The Pawn

Inside the room. Qin Sang used his true essence to model a miniature replica of Zhulan Temple. The key nodes of the protective spirit array. The cave abodes of the three Venerables. The locations of the pagoda forest and the relic. ... Everything was clear at a glance. Within this replica of Zhulan Temple, two winding, slender lines traced the paths Qin Sang had previously observed to be the easiest routes into the rear mountain. Teaming up with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, he stood a good chance of infiltrating the vicinity of the pagoda forest. The difficulty lay in how to break through the pagoda forest's restrictions and approach the pagoda without alerting the three Venerables. "The three Venerables are too close to the pagoda forest. It cannot be taken by force; it can only be won by wits," Qin Sang said with a frown. Several plans flashed through his mind in an instant. For instance, starting with the situation in the Vast Sea. The Vast Sea was a vast expanse of desert in the Western Desert. The oases occupied by the seven temples, including Zhulan Temple, were merely the most fertile regions at the core of the Vast Sea. Beyond lay numerous other oases, of which the Buddhist sects occupied only a portion. Countless factions mingled in a chaotic tapestry. The Seven Stars of the Vast Sea stood united in defense against these external forces. Among them were no lack of Nascent Soul cultivators. The issue was that they were not united enough. Unless the Buddhist sects attempted to forcibly drive them out of the Vast Sea, none were willing to take the lead. Qin Sang and Liuli had sufficient cultivation; if they stepped to the forefront, they stood a chance of uniting the various factions to forge an anti-Buddhist alliance. But those wily old foxes were shrewd and cunning—how could they easily fall for a scheme to drive a tiger away to devour a wolf? Only through prolonged scheming, advancing step by step, and deepening the hatred between the two sides could that be accomplished. Time was not an issue. He was still far from breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage. Yet the energy consumed for this would be far too great. To immerse himself daily in petty intrigues would leave him unable to focus on cultivation. Then there was the formidable enemy that had driven Zhulan Temple to flee into the Vast Sea to seek refuge in the first place. After openly reclaiming its original name, Zhulan Temple had remained steadfast in the Vast Sea. Setting aside whether that faction's lineage had even survived, centuries of time had long washed away the blood feuds of old. Driving a tiger away to devour a wolf was too troublesome. What about luring the tiger away from the mountain? Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. He poured more true essence forth, modeling the entire terrain of the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea until it nearly filled the room. He and Liuli stood opposite each other, looking across the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea. Liuli guessed Qin Sang's thoughts, a contemplative look appearing on her face. Qin Sang, his incarnation, and Liuli. Their side boasted three middle Nascent Soul combatants. When stealing the treasure, Qin Sang's true body needed to infiltrate Zhulan Temple and act personally. If all three Venerables could be drawn away, there would be no need to leave someone outside Zhulan Temple for support. The incarnation and Liuli would be free to act, more than enough to threaten any of the other temples. The Seven Stars of the Vast Sea shared a common bond, and an alliance of mutual defense certainly existed. If another temple came under attack, Zhulan Temple could not simply sit by and watch. The problem was that Zhulan Temple had three Venerables holding the fort. Even if they dispatched two to provide reinforcements, one Venerable would still remain behind. The moment that happened, Zhulan Temple would definitely activate its protective spirit array immediately. Qin Sang recalled the restrictions surrounding the pagoda forest and ran through the deductions. Putting himself in the other's shoes: If he were guarding the temple and discovered someone slipping into the pagoda forest amidst the chaos, he would instantly realize they had fallen for a diversionary scheme, and that the enemy's objective was some treasure in the pagoda forest. His first instinct would certainly not be to risk his life trying to stop them, but rather to sweep up every item in the pagoda forest in one go and turtle inside the spirit array's core. Therefore, Qin Sang had to manage to break through the restriction and seize the buddha bone relic before alarming the Venerable. After running through the deductions countless times, Qin Sang shook his head slightly. The difficulty was simply too great. The pagoda forest's restrictions were linked to the temple's protective spirit array; it would be very difficult to evade the perception of the one controlling the array. Capturing the Venerables who ventured out for reinforcements and having Venerable Chengyuan exchange the relic for them was one possibility, but it was the worst option. Although Xiaoxiangzi had mentioned that only Deity Transformation cultivators could perceive the mystical nature of the relic, Buddhism possessed countless secret arts, and the Venerables of Zhulan Temple shared the same sect lineage as Venerable Hongyi. Knowing that the relic concealed a secret, there was no guarantee they wouldn't discover something. Between the chance of a breakthrough and two fellow disciples, which weighed heavier? To draw all three Venerables away from Zhulan Temple would still require joining forces with external powers. Or perhaps patient endurance, waiting for changes in the situation to seize an opportunity. The buddha bone relic had rested peacefully in Zhulan Temple for many years, so there was no rush. As the saying went, constantly keeping something in mind would surely yield an echo. With sufficient patience, an opportunity would always present itself. As these thoughts circled Qin Sang's mind, something suddenly occurred to him. His eyes brightened, and he looked up sharply, only to find Liuli looking at him as well, clearly having thought of the same thing. "Moonlight Bodhisattva!" They spoke in unison. In recent years, the name of Moonlight Bodhisattva had grown increasingly renowned, spreading not only throughout the Western Desert, but even reaching the Central Plains and the Northern Wilderness. The entire world was watching the Buddhist sects make fools of themselves. The term "scriptural debate," once obscure and neglected, was now constantly on people's lips, discussed with great relish. It had even sparked a debate over doctrinal interpretations across the Zhongzhou immortal cultivation world. Moonlight Bodhisattva was still roaming the Western Desert, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. No matter how many Buddhist cultivators gathered in the Western Desert and searched high and low, they could not harm a single hair on his head. Every time he appeared, it was at an unexpected place and time, after which he would vanish without a trace. In the process, he invariably left the nearby eminent monks utterly humiliated, never daring to mention scriptural debates again. The Buddhist saints had remarkable patience, still having not intervened. Since Moonlight Bodhisattva took pleasure in slapping the Buddhist sects in the face, how could he pass up the Vast Sea? If Zhulan Temple closed its gates and refused to contest, they would lose even more face. It would be better to face him openly, and in the end utter a gracious "admirable" to show elegance and ease. Besides, the temples were already treating Moonlight Bodhisattva as a formidable adversary. With eminent monks dedicating themselves to the study of scripture, they might not lack a chance of victory. Moonlight Bodhisattva had grown increasingly cautious; the debates were no longer held with great fanfare as before. The locations were meticulously chosen, selected in places where he could not be easily encircled. If he came here, he would most likely erect a Dharma altar somewhere on the periphery of the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea. Using Moonlight Bodhisattva to draw the attention of the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea: once Zhulan Temple dispatched its Venerables to meet the challenge, Liuli could stir up a commotion, allowing Qin Sang to slip in during the opening. Qin Sang paced back and forth a few times, judging it feasible. It all depended on when Moonlight Bodhisattva would arrive. Naturally, Qin Sang would not pin all his hopes on a single person. He and Liuli conferred and decided on a two-pronged approach: continue gathering information while simultaneously making contact with local factions in the Vast Sea. Just as expected. The factions in the Vast Sea were exceedingly wary of the Buddhist sects, unwilling to cross them unless driven by desperation. To prevent anyone from guessing their true objective, Qin Sang merely maintained relations under the guise of making fellow Daoist acquaintances while secretly searching for an opening. Seven years slipped by in the blink of an eye. During that time, Moonlight Bodhisattva vanished without a trace for five whole years. Qin Sang could not help wondering whether the Buddhist sects had grown furious and dispatched masters to secretly eliminate the man. Over the course of seven years, Qin Sang's understanding of Zhulan Temple's protective spirit array had advanced by leaps and bounds, yet he had never found a suitable opportunity. The Venerables of Zhulan Temple cultivated in seclusion within the temple year-round, never taking a single step outside. He had originally given up hope on Moonlight Bodhisattva. The two of them had found a cave abode nearby to settle in, cultivating while planning for the long haul. Unexpectedly, after years of absence, Moonlight Bodhisattva resurfaced. Furthermore, for his second debate, he established his Dharma altar in the Vast Sea! Although it was a thousand li away from the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea, it was clearly aimed at them. The news spread across the seven great oases as if on wings. Qin Sang and Liuli had been keeping a close watch on Zhulan Temple and learned the news immediately. ... At the edge of the oasis. Two eminent monks in kasayas sat cross-legged beneath a bodhi tree. One was gaunt and withered, resembling a legendary ascetic monk, while the other was much younger, with fleshy cheeks and large ears, yet bearing a dignified and solemn appearance. Behind them stood a row of young monks, silently turning prayer beads in their fingers. The bodhi tree was the sacred tree of Buddhism. In the present era, the true sacred bodhi tree had long become extinct. The Buddhist sects therefore took another spiritual tree whose branches and leaves resembled the bodhi tree, adopting it by loose association as a bodhi tree. Beyond the bodhi tree lay endless yellow sands. Fierce winds howled in their ears, yet the monks remained calm and composed. Just then, several figures flew over from the distance. "Senior Brother Chengzhen." "Junior Brother Guan Hui." Voices preceded their arrival. The two eminent monks sitting beneath the tree rose and bowed in return. Once the two parties met, they mounted their escape lights and flew into the sea of sand. After they vanished, two figures emerged from the distant sand dunes—Qin Sang's incarnation and Liuli. "To think that Venerable Chengzhen of Zhulan Temple has also broken through to the middle Nascent Soul stage, and his cultivation is quite refined. It's a good thing we didn't act rashly," Qin Sang murmured. These were the eminent monks sent by the Seven Stars of the Vast Sea to attend the debate. Good fortune: Zhulan Temple placed great importance on the debate and had actually dispatched two Venerables, leaving only Venerable Chengyuan behind to hold the fort. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Qin Sang and Liuli exchanged a glance. It seemed they might not even need to lure the tiger away from the mountain after all! ... Zhulan Temple. Disguised as a monk paying homage to the Buddha, Qin Sang had slipped into the temple in advance, hiding in the shadows so that even if Zhulan Temple sealed its gates, he had nothing to fear. However, Zhulan Temple made no major moves. Over the years, the temples targeted by Moonlight Bodhisattva had only suffered blows to their prestige without any substantive losses. With time, Moonlight Bodhisattva's purpose had gradually become common knowledge. When debating scripture with him, the defeated party would offer up the classical texts treasured in the temple's sutra repository, allowing Moonlight Bodhisattva to browse them freely. He was not greedy and never coveted the core secret transmissions of the temples. Before Venerable Chengzhen set out, he had disciples transcribe the texts onto jade slips beforehand to bring along. Over the years, Moonlight Bodhisattva strictly observed the rules and committed no transgressions, so the Buddhist sects had never reacted violently. Perhaps, in the eyes of truly virtuous and eminent monks, having such a person keep Buddhism vigilant was not necessarily a bad thing. However, with Qin Sang taking advantage of this debate, its nature was destined to change. ... "Greetings, Senior Brother Qingyun." Along the mountain path, two novice monks guarding the mountain saw a young monk approaching from the front courtyard and hurriedly bowed in greeting. The monk pressed his palms together in return, austere and serious. "The proctor martial uncle has ordered that no unauthorized personnel are permitted into the rear mountain. Keep a sharp eye out, Junior Brothers." At the mention of the proctor, the two novices shivered and hastily acknowledged the order. The monk nodded and continued his inspection. This monk was Qin Sang in disguise using a secret treasure, swaggering toward the rear mountain. The real monk had already been knocked unconscious by him. After years of reconnaissance, Qin Sang knew Zhulan Temple like the back of his hand, including the Dharma names and duties of the disciples. His disguise was naturally flawless. In Zhulan Temple, the Venerables stood aloof, taking no part in mundane affairs. The temple was managed by eight executive monks, and the proctor was one of them. Monk Qingyun took orders under the proctor. Qin Sang had observed this man for a long time. His mannerisms and speech now were vivid and indistinguishable. Meeting several groups of monks in succession, he showed no flaws and smoothly arrived near the pagoda forest. The one guarding the pagoda forest was still that same monk from before. "Qingyun..." Assuming the proctor had issued an order, the monk suspected nothing. He stepped out of the meditation hall, but just as he began to speak, he heard strange "heng-ha" sounds, followed by a piercing pain in his primordial spirit like needles plunging in. The monk turned pale with horror, but before he could sound the alarm to the temple, it was too late. Qin Sang used the Soul-Snatching Mantra. Even though he had held back, it was not something a mere Core Formation cultivator could resist. His primordial spirit wounded, the monk fainted on the spot. Qin Sang moved like a phantom, stepping beside the monk and supporting him gently. After concealing him inside the meditation hall, he transformed himself into the pagoda-guarding monk, matching even his cultivation level. The pagoda forest was a place of quiet purity; barring sacrificial offerings and worship, few ever came here. Qin Sang stood outside the pagoda forest, his gaze sweeping over the restrictions on its periphery before settling on the cliffside rock wall deep within. Venerable Chengyuan was currently cultivating in seclusion. Qin Sang already had a plan to break the pagoda forest's restrictions, but he was still waiting for the opportunity. Turning around, he glanced at Zhulan Temple's mountain gate and stepped back into the meditation hall. After the time it took to burn an incense stick. A cloaked figure walked up outside Zhulan Temple. The guest prefect guarding the gate took one look and instantly grew tense, facing a great enemy. For the visitor did not conceal her presence, displaying the aura of the Nascent Soul stage without reservation. "Greetings, Dharma Master," the newcomer spoke in a gentle female voice as she arrived before the temple gates. "This humble Daoist has traveled here from afar. Having heard that Zhulan Temple is the sanctuary of monks of high virtue, I have come to pay a visit. I trouble Master to report my presence." The visitor was none other than Liuli. Judging by the voice alone, the guest prefect felt that beneath the cloak lay an exquisitely beautiful Daoist nun. Yet he dared not harbor the slightest improper thought, hurriedly returning the bow. "Senior, please wait a moment in the front courtyard. This humble monk will report to the proctor at once." "Many thanks." Liuli nodded slightly and followed the guest prefect into the front courtyard, waiting in a quiet room. The guest prefect immediately reported the matter to the proctor. The proctor rushed over, and confirming that the visitor was a Daoist Master, dared not be neglectful. He hastened to the rear mountain to seek instructions from the patriarch. Before the cliffside rock wall, the proctor explained the reason. A moment later, a withered, cold voice sounded from within: "I will not see her!" The proctor was taken aback, then bowed and withdrew. Returning to the front courtyard, he apologized, merely saying that the patriarch was in secluded cultivation and that if fate willed it, they would meet in the future. Liuli seemed to have expected to be turned away and showed no annoyance. Walking out of the quiet room, she parted her rosy lips and stirred her true essence. "This humble Daoist has come from the depths of the desert. Does Fellow Daoist truly not wish to know the origin of Moonlight Bodhisattva?" Boosted by true essence, the voice rolled like thunder, instantly echoing across the entirety of Zhulan Temple. The proctor turned pale with fright, nearly collapsing to the ground. In the meditation hall. Qin Sang feigned panic and dashed out. At the cliffside rock wall. Venerable Chengyuan looked aged and frail, an elder in his seventies. His kasaya mirrored his appearance—old and faded. The voice carried clearly into his chamber. Venerable Chengyuan's eyes cracked open slightly, sharp light flashing brilliantly, and his figure vanished into thin air. Such was the might of Zhulan Temple's protective spirit array: within the temple grounds, the one controlling the array possessed a power akin to teleportation, capable of shifting anywhere at will! In the front courtyard. Liuli raised her head toward the rear mountain, paying no heed to the terrified proctor. Right then. A fluctuation rippled through the empty space ahead, and Venerable Chengyuan's figure solidified from nothingness. Unexpectedly, in the next instant, Venerable Chengyuan's face changed drastically, and he let out a thundering roar: "How brazen!"