Judging from the looks of Wen Zhong, Guan Longzi thought of the possibility that the Lady Mother of the Chariot could still be around in the Netherworld. But he was unsure if her existence at the Netherworld was her true form or just an incarnation.

　　Besides that, the Lady Mother of the Chariot had always been very mysterious and very few people knew about her origins. It was a coincidence that Guan Longzi was one of the few people. The Lady Mother of the Chariot was a supreme existence in the universe, one could only imagine how reputable her honored master was.

　　The honored master of the Lady Mother of the Chariot was Lingbao Tianzun who was one of the very few people who was fully detached and was of the levels of Daoist master and Buddha. If Lingbao Tianzun was still around this universe, he should be able to feel Guan Longzi’s thoughts about him.

　　A figure like that could effortlessly kill anyone just like a walk in the park. Unless if they relied upon another person of the levels of a Daoist master or Buddha who had detached, they would never be able to call this universe their home.

　　Muzhen was secretly delighted. He did not expect to score both Yinshang and also gained such great support. Before disappearing, the founding master of the Xuanzhen Temple, Wang Xuanzhen was only a beginner at the heavenly immortal level and was neck and neck with State Preceptor Shen Lian. On the other hand, the Lady Mother of the Chariot was a person who was beyond Taiyi and was considered as an elite even during the era of the Emperor.

　　Wen Zhong said, “You are indeed very intelligent. Xia Kingdom is about to fall, why don’t you abandon the dark side and come to the light? When the new dynasty is established, you can still preach.”

　　Guan Longzi caressed his beard and said, “I have preached enough and it’s unnecessary to preach anymore. Xia will collapse, so will I.”

　　Wen Zhong sighed and no longer tried to persuade Guan Longzi.

　　The designs of nature were now clear. The Great Xia would be conquested by its neighboring nations. Emperor Xia would not be able to turn the tables around and Guan Longzi intended to die for his country.

　　…

　　Buneng had been meditating for five days in the circle Shen Lian drew. The blood-red color of the sunset shined across his face but he did not feel it at all.

　　His face was a lot more languished and pale compared to ten days ago along with his eyebrows which has started to turn grey. In the past five days, he witnessed a sea of blood, experienced weightlessness of the void, and was placed among wretched spirits. He had pretty much experienced every horrifying scenario possible. Although he knew that it was all a fantasy but it was difficult for him to remain unmoved.

　　Buneng was not a Qi cultivator who could depend on the wind and dew to feed themselves. He was a cultivator of character and thus needed to consume food. But in the past ten days, he had yet to consume a single drop of water and yet he was able to seal his orifices point to prevent him from losing his Qi of vitality. But being in the fantasy state had taken quite a toll on him and that was why he looked like a breathing old tree that was about to wilt.

　　The doors of Zhiwei Temple opened and Xiao Hei walked out.

　　Xiao Hei looked at the two demonic gods outside and said, “The two of you can leave now. The master ordered me to take him in.”

　　The two demonic gods looked at each other and nodded their heads. They then transformed into a flash and entered the portraits of the Door Gods that was pasted on the door. They have been guarding outside for five days and have endured the wind, the rain and the scorching heat of the sun. If it was not for the fear towards Shen Lian, they would have complained about it.

　　Xiao Hei bit lightly and held on to Monk Buneng and brought him into the hall of Zhiwei Temple.

　　Buneng opened his eyes slowly. He first saw Shen Lian and then noticed the portrait behind him. It was a picture of the pristine one, the Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure, or more commonly known as Lingbao Tianzun.

　　Shen Lian then flicked a dew that entered Buneng’s mouth. Buneng immediately restored his spirits and his vitality was replenished.

　　Buneng knew that this was the ‘Amrita’, the nectar in Buddhist sects that would grant immortality. He did not expect Shen Lian to own it.

　　Buneng regained his consciousness and took another glimpse at Shen Lian who was sitting in the middle of the hall. He felt that Shen Lian looked somewhat similar to the portrait of Lingbao that was behind him. It was as if the lord had reincarnated into the human world.

　　People of the Dajue Temple, Xuanzhen Temple, and Diqiu had been making assumptions about Shen Lian’s background. It was now clear that Shen Lian was somewhat related to Lingbao Tianzun. After all, his charm was similar to Lingbao and it was not something anyone could imitate.

　　Buneng placed his palms together and said, “I am ashamed as I have failed to walk out of your circle.”

　　Shen Lian responded, “If you could walk of it, you would not have come to seek for my help. But this four Dhyanas and eight Samadhis was indeed something. If it was someone else, he would not have survived the second day. But you managed to hang on for five days. Furthermore, after this vigorous training, you should be able to step into the third level of the second jhana.”

　　Buneng placed his palms on the floor and kowtowed to the green rock in the hall. With a clear voice, he said, “Much appreciated, State Preceptor.”

　　The biggest favor any cultivator could ever receive was the opportunity to refine their cultivations. In fact, there were some cultivators who practiced the idea of participating in the duels of Dao until they die.

　　This showed how important making progress was to cultivators.

　　Shen Lian responded, “You don’t have to thank me. After all, I used you to observe the abstruse of the four Dhyanas and eight Samadhis. We do not owe each other anything.”

　　Buneng said, “State Preceptor, I would like to once again ask you to help Dajue Temple.”

　　Shen Lian glanced at him like a supreme lord of thunder. It was heavy, dignified and terrifying at the same time.

　　Buneng did not flinch and instead said, “There is a Mahayana Sutra in Dajue Temple. Although this scripture is extremely precious, it should not be relevant to you. But I think you would be interested in one of the excerpts in it.”

　　The vigorous training earlier helped him to stay composed and thus he was able to communicate with Shen Lian without fear.

　　Shen Lian said, “Tell me more about it.”

　　“The Mahayana Sutra was a gift from an eminent monk to my founding master when he was traveling around the Blood Sea. Each and every character of the Sutra was personally written by that eminent monk. My temple’s founding master read the Sutra for fifty years, gained tremendously from it and founded the Dajue Temple. The Mahayana Sutra was kept in the Dajue Temple and the content inside is not only mysterious but if you take it with you to the Asura Blood Sea, you would be able to meet him,” Buneng spoke fluently.

　　Shen Lian smiled, “Looks like you’ve already known that I will promise to help you.”

　　Buneng responded, “I do not dare to make such assumptions. I thought that someone of your level would not be bothered by trivial matters as such but would be interested to seek higher enlightenment. That eminent monk has attained the Mahasattva and it is rare to find someone like that even at holy places like the Vulture Peak and the Western Paradise. I am sure this is something that would interest you.”

　　“This indeed is interesting. I have heard of this eminent monk and would love to meet him. If so, let me tell you something. The day when the first piece of leaf of Diqiu falls on the ground is the day Emperor Xia would depart to the Eastern Barbarians. If Dajue Temple could receive the approval of Emperor Xia and send several deeply cultivated monks to follow his entourage, it would inevitably dispel Emperor Xia’s suspicion towards Dajue Temple,” Shen Lian said.

　　The night before, Emperor Xia had delivered his personal order to invite Shen Lian to join him at his trip to the Eastern Barbarians.