Chapter 102: The Buddhist Sect Arrives
Retracting the Seven Star Sword Formation, Jiang Ce checked the time; it wasn’t mealtime yet. After some consideration, he decided to continue breaking through the remaining acupoints needed for the Golden Bell Shield.
Because currently, aside from the Golden Bell Shield which was practiced earliest and has been used proficiently for some time, allowing the next step of improvement, the other sorceries have only been cultivated recently and are still somewhat unfamiliar; it wouldn’t be good to force their growth.
After thinking it over, his current improvements mainly lie in sorcery. To ensure getting the Five Thunder Pill, he must win at the Daoist Grand Ceremony.
Jiang Ce didn’t believe that the Old Celestial Master knew the key was Sixth Rank but the Buddhist Sect people wouldn’t know. And from what the Old Celestial Master said, this bet battle was proposed by the Buddhist Sect side, so they naturally wouldn’t lack confidence; in fact, their confidence should be greater than that of the Daoist Sect.
Thus, he became crucial.
Even without using the Great Cauldron, protecting the body with the Golden Bell Shield to guarantee no unexpected situations lead to defeat was very necessary.
Saying and doing, Jiang Ce took a deep breath, focused fully, and used Buddhist Charm to impact the remaining acupoints.
Outside the room, Liang Zhi Che was preparing to come to this independent small courtyard to call Jiang Ce for dinner.
“Big Brother, dinner hmm?”
Liang Zhi Che stopped in his tracks, suspiciously leaning against the door edge, listening in shock and uncertainty to the sounds coming from inside.
“This this is”
He clearly heard that it was indeed Jiang Ce’s voice, but what exactly made him emit such sounds?
“Mm hiss. Ha! Mmph. Urgh!”
Could it be…
Liang Zhi Che frowned and carefully discerned.
In the large courtyard, Xuan Qing was somewhat puzzled and said to Lu Yun: “Why has Liang Zhi Che been gone so long? Did something happen? Go check.”
“Okay.” Lu Yun nodded, got up from the dining table, and headed to the courtyard.
Then he too didn’t return.
“Tsk Lou Leshan, you go.”
“Okay.”
Didn’t return.
“Qin”
“Martial Uncle, no need to say it; I’ll definitely bring them back.”
Didn’t return.
Finally, Xuan Qing couldn’t sit still and personally got up to check.
The courtyard was behind the large courtyard where everyone stayed, but one had to exit the courtyard door and go around a distance.
When Xuan Qing arrived at the scene, he surprisingly found four people neatly standing against the walls on both sides of Jiang Ce’s room door, ears pressed to the wall, whispering among themselves.
“Who would’ve thought Jiang Ce not only hides his cultivation deeply, but his physical quality is so formidable too!”
“You arrived earliest; how long has it been.”
“From when I arrived until now, it should be about half an hour; I don’t know how long it was going on before that.”
“I know this; it’s an ascetic cultivation method from the east, called Cun Zhi. Long-term practice can achieve delay effects. From the timing, he might have immersed in this path for many years.”
“There’s such a thing? Eye-opening.”
“You’re not fooling us again, are you?”
“This one’s real; if you don’t believe me, search online. Ordinary people can practice it too.”
“Whoa, it really is; there’s even a link here for some Cun Zhi challenge. Have you seen it?”
“There are too many such challenges, each one full of difficulties. I’ve tried, and even the most basic one failed. Who would’ve thought…”
“Cough cough!”
Lou Leshan was speaking animatedly when he suddenly heard the coughing behind him. Turning back, he saw Xuan Qing with an unpleasant expression.
The others immediately stepped aside, faces full of embarrassment.
But Lou Leshan waved at Xuan Qing: “Martial Uncle, come listen quick; it’s amazing.”
“This is how you call him for dinner, without even entering the room?”
Xuan Qing was somewhat angry.
But unexpectedly, everyone’s faces changed, shaking their heads frantically: “Can’t go in, can’t go in.”
Xuan Qing was puzzled, frowning lightly: “Let me listen; what exactly could attract you all so much.”
He stepped forward two steps, mimicking their posture by pressing his ear to the door, but at that instant, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Bang!
Xuan Qing clutched his nose and staggered back two steps; Jiang Ce looked surprised: “Eh? Why are you all here? Martial Uncle Xuan Qing, what happened to your nose?”
“No matter, no matter.”
Eavesdropping wasn’t exactly honorable, and being caught was even more embarrassing; Xuan Qing quickly waved it off and explained:
“Bumped my nose on the cabinet this morning. We came to call you for dinner.”
“Whoa, so many people; I thought you had some bad idea needing me to decide.”
Jiang Ce, having cultivated the Golden Bell Shield to the third layer, was in a great mood; digging his ear, he casually draped an arm around Xuan Qing and walked out intimately:
“Aiya, how could such a small matter trouble Martial Uncle to come personally? Just send Liang Zhi Che.”
“But Martial Uncle, how long ago did you bump your nose? It’s been so long and still not healed. Want me to sneak some pills from the Pill Room for you? Can’t delay this.”
Watching the two gradually walk away, Lou Leshan glanced back at Jiang Ce’s unclosed room and curiously walked in.
Lu Yun followed closely, pulling at Lou Leshan: “Not good, right.”
But Lou Leshan didn’t speak, his expression growing even more grave instead.
Qin Shen Bo looked serious: “What is it?”
Lou Leshan just shook his head and sighed: “Still underestimated him.”
“Any discoveries?” Liang Zhi Che also followed in.
Lou Leshan pointed at the bed, explaining earnestly: “Look, the bed is clean and tidy, the trash can is empty, and the sounds we just heard were definitely from inside the room, not the bathroom.
And the most important point is the air!”
“Air?” Qin Shen Bo’s eyes were full of confusion.
“Yes, the air is too fresh; that’s very suspicious.” Lou Leshan’s nostrils twitched slightly, affirming confidently.
The others didn’t understand what Lou Leshan meant, but Liang Zhi Che did; he immediately felt nauseous and backed away two steps in horror: “You’re pretty perverted.”
Lou Leshan glanced at him, ignored it, and continued:
“Calculate the time: from Martial Uncle Xuan Qing appearing to him coming out, the interval was very short, meaning he couldn’t have completed cleanup in such little time. So the answer is obvious.”
“What is it?” The three asked in unison.
Lou Leshan turned back, gazing far out from the doorway, eyes narrowing slightly, and said slowly:
“This is the supreme realm of Cun Zhi: arousing but not releasing!”
Instantly, everyone drew in a sharp breath.
Qin Shen Bo even exclaimed: “Worthy of Buddhist Sect origins; truly self-disciplined!”
Lou Leshan sighed too: “He looks refined, seems like an upright gentleman, but secretly practices such an ultimate skill. Truly, know the man, know the face, but not the heart.”
Jiang Ce shoveled rice, tallying gains from last night to now, corners of his mouth unconsciously rising.
With the current proficiency and spiritual energy intensity of the Golden Bell Shield, third layer was the limit. Though far from seventh layer perfection, the third layer’s effects already surprised him.
The current Golden Bell Shield not only rebounds close-range physical attacks but also defends well against sorcery. As long as it doesn’t exceed the shield’s tolerance threshold, even sorcery can be resolved by it, absorbing part of the power into the Golden Bell Shield, which can then be unleashed as a spiritual energy torrent when needed.
Somewhat similar to the characteristic of that Gluttonous Ghost’s Five Energies Returning to Origin in the Great Tomb, which grew stronger the more it fought.
The other gain was naturally the Seven Star Sword Formation. Even just having a framework now, its effect was top-notch. Though unknown in actual combat, at least in terms of aura, it was equivalent to launching seven nested sorceries simultaneously, interconnected and cooperative.
If in the future, for every sorcery cultivated, he made a backup as a detachable replaceable module, then for a single sorcery, Jiang Ce’s combat power could increase sevenfold.
Of course, this was ideal; detaching and replacing takes time, and battles change in an instant. Sometimes multiple sorceries need simultaneous use, where the Seven Star Sword Formation’s flexibility falls short.
But even so, though not reaching sevenfold, it could still increase several times.
And most importantly, up to now, aside from the corresponding multiplied power consumption, there were no side effects.
However, power consumption wasn’t an issue at all; Jiang Ce specialized in eating from every sect. Short on Buddhist Charm? Switch to Daoist Qi. Short on Daoist Qi? Switch to Righteous Qi. Once he got the Five Thunder Pill, retrained usable Righteous Qi, started cultivating the White Tiger Secret Teachings to solve the spiritual energy problem, he could let future opponents experience what a sorcery machine gun feels like.
If there’s an immortal cultivation inventor, it has to be me, Jiang Ce thought delightedly.
Involuntarily, he looked toward Xuan Qing.
If he knew the Seven Star Sword Formation he cultivated was still an undeveloped pure little thing, he wouldn’t get mad~ wouldn’t beat me~ Eh, so scary, Quanzhen Sect; unlike me, who only ruthlessly develops array after array~
Xuan Qing shuddered all over, suddenly looking up at Jiang Ce who was pointing at him with his chin, nostrils facing him.
His mouth corners curved down, lips pursed, eyebrows raised at the ends, forcefully looking down, eyes holding pity, mockery, regret, sneer, teasing.
This made Xuan Qing feel very uncomfortable; he couldn’t help frowning and speaking: “What now?”
“Nothing, suddenly thought of something funny.”
Jiang Ce realized his inadvertent expression was too arrogant, restrained it, lowered his head, and continued eating.
Xuan Qing’s eyelid twitched; intuition told him the so-called funny thing was greatly related to him.
Jiang Ce didn’t dare look at Xuan Qing anymore, afraid of bursting out laughing, so he looked at the others.
But at a glance, he felt a chill all over.
What the hell are those looks?
Admiration? Not quite. Worship? Not quite.
Especially Qin Shen Bo, what’s with you? Even when I fused your Ghost Disciple right in front of you, you didn’t show this otherworldly expression.
“I’m full.”
Jiang Ce set down his bowl and chopsticks, turned, and left.
He really couldn’t stand those rare animal viewing gazes.
“Could it be they sensed my kingly aura while practicing? Ridiculous.”
Jiang Ce shook his head, inwardly cursing them idiots.
Planning to wander for fun, he suddenly remembered something, considered, then strode along the remembered path.
Today’s Celestial Master’s Mansion was exceptionally lively.
Not for other reasons, but because the Buddhist Sect people had arrived.
They didn’t come scattered but seemed to have met at the mountain base before ascending together.
Arriving together now, their momentum was immense.
If Jiang Ce were there, he’d easily think of the scene of lily beating phoenix flower, especially since the Buddhist Sect side were all bald, giving a strong sense of déjà vu.
The Daoist Sect side wasn’t lacking either; the Daoist bigshots who attended the Celestial Master’s Hall meeting the previous day all received the message and came to the Mountain Gate to wait for the Buddhist Sect people.
At the forefront naturally were Zhang Ze Xing, True Person Qin, True Person Wang, Li Xi—these Return to Origin Limitless experts. The Old Celestial Master, however, wasn’t there.
Some hawkish figures in the Daoist Sect who usually harbored strong hostility toward the Buddhist Sect were dissatisfied seeing them arrive in full force, but due to the Old Celestial Master’s face, they held back from speaking.
Just that their cold gazes were far from friendly.
“Amitabha, it seems the Daoist Sect friends are not very welcoming of us.”
An old monk also at the forefront smiled, speaking politely, but faintly giving an air of superiority.
Li Xi grinned roguishly, showing no high-person demeanor: “Zhi Zheng, you wouldn’t know; just gathering everyone to welcome you took a lot of persuading.
Not to mention others, take me; Celestial Master Zhang asked me three times before I agreed to come see.
If I’d known the first voice I’d hear was yours, I definitely wouldn’t have come.”
The old monk’s smile gradually faded, shaking his head helplessly: “Why bother?”
Someone from the Buddhist Sect wanted to chime in, but the forefront person just lightly raised a hand, and the entire Buddhist Sect fell silent.
Because in the Buddhist Sect, his status was comparable to the Old Celestial Master; he was the current Shaolin Temple Abbot Ci En, also the Buddhist Sect’s only Perfect Enlightenment.
“Celestial Master Zhang, where is the Old Celestial Master?”
“My father is in the Medicine Field; he had me greet you all first, arrange your lodgings, then bring you to see him.”
Zhang Ze Xing’s words and actions were very proper, but his face remained expressionless, showing no joy, anger, or preference.
“Amitabha, very well; guests follow the host.”
Ci En performed a Buddhist salute; then Daoist Sect in front, Buddhist Sect behind, the group proceeded grandly up the mountain.
Zhang Ze Xing’s arrangements were meticulous and flawless; not only settling the nearly hundred Buddhist Sect arrivals perfectly, but also considering relations and preferences among the various Buddhist Sects. In the end, not one was dissatisfied with their lodging.
On the way to visit the Old Celestial Master, even Ci En, who only brought two disciples, couldn’t help sighing: “Celestial Master Zhang has the demeanor of a great figure; Celestial Master’s Mansion can prosper another century.”
But Zhang Ze Xing just politely thanked the praise, then said seriously: “It will prosper another millennium, another eternity.”
Ci En was stunned, sincerely saying: “This monk was wrong.”
“No matter.” Zhang Ze Xing, impassive, continued leading.
Ci En didn’t mind, but a young monk beside him was dissatisfied.
He was still boyish, perhaps only sixteen or seventeen, but his eyes were very resolute and upright.
In his view, currently in Celestial Master’s Mansion, the only ones worth respecting were his own master Ci En and the Old Celestial Master; Zhang Ze Xing was nothing, yet dared to look down on his master.
Sensing his disciple’s anger, Ci En sighed and scolded: “Did you forget what your master said?”
The young monk wanted to explain, but Ci En shook his head: “Your mind is unsettled; bringing you to see the Old Celestial Master would only add to the jokes. Stay here and wait for me to come out; your senior brother will go in with me.”
The young monk looked pleadingly at the senior monk behind Ci En.
The senior monk looked honest and, seeing this, could only helplessly rub the young monk’s head, saying: “Listen to Master.”
The young monk had no choice but to watch the three figures disappear into the mountain valley pass ahead.
At that moment, a figure tumbled out from a haystack beside the young monk.
The young monk looked warily, but saw the person hugging a bundle of herbs, coughing while spitting out a mouthful of straw.
“Fuck, scared me to death; I thought they came to arrest me.”
