Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality - Chapter 307 - 273: Forsaking Neither the Buddha Nor Him
Inside the great hall of Kongnian Temple.
Thirty abbots from other Buddhist Temples had already arrived.
They knelt on meditation cushions.
Righteous indignation was etched on every one of their faces.
It was as if each of them was suppressing a belly full of fire.
When the Abbot of Kongnian Temple walked into the great hall, all eyes turned toward Xujing.
“Master Xujing.”
Everyone stood and bowed to Xujing with their palms pressed together.
“Greetings, everyone.” Xujing returned the gesture, his own palms pressed together.
“You’re too kind, Master Xujing,” the Abbot of Qingzhou Temple quickly replied. “Please, take the seat of honor, Master Xujing, so we can discuss this important matter!”
Xujing nodded and, without refusing, took a seat at the very front of the hall.
The Abbot of Buiyi Temple cleared his throat and began, “Master Xujing, fellow masters. We have all gathered here today for a reason I’m sure we’re all well aware of, so this old monk won’t waste words.
Several years ago, the Demon Sects produced a man named Xiao Mo, a disciple from the Blood Sin Peak lineage of the Wandao Sect.
Even then, Xiao Mo was already beginning to make a name for himself, but most of us paid him no mind.
But who could have known the outcome?
This young man’s talent is something rarely seen in the history of the Western Regions, from Ancient Times to the present!
He kills enemies in higher Realms as easily as drinking water.
A few years ago, the Wandao Sect was torn by internal strife. Its Sect Leader, Ding Jingyi, died, and thirty percent of the sect’s Upper Three Realms Cultivators were killed or wounded.
Not long after Xiao Mo became the Sect Leader of the Wandao Sect, the Nine Great Demon Sects attacked them in unison. In the end, with just a single saber, Xiao Mo alone forced the Demon Sects’ army of thirty thousand to retreat, an army that included the nine Sect Leaders of the Ascension Realm.
An event like this is truly unprecedented!
It would not be an exaggeration to call him the reincarnation of a god. In the Ancient Times, I fear he would have been the kind of figure who slaughters gods.
If Xiao Mo had been content to stay on the Wandao Sect’s own turf and become the number one figure in the Demon Sects, we could have let it be.
But over the years, Xiao Mo has campaigned in every direction, annihilating several Demon Sects, and even our Buddhist Sect has not been spared.
The people of the world have already started calling Xiao Mo the ’Demon Path Overlord’.
We have even heard that Xiao Mo is already leading his grand army toward the territory of our Ten Great Buddhist Temples.
I fear it won’t be long before a war between the Buddhist and Demon Sects inevitably breaks out.
Today, we propose that we form a Buddhist Sect alliance to resist the Demon Sects! We must subjugate that impossibly arrogant Demon Lord, Xiao Mo!”
“This old monk thinks the same.”
The Abbot of Manduo Temple chimed in.
Though the others did not speak, they also nodded, agreeing with the Buiyi Temple Abbot’s proposal.
They all looked to Xujing, wanting to hear his opinion.
No matter what, Xujing was the foremost figure of the Buddhist Dao, and his Realm was the highest among them all.
The Buddhist Dao alliance would not be possible without Kongnian Temple’s participation.
“Regarding this Donor Xiao, this old monk has looked into him. He is not someone whose heart is deeply rooted in demonic ways. On the contrary, in my opinion, Donor Xiao possesses a considerable affinity for Buddhist enlightenment.”
Xujing said after a moment of thought.
“I have heard that the temples Donor Xiao destroyed were evil temples like Joyful Temple and Suffering Temple, is that not so?”
“Alas…” The Abbot of Thousand Buddha Temple sighed and shook his head. “We certainly had no love for those evil temples, and their destruction was a cause for celebration. But if that was all, we would not have come to trouble you, Master Xujing.”
“What do you mean?” Xujing asked.
“Master Xujing, there is something you may not know.”
The Abbot of Rumeng Temple spoke up.
“Recently, Xiao Mo has had his Demon Sect disciples set up numerous Arrays in the Mortal World.
These Arrays can absorb twenty percent of the current lifespan of the common people! They even absorb the Qi Fortune of the Dynasties!”
Xiao Mo’s actions have already caused the people throughout the Western Regions to be filled with grievances, but they only dare to feel anger, not to voice it.”
“That matter is also strange, now that you mention it.”
Another abbot said.
“After Xiao Mo used the Arrays to absorb their lifespans, he distributed a great deal of treasure to the people. He also strictly forbids his subordinates from wantonly killing or harming the common folk of the Mortal World. Any who do so are to be executed.
Not only that, but he also set a rule for his subordinates: all Evil Techniques that use the flesh, blood, or Divine Soul of others as nourishment are strictly forbidden.
“He is like a demon, and yet not like a demon.”
“And did you know, after killing those Upper Three Realms Cultivators, he locked away their Divine Souls. So many souls of Upper Three Realms Cultivators! What in the world is he planning to do?”
“Regardless, Xiao Mo’s plot is immense. We must stop him!” the Abbot of Xinrong Temple said gravely.
Listening to his fellow abbots speak one after another, Abbot Xujing lowered his head, his brow slightly furrowed.
In Abbot Xujing’s view, Xiao Mo was not the kind of person who would treat the common people as disposable straw dogs.
’But what could he possibly be planning, using a secret technique to strip the people of twenty percent of their Life Source and collecting the souls of so many Upper Three Realms Cultivators?’
’And now, he’s even marching toward the territory of the Ten Great Buddhist Temples.’
「Two hours later.」
The assembly dispersed, and the abbots were shown to guest courtyards to rest.
Although Xujing had not yet agreed to form an alliance, he knew that his Kongnian Temple would likely be unable to avoid the conflict.
Leaving the great hall, Xujing walked among the mountain forests, trying to deduce Xiao Mo’s intentions.
As he walked, Xujing suddenly sensed something and looked up toward the courtyard on the rear mountain.
At the same time, the abbots resting in the guest courtyards also turned to look in the direction of Kongnian Temple’s rear mountain.
Above the rear mountain, Buddha’s Light coalesced. Auspicious clouds materialized in the sky, and the Buddha’s Light even gathered into a river, from which hundreds upon thousands of lotus flowers bloomed.
The abbots from the other temples exchanged glances.
Everyone knew what this meant: someone on the rear mountain had achieved enlightenment.
A moment later, Xujing arrived outside the courtyard and gazed at the young woman within.
Buddha’s Light swirled around her, as if draping her in a sacred Kasaya.
Beneath the Bodhi Tree, she still stood with her palms pressed together, looking up at the leaves rustling in the wind.
Her eyes were filled with compassion.
Chaos chirped, looking at its mistress.
It didn’t know what was happening, but the light radiating from its master felt very comfortable.
“Wangxin.”
Xujing walked to the young woman’s side and called her name softly.
“Grandpa Abbot.” Wangxin stood up, her palms pressed together.
“Have you found the answer in your heart?” Xujing asked.
Several years ago, on Buddha Demon Mountain, Xiao Mo and Wangxin had parted ways. He had asked her—if he were to kill everyone in the world, what choice would she make?
After that, Wangxin returned to Kongnian Temple and was lost in contemplation for five long years.
“No…”
Wangxin shook her head, her gaze falling.
“Back then, Xiao Mo asked me, ’Between the people of the world and him, how would I choose?’ If I couldn’t answer, I was to leave him then and there.
In truth, I knew that Xiao Mo was worried the ever-thickening Blood Evil Qi would affect me.
And I also knew that after he returned, he was going to do something big, that he would kill many people, and he didn’t want me to face any of it.
Now, I still don’t have the answer.
But… since I cannot figure it out, I will go out into the world to find it.”
Wangxin turned and looked up at the Bodhi Tree.
“In that one answer…
I will be true to the Buddha.
And I will be true to him.”
