Chapter 362: Fengde Temple

This is hard to say…

How to confess?

Li Qi also fell into deep thought.

Fortunately, just like his reaction earlier, Lingxiao Flower Goddess didn't rush him.

Thinking and deliberation are very important.

Li Qi indeed needed to deliberate, because he didn't want to tell Lingxiao Flower Goddess that his main purpose was to use her influence to re-enter the Tang Nation's advanced social circles.

After all, Lingxiao Kingdom Lord is not a fool; everyone uses each other, and the scales must be balanced. Once Li Qi's main purpose was exposed, she wouldn't need to expend extra favors to invite those Great Monks.

Fengde Temple is not hers to command; persuading the Monks to welcome Li Qi and inspect the Buddha sculptures consumed her favors.

So, if Li Qi didn't say anything, using her influence to re-enter the social circle would be like getting a free ride.

After a while, Li Qi looked up and said, "This matter is indeed hard to directly state, but what I can say is that I've encountered some trouble and am looking for a cultivation method of at least Celestial Eye level. Only then might I be able to overcome this difficulty."

"My teacher is involved in this matter, but he only gave me some pointers and taught me a lesson; he didn't personally help me. But even those pointers nearly made my brain explode. It was when I was struggling that I met a little Monk."

"That little Monk had the雏形 of Celestial Eye, so I came to see it. I just want to understand it clearly and see if it can be used for my trouble."

"As for what this trouble is… please forgive me for not being able to tell you truthfully. If I told you, unless Lingxiao Kingdom Lord has a powerful teacher protecting her like I do."

Li Qi said.

"Is that so…?" Lingxiao Kingdom Lord listened to Li Qi's words completely.

Then, the two fell into a long silence again.

This time, it lasted for a full hour.

Li Qi wasn't idle during this time; he observed Lingxiao Kingdom Lord's expression, speculated about her psychology, and then tried to use more powerful language to persuade her.

Li Qi truly wanted to know what that thing was and see if he could use it for himself.

One must know, according to Li Qi's existing knowledge, to learn Celestial Eye, one must at least be a fifth-rank or higher to be qualified to bear this kind of cultivation method.

Otherwise, with the complexity of this cultivation method, a person with insufficient strength in their small inner world would simply not be able to withstand it.

That little Monk being able to activate the雏形 of Celestial Eye with an eighth-rank cultivation indicated that if Li Qi could obtain this secret, perhaps he could also activate a part of Celestial Eye at seventh-rank, and then he would have a little bit of leverage to contend against the Heavenly Demon of Enjoying Others’ Emanations.

Therefore, if possible, Li Qi did not want to give up easily.

Based on Li Qi's observation of Lingxiao Flower Goddess during that hour, she… probably also didn't want to give up this opportunity that Li Qi brought.

Li Qi speculated that Lingxiao Flower Goddess wanted to use Lingxiao Kingdom to accumulate her foundation, and then one day make a comeback.

Of course, this comeback does not mean fighting her way back.

Fighting back? Dreaming. Who could she defeat? Even if she cultivated for another ten thousand years, facing the famous scholar who criticized her with poetry back then, she would be crushed with a single finger.

The other party was someone as renowned as Liu Donghe, a great Confucian scholar. Li Qi was unsure of his specific cultivation, but Liu Donghe was a fourth-rank Confucian, and a particularly strong one among fourth-ranks, capable of taking over a high-ranking official position at any time if he wished.

To be as renowned as Liu Donghe, it's clear he wouldn't be much weaker.

Therefore, Li Qi believed that her comeback was probably to prove with actual actions that the lingxiao flower was not a sycophant, to make the person who wrote the poem realize they were mistaken, and to apologize to her.

To be honest, this choice was a bit humiliating. To be insulted by the other party and still have to prove herself to them.

Given Lingxiao Flower Goddess's character, it would probably be quite difficult for her to accept.

Although, in reality, it might not be that hard to accept.

Because, a Confucian who can reach third-rank is, by all means, an upright person. This is not something a sour or pedantic scholar can achieve. If the other party realized their mistake, they would genuinely apologize.

Only then could they be considered 'sincere' among Confucians.

If they couldn't even do this, it would mean that their third-rank was either a fake, or their Dao Orthodoxy had been severed and their Heart-Nature had greatly changed; they certainly couldn't be called a 'famous scholar.'

Cultivation, in the end, must manifest in 'action.' It's impossible for someone to act contrary to their Dao Orthodoxy and still progress so far in the Human Dao Confucianism; it means they must be very compatible with Confucian thought and genuinely believe in it.

People choose Dao Orthodoxy, and Dao Orthodoxy also chooses people.

If you truly have unique ideas and cannot fit into these existing paths, then forge your own path. It's impossible to do something hypocritical.

cultivation method does not dictate how one acts, but Dao Orthodoxy does, and it doesn't require supervision. As long as you violate the Dao you follow and believe in, you will naturaly pay the price.

Li Qi's ability to profile was enough to make him a constable or detective in the mortal world, and a very top-notch one at that.

However, now that he was seventh-rank, such a skill naturally couldn't be brought to the table anymore.

According to Li Qi's calculations, finding someone to challenge that famous scholar from back then and utterly defeat him would best suit Lingxiao Flower Goddess's character, and it would be the best outcome under the 'possible' constraint.

Lingxiao Flower Goddess might refuse, but the reason for refusal would certainly not be 'dislike' or 'inability to accept.'

Therefore, the chance of success was very high.

As expected, just over an hour later, Lingxiao Flower Goddess finally reacted.

She looked at Li Qi intently, her lips first pursed tightly, then released.

Though she was the dominant fifth-rank, she was less relaxed than Li Qi, showing that she was growing increasingly nervous.

The reason, Lingxiao Flower Goddess believed, was also simple.

Li Qi had no danger.

He is the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain. In the Baiyue territory, no one dares to do anything to him. As long as he softly calls out his teacher's name, terrifying power will descend from the sky, instantly destroying all enemies.

Even without a teacher, he would certainly have a Dharma Protector hidden in the shadows, escorting them and preventing these Geniuses from dying prematurely.

Even in the Tang Nation, no one would dare to take his life. He could do anything he wanted without restraint. Even if he truly did something bad, he would only receive a scolding; he would have a chance to repent.

His bottom line is the bottom line of Shaman Dao, and Shaman Dao has no requirements for good or evil.

So, if Li Qi did these things, at most, it would be unsuccessful and waste a little time, but there would never be any other additional losses.

Lingxiao Flower Goddess was different.

If she failed, she would lose terribly.

She was already miserable, having been driven from the Tang Nation to the Baiyue. But if she lost this time, she would be even more miserable, and perhaps would never have a chance to recover.

At the gambling table, the mindset of someone who has placed a heavy bet is different from someone who hasn't.

Li Qi could calmly analyze pros and cons and read information, but she, even with much higher cultivation, couldn't help but be affected by emotions.

She gazed at Li Qi with jealousy and heavy breathing.

Li Qi was also looking at her.

Li Qi knew what she was thinking because he had been trying to understand Lingxiao Flower Goddess, though only for a few hours.

Of course, she actually didn't know…

Li Qi had bet more than her, and faced something more terrifying than her.

She faced nothing more than a great Confucian scholar, while Li Qi faced the Heavenly Demon of Enjoying Others’ Emanations.

Moreover, calling Zhu Fengdan's name would not only elicit no response, but he couldn't even summon a Dharma Protector; Li Qi simply had no Dharma Protector.

But regardless, Li Qi noticed that her cultivation was somewhat scattered, emitting a strong sense of oppression that almost suffocated Li Qi.

Physical suffocation.

As for psychological suffocation… to be honest, fifth-rank was not enough. Although a fifth-rank could crush Li Qi with a single finger, Li Qi had seen too many powerful figures, so he had already established a sufficient psychological advantage.

Understanding this, Li Qi forced himself to let out a long breath.

This was very difficult to do, because in the scattered Aura of the other party, Li Qi's throat felt as if it was being squeezed by something. He had to mobilize his cultivation to complete a sigh.

So, facing the tense-faced, silent Lingxiao Flower Goddess, Li Qi continued to mobilize his cultivation, pulling at his vocal cords and saying, "Don't treat me as a harbinger of death, Country Lord. I'm here to help you. You can treat me as a friend."

"It doesn't have to be a transaction between us; rather, it's mutual help. You help me solve my troubles, and I'll help you solve yours. This can eliminate a lot of trouble, and nothing will be lost."

Li Qi advised.

If possible, he hoped to resolve the issue as much as possible through words.

After all, the secret of Celestial Eye was very important to him, and returning to the Tang Nation was also very important to Lingxiao Flower Goddess.

"Then let's do this." Lingxiao Flower Goddess seemed to finally realize her失态. She reined in the Aura she had inadvertently emitted, stabilized her cultivation, and regained her composure.

After she calmed down, she said, "I will take you to meet the eminent Monks of Fengde Temple on Zunfo Mountain and introduce you to them, but whether you can get to the bottom of it will depend on you."

"Similarly, you need to send me a message. Whether it succeeds or not, I won't rely on you; that's my fate. What do you think, Young Master?"

"Excellent, let's do it this way. It's just a small effort for everyone, and no one will be inconvenienced."

Li Qi immediately nodded.

Lingxiao Flower Goddess then said, "Then let's do it like this. You go to Zunfo Mountain first, and then we'll go to Chang'an together, not asking about each other's situations, only doing what we've agreed upon."

"Good, but…" Li Qi reached out.

"The proof is here. Go to Zunfo Mountain, and they will naturaly recognize it."

Lingxiao Flower Goddess pulled out a hairpin from her hair and handed it to Li Qi.

The hairpin was wooden, seemingly made from the stem of a flower.

"Thank you, Country Lord. I'll be back in seven days at most. By then, I will take you to find Liu Canzhi."

Li Qi nodded, not delaying, and walked directly out the door.

However, at the moment he stepped out, Li Qi's gaze sharpened.

He didn't linger, quickly went to the groom to get the old horse, who was gorging himself, and swiftly left E'zhou, heading towards Zunfo Mountain.

It wasn't until he left E'zhou that Li Qi finally let out a sigh of relief.

"It's a trick. Lingxiao Flower Goddess knew I was coming long ago…" Li Qi rode the old horse, muttering to himself inwardly.

Lingxiao Flower Goddess had deliberated for too long, struggled for too long.

This was very abnormal.

Because this matter was not worth her acting as if she had staked her life and fortune.

If this failed, at most she would be driven back to Baiyue. Could that famous scholar who criticized her with poetry back then really hunt her down?

Her acting like that must have another reason.

Li Qi had two guesses.

First, that hour-plus of contemplation was just an act.

If so, and she still pretended to be thinking, it meant she had already made up her mind, only wanting to delay for a bit. This itself represented many things, and there must be something else behind it, merely for him to see.

Second, that struggle and deliberation were not feigned; she was truly afraid, truly felt she had staked a lot.

That would mean she had placed a bet she didn't know about, far more than Li Qi could see, so much that it was enough to make her, as a fifth-rank, tremble with fear.

Anyway, in Li Qi's opinion, what was currently on the gambling table was far from enough to make her show such an expression.

The old horse didn't understand those twists and turns. Wherever Li Qi told him to go, he would run there, leaving Li Qi alone on horseback, deep in thought.

However, with limited clues, no matter how much he thought, he couldn't draw many conclusions.

The current information led to the conclusion that the Celestial Eye matter was probably not a coincidence; someone had deliberately arranged it for him.

Indeed, coincidental encounters only happen to grassroots people whom no one cares about.

As the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain, he wouldn't encounter coincidences.

Good encounters are arranged by elders.

Bad encounters are arranged by opponents.

How could some so-called 'encounter' of unknown truth or origin just happen to land in his lap…

However, no matter what, he still had to go and see this Celestial Eye.

Since he didn't know whether this was 'good' or 'bad,' he would just do what he had to do until the truth was revealed.

Thinking this, Li Qi soon arrived at Zunfo Mountain.

It wasn't far, less than a day's journey.

With the old horse's current speed of ten thousand li a day, he would only need a few days to travel through all the prefectural cities of Lingxiao Kingdom. To think that back then, only two thousand li was enough to leave a prefecture, it was very fast.

Zunfo Mountain was some distance from E'zhou, but it was still less than a day and a night to reach.

Zunfo Mountain, from the outside, had nothing unusual about it. It was just an ordinary mountain, about a thousand meters high, covering an area of forty to fifty li. It wasn't deep; instead, it was densely populated.

This entire area was full of villages and towns, with several million people gathered here within a radius of forty to fifty li, forming an urban area.

When Li Qi first arrived, he was also curious, so he went down and asked the local residents.

The reason was simple.

Nothing else, living elsewhere was fraught with danger. You might encounter mountain spirits, water monsters, demons, or hungry ghosts and be eaten clean. Even if there were shamans in the village, they could still make mistakes.

But near Zunfo Mountain, with those Great Monks present, no demons dared to cause trouble in the vicinity. Even if there was a bold and brainless one, they would likely not end well.

The Great Monks do not kill, so when they caught such demons, they wouldn't kill them. Instead, they would keep them in the mountain, bind their heads with tight-fitting headbands, and make them do hard labor in the temple, such as welcoming guests, farming, and so on. Day and night, besides working, they would do their homework and study Buddha-Dharma, using this method to encourage them to mend their ways.

This actually had an effect, so the Dharma Protectors in the temple included demons, monsters, ghosts, and strange beings, all devoutly devoted to Buddha.

As a result, the residents at the foot of the mountain also revered Buddha-Dharma immensely, with continuous incense day and night. They also often pooled money to erect golden statues and repair temples for the temple, which could be considered a reciprocal exchange of courtesies.

And after understanding these things, it was time to ascend the mountain.