Chapter 680 Living Buddha
"You? Heh..."
Jiang Bai stepped forward and spoke up. Bayantele was taken aback at first, then came to his senses, his expression strange and slightly embarrassed.
He recalled that Jiang Bai in front of him was not a weakling, but a ruthless character who could rival him, or even be stronger than him.
He came to his senses, but that didn't mean others agreed. After Jiang Bai finished speaking, Sisanger immediately responded with a disdainful sneer.
"Why don't you get up from me? Then let's fight." Jiang Bai stretched his shoulders, not wanting to waste any more time saying anything more.
He came here to get benefits, but he didn't get any benefits and it seems he's gotten himself into trouble. Although Yang Wudi had already given him a heads-up before he came, Jiang Bai knew that these two people were firmly against him.
Jiang Bai shouldn't find their actions strange, but he was still quite annoyed and wanted to take action.
Give these two guys, these two arrogant Dharma Kings, a profound lesson!
Even against two opponents, Jiang Bai was capable of holding his own. Besides, he had Bayantele by his side; he wouldn't just stand there and watch the show, would he?
If he only had to put up a slight resistance, Jiang Bai could easily defeat either of them.
"Kid, you'll regret this!" Sisanger sneered again, already eager to try.
The people around them quickly got into position, ready to make a move at any moment.
The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly plummeted to freezing point, even though it had never seemed to be warm before.
But at this moment, it has truly dropped to its lowest point.
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
Jiang Bai showed no weakness. Although this was their territory, Jiang Bai was not afraid. The old Living Buddha was ill and unconscious. No new Living Buddha had been appointed, and the treasure vault of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain had not been opened. This was the time when they were at their weakest.
Jiang Bai is really not afraid of anything.
Even if the four Dharma Kings gathered together, along with eight masters, Jiang Bai was confident he could escape.
Besides, he's only facing two Dharma Kings, not a single guru, and he even has an ally on his side. What does he have to be afraid of?
"Stop!" Just as the tense atmosphere in the main hall was about to explode, an old and weak voice suddenly rang out.
A hunched-over lama emerged, supported by another elderly man.
Surprisingly, the hunched lama had remarkably fair skin, comparable to Jiang Bai's. His face was compassionate, pale, and his expression was dim, indicating that he was ill and suffering from a disease.
"A Living Buddha!"
The tense atmosphere around them immediately disappeared. Everyone put their hands together, bowed to each other, and looked very obedient. Even the arrogant Sisanger and the gloomy Sangena were no exception, and they all looked devout.
Without even thinking, Jiang Bai knew who this person was.
The Living Buddha Master of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, Abudanzeng Living Buddha!
That legendary, terrifying Living Buddha was already ninety-eight years old, nearing the end of his life.
A truly peerless master, a guy that even Yang Wudi feared like a tiger before his breakthrough.
"Sangena, are you going against my wishes?"
The old Living Buddha was not angry, but extremely weak. With the help of a senior lama, he found a place to sit down and slowly opened his mouth, asking in his weak and hoarse voice.
Although weak and hoarse, he subtly exuded an air of supreme and undeniable authority.
Jiang Bai thought that Sangna and Xisanger would probably say something in response, after all, this old Living Buddha seemed to be nearing the end of his life. They dared to be so fierce to them just now, so they probably wouldn't show weakness when facing Abu Danzeng Living Buddha either.
They've already completely fallen out. If it were Jiang Bai, he'd fight to the death!
Unfortunately, Jiang Bai was being somewhat presumptuous; he projected his own ideas onto the thoughts of these people.
However, these people are different from him after all.
Upon hearing this, Sangnar's expression changed. Instead of refuting it or breaking ties with the old Living Buddha, he knelt down on the ground with Xisanger, kissing the old Living Buddha's boots.
"Merciful and supreme Living Buddha Master, we dare not disobey your words. Sangna has done wrong, please punish him."
Jiang Bai's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight, and he cursed inwardly, "Servility! Servility!"
This is typical servility.
Perhaps he had lived in the shadow of the old Living Buddha for too long, or perhaps he truly respected the old Living Buddha before him. Whatever the reason, Sangnar knelt down without offering any explanation.
This left Jiang Bai feeling quite helpless. He kept wondering if the old Living Buddha was a former chieftain who had switched professions, and if Sangna had been his serf since childhood.
But thinking about it, that's probably impossible.
"Alright, I've already said what I wanted to say, and I don't want to repeat myself. Now that you're here, I'll step down and give way to a more worthy person. Tomorrow morning, I'll summon everyone from the Lingjiu Palace on the Great Snow Mountain, and I will announce to the public that he will become the new master of the Lingjiu Palace on the Great Snow Mountain."
"As for you, leave your punishment to your new master."
The old Living Buddha glanced at the two people in front of him, closed his eyes and did not stop their actions, and after a long while he said the following words.
Although it was only two short sentences, it took quite a bit of time, with breaks and occasional breaks to catch my breath before I could continue.
In Jiang Bai's view, this truly was a sign that his days were numbered.
The two Dharma Kings kneeling on the ground, who had almost buried their heads under the Living Buddha's shoes, were trembling with fear and didn't dare to lift their heads at all, remaining prostrate like that.
Only after the old Living Buddha finished speaking, stood up, and, supported by the lama beside him, shakily left, did the two slowly get up from the ground.
After the two of them got up, the others who had knelt down with them also stood up one by one, each showing an expression of relief.
Clearly, they were quite frightened just now.
This gave Jiang Bai a completely new understanding of the influence of Abudanzeng Rinpoche in this area.
Even if he is nearing the end of his life, even if he is exhausted and could pass away at any moment, as long as he is alive and conscious, even if he cannot lift a single finger, he is still supreme.
Jiang Bai couldn't quite understand these things.
The environment he was in and the people he came into contact with always revolved around one concept: the strong prey on the weak, and survival of the fittest. There seemed to be no room for sentimentality. Even an old tiger would be devoured by a pack of wolves, no matter if one had once been kind to the wolves. This was the way of life.
But here, things seem a little different.
This left Jiang Bai somewhat bewildered. Suddenly, he felt that the outside world was so complicated, while this place seemed much simpler.
However, before he could even process what had happened, Sangnar and Sisanger, who had just gotten up, gave him a sinister look, as if to tell him that this matter was not over yet.
Chapter 681 The Ascetic Elders
Although Sisanger and Sangena both glared at Jiang Bai with hatred, they no longer made any threats to fight him.
Although the Living Buddha had left, his words still had an effect. The two men were filled with resentment towards Jiang Bai, but they didn't dare to say anything more, not even a single harsh word.
However, their eyes told Jiang Bai that the two of them... were not convinced!
"Do you think those two are dissatisfied? After the Living Buddha announces the matter tomorrow, will they turn against him after the old Living Buddha passes away?"
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Jiang Bai asked Bayantele beside him in a low voice, neither confirming nor denying.
"This...it shouldn't be. Such a thing has never happened in the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain. In its thousand-year history, no one has ever rebelled against their master!"
"As long as the master of Lingjiu Palace remains in power, he is supreme! This is tradition and rule!"
"No one can resist."
"There have been several instances of one-year-old Living Buddhas in history, yet no one has ever seized power."
"Once you assume the position of master of Lingjiu Palace tomorrow, Lingjiu Palace will be yours. Even if Sisanger and Sangnar are dissatisfied, they will not dare to challenge the master's authority."
Bayantler thought for a moment and responded confidently to Jiang Bai.
Although this Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is a Tantric sect, it sounds like it was the home of a large slave owner.
Living Buddhas are slave owners. The Living Buddha masters rule Lingjiu Palace and everything around it. All people are slaves of the Living Buddha masters.
This has been the case for generations. The slaves have been so disciplined that they dare not resist in the slightest, even when their masters are weak and frail.
Living Buddhas are like the chieftains of Tibet in the past. Everyone else, such as Dharma Kings, Lamas, and masters, are slaves! They are all slaves.
The slave owners here are not hereditary, they don't marry, and it seems that slaves can also have their day and rise up.
If Jiang Bai hadn't suddenly appeared and emerged out of nowhere, Sangena, the number one slave, would probably have become the new master.
Thinking about this, Jiang Bai suddenly understood why Sangena was so hostile to him. If it were him, he would also risk his life for the other person.
Having been a slave for decades, and finally having the chance to become a slave owner, only to be oppressed by a stranger again, anyone would be indignant.
"This… I don't think so. Might makes right. You told me on the way here that this Sangena started helping the Living Buddha with all sorts of things twenty years ago. Now the entire Lingjiu Palace is basically made up of his and Sisanger's people."
"You and the other one, although you have some influence, your power isn't that great, right? If he really dares to oppose me after the Living Buddha passes away, your power at that time probably won't be able to withstand him, will it?"
Jiang Bai was well-versed in the law of the jungle and understood that might makes right.
When the Living Buddha was present, Sangena was suppressed and dared not utter a word. Now that the Living Buddha is gone, why does he dare not rebel?
The Living Buddha was able to suppress him because his years of authority and countless years of established systems instilled fear in him, made him tremble, and made him prostrate himself.
But Jiang Bai had none of these things; to the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain, Jiang Bai was just an outsider.
This is not just a view held by Sissanger and Sangener; many people probably share this opinion.
"He wouldn't dare! With the Ascetic Elders in place, no one dares to challenge the master's authority!"
Bayantler shook his head after hearing this, and said to Jiang Bai with great certainty.
"The Ascetic Elders' Council?" Jiang Bai was taken aback. Lingjiu Palace had this?
How old are these old guys?
Keep in mind that Sissanger is the youngest; he's already over fifty.
Bayantle is over sixty, and Sangena is at least seventy.
Above them is some ascetic elder council.
Are you kidding me?
What is the strength of those people? Where are they?
Why didn't Bayantele and Yang Wudi mention this before?
"Well, this is one of the biggest secrets of Lingjiu Palace. Even we, the Four Dharma Kings, only know a little bit about it."
"Lingjiu Palace is not just a sect; we are a Tantric sect. Many high-ranking monks who practice Tantric asceticism have historically chosen Lingjiu Palace as their place of seclusion, living in the nearby mountains and forests."
"These people are the members of the council of elders. As you know, there are many masters in Tantric Buddhism. These monks who practice asceticism are basically all masters."
"However, they believe in Buddhism and mostly practice asceticism, ignoring worldly affairs. But Lingjiu Palace is the head of Tantric Buddhism and has special privileges. All the masters obey the orders of Lingjiu Palace."
"They will only make a move under two circumstances: one, if someone wants to destroy the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain and comes to kill them!"
"Secondly, someone dared to challenge the Living Buddha's master!"
"When you are crowned as the new master of Lingjiu Palace tomorrow, representatives of the ascetic elders will definitely come to witness the ceremony. Afterwards, your portrait will be distributed to all members of the elders. They are the greatest guarantee of the Living Buddha's authority."
Bayantler's words left Jiang Bai stunned.
However, he finally understood that it meant that most of the masters in Tibet were under the rule of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is essentially the martial arts alliance leader of Tibet and the headquarters of the masters of Tantric Buddhism.
When masters of Tantric Buddhism reach a certain age and wish to engage in rigorous Buddhist practice, or when they are weary of conflict, they will come to Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain and, with the permission of the Living Buddha, live in seclusion in the surrounding area.
These people are the external supporters of the Living Buddha of Lingjiu Palace in Daxueshan, also known as the "Ascetic Elders Group".
Its function is obvious: it ensures the legitimacy of the Living Buddha's master while increasing the defense of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
"How many people are in the Ascetic Elders' Council?" Jiang Bai asked curiously, very curious about this force that belonged to the Great Snow Mountain Spirit Vulture Palace but could not be mobilized.
"I don't know," Bayantler replied with a wry smile.
"You don't know?" Jiang Bai looked completely bewildered.
"Yes, I don't know. The number and identities of the elders in the ascetic practice group have always been known only to the Living Buddha."
"Many years ago, they had a large number of people. Now they should have decreased somewhat, but they are still not few. I have been here for many years and I know that there are more than a dozen masters who have come here to cultivate in seclusion. This is only the number I have received. No one knows how many other Dharma Kings have received, and no one knows how many Living Buddhas have secretly received."
"In short, there are a lot of them. Over the years, their numbers should be a number that would frighten any sect."
"Oh, I see. So how strong are you?"
Quantity does not equal quality. It doesn't matter if the quality is good but the quantity is small. What's the use of having a lot of quantity but low quality?
"All the inheritors of Tantric Buddhism, as long as they know martial arts, will come to Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain for seclusion at a certain period of time. The exact number is impossible to guess, and no one knows how strong they are."
"However, they should not be weak, because only the most accomplished monks who reside in a temple have the opportunity to come here for seclusion. Among the monks I received at the time, there were several whose cultivation levels were no weaker than mine now at the time, there were several whose cultivation levels were no weaker than mine now."
Chapter 682 A Shocking Change in the Dead of Night
Bayantele's words made Jiang Bai gasp. He had received several people whose cultivation levels were comparable to his own.
Just how terrifying is this "Ascetic Elders' Group" of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain?
Isn't that an organization even larger than a human group?
"Our Tantric sect has always been different from the ancient martial arts practitioners of the Central Plains. Since its rise, it has been constantly clashing with the Central Plains. If we didn't have any strength, wouldn't we have perished long ago?"
"However, you shouldn't have too high expectations for this ascetic group. The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain can't command them."
"Besides, those hermits were mostly at the end of their lives when they arrived. There were quite a few who came, but probably not many of them actually survived."
"So apart from the Living Buddha, no one knows exactly how many people are in the ascetic community now. It may be a lot, or it may be a little. It's not certain."
Jiang Bai understood what Bayantler meant.
In short, the message is to tell Jiang Bai not to be afraid, as long as the Living Buddha passes on the position to you, your position will be secure.
Because slave owners have a group of henchmen behind them who are always there to help them maintain legitimacy.
However, don't be too arrogant, because although these thugs are powerful, their exact number and how many are still alive are completely a mystery.
It could be a powerful gang that crushes everything, hacking through eighteen streets.
It's also possible that there are only a few cats and kittens.
Pretending to be a tiger to scare people is fine, but pointing at them and actually fighting them?
Let's save our breath.
Jiang Bai understood all of this, so he remained silent.
After a long silence, he suddenly nodded.
Subsequently, under Bayantler's arrangement, they stayed in a simple and rustic room on the top floor of Lingjiu Palace.
Judging from the interior furnishings, it must have been quite old. The room is filled with antique treasures. As the leader of the Tantric sect, the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is never short of treasures.
Tantric Buddhism rules Tibet, and Vulture Peak rules Tantric Buddhism.
Many treasures from Tibet, and even rare treasures from outside, were presented here as tribute.
However, Jiang Bai was not in the mood to care about these things, nor was he in the mood to appreciate them. He was considering whether he should call for help.
Bayantler spoke with such certainty, but Jiang Bai still felt uneasy.
A vague unease crept over him; Jiang Bai didn't know why, but it was a feeling, a bad feeling.
Jiang Bai wanted to call for help.
They're getting into position, it's like they're about to start a group fight.
Unfortunately, Jiang Bai was saddened to discover that his phone had absolutely no signal here. Just as he was feeling a little discouraged, he suddenly remembered the satellite phone Xiao Tian had given him, which he had casually put into his spatial ring and was now sitting there.
Jiang Bai took out his satellite phone, thought for a moment, and then dialed Yang Wudi's number. This was the trouble he had caused, so if he didn't deal with it, who would?
Moreover, Jiang Bai only knew a limited number of experts he could command, namely Old Man Lieyang and Zhang Mengmeng.
However, Zhang Mengmeng has been unreachable recently. After returning from Taiwan, the Little Celestial Master mysteriously disappeared.
The old man with the blazing sun is a viable option, but he's not fierce enough. He's just an old man who can't withstand much damage. Surrounded by experts, he could easily get beaten to a pulp.
So Jiang Bai sought out the peerless hero Yang Wudi.
Yang Wudi seemed to be busy, but he still answered Jiang Bai's call. Jiang Bai heard him instructing his subordinates, "You guys look into the problem I just mentioned."
Jiang Bai explained the situation to him.
Yang Wudi remained silent for a moment, then frowned and said to Jiang Bai, "I can't get away for the next two days. You take a look first. If everything goes smoothly tomorrow, there shouldn't be any major problems."
"If things don't go smoothly or they turn against us later, come back first. Once I've settled things in my military region, we'll settle accounts with them together!"
"I'm relieved to hear that," Jiang Bai smiled, then hung up the phone.
Yang Wudi had essentially given a guarantee, so Jiang Bai had nothing to worry about.
Because it had already been agreed that if anything went wrong and Jiang Bai couldn't win, they would have to make a run for it.
When I get back, I'll give those bastards a piece of my mind.
It feels so good to have an older brother protecting you.
After finishing the call, Jiang Bai felt reassured and decided to rest quietly. He had been quite exhausted these past two days and needed a good rest.
After eating some of the food that was delivered, Jiang Bai fell asleep without realizing it.
In the dead of night, Jiang Bai was suddenly awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door. He quickly rolled over, opened the door, and saw Bayantler standing in the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Bai looked at Bayantele in front of him blankly, somewhat puzzled.
What's the meaning of coming to find me in the middle of the night?
"Something's happened. My brother just came to me secretly and told me that the Living Buddha is not going to make it. He asked me to take you to the treasure vault immediately."
As he spoke, Bayantler took out a gleaming golden key and showed it to Jiang Bai.
"Your brother?" Jiang Bai was taken aback, not understanding.
"It's another Dharma King, the neutral Bayanteri, the one who appeared with the Living Buddha today. He's the one who invited the Living Buddha here today. But the Living Buddha is already exhausted. We thought he could hold on until tomorrow, but it seems he can't hold on any longer."
Bayantler said with a somewhat somber expression.
He felt very sad about the Living Buddha's impending passing, and it was clear that he still had a deep affection for the Living Buddha.
Is there absolutely no hope?
Jiang Bai frowned. If that was the case, things were serious, and it was different from what Jiang Bai had discussed with Yang Wudi before.
Yang Wudi's military region has something going on; the real core leaders are coming to inspect, and he can't leave at all. Now he only has two options: leave immediately or stand his ground to the end.
Leaving immediately is the simplest option, but it also brings the most trouble. Once Xisanger and his group seize power, they will definitely keep bothering him. The "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" is the most treasured secret manual of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. If there is no news, fine, but once there is news, he certainly cannot let this thing fall into his hands.
From now on, there will definitely be endless troubles.
If you just tough it out, you won't have any trouble later, but you'll have to bear the immediate problems head-on, which means you'll have to deal with all the conflicts at once.
While a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one, a short, sharp pain can be exceptionally intense.
So Jiang Bai has been pondering this matter, trying to figure out the best way to handle it, and he is also making a decision.
"Don't hesitate. I got advance notice, but everyone in Lingjiu Palace is Sangena's man. This can't be kept secret for long. He'll find out soon."
"Once the Living Buddha passes away and there is no longer any restraint, given Sangna's power and prestige in Lingjiu Palace, we will be in danger."
"Without the formal authorization of the Living Buddha's master, according to tradition, Sangna has the right to succeed as the Living Buddha. At that time, we will have to face the entire Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, and we may even have to ask those ascetic elders to come."
Chapter 683 The Secret Treasury
"You mean you're taking me to your treasure vault now, where you can help me increase my strength?"
Jiang Bai understood what the other person meant and knew what he wanted to do.
"It's not my idea, it's the Living Buddha's idea. He wants you to come with me quickly. Once you enter the treasure vault, you'll be safe for the time being."
"There are two keys to the treasure vault, one in the hands of the Living Buddha and the other in the hands of the Grand Elder of the Ascetic Elders' Council, just in case."
"The material there is special and is integrated into the mountain. The gate is made of black iron. Even the most powerful expert cannot open the treasure vault without the key."
"Once we get inside, we'll be safe for now."
"Once you've improved your strength inside, you'll be able to quell the rebellion as quickly as possible after you come out. At that time, your strength will be enough to crush Sangnar. As long as Sangnar is dead, with my brother and me together, we will be able to stabilize the situation. Sisanger is nothing to worry about."
Bayantler said anxiously, urging Jiang Bai to leave repeatedly, while explaining his reasons.
At times like these, calmness is crucial, and Jiang Bai understood this deeply. He frowned and looked at Bayantele in front of him, saying, "Didn't you just say that he might be able to mobilize the Ascetic Elders Council?"
"If he really does make contact with the other party, do we still have a chance? Even if I get out of the treasure vault, it will be difficult to turn the tide, right?"
"If I'm not mistaken, Sangena will definitely use my invasion of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain as an excuse to ask the Ascetic Elders to take action."
"Even if I gain an improvement in the treasure vault, dealing with the ascetic elders you mentioned will still be very difficult."
"So, if I come out and kill Sangena, will that stabilize the situation? If that's the case, why don't the two of us take advantage of this moment and just go all the way and kill Sangena?"
When he said this, Jiang Bai's eyes were somewhat suspicious.
While Sangener was certainly untrustworthy and clearly hostile towards him, what about Bayantler?
He hadn't known him for very long, and it seemed he had never told his younger brother that he was actually another Dharma King.
The four Dharma Kings and their brothers occupy two of the positions; dare they say they have no influence here at all?
How could someone without power dare to tell me that killing Sangnar would help me stabilize the situation?
These things seem puzzling and confusing.
This made Jiang Bai more suspicious.
Jiang Bai's words startled Bayantler. He didn't give a direct answer, but anxiously urged, "Hurry up and come with me. Let's open the treasure vault first and go inside. I'll explain to you inside. If we don't leave now, it will be too late."
"Why leave? Sangnar is no match for me. I'm confident I can handle him. With you and your brother joining forces, we can resolve things outside the vault without even entering it. Once the internal strife is quelled, then we can enter the vault."
The more Bayantler urged him, the more Jiang Bai felt something was amiss, and after a moment of hesitation, he did not agree.
As he said, rather than entering the treasure vault and coming out to face Sangnar, who had already taken control of the situation, and possibly the Ascetic Elders, it would be better to take action now and deal with Sangnar first.
Jiang Bai didn't understand what Bayantele meant by urging him to enter the treasure vault.
"This is the Living Buddha's wish. Before he passed away, he hoped that you would enter the treasure vault. Only by entering it can you improve your cultivation. Sangna must have already received the news."
"If he were to gather his forces and attack us now, we wouldn't be afraid. As you said, we can deal with him. The real fear is that Sangena might not take that path and instead leave first to go to the ascetic elders' council and make a scene."
"Sangna was the successor designated by the Living Buddha in the past, which many people know, including the ascetic elders. Your matter, however, was only recently decided, and not many people know about it. It is only circulating among our four Dharma Kings and a few masters."
"Besides, as long as the Living Buddha hasn't officially announced it, you can't be considered the new master. The Ascetic Elders don't even know you. They will definitely side with Sangena. Then we will be in danger. It's better to strike first, enter the treasure vault and improve your cultivation there. Even if Sangena has everything when you come out, you can still kill him."
"Kill him, then we can explain to the ascetic elders. They should be able to understand."
Bayangele said to Jiang Bai in a deep voice, telling him his thoughts.
Jiang Bai remained silent, his mind racing as he began to speculate on the rationality and truthfulness of Bayangele's words.
Overall, there were loopholes, which aroused Jiang Bai's suspicion. However, considering the other party's situation, it was not impossible that they were desperately trying to find a solution.
After all, if Sangnar gains the upper hand, getting into the treasure vault will be a real problem.
Between two evils, choose the lesser. It's better to go straight into the treasure vault, improve your strength first, and if you can't win, you can always run away.
Jiang Bai couldn't believe that he had risen to the ranks of peerless masters, becoming a Martial King and an ancient martial artist. Could he not even escape from this snowy mountain?
So after a moment's hesitation, Jiang Bai nodded, agreeing to Bayangele's request. Although he still had some doubts and questions, he couldn't worry about them at this point.
Led by Bayangele, Jiang Bai traversed the Lingjiu Palace in the snowy mountains, passing through several hidden paths until he arrived at a room on the lowest level of the palace. After passing through a secret passage, a dark golden door appeared before Jiang Bai.
The ancient gate has no patterns, only a dragon and a phoenix carved on it, lifelike, coiling around it.
Taking out the key, Bayangele inserted it into the central keyhole, slowly turned it three times, and then pushed hard. The door clicked open, revealing a crack.
Bayangele went in first, followed closely by Jiang Bai, and the two entered the treasure vault.
He had expected it to be magnificent, filled with countless jewels and jade artifacts, and overflowing with gold and silver treasures, but upon entering, Jiang Bai was utterly astonished.
Because the entire treasure vault was empty, the huge room was completely bare. After lighting torches and closing the door, Jiang Bai was astonished to find that apart from a ferocious dragon dancing on the ceiling and walls, there were no other decorations.
The torches illuminated the hall, which contained nothing but twenty-odd bronze stupas. If one had to find anything else besides these, it would be a pile of miscellaneous items on the left side, which appeared to be abandoned stupas.
It doesn't look like a treasure at all.
"This... is the treasure vault of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain?"
Jiang Bai looked around at the empty room and asked Bayangele beside him in disbelief.
He even wondered if Bayangele had led him to the wrong place.
Chapter 684 Bronze Relic Pagoda
Isn't it said that Tantric Buddhism rules Tibet, and the snowy mountains rule Tantric Buddhism?
Isn't it said that all the treasures have always been kept in the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain?
Why is this place so shabby?
It's simply unbelievable; even the Jiang family's cellar vault looks much more upscale than this.
Aside from a cluster of bronze stupas arranged in the center, there is only a jade platform. Judging from its appearance, it's not a high-quality jade; it's just average. If there's anything special about it, it's that the jade is exceptionally large and should be worth some money.
Apart from that, there's really nothing remarkable about it.
It was far from the treasure vault of the Lingjiu Palace in the snowy mountains that Jiang Bai had imagined.
"That's right, this is the real treasure vault of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, and it contains the most precious things of the Lingjiu Palace!"
"As for what's inside, divine weapons, martial arts manuals, elixirs, gold and silver treasures are stored in four different warehouses. Those things are not allowed inside; only the most precious items are qualified to be placed in this treasure vault."
Bayantler said proudly.
Jiang Bai clearly saw a fanatical light flash in his eyes when he looked at the twenty-odd bronze stupas in the center.
"You mean these stupas?"
Jiang Bai immediately realized something; in fact, there was nothing else here except for these bronze stupas.
"Indeed, this is the most precious treasure of our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace, and also the treasure kept in the secret vault. The fact that the Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace has been able to stand for thousands of years is directly related to this place."
Bayantler said proudly.
Jiang Bai was completely puzzled, wondering what this guy meant by saying that.
The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain has stood for a thousand years, but what does that have to do with this place?
"Does the benefactor know what is placed inside these bronze stupas?"
Seeing Jiang Bai's puzzled look, Bayantele asked with a smile.
"A bronze stupa naturally contains relics."
It's called the Relic Pagoda, so naturally it contains relics. Jiang Bai isn't stupid; surely he can guess that?
Or perhaps... there's something else going on here?
"That's right, the stupa naturally contains relics, but these are different from the relics of ordinary eminent monks who have passed away. These... are the relics of the masters of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain throughout the ages!"
"Isn't that obvious? If it's not a relic of a master from your Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace, why would you treasure it?"
Jiang Bai had read a book that said relics were actually the remains of truly eminent monks who were vegetarians throughout their lives and whose bodies accumulated a large amount of chlorophyll, which formed crystals after cremation.
It sounds mysterious and profound, but it's actually nothing at all and has absolutely no effect.
It's just that outsiders spread rumors and made this thing sound so strange and wonderful.
Let alone the relics of eminent monks who have passed away, didn't they even unearth Buddha's relics in Nanjing a few years ago?
However... it's all useless. I've never heard of anyone attaining immortality or becoming a Buddha, nor have I heard of anyone using this thing to stay young and live forever.
In Jiang Bai's view, it was all just religious propaganda.
However, it was precisely because of these miraculous things and propaganda that the religious fervor of the past arose.
But what does this thing have to do with the bronze stupa in front of us?
Could it be that the relics of his Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain are any different?
As if seeing through Jiang Bai's thoughts, Bayantele smiled and said, "Just as you thought, the relics of the experts from the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain are indeed extraordinary."
"You should know that ancient martial arts families in the Central Plains have ice burial coffins, which can seal away dying masters. They use special methods to preserve these masters, hoping to extend their lifespan one day."
"Of course, this is only secondary, and just a dream. Human lifespan is limited. No matter how powerful a master is, he cannot live forever. One day he will disappear into the long river of history and turn into a pile of bones."
"Have you not seen that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors have vanished, and heroes and valiant men have turned to dust?"
"The ancient martial artists of the Central Plains all claim to be descendants of the Human Emperor. Ancient martial arts practitioners were derived from the martial arts of the Human Emperor. But where is the Human Emperor now? He has long since disappeared."
"Even the human emperor cannot withstand the erosion of time, let alone those insignificant descendants of later generations?"
"The ice coffins only keep them from dying. Their ultimate purpose isn't to wait for them to be resurrected one day, but to seal away their finite lives. When the family or sect faces a true crisis, they can be opened to unleash the most brilliant light of these people's final moments, capable of turning the tide..."
"I know all of that."
Watching Bayantler ramble on and on, Jiang Bai frowned, somewhat displeased. Wasn't this just stating the obvious?
Jiang Bai knew perfectly well what the ice burial coffin was for.
Do you really think he's a complete novice who doesn't know anything?
Why would he, Bayantler, need to educate himself here?
"Yes, you know all that, but you don't know the function of these relics."
"Although our Tantric masters do not understand how to make ice burial coffins, there is a reason why we have been able to contend with the Central Plains aristocratic families and ancient martial arts masters for thousands of years, and even occasionally fight against them!"
"They can seal away experts, but we can use secret techniques to allow experts above the Martial King level to condense their cultivation into relics before they pass away, and seal them in this bronze relic pagoda, so that they will never perish."
"They rely on the sealed power of the master Wang Kuanglan, while we can rely on the relics to ensure that our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace will produce talents generation after generation."
"If necessary, several peerless masters can appear at the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain at any time."
These words startled Jiang Bai. These relics were formed from all the power of the high monk before his death.
Does Bayantele mean that... as long as this relic is used, one can absorb the essence and power of the masters within?
No wonder that in this era where unparalleled masters have disappeared, there is still a living Martial King like Abudanzin; it turns out there is this reason.
Tantric masters are able to condense their cultivation into relics and seal them before they die, which is equivalent to passing on their power across generations. When needed, one can take out the relics and obtain their life's worth of power.
If that's the case, then it's indeed quite terrifying.
No wonder the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain was able to compete with the heroes of the Central Plains. Even after losing its supreme martial arts for one or two hundred years, it still thrived and had a living Buddha to suppress the world.
All of this is thanks to the relics inside these bronze stupas.
But...aren't there a few relics?
As if sensing Jiang Bai's confusion, Bayantele gave a bitter smile and said dryly, "The ancient martial arts world has declined, sects and families have declined, and our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace has declined as well."
Chapter 685 The Decline of Ancient Martial Arts
"More than a hundred years ago, although the ancient martial arts world had declined, there were still experts at the Martial King level. Some people were able to reach this level through their own cultivation, and there were more than one person."
"More than three hundred years ago, the Martial King was not called the Martial King, but only the Lesser Star Rank. At that time, let alone the Lesser Star Rank, there was more than one Intermediate Martial King at the Middle Star Rank, and there were even Advanced Martial Kings at the Greater Star Rank."
"Five hundred years ago, there were even experts at the Heavenly Rank."
"A thousand years ago, there were countless masters at the Heavenly Rank. Those at the Lesser Heavenly Rank could not be considered the best; only those at the Middle Heavenly Rank could be considered truly top-tier."
"In ancient times, before Qin Shi Huang destroyed Wu, it is said that even the Great Heavenly Throne was not worth mentioning."
"But nowadays, apart from Yang Wudi, there is no one else who can cultivate to the level of a peerless master on their own. In fact, many people have to rely on secret techniques and sacrifice their own potential to even enter the realm of a top-grade master."
"After several upheavals, the world of ancient martial arts has indeed declined."
"The number of ice burial coffins in aristocratic families has been decreasing. It is said that the Nangong family had a thousand ice burial coffins at its peak, but nowadays... Heh, it would be remarkable if they could produce thirty ice burial coffins. Moreover, I guarantee that most of them are only low-level Martial Kings at the minor star level."
"Lingjiu Palace also declined. During several upheavals in the ancient martial arts world, Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain was not spared either."
"We have lost many masters, causing the transmission of relics to be interrupted, and even our sect's unique skills were lost a hundred or two hundred years ago."
"Moreover, in order to maintain strength and stability, we have to ensure that there is one Living Buddha in each generation to suppress the universe, but the Living Buddha who has used the relics cannot be preserved again."
"This has led to the continuous depletion of our relics. To this day, the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain can only produce about twenty bronze relics."
"Many of them are relics of minor stars."
When he said this, Bayantele was filled with complex emotions. After he finished speaking, his face was filled with bitterness and sorrow. He was heartbroken about the decline of the ancient martial arts world and the gradual decline of Lingjiu Palace.
Jiang Bai remained silent in response. In a distant era, many masters emerged, but for some reason, they all disappeared into the long river of history, turning into nothingness.
The top masters of today might have been just minor henchmen or leaders of a sect in a certain era.
Such a person has now become one of the most outstanding.
This makes one marvel at how quickly the world changes.
"So, entering the treasure vault is actually just about me absorbing the relics inside and using them for my own benefit? Is that how I improve my cultivation?"
Jiang Bai now understood why he had been allowed in, and what the other party meant by promising to improve his cultivation.
At this moment, Jiang Bai hesitated. Things that are too easily obtained always have various flaws, and Jiang Bai did not want to ruin his future path because of momentary greed.
"Yes, but you can rest assured that these relics have no side effects. You just need to hold them in your mouth. They are the purest and most concentrated energy of heaven and earth, and there will be absolutely no harm."
"Of course, relics are not without flaws. Their advantages and disadvantages are equally obvious. The more powerful the master, the stronger the relics they condense, and the more difficult they are to absorb."
"Moreover, one cannot absorb all the energy of a relic; only a portion can be absorbed. As for how much, that depends on individual fortune. Successive Living Buddhas could only use it after raising their cultivation to its peak, taking the opportunity to break through; otherwise, they would only waste the precious relic."
Nodding, Bayantler spoke in a deep voice to Jiang Bai in front of him.
"No problem, just absorb a few more!" Jiang Bai replied without hesitation.
However, he was met with a wry smile from Bayantele, who looked at Jiang Bai and said dryly, "Those who take relics cannot condense relics. Unless absolutely necessary, the experts of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain will not easily take relics."
"Because taking one pill is equivalent to wasting one pill."
"More importantly, it's not that the Living Buddhas don't want to take more to enhance their cultivation; it's that a person can only use it once in their lifetime, and it's useless the second time."
Hearing this, Jiang Bai finally understood why these things were becoming increasingly rare and precious. Just now, Jiang Bai had been thinking that if it were just a simple disturbance, it shouldn't have resulted in the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain having only such a small number of relics left.
Now that I've heard these explanations, I can understand this matter.
"How should I get these relics? Should I just walk over and take them out? Or is there some special extraction method?"
"Furthermore, how do I know which of these relics is better or more powerful? Is it just a matter of random selection, or is there some secret to it?"
Jiang Bai was so tempted by the bronze stupas in front of him that he was practically drooling, and couldn't help but ask anxiously.
"The blood of the Living Buddha is needed, and the Living Buddha has already provided it. Each time blood is dripped, the bronze stupa can be opened once."
"After you leave, drip your blood into the blood groove at the main gate again. Only the blood of the owner of the blood can open the bronze stupa next time. This cycle repeats to prevent anyone from damaging it or being greedy. When you leave, it will be your blood that drips."
Bayantler explained, and Jiang Bai understood. It meant that it was a novel anti-theft system that used blood as a medium, but he didn't know what principle it was made of.
Jiang Bai didn't ask, because it would be pointless to ask.
This goes back to the very beginning of the establishment of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. Those truly top experts, those elites among the ancient martial artists, Bayantele, despite being a Dharma King, was completely clueless about this.
Why should Jiang Bai make a fool of himself?
"As for the selection of relics, the Living Buddha once said that everything is predestined. Close your eyes and feel it. Choose whichever one suits you and calls to you."
Jiang Bai was speechless at this.
"Insights my ass, fate my ass! It's just telling me to close my eyes and guess blindly!"
Jiang Bai closed his eyes and pondered for a long time without reaching a conclusion, so he casually pointed to the oldest-looking bronze stupa in the front row.
Jiang Bai didn't know who had condensed the relic inside. In any case, only someone at the Martial King level or above could condense it, so who it was didn't matter.
Based on the principle that things are more valuable the older they are, Jiang Bai chose the one that looked the most weathered.
Bayantler nodded quietly, then took out a small white porcelain bottle and silently walked to the bronze stupa where Jiang Bai had first set up his house. At the top of the stupa, which was about a meter high, he opened the bottle and poured a small amount of blood into it.
Chapter 686 The True Colors Are Revealed
"Crack!"
After being poured with blood, the bronze stupa emitted a piercing sound, then slowly disintegrated in front of Jiang Bai, eventually turning into a pile of scrap metal and falling to the ground. In its original place, a golden relic appeared before Jiang Bai, radiating golden light and a rich fragrance.
"That's it! Please hurry, we can't delay. Once the relic leaves the bronze stupa, its energy will dissipate rapidly. The longer we delay, the greater the loss!"
Seeing Jiang Bai's bewildered expression, Bayantele hurriedly shouted.
Without saying a word, Jiang Bai rushed out, put a handful of relics into his mouth, and instantly a rich, refreshing fragrance wafted over him.
Fortunately, this was formed from the essence and energy of a master, condensed from their cultivation.
It's not like those high monks who ate too much chlorophyll and the relics were burned from their corpses; otherwise, no matter how good the effects were, Jiang Bai wouldn't be able to bring himself to eat it.
"Hold your breath, concentrate, and circulate your energy!" Bayantele's voice rang in Jiang Bai's ears.
Jiang Bai was taken aback by these words, and then began to do as Bayantele had instructed.
"Remember, don't swallow it! If you swallow it, the energy will dissipate too quickly and you won't be able to handle it. Before you can even circulate your energy, it will burst your body," Bayantler said again.
Unfortunately, it was already too late when Jiang Bai heard these words; he swallowed them subconsciously, and Bayantele hadn't noticed yet.
He didn't dare to explain too much, and quickly began to hold his breath, concentrate, and circulate his energy.
The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill circulated rapidly within his body, as if it had been summoned by some kind of inspiration or driven by some kind of energy, spinning at breakneck speed.
Layer by layer, the power began to circulate rapidly, thousands or even tens of thousands of times faster than before. Jiang Bai felt that his power was increasing rapidly every moment, and he was vaguely about to break through his current level.
Jiang Bai began to drift into a dazed state, and everything around him gradually became blurred.
Consciousness began to fade little by little.
In a daze, Jiang Bai saw Bayantele standing opposite him reveal a strange smile, take out a gleaming dagger from his waist, the origin of which was unknown, its cold light intimidating.
At this moment, it was slowly walking towards him, muttering to itself, "I told you not to swallow it, but you insisted on swallowing it. Now look what's happened, I have to cut open your stomach to get the relic."
Jiang Bai heard these words clearly. He tried to open his eyes, but found that he couldn't stop his eyelids from closing. He wanted to speak, but couldn't open his mouth. As for fighting back, forget about it. He didn't have any strength left.
When the relic was absorbed, it seemed to drain all the power from his body. Now, his cultivation level is constantly improving, but he can't mobilize any of his body's power, making him a lamb to the slaughter.
At this moment, Jiang Bai was filled with regret. When he arrived, he felt that something was not quite right, and he had been wary of Bayantler.
However, when faced with the relic, and the alluring future and advancement it offered, Jiang Bai's emotions overwhelmed his reason. He completely abandoned his guard and eagerly consumed the relic.
Now look what's happened; we've become meat on someone else's chopping block, unable to resist.
"Hehe, I know you can hear me. When you swallow the relic, it will take at least an hour for your five senses to gradually disappear. Although you can't mobilize your body's energy right now, and you can't even lift a finger, you should still be able to hear me."
"Now, are you very surprised? Extremely surprised that the honest and kind King Bayantele would change his attitude at this moment?"
"Aren't you curious about what I want to do?"
"It's alright, don't be curious. Even though you can't speak, you can hear. How could no one know about all the things I've done, and no one have an audience?"
Bayantler laughed loudly, his smile extremely arrogant, but Jiang Bai could no longer see him, only hear him, and could only judge Bayantler's reaction from his words.
That must have been an extremely ferocious and arrogant smile.
"I will now answer your questions one by one. First, I will kill you with this divine weapon in my hand, a treasured weapon of our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace. It can cut through iron like mud. Even if you have cultivated the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and your bones are as hard as diamond, it will be useless. You will be powerless against it."
"I've heard that you have some kind of special ability, which is equivalent to immortality? I wonder if your head could grow back after being sliced off piece by piece?"
These words made Jiang Bai extremely anxious. It was exactly what he feared. If the other party was just holding a weapon and stabbed him to death, he wouldn't be too afraid. Even if he was stabbed through the heart, Jiang Bai was confident that he would recover in no time.
But the other party wants to cut off his head and slice him into pieces?
I thought this was a science fiction novel. At that level, even if Jiang Bai's superpowers were twice as strong, it wouldn't make any difference.
"Of course, before I kill you, the most important thing I need to do is to dig the relic out of your stomach. Damn it, I told you not to eat it, not to eat it... I hate the smell of blood the most, but you still ate it. Now, I have no choice but to cut you open!"
Jiang Bai was speechless. He really wanted to turn this bastard in front of him into mincemeat, but unfortunately he couldn't even move a finger.
He knew this wasn't poison, but a side effect of absorbing the relics. His body instinctively mobilized all its power to absorb the relics, beyond his control, and he was helpless to stop it.
"You must be very curious as to why I did this, why I took the key but didn't come myself, and why I made you come instead of going through an extra step of having you take the relic first, right?"
Bayantler didn't rush to attack Jiang Bai. He seemed to have a deep understanding of the absorption of the relic, knowing it comprehensively and that Jiang Bai was currently powerless to resist, and might even be powerless to resist for a long time.
So he was quite relaxed and didn't rush to kill Jiang Bai or anything.
Instead, he began to talk about his own affairs with great pride, as if he had to get it all out.
"The reason is actually very simple: the Living Buddha is not dead yet! The Living Buddha gave me blood and the key, asking my brother to give them to you. Of course, he didn't do that. Instead, he told me about it first. After all, we are brothers, and we are always of one mind!"
"He told me that the Living Buddha asked me to come here to absorb the relics, so naturally I had to follow him. As for why I didn't leave you behind, the reason is simple: the Living Buddha is still alive. If he's not dead, I wouldn't dare to do this!"
"Although my brother has told me with certainty that the Living Buddha himself said that tomorrow would be the moment of his passing, he hasn't passed away yet..."
Chapter 687 Schemes
Jiang Bai was filled with remorse at that moment.
I was completely careless. What should I do now?
Completely immobilized, he could only stand there and let Bayantler spout nonsense before attacking him.
Imagine yourself becoming meat on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
Jiang Bai felt a slight pang of sorrow.
Jiang Bai wanted to mobilize his power, but unfortunately, although his cultivation level was advancing rapidly, he couldn't move even a single finger.
If things continue like this, it's certain that it will be resolved.
"What? You want to struggle? I advise you not to bother. You absolutely cannot interrupt the absorption of the relic, otherwise all your efforts will be wasted. Not only will you not be able to absorb the energy in the relic, but you will also lose all your cultivation."
"If I forcibly interrupt you, you will be just another piece of meat on a chopping board. You will die without me even lifting a finger."
"Then why bother? Why not listen to what I have to say?"
Jiang Bai did not respond. It wasn't that he didn't want to refute Bayantler's words, but rather that he simply couldn't bring himself to do so.
So all I could do was sit there cross-legged, listening to Bayantele's endless chatter.
You must be wondering why I did this, right?
"It's actually very simple. When Abu Danzeng Rinpoche put Sangena in charge of the overall situation, I already wanted to rebel against them."
"Sangna and I are both among the four Dharma Kings. Why is he able to take charge of the overall situation and become the Living Buddha and leader of the masses in the future? While I, Bayangele, can only become his slave, first the slave of Living Buddha Abu Danzeng, and then the slave of Living Buddha Sangena? Why is that!"
"I believe I am no less capable than Sanghna in any way. My brother is one of the four great Dharma Kings. If the two of us join forces, we will definitely achieve more than Sanghna."
"He's nothing but an old stubborn man who's out of touch with reality and doesn't know how to adapt. What makes him think he can become the master of the Living Buddha? The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain has no future in his hands!"
"But I... I am different. If the Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace is in my hands, it will surely flourish and regain its former glory, unifying the dark world!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai rolled his eyes, thinking that Bayangele was a madman who wanted to unify the dark world.
On what grounds?
While Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is certainly not weak, does that mean everyone there is a pushover?
Are the four great families and numerous sects just going to be slaughtered at will?
Do you really think they're all dead?
While the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is indeed powerful, possessing bronze relics that can cultivate many experts, this number is not unlimited. Their number of top-tier experts is limited, and even if they were to use all the relics, the number of experts they could cultivate would still be limited.
Even assuming the worst, the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain was able to find so many top-tier experts, sparing no expense to use bronze relics to create more than twenty peerless masters, which certainly allowed them to dominate an era.
However, you can't possibly unify the world. If you really push those powerful families and sects too far, they might just fight to the death, opening all the ice coffins to fight you.
Even if they don't do that, and you tolerate it, how long can you be arrogant?
Decades?
Decades later, when these masters grow old one by one, the Lingjiu Palace on the Great Snow Mountain will immediately fall apart without the relics.
How can one stand among the strong if one loses one's last remaining strength?
Therefore, Jiang Bai felt that Bayantele was simply delusional, a madman who thought too highly of himself but lacked foresight.
"Unfortunately, I am powerless to resist. Although I look down on Sangena, his strength is still above mine, and he also has Sisanger by his side to help him. My brother and I have no chance of winning. Besides, the Living Buddha is on his side!"
"More importantly, Sangena seems to have sensed my thoughts. Although there is no evidence, I am certain that he has noticed and is on guard against the two of us brothers, making it impossible for me to do anything."
"I thought I'd never have a chance in this lifetime, hehe, but I never expected you to suddenly appear, which surprised me greatly."
"At that time, I knew my opportunity had come, so I suggested to the Living Buddha that instead of fighting to the death with you to seize the 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill,' we should recruit you. This would not only restore the lineage but also strengthen the power of our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace."
"Although this might break the rules a little, it coincided with the Living Buddha's wishes, which led to what happened later."
"I originally intended to take advantage of the fact that the Living Buddha's body was already weakened, to find an opportunity for Sangnar to deal with you, so that both sides would be injured, or he would kill you, and I would be able to use the Living Buddha's body to launch an attack."
"Sangna came to find you specifically because it was all my arrangement. I performed there for so long, but unfortunately, it all fell apart in the end. The Living Buddha's master suddenly appeared, and Sangna dared not resist anymore."
"More importantly, the Living Buddha seems to have realized something. Although he is not yet clear about the truth, my brother said that the Living Buddha is already somewhat suspicious of what is happening."
"Fortunately, he is already weakened and will pass away in the next couple of days. Even if we doubt him, it will be useless. My brother took the opportunity to speak up, saying that Sangna is too powerful here. Once the Living Buddha passes away, you may not be able to secure your position. He was soft-hearted and broke the rules, so he asked my brother to give you the key in advance so that you can come here to improve your cultivation."
"Originally, you should have been here by yourself, with at least a few elders from the ascetic elders' council guarding the door. Unfortunately, things happened so quickly that the Living Buddha broke the rules, so naturally there was no one to protect him, which gave me the opportunity."
Hearing this, Jiang Bai finally understood that Bayantele and his brother Bayanter were ambitious and wanted to monopolize Lingjiu Palace, no longer wanting to be slaves to others.
So he devised all sorts of schemes, taking advantage of the opportunity when the Living Buddha broke the rules and advanced ahead of him, to plot against himself.
Jiang Bai smiled wryly at this. He had made preparations before coming here to deal with an enemy like Sangena, but he did not expect that the real enemy would be Bayantler, who had brought him here.
No, perhaps it should be said that they are all enemies. All four Dharma Kings are Jiang Bai's enemies, but Sangna is in the open, while Bayantele is in the shadows.
Now, he realized that he had been outmaneuvered by Bayantler.
As for how things will develop in the future, Jiang Bai knows it all clearly. He will wait here until tomorrow, kill himself, absorb the relic, and become a peerless master. Then he will wait for the Living Buddha's passing and then step forward to kill Sangna.
They shift all the blame onto the other party, including their own death.
Then, naturally, he appeared with a glorious and righteous image, leading all the people and becoming the new Living Buddha of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain...
Chapter 688 The Relics of the Legendary Dharma King
All of this seems unstoppable and irreversible.
But that's assuming Jiang Bai doesn't have a system.
"System, is there any way to help me get out of this state?"
Jiang Bai couldn't help but question himself. His greatest reliance now was the system, and it always had been.
Jiang Bai didn't want to use the system unless absolutely necessary, but in the current situation, if he didn't use it, he was afraid he would become a sitting duck, at the mercy of others. So he had no choice but to use the system's help to solve the immediate problem.
"Of course, there are many ways. Great systems can do anything."
"Now you have three options. First, spend 5,000 reputation points and I will help you get rid of your current condition. The absorption will be interrupted, and once your condition is restored, you will not be able to use the Bronze Relic again."
"I won't choose this one!" Jiang Bai refused without even thinking.
It's not that Jiang Bai doesn't have prestige points, nor that he's unwilling to use them; it's just that it's really not worth it.
Five thousand prestige points are just enough to restore me to my previous state...
Jiang Bai was somewhat confident in standing up and fighting Bayantele, but the problem was that he wouldn't be able to absorb the bronze relic afterward.
Jiang Bai didn't know how much energy was inside, but he did know one thing: the energy inside was enough for him to improve his cultivation level of the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique" by more than one level.
How much prestige is needed to advance one level of cultivation?
Jiang Bai didn't do a detailed calculation or check, but he knew that it was hundreds of thousands of prestige points.
Is it all gone now?
How could Jiang Bai accept this? How could he agree to it?
So he refused without even thinking about it.
"Secondly, 50,000 prestige points will help you recover to your previous state and restore the relic, which you can absorb at any time in the future."
Fifty thousand prestige points is a bit expensive; it only helps me return to my previous state. However, it also restored the relic along the way, which I can absorb in the future.
This is much better than the previous choice.
Jiang Bai agreed with the expensive option in his heart, neither rejecting it nor immediately agreeing.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "And what about the third one?"
"Third, I'll give you 100,000 prestige points and help you absorb the relic immediately. It will be done in the blink of an eye. How much you absorb and how much you improve depends entirely on your own fortune. This absorption is just to speed things up. How much you can actually absorb depends on your own talent!"
This choice is undoubtedly the best. Although 100,000 prestige points is a lot, Jiang Bai has only accumulated this much over the years. Is he going to empty his pockets all at once?
Although he was a little reluctant, Jiang Bai wasn't a miser. He believed that prestige points were something you had to get in order to make money. It was only worthwhile to use them when it mattered most.
Is there anything more important than settling the immediate problem?
Obviously not.
"I choose third!"
Jiang Bai thought for a moment and gave his answer. He knew that the system must have other methods, but they were either not cost-effective, had little effect, or were too expensive. In any case, none of them were suitable for Jiang Bai.
So Jiang Bai didn't ask any more questions and directly chose the third option.
"Alright, kid, just you wait."
As soon as the system finished speaking, Jiang Bai's prestige points disappeared. The next second, Jiang Bai felt the energy of the relic in his body begin to dissipate rapidly, recombine rapidly, and merge into his body rapidly.
"Snap!"
Jiang Bai felt the relic he had swallowed explode instantly, turning into mist that emitted energy within his body, which Jiang Bai continuously absorbed to replenish himself.
Unfortunately, his body was like a funnel, leaking energy everywhere. Despite trying his best to lock in the energy, Jiang Bai could feel that he was still losing at least half of his energy.
This is something that can't be helped; Jiang Bai isn't some flawless true body.
The human body naturally loses some energy when replenishing it. Only true masters can lock in a portion of the energy they absorb, but even that is only a portion.
Locking it all in is almost impossible. Jiang Bai couldn't do it, and neither could anyone else. Perhaps it was because the relic had too much energy, or perhaps it was because Jiang Bai's cultivation was insufficient. In any case, a lot of it was lost.
However, Jiang Bai still benefited greatly. As the energy entered, Jiang Bai's true qi entered his body, and the external qi began to be absorbed into his body, eventually merging with his own. Jiang Bai felt the surging dragon and elephant disappear.
It was as if the true veil had been lifted. The dragon and elephant disintegrated, and a ferocious black dragon coiled in its dantian, baring its fangs and claws, and every move it made exuded a destructive aura that rushed towards us.
This filled Jiang Bai with curiosity, because he could already see inside his body and clearly see the changes in his own body, so he could naturally observe the menacing black dragon.
This made him very curious, as the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" had never mentioned such a change.
But he couldn't care less about that now; he was now immersed in the new power.
Jiang Bai's strength has increased at least tenfold compared to before. Whether it's speed, power, or other aspects, he has improved by at least tenfold.
He knew he had entered the ranks of unparalleled masters, and his cultivation level had directly reached the eighth level.
However, this was not the end. Jiang Bai's energy surged and flowed continuously. He did not stay at the eighth level for long before his cultivation level soared to the ninth level.
When the ninth level of stability was reached, the energy of the relic gradually disappeared. At this point, even if Jiang Bai was stupid, he would know that he had found a treasure.
The owner of this bronze relic was clearly not someone at the eighth level of the initial Martial King realm; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to have raised his cultivation to this level.
It should be noted that when Jiang Bai first absorbed the bronze relic, he dissipated at least half or even more of its energy. However, the remaining power still managed to elevate Jiang Bai to the ninth level, making his strength more than a hundred times greater than before.
One can imagine how powerful the owner of this relic must have been.
At his peak, he was probably at least a level ten master, right?
When his cultivation was condensed into a relic, a portion of it would dissipate, and Jiang Bai lost a large part of it when absorbing it. Yet, he still managed to enter the ninth level. If his opponent hadn't been at the tenth level, or even higher, Jiang Bai would have turned his head away.
"Could it be that this relic comes from that Dharma King who cultivated the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu to the tenth level?"
Soon, Jiang Bai had a guess about the identity of the owner of this relic. There were not many people with such strength in the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain. The legendary Dharma King who was said to have reached the tenth level of the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" when he passed away at the age of one hundred was the most likely candidate.
Besides him, Jiang Bai really couldn't think of anyone else who had such cultivation and strength to condense such a powerful relic.
Chapter 689 Filling in the Blanks with Your Own Imagination
However, Jiang Bai couldn't care less about that now.
He didn't delve too deeply into the matter, because he had already opened his heart and said what he wanted to say. Bayantler, who believed he had done enough in front of Jiang Bai, a dying man, was slowly walking towards him with a dagger in hand.
As he walked, he said, "If you have to blame someone for this, you can only blame your bad luck."
"Everything is predestined. Since you have mastered the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill of my Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace, you should be prepared to face the calamity. You are ignorant of destiny and have obtained this thing, yet you still want to keep it for yourself. If you had taken it out earlier, you might have been able to avoid a disaster."
"Unfortunately, you don't have that, so you can only die by my hand."
"What? What if you kill my 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill'? Isn't this your secret manual? You've gone to so much trouble, whether it's the Living Buddha or Sangna, all for the sake of bringing the 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill' back to the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain and continuing this tradition, haven't you?"
"Right now, I'm the only one who knows the complete 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.' I'm curious, if you kill me, what will happen to the 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill'?"
Just then, Jiang Bai suddenly spoke up and asked.
"The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill?"
Bayantele sneered and said disdainfully, "The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is indeed important, and it is the treasure of my Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace. But so what? This thing has been lost for so many years, but our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace is still doing well, and its strength is still formidable."
"Even with the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill protecting you, you've become meat on a chopping block, at my mercy?"
"So I think this thing is completely useless. The Living Buddha and Sangna want it, but that's just old-fashioned thinking. They want to fulfill a so-called century-old wish. But what difference does it make whether they have it or not?"
"In my opinion, the most important thing about the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is not this, but our treasure vault!"
"With this treasure vault in hand, our Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain will be invincible. More than twenty bronze relics, the essence of more than twenty experts above the Martial King level, with them, we have enough experts to suppress everything!"
As Bayantle spoke, his face was filled with satisfaction and pride, his eyes shining as if he were full of hope for the future.
But only for a moment, her smile vanished abruptly. Realizing what had happened, she looked at Jiang Bai, who was still sitting cross-legged, with a panicked expression, pointing at him and stammering, "You...you...how could you...how could you..."
At this point, Bayantler trembled all over, as if he had seen a ghost. Looking at Jiang Bai, his arrogant expression from before was gone, replaced by pure fear.
"How come I can suddenly talk?"
"You're curious, aren't you? I absorbed the bronze relic, and before the absorption was complete, I couldn't move at all. How did I suddenly become able to speak? You're surprised, aren't you?"
Jiang Bai looked at Bayantele in front of him with a smile and said with amusement.
He is now completely different from before; his strength is vastly different from what it used to be.
Just like using a top-tier master to deal with a first-tier master, one can sweep away and crush everything, fighting ten against one. And the same is true for a peerless master to deal with a top-tier master. With a tenfold difference in strength, it is not as simple as fighting ten against one.
Moreover, Jiang Bai is not just a simple peerless master or a low-level Martial King of the minor star level, but a mid-level Martial King of the middle star level with the power of the ninth level. Now his strength is more than a hundred times stronger than before.
A Budanzeng Living Buddha could crush Bayantele as easily as crushing an ant, let alone Jiang Bai.
Let alone Bayantele, even if Abudanzin and Yang Wudi were combined, they wouldn't be a match for Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai has the ability to sweep them away; he can take on ten Yang Wudis at once.
At this moment, Jiang Bai had absorbed the energy of that legendary Dharma King and had truly stood at the highest level of power in this world. He had absolute confidence in his own strength, and spoke with composure.
If he hadn't yet failed to locate the "Assassin's Guild's" stronghold, he would probably have already rushed over and wiped them all out. Once he eliminated them, his strength would reach a new level.
To become that legendary Dharma King or Nangong Wentian, a supreme figure who dominated an era.
He's still a bit short of that social class, but it's enough for him now, since the world is completely different now than it was back then.
Their era was a time when experts were as common as dogs and exceptional talents were everywhere.
The present is vastly different from that era.
Jiang Bai, who has already truly entered the ranks of ancient martial arts practitioners, was bound to be wiped out during the Qin Emperor's era of destroying martial arts. Naturally, he was able to suppress the universe.
"This...this is impossible. No one has the strength to speak when they absorb a relic. It's impossible! Unless you didn't swallow the relic at all! But I clearly saw you swallow it. This is impossible!"
Bayantler looked at Jiang Bai in front of him and said with a panicked expression.
Jiang Bai suddenly spoke, which made him somewhat disoriented.
In just a moment, he regained his footing and looked coldly at Jiang Bai, saying, "You suspected me all along? That was just an act; you didn't actually take the relic?"
In the end, he came up with a reason in his own mind, believing that Jiang Bai had seen through his problem long ago, so he did not swallow the relic, but instead chose to test him and trick him into revealing his words.
The more he thought about it, the more certain it seemed, so all his doubts vanished, and he looked at Jiang Bai with icy eyes.
Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to fight Jiang Bai head-on. As for whether he can defeat Jiang Bai, he is not sure, but he is confident that he is also a top-notch expert and that escaping will not be a problem.
If we can leave this place and find my younger brother as quickly as possible, and join forces to deal with Jiang Bai, we might have a chance of winning.
Even if they were defeated, the two of them could leave calmly, but that would be the worst outcome. They should never think about returning to the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
Jiang Bai smiled bitterly at Bayantele's words and remained silent. He was unwilling to admit that he had just been tricked.
How can I possibly say that?
Jiang Bai was also a little embarrassed.
So they didn't expose Bayantler's speculation, letting him fill in the blanks in his own mind, and didn't intend to say anything about the matter.
"Why waste so much breath? Now, are you going to surrender and come with me to see Abu Danzeng Rinpoche, or do I have to take you there?"
Jiang Bai snorted coldly and said indifferently.