Soon, as Ananda sat atop the platform outside Tiandu and lectured, numerous citizens gathered around and unwittingly fell into his teachings, becoming devout followers. The news reached the Crown Prince and King Huai in the palace.
"What?!"
Upon learning this, the Crown Prince instantly flew into a rage and ordered, "Send someone immediately to drive that young monk away!"
The order swiftly passed out of the palace, but it wasn't long before news came back.
The mission had failed; they couldn't drive Ananda away because, by the time the Royal Sword Guard arrived in the outer city, Ananda had already attracted hundreds of citizens with his Buddha's light, turning them into his most devout followers.
Seeing the Royal Sword Guard trying to drive Ananda away, those commoners were the first to resist, knowing that these people had been beguiled by Ananda, yet they were helpless to stop it.
Even Ananda had once said, "I open my lectures to benefit the people; why is Da Xia unwilling—is it a guilty conscience?"
When this message was relayed back to the palace, the Crown Prince's face turned ashen. He looked at King Huai, not knowing what to do, and asked, "Uncle, what should we do now?"
According to the reports coming back, the number of followers Ananda now had in the outer city of Tiandu was increasing steadily. The street was practically packed with people, completely clogged up.
King Huai's brows furrowed slightly; something seemed to have crossed his mind as he said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, that young monk could very well be the reincarnation of a living Buddha from the Great Snow Mountain Dragon Elephant Buddhist Sect."
Seeing the Crown Prince's puzzled face, King Huai explained what reincarnation of a living Buddha meant.
After listening, the Crown Prince became even more anxious and exclaimed, "Uncle, what should we do? If he continues to lecture for several days in a row, all the citizens of Da Xia Tiandu might become his followers!"
King Huai remained composed and said, "Your Highness, do not panic. The young monk's cultivation is not profound enough; even if he is the reincarnation of a living Buddha, he is limited by his cultivation and cannot take in too many followers."
There are many millions of inhabitants in Tiandu alone; how many can Ananda, with his modest cultivation, truly take away?Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Besides, as some people leave, others come. Da Xia governs thirteen provinces and has countless citizens under its rule.
But the Crown Prince did not see it this way. Influenced by the Emperor of Xia, he believed that every citizen was vital to Da Xia, which is why he felt such urgency but could think of no effective solution and was simply fretting.
"Uncle, don't we have any means to counteract him in our great Da Xia?"
Upon hearing these words, King Huai slightly shook his head; the reincarnation of the living Buddha was something he had only heard about, after all, it had been two hundred years since the last one.
The special nature of the reincarnation of living Buddhas was also something King Huai had only heard about, and today he was seeing it for the first time, which piqued his interest somewhat.
...
Time passed swiftly, and before anyone realized, it was noon. By that time, the area around the platform outside Tiandu where Ananda was situated was packed with an ocean of people, filled with citizens.
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Among them were some Royal Sword Guards and some martial artists from the jianghu who did not believe in superstitions, who, after arriving, were converted by the Buddha's light emanating from Ananda.
Zha Jiedunzhu, a robust figure with brown pupils and long robes, his hair interwoven into braids, stood at a distance, observing the scene with a hint of a smile on his face.
At that moment on the platform, Ananda ceased his chanting. Seeing that the time was right, he spoke loudly, "I kindly ask you to spread the word: Ananda comes from the Great Yuan, traveling thousands of miles to Da Xia, wishing to experience the martial arts of the Central Plains and see how they differ from Great Yuan's martial arts.
It is widely known that there are numerous experts in the Central Plains, and Ananda would like to take this opportunity to ask for instruction."
Ananda usually didn't talk much, but that didn't mean he couldn't speak.
Once he said this, those devout followers who had been converted by the Buddha's light quickly spread the word, and soon, the entire Tiandu was abuzz with the news.
It wasn't long before martial heroes from jianghu arrived, and hearing of Ananda's fame, many wanted to make a name for themselves by challenging him.
As expected, Ananda stood there motionless, and the attack of the martial artist bounced off his slightly luminescent body, sending the attacker flying back on themselves.
This is why martial artists at the Gang Qi Stage are far stronger than those at the Vajra Stage.
Of course, this aspect did not significantly improve Gu Chen because his body had reached the indestructible state of Vajra, which was extremely tough. Although Gangqi tempering had minutely increased the strength of Gu Chen's body, he still undertook the refinement, following the principle that even the leg of a mosquito is flesh.
After all, to enhance the physique to his level was no easy task anymore.
In the cave, as Gu Chen slowly opened his eyes, two beams of light shot from them, dazzling, lighting up the pitch-black cave as if it were day.
At this moment, Gu Chen had officially become a martial artist at the Gang Qi Stage, having reached the realm of Inner Gangqi.
The next instant, with a thought from Gu Chen, the panel appeared before his eyes.
Name: Gu Chen
Martial arts: Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill (Beginner), Burning Vein Finger (Perfected, can be deduced), Phantom Traceless Step (Perfected), Light Shadow Sword Skill (Beginner), Condensing Pulse Sword Wave (Perfected, can be deduced)
Internal cultivation: Pure Yang Wuji Gong
Cultivation: 340 years
Realm: Early stage of Gang Qi Stage
Mastery Points: 20
Looking at his cultivation level on the panel, Gu Chen secretly clicked his tongue. His astonishing 680 years of internal energy cultivation, with the help of the panel, was converted into Gangqi, which shockingly halved in quantity, now only 340 years.
Although he had made a breakthrough in realm, his cultivation had diminished, but this was the normal situation.
Because this is true for every martial artist who breaks through to the Gang Qi Stage; though the quantity is reduced, the quality is greatly enhanced.
It seemed as though his cultivation had decreased, but Gu Chen's overall strength had increased manifold since reaching the Gang Qi Stage and transforming his internal energy into Gangqi.
Now, facing Wujian, the top ranking assassin from the Black List of the Blood Vest Tower, even without relying on the Divine Weapon Blood Shadow Sword, Gu Chen could fight him, and possibly defeat and even slay him!
It could be said that reaching the Gang Qi Stage greatly elevated Gu Chen's abilities.
At this moment, looking at the 20 points of mastery value remaining on the panel, adhering to the principle of not wasting, Gu Chen directly converted them into 20 years of cultivation, which emerged within his body.
Instantly, Gu Chen's cultivation reached 360 years, and his Gangqi also increased by a small margin.
Having reached the Gang Qi Stage, Gu Chen's next goal was to cultivate an exotic type of Gangqi!
Having witnessed the powers of Chen Yu and Wujian's exotic Gangqi, Gu Chen had a deep understanding of its might.
He also wanted to know if, with the help of the panel, he had the chance to cultivate exotic Gangqi.
This time, to break through to the Gang Qi Stage, Gu Chen had secluded himself for over half a month, during which he did not eat or drink, leaving a bland taste in his mouth.
He planned to return to Qiongtian City as soon as he emerged from seclusion and then indulge in food and drink, rewarding his temple of organs.
Gu Chen now somewhat understood why the Da Xia Emperor could undergo seclusion for a full twenty-three years.
The further one advanced on the path of martial arts, the harder it was to make progress in cultivation; hence, martial artists would sometimes seclude themselves for long periods.
Upon reaching the Innate Stage, a martial artist could go without eating or drinking without any issue because at that time, they would have unlocked the mysteries between heaven and earth and could absorb the vital energy of heaven and earth to sustain their bodies.
Not far from the seat of Linyang County, Gu Chen quickly made his way back.
At this moment, upon learning of Gu Chen's return, Wen Ziyun immediately sought him out, let out a breath of relief, and said, "Lord Gu, where have you been during this time? I've been searching for you everywhere. Do you know that a major incident has occurred in Tiandu!"