It was ti for the daily Imperial Council.
The mbers of the Silver Frost Envoy arrived at the Imperial Court. All the civil and military officials stared at the slender, handso, white-robed monk standing in the center.
"Amitabha Buddha! This humble monk is Jiang Shan. Greetings, Chief Minister."
Jiang Shan placed his palms together and bowed deeply.
The Chief Minister of the Cabinet, Yuan Xuangang, maintained a calm expression. He couldn’t help but ask, "Esteed envoy, have you co to our Great Yan representing the Emperor of Great Frost, or the Silver Frost King?"
Jiang Shan smiled faintly. "The Silver Frost King, of course."
At these words, the officials’ expressions varied. Most of them watched the white-robed monk with cold eyes, feeling that he had ill intentions.
The Silver Frost King had now unified Great Frost, and his prestige was imasurable; the Emperor of Great Frost was rely a figurehead. Under these circumstances, if he wanted to befriend Great Yan, he could have just overthrown the emperor and declared himself the new ruler. Why take this extra, convoluted step? This seed more like a probe than a gesture of goodwill.
Whether he was friend or foe would depend on the sincerity he showed.
"This humble monk has co from the Western Land, bearing the Great Frost National Treasure, the Buddha’s Relics. We hope to receive an official writ of recognition from Great Yan. The Silver Frost King has always admired Great Yan, so he has specially sent here to make a transaction."
"It’s actually the Buddha’s Relics..."
"There are very few Buddha’s Relics left in the world today. Could it be one of the Seven Ancestors’ Relics?"
"It must be..."
This topic quickly ignited the court, and the ministers were clearly very interested in the Buddha’s Relics.
As everyone knew, a Relic was an object ford only after a High Monk passed away. It contained a vast amount of rit Power, the culmination of a Buddhist Cultivator’s lifeti of Great Aspiration Power and Dao Practice. They were extrely rare and precious, possessed extraordinary power, and had always been regarded as treasures of the Buddhist Sect.
One could say it was the concentrated essence of a lifeti of Cultivation.
The stronger the Buddhist Cultivator, the more powerful the Relic ford after their death.
Among them, the most precious were the Buddha’s Relics.
Anyone who could be called a Buddha was without exception a Fourteenth Realm existence. Only those at the Fourteenth Realm were qualified to be called an "Ancestor."
And the Seven Ancestors’ Relics held an even more unique significance. He was the seventh Buddha in the history of the Buddhist Heaven, not just any ordinary Buddha.
When the Seven Ancestors fell, he transford into thirteen thousand Relics. Over tens of thousands of years, most of them had disappeared. Very few remained in circulation among the people. Obtaining even one could bring unparalleled benefits.
One could even obtain the residual Buddhist Dao Fortune left behind by the ancient Buddha.
Only now did the officials realize the depth of Jiang Shan’s sincerity.
’Could he really be here to show goodwill?’
They all grew suspicious.
Even Yuan Xuangang was slightly surprised. He questioned, "An item of such value... is the Silver Frost King certain he will not regret this?"
"Naturally, there are no regrets."
Jiang Shan smiled lightly.
Hearing this, Yuan Xuangang began to ponder.
’This treasure should be of great benefit to the Holy Emperor.’
’It’s no less valuable than the Taoist Sect’s Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng Fruit or the Confucian Temple’s Saint’s Antiques. All are treasures that can extend one’s life and carry great Destiny.’
’This transaction is worth making.’
After thinking it through, he nodded and said, "I can agree to this transaction on behalf of the Holy Emperor. If you require an investiture docunt, that is not a problem either."
At this mont, Jiang Shan, who had been smiling, seed to realize sothing. His smile beca faint as he said, "Before I present the treasure, there is sothing I must inform the Chief Minister of."
"Please speak, esteed envoy."
"The Buddha’s Relics are a supre treasure of the Buddhist Sect. They cannot be claid by one who is not destined. His Highness the Silver Frost King is naturally willing to part with it, but Great Yan must also be qualified to receive it. I imagine for a great nation like Great Yan, this shouldn’t be an issue, correct?"
These words carried a profound, hidden aning, causing the expressions of the Cabinet Ministers and all the civil and military officials to shift again and again.
Yuan Xuangang narrowed his eyes and said coolly, "And what if no one is qualified?"
Jiang Shan replied politely, "Then it can only an that Great Yan has no affinity with my Buddha, and no affinity with the Relic."
His words were forthright and perfectly calm, yet everyone detected a hint of provocation, one that was particularly subtle.
The aning seed to be: ’I’ve offered the treasure. Whether you have the ability to take it is up to you.’
Within the Cabinet, an intense, unseen discussion had already begun on another channel.
"This monk is being disrespectful! He’s showing contempt for Great Yan’s national prestige! He should be thrown into the dungeons to await trial!"
"Such behavior proves he’s here to test Great Yan! We can’t let him get away with it. The Silver Frost King is going too far!"
However, Wang He’fu sent a ntal transmission to the other Cabinet mbers: "This white-robed monk, Jiang Shan, is no ordinary person. He is a Direct Disciple from the Seven Ancestors Lineage. He is also the foremost expert of the Buddhist Technique in the Great Frost Dynasty today, having reached Twelfth Realm Perfection. He is destined to beco the Silver Frost King’s Imperial Tutor."
"It is said that he once passed through an Ancient Battlefield teeming with Ghosts and Evil Ghosts and saved the souls of four hundred thousand lingering spirits. His rit Golden Light is at Perfection, and he has already begun to construct his Buddha’s Golden Body ahead of ti. Though he is at the Twelfth Realm, his power is comparable to the Thirteenth Realm. He is not soone to be provoked."
Yuan Xuangang’s gaze was serene. "I never expected the Great Golden Cicada Temple to produce such a capable individual. Even Master Celestial Dragon of the Great Celestial Dragon Temple cannot compare to him."
He himself had engaged in Fulong for thirty years and had yet to find an opportunity to break through to the Thirteenth Realm. This man was barely a hundred years old, yet he already possessed such ability. He truly could not be underestimated.
Wang He’fu nodded. "The Buddhist Heaven is very powerful, it just lacks influence in Great Yan. The entire Great Frost Dynasty believes in Buddhism, as do hundreds of surrounding smaller nations. The worship they receive is imnse, no less than that of the Great Yan Confucian Temple."
At present, Great Yan could not afford to tear off all pretenses with the Silver Frost King and start a war.
Prince Zhenbei had already opened a new battlefield in the Northern Realm. If they were to also open a western front against the Great Frost Dynasty, the drain on the nation’s resources from fighting two countries would be astronomical.
"Quiet."
Yuan Xuangang pressed his hand down through the air, and the court fell silent. The many ministers did not dare to speak further, instead staring at the monk in the center with cold eyes.
He asked in a deep voice, "I wonder what the esteed envoy ans by ’destined’?"
Jiang Shan replied, "The Buddha’s Relics contain a Buddha’s entire life of Dao Practice. Although its power has waned over the long years, the energy contained within is still astonishing. Only a person who holds the Buddha’s Will in their heart and possesses a Zen Heart can gain the Relic’s acknowledgnt and beco its master."
"Holds the Buddha’s Will in their heart and possesses a Zen Heart?"
Many ministers began to ponder this requirent.
’The white-robed monk’s aning is clear: only soone who stands with Buddhism will be considered qualified.’
’His goal isn’t to gain Great Yan’s recognition, nor is it to provoke us. He wants to leave a seed of the Buddhist Technique in Great Yan so that he can sow it here in the future.’
’In other words, he wants to expand the influence of Buddhism in Great Yan and is looking for a qualified person to be its representative.’
’With the Buddha’s Relics in their possession, that person would naturally gain the support of many Buddhist Cultivators. After all, this Relic is a national treasure in Great Frost and an item that all monks under heaven dream of obtaining.’
After this explanation, Chief Minister Yuan Xuangang’s gaze swept over the ministers. He announced in a loud voice:
"Gentlen, does anyone wish to try?"
A clamor of discussion arose, but no one stepped forward. Many were afraid of embarrassing themselves. They admitted to themselves that they had no so-called Buddha’s Will. They were scholars, all of whom were striving for a high-ranking official career and a stable life. How could they believe in the Buddhist Family’s set of beliefs about karma and causality?
"Why don’t I give it a try?"
In the Imperial Court, Champion Marquis Huo Qing stepped forward, volunteering himself.
"Please."
Jiang Shan opened his fingers, revealing a brilliant golden bead. In an instant, the entire Saint Ming Hall was enveloped in Buddha’s Light. Everyone felt a lightness in their bodies, as if their bodies and minds had been cleansed, and an indescribable sense of joy washed over them.
It was truly one of the Buddha’s Relics.
Only the Buddha’s Relics could have such an effect.
So people began to feel regret. Why hadn’t they been more proactive? Now the Champion Marquis had seized the first opportunity.
’What if he makes the Relic acknowledge him as its master right away?’
Jiang Shan took a step back, ceding the spot to the Champion Marquis.
Huo Qing stepped forward. Looking at the Buddha’s Relics hovering in the air, he couldn’t help but marvel at the power contained within the bead.
He tried to open his Martial Acupoints to absorb the Buddha’s Relics.
But no matter how hard he tried, there was not the slightest reaction.
His brow furrowed. He reached out to touch it, to grab it, but was pushed away by a faint, warm power.
One must understand that with his Martial Arts Realm, while he couldn’t claim to look down on all Martial Artists in the world or have reached the apex of the Martial Dao, he could still easily sweep through an army of three thousand armored soldiers with just himself and his horse.
Seeing this, Jiang Shan smiled faintly. "It is a pity. This General has no affinity with my Buddha."
Huo Qing was neither arrogant nor impetuous. He could only accept this fact. He gave a slight salute with his hands and retreated.
In the ti that followed, a number of other officials also made an attempt to claim the Buddha’s Relics.
Without exception, they all failed.
Even the Chief Minister, Yuan Xuangang, could not do it.
Many officials were secretly frustrated and humiliated.
They felt this white-robed monk was just stirring up trouble for no reason.
Perhaps he was secretly controlling the Buddha’s Relics from behind. Deep down, he probably had no intention of offering the treasure at all; he was just using the pretense of presenting a gift to humiliate Great Yan.
Jiang Shan retrieved the Buddha’s Relics, placed his palms together, and smiled calmly at the Cabinet Ministers.
"If Great Yan agrees to grant the investiture docunt, then my words will remain valid for one month. As long as soone can claim the Buddha’s Relics, this Great Frost National Treasure will be gifted to Great Yan. What are your thoughts, Chief Minister?"
At the sa ti, he looked at the ministers’ shifting, uncertain gazes and the corners of his eyes curved up. "Rest assured, everyone. This Relic is absolutely masterless. Even this humble monk must use a special technique just to contain it; I cannot manipulate it. This humble monk can at least guarantee that much."
"How can one prove they are qualified?"
Yuan Xuangang questioned.
Jiang Shan answered, "As long as soone can gain the Buddha’s acknowledgnt, the Relic will enter their body and rge with them. This cannot be faked."
Yuan Xuangang pondered for a mont, then turned to a Secretary of the Secretariat at his side and said, "Draft an edict. Summon the Three Academy Cultivators and all cultivators under heaven. Whoever can claim this item, the Court will reward them handsoly."
"The deadline is one month."
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