Chapter 806: This Matter Must Not Stop

As the aura of authority radiating from Chen Lusi gradually dissipated.

Shanli discreetly let out a sigh of relief.

Honestly speaking.

… it was indeed a bit terrifying.

Shanli had once faced the out-of-control Chen Lusi, and at that time, Chen Lusi just gave a sense of standing defenseless before a wild beast.

But now, it wasn’t as simple as facing a beast.

Instead, it was… a kind of indescribable, enormous, and violent energy body purely composed of spirit.

Touch it, and it shatters.

This was the strongest premonition when facing him.

Just now, when Shanli stepped out of the elevator, she exclaimed because of this feeling.

If Chen Lusi hadn’t greeted her afterward, subconsciously considering her not an enemy and consciously withdrawing his aura.

Shanli really wouldn’t have dared to stand with him.

Because, to be honest, it was shameful, when she stood in front of Chen Lusi just now… she truly felt she didn’t have even a slightest bit of resistance or secrecy.

And now, it was much better.

“Actually, if you go to Jiming Temple, that state you just had would be more suitable.”

Ji Xin watched Chen Lusi, witnessing firsthand his descent back into a mere mortal: “After all, it’s unfriendly to us, it’s even less friendly to enemies. We subconsciously know you won’t attack us, effectively curbing fear, but for enemies it’s different… the effect would likely be excellent. Just now I only told you to mind your health, I didn’t tell you to withdraw your aura.”

“…”

Chen Lusi lowered his hand, looking at the earnest Ji Xin, sighed helplessly: “I find your personality is really quite nasty.”

“Only realizing now?”

Ji Xin didn’t mind at all, flipping the smooth hair on her neck: “My personality has always been nasty, annoys people most of the time.”

“… This should be a side effect of occupying the Goryeo Yellow Springs.”

Hearing this answer, Chen Lusi choked for a moment, unable to help but change the topic, explaining: “After all, I’m not a Heroic Spirit, nor the true Lord of the Underworld, but a mere mortal in the human world. Even with Tai’e and the Heirloom Seal of the Realm suppressing, it’s inevitable that Yellow Springs’ aura would leak out.

And these things, although I’m not sure, I feel like letting it leak in the human world for a long time is not a good thing.”

“…”

Upon hearing this, Ji Xin’s body stiffened, then she slowly raised her head, once again looking at Chen Lusi’s angular face: “Does it affect you? Is there any way to resolve it?”

Obviously.

This was also the first time she heard of it.

No way.

Chen Lusi’s current ability, in some ways, already surpassed Xia Yue’s “believing in being able to achieve” to the extent of being a Godslayer, completely baffling, far more mysterious than the Authority Ability…

All belong to a kind of thing, even if explained by the person involved, outsiders may not fully understand it.

After all, what does “believing in being able to achieve” mean? What does “using Authority Ability to sever Yellow Springs Branch, thereby occupying” mean?

Each word is easy to understand, but the expressed meaning completely overturns the existing empowerers’ system.

It’s really not easy to understand.

As long as they are not authority holders, it’s very difficult to understand the underlying logic.

“Temporarily, it has no impact, at least from my perception, it doesn’t affect me.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Lusi shook his head: “As for resolving it, the solution should be in the Yellow Springs Mainstream; after all, Goryeo is a branch that streams out of it. Whether it’s returning it or, like Xia Yue, going to the Ten Halls to confront our ancestors head-on…”

“No impact is good.”

Before Chen Lusi finished speaking.

Ji Xin interrupted him: “For now, don’t go to the Yellow Springs Mainstream, I…”

Saying so.

She paused.

Shanli stood behind Chen Lusi, blinked, displaying an encouraging expression.

Seeing Shanli’s expression, Ji Xin snapped back into consciousness, taking a deep breath: “Let’s talk about Jiming Temple.”

“Hmm… what happened over there?”

Unaware of anything wrong, Chen Lusi followed the cue, skipping the topic of heading to the Yellow Springs Mainstream, curiously inquiring: “You said all the direct descendants of several ancient temples have gathered at Jiming Temple?”

“Yes.”

Ji Xin pretended not to see Shanli’s disapproving glare, nodded slightly.

“What’s the purpose? Why do they feel threatened?”

In fact, Lusi had no objections to the two major religions in the country, though he doesn’t believe in either.

But if talking about fondness.

He certainly had more affection for the local religion Daoism, for one, because his hometown has a rich Feng Shui culture, and another is because those Daoists left a deep impression on him.

As for Buddhism.

The only encounter Chen Lusi had was with Zen Master Huizhao of Jiming Temple.

And that Zen Master… always seemed to speak in riddles, extremely obscure.

If it weren’t for the “Jing” incident back then, where the two had a brief encounter.

Chen Lusi would really prefer not to deal with someone like this.

“I’m not very sure, though.”

Ji Xin picked up the files from his thigh and handed them to Chen Lusi: “The intelligence personnel have submitted some interesting information.”

Chen Lusi reached out to take the files, opened them and glanced inside, then slightly furrowed his brow: “Return?”

“Mm.”

Ji Xin nodded: “Different from Daoism… Well, actually both sects are more or less the same; in a feudal dynasty, they both belong to the side heavily suppressed by imperial authority. Even when encountering chaos, they can temporarily loosen the shackles, but whenever they meet an ambitious monarch, they don’t have to be a wise ruler to once again press their legitimacy under imperial authority.

The native Daoism has grown accustomed, long-term suppression has already taught them how to lie low.

Especially in the century of the disappearance of the Daoist lineage… They have completely learned how to peacefully exist under imperial authority.

But Buddhism is different. As the country’s last imperial authority gradually weakened, they didn’t wait for the next imperial force to suppress them and were briefly untethered during this time.

And as chaos ensued, their minds became active.

However, shortly after their ideas started to take shape… Their spine was broken again by others, and they were repressed once more.

Only this time, it wasn’t done by imperial authority.”

“But once the idea arises, it doesn’t easily disappear. After all, unlike Daoism, whose lineage vanished and couldn’t flee, they witnessed firsthand the evolution of Divine Buddha Synthesis in Japan and the process of Buddhism becoming the state religion… Moreover, they indeed possess a unique system of abilities that differ from the Empowerer system existing within the country, which makes them stand out.”

Ji Xin paused, then continued: “‘…Even if it doesn’t become a state religion, even if Divine Buddha Synthesis can’t be achieved, at least Buddha must be untethered, right? After all, imperial authority is gone, why should we be heavily suppressed and prevented from spreading compassion to the masses?’ Many people within probably harbor such thoughts.

But evidently, completely untethering is impossible.

This matter isn’t negotiable, Xia Yue’s rise is enough to make them abandon any bold ideas.

And recently, Xia Yue’s biggest obstacle in the Extraordinary Domain has finally disappeared.”

“So they…”

Chen Lusi glanced at the files in his hand.

Ji Xin nodded: “Although it’s speculative, it’s probably almost accurate. During the public prosecution events, they completely went into hiding, likely making preparations. What they hadn’t anticipated was… You would succeed Xia Yue, forcibly advance the prosecution, and ultimately win.

Even more unexpected was that you would completely repel the retribution from the Roman Catholic Church… Emperor Shi even appeared, and their god from the Roman Catholic Church was also defeated.

Plans couldn’t catch up with changes.

Xia Yue’s obstruction indeed vanished… But what awaits them is you.”

“However, some things can’t just be halted when desired.”

Ji Xin glanced at the files in Chen Lusi’s hands: “After all, everything comes with a price; this report wasn’t given to me by intelligence personnel from Celestial Strategy Mansion or Kunlun.”

“…”

Upon hearing this, Chen Lusi also glanced at the report in hand, roughly understanding its origins: “So now they want to accomplish certain objectives through my consent? Return to their origin? It seems like there’s no place for them anywhere.”

“It’s not about the origin.”

Ji Xin shook his head: “It’s about the birthplace of their founder, that country of gods, and it doesn’t necessarily mean they want you to consent because your agreement doesn’t hold much power, the resistance won’t disappear. They also know, perhaps they want to threaten you into not interfering… After all, secular interference and intervention from the Extraordinary Domain are two different things.

For the former, they have many response measures, like how recently the Roman Catholic Church collapsed dramatically, even after the shift in dynamics, all parties were still able to sit at the negotiation table.

However, when the Advanced Empowerers from the Extraordinary Domain take action, especially you, the current symbol of Celestial Strategy Mansion makes them different.

Because ultimately, Buddhism is a part of the Celestial Strategy Mansion.

If you disagree, it’s no longer a matter of secular forces, but rather the domestic extraordinary organizations disagree, the concept is different, then the ‘country of gods’ wanting to continue this would have to expect not negotiations but sending extraordinary empowerers over, where they would face not the myriad secular forces but a genuine battle between advanced empowerers.

You are the most troublesome and the largest obstruction in front of them.

Originally, I should be the one playing this role in Celestial Strategy Mansion.

But my reputation is really too insignificant compared to yours.”

“…Return?”

Chen Lusi heard this, fell into silence for a moment, then looked out the window.

…

Chicken Cage Mountain.

The millennium-old ancient temple Jiming Temple remains quietly standing.

But today, this ancient temple is rarely closed.

The external reason given is the need for necessary maintenance.

However.

Though tourists can’t enter.

There are still many guests at this ancient temple today.

Countless monks are currently gathered atop the highest point of Medicine Buddha Pagoda, gazing at the distant city.

They don’t know what they’re thinking, the atmosphere is stagnant.

And the silence continued for a long time.

About half an hour later.

Someone finally spoke.

That person, with five parts resolute, three parts guilty, and two parts desperate, suddenly declared: “This matter, absolutely cannot stop!!!”