Chapter 501 - 500: Wisely Taking the Venerable Buddhism

Tong Rou’s departure was truly sudden.

Li Jing was stunned.

What he didn’t expect was that she had a short fuse.

He was thinking about it.

However, if someone was sending words with pinpoint precision, they might not be spying in here with their Primordial Spirit.

And besides, there were no related prohibitions in Tong Rou’s palace. If she didn’t want to be spied on, as long as she placed something, wouldn’t it be done?

With this thought, Li Lingyin took a drink and said,

"People from Prajna Monastery likely have bad intentions. Normally, Immortal Music Palace can deal with those bald donkeys easily, but if they are prepared, Tong Rou might suffer a loss this time."

On hearing these words, Li Jing was slightly startled and asked in confusion,

"What is the background of Prajna Monastery? Is it a major force from other realms?"

"No, the Prajna Monastery is a force from our Cangming realm."

Li Lingyin responded, saying,

"You’ve only been in the Immortal Realm for a short time, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of them. Prajna Monastery is not a force recognized by Donghua Immortal Palace, but it has strength comparable to a sect like the Immortal Music Palace."

?

Li Jing shot out a question mark.

Before he had the chance to wonder about it, Li Lingyin explained,

"Buddha cultivators are a special group in the Immortal Realm that not only extends across the entire Cangming realm but also throughout the entire Immortal Realm. No Buddhist powers have been approved by Donghua Immortal Palace, not because Donghua Immortal Palace refused their applications, but because they never apply. Those bald-headed men claim to be at peace with the world, but they are actually hypocrites, each one more ambitious than the last."

"Oh, this..."

Li Jing looked perplexed.

He had never encountered any people from the Buddhist Sect.

There were indeed few people in Blue Star who ventured into Buddhism, and it was almost impossible for ordinary people to meet them.

The main point is that Buddhism emphasizes purity of heart and few desires, so hardly anyone chooses it.

Choosing to pursue Buddhism in a materialistic world like Blue Star is like asking for discomfort, isn’t it?

Having never met a Buddhist, Li Jing certainly didn’t hold the qualifications to evaluate them.

However, he could roughly understand what Li Lingyin was saying.

"Being at peace with the world" would be utterly ridiculous no matter where it was put.

If they were genuinely at peace with the world, how did a Buddhist sect like Prajna Monastery, comparable to a major force, develop?

That bunch of baldies...

They had to cultivate, right?

In the path of cultivation, resources are always necessary, aren’t they?

Being at peace with the world, where would they get the resources to improve their cultivation level?

Eating fast and reading Buddha’s words couldn’t bring much improvement to their cultivation.

Take, for example, other faiths of the same nature.

They mainly advance through prayer, but they never shy away from using external forces available to them.

After all, faith can’t replace meals.

After thinking for a while, Li Jing stood up.

"I’ve never really seen any Buddhist people. If there’s nothing better to do, why don’t we go and take a look?"

"Just a few baldies, what’s so interesting?"

Li Lingyin rolled her eyes and remarked,

"At most, Tong Rou will suffer a silent loss. After all, the Prajna Monastery did not launch a direct attack, and the Immortal Music Palace is not so weak that it can’t handle this. If you’re interested, go and see for yourself."

With that, she picked up the wine bottle and started chugging.

It was clear that Li Lingyin had little interest in the Buddhist people and didn’t want to show up. Li Jing saw this and didn’t force her. He walked out alone.

He was quite curious about what exactly these Buddhists—who were heavily criticized by Li Lingyin—were like.

Go out and take a look.

What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like he’d lose a piece of meat, right?

...

Before long, Li Jing left Tong Rou’s palace. He sensed her presence and found that she was at the gate of the Immortal Music Palace. He simply took to the air and headed to the gate.

Suddenly, Li Jing arrived at the location of the Immortal Music Palace gate.

Before he could land,

He saw Tong Rou standing unhappily at the gate, with a large group of unhappy-looking disciples from the Immortal Music Palace gathered behind her. On the opposite side was an old monk with kindly eyes and a gentle countenance.

Just as he was hesitating whether to stay in the sky to watch or to go down to the ground, the old monk suddenly looked up at him.

"Interesting, I heard that the Immortal Music Palace, as a female cultivator sect, doesn’t welcome male cultivators very much. However, it seems this is not the case."

With that, he looked at Tong Rou with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

"This man’s hiding his head and showing his tail is very suspicious. He was in Master Tong’s palace just a moment ago, which is rather intriguing."

?

Li Jing slowly typed out a question mark.

He thought to himself,

I’m just curious and came here to watch. How did this baldie spot me?

And he’s even talking in a strange tone.

On the other hand,

Tong Rou, with a very bad expression, glanced at Li Jing, who had come to watch the fun. She then turned back and said,

"You bald monastic, don’t push your luck too far. Master Li is a distinguished guest of our Immortal Music Palace, not a foreigner you can comment on. I respect you as a venerable cultivator of Buddhism and will not dispute with you. The Immortal Music Palace doesn’t welcome you. Please leave."

Li Jing was somewhat taken aback at hearing these words.

This baldie is a ranking person in the Venerable Realm?

However, on second thought, it made sense.

This baldie, knowing full well that the Immortal Music Palace would not welcome him, still came over alone. If he didn’t have real skills, it would be no different from courting death.

Over there,

With Tong Rou’s disapproval, Yuan Hai maintained a smile on his face and put his hands together in prayer, saying,

"Master Tong, I have already made my request clear. A disciple of mine was robbed of her opportunity in the blessed land and was injured by a disciple of the Immortal Music Palace. As long as the Immortal Music Palace hands over that person, I will leave immediately."

Hearing these words, Tong Rou’s expression darkened.

"It seems that you are unappreciative when given face, aren’t you?"

"I naturally want face. Otherwise, how could I come to seek redress because my disciple was bullied?"

Yuan Hai smiled kindly.

Tong Rou was silent.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk, but that this man indeed didn’t know how to save face.

And she had no way to deal with him.

This Yuan Hai, he was an old hand who had reached the Venerable Realm.

To deal with him, the Venerable cultivators who protected the Immortal Music Palace had to come forward.

Unfortunately,

Right now, the three Venerable cultivators who protected the Immortal Music Palace were all in critical periods of their cultivation, and disturbing them might affect their cultivation.

Given the current situation, it was somewhat hard for Tong Rou.

Yuan Hai dared to come here because he had received information that

The three Venerable ones protecting the Immortal Music Palace were all in seclusion.

Otherwise, even if he came, it wouldn’t have been alone like this.

What should I do?

Tong Rou was struggling with how to solve the issue at hand, while Li Jing was amazed at Yuan Hai.

Just in less than two minutes of meeting this bald man, he fully realized why Li Lingyin was so resistant to people from the Buddhist and Taoist schools.

Is this hypocrisy?

It’s just downright shameless.

Not to mention that he was mysteriously targeted as a spectator, isn’t the opportunity of a blessed land and a heaven’s hole for those who are capable to occupy it?

Someone stole your disciple’s opportunity and you come knocking on the door?

Absurd!

Seeing that Yuanhai was as steady as an old dog and Tong Rou was stuck in her position, it was not difficult to guess that at this moment it was not very convenient for the venerable from the Immortal Music Palace to show up, and the former obviously knew about this in advance.

While marveling at the situation, Yuanhai, who was smiling but not really smiling at Tong Rou because of his status as a venerable, suddenly looked up again and asked with a smile.

"Master Tong just called Fellow Daoist as Immortal Master Li, may I ask which power do you belong to?"

Caught off guard by the question, Li Jing paused a bit.

Why is this bald man revving up?

Does he really think that no one can curb him?

Without thinking too much, Li Jing landed beside Tong Rou.

Tong Rou, seeing this, her expression slightly changed, and she wanted to speak.

Li Jing raised his hand to signal her, then looked back calmly.

"I am Li Jing, from Chen Tang City. My name remains the same whether standing or sitting."

Yuanhai raised his eyebrows upon hearing this.

"So it turns out that you are the recent hot-bloodied master of Chen Tang City who established his power and occupied the Blue Star Ascension Platform right after his ascension?"

"Monk Yuanhai, you seem to be quite well-informed."

Li Jing laughed, and said, "It’s often said that the Buddhist door is not in conflict with the world, but it seems to be a bit of a misnomer."

Someone said this straight to the point, acting like a cunning person.

Seeing the change in Yuanhai’s expression, he said amiably,

"If Immortal Master Li can establish a force in a short time after ascension and get recognized by Donghua Immortal Palace, it certainly means you are extraordinary. I’ve heard Master Li is excellent in artifact refinement. Our Prajna Monastery happens to have some items that need crafting. After all this is over, I wonder if we could invite Immortal Master Li to come and create some good karma with us at our Prajna Monastery?"

"Refinement of artifacts? Well, it matters not who I do business with."

Li Jing replied nonchalantly, then continued, "But you can keep that good karma, it can’t be eaten or used as sustenance. If you want me to refine artifacts, please prepare the remuneration, or don’t even mention it."

Without waiting for Yuanhai to speak, Li Jing looked him up and down.

"After all that has been said, shouldn’t Master Yuanhai leave? It seems that the Immortal Music Palace does not welcome you. Is Master just stubbornly blocking this place, relying on the cultivation of the venerable realm to bully a group of women?"

"For that, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble Immortal Master Li to persuade Master Tong. Hand over the person I want, and I will leave immediately."

Yuanhai replied with a calm expression, showing no emotion.

Li Jing fell silent.

What’s that saying again?

If a person has no shame, they are invincible.

Yuanhai sticks around here without making a move, how could he offend the Immortal Music Palace?

Obviously, he knows very well.

If he really made a move, the venerable of the Immortal Music Palace would jump out the next second.

Isn’t this awkward now?

Handing over the person is out of question.

If they really gave up the person, how could the Immortal Music Palace raise its head in the future?

Now he’s not making a move but clearly staying here and the Immortal Music Palace can’t just ignore him.

Just as he was wondering what to do with this bald man, Tong Rou spoke.

"Immortal Master Li, this matter has nothing to do with you, you can go to my palace to rest. Once the matter is handled properly, I can..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Jing gave a small laugh.

"Don’t worry, Master Tong. You and I are good friends, it’s only right for me to help you resolve this situation. Also, I find this bald monk quite irritating. If I just leave now, it would look like I’m avoiding my responsibilities. People might think I’m easy to bully and they would run to Chen Tang City one day. It would be better for me to help Master Tong solve this problem."

Hearing this, Tong Rou was stunned.

Li Jing volunteered to deal with this matter. That was unexpected.

If a stubborn person like Yuanhai is confronted, she figured not even her loyal subordinate Feng Xie would dare to stand out if he were here.

But she had to admit.

Li Jing was right.

People from the Buddhist and Taoist schools are hypocritical. If he just left today, who knows if they might run to Chen Tang City to seek out "good karma" with him one day.

The question is, how is Li Jing going to solve the current problem?

The opponent is a venerable!

Just as she was wondering, Li Jing began to look at Yuanhai with a kindly expression.

"Master, it’s inconvenient to make a move here. Can we change locations?"

???

Tong Rou.

???

The girls from the Immortal Music Palace behind her.

What does Li Jing mean by this?

Is he planning to physically confront Yuanhai?

Not to mention Tong Rou and the girls of the Immortal Music Palace, even Yuanhai, who was quite composed on the other side, was completely bewildered.

What’s happening?

Why is Li Jing looking for a fight with him?

Isn’t there a limit to how much one can deviate from the regular way of doing things?

On reflection,

Li Jing’s words raised doubts in Yuanhai’s mind.

This kid who just ascended not long ago, could he potentially possess the cultivation of the venerable realm?

Otherwise, why would he dare to challenge himself?

Before Yuanhai could figure out the situation, Li Jing slowly walked towards him.

"Master Yuan, you haven’t responded yet, are you scared?"

"..."

Yuanhai.

Scared?

What does he, a venerable, have to be scared of?

But at this point, he was indeed unsure about Li Jing’s situation.

Under the cover of Smoke Eye, Li Jing did not even leak the slightest hint of basic life force, making anyone feel that he is unfathomable.

After a brief silence, Yuanhai spoke.

"As Master Tong said, this matter has nothing to do with Immortal Master Li, are you trying to forcefully insert yourself here?"

"Master, aren’t you playing dumb here?"

Li Jing tilted his head.

"..."

Yuanhai fell silent once more, then said coldly.

"If that’s the case, why don’t we find a place to have a friendly competition, just for fun. If Immortal Master Li defeats me, then we can let this matter rest."

"Agreed."

Li Jing replied concisely, then said.

"If I lose, I’ll be at the disposal of the Prajna Monastery for refining artifacts from now on."

Hearing these words, Yuan Hai’s eyes gleamed.

The reputation of Li Jing in the Cangming Realm belongs to the unheralded sort.

Most people know about Chen Tang City, but not many know about him.

However, for some interested parties...

They have already inquired what they want to know.

Yuan Hai was one of those interested parties.

Li Jing is a master refiner capable of refining half-step Taoist artifacts, this information had long been under the control of Prajna Monastery.

"Master Li is a wonderful person, fated to be connected to our Prajna Monastery."

Yuan Hai put his palms together, and his previously cold tone became somewhat warmer.

If it is possible to get on good terms with a master refiner, no one would refuse.

Regardless of Li Jing has excess baggage or not, and whether he could surpass him, the primary goal is to strike up a friendship first.

"Master, there’s no point in saying these indirect things."

Li Jing waved his hand, then said.

"I have made my promise, and it’s clear that I’m at a disadvantage. As for where the two of us will compare notes, why not let me specify?"

"Alright."

Yuan Hai nodded.

Seeing this, Li Jing smiled brilliantly and a thought moved, manipulating the laws of space and triggering a tremble in the surrounding space. High above, a certain space was vaguely isolated.

He made it very obvious.

All the people present noticed and looked up.

Tong Rou looked at Li Jing in surprise.

Yuan Hai also voiced out his intentions to get on good terms.

"Master Li has excellent skills, able to grasp the rules of space to such an extent that it is indeed admirable."

"Just a few tricks."

Li Jing smiled, extending a hand.

"I need Master to give me your hand, I’m not quite capable of completely isolating a space that allows others to enter and exit, I can only bring Master in."

After saying that, he added.

"With Master’s cultivation level in the Venerable Realm, you should not be worried about me using space manipulation to attack you?"

Yuan Hai, hearing this, extended his hand and laughed.

"I trust Master Li’s character."

While saying this at the corner of his mouth, at the moment of gripping Li Jing’s hand, his other hand squeezed onto a half-step Taoist artifact, the nine-ring tin rod.

Seeing this, Li Jing acted like he didn’t see anything and kindly said.

"Master, please do not resist the process of spatial displacement to avoid any mistakes from me and we both end up falling into void space."

Having said that, he moved his thoughts and touched the laws of space.

Yuan Hai was aware of the laws being touched, and he did not resist the pulling force approaching.

The next second.

The two disappeared on the spot.

Upon seeing this, the female cultivators from the Immortal Music Palace collectively looked up.

Then.

???

All the people present opened their mouths.

The independent space in the sky that was clearly visible to the naked eye... disappeared...

There was nothing left in the perception.

Could it be that Li Jing deliberately concealed his competence, made it so obvious at first to let Yuan Hai relax, and then used his real skills?

While the people present were guessing, a female disciple whispered.

"Well, don’t you guys think that Master Li is handsome?"

Upon hearing this, the rest of the female disciples were slightly startled, then collectively nodded.

Tong Rou pulled at her mouth upon seeing this.

She didn’t know what Li Jing looked like.

Since he had appeared at the Phoenix Sun City Lord’s Mansion, Li Jing always wore the Smoke Eye in public, so only a few people who had seen him knew what he looked like.

Tong Xiaoxiao was one of them.

But she hadn’t mentioned it to Tong Rou.

If you can’t even see his face, how can you say he’s handsome?

Could it be that these girls are so desperate for a man?

But you can’t deny it.

Li Jing’s upright and decisive character made Tong Rou feel good about him.

As the Palace Master of Immortal Music Palace, Tong Rou was naturally not weak.

In fact, she was very strict in handling her affairs.

But that doesn’t mean she is not a woman.

Which woman doesn’t yearn for a protector when faced with adversity?

Of course.

Feeling good about him is one thing, but Tong Rou isn’t going to start having ideas about Li Jing because of that.

Right now, she only cared about one thing.

Did Li Jing’s extreme confidence mean that he could subdue Yuan Hai?

...

At the same moment.

Li Jing led Yuan Hai into the Little Universe.

Upon entering, Yuan Hai immediately noticed something was wrong.

As long as you aren’t blind.

Anyone could see that this was not a temporary isolated space, but a full-fledged universe.

Cold sweat immediately seeped from Yuan Hai’s bald head.

He’s not stupid.

We’re already in the Little Universe, how could he not realize that Li Jing played a trick on him?

Seeing Li Jing kindly retract his hand and turn to look at him, Yuan Hai put his palms together, cried out the name of Buddha and seriously said.

"Master Li’s cultivation is unfathomable, even possessing his own universe, I admire you. Given the circumstances, it seems unnecessary to compete. I admit defeat, and let’s just leave it at that with the matter of the Immortal Music Palace."

It has to be said.

Yuan Hai’s will to survive was incredibly strong.

He never mentioned that someone had plotted against him, nor did he say that they were despicable.

Li Jing, meeting his words, didn’t seem to care.

"Stop saying useless things, I can spare your life, but you need to obediently hand over all the valuable things you have."

While he was speaking, he naturally reached out and took the half-step Taoist artifact level cane from Yuan Hai’s hand.

Yuan Hai not only did not resist his half-step Taoist artifact being taken, he also looked incredulous as Li Jing took away his "armament".

Obviously.

Li Jing intended to rob him...

Why would such a respectful and powerful being showing such disrespect?

Didn’t he already admit defeat?

However, now, he had no choice but to comply...

Being a seasoned ’Strong One’ meeting a figure with the power of sky and earth, he had run in out of confusion, he had lost all his choices.

Resentfully looking at Li Jing, who was sizing him up with his half-step Taoist tool, Yuanhai silently opened his storage space.

A ’Strong One’ indeed.

The moment this storage space opened, various objects Li Jing had never seen before started to appear. But just one look was enough to identify them as extremely rare treasures, dazzling his eyes.

In a blink of an eye,

Yuanhai obediently emptied his storage space, making a pile high as a small hill.

The Heavenly Spirit Root was countless.

A number of high-grade spiritual items were simply too numerous to count.

There were even many rare heavenly treasures mixed in.

Faced with such a "treasure mountain", Li Jing waved his hand and put the whole "treasure mountain" into his little storage tank on Canglong Mountain.

To check the loot later, it was not in a hurry anyway.

First, let’s settle the matter with this baldy Yuanhai.

Li Jing lightly called, sweeping a casual glance at Yuanhai who was dry laughing after being cleaned out.

"Unnamed."

In the next moment,

The sky fell into complete darkness.

Yuanhai was startled at first, then sensing something, he cried out hurriedly.

"Immortal Lord Li! Please show mercy..."

Before he finished his sentence, Yuanhai spurted out a mouthful of blood and fell down backward.

Next.

The heaven and earth returned to its brightness.

With a "clatter", his half-step Taoist artifact staff was thrown aside as though it had been "shattered".

Li Jing, holding the Unnamed Taoist Tool, spoke nonchalantly.

"This is a little lesson for you. From now on, show your hand openly and be clear about who you should offend and who you shouldn’t. Understand?"

"..."

Yuanhai.

At this moment, could he dare to say he didn’t understand?

At this moment, he was truly shocked.

Li Jing, it turns out, was someone who even has a Taoist Tool...

Without saying a word, because of the destruction of the half-step Taoist item with which his spirit was connected, the injured Yuanhai got up covering his chest and lowered his eyes in compliance.

"Yuanhai is short-sighted, I shouldn’t have offended Immortalin Lord Li."

On hearing the voice, Li Jing chuckled slightly. He thought in his heart, it was not that you shouldn’t have offended me, but that you shouldn’t have entered the Little Universe with me.

Without explaining himself, Li Jing said,

"Make a Heart demon oath that you will not tell anyone what you saw and heard today. In the future, when you see people from Chen Tang City you must avoid them. After this, I will let you go."

Upon hearing the words, Yuanhai looked at Li Jing with a slightly peculiar expression.

Li Jing was so strong.

And, the foundation was so deep.

But, he doesn’t want others to know about his strength.

Why is that?

It’s very intriguing.

However, Yuanhai thinks, what he just experienced might be one of the reasons.

This is not difficult to understand.

Even if Li Jing is strong, he has just attained ascension.

The things in Blue Star might be unique, but how can they compete with the products of Immortal Realm?

He nodded silently, and Yuanhai made a Heart Demon Oath as Li Jing ordered.

As he made the vow,

There was a sudden "rumble" in the sky, indicating that the oath was accomplished.

At the same time,

A phantom of a stunning woman appeared in the sky, gave Yuanhai a light look, and immediately stunned him as if he was struck by lightning.

Li Jing, upon noticing, was also surprised.

If he was not mistaken, the phantom just now should be the Charming Spirit?

She who resides in the heaven of sensation and desire; how can she be present in Little Universe?

Could it be because of the Heart Demon Oath that Yuanhai just made?

Speaking of which....

The Heart Demon Oath, which creates strong binding effects on cultivators, is actually a mystery as to why it has such powerful restraining force.

According to the legend, the binding is a certain kind of rule.

Others say...

The Heart Demon Oath is a pledge made to some powerful Heavenly Demons. The demons witness the oath, and once the person who made the vow breaks their promise, the demons will descend and drain the person who made the vow.

From how it looks now,

The truth behind the Heart Demon Oath is most likely the latter...

Yuanhai could summon the Charming Spirit to witness, even to reveal a phantom, because he might have lived here for some time, leaving traces here or maybe she covertly leaves a mark here.

Thinking this, Li Jing put the question behind him.

The Charming Spirit, she is one of us.

The Heart Demon Oath originally had stronger binding power on those with higher cultivation. With the Charming Spirit witnessing, even if Yuanhai was able to resist, he would not be able to create chaos.

Li Jing didn’t bother to think about it anymore. But Yuanhai was in a fog.

He couldn’t believe it.

What did he just see...

As an established ’Strong One’, he had encountered many secrets in the Immortal Realm.

The phantom just now looked precisely like the existences in the ancient past, which was said to have caused a disaster in the Immortal Realm...

Making a Heart Demon Oath and getting that figure to come as a witness.

This was something to brag about for a lifetime.

But somehow, Yuanhai just couldn’t feel happy about it.

Indeed, the essence of the Heart Demon Oath is that the Heavenly Demons of the Outer Realm act as witnesses.

However, having that figure witnessing the making of an oath is typically not possible.

He, Yuanhai, doesn’t have much significant status or any special roles...

The Outer Realm is filled with ’Strong One’ realm Heavenly Demons, he as a ’Strong One’ making an oath doesn’t usually attract that figure as a witness.

By this logic,

All this has to do with Li Jing...

Yuanhai carefully gave Li Jing, who had given up thinking, a glance, just as Li Jing was also looking at him.

Their eyes met.

A weak laugh appeared on Yuanhai’s face, and Li Jing also returned a kind smile. Then, he brought this muddle-headed monk out of the Little Universe.

...