Intimidation

Li Qi made his way to the Prefect's Mansion, carrying gifts, and knocked on the Prefect's Mansion door.

The doorman, still half-asleep and annoyed at being forcibly woken up, said at the door, "Who is it? Knocking on the door so late, don't you have any manners?!"

"I am ashamed to come so late at night, but I have important military intelligence to report. Please inform Lord Sima that the White Rhinoceros Army has urgent military information that requires his swift decision!" Li Qi said solemnly from outside, then passed a piece of gold through the small hole in the door. It was about one-fifth of a gold coin, worth roughly two thousand coins, which was not a small amount for the gatekeeper.

Money makes things easier, and seeing this, the gatekeeper suppressed his anger. He first took the gold from the small hole, weighed it in his hand, and then said, "You've always been a soldier who stayed in the town and never came to Guangyang, have you?"

"I've never been to Guangyang before, is there a problem?" Li Qi asked.

"If you're looking for Sima, you'll have to go to Tianning Temple. You can't find anyone at the Prefect's Mansion. If it's a real military emergency, go to Tianning Temple. Those monks there are reasonable enough not to stop you," the gatekeeper said.

"They're all at Tianning Temple now?!" Li Qi was astonished. Although he had heard the vendor say so, he couldn't believe it was true.

"What else can we do? We haven't been back for a long time. If you really have urgent military information, you should go quickly. Do you know where Tianning Temple is? Do you want me to tell you?" the gatekeeper asked.

"No need for that, I'll head over now." Li Qi said, then turned and left.

"Go on, go on, or you might have to wait until tomorrow!" the gatekeeper urged, then closed the small hole through which people were being watched.

Li Qi left and went out onto the street.

Tianning Temple has become a landmark building in Guangyang. He had already asked for its location on the way here, so there was no need to ask again.

But is it really that outrageous?

As a dignified prefectural governor, you don't even go home at night and live in a temple. Why don't you resign?

Li Qi found it absurd, but the matter still needed to be done. He needed to obtain military rations, and he still needed this Sima's signature.

However, looking at it this way, the other party seems very, very unreliable. Is it really that easy to get the signature?

Li Qi was worried, but things still had to be done. Before midnight, when the nightlife was still going on, he mounted his Old Ma and sped up through the city.

However, the acceleration is limited. Flying is not allowed in the city, otherwise you will be shot down. Galloping on horseback is also unlikely. The streets are crowded with people, and it is the time to stroll through the night market. The roads are basically blocked, and pedestrians are crossing the horse paths from time to time, making it difficult to accelerate.

But there was no other way but to ask Old Ma to speed up as much as possible.

After rushing for about 15 minutes, Li Qi finally emerged from the city. Once outside the city, his speed increased, and in another 15 minutes, he arrived at Tianning Temple.

Strangely, although there were lights in the temple, there was no door.

There was no gate to the mountain, which seemed to allow people to come and go freely.

Thinking that the Zen Chanzhi here might be a high-ranking cultivator, and that there was also a man known to be a seventh-rank official, Li Qi dismounted at the foot of the mountain, leaving his Old Ma to wait there, while he carried the Kapok Cloth Soap Tent on his back and walked up the mountain.

Because he possessed martial arts skills, he was able to ascend the mountain very quickly.

Along the way, we saw many houses and farmland, as if people had settled on this mountain year-round. What was once a barren mountain is now inhabited by many people. However, it is now night, and although there are lights, there are no people walking around outside.

Li Qi surveyed the area for a moment, then went straight up the mountain without lingering.

Once on the mountain, Li Qi saw a courtyard and... a pagoda.

A pagoda is Buddhist Pagoda. The temple grounds were quite large, with seventeen or eighteen rooms and a main hall. Behind the main hall was a pagoda, twenty feet high, with five stories.

Li Qi glanced around and was just about to continue forward when he saw a thin, bald man walking towards him from the courtyard.

The bald man had a kind face and looked to be in his sixties. His skin was loose and he had many age spots, but he seemed to be in good spirits.

Li Qi stepped forward, but before he could speak, the old monk approached Li Qi and said, "Benefactor, you have traveled day and night and arrived late at night. You must have something urgent to attend to. Are you here to see the Prefect of Guangyang?"

Li Qi pondered for a moment, realizing that this might not be the same as the Buddha he remembered from another world. So, instead of relying on his own experience, he honestly asked, "May I ask who this old man... and who this benefactor is?"

"Benefactors refer to those who are not monks or nuns. Those who are laypeople and wish to come to the temple to worship Buddha are all benefactors. As for this humble monk, you may call me Chanzhi. By the way, you are indeed here to see the Prefect of Guangyang?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qi nodded and replied, "Indeed, I have urgent military matters on my hands. I hope Chanzhi... uh, Master Chanzhi, can inform Lord Sima of them and give him a prompt reply. This matter concerns the lives of tens of thousands of people and cannot be delayed."

He seemed very anxious, and the mention of tens of thousands of people in his words made Chanzhi realize the urgency of the situation.

"The Prefect of Guangyang is currently meditating on the Buddhist teachings atop that five-tiered pagoda. If you have any urgent business, please go up there quickly; no one will stop you," said the Chanzhi, pointing to the pagoda in the courtyard.

"Thank you, Master." With permission granted, Li Qi immediately headed towards the five-tiered pagoda.

Upon arriving at the location of the pagoda, they discovered that it was no ordinary building.

"Law Treasure..." Li Qi sensed the energy emanating from it and frowned.

This pagoda is actually a magical Law Treasure, but its effects are unknown.

He examined the pagoda closely. It was made of wood and had a loose structure, as if it were pieced together from ordinary wooden planks. Because of poor craftsmanship, it looked like it was about to collapse.

However, the presence of thousands of people, the Buddha's light, and many other auras that Li Qi couldn't recognize mixed together, making this seemingly simple pagoda appear exceptionally magnificent.

To the average person, this thing is just an ordinary, dilapidated wooden tower, and a very poorly constructed one at that.

However, as Shaman, Li Qi had the ability to observe the flow of energy in all things in the world.

This intuitive observation is something that other Dao Path lack; it is a unique ability of the Shaman Path.

For example, both are death energy and Sha Qi. A martial arts practitioner can sense them with their sixth sense. They may not be able to see what is there, but they can detect the Sha Qi.

But Li Qi could see with the naked eye that there was black and red gas in that place.

There are similar examples, such as the Soldier's Qi of a large army gathering.

Other Dao Path can only be perceived through military bearing, banners, and aura, but in the eyes of Shaman, Soldier's Qi truly coalesces into a physical form, hovering above the military formation in different shapes.

When Daoists set up formations and guide the Heaven and Earth Qi, they constantly use Yin-Yang Numerology to calculate the location of various Qi. In fact, they use various methods to determine the Qi. But for Shaman, there is no need to determine it; the Qi is already there.

It's very intuitive.

It's like radio waves. Humans can't see them and can only use various instruments to determine their location, but Shaman can see their existence directly.

This is also why Li Qi was able to immediately perceive the small county town of Yi County in Li Prefecture.

And now, this capability is being demonstrated here.

Magnificent, enormous, unbelievable.

This small pagoda allowed Li Qi to see inexhaustible dimensions.

This wooden tower is incredibly imposing and enormous, resembling a whale leaping from the sea—a sight to behold and awe-inspiring.

Li Qi himself, in front of this Great Things, was like a sardine next to a whale. The immense pressure caused his hair and clothes to sway incessantly, making him stop in his tracks, abandon his run, and halt in front of the wooden tower.

This pagoda... seems to be a projection of some kind of higher existence.

Just sensing its slightest presence made Li Qi tremble all over, making it difficult for him to run, and he had to maintain at least some respect in front of it.

The Shaman's direct experience shocked him with its extremely strong impact.

Sometimes, intuitive feelings are not an advantage.

Others might have thought it was somewhat magnificent, but now, he felt as if he were being crushed by a mountain, unable to move.

So he stopped in front of the wooden pagoda, put his hands together, bowed, and bowed deeply.

Call--

It was like a mountain being lifted off my back.

Li Qi was covered in cold sweat, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

What is this...?

The wooden pagoda and the Law Artifact are all understandable, and even the presence of thousands of families within them is understandable.

But what is this kind of oppression?

Li Qi couldn't describe what it was.

But in his mind, it was as if... billions of stars were within his palm, and the endless universe could not contain his body. He was free, eternal, and everlasting. A special kind of pressure emanated from below and permeated the entire "spacetime".

He knew perfectly well that the pagoda did not possess such power; it was all just his 'illusion'.

Li Qi merely sensed a certain essence hidden within it.

It's as if he were a Worms had just caught a glimpse of sunlight, and then followed the path of the sunlight, looking back and finally seeing the sun itself.

Fortunately, he was Shaman, so under that sun, he could be considered a Worms with eyes. If he were a ninth-rank cultivator from another Dao Path, he would most likely be Worms without eyes, only able to feel the warm light, unaware of the terror hidden behind that warmth.

But no matter how terrifying it is, we still have to go in.

He has the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in his hands; he'd brave any danger, even mountains of knives and seas of fire.

Setting aside all disrespect, Li Qi followed closely and earnestly into the pagoda.

Upon entering the first floor, one sees a plaque hanging above that reads "Arhat Hall".

Among them are 108 Arhat statues, and next to the Arhat statues are demons, who are in a submissive posture, as if a scene of Arhats Demon Subduer is being staged.

A large painted drum is placed to the right of the hall, and a bell hangs to the left, giving it a majestic and solemn appearance.

Li Qi walked through the 108 Arhats, some in anger, some in compassion, some in peace, some in demon-subduing postures, some lying down, some leaning, each with a different posture, but all of them were lifelike. Walking through them felt like being scrutinized by all 108 people at the same time. If one felt guilty, one might not even be able to walk this path.

Li Qi felt as if that gaze could penetrate his body and perceive all the secrets in his heart, making him feel fear and even madness.

If someone feels guilty, they might have the urge to smash all the Arhat statues here.

Fortunately, Li Qi was upright in his conduct and righteous in his dealings with others. With justice in mind, he was completely at ease and passed through the first level without being stared at.

We made our way up to the second floor.

There is also a plaque on the second floor that reads, "Bodhisattva Hall".

Upon ascending this level, one sees ten statues of Bodhisattvas.

As soon as he entered, Li Qi sensed a solemn aura. Although they were all inanimate objects, he could still feel a certain kind of presence from them...

Some possess the serene mind of the bright moon, the wondrous source of Prajna wisdom.

Some are like the moon reflected in clear water, while others are like fish and dragons gathered by the Dharma drum.

Some are supported by divine power.

Some are made of glass bottles filled with water to accumulate merit, while others are adorned with tassels and clouds to bring good fortune.

But there were many Bodhisattva statues, with fragrant incense forming a canopy, and radiant light shining from many treasures. Their hair was adorned with spiral-shaped hairpins and tassels, and their feet were shrouded in lotus blossoms. Although solemn, they also appeared gentle, unlike the oppressive Arhat statues below.

Li Qi walked here with relative ease; although solemn, there was no resistance whatsoever.

Upon reaching the third floor, there were no Buddha Statue, but instead some books and a plaque inscribed with the words "Scripture Altar".

There are several hundred sutras displayed here, arranged on a table with incense burners, seemingly open to anyone to browse at will.

Once you get here, the sense of oppression is gone.

Li Qi's bookworm nature kicked in, and he went to the desk, wanting to browse through some of the scriptures. But then he thought that if he read these things, they might make him question his own Dao Path of cultivation.

As mentioned before, classics are the only source of the "Tao"—the path of cultivation, its core principles, its pursuits, and its essence.

If you read too much of this kind of stuff, you're easily led astray by others. It's not helpful for your practice in the early stages, but it becomes meaningful to look at these things again later, after you've found your own path and can draw parallels to other things.

Besides, this is a classic work by someone else... It would be taboo to look at it without permission.

So he suppressed his bookworm nature and went upstairs again.

Upon reaching the fourth floor, the plaque here reads "Three Buddhas Hall".

Inside the hall, three large Buddha statues are enshrined.

The three Buddhas look identical, almost like one person, with little difference between them, but their postures are different.

A Buddha in a cloud-patterned robe leans on a bamboo staff, with a Buddhist script scroll lying across his hand. This Buddha is extremely old, with some of the paint peeling off.

A Buddha, with knees drawn up and shoulders shrugged, resembles a Ghost King, exuding an inexplicable terror, as if it were about to devour everything else. This Buddha is brand new, and looks like it was just made.

A Buddha sits with his eyes closed amidst ten thousand mountains, his long eyebrows brushing the ground. This Buddha is not yet completed; it is only a clay figure.

The sight of these three Buddha statues sent chills down Li Qi's spine.

He recognized it at a glance; this was the 'sun' he had been feeling!

Behind these Buddha Statue lies an indescribable spectacle, where everything seems to have been severed, shattered, and then coupled together to form a 'boundless light' that transcends all time and space.

Upon arriving here, Li Qi immediately swallowed hard.

Then, he hurriedly ran up to the fifth floor.

(Monthly tickets... recommendation tickets...)