Lu Changsheng fell silent.
He sank into deep thought.
Just who was flattering him again?
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother!"
Just then, Liu Qingfeng came hurrying over, his face wreathed in smiles.
In an instant, Lu Changsheng seemed to understand.
"Qing Feng! Did you spread some more rumors outside?"
Lu Changsheng looked at Liu Qingfeng.
The latter immediately shook his head. "Eldest Senior Brother, do I look like someone with a loose tongue?"
Liu Qingfeng denied it with a solemn expression.
Yet the more Liu Qingfeng acted this way, the more Lu Changsheng felt that this fellow had definitely been spouting nonsense outside.
But he could not blame Liu Qingfeng now, or would that not make him seem frightened before the battle had even begun?
Rubbing his temples, Lu Changsheng felt somewhat anxious.
Losing itself was not shameful. The main thing was that this Dao-Buddhist Dispute carried too much weight. If he lost, the entire Daoist sect would lose all face.
Without realizing it, he had taken on a huge black pot of blame.
He took a deep breath.
For some reason, Lu Changsheng instead became much calmer.
Perhaps this was the state of mind of a man about to die.
"Eldest Senior Brother? Are you afraid?"
Liu Qingfeng spoke. He seemed to have noticed something and could not help asking.
"Do you think your Senior Brother would be afraid?"
Lu Changsheng lifted a cup of tea, appearing utterly calm. Since the outcome had already been set, there was nothing to fear.
After all, death was death whichever way he turned. He might as well relax.
It was like being bitten by a venomous snake. Rather than struggle in agony, it was better to find a shady spot, so as not to stink up the place for others.
"Of course not. Senior Brother is an immortal descended to the mortal world. What is a mere Dharma Master worth? I shall offer my congratulations in advance, Senior Brother, for bringing glory to our Daoist sect."
Joy immediately appeared on Liu Qingfeng's face.
At the same time, he felt immensely ashamed, thinking that he had underestimated Lu Changsheng.
"Then I shall not disturb Senior Brother's quiet cultivation any longer."
After bowing, Liu Qingfeng left the hall.
Before long, Lu Changsheng was the only one left in the great hall.
"Should I bring out the Tao Te Ching when the time comes?"
After Liu Qingfeng left, Lu Changsheng could not help thinking to himself.
During the Da Luo Grand Ceremony, he had spoken so many classic sayings and triggered heavenly phenomena. Though he had only realized it afterward, Lu Changsheng had come to understand something.
Some of the things he had learned on Earth could also shine brilliantly in this world.
Take the Tao Te Ching, for example. In his previous life, it had been a supreme Daoist scripture. It was merely that Earth had never embarked upon the path of cultivation, so the Tao Te Ching had never wielded enormous influence.
But this world was different.
This was a world of immortals and martial heroes, where the path of cultivation was magnificent and turbulent.
The Tao Te Ching should be able to shine brilliantly in this world. More importantly, no matter what he did, it would trigger heavenly phenomena.
If he recited the Tao Te Ching, it would naturally trigger heavenly phenomena as well.
Then, if he talked his way around things a little, even if he lost, it probably would not be too disastrous, right?
That was Lu Changsheng's plan.
But Lu Changsheng believed even more strongly that if he truly recited the Tao Te Ching, he absolutely would not lose. It was a supreme Daoist scripture.
It was naturally extraordinary beyond compare.
His only concern was whether reciting such a scripture would trigger some other unknown consequences.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Changsheng shook his head. For now, he would take things one step at a time. When that day came, if there was truly no other choice, he would bring out the Tao Te Ching.
If the Tao Te Ching was too powerful, then he could use the Huangting Jing. If the Huangting Jing did not work, there was the Nanhua Zhenjing, the Yuhuang Jing, and the Chongxu Zhenjing.
Lu Changsheng refused to believe that with so many scriptures, he still could not outtalk a Dharma Master.
At this moment.
Great Luo Palace.
Liu Qingfeng arrived in the hall.
Great Luo's upper ranks had gathered there.
"Greetings, Sect Leader. Greetings, Martial Uncles and Martial Uncles."
Liu Qingfeng was exceedingly well-behaved, looking harmless to humans and animals alike, handsome and refined.
"You may rise. You just went to see Changsheng. Did you learn anything?"
Qingyun Daoist spoke and asked.
"Reporting to Sect Leader, this disciple went to the main peak just now and asked Senior Brother what he thought of Dharma Master Xuanxin. I even dared to ask whether Senior Brother feared Dharma Master Xuanxin."
"Yet Senior Brother merely looked at this disciple with immense confidence and said only one sentence: 'Do you think your Senior Brother would be afraid?'"
"This disciple believes that Eldest Senior Brother is an immortal descended to the mortal world, an unmatched prodigy of the Immortal Cultivation World. The Buddhist sect has produced a Xuanxin, but our Daoist sect has also produced a Senior Brother Changsheng. Our Daoist sect will surely win this battle."
For once, Liu Qingfeng did not fabricate rumors.
He spoke the truth.
As his voice fell.
Everyone immediately let out a sigh of relief.
"Then that is good. Go back and cultivate diligently. Remember, during this period, make sure no one disturbs your Eldest Senior Brother's cultivation, lest something go wrong at a critical moment. Do you understand?"
The Qingyun Sect Leader spoke.
Liu Qingfeng nodded heavily, then withdrew from the great hall.
Before long, Great Luo Palace became incomparably solemn.
The usual laughter, scolding, and banter had vanished without a trace, replaced by an icy severity.
"This time, the Buddhist sect has made up its mind. They have sent Xuanxin to Central Province to meet Dao with Buddhism and debate the doctrines of Daoist sects across the land, all so they can spread Buddhist teachings in Central Province. Though we have Changsheng, nothing is absolute. What if Changsheng loses?"
The Qingyun Sect Leader spoke, his expression exceedingly grave.
"Martial Nephew Changsheng will not lose."
An elder spoke, his single sentence establishing everyone's confidence.
"That's right, Changsheng will not lose."
"Indeed, Changsheng will not lose."
"I have judged countless people. Changsheng is simply too extraordinary. Let alone Xuanxin, even if a divine Buddhist monk came, he would still not compare to Changsheng."
For some reason, Great Luo's upper ranks unanimously believed that Lu Changsheng could win. This confidence seemed inexplicable, but in truth, it was because Lu Changsheng simply looked far too impressive.
"I too believe Changsheng will not lose. But what if he does?"
The Qingyun Sect Leader looked at everyone and said this.
At those words, everyone fell silent.
After a short while, someone answered.
"If he truly loses, then even if we must cast aside all shame, we cannot allow the Buddhist sect to spread Buddhist teachings in Central Province."
"Yes. This conflict absolutely cannot be reversed by a mere Xuanxin. If we lose, then we lose. Even if the whole world curses us, we absolutely cannot allow the Buddhist sect to invade."
"Our Daoist sect cultivates the supreme heart, while the Buddhist sect cultivates recompense in the next life. If the Buddhist sect enters Central Province, it will take less than a thousand years for them to gain a firm foothold here. This can never be allowed."
Everyone's attitude was exceedingly resolute.
From every possible angle, none of them wanted the Buddhist sect to appear in Central Province.
"Since that is so, then all my brothers, prepare for a bloody battle. If Changsheng loses, Central Province will be turned upside down completely. The Buddhist sect's stance is resolute, but I have also discussed this with the other Holy Lords, and their views are the same."
"If we lose, prepare to face a bloody war. If we win, everything can be discussed."
The Qingyun Sect Leader spoke with utter seriousness.
"We shall respectfully obey the Sect Leader's decree."
Everyone rose to their feet together. Not one was afraid, and not one retreated.
And so.
Time passed little by little.
Three days later, Supreme Beginning Holy Land was defeated.
Five days later, Yin Yang Holy Land was defeated.
Six days later, Exquisite Holy Land was defeated.
At last, the seventh day arrived: Zi Time.
Before you continue