Zheng Fa never expected that Lu Mo would come looking for him, especially to visit him in person.
This was, in fact, his first time dealing with Lu Mo face-to-face.
Lu Mo did not come alone. He was accompanied by the Glazed Buddha Ancestor, Bodhisattva Huihong, and others. At his feet was a strange beast—resembling both a lion and a tiger, with its eyes slightly closed and two large, drooping ears resting limply on its head.
Zheng Fa led his group into the villa and went directly into the back garden.
Lu Mo wore a slightly worn monk's robe, a dull, plain blue. His face was actually quite unremarkable; he was an ordinary middle-aged man, the kind of face that would be easily forgotten in a crowd.
Yet Zheng Fa's gaze was always irresistibly drawn to him, and it wasn't just Zheng Fa; the Glazed Buddha Ancestor, Bodhisattva Huihong, and others seemed to be like planets drawn to a star, consciously or unconsciously orbiting around Lu Mo.
Of course, Zheng Fa didn't really think Lu Mo ordinary; in fact, he started a live stream the moment Lu arrived.
The image of Lu Mo before him transformed into a signal and was transmitted to the Nine Mountains Realm through the Creation Jade Disc.
In the Nine Mountains Realm, Senior Sister Zhang, Uncle-Master Pang, Xiao Yuying, and many others had gathered in the Heavenly Palace Hall, watching Lu Mo in the light screen as if facing a formidable enemy.
Zheng Fa felt that his greatest strength was his self-awareness—he had little experience and had actually had a smooth life since entering the Dao. When it came to scheming and plotting, he could hardly compare to Lu Mo, who had stirred up the Xuanwei winds and clouds for several eras.
Fortunately, he had someone behind him. Ever since he left the Nine Mountains Realm, the sect had prepared a think tank.
Inside the Heavenly Palace Hall, not only were the elders of the Nine Mountains Realm present, but also Old Han leading elite disciples from the Intelligence Division, preparing to analyze Lu Mo frame by frame.
Even Yun Wuji was here. Zheng Fa wanted to use his understanding of Lu Mo to analyze the other party's purpose.
"What does he want with his junior brother?"
Little Bird Yuan, who was the most impatient, muttered as she asked.
This is also the question Zheng Fa wants to know.
A group of people entered the pavilion in the back garden. Lu Mo, acting as the host, went straight to sit at the stone table in the pavilion before turning to Zheng Fa and saying, "Please sit."
Zheng Fa hesitated for a moment, then sat down calmly. He turned to look at the others and saw that they stood around him as if it were a habit, like servants.
Even the previously aloof and seemingly ill-tempered Glazed Buddha Ancestor of the Nine Mountains Realm stood ramrod straight.
It should be noted that Lu Mo is a Golden Immortal Golden Immortal, and so is he, but the Glazed Buddha Ancestor always treated Lu Mo with the utmost respect.
If we consider that Lu Mo was probably a later addition—he only truly joined Thunderclap Temple at the end of the Previous Epoch.
Lu Mo's control over Thunderclap Temple is truly admirable.
"I have long admired Alliance Leader Zheng."
Lu Mo began to speak, and there seemed to be a strange power in his voice that forced Zheng Fa to concentrate fully. The rushing sound of the waterfall, the strange behavior of the Glazed Buddha Ancestor, and even the wariness in his heart all seemed to disappear in an instant.
Within the Nine Mountains Realm, the Heavenly Emperor Body seemed to sense something and frowned slightly.
Zheng Fa's mind Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant, and a chill ran through him. When he looked at Lu Mo, he saw that the man was just smiling at him slightly, without any sign of anything unusual.
"I have long admired the great name of the Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor."
Lu Mo's smile deepened, and he praised, " Sect Leader Zheng, you are indeed extraordinary."
He tilted his head slightly, and a celestial maiden bowed and offered him two cups of fragrant tea.
The aroma of tea filled the air, instantly invigorating Zheng Fa.
Lu Mo smiled slightly, then suddenly asked, "Back then, the person secretly working for the Tianhe Sect was Sect Leader Zheng, wasn't he?"
"... It's me."
"I know the Nine Nether very well. If it weren't for Sect Leader Zheng, the Book of Life and Death would definitely have fallen into my hands." Lu Mo's smile faded, and he looked at Zheng Fa expressionlessly. "But with Sect Leader Zheng's intervention, my preparations for attaining the Grand Luo over an entire era have all been in vain."
The word "again" is used very well.
In the distance, Zheng Fa could clearly see that the Glazed Buddha Ancestor and others were glaring at him.
" White Lotus is my only disciple." Lu Mo changed the subject again, continuing to slowly recount the grievances between the two sides, "He was originally White Lotus in human form, perfectly suited to the Thunderclap Great Dao, and is the Future Buddha praised by everyone in our Buddhist School, almost a perfect Golden Immortal seed."
"As a result, he also died because of Sect Leader Zheng."
There seemed to be some heartache in Lu Mo's voice.
Zheng Fa did not try to explain that Yun Wuji killed White Lotus; such words were meaningless. From the moment he protected Yun Wuji, he had borne this karma.
The gazes of the Glazed Buddha Ancestor and his companions were as if they wanted to devour Zheng Fa.
But why did Lu Mo say all this?
Lu Mo lowered his head, slowly took a sip of tea, then looked up at Zheng Fa and asked, "Do you want to be the Future Buddha?"
"..."
In the secluded courtyard, inside the Nine Mountains Realm Heavenly Palace Hall, everyone fell silent.
Out of the corner of Zheng Fa's eye, he noticed the angry and confused expressions on the faces of the Glazed Buddha Ancestor and the others, as if they had witnessed Thunderclap Temple falling from the mountain. Yet, they remained silent.
" The Future Buddha?"
"I'll give you White Lotus's place."
Lu Mo's expression didn't seem like he was joking.
Zheng Fa was even speechless. He hadn't expected that Lu Mo would come to see him to offer him a job.
Lu Mo looked at him and said, " Nine Nether will not submit to me."
No, it's true.
Zheng Fa understood the character of the Nine Nether Emperor. He had suffered a great loss at the hands of Lu Mo, and he also had a grudge against Venerable Tianhe. Even if he were to die, he would never submit to Lu Mo.
"But you're different. If we're talking about enmity, it's between me and you, not the other way around."
That statement, I must say, makes a lot of sense.
Zheng Fa had never suffered any major losses at Lu Mo's hands.
"Help me unify the Xuanwei, and you will become the Future Buddha."
Inside the Nine Mountains Realm Heavenly Palace Hall, Uncle-Master Pang slowly turned his head to look at Old Han, the head of the Intelligence Division: "Do you think what he said is true or false?"
Old Han thought for a moment, then said, "That sounds too fake."
"That's true."
So I think it's true.
"..." Uncle-Master Pang was silent for a moment, then looked at Yun Wuji.
Yun Wuji's lips twitched, as if he had encountered some blind spot in his knowledge, and he said in a low voice, "I've never seen Lu Mo value anyone like this..."
Zheng Fa was also somewhat bewildered. After a moment of silence, he bluntly asked his question, "As long as I take out the Primordial Purple Qi?"
Lu Mo.
" Truth Listener followed you, Sect Leader Zheng, out of the Underworld, but then disappeared without a trace; we couldn't find the Primordial Purple Qi."
He pointed to the strange beast.
Zheng Fa looked at the famous mythical beast and finally understood why Huihong had been able to catch him earlier.
This thing is said to have eyes that can distinguish good from evil and ears that can hear the Three Realms; it has quite a few Divine Ability.
In other words, the Primordial Purple Qi possesses the ability to conceal itself, and its whereabouts in the Modern World are unknown to Truth Listener.
Otherwise, Lu Mo probably wouldn't have laid such a big bait.
"Of course, Sect Leader Zheng, you're not without weaknesses either. That world can't escape the Xuanwei," Lu Mo said softly, seemingly casually, yet also with a hint of threat. " The Nine Mountains Realm, the Nine Mountains Sect, those disciples, those mortals—these are all your weaknesses."
"..."
Zheng Fa had to admit that Lu Mo was right.
Given Lu Mo's level of surveillance over him, if he were to relocate a large number of people from the Nine Mountains Sect, his location in the Modern World would be immediately exposed—moreover, the Modern World simply cannot support the Nine Mountains Sect Nine Mountains Sect, let alone its mortals.
Seeing that Zheng Fa remained silent, Lu Mo took another sip of tea. "I'm willing to give you a choice, not entirely because of the Primordial Purple Qi."
Zheng Fa was stunned for a moment, then heard Lu Mo say, word by word, "It's because of you."
"I?"
"Others may not know, but I do: the Primordial Purple Qi cannot be obtained by anyone but Sage."
"..."
"Back then, I also missed out on it." Lu Mo then revealed his own weakness, "When I was still Golden Crow, I learned that the Primordial Purple Qi could only be obtained by Human Race."
"After I've made all the preparations, Tianhe..."
Lu Mo smiled, looking surprisingly carefree, and glanced at Zheng Fa:
"You did what I couldn't, so I'm willing to give you this opportunity."
"..."
Inside the Nine Mountains Realm Heavenly Palace Hall, Senior Sister Zhang's eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly sighed, " Lu Mo is probably truly a born emperor."
Everyone else nodded.
Even though they were enemies, and Lu Mo was subtly threatening Zheng Fa with the Nine Mountains Realm, they had to admit that Lu Mo also had his own magnanimity. At least from today's exchange, he did not seem to be a jealous person.
Even Zheng Fa was deeply shaken.
He now understood why the Demon Race always called Lu Mo the Demon Emperor and was so sincerely convinced of his authority.
Lu Mo thought highly of himself, which he could understand. To put it bluntly, he was now Dao Ancestor's chosen one, and with Lu Mo's understanding of the Primordial Purple Qi, he naturally understood its value.
Could Leiyin be the Future Buddha?
Just as Lu Mo said, he had suffered quite a few losses at his hands, especially from the fact that the Nine Nether Emperor had ruined his Grand Luo Path, so it could be said that he had a deep-seated hatred for him.
Now Lu Mo is so magnanimous, or rather, so ambitious—he doesn't want to seize the Primordial Purple Qi, he doesn't even need to be the owner of the Primordial Purple Qi himself, but rather he wants the owner of the Primordial Purple Qi to willingly submit.
Seeing that he seemed to understand, Lu Mo chuckled lightly, "The so-called Primordial Purple Qi is something that only those who lead the Human Race can possess and control."
"They must possess unprecedented talent, an open mind that embraces all things, an ambition that strives for the highest goals, and unwavering resilience that transcends life and death."
Having said that, Lu Mo stood up and stood with his hands behind his back.
Throughout history, most cultivators have been mediocre; only a handful have truly caught the eye.
"The Supreme Daoist Master possesses unparalleled virtue and profound blessings, but unfortunately, although the Supreme Dao appears illustrious now, it is merely a pile of loose sand, ready to collapse at the slightest push."
" The Jade Pool Water Mother, once so ambitious, is now like a withered skeleton in a tomb, unable to escape my grasp."
"As for the Three Reclusive Immortals and others, they are nothing more than guard dogs, only knowing how to change their allegiance according to the wind."
Zheng Fa listened to Lu Mo's passionate speech, he was thinking to himself, "This person used to hide behind the scenes, but now he has changed his style. He is probably... very proud of himself, and may even be completely confident about the Great Luo Dharma Assembly."
" Of Xuanwei capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility, only I am," Lu Mo turned around, pointing to Zheng Fa, "And you."
Within the Nine Mountains Realm, Senior Sister Zhang and the others stared at Lu Mo on the light screen, momentarily speechless.
After a long silence, Uncle-Master Pang sighed softly, "I never imagined Lu Mo was this kind of person."
Even Xie Qingxue, who came from the Tianhe Sect and deeply hated Lu Mo, had a very complicated expression at this moment.
She had to admit that Lu Mo's words and actions today had greatly shocked her—she even asked herself if she were the Sect Leader, and she was afraid she would be tempted at this moment.
Thinking of this, Xie Qingxue pursed her lips.
" The Great Vehicle Buddha Ancestor thinks too highly of me," Zheng Fa's voice came. "I have no talent or aptitude. My achievements are all thanks to the Venerable Tianhe and other sages, to the Nine Mountains Sect, and even to ordinary people."
His voice was unhurried, as if he wasn't particularly pleased by Lu Mo's high regard.
Within the light screen, Lu Mo's expression began to change. He stared intently at Zheng Fa: "What you're saying is still the same Tianhe."
Zheng Fa smiled gently.
Lu Mo closed his eyes, then opened them again, the smile long gone, "I can accommodate you, I can accommodate Jade Pool, I can even accommodate the Supreme Dao."
"Only Tianhe I absolutely cannot tolerate."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa suddenly realized something—he had previously thought that Lu Mo's secret scheming against the Tianhe Sect was because of the Book of Life and Death.
Now it seems that it's not just that.
It must be said that Lu Mo is actually quite magnanimous, but he seems completely intolerant of Venerable Tianhe's ideas.
Zheng Fa suddenly thought of something:
The Supreme Dao is probably the legacy of the Taishang Sage.
Thunderclap Temple, needless to say, belongs to the two Western Saints.
It's hard to say about Nuwa; she herself doesn't seem to have had many disciples.
However, he still couldn't figure out the truth about Tongtian Yuanshi.
Venerable Tianhe clearly possesses some of the lineage of the Sage Tongtian.
And Lu Mo...
The Yuanshi Sage, the Original Devil Ancestor. The Yuanshi Sage was skilled in weapon crafting, Vast Sun Mountain Plain was also renowned for its weapon crafting...
These two brothers argued and fought each other to the death, creating a conflict between their two religions, which indeed caused endless trouble!
Lu Mo looked at Zheng Fa, seemingly waiting for his answer.
" Buddha Ancestor, I have my own eyes to judge who is good and who is bad."
The smile on Lu Mo's face gradually faded.
The surrounding Glazed Buddha Ancestor and others lowered their heads, filled with fear.
Zheng Fa watched Lu Mo turn and walk out of the courtyard, with Glazed Buddha Ancestor and the others hurriedly following behind him.
After walking for a while, the Glazed Buddha Ancestor finally spoke:
"World Honored One?"
"You shall prepare to send troops to the Nine Mountains to find the Primordial Purple Qi."
"Yes!"
After Lu Mo came, no one else came looking for Zheng Fa.
The other Golden Immortal in the villa seemed to be in close contact, perhaps playing a game of alliances and counter-alliances.
The Three Reclusive Immortals no longer stay at home; they visit the Supreme Dao's villa every day, as if the two sides have reached a certain tacit understanding.
The Blissful Heavenly Maiden of Jade Pool and the two Golden Immortal of the Demon Race were quite familiar with each other, as they were originally from Lu Mo's faction.
Only Zheng Fa's secluded courtyard remained deserted; no one from Thunderclap Temple came, and no other Golden Immortal visited either. It seemed as if everyone had forgotten about it, making it appear quite desolate.
About ten days later, a welcoming monk knocked on Zheng Fa's courtyard gate.
Zheng Fa walked out of the courtyard and looked towards Thunderclap Temple on the mountaintop.
The Great Luo Dharma Assembly has begun.
(End of this chapter)