Ti flows like water, always slipping away unnoticed.
In the blink of an eye, two years have passed, and Qingzhou has increasingly co under the influence of the Ghost Ridge Palace during this ti.
The originally chaotic order is steadily improving, and the people are living peacefully.
Various righteous sects initially found themselves pressured by the martial might of the Ghost Ridge Palace, but in the days that followed, they gradually realized the benefits of cooperation with the palace and began to actively involve themselves.
Unlike the stability in Qingzhou, the Da Li Dynasty has experienced several large-scale civil disturbances over these two years.
In the north, the Divine Eagle Empire’s cavalry moved south, invading endlessly, with warfare engulfing Jinzhou and Lianzhou, consuming nurous spiritual veins fudi and other resource-rich areas, as horse hooves trample over thousands of miles of fertile land.
Countless civilians were captured and massacred, indeed leaving dead bones exposed in the wilderness, and silence over thousands of miles without the sound of roosters.
To the west, the Western Regions Countries had the Mahayana Buddhism proclaiming profound Buddhist Law, attempting to convert the masses.
In the east, Overseas Immortal Sect also crossed the Sky Do via their magic boat under the guise of forging friendships through Dao, suppressing many young talents of the Da Li Dynasty.
Not to ntion within the Da Li Dynasty, where natural and man-made disasters, harsh levies, floods and droughts, and the land consolidation by powerful landlords have left countless civilians displaced and holess.
These affected civilians either fled their hos or turned to banditry, simultaneously inciting nurous uprisings and rebellions both large and small.
Although the Da Li Dynasty retains capability with high-level martial forces, easily suppressing these civilian rebellious armies, the ongoing uprisings have greatly weakened the dynasty’s vitality.
This has increasingly revealed the signs of the dynasty’s decline in these two years.
Amidst such tumultuous tis, on an official route leading to Fuqing City in Southern Jingzhou, Guangyuan Prefecture, the sound of hooves echoed as a convoy approached.
About a hundred people comprised the convoy, vastly differing from the martial arts warriors and escort agency configuration typically seen in the Jianghu.
The attire and deanor of the convoy participants were starkly different from those of the Da Li Dynasty.
They wore loose monk robes, so with shaved heads bearing the mark of abandonnt, a person stood at two ters tall, exuding a fierce aura, while others rode cals or walked barefoot.
On closer inspection, it can be discerned that these cals are not re beasts but spiritual beasts tad by humans.
Although those barefoot monks just walked on two legs, they proceeded several yards with each step, appearing to shrink the ground to inches and unmistakably displaying Secret Realm cultivation.
At the center of the convoy, there stood a Dragon Elephant towering five yards high, with skin like rocky terrain, adorned with Dragon Scales on its head, bearing a trace of True Dragon Bloodline.
Yet this Dragon Elephant, currently manipulated by soone, carried a palanquin inscribed with nurous Sanskrit symbols on its broad back.
"How far is it to Fuqing City?"
A single arm lifted the palanquin’s curtain, revealing a young monk clad in white robes inside.
He appeared young, with a complexion more delicate than most won, possessing an androgynous beauty, even his smooth bald head couldn’t conceal his charm that could enthrall many amorous maidens.
"Reporting to the Holy Monk, we have about half an hour’s journey left."
A bald, robust monk standing nearly two ters tall, with a gruff voice, replied. Despite wearing monk robes, he exuded a fierce aura, resembling more a ferocious brigand than a compassionate monk.
"Speed up, let’s not keep our friend waiting."
The young monk spoke softly and let down the palanquin’s curtain as the convoy continued its journey.
Half an hour later, the convoy arrived at Fuqing City.
Fuqing City, a border city in Jingzhou, was rely two hundred miles from Qingzhou, and also lay on the official route to Chongzhou, less than fifty miles away from Chongzhou.
By the official route in Fuqing City, there were already people waiting there.
Bang!
Suddenly, the Dragon Elephant seed to sense danger and swung its snout while emitting a loud sound.
The terrifying soundwave was akin to hundreds of teors crashing down, instantly turning the earth ahead into riddled ground, ejecting soil several yards high.
However, amidst such a terrible soundwave, a purple long ling rose upstream and directly entwined the four legs of the Dragon Elephant.
Roar!
The Dragon Elephant, possessing a Daoist Platform Realm First Layer cultivation, roared repeatedly, trying to exert mountain-toppling strength but failing to break free from the purple long ling’s restraint, struggling fearfully and unsettlingly, causing series of tremors on the ground while monks nearby fell to the ground filled with shock and anger.
"Silence!"
Suddenly, a cold voice erged from the palanquin atop the Dragon Elephant.
Accompanied by the sound of wooden fish being struck, the frantic Dragon Elephant instantly quieted down.
The palanquin’s curtain was lifted as the fair-skinned youth monk erged, joining his hands in prayer towards the front, smiling and saying, "Master Qin, I wonder what has offended you. There’s no need for anger."
His voice, like golden beads clashing, was as refreshing as a spring breeze, yet bore a subtle charm that nearly compelled one to bow down and submit instantly.
As he spoke, a golden bowl appeared in his hand, and the purple ribbon restraining the Dragon Elephant’s four legs was imdiately pulled by a powerful suction, flying towards the golden bowl.
"Why are you Western demon monks not staying in Da Li City but coming to the south?"
In the woods, a graceful figure appeared without anyone knowing.
She wore a white long dress, her face covered by a thin veil. Even with only half her face visible, her skin was as white as jade, captivating and alluring.
She raised her jade-like hand, her snow-white wrist gesturing.
The purple ribbon imdiately danced in the air, breaking free from the golden bowl’s strong suction, flying back like a spirit snake, and winding around her slender waist.
"Amitabha, it seems that Master Qin has many misunderstandings about us. Moreover, where we want to go is not under Master Qin’s jurisdiction, is it?"
The young monk maintained a courteous attitude, not getting angry at the woman’s derogatory address.
The other accompanying monks were not so calm, many glaring angrily, clearly displeased with the term ’demon monk’.
"I am the Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall of the Heavenly Patrol Departnt, overseeing the Western Four Continents. Since you hail from the Western Regions, tell how I, Qin Yushang, could not be involved."
The woman’s voice was icy, her gaze at the group on the opposite side filled with a strong warning.
"A Yiti Jialuo, I advise you to retreat swiftly."
The cold voice intensified, a storm-like murderous intent swept, causing many monks present to change color, and even the Dragon Elephant had to take several steps back, very fearful.
The Heavenly Patrol Departnt is a special institution established by the Da Li Dynasty to investigate all directions, slay monsters and demons, and cleanse those troublemakers including cultivators and sects.
The Director of the Heavenly Patrol Departnt is recognized by the Da Li Dynasty as a Great Power at the Purple Mansion Realm level, with four halls: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Xuanwu under its command.
The Heavenly Patrol Departnt recruits experts nationwide, or selects children with talent for cultivation at a young age to train, using the power of the entire country for supply. The halls have many experts, especially each hall’s master, who stands at the pinnacle of the Daoist Platform Realm.
The woman claiming to be Qin Yushang is the White Tiger Hall Master, undoubtedly powerful. Just the exposure of her murderous aura is hard for many monks at the Secret Realm to bear.
A Yiti Jialuo was not afraid of Qin Yushang’s aura, descending from the Dragon Elephant’s back and crossing the void. With each step, white lotus blossoms appear in the air, and the vegetation below flourishes, thriving with life.
"Amitabha, Master Qin might want to see this before considering whether to stop ."
Reaching into the golden bowl, A Yiti Jialuo took out a yellow scroll of imperial decree and opened it.
Instantly, Qin Yushang’s crescent-shaped Liu i furrowed deeply, for this yellow decree represented the Da Li Royal Family.
"This is an imperial decree personally penned by your Emperor of Da Li. I wonder if you recognize it, or are you saying the authority of the Heavenly Patrol Departnt exceeds that of the Da Li Royal Family?"
A Yiti Jialuo’s face bore a slight smile, as if prepared.
Qin Yushang’s aura gradually dissipated, coldly saying, "I don’t know how you tricked the decree, but fine, I will follow you to see what tricks you are playing."
A Yiti Jialuo’s smile diminished sowhat, saying, "Master Qin’s relentless pursuit, now that Da Li City is teeming with clouds, that should be your destination, following a poor monk will only lead to suffering."
"That’s not your concern, the decree does not prohibit White Tiger Hall from following. You are unfamiliar with the place; I, as the White Tiger Hall Master, will ensure your safety to avoid danger and disgrace the country."
Qin Yushang remained unmoved because she knew what kind of nature the opposite group had.
As the White Tiger Hall Master, stationed in the Western Four Continents of the Da Li Dynasty, A Yiti Jialuo and his group ca from the direction of the Western Regions. Their identity is the Holy Sect jointly established by the Sixteen Western Countries, known as Esoteric Buddhism.
On the surface, everyone worships the Buddha devoutly, but having been to the Western Regions, Qin Yushang knew very well the situation in the Sixteen Western Countries under Esoteric Buddhism - saying they were brainwashed, with their people turned into walking dead, would not be an exaggeration.
In front of her, A Yiti Jialuo, as the new generation Holy Monk of Esoteric Buddhism, is the rising star of Esoteric Buddhism in recent years.
Originally, they ca to the capital, Da Li City of the Da Li Dynasty, under the guise of exchanging Buddhist Zen. Now, they suddenly headed to the southern part of the Da Li Dynasty, an area unrelated to Esoteric Buddhism, Qin Yushang is unsure of their true intention, but it is certainly not a good one.
"Amitabha, since Master Qin is willing to escort us, then I’ll trouble you."
Seeing Qin Yushang’s attitude, A Yiti Jialuo turned and walked back to the Dragon Elephant’s back.
"Don’t let catch your flaws."
Qin Yushang withdrew her gaze, unable to intervene since the other party held the imperial decree.
Moreover, the Da Li Dynasty was in turbulent tis; offending Esoteric Buddhism recklessly, if they were to wage war against the Da Li Dynasty, it would be like another bleeding wound for the Dynasty.
So even if Qin Yushang knew the other party had ulterior motives, she had to restrain herself, unable to directly resort to force.
Leaving these final words, Qin Yushang turned around.
Just at this mont, a gentle breeze blew, brushing her veil aside, revealing half of her face.
One could catch a glimpse of the delicate curve of her nose and her tender lips, her skin like that of a freshly peeled egg.
Unfortunately, this divine visage was swiftly covered again by the falling veil. Qin Yushang lightly swung her dress, purple energy below transford into a colorful, fierce tiger, carrying her away from sight.
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