The White Emperor's purpose

[Seven: What could the Buddha possibly do? He can't possibly appear and beat you, can he?]

Trying to change the subject? A clumsy tactic. Li Lingsu scoffed inwardly, unmoved by the attempt, and relayed the message:

[Let's continue talking about your marriage to Prince Lin'an. I've met Prince Lin'an before, and wow, he's Celestial Person beautiful, even more so than Prince Miaozhen and Prince Huaiqing.]

To avenge the deaths of the martial arts alliance in Jianzhou, the Holy Son was willing to fight Xu Qi'an to the death.

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society were not enthusiastic about information "concerning the Buddha." Firstly, matters of the highest rank were too far removed from their lives. Secondly, Xu Qi'an's attempt to change the subject was too obvious.

It's obvious they're using the Buddha's name as a pretext to gloss over the matter of the arranged marriage.

[Part Three: Last time I said that going to the Southern Frontier was to break the seal on Shenshu. Aren't you all wondering what connection Shenshu has with the Demon Race? Why did Buddhist School seal Shenshu away?]

Bringing up old stories is pointless. Li Lingsu pursed her lips, just about to smooth things over, when she saw a letter from her junior sister True Disciple saying:

[Can divine matters be made public? Can they be revealed to us?]

What does that mean? Junior Sister seems to value this Divine Special Skill very much. Li Lingsu was taken aback.

[Four: Actually, I wanted to ask you about what you said last time about fighting Asura and breaking the divine seal.]

They knew of the existence of the Divine Realm; Xu Qi'an had already confessed to the members of the Earth Book that the sealed artifact beneath Sangbo had possessed his body.

I didn't ask before because it involved Xu Qi'an's secrets and the secrets of the Demon Race. Unless it involves yourself or you are involved, you shouldn't casually ask about highly confidential matters.

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society still have this much emotional intelligence.

[Part Three: Before we go on, I need to correct something. The half-step Martial God that Lina mentioned in the Sixty-Year Demon Purge Extermination was not the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, the ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons, but Shen Shu.]

To this day, he has fully recalled the contents of the letter he sent.

Lina only said that during the Sixty-Year Demon Purge, a half-step Martial God made a move, but she and the other members imagined that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox was a half-step Martial God.

[Part 1: The sealed artifact beneath Sangbo Lake, that divine being, was he actually a half-step Martial God?]

Even Huaiqing, who always likes to peek into others' screens, couldn't help but jump out, which shows how shocked the other members were at this moment.

A dozen seconds later, Hengyuan sighed:

[A half-step Martial God, ah, so close to me once was.]

Because of his junior brother Heng Hui's affair, he became involved in the case and was nearly killed by Shen Shu's right arm.

[Part Two: Lina tricked me.]

After the initial shock, Li Miaozhen subconsciously sent a message expressing her feelings. Clearly, like Xu Qi'an, she had also imagined that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox was a half-step Martial God.

[Part 4: The half-step Martial God who appeared in the Sixty-Year Demon Purge was Shen Shu. He was sealed by Buddhist School, yet he was a member of Buddhist School, but in the Sixty-Year Demon Purge, he was on the same side as the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons. Hiss, the things behind this are terrifying to think about.]

Chu Yuanzhen took ample time to process the news before beginning to write a lengthy treatise, thus becoming the last to send a letter.

[Seven: May I ask, who is Shen Shu? Is there really a half-step Martial God in this world? Isn't it said that the limit for a martial artist is the first rank? From ancient times to the present, there has never been a Martial God.]

Because Li Lingsu had been offline for half a year, she was unaware of what had happened in the past.

When he was in charge of Fragment No. 7, Fragments No. 3 and No. 9 were under the management of Master Jinlian.

No one paid any attention to Li Lingsu, and Huaiqing sent a letter:

[But what do these have to do with the Buddha?]

The eldest princess was good at grasping the key points and did not forget the topic because she was shocked by the news of the half-step martial god.

[Part Three: In the initial battle to help the Demon Race restore their kingdom, Shenshu's mutilated body also participated. Due to Guangxian Bodhisattva's targeted methods, Shenshu fell into madness. After we finally subdued him, he said that he remembered his past and his true identity.]

After delivering this message, Xu Qi'an deliberately kept everyone in suspense.

[Two: His real identity? Tell me already, what are you dawdling for?]

Li Miaozhen was furious when she didn't hear anything further for several minutes.

The other members remained silent, but they were all cursing Xu Qi'an in their hearts.

[Three: He said he remembered who he was—he was the Buddha!]

The Earth Book chat group instantly fell silent.

Xu Qi'an basked in the sun, grabbed a water bag, gulped down a mouthful, and waited patiently.

Just then, Mu Nanzhi caught a big fish. The Flower Goddess happily pulled on the fishing rod, leaning forward so dramatically that Xu Qi'an worried she would fall into the sea due to the fat on her chest.

"Bai Ji, please help!"

"Mu Nanzhi called out."

Bai Ji, who was dog-paddling around the small boat, responded sweetly and dived into the water to help Mu Nanzhi catch fish.

The sea surface rippled violently, as if Bai Ji was moving about with a large fish underneath.

A few seconds later, Bai Ji surfaced from the water, her right paw covering her cheek, and she sobbed:

It slapped me.

Mu Nanzhi was disappointed in him:

"Useless thing, you're supposed to be an elder of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons."

After a struggle, the big fish successfully escaped the hook. Mu Nanzhi was both annoyed and regretful, and then began her second cast with high expectations.

Only then did Xu Qi'an feel a pang of anxiety; someone had finally delivered a message.

[Two: My ground book just fell to the ground.]

Upon hearing the news, she felt as if an electric current was coursing through her body, instantly losing her ability to think and forgetting to breathe.

[Four: Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. I suddenly regret hearing this news from you.]

Chu Yuanzhen sent the second letter.

[Seven: This humble Daoist priest has goosebumps all over.]

Li Lingsu had to admit that the news Xu Qi'an had released was indeed shocking enough. It could easily divert attention from the topic of Princess Lin'an's marriage to Xu Qi'an, or even the emperor's marriage to Xu Qi'an.

[Six: Is this statement true?]

Master Hengyuan did not express any sentiments, but instead asked follow-up questions.

Xu Qi'an sighed, as if he could see Master Hengyuan's blank stare and pale face at that moment.

[Three: Absolutely true. Furthermore, it's best to keep this matter confidential and not spread it, lest you get into trouble.]

He had no obligation to keep the Buddha's secret, so he spread it within a small circle of trusted people. But since it involved supernatural beings, he still had to remind the members of the Heaven and Earth Society.

[Six: Thank you for informing me, Lord Xu.]

[Four: Thank you for sharing.]

This news is terrifying, it's on a very high level. No amount of money can buy such information. It's not a matter of money, it's a matter of status.

How can mortals be qualified to know about the affairs of immortals and gods?

[Part 1: What does Xu Yinluo believe is the truth behind this matter?]

Huaiqing's words quieted the members of the Heaven and Earth Society, who focused intently on the mirror surface of the Earth Book fragment, and nothing could distract them.

Why did the Buddha become a "divine being"? Who sealed him away? What is the truth behind the Sixty-Year Demon Purge Campaign?

Despite jokingly considering himself a mere mortal unworthy of such information, the allure of the truth behind it is undeniable. No one can resist the pull of curiosity.

Since Xu Qi'an was involved in this matter and had some understanding of the truth behind it, they were naturally happy to "get something for free".

"These are the perks of being a member of the Heaven and Earth Society!" Li Lingsu exclaimed sincerely.

[Part Three: This is a long story. First, we must start with the physical identity of Shenshu.]

He spent a quarter of an hour recounting in detail the process of Shenshu's transformation from the Asura King to the Buddha, and shared his two guesses with the members of the Heaven and Earth Society.

I did this also to hear the analysis from members of the Heaven and Earth Society.

The main candidates are Huaiqing and Chu Yuanzhen, while the Heavenly Sect's Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick can be selectively adopted.

[Four: You've listed all the possibilities; all that's missing is verification. If you have contact information for Asura or Du'e, and can correspond privately, you could ask them.]

[One: No, they might not be able to uncover the truth; the level involved is likely beyond the reach of a second-rank official. Forcing an investigation could be life-threatening.]

Chu Yuanzhen continued sending the message: [Only those of the highest rank can suppress those of the highest rank. If it's the first possibility, then by carefully reviewing the history of all the highest-ranking individuals, we can make a guess.]

[One: Dao Venerable, is that right? Dao Venerable is the most mysterious among all the Super Grades.]

Upon learning of the Daoist master, Li Lingsu and Li Miaozhen were immediately invigorated.

Li Lingsu sent a letter refuting:

[What reason would the Daoist have to usurp the Buddha's position? At the beginning of his enlightenment, he was invincible. If he truly wanted to do something, he could simply do it. Whether it was his destiny or the foundation of his teachings, his roots were far deeper than the Buddha's.]

No one objected for a moment.

The Holy Son is right. The Daoist Master attained enlightenment earlier than the Buddha, and the three schools of Heaven, Earth, and Man that he founded have an even longer history.

If the Daoist master usurped the Buddha's position, then the Buddha must have possessed something he desired, but cultivation level, status, incense offerings, and fortune are not sufficient reasons to justify it.

[Fourth: That's the second possibility.]

The second possibility is that Shenshu and Buddha are the same person, but different aspects of the same being. The two had a disagreement because of the matter of the Southern Demon.

[One: I also believe the second possibility is highly likely. However, I have another speculation: from the perspective of usurpation, if that being wanted to replace the Buddha and seize the incense offerings and fortune of Buddhist School, then he must be inferior to the Buddha.]

This makes sense; the Daoist master was "richer" than the Buddha, so there was no reason for him to usurp the Buddha's position.

What if it's someone who wants to rise to power?

Huaiqing continued relaying the message: [We only know there are five Super Grade individuals, but what about those above First Grade, those half-step Super Grade? We know nothing about them.]

That's a good idea, but if you put it that way, the case will be harder to investigate. Xu Qi'an stroked his chin and decided to end the group chat.

At this moment, Lina sent a message:

[Five: Xu Ningyan, when you and the princess get married, could you bring Lingyin and me back to the capital? I don't want to attend the wedding banquet; I just want to offer my blessings.]

Xu Qi'an's lips twitched.

"I'm going to beat the shit out of you!" He quickly put away the fragments of the Earth Book, ignoring Li Lingsu's sarcastic remarks and Li Miaozhen's sarcasm.

Jingshan City.

The desolate mountain peaks stretched endlessly, and the distant sea reflected the sunlight, yet appeared deathly still.

In the battle of Jingshan City that day, Salun Agu drained the spiritual energy of this land, causing crops to no longer grow on the land, fish and shrimp to no longer thrive in the sea, and mountains to never recover.

It will take at least ten years of recovery to bring life back to Jingshan City and the surrounding dozens of miles.

Salun Agu, draped in a burlap robe, stood atop a desolate mountain peak, cradling a lamb in his arms.

Suddenly, he turned his gaze to the sky, to the sea of clouds.

A few seconds later, the sea of clouds suddenly collapsed, revealing a huge head that resembled a mountain.

With a bull's nose, crocodile lips, and lion's mane, a pair of horns on its forehead, and vertical blue pupils, it was both beautiful and eerie.

The moment this strange beast appeared, the once silent sea surged with waves, and the power of water elemental energy gathered wildly, bursting into life.

It has been transformed back into a sea area suitable for fish and shrimp farming.

"I hate the lifeless sea."

Bai Di spoke in a low and calm tone, as if he had done something insignificant.

"I never imagined that I would see a descendant of Gods and Devils and demons of such rank on the Nine Provinces Continent today," Salen Agu said with a smile.

"Come down and talk."

The giant beast's head vanished, and a beam of white light descended from the sky, condensing in the void in front of Salen'ago.

Salun Agu examined the strange beast before him and said:

"White Emperor!"

The White Emperor's azure eyes were fixed on the Grand Wizard, his voice low and deep:

"A Sorcerer System, do you recognize me?"

As it spoke, the scales on its cheeks opened and closed, revealing its tender red gills.

Amphibious.

Salun Agu nodded:

"The Witch God Cult has infiltrated Yunzhou for many years, and naturally, the famous White Emperor is a household name."

The White Emperor paused for a moment, then nodded slightly and said:

"When I returned to the Nine Provinces Continent back then, I tested the Daoist's reaction. The result was quite unexpected. The Daoist who drove us out of the Nine Provinces in High Antiquity times did not react to my test at all."

"I gradually realized something was wrong, so I left my contact information in Yunzhou. Until more than ten years ago, a Warlock named Xu Pingfeng cracked my method and made contact with me."

"From him, I learned about the history of Kyushu since the time of Dao Zun, and I also learned that He had long since disappeared."

Salen Agu listened patiently and then asked:

"What is the purpose of your return to the Nine Provinces Continent and your coming to Jingshan City to find me?"