At the Door

Green Mountain Town was swept up in an atmosphere of excitement following Fa Hai's earth-shaking arrival. Especially after seeing that although Fa Hai was a powerful Dou Zong expert, he remained respectful and courteous toward ants like them, everyone felt an immediate sense of closeness and voluntarily joined in the construction of the temple grounds. Even the great clans from nearby cities came to help, likely hoping to curry favor with Fa Hai.

Ye Qiu had originally only planned to build a Guanyin Monastery, but they had forcibly turned it into a massive temple spanning five hundred mu. Though it had yet to be completed, it was already grand and imposing, like a castle. Fa Hai personally named it Green Mountain Temple.

Although Fa Hai had been summoned by the system and implanted with information about the Dou Qi world, his original memories from the Legend of the White Snake had been retained as well. That place was regarded by default as the Huaxia Empire!

There were still several days until the agreed date for the preaching ceremony. Ye Qiu had not been idle during those days; he dragged Fa Hai into serving as his sparring partner.

In the forest at the edge of the Demon Beast Mountain Range near Green Mountain Town, a young man in brocade robes held a sharp sword and continuously launched attacks at the middle-aged man before him.

The middle-aged man wore a red kasaya, was bald, and wielded a golden zen staff that clashed repeatedly with the youth's sharp sword.

If they truly fought, a single sneeze from Fa Hai could kill Ye Qiu. However, Fa Hai had suppressed his Dou Qi to Ye Qiu's level.

Even at the same level, Fa Hai's combat experience was far beyond anything Ye Qiu could compare to. Clang, bang, clang, bang.

The sound of metal clashing rang out without pause. "Hah!" Covered in bruises, Ye Qiu slashed at Fa Hai, his Aluminum Alloy Sword coated in yellow sword Qi.

"Hah!" As the Aluminum Alloy Sword swept toward him, Fa Hai leaped up, soaring more than ten meters into the air.

"Ah! One Finger Yang Skill!" Seeing that his strike had failed, Ye Qiu circulated his Dou Qi technique and gathered it at the sword tip. He raised the Aluminum Alloy Sword and thrust it toward Fa Hai in midair, unleashing the One Finger Yang Skill.

A streak of sword Qi shot toward Ye Qiu like a long serpent, as swift as lightning, so fast it was staggering.

Bang! Facing this lightning-fast blow, Fa Hai showed no fear at all. Without even using a Dou Qi technique, he swung the Gilded Zen Staff and directly knocked the One Finger Yang Skill's sword Qi aside.

"What? He actually... Damn it! Ah!" Seeing his move so easily broken by his opponent, Ye Qiu was humiliated and enraged. He immediately raised his sword, leaped up, and attacked Fa Hai. Fa Hai had already lowered his Dou Qi to the same level as his.

"Mind Purifying True Words: Stillness!" Seeing Ye Qiu charge at him with gritted teeth, Fa Hai remained calm. He drew in his zen staff, formed a Buddhist gesture with his left hand, and chanted. When Fa Hai spoke the word "stillness," a sacred radiance poured forth from his left palm.

Fa Hai gently pushed out his left palm, and the radiance filled with sacred energy surged toward Ye Qiu, instantly enveloping him.

"Ah! Huh? This!" When Ye Qiu saw the pillar of light wrap around him, he was initially thrown into a panic. He had been caught before he could even react...

Yet slowly, he discovered that the golden light surrounding him had not harmed him at all. Instead, it gradually calmed his heart. His determination to fight Fa Hai to the end faded away, and drowsiness slowly overcame him. He gradually fell asleep.

Watching the scene below, Fa Hai slowly descended from the air. The golden light enveloping Ye Qiu did not disperse, continuing to flow around him.

"Amitabha. Young Master, your strength has risen too quickly lately, leaving your state of mind unstable and stirring up your competitive nature. This humble monk used a Buddhist true word to settle your original heart. I hope Young Master can calm down and remain detached." Looking at the youth within the pillar of light, Fa Hai spoke indifferently. After speaking, he turned and performed a Buddhist salute toward the depths of the bamboo forest.

"Amitabha. You two patrons have watched for quite some time. Have you not seen enough? May I ask why you have come? Please reveal yourselves." Fa Hai looked ahead and spoke slowly, his expression as calm as ever.

"Grandmaster, what keen perception. Jia Xingtian of the Gama Empire has come to pay a visit!"

"Yun Yun of the Yun Lan Sect has come to meet Zen Master Fa Hai!"

As Fa Hai's words fell, two voices rang out—one aged, the other as melodious as an oriole's. Two streaks of light shot out from the depths of the bamboo forest. When the light faded, the figures of an old man and a woman appeared. The old man wore ordinary yellow robes. With his crane-white hair and youthful face, he possessed an air of elegant ease, while his sweeping gaze carried considerable authority. The woman wore a tight-fitting brocade robe of gold trimmed with purple. Her long black hair was arranged in the shape of a soaring phoenix, faintly revealing an irrepressible nobility. Her tranquil, beautiful face was like a clear spring deep in the mountains, inspiring reverence because of her status while also making one unable to resist a trace of longing.

The two figures swiftly flew over from afar, each with a pair of dazzling wings flashing behind them—Dou Qi Transformation Wings!

"Amitabha. Greetings, you two patrons!" Seeing the two land before him, Fa Hai raised his left hand and gave them a ten-finger Buddhist salute.

"We would not dare. Greetings, Grandmaster!" Both were Dou Huang experts, so they could naturally sense the powerful fluctuations of energy emanating from the man before them. This power was definitely above that of a Dou Huang. Could he truly be a Dou Zong expert as the rumors claimed?

The two exchanged a brief glance, then Jia Xingtian stepped forward and asked, "Grandmaster, did you come from the Huaxia Empire? May I ask why you have come?" There was a trace of tension in his voice.

"Amitabha. This humble monk is indeed from China. I have come to the Gama Empire this time under the Buddha's decree, to spread the Buddhist Dharma and benefit all people!" Fa Hai shifted slightly, shielding Ye Qiu, who was wrapped in Buddhist light, behind him.

"Oh? Does Grandmaster intend to establish a sect in the Gama Empire?" Yun Yun stepped forward and asked with cupped hands. This concerned the Yun Lan Sect's status. Previously, the Gama Empire had only one sect, the Yun Lan Sect. If another suddenly appeared, then...

"No, no. How could this humble monk possess the virtue or ability to establish a sect? Furthermore, this humble monk already belongs to the Buddhist Sect. I have come only to spread the Buddhist Dharma, so how could I establish another sect?" Fa Hai gently shook his head.

"Then, Grandmaster intends to establish a branch of the Buddhist Sect in the Gama Empire?" Yun Yun asked again.

"This... Amitabha. What you say is not wrong." Hearing Yun Yun's words, Fa Hai thought for a moment before nodding slightly.

Jia Xingtian then said, "Grandmaster is a man of the Huaxia Empire. Is it not inappropriate for you to come to our Gama Empire and establish a force here?"

"You are mistaken, patron. The Buddha said that all living beings are equal. How can there be talk of national borders?" Fa Hai slowly shook his head.

"Hmph, Grandmaster is wrong. The Buddha belongs to your Huaxia Empire, not our Gama Empire. We have never heard his words. Besides, we did not even know what a Buddha was one month ago!" Jia Xingtian said indignantly.

"Amitabha. Patron, mind your words. My Buddha is compassionate and must not be offended!" Hearing Jia Xingtian's words, Fa Hai's grip around his zen staff tightened involuntarily. He had always been quick-tempered and deeply devoted to the Buddha. Now, hearing dissatisfaction toward the Buddha in Jia Xingtian's words, anger rose in his heart.

"Grandmaster, please calm your anger. Elder Jia did not mean to offend the leader of your sect. It is simply that your sect sent Grandmaster to intrude upon our Gama Empire and establish a force here. Forgive Yun Yun for speaking frankly, but does your sect not find this somewhat excessive? If it were Grandmaster, and people from another country entered your nation to establish a force, what would you think?" Seeing Fa Hai's anger, Yun Yun hurriedly stepped forward, hoping to reason with him.

However, she did not know that Fa Hai's memories of the Huaxia Empire all came from the world of the Legend of the White Snake. In that era, the ancients took pride in All Nations Come to Court, and the various schools of thought embraced tolerance and mutual benefit. Moreover, Buddhist disciples were people beyond worldly affairs; how could they pay too much attention to matters of state?

"Amitabha. China has always been hospitable, and our Buddhist Sect places even greater emphasis on the equality of all living beings. If someone wished to come to China and spread their teachings, our Buddhist Sect would neither welcome nor reject them!" Fa Hai answered Yun Yun's question calmly.

"You... Your Buddhist Sect barged into the Gama Empire, forcibly established a force, and used some so-called Buddhist Dharma to beguile the people. Do you not find yourselves overbearing?!" Knowing that Fa Hai would never leave the Gama Empire or give up establishing a branch of the Buddhist Sect here, Jia Xingtian immediately pointed at Fa Hai and shouted in anger.

"Your sect acts so tyrannically. Do you truly think there is no one in the Gama Empire who can stand against you?" Hearing Fa Hai's words, even Yun Yun, normally composed and noble, could not help but become angry.

"Amitabha. My Buddha could not bear to see the living beings of the Gama Empire suffer, and so sent this humble monk to save the people. The Buddha's intentions were entirely compassionate, yet they have drawn your slander and abuse. You slander my Buddha. As a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, this humble monk must teach you both a lesson!"

Seeing the two repeatedly call the Buddhist Sect overbearing and insult the Buddha, Fa Hai could endure it no longer. He put away the prayer beads in his left hand, raised his zen staff, and shouted at them.

"Hmph, sophistry. Come, then. Today, we shall witness the strength of a Buddhist Sect expert!" Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun also assumed attacking stances.

"Amitabha. Those of the Buddhist Sect should not fight with others, but you two have slandered my Buddha. This humble monk can only give you some punishment." Facing the Gama Empire's two great Dou Huang experts, Fa Hai showed no fear as he spoke calmly.

"Hmph, enough nonsense. Come!"

"Very well. Evil Banishing Staff Technique!"