching the "live broadcast" across the seventy-two provinces must also be gathering a multitude of Daoist and Buddhist cultivators from side sects, evil cultivators, and more to watch.
This also meant that he, Master Tao, had once again gained fame throughout the world.
But this time, it was under the false identity of "Wu Gou Buddha Son."
Also becoming widely known alongside him was the lineage of the South Sea Qingjing Zen Master.
While Tao Qian read his prepared manuscript with animated expression, he couldn't help but mock inwardly:
"Could Master have foreseen all this and that's why he seriously concocted the story of the ten lifetimes? Sure plays the game well, but isn't afraid of giving himself away."
"Then there are these stories, which are just too melodramatic..."
Despite his complaints, Tao Qian continued narrating. It was far preferable to listen to the story of Ten Lifetimes of Resentful Couples than to listen to those demon monks teaching and demonstrating magic, only for the Demon Buddha Temple to treat the audience like fish, swept away into the Buddha's Golden Soup to be fished out and disposed of at will.
Soon, the second night arrived.
Whether in Qiantang Province City or among the audience from the seventy-two provinces who were watching the event, everyone, including various Daoist and Buddhist side sects, demons, and alien species, was excited.
All of them were discussing:
Who will prove more superior, Wu Gou Buddha Son or Master Shenxiu?
Will the Devil Concubine come again tonight?
If this contest is lost again, will the Demon Buddha Temple's Three Arhats acknowledge the debt?
For a time, it was the center of universal attention.
The fervor was on a completely different level compared to last night's event.
As the hour arrived, the scene from last night replayed, with the Heavenly Phoenix neighing and Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen arrived from the Han Mountain Temple in the ancestral god treasure, the Spring and Autumn Chariot.
In Tao Qian's heart: Though Miss Yuann had some connection with Senior Sister Lingji, she lacked her poise and bearing.
Yet in the eyes of the world, the name Yuan Mingzhen already signified the foremost beauty under Heaven.
The magic competition had not yet started, but the excitement had already peaked.
At this very moment!
In secret places across the seventy-two provinces where the "Spirit Mirror Projection" could be viewed, cheers and gasps of admiration resounded, filled with greedy and envious tones.
Daoists, Buddhist monks, loose cultivators, purveyors of heresy and heterodoxy, demons and monsters, evil spirits, and divine spirits of the land... all were raising their voices.
"What a fine woman, she is the Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen indeed. Truly worthy of being called the incomparable Empress of beauty—if only I could spend a spring night with her, I'd willingly give up ten years of my life."
"Ha! You may be willing, but she's certainly not. Look in the mirror before you get ahead of yourself."
"A phoenix in distress is not as good as a chicken; this woman was once an empress, yet now she faces great difficulty. Rumor has it that major powers like the Xie Family, Guanyin Temple, and Nine Spirit Sect have all abandoned her. Now, being used as a prize in this Dharma assembly, as soon as it ends tomorrow, those savage warlords will swarm her, vying for her possession."
"Bad fortune, inadequate methods, no one else to blame. I'm more concerned about that Spring and Autumn Chariot; such a divine treasure, I wonder who will eventually possess it?"
"Why guess? The Ancestor God Treasure always follows the Child of Fortune. I heard that at the banquet of the assembly, there was Shi Zhongsheng from the Xixin Mansion; the Spring and Autumn Chariot will surely be his."
"Daoist friend, the person who flashed by at the banquet in Little Leiyin Temple seemed to be your Pure Yang Sect's prodigy and true inheritor, You Changqing?"
"Hmph! Don't mention him. As a disciple of the distinguished Pure Yang Sect, he's foolishly infatuated with the Devil God Princess—his unrequited love has disgraced our sect's reputation."
"Trouble yourself to turn the projection crystal ball toward the Devil Concubine and not those two monks, what's his name, Master Shenxiu? How come he turned out so ugly?"
"Stop, stop, stop—a fine looking monk there. Is this person the Wu Gou Buddha Son from the South Sea? Truly pure and untainted, he makes one want to embrace him and shower him with affection."
...
Yuan Mingzhen's appearance and her procession nearly drew away all attention.
Many who saw her transcendent presence for the first time were instantly captivated.
Some even began making their way to Qiantang Province City right then, knowing well they couldn't rescue the Devil Concubine, yet still harboring delusional thoughts.
However, very soon, as the magic skill competition began.
Everyone's gaze was compelled to rest upon Wu Gou and Shenxiu, the two monks, and then couldn't be moved away.
First was Master Shenxiu!
Don't be fooled by the monk with the lump on his forehead; he might be somewhat ugly.
But in the next moment, as he stepped out from the formation and began chanting the Buddhist scriptures, no one in Qiantang Province City or any transcendent audience member watching through the spirit crystals in the seventy-two provinces wanted to look away, including those cultivators who were clamoring to watch the Devil Concubine.
The reason was simple; instead of entering into a competitive state, Shenxiu started to bestow blessings generously.
As he walked forward step by step, with palms pressed together, he chanted, "All Buddhist laws, originally exist within the heart, seeking outside one's heart..."
Nearly everyone who saw or heard him instantly received various Buddhist Divine Skills and magical techniques gifted by the master.
This seemed to be a very profound and incredible Sublime Dharma.
Just by watching and listening to him at the moment, one could gain insights and thereby acquire the Buddhist Law.
And Tao Qian's mind also buzzed with a Record:
[You are listening to Master Shenxiu's chanting... This is the gradual Magic Skill of universally saving all living beings, even the most foolish can benefit from it.]
[This technique is aimed at the foolish and ordinary beings. Since you are a person of the highest caliber, you will not gain anything.]
Upon reviewing these two Records,
Tao Qian's expression became slightly stupefied, and he thought to himself, "What does this mean? Ordinary people benefit from listening, but geniuses gain nothing?"