Chapter 183: Chapter 130: Thunder Begins_1
Translator: 549690339
Liang Xiao remained silent, and the coachman was even more mute.
True Monarch Extreme Realm?
Perhaps the Holy Monk Duxing might be a match.
But the Luotian Dajiao didn’t just enhance the “Mana” and “Taoist Cultivation”, nor merely the realm of “Cultivation”; it also augmented the power of the Great Dao and the capability of “Divine Skills”.
That person’s Thunder Series was already terrifying, coupled with the Luotian Dajiao invoking the divine might of the Thunder Ancestor, could the Holy Monk Duxing really withstand it?
It’s likely a faint hope.
Unless… the Chen Dynasty holds another Water-Land Dharma Assembly to contend with this Luotian Dajiao.
Yet, this Water-Land Dharma Assembly isn’t so easily convened.
Such a high-level sacrifice is extremely costly. Not to mention other things, just the offerings for incense worship alone would consume a vast amount of manpower and resources, converting to a sum of money that would be astronomical.
In a place like North City County, with a population of one million, every household sets up an altar and lays out an incense table, sacrificing the three sacrificial offerings, along with fruits, vegetarian dishes, incense, talismans, and “Command Flags”. These offerings need replacement every seven days, continuing the worship for forty-nine days in total. All these numerous expenses could deplete the national treasury.
Where would the current Chen Dynasty find such money? Even if it could, after being siphoned off at various levels, there would likely not be much left. The local governments would also invent reasons to levy additional taxes on the people. The Worship of Myriad People had not yet commenced, but the resentment and karmic forces had already arrived.
By then, would the Water-Land Dharma Assembly even be possible?
The law of the “Divine Soul”, cultivating the true through the false, is a process of simultaneous merit. They must understand the principle that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!
Fortunately, Liang Xiao had long come to terms and merely heaved a sigh over it.
Only the coachman remained silent, his expression grave as he pondered in secret.
Wuhua didn’t say much either, leading the two men forward.
On the road, vehicles and horses were busy transporting materials, with groups of scholarly students patrolling back and forth.
Once outside the city, the security was even tighter. Every ten steps there was a post, and every five steps a sentinel, all being fully-armed soldiers in “Soldier’s Armor”. There were also many students from the institutes, laying out “Command Flags” and inspecting the formations.
“What is this…?”
Liang Xiao was astonished, and the coachman was curious.
“Disciples from the Heaven Martial Institute and soldiers from the Military General Institute, as well as Formation Masters from the Cycle Formation Institute and Talisman Masters from the Dragon Chapter Talisman Institute.”
Wuhua turned his head, glancing at the coachman: “Presently, North City is under martial law, guarded by the Brave Guards and Heaven Martial Guards. With Formation Masters and Talisman Masters setting up magical formations, not to mention just you, even if all the Black Flag Guardians were summoned, they might not be able to break in or out.”
On hearing this, the coachman could only be silent.
Wuhua didn’t say more, turning to Liang Xiao: “What do you think, Your Highness?”
Liang Xiao smiled gently, “Master, please call me Xiao Liang from now on. In this world, Liang Xiao no longer exists!”
“Well said, well said!”
Seeing his enlightenment, Wuhua too felt reassured: “This poor monk wishes to go to Mingxiao Taoist Temple to offer incense. Would benefactor Xiao Liang care to join?”
“I am willing to accompany the master.”
Liang Xiao smiled and then asked, “This is also a task from the institute, isn’t it?”
In his words, there seemed to be an implication.
Wuhua, with a calm expression, neither confirmed nor denied: “Indeed, all the educators from the nine major institutes, disciples, and Cultivators within North City County must visit Mingxiao Taoist Temple to offer incense.”
“Oh?”
Liang Xiao raised an eyebrow, “Are there academic credits for this?”
“There certainly are.”
“Then I definitely can’t miss it.”
The two men shared a smile and then turned to walk away arm in arm.
The coachman was left alone, gazing at the posts and sentinels every few steps, the all-around martial law by the Brave and Heaven Martial Guards, and the busy Formation Masters and Talisman Masters, he could only sigh helplessly and walk away, fading into the distance.
Mount Jilei, Mingxiao Taoist Temple!
After decades, this place too had greatly changed.
The peach blossoms still formed a forest, yet the miasma was nowhere to be seen. The mountain gate stood wide open, leading straight to the clouds.
Now, with hundreds of Taoists conducting the Luotian Dajiao, the apricot and yellow “Command Flags” were lined up in two rows from the foot of the mountain, ascending along the steps, fluttering in the wind and issuing commands in all directions.
Halfway up the mountain, one could see the ceremonial sites offering sacrifices to 1,200 wandering ghosts and “Earth Deities”, as well as Immortals from the human world.
Further up from the mountainside, along the path, there were 2,400 more ceremonial sites, worshipping the stars of the Cycle of Heaven, each with its own divine general.
At the summit, a Mana Altar stood tall, with numerous divine statues on either side, an array of spirit tablets adding up to 3,600 in total, worshipping the supreme of the three realms, the saints of ten directions, Heaven Kings, Emperors, and various celestial officials.
Moreover, a five-colored fabric covering the sky and sun shielded the Mana Altar, because the sacrifices had begun, and it was not yet time to present them to heaven.
Wuhua and Liang Xiao arrived arm in arm, finding a long queue of disciples from many institutes, Cultivators from North City, and the Buddhist and Taoist congregations from the peaceful and lawful realms of Mingxiao, lining up to make offerings.
“Is this the Luotian Dajiao?”
Seeing the “Command Flags” and ceremonial sites almost covering the entirety of Mount Jilei, even Liang Xiao couldn’t help but gasp in surprise. He then asked Wuhua, “How does this compare to the Water-Land Dharma Assembly hosted by Holy Monk Duxing back then?”
“It doesn’t compare.”
Wuhua shook his head, “Although Holy Monk Duxing was virtuous, at that time the nation’s power was on the decline, in turmoil. Implementing new policies faced great resistance, and there were quite some grievances amongst the populace. Such a Dharma Assembly resulted in mixed merit. How could it compare to this?”
“Indeed!”
Liang Xiao nodded, his expression one of reflection.
Using the false to cultivate the true can’t be enforced.
Bad execution remains bad.
Even with the threat of force to make people bow in appearance, it cannot erase the resentment in their hearts. In the end, the kingdom would still be turned upside down.
In today’s North City, with the common people well-fed and clothed, and the whole population sincerely making offerings, the effects of the sacrifices were self-evident.
It greatly surpassed the Water-Land Dharma Assembly conducted by Holy Monk Duxing in the capital back in the day.
“Just wondering who has the power, daring enough to make the institute head and that King Shifa take such measures.”
After careful thought, Liang Xiao no longer believed that this Luotian Dajiao was targeted at the Chen Dynasty.
Given the current state of the Chen Dynasty, there really is no necessity for such a show of force.