Compensation

The golden light originated from fragments of the Earth Book.

The old monk Taling stretched out his palm, letting the golden light fall into his hand; it was a bronze plaque inscribed with Buddhist text.

He had been thinking that it might be due to Mahayana Buddhism that the monk Taling said such a thing, but when Xu Qi'an saw the Buddha amulet clearly, his expression became extremely strange.

This thing was looted from Chu Xianglong, the deputy general of the Prince of Zhenbei, after we killed him.

At the time, Xu Qi'an only glanced at it briefly before tossing it into the fragments of the Earth Book and ignoring it.

"This is."

He stared at the old monk's palm, carefully considering his options.

"This is a Buddhist amulet symbolizing the identity of the Bodhisattva Faji. Seeing this amulet is like seeing the Bodhisattva." The old monk Taling smiled.

A Buddhist amulet symbolizing the status of a Bodhisattva. Xu Qi'an was taken aback, his mind racing. How could the amulet of the Bodhisattva Faji be on Chu Xianglong?

What is the relationship between the two? If I kill Chu Xianglong, will it incur the wrath of Bodhisattva Faji?

"Since you possess the amulet of the Bodhisattva Faji, you are naturally the owner of the pagoda."

At this point, the old monk asked in a deep voice, "Where are you, benefactor, and when did you meet the Bodhisattva Faji?"

Xu Qi'an couldn't answer for a moment. He thought to himself, "Isn't the Bodhisattva Faji in Aranya? How could I have seen him?"

Wait a minute! Chu Xianglong definitely hasn't been to Aranya either, so how did he get the Dharmaraksha amulet?

The thought flashed through his mind, Xu Qi'an shook his head, saying ambiguously, "I have never seen Bodhisattva Faji."

The old monk Taling explained, "Bodhisattva Faji disappeared for 360 years without a trace; even Bodhisattva Liuli could not find him."

"Disappeared for 360 years. "Xu Qi'an breathed a sigh of relief. "This way, no one can expose my identity as a fake successor."

He feigned doubt:

"I remember now, this amulet was given to me by a wandering old monk in gratitude for a meal he had given me. But I never imagined it would be so precious. Also, why did the Bodhisattva Faji suddenly disappear, preventing the Buddhist School from finding him?"

This statement not only explained the origin of the amulet but also highlighted his "innocence," while incidentally inquiring about the truth behind the disappearance of the Bodhisattva Faji.

"No!" the old monk said.

Wait a minute? Could it be that the monk Faji is a woman? Xu Qi'an's expression almost changed drastically.

The old monk scrutinized Xu Qi'an and hesitated before saying:

"The Bodhisattva Faji gave you this amulet not out of a simple act of kindness, but because by receiving it, you have created a karmic connection with this Bodhisattva. For a normal person, this is not a good thing. However, I observe that you are already burdened with karmic debts, so adding another one is insignificant. I believe the Bodhisattva Faji saw this in you."

Bah! Old monk, it's as if you're saying: Benefactor, you're like an old general on a stage, covered in flags.

Xu Qi'an forced a smile, "Perhaps. By the way, Master, if I had chosen to release Shen Shu just now, would you really have agreed?"

The old monk nodded and said, "Breaking the seal will mean your death. After Shenshu devours your Essence Blood, I will trap it again. Then we will wait for the Bodhisattva of Aranya to deal with it."

"Old ginger is spicier," Xu Qi'an said, looking again at Shen Shu's severed arm.

Who exactly is the owner of this hand?

The old monk pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, his wide sleeves sweeping through the air, revealing a scroll that only Xu Qi'an could see.

In the painting, the golden Buddha sits majestically, with a kind face and a profound, dignified presence.

To the left and right of the Buddha are nine Bodhisattvas, symbolizing the nine major characteristics of Buddha, and eighteen Arhats.

This is the view from the first level of the pagoda.

Was Shenshu hidden among the Bodhisattvas? Xu Qi'an was wondering when he suddenly saw the "camera" rise higher, ascending into the depths of the mist where the dome could not be seen.

The next moment, the complete view of the first level of the pagoda appeared before his eyes:

Above the head of the Buddhist School Bodhisattva, deep within the mist, is a colossal, pitch-black Dharma image. It has twelve pairs of arms, a blazing ring of fire burning behind its head, and a black flame mark on its forehead.

His face contorted with malice, he bared his teeth and brandished claws, coldly gazing down at the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats below, as if they were the most delicious prey.

The overall image has distinct layers; the lower layer exudes a majestic and peaceful Buddhist aura, while the upper layer resembles a gloomy and terrifying purgatory, creating an extremely strong visual impact.

Xu Qi'an's heart suddenly raced, and he could hear the "thump" sound.

He recognized the dark-colored Dharma image at a glance; it was Shen Shu.

When Chuzhou killed the Prince of Zhenbei, Shenshu used the power of the Blood Pill to perform Secret Method and manifested this Dharma form.

"What does this painting represent? Does Shenshu feed on Buddhist School? Is Shenshu the enemy of the entire Buddhist School? Can he threaten Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and even the Buddha? Is he coveting the entire Buddhist School from the depths of delusion?"

A series of guesses burst forth in my mind, accompanied by a thrilling experience.

The old monk waved his hand, scattering the image, and clasped his hands together. "Do you understand?"

Xu Qi'an opened his mouth, wanting to ask again, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

The spirit of the pagoda drew a swastika on the amulet and handed it to Xu Qi'an, saying:

"Holding the Buddha amulet grants initial control over the pagoda. The benefactor may choose to ride the pagoda away from Leizhou, but must not use the pagoda to harm Buddhist School disciples."

"Can I control the Floating Pagoda?" Xu Qi'an was about to express his gratitude when he suddenly heard Li Shaoyun's question from behind:

What are you spacing out for?

He suddenly awoke as if from a long dream. There was no anklet in his hand, and Shenshu's left arm had not recovered. If it weren't for the Buddha amulet in his hand, he would have doubted that everything before was a dream.

Xu Qi'an subconsciously looked at the old monk Ta Ling, who was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes lowered and his hands clasped together, as quiet as a statue.

"Don't bother with him, he won't care about anything, and he certainly won't help us."

Li Shaoyun followed his gaze to the old monk. "I just begged him to send us out, but he refused. Besides, this monk is incredibly skilled in arithmetic."

"Is he good at math? Do monks in this world need a bachelor's degree?" Xu Qi'an joked to himself, quietly putting away the Buddha amulet, and asked:

What are you trying to say?

Li Shaoyun rolled his eyes and said, "It's getting dark, and Sun Xuanji still hasn't dealt with the enemies outside. If we still can't get out by tomorrow morning, we'll be trapped inside the tower. Everyone's very anxious. Do you have any ideas?"

Xu Qi'an immediately looked out of the pagoda's window; the sky was a deep blue, and the setting sun had completely sunk below the horizon.

Outside, all was quiet, save for the occasional cannon shot that signaled that the fighting had not stopped.

The Leizhou warriors inside the tower, who had been calm and collected during the day, became restless and anxious.

Because they realized that Sun Xuanji seemed unable to rescue them while they were guarded by two third-rank experts, and that as time went on, their inevitable fate was defeat.

"That third-rank Warlock has run out of ammunition."

"Fire! Fire! All you do all day is fire at monks! Don't you have any other methods?"

"As expected, the Warlock's combat power is not trustworthy at all. If Xu Yinluo were here, that guardian Vajra would already be reincarnated."

"Yes, Xu Yinluo is invincible, and most importantly, he is a warrior."

An atmosphere of anxiety brewed and fermented among the crowd, with many regretting coming to Sanhua Temple to wade into troubled waters.

At this moment, Yuan Yi, Tang Yuanwu, and Liu Yun walked over, and the commander asked:

What is your plan to deal with this?

He came to discuss with Xu Qi'an that if all else failed, they could consider returning the dragon energy to Buddhist School, and with Sun Xuanji's intervention, their lives might be spared.

Just as Yuan Yi was considering how to begin, he heard Xu Qian say:

"I'll take you away now."

What?!

Liu Yun and the others wondered if there was something wrong with their ears, but the next second, they looked at Xu Qian with a mixture of surprise and delight.

"Fasten your seatbelt," Xu Qi'an joked, channeling his energy into the Buddha amulet and immersing a wisp of his divine thought within it. He immediately felt a connection between himself and the pagoda.

This connection is lower than that of the Taiping Knife, but on the same level as the fragments of the Earth Book.

This means that although he is now the owner of the pagoda, he is not the true owner.

A more vivid description: the Taiping Blade is his biological son, while the fragments of the Earth Book and the Floating Pagoda are his stepfathers.

Based on the positions indicated by the Earth Book and the pagoda, he is indeed the stepfather.

Xu Qi'an gripped the Buddha amulet tightly and said in a deep voice, "Rise!"

Outside the pagoda, the Eastern Sisters and the monks of Sanhua Temple sat cross-legged in twos and threes.

Compared to the intense firepower during the day, the occasional artillery attacks now pose little threat to them.

However, they dared not leave the vicinity of the Pagoda, because everyone guessed that Sun Xuanji must be in a state of impotent rage at this moment, and might take his anger out on them and go on a killing spree.

Moreover, Sanhua Temple was mostly destroyed in rounds of artillery fire, with its main hall collapsed, countless shell craters, and a scene of utter devastation.

Panlong, the abbot of Sanhua Temple, chanted Buddhist mantras and remarked with emotion:

"If we can get through this night, the Floating Pagoda will close its doors, allowing those thieves to die within its walls. This will be a fitting end for Hengyin and all the fallen disciples."

The monks of Sanhua Temple felt both delighted and resentful.

Dongfang Wanrong smiled and said, "However, since Commander Yuan Yi died inside the tower, the Great Feng court will definitely hold us accountable. The Buddhist School must be prepared to bear the court's wrath."

"Female benefactor, there's no need to fan the flames."

The martial monk Jingyuan said calmly, "The Great Feng has been weak for a long time. Since the Capital Evaluation, the Prince of Zhenbei, the emperor, and Wei Yuan have all died. Even that rising young figure, Xu Qi'an, has been deposed. What gives the Great Feng court the audacity to hold them accountable?"

"That's right. Yuan Yi instigated the Jianghu people of Leizhou to attack our temple, and the Buddhist School will hold him accountable," a monk from Sanhua Temple said indignantly.

A disciple from the East Sea Dragon Palace chimed in, "Apart from the Supervisor, the Great Feng has no more top-tier experts left."

The group of disciples belonging to the Witch God Cult burst into laughter.

In the distance, Du Nan Jingang stood outside the pagoda gate, saying nothing.

The wise master Yilbu and Sun Xuanji, who was controlling the cannon, were still playing a game of "cat and mouse".

Just then, the pagoda suddenly began to shake violently, the vibrations growing more and more intense. Patches of plaster peeled off, and tiles crashed down, shattering into dust.

Everyone looked up in astonishment at the pagoda.

"What happened? What's going on inside the tower?"

Has the pagoda come back to life?

The sudden turn of events left everyone bewildered and sparked much discussion.

Abbot Panlong murmured, "This pagoda has stood in the temple for five hundred years without any unusual activity. Why is that? Why is that?"

Without hesitation, everyone looked at the Dharma Protector Vajra to help them overcome difficulties, only to find that this third-rank Vajra, whose expression was as steady as a mountain, finally showed surprise, shock, and confusion.

A streak of dark light descended beside the tower. Irb, dressed in a wizard's robe, looked up and said in a deep voice:

What happened?

Du Nan Jingang pondered, "Perhaps the Bodhisattva Faji is nearby, and the spirit of the pagoda has sensed him."

Dharma Bodhisattva?

The Buddhist School monks were overjoyed upon hearing this.

Yes, if the tower spirit hadn't sensed its master nearby, why would it have made such a commotion?

Now that the Bodhisattva has arrived, the thieves inside the pagoda have no chance of escaping, and the troublesome Sun Xuanji is no longer a threat.

This treasure hunt ended without any major incident.

"Amitabha Buddha, now that Bodhisattva Faji has arrived, this matter should come to an end." Abbot Panlong clasped his hands together, as if relieved of a great burden.

The disciples of the East Sea Dragon Palace were filled with envy. The Buddhist School sect was powerful and had many experts. A first-rank Bodhisattva could come and go as they pleased. No wonder the Buddhist School monks were so confident.

It's hard not to get an erection.

Jingxin and Jingyuan looked at each other, somewhat surprised. As monks from Aranya, they knew some inside information: Bodhisattva Faji had disappeared for 360 years without a trace.

It just appeared out of nowhere?

Amidst the crowd's confusion, surprise, and envy, Irbu, who remained gazing intently at the pagoda, spoke in a deep voice:

"There's someone at the top of the tower."

Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively looked up at the pointed top of the tower.

In the azure sky, atop the spire stood a man in blue robes, standing alone in the wind, his clothes fluttering, indifferently looking down at the crowd below.

The Eastern sisters' expressions suddenly changed drastically:

It's Xu Qian!

The others recognized the man in blue as Xu Qian, the one who had summoned Sun Xuanji and killed the head monk Hengyin.

When did he leave the tower?

Du Nan Jingang's expression finally changed.

"The green hills remain unchanged, the clear waters flow on forever. Thank you for the treasure bestowed upon Buddhist School. Farewell, everyone!"

The man in blue bowed with his hands clasped.

As soon as he finished speaking, the pagoda burst forth with dazzling golden light, its towering body rising from the ground and soaring into the clouds.

Two figures gave chase at the same time: one was the Vajra of Difficulty, surrounded by brilliant golden light, and the other was Irbu, who had transformed into a streak of black light.

Du Nan Jingang's speed was no match for the Floating Pagoda, and it was quickly left behind. Irbu's dark light followed closely, gradually closing the distance.

The pagoda shook violently, releasing a terrifying aura that struck Irbu as if he had been struck by lightning, causing his Law Power to stagnate and appear suppressed.

Seizing this opportunity, the pagoda transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.

Inside the Sanhua Temple, both the East Sea Dragon Palace and the Sanhua Temple were dumbfounded.

No, it's not the Bodhisattva Faji.

A monk swallowed hard. "The pagoda... it's been stolen."

The Buddhist School monks were in complete confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening before their eyes. Why would someone so Law Treasure as a first-rank Bodhisattva steal a sacred treasure so easily?

Where is the tower spirit?

Is the tower spirit asleep?

Jingxin's gaze fell on the Dongfang sisters, her face still frozen in astonishment and confusion. She murmured, "Just who is this Xu Qian?"

He's just a guy who can't even beat Wanqing. Dongfang Wanrong opened her mouth, speechless.

She no longer trusted her own judgment.

Dongfang Wanqing answered for her sister, "We encountered this person on our way to Leizhou. He..."

At this point, a blank look appeared on Dongfang Wanrong's beautiful face, as if she had forgotten what she wanted to say.

At this moment, a monk from Sanhua Temple pointed to the spot where the pagoda had originally been built and said in surprise:

"Huh, why is there an empty space here?"

The abbot, Panlong, looked over and said, "That's over there."

He suddenly froze. "That's right, why is there an empty space here?"

Night had fallen, on the border of Leizhou.

A golden light swept in and landed in a valley.

The night was deep and the mountains and rivers were silent, with the occasional cry of an owl echoing through the air.

Sun Xuanji led Mu Nanzhi and Li Lingsu into the Floating Pagoda, and with Xu Qi'an's guidance, they ascended to the third floor.

Holding the little white fox, Mu Nanzhi turned her head and looked around. She saw the martial arts figures crowded around the two windows, staring in disbelief at the night outside.

"You, you stole the Pagoda?"

Li Shaoyun stared at the man in blue before him with a look of utter disbelief. "How did you do that?"

"It was my wife who taught me, "Xu Qi'an teased him silently, his face remaining calm. "Would I have entered the Floating Pagoda if I wasn't absolutely certain?"

Upon hearing this, Commander Yuan Yi revealed an expression of admiration. "Your Excellency is incredibly resourceful. I am ignorant and have no idea that the Great Feng produced such a person as Your Excellency."

Liu Yun immediately looked over, her eyes sparkling.

"They might not be from Great Feng," Li Shaoyun muttered to himself.

This person is skilled in Gu poison. Although he has the typical appearance of a person from the Central Plains, his appearance can be changed.

Sun Xuanji looked at Xu Qi'an and said, "I..."

The little fox didn't like the atmosphere inside the pagoda. It curled up in Mu Nanzhi's arms, raised a small paw, and weakly said:

"Wow, so amazing! No wonder he's Sister Ye Ji's man."

His purpose in coming to Leizhou was to seize the Floating Pagoda? This... this is something I never expected," Li Lingsu thought with mixed feelings.

Sun Xuanji looked at Xu Qi'an and said, "Already."

Mu Nanzhi's expression changed slightly, and she lowered her head. "Sister Ye Ji?"

Man?

The little white fox hummed in agreement. "Sister Ye Ji is my third sister."

No wonder, no wonder he said she was an old friend's sister. Mu Nanzhi examined it for a moment, then, with a cold face, threw the little white fox away.

Snap!

The little white fox fell to the ground. It was only as long as an adult's forearm, delicate and petite. It raised its head and looked at Mu Nanzhi innocently with its teary eyes, unable to understand why it had been treated so roughly.

Mu Nanzhi glared at Xu Qi'an, sighed, picked up the little white fox again, and rubbed its head to comfort it.

She wouldn't stoop to the level of picking a fight with a little fox cub.

Sun Xuanji looked at Xu Qi'an and said, "Scripture."

Xu Qi'an said loudly, "Everyone, now that this matter is settled, I must leave immediately to avoid being tracked. I will now escort you all out of the tower."

After hesitating for a long time, a martial arts expert tentatively asked, "You said before that the treasures would be divided equally."

Immediately, all eyes turned to Xu Qi'an.

The Leizhou warriors dared not make a sound, much less force him; they watched him with bated breath.

Wandering Rogue Person love to fight for treasures because they lack powerful backers and resources. If they want to rise in the ranks, they have to risk their lives to fight and grab.

Just as a poor student who wants to get ahead must study hard, hang his head from the rafters and prick his thigh with an awl, and study diligently for ten years to fight for that one sliver of opportunity.

Only the Rogue Cultivator themselves know the bitterness they endured.

The old monk, who had been sitting in meditation with his eyes lowered like a statue, actually raised his head and looked at Xu Qi'an.

Yuan Yi, Li Shaoyun, and Tang Yuanwu, these fourth-rank martial artists, remained silent, but their gazes immediately turned towards them held a hint of longing.

The reason I didn't speak up just now was because I felt I was no longer in a position to bargain with Xu Qian.

That's how things are in the martial arts world: might makes right.

But deep down, a sliver of hope remained.

Of course, even if Xu Qian turned his back on them, they wouldn't say anything and would leave immediately.

The dragon's energy cannot be shared, and the pagoda is not something I can decide, but I did just say that I would divide the treasures equally. Although it was just a perfunctory remark, a man's word is his bond. Besides, I brought these people here and got their "labor" for free.

How should he compensate them? Xu Qi'an fell into deep thought.