The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 234 The Integration of Heaven and Earth

Somewhere in Fengxiang on a mountain peak, several monks in red robes were standing facing the moon.

The person in front was big and fat with a kind face, as if he were wearing a perpetual smile. He was wearing a thirty-six bead Buddhist bracelet on his wrist, and there a hundred and eight golden beads on his cassock. The golden thread around his cassock was two hundred and six inches in length. This robe clearly showed that he was the head of the thirty-six temples in the Western Region and abbot of the Gold Mountain Big Snow Temple, Tian Luo.

On the flat land below the mountain peak, there were eight hundred monks sitting cross-legged, those were Warrior Monks from the thirty-sixth temples of the Western Region.

On the steep and rugged mountain path, a white-browed monk in white robes climbed up the stairs. His past wasn’t fast, but it didn’t take long for him to reach the top of the mountain.

Tian Luo turned back and met with this man.

“Senior Brother Tian Luo.”

“Junior Brother Fa Yi.”

The two stood side by side and looked beyond in the distance. The surrounding monks stepped back a few steps to make room for them.

Tian Luo smiled and added, “The purpose of the eighteen temples of the Tang Empire and thirty-six temples of the Western Regions joining forces is to spread Buddhism into the Central Plains and bring peace and prosperity to the people so that they’ll no longer suffer. The biggest power in the Tang Empire Jianghu is the Taoist sect. Taoist temples large and small are spread across the nine states, the number of Taoist monks could rival the grains of sand in the Heng river. The Taoist sect enjoys incense offerings on earth and they have the support and protection of the Immortal Court in the heavens. This is the reason why Buddhism has not thrived even though we have been in China for eight hundred years.”

“But this is a new day, for eight hundred years the Taoist sect has been so arrogant and Buddhism has laid low, the tide has turned. Just like the Chinese nobles, the Taoist sect is not united. They’re busy fighting among themselves, and they’ve split into five large sects, separated in different places. The Taoist sect have tried everything to expand, but due to the fact that they’ve been comfortable for too long, their cultivators’ strength has been their downfall.”

“Out of tens of thousands of Taoist temples, you couldn’t find ten Spiritual Master Realm cultivators. So how could they compete against our Buddhist sect? We have dozens of Kong Kim Realm masters. Plus, the Taoist sect lack discipline, and their monks are sloppy compared to our eight hundred warrior monks, the strong attacking machine. The Taoist sect is bound to lose in this battle!”

Fa Yi’s wounds had yet to fully heal after returning from the war. Recalling the battle with Li Ye, there was a worry in his eyes. “Although the Taoist sect is not worth worrying, there are however plenty of high-level masters in the Central Plains.”

Tian Luo smiled and added, “You mean Li Ye?”

“Exactly.”

Tian Luo glanced at Fa Yi, his smile squeezed his eyes to very small. “His strength indeed should not be underestimated since he could beat you, and kill our Kong Kim Realm monks. However, we have eighteen Guardian Deity and thirty-six Arhats. How can Li Ye compete with that?”

Fa Yi sighed, and this was the reason why he came to meet Tian Luo in person. “The eighteen Guardian Deity no longer exist.”

“What?” Tian Luo was shocked and his smile stiffened.

Fa Yi replied with a heavy heart, “Not only are the eighteen Guardian Deity killed by Li Ye, the thirty-eight Arhats may also suffer great losses. Whether Li Ye can be taken down remains unknown.”

Tian Luo enunciated his words slowly, “Brother, a monk is not allowed to joke.”

Fa Yi bitterly added, “Senior brother, the situation has changed. How could I have the mood to joke under such dire circumstances?”

Tian Luo was silent and wearing a heavy expression, but soon he smiled again. “Is Li Ye really so powerful? He had barely reached the Spiritual Pool stage. How could he compete against my thirty-six Arhats formation and my thirty-six Arhats’ Tianyin Thunder Pool territories?”

After a moment’s reflection, in all fairness, Fa Yi did not think that Li Ye could compete. After a long time, he added, “Senior Brother, I have something to say, but I am not sure if I should say it or not.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Fa Yi added in a low voice, “Since Buddhism has spread to the east, its purpose has always been the Central Plains. However, we’ve been suppressed by the Taoist sect and thus never prospered. But in the places where the Taoist sect in the Western Regions are weak, Buddhism rapidly developed and expanded. As early as hundreds of years ago, the entire Western Regions were Buddhist countries, and people converted to Buddhism, just like the Elysium.”

“However, in the past few hundred years, the thirty-sixth temples of the Western Region had repeatedly tried to enter the Central Plains when its strength was at the strongest. The intention was to have a foothold in Jianghu first, and then set foot in the imperial court... At the time of the An-Shi Disturbances, Buddhism had made such a move, but in the end...”

Tian Luo did not take his words seriously and added, “Yes, but they all came to nothing. Before we even entered the Central Plains, the strength that the Buddhist sect had accumulated was immediately destroyed by the Central Plains’ cultivators that came to the Western Regions as soon as they got wind of our intentions.”

Fa Yi expressed pain as he recollected the past, “A hundred years ago during the An-Shi Disturbances, the Tang emperor rearranged his border forces to the Central Plains to fight the rebels, so the borders were unguarded. The Tubos and Uighurs took the opportunity to take the Western Regions and Hexi. Countless Tang Empire’s border soldiers died. The four villages of the Western Regions and the capital had all fallen. The territories had been eaten up, while the Buddhist sect also accumulated strength and tried to enter the Central Plains.”

“Just as the Buddhist sect tried to make a move... that man, that green-robed, sword-wielding man popped out of Lingwu, entered Hexi and killed several of our Buddhist Kong Kim Realm masters; He got out of Yangguan, entered the Western Regions and killed thousands of our Buddhist cultivators; In the end, he went up to Gold Mountain alone and forced his way into the Big Snow Temple. He alone murdered our more than ten Kong Kim Realm masters! Even the Abbot... could not escape the fate of death!”

“In the end, if it weren’t for the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation, the Big Snow Mountain Temple would have been destroyed on the spot and the Buddhist of Western Regions would be overturned at the same time!”

“Although later that man retreated with severe wounds, Buddhism’s reputation still took a big hit and became a laughing stock.”

“For hundreds of years, he was not the only Central Plains cultivator that got out of Yangguan and forced his way into the Big Snow Mountain Temple with his sword. But he had killed more people than others had all together. And in the end, all of the people died from facing the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation. Only he managed to escape, albeit seriously wounded!”

“For hundreds of years, those who dared to travel east and challenge the Buddhist sect and climb the Golden Mountain to the Great Snow Temple were top masters of the Central Plains Jianghu. And they were willing to travel tens of thousands of miles and ride out of Yangguan alone. They were willing to put their lives on the line just for the chance to kill!”

After Fa Yi finished those words, pain filled his face and he was immersed in the memories.

The mountain peak suddenly turned silent, and only the howling winds could be heard.

To the Buddhist sect, that was their painful past. It was the trials and tribulations they faced to build a future. It was also their shame and old wounds.

Tian Luo spoke slowly, “Correct, these great masters of the Central Plains Jianghu had all died under the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation in the Great Snow Temple. All of them had turned into dust and their souls split. Thus they would never enter the reincarnation circle!”

Suddenly his voice changed and he was more confident. “The willingness to die, and the courage of these great masters have frightened the Buddhist sect. That is why they want to come down from the heavens and take over the Central Plains! The lands of nine states is so fortunate and rich, of course the Buddhist sect wants it. And if they do take it, those talented the cultivators would be their Arhats and Guardian Deity in the future. And if that happens, then Buddhism would thrive in the future.”

Those words bounced off the grounds and spread for miles. Even in the vastness of the open field, those words reverberated.

Fa Yi frowned and thought, “With so many brave masters in the central plains, does the Buddhist sect have a chance?”

“Perhaps, because there’s so much chaos in the world at present.”

A while later Fa Yi probed, “Senior Brother, do you think that Li Ye defeats and kills the thirty-six arhats and in the end, the Buddhist sect would have to use the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation to finally turn him to dust?”

Tian Luo replied indifferently, “The thirty-six arhats have not been together at one spot for hundreds of years. Their forces united is one of the most powerful weapons of the Western Region Buddhist sect! Even that man from the past did not face the formation of the thirty-six arhats head on. Otherwise, that would have been the end of him!”

“Senior Brother, I’m still concerned.”

“Junior Brother, you haven’t lost your beliefs after been defeated by Li Ye, have you?”

“Senior Brother, although I’m not the most intelligent man, I’m not that stupid.”

“Good to hear, Junior Brother, I might as well tell you. This time the Buddhist sect has the blessing of the Bodhisattvas and the Purpose of Buddha to take over the Central Plains. The Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation is more powerful than ever before, anyone below the Immortal Realm would die when touched by the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation, much less Spiritual Master of the Spiritual Pool level. They wouldn’t even have the chance to escape!”

“The epiphany of the Bodhisattvas could increase the power of the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation?”

Tian Luo sneered and said, “Today, not only are the nine states in chaos, the feudal princes are fighting among each other as well. Those deities of different clans that have their greedy eyes on the Divine Land are also making moves. The Tubo Moon Gods, Uighur Monimen, Khitan Theism and Nanzhao sorcerers, none are idle... Word has it that they’re all involved in the messy battle.”

After hearing such secretive information, Fa Yi couldn’t help taking a cold, deep breath. “That explains it... It looks like the fortune land of the Tang Empire has made all the deities get up off their feet. This time the lords of the Tang Empire have lost their morals and created much chaos in the world. All the Luck has dissipated and countless people have been either hurt or dead. Even their religious beliefs have collapsed, and in turn the incense offerings have greatly reduced. Thus the Immortal Court of the Taoist sect is not in the greatest of order since they’ve always depended on the fortune land for its incense offerings. The origin of the Taoist sect’s strength has been greatly reduced, hence creating the perfect opportunity for the other deities to enter the Central Plains...”

“The Gods are fighting in the heavens and the feudal princes are fighting on earth!”

Tian Luo nodded slightly and added, “This is the best opportunity for Buddhism in over eight hundred years. So naturally they had to give it their all. As long as the Bodhisattvas reign a little power down on earth so that the Great Six Paths of Reincarnation Formation could increase in power, it won’t be too difficult. The Tang Empire is about to face never before seen chaos, real chaos. Since the Buddhism sect had predicted what would happen, they’re bound to take advantage of this opportunity.”

“That b*stard Li Ye...”

“Li Ye must die and the Tang Empire must fall. It is written. Thus is the fate, also known as the Great Tao, so what can people do about it? Just wait for the good news from the thirty-six arhats!”

...

Niushou Mountain

Upon the mountain peak, four immortal like Great Cultivators were standing facing the north-west, and their robes were fluttering in the wind.

These four were the chief of Zhongnan Mountain, Xu Pingjing, chief of Shushan, Bai Jingxue, chief of Xuelu, Wu Jinling and chief of Dongting lake, Wang Sanxian.

The mountain peak overlooked all lands, all the mountains and lands were below its feet. Winds howled at night and the galaxy hung above. There were so many stars that it looked like a star-ocean.

The peak extended hundreds of feet in the sky, when on top, you could almost reach the stars. You would not dare to speak up because your voice might disturb the Gods.

Xu Pingjing slowly spoke, “Since the beginning of time, the central plains have been rich and powerful. The neighboring lands and countries from all eight directions came to pay their respects and give offerings. It has always been the pinnacle of culture. And why has it been such? Simple, great lands produces outstanding people! The beautiful mountains and lands are in keeping with the Great Tao; Tens of thousands of people could feed off the fat of the lands. With such a fortunate land, which clan outside of the Tang Empire could compete?”

“The Divine Land is of course the best. Thus the Great Qin Empire was so strong and the Han, Tang empires have flourished. Our Taoist sect was born in Shenzhou and thrived in Shenzhou. We’ve regarded Shenzhou as our land of fortune and the people have always believed in us. We’ve enjoyed incense offerings for thousands of years, so the Taoist sect of the Immortal Court is more prosperous than the other sects of the Immortal Court.”