Chapter 991: Meng Jingzhou, Becoming More and More Fated with the Buddhist Kingdom

The more Lu Yang reflected, the more 그는 realized the immeasurable value of the Elixir of Dispassion. It was a sublime draught capable of focusing the mind and elevating one’s efficiency to the utmost; it could even cure afflictions of the spirit, and if a cultivator were to partake of it, it would aid them in slipping swiftly into deep meditation.

“By the way, Master, do you happen to know why the Cult of Unfeeling sought to develop this Elixir of Dispassion in the first place?”

“It appears that a high-ranking member of the Cult here in our Buddhist Realm chanced upon your second senior brother, Patron Lu. They were so utterly exasperated by his conduct that their cultivation base nearly shattered, and they required the Elixir of Dispassion to restore tranquility to their mind.”

“What a monstrous waste of a heavenly gift! Such a magnificent creation, used merely for that?”

Lu Yang shook his head in pity. The mental fortitude of these high-ranking cultists was truly pathetic. First it was his master, and now his second senior brother—how was it that any random person could so easily break their composure?

“Does the Three-Eyed Ghost Monk possess the recipe for the Elixir of Dispassion?”

Master Duanchen shook his head. “I know not. Judging by their memories, the recipe is a closely guarded secret of the Cult of Unfeeling. I fear even the elders who assigned them their mission remain ignorant of its components.”

Lu Yang let out a soft sigh, deeply disappointed. He had harbored every intention of seizing the recipe, unlocking the true potential of the elixir, and turning a handsome profit on behalf of the Cult of Unfeeling. Yet the Cult refused to grant him such an opportunity, showing absolutely no deference to him, the prospective Young Cult Leader.

“Though this immortal knows not the recipe, I happen to know which herbs are required to brew the Elixir of Dispassion.”

Lu Yang was thoroughly astonished. “Amanita, you possess such a talent?”

The Immortal Amanita placed her hands on her hips, basking thoroughly in Lu Yang’s amazement, her head tilting so high her nose almost pointed to the heavens. “But of course! In order to forge my peerless boxing techniques, this immortal conducted exhaustive research into the medicinal properties of all herbage.”

Lu Yang suddenly recalled. The fairy’s martial arts were derived from health-preserving boxing, which included the Arhat Fruit Style, the Croton Seed Style, and the Paraquat Style. Indeed, without a profound understanding of herbal properties, such feats would have been impossible to manifest.

“Let this immortal see… inside this Elixir of Dispassion, there is licorice, Three-Soul Flower, Bodhi leaf…”

In a single breath, the Immortal Amanita rattled off more than a hundred varieties of herbs, precisely detailing their exact proportions.

“As for the refining technique, that is beyond my sight.” The Immortal Amanita was not well-versed in alchemy, having never dedicated much study to the craft.

“However, refining pills and cooking food share essentially the same principles. It is nothing more than tossing stones and herbs into a pot and heating them with a fierce fire. This immortal can study the raw ingredients of this Elixir of Dispassion; if I stir-fry them into a dish, the effects should be identical. Oh, wait, the effects will undoubtedly be even superior.”

“Though this immortal cannot fashion an Elixir of Dispassion, I do know how to prepare the Rice of Oblivion. Ying Tianxian and the others fell fast asleep after consuming a single plate. Upon waking, they forgot whether they had even eaten, so this immortal prepared another plate for them. When their memories were particularly poor, they could devour over a dozen plates at a time.”

“Severing passion and losing memory must surely share a common root. By drawing analogies, a person of this immortal’s immense talent will surely decipher it in no time.”

“That is quite enough.” A cold sweat broke out across Lu Yang’s skin as he hastily put an end to the Immortal Amanita’s train of thought. This level of assistance was more than sufficient; any further aid would surely invite mortal peril.

When the day came that they captured the high-ranking cultist who had been driven mad by his second senior brother, they might as well feed him this Rice of Oblivion. Serving him a splendid final meal could hardly be considered ill-treatment.

To have an immortal cook for you was a staggering stroke of fortune that countless souls could only dream of.

Though the exact alchemical recipe eluded them, discovering the constituent herbs of the Elixir of Dispassion was undeniably a boon.

To refine the elixir on a grand scale, the Cult of Unfeeling would inevitably purchase or cultivate these herbs in vast quantities. This clue might well enable Senior Brother Dai to trace their movements and uncover the cult’s hidden sanctuaries.

Yet, a hundred varieties of herbs was an excessive number. How many times would he have to perish just to convey this intelligence?

…

The Temple of the Western Heaven.

The sovereign of the Buddhist Realm, Abbot Mingyu of the Temple of the Western Heaven, held his prayer beads in hand, gazing upon his guest with a calm, aloof detachment that brooked no intimacy.

“Daoist Brother Jiang Qun, our temple has already been apprised of the matters concerning the Cult of Unfeeling. We shall naturally dispatch monks to every city and monastery to conduct a thorough search, root out these villainous cultists, and restore purity to our Buddhist Realm.”

“Could it be that Daoist Brother Jiang Qun lacks faith in our realm’s ability to manage the affairs of the Cult of Unfeeling?”

The officials who accompanied the First Prince, Jiang Qun, frowned in secret. It was evident that the Buddhist Realm regarded this as an internal affair, entirely unwilling to permit the Great Xia to intervene.

If your Buddhist Realm were truly capable of handling it, would it have fallen upon our Great Xia cultivators to uncover the cult’s traces?

Our cultivators discovered them within a mere few days of arrival, yet how is it that your realm has noticed nothing over all these years?

Abbot Mingyu was likewise beset by a sense of helplessness. Though the Central Continent had witnessed the rise and fall of three dynasties, the Buddhist Realm had stood resolute throughout, possessing its own foundational reliance. Yet this reliance could not be exposed, and cooperating with Great Xia risked bringing it to light.

Diplomacy between two nations, particularly when involving deep cooperation, demanded adherence to protocol. Upon learning of the Cult of Unfeeling, the Great Xia had dispatched the First Prince, Jiang Qun, as their envoy to negotiate the terms of collaboration.

Regrettably, they had encountered a formidable obstacle at the very first step.

The officials watched the First Prince intently, curious to see how he would respond.

The First Prince offered a faint smile, as though he had long anticipated this reaction from the Buddhist Realm.

It was only reasonable. To hunt for the Cult of Unfeeling would necessitate a sweeping search using divine sense, which would essentially turn the entire Buddhist Realm upside down—a proposition no ruler would ever accept.

“The Cult of Unfeeling is naturally an internal matter of the Buddhist Realm. For our Great Xia to meddle would indeed be a transgression. Our Great Xia has always prided itself on upholding the rules, and we would never overstep our bounds. Thus, our Great Xia has devised an excellent solution.”

He drew a parchment from his storage ring and commanded an attendant to present it to Abbot Mingyu.

“This is a formal petition penned by the honorable Elder Meng Junzi. He states that he has long yearned for the Buddhist Realm and has ever wished to join its ranks and take refuge in the Dharma. Regrettably, a fitting opportunity never presented itself. He wishes to seize this very occasion to enter the Buddhist fold, and hopes that Abbot Mingyu will grant him this chance.”

“Surely, once Elder Meng Junzi joins the Buddhist Realm, his involvement in resolving the matter of the Cult of Unfeeling can no longer be considered a transgression by the Great Xia.”

…

“What utter nonsense! Our entire Meng clan has collectively converted to Buddhism?” Meng Jingzhou was utterly dumbfounded upon hearing the news, his hand shaking so violently that his spoon clattered loudly against his plate, rendering the vegetarian fare before him entirely unappetizing.

How could he be halfway through a leisurely journey in the Buddhist Realm, only to suddenly discover he had become a citizen of it?

I merely came here for a holiday!

“As the saying goes, a nickname is never given in error; you truly share a predestined bond with the Buddhist fold, Buddha’s Son Meng.” Upon hearing this intelligence, Lu Yang, who had been resting on the edge of the bed, burst into such uncontrollable laughter that he rolled backward onto the mattress.

After laughing for a good while, Lu Yang finally grew weary. Taking pity on Meng Jingzhou, he sought to divert his companion's attention and patted him on the shoulder. “Come now, think no more on your conversion to the Buddhist Realm. Let us take a stroll outside to refresh your spirits.”

As the grand festival of the Bathing of the Buddha drew near, the city of Kaihuang grew visibly more boisterous. Mortals and cultivators from distant lands were flocking to the city in droves, and portraits of Lu Yang and his companion had even been affixed to the city gates as a form of grand advertisement.

Though Lu Yang could not shake the unsettling impression that the posters resembled wanted notices far more than promotional flyers.

Be that as it may, their features were now widely recognized by the populace, necessitating a disguise should they wish to venture out.

Pressing thin, delicate masks onto their faces, the two youths transformed into entirely different countenances and quietly departed from Kaihuang Temple.