Chapter 280: Overpowering the Northerners?

Chengtian Pavilion.

The Longya Dao Sect's main altar in Zhongdu appears unremarkable at first glance—just a bustling temple.

Yet upon close observation from outside, one senses a gathering of dragon and tiger energies; the seemingly ordinary architecture radiates grandeur, evoking involuntary awe.

Chengtian Pavilion is divided into front and back, inner and outer sections.

The outer pavilion is open to the public, allowing Zhongdu's commoners to come burn incense and pay homage, enshrining the Virtuous Heavenly Lord, also known as the Dao Ancestor.

It is not a specific person, but merely a representation and symbol.

Just as the Joyful Buddha enshrined in the Joyful Temple is likewise.

The inner pavilion lies beyond the outer, difficult for ordinary people to enter.

When Tang Luo and Kong Ming arrived, Qingfengzi was waiting outside, his expression slightly grim, yet he gave them no petty display of hostility.

Upon entering the inner pavilion, one sees a fairly spacious courtyard, with a raised square platform in the center, and behind it a towering pavilion.

"The National Preceptor awaits you two inside," Qingfengzi said.

"Hmm." Kong Ming's brow twitched imperceptibly, then relaxed.

The abbot of the Joyful Temple, the highest authority there, is the Joyful Bodhisattva, assisted by two others, Yixi and Wuyue, serving as deputy abbots.

The highest authority of the Longya Dao Sect, however, is not the current sect master, the Great You National Preceptor.

Because the Longya Dao Sect was formed by the merger of two sects, requiring balance in all aspects, there exists an Elder Council above the sect master.

The several Supreme Elders of the Elder Council are the true decision-makers for major affairs of the Longya Dao Sect.

Although the sect master is not a puppet, many matters must be consulted with the Elder Council's Supreme Elders; he cannot decide unilaterally.

For a major affair like the destruction of the Joyful Temple, it is only fitting that a Supreme Elder should take the lead.

It seems that even if the Longya Dao Sect is willing to act, it would likely only assist from the sidelines, unable to provide substantial help.

For others, this would certainly not be good news.

But for Tang Luo and Kong Ming, it is actually a rather favorable choice.

Pushing open the door, they entered a bright, spacious room where someone already awaited Tang Luo and Kong Ming.

It was a person with a doll-like face, appearing youthful, wearing a gentle smile, dressed in splendid robes, with a jade flute hanging at the waist.

Not another, but the sect master of the Longya Dao Sect, the current Great You National Preceptor, Daoist name Yuxuanzi, secular name Bai Ruyu.

Indeed, he lives up to his name—gentle and jade-like in appearance—but as a National Preceptor, he looks somewhat too young.

"Sect Master, the persons have been brought," Qingfengzi said, clasping his hands, his tone not particularly respectful.

"Thank you, Elder Brother," Yuxuanzi replied.

"Then I shall take my leave," Qingfengzi said, turning and departing.

"Please, take a seat," Yuxuanzi said, gesturing with his hand, his bearing grand—indeed, he is a sect master and Great You National Preceptor—even if this resulted from internal Dao Sect compromise.

Tang Luo and Kong Ming sat down.

Yuxuanzi went straight to the point: "Mr. Kong, are you two planning to deal with the Joyful Temple?"

"No, to annihilate it," Kong Ming corrected.

Yuxuanzi frowned slightly, then relaxed: "The Joyful Temple's power is vast, a formidable opponent. If Mr. Kong intends to borrow the strength of my Longya Dao Sect, then I, the humble Daoist, must refuse."

"That Qingfengzi can't even deliver a message properly," Tang Luo remarked.

He had explained things more clearly to Qingfengzi: the Longya Dao Sect's main work is cleaning up afterward, handling the aftermath.

After all, the Joyful Temple's inner and outer disciples are scattered everywhere; it's impossible to kill them all at once.

Yuxuanzi glanced at Tang Luo, said nothing, then turned his gaze to Kong Ming, without doubt.

In his mind, this white-robed one is the true speaker, the monk with the dharma name "Xuanzang," likely a powerful enforcer.

He is probably also one of the guarantees of strength behind Mr. Kong and the force he represents, arising from the intention to deal with the Joyful Temple.

"We don't need you, National Preceptor, to exert great effort," Kong Ming said. "Merely, after annihilating the Joyful Temple's disciples in Zhongdu and at the main altar, prevent any remnants from rebelling."

"Only that?" Yuxuanzi expressed surprise—were they so confident?

"Yes," Kong Ming said.

Yuxuanzi lightly brushed the armrest, fell silent for a moment, then said: "Mr. Kong, are you truly this confident?"

"Ten out of ten," Kong Ming said, glancing at Tang Luo, his tone resolute.

Let alone his belief that Tang Luo is not one to speak idly; even if he harbored doubts, now is the time to show absolute confidence.

If he showed no confidence, even if the Longya Dao Sect originally intended cooperation, it would likely abandon the idea.

Regardless of outcome, one must say yes, lure them in with "you're welcome," then speak further.

"And this Dharma Master is?" Yuxuanzi asked, looking at Tang Luo, inwardly feeling some helplessness—this sect master and National Preceptor indeed feels somewhat stifled and dissatisfied.

Qingfengzi merely told him that Kong Ming would visit today to discuss dealing with the Joyful Temple, but said nothing about the companion.

Fortunately, Yuxuanzi is naturally open-minded, so he does not harbor resentment.

Moreover, even if he feels somewhat stifled and dissatisfied, as sect master and National Preceptor, the benefits he gains still exceed those of Qingfengzi's ten chief disciples.

The Longya Dao Sect has fully entered the world, already counting as part of the Great You court; its disciples also hold positions outside the former orthodox system, specially established for them—half-official posts, titles, and honors.

They also possess mystical energy, but this energy differs from that of true Great You officials—it lacks protective effects, yet benefits their cultivation.

When cultivators truly enter the world, it is naturally for reasons, not simply "for the country and people," to preserve Great You's fortune.

"I am the monk Xuanzang," Tang Luo said.

"Ah, so you are Master Xuanzang..." Yuxuanzi mused, feeling he had heard this dharma name before, yet could not recall it at the moment.

"Mr. Kong, Master Xuanzang," Yuxuanzi said, "your sudden decision to deal with the Joyful Temple—should you have received intelligence from the North?"

"Oh?" Kong Ming's voice rose slightly, noncommittal.

He revealed no emotion.

North intelligence?

"Correct." Yu Xuanzi knew Kongming's mind. "The five great tribes of the Northern Plains were severely damaged by someone, suffering catastrophic losses. It's said the Six Witches and the chieftains are mostly dead or wounded; internal strife has broken out. They cannot possibly invade Great You again."

Tang Luo and his group stirred up wind and rain in the Northern Plains, crippling the five great tribes; now the news has spread back here as well.

However, the news that returned was only completely certain on one point: the five great tribes suffered a severe blow, seemingly at the hands of a monk.

Further details — the high-level figures on Great You's side aren't particularly clear either.

"More or less." Kongming said.

It was also the plain truth; being able to deal with Joyous Monastery without too many worries about the rear, Tang Luo's elimination of the Northern Plains external threat was also a crucial reason.

If the Northern Plains' great trouble hadn't been removed, directly annihilating Joyous Monastery would have been too wasteful.

One way or another, they had to be made to play the role they ought to play.

"However, Mr. Kong knows only one side, not the other. The three Joyous Bodhisattvas happened to disappear for a period of time." Yu Xuanzi said.

"What do you mean?" Kongming frowned.

"A year ago, the Joyous Bodhisattva had already entered seclusion, entrusting all trivial matters to his disciples." Yu Xuanzi said. "Afterward, Master Yixi and Venerable Wuyue likewise entered seclusion, only recently emerging again."

"Others only say the three entered seclusion to cultivate, but my Longya Dao Gate obtained some intelligence: the three likely secretly went north, and the timing corresponds exactly to the Northern Plains turmoil."

"According to secret reports, the chaos among the five great tribes of the Northern Plains is also related to a monk — seemingly three people, two men and one woman."

Kongming's expression turned slightly strange; for a moment he couldn't say anything.

It felt like something was off somewhere.

"Does the National Preceptor mean the Northern Plains affair was Joyous Monastery's doing?" Tang Luo asked, his face calm.

"Very likely." Yu Xuanzi said. "The cultivation method of the Joyous Monastery line — you two are aware. The Joyous Bodhisattva was already a person with half a foot stepped into Golden Core. This trip to the Northern Plains went so smoothly; he may have already seized this opportunity to enter the Golden Core realm. Right now he's probably consolidating his cultivation base!"

"What if not?" Kongming coughed lightly twice.

"The Joyous Bodhisattva is at odds with my Dao Gate; that's why he concealed the Northern Plains trip." A trace of worry flashed across Yu Xuanzi's face. "Kept secret and unannounced — so to this day we still don't know who exactly caused the Northern Plains chaos. Any other cultivator who achieved such a heaven-shaking merit — how could they hide it?"

"Going by what you say," Tang Luo said, "if that Joyous Bodhisattva has already become a Golden Core, why all the secrecy and concealment?"

"Two days." Yu Xuanzi said. "This morning's news: two days from now is the day the Joyous Bodhisattva emerges from seclusion."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's move now." Tang Luo said, sounding like he truly meant it. "If you let him consolidate the Golden Core realm, your Dao Gate will only be able to go out and take a beating."

Yu Xuanzi shook his head. "The released news says two days later; by now, the Golden Core has probably already been consolidated."

The implication: moving now would be walking straight into the other party's trap.

"But the National Preceptor doesn't seem worried either?" Kongming said.

Yu Xuanzi glanced at Kongming and said: "Nothing escapes Mr. Kong."

My own demeanor already had no flaws; I didn't expect this Mr. Kong to still spot the clue.

Or rather, it has nothing to do with me — just analysis of the situation.

If Joyous Monastery already had a Golden Core True Man, my Dao Gate couldn't possibly sit this calmly.

"My sect's affairs are not suitable to speak in detail to outsiders." Yu Xuanzi spoke frankly. "But even if the Joyous Bodhisattva achieves Golden Core True Man, wielding the power to crush the Northern Plains tribes and prevent the Great Witch's emergence — accomplishing the general trend — my Longya Dao Gate absolutely does not fear Joyous Monastery. It's just that Mr. Kong's plan will probably have to be delayed. If another opportunity can be found, my Longya Dao Gate will naturally stand by and assist."

He was a good-hearted man after all, leaking some classified intelligence so the people before him wouldn't go to their deaths, and finally reaping the fisherman's profit.

"The National Preceptor's noble righteousness." Kongming praised.

"Mr. Kong overpraises." Yu Xuanzi said.

"National Preceptor, you say two days from now is the Joyous Bodhisattva's emergence day; presumably that's still when he announces he has achieved Golden Core, that he is the one who severely damaged the Northern Plains, the moment the general trend is set — surely many important disciples who are outside will rush back, right?" Tang Luo asked.

"Correct." Yu Xuanzi said. "In fact, quite a few have already returned today."

"Good." Tang Luo smiled. "The National Preceptor's promise to stand by and assist — please don't forget it."