Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 614 - 279. Western Regions’ High Monks, Our Central Plains is the Land of Etiquette (Chapter Combined into One)_5
Unfortunately, most people held the same idea.
"What do you think of Yuan Mobai from the Celestial Master Mansion?" asked Master Sangjie,
Master Longjia, "A gentle and humble man, but not to be underestimated,"
He looked at the other, "Trick him into going to the Youning Lake area? Yuan Mobai was a Mountain Pi in human form, and had some tangled karma with the Jiuli people,"
*And chances were, it wouldn’t end well.*
Having been wounded by Tang Xiaotang earlier, Master Sangjie showed no trace of resentment at this moment, his tone all calm, "Is that possible?"
Master Longjia, "Those matters were already laid out, but the Celestial Master Mansion surely still harbored misgivings against the Vajra Temple, keeping their guard up. Drawing him to Youning Lake would not be easy, but as long as the true intent wasn’t revealed, with Yuan Mobai’s temperament, he wouldn’t confront us outright,"
Master Sangjie, "I’ve heard the Celestial Master Mansion is eagerly hunting down a lost treasure?"
Master Longjia, "Use that as bait, follow the trail in reverse. Rather than chasing it, claim that traces of people from the Mortal Tao Country or even the Yellow Sky Sect Altar have appeared, and invite him to investigate,"
Master Sangjie, "Then I’ll trouble you, Senior Brother. I’ll stay out of sight and he’ll be less on guard. Later, I’ll back you up discreetly,"
The old monk formed hand seals over his chest, accepting the task.
............
Lei Jun arrived near Qingguo Gorge, but received a transmission from Master Yuan Mobai, mentioning a chance encounter with Master Longjia of the Vajra Temple.
The two sides still had that earlier awkwardness over competing for the Celestial Master Seal.
But Master Sangjie already got a beating from Tang Xiaotang.
With the Tang Imperial Court mediating, everyone had, for now, brushed the matter aside together.
Master Longjia was impeccably polite, apologizing repeatedly,
Bringing up not only matters of the Mortal Tao Country and Jiuli people, but also mentioning hidden powerhouses like the Cangzhou Ye Clan and other prestigious families— the situation in the Great Tang was intensely turbulent and complicated.
Since neither side planned to break with the Western Region Buddhism just yet, Yuan Mobai faced Master Longjia with equal courtesy and cordiality, as if he had completely forgiven the past, putting people at ease.
*Yet when the other mentioned clues of the Mortal Tao Country and the Yellow Sky Sect, Yuan Mobai’s face stayed perfectly still, though suspicion rose inside him.*
*Others may not know, but he was crystal clear.*
His disciple Lei Jun had already uncovered that the new Yellow Sky Sect Altar was in Chuanxi.
Lei Jun had gone in and out of that place countless times— probably more familiar than Fu Dongsen or Rong Guangchen...
*With preexisting wariness toward Western Region Buddhism, Yuan Mobai heard Master Longjia’s words now, and became even more alert.*
Still, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he agreed at once.
Privately, he got in touch with Lei Jun.
No need for anything more— as soon as Lei Jun heard "Youning Lake," he nodded slightly.
What exactly Master Longjia wanted, how much he knew about Youning Lake, even the specifics of Youning Lake, Lei Jun didn’t know either.
But he did know that Youning Lake represented a moderately unlucky lot, and was a place riddled with mortal danger.
And relations between the Western Region Buddhism and their own Celestial Master Mansion had never been right.
As for where the others from the Mortal Tao Country were, Lei Jun had no clue.
The location of the Yellow Sky Sect Altar— now that, he knew all too well.
So...
"A bunch of troublemakers," Lei Jun said calmly,
He wasn’t just talking about Master Longjia alone.
He meant the entire Western Region Buddhism.
Dealing with Master Longjia wasn’t going to be any more complicated than Tian Linlong.
If he were alone, he would hardly dare to handle Yuan Mobai, who had stronger cultivation, all by himself.
There must be other Western Region Buddhist monks working behind the scenes.
*As Yuan Mobai considered, if the Celestial Master Mansion and Western Region Buddhism really fell out now, it would actually save trouble for the Tang Imperial Court, the great Confucian families, and even the Mortal Tao Country.*
*Why the hell should they shield those guys for nothing?*
As for what to do right now, it was simple.
You bring my master a Sixth-Rank Opportunity born of Youning Lake.
And I’ll repay you with a Fifth-Rank Opportunity from Chaotic River Valley.
This is called courtesy— mutual exchange.
Please, honored monks, accept my humble offering.
With Yuan Mobai already wary, Lei Jun was able to relax.
He calmly took out the string of Secret Treasure Prayer Beads.
Though not versed in Buddhist Dharma, Lei Jun had already sensed the beads’ profound meanings and artistic conceptions; their worth was obvious.
The beads themselves were precious, but the true value lay in their provenance.
This was a magic artifact of orthodox Ksitigarbha Buddhist inheritance.
The Great Vow Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had no direct successor in the mortal world. Although Suzhou’s Tianlong Temple was a Sacred Land of the Vow Lineage and somewhat connected, it was not the direct orthodox line.
However, the Ksitigarbha inheritance was directly linked to the legendary Avici in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
A member of the White Lotus Sect appeared in Yutian Ravine— most likely attracted by this very thing.
Lei Jun wasn’t sure about the original intent behind the Western Region Buddhist monks coming here.
Whether they coveted this Avici Buddha Treasure— that could be tested now.
............
Outwardly, Yuan Mobai showed little interest in Youning Lake, but in the finer details, his care shone through.
He was exceedingly cautious, so while Master Longjia felt satisfied at having succeeded, he couldn’t show too much eagerness— he just accompanied Yuan Mobai at an easy pace.
Meanwhile, Master Sangjie suddenly realized that the Buddha treasure which had drawn his attention earlier now showed some signs.
That Avici Treasure!
It was because they were tied to Sumi that they paid special attention to Saha World and Avici.
Seeing Yuan Mobai so careful, Master Sangjie wasn’t impatient, but instructed Master Longjia privately to do the same, slowly eroding Yuan Mobai’s vigilance.
As for himself, he first went off to look for that Avici Buddha Treasure.
The White Lotus Sect and Tang Imperial Court were currently entangled, too busy to intervene, making it a prime opportunity for Sangjie.
Master Sangjie searched carefully and found hints— seemingly sourced from someone of the Southern Wildernes Witchcraft Worm clan.
He nodded to himself and tracked with caution.
Drawing near to Chaotic River Valley.
