Above the Great Dao
Chapter 608 - 278: Demon, Zen

Chapter 608: Chapter 278: Demon, Zen

West Capital Inner City, Xiexiu Hall.

It was rumored that during the True King Era, this hall was the residence for top scorers and other distinguished scholars while they awaited an audience with the True King, thus it was also known as the top scorer’s estate and was a exceptionally refined and serene garden in the Inner City. However, after the decline of the True King Era, it became the Taishi Mansion. When the Imperial Examination was re-established, it once again became the top scorer’s estate.

The name "Xiexiu" carries the meaning of gathering the outstanding talents from all around the world, and the young scholar resided in Xiexiu Hall.

Although the Imperial Examination had not yet started, everyone knew that the young scholar would surely rank among the top three, and thus his residing in the Xiexiu Hall was a matter of course.

Within Xiexiu Hall, a middle-aged man wearing a tall ceremonial hat sat on a Taishi Chair, with the Void Great Realm manifesting behind him—beautiful days and nights adorned with stars scattered across.

The young scholar sat beneath the sun and moon, surrounded by stars. The middle-aged man used his own Void Great Realm to nourish and temper the young scholar’s physical body and Primordial Spirit, helping him elevate his cultivation and refine his Qi-Blood.

For others, seeing a person from the Returning Void Realm of the Mahayana Realm would be an incredible opportunity, yet for the young scholar, having a Mahayana Realm being temper his physical and spiritual essence daily was a normal occurrence.

People come from different backgrounds and thus have different circumstances. Though under the same sun and moon, they are not to be spoken of as equals.

At that moment, an Incense Master from the Red Lady Society hurried in, but was stopped by Assistant Military Cao Yunning, who asked, "What has happened?"

The newcomer quickly relayed the incident that had occurred outside the Guangji Storehouse. Cao Yunning’s expression turned solemn, and he hurried to the Void Great Realm, standing quietly beside the young scholar.

The young scholar sensed him, opened his eyes, and said, "Yunning, speak freely."

Cao Yunning hastily explained how Shen Hongniang and others had plotted an assassination against Chen Shi, saying, "Now Shen Hongniang and seven Hall Masters from the Red Lady Society have died at the hands of Chen Shi. Please, young master, make a decision."

"Shen Hongniang was foolish."

The young scholar slightly frowned, stopped cultivating, stood up and said, "She took it upon herself to ambush Chen Shi. Who gave her the audacity?"

He was handsome and tall, dressed simply in a blue Scholar’s Daoist robe, looking just like any other Scholar who had come to the capital to participate in the exams.

He sighed and shook his head, "So many experts in West Capital, who could Shen Hongniang’s little schemes deceive? Not Chen Shi, not Chen Tang, and certainly not the Eastern Factory or the Thirteen Families! Her actions are as clear as day to everyone else. It seems someone wants to use Chen Shi’s hand to remove Shen Hongniang. She knew too much."

He paced back and forth, "Shen Hongniang’s death is the result of the Thirteen Families’ indulgence; otherwise, why would they keep it hidden from me until now? It seems they also don’t want to be manipulated by others. Her death is also a warning to me."

Cao Yunning bowed slightly, "Young master, what about Shen Hongniang’s vengeance?"

The young scholar replied, "Put Shen Hongniang’s vengeance aside for now. Yunning, keep your subordinates in check and make sure they don’t act recklessly and ruin my greater plans."

Cao Yunning agreed, "I just fear that too much control might dishearten them."

"I have my measures. Chen Shi is not to be worried about; a life-and-death struggle with him would only demean my status and elevate him, equating him to my position. Would not all my prior actions be in vain, as if preparing a wedding dress for him?"

The young scholar spoke unhurriedly, "Moreover, Chen Tang is a competent official capable of bringing peace. I need the support of the Thirteen Families, but I also need such competent officials to work for me."

Cao Yunning shook his head, "Chen Tang is Chen Shi’s father; he probably won’t easily surrender."

The young scholar smiled, "I don’t need his surrender; I just want him to continue serving the court after I achieve my long-standing ambitions."

Cao Yunning sincerely praised, "Young master, you truly have a broad and forgiving heart. So, how should we deal with Chen Shi? He is ambitious and has targeted you repeatedly..."

The young scholar smiled slightly and leisurely said, "I do not need to act personally; someone will warn him, and he will naturally become much more compliant."

Many in West Capital also learned of Shen Hongniang’s death and each breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside West Capital City, Small Jinhua Temple.

This place serves as a gathering hall for Buddhist disciples attending the Imperial Examination. All Buddhist disciples coming for the exam must register here.

Saintess Xuan was also registered here and had met many monks from other temples in the West Bull New Continent.

She was a disciple of the Bodhi Dojo, one of the three great Holy Lands of Buddhism, and held a high status, residing in the Bodhi Garden. The abbess of Small Jinhua Temple, Master Chan Yue, often came to chat with her. Master Chan Yue was originally a nun from the Bodhi Dojo, a junior to Master Miao Yin, and Saintess Xuan’s grand-aunt. She later left the dojo and became the abbess of Small Jinhua Temple.

The two sat on the ground, and Master Chan Yue watched the dripping water from the eaves and said, "Shen Hongniang held many secrets of the influential and powerful, and if those secrets got out, they could be exploited and lead to ruin. Many people wished for Shen Hongniang’s death, yet since she belonged to the young master’s camp, targeting her meant targeting the young master’s people. Thus, many didn’t dare to lay a hand on her, allowing her to roam free until now. But Shen Hongniang, arrogant from favor, believed she truly had an unshakeable backer."

The teapot whistled, its spout puffing steam outward.

Saintess Xuan covered the coals, picked up the teapot, and began cleaning the tea set, saying, "With so many sordid affairs between men and women in West Capital, it truly is a place of deep worldly desires. Can one truly cut off mundane worries and attain true Buddhist enlightenment here?"

Master Chan Yue gave her a deep look, "Xuan’er, you must both indulge in and detach from feelings for the young master, engage your heart and extinguish desires, to achieve the state where ’all is emptiness.’"

Saintess Xuan agreed, but the image of Chen Shi flashed through her mind, startling her. Fearing Master Chan Yue would notice something was amiss, she quickly asked, "Shen Hongniang knew these sordid secrets, but the young master also knows them. Why must they kill Shen Hongniang and yet remain obedient to the young master?"

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