Let the World Judge Right and Wrong, Merit and Fault

Lin Wujing lowered his head slightly and said, "Buddha Master, he is very stubborn. His flesh has already rotted under the burning of the Ten Directions Karma Fire, but he still refuses to reveal anything. He stayed at Heaven's Gate Pass for a long time before, and he has a close relationship with that Fist Saint of the Li Family. I suspect that he may have handed the item over to the Li Family."

"The Li Family..."

The Buddha Master's eyes seemed to reflect the golden Mingyue, like Star River contained within, brilliant and profound:

"If the Li Family obtains this Sacred Object, they will not need to sacrifice their souls to their ancestors during their first attack on Qing Prefecture."

Lin Wujing's eyes flickered as he said, "Is it possible that they consider this item a priceless treasure, surpassing even the Heroic Soul of their ancestors? After all, it's something left behind by that Sage. If they could glimpse even a fraction of it, they might Dao Hearing..."

"If it weren't for that young man, Li Qianfeng, after cultivating under my tutelage for ten years, could have descended the mountain to seize the True Dragon Position, allowing the great state guarded by the Li Family to be filled with the Incense of my Buddhist Sect, and to enlighten the world."

The Buddha Master seemed to sigh softly, saying, "But everything was shattered by that Demon Star. When Li Junye fell in the past, a General Star fell and Demon Star rose into the sky. This was the calamity of my Great Yu Dynasty..."

Lin Wujing narrowed his eyes slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "If the Sacred Object is not in the Li Family, it is most likely in Heaven's Gate Pass. However, after the avatar of that Demon Star dissipated, I searched Heaven's Gate Pass and did not find the Sacred Object, unless it is on that Demon Star."

"Thieves have colluded with the Demon Star, causing the glory of the Divine General Residence to decline and Demon to lurk around it. Only by retrieving that Sacred Object before the great calamity arrives can our Buddhist Sect emerge from seclusion and save all living beings."

The Buddha Master said.

Lin Wujing nodded slightly. "I will go and convert him again."

After bidding farewell to the Buddha Master, Lin Wujing left the Buddha's Spiritual Realm and then headed to a secret place in the mountains.

This place is behind Boundless Mountain. A winding path leads to a cave abode. The cave abode is dimly lit. As you walk straight down the damp stone slabs, you can hear the sound of water dripping on the stone.

Upon reaching the deepest part, there was a Dungeon, with the clanging of iron chains and intense heat.

In a pool of Magma -like Fire Pool in the Dungeon, a figure with tattered clothes was chained, its hands and feet bound by chains, and at the bottom of the chains was an extremely heavy Mystic Heavy Iron Ball.

The muscles in his legs were being pulled by chains, causing the skin to tear and crack, as were his arms, and his hair was disheveled.

In the Magma pool beneath their feet, crimson, serpentine figures swam back and forth, occasionally spewing forth bursts of fiery Magma that scorched their flesh, leaving white mist and pits.

Seeing Lin Wujing approach, radiating Buddha Light, the largest Crimson Dragon in the Magma pool immediately Dao Body, its body covered in fine scales, and softly uttered a woman's voice:

"I pay my respects to the Bodhisattva."

She prostrated herself before Lin Wujing, her voice sweet and delicate.

Lin Wujing, his expression indifferent, looked at the scorching figure imprisoned by iron chains and said:

"Still unwilling to confess? Even the Ten Directions Karma Fire cannot dispel your sins. Do you know how grave your transgressions are?"

The chains swayed slightly, and the disheveled figure raised his head slightly, revealing a pair of bright yet mocking eyes:

"Don't waste your time, you'll never get that thing!"

"The Buddha Master Xu Nuo if you are willing to return, you will be allowed to enter my Boundless Mountain, take refuge in the Buddhist Sect, and he will also help you to avert your calamities!"

Lin Wujing said coldly, "You Lone Man, wandering the world, and you made many foolish mistakes in your youth. Now that you have realized your error, it is not too late. With the Buddha Master's intervention, even His Majesty will give you some face and erase your past sins, allowing you to enter the Buddhist order and no longer be a mortal!"

"Ha ha..."

"If I were an official, why would I have waited until now? If I were a general, I would already be First-rank Marquis!"

The chained figure laughed loudly, "Have you ever heard the saying, 'Merit and Fame and fortune are all dust, wealth and glory are all fleeting clouds'? You bald men, always pretending to be righteous, aren't you just after that little bit of Incense? You say your Buddhist Sect Non-Contention, but you fight fiercely for Incense offerings."

"You claim to be Buddhist Sect monk who saves people, but without Incense, who will pity the common folk?"

"To build Golden Body for Buddha, leaving the remains exposed on the street—I spit on that!"

Hearing his insults, Lin Wujing a slight cold laugh, "Buddhist Sect's salvation of people is the Great Dao! The suffering you see is also their own suffering, tormented by Karmic Fire. It's their tribulation in their destiny. You are just a mortal, unable to see through the illusions and obstacles, and I don't blame you. But you now have the opportunity to transcend Sea of Bitterness, yet you don't cherish it. What's the difference between you and those ordinary people?"

"I am just an ordinary mortal, why should there be any distinction?"

The chained figure sneered, "Your teachings might fool some weak-willed young men, but don't bother trying to fool me. At my age, I know my place in this world. If I could still be swayed by you, then I've lived in vain!"

Lin Wujing's face turned cold, and he said, "A mere thief dares to claim to have seen through the world, it's laughable. If you don't want to be an official or a general, and you don't care about Merit and Fame and fortune, then why do you steal everywhere?"

"You steal others' treasures, harm others for your own benefit. There are countless paths in this world, yet you choose the most despicable one, and then look down upon the world with an arrogant attitude. If this isn't demonic possession, what is it?!"

The chained figure laughed loudly, saying, "I like to steal, I like to rob, so what? That's just how the All Under Heaven is. It's just that some people succeed in robbing and become emperors, while others fail and become bandits and thieves."

"I will live my life the way I please. You see me as a thief, and I see you as a prostitute!"

"Let the world judge my merits and demerits; what do I have to fear?!"

Lin Wujing took a deep breath and said, "I've known for a long time that you are deeply entrenched in demonic nature, and there's no way to redeem you except through reincarnation! You colluded with the Divine General Residence, trying to find a safe haven for yourself in the future, but you're wrong. The Divine General Residence is currently preoccupied with its own problems; they wouldn't risk the Millennial Glory of their ancestors for a mere notorious thief like you!"

The laughter of the chained figure Time Stop, and he stared intently, saying, "Something's happened to the Li Family?"

Lin Wujing sneered, "You're too busy taking care of yourself to worry about them? Don't bother with your act of deep affection in front of me. There are no Li Family here. Li Qianfeng is Personal Disciple my Buddha Master. If he knew of your existence, he would only see you as a disgrace to the Divine General Residence and would be the first to kill you!"

The chained figure's eyes flickered, but it didn't ask any further questions.

He knew the other person wouldn't answer.

"Though you are a thief, you do have a good eye, always stealing the best things. You set your sights on that demon child from the Divine General Residence, whose talent is extremely high, and tried to get close to him, but so what? Since the battle of Liang Prefecture, he has already been granted the Third-rank Duke and promoted to Dutong General, holding the rank of First-Rank Official!"

Lin Wujing sneered, "So young, yet holding such a high position. His Majesty might even consider his ideas when choosing a successor. Such a person will bring glory for generations. Do you think he would give up all his Merit and Fame and honor to plead for you?"

The chained figure froze, then chuckled softly:

"Truly impressive, a high-ranking official, no wonder he's so accomplished..."

"You only need to hand over that Sacred Object, and you will be free immediately. Stop being so stubborn; no one will come to save you!"

Lin Wujing shouted angrily.

The chained figure glanced up at him and chuckled, "I don't need them to save me. So what if I die? I've experienced all the wonders of this world. I've tasted the finest wine and the most beautiful people. What's wrong with dying?"

"You call him a demon child? Haha, you'd better not let me escape, or I'll let the All Under Heaven know who the master of the Ancient Demon Hall really is!"

Lin Wujing's expression changed slightly, his eyes turning icy. "Burn, burn it!"

Within the Magma, flames surged and roared, scorching the chained figure, burning its flesh and searing its body.

But instead of hearing of pain, bursts of laughter came.

Lin Wujing's eyes were icy cold; he knew this old man was stubborn and wouldn't let go until he was in extreme pain.

In Qingzhou City.

After leaving the Divine General Residence, Li Hao strolled around the streets and bought several servings of crispy pastries for Evening Primrose, the Candlelight God, and himself.

Afterwards, they went hiking and visited old friends.

In the Main Hall of the Sandalwood Palace, I shared a pot of tea with Song Yufeng.

I made a barbecue for Song Qiumo by the Jade Pool.

He then played several games of chess with Shen Yunqing and the others.

Many disciples of the Sandalwood Palace came to visit and seek guidance, and Li Hao answered them casually. In the eyes of the White Hall disciples, Li Hao still seemed to be the teacher of the Sandalwood Palace.

Li Hao was quite satisfied with his trip to Qing Prefecture. He ate and drank to his heart's content, visited old friends, and when it was time to leave, Li Hao didn't let anyone see him off. He only said goodbye to Song Qiumo and then quietly departed.

Passing by that bustling Brothel, I saw that the plaque above the entrance still bore the two lines of poetry I had casually recited when I was drowning my sorrows in alcohol.

The youthful spirit in the poem made Li Hao smile slightly. Without lingering any longer, Sky Traversal away.

After leaving the city and flying a short distance, Li Hao's gaze suddenly fell on the Official Road. His eyes narrowed slightly, and then he landed.

They landed not far from the Official Road, and then walked Past with the Candlelight God.

Ahead was a Tea Stall, Tea Stall on the table, an old man was busy tidying up, cleaning up the used bowls and chopsticks, and wiping away the leftover food.

Under the tent next to the Tea Stall, three fast horses were tethered, and two teenagers and a middle-aged man were drinking tea.

"Sir, would you like some tea? My tea is inexpensive, and my Steamed Buns) are quite delicious."

The Tea Stall Elder greeted Li Hao as he approached.

The other three also looked at Li Hao, but when they saw the Candlelight God behind Li Hao, who had transformed into a young man with a restrained Aura but a cold and imposing presence, they immediately withdrew their gaze.

They knew that in the world of martial arts, one should not offend those who seemed intimidating.

Li Hao glanced at the Tea Stall owner and said, "I know Qing Prefecture well, how come I've never seen Tea Stall here before?"

"What you said is interesting, sir. Just because I haven't seen it before doesn't mean I won't in the future," the Tea Stall Elder chuckled.

When did the boss arrive?

Li Hao sat down at a table and chairs.

Just a few days ago.

The Tea Stall Elder chuckled, "I used to live in Liang Prefecture, but these days my granddaughter wanted to come and help me. I was worried about the long journey, so I came back here."

As he spoke, a young girl stood up from behind the stacked steamers. She was dressed in Teal-Blue Garment, like a blue butterfly in summer, and seemed to have been bending down to look for something.

"Grandpa, we can't find the mat."

"Look under that basket."

The Tea Stall Elder turned his head and said something, then smiled and said to Li Hao, "What would you like to eat, sir? Two baskets, please?"

"Um."

Li Hao stared at him for a moment, then looked at the girl, only to see her bend down again, rummage through the oil paper used to line the steamed buns, and a smile appeared on her face.

The other person noticed the gaze and looked at Li Hao. Her eyes were as bright Moonlight in a spring, her skin was snow-white and translucent, and her nose was small and delicate, exuding liveliness and intelligence.

She stood there, yet possessed an air of nobility completely different from that of the run-down Tea Stall, as if she were a young lady from the Aristocratic Clan family. However, her smile was warm and friendly, and she also had a touch of the casualness of a girl next door.

"OK."

When they made eye contact, Li Hao felt as if he had been seen through, and a strange feeling welled up inside him. He looked away and nodded.

I had encountered the Tea Stall Elder in Liang Prefecture before. He said business was good Liang Prefecture, but I didn't find out anything, so I gave up.

Now that they've met again in Qing Prefecture, even the most oblivious Li Hao sensed something was wrong. But to his surprise, although he wasn't investigating seriously, he couldn't detect any Aura of the other party's presence through subtle perception.

The girl was the same.

Compared to the Tea Stall Elder, the young girl's attire was much more casual. Although her clothes were not particularly luxurious, they were by no means shabby. The color scheme and overall demeanor of her clothes suggested that even if Mortal World snow lotus, attracting attention in a crowd at a glance.

This is definitely not the kind of daughter a rural tenant farmer could raise; after all, exposed to the wind and sun, how could her skin be so fair and delicate?

"Sir, this tea is refreshing and quite good."

Li Hao poured himself some tea and said.

The Tea Stall Elder chuckled softly, "This is all clean spring water, naturally fragrant."

The word "clean" in his words seemed to be emphasized slightly.

Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly. This old man had neither Demon Aura nor Killing Aura. Although strange, he did not seem to be an evil person.

Never mind... He was too lazy to delve deeper. In the world, one doesn't have to see everything in its entirety.

That's too tiring a life.

As the Tea Stall Elder returned to his post to knead dough and make xiaolongbao (Steamed Buns), the girl in the Teal-Blue Garment walked gracefully and with a touch of liveliness to Li Hao's table and sat down.

With a natural and comfortable smile on her face, she said, "Sir, weren't you afraid when Demon gathered in Qingzhou City earlier?"

"If none of you are afraid, why would I be?" Li Hao glanced at her, then picked up his tea and continued to sip it.

"We were scared too. We only dared to set up our stall after all the Demon were eliminated," the girl said with a smile.

"The Demon have only just been eliminated, and you dare to set up your stall? That's quite audacious."

Grandpa always said, "Fortune favors the bold. In business, you have to contend with heaven, earth, and people. You can't succeed if you're timid."

"So particular?"

"Of course."

The girl raised her delicate white finger and pointed to the sky. "You have to watch the weather. If it's windy or rainy, you'll lose money. You also have to be careful who you go with. Even though it's a small business, as long as it's profitable, there will be people vying for it. Doesn't that make sense?"

"That's good."

Li Hao finished his cup of tea and nodded in agreement.

However, it is debatable what kind of "heaven" the other party is referring to, what kind of "person" they are referring to, and what kind of "benefit" they are referring to.

After a brief chat, the initial awkwardness around the tea table seemed to have dissipated considerably. The young woman smiled and asked:

"My name is Ying Xiaoxiao. Ying means 'Born of Destiny circumstances,' and Xiao means 'carefree.' What's your name?"

You may call me Haotian.

Li Hao stared at her.

That glance was to gauge the other person's reaction.

If it were any other ordinary person, he would have easily evaded the issue by using an alias.

The girl didn't react much to Li Hao's name, but simply asked, "What's your surname?"

I don't have a surname.

"Who doesn't have a surname?" Ying Xiaoxiao said with a smile.

Seeing her natural expression and peaceful eyes, Li Hao smiled slightly and said:

"Even without a surname, I can live a good life."

If one had to name a surname, he could also be surnamed Li, but that was his surname in his previous life. Since he died in his previous life and transmigrated here, it was as if he had said goodbye to his past life.

Born in this place, I will take the name of this place.

Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Ying Xiaoxiao was slightly taken aback, and the smile on her face slowly faded.

"The Steamed Buns are here! Be careful not to burn yourself."

Just then, the Tea Stall owner came over with steaming hot xiaolongbao (Steamed Buns).

"Try it, my grandfather's cooking is excellent."

Ying Xiaoxiao immediately spoke, her bright eyes filled with anticipation, as if waiting for Li Hao's evaluation after tasting it.

Li Hao smiled and said, "I've already experienced that."

He picked up the chopsticks from the holder, tapped them on the table to align them, and then started eating. "The taste is still the same, not bad."

"If you like it, that's fine."

The Tea Stall Elder chuckled.

Li Hao nodded, eating the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and drinking tea.

I ordered one for the Candlelight God as well, and asked the old man to pack another one for Evening Primrose to try later.

After finishing his meal and drinks, he looked at the young girl who had been sitting across the table observing him. He stood up, scattered a tael or two of silver coins, and said, "May we meet again someday. I hope to eat such delicious buns again."

The Tea Stall Elder took the money, wiped the table as he did so, and said with a smile, "Sir, you'll be able to eat here anytime you come."

Li Hao smiled, waved goodbye, and walked along the Official Road.

The other people at the Tea Stall had finished eating and rode away on horseback towards Qingzhou City.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained at the Tea Stall. The Tea Stall Elder gazed in the direction Li Hao had left and sighed softly.

"This is a young hero! I never imagined that such Prodigy could grow up in a place where Divine Power is scarce..."

"Otherwise, how could he have gained the favor of the Saint Realm? He does possess the Saint's Mark."

Ying Xiaoxiao gazed intently at him and said softly.

The Tea Stall Elder paused slightly, glanced at it again, then shook his head and sighed, saying:

"I don't know what's going on, but this boy looks a lot like a child from before. That child was also Prodigy, but seemed a little less so. The name even seems to be the same, but strangely, his Aura and appearance have completely changed."

"Oh?"

Ying Xiaoxiao asked with interest, "Are you talking about the one at Heaven's Gate Pass?"

"That's right."

"We went to see him, but he wasn't there. It was just an avatar, and it seems he's vanished as well."

Ying Xiaoxiao's eyes flickered, and she said, "Since the names are the same and the ages are similar, do you think it could be some kind of change, like a complete transformation, but more thorough, that caused the change in Aura?"

The Tea Stall Elder thought for a moment and said, "It is indeed possible, but such a method is very difficult to accomplish unless Saint Realm is asked to help. As for relying on oneself... I can't think of any Cultivation Method. Even if his Divine Soul were to possess another body, the Divine Soul would still carry the original Aura."

Hearing this, Ying Xiaoxiao immediately decided, "Then let's go see what's going on."

The Tea Stall Elder was taken aback, and quickly said, "Miss, no, he already sensed something was wrong while you were here."

"But the fact that he didn't intervene shows that he's not the type to meddle in other people's business."

Ying Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Besides, even if he makes a move, it won't matter. We're not afraid of him; we're just curious. We've collected Slaughter Resentment in Qingzhou City, so it's time for us to leave."

The Tea Stall Elder smiled wryly, knowing the young lady's capricious and capricious nature. Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, he could only say:

"Although he sensed that we were unusual, we still had to maintain appearances and not make things difficult for him."

"Alright, anyway, there were rumors that someone impersonated us and killed the Heavenly Prodigy of the Ancient Sacred Clan in the Great Wasteland Heaven. Let's impersonate members of the Ancient Sacred Clan for a bit of fun too."

Ying Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Isn't that reasonable?"

"Reasonable..." The Tea Stall Elder smiled wryly, glanced at her, and thought, "Which Heavenly Prodigy from the Ancient Sacred Clan can compare to you, young lady?"

Immediately, once everyone was around, the Tea Stall Elder swept the Tea Stall away into his sleeve, and the old man and the young man disappeared down the Official Road.