At that time, Jing Country will discover the Forbidden Land’s existence,
Once the Forbidden Land is eradicated, the passage between Jing Country and the Prajnaparamita Buddha Country will be completely closed, even though the passage is currently very narrow."
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
The Wansese Realm seemed dissatisfied.
The Daluo Tian thought for a moment and said: "Over the years, the Buddha Country has continuously infiltrated Jing Country. We have kin in Jing Country. You will descend upon Hundred Eyes, take the Netherworld Stone, find them, and use their hands to eliminate Zhou Xuan."
The Wansese Realm closed its eyes and, through the Netherworld Stone, linked with the Hundred-Eyed High Priest.
After the three-person meeting was completed,
The four tattoos resumed their tranquil state, lying across Peng Sheng’s body.
These three individuals were none other than the Three-headed Stone Buddha from three hundred years ago.
A single Stone Buddha possessed three Dharma Bodies—Daluo Tian, Wansese Realm, and Wuxiang Prison.
The three Dharma Bodies used the once-deceased Peng Sheng’s corpse as a nurturing ground to restore their strength.
Ping Shui Prefecture, Zhou Family’s Troupe.
The entirety of Zhou Family’s Troupe was gathered to witness a strange sight.
The Ancestor Tree within Zhou Family’s Troupe had always been uniquely tall and imposing, its crown covering the inner courtyard while shading over half of the outer courtyard.
The Ancestor Tree was experiencing a frenzied surge of growth, and its crown now encompassed the entire street.
"What’s happening to the Ancestor Tree today?"
The senior disciple Yu Zhengyuan squatted in the training yard with a bowl in hand, eating his midnight snack while watching with curiosity.
Under the Ancestor Tree, Zhou Lingyi had her eyes tightly closed, immersed in her introspection.
Yuan Buyu stood with his hands behind his back, preoccupied with thoughts of whether his treasured protege might have caused trouble and triggered the Ancestor Tree’s strange movement.
"Elder Yuan, it seems your younger apprentice may have accomplished something significant."
Zhou Lingyi finally opened her eyes and spoke to Yuan Buyu.
"Something significant? What kind of significant thing?"
"I sensed that the world has changed—not the present, but the past. The timeline involved reaches far back in history."
Zhou Lingyi knew the Nuo God slumbered beneath the Ancestor Tree and said: "The past world has changed, implying someone has altered history. Today, the Nuo God stirred again. I speculate this event is something the Nuo God and my apprentice accomplished together."
"My apprentice is operating at this level now?"
Yuan Buyu’s face lit up with pride, unable to conceal his satisfaction.
"However, the Nuo God has now entered a deeper state of slumber. If the Nuo God is to aid my apprentice in the future, it may not be so easy anymore."
"Even without the Nuo God, don’t I—the mentor—always stand ready?" Yuan Buyu snapped open his folded fan, waved it a few times, and muttered softly: "That rascal caused me worry all night, only to find out he was off accomplishing something grand with the Nuo God."
Zhou Lingyi’s expression turned solemn as she tucked her hands into her sleeves and said: "For the Nuo God to endure the price of deeper slumber just to alter history with my apprentice, it signifies the importance of this history. Perhaps it is closely tied to the looming chaos of Jing Country’s future."
"If it’s so significant, that means the Nuo God has been planning this for a long time."
"Yes, they’ve been planning for ages, likely waiting for someone like my apprentice to emerge."
Zhou Lingyi suddenly recalled old memories and remarked: "Only today did I understand why the Nuo God chose my apprentice. He truly is extraordinary, progressing far faster than I had imagined."
She also finally understood why the Ancestor Tree awoke, and why her grandfather insisted on traveling to Soul Shepherd City to bring Zhou Xuan to Jing Country.
Yuan Buyu gazed up at the sky and said: "Master Zhou, I always thought the Heavenly Gods to be remote and unattached, but unexpectedly, they care about the fate of Jing Country as well."
"The Nuo God is the Fate God, and fate inherently demands struggle. Hence, the Nuo God’s War Intent is the strongest among all the Heavenly Gods,
Yet despite that intense War Intent, he remains profoundly gentle,
For the intertwined destinies of millions in Jing Country gave birth to the Fate God himself,
And he cares for the lives and fates of all those countless souls."
Zhou Lingyi said: "Though the Nuo God now rests within deeper layers of slumber, I firmly believe that if Jing Country reaches the brink of survival, this Fate God of Jing Country will undoubtedly awaken once more.
If that day truly comes, I hope the Nuo God will have both me and my apprentice standing by his side,
Though, truthfully, I wish that day would never arrive."
Zhou Lingyi got up and asked Yuan Buyu: "Elder Yuan, I’m going to call my apprentice. Would you like to join me?"
"No, I’ll stay here. Just tell that rascal to be careful—Mingjiang Prefecture seems to be growing more chaotic by the day."
Yuan Buyu waved his hand toward Zhou Lingyi.
In fact, he did want to join the call to Zhou Xuan, but... the Zhou Family’s Troupe had a guest today.
A guest not seen for many years.
"Nearly thirty years, I suppose?"
Yuan Buyu shook his fan as he looked at the middle-aged man standing in the Zhou Family’s Troupe doorway.
The man wore a white long coat, holding a bamboo fan in hand, exuding grace. His movements as he approached Yuan Buyu were exceptionally elegant.
When teaching Zhou Xuan storytelling, Yuan Buyu had repeatedly emphasized the importance of "sound, stage presence, form, and expression." Zhou Xuan still lacked mastery in these areas due to his limited experience,
But this middle-aged man’s "stage presence, form, and expression" were of the highest caliber among storytellers.
"Second Senior Brother." Yuan Buyu stood and greeted the middle-aged man with a respectful bow.
Yuan Buyu and the man had apprenticed under the same master. Their mentor had urged restraint, and the most fundamental restraint was to speak less and act more, hence he had named them "Buyu" (Silent) and "Moyan" (Don’t Speak).
The middle-aged man bore the surname Feng: Feng Moyan.
Feng Moyan smiled and said: "Lao Shi, it’s been so many years."
"Nearly thirty years." Yuan Buyu replied: "Care for a drink?"
Feng Moyan said: "I came to see how you’ve been recently."
"I’m doing well. I’ve become a cook for the Zhou Family’s Troupe." Yuan Buyu gestured toward the kitchen and said: "Lately, I’ve also taken on an apprentice—his talent would make you green with envy."
"Is that so? Since I abandoned the secular path, I haven’t been paying much attention to the affairs of the martial world."