"Once is enough for good words."

The quarreling between the two brothers dissipated some of the gravity of the situation.

Yet the topic they had raised couldn't be avoided.

In truth, if all Daoist Tianxuan needed to do was leave, there would be no problem—he would only be forced to retreat. Even the remaining troops could be taken away using the Heavenly Mirror Fragment or the Human Species Bag.

However, doing so could turn what was a narrow victory into what some might distort as a defeat. It would make it difficult for Jiang Li to secure his Powerful Minister's set of three, and being observed by the enemy for any sign of weakness could put them in a passive position.

Retreating now would make advancing later much more difficult.

Moreover, if the third grade made their move, some sacrifices might have to be made.

But before Daoist Tianxuan could speak, Tan Wuwei took the initiative, "Our sect's Mohist used a Secret Technique to send a message half an hour ago. The forces of the Taiping Sect in Luchuan County were repelled by Elder Kaiyang of the Dinghu Sect and Yun Jiuye, alongside the strong cultivators of the Upper Pure Sect. If we could have them support us here, our chances of victory would greatly increase."

If these reinforcements arrived, there would be no need for Yin Tulong and Daoist Shen Hou to argue over the retreat.

Yin Tulong's eyes lit up at this information, but Daoist Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue didn't immediately respond.

Even though Sect Leader Gongsun Qi had been confirmed to be from Yellow Heaven, there was no evidence that Daoist Tianxuan was the one backing the Taiping Sect, so they couldn't just take down Yun Jiuye.

Yun Jiuye had already made a meritorious deed by repelling the Taiping Sect. If he were to support this front as well, he could share in the merits here. Besides, with the Ji Family's support in the imperial court and an alliance with the Upper Pure Sect, it would be challenging for Daoist Tianxuan to make a move against him.

It could even be used to restrain Jiang Li's progress.

'The Sect Leader has indeed raised a good disciple. Even though his opportunistic tactics can't compare to the little fox Jiang Li, he's not far behind.'

Daoist Tianxuan pondered internally and then spoke aloud, "Disciple, what do you think?"

Gongsun Qingyue immediately turned her head to look towards the cave.

Because she knew that the disciple being referred to was certainly not her.

Sure enough, the anomaly of the Eight Sceneries in the sky had disappeared without notice, and Jiang Li had quietly arrived.

"Disciple thinks this matter is simple," Jiang Li said as he approached, bowing to everyone before adding, "I have a plan that can make both parties retreat of their own accord."

"Oh?" Daoist Tianxuan seemed interested. "What's your plan?"

"Just persuade the people from Buddha Country to drive off the wolf and swallow the tiger, and the situation will resolve itself," replied Jiang Li calmly.

The plan was indeed straightforward yet effective—if it could truly be implemented...

Daoist Shen Hou looked at Jiang Li with a peculiar expression and said, "If I remember correctly, didn't Fellow Daoist Jiang take a treasure from Buddha Country? Now you expect Buddha Country to help you—are you not treating them as a big fool?"

However, Daoist Tianxuan seemed to trust Jiang Li rather thoroughly and directly asked, "How should we proceed?"

"Nothing else is needed, just for the disciple to meet with a Bodhisattva from Buddha Country," Jiang Li said, pausing briefly before turning to Daoist Shen Hou, "At most, I ask that Daoist Master Shen Hou accompany me on a trip."

"Alright, let Daoist Master Shen Hou make the trip as well," Yin Tulong immediately decided on Daoist Shen Hou's behalf.

"Hey, Junior Brother!"

It was clear that Daoist Shen Hou was quite unwilling to take the risk, but once Yin Tulong declared, "If you won't go, then I will," he was compelled to agree.

Although he carried the Dao Fruit of Shen Gongbao, when it came to action, he was genuinely involved.

In the military, speed is of the essence. A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Li and Daoist Shen Hou had already set off—one controlling the wind, the other riding a Dragon Whisker White Tiger.

As they left the ruins, the forces a hundred miles away naturally became aware and paid close attention.

Daoist Shen Hou immediately straightened his back, sitting upright on the back of the Dragon Whisker Tiger while he tucked his right hand into his sleeve and quietly made his calculations.

While calculating, he even cleared his throat twice and said, "Ahem, this… Fellow Daoist Jiang, just the two of us, isn't this too risky? Previously, Daoist Tianxuan noticed the presence of a third-grade Qi."

"The value of soldiers lies in their quality, not their quantity. With the two of us, it is already sufficient," Jiang Li confidently stated.

"Quality soldiers? Is it still timely for me to change my name to Shen Bing for good luck?" Shen Hou sighed softly.

He was feeling that things were getting more and more outrageous, his years of experience in eluding capture were telling him that he was heading into danger.

But there was no helping it, who asked for such a junior brother to be his lot.

"Still a name with style, not changing the demeanor of our predecessors," Jiang Li said with a smile.

The teasing tone actually gave Shen Hou a certain degree of confidence. It's not scary for the person in charge to have great ambitions, but it would be if the person in charge had no confidence themselves.

Shen Hou also laughed softly, "If we can break through this encirclement, it will indeed be face-saving. What's wrong with being a 'quality soldier' then?"

In the course of their conversation, the two had already flown dozens of miles, gradually approaching where the people from Buddha Country were located.

At that moment, Jiang Li suddenly descended, bringing Shen Hou down to a hill below and said, "Senior, you stay here and do not move. I will return shortly."

"You don't want me to follow?"

Shen Hou felt that he was increasingly unable to see through the persuasiveness of the plan, it seemed like he was about to run away.

But since Jiang Li had said so, he was happy to stay there.

And Jiang Li was once again controlling the wind, flying towards his destination.

The distance of a hundred miles was crossed in a blink of an eye. Buddha's energy spanned the sky, casting a golden hue on the night sky. Auspicious clouds arranged themselves, and a towering figure stood atop one of them. A robust and vigorous Qi firmly locked onto Jiang Li.

Buddha Country's scrutiny did not pretend to be discreet in the slightest, making it clear that they wanted Jiang Li and his side to know they were watching the ruins of Donglin City.

Although the Empty City Strategy had deterred their advance, Buddha Country was not truly terrified to the point of hiding. Instead, they continued to probe.

Of course, from this distance of a hundred miles, they had also considered their retreat. Should they detect they were up against a formidable opponent, they would flee immediately. A hundred miles was the time buffer they reserved for escape.

Vague anomalies began to shimmer around Jiang Li, and the lock of Qi dissipated before these phenomena. He stepped through the air, drawing closer, his eyes scanning the area as he laughed, "How come I do not see the White Lotus Saint Mother Bodhisattva? And, I wonder which Great Master from Buddha Country honors us with this visit. Since you've come, wouldn't you show yourself?"

His voice echoed through the sky, forming distinct ripples that suddenly swept behind Guangli Bodhisattva, eliciting a burst of pure Buddha Light.

"Hmm?"

A sound of surprise arose, the Buddha Light expanding into a round halo that revealed a clear, liberated, and perfectly wise aura. A golden Dharma Manifestation took shape before the halo, its dark green eyes fixating on Jiang Li.

'Topknots of five, representing the Great Sun Five Wisdoms, hand holding the Wisdom Sword, it is Manjusri,' Jiang Li silently noted upon seeing this, his eyes' Eight Trigrams slowly rotating, 'It's a Dharma Manifestation, not the true form.'

Simultaneously, a white lotus fell from the sky, transforming into a revolving Lotus Platform from which ethereal and clear radiance converged to form a pure white figure.

"Lifeless Mother, True Void Home."

Seated upon the Lotus Platform, the White Lotus Saint Mother gently descended. Her hands forming a Seal Technique, the True Void Home manifested behind her, "Jiang Benefactor, you took my Human Species Bag back then, yet today you dare to visit actively, truly gutsy."

'Also a Dharma Manifestation.'

Jiang Li recognized the nature of the White Lotus Saint Mother's form at a glance and laughed heartily, "The Bodhisattva jokes. As I've said that day, it was a borrowing, not a taking. Today, I, Jiang Li, have come specifically to return a treasure."

As he spoke, Jiang Li lightly lifted his right hand, revealing a bulging, tattered pouch in his grasp, which involuntarily drew the focus of the three Bodhisattvas.

Now, the Human Species Bag was no longer just a simple treasure. Inside, apart from the Joyful Arhat of Buddha Country, Jiang Li had collected tens of thousands of refugees.

To retrieve this Human Species Bag would be to gain tens of thousands of believers, and such a harvest...

The mere thought was delightful.

For Buddha Country Cultivators practicing the Summoning Technique, believers were always the most heart-stirring presence. If they could not stir their hearts, it could only mean there weren't enough believers, and more needed to be added.

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