Chapter 35

Lin Jie actually didn't know either where the rebel army's leader had found those six god statues.

Lin Jie actually didn't know either where the Rebellion Army's leader had found those six god statues.

We need to keep single line.

Their divine names were engraved on the pedestals of the statues.

Translation: "The god statues' pedestals were engraved with their divine names."

They were the Seven‑Sword Asura, the God‑Drinking Wisdom King, the Boundless Venerable, the Holy Might Wrath‑Thunder Vajra, the Three Rivers Bitter‑Cold Bodhisattva, and the Three Corpses Kind‑Hearted Maiden.

Translation: "They were, respectively, the Seven Sword Asura, the God-Drinking Ming King, the Boundless Venerable, the Holy Might Angry Thunder Vajra, the Three Rivers Bitter Cold Bodhisattva, and the Three Corpses Benevolent Lady."

We need to decide on translation for each deity as discussed.

The Seven‑Sword Asura belongs to the melee‑enhancement type; according to Lin Jie, the strongest person in the rebel army could even manifest eight arms, akin to a humanoid killing machine, and wherever its sword light passes, not a blade of grass grows.

Translation: "The Seven Sword Asura belongs to the close-combat enhancement type; according to Lin Jie, the strongest person in the Rebellion Army could even manifest eight arms, akin to a humanoid killing machine, and wherever its sword light reached, not a blade of grass grew."

However, death came swiftly; after being suppressed in battle formation, the Qing troops killed them with a volley of arrows that pierced their hearts.

Translation: "However, those who died did so swiftly; after their strength was suppressed by the battle formation, the Qing soldiers killed them with a volley of arrows piercing the heart."

The God‑Drinking Wisdom King commands fire and wine, the Holy Might Wrath‑Thunder Vajra dominates thunder, the Three Rivers Bitter‑Cold Bodhisattva controls ice, and the Three Corpses Kind‑Hearted Maiden uses poison.

Translation: "The God-Drinking Ming King commands fire and alcohol, the Holy Might Angry Thunder Vajra dominates thunder, the Three Rivers Bitter Cold Bodhisattva masters ice cold, and the Three Corpses Benevolent Lady uses poison."

Few in the rebel army could inherit these legacies; Lin Jie also didn't know the specific details, and the only thing he was clear about was the Boundless Venerable legacy he himself had received.

Translation: "Few in the Rebellion Army could obtain these inheritances; Lin Jie also didn't know the specific details, and all he knew was the Boundless Venerable inheritance he himself had received."

"Those worthy of reverence possess all the great saints' divine powers, excelling in virtue and wisdom!"

We need to keep quotes. Translation: "\"Those worthy of reverence possess all great sage divine abilities; their virtue and wisdom surpass all! \""

But need to keep the Chinese quotes? We'll use English quotation marks.

By venerating the Boundless Venerable, one can master the sword‑control technique, manipulate flying swords to strike enemies from afar, and possess tremendous destructive power.

Translation: "Those who venerate the Boundless Venerable can master the ability of sword control, manipulating flying swords to defeat enemies from a thousand li away, possessing great destructive power."

"Ten Thousand Swords" and "Piercing the Sun" correspond respectively to quantity and quality.

Translation: "\"Ten Thousand Swords\" and \"Piercing the Sun\" correspond respectively to quantity and quality."

However, at his current level Lin Jie can use it only a few times; overuse drains his body, leaving him vulnerable.

Translation: "However, Lin Jie's current level allows only a few uses; if overused, it will drain his body, leaving him at others' mercy."

Net prompt: You have gained knowledge about the statues; you can learn the related divine abilities by consuming blue souls.

Translation: "\"Zongwang Prompt: You have obtained knowledge about the god statues; you can learn the related divine arts by consuming Blue Soul. \""

Mu Yi glanced at the net prompt and indeed realized that what Lin Jie and the others knew wasn't everything; the so‑called acceptance of the inheritance was probably a method devised by the rebel leader to control people's hearts.

Translation: "Mu Yi glanced at the Zongwang Prompt; indeed, what Lin Jie and they knew wasn't the whole story—so-called receiving the inheritance was likely a method the Rebellion Army leader devised to control people's hearts."

He said that such an open‑door force as the Buddhist sect could hardly engage in survival‑of‑the‑fittest; the sect would rather see the whole world take refuge in the Spirit Mountain.

Translation: "He said that the Buddhist Sect, with its open-door policy, how could it possibly engage in survival of the fittest? The Buddhist Sect would love nothing more than for the whole world to take refuge in the Spirit Mountain."

"Do you know where the statues are?" Mu Yi asked tentatively; the rebel headquarters had been lost, so the statues were likely lost as well.

Translation: "\"Do you know where the god statues are? \" Mu Yi asked tentatively; the Rebellion Army headquarters had been lost, so those god statues were probably also lost."

But after all, possessing extraordinary power, it would be a nice thought to look for them when the opportunity arises.

Translation: "However, after all possessing Transcendent power, if the chance arises to casually look for them, it's still a thought."

He didn't expect Lin Jie's answer to astonish him.

Translation: "He didn't expect Lin Jie's answer to astonish him."

He didn't expect Lin Jie's answer to astonish him.

"The statues are formless; as long as one carves a statue and inscribes its divine name, it can be used, but the leader once said that the divine majesty is splendid, and anyone who carves a statue without authorization will incur divine punishment."

Translation: "\"God statues are formless; as long as you carve a god statue and engrave its divine name, you can use it, but the leader once said that the divine might is magnificent, and those unauthorized who carve god statues without approval will suffer divine punishment. \""

Speaking, Lin Jie took out a statue whose face was indistinct from his bosom, with the words "Boundless Venerable" carved on its base.

Translation: "Saying this, Lin Jie took out from his bosom a god statue whose face was unclear, with the words 'Boundless Venerable' engraved on its base."

Mu Yi nodded; this was indeed the Buddhist sect he was familiar with—though it has many flaws, it has always devoted itself to expanding the sect, sparing no effort in recruiting people.

Translation: "Mu Yi nodded; this was indeed the Buddhist Sect he was familiar with—although there are many aspects worth criticizing, it has always taken expanding the Buddhist Sect as its mission, and in recruiting people it spares no effort."

It seems the rebel army is at its end; rather, the rebel leader himself is courting death—if he had opened the channels earlier, he might have been able to turn against the White Lotus Sect and the court.

Translation: "It seems the Rebellion Army is at its end; rather, it is the Rebellion Army leader himself who is courting death—if he had opened the channels earlier, perhaps he could have turned around to oppose the White Lotus Sect and the court as well."

"Do you know what this is?" Mu Yi reached out, took the blue soul, and placed it before Lin Jie.

Translation: "\"Do you know what this is? \" Mu Yi reached out, took out the Blue Soul, and placed it before Lin Jie."

"It seems to be called the blue soul, commonly found on corpses; it is said to be the unwilling spirit of a dead corpse transformed, but according to the leader, this thing is unclear, and carrying it for a long time will harm the body."

Translation: "\"It seems to be called Blue Soul, commonly found on corpses; it is said to be the unwilling soul of a dead corpse transformed, but according to the leader, this thing is unknown, and carrying it for a long time will harm the body. \""

"After each sweep of corpses, the leader personally collects these things and destroys them!"

Translation: "\"After each cleanup of corpses, the leader personally collects these things and destroys them! \"" Note: The Chinese ends with an exclamation inside quotes. We'll keep exclamation.

Case closed—indeed, power is the deadliest poison in this world; even when heaven sends disaster, one cannot escape a heart consumed by greed for power.

Translation: "Case closed; indeed, power is the deadliest poison in this world—even if a heavenly disaster befalls, one cannot escape a heart corrupted by lust for power."

Clearly, if the statues were spread, many could be spared from the snow disaster, but for the sake of power and strength, they recklessly sacrifice lives—no different from the corrupt court.

Translation: "Clearly, if the god statues were spread, many could be spared from the snow disaster, but for the sake of power and strength, they completely disregard human life, no different from the corrupt court."

No wonder such a rebel army was wiped out directly.

Translation: "No wonder such a Rebellion Army would be directly wiped out."

"Wait!"

Translation: "\"Wait! \""

Mu Yi suddenly realized a blind spot: the statues grant only power, so where does Li Tian's abnormal recovery speed come from?

Translation: "Mu Yi suddenly realized a blind spot: the god statues bring only power, so where does Li Tian's abnormal recovery speed come from?"

Realizing something was off, Mu Yi went straight to Li Tian.

Translation: "Realizing something was off, Mu Yi directly sought out Li Tian."

"Are you saying you encountered an immortal affinity? A female bodhisattva gave it to you?" Mu Yi learned an even more surprising piece of information from Li Tian's mouth.

Translation: "\"Are you saying you encountered an immortal affinity? A female bodhisattva gave it to you? \" Mu Yi learned an even more surprising piece of information from Li Tian's mouth."

One day after clearing corpses in a region, Li Tian met a mysterious woman who eliminated his blue soul and gave him a blood crystal that can be used to heal his injuries.

Translation: "One day, after Li Tian finished cleaning up corpses in an area, he encountered a mysterious woman who eliminated his Blue Soul and gave him a blood crystal stone that can be used to heal injuries."

"Well, it's getting more complicated!" Mu Yi felt the situation was a bit mind‑boggling.

Translation: "\"Well, it's gotten even more complicated! \" Mu Yi felt the situation was a bit brain‑burning."

He really wanted to charge straight in, kill the White Lotus Sect and the court's armies, and drag out all the behind‑the‑scenes manipulators, so he wouldn't have to waste brain cells.

Translation: "He really wanted to just charge in, kill the White Lotus Sect and the court's entire armies, drag out all the behind‑the‑scenes black hands, so he wouldn't have to waste brain cells."

Unfortunately he couldn't do that; he could only sit down and ponder life.

Translation: "Unfortunately he couldn't do that; he could only sit down and ponder life."

"When the court builds temples, what they want is incense, or rather faith? Heavenly gods and earthly deities likewise use incense… All say the two are in conflict, and my task is to be the best proof of that."

Translation: "\"The court builds temples, seeking incense or rather faith? The heavenly gods and earth deities likewise use incense…… All say the two are in conflict; my task is to be the best proof. \""

"Whether the blue soul is truly a transformed soul is still unclear, but it's certainly related; in other words, the statues require both faith and blue souls!"

Translation: "\"Whether Blue Soul is a transformation of the soul is still unclear, but it's surely related—meaning the god statues require both faith and Blue Soul! \""

"Finally, the White Lotus Sect… they preach for faith, yet they seem to be the initiators of the warm snow; ultimately, it's still about souls."

Translation: "\"Lastly, the White Lotus Sect… they spread teachings for faith, yet they seem to be the initiators of Nuan Xue; ultimately, it's still about the soul. \""

"And there's that mysterious woman, seemingly a merchant type, whose purpose is also the soul."

Translation: "\"Also, the mysterious woman, seemingly a merchant‑type role, is also after the soul. \""

Mu Yi felt he should find a smart teammate; even a simple analysis of the situation already left him frazzled, and he couldn't imagine what commanding a large army would be like in the future.

Translation: "Mu Yi felt he should find a smart person as a teammate; merely analyzing the situation simply already left him frazzled, and he couldn't even imagine what commanding a large army in the future would be like."

"Let's try this statue first!" Mu Yi took out the statue and softly chanted its divine name.

Translation: "\"Let's try this god statue first! \" Mu Yi took out the god statue and softly chanted its divine name."

In warfare, one employs yin and yang; feigning the aid of ghosts and gods is also acceptable.

In warfare, one employs yin and yang; feigning the aid of ghosts and gods is also acceptable.

But need to keep as single line. We'll output: "In warfare, one employs yin and yang; feigning the aid of ghosts and gods is also acceptable."

Mu Yi does not reject this kind of power, especially after tasting the sweetness brought by Guan Sheng Dijun; he is very interested in borrowing the power of ghosts and gods.

Translation: "Mu Yi does not reject this kind of power, especially after tasting the sweetness brought by Guan Sheng Dijun; he is very interested in borrowing the power of ghosts and gods."

"Boundless Venerable!"

Translation: "\"Boundless Venerable! \""

Accompanying Mu Yi's soft chant, a list gradually unfolded before him, and a spark of spiritual light rose in his heart.

Translation: "Accompanying Mu Yi's soft chant, a list gradually unfolded before him, a glimmer of spiritual light appearing in his heart."

He knew he could consume blue souls to select spells from the list, and these spells could be taken directly out of the dungeon.

Translation: "He knew he could consume Blue Soul to select a spell from the list, and that the spell could be directly brought out of the dungeon."

"Are there no restrictions? Is it because I'm a native of Kyushu? Or because I'm a strategist? Or because I worship Guan Sheng Dijun, who also holds the position of Jia Lan Bodhisattva, thus counting as a Buddhist?"

Translation: "\"Are there no restrictions? Because I am a native of Jiuzhou? Or because I am a Military Strategist? Or because I have worshipped Guan Sheng Dijun, who also holds the position of Blue Ornament Bodhisattva, thus also counting as a Buddhist Sect person? \""

Mu Yi had some doubts, but he quickly brushed them aside; what he needed most right now was power.

Translation: "Mu Yi had some doubts, but he quickly cast them aside; what he needed most right now was power."

In the unknown realm beyond Mu Yi's perception, the Boundless Venerable puzzledly asked the Buddha.

Translation: "In the unknown realm beyond Mu Yi's perception, the Boundless Venerable puzzledly asked the Buddha."

"Why not ferry this child into the Buddhist fold? His potential is not ordinary; he has been chosen by the net of heaven, and his future will surely be promising."

Translation: "\"Why not ferry this child into the Buddhist Sect? His potential is not ordinary, having been selected by the net of the heavenly way; he will surely have a bright future. \""

"Namo Amitabha!" The Buddha's face bore a solemn, compassionate, and majestic countenance.

Translation: "\"Namo Amitabha! \" The Buddha's face bore a solemn, compassionate countenance."

"This child has affinity with my Buddha; everything is predestined."

Translation: "\"This child has affinity with my Buddha; everything is predestined! \""

Compared to an unripe potential star requiring investment, the Buddha still prefers combat power that can directly be ushered into the Buddhist fold.

Translation: "Compared to an unripe potential star requiring investment, the Buddha still prefers combat power that can directly be ushered into the Buddhist Sect."

Just like Guan Sheng Dijun, even if he serves in the heavenly court, he cannot sever the inseparable karma of the Jia Lan Bodhisattva fruit position.

Translation: "Just like Guan Sheng Dijun, even if Guan Sheng Dijun holds office in the Heavenly Court, he cannot sever the inseparable karma of the Blue Ornament Bodhisattva's fruition."

To expect the Buddha to expend great effort cultivating Mu Yi, this little newcomer who has just begun, is impossible; what if he dies midway?

Translation: "Asking the Buddha to expend great effort to nurture Mu Yi, this little fellow who has just begun, is impossible; what if he dies midway?"

The net is called different things in various worlds, but to the ancient deities it remains a novelty; many deities still watch it, and its unpredictable variables are too many for them to grasp the whole picture.

Translation: "The Zongwang Prompt goes by different names in various worlds, but to the ancient deities it remains a novelty; many deities are still observing, with too many unpredictable variables for them to grasp the whole picture."

Vigorous investment is impossible; one can only pick up cheap bargains.

Translation: "Heavy investment is impossible; one can only pick up cheap bargains."

First plant the seeds of karma, give Mu Yi some sweetness, and make plans later.

Translation: "First plant the karma, give Mu Yi some sweetness, then later make plans."

Moreover… that band of strategist lunatics is not to be provoked; the current Mu Yi is not worth them going to war with.

Translation: "Moreover… the Military Strategist lunatics are not to be provoked; the current Mu Yi is not worth them going to war with."

If a real fight breaks out, even the Buddhist Sect—now already holding the West and seemingly on equal footing with the Heavenly Court—won't gain any benefit at all.

"May the Buddha have mercy!" The Boundless Venerable naturally bowed his head and uttered the Buddha's name.

All of fate's gifts have already had their price marked in the unseen.