Chapter 9: The Abbot of Great Void Temple and Gu Tiangang

[You glimpse the radiance of the Great Void Buddha's lotus platform, and your mind is slightly affected.]

[You have absorbed the power of Buddhist vows. Reversal points +3.]

Mind?

Chen Yi snapped back to his senses, discreetly observing his surroundings.

When the brilliance of the lotus platform shone upon the area, the expressions of everyone within Great Void Temple were serene and harmonious. Gentle smiles graced their lips, as if they were devout followers immersed in worship.

Even the two-year-old Chen Yuan beside him wore the same expression.

Some pilgrims had already fallen to their knees, palms pressed together in prayer, murmuring mantras under their breath.

Seeing this, Chen Yi frowned slightly. He quickly lowered his head, pulling his tiger-head hat down further to avoid drawing attention to himself.

He had no idea what this so-called "Great Void Buddha" was all about.

However, judging by the expressions of those around him, it was clear that the appearance of the lotus platform and golden light inspired deep devotion to the Buddha within them.

However, this sense of devotion seemed to be merely an aftereffect of the Buddha's manifestation.

The real focus was still on the "Great Void Buddha" himself!

"All things are void, yet karma remains—this is the essence of the Great Void."

At that moment, a Buddhist chant echoed from the main hall. The voice was ethereal and distant, resonating through the entire mountain and reaching across the capital prefecture.

Chen Yi felt as if a gentle breeze had brushed past his ears, and the thoughts in his mind were quietly wiped away by the chant.

[You hear the Buddhist verse sung by the abbot of the Great Void Temple. Your mind is slightly affected.]

[You have absorbed the power of Buddhist vows. Reversal points +5.]

Again?!

Is Great Void Temple planning to ensnare everyone on the mountain and turn them all into devout followers?

Just as Chen Yi grew secretly annoyed, a thunderous shout echoed from afar, shaking the heavens:

"Bald monk, stop these manifestations at once, or don't blame me for intervening!"

In an instant, everyone snapped out of their trance, exchanging bewildered glances.

"Was that thunder?"

"No, that was the voice of Daoist Master Gu Tiangang from the Taixu Dao Sect!"

"So, the earlier Buddhist chant was from the abbot Kongjing of the Great Void Temple?"

Kongjing, the abbot... Gu Tiangang...

Chen Yi had certainly heard of these two names and knew well the weight they carried.

According to the Records of the Capital Prefecture, Kongjing, the abbot of the Great Void Temple, was the leading figure of Buddhism in the Wei Dynasty. He had once single-handedly fought off several eminent monks sent by the Western Continent's Buddhist Kingdom.

Whether in Buddhist philosophy or martial arts cultivated within the Buddhist sect, his prowess left those monks utterly humiliated.

As for Daoist Master Gu Tiangang, he was equally extraordinary.

The Taixu Dao Sect, to which Gu Tiangang belonged, was not the most prominent Daoist sect within the Wei Dynasty, but it was still a revered cultivation sanctuary sought after by aristocratic families and nobles.

However, unlike Great Void Temple, the main headquarters of the Taixu Dao Sect was not located within the capital prefecture; what they had here was merely an auxiliary branch.

Gu Tiangang was also the vice sect master of the Taixu Dao Sect. In terms of power, status, and influence at court, he was no less formidable than Abbot Kongjing.

Moreover, it was said that Gu Tiangang had an eccentric temperament and rarely associated with the aristocratic families and nobles of the capital.

He would even turn away members of the imperial family and nobility, refusing to meet them without hesitation.

Who would have thought that the manifestation at Great Void Temple would provoke his intervention...

"Master Tiangang, please don't take offense. Today, our Great Void Buddha has descended, and I apologize for any disturbance caused," Abbot Kongjing said calmly.

Before he could finish, Gu Tiangang interrupted with a harsh rebuke:

"Kongjing, you bald fraud! Spare me the nonsense. Don't think I'm unaware of your temple's schemes!"

"I advise you to keep things in check and focus on training your so-called 'Great Void Buddha' properly—lest he dies on Mount Taizhou, bringing disgrace to your temple!"

"That won't be necessary, Master Tiangang. We can manage on our own," Kongjing replied, unperturbed.

"Hmph, you'd better..." Gu Tiangang sneered in response.

Once everything quieted down, the celestial phenomenon triggered by the Buddha's descent gradually faded from the sky.

However, its impact lingered.

The pilgrims at Great Void Temple, in particular, were still caught up in fervor, as if invigorated by an intense rush of energy. Their faces flushed with excitement, and they shouted enthusiastically.

"Coming to Great Void Temple for incense offerings on the Lantern Festival was the best decision!"

"Exactly! Just thinking about how my brothers went to Baohua Street to have fun makes me laugh. They must be regretting it now!"

"Hahaha…"

Even little Chen Yuan tugged excitedly at Chen Yi, his face glowing with enthusiasm. "Bro, that golden light was amazing! Can they make it happen again?"

Chen Yi: "..."

He stared silently at Chen Yuan's waving little hands, speechless.

The celestial phenomenon caused by the Buddha's descent wasn't some fireworks display that could be repeated on demand.

"No, they can't!"

"Huh? Really?" Chen Yuan's face fell in disappointment, but his eyes soon lit up again. "I'll go ask Mom! She'll know how to make it happen!"

As he spoke, he dashed toward the courtyard gate not far away.

Chen Yi couldn't help but sigh at his older brother's "resourcefulness" while waving to a few guards. "Aren't you going to follow him?"

Two guards, still lost in the aftereffects of the phenomenon, quickly rushed out to catch up with him.

Watching the guards successfully reach Chen Yuan, Chen Yi shook his head in amusement.

He began to question whether what the system had said about the future was mistaken. With the way his older brother was thinking, how could he possibly insult him when he grew up?

If he didn't start throwing insults, it would be a sign that Chen Yuan was possessed by some ancestral spirit.

Before long, Zhou Wanyi returned, holding Chen Yuan and accompanied by Xia Wanwan.

"Let's leave. It's going to get crowded in Great Void Temple soon," Zhou Wanyi said, frowning as she glanced at the bustling temple.

Xia Wanwan nodded, picking up Chen Yi, and with the guards clearing a path, they left the Great Void Temple.

On the way back, the group fell into a quieter mood. Only little Chen Yuan clung to Zhou Wanyi's leg, occasionally asking, "Mom, can we go see the golden light again?"

"Mom, can't we really make that bald monk shine again? It was so beautiful!"

"Be quiet! Who taught you to call monks that?"

"The people in the sky!" Chen Yuan pointed at the car roof, speaking with great seriousness. "And 'thieving baldhead' too!"

Chen Yi was taken aback by his boldness.

If Abbot Kongjing found out that a two-year-old had called him a "thieving baldhead," he might just be furious enough to challenge Gu Tiangang to a duel!

"You?!"

Zhou Wanyi pretended to strike, causing little Chen Yuan to shrink back in fear.

At that moment, even Xia Wanwan couldn't help but laugh and quickly stepped in to stop Zhou Wanyi.

"Yuan'er is still young; he can't handle a beating."

Hearing this, Zhou Wanyi lowered her hand and sighed as she turned to Chen Yi. "I wish Yuan'er could be as clever as you."

"Don't worry, sister. Yuan'er will get smarter as he grows up."

"Let's hope so…"

After leaving the Great Void Temple, Chen Yi followed the two ladies of the Marquis's residence as they first strolled through Baohua Street, taking in the bustling atmosphere of the capital.

Next, they went to the Eastern Market, where Chen Yi got a glimpse of the purchasing power of the Marquis's ladies.

They visited various shops selling ready-made clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry, buying up a storm.

Although Chen Yi was unsure about the purchasing power of money, it was clear from Zhou Wanyi and Xia Wanwan's unwavering gaze that this amount of money was insignificant to the Marquis's household.

Unfortunately, after their shopping spree, they had to return to the residence, missing out on the lively lantern festival.

However, having witnessed the descent of the Buddha and the exchange between the two powerful figures, Chen Yi felt quite satisfied.

More importantly, he discovered a second source of reversal points—he could also earn reversal points as rewards when under attack!

At the same time, he speculated that only attacks capable of bringing about some kind of change for him would count.

For example, the golden light from the Buddhist chant affected his mind and altered his beliefs, among other things.

If he experienced this a few more times, he would likely figure out all the ways to obtain reversal points.

Once back in the right wing of the Marquis's residence, Chen Yi eagerly opened the System panel to take a look.

[Name: Chen Yi]

[Age: 31]

[Cultivation Level: None]

[Talent: Late Bloomer—The older the bones, the faster the cultivation speed]

[Swordsmanship: Beginner—A solid foundation is necessary to form sword qi]

[Reversal Points: 55/100]

As Chen Yi looked at the numbers on the panel, a smile crept onto his face.

Now, he had a way to increase the speed of acquiring reversal points.

Otherwise, it felt somewhat shameful to actively create various enemies just to be harmed.

(End of chapter)