Su Ziyue dragged her long dress as she slowly walked into the backyard. All the maids by her side were stopped at the door, and she walked alone to Chen Yuan's side and sat down slowly.

Holding up the tea cup, she took a light sip, slightly nodding:

"This tea is good...."

"Hehe, there is a thousand-year-old tea tree in Biyou Palace, which is one of the top teas in the world, only a line away from Immortal Tea, and drinking it is beneficial for cultivation."

"That is indeed good."

"Did Su Qing send you a message?"

Chen Yuan asked.

Su Ziyue nodded and said:

"Yes, Elder Sister Su Qing said, Feng Jiuge found her and said that she was placed under house arrest precisely to lure you to Goddess Palace to negotiate terms.

Hehe, it seems Goddess Palace can't sit still any longer."

It's not that Su Ziyue looked down on Goddess Palace, after all, it is still one of the top ten Immortal Sects of the current age. However, she truly did not appreciate the way Feng Jiuge handled things.

If it's negotiation, then negotiate properly.

Doing such things only makes people dislike them.

"Hehe...."

Chen Yuan chuckled.

"Judging from Feng Jiuge's intentions, if you don't go, she probably won't give up easily. If things don't work out, we might as well strike first and rescue Elder Sister Su Qing, as for the rest...."

"She did it on purpose."

Chen Yuan interrupted before Su Ziyue could finish her sentence.

"What?"

"Feng Jiuge is intentionally conveying that intention."

"You mean...."

Su Ziyue's face was full of suspicion.

"Do you know what message Second Uncle Chen Huaiyi conveyed to me today?" Chen Yuan's fingers rubbed the tea cup, looking up to gaze at her.

"What message?"

"The Hall Master of Seven Killings Hall and most of its power have been transferred to Yun State; at this time, Feng Jiuge drawing me to Goddess Palace, linking both events...."

"You mean, Goddess Palace has already colluded with Xiang Qianqiu, drawing you to Goddess Palace just to ambush you." Su Ziyue frowned, her expression grim.

"Exactly, it's quite evident. It seems Goddess Palace has never severed its ties with the former Chu Imperial Family, always colluding in secret.

This time, they intend to lure me out using Li Su Qing."

"No wonder Elder Sister Su Qing said before, that Feng Jiuge knew she was from Taoist Divine Palace, yet never revealed it publicly, for this very day!"

"Indeed."

"Then you can't go, Xiang Qianqiu, in order to kill you, certainly deployed considerable force this time, if an accident happens...." Su Ziyue thought everything through and felt it was too risky.

One wrong move, and you could lose the entire game.

"How could I not go, since Xiang Qianqiu set a trap for me? Earlier I was thinking how to lure him out, and unexpectedly he couldn't hold back and made the first move."

Chen Yuan's lips curled into a smile.

"Knowing it's a trap, you're still going?"

"Why not go?"

"But...."

"If I'm not mistaken, Second Uncle's identity is already known to him, and revealing this news to me this time is to make me more confident in my heart.

Thinking everything is in his grasp, but in reality, it's part of his scheme."

Chen Yuan spoke softly to himself.

"This...."

"With support from Seven Killings Hall and Heavenly Demon Hall, I also have support from the three major Immortal Sects, besides that, there's also Senior Moluo, the power of an Immortal, why would he be so confident in killing me?

Unless…. Seven Killings Hall and Heavenly Demon Hall, or the Xiang Family, have an Immortal in their midst!"

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed, his expression heavy.

"Indeed, it's hard to say for sure."

Su Ziyue shook her head; the strengths and depths of the ten major Immortal Sects aren't publicly obvious, neither Seven Killings Hall nor Heavenly Demon Hall has shown any Immortal for many years.

But who can ensure they really have none?

The Sima Clan hasn't taken down Blood State for hundreds of years, always in a stalemate, Su Ziyue doesn't think these two Demon Dao forces wouldn't have powerful beings to hold the fort.

"In that case, there's even more reason to go."

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"Are you confident?"

"If it's only Xiang Family and Seven Killings Hall, Heavenly Demon Hall, naturally, I'm confident, but my only concern is, perhaps, to ensure nothing goes wrong, Xiang Qianqiu has other preparations...."

"What's your suspicion?"

"Do you remember what I said before?"

"Yes."

"For the great cause, for the revival of the nation, Xiang Qianqiu might let go of all grudges, if...."

...

...

In Yun State, atop a certain mountain.

Xiang Qianqiu, dressed in black, stood with hands behind his back, his gaze looking into the distance, eyes deep, light restrained, exuding an aura different from ordinary Dao Yun.

Seeming to merge with the heavens and earth, yet appearing incompatible with them.

The void flickered, the sunlight above the Nine Heavens was unusually bright, shining between heaven and earth, dazzling in gold, flashing across, swiftly condensing into a figure.

The figure clad in a simple monk's robe, with a compassionate expression, walked barefoot, step by step approaching Xiang Qianqiu, clasping one hand in front of the chest, said:

"This humble monk, Manjusri, greets King Xiang."

"King Xiang? Haha.... According to the ancient records of the Xiang Family, a thousand years ago during the struggle for supremacy, the Grand Ancestor Emperor seemed also to be called King Xiang."

"Who can say today's King Xiang cannot reach the realm of the past King Xiang?" Manjusri Bodhisattva smiled faintly and continued:

"That moment, just like this moment."

"A thousand years ago, the Buddhists did not seem to support the Grand Ancestor Emperor." Xiang Qianqiu turned to gaze at Manjusri and said.

Manjusri unhurriedly replied:

"This humble monk speaks of the time of Sima Grand Ancestor, back then.... It's what the Buddha had said."

"Spirit Mountain, Spirit Mountain, your ambition is truly great, the last time you caused the Sima Family to agree to spread the teachings in Central Plains, resulting in half of Central Plains being Buddhist temples.

This time, you want me to give you half of Central Plains.... Next time, do you intend to claim the entire Central Plains, the whole world?" Xiang Qianqiu asked.

"All living beings suffer, all beings are sinful, when the Buddha Light shines upon the human world, compassion spreads to the land, establishing a true Supreme Buddha Country, all living beings can attain bliss, undying, neither hungry nor poor, without sorrow or weeping.... Is this not the merit of our Buddhist sect?"

Manjusri countered.

"The Pure Land is just a facade, isn't there a true Pure Land, Does Friend Manjusri counsel me here, thinking you can make me believe in Buddha?"

"Believe, and there is; disbelieve, and there isn't. Lord Xiang doesn't believe, but the masses will."

"Hahaha.... Great, great...."

Xiang Qianqiu shook his head, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Hehe...."

"With the insight of Manjusri Bodhisattva, you should not be far from the Buddha Realm, right?"

"This humble monk is still lacking; truly not far is Lord Xiang, but this humble monk is somewhat puzzled."

"What's the puzzle?"

"Given Lord Xiang's cultivation and comprehension, condensing the flower above your head should be no issue, why is Lord Xiang unwilling to break through? If you break through....

Suppressing the heretics Moluo and Chen Yuan seems much simpler."

Manjusri Bodhisattva's face held confusion.

He hadn't fought Xiang Qianqiu, but even sensing it, he could feel Xiang Qianqiu was at the tipping point, ready to pierce the final barrier anytime.

"The path of Buddhist cultivation differs from this king's, naturally, this king has this king's ideas; this time killing Moluo and Chen Yuan is the day this king proves the Dao."

"Inner demon?"

"Hehe, something like that."

"This humble monk understands."

Manjusri nodded.

"Can Buddha arrive?"

This was Xiang Qianqiu's greatest concern.

Manjusri smiled lightly and said:

"Buddha.... is omnipresent."

"Playing tricks...."

————

The previous chapter wasn't filler, it's laying the groundwork for future plotlines, as Xiang Qianqiu's arc is nearing its end, a new arc is about to unfold.

Fellow Daoists, please bear with us.

Also, since it's the end of the month, if brothers have any monthly tickets left, please help us out by voting, thank you for your support.

I've been conceptualizing a new book recently, and the title has just been confirmed.

The next book aims to improve upon this one, just like bandits innovating from the altar, learning a lot of lessons has uncovered several issues in this one while writing.

Gradually absorbing, improving, striving to satisfy everyone.

Thank you, Happy New Year.