Chapter 156: Let the Buddhist Sect Come See Me

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH.

Between heaven and earth, a raging tempest of air currents tore through the sky, wreaking havoc at the east gate of the Yuan Country Capital City. The fierce wind howled, spiraling outward in rings from the winged man hovering in midair.

SWOOSH.

The Great Yuan’s honor guards and ordinary martial artists standing on the city gate tower had their clothes violently whipping about. Battered by the astral winds, they could hardly open their eyes, forced to shield their faces just to look up.

FLAP FLAP.

Even the three Great Innate Level experts—Xu Bingshu, Jia Sheng, and Gu Xuanhong—could not hide the shock and trembling in their hearts as they stared at the young Daoist standing on the back of the seventh-ranked expert in the world.

GULP.

In the crowd, the Little Martial Marquis Zhou Shengji, who had been complaining earlier, swallowed hard at this sight, his eyes filled with boundless terror.

The seventh in the world, the Great Roc Demon King. To think he had been reduced to a mere mount trampled under someone’s feet.

Could it be… Did this Dao Yi Sect Master really travel all the way from the distant Celestial Demon Sect to the Yuan Country Capital City by riding on Teng Zijing’s back across ten thousand miles?

Even Gu Xuanong, with his deep and calculating nature as an emperor, couldn’t help but be shaken by this rare spectacle. He subconsciously stood up and called out, “Sect Leader Chen, your presence graces us. The civil and military officials and I have been waiting here for quite some time.”

Following Gu Xuanong’s greeting, the calls of the four Dao Yi Sect disciples rang out from the crowd.

“Master, Master!” Lin Qingqing shouted excitedly from the city gate tower. Both she and Qi Zhengyi were flushed with excitement.

Initially, they hadn’t known the identity of the man beneath Chen Sha’s feet. It wasn’t until the three Great Innate experts beside Gu Xuanong spoke that they realized he was actually the seventh-ranked expert in the world.

Using the seventh-ranked expert as a mount! Such unparalleled style and immense momentum—Lin Qingqing had only ever read about similar figures in ancient legendary tales. But those were mere fiction; now, she was witnessing a person with true, living momentum. And he was her master.

SWOOSH.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Chen Sha leaped off Teng Zijing’s back high in the sky and fluttered down, landing gracefully in front of Gu Xuanong. Once Chen Sha descended, Teng Zijing followed closely behind. Retracting the wings from his ribs, he dove down and landed steadily half a step behind Chen Sha.

Gu Xuanong observed the obvious master-servant dynamic between the two. Unable to hide his shock, he said, “Sect Leader Chen truly has grand methods. To subdue the notoriously atrocious Great Roc Demon King—a man who claims there is nowhere in this vast world he cannot go—it leaves me quite dumbfounded.”

The Great Roc Demon King Teng Zijing could fly into the heavens and burrow into the earth, capable of going anywhere. That legendary pair of wings was even more astounding than his world ranking. Logically speaking, even someone whose martial arts ranked one or two spots higher wouldn’t necessarily be able to make him stay. Yet, looking at Teng Zijing’s subservient demeanor now, it was clear he was completely devoted.

How could this not leave Gu Xuanong and the Yuan Country’s three Great Innates in utter disbelief?

Chen Sha replied, “Emperor Yuan jests. Teng Zijing is not worth mentioning. What truly moves this Daoist is your grand welcoming honor guard, which took me quite by surprise.”

He hadn’t expected Emperor Yuan Gu Xuanong to welcome him with such fanfare. This was a world of difference compared to how the Zhao Country Royal Family operated.

Gu Xuanong looked at the young Daoist before him. Even as an emperor, seeing Teng Zijing’s state naturally deepened the reverence he already held for Chen Sha. He didn’t dare put on airs or speak with an imperial tone, instead addressing Chen Sha as an equal. “With Sect Leader Chen’s current status in the world, you naturally deserve my personal welcome.”

Chen Sha did not waste words and said, “Emperor Yuan should already know the purpose of this Daoist’s visit to the Yuan Country. This matter involves the Buddhist Sect.”

Gu Xuanong interjected, “Bell Spirit is my own niece. For the Buddhist Sect to commit such a vicious act against the Great Yuan Princess back then—this is no longer just Sect Leader Chen’s family matter, but also a matter of my Great Yuan Royal Family.”

As soon as he said this, Chen Sha parsed the hidden meaning; the Emperor Yuan had stopped just short of saying they were all one family. He couldn’t help but smile faintly. “This Daoist is greatly gratified that Emperor Yuan values kinship so highly. I wonder what plans Emperor Yuan has regarding this matter? Would you mind sharing them with me first?”

This was exactly what Gu Xuanong had been waiting for. However, he couldn’t just overtly ask Chen Sha to act as the vanguard for his Yuan Country, so he spoke in half-truths. “I know of Sect Leader Chen’s abhorrence for evil, not to mention Bell Spirit is your relative. Therefore, if you wish to go to the Water Moon Temple and demand an explanation, the Great Yuan is at your disposal and will fully support Sect Leader Chen.”

“At your disposal…”

Chen Sha chewed over these words. They carried an extraordinary weight, but words spoken by an emperor were never so simple. It was obvious that Gu Xuanong wanted to use him to deal with the Buddhist Sect within the Yuan Country. It was true that Chen Sha wanted to make trouble for the Water Moon Temple, but why would he willingly let himself be used as a pawn?

Seeing that Chen Sha’s expression revealed no particular stance, Gu Xuanong’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but ask, “But I wonder, what does Sect Leader Chen plan to do?”

Chen Sha gave Gu Xuanong a look, then said slowly, “Since ancient times, if the title is not correct, the words will not carry weight. If a war is to be waged between nations, or a crusade launched against someone, one must first establish right and wrong and claim righteousness to be called a just army. As the leader of the Daoist Sect, I naturally cannot just barge in and slaughter people like a common bandit or thug.

“Since someone in the Buddhist Sect planted a wicked curse on Princess Gu Rusu when she was heavily pregnant, causing her to die from a difficult labor and her newborn child to be born with innate deficiencies and reduced to a cripple…”