A Visit to Jiangnan

Lin Tianyuan took the two paintings and returned to the Forbidden City.

There were two paintings in the Council Hall.

The two paintings were folded up. Although Lin Tianyuan did not believe that the two paintings could solve the problem he was facing about the buddhist sects, he did not dare to open them.

He still listened to Lin Jiufeng.

Lin Tianyuan thought for a while before he ordered.

"Call Cangshan and Beihai here."

The eunuch immediately left to look for them.

Cangshan and Beihai were a pair of brothers.

They were unaffiliated cultivators, however, they were very talented.

Soon after the world's spiritual energy recovered, they broke through to the Martial Sage Realm.

With the rebellion of Lord Taiping, Lin Tianyuan felt a great sense of crisis and began to recruit these unaffiliated cultivators.

The two of them came, and they had been working for Lin Tianyuan since.

Lin Tianyuan prepared a lot of resources for them, and they each took what they needed.

After a while, two old men walked in.

Each cupped their fists and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"I hope two of you can go to Jiangnan." Lin Tianyuan said.

Cangshan and Beihai looked at each other, they were reluctant to obey this order.

"Your Majesty, it's not that we are unwilling, but it's that the Shaolin and Xuankong Temple are very powerful. Although we brothers are Martial Sage cultivators, we are only at the Life Knowing step…"

"We're not enough to go against these two great powers that have existed for thousands of years," Cangshan said bitterly.

He didn't want to go to Jiangnan.

Was there anyone who didn't know what happened between the buddhist sects and Emperor Ming of the Yuhua God Dynasty?

Asking them to go to the Jiangnan area at this time would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths, wouldn't it?

They were living comfortable lives under Lin Tianyuan and were also willing to perform some dangerous tasks for him.

But there was a difference between danger and certain death.

Lin Tianyuan knew what the two men were thinking.

Thus, he said, "I'm not sending you there to deal with the two powerful factions, but for you to read the imperial decree. After the two powerful factions received it and agreed to it, there should be no need to fight."

Cangshan and Beihai weren't convinced.

If the buddhist sects accepted the imperial decree, they would not have to fight.

But what if they did not agree?

Beihai was a plump old man.

He was straightforward and he couldn't help ask, "What if… what if they don't agree?"

Lin Tianyuan picked up the two paintings Lin Jiufeng gave to him and said, "One painting for each of you. If they don't agree, unfold the paintings."

Cangshan and Beihai stared at the painting in Lin Tianyuan's hand with suspicious looks on their faces.

What was this?

These two paintings were enough to take care of the two powerful factions whose teachings had been passed down for thousands of years?

Similar to Lin Tianyuan—they couldn't believe it.

Therefore, they still refused to agree.

"These two paintings were painted by that senior in the imperial capital."

Seeing that they refused to agree, Lin Tianyuan had to tell them the truth.

Cangshan and Beihai looked at Lin Tianyuan in surprise.

"Is it that senior from ten years ago?" Cangshan asked in excitement.

Ten years ago, while the world was still in the midst of its recovery, both Cangshan and Beihai weren't Martial Sage Realm cultivators back then.

But they heard about that terrifying senior in the imperial capital who killed nine Martial Sages with a single stroke of the sword.

More than ten years have passed since then.

Both of them were already Martial Sage Realm cultivators at the step of Life Knowing.

Just how powerful was that senior by now?

Cangshan said excitedly, "That senior really said that?"

"Yes. I asked him how to calm the issue in Jiangnan. He told me that this is all I have to do and that is why I have asked you to go." Lin Tianyuan told them the truth.

If he did not tell the truth, no one would be foolish enough to go.

If he sent people who were less powerful than these two, it would be useless.

They might not even be able to enter the gates of both Shaolin and Xuankong Temple.

Cangshan and Beihai looked at each other before they nodded in tacit understanding.

"Your Majesty, we will accept this task," Cangshan said solemnly.

Lin Tianyuan was overjoyed as he said in a hurry. "Don't worry, I will tell the world about this matter, so everyone will know that you are going to Jiangnan with the imperial decree."

"There should be no problems."

Cangshan and Beihai nodded in agreement.

By informing the world, there would be an extra guarantee for their safety.

"Also, don't open these two paintings before the opportune moment. Lives will be lost, so you must remember." Lin Tianyuan reminded them.

This was also Lin Jiufeng's reminder to him.

The expressions on the faces of the two immediately turned serious.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. We promise to complete this task," The two said at the same time.

"I will write the imperial decree for you now. Each of you will go to one of the buddhist sects."

Lin Tianyuan began to write the imperial decree.

He thought about it for a while and with a flick of his sleeve, he wrote a strict reprimand letter as his thoughts burst forth like a fountain.

"Take it to Jiangnan. I will inform the world immediately."

Lin Tianyuan handed the imperial decree to them.

Cangshan and Beihai bowed their heads and retreated. With the imperial decree and Lin Jiufeng's paintings in hand, they headed to Jiangnan.

After they left the Forbidden City, the Yuhua God Dynasty began to publicize this matter.

Emperor Ming—Lin Tianyuan—wrote two imperial decrees.

They were to be carried and read by the two Martial Sages at the Shaolin and Xuankong Temple in Jiangnan.

The whole world was waiting for Lin Tianyuan's counterattack—waiting for the Yuhua God Dynasty's counterattack.

As soon as the news was released, it spread all over the land like wildfire.

It spread to Jiangnan faster than Cangshan and Beihai's traveling speed.

They were Martial Sages and they moved extremely fast.

But before they could even reach Jiangnan, the news had already spread all over Jiangnan.

Both Shaolin Temple and Xuankong Temple received the news.

The Shaolin Temple remained silent as if it had not heard anything.

They did not express any opinions.

They had built their own temples and under their command, none of them would be demolished.

In contrast to the Shaolin Temple, the people from the Xuankong Temple welcomed the news.

"Come to my Xuankong Temple, lose three thousand troubles, and forget the troubles of the world. We will save these two messengers."

This was a blatant threat.

Xuankong Temple was as arrogant as ever.

They were monks, but they were arrogant and domineering.

They had always been like this.

When Cangshan and Beihai arrived in Jiangnan, it was already two days later.

In just two days, rumors in Jiangnan were rife.

Countless descendants of powerful factions, sects, and even the descendants of aristocratic families, as well as outstanding unaffiliated cultivators, had gathered at both the Shaolin and Xuankong Temple.

They wanted to know how these two buddhist sects would deal with Emperor Ming's messengers and how they would deal with the imperial decrees that were bound to arrive.

The crowd was bustling and lively.

Everyone was looking forward to the arrival of Cangshan and Beihai.

The two men were shocked.

"The situation seemed to have escalated," Cangshan said. He looked uneasy.

"What are you afraid of?"

"We have the paintings given by that senior. I believe they will work." Beihai trusted Lin Jiufeng.

It was no small feat for Lin Jiufeng to have gained his trust without ever having met him before.

"I also believe in him. Since we're already here, there's no reason to retreat."

Cangshan took a deep breath and asked, "Where are you going?"

Beihai stretched out his hand and said firmly, "I'm going to Shaolin Temple!"

"Then, I will go to Xuankong Temple. Let's part ways here!"

Cangshan cupped his fists in farewell.

"Take care!" Beihai said solemnly.

"We have the senior's paintings. It will be fine." Cangshan smiled and said confidently.

They headed to different places and both arrived at the foot of the mountains where the temples were located at the same time.

Countless people witnessed their arrival. All eyes were on them.

The doors of Shaolin Temple and Xuankong Temple were also open, allowing the two to enter.

Cangshan and Beihai held the imperial decree in their hands and with Lin Jiufeng's painting in their pockets—they stepped firmly on the steps.

…

Imperial Capital, Cold Palace!

Lin Jiufeng laid on the frost jade bed.

He closed his eyes and calmed his mind, feeling serene.

"Have you broken through to the Human God Realm?" the white cat asked curiously.

This was not the first time that the white cat had asked this question to Lin Jiufeng in the past few days.

But Lin Jiufeng never answered it directly.

However, the white cat persevered.

"You'll know in about two days," Lin Jiufeng said.