Xiuxian: I studied abroad in modern times

Chapter 617 Thunder Sound Offer, A Discussion of the World

Zheng Fa didn't expect Lu Yao to come looking for him, especially to come in person.

This was, in fact, his first time dealing with Lu Yao face-to-face.

Lu Yao did not come alone. He was accompanied by the Lapis Lazuli Buddha, Bodhisattva Huihong, and others. At his feet was a strange beast that resembled both a lion and a tiger, with its eyes slightly closed and two large, drooping ears resting on its head.

Zheng Fa led his group into the villa and went directly into the back garden.

Lu Yao wore a monk's robe that was neither new nor old. The robe was a dull, plain blue. His face was actually quite unremarkable; he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, the kind of face that would be easily forgotten in a crowd.

However, Zheng Fa's gaze was always irresistibly drawn to him. In fact, it wasn't just Zheng Fa; the Buddha of Lapis Lazuli, Bodhisattva Huihong, and others were like planets drawn to a star, consciously or unconsciously revolving around Lu Yao.

Of course, Zheng Fa didn't really think Lu Yao was ordinary; in fact, he started a live stream the moment Lu Yao arrived.

Lu Yao before him transformed into an image signal, which was transmitted to the Nine Mountains Realm through the Jade Tablet of Creation.

In the Nine Mountains Realm, Senior Sister Zhang, Uncle Pang, Xiao Yuying, and many others had gathered in the Heavenly Palace, looking at Lu Yao in the light screen as if facing a formidable enemy.

Zheng Fa felt that his greatest strength was his self-awareness—he had little experience and had actually had a smooth life since entering the Dao. When it came to scheming and plotting, he could hardly compare to Lu Yao, who had stirred up the Xuanwei winds and clouds for several eras.

Fortunately, he had someone behind him. Ever since he left the Nine Mountains Realm, the sect had prepared a think tank.

Inside the Heavenly Palace, not only were there elders from the Nine Mountains Realm, but also Elder Han leading elite disciples from the Intelligence Division, preparing to analyze Lu Yao frame by frame.

Even Yun Wuji was here. Zheng Fa wanted to use his understanding of Lu Yao to analyze the other party's purpose.

"What does he want with his junior brother?"

Yuan Xiaoniao, who was the most impatient, muttered and asked.

This is also the question Zheng Fa wants to know.

A group of people walked into the pavilion in the back garden. Lu Yao, as if he were the host, went straight to sit down at the stone table in the pavilion before turning around and looking at Zheng Fa, saying, "Please sit down."

Zheng Falü hesitated for a moment, then sat down calmly. He turned to look at the others and saw that they stood around him as if they were used to it, like servants.

Even the previously aloof and seemingly ill-tempered Buddha of the Nine Mountains stood ramrod straight.

You should know that Lu Yao is a Golden Immortal, and so is he, but the Glazed Buddha always treats Lu Yao with the utmost respect.

If we consider that Lu Yao might be a later addition—he only truly joined Leiyin Temple at the end of the last era.

Lu Yao's control over Leiyin Temple is truly admirable.

"I have long admired Alliance Leader Zheng."

Lu Yao began to speak, and there seemed to be a strange power in his voice that forced Zheng Fa to concentrate. The rushing sound of the waterfall, the strange behavior of the Glass Buddha, and even the vigilance in his heart all seemed to disappear in an instant.

Within the Nine Mountains Realm, the Heavenly Emperor's form seemed to sense something and frowned slightly.

Zheng Fa's mind lit up with the Yin-Yang fish jade pendant, and a chill ran through him. When he looked at Lu Yao, he saw that the man was just smiling at him slightly, without any sign of anything unusual.

"I have long admired the Mahayana Buddha."

Lu Yao's smile deepened, and he praised, "Sect Leader Zheng, you are indeed extraordinary."

He tilted his head slightly, and a celestial maiden bowed and offered him two cups of fragrant tea.

The aroma of tea filled Zheng Fa's nostrils, instantly invigorating him.

Lu Yao smiled slightly and suddenly asked, "Back then, the person secretly working for the Tianhe Sect was Sect Leader Zheng, wasn't he?"

"……it's me."

“I know Jiuyou very well. If it weren’t for Sect Leader Zheng, the Book of Life and Death would definitely have fallen into my hands.” Lu Yao’s smile faded, and he looked at Zheng Fa expressionlessly. “But because of Sect Leader Zheng’s intervention, I prepared an entire era for my Dao to reach the Great Luo realm, but all my efforts were in vain.”

The word "again" is used very well.

In the distance, Zheng Fa could clearly see that the Lapis Lazuli Buddha and others were glaring at him.

"Bai Lian is my only disciple." Lu Yao changed the subject again and continued to slowly recount the grievances between the two sides. "He was originally Bai Lian in human form, and he was extremely compatible with the Great Dao of Thunder Sound. He is the future Buddha praised by everyone in our Buddhist sect, and he is almost a perfect candidate for Golden Immortal."

"As a result, he also died because of Sect Leader Zheng."

There seemed to be some heartache in Lu Yao's voice.

Zheng Fa did not try to explain that Yun Wuji killed Bai Lian; such words were meaningless. From the moment he protected Yun Wuji, he had borne this karma.

The gazes of the Lapis Lazuli Buddha and his companions were as if they wanted to devour Zheng Fa.

But why did Lu Yao say all this?
Lu Yao lowered his head, slowly took a sip of tea, then looked up at Zheng Fa and asked, "Do you want to be the future Buddha?"

"..."

In the secluded courtyard, inside the Nine Mountains Heavenly Palace, everyone fell silent.

Out of the corner of Zheng Fa's eye, he saw the angry and confused expressions on the faces of the Buddha of Glazed Glass and the others, as if they had witnessed the Thunder Sound Temple falling from the mountain. Yet, they remained silent.

"The Future Buddha?"

"I'll give you the position of Bai Lian."

Lu Yao's expression didn't seem like he was joking.

Zheng Fa was even speechless. He hadn't expected that Lu Yao would come to see him to offer him a job.

Lu Yao looked at him and said, "Jiuyou will not submit to me."

Indeed not.

Zheng Fatai understood the character of the Nine Nether Emperor. He had suffered a great loss at the hands of Lu Yao and had a grudge against Venerable Tianhe. Even if he died, he would not obey Lu Yao.

“But you are different. If we’re talking about enmity, it’s me who has enmity with you, not you who has enmity with me.”

...That makes a lot of sense, I must say.

Zheng Fa had never really suffered any major losses at Lu Yao's hands.

"Help me unify the mysteries, and you will become the future Buddha."

Inside the Nine Mountains Heavenly Palace, Uncle Pang slowly turned his head and looked at Elder Han, the head of the Intelligence Division: "Do you think what he said is true or false?"

Old Han thought for a moment and then said, "That sounds too fake."

"Right."

"So I think it's true."

"..." Uncle Pang remained silent for a moment, then looked at Yun Wuji.

Yun Wuji's lips twitched, as if he had encountered some blind spot in his knowledge, and he said in a low voice, "I have never seen Lu Yao value anyone like this..."

Zheng Fa was also a little confused. After a moment of silence, he asked his question directly: "As long as I take out the Primordial Purple Qi?"

Lu Yao nodded slightly.

“Di Ting followed you, Sect Leader Zheng, out of the Underworld, but then disappeared without a trace and we couldn’t find the Primordial Purple Qi.”

He pointed to the strange beast.

Zheng Fa looked at the famous mythical beast and finally understood why Hui Hong had been able to catch him earlier.

This thing is said to have eyes that can distinguish good from evil and ears that can hear the three realms; it has quite a few supernatural powers.

In other words, the Primordial Purple Qi possesses the ability to conceal itself, and its whereabouts in the modern world are unknown to Di Ting.

Otherwise, Lu Yao probably wouldn't have used such a large bait.

"Of course, Sect Leader Zheng, you are not without weaknesses either. That world can never escape the profound mystery." Lu Yao said softly, seemingly casually, yet also as if threatening, "The Nine Mountains Realm, the Nine Mountains Sect, those disciples, those mortals, are all your weaknesses."

"..."

Zheng Fa had to admit that Lu Yao was right. Given the extent of Lu Yao's surveillance on him, if the people of the Nine Mountains Sect were to be relocated on a large scale, their location in the modern world would be immediately exposed—moreover, the modern world simply couldn't afford to support the Nine Mountains Sect, let alone its mortals.

Seeing that Zheng Fa remained silent, Lu Yao took another sip of tea: "I'm willing to give you a choice, not entirely because of the Primordial Purple Qi."

Zheng Fa was stunned for a moment, then heard Lu Yao say, word by word, "It's because of you."

"I?"

"Others may not know, but I do. The Primordial Purple Qi can only be obtained by a sage."

"..."

"Back then, I also missed out on it." Lu Yao even revealed his own shortcomings again, "When I was still a Golden Crow, I learned that the Primordial Purple Qi could only be obtained by a human."

"After I've made all the preparations, Tianhe..."

Lu Yao smiled, appearing quite carefree, and looked at Zheng Fa:

"You did what I couldn't do, so I'm willing to give you this opportunity."

"..."

Inside the Nine Mountains Heavenly Palace, Senior Sister Zhang's eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly sighed: "Lu Yao is probably a born emperor."

Everyone else nodded.

Even though they were enemies, and Lu Yao was subtly threatening Zheng Fa with the Nine Mountains Realm, they had to admit that Lu Yao also had his own magnanimity. At least from today's exchange, he did not seem to be a jealous person.

Even Zheng Fa was deeply shaken.

He now understood why the demon race always called Lu Yao the Demon Emperor and was so sincerely convinced of his authority.

Lu Yao looked at himself with a high opinion of himself. He could actually understand it very well. To put it bluntly, he was now a Dao Ancestor's chosen one. With Lu Yao's understanding of the Primordial Purple Qi, he naturally understood the value of it.

Could Leiyin be the future Buddha?
Just as Lu Yao said, he had suffered a lot at his hands, especially when he joined forces with the Nine Nether Emperor and ruined his Great Luo Path. It could be said that he had a deep-seated hatred for him.

Now Lu Yao is so magnanimous, or rather, so ambitious—he doesn't want to seize the Primordial Purple Qi, he doesn't even need to be the owner of the Primordial Purple Qi himself, but rather he wants the owner of the Primordial Purple Qi to willingly submit.

……

Seeing that he seemed to understand, Lu Yao chuckled: "The so-called Primordial Purple Qi is something that only those who lead the human race can possess and control."

"They must have unprecedented talent, an open mind, an arrogance that can seize the sun and the moon, and a tenacity that will not waver in the face of life and death."

After saying that, Lu Yao stood up and stood with his hands behind his back.

Throughout history, most cultivators have been mediocre, with only a handful worthy of attention.

"The Supreme Daoist Master is of unparalleled virtue and profound fortune. It is a pity that the Supreme Dao, though seemingly illustrious now, is like a pile of loose sand, which could collapse at the slightest push."

"The jellyfish of Yaochi, once so ambitious, is now like a withered skeleton in a tomb, unable to escape my grasp."

"As for the three reclusive immortals and others, they are nothing more than guard dogs, only knowing how to change their tune depending on the wind."

As Zheng Fa listened to Lu Yao's passionate speech, he was thinking to himself that this person had always stayed behind the scenes in his early years, but now he had changed his style. Perhaps... he was very proud of himself, and even had a complete grasp on the Great Luo Dharma Assembly.

“In this profound mystery, only I am worthy of this important task.” Lu Yao turned around, pointed at Zheng Fa, and said, “And you.”

Within the Nine Mountains Realm, Senior Sister Zhang and the others stared at Lu Yao on the light screen, momentarily speechless.

After a long silence, Uncle Pang sighed softly, "I never imagined that Lu Yao was this kind of person."

Even Xie Qingxue, who came from the Tianhe Sect and deeply hated Lu Yao, had a very complicated expression at this moment.

She had to admit that Lu Yao's words and actions today had greatly shocked her—she even asked herself if she were the sect leader, she might be tempted at this moment.

Thinking of this, Xie Qingxue pursed her lips.

“The Mahayana Buddha thinks too highly of me.” Zheng Fa’s voice came. “I have no talent or aptitude. My achievements are all thanks to the Venerable Tianhe and other sages, the Nine Mountains Sect, and even mortals.”

His voice was unhurried, as if he was not particularly pleased by Lu Yao's high regard for him.

In the light screen, Lu Yao's expression began to change. He looked intently at Zheng Fa and said, "What you're saying is still the same old Tianhe stuff."

Zheng Fa smiled gently.

Lu Yao closed his eyes, then opened them again, the smile gone from his eyes: "I can accommodate you, I can accommodate Yaochi, and I can even accommodate Taishangdao."

"Only Tianhe is someone I absolutely cannot tolerate."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa suddenly realized something—he had previously thought that Lu Yao's secret plot against the Tianhe Sect was because of the Book of Life and Death.

Now it seems that it's not just that.

It must be said that Lu Yao is actually quite magnanimous, but he seems completely intolerant of Venerable Tianhe's ideas.

Zheng Fa suddenly thought of something:

The Supreme Dao is probably the legacy of the Supreme Sage.

Leiyin Temple, needless to say, belongs to the two Western Saints.

It's hard to say about Nuwa, as she herself doesn't seem to have many disciples.

However, he still couldn't figure out the truth about Tongtian and Yuanshi.

Venerable Tianhe clearly possesses some of the lineage of the Sage Tongtian.

And Lu Yao...

The Primordial Sage, the Primordial Demon Ancestor. The Primordial Sage was skilled in weapon crafting, and Haori Mountain Plain was renowned for its weapon crafting...

These two brothers argued and fought each other to the death, causing a conflict between their two religions, which indeed brought endless trouble!

Lu Yao looked at Zheng Fa, seemingly waiting for his answer.

“Buddha, I have my own eyes to see who is good and who is bad.”

The smile on Lu Yao's face gradually faded.

The surrounding Buddha statues and others lowered their heads in fear.

Zheng Fa watched Lu Yao turn and walk out of the courtyard, with Liuli Buddha and the others hurriedly following behind him.

After walking for a while, the Crystal Buddha finally spoke:

"World Honored One?"

"You should prepare to send troops to the Nine Mountains to find the Primordial Purple Qi."

"Yes!"

……

After Lu Yao came, no one else came to see Zheng Fa.

The other Golden Immortals in the villa were in close contact, seemingly playing some kind of alliance game.

The three reclusive immortals no longer stay at home, but instead visit the Taishangdao's villa every day, as if the two sides have reached a certain tacit understanding.

The Blissful Celestial Maiden of Yaochi and the two Golden Immortals of the Demon Clan were quite familiar with each other, as they were originally from Lu Yao's faction.

Only Zheng Fa's secluded courtyard remained deserted, with no one from Leiyin Temple visiting, and no other Golden Immortals coming to pay their respects. It seemed as if everyone had forgotten about it, making it appear quite desolate.

About ten days later, a welcoming monk knocked on Zheng Fa's courtyard gate.

Zheng Fa walked out of the courtyard and looked towards Leiyin Temple on the mountaintop.

The Great Luo Dharma Assembly has begun.

(End of this chapter)