Right Guardian Bianca Xue planted her hands on her hips and let out a cold, skyward laugh. "If you bald donkeys have guts, don’t run! This old lady can curse you three days and nights without repeating myself!"
A bodhisattva sneered, "Bianca Xue, all you’ve got left is that mouth of yours!"
"No need to pay them any mind."
On Sumeru Mountain, Elder Buddha said, "If you keep trading insults, you’ll go half a year without stopping. We’ve fought and cursed for centuries already—no need to rush. Let’s put an end to this slaughter first."
The mountainside monks didn’t linger; Sumeru Mountain’s phantom drifted toward the battlefield.
The Everpeace Imperial Preceptor was still locked in fierce battle with Master Qiong and the others, trying to finish them off before Sumeru Mountain’s phantom arrived. At that moment, Elder Buddha’s voice rang out, gentle and distant: "Preceptor, fellow Daoists, might you grant me a favor?"
The Preceptor let his sword qi disperse, dodging Master Qiong and the bronze-masked man’s pursuit, and smiled. "Please speak, Elder Buddha."
"Auspicious indeed. Fellow Daoists, please halt." Elder Buddha intoned gravely.
Master Qiong and the others were ready to strike, but at Elder Buddha’s words, they hesitated and paused.
Lady Tian Zhenjun coughed up blood, her heart and lungs wounded by the Preceptor’s sword qi. She shrilled, "Elder Buddha, are you planning to join forces with us to take down this fiend?"
Elder Buddha shook his head.
Hermit Li’s expression shifted, and he sneered, "Is Great Thunderclap Temple just another lackey for Everpeace, like the Holy Cult?"
Elder Buddha shook his head again.
Master Qiong said calmly, "Old friend, enough with the riddles. Just speak plainly."
Elder Buddha chuckled, "I’m here to settle this karmic case and forge some good fate among us. You’re all cultivators—if this fight continues, countless heroes and lineages will be lost. Why not turn weapons into jade and silk today, resolve our grievances peacefully, and end this cycle of karma?"
The Preceptor’s eyes flickered; he said nothing.
Elder Buddha looked at him and smiled, "Preceptor, you are a good man. You once came to Great Thunderclap Temple, where I taught you the Dharma and Mahayana, forging a bond of kindness. Might you repay that karmic kindness to this old monk?"
The Preceptor replied solemnly, "Back then, I was young, roaming the land, and came to Great Thunderclap Temple. Elder Buddha showed no sectarian bias and guided my cultivation; I count as half a disciple of the temple and ought to repay that kindness. But how can I be sure this isn’t releasing tigers back to the mountain? These people are infamous criminals—will they really let things rest? If they rebel again, it will be disaster for the world. Elder Buddha, you are compassionate; surely you understand my concern."
Elder Buddha said with a smile, "I’ll have them take refuge in Great Thunderclap Temple and no longer meddle in worldly affairs. What do you think, Preceptor?"
The Preceptor gave no clear answer.
Elder Buddha smiled and looked to Master Qiong and the rest. "You were all once unmatched talents, dazzling for a lifetime. Are you willing now to lay down your arms and take refuge in Buddhism?"
Lady Tian Zhenjun sneered, "Elder Buddha, if you join forces with your temple, finishing off this fiend would be easy! Do you really think sparing them will keep your temple safe? If the Preceptor wipes us out, he’ll destroy Buddhism next! Why not strike now and show your demon-subduing skills?"
Elder Buddha smiled, "No matter what the Preceptor does to my temple, there will always be those who believe in Buddha. Whether gods and Buddhas exist or not, faith remains—it won’t die just because the Preceptor destroys us, nor flourish just because he spares us. If you’re willing to let go of grudges and weapons, come with me. If not, I’ll simply say ‘no affinity’ and take my leave."
Suddenly, figures plummeted from the sky behind the Preceptor—over a hundred Everpeace generals, armored and blood-soaked, brimming with battle intent.
State Duke Wei bellowed, "What’s this, Elder Buddha here to join the fun? Out to scavenge some loot? Preceptor, let’s finish off this old monk and all these bald—"
The Preceptor raised his hand, stopping him, and said quietly, "We can’t afford mutual destruction. Elder Buddha is here to mediate—this is a good thing."
State Duke Wei was puzzled. "They’re just here to scavenge—trying to scoop up these rebel leaders for their temple and boost its strength. These rebels are all terrifying figures; letting them go is releasing tigers back to the mountain! Preceptor, think carefully!"
The Preceptor smiled. "Elder Buddha said once they take refuge, they won’t meddle in worldly affairs. I trust him."
"You really trust him?"
State Duke Wei’s eyes bulged. "No hair on your head, no grip on your word…"
State Duke Wei was about to retort, but the Preceptor raised his hand and said calmly, "Elder Buddha is the head of Buddhism. He’s here to resolve grudges and bring peace to the world—a great kindness. Besides, I’m injured myself."
On Sumeru Mountain, bodhisattvas and arhats turned to look upon hearing this.
Elder Buddha recited a Buddhist verse to alert the bodhisattvas and arhats, then smiled. "If the Preceptor is willing to resolve these grudges, what about you, Master Qiong and friends?"
Master Qiong and the others exchanged glances and nodded silently.
If they refused to take refuge in Buddhism, Elder Buddha would simply walk away with the temple’s forces, leaving them to die at the Preceptor’s hands.
This time, Elder Buddha had brought almost all of Great Thunderclap Temple’s elites, showing his determination. If they agreed to join, even the Preceptor wouldn’t push further.
Elder Buddha smiled, "Brothers and sisters, let go of grudges and karma, take refuge in Buddhism, and you’ll surely attain the Dao. Preceptor—"
The Preceptor pointed at the bronze-masked man. "Elder Buddha, he must stay."
The bronze-masked man’s heart chilled. Elder Buddha frowned slightly; on Sumeru Mountain’s phantom, bodhisattvas, arhats, and venerables chanted a Buddhist verse in unison.
The Preceptor smiled, "He must stay."
Though his voice was gentle, the Preceptor’s tone brooked no argument.
Elder Buddha sighed, "This good man has no affinity with Buddhism. Master Qiong, brothers and sisters, please ascend the mountain."
Master Qiong and the others hesitated, glancing at the bronze-masked man. Suddenly, they grit their teeth, rose, and landed atop Sumeru Mountain, calling out together, "Old... Sorry!"
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"No need to say more, I understand."
The bronze-masked man laughed, "Preceptor, how do you plan to deal with me?"
The Preceptor replied expressionlessly, "I’ll capture you, escort you to the capital, and present you to the emperor."
"Escort me to see the emperor?"
The bronze-masked man’s tone turned strange as he chuckled, "Then we’ll see if your sword is fast enough..."
He slowly raised his hand and suddenly smashed it down on his bronze mask—mask and face shattered to pieces!
"Preceptor, the Ling clan’s dynasty will fall by your hand sooner or later…"
His skull split open and soon he died, but his body remained upright, never falling.
State Duke Wei and the others cried out and rushed forward, but the Preceptor stood motionless. He hadn’t tried to stop the bronze-masked man’s suicide, not even hinting at it.
On the distant mountain, Quinn Shepherd watched and his eye twitched.
The Preceptor’s words had forced the bronze-masked man to kill himself. Whoever lay beneath that mask was surely a high-ranking royal, someone vital to the emperor.
If the Preceptor captured him alive and paraded him before the emperor, it would shame the throne and breed division.
Whether the emperor killed him or not would be a problem.
If his true face was exposed, the emperor’s prestige would suffer, and officials would whisper—was it treason, or imperial orders?
Then, the Preceptor’s prestige would eclipse the emperor’s, drawing more ministers to his side and making the emperor wary. If they clashed, the nation—and the Ling clan—would be in danger.
As a royal, he had to die—he couldn’t drag the Ling clan down or let them lose face.
So he had to destroy his own face, so no one could ever learn his true identity.
The Preceptor hadn’t stopped him—he wanted the man dead, not paraded through the capital. Even if he hadn’t smashed his own face, the Preceptor would have done it for him.
The Preceptor didn’t want to shame the emperor or the Ling clan. This was the best outcome.
If he’d really dragged the bronze-masked man to the capital, it would have meant he wanted the throne. But clearly, the Preceptor has no such ambition—he just wants to use Everpeace to pursue his ideals, to achieve the Three Immortalities.
He wants to become a sage.
On Sumeru Mountain, Elder Buddha bowed to the Preceptor and said, "Preceptor, with this, my work is done. I take my leave."
"Safe travels, Elder Buddha," the Preceptor replied, returning the bow.
Sumeru Mountain’s phantom drifted west. Master Qiong, Lady Tian Zhenjun, and the others looked back to see the Preceptor ordering the bronze-masked man’s head buried on the spot, while his headless body was coffined for transport to the capital.
Hermit Li sighed, "Elder Buddha, if not for you…"
Elder Buddha shook his head. "Say no more. The Preceptor is already dissatisfied with Great Thunderclap Temple. Let’s go home. I suspect my wayward disciple has already slipped back to the temple to reclaim his severed arm. If we hurry, we might catch him."
The monks atop the mountain felt a chill in their hearts.
Sumeru Mountain’s phantom drifted to the peak where Quinn Shepherd and his companions stood. Below, cold laughter rang out: "Bald thief!"
The bodhisattvas, arhats, and venerables atop the mountain shouted back, "Demonic fiends!"
Elder Buddha shook his head, halted Sumeru Mountain, and looked down. Suddenly, he joined his palms and said, "Senior brother."
The Hall Masters and Guardians on the peak felt a chill. Sword Hall Master gently shook his head at Quinn, who waved in reply and bowed, "Senior brother."
Elder Buddha looked surprised, nodded, and led his followers away.
"Cult Master, why bother returning the bow to that old bald monk?"
Right Guardian Bianca Xue complained, "Now your true identity’s exposed to that old thief monk—trouble’s sure to come!"
"As Holy Cult Master, since he greeted me as an equal, I had to return the bow."
Quinn Shepherd smiled, "As Holy Cult Master, I can’t hide forever. And I won’t let you or the cult lose face."
Everyone protested, "We’d rather not have this face!"
——Hmm, triple release today! This is the first update; second one at 6 PM.