"Roar!"
The dragon's roar shook the nine heavens.
Standing behind the elders, Jing Hui looked at the Sacred Emperor of Nine Heavens seated in a chariot drawn by a black dragon and a crimson phoenix, his eyes full of envy and longing.
"Junior Brother, when will I, an elder disciple of the Arhat Hall, be able to look this imposing?"
"When you can defeat Abbot Kong Ming and become Bodhi Temple's new abbot, that's when you'll be this imposing." Jiang Chuan patted Jing Hui on the shoulder.
Jing Hui looked puzzled. "Junior Brother, we aren't part of the demonic path. There's no need to defeat Abbot Kong Ming to become the new abbot."
"Senior Brother, you understand Bodhi Temple, but you don't understand Abbot Kong Ming well enough." Jiang Chuan was utterly certain of his judgment.
From one spot, one could see the whole leopard.
A man as domineering as Abbot Kong Ming would never be forced to step down unless he no longer wished to serve as Bodhi Temple's abbot himself.
Therefore, the simplest way to take the abbot's position was to defeat Abbot Kong Ming.
"But Junior Brother, haven't you only met the abbot once? How could you understand him?" The confusion on Jing Hui's face deepened.
Jiang Chuan replied, "The abbot and I have shared a spiritual bond for a long time. We have faced life and death together, so naturally I understand him very well."
In reality, he had indeed only met Abbot Kong Ming once, but in the simulations, he and Abbot Kong Ming had truly faced life and death together.
Well, when Dragon Transformation Venerable's Annihilation Cave Mansion exploded, Abbot Kong Ming escaped alive while he was blown to death.
Jing Hui pressed his palms together. "Amitabha! Junior Brother, monks do not speak falsehoods. Deceiving others is wrong."
Jiang Chuan: "."
Although Jiang himself usually did enjoy spouting nonsense.
This time, however, he was telling the truth.
What was wrong with people's hearts?
Why did no one believe him when he told the truth?
"Those two are Jiang Chuan, the only person in all of Bodhi Temple's history to have contracted the Great Sun Divine Bell refined by the Future Star Venerable Buddha, and Jing Hui, Elder Kong Bei's newly accepted disciple?"
Standing atop an auspicious cloud, Li Yuejiao, the eldest princess of the Nine Abyss Dynasty, studied Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui behind the elders.
Li Yuejiao possessed bright eyes and pearly teeth, clouds of black hair, and crystalline, radiant skin that seemed carved from flawless mutton-fat jade.
Combined with her cloud-glow gown woven from the pelts of ninety-nine demon beasts, she appeared all the more beautiful and dignified.
Like a mysterious maiden descending from the nine heavens, she stirred endless fantasies in the heart.
"According to the intelligence we received this morning, those two monks are Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui," Princess Lingchan Li Chanyu transmitted.
Li Yuejiao stared at Jiang Chuan's handsome face with her beautiful eyes and sighed softly. "Why has Heaven treated the Buddhist Dao so generously? Why is such a genius not one of my Nine Abyss Dynasty's people?"
Shifting her gaze from Jiang Chuan to Jing Hui, Li Yuejiao asked again, "Jiang Chuan is responsible for receiving me. Which of my imperial brothers or sisters is Jing Hui receiving?"
"Jing Hui only entered Elder Kong Bei's tutelage yesterday. Bodhi Temple had no time to make adjustments, so he is still helping manage the Spirit Beast Courtyard," Li Chanyu replied.
"The Spirit Beast Courtyard?"
Li Yuejiao's gaze flickered slightly.
The golden chariot carrying the Sacred Emperor of Nine Heavens descended from the sky and landed before Bodhi Temple.
"Amitabha! Kong Ming greets Your Majesty."
"Greetings, Abbot Kong Ming and fellow Daoists."
The Sacred Emperor of Nine Heavens, clad in a yellow imperial robe embroidered with nine dragons, stepped down from the chariot.
The Sacred Emperor of Nine Heavens was tall and broad-shouldered, with sharply defined features. As he walked, he strode like a dragon and tiger.
He seemed like a deity from the primordial age, incomparably majestic, capable of deciding the life and death of all living beings with a single thought.
After Abbot Kong Ming and the Sacred Emperor of Nine Heavens exchanged pleasantries, they entered Bodhi Temple.
Jiang Chuan and the many disciples also followed the elders' arrangements and went to receive the princes, princesses, civil officials, and military officers of the Nine Abyss Dynasty.
"Amitabha! This humble monk is Jiang Chuan. Greetings, Eldest Princess." Jiang Chuan pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist invocation.
Li Yuejiao smiled radiantly. "Then I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Jiang Chuan for the next month."
"The temple has built a palace for Your Highness on Stone Lotus Ridge. Would Your Highness like to go there now and settle in?" Jiang Chuan asked.
Li Yuejiao parted her crimson lips. "I have heard that Bodhi Temple stretches for thirty thousand li, with beautiful mountains and rivers and countless splendid sights. Would it be possible for me to first choose a mount from the Spirit Beast Courtyard, tour Bodhi Temple's scenery, and only then go to Stone Lotus Ridge to settle in?"
"Of course."
"Chanyu, go summon Third Brother, Tenth Brother, Seventeenth Brother, and Twenty-eighth Brother. Have them accompany me as I tour Bodhi Temple."
Hearing Li Yuejiao's order, Jiang Chuan's brows furrowed slightly.
In the simulations, Bodhi Temple had arranged for him to receive Third Prince Li Kaitai and Twenty-eighth Prince Li Yunwen.
He had also met Tenth Prince Li Yuchuan and Seventeenth Prince Li Shaoheng several times.
These four princes all shared one trait.
They had recruited quite a few disciples from Maha Hall into their retinues!
Was it a coincidence, or did Li Yuejiao do this deliberately? The latter was more likely. As the eldest princess of the Nine Abyss Dynasty, she couldn't possibly be some big-breasted, brainless fool who knew nothing of the current situation!
As Jiang Chuan's thoughts turned, he secretly became wary.
But what is Li Yuejiao's motive? Could it be because of me?
But the Nine Abyss Dynasty has already fallen out with Maha Hall because of its alliance with Bodhi Temple. At a time like this, provoking conflict between Bodhi Temple and Maha Hall and having Maha Hall disciples kill me would very likely offend Bodhi Temple.
As one of the people most likely to become the Nine Abyss Dynasty's next ruler, does Li Yuejiao truly need to risk offending Bodhi Temple just to kill me?
While Jiang Chuan pondered, Seventeenth Prince Li Shaoheng and the other three princes arrived beside Eldest Princess Li Yuejiao with their attendants. Li Shaoheng wore a silver python-patterned robe and a white jade crown.
"Ji Yuansheng!"
Jiang Chuan immediately spotted Ji Yuansheng, the Maha Hall disciple standing behind Li Shaoheng.
He clearly remembered Ji Yuansheng ruthlessly attacking him in the simulations.
The one who fought me in the simulation was Ji Yuansheng's Divine Law Body. Now that his true body is here, he very likely has more than one Sky-Destroying Evil-Quelling Lightning. If he suddenly launches a sneak attack, that will be troublesome. Should I strike first and eliminate him?
A cold glint flashed through Jiang Chuan's eyes. He brought two fingers together like a blade as he considered whether to attack directly.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang Chuan, let us depart."
At that moment, Li Yuejiao's voice rang out once more.
"Amitabha! Eldest Princess and honored benefactors, please follow this humble monk."
Jiang Chuan controlled the Flame Sun Needle and rose into the air.
Li Yuejiao, Li Kaitai, and the others promptly mounted clouds and followed.
I hope I'm overthinking this.
Jiang Chuan's heart surged, and a dazzling blade-light flashed through his eyes. But if Li Yuejiao truly intends to kill with a borrowed blade, then I'll send her straight to the Western Paradise!
At that moment, Jiang Chuan seemed to merge with the saber-wielding monk within the Dao Stele, becoming an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, carrying out Heaven's punishment—cold and merciless!
The weakest among the group were Third Realm cultivators, and they soon arrived at the Spirit Beast Courtyard.
After finding Jing Hui, Jiang Chuan immediately explained their purpose.
"Senior Brother, the Eldest Princess and several princes wish to find spirit beasts to ride while touring the temple."
"This is a trivial matter."
Jing Hui turned toward Li Yuejiao and the others, pressing his palms together.
"Amitabha! This humble monk is Jing Hui, an elder disciple of the Arhat Hall and currently the acting manager of the Spirit Beast Courtyard. May I ask what kind of spirit beasts the Eldest Princess and the princes usually prefer for travel?"
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