I am a living immortal.

And those idiots all had the surname Zhang. The Xuantian League was a hereditary sect, and every generation of leaders was a direct descendant of the Zhang family. And over the four or five hundred years of the Xuantian League, a total of sixteen generations had been like this.

Because of this, the interests of those not surnamed Zhang were largely encroached upon by Zhang disciples. The leader of the alliance was also caught in a dilemma: ancestral rules could not be violated, so he could only casually brush them aside. How could this not alienate them? What sense of belonging did they have to the Xuantian Alliance? If it weren't for the moral compulsion, these people would eagerly submit to the imperial court. In their eyes, submission to the imperial court was a solution.

This is a loophole in the system, which cannot be changed but cannot be avoided.

Perhaps this was also the reason for the Xuantian Alliance's decline. Unless a false leader emerged, the status quo would remain unchanged, and the outcome would be similar.

The reason why they remain silent is not only because they don't know what to do, but also because they are the vested interests and have no right to argue or make a fuss.

Being sober is not always a good thing.

There is no certainty as to where the Xuantian Alliance will go.

Wisps of green smoke drifted in the hall, and for a moment it fell into silence, with no one speaking.

Zhang Yan, who was sitting upright in his seat, rubbed his brows and sighed.

He was a decisive man. However, with the need to balance the complex relationships within the Xuantian Alliance, coupled with his advanced age of over a hundred, he was already feeling a bit overwhelmed.

At this moment, a voice slowly sounded in the hall.

"How about uniting with the Lotus Buddha Kingdom?"

This voice helped the clueless fools find their bearings, but earned them the cold shoulder from those who saw clearly. Lotus Buddha Kingdom? Do you think a combined Buddhist and Taoist religion can challenge the Han Dynasty? Do the Buddha Kingdoms really think they're a kingdom? They're just two top sects, barely able to protect themselves.

Their prosperity is inseparable from the Han Dynasty, and their defeat is just a matter of thought on the part of the Han Dynasty.

What's more, even if it is a country, what does it matter? Look at the Baiyue and Xiongnu, they are still on the plate of the Han Dynasty.

"No!" Zhang Yan refused.

"Why!"

"Putting aside other considerations, if Buddhism and Taoism unite, it will send a message to the Han people that there is no room for maneuver."

"You are still thinking about turning things around now. Is there any room for it? Has the big man given it to you? Instead of hoping against hope with the big man, it is better to fight to the death. A tough attitude may make the other party afraid." One person said excitedly.

"The Xuantian League must have the surname Zhang."

While these words were harsh and unpleasant to the ear, they held some truth. However, these assumptions were based on the assumption that Buddhism and Taoism could compete with the Han. In reality, the Han sent people to negotiate not because they were strong, but because they were obedient and still useful.

Otherwise, the army would have already arrived.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's wait for the Imperial Master to arrive before we discuss this." Zhang Yan's words sealed the matter. He didn't know how the Lotus Buddha Kingdom would handle the situation. In fact, he still held onto a tinge of unrealistic hope.

Hoping the big man would show mercy.

However, he didn't know that the emperor had spoken, and those who obeyed would prosper, while those who disobeyed would perish. Times were different now, and there was no room for maneuver in this matter.

At this moment, a similar debate was taking place within the Lotus Buddha Kingdom and the Xuantian League. Compared to the orthodox Dao, Buddhism was not as focused on autonomy. History also proves that dynasties in which Buddhism flourished were those that cooperated with the state.

This is a common phenomenon.

The reason for the debate within the Lotus Buddha Kingdom was that the imperial court seemed to want to assimilate all of Buddhism, not wanting to grant it even the slightest bit of autonomy. This was completely different from submission.

The point of contention was not whether to submit or not, but whether, after submission, the Lotus Buddha Kingdom would remain the Lotus Buddha Kingdom? Would they obey the imperial court completely or would they have autonomy? None of this was known.

But generally speaking, the willingness to submit is greater than the willingness to resist.

After learning the news, Chen Dong also thought so, so he went to the Lotus Buddha Kingdom first.

It's a thousand-year-old temple, its hip roof covered in glazed tiles, its fire-relief gargoyles, and towering ancient cypresses, all radiating solemnity. An ancient Buddha sits cross-legged atop a white jade archway. This is a tranquil Buddhist haven, and also the ancestral home of Buddhism.

However, today this ancient temple, once a place of great worship, no longer receives pilgrims. The abbot, Shi Huiming, and a group of eminent monks await the arrival of the Han Dynasty Imperial Master.

Some senior monks closed their eyes, fiddling with their Buddhist beads, trying to ease the tension within them. Behind them stood tall warrior monks in gray robes, wielding long staffs. These were guardian monks, not there for any potential conflict.

But it is to increase momentum and courage.

The abbot's face was expressionless, appearing unusually calm. God knew there was no way to avoid this time; it would soon be revealed what kind of person the newly appointed Imperial Master was.

At this moment, Chen Dong, of course, wanted to use the power of the Han Dynasty to give them a warning. Therefore, his appearance was extremely high-profile.

Suddenly a strong wind blew.

The monks who had their eyes tightly closed suddenly stopped spinning their beads, opened their eyes, and looked in one direction, their eyes full of surprise. They knew the big man would give them a show of force, but they had never imagined it would be like this.

The strong wind didn't let up, but instead intensified, causing the sleeves of the monk's robe to rustle and flutter. The wind also carried a strange coolness and a blend of sandalwood and cinnabar, causing my restless thoughts to strangely calm down.

Forced stability.

This was just one point that surprised everyone. They had no time to think about it. The once azure sky suddenly gathered layers of purple clouds, spreading rapidly like a canopy, instantly blocking out the scorching sun and casting a solemn and mysterious light and shadow between heaven and earth.

Changes in the celestial phenomena indicate the arrival of an extraordinary person.

Then came the clear and melodious celestial music, which was neither silk nor bamboo, but sounded like the ringing of bells and chimes, or the cry of cranes in the sky, which made people hold their breath.

Surrounded by a vast purple cloud, dozens of cranes flapped their wings, creating a swirling mass. Atop the cranes' backs stood a figure. He wore a purple robe emblazoned with the eight trigrams of the sun, moon, and stars, and a lotus crown on his head. In the center of the crown shone a large, glittering "Pure Heart Glaze" gem.

Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. Against this backdrop, Chen Dong had long since shed his youthful immaturity. His face was expressionless, his eyes filled with a calm and confident gaze that looked down upon everything. He gazed down at the abbot of the Lotus Buddha Kingdom.

It must be said that such a grand display was quite impressive. The people of the Tianjiansi knew how to arrange a grand display. They were experts in their field and their reputation was well-deserved.

What can the Lotus Buddha Kingdom do in the face of such a show of force?

I can only welcome the Imperial Master with both hands.

Chen Dong raised his lips slightly and uttered a word: "Good."

As soon as these words were spoken, purple air rolled up like a stairway. Everyone lifted their feet and it was as if they were stepping on solid ground. They slowly descended from the sky, and a group of cranes cried and circled around them.