Hearing these four words, Little Taotie’s mind flashed back to a lecture by Teacher Ma:
"Words Conform to Law" refers to the idea that enlightened monks utter words filled with Zen wisdom, representing the true essence of Buddhist teachings.
For Confucianism, "Words Conform to Law" is somewhat different, embodying the mandate of heaven.
But both entail a backlash.
The greater the change wrought by "Words Conform to Law," the greater the backlash.
Buddhists, with Buddha’s Light shining upon all, suffer a loss of merit when using "Words Conform to Law" and facing its backlash.
Confucianism, with its upright and powerful integrity, suffers a loss of reputation when using "Words Conform to Law" and facing its backlash.
However, one could use magical treasures to offset the related backlash...
Little Taotie’s gaze slowly moved to Hua Jinyan’s wrist, seeing a deep crack that had appeared on the Rainbow Relic!
"So, it was inevitable that we would collide, and you used the Rainbow Relic invoking ’Words Conform to Law,’ which is why it cracked and why you are so weak?"
Little Taotie gripped Hua Jinyan’s hand tightly, "Let’s go find Teacher Ma! He must have a way to restore the Rainbow Relic and your strength!"
Gently, Hua Jinyan shook his head: "It’s irreversible."
With one hand holding a glass bottle and the other the Horse-faced Bell, Little Taotie bit off the cap, shook the bell vigorously and spit out the cap. Anxiously, she called, "Horse-Faced Vidyaraja, Horse-Faced Vidyaraja, Horse-Faced Vidyaraja..."
White hair drifted out of the bottle, transforming into Shen Cang.
The next second, Horse-Faced Vidyaraja also appeared in the car.
The backseat became somewhat crowded.
One, a Primordial Spirit who had left the body, and the other from the Reincarnation Palace, had not manifested deliberately; they were essentially in their spiritual forms, visible only to Little Taotie and Hua Jinyan, not to Xiangxiang.
However, Xiangxiang had a sense of what was happening and sat quietly.
Horse-Faced Vidyaraja immediately locked eyes with the Rainbow Relic on Hua Jinyan’s wrist and noticed the deep crack. He asked, "Did you use the Divine Skill ’Words Conform to Law’?"
Hua Jinyan explained the recent events to Horse-Faced Vidyaraja, including dining at the restaurant and discovering that the restaurant was protected by a formation.
Shen Cang listened attentively, then suddenly drifted out of the car. His gaze swept over the vehicle. Finding nothing at first glance, but being a meticulous individual, he checked again. This time, the blood droplet that had masked its presence was discovered.
With a swipe of his hand, Shen Cang erased the blood droplet, and a miniaturized blood-red formation appeared in his palm.
Shen Cang returned to the car and spread his palm open.
With a glance, Horse-Faced Vidyaraja understood everything, "A sacrificial ritual using the blood, flesh, and souls of mortals."
Shen Cang nodded, his vast knowledge allowing him to recognize the purpose of the formation as well.
Shen Cang: "The case from those years was never fully resolved. It wasn’t cracked but deliberately led into a false direction. The paper effigies were nothing but scapegoats put forth by the sacrificer."
Little Taotie listened intently, reaching for her toy smoking pipe.
Horse-Faced Vidyaraja: "..."
Both dignitaries momentarily felt a sense of exhaustion, their mouths twitching slightly in unison.
Little Taotie blinked and looked at them confusedly, "Head Grandpa, why did you stop talking? Keep going!"
Head Grandpa? Horse-Faced Vidyaraja couldn’t help but laugh indiscreetly.
With a stern face and a heavy voice, Shen Cang said, "The explosion back then was for the purpose of sacrifice. Rebuilding the restaurant was to draw the sacrificial array. The flesh and limbs destroyed in the explosion became ’nourishment’ for drawing the array, and those souls who died because of the explosion, they either became Evil Spirits or vengeful spirits, aiding the formation’s completion."
"Why sacrifice, and who is it for?" Little Taotie cocked her head to one side, her eyes filled with question marks.