Subtle Influence, a World Remade

Qi Yun maintained the pace of a wandering monk, continuing his journey south.

Time flies like water, and more than two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

During those two months, he traveled through prefectures and counties, crossing rivers and mountains.

I truly witnessed how the influence of this "Buddhist Kingdom on Earth" permeated from the outside in, layer by layer, until it reached the very marrow of my bones.

Initially, the unusual phenomena near the border were relatively mild, consisting mainly of changes in architecture, people changing their clothing, and the gradual rise of chanting.

The deeper one ventures into the heart of Southern Yin, the more profound the signs become, even revealing an undeniable air of "order" and "solemnity."

The mountains and rivers seem to have been combed by an invisible giant hand. Many originally steep and rugged peaks have had their edges smoothed out, or huge Buddhist niches and sutra pillars have been erected on their summits.

The river's course became unusually straight and gentle, and many river bends were marked by the construction of uniformly designed water and land ritual sites.

The flow of natural energy between heaven and earth has also been guided by a certain fixed rhythm, losing the unrestrained nature of Creation and showing more traces of artificial planning.

The farmland is laid out in neat rows, like a chessboard.

The types of crops became more limited, mainly consisting of drought-resistant and easy-to-harvest millet and beans, which were said to be "good for nourishing the body and mind and reducing desires."

Simple stone sutra boards can be seen everywhere in the fields and along the roadsides.

During breaks from work, Yuan would silently recite scriptures in front of the wooden board.

In towns and villages, it is almost impossible to find Daoist temples, ancestral halls, or any other non-Buddhist places of worship.

The original temples were either demolished or completely renovated, and the statues of the gods enshrined were all replaced with golden Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhat.

The market still exists, and transactions continue, but the noise and commotion have diminished, replaced by a quieter atmosphere of bartering and whispered inquiries about prices.

On the shop signs, Sanskrit verses written in vermilion and gold paint have replaced the auspicious words of the past.

The expressions of the pedestrians they encountered on the road became increasingly similar.

It was a tranquility born from long-term exposure, almost to the point of numbness.

They would still Qi Yun in greeting to Qi Yun, a monk who was clearly practicing spiritual cultivation, but behind the respect in their eyes was mostly emptiness, lacking the vibrant curiosity or awe.

Children were rarely seen playing around; instead, they mostly stayed quietly beside their parents, imitating the Buddhist rituals.

At such a young age, the childlike innocence and playfulness in his eyes are already hard to find.

Qi Yun also noted that every few hundred miles there would be a large-scale "Dharma Wheel Temple" standing at a strategic point.

These temples, with their solemn atmosphere, not only served as centers of faith but also seemed to function as relay stations, checkpoints, and even some kind of hub.

It is guarded by Buddhist cultivators of considerable skill, and the incense is burning brightly. A faint golden Buddhist light domain covers the surrounding area for dozens of miles, connecting with the earth's veins and forming nodes in a vast network.

The closer you get to these "Dharma Wheel Temple," the more pronounced the feeling of involuntary calm and the fading of distracting thoughts becomes.

Ordinary people may simply feel a sense of peace of mind.

But to someone as perceptive as Qi Yun, this was nothing less than a continuous and gentle immersion and guidance of the Divine Soul.

"Subtle influence, earth-shaking transformation—what a grand scheme." Qi Yun thought to himself, his assessment of the overseas Buddhist monks' plan to cross the sea to the East rose even higher.

This is by no means a simple spread of faith.

Rather, it aims to fundamentally reshape the local environment and culture.

On this day, the autumn sun was setting in the west.

Qi Yun finally caught sight of the majestic outline of the city wall on the horizon ahead.

That was Yingtian City, one of the three secondary capitals guarding the capital region, located outside the Southern Yin Imperial City.

This city was the former capital of the Southern Yin, with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Although it is not the core of the Buddhist Kingdom today, its status is still very important.

However, as soon as he approached within a dozen miles of Yingtian City, Qi Yun noticed something amiss.

The "Buddhist atmosphere" here is still strong, with Buddhist flags fluttering on the city walls and monks checking ordination certificates and maintaining order at the city gate.

But among the crowds, apart from ordinary believers and local residents with respectful expressions and steady steps, there were others.

Surprisingly, quite a few righteous cultivators with distinct auras were mixed in!

These monks were mostly dressed in various Daoist robes, martial attire, or Confucian robes, with swords and jade pendants hanging from their sides. Their auras were either pure and upright, sharp and fierce, or majestic and righteous, which were completely out of place with the harmonious and peaceful Buddhist atmosphere around them.

They would gather in small groups, entering and leaving the city gates, or congregating in teahouses and taverns outside the gates, talking in hushed tones.

A gloomy, even resentful, look often lingered between their brows.

What's even more striking is that when a Buddhist monk dressed in an ochre-yellow robe, exuding a refined aura, passes by, these monks often stop their conversation and coldly sweep their gazes over him.

His eyes revealed undisguised dissatisfaction, wariness, and even a hint of sharp hostility.

Buddhist practitioners seem to take this for granted, either walking straight past without glancing at it or responding with a calm yet subtly distant wai (a gesture of respect involving the hands clasped together).

The two sides are clearly divided, yet there are undercurrents beneath the surface.

Qi Yun's heart stirred, and he slowed his pace, concealing his aura to be even more harmonious and harmless, like a wandering monk who had come from afar and was unaware of the situation, calmly observing everything.

Why are so many non-Buddhist cultivators gathered in Yingtian City?

This was an unexpected situation.

Following the flow of people, Qi Yun slowly walked towards the tall city gate of Yingtian City, which was already covered with prayer flags. The light inside the city gate was slightly dim, and the Buddhist paintings on the walls on both sides were lifelike, with a strong sandalwood fragrance in the air.

The guarding monks had sharp eyes, scanning everyone entering the city.

Qi Yun over the ordination certificate, which he had prepared beforehand and which was modeled after the Great Radiance Sect's design, with a calm expression.

The monk soldier checked and found nothing wrong, then looked up at the halo of clear light behind his head—unassuming yet pure and solid—and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He then returned the greeting with his palms together and stepped aside to let him pass.

Stepping through the city gate, the scene of Yingtian City unfolds before your eyes.

The streets were wide and the houses were well-arranged, far more prosperous than the towns I had seen along the way.

Shops and restaurants still stand side by side, but many of their signs and plaques are now adorned with Buddhist verses.

The pedestrians were numerous, and the proportion of cultivators carrying weapons and jade pendants among them was even higher than that seen outside the city.

The chanting and bell tolling came from several large temples in the city, echoing far and wide.

But beneath this bustling scene and the sounds of Buddhist chanting, Qi Yun keenly sensed a subtle tension.

On the street, Buddhist monks and righteous cultivators usually walked on opposite sides of the street. Even when they met, they rarely exchanged words. When their eyes met, it was as if an invisible spark flashed.

In teahouses and taverns, where monks gather, the atmosphere is often somber, with conversations kept extremely low, and monks frequently glancing warily out the window at the monks passing by.

Occasionally, the sounds of arguments could be heard from the depths of some alleys, but they were quickly suppressed.

Qi Yun found a relatively ordinary-looking inn with all sorts of guests and settled in. After settling in, he didn't rush out to investigate, but instead sat by the window in his room, quietly listening to the faint discussions coming from the lobby downstairs and observing the various people coming and going on the street.

"Have you heard? Someone from the Azure Nether Sword Sect tried to leave the city again, but was 'invited' back at the West Gate—"

"Alas, when will this end? They claim to be 'jointly studying Buddhist teachings and protecting all sentient beings,' but in reality—"

Shh! Watch your words! The walls may be overhearing!

"What's there to be afraid of? They can't possibly lock us all up, can they? What's the difference between this Yingtian City and a magnificent cage these days?"

"It's said that the situation is even worse in the capital; the leaders of several major sects have been 'invited' to 'discuss the Dao,' and haven't returned yet—"

"What exactly are those bald masters overseas trying to do? Do they really want all that's left in Southern Yin to be the sound of chanting scriptures?"

A few words, mixed with sighs and suppressed anger, reached Qi Yun's ears.

He picked up the rough earthenware teacup, took a sip of the bland tea, and turned his gaze to the Yingtian City outside the window as dusk settled.

The city lights gradually came on.

The lotus lanterns hanging under the eaves emitted a soft golden light, blending with the last rays of sunset on the horizon, enveloping the entire city in a peaceful and serene glow.

However, in this seemingly peaceful Buddhist heartland, a silent confrontation has already formed between the resentment of the righteous path and the control of Buddhist practitioners.

Qi Yun put down his teacup, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

"It seems that the transformation of Southern Yin into a Buddhist kingdom has created considerable friction between it and the righteous sects of the South."

He silently pieced together the various details he had seen along the way and heard after entering the city over the past two months.

The southern region was not only inhabited by the Southern Yin dynasty.

Amidst the vast mountains and rivers, numerous righteous sects reside.

These sects have a complex relationship with the Southern Yin royal family, involving both cooperation and checks and balances, as well as marriage alliances.

Many sects' mountain gates, dojos, and industrial bases are also located within the territory of Southern Yin, relying on the dynasty's fortune and resources.

In the past, although there were occasional frictions, a delicate balance was generally maintained.

Righteous cultivators are treated with great courtesy when traveling in Southern Yin.

Who would have thought that thirty years ago, the Southern Yin Emperor abruptly renounced his throne and became a monk? Overseas Buddhist practitioners followed suit, crossing the sea to promote "Buddhism" with lightning speed.

This not only signifies a complete shift in the beliefs of the imperial court's top echelons.

This also signifies a complete change of control over the governance foundation, resource allocation, and even ideology of the entire Southern Yin territory.

For the righteous sects rooted here, this is nothing short of a catastrophe.

"No wonder these cultivators in the city look so hostile." Qi Yun lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, leaving a faint damp mark.

"The expansion of the Buddhist kingdom has touched upon fundamental interests and threatened the survival of the Buddhist tradition."

The conflict between the two sides is likely irreconcilable.

Judging from the current situation, the overseas Buddhist practitioners have used unorthodox methods and have taken control of the entire situation in a very short time.

The undercurrents and standoff within Yingtian City are a microcosm of the relationship between the entire Southern Yin Buddha Kingdom and the local righteous forces.

In the blink of an eye, a figure suddenly appeared in Qi Yun's mind.

It was none other than the True Person Xuanping, Human Emperor Banner Main Soul then and had gone into hiding in the righteous path!