Chapter 132: Self-Imprisoned in the Western Regions?
The Hall Master in charge of artifacts, Hui Zhen, wore an expression so dark it was terrifying.
Just moments ago, he had thought that with something as extraordinary as Qudeng, no matter how ignorant the Flood Anaconda Demon was, it should have kept it to use for itself.
That way, White Horse Temple could use it to track the Flood Anaconda Demon’s whereabouts, capture and kill it, and retrieve the Qudeng Buddha Pagoda.
Unexpectedly, the Flood Anaconda Demon’s actions shocked everyone present—it decisively killed Qudeng.
Losing an artifact like Qudeng, for an organization like White Horse Temple, which already possessed Heaven-Rank artifacts, could hardly be considered crippling. But who would ever dislike having too many treasures in hand?
Moreover, this kind of brazen and arrogant behavior from the Flood Anaconda Demon, in the eyes of the Western Head Monk, was already a direct provocation against White Horse Temple.
Looking at the pair of serpent pupils still not withdrawn from the screen, West Hall Hui Neng gave a cold snort:
“This Flood Anaconda Demon is truly reckless. To think it dared not only to kill a disciple of my temple but also to shatter one of my temple’s artifacts.”
Although the deaths of Jingchen and Jingyue pained them greatly, they had not personally witnessed them.
But the destruction of the Qudeng Buddha Pagoda had been seen with their very own eyes, so naturally, none of the monks looked pleased.
Even a mere Earth-Rank artifact that begged for mercy was decisively destroyed by the Flood Anaconda Demon. That Jingyue would die at its hands was hardly surprising.
Hall Master Hui Zhen turned to the Chief Seat, Hui Xin:
“Senior Brother Chief Seat, for a creature like this Flood Anaconda Demon, we must absolutely not show leniency. Otherwise, where will White Horse Temple’s dignity remain?”
The other high-ranking members of White Horse Temple stayed silent.
Though Hui Zhen’s anger carried some personal grievance, it was clear that the Flood Anaconda Demon’s actions in the recording had infuriated them as well.
Seeing this, Chief Seat Hui Xin finally spoke again:
“The Flood Anaconda Demon has provoked the authority of my temple. Naturally, our temple should strike it down as a warning to others.”
At these words, West Hall Hui Neng smiled, feeling somewhat relieved. He shifted his gaze toward Hui Zhi seated below:
“In that case, let Hui Zhi head to Yongzhou and bring that Flood Anaconda Demon—”
“But!”
Before Hui Neng could finish, Chief Seat Hui Xin interrupted him:
“May I remind everyone of the agreement our temple once made with the Bureau of Heaven Monitoring?”
At this, the smiles on the faces of Hui Neng, Hui Zhen, and the others froze.
Indeed. Their anger toward the Flood Anaconda Demon had made them forget something—a very important matter.
Back then, the old Grand Astrologer of the Great Qian Dynasty’s capital had once traveled to the Western Regions and held a lengthy private discussion with the Abbot of White Horse Temple.
When the old Grand Astrologer and the Abbot finally emerged from the secret chamber, the Abbot had announced an earth-shaking decision before the Western Head Monk and the rest of the temple’s monks:
Only monks below the Heaven Rank of White Horse Temple were permitted to freely enter and leave the Western Regions. The Abbot, the Western Head Monk, and all other enlightened monks of Heaven Rank were to self-imprison within the Western Regions, forbidden to leave.
At this announcement, the monks of White Horse Temple had erupted in uproar.
For ordinary servant monks, the restriction had little impact. But for the high-ranking monks of White Horse Temple, how was this different from imprisonment?
Some argued that the Western Regions were vast—after all, out of the thirty-six provinces of the Great Qian Dynasty, twelve lay in the Western Regions.
Those twelve provinces together were even slightly larger than the other twenty-four provinces combined. So why did the monks of White Horse Temple react so strongly?
Because for one who had reached the Heaven Rank, any restriction on their freedom was an insult. “I may not need it, but you cannot take it from me.”
What’s more, for the temple’s core leadership, they had been preparing to spread their Buddhist teachings eastward throughout the Dynasty.
Now that the Abbot had declared a closed temple, how could monks like Hui Xin possibly accept it?
Yet no matter how reasoned their arguments, the Abbot would not change his mind.
He did, however, make one concession:
The high-ranking monks of White Horse Temple would remain self-imprisoned in the Western Regions only until the day the old Grand Astrologer died.
At these words, Hui Xin and the others understood.
And so, no matter their ambitions, under the Abbot’s obstinate will, no Heaven-Rank monks of White Horse Temple were seen again in the other provinces of the Great Qian Dynasty.
Even if a monk of White Horse Temple broke through to Heaven Rank while wandering abroad, they would be swiftly recalled to the temple.
With Hui Xin’s reminder, Hui Neng and the others recalled the Abbot’s decree from those years past.
Hui Neng slapped his knee:
“Bah! I still don’t understand why the Abbot ever agreed to such a disgraceful bargain with that old… that old Grand Astrologer.”
The hot-tempered Hui Neng had wanted to curse the Grand Astrologer, but for some reason, he stopped short at the last moment.
Sitting below, Hui Zhen gave his senior brother a sidelong glance:
Heh, even someone as fiery as Senior Brother Hui Neng dared not speak rashly of that figure in private. The Abbot had been approached directly—was it truly so shameful to compromise?
Besides, that man had done nothing else to White Horse Temple, only lightly restricted their strongest monks.
Had not Jingchen and Jingyue roamed freely in the other twenty-four provinces?
From the rear hall, Hui Lian spoke when the group fell silent:
“If I recall correctly, isn’t Yinrong about to cross the Jiang?”
Hui Zhi looked at Hui Lian, puzzled as to why he would ask such a thing.
Hui Lian replied calmly:
“Never mind whether Yinrong truly crosses the Jiang or not. Just have someone spread the news that it is about to, and send it to Yongzhou. That will settle matters.”
At this, Hui Xin, Hui Zhen, and the others’ eyes lit up. Hui Xin, in particular, gave Hui Lian an approving look. As expected of his capable deputy.
“Amitabha. Then as Hui Lian has said, let this news be spread.”
At first, Hui Zhi could not understand why Hui Xin so quickly approved Hui Lian’s plan and ordered it carried out directly.
But after pondering, Hui Zhi realized it truly might be an excellent solution—one that could draw the Flood Anaconda Demon into the Western Regions of its own accord.
It was simple: Jingyue had been a master among Earth Rank.
Even within White Horse Temple, aside from a few top Earth-Rank monks who stubbornly refused to advance to Heaven Rank to preserve their freedom, no one dared claim they could surely defeat Jingyue.
Among Earth-Rank cultivators, none had the confidence to survive an ambush from him.
Yet regardless of the battle’s details, the outcome was already clear—Jingyue dead, the Flood Anaconda Demon alive. And from the footage of Qudeng, it appeared the Flood Anaconda Demon had not even suffered grievous injury.
Which meant, with Heaven Rank monks barred from leaving the Western Regions, there might truly be no one capable of suppressing the Flood Anaconda Demon.
It might be troublesome within the Earth Rank, but if it could be lured into the Western Regions, White Horse Temple’s stronghold, then crushing it would be a mere trifle.
But how to make it willingly venture into the Western Regions, knowing its great enemy was there?
Simple—Hui Lian’s method was to bait it with rich profit.