Chapter 234: Golden Body Dharma Aspect, Overawing Slain Hunyuan

Songzhoucheng.

Yang Qianxiang carefully arranged all matters, and instructed the various Demon-Suppressing Generals on how to pacify the people.

As the Regional Commander of a province, when it came to strength, he wasn't even worth a fart in front of Lord Inspector, but when it came to these troublesome details, he did have quite a bit of experience.

After confirming nothing had been overlooked.

Yang Qianxiang mounted his demon horse and accompanied Lord Shen out of Songzhou.

By all rights, having committed such a grave error, he should have been escorted back in custody.

Fortunately, Lord Shen was magnanimous, and hadn't even uttered a single harsh word of reproach against him… of course, he hadn't said anything else either.

Under the powerful legs of the Black-Scaled Flood-Dragon Horse, traveling from Songzhou to the Imperial Capital required less than ten days.

And while the two were on the road.

The Wumiao of the Imperial Capital also welcomed a rare guest.

Temporarily suspending their refinement, the four blue-robed Temple Attendants gathered together.

Given their status, they could only stand flanking the sides.

In the seat of honor sat a man in a black-and-white wide-sleeved robe, with a long goatee.

"I wonder what brings Evergreen True Person of Xuanguang Cave to our Great Qian." Wu Dao'an stood up, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Just passing through." Evergreen True Person casually sipped his hot tea, set the teacup gently on the table, and said in a flat voice: "Also letting you know that one of your Grandmasters has unfortunately perished."

Hearing the first half of his words, the four Temple Attendants showed no particular expression, but when the second half came out, all four subconsciously clenched their teeth.

Wu Dao'an's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched abruptly.

A long silence.

He said coldly: "We understand."

The Great Qian Dynasty had only seven Grandmasters left in total, and now another had inexplicably been lost, yet this man from Xuanguang Cave not only looked perfectly composed, but couldn't even be bothered to mention the reason.

"If there is nothing else, we shall take our leave."

Although they spoke of crude warriors, in truth all Wumiao disciples knew that they and the Slain Hunyuan Grandmasters all guarded Great Qian together, and were brothers-in-arms.

How could they not be furious at this moment.

But they could not be angry… even revealing the slightest unusual expression and angering Xuanguang Cave would only cause the Grandmasters outside to face even more unjust treatment.

Wu Dao'an turned and walked outward.

"Wait a moment." Evergreen True Person suddenly raised his palm to stop them: "This Seat, at the request of a friend, has come to seek a young friend among you all."

The Temple Attendants stopped, looked back: "……"

"That friend of mine is an Elder of Qingqiu. It has two disciples out on training, and one of them suddenly vanished within Great Qian."

Evergreen True Person raised an eyebrow: "Do you gentlemen have any news?"

Wu Dao'an deliberated for a moment, then spoke: "We are not aware. If you require help in the search, we will do our utmost to assist, sending people to the Nine Provinces to gather information."

"Many thanks… but we won't trouble the Wumiao disciples."

Evergreen True Person smiled faintly, took out a jade slip: "That Qingqiu disciple's senior brother has already gathered information for everyone. The place where his junior brother vanished was Outside Qingzhou, Yang'an Commandery. He once wrote to the Qingzhou Regional Commander Jiang Yuanhua, and received a reply, tsk."

"Don't know, not clear, if there's something ask the Wumiao."

As the True Person's slightly playful words fell.

Wu Dao'an's eye twitched twice: "……"

That kid surnamed Jiang, has he grown such a backbone?

"Qingqiu has always had no enmity with our Sanfangtong Alliance, and is in fact one of the allies our Xuanguang Cave has been striving to win over. I hope the Wumiao understands, we too do this so that the Great Qian Grandmasters may be safer."

Evergreen True Person stood up, placing a jade slip on the table: "His senior brother has already investigated most of it. At that time, only three warriors above the Nascent Core Realm passed through North Cliff; two of them were too weak to pose any threat to the Qingqiu disciple, only the remaining one has too little information, as if he sprang up out of thin air."

"I hope you gentlemen will bring this person to me, so that This Seat may give my old friend an explanation. The specific circumstances Qingqiu will investigate in detail. If it truly has nothing to do with him, This Seat will naturally bring him back to Great Qian."

The Temple Attendants listened patiently, and the fury in their hearts grew even thicker.

Although Qingqiu had always been neutral, no matter how you put it they were still a bunch of fox demons. Great Qian not provoking them was one thing, but they actually dared to summon people here to demand an explanation — simply too bullying.

In its heyday, when Great Qian said one, would Qingqiu dare say two?

Let alone some disciple — even beheading its Elder, what of it?

Wu Dao'an took a deep breath: "May I ask who the True Person wishes to find?"

Evergreen True Person glanced at the jade slip on the table, brushed it with his divine sense, looked at it, then said: "Shen Yi of Qingzhou."

At these words, the remaining three Temple Attendants were still somewhat bewildered.

"……"

Wu Dao'an froze for an instant, then a cold smile crossed his face, and killing intent rose in his turbid eyes: "Does the True Person dare to say that again — who is it you want?"

Evergreen True Person sensed something was slightly off, but didn't take it to heart: "Shen Yi of Qingzhou."

A mere Wumiao on its last legs — what great waves could it possibly turn over.

Still daring to use such a threatening tone — truly, staying in this broken temple too long has addled his brains.

"Good."

Before the words had faded, Wu Dao'an's smile deepened, and he slowly closed his eyes.

As everyone wondered.

Within the Wumiao, among the twelve Golden Body Dharma Aspects on the altar, the eyes of the Lion Camel suddenly gained a gleam.

Its three-zhang-tall body slowly stepped down from the altar.

The instant it stepped into the long street, blinding golden light illuminated the heavens, as it walked step by step toward the courtyard.

Before the Lion Camel, the courtyard was as fragile as tofu, collapsing in an instant.

It casually swung its palm and smashed the rooftop to powder, its enormous eyes looking down at the few figures within.

"……"

Shrouded by the enormous shadow, staring at the golden body before him like some Buddha or god, True Person Changqing subconsciously swallowed, retreated three steps in a row, and snapped, "What do you mean?!"

"That is exactly what I mean." Shituo opened his maw, his voice like a great bronze bell rolling across the heavens: "A mere upper-realm Slain Hunyuan Sect master — calling you True Person is already a compliment. If you dare speak that name before me again…"

Shituo bared his fangs slightly, his expression indifferent: "Today you shall fall here."

"You—!"

True Person Changqing's face twisted savagely: "Have you forgotten I come from Xuanguang Cave?"

The answer he received was a single palm strike, heavy and forceful.

Shituo merely raised a foot and stomped, and True Person Changqing's face changed in shock. A blaze of red light erupted across his whole body as his arms crossed before him of their own accord.

The golden beast-paw halted only when it was a mere inch from him.

Yet True Person Changqing's cold sweat had already soaked through his clothes; his eyes darted in panic as he gasped for breath.

He stared at those frost-rimmed eyes on Shituo's great head.

He steadied his breathing and said softly, "I was only asking on Qingqiu's behalf — there's no need for all this."

"Tch."

Shituo withdrew his foreleg, turned unhurriedly back to the Wumiao, lay down once more upon the altar, and in an instant became like a statue — utterly lifeless.

At the same moment, Wu Dao'an opened his eyes and said coolly, "Then please return. I won't see you out."

(End of chapter)