Chapter 209: Chapter 98: Drought Demon 1, 2

The Demon Buddha did not replace the abbot, which is, in fact, a gesture of goodwill.

In return, you should demonstrate a stance befitting Prince Qing.

However, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, so there’s no need to go in person. Send an envoy with some gifts to Xinci Temple."

Li Xuan said, "I understand, Father."

...

...

After returning home, Li Xuan consulted his wife to discuss the matter of sending gifts to the Demon Buddha.

First, the gifts, and second, the envoy.

Prince Qing’s Mansion is quite wealthy now.

First, because Tian Yuan is good at managing the household, and second, because Li Xuan enjoys ten thousand household food allocations in Cyan Wood Province, collecting money at year’s end.

Ten thousand households’ food allocation is already a substantial amount.

In this life, Li Xuan had no benchmark, but he remembered from history in his past life that the ’Prime Minister Lv Buwei of Qin Country’ also enjoyed ten thousand households’ food allocations.

"The Demon Buddha..."

Tian Yuan spoke this name with utmost seriousness.

The Little Princess remarked in surprise, "He’s not dead yet?"

Li Xuan smiled wryly and said, "Not only is he not dead, but he’s also much stronger. However, fortunately, he only wishes to protect Cyan Wood Province now."

The Little Princess said, "Such a demon isn’t trying to protect; he must be planning something big and bad."

Li Xuan said, "The key now is that I must send gifts to the Demon Buddha to express my stance."

The Little Princess suggested, "Then send him some precious Buddhist artifacts, and make a large Buddha statue from gold."

Tian Yuan, standing nearby, shook her head and said, "Husband, I don’t think that’s appropriate.

I observed that the Demon Buddha now craves incense fire, surely planning first to show favor to the common people. But around State City in Cyan Wood Province, floods have been severe. If I send him Buddhist artifacts, they’d be useless to him.

Instead, gifting resources, clothes, food, and medicinal herbs would be a real help to him.

If you give Buddhist artifacts, others would say you are currying favor with the Demon Buddha.

But if you give resources, you can also gain a good reputation."

Li Xuan said, "Then let’s do as Qingxue suggested."

The Little Princess was taken aback, put her hands on her hips, and said, "What’s wrong with you? Sister Yuan’s suggestion clearly makes more sense."

Li Xuan laughed, "Then let’s follow Sister Yuan’s advice."

Cyan Wood Province indeed needs a large amount of resources.

The strategy of ’giving with one hand, taking with the other, providing flood relief’ was what he ought to do.

After setting these matters, he tried infusing ’Black Mountain Tuo’, ’Ordinary Rhino Spirit’, and ’Rotting Buddha Corpse Rat’ into himself, feeling as though he had reached some sort of critical point.

However, he was left with just 1 Demon Point, unable to break through, so he had to hold off for now.

...

...

Three days later.

A golden light ray came from the west, landing in Xinci Temple.

The intense incense smoke and sounds of praying filled the air everywhere.

Suffering is forever the best soil for fostering faith.

Li Xuan led Rose to where the incense was most dense.

The Esoteric Sect and Yu Sect came in succession and then kowtowed in worship.

Among them were quite a few new faces.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch glanced at Rose, first knelt down, and said, "Greetings, Buddha Mother."

With this bow, everyone understood and promptly followed suit in worship.

The arrival of the Buddha and Buddha Mother caused an anomaly in the incense smoke.

The golden world split open; a headless Great Buddha towered into the clouds, and an endless golden body lay reclining on the ground.

The believers, like ants, prayed before this true Buddha that exuded an overwhelming power.

Rose kept a straight face, displaying a compassionate demeanor.

But once the public ceremony was over, and she was pulled back to the private sanctuary by Li Xuan, she slumped down and asked, "Young Master, what do you think it means? In the underground chamber, I’m one person; in the cave, I’m another; and here... still the same."

Li Xuan said, "Let’s first explore this Incense Fire Divine Realm."

He glanced around, and under the stable embrace of incense, the Incense Fire Divine Realm also appeared quite steady.

Others, indeed, could not enter, but he could.

He can open the door, so naturally, he can enter it.

The Rotting Buddha Corpse Rat, just a Tier One demon, could consume Buddha, steal oil, and come out alive. This indicates that the mysterious Worshipers’ Divine Realm, while dangerous, isn’t hazardous everywhere.

The golden door opened behind Li Xuan.

He didn’t even step in; just a thought, and he suddenly felt like he was on the other side.

The golden light, exceedingly glaring, concealed countless unseen shadows, filth, and evil within.

Li Xuan took a few steps and exited with just a thought.

At this moment, he was mostly certain that ’as long as the incense remains stable, entering and exiting is completely fine’.

Having confirmed this, he took out the scented oil previously obtained from the Corpse-eating Rat, stared at it for a while, then slowly removed the lid, pouring the oil onto his hand.

The oil, upon touching his hand, turned to wax, seemingly adhering to the incense on his palm, then slowly flowed with Li Xuan’s mental command, spreading over his wrist, arm, shoulder, abdomen, waist, and legs, as if forming another body outside Li Xuan’s own.

However, when the oil reached Li Xuan’s head, it did not shape into form but continued upwards, forming a severed neck above his head.