Chapter 86 - 81: The Comprehensive Strength of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect
Inside the Lan Family residence, in the underground prison.
Teng Xiaofan had succeeded in releasing the members of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect.
’This should count as over-fulfilling Lu Changfeng’s mission,’ he thought.
Next, he had to get himself out of the Lan Family’s residence.
Impersonating the Lan Family Patriarch was certainly comfortable, and he might even be able to gain quite a few benefits from it.
But he could only keep up the act for so long. Teng Xiaofan wasn’t greedy; it was better to leave after finishing his business.
Teng Xiaofan spoke to the Lan Clan Members, "Alright, that’s all for today. Everyone, return to your duties."
"The Daliang Country delegation will be in Jiangzhou City during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I’m afraid they’ll be making some moves behind the scenes."
"Everyone must pay close attention to any and all developments. Report any abnormalities to me immediately."
Teng Xiaofan’s words successfully shifted the attention of the Lan Clan Members to the upcoming Martial Arts exchange.
The wolfish ambitions of Daliang Country were known to all.
The Lan Family had lived in Jiangzhou for generations. If Jiangnan Prefecture were to truly have a conflict with Daliang Country, they would inevitably be drawn into it.
This was indeed a major event that all the Martial Arts Powers in Jiangnan Prefecture would have to face.
Teng Xiaofan started walking out of the prison. A young clan member tried to support him.
Teng Xiaofan refused with a raised hand. "I may be old, but I am still a Martial Artist."
"As usual, I’m going to the garden to bask in the sun. If you need anything, you can find me there."
As soon as Teng Xiaofan finished speaking, his pace quickened. In a few flashes, he vanished from everyone’s sight.
"I almost forgot, the Patriarch is also a Bone Refining Realm Martial Sect expert," a clan member lamented.
His previous preference for being supported while walking must have been more of a symbolic gesture of respect, not because the Patriarch truly couldn’t walk on his own.
Meanwhile, Teng Xiaofan leaped out of the Lan Family’s underground prison and quickly arrived at the aforementioned garden.
Amidst the flowers, the real Third Grand-uncle was sleeping soundly, enveloped in their fragrance.
Teng Xiaofan grabbed the real Third Grand-uncle of the Lan Family from the flowerbed and placed him back on the reclining chair.
’You’ve had it easy. Wake up from a nap, and you’re the Patriarch. This doesn’t count as wronging you, does it?’
Teng Xiaofan activated his Transformation, taking on the appearance of another Lan Clan Member, and strolled brazenly out of the Lan Family residence.
A little less than half an hour later.
The Third Grand-uncle on the reclining chair slowly stirred awake.
"Patriarch, here is a proposal. Please take a look."
A Lan Family Steward, who had been waiting by the side for a long time, respectfully handed over the proposal.
The Third Grand-uncle rubbed his eyes. "Child, have you gone mad? I’m your Third Grand-uncle."
The Lan Family Steward froze for a moment, then nodded. "That’s right, you’re the Third Grand-uncle, Patriarch!"
The Third Grand-uncle stood there, completely baffled.
He finally learned from the Lan Family Steward that he had become the new Patriarch today, appointed by the Ancestor—his brilliant and talented older cousin from their youth!!
But the Third Grand-uncle had no memory of this! He only remembered taking a nap!!
A few days later, news that the newly appointed Lan Family Patriarch was suffering from senile dementia spread throughout Jiangzhou Prefecture.
The Lan Family Ancestor, who was in seclusion, heard this news and couldn’t help but nod to himself in approval.
’That old rascal, my third cousin... by faking amnesia from senile dementia, he’s completely wiped the slate clean of his previous actions. Now, the clan members can’t use it against him. What a brilliant plan. I’m truly not his equal.’
After a brief period of utter confusion, the Third Grand-uncle, influenced by the gossip, also came to believe that he really did have amnesia from senile dementia.
He then took on the responsibilities of Patriarch with a mature, steady, and low-profile personality, leading the Lan Family into a period of stable development that lasted for many years.
The Lan Clan Members all praised the Ancestor for his great foresight.
...
「Jiangzhou Prefecture City.」
Inside a private room in an inconspicuous little teahouse.
Lu Changfeng, Sikong Jue, and Zhisha sat facing each other.
Zhisha was wearing a wig and dressed in ordinary clothes.
When Sikong Jue went to the Killing Temple this morning, he found it completely deserted, its monks gone.
Just as he was about to leave, Zhisha, who had been hiding nearby, spotted Sikong Jue and revealed himself.
After escaping from the Lan Family residence last night...
...Zhisha had chosen not to go to the Martial Arts Hall to meet Lu Changfeng in person, in order to avoid implicating him and exposing his identity as the Demon Sect Saint Master.
Instead, he had returned to the Killing Temple to have disciples like Zhiyuan and Zhishen flee first.
He himself hid outside the Killing Temple, lying in wait.
As expected, scouts from numerous Martial Arts Powers came to investigate the Killing Temple that very night.
Zhisha had remained hidden nearby until he saw Sikong Jue arrive, at which point he revealed himself.
Then, after receiving the news, Lu Changfeng came to meet them at this teahouse, which served as a safehouse.
The owner of this teahouse was also a member of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect, making it a relatively safe place to meet.
From Zhisha, Lu Changfeng learned the full story of what had happened.
He learned that the master and disciple duo had put themselves in danger and taken a huge risk just to refine the Buddha Heart Pills for him.
A warmth spread through his heart.
"From now on, do not refine any more Buddha Heart Pills without my direct order."
Lu Changfeng thought for a long time before making this decision.
It was one thing when he didn’t know what the ingredients of the Buddha Heart Pill were. Now that he did, Lu Changfeng found he couldn’t bring himself to refine pills using the lives of random, innocent people.
Of course, if he were to encounter an enemy next time, Lu Changfeng wouldn’t be merciful; he wouldn’t mind capturing them alive to be refined into Buddha Heart Pills.
"Understood, Saint Master," Zhisha nodded in agreement.
Zhisha had little concept of good and evil; he only knew to obey the commands of the Saint Master and the Sect Master above all else.
"The Sect Master’s situation is not good. Saint Master, how should we rescue him?" Zhisha had also received news that Xuansha was not yet dead and asked anxiously.
"As for Xuansha..." Lu Changfeng closed his eyes to think.
With a Rebirth Realm Lan Family Ancestor looming over them, Lu Changfeng simply could not think of a way to resolve the situation.
’Actually, should I try to change the Saint Demon Sect’s image?’ For the first time, Lu Changfeng was truly thinking from the elevated position of the Saint Demon Sect Master.
He didn’t know when the Saint Demon Sect had established its reputation on the Demon Dao.
But in the beginning, the Martial Arts Realm had no distinction between righteous and demonic.
’Changing the deep-seated image the Demon Sect has had for thousands of years won’t be easy.’
’But that won’t stop me from starting slowly.’
Lu Changfeng quickly made a decision. Tomorrow, in his capacity as the Saint Demon Sect Master, he would publish a statement in the newspapers to show his sincerity to the Lan Family and the entire Jiangnan Prefecture Martial Arts Realm.
"I’ve already sent Teng Xiaofan to the Lan Family to gather information. Let’s wait for news from him first. With his abilities, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to gather intelligence from within the Lan Family residence," Lu Changfeng said.
Zhisha put his palms together in a Buddhist salute. "I hope nothing happens to the Sect Master. Otherwise, the Dark Buddha Demon Sect will not let the Lan Family off."
"Saint Master, in truth, the Killing Temple only houses a small fraction of our Dark Buddha Demon Sect’s power."
"The true headquarters of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect is near Jia City in Jiangnan Prefecture."
"If the Saint Master requires it, you can mobilize the full strength of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect to await your command at any time."
This didn’t surprise Lu Changfeng. Xuansha’s main purpose in establishing the Killing Temple was to protect Lu Changfeng in Jiangzhou City.
The small Killing Temple naturally couldn’t possibly house all the disciples of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect.
"What is the current overall strength of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect?" Lu Changfeng asked.
Zhisha replied, "Besides the Sect Master himself, the Dark Buddha Demon Sect currently has three Bone Refining Fifth Layer experts, twelve at the Bone Refining Fourth Layer, and over thirty others in the Bone Refining Realm."
"There are also over three hundred Tendon Transformation Martial Artists."
"And more than two thousand Blood Forger Disciples."
This level of strength could be considered very powerful.
The overall strength of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect alone was comparable to that of a top-tier Sect in Song Country.
Not to mention the strength of the entire Saint Demon Sect.
The Dark Buddha Demon Sect’s headquarters was located on a high mountain outside Jia City in Jiangnan Prefecture.
It was self-sufficient, did not receive pilgrims, and usually remained well-hidden.
New disciples were personally sought out by accomplished cultivators from the Sect who descended the mountain; they never opened their gates to the public for recruitment.
Therefore, if the Sect Master were truly to perish at the hands of the Lan Family, the strength of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect alone would be more than enough to make the Lan Family suffer greatly.
Just as the three of them were seething with anger, contemplating the feasibility of a direct assault on the Lan Family...
"Amitabha Buddha."
"The Saint Master’s methods are brilliant. This humble monk has escaped the sea of suffering."
A familiar, deep voice came from behind the curtain.
The curtain was drawn back, revealing none other than Xuansha, his body speckled with bloodstains!
"Sect Master!" Zhisha stood up in pleasant surprise.
Lu Changfeng also showed a look of astonishment. ’Xuansha actually managed to escape from the Lan Family?’
’And from the sound of it, he’s here because of me?’
’Could it be that Teng Xiaofan has given me an unexpected surprise!’
Xuansha sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp.
He was still covered in bloodstains, and the wounds on his limbs were clearly visible.
It was clear that he had rushed here immediately after leaving the Lan Family residence.
"I wonder, Saint Master, how did you arrange for a spy to become the new Patriarch of the Lan Family?"
Xuansha voiced his question, and in doing so, explained the circumstances of his release.
After hearing this, Lu Changfeng naturally understood that the Lan Family Patriarch was actually Teng Xiaofan in disguise.
He had only asked Teng Xiaofan to gather information, yet he had managed to accomplish something like this.
It was truly beyond Lu Changfeng’s expectations.
"That would be the Thief God’s disciple, Teng Xiaofan. His Disguise and Transformation abilities are simply divine."
"He must have transformed into the Lan Family Patriarch’s likeness to rescue you," Lu Changfeng said.
Xuansha nodded thoughtfully. A disciple of the Thief God... his origins were indeed extraordinary.
No wonder he possessed a Disguise and Transformation Technique so flawless it could fool anyone.
"In any case, I have already promised the Lan Family that the Demon Sect will not take the initiative to move against them."
"So, Zhisha, you must suppress your desire for revenge."
Xuansha looked at the Saint Master. "Saint Master, the most important matter right now is that the news of your appearance has been leaked by the Lan Family Ancestor."
"The emergence of a Saint Demon Sect Master has enormous influence. The outside world won’t care if the news is true or false; they will react. Within the Saint Demon Sect, and among certain Martial Arts Powers, they have surely prepared countermeasures in response to your appearance."
"I’m afraid Jiangzhou City will not be very peaceful from now on."
"I believe your strength, Saint Master, is not yet sufficient to reveal yourself publicly and bear the risks that would follow."
"Therefore, Saint Master, would you consider returning with this humble monk to the Dark Buddha Demon Sect’s mountain headquarters to cultivate in seclusion for a while?"
Xuansha’s injuries were not light; he also needed to return to the Dark Buddha Demon Sect’s headquarters to recuperate in seclusion for a period.
Hence his suggestion.
Lu Changfeng only thought for a moment before shaking his head in refusal.
If it was just for secluded cultivation, he had a better place to go.
The Broken Moon Sect was a good option. He could cultivate in seclusion at their mountain gate, and it was close to his own Martial Arts Hall in Jiangzhou City.
Besides, as long as he didn’t reveal his identity as the Saint Master himself, no one would be able to easily recognize him.
What’s more, Lu Changfeng had no intention of giving up his current public identity.
"Then, Saint Master, please be careful. This humble monk must return to the mountain gate to heal. Zhisha, you will stay by the Saint Master’s side and serve him."
Zhisha nodded in assent. The three of them watched Xuansha leave the teahouse, then returned to the Martial Arts Hall.
At the Martial Arts Hall’s training ground, numerous disciples were practicing martial arts amidst a lively clamor.
Teng Xiaofan had moved a reclining chair to the side and was lying on it, basking in the sun with one leg crossed over the other. Seeing Lu Changfeng, his face immediately took on an expression that screamed, ’Come and praise me’...