Chapter 461: Chapter 240: Crossing Tribulation as a Team (Part 2)
The status of the temple cannot be shaken, so where will the taxes come from?
Only by cleverly creating names, collecting various harsh taxes, can the exploitation of the bottom-tier commoners be achieved.
Xu Qing understood this deeply, and upon seeing the gold and silver stored in the Ruyi Temple and the hundreds of thousands worth of grain, he understood a principle.
It’s said that those who work in transport, commerce, and innkeeping should be punished even if innocent. But in his view, it’s the large temples and monasteries that truly deserve eradication, with monks who do not produce any goods and false monks who occupy large lands.
When idle, these fake monks and false monks eat people overtly!
After plundering Baiyun Daoist’s belongings, Xu Qing simply performed rituals and erected an altar in the latter’s house, communicating with heaven and earth.
Karma cycles, and retribution is inescapable.
Baiyun Daoist enjoyed killing and harming others, seizing their estates. Now separated in body and head, all the assets were taken by others—truly the embodiment of retribution.
Xuan Yu, seeing Xu Qing worship heaven and earth, also followed suit by offering incense and bowing.
Demons enjoy worshipping deities, hoping to gain divine protection. Those facing tribulations are especially devout.
Hence the saying: sharpening one’s spear before battle, even if it’s too late, is still beneficial.
"What is the Profound Jade Immortal Family praying for?"
Just as Xu Qing planned to perform the Seeking Immortal Magic, he turned to see a little girl behind him, hands clasped together, muttering with eyes closed.
"I am praying for divine protection."
Xuan Yu opened her eyes, glanced at the cloudless sky, and then looked at Xu Qing.
"The demonic energy on me is becoming harder to suppress, Xu Immortal..."
Just as Xuan Yu wanted to say more, a chaotic sound suddenly emanated from outside the Ruyi Temple.
Xu Qing squinted to see a monk riding a donkey backwards and an abbot in kasaya entering the temple.
Behind them were twelve martial monks resembling Arhats, each with vigorous energy and all were Martial Masters in the Condensing Gang Realm!
Xu Qing observed indifferently. After Baiyun Daoist used the parent-child Buddha Beads to signal for help from Cizhao Temple, he had been waiting for these monks to arrive.
But there had been no movements, making him think Baiyun Daoist’s magic was ineffective. Little did he expect the monks to come now.
Abbot Ding Guang looked compassionate, his gaze swept over the ruined great hall, showing neither joy nor anger, but Xu Qing heard the suppressed fury in this old monk.
"I, monk Ding Guang, am the abbot of Cizhao Temple. Does the benefactor know who destroyed this Ruyi Temple and where Baiyun Temple Master is now?"
The expressionless Xu Qing suddenly grinned, whispering like a demon: "I toppled the Ruyi Temple, and killed the abbot’s younger brother. Light Butt Monk has come just in time for his brother’s funeral."
His words caused an uproar among the monks.
The abbot’s brother was a highly secretive matter within Cizhao Temple; those elders in-the-know besides being on Ding Guang’s side had long become dust.
Abbot Ding Guang, hearing Xu Qing’s mockery, did not anger at the notion of Baiyun Daoist’s death. He even exhaled a sigh of relief.
Only when Xu Qing exposed his relationship with Baiyun Daoist did he truly ignite his fury.
"It’s often said a father’s traits are reflected in his sons. Indeed, Abbot Ci Zhou bore a Light Butt abbot and a Baiyun Daoist. Now Light Butt abbot privately fathered six children—a greener blue surpassing its source."
Xu Qing chuckled: "The abbot position can rightfully be passed to his offspring in the future."
Through Baiyun Daoist’s memories, Xu Qing learned many secrets, including Ding Guang’s sordid private life.
Baiyun Daoist used these secrets to frequently extort his brother.
Ding Guang cherishes his reputation, fearing a fall from the ’virtuous monk’ pedestal, hence was forced to indulge his brother and clear his messes.
Now with Baiyun Daoist dead, Ding Guang finds relief, but hearing Xu Qing expose his scandals, he cannot remain seated!
Always maintaining a merciful mien, the abbot now appears sinister, akin to a demon.
"You kill and sin, spewing lies. Even if Buddha himself were here, you would not be forgiven. Today, I shall act on behalf of heaven and eliminate you, that satanic heretic!"
Xu Qing remained indifferent. He approached Xuan Yu, who sat cross-legged before the altar, trembling and deathly pale.
"Xu Qing! I can’t hold on anymore, leave here quickly!"
"Don’t worry, Xuan Yu, just focus on what you need to do. Don’t worry about me."
Beside him, Ding Guang abbot’s nameless anger burns hotter, seeing the youth and girl unbothered.
"Brother Jing Hai!"
Summoned, Monk Jing Hai showed a woeful face.
"Elder brother, I am not well today, not suitable to lift a prohibition..."
Jing Hai Monk has suffered greatly since crossing paths with Xu Qing days ago; his luck soured.
Seeing the demolished Ruyi Temple and Baiyun’s death, he knows he’s facing an expert!
His tricks on Xu Qing’s steed seemingly had no effect, instead, somehow Xu Qing’s methods brought Jing Hai ill fate, even hindering his meditation.
Xu Qing was surprised Jing Hai Monk arrived unscathed. He planted a wisp of Fetal Obscurity from the Fetal Obscurity Pearl on him—from Hundred Infant Tower at the nunnery.
Many infants in the tower were killed in the womb, becoming vengeful spirits.
These spirits died unjustly before being born, carrying extreme resentment, the fiercest of all spirits.
A regular person touched by the Fetal Obscurity would die violently, akin to being called by death itself.
Even a Cultivator with century-old prowess would suffer greatly from its torment.
Yet Jing Hai Monk seems unaffected, proving his profound mastery!
Ding Guang didn’t accept Jing Hai’s plea; humiliated by Xu Qing, it was time to show strength, hence he wouldn’t allow Jing Hai to retreat.
Forced, Jing Hai dismounted his donkey, playing with Buddha Beads, chanting sutras while approaching Xu Qing.
Xu Qing calmly watched the approaching monk.
With each step Jing Hai reached, a bead emitted golden light, his chanting growing louder.
Xu Qing counted steps, reaching sixteen when most beads lit up; from a distance, he clearly felt the magical power from them.
The beads posed a severe threat to Zombies.
Yet Xu Qing remained still, until all eighteen beads glowed and chanting crescendoed, then he suddenly smiled.
Jing Hai Monk halted.
He looked down as the sunlit ground suddenly darkened.
Puzzled, Jing Hai looked up, and Ding Guang also noticed, glaring at the sky, the vast thunder clouds gathering, lowering.
In an instant, a spark flashed and thunder roared.
Ding Guang abbot’s face changed: "Thunder disaster? Someone’s tribulation!"
Jing Hai’s grip tightened, unable to deal with people, looked at Xu Qing’s side, seeing dense demon energy from the girl at the altar—a five-hundred-year-old demon!
Now, caught in the center of tribulation, closest to the girl, Jing Hai already targeted by the thunder disaster.
No human or demon can near another’s tribulation, lest judged by heaven.
Jing Hai monk’s defenses collapsed, enraged and shocked.
Lunatic! This is lunacy!
In his eyes, Xu Qing protected the girl, willing to suffer under thunder disaster, wanting mutual destruction!
Monks realizing the grave situation turned and ran; one didn’t clear the temple before struck into ashes by dark thunder.
Indeed, Fetal Obscurity Pearl was less potent than him.
Xu Qing sighed wistfully, ignoring the monks, looking skyward, smiling peacefully.
Luckily, only dark thunder.
Having faced divine thunder trials before, Xu Qing now appeared calm and collected.