Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 360 - 314: Land Subsidence

Dripping blood surged through the grass and seeped into the soil.

In a shattered eye socket, Jiu Fenghai’s eyeball, once his own, silently stared at the sky.

It reflected the activating Alarm Talisman of the Academic Palace, triggered by its user’s death.

SWOOSH—CRACK!

Brilliant fireworks bloomed high in the sky, illuminating the mountain forest below as bright as daylight.

The Martial Monks guarding the night in the bell tower naturally noticed this striking phenomenon. They grabbed their short staves and ran towards the fireworks, shouting as they ran,

"What is that?"

"Has someone triggered the Mountain Guarding Array?!"

"Quick, go inform the abbot, ab, ab, ab..."

Their words jammed.

The Martial Monks bursting through the door came to a halt.

The bursting fireworks froze in the night sky.

The wind ceased to flow.

The dust ceased to rise.

All things in the world seemed to be plunged into a frozen state.

Then, the monks’ mouths opened and closed, emitting strange sounds as they spoke in reverse, "Abbot the inform go quick!" before retreating back inside and shutting the door.

The fireworks in the sky shrank back into a point, plummeting down, retracting into the talisman.

Falling leaves gently rose and reattached themselves to the branches.

The shattered corpses at the edge of the Prohibition swiftly restored and healed.

...

INHALE, EXHALE.

INHALE, EXHALE.

Jiu Fenghai, wearing his night clothes, stood motionless, his mouth slightly open, breathing in the cool summer night air.

He still maintained the posture of taking a paper crane from his robes, his eyebrows unconsciously furrowed.

Wasn’t I going to use the paper crane to probe the Mountain Guarding Array of the Jialan Sect? Why did I suddenly... pause?

He shook his head vigorously, suppressing the unease in his heart. Just as he was about to control the paper crane to fly, the Buddhist chants from the distant Floating Tower ceased abruptly, and the Mountain Guarding Array surrounding the peaks also stopped shaking.

TSK, an opportunity missed.

Jiu Fenghai pursed his lips. Looking at the increasingly noisy temple, he had no choice but to put away the paper crane and stealthily return to his quarters along the shadows.

"Abbot, we have checked. Nothing is stolen on the third floor."

"Nothing is stolen on the second floor."

"Nothing is stolen on the sixth floor."

"Nothing is st—"

Below the Floating Tower, the monks reported to Abbot Liao Wu.

As with the previous incidents, nothing was missing from the tower. Only items had been moved.

Abbot Liao Wu nodded and calmly said, "I understand. Everyone return to your meditation rooms. Do not discuss tonight’s events privately. Kongwo, take some people to the quarters and comfort the pilgrims."

The monks dispersed. Abbot Lian Nan looked up at the brightly lit Floating Tower and quietly asked, "Brother, could it be that an enemy has infiltrated the Mountain of Mind and Heart, intentionally causing this incident?"

The Jialan Sect, aside from amassing wealth through their bank, was also renowned for its Medical Skills. They would treat anyone as long as the donation was sufficient. This resulted in countless enemies in Jianghu; it was impossible to remember all who bore grudges.

"Do you really think there’s someone who can pass through numerous Prohibitions in the Floating Tower freely, before the very eyes of three senior monks?" Abbot Liao Wu asked, withdrawing his gaze, his tone even.

"Common Cultivators certainly couldn’t, including the Sect Leader of the Jieyi Sect, the Tributes of the Sui Palace, and even the four cardinals on Taihao Mountain." Abbot Lian Nan’s tone shifted, "However, if they used an Alien, the situation would be different. The world is vast and full of wonders; there will always be one or two types of Aliens that could fit the current circumstances."

"Not Bodhisattvas?"

"Brother, don’t jest." Abbot Lian Nan’s eyes were like torches as he solemnly said, "If the Bodhisattvas in the temple were to truly come alive, then they could only be Demons!"

Kongwo Monk walked along the corridor outside the Grand Hall.

He had just returned from calming the pilgrims. The official explanation given was that recent rainfall had destabilized the mountain rocks, causing anomalies in the Floating Tower. These might continue for some time, so the pilgrims were told not to panic.

Kongwo Monk’s pace slowed. The unidentified intruder is systematically searching the Floating Tower, as if looking for something specific. Secret Treasures in the tower have hidden Prohibitions; any attempt to remove them would trigger a display of Buddha Light. What exactly are they looking for...?

As he pondered, he reached the Grand Hall.

The temple doors were open. Inside, the lame miscellaneous worker from earlier in the day was kneeling piously, using wood fern to polish the wooden Buddha Altar that had been scorched black by flames.

Beside him were two small iron buckets. One contained waxing tools, and the other held fine green brick ash scented with sesame oil—this fine ash, obtained by crushing and filtering green bricks then mixing them with sesame oil, was commonly used for polishing and waxing.

"Yang Shijiu?"

Kongwo Monk’s brow smoothed, and he calmly asked, "Why are you still here so late?"

The worker named Yang Shijiu struggled to stand up and bowed. His hands gestured constantly, explaining that the precepts monk in the dormitory had said he inadvertently knocked over the Buddha Lamp during the day—an act of great disrespect to the Buddha. As punishment, he had to polish and wax the Buddha Altar all night and wasn’t allowed to eat until it was repaired.

Abusing his petty authority. Kongwo Monk was inwardly speechless. He knew this was likely some bored monk amusing himself at the miscellaneous worker’s expense. So, he said, "There’s no need. Re-waxing is a troublesome task. Go to the dining hall and get something to eat. Tomorrow, I’ll ask the storekeeper to replace the Buddha Altar. You can take this one back to the dormitory then and repair it slowly. If anyone asks, just give them my name."

Gratefully, Yang Shijiu picked up the two iron buckets, bowed, and left. Kongwo Monk stood there, silently gazing at the serene Buddha statues in the hall.

Outside the mountain, the Sui Empire, after over a hundred years of peace, has suddenly collapsed. Chaos is now upon us. I wonder how many living souls will remain in the Central Plains after this catastrophe ends.

Kongwo Monk bowed devoutly before the Buddha statue, sighed deeply, then rose, stepped out of the Grand Hall, and closed the doors behind him.

Darkness reclaimed the hall’s interior. Before the statue of the Buddha Ancestor, four other Buddha statues stood silent and motionless.

CLICK.

A fine, barely noticeable crack appeared on the smiling lip of one of the Buddha statues.

"A landslide on the back mountain?"

"Is the Floating Tower alright?"

「The next day.」

In the courtyard, pilgrims who had heard the news of the landslide discussed it fervently.

They had all left their homes to seek refuge on the mountain, under the protection of the Jialan Sect’s Mountain Guarding Array. If heavy rain damaged the Array, they too would be doomed.

Li Ang and the others exchanged glances. A landslide? Impossible. They were utterly unconvinced. Whether heavy rain could even cause a landslide is debatable. But even if one did occur, would the Jialan Sect, with its many Cultivators and vast collection of talismanic magic tools, truly have no solution? A few Earth Solidification Talismans would solve the problem.

Other Cultivators in the crowd shared this sentiment, gathering in small groups in corners to whisper among themselves.