Chapter 550 30: 'Heaven

The origins of Snowfield Buddhism can be traced back to the dawn of the Human Dao's prosperity, an era when a hundred schools of thought contended, giving birth to countless doctrines of the Human Dao.

Legend has it that Master Tian Gong of Vajra Temple had four great disciples. Two of them perished in the great war against the Demon Race. Of the remaining two, one founded Lingshan Temple, dedicating himself to a solitary, monastic life, turning his back on all worldly affairs. The other disciple traveled to the Snowfield to spread the teachings, and his temple was also initially named Vajra Temple.

As the Demon Race retreated and the Human Dao rose to prominence, conflicts over doctrinal lineage erupted between the various sects. Infighting was even common within the sects themselves. The Vajra Temple in the Snowfield was destroyed during one of these later internal disputes over lineage.

However, the lineage itself survived. Over time, it developed into two branches, represented by Pingmen Temple and Yunhua Temple. The former cultivates for the next life, while the latter cultivates for this one.

Two thousand years ago, a Zhongzhou Cultivator came to the Snowfield to cultivate the Buddhist Teachings. He first joined Pingmen Temple and mastered its true method, then concealed his identity to join Yunhua Temple and master its true method as well. He later fused these two methods to form the present-day Central Transmission Sect, establishing Zhongping Temple to cultivate the self.

Naturally, Pingmen Temple and Yunhua Temple would not stand for this. They once united to attack Zhongping Temple, but their own pre-existing conflicts allowed Zhongping Temple to easily divide and conquer them. The three sects have been locked in conflict ever since, yet have miraculously maintained a delicate balance for thousands of years.

But a few hundred years ago, rumors spread that the founding Ancestral Master of Zhongping Temple had perished in meditation while forcefully trying to break through to the Fourth Realm, his Spiritual Body failing him on the spot. The Snowfield, peaceful for a millennium, was once again thrown into turmoil.

"Has Master Minghe truly perished?" Zhang Xinghuai asked, raising the question that concerned him most after a period of idle chat with Ming Kong.

"Even if he isn't dead, he's close," Ming Kong replied. "It's been two thousand years since he reached the Third Realm. He could have lived a few hundred more years on Elixirs, but he exhausted the last of his Spiritual Body's energy to help his disciple reach the Third Realm. Now, I fear he has entered a death seclusion and will not emerge unless absolutely necessary."

"Is this information accurate?"

"At a time like this, do I have any reason to lie to you?"

Zhang Xinghuai had already received similar intelligence; he had only been talking with Ming Kong for confirmation.

His question earned him a probing look from Ming Kong, so he quickly changed the subject. "No wonder the other two sects don't dare to make the final blow. They must be afraid Zhongping Temple will drag them down into mutual destruction."

Hearing the topic Zhang Xinghuai had chosen, a knowing smile touched Ming Kong's lips. He played along. "That is one reason, but more importantly, the other two sects are wary of each other. Two thousand years have passed since their original grievances. At this point, they might prefer Zhongping Temple to continue existing, but only on the condition that it becomes subservient to them."

Zhang Xinghuai just nodded, not continuing the topic.

Watching Zhang Xinghuai, Ming Kong silently lifted his teacup. Inhaling its fragrance, he asked, "You know that both the Snowfield and Zhongshan Country share a Buddhist heritage. Why, then, is the Snowfield always so fragmented?"

"It lacks a true backbone!"

"Wrong. It's because they refuse to admit their lineage comes from Vajra Temple!"

Zhang Xinghuai frowned slightly.

Ming Kong continued, "It's the same principle for the First Heaven, the First Sect, and the Sun Sect. Even your martial uncle's Taiyan Sect is no different!"

Zhang Xinghuai put down his teacup. "I know you have something to say. Why not just say it directly?"

"You're the one who wasn't being direct first!"

"What do you mean?"

"Fellow Daoist, I am your guide on this path, am I not? There's no need to be so on guard against me."

"..."

Zhang Xinghuai fell silent. He rose and walked to the window of the earthen hut, watching the soldiers train outside.

Ming Kong shook his head gently, then gave a resigned smile.

"I'm not trying to avoid your question."

Zhang Xinghuai's voice was very soft. "'I was just thinking, if I can't even deceive you, how can I possibly carry out the next step of my plan?'" He sighed. "'I used to think that Divine Techniques were the plague upon this world. After a while, I realized it was the unrestrained hearts of men. But a few days ago, I finally learned that it was because...'"

His final words were only mouthed, without a sound.

Ming Kong also put down his teacup. He glanced at the open door and asked, "Do you think you have a chance of winning?"

"How will I know if I don't try?"

Zhang Xinghuai turned to face Ming Kong. "When I heard what Le Xin passed on to me, do you know what my first reaction was?"

Ming Kong didn't speak, serving as a silent listener.

"It was utterly absurd! I thought I must be dreaming, can you understand? The catastrophe in Shangjing City happened less than twenty years ago, right? Back then, the skies were filled with Third Realm Cultivators who treated the Zhongzhou Continent like their personal plaything and regarded the common folk as little more than straw dogs. Did you see any regulations like these back then?"

After saying this, the anger Zhang Xinghuai had suppressed for the past few days became unbearable. Just as he was about to unleash his pent-up fury, Ming Kong extended his right hand and tapped gently in the air.

Immediately, another streak of white light entered the space between Zhang Xinghuai's eyebrows.

The words on the tip of Zhang Xinghuai's tongue died. He felt a cool sensation, swiftly followed by an incredibly comfortable warmth that flooded his entire being, making his pores open up in release.

The coolness extinguished his anger, and the warmth soothed his turbulent heart.

"Some things can be done, but they must not be spoken of!"

Ming Kong watched Zhang Xinghuai with a chuckle.

Zhang Xinghuai grunted in annoyance, sat back down across the tea table from Ming Kong, and picked up his cup. "You were the one who asked, but then you stopped me from answering!"

"So you'll say anything I ask?"

"..."

With light-hearted banter, they dispelled the tension from their rash exchange, then fell into silence.

After two more cups of tea, Ming Kong saw that Zhang Xinghuai had fully composed himself and spoke. "Have you made up your mind? To do this is tantamount to fighting against Heaven itself."

"Though I am but a single grain of rice, I dare to vie with the brilliance of the full moon!"

"Well said!"

Ming Kong raised his teacup. "I toast you with this tea in place of wine."

With that, he drank his tea and continued, "Now, let me guess your plan. Hmm… You first persuade the Duke to move the capital to Anqing, effectively severing the Datong Court's ties to the Snowfield. Then, by controlling Snowfield Buddhism through Zhongping Temple, and using your own assets within the Datong Court, you can still influence the Datong Court from afar."

"Do you think it's feasible?"

"Of course. Congratulations on figuring out the rules of the game so quickly. But you've been too hasty."

Zhang Xinghuai raised his teacup and asked sincerely, "Which step was too hasty?"

Ming Kong smiled. "You shouldn't have been in such a hurry to move against the Snowfield Cultivation Realm. You need to slow down. Wait about twenty years. When the world has all but forgotten you, I'll arrange for you to join Zhongping Temple and get a taste of what it's like to be a Monk."

"Twenty years? After twenty years..."

"I know you're impatient—that's why I only said twenty years. Normally, it would require at least fifty. Rest assured, I will be watching over things here. The way things are now is how they will be twenty years from now."

Zhang Xinghuai fell silent. After a long moment, he asked, "And I'm just supposed to wait for these twenty years?"

Ming Kong replied, "I suggest you go find your martial uncle. Qianmu Temple will certainly be tasked with supervising the Southern Cultivation Realm on Heaven's behalf, which will save you a great deal of trouble."

As he said the word 'Heaven,' a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Why are you so willing to help me?"

"What you are doing is, in fact, one of the goals of the Jimin Association. After all, achieving true balance... still depends on Heaven!"