Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 742 (1): Subduing the Underworld

At this moment, Louguantai was teeming with visitors, far busier than even the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. After all, in the recent Buddhist-Daoist debate, the Buddhists had suffered a crushing defeat.

Moreover, following the death of Xia Longyuan, Yuxu had ascended to third place in the Ranking of Heaven. Within the divine land, he was now indisputably the number one figure. His prestige had skyrocketed overnight. Pilgrims and admirers flocked to pay their respects, so many that they could hardly be counted. Even Yuxu himself had been caught off guard by this surge in fame.

He had only moved up by one rank, yet the difference felt astronomical. It turned out that when the figure above you was no longer there, the reverence you received could multiply exponentially. Who could have predicted such an outcome?

Everyone remembers the champion, but few recall who came in second.

And even now, Yuxu had yet to become the true number one on the Ranking of Heaven. If he were, his prestige would be even more exaggerated. Currently, he was still overshadowed by two northern barbarians at the very top, a reality that left many martial artists of the divine land feeling stifled. As the closest contender to the top, Yuxu had become the target of even greater expectations; everyone hoped he would rise as a representative of the divine land and suppress the dominance of the northern barbarians. This shift in the public’s sentiment was something no one had foreseen either.

As a result, Yuxu’s emergence in Chang’an drew endless streams of followers and admirers. At the same time, it also placed him in an impossible position, making him an unwitting symbol of resistance against the barbarians.

Under these circumstances, could he still openly collaborate with the Li Clan, who were in league with the barbarians? If it were up to his personal conscience, he clearly would not do so. But the problem was that he was no longer making decisions based solely on his own will.

As Zhao Changhe and Dai Qingge stepped into Louguantai, they saw Yuxu seated high upon a platform in the central square, delivering a sermon on Daoist teachings.

Clad in flowing Daoist robes, his presence was solemn and dignified—utterly different from the secluded hermit Zhao Changhe had once encountered at the three humble cottages by the stream.

Dai Qingge stood outside, listening for a while before yawning audibly. The exuberance he had shown during their gambling session had now completely faded. “Boring. I’d rather go watch crickets fight. Oh, right, Xiaobao from the Wei Clan asked me to meet him a few days ago—I totally forgot...”

“Wait, that Xiaobao from the Wei family? From Yangzhou?”

“...The Wei Clan of Jingzhao.”

Zhao Changhe could not help but comment, “Young Master Dai, you’re ranked among the hidden dragons, and you don't even hold a low ranking at that. Yet all you do is gamble and watch cricket fights. Don’t you ever train?”

Dai Qingge replied nonchalantly, “Isn’t that exactly what I’m doing? I’m watching to see which lineage’s techniques are worth practicing. Until I’m certain, I have no motivation to train.”

Zhao Changhe paused for a moment, then heard Dai Qingge continue, “In my family’s lineage, the absolute peak of cultivation is probably breaking into the Profound Mysteries Realm. In all our generations, only my great-great-grandfather ever reached the first layer of the Profound Mysteries. In other words, our inherited techniques just aren’t of a high enough caliber. No matter how hard we train, that’s our ceiling. Now, on the surface, this whole Buddhist-Daoist debate looks like a battle over faith. But for families like mine, it’s about securing access to higher-tier martial arts legacies. Otherwise, why do you think my father is forcing me to listen to all these lectures? If I actually went and became a monk, he'd probably slap himself to death!”

Zhao Changhe mulled over this revelation. So that’s how it is...

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If that were the case, then the Han dynasty truly could expand its influence by opening up education—creating a pathway for ordinary families and sects to access Profound Mysteries and Profound Control cultivation techniques. That would be a true game-changer, a tool of absolute dominance. At that point, all the heroes under heaven would be drawn into the Han.

Had this been proposed in earlier times, the Four Idols Cult would have hijacked it as a means to spread their doctrine. But now, things are different. This must be why Tang Wanzhuang insisted that the hidden dangers between the Han court and the Four Idols Cult had to be eliminated first. This way, the initiative would remain in our own hands.

With such a foundation, rolling out these plans would be far easier in Guanzhong than anywhere else. Just look at how they're tearing each other apart in their internal struggles, tsk...

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, a deep and resonant voice suddenly came from outside. “Amitabha...”

The square was soon abuzz with commotion as the crowd of listeners hastily parted, craning their necks to peer toward the mountain gate.

A solemn-looking monk, draped in an abbot’s kasaya, strode into Louguantai ahead of a group of Buddhist disciples, walking straight toward Yuxu. His voice rang out in greeting, “Greetings, Daoist brother... Your attainments in the Dao are truly profound. A few days ago, my junior disciples engaged in debate with you but were utterly defeated. Today, this humble monk has descended the mountain to seek your instruction in person. I hope you will not hesitate to enlighten me.”

Dai Qingge’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Good, good, good! I was just getting bored. Now, we'll be able to see blood be spilled. Fight, fight, fight!”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “See? I wasn’t wrong to drag you here. If you had stayed holed up in the gambling houses, you’d never witness anything this spectacular.”

“Right, right, you're a real brother to me!” Dai Qingge laughed in response.

Zhao Changhe, still smiling, turned his attention to the scene before them, though inwardly, he was filled with uncertainty. This supposed Papiyas, the new Buddhist leader, had been spreading his teachings in the shadows. Zhao Changhe was thus puzzled as to why he dared come out so boldly and directly confront the Daoists in a debate. Furthermore, it simply seemed too soon; they did not seem to have even laid a strong enough foundation before coming out. Normally, a doctrinal debate would require a host of high-ranking officials in attendance, as publicly discrediting one’s opponent held real significance only if there were influential witnesses to spread the outcome. But now, with so few officials and nobles present, the results would have to rely on word of mouth. It seemed a rather indirect and inefficient approach.

On the platform, Yuxu slowly opened his eyes, casting a calm gaze upon the visitor. He scrutinized him for a few moments before speaking coolly, “Master, you are unfamiliar to me. May I ask your Dharma name? If I recall correctly, the monks who debated me that day all bore the surname Yuan. You do not appear particularly old, yet you claim them as your junior disciples?”

The monk chuckled, his expression serene. “This humble monk is named Kong Shi. Indeed, I am one generation above the Yuan generation. As you well know, seniority is not always determined by age[1].”

Yuxu’s tone remained indifferent. “So a senior monk from the Kong generation still walks this earth.... I must admit my ignorance. And what do you wish to debate today? Pray tell, esteemed master.”

Kong Shi, his expression solemn, raised a single palm in salutation. “I have come to discuss martial matters.”

Yuxu’s expression flickered slightly, and in an instant, the square erupted in uproar.

This was not a doctrinal debate. This was a challenge.

A public challenge, just like those that often took place in the jianghu, such as when Yue Hongling went against Cui Yuanyong, when Chi Li went against the hidden dragons of Jiangnan, or when Zhao Changhe went against Wan Dongliu... Each had fought in such open duels before. But at a certain level of prestige, one’s victories and defeats carried too much weight, and such challenges became exceedingly rare.

And now, someone dared to challenge Yuxu, the figure ranked third on the Ranking of Heaven, the undisputed strongest in all of the divine land!

An unknown monk named Kong Shi? Was he insane?

Dai Qingge was filled with utter exhilaration. “Fight! Fight!”

Even Zhao Changhe’s blood surged with excitement. A battle involving the figure ranked third on the Ranking of Heaven was not something one got to witness every day! This Kong Shi was undoubtedly Papiyas. Only Papiyas would have the audacity to directly confront a Profound Control Realm powerhouse like Yuxu. The sheer value of observing this fight alone was immeasurable.

By all rights, Yuxu could have refused the challenge outright. At his level, he had neither the need nor the obligation to entertain every random challenger. If anyone and everyone could simply walk up and issue him a challenge, he would never get anything else done.

But here, in this high-stakes conflict between Daoism and Buddhism, in full view of countless onlookers, Yuxu could not refuse!

If Yuxu lost, his prestige would crumble in an instant. The Daoist sects would be forced to withdraw from Chang’an entirely, and Yuxu himself might auto-exile to Kunlun for the rest of his life, too ashamed to ever show his face again. On the other hand, if his opponent lost, as long as it was not a complete and utter defeat, he could still gain immense fame and solidify his standing in Chang’an.

It was an unfair match, yet Yuxu had no way to avoid it.

1. Buddhist dharma names are usually given out by generation. In this case, Yuan (圆) is the generational surname after Kong (空). ☜