Chapter 1421: Strategic Calculations (II)

This kasaya had been used by Nuyan back then to capture Master Baiyin, and it suffered not the slightest damage during that great battle. Li Ximing had already known at the time that the item was excellent and had long planned to exchange it for something else. Unexpectedly, Lotus Temple had come looking for it first.

Li Ximing had long intended to visit Chengyun Gate. On one hand, there was the matter of Wang Quwan and Wang Xiaoxiao, and on the other he needed to dispose of the kasaya he had obtained.

Smiling, he bid the two farewell and was just about to depart in a streak of light when Kuiqi stopped him and said softly, "Five days from now, Purple Smoke Gate will celebrate Daoist Master Wenqing's breakthrough and the completion of a divine ability. A grand banquet will be held in the Purple Smoke Blessed Land, inviting cultivators from Jiangnan, with many Daoist Masters attending. I ask Zhaojing to leave behind a wisp of divine ability for us to borrow."

No wonder Zhusheng arrived first!

Li Ximing was stunned for a moment before immediately understanding. He smiled slightly and praised, "Excellent."

He brought two fingers together and pinched off a bright streak of heavenly light. Kuiqi gathered it with his sleeve and cupped his hands. "This divine ability transformation will merely animate a wax figure seated among the clouds. My apologies!"

With the direct Daoist Master of Great Xiukui Temple and Zhusheng of the Jade True Dao working together for a transformation, a monk would fail even if they tried to divine from hundreds of thousands of miles away. Even if he saw it in person, he would only turn around and flee in confusion.

"No matter!"

Li Ximing departed in a streak of light. Zhusheng merely cupped his hands and said, "I dislike Prime Magnetism. I will wait outside the mountain first."

Thus only the three direct members of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage remained in the hall. Kuiqi let out a breath, rubbed the center of his eyebrows, and asked, "What did Xuanmiao Temple say?"

Tinglan replied, "Sumian has set his mind on staying out of it. People on the mountain said he took the ancestral portrait from the mountain gate and then departed through the void without saying another word."

Houfu calculated with his fingers and said reassuringly, "It should be enough. We will not need him."

"Now we have no choice but to fight northward!" Kuiqi frowned deeply. "The northern Buddhists cannot be compared with the Immortal Dao. They will rise if they have a position, and if not they simply remain where they are. They do not need much cultivation in daily life. They can simply wear us down here, stirring trouble every three days and harassing us every five. How could we afford to endure that?

"We must cultivate divine abilities, practice arts and methods, nurture spirit pills, and refine spirit artifacts. At times we must even look after the younger generation. How could we possibly have the time to accompany them in endless skirmishes across these mountains? If we keep doing that, how will we cultivate at all?

"Moreover, the north can come whenever they wish, but we cannot always gather this many people. One is in seclusion today, and another refining artifacts tomorrow. They cannot be easily moved. Whether we have many or few people depends on luck, and each time we gather them we incur favors!

"It is good that Ziyu has broken through. The Compassion Dap excels at calculation and cannot fail to attempt divination. Everyone has left behind traces of marvelous transformation, leaving their aura in the blessed land so that it all blends together. Unless Puyu[1] or Qiushui come in person, they will not be able to calculate it clearly. Confusing them for a while will be more than enough."

He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, "If we are to fight, we must fight fiercely. Once people disperse and return to their own affairs, we will only have the strength to defend this mountain."

At this point Kuiqi flicked his sleeve and stood up.

Houfu said, "We can only respond carefully. At worst, we lose Jiangbei."

————

Li Ximing traveled in a streak of light, passing through the great void for a while before appearing before Timber Mountain. It was merely a short hill, yet it was covered with densely packed temples, as if they might press the entire mountain flat at any moment. Their treasures shone brightly in the day.

Several streaks of colored light spiraled down from the sky. Perhaps a few Merciful Ones were drawing down Buddhist land and practicing their spells. Li Ximing glanced briefly and saw at least three of them. But it would be harder to say whether any Maha were present.

"Five days will pass in the blink of an eye. It would be best to exchange some intelligence and gain a bit of initiative for what comes next!"

Li Ximing was not worried about Lotus Temple refusing to speak. Buddhist cultivators were the most divided of all, and the faction led by the Great Curtain Dharma Realm was especially radical. Some even openly called the Compassion Dao heretical monsters. Lotus Temple was hardly a benevolent group, but if they could gain some benefit while harming the Compassion Dao, it would be an opportunity that is almost impossible to come by!

Sure enough, Li Ximing pretended to be visiting Chengyun and did not head toward Timber Mountain. Before he had even descended onto Chengshui Marsh, he saw a monk riding a streak of golden light pass by.

Upon seeing him, the monk looked both startled and delighted and called out, "Fellow Daoist! Fellow Daoist!"

Li Ximing glanced to the side. The monk wore a white kasaya embroidered with lotus patterns in gold and pale powder. With red lips and white teeth, he looked almost like a handsome youth. He was none other than Minghui, the Merciful One who had once appeared in the Chengyun region.

Now that friction between north and south was constant, it was best if Lotus Temple refrained from intervening. Li Ximing did not give him much face either. He simply cupped his hands calmly and said, "Merciful One, a fine bearing and a fine kasaya."

"Not at all... Not at all!" Minghui looked delighted as he replied, "I have been wandering around here for quite some time. I wanted to head south but feared causing offense.

Haha.

The kasaya in your hand is the truly fine one."

No matter what, Lotus Temple was one of the Seven Dharma Forms[2] of the northern Buddhists. Li Ximing did not waste words and said quietly, "The Glazed Radiance Kasaya is indeed in my possession. I hear Lotus Temple needs it."

"Exactly! Exactly!"

Minghui gestured ahead, and the two descended quietly. Li Ximing restrained his divine ability, while the monk instantly transformed into a Daoist with black hair and a long beard.

The two walked together across Chengshui Marsh as Minghui said with a smile, "What a coincidence. I have coveted this Glazed Radiance Kasaya for quite some time, but it was taken by Nuyan to capture someone. I never expected it would reveal none of its divine power and end up in your hands instead."

Li Ximing sensed something profound as he watched the transformation that Minghui performed with such ease. He felt a trace of caution rise in his heart.

I have fought quite a few Merciful Ones. Even those who know spell arts only wield one or two techniques. Who can transform so freely like this? He is also skilled in calculations, which I saw back then. This Minghui is probably among the top figures of the Virtuous Dao, a Merciful One personally chosen and instructed by Jinlian.

Li Ximing's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Then it depends on whether you can offer the right price!"

Upon hearing this, Minghui waved his hands repeatedly and gestured forward. He seemed somewhat hesitant, his eyes glancing repeatedly toward the distant Chengyun Mountain Gate in a clear hint.

After all, the two sides had no real friendship and not even a foundation of trust. Without a Daoist Master to mediate between them, it would naturally be difficult to reach an agreement. Li Ximing therefore said, "This is not something to discuss in the open. Let us go together to the Chengyun Mountain Gate and meet Daoist Master Changyun[3]. Then everything will be easier to settle."

"Yes. Yes."

Minghui hurried forward with him as they made their way toward the Chengyun Mountain Gate. It did not take them long to arrive at Yebai Mountain. There, above the marsh, they encountered a disciple of Chengyun Gate.

The disciple carried a clear aura of pure qi. His face was upright and dignified; a sword hung at his waist; and his bearing was imposing, the very image of a proper immortal sect disciple.

He recognized Minghui at a glance and bowed. "Honored sirs, please proceed to the pavilion. I will invite my gate's Daoist Master!"

1. A Daoist Master of the Unison Sea's Quhai Sect. First appeared in Chapter 688. ☜

2. The Seven Dao of Buddhism. ☜

3. Previously known as Daoist Master Chang Yun. ☜