"Ah?"

Cui Shao was taken aback, his face filled with bewilderment, then he reacted: "It’s an honor!"

Saying this, he gave a look to the servant behind him.

The servant understood and immediately took out the silver notes.

Cui Shao took the notes without counting them and stepped forward: "Is this enough?"

"Not that much is needed."

Zhu Xiaolian shook his head and pointed to a small stall outside the hall: "The prices are listed, one hundred coins a piece, placed on the table there. Pick whichever you like, and after picking, put the money in the Merit Box."

After saying this, he ignored Cui Shao’s bewildered look, turned back to the painted wall, and continued writing.

"This..."

Cui Shao looked at the small stall outside the hall, seeing piles of paintings on the table, at least a hundred, with pilgrims frequently entering the temple to offer incense and taking a scroll when they left.

This left Cui Shao at a loss.

He initially thought, when Zhu Xiaolian asked him to buy paintings, it was because he was secluded from the world with insufficient silver, never expecting it to be like this.

What is this?

The renowned Dreamer Scholar, a master of painting and calligraphy famous throughout Jiangnan, selling his paintings for only a hundred coins each?

Has he gone mad, or have I?

Just with the name Dreamer Scholar, even a few casual strokes should be worth a hundred taels of silver, right?

"Sir."

Just as Cui Shao was in shock, the servant had already gone outside, took a scroll back, and unfolded it in front of him.

When Cui Shao saw it, he immediately frowned: "This painting..."

The painting depicted a Divine Being, wearing an Official’s Hat and Judge’s Robe, with a robust build and broad shoulders. The front and back were embroidered, a jade belt tied around the waist, one leg stood bent, a bright sword slaying an evil spirit, exuding an imposing demeanor.

The image was lifelike, with exquisite brushwork.

But one thing...

"It’s printed?"

Cui Shao looked at Zhu Xiaolian.

Zhu Xiaolian was matter-of-fact: "What else?"

Cui Shao: "..."

So that’s what it was.

What a strategic mind!

To contend with the Buddhist Sect for faith, he resorted to such means, mass printing and selling portraits.

Undoubtedly, rumors should be outside, saying that this Dreamer Scholar, in his leisure time, would personally paint an original and mix it among these hundred-coin prints for sale, right?

As a master of painting and calligraphy, Dreamer Scholar’s work is worth a fortune, and acquiring one would be akin to a windfall, naturally attracting many opportunists to seek incense and purchase paintings.

What, lack of piety?

Indeed not pious, those who come for this provide little incense.

But people love to follow trends, once this becomes a trend, it will drive others who follow blindly.

Whether opportunistic or blindly following, they’ll end up buying the paintings. Though these prints are not worth much, they’re still images of a god—how could you possibly burn them?

Clearly, you can’t.

With Divine Beings overhead, even if one doesn’t believe, they must show reverence, and with such a divine image in the household, disbelief may slowly turn to faith over time.

This is called subtle influence!

In spreading divine images like this, with occasional divine manifestations to rid of harmful spirits, shallow faith can turn into genuine belief.

Capturing hearts and spreading faith through benefits.

Truly ingenious tactics!

"This might just be the tip of the iceberg!"

"No wonder the Divine Judgment Temple has been growing over the years, pressuring even the Buddhist Sect to struggle for breath."

Cui Shao sighed inwardly, said no more, just put away the scroll, and bowed to Zhu Xiaolian: "I take my leave."

Zhu Xiaolian didn’t even turn his head, just waved his hand and continued focusing on the painting.

Meanwhile...

In Leyuan County, Qingye Temple.

This was the temple newly established by the Buddhist Sect after the fall of Red Lotus Temple, located only a hundred miles from the Divine Judgment Temple in Anping County, forming a situation of two tigers on one mountain, in direct opposition.

The name Qingye, or Clear Karma, corresponds to Red Lotus, inheriting the followers Red Lotus Temple once cultivated, while expressing repentance and the aim to clear karmic obstacles, cutting ties from the past event of Red Lotus.

Certain things, if kept in the heart, will eventually ferment and erupt violently.

Therefore, the Buddhist Sect did not shirk from the past event of Red Lotus but frankly acknowledged it, establishing Qingye Temple, advancing by retreating, thus exonerating themselves and gaining the trust of the people.

It seems that the Buddhist Sect also has wise individuals.

However...

"Please, Brother Daoist!"

"You are too kind, Master."

At Qingye Temple, on the mountain, in a pavilion with the fragrance of tea.

Two people sat facing each other, surprisingly a monk and a Taoist.

The monk was old, with white eyebrows like snow, kind and gentle.

The Taoist was young, with a childlike face, having an immortal demeanor.

Both raised their cups, tasted the fragrant tea, and then proceeded to the main topic.

"That Song Xiang is ambitious. If allowed to continue developing, it will become a great calamity."

The young Taoist set down his teacup: "The Buddhist Sect must make a decision."

"Has this monk not known?"

White Eyebrow Elder Monk sighed with helplessness in his words: "But there really is no means of balance."

Knowing one’s own matters.

Though due to a thousand years of operation by Red Lotus Temple, most of the hundreds of thousands of people around these counties still believe in the Buddhist Technique, enabling Qingye Temple’s incense to be more prosperous than Divine Judgment Temple at its establishment, but that’s only at the start.

After these years of development, the situation has reversed, Qingye Temple’s incense declines day by day, while Divine Judgment Temple flourishes, stealing a large number of believers.

There’s no helping it, as Song Xiang has many extraordinary methods, developing in civil and military arts, trade, and medicine, strengthened immensely after obtaining the foundation of Red Lotus Temple. Even with the strong support of the Buddhist Sect, Qingye Temple cannot compete on this front.

Not to mention others, just their literary methods, the means by which Divine Judgment Temple spreads faith through portraits, Qingye Temple cannot rival.

It’s not that they can’t imitate the technique, but this technique really can’t be replicated. First is about painters, Zhu Xiaolian, reputed for unparalleled painting skills, no one can match his artistry. Though the Buddhist Sect has several High Monks proficient in painting, neither in skill nor reputation, nor the value of their work, can they compare to Zhu Xiaolian.