"Having turned to the Chan Sect means one has renounced evil and embraced good."
Although Hou Yuxiao internally shook his head, he still deliberately hesitated for a moment as if truly moved, and then spoke, "Actually, Mr. Hou has no intention of being enemies with Leiyin Temple. If Abbot Wufa can agree to one condition of mine, allegiance to your temple is also possible."
"May I know what the condition is? Please speak directly, Benefactor Hou!"
Not only did Abbot Wufa's face show a flicker of interest upon asking this question, but Yuan Kong and the other sect members of Leiyin Temple also quickly masked their anger from moments before; they realized that the praises from Abbot Wufa were all just a preamble.
"Firstly, the Hou Clan, which had not easily captured Hexi, would not just hand it over to Leiyin Temple — not only would Mr. Hou not agree, but also the hundreds of thousands in the Hou Clan; secondly, the Shen Clan, lords of Jinling, Yun Xiang, and Yinling counties, are also unwilling to give up these three counties; thirdly, Xiong Yun Gang is also not willing to let go of Xingnan Prefecture City, Yuzhao, and Jiujun counties so easily."
As Hou Yuxiao spoke these words, Wufa's expression darkened, as did those of the other sect members from Leiyin Temple, but he continued as if he hadn't noticed:
"Therefore, my condition is that as long as Leiyin Temple does not interfere with these three places in Xiayuan, not to speak of the Hou Clan, even Shen Clan and Xiong Yun Gang would commit themselves to the Chan Sect. I wonder, Abbot Wufa, would you agree?"
Wufa and all the sect members from Leiyin Temple's faces flushed red simultaneously, their gazes towards Hou Yuxiao turning icy and piercing in an instant.
Hou Yuxaio was not proposing a condition; he was outright insulting them.
Total control of Xiayuan involves three prefectures: Jianye, Xingnan, and Hexi. By not moving against Xingnan and Hexi, that means Leiyin Temple could only aim for Jianye Prefecture — what kind of dominion over Xiayuan would that be?
Besides, as a quasi-holy land, Leiyin Temple, which singularly governed two territories in Jizhou, would only have one prefecture in Yongzhou. If that really happened, Leiyin Temple would likely become a laughingstock to the world!
"You are just an inexperienced youth seeking death!"
"Old fool, I knew you were merely buying time. Today, I will see who is the one to die!"
Provoked in such a manner, Wufa finally could not hold back and struck first. A rotating disk of Buddha's light rose behind him, and quickly, like lightning, he launched forward, aiming a palm strike directly at Hou Yuxiao's forehead.
However, before his palm could reach, Hou Yuxiao let out a cold laugh and then burst out with a speed that even he found alarming, grabbing Fang Yun and fleeing to the west.
As he was astonished by Hou Yuxiao's unexpectedly terrifying speed, Hou had already escaped into the air, shouting toward the direction behind the crossing, "Kill the enemy!"
Who is to kill the enemy?
"Brother, the surroundings are enveloped by restrictive spells of the Mystical Realm, there's a large army, a large army..."
Upon hearing his junior's alarmed cry, Wufa's expression darkened. Yuan Kong and all the other sect members from Leiyin Temple instantly showed panic on their faces, as they all sensed something and sharply turned to look to the west.
To the west of the crossing, three miles out, hundreds of golden restrictive spells suddenly disintegrated in mid-air, and a vast surge of blood energy burst through the sky for over ten miles.
Instantly, every face among the Leiyin Temple sect members showed sheer horror.
"Fifty thousand men, only over ten thousand have landed, and those are only the common yellow-robed monk soldiers. Those fifteen thousand Earthshade Monastic Soldiers are still foolishly waiting on the ships. Now, there might be big trouble..."
The ominous voice of Hou Yuxiao reached their ears, and the faces of the Leiyin Temple leaders instantly turned deathly pale, their hearts sinking into the abyss.