Undying Life

Chapter 221: Shameless!

"Great Luo Cloud Smoke? Princess Qian You?" Hui Guang Arhat's eyes widened in shock.

"Princess Qian You? Not necessarily," the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva shook his head.

"No, it must be Princess Qian You. Great Luo Cloud Smoke is only possessed by the Emperor, the Princess, and the Crown Prince of the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty. Princess Qian You and her people arrived at Yi Yan's mansion first. At that time, Yi Yan was outside welcoming me, and only Princess Qian You's people were inside. She must have planted the poison to force you to save me, hoping you would be defeated by Emperor Na Lan or even perish as a result," Hui Guang Arhat said angrily.

"Hui Guang!" the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva suddenly called out.

"Bodhisattva!" Hui Guang Arhat immediately fell silent.

"You have followed me for so long, how can you still be so impulsive? Even if you see something with your own eyes, it might not be true, let alone something you didn't see at all. The truth and falsehood of the world cannot be determined by biased hearing or superficial sight. To achieve the state of a Bodhisattva, you must see through illusions and not be disturbed by external matters," the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva reprimanded.

"Yes, Bodhisattva. But this Great Luo Cloud Smoke, it's impossible for anyone else to have it. Even if someone did, Princess Qian You is the most likely suspect this time," Hui Guang Arhat argued.

The Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva smiled slightly at Hui Guang Arhat and said, "Even if it was Princess Qian You who poisoned you, what can you do about it?"

"I? I would confront her and make her pay for it," Hui Guang Arhat said angrily.

"Heh, Princess Qian You holds a middle-ranking position in the cosmic hierarchy, just like I do. Although we belong to different systems, within the cosmic order, her status is equal to mine. She represents the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty, and you represent the Pure Land of Bliss. They are not equivalent, and you do not have the qualification to confront her or deal with her," the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva explained.

"Why am I not qualified to deal with her? Bodhisattva, the Pure Land of Bliss and the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty are fundamentally different systems. Why is it not possible?" Hui Guang Arhat protested.

"Whether it's cultivating Feng Shui, accumulating virtue, or gaining fame, although these are different paths, they all fall under the same cosmic canopy and follow the same celestial order. You could confront her, but defying heavenly fate would bring consequences. While you might be able to confront Princess Qian You with your current power, how can you, a being of lower status, claim the right to reprimand one of equal rank? Although there might not be immediate repercussions, the heavens will remember your actions. The cosmos has its own order, and the retribution will come, leaving you with deep regret," the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva admonished.

"But, Bodhisattva, does this mean that higher-ranking individuals can harm lower-ranking ones, and the latter cannot retaliate?" Hui Guang Arhat asked anxiously.

"No. Karma is inescapable. Lower-ranking individuals can retaliate against higher-ranking ones, but they must use similar methods. Only then will the heavens not intervene," the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva explained.

"Bodhisattva, is this really true?" Hui Guang Arhat asked, stunned.

"The cosmic order is maintained with precision, and everything follows the law of cause and effect. Just like how countless monks strive to attain the golden body and true fruition, achieving the state of a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or Arhat is under the protection of the heavens. For example, as an Arhat, you benefit from a threefold acceleration in cultivation, which is one of the advantages of your status. Even with the same level of cultivation, you will receive greater celestial support in battle. You have only recently attained the Arhat status, so you have yet to fully comprehend its benefits. Take your time to understand it," the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva advised.

"But, Bodhisattva, I can let it go, but what about you? When the great battle begins, what if you lose because of your weakened state? Maybe we should call off the fight," Hui Guang Arhat suggested, worried.

The Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva looked at Hui Guang Arhat and smiled slightly, shaking his head. "You should leave now. I need to continue my preparations for the upcoming battle. Do not disturb me any further."

"Bodhisattva..." Hui Guang Arhat began.

"Leave now!" The Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva closed his eyes again, and the light in the hall withdrew back into his body.

Seeing the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva once again in meditation, Hui Guang Arhat could only sigh deeply. He bowed respectfully to the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva, then quietly exited the hall, closed the door behind him, and sat cross-legged outside to stand guard.

Sitting cross-legged, Hui Guang Arhat's face was filled with hostility as he muttered to himself, "Princess Qian You, hmph!"

On the day of Emperor Na Lan's 3,000th birthday celebration.

A grand banquet had already been prepared in the palace. Emperor Na Lan Piao Xue was in seclusion, and above the Sky City, the true dragon of fortune was swaying, with endless luck gathering to form a swirling golden cloud that never ceased to roll and churn.

Early in the morning, before the sky was even light, Princess Qian You led a group of people to the plaza.

"Are you ready? Success or failure hinges on this," Princess Qian You said.

"Yes," everyone responded.

Subsequently, Princess Qian You rode on a cloud, carrying Zhong Shan, Gu Lin, and others, leading the way. Behind her, dozens of officials followed in a grand procession, heading towards the eastern gate of the city.

Under countless gazes, they flew out of the eastern gate and continued eastward. Simultaneously, others were flying eastward just like Princess Qian You and her entourage. The eastern skies were bustling with activity this morning.

Because today was the day of the great battle between Emperor Na Lan and the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva, the battle would take place at Jingtao Sea in the east of the city!

Jingtao Sea is an inland sea, a large reservoir within the lands of Shenzhou.

It didn't take long for the group to arrive at Jingtao Sea. The periphery of the sea was already surrounded by a large number of cultivators. Emperor Na Lan and the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva were top experts of Shenzhou, and the cultivators' anticipation for this battle seemed even stronger than Emperor Na Lan's own. Some had arrived as early as three days before, gradually gathering to witness the event.

The Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty's viewing area was set up in a coastal valley. Camps had been erected in anticipation of Princess Qian You's arrival, and guards from the Da Yu Dynasty had been stationed around the perimeter.

Princess Qian You ignored the crowd as the battle had not yet begun. She directly led Zhong Shan, Gu Lin, and others into the central tent to wait for the start of the battle.

Inside the tent, Princess Qian You briefly set up an array to prevent others from spying with divine sense.

"Sir, how did your intensive breakthrough go these past few days?" Princess Qian You asked with a smile.

"Sigh, I'm still at the fourth level of the Golden Core stage, though I am now at the peak of the fourth level," Zhong Shan said, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

Originally, Zhong Shan had shamelessly packed up the dragon pearl and carried it away after hearing Princess Qian You say it could definitely help him break through. However, despite consuming so much dragon meat and the dragon pearl, and even with the aid of elixirs, he still hadn't broken through to the fifth level of the Golden Core stage.

"Humph," Gu Lin snorted with a trace of ridicule from the side. To him, Zhong Shan's poor innate talent was evident, and he looked at Zhong Shan with disdain.

"It's fine; you've done well enough," Princess Qian You reassured him.

"By the way, what happened these past few days? After Yi Yan framed us last time, has there been any reaction from Hui Guang Arhat?" Zhong Shan asked.

"What framing? Yi Yan didn't frame us at all. Hui Guang Arhat hasn't appeared," Gu Lin sneered.

"Impossible!" Zhong Shan said definitively. It made no sense.

"On the second day of your seclusion, the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva's aura became restrained, no longer showing an aggressive momentum but rather like a boundless river, continuous and unending," Mr. Shui Jing said, frowning as he fanned himself.

"Changing aura before battle is akin to changing commanders on the battlefield at the last minute. This is an ominous sign. Yi Yan wants the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva to die! And then blame it on the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty?" Zhong Shan immediately suggested.

"That is possible, but not certain," Mr. Shui Jing nodded.

"In any case, it's better to be cautious," Zhong Shan said.

"How do we guard against it? Shui Jing and Qian You have considered it. Right now, the truth is still unclear, and even if it is true, what can we do? Can we prevent them from dueling?" Gu Lin argued.

This chapter delves into the complex political and spiritual maneuvers leading up to a significant confrontation. The characters grapple with the implications of divine order and justice, highlighting their differing approaches and concerns. Princess Qian You's calm demeanor contrasts sharply with Zhong Shan's assertive paranoia and Gu Lin's disdainful pragmatism, setting the stage for a highly anticipated battle.

Gu Lin was left speechless, and Zhong Shan's sudden flash of insight lit up his face with a smile.

"You truly are clever, my lord. You've hit the nail on the head. We need to find a way to stop their duel midway," Zhong Shan said with a chuckle.

"Huh?" Gu Lin looked bewildered, unsure whether to feel pleased or frustrated by the compliment.

"Oh? Do you have a plan, Sir?" Princess Qian You asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Indeed, I do. Princess, please call over the ceremonial officer. I have some instructions for him," Zhong Shan replied.

"Very well," Princess Qian You nodded, summoning the ceremonial officer.

Zhong Shan whispered a few words to the officer, whose face began twitching with discomfort.

Seeing the officer's reaction, Gu Lin immediately asked, "What plan did he suggest?"

"Your Highness, he merely asked them to inscribe seven words on the cliff face. As soon as the Great Majestic Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva shows signs of defeat, these words will be exposed to everyone," Zhong Shan explained.

"What words?" Gu Lin asked eagerly, as everyone else also turned their attention to Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan didn't reply, but the ceremonial officer, his face still twitching, said, "Shameless! Taking advantage of others!"

When the officer finished speaking, everyone fell silent for a moment. Shameless? They were going to accuse Emperor Na Lan of being shameless?

Gu Lin gave Zhong Shan a peculiar look, while Princess Qian You smiled and instructed the officer to proceed as planned. Mr. Shui Jing, however, just shook his feather fan and sighed inwardly, thinking, "Indeed, when it comes to being shameless, you outdo even Emperor Na Lan."

"Princess, shall we begin?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Yes," everyone nodded in agreement.

Then, Gu Lin, Princess Qian You, and Mr. Shui Jing each took out a mask, while Zhong Shan quickly smeared some resin and other materials on himself, Ah Da, and Ah Er. Soon, the six people in the tent had altered their appearances and changed their clothes. They were still the same people, but now they were in disguise.

With a stomp, a hole appeared in the floor.

The group quickly descended through the hole. This tunnel had been dug by the people of the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty several days ago. It didn't lead to the back of the mountain but extended under the sea to a secret location.

They exited the valley and quickly made their way back towards Sky City.

Once in the city, Princess Qian You turned to Zhong Shan and said, "Sir, we'll rely entirely on you for the Heavenly Prison."

"Princess, rest assured. Once everything is set, follow the route I've outlined," Zhong Shan replied.

"Very well," Princess Qian You nodded.

With that, Princess Qian You, Gu Lin, Mr. Shui Jing, and Ah Er took one path, while Zhong Shan and Ah Da took another. They split into two groups and headed in different directions.