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

After all, although the Dragon Slayer Sword is an ancient divine weapon, it is actually a vicious sword with extremely strong malevolent energy and a heavy tendency to kill.

"As for the royal family of Dali?"

Rest assured, young friend, I will arrange for people to protect the Emperor Emeritus until he is laid to rest.

"Thank you, senior!"

The only one who could threaten Princess Liyang was the old emperor.

Even if the emperor is ruthless, they are still father and daughter, and the bond of kinship cannot be severed by a simple arrangement.

And what about the new emperor? Most of it was just friendship.

Chapter 972 The Final Cause and Effect - The Snake Catcher

"Relic?"

Bai Suzhen looked at the treasure Zhang Xiaoshan had taken out, never expecting it to be a Buddhist treasure.

The Buddha's light emanating from this relic is pure and gentle, indicating that the eminent Buddhist monk who left this relic must have reached an extremely high level of spiritual cultivation, and it is unknown how he passed away peacefully.

However, Bai Suzhen then looked at Zhang Xiaoshan, wondering why Zhang Xiaoshan had given her such an important relic.

"Fellow Daoist, is this relic related to Bai Suzhen?"

"Yes, now the karma between Fairy Bai and Xu Xian is settled, but Fairy Bai still has another karma—the snake catcher."

"A snake catcher? What do you mean, fellow Daoist?"

Bai Suzhen knew that the snake catcher had been reincarnated as a highly powerful monk, but she seemed to have no significant karmic connection with the snake catcher.

She was a small snake caught by snake catchers, and Xu Xian saved her with a bamboo flute and some wild fruit. Therefore, her not taking revenge on them shows her magnanimity as Bai Suzhen.

Are we now giving relics to snake catchers?

"Did the fairy ever steal a cultivator's elixir back then?"

"What? Is it him?"

Bai Suzhen was not a fool. Zhang Xiaoshan's words enlightened her, and she immediately understood the cause and effect.

This is a fated entanglement of love and hate!

No wonder Zhang Xiaoshan predicted that her love affair with a demon would be punished by heaven; it turns out that everything was already destined.

"That's right, the elixir that the fairy stole back then was the opportunity for the snake catcher to be reincarnated and become an immortal."

If nothing unexpected happens, this encounter in this life will be the final reconciliation of the karmic entanglements between the fairy, Xu Xian, and the snake catcher across lifetimes. Now that the fairy has resolved her karmic ties with Xu Xian, the karmic ties with the snake catcher still remain.

In this life, he was reborn as a highly accomplished monk, and these relics are the best way to settle his grudges.

"Bai Suzhen thanks you, fellow Daoist!"

Although Bai Suzhen wanted to refuse, she figured she had plenty of debts to repay, and she was now Zhang Xiaoshan's protector, or even a partner.

Moreover, she no longer wanted any further entanglement with the snake catcher due to this web of karma spanning lifetimes.

After all, she was already preparing to ascend to the upper realm.

"Would you be willing to come along, my friend?"

Bai Suzhen looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with hopeful eyes. Although she was a disciple of the Old Mother of Lishan, she was still a demon.

A demon infiltrating a Buddhist temple?

They would absolutely put themselves under a dangerous wall, like lambs to the slaughter.

But Zhang Xiaoshan is different. He is a direct descendant of the Kunlun Daoist sect, and his reputation in the cultivation world is at its zenith.

Therefore, with Zhang Xiaoshan as her guarantor (bjca), the Buddhist community will not make things difficult for her.

And this is actually a good thing.

"Having nothing else to do, this humble Taoist will accompany the fairy on a journey!"

Zhang Xiaoshan smiled and agreed, knowing Bai Suzhen's concerns.

At the same time, Zhang Xiaoshan thought that Jinshan Temple was also a Buddhist holy site, and he needed to prepare a decent gift, with a golden Buddha being the most suitable.

Of course, this golden Buddha is not just any ordinary golden Buddha; it is an object of merit.

Without needing too much merit, a golden Buddha enhanced by a million merits, imbued with the power of faith, possesses the effects of a top-tier magical artifact.

In the third installment of A Chinese Ghost Story, the old monk was able to condense the Dharma body of an Arhat using the molten gold from the golden Buddha, demonstrating the profound mystery of Buddhist ritual implements.

The next day, Zhang Xiaoshan took Princess Liyang and Bai Suzhen to Qiantang.

First, congratulations to Xu Shilin for becoming the top scorer in the high school entrance examination;

Secondly, understanding this cause and effect can be considered a complete severing of the entanglements and grudges from lifetimes past.

Xiaoqing's demonic aura was too strong, so Bai Suzhen did not bring her along this time.

This is a sacred Buddhist site. Bai Suzhen is one thing, at least she's a demon cultivator from the Xuanmen sect. But for Xiaoqing to go is undoubtedly a provocation to the sacred Buddhist site, and she might be directly suppressed by the high-ranking Buddhist monks.

Even when it came to the Demon-Locking Tower of Mount Shu, Zhang Xiaoshan gave Xiaoqing countless instructions and reminders.

Given Xiaoqing's unruly nature, if she ever saw the demons in the Demon Locking Tower looking pitiful, or saw her former cronies being sent inside, she might actually launch a night raid on the Demon Locking Tower.

When the Shu Mountain sect suppresses Xiao Qing, Zhang Xiaoshan won't say anything.

The only variable is Bai Suzhen, which is why Zhang Xiaoshan told Xiaoqing not to cause trouble.

Otherwise, he might have sacrificed himself and Bai Suzhen for the sake of his cronies. The Shu Mountain has stood strong to this day, and the Five Elders of Shu Mountain are not to be trifled with.

"arrive!"

On the shores of West Lake, the Xu family was in a festive atmosphere, with red bridal attire and the sounds of gongs and drums.

However, Xu Shilin returned to his hometown after passing the imperial examination. As the top scholar in the imperial examination, which was achieved only once every three years, Xu Shilin undoubtedly became the most influential figure in Qiantang.

Upon entering Qiantang, he once again rode through the streets on horseback, and even the prefect was waiting to greet him at Xu's residence.

"Hehehe, it seems that being lucky is worse than being early."

Bai Suzhen nodded in agreement, and was also extremely satisfied with Xu Xian's current life.

Xu Xian was kind and compassionate, with a heart to save people. Kunlun Pharmacy was the perfect place for Xu Xian to work. At this time, his son Xu Shilin achieved great success and passed the imperial examination. It can be said that Xu Xian was definitely a winner in life. In this way, she also understood the cause and effect.

However, to avoid confusion, Zhang Xiaoshan and Bai Suzhen did not go directly there.

Instead, Zhang Xiaoshan and the others slowly appeared only after the banquet had ended and the Xu family had reunited.

After all, his past relationship with Princess Liyang would have somewhat overshadowed the main character.

Moreover, Zhang Xiaoshan didn't want to deal with these people's flattery; it was too troublesome.

Even his current identity, if revealed, could be a catastrophic disaster for the Xu family.

"Manager Xu, congratulations!"

"Immortal Master! Fairy Bai!"

This must be Princess Liyang. I, Xu Xian, a commoner, pay my respects to Your Highness.

When Xu Xian's family saw the three appear, they were immediately shocked. They hadn't expected Xu Shilin's return to have alarmed Zhang Xiaoshan.

Zhang Xiaoshan also raised his hand to stop the family of three from their grand gesture, and chuckled:

"Manager Xu, there's no need for such formalities. My visit today is perfectly timed."

"Your karma with the White Fairy has been resolved, but there is still one person connected to you. This time, I, Ying Fairy, have traveled far to settle this final karmic debt."

Xu Xian was surprised to hear this and looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in confusion.

Immediately, Xu Xian thought of the third person who had done good deeds back then—the snake catcher.

"Tomorrow, Shilin will use the matter of passing the imperial examination as an excuse for your family to go to Jinshan Temple to fulfill your vow."

The snake catcher from years ago has now been reincarnated as the highly accomplished Buddhist monk, Master Fahai. His spiritual attainments are profound. When all grudges are settled, it will also allow your family to form a positive connection within Buddhism.

"Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Master!"

When Xu Xian heard that the snake catcher had been reincarnated as the virtuous monk Fahai, he was also shocked.

Thinking back to when he had truly married Bai Suzhen, wouldn't Fahai of Jinshan Temple have become the high monk who dealt with them? A high monk subduing demons is a matter of course, and it would be a perfect opportunity to resolve the entanglement of a thousand-year-old feud.

Hiss...

For a moment, Xu Xian couldn't help but look at Zhang Xiaoshan with gratitude.

Otherwise, if one side is a thousand-year-old snake demon and the other is a virtuous monk, and you, a mere mortal, are caught in the middle, you wouldn't even know how you died.

"This golden Buddha was originally a ritual implement that I, a humble Taoist, intended to give to Jinshan Temple."

Since Shilin is here, you may present this golden Buddha to Jinshan Temple as a way of fulfilling your vow. It is rather conventional for me, a Taoist priest, to present gold.

Moreover, Xiaodao is a direct descendant of the Taoist sect. Although Taoism and Buddhism coexist peacefully, in reality, the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism is everywhere.

This good deed is of no use to me, but giving it to your family is making the best use of it.

Chapter 973 All Grudges Settled

Golden Buddha statue, a Buddhist ritual implement!

Arhat relics!

Inside the meditation room, Xu Shilin stood beside Xu Xian, waiting for Fahai to process the news he had just received.

Even the highly accomplished Abbot Fahai of Jinshan Temple was somewhat bewildered when he saw the two treasures before him.

A treasure fell from the sky!

What shocked him even more was that he had a past life entanglement with a white snake that had cultivated for a thousand years.

More than a thousand years ago, he was a snake catcher who caught a small white snake that came out to look for food; eight hundred years ago, he was a cultivator who had just obtained a spiritual pill that could make him an immortal. However, he was not careful and became the white snake's food, which greatly increased his magical power.

Now that the White Snake has achieved her goal and is about to ascend to heaven, her feud with him will come to an end.

"Namo Amitabha!"

If it were an ordinary demon, Fahai would have already subdued it.

However, the White Snake had attained enlightenment and was the last disciple of the Old Mother of Lishan. In addition, she was a direct descendant of the Kunlun Daoist sect and the current top scholar in the imperial examination. Fahai would have to consider the impact if he wanted to take action.

Moreover, the White Snake was an immortal who had cultivated for 1,800 years and achieved perfect merit.

"Eighteen hundred years ago, it was the benefactor Xu who rescued the fairy from the snake catcher with a bamboo flute and wild fruit."

Eight hundred years ago, since the elixir fell into the hands of the fairy, it meant that the cultivator had no chance to obtain the elixir.

"With fellow Daoist Chunyangzi and the newly appointed top scholar Xu as guarantors, this old monk shamelessly accepts this 'heaven-sent Buddhist treasure,' representing the settlement of all karmic debts with Fairy Bai from a past life."

Are you so kind as to refuse?

This is a precious item for settling karmic debts; refusing it would mean not forgiving the other party, leaving Fahai with no other choice.

Moreover, looking at the two Buddhist treasures in front of him, the golden Buddha statue was similar to his demon-subduing golden bowl, both being top-tier Buddhist treasures; the relics were left behind by a holy monk of Arhat level after his death, more than enough to settle the karma of that year.

Moreover, Bai Suzhen had already achieved perfect merit and had no need to pay attention to him.

The fact that these things are now being sent to explain cause and effect further highlights Bai Suzhen's kindness and benevolence.

"Thank you for your help, Master!"

These two treasures were useless to Zhang Xiaoshan; the only price he paid was one million merits to strengthen the golden Buddha.

With Bai Suzhen presiding over the business headquarters, the future value will be far more than a million merits.

The merit accumulated in just one year exceeded thirty million.

Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen both breathed a sigh of relief at Fahai's compromise.

After all, they are the ones directly involved.

If the cause and effect are not explained, everyone is fine; but once it is explained, it becomes a knot in the heart.

Therefore, after Fahai resolved the matter, everyone was even and no one owed anyone anything, and each was freed from their own burdens.

"Amitabha Buddha, it is I who should thank you all for sending two precious Buddhist treasures."

Fahai looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with gratitude.

He knew that both treasures must have come from this famous Kunlun cultivator.