Chapter 2740: Everyone's Identity

Chapter 2613Everyone's Identity

Bian Qiong had many suitors on the grasslands, such as Bo’erzhijin Wudu, Wanyan Du, and Yuwen Duo, all of whom were her admirers.

Among them, Wudu was the third son of the deceased "Loyal and Brave King" Bo’erzhijin Ekelie. His son, Wuyun Dian, inherited Ekelie's legacy and was enfeoffed as the Huyang Duke.

This was an old fellow who seemed to have no abilities, and indeed had none, but he had a very high status. Otherwise, it would be impossible for his son to inherit the title while the old man just watched. Of course, his son was also ordinary. Both he and his son relied on his grandson.

The emperor's expectations for Fuyan Ci were entirely on the surface.

Wanyan Du, on the other hand, was named among the "Qiong Lu Three Jun" and was the most capable of Bian Qiong's suitors. He had also achieved the most, was already confirmed as the successor of the Wanyan family, and had begun to take charge of Wutulu, firmly establishing himself as the next head of the Wanyan family.

Yuwen Duo similarly came from a true noble family. Originally, he was unremarkable in all aspects, but he had befriended Wangfu Zhaorucheng in humble beginnings and was also loyal to the current emperor during his time of obscurity. Now, he was riding the east wind, destined for a meteoric rise.

Speaking of which, Bian Qiong had a really good eye for choosing people.

She didn't necessarily interact with all the women; tacitly allowing someone to pursue her was a form of screening. Those who had no chance at all didn't even think about getting a glance from her.

And these three who stood out among her suitors, all due to various reasons, had experienced a huge leap in just the past period of time.

Logically, she should settle down. With the identities of these three people, they wouldn't allow themselves to be left hanging forever. Marrying any one of them would be a good marriage on the grasslands.

Don't look at Wudu being old; he was still a dignified and eminent figure, and even more, the father of the Huyang Duke. His wife had died early, and he was willing to treat her as his principal wife. This lineage was already the main line, and in the future, there would be a Fuyan Ci destined to bring glory to their family. Marrying into the family would make her the great-grandmother of the Bo’erzhijin family… what a high status!

The other two young talents were even more needless to say.

Yet, Bian Qiong twisted her waist and walked into the officialdom of Mu Country.

What a brilliant move!

But whose come-on was this exactly?

Minhe Temple was the ritual yamen of Mu Country, which was the territory of Wangfu Zhaorucheng.

For Bian Qiong to enter service there, it should have been through Yuwen Duo. But she said Wanyan Du recommended her...

Yue Tiannu cultivated twice and achieved genuine emptiness twice, yet she still felt the world was hard to fully grasp, unable to understand the intricacies within it. The myriad threads of the mundane world were ultimately not her specialty as a person of the empty gate. After being tangled for a while, she simply cast it all aside and just said: "If the Divine Venerable allows, how can the Bodhisattva not pity and love all beings?"

The three great vegetarian halls of Xiyue An were named Pudu, Miaoyou, and Chanxin.

Pudu Zaitang widely saved the people of the world, dispensing medicine and relieving suffering.

Miaoyou Zaitang built temples and sculpted Buddhas, spreading its branches and leaves.

Chanxin Zaitang expounded scriptures and performed dharma, educating the stubborn.

Her previous body was the head seat of Miaoyou Zaitang. Now that she had cultivated and returned, she encountered Xiyue An entering the world again, greatly changing its past style. When doing things, she had a puppet-like directness.

"May I know how things need to be changed?" she asked directly.

"These are all the great priest's intentions; our Minhe Temple is just acting as a conveyor," Bian Qiong laughed. "Master is too straightforward, and I won't hide anything either. The Glorious Divine Virtue shines for ten thousand li, reflecting the East Sea, the temple is grand, should it also hang a plaque of the Azure Dome Divinity?"

On the grasslands, the Azure Dome Divine Venerable was undoubtedly the foremost faith, having completely replaced the Cangtu Divinity. The two were originally just in a succession relationship within the divine system; in many places, they just needed to change the name board.

After that came the Yellow Faced Buddha. Below that level was only Xiyue An.

The two almost simultaneously entered the grasslands, with Yuzhen and Yue Tiannu jointly presiding. Compared to Huang Sheli, each had their own methods and were always neck and neck.

But in the war to control Dizang, Master Yuankong appeared in the name of Tian Fei, desiring to seize transcendence. After this, Xiyue An not only stopped expanding on the grasslands but also stagnated in its journey of entering the world throughout the entire realm.

And in the war to seize the god of war, Huang Fu ultimately shed his blood, and the faith of the Yellow Faced Buddha, from then on, soared above all faiths, second only to the Azure Dome Divine Venerable on the grasslands.

Below Xiyue An were only various other faiths.

Of course, Mu Country was the overlord country of the realm, and the grasslands had their own legal system. Evil gods and evil faiths were not allowed. And no matter the origin of the gods, they all had to belong to the Azure Dome divine system, worshipping the Azure Dome Divine Venerable as supreme.

For example, the Lamp-lighting Ancient Buddha supplied by Xiyue An was also the Glorious Divinity within the Azure Dome Divine Kingdom.

But the so-called "Glorious Divinity" was only so on the grasslands. Leaving the cover of the Azure Dome Heavenly Kingdom, the Lamp-lighting Buddha was the ancestor of myriad Buddhas, the confessor of Shakyamuni, not under any Divine Venerable.

The current Xiyue An could be said to have "lost in the east and gained in the west." Although it stopped expanding on the grasslands, it received the support of Qi Country.

Qi Country could not allow its supported people to suffer losses. It also had to support the widow of the Wu Emperor, a generation of Tian Fei. Not to mention Master Yuankong's contribution in the war of Tianhai, Xiyue An's own power was also very considerable.

But prohibiting Buddhism within the domain for many years made it inconvenient to rashly lift the ban. The East Sea just became a good place for faith.

Now, temples were successively being built on the islands near the sea. Xiyue An also, overnight, gained a benevolent and compassionate, calm and serene "Sea Goddess," who was the goddess who managed sea navigation. She was the Bodhisattva who calmed the sea.

This "Sea Goddess" was also called "Sea God Bodhisattva," "Tian Fei," and "Tian Hou."

The practitioners of Xiyue An would even follow teams to sea to help resist winds and waves. They were also generous in distributing the divine image of Tian Fei, who could "calm the waves."

The temples now established on the East Sea islands, whether named "Sea God Bodhisattva Hall" or "Tian Fei Palace," all worshipped this same god and developed very quickly.

Bian Qiong's current condition was to use Xiyue An's development on the grasslands to exchange for the Azure Dome Divine Teachings' development in the East Sea. It should be said that this was good for both sides.

"Does the Azure Dome Divine Venerable intend to be in the East Sea?" Yue Tiannu's eyes were solemn. "But the East Sea may not be ours to decide in Xiyue An."

The one who made decisions in the East Sea was Ye Henshui.

Ye Henshui was carrying out the will of the Son of Heaven of Da Qi, Jiang Shu.

The Azure Dome Divine Venerable wanting to expand faith in the East Sea must have Jiang Shu's nod. After that, it was just whether Xiyue An was willing to share.

Since Minhe Temple sent someone over, it meant that the preliminary conditions had already been discussed. She wanted to know exactly to what extent Mu Country and Qi Country had talked.

Xiyue An had not known anything beforehand, and this was also the silent declaration of imperial power: The East Sea was Qi Country's East Sea, and whatever decisions were made here, the Qi Court did not need to solicit anyone's opinion.

"What can be hidden from Master's wise eyes?" Bian Qiong smiled, her posture always very low. "We have already prepared everything we should prepare. Now we are only waiting for Tian Fei's nod."

She had already completely substituted herself into the role of a Mu Country official!

Yue Tiannu's heart turned a thousand times, her gaze slightly lowered. "Since everything is ready, what does it matter whether Xiyue An nods or not? The Azure Dome Divine Palace can go ahead and build. The New Moon Forest is always quiet, and we will not do things like cutting mountains and destroying temples."

As Xiyue An formally entered the world, temples were established one after another.

The once nameless bamboo forest, also in the people's mouths and ears, acquired a name—

New Moon Forest.

Meaning "originally a new moon, no need to wash away the dust."

Exactly corresponding to "Xiyue."

"Constantly wipe away the dust" and "originally there is nothing" are both processes of cultivating Buddhism, not opposite, but coexisting.

Bian Qiong smiled: "The Azure Dome Divine Teachings don't start from scratch, nor do they consume and fight each other."

"As long as they are in the same divine system, faiths are not mutually exclusive. The common people just have beautiful expectations for life. It does no harm to believe more or less; who do they not believe?"

"The technology of faith sharing is already perfect. The Divine Venerable is renewing the old chapter of the era of divine myths."

She lightly fell before Yue Tiannu: "The bottom line the great priest drew for me is that the status of the Glorious Divinity on the grasslands can still be mentioned. Above the East Sea, the Azure Dome can be worshipped in parallel with Tian Fei."

"My family rides a boat to sea, your family rides a horse on the grasslands. We travel ten thousand li at dawn and gain seven thousand at night. This is a good thing of cooperation and mutual benefit."

She smiled charmingly: "Master's sister, I have revealed the bottom line to you. When should I not return to the grasslands?"

Yue Tiannu was slightly lost in thought, of course not for the beauty before her. "The Azure Dome Divine Venerable abandoned the emperor's position and ascended to the supreme, yet still does not forget the ambition of the six directions!"

She presided over Miaoyou Zaitang and could see the fundamental at a glance.

Helian Shanhai truly deserved to be the strongest Son of Heaven of Mu since ancient times, an existence whose political number was concluded with the two characters "Sheng Wu."

The Azure Dome Divine Venerable could not be called satisfied.

Having already achieved transcendence, He still sought higher!

Once as the Son of Heaven, He wanted to rectify the present world. Now as the Venerable Divinity, He wanted to integrate the divine path and reappear the eternal heavenly kingdom.

Thus, with a grand wave of His pen, He unexpectedly wanted to completely include Xiyue An into the Azure Dome system. Taking a step back, it was also to share the faith of the East Sea. Taking a step forward... He could spy on the prominent teachings of the Buddhist school!

And this attitude was open and aboveboard. He just opened the door to give Xiyue An benefits, support Xiyue An's development, and allow Xiyue An to compete.

And He was confident... He could win everything.

"The grand ambition is far-reaching. Though in mud and mire, it does not fall. Though perched on a branch, it forever embraces. The Upper Venerable's plan is ancient, no need to obscure it. Everything is in the open, benefiting the noble and doing no harm. I believe Master sees clearly."

Bian Qiong's tone was gentle, yet each sentence hit the key points, freely displaying her ability in diplomacy.

"And the divine teachings going east... this matter is not one-sided."

This woman smiled and shook her head.

"Although it was us who came to the door, Governor Ye's promise was too straightforward. He only said that Qi law, in principle, does not prohibit faith. He also hinted that as long as Tian Fei does not mind..."

"The Qi Emperor is indeed a lord of great strategy. He fundamentally doesn't care how many faiths there are in the empire. Anyway, they all have to pay taxes and are all subject to Qi law. Having one more family is also convenient for balance, lest things become too stiff. After all, he can also be considered a descendant of Tian Fei, and there is that bit of kinship."

She walked in the forest, asking faintly: "Does Master not remember the old matters of Kuyuan?"

The Qi Emperor controlled the realm with law, integrating sects and temples with Qi law, and the Son of Heaven alone was respected.

How could the ten thousand teachings merging on the grasslands not be so?

The Mu Son of Heaven sat high in the Wang Ting, controlling the four directions.

The Azure Dome Divine Venerable fundamentally did not care how many faiths entered the grasslands, only whether they were all within the Azure Dome divine system. He gained his position by seizing a god, yet He was not afraid of seizing a god. The sea accepts all rivers; this is the divine path's ultimate dominance...

"Since the Son of Heaven of the East Country has nodded, Xiyue An has no opinion." Yue Tiannu's thoughts were clear, her voice like gears that were already set, slowly flying out. "After I report to my master and ancestor, I will personally go to the grasslands to negotiate the details with the Divine-faced Priest."

"I knew it, Master's sister is a reasonable person!" Bian Qiong showed a relieved smile and clapped her hands. "Good. The matters of the Grand Mu Empire's Minhe Chief Official have been discussed."

Her voice lowered, like a spiritual snake swimming in the gaps of leaves. "Now let's talk about... Bian Qiong's matters."

Everyone had their own "identity"; humans lived within order.

The thirteen prefectures of Yong Country were respected as the "Mandate of Heaven."

It was where the imperial capital was located, where dragon qi gathered.

Feng Ming, thirty-three years old this year, had struggled for twelve years and finally climbed to this position. In the capital city of the Great Yong Empire, where every inch of land was as precious as gold, he had a foundation to stand on—

He opened a medical hall.

The medical hall was opened on a prosperous street, where people came and went, and carriages and horses were noisy.

There were three courtyards inside and outside. The front courtyard was used to receive guests and diagnose illnesses. The inner courtyard was where the physicians and apprentices of the hall lived and studied.

The back courtyard was where his family resided.

He lived with his wife and a pair of children, and also supported his widowed old father-in-law.

Actually, with his financial resources, he could have bought a larger courtyard long ago, worn splendid clothes, lived in splendid houses, and separated the business of the medical hall from his life.

Everything in the capital city was expensive, but it was not difficult for a great physician to live here.

But he always said, "It's lively with many people."

He liked liveliness. He even liked noise.

He was afraid of quiet.

He detested solitude.

These years, he had diligently cultivated and practiced hard. He was already a cultivator in the Inner Mansion realm. Once he stepped onto the path of cultivation, he was already "transcendental." Those in the Tenglong realm could fly through the sky and escape the ground, even more so above others. And the Inner Mansion realm... According to his father's words back then—one could live very well anywhere in the world.

Even in the capital city of Yong Country, no one would provoke an idle person.

But he would still wake up at midnight in fright, wiping away a face full of tears and sweat.

Perhaps this was why he had already opened three Mansions but still could not see any divine abilities. It was also why he felt his cultivation was stagnant. Every time he rode the dragon and ascended, he was alarmed and returned, unable to explore the root cause of the hazy fog.

He sometimes still thought of Qingyunting in Wenxi County City, Shun'an Fu. Last year, he even made a special trip, but no one there remembered the Feng family and the Chi family anymore.

Flesh and blood in the mud, splendid flowers all over the mountain.

The story from more than ten years ago was so long ago that it seemed as if an era had passed. He was the only one left behind.

He also made a special trip to Jiuyu County to seek the Xiyun Sword Sect, searched for a long time, and found the person called "Yusong Hai." The two met and exchanged glances, finally realizing that this person was not that person.

He thought that the person who originally saved him was probably a true disciple of some prominent family, disguised as a sword-wielding vagrant, who ultimately had to return to his heavenly realm and was not the same as ordinary people.

Surely he was dignified and eminent now?

Even in Yong Country, he could be a duke or a marquis.

And human demons...

There were no more human demons in the world.

The human demons who boiled people for pleasure in Qingyunting had all died off one by one.

Even the large base of human demons, Wuhui Valley, was leveled by Zhenhe Zhenjun.

That white stone stele standing outside the valley became a famous scenic spot in Chen Country, appreciated by young heroes and heroines in the wind and rain.

Chen Country even specially developed several tourism routes, all ending at Wuhui Valley—

The place where Zhenhe Zhenjun suppressed demons.

Several storytellers lectured there, telling how Zhenhe Zhenjun "did not allow humans to have human demons." Of course, they would also mention in passing that Jiang Zhenhe preached before the hall, and his sword repelled evil demons. The Lord of Chen Country suddenly woke up and decided to be a wise ruler from then on...

Those vivid details of human demon stories were as if someone had edited legends to scare children.

No sober adult would be afraid...

"Daddy!" His tiger-headed, tiger-brained son ran in from outside, holding up a piece of giant city monitor, a silver ticket with a Mojia imprint. "Come work!"

What he held up was candy, pastries, the latest Taixu Ge chivalry series, limited edition co-branded small mechanism figures... It was his happy life, full of imposing power!

Feng Ming was the owner of the medical hall and also the town physician, specializing in illnesses that ordinary physicians could not handle. He was considered famous far and wide.

"How many times have I told you—" He frowned and looked over. "In our line of work, don't be happy when there's business!"

His stern gaze softened when he saw his daughter, who was finally worry-free.

His sensible eldest daughter stood prettily in the courtyard entrance, clearly and logically explaining things: "Something happened on the front street. Aunt Wang's whole family was beaten... Someone dragged all the injured over, left a silver ticket here, and asked us to cure them all. He said to use whatever medicine was needed, adding more for deficiency and reducing for excess. He would be responsible for everything."

Feng Ming was subconsciously vigilant: "Who was that person? Did he leave a name?"

"He said his name was Ye Xiaoyun!"