Maitreya?
The old Daoist had no visible reaction, his eyes rely deepening as he stared at the big-bellied monk before him.
The history of the Current World was fragnted, and Lu Xuan didn't know much about it. During his years in the Spring and Autumn Period, he had been entirely focused on spreading his teachings and providing disaster relief. What little he learned was about the Immortal Gods of the Five Directions Celestial Court, with no ntion of the Buddhist Sect.
Lü Niangrong, at his side, didn't give it much thought, assuming it was just a coincidence. Her gaze remained fixed on the growing number of thugs from the three chambers of comrce appearing in all directions.
Only Zhao Zheng felt a chill run down his spine.
He didn't worship Buddha, but as a future, predetermined Monarch of the Qin Kingdom, he knew a thing or two. He wasn't as oblivious as Lü Niangrong and understood the current prestige and reputation of his own adoptive ancestor...
Therefore, Zhao Zheng understood that the big-bellied monk before them, who called himself Maitreya, was very likely—very, very likely—that Buddha from the Buddhist Sect!
Maitreya Buddha!!
A Buddha was equivalent to an Emperor of the Celestial Court, a supre and magnificent Existence standing above the Celestial Realms, at the level of Daluo!
Zhao Zheng's scalp went numb.
At that mont, all the people on the long street had vanished without a trace. In their place, thugs and Cultivators from the three rchant families erged from every street and alley, a dense and nacing crowd.
"This is trouble."
The hairs on Lü Niangrong's body stood on end as she said in a low voice,
"Brother Zhao, I didn't an to drag you into this. These people are from the three great chambers of comrce; they must be after ... You all leave first. I'll hold them off. As long as I cause a big enough commotion, my people from the Lü Family Chamber of Comrce will notice!"
Zhao Zheng, holding the oblivious Lu Jianxue, gave a wry smile. 'Trouble?'
'These so-called underlings from the chambers of comrce? How could they possibly be considered trouble?'
'The real trouble...'
He subconsciously glanced at the big-bellied, fat monk. The monk's face was wreathed in a brilliant smile, yet it also held a solemn, dignified air—a sense of joy intertwined with purity.
Zhao Zheng swallowed hard.
anwhile, Lu Xuan's hands were hidden in his wide sleeves. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the fat monk and slowly asked,
"How could re mortals possibly constitute a bloody calamity for ?"
The fat monk fiddled with a string of one hundred and eight massive, ancient Buddhist Beads, his smile unfading.
"They could be, or they could not be. It all depends on a single thought from , and a single thought from you, Benefactor."
"What do you an by that?"
"Daoism and Buddhism share the sa origin. I can see that you and I are fated to et, Benefactor. Why not convert to the Buddhist Sect? Rest assured, in the heavens beyond heavens, the supre ones are busy fighting amongst themselves and have no ti to spare for the Human World. Besides, a certain Treasure Cloth is obscuring the sun and clouds. *That one*... he can't see what's happening here, he can't see..."
"You have quite the thods... What, are you standing up for the West Pole Celestial Heaven?"
"Not at all, not at all. You, Benefactor, are an 'uncertain variable.' You are fated to et , and fated to et the Buddha!"
As the two of them conversed in a placid, non-committal tone, Zhao Zheng was sweating profusely. Lü Niangrong, who remained vigilant and scanned her surroundings, was completely bewildered by their conversation.
'What in the world are Daoist Lu and that fat monk talking about?'
She couldn't understand a word, but she tensed her body like a tigress ready to pounce. At so point, a longsword shimring with a watery light had appeared in her hand.
Lü Niangrong said in a low voice,
"Daoist Lu, don't waste any more words on that fat monk. He's probably with those chambers of comrce. The three of them must have planned this for a long ti, preparing to strike all at once..."
She paused, stroking the body of her sword and drawing a clear ringing sound from it, then added,
"I'll hold off the enemy. Daoist Lu, you take Brother Zhao and Little Jianxue and leave. With here, you'll be safe!"
Despite his terror, Zhao Zheng couldn't help but find Lü Niangrong's words amusing. Looking at the proud young woman before him, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Naturally, Lu Xuan didn't respond to Lü Niangrong. He just stared silently at the fat monk, his body suffused with Virtue, while the twelve hundred strands of fortune within him churned.
The fat monk's hands moved faster as he fiddled with his Buddhist Beads. He spoke in a low, haunting voice,
"Benefactor, you needn't try to stall for ti. My Treasure Cloth is no ordinary item. Those three have had their attention drawn away. It will be ten days to half a month before they notice the cloth's concealnt... So, Benefactor, please take your ti and consider my offer."
Lu Xuan didn't answer. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Though his expression remained unchanged, a storm was already brewing in his heart.
'According to this monk, my three masters are occupied, competing or warring with soone, so they have no attention to spare for this place... Is it another Dao Fruit wielder?'
'In that case, is this monk before an Upper Celestial Venerable of the Celestial Realms, or a Daluo who has attained Eternal Proof and can walk through the annals of history,'
'or is he...'
'a Supre Venerable Above Daluo, one who occupies a great seat of the Dao Fruit?'
Lu Xuan's heart pounded.
Ti passed, and the atmosphere on the long street grew heavier. The Cultivators, however, made no move, rely watching like tigers stalking their prey.
Lü Niangrong held her longsword, which shimred with a watery light. The hair at her temples was damp with sweat, and her expression was incredibly grim.
The Lü, Bai, Duanmu, and Fan Families were collectively known as the four great chambers of comrce in the world.
The Lü Family was led by Lü Buwei, the Bai Family was headed by Bai Gui, the Fan Family revered Fan Li as their Venerable Lord, and the Duanmu Family was guided by Duanmu Ci. All four leaders could be called a Great Power—either a True Immortal or soone with thods comparable to a True Immortal!
In the past, there had only been minor friction between them. Their open conflicts and secret struggles were limited to the lower ranks, and the four sides all shared a basic understanding.
But now, for these three families to make a move against her, ant they were tearing away the last shred of pretense!
Lü Niangrong's mind raced, and more sweat beaded on her forehead.
'Following that line of thought, if I'm not mistaken, this incident probably isn't confined to Jiangling. Outside of Jiangling, these three families have likely launched a simultaneous attack on the Lü Family—and on my father!'
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