Tianmu's Compassion, Saving All Living Beings

Li Xuan stood in the courtyard, experiencing a bustling, populated area for the first time. He felt a sense of wonder, realizing that since his transmigration, today was the day he truly stepped into this world.

Night fell.

On the streets of the county town, pedestrians grew fewer, and silence descended.

Meanwhile, inside the Yunshan County yamen, the county magistrate, county lieutenant, and registrar were gathered. The beggar and the stall vendor were also present.

The one presiding wasn't the county magistrate, but an old man dressed in coarse linen.

"We've confirmed. The wealthy individuals who entered the city are Xu Junhe's foolish son and his master."

The beggar said this with a strange expression.

"Xu Yan? That young man is his master? That can't be right!"

The county magistrate looked astonished.

"In the past, Xu Junhe's foolish son always sought out reclusive, sharp-minded old men. This young man is barely a few years older..."

He couldn't quite fathom what method the young man had used to trick Xu Yan into becoming his disciple.

The old man in linen, seated in the main position, spoke, "Xu Junhe is stubborn and unyielding. He possesses immense wealth but lacks compassion for the common people. Not only did he refuse to join our Tianmu Cult, but he also handed over our followers to the authorities.

"His son is here, and he can be of use to our cult.

"Later, we will use our cult's righteousness to enlighten his master and make him sincerely join us."

The county magistrate nodded, "Protector, your words are wise!"

The old man in linen stood up and said, "Keep an eye on Donghe Commandery. This grand plan cannot afford any mistakes. Xu Junhe's trouble is fast approaching. If he relents, we can spare him."

"Protector, rest assured. Military Advisor Kou is overseeing the situation in Donghe Commandery and will surely succeed in taking it down," the beggar said with reverence.

"Good!"

The old man in linen nodded. Military Advisor Kou was the Tianmu Cult's strategist; with him in charge, success was guaranteed.

"Accompany me to enlighten Xu Yan's young master and have him join our cult!"

"Yes!"

The county magistrate and the others followed the old man in linen out of the yamen.

In the courtyard, Xu Yan was cultivating, while Li Xuan sat on a chair, holding a book.

This was a storybook he had someone buy for him, popular in the Qi Kingdom.

He was curious why his foolish disciple, Xu Yan, after reading storybooks, had become so convinced of the existence of incredibly powerful Martial Dao and was searching everywhere for experts to become his disciple.

"Tianmu's compassion, saving all living beings. Worship Tianmu, escape the sea of suffering, and attain great wealth and status in the next life..."

A voice echoed on the quiet street, accompanied by the sound of bells and footsteps approaching from the end of the road.

"Tianmu bless us!"

"Tianmu bless us!"

Suddenly, from the neighboring houses and the entire street, many common folk opened their doors and prayed devoutly.

Ding!

The sound of metal hitting the ground rang out repeatedly.

Li Xuan heard it and recognized it as the sound of copper coins being scattered on the ground.

"Tianmu is making a tour, absolving sins, aiding the virtuous, and eradicating evil throughout the land..."

The sound of bells grew closer, and the ringing became clearer. Li Xuan looked on with a strange expression. Were they targeting him?

No!

They were targeting Xu Yan.

At this moment, Xu Yan had stopped cultivating, a look of annoyance on his face.

"Disciple, what's going on?" Li Xuan asked.

"Master, it's the Tianmu Cult's charlatans," Xu Yan replied, somewhat indignant.

"Tianmu Cult?"

Li Xuan blinked. A heretical cult within the Qi Kingdom?

"Yes, Master. The Tianmu Cult is designated as a demonic and heretical sect by the imperial court, a rebellious cult. They've always been suppressed, yet they can't be eradicated.

"It's not just in Qi Kingdom; they're also being suppressed in the Wu Kingdom.

"The Tianmu Cult has instigated several rebellions, none of which succeeded. Their last rebellion was twenty years ago. After being defeated, they became weak, and public propagation of their doctrines has almost ceased..."

The Tianmu Cult is an ancient sect, tracing its origins back to the previous dynasty. Since the founding of the Qi Kingdom until now, they have rebelled no less than ten times.

The Qi imperial court considers them a thorn in their side, but despite numerous encirclements and suppression campaigns, they have never been completely eradicated. They always resurface after some time.

The same is true in the Wu Kingdom.

The Tianmu Cult worships the so-called "Tianmu," widely spreading the belief that worshipping Tianmu can lead to liberation from suffering and immense wealth and status in the next life.

Whenever the Tianmu Cult causes trouble, a group of fearless followers emerges, shouting about returning to Tianmu's embrace, escaping the suffering of the mortal world, and achieving great riches in the next life!

Their fearless devotion has inflicted considerable casualties on the Qi army on several occasions.

The Tianmu Cult has never lacked followers. Even with the court's strict prohibition, they cannot be completely eradicated, especially in areas experiencing famine or disaster, where the common people are even more devoted to the Tianmu Cult.

"The members of the Tianmu Cult like to rob people of their money and then give it to the poor, gaining their devotion.

"They have even raided government offices and opened granaries to distribute grain.

"However, the Tianmu Cult has been dormant for almost twenty years. At least, I haven't heard of them openly parading or spreading their doctrines anywhere since I was born."

Xu Yan said with some confusion.

Li Xuan was surprised. This Tianmu Cult had a bit of the White Lotus Society's flavor. Moreover, since they were strictly banned by the Qi Kingdom and targeted for suppression, why were they openly parading and preaching their doctrines in Yunshan County?

He suspected that Yunshan County had already been secretly controlled by the Tianmu Cult.

The common people in the county town were either believers or members of the cult.

"Yunshan County has likely already been taken over by the Tianmu Cult," Li Xuan said with a smile.

Xu Yan's expression froze. He suddenly thought of something and said, "Does that mean my family's shops in Yunshan are already controlled by the Tianmu Cult? Have they become members of the cult?"

"Master, they seem to be coming this way."

As the sounds grew closer, it was clear they were heading here.

"Outrageous! Stealing my family's shops and disturbing my cultivation late at night. Disciple will go and deal with them."

Xu Yan said indignantly.

"No rush, let them come. We can treat it as entertainment."

Li Xuan said with a chuckle.

Having just emerged from the mountains, he was quite interested in these worldly affairs.

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan replied respectfully.

He marveled inwardly, "Master's state of mind is truly extraordinary. Is this what they call 'playing in the mortal world'? This is the mindset of a true master!"

Footsteps stopped outside the courtyard gate. The rhythmic jingle of bells sounded, and a voice boomed.

"Tianmu's compassion saves all living beings. Is the benefactor willing to contribute to the salvation of all beings?"

The voice was grand and steady.

Li Xuan raised an eyebrow. The speaker was no ordinary person. Could this be a First-rate Jianghu Expert?

Indeed, as Xu Yan had said, they were too weak.

To him and Xu Yan, the speaker was weak, but to ordinary people, they were a powerful expert.

Xu Yan frowned beside him and said, "A Peak Jianghu Expert? Why does the Tianmu Cult in Yunshan County have such a Jianghu expert? Could this be the Tianmu Cult's stronghold?"

Li Xuan was greatly surprised. He had thought the speaker was a First-rate Jianghu Expert, but it turned out to be a Peak expert?

The martial prowess of the Qi Kingdom's Jianghu was perhaps too low.

"This is a Peak Jianghu Expert? So weak!"

Li Xuan said speechlessly.

"Master, they are just using mundane martial arts, their strength is limited. A Peak expert has cultivated Internal Energy. Judging by the sound of his voice, it's amplified by Internal Energy..."

Xu Yan explained.

"Internal Energy?"

Li Xuan became curious.

What was this Internal Energy? Why was it so weak?

"It's a kind of explosive force, not very powerful. It's roughly equivalent to the early stage of Bone Refining? Or the early stage of Iron Bone?"

Xu Yan said with some uncertainty.