Saro Immortal Domain, Mirror Moon Zen Forest Main Altar.
In the secret realm behind the sect, amidst the endless cluster of Buddha towers, the sound of chanting filled the air, and Dao Rhyme permeated everywhere, with a gentle golden Buddha light enveloping everything.
Miao Xin, dressed in splendid attire and adorned with precious jewels, held a long-necked jade bottle in her hand, strolling leisurely. Behind her followed a group of celestial maidens, each noble and beautiful, their beauty unparalleled.
“…Now that the Buddha Lord has taken the supreme position, how does she plan to adjust the various affairs within the sect? Please instruct us!”
Beside Miao Xin, a woman in a snow-white robe, with a national beauty and heavenly fragrance, spoke respectfully. Though she was dressed as a nun, she still practiced with her hair, her long black hair tied into a bun with a green jade hairpin, her plain face exuding an indescribable allure.
Miao Xin pondered for a moment and gently shook her head, “The previous host managed everything very well. I am new here, so it’s not appropriate to make significant changes. For now, let’s keep things as they are. Moreover, for our Buddhist sect, the most urgent matters are twofold: dealing with the Magic Clan tribulation and forming the most solid strategic alliance with Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace.”
The woman asked thoughtfully, “The main reason for allying with Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace is probably because of Qing Muling, right? I heard the ancestors value him highly and plan to win him over at any cost. Forgive my dullness, but I don’t understand the deeper meaning.”
A few days ago, after the return of the founding ancestors of the Buddhist sect, they made a series of adjustments to the major policies within the sect. Miao Xin, who was already designated as the future leader of the sect, was arranged to take charge of the Mirror Moon Zen Forest, a Supreme Dao Lineage.
Qing Muling had mentioned to Miao Xin before that the Buddhist sect in the Great Void was different from other Dao Lineages in terms of internal unity, even more so than the Female Cultivator Alliance before its establishment.
The Buddhist sect, led by the Great Brahma Temple, also governed four Supreme Dao Lineages: Mirror Moon Zen Forest, Dragon Elephant Celestial Maiden Palace, Infinite Life Palace, and Immovable Bright King Temple. Additionally, there were countless smaller Dao Lineages, families, and Immortal Dynasties, making it a colossal power second only to the Dao Court.
Among them, Mirror Moon Zen Forest and Dragon Elephant Celestial Maiden Palace were purely female cultivator sects, mainly composed of nuns, though there were also secular female Buddhist cultivators. As for Infinite Life Palace and Immovable Bright King Temple, they were entirely composed of monks.
The Great Brahma Temple had both monks and nuns, with numerous divine abilities and lineages, making it the most powerful of the five Supreme Dao Lineages and the undisputed leader of the Buddhist sect, commanding the other four.
Miao Xin’s master, Mo Xuan Venerable, originally planned for her to inherit his mantle and lead the Great Brahma Temple. However, the returning ancestors seemed to have sensed something and made a different arrangement a few days ago, appointing Miao Xin to lead the Mirror Moon Zen Forest, making her the leader of this pure female Buddhist sect.
“The ancestors’ intentions need not be hidden from you.”
Miao Xin walked leisurely, with one Buddha tower after another slowly receding behind her. She gently caressed the jade bottle in her hand and spoke softly:
“Last time, I instructed you to select a group of the most outstanding women from the sect, accelerate their training with the time-accelerating formation, and invest massive resources in their cultivation. How is this matter progressing?”
“This matter is easy. It has been handled properly. All suitable candidates and backups have gathered at the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, waiting for the Buddha Lord to personally review and select them,” the woman said.
Miao Xin nodded slightly, “Very good. The Dragon Elephant Celestial Maiden Palace should be finishing soon as well. In a few months, I will go to Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace to discuss the alliance with the Sect Master and Xinyu Emperor.”
Her confidants exchanged glances. After a long while, a lively and charming girl in red blinked her bright eyes and frowned, asking:
“Senior Sister! Last time, you visited with utmost sincerity but were still turned away. Now you want to go again. What’s the point? Even if their Female Cultivator Alliance is stronger than us, we don’t need to flatter them like this, right? With so many ancestors returning to support us, who do we need to fear?”
As one of the superpowers in the Great Void, the female cultivators of the Buddhist sect naturally had their pride, which was understandable. In the past, no power was worth such attention from them, not even the Dao Court.
Miao Xin smiled and gently stroked her junior sister’s waterfall-like hair, saying, “You are not wrong, but the rapid rise in strength and fortune of the Female Cultivator Alliance is all because they found the child of fortune of this era, an anomaly in the river of destiny. Whether the Great Void can safely pass through the tribulation depends on him!”
“Is it that Qing Muling? I heard he is indeed extraordinary, but his true origins might be even more remarkable. Those female cultivators, who usually disdain men, treat him like a treasure. Could it be because…” the girl in red pondered.
A sect that hadn’t accepted male disciples for millions of years suddenly took in a male disciple and even groomed him as the future leader. The decision-makers of these major powers would undoubtedly suspect hidden reasons.
Recalling her past encounters with Qing Muling, Miao Xin said softly, “He is indeed very special, which is why even the returning ancestors value him highly. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent me to lead the Mirror Moon Zen Forest. If we can gain his approval, our Buddhist sect will surely flourish in both realms!”
Since Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace was composed of female cultivators, the ancestors and the high-levels of the Great Brahma Temple decided that Mirror Moon Zen Forest and Dragon Elephant Celestial Maiden Palace would handle all interactions with the Female Cultivator Alliance to gain their trust and dispel their inherent wariness.
Thus, the real intention behind the ancestors appointing Miao Xin to lead the Mirror Moon Zen Forest was to facilitate cooperation with the Female Cultivator Alliance. Sending a group of monks to negotiate with Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace would have been futile.
Compared to the domineering arrogance of the Dao Court, the Buddhist sect’s ability to understand and navigate human nature and worldly affairs was indeed superior.
Given the past friendship between the Great Brahma Temple and Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, Miao Xin believed that even if the visit didn’t go perfectly, they wouldn’t return empty-handed.
The red-clad girl pursed her lips and asked softly, “I read in the sect’s secret records that when Qingyao Immortal Venerable established Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, our Buddhist ancestors helped her a lot. Does this favor still count after so many years?”
“The rumor is true,” Miao Xin said with a smile, “As long as the person is still there, the favor remains. When our founding ancestor meets her, I believe she won’t shamelessly deny it.”
“So, Junior Brother will surely be satisfied with our arrangements!”
The celestial maidens around her nodded in agreement.
…
In the chaos of the vast void.
The rapidly flying starship slightly adjusted its direction according to Qing Muling’s guidance, accelerating and disappearing into the depths of the surging tides.
“Junior Brother, how confident are you?”
“Five or six out of ten, but with multiple simulations, it should be eight or nine out of ten!”
“Very good, let’s proceed as you suggested!”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable said with satisfaction. This was the domain of the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus, and with his intervention, the effect was unmatched by any other great power.
Qing Muling pondered for a few moments, once again manifesting the shadow of the Blue Lotus, extending it beyond the starship’s light barrier into the chaotic tides.
Immediately, he felt a mysterious connection with the vast chaos, not only feeling closer but also significantly enhancing his perception of the surroundings, as if a thick curtain had been lifted, revealing the various scenes within the chaos.
He could now vaguely sense the positions, numbers, and approximate strengths of the chaotic beings lurking nearby, allowing him to decide whether to hunt or avoid them.
In the farther regions, many strange chaotic beasts were hunting and killing each other, their torn flesh quickly dissipating in the violent tides, leaving nothing behind.
Since the main goal was treasure hunting, Qing Muling had Qingyao Immortal Venerable adjust their direction to avoid the chaotic beasts whenever possible, saving time and only engaging when necessary.
After an unknown amount of time, the starship passed through a massive chaotic vortex, and the scene before them left even the experienced Qingyao Immortal Venerable astonished.
A jade ruyi, over ten thousand feet long, blood-red and pure like beautiful jade, with countless mysterious Dao patterns faintly appearing, floated quietly in the void.
The jade ruyi was enveloped in dozens of layers of radiant light, exuding a gentle yet indescribably majestic aura, like a high and mighty deity, with an ancient and rich Dao Rhyme.
“…Twenty-six layers of radiant light? Does that mean this Innate Spirit Treasure has twenty-six innate Harmony inscriptions? It’s almost comparable to the Li Feng Star Cloud Tower in our sect!”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable exclaimed in surprise and joy. She hadn’t expected that the first time Junior Brother took action, he would find such an excellent top-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, far exceeding her original expectations.
When was the last time she found a treasure of this level? It must have been over a dozen Yuanhui ago.
“Something is coming, let’s deal with it first!”
Qing Muling said, projecting a scene from the depths of the tides to Qingyao Immortal Venerable.
It was a hundred-mile-tall, pitch-black, agile and monkey-like beast, with a shriveled body and over a dozen long claws, each holding a hideous blood-red bone spike, and four large, pale eyes fixed on the starship.
This creature’s strength was close to that of a Quasi Holy Emperor with two severed incarnations, wrapped in thick black clouds, silently approaching at an incredible speed.