In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Zhang Xiaoshan separated the kitchen, storage, and office areas in the back half of the restaurant, which can be said to be the core of the entire Zhang family business.

Moreover, there were also guards stationed there from the Zhang family's trading company, namely the 'Macedonian phalanx' led by Kuangshi Tiezhan and Zhao Longxiang.

These are all top-tier fighters, especially the top expert on the surface—Mad Lion Iron Battle, who is also a peerless expert, and a top-tier peerless expert, comparable to a grandmaster.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan was not worried about the safety of the restaurant at all. He only needed to send his thugs to the door, and no one would dare to eat there for free.

As for Bloodthorn, it has been hidden away again by Zhang Xiaoshan.

The true role of Bloodthorn is to provide large-scale protection or carry out special missions; the more cards it reveals, the more dangerous it becomes.

As for the Flying Guillotine? Zhang Xiaoshan only left two teams, led by Duan Yanqing and Jin Bu'er, to settle here.

Duan Yanqing was ultimately a member of the Dali Duan family, so Zhang Xiaoshan still kept a close eye on him.

Zhang Xiaoshan also found two secretaries to serve as managers for the business that Zhang Yuan was in charge of.

Bai Qing'er, the most beautiful courtesan of the Red Mansion, and Li Yingqi, a renowned socialite of the Empire.

And they were all stunning beauties with graceful figures and skin as smooth as jade.

However, both of them were either demonic witches or illegitimate daughters from noble families; they were both spies sent to the Zhang family to spy on their strengths and weaknesses.

Even though Zhang Xiaoshan knew, he didn't expose it.

Since he hadn't done anything to harm the Zhang family, Zhang Xiaoshan was sent directly to Zhang Yuan's side.

What secrets does the Zhang family hold?

The real secret lies with Zhang Xiaoshan; those around Zhang Yuan are merely engaging in business dealings on the surface.

Moreover, Zhang Yuan was not one to be blinded by lust. In the eyes of others, Zhang Yuan was already a master of the highest level, especially with his Fang Yuan technique, which was comparable to the eleventh level of the Golden Bell Shield, making him completely vulnerable.

Therefore, even if he were to be seduced, Zhang Xiaoshan would not be worried at all; on the contrary, it might be like throwing good money after bad.

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"What a Zhang family! Only a mighty dragon dares to cross the river!"

Looking at that incongruous building standing on the central avenue, even its gleaming reflection resembling a sickle, was definitely not a good thing for the merchants of the Wu Tang Empire.

This is a complete dimensional reduction attack.

From the moment Zhang's Restaurant opened, almost all the high-ranking officials and dignitaries went straight there.

The environment, service, and food there were all top-notch, and the large quantity of Bodhisattva maids and Silla women that Zhang Xiaoshan had 'purchased' this time were a tremendous temptation for the entire Wu Tang aristocracy.

However, the Zhang family didn't run a brothel, and this place wasn't the Red Mansion, so everyone could only feast their eyes.

Besides, these are all waiters. If they dare to cause trouble here, they'll definitely be beaten to death by their fathers when they get home.

In other aspects, the Zhang family also suppressed those merchants to the point of suffocation.

In the past, charcoal was the most popular product for getting through the winter.

This time, the Zhang family began stockpiling large quantities of fruitwood charcoal from the south.

After all, the Zhang family had caravans in Southeast Asia, and with the support of Zen Master Xianxia and Abbot Juewu, their foundation was solid.

These fruitwood charcoal pieces are made from ordinary charcoal, which is produced by crushing unburned coconut shells, fruit tree trunks, nut shells, etc. into powder, and then adding some clay or high-starch root powder to make charcoal bricks.

These carbon bricks are not only durable, smokeless, and high in heat, but also emit a faint fragrance.

However, the price is also high. Just five charcoal bricks cost one tael of silver. It can be said that, like snow salt, they are top-tier luxury items, costing ten times more than the animal-shaped charcoal used by ordinary nobles!

However, this fruitwood charcoal was snapped up by the nobles as soon as it appeared, and the charcoal that was once the most popular in the capital became a mere backup option.

As a result, those merchants who hoarded charcoal suffered huge losses!

Add raw stones, spices, redwood...

Even after the Zhang family moved to the Wu Tang Empire, it did not hinder their money-making efforts in the slightest.

Moreover, they supplied the imperial palace and high-ranking officials with fruits and vegetables that were out of season, and even flowers. In a short period of time, the Zhang family had taken away the business of too many people.

Chapter 387 A Preliminary Exploration of the Pure Mind Zen School

Jingnian Zen Temple?

Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the letter of invitation in his hand. It wasn't for him, but for Master Mingchen.

In addition to Master Mingchen, Zen Master Juexin of the Zhang family also received an invitation.

This is precisely an invitation from the Pure Mind Zen School!

The Wu Tang Empire not only had the Demonic Sect, but also the Taoist and Buddhist sects:

The Taoist sect was mainly based in the Celestial Master's Mansion. Because Emperor Wu was a devout Buddhist, the Taoist sect was weak. However, even so, there were still some hermits and Buddhist hermits such as Ning Daoqi and Lao Jun Temple.

The Buddhist community mainly consists of the Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan sects, and the Empress herself is a Buddhist, so there are many Buddhist masters.

Within the capital city alone, there is a royal temple.

Zhang Xiaoshan was quite surprised by the sudden invitation from Jingnian Zen Temple.

"It seems they're trying to win you over to fight against the Demonic Sect!"

Looking at Zhang Xiaoshan's ambiguous smile, Mingchen knew that Zhang Xiaoshan didn't have much affection for Buddhism.

Apart from a very few eminent Buddhist monks, most Buddhist temples have enclosed large areas of land at the foot of the mountain, which they lease to the local people. Not only do they not pay taxes or provide corvée labor, but some unscrupulous ones don't even provide relief to the people. They only want to gild the Buddha's image and collect incense offerings!

Jingnian Temple was thus disliked by Zhang Xiaoshan.

It wasn't that the monks at Jingnian Temple were greedy, but rather that they looked down on the monks' self-righteousness.

"It's not surprising that Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple advance and retreat together!"

However, you've gotten a bit too close to the Demonic Sect. This trip is probably just a test to see if they're truly strong. There's no need to worry about anything else.

"I have no interest in getting involved in the feud between Cihang Jingzhai and the Demonic Sect."

Ultimately, it's nothing more than a struggle for interests between the two, and even the distinction between good and evil is merely a matter of differing stances.

Besides, who is right and who is wrong? What we see cannot be used as evidence!

"This might be the answer they're looking for!"

Master Mingchen naturally understood Zhang Xiaoshan's style of doing things. In the struggle for interests between the righteous and the demonic, the Zhang family did not even get involved in the last incident at the Gates of Hell, let alone the struggle between the righteous and the demonic in the Wu Tang Empire.

····

A hundred miles outside the capital city, there stands a magnificent ancient temple with a history of over a thousand years.

Jingnian Temple is also known as Jingnian Chan School!

As the invitee, Juexin was naturally not timid.

As for Zhang Yuan's safety, it was entrusted to the protection of Mad Lion Iron Warrior. Both of them were masters of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill and their strengths were almost equal.

Besides Master Mingchen, the accompanying entourage also included the abbot of the royal temple in the capital.

The monk Faming served as the guide.

The monk Faming was the abbot of the royal temple appointed by the Empress, and his martial arts skills had reached an unparalleled level, hence the title of monk king, exuding an aura of dominance.

On the surface, the Sangha King is the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple, which means he is a master within the empire.

But his true identity is that of a master planted by the Empress in the Buddhist Jingnian Temple.

However, once one reaches the level of Faming, whether one is human or ghost, one probably wouldn't even know himself.

Ultimately, their level of understanding boils down to seeking only their own path!

Even an empress, if she obstructs his path, will become his enemy.

Moreover, his understanding of Buddhist teachings, though that of an undercover agent, made him a high-ranking Buddhist monk in reality.

Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot; it's just a matter of a single thought.

"Amitabha! The two of you have arrived!"

Looking at the Jingnian Zen Temple in front of me, although it is called a Zen temple, its scale is not much smaller than that of a royal palace.

As the largest Buddhist temple in the Wu Tang Empire, it not only boasts hundreds of monks' quarters stretching across the landscape, but also seven enormous palaces in the center, dedicated to the World-Honored One, Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and more...

Although its luxury is not as great as that of royal temples, its scale is still imposing and second to none.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

After only three taps, a series of footsteps soon came from inside.

Then the gate swung open, revealing a line of warrior monks standing in formation, chanting in unison:

"Namo Amitabha!"

Seeing the way Jingnian Temple treated its guests, Monk Faming immediately understood that Jingnian Temple wanted to test Juexin's strength and see if he had been empowered by the Wedding Dress Divine Skill and reached the level of a peerless master.

However, this approach is far too reckless.

The thirteen monks were all top-tier masters, demonstrating that the Jingnian Temple's strength was far greater than Zhang Xiaoshan had imagined—that there were only a few big cats.

"Amitabha! Abbot Liaokong is taking photos!"

"Martial monks cultivate their blood and qi. If this blood and qi is worn down, it would be better to cultivate Zen-style qi-cultivating martial arts!"

Buddhist disciples must not be competitive or bully the weak!

But Juexin has cultivated for so many years that he has long since seen and understood everything.

Was he wrong to kill those inhuman bandits in the past? No, but he was wrong within the Buddhist community.

Is Buddhism wrong? Absolutely not!

Once you understand it, you will naturally understand.

If you can't understand it, you'll either become possessed by evil or be bound by the sect's rules.

It's like the saying, "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart; if people follow my example, they will enter the path of demons."

This is a state of being!

Only through experience can one gain true understanding.

After all, they didn't think they made a mistake back then, and if they had to do it all over again, they would still make the same choice.

At most, we'll not kill them, but cripple their limbs.

But this is crueler than killing them!

"Amitabha, this humble monk has offended you."

Looking at the group of martial monks, Zen Master Juexin took a step forward, covering a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

The essence remains the same despite all the changes!

Juexin, as the head of the Arhat Hall, was naturally very familiar with the methods of the thirteen monks before him.

All that could be seen was a flurry of flying sticks, the numerous stick shadows seemingly floating, merely overlapping images, but in reality each one carried immense force, comparable to the Heavenly Net of Ten Thousand Swords Returning to Their Origin.

After all, this was not one person, but a formation of thirteen monks with their staffs.

The movements are closely coordinated, and the stick dance is like a howling wind and thunder, carrying the power to cleave mountains.

In addition, these monks are all top masters in the martial arts world. The staff formation they form is so strong that even a master who has reached the highest level of skill would not be able to escape in a short time if trapped inside.

However, they underestimated Juexin, especially since he was the head of the Arhat Hall.

In terms of staff formations, even the Shaolin 108 Arhats Formation, which Juexin had presided over, was actually used in combat against Japanese pirates along the coast, let alone the staff formation of these mere thirteen monks.

As the long staff came to restrain him, Juexin didn't even move, his body shimmering with a golden light.

Set things right!

Juexin's move is the opening stance of the Eighteen Bronze Men Arhats of Shaolin.

Without any tricks, he directly confronted them head-on and broke through their formation. He knew this staff formation all too well.

Clang! Clang! Clang...

The long staff, infused with true qi, resonated with a metallic clang as it was struck.

Immediately, the staffs were rebounded by the true qi of the Golden Bell Shield. In the instant the staffs flew out of their hands, they actually struck their fellow disciples with one of their staffs.

Bang! Bang! Bang...

In an instant, the ground was filled with wails of agony.