Chapter 247: Bald Scout

Monk Huicong, being an eminent monk, possessed a clear mind and keen senses. Although his cultivation methods were different and his spiritual attainment couldn't compare to the many masters present in the hall, he knew they wouldn't make light of such a serious matter.

"But the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom is prosperous," he began, "and while some areas might breed demons, it's not just the folk gods; there are also masters residing in its mountains, forests, and cities..." Even though Monk Huicong knew that what had just been said was likely true, he couldn't help but voice his thoughts. It wasn't that he disbelieved them, but rather that he hoped to gain more answers from the many masters present.

"Indeed," an old dragon remarked, "though we've long resided in Dazhen, we've certainly heard of the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom. It's considered one of the foremost imperial dynasties in the Eastern Cloud Continent, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say its influence reaches across the mortal realm. Yet now, even when we try to divine its fate, the signs are obscure and its energies chaotic. This suggests either widespread chaos within the nation or deliberate mischief-making!"

The old dragon's words evoked a strange sense of emotion in Ji Yuan. To borrow a phrase from his previous life, the cultivators in Dazhen were quite "home-bound." In fact, most cultivators in this world were relatively reclusive, but this tendency was even more pronounced among those in Dazhen.

The monk's remarks spurred speculation among the others. From the Yuhuai cultivators to the transformed dragon-jiao, everyone offered their opinions, with both sides even connecting it to their previous experiences of being attacked.

When the discussions in the hall subsided, the City God of Jingji Prefecture swept his sleeve, pushing aside the mist to create more space. He then looked at Monk Huicong before casting his gaze around the hall.

"So, based on what Master Huicong and all of you fellow Daoists have said," the City God began, "can we infer that these anomalies in the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom, and even across the Cloud Continent, have only emerged in the last decade or so? Or, at the very least, that they remained inconspicuous for decades prior?"

Juyuanzi, the most accomplished cultivator from Mount Yuhuai, also spoke with a frown. "Demonic beings possess perverse intentions and unstable minds. It's highly unlikely they could maintain self-restraint for long, let alone act as a collective."

"True Master Juyuanzi is correct," Ji Yuan said with a slight nod. "Most demonic beings do have poor temperaments and are prone to cruelty. However, while one's state of mind and personality are linked, there isn't a direct causative influence. A poor state of mind might impede a demon's cultivation path, but it doesn't necessarily mean they lack patience. Furthermore, this situation isn't ordinary and shouldn't be underestimated. For instance, the very group of malevolent creatures who came to Dazhen for the Water-Land Dharma Assembly didn't cause any trouble during their journey, did they?"

Ultimately, the cultivators of Mount Yuhuai held a traditional immortal sect perspective, which, in simple terms, meant they inherently disdained demonic beings and largely looked down upon mountain spirits. Viewing others through such a prejudiced lens often leads to underestimating one's opponents. Take Juyuanzi, for instance. Ji Yuan still possessed a jade slip inscribed by him. In terms of cultivation, Juyuanzi was undeniably profound, only slightly less skilled than the old beggar. Yet, while he didn't deny the cunning of demonic creatures, he couldn't hide his underlying belief that "demons are incapable of achieving anything significant." In reality, however, even those with brutal and violent natures can endure for a time, or even longer, when pursuing a greater objective.

"Hmm, that's certainly true! But..." As he spoke, Juyuanzi looked toward the City God of Jingji Prefecture. "What about the deities protecting that region?"

Most cultivators in the immortal world tend to ignore worldly affairs; it's not uncommon for an immortal sect to have no one venturing out for decades. And when they do leave, they often travel discreetly. However, various deities are intimately connected to the populace and animals in their respective regions.

Subsequently, another cultivator proposed directly flying to the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom for an investigation, but Juyuanzi immediately opposed the idea. "Our speculations here are too blind, and rushing to the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom would certainly not be the best strategy!"

"Hmph," scoffed the old dragon, "even if we went rashly, we wouldn't gain any significant results. Previously, I ventured out and eliminated many minor troublemakers, but setting aside their numbers, I truly discovered nothing substantial. Many of those malevolent creatures seemed to have simply appeared out of thin air!" The old dragon remained vexed by his inability to find the entity responsible for attacking the Ink Dragon. Although he had claimed before the Ink Dragon's death that he was unsure if all the culprits had been eliminated, he privately knew that they had not been completely eradicated. Crucially, the Ink Dragon's sinews had not been recovered, preventing him from giving Mo Rong a whole body.

For a moment, the hall was filled with discussions among the ghosts, gods, immortals, and demons, much like a group of mortals facing a difficult problem, though without the accompanying clamor.

Having listened and pondered for a considerable time, Ji Yuan carefully chose his words before speaking again. "This time, we in Dazhen have purged all the malevolent creatures who came to the Dharma Assembly. If we make any grand moves immediately, we risk alarming them. And as Elder Ying mentioned, attempting to overpower them with brute force may not yield the desired results. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the affairs of the Tingliang Kingdom and the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom. Rather than a Heavenly Official's tour, perhaps it would be better to send someone to conduct a discreet, thorough investigation..."

"Praise be to the Great Luminous Buddha! This humble monk, Huicong, is willing to undertake this task!"

Monk Huicong, who had remained rather quiet until now, suddenly spoke up. Ji Yuan, seemingly having anticipated this, looked at him and calmly inquired, "Master, though you possess profound Buddhist teachings and often accrue merit by dispelling calamities and offering blessings, established demonic forces cannot be subdued by Buddhist teachings alone. Even if you wield the arts of the Wisdom King, there's no guarantee you'll have the opportunity to employ its power."

"Praise be to the Great Wisdom King Buddha..." Monk Huicong invoked a Buddhist chant and bowed to the immortals, demons, and gods present. "This humble monk is from Daliang Temple, which is not far from the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom's border. Furthermore, I frequently travel. Having participated in this Dazhen Dharma Assembly, it's a perfect opportunity for me to return to the Tingliang Kingdom, or perhaps even journey north to the Great Wheel Temple in the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom to practice Buddhism. Hehe... Even if this current situation hadn't arisen, I had already planned to do so."

However, the presence of this urgent matter transformed his intent.

Ji Yuan's expression showed a hint of admiration. "Master, your noble righteousness will surely lead you to attain the Wisdom King's fruition in the future!"

"You monk are indeed quite commendable. The matter between us is now settled," the old dragon added with a smile. The old dragon, too, offered a smiling remark, having gained new respect for the monk. As for the others, they also regarded this "young" monk with newfound admiration.

However, Monk Huicong's proposal was merely one part of their preparations; they couldn't place all their hopes on it. Other strategies were also discussed. Of course, it was also possible that they were overthinking the situation, and that everything was merely a coincidence. After all, rumors about the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had spread widely, and it wasn't impossible that some formidable demonic creatures from the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom had simply been attracted by them.

By the afternoon of the second day, Monk Huicong had already reached Jinzhou, the northernmost state of Dazhen. As the monk did not possess the art of flight, it was impossible for him to have been in the capital yesterday and reach Jinzhou today. He must have been transported.

At that moment, near Tingqiu Mountain, north of Jinzhou, Monk Huicong descended from the clouds alongside Ji Yuan and the old dragon.

"Master Huicong," Ji Yuan explained, "beyond this mountain lies the Tingliang Kingdom. While our previous discussions focused primarily on the Heavenly Treasure Kingdom or regions further north in Yunzhou, Tingliang itself may not be entirely peaceful. Once you cross this mountain, you must begin to exercise caution. Of course, given the lingering power from the True Dragon's recent wrath, the southern parts of Tingliang Kingdom are likely to remain undisturbed." He then looked ahead and continued, "Your escort has arrived."

Monk Huicong and the old dragon also noticed a flash of yellow light transforming into smoke at the foot of the mountain nearby. A figure, with a face resembling stone, appeared there and walked directly toward the three of them.

"I am Hong Shengtian, Mountain God of Tingqiu Mountain. Greetings, Mr. Ji, Dragon Lord, and esteemed Master!"

"Greetings, Mountain God Hong!" Ji Yuan replied. "You are too courteous, Mountain God," added the old dragon. "This humble monk greets the Mountain God!" said Huicong. Although the Mountain God did not recognize Monk Huicong, the fact that he stood alongside Ji Yuan and the old dragon indicated he was not to be treated lightly.

"Master," Ji Yuan cautioned, "the Grand Void Jade Talismans from Mount Yuhuai are exceptionally potent and among the finest talismans available, but they will heavily deplete your magic power, so please use them with caution. While the Earth Escape Talismans can aid in escape, they are not your inherent divine ability. Should your magic power be exhausted, you risk being trapped underground. Furthermore, it would be extremely dangerous if someone highly skilled in earth manipulation arts were to fix your energy and reverse the effect, locking you in place..."

The more Monk Huicong listened to Ji Yuan, the more he felt a bead of sweat forming on his bald scalp. It seemed, according to Mr. Ji, that everything he might do would be fraught with danger.

"Heh, in short, Master, please try to observe and listen more, and don't rely too heavily on external objects. They might not always prove effective."

It wasn't that Ji Yuan was being overly verbose. Even within the cultivation world, means of instant communication were rare and typically involved precious divine artifacts. Methods like flying sword messages, while existing, required both divine power and time, and were far from foolproof. Ji Yuan's repeated use of celestial sword messages, for instance, was ultimately too extravagant. Aside from Monk Huicong, the old dragon was not suitable for covert investigation. As for the cultivators from Mount Yuhuai, as the old beggar and Ji Yuan had discussed, their inherent "nobility" or immortal aura was impossible to conceal, making them ill-suited for such a task. Ji Yuan felt that none of the cultivators who had come to the capital were appropriate; they were all individuals who had spent years in secluded immortal cultivation and likely struggled with mundane worldly interactions. If Ji Yuan were to go himself, honestly, he wasn't entirely confident in his own abilities, and his reasons were similar to the old dragon's. Thus, he couldn't help but give Monk Huicong a detailed and somewhat excessive set of instructions.

Meanwhile, listening to Mr. Ji speak gave Monk Huicong a strong sense of déjà vu, reminding him of being lectured endlessly by his master at Daliang Temple as a child. This instilled in him an inexplicable pressure, making him feel as though everything he did was prone to disaster—as if even fetching water could lead to drowning.

Seeing that Ji Yuan had finally finished, he quickly performed a Buddhist bow and chanted a prayer. "Praise be to the Great Luminous Buddha! This humble monk understands. Please rest assured, Mr. Ji, and you, Dragon Lord, please rest assured!"

Ji Yuan nodded and bowed respectfully to the Mountain God. "Many thanks, Mountain God," he said. "Simply ensure a smooth and undisturbed delivery using the earth's energies."

The Mountain God nodded, bowed again to the old dragon and Ji Yuan, and then placed a hand on the monk's shoulder. The next moment, both the Mountain God and Monk Huicong sank into the ground and vanished from sight.

"I wonder if this bald scout will be up to the task," the old dragon mused.