Divine Brilliance

Within the dark and quiet meditation chamber, it was spacious and tranquil. In the huge space there was only one person, lying on his side, chanting Buddhist scriptures without sincerity while drinking wine and eating meat.

In front of him were all kinds of delicacies, as well as fragrant wine.

What was weird was that when the wine and meat was in his mouth it didn’t affect his speaking. His tempo had its own rhythm, and his voice was like a broken Gong, but when one heard it, it was really pleasing to the ear.

Occasionally he would knock on a wooden fish, really casual and carefree.

If Jingyin was here she would recognize that this person was that old monk who spoke to her, that extremely kind person.

Suddenly a Yin wind swept up. When Linghai reacted, a person had appeared in front of him. It was another monk, square-faced with large ears, similar to the look in books used to describe people with good fortune. However, he was frowning deeply.

Linghai was startled, hurriedly waving his sleeves and stowing all the meat and wine. When he cleared everything out he heaved a sigh of relief.

“So it was you, you really scared me to death!”

His eyelids opened wide, “Isn’t it the rule of the World Protector Venerables not to appear in front of people? Why is Buddha He so free to appear here today?”

He was at the Luohan stage while the person in front of him had formed the Buddha fruit, which was the so-called Saint realm!

However his words didn’t have much respect. He had mostly given up hope on proceeding further, just wanting a long lifespan. In his eyes it wasn’t much to be respectful about.

The person opposite him didn’t make a fuss about it, his palms placed together, keeping silent and not making a sound.

“Why are you so down everytime we meet? There is no need to be like this…”

Linghai’s brows rose up, and he thought about it carefully. “Buddha, you came regarding that endless darkness and unlimited light?”

The eyes of the monk lit up and he nodded. Linghai asked once more, “You are unable to reveal a single word about this to others because you are the World Protector? Speaking of which, who is the Endless Beginning and End Buddha, the other few ancestors are speaking about?”

The monk nodded his head, his pupils filled with anticipation.

At this moment Linghai smiled, understanding the situation, “Does this person have to do with the Common People Path?”

The monk nodded, indescribable joy appearing on his face. He was delighted deep down, thinking that this junior who was in charge of Jingtu Sect was really intelligent.

Only to hear Linghai continue, “And this person is currently in Gantian Mountain?”

This time the monk hesitated slightly. However, he still nodded, thinking to himself that the person should have already returned to Gantian Mountain. That place was his country capital, where his foundations were at…

Seeing the situation, Linghai burst out into a laugh, only when the monk looked like like he didn’t understand what was going on did he stop.

“Actually my lady disciple has already found the person. Is it Seven Spirit Sect Zhao Yanran?”

This time the monk was startled. Zhao Yanran? Who was that? Shouldn’t it be Gantian Monster king Zong Shou, Common People Path Tanqiu?

“Roughly a month ago my junior niece personally saw this woman displaying skills regarding unlimited light and endless darkness, it shouldn’t be wrong!”

Linghai smiled happily. “Originally I wasn’t sure! To gather this dharma one needed dual meridian bodies. That Gantian Monster king Zong Shou was more probable. However, I checked, and a few months ago the heaven phenomenon began at Common People Path palace. Three months ago Zhao Yanran also caused one at that place. Today, thanks to senior’s reminder, I managed to confirm. This woman is really fated to be able to open such a path…”

The monk was stunned, wanting to speak up, but he couldn’t speak.

He didn’t mind dying in exchange for a chance for the Buddhist Sect. Only the Heart Demon Oath he made ten thousand years ago was too heavy, and there was no weaknesses to it.

The moment he opened his mouth, he would probably die.

His frown got even worse, brows furrowed tightly. However, he was always like that; even when he was happy, he couldn’t smile.

Linghai didn’t seem to notice anything, his expression was like he had everything under control.

He speechlessly looked over. He thought that this fellow was smart, but now he just thought that he was extremely stupid.

He really wanted to smash him awake with a stick.

He felt frustrated. Unable to open his mouth and unable to use any hints, so how was he supposed to remind him?

If they had this Endless Beginning and End Buddha joining them, all Buddhas working together to open up a new extremely pure world, why would he need to depend on this Cloud World to live?

His life was truly tough…

—————-

About when the monk was thinking about the Endless Beginning and End Buddha, in the night sky a bright light arrived above Gantian Mountain. Atop that shining spiritual light long sword stood a white robed teen, Zong Shou.

Looking carefully below, he saw a camp forty miles outside of the city.

There were only ten thousand large tents, probably around twenty thousand people. They were the elite troops he brought over to Mysterious Cloud Mountain.

During this battle there were thousands of casualties, but the rest returned safely. A large portion of them were sent to other parts of Donglin to conquer other areas.

The Black Fox Cavalry wasn’t within.

The current Gantian Mountain had decorations hanging all over, red banners here and there, a joyous atmosphere.

Zong Shou’s brows rose up, and he knew that Hu Zhongyuan and the others were waiting for him to return before they came back.

Gantian Mountain’s victory on Mysterious Cloud Mountain was indeed worthy of a huge celebration, and it could also calm down the hearts of the people.

Thinking back to not long ago, the situation near Cloud Saint City, Zong Shou’s heart sank. All he didn’t do was sigh out loud.

That monster on Demon Corpse Mountain, along with the Nine Yin Death Witch… if they came out at the same time, what would happen?

Why was he so dumb, there were so many places to bury. Why did he have to bury such a huge calamity?

It seemed like even the heavens was unwilling to see him delighted.

“Oh?” He felt a stab in his heart. Zong Shou’s gaze turned dark and sunken as he looked towards where he felt an abnormality.

He felt an aura disappearing right away, such that there was nothing weird at all.

Zong Shou’s brows furrowed tightly. This person was really good at hiding and staying invisible.

If not for being too confident and spreading his spiritual sense a thousand feet around himself, he wouldn’t have noticed anything.

This technique was really familiar. It seemed like the Illusionary Heart Mirror; not the replica in his hand, but the true one!

There were people who cast spells worlds away, and used the Illusionary Heart Mirror to cover their tracks.

So, it was people from the Xue family?

A few years had passed and this Eight-Tail Xue family hadn’t done much. He thought that the bloodline had given up on Gantian Mountain, who knew that they would show their tracks now.

How bold…

Moving coldly, Zong Shou stopped bothering about them and landed on the peak of Gantian Mountain.

The army camp outside was only for show. With such a comfortable area like the Hanyan Palace here, obviously Zong Shou wasn’t willing to live a tough life there.

The moment he returned to the Palace, the people waiting to receive him were all waiting in Chongzheng Hall for him.

Apart from Xuanyuan Yiren and the girls, and Leidong and Jin Buhui, there were the other old officials of Gantian Mountain.

They were all bowing excitely towards Zong Shou.

They bowed the way one bowed to the king in advance!

Even Renbo, who was usually calm and composed, was out of sorts.

If it was normal circumstances, Zong Shou would be delighted and enjoy their treatment. However he didn’t have the heart to, just faking a smile, saying some gentle words to send them away.

What was surprising was that Kong Yao, who took charge of the East-Conquering Army, was also here. She looked over in disdain.

When Zong Shou looked back, she scoffed coldly and shifted her head away, not exchanging glances with him.

She was thinking that if their Great Shang Majesty faced such a situation, he would rest outside of the city, to suffer along with his subjects.

How did Zong Shou look like a great ruler?

Thinking about that, her expression dulled. She probably didn’t need to return to Great Shang and the Gong family anymore.

Thinking about this sad point, she couldn’t help but tear up.

Zong Shou didn’t understand and looked to Yiren with a questioning gaze. While he was not here, Gantian Mountain listened to her and thus she should know what was going on.

Her expression was really weird as she placed a scroll in front of Zong Shou.

“This is the document sent over by the Great Shang envoy. Yiren made the decision to call sister Kongyao back…”

That scroll was bright yellow in color and had dragon patterns drawn on it. In it there was the king energy which he was really familiar with, just that it was much thicker.

Zong Shou’s expression was really serious. This was a letter of credence, a decree from the heavens…

Opening it and taking a look, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He blinked once more and looked carefully, those were in fact the words written.

…With someone as virtuous and able as her to marry your country’s Ruler, and form an alliance between our nations.

After which there were words about how both countries would become brothers, alliances, etc.

Zong Shou didn’t react at once, he was a little stunned. This future invincible general, Great Shang army god, was so simply married away by Great Shang?

It was also from the mouth of the ruler of Great Shang…

A moment later did he came to his senses. At this moment Kongyao had barely shown a glimpse of her potential. Her war results were really few and she was far from being a famous general.

But Gantian Mountain now stood tall over Donglin, and had became a strong country in the east.

In that instant he had the urge to burst out into laughter.

He was worrying about not having talents to conquer the outer regions, now he was just getting whatever he wanted.

His mouth opened wide and he smiled. Zong Shou then thought about Gong Xinran, his face freezing up and the corners of his eyes twitching.

At the start, when Xuanyuan Yiren saw how happy he was, she was slightly dejected. Actually she was prepared, and knew that Zong Shou, as a Ruler, couldn’t be totally devoted to her alone.

However, she felt really sour deep down. Was Zong Shou really so happy being able to get this Kong Yao?