https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-713-Regarding-the-Elder-s-Seclusion-and-the-Discovery-of-an-Alternative-/13154992/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-715-She-Used-a-Thousand-Disasters-to-Buy-Your-Life/13154994/
Chapter 714: Gratitude and Revenge
Chapter 714: Gratitude and Revenge
"I have no opinion on the matter," Shen Yi said, shaking his head lightly under the gazes of the crowd.
When it came to commanding the entire situation, how could a young man like him, who had just emerged from the shadows and couldn't even recite the full names of the twenty-seven prefectures, compare to the three Generals of the Southern Front?
It was better to avoid meddling in matters he wasn't skilled at.
"However, I might not be staying in the Great Southern Continent for a while after this."
Shen Yi was giving everyone a heads-up, as he couldn't have everyone in an uproar every time he left like today.
Upon hearing this, everyone was momentarily stunned.
As a messenger of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, it was unprecedented for someone to openly abandon their post in the Great Southern Continent without a legitimate reason.
But only Feng Xi and Yang Mingli showed no hesitation, nodding in agreement and adding, "Then be careful."
"Now that you've returned, we'll take your leave."
Yang Mingli stood up, leading the group of titled generals out. He didn't want to stay a moment longer, not wanting to see that stubborn old man, Yan Lanting, again.
That old mule's only redeeming quality was his good luck, to have found such a powerful ally as the Nanyang General to support the western nine prefectures.
"Thank you, everyone," Shen Yi said, seeing them off.
After all, they had been busy with his affairs, and it was only right to show some courtesy.
As the light scattered and quickly disappeared at the edge of the sky, he turned back to the manor.
However, as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he met Yan Lanting's disbelieving gaze, while Wushan beside him wore a proud expression.
It was clear that the fat man had already informed the old man about the matter of passing on the teachings.
A matter that the entire Divine Dynasty found thorny was resolved by a titled general from the Great Southern Continent. The western nine prefectures, which everyone had been waiting to see fail, had now become the backbone of the Great Southern Continent. These changes were naturally worth sharing to bring joy to the old man.
"No wonder they were so eager to find you..."
Yan Lanting remained silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh.
With this, the strange feelings he had sensed earlier finally had a reasonable explanation. He also realized why Yang Mingli had glanced at him with jealousy before leaving.
Yan Lanting was still a bit confused.
Out of curiosity, he had followed Ye Lan and happened to see a young man to his liking. At the time, he hadn't had many plans, but he also couldn't bear to let a demon that had wreaked havoc in three prefectures go free. Since someone was willing to take action, he stepped in to protect the young man.
It wasn't the carefully cultivated subordinate that others imagined.
Why had this young man, whom he had met by chance, suddenly become the unparalleled figure who suppressed the heavenly geniuses of the Three Teachings?
"Only our young master here could stir the hearts of the titled generals of the Great Southern Continent's Demon-Slaying Bureau for months on end," Wushan couldn't help but exclaim. Before the young master's return, he had even seen a hint of unease in General Yang.
"It's not a titled general," Shen Yi said, shaking his head and slightly lifting his robe to reveal the jade plaque at his waist.
"..."
Yan Lanting and Wushan fell silent, their eyes fixed on the plaque.
Wushan, who had wanted to surprise the old man, now had his expression frozen on his face.
The Great Southern Continent had produced a fourth General of the Southern Front! If this wasn't shocking enough, the fact that this person had only joined the Demon-Slaying Bureau a few years ago made it even more startling.
Yan Lanting's hand, which had just relaxed, began massaging his temples again, "How long have I been in seclusion?"
He even began to suspect that he had lost track of time.
After a long while, the old man slowly stood up and walked out of the courtyard. As he passed by Shen Yi, he patted the young man's shoulder lightly, and a smile of amazement spread across his face.
He had casually dispersed a dark cloud above Shen Yi's head, and in return, the young man had supported him and lifted him up.
The words "I'll handle everything" would soon be his to say.
"Are we leaving now?"
Wushan quickly followed.
"Otherwise, I'll stay here and let this young man scare this old man to death?"
Yan Lanting joked, unable to hide his amazement at the day's events. He felt that nothing could surprise him more.
With that, he quickly left the manor.
As he was about to summon the Auspicious Cloud to leave, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the corner near the gate.
General Yan Lanting habitually intended to withdraw his gaze, but his entire body froze in place like he had been struck by lightning. He turned back and stared fixedly at the ordinary-looking black dog in the corner.
"General Yan, what's wrong?" Wu Shan observed the old man's twitching face and couldn't help but feel perplexed.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Yan Lanting replied.
He felt his mouth and throat drying up as he tried to recall where he had seen this black dog before.
And now, it was here alone, the chain around its neck, which was usually held by someone, had vanished.
Connecting this with Shen Yi's unexplained disappearance for several months and his casual remark upon his return about being delayed on the road... That so-called matter might be more terrifying than anyone imagined.
At this thought, the old man abruptly turned around, his eyes filled with questions.
Shen Yi didn't nod in agreement, but neither did he deny it, merely standing quietly in place."
The death of the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva had far-reaching implications.
Shen Yi didn't trust others, but he had no intention of hiding anything from this old general who had fought to protect him under the Bodhisattva. He wanted to ensure the general was prepared.
The Great Southern Continent seemed stable, thanks to the protection of numerous Guardian Stones.
But don't forget, the highest-level Guardian Stones were just wolf demons who had attained the highest fruit of the mind.
If a Third Grade strong being entered the scene, the Guardian Stones would be no different from ordinary stones in front of them.
"Huff..."
General Yan Lanting struggled to regulate his breathing, clearly anticipating the consequences this matter would bring.
His expression grew increasingly somber. "You must be extremely careful! The Three Teachings are far more complex than you imagine."
The opponent who killed the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva was already stronger than the old man.
But if the Three Teachings unleashed their full power, above the Bodhisattva were the Great Liberation ones, not to mention the True Buddhas sitting high on the Lotus Throne, draped in kasayas.
"I understand, senior."
Shen Yi nodded earnestly. When a single Arhat died, the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva came to demand justice. Now, with the Bodhisattva's fall, it was as if one of the Three Teachings' immortal gates had been destroyed. Such a significant event couldn't be kept hidden.
"Uh..."
Wu Shan had no idea why the atmosphere had suddenly turned so serious.
However, he wasn't one to speak unnecessarily.
He glanced over with concern and was about to follow General Yan Lanting out.
Just then, Shen Yi suddenly stopped him.
"I don't seem to see Ye Lan."
"..."
Wu Shan's steps faltered, and after a long hesitation, he said, "Long before the transmission of the sutras, she received a message from her sect and returned to Shenxu Mountain... and hasn't returned yet."
Being a disciple of an immortal sect was an advantage in the Demon-Slaying Bureau, as it could help one obtain more Imperial Qi rewards than their colleagues.
But it was also a huge risk.
After all, if the immortal sect discovered any clues, the consequences might be worse than death.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi's expression remained unchanged, and he calmly responded, "Good."
After saying this, he turned and headed back to the residence with the black dog.
General Yan Lanting helplessly watched the young man's departing figure and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
You know, you don't know anything! Despite his normal expression, when Shen Yi first met him, his demeanor was unperturbed even a moment before attacking the monkey demon from the Jade Pond Immortal Sect.
Given this situation, it would be strange if nothing happened.
General Yan Lanting was about to turn back to dissuade him but stopped, his expression becoming increasingly complex.
If it weren't for this personality that sought revenge for grudges and repaid kindness, this Nanyang General would likely not have remained in the Divine Dynasty.
...
At the Shen Residence in Junyang Manor.
Inside the house.
Shen Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, with the black dog lying beside him.
"General Shen, is it about General Yan Lan?"
Zhishong Master had also met Ye Lan and was well aware of her reputation, but he advised, "The Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva has just fallen, and the Bodhi Sect will surely investigate thoroughly. You carry a similar aura to his, and you were personally introduced to the sect by the Great King Subduing Dragons and Tigers. They will undoubtedly start their inquiry with you..."
"If you leave the Divine Dynasty now, the risk is too great."
If someone else had said this, they might be misunderstood as being selfish, having been saved by Shen Yi and now being prevented from saving others.
But Zhishong Master was different. After all, he was the true good person who, when the Bodhisattva had grabbed his throat and passed through Junyang Manor, had seen Shen Yi but hadn't revealed a single word.
Only he could say such a thing.
"Master, please rest assured, I understand the situation."
Shen Yi retrieved the broken Bodhisattva Attainment from the storage ring and gently caressed the green ring.
The most important lesson from his journey through the Nanyang Treasure Land was to remain calm no matter the circumstances.
Some things became clear upon careful reflection.
Ye Lan's value to Shenxu Old Ancestor was limited, and the only possible reason for her predicament was... Shenxu Old Ancestor suddenly awakening and learning about the Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens' actions during the transmission of the Buddhist Scriptures.
Discovering this heavenly "elixir," it gradually became less controllable.
Hence, Ye Lan was captured to add another restraint.
She could only be effective if she stayed alive.
In that case, there was no need to rush.
Shenxu Old Ancestor and the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva were different. The latter, being an ascetic, could only confront him directly, and with his hidden injuries, he was easily slain.
But Shen Yi had personally experienced the intricacies of Shenxu's Dao Fruit.
Cultivators' battles were far more complex than ascetics', especially with his limited understanding of divine and Buddhist teachings. Insufficient means could easily lead to passivity.
Not only was it challenging to defeat a stronger opponent, but it was also possible to be outmaneuvered by a cultivator with a weaker foundation."
Aside from that, Shenxu's cultivation techniques and the Eight Peaks Techniques were only relevant to Shen Yi's current level in terms of alchemy.
He just needed to focus on improving and seizing every opportunity.
The one who should be anxious now was Shenxu Old Ancestor.
Shen Yi calmed his mind, opened the panel, held the broken Bodhisattva Attainment, and poured the beastly lifespan into the Shenwei Guardian Path Sutra.
[Remaining Beastly Lifespan: 430 Great Tribulations]
The remaining lifespan had not shown significant fluctuations for a long time.
There were rarely any major demon invasions on the Great Southern Continent, and the occasional scouts that came had cultivations mostly around the Seventh Grade, with even Fifth Grade ones being rare.
As for the Eight Extremities Valley, according to Qinghua, they were preparing for some major action, hence the delay in progress.
With only expenses and no income, it was natural to feel some concern.
Fortunately, if it didn't involve the Dao Order, a few hundred Great Tribulations of beastly lifespan would be enough for a long time.
"Please, Master, tell me more about the teachings."
The broken Bodhisattva Attainment did contain insights left by the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva, but they were scattered and fragmented. It would require intense meditation and careful reflection for an ordinary person to comprehend even a single complete technique.
However, with the vast beastly lifespan's assistance, Shen Yi could significantly shorten this process and even have time to learn about other matters.
As the Great King Subduing Dragons and Tigers, he still didn't know which sect his temple belonged to.
His understanding of the Bodhi Sect was inferior to that of Master Zhishong, a Sixth Grade Golden Lotus ascetic.
Perhaps due to frequent interactions, Master Zhishong had become accustomed to "betraying" the Bodhi Sect, doing so without the slightest hesitation. He shared everything he knew, from the sect's rules to its overall structure.
"The Bodhi Sect is spread across the four continents and eight seas. The Northern Continent is where the three True Deities of the Three Teachings discuss the Dao, and Buddhist Scriptures rarely enter."
"Therefore, the three True Deities of the Bodhi Sect each preside over the remaining three continents."
"The one who spreads the teachings in the Great Southern Continent is the Future Buddha."
Even in the current situation, when mentioning this title, Master Zhishong still slightly lifted his head.
"I don't know much about the other Buddhas."
He was just an ascetic and had not yet come into contact with those things: "But the True Buddhas are all in Mount Sumeru, and they rarely manifest their Buddha forms in the mundane world. It is the Bodhisattva of Great Liberation who deals with worldly matters."
"Bodhisattva of Great Liberation, the ultimate of the nine transformations?" Shen Yi glanced sideways, his knowledge of the ascetic path was limited to the recent information he had obtained from General Feng Xi.
"The Bodhisattva of Great Liberation is not a title for a specific person but a state of being... In the outside world, it is referred to as the Second Grade, equal to the Eternal and Transcendenthalted Immortals of the Three Teachings."
Master Zhishong was used to Shen Yi's knowledge not matching his strength.
"The so-called Great Liberation is to transcend the Five Elements and the Three Realms, surpass life and death, and achieve immortality."
"..."
Listening to this description, Shen Yi felt a strange familiarity.
This was the path to becoming a True Deity.
"The one the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva listened to was his senior brother, the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation." Normally, this was not information that an ascetic like Master Zhishong would have access to.
It was only because the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva had kept him by his side that he had witnessed things he previously could not.
"That's it."
Shen Yi finally heard the most useful information for his current situation.
Who said that guarding the Divine Dynasty required staying within the four continents? Why couldn't the Great King Subduing Dragons and Tigers sit on the Lotus Throne?
(End of Chapter)
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