Chapter 492: Chapter 492

Time flew by, and the stars shifted their courses. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. The relentless march of time paused in the year 3014 of the Ninth Era.

Thanks to the arrival of the Jade Snow Gentleman, no other forces troubled the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty.

During these three years, the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty adopted a Taoist approach of laissez-faire governance. They reduced taxes, won the hearts of the people, developed spiritual fields, and actively promoted foreign trade. The initial phase of post-war reconstruction was complete.

Politically, the court reorganized administrative regions, ensuring transparent governance and winning the people’s loyalty. Economically, commerce and trade flourished, the national treasury was full, and granaries overflowed. However, the most significant achievement was in the military. All eleven main battle corps of the Qin Dynasty had completed their expansion, training day and night, and their strength had vastly improved. Furthermore, another newly formed legion, the Xuanjia Army established by Li Jing, also stepped onto the stage of history.

Of course, there was also the Army of Heavenly Stars and Earth Evil. After deep reflection, its generals had revised their previous battle strategies, making it the most formidable among all legions in terms of overall capability.

Time indeed flies so fast! Inside the imperial study, Qin Wudao remarked after finishing the memorials, stretching lazily.

He hadn’t been idle during these three years. Thanks to the system’s sign-in rewards, his cultivation had broken through to the mid-stage Semi-Emperor realm.

In the 3012th year of the Ninth Era, the sign-in reward was a training formation, which was given to the Xuanjia Army. In the 3013th year, the reward was a wisp of dragon soul, which he integrated into the Execution Platform of God, causing it to transform into an immortal-grade weapon. In the 3014th year, the sign-in reward was an Emperor Spirit Pill, enabling him to successfully break through another cultivation level.

By my calculations, there are at most two more years until the second great wave of Heaven and Earth’s Fortune arrives! Qin Wudao mused.

Like other powers, the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty was also awaiting the arrival of this great Fortune. After all, the Qin Dynasty controlled the East Border and had gathered the Fortune from six hundred thirty-nine Dao Domains. Thus, they stood to gain the most, making it the perfect opportunity to surpass their rivals.

"Your Majesty!" Footsteps echoed as Li Ru entered the imperial study. He bowed and reported, "We have received intelligence from the Abyss Guard’s Western Division. The Thunder Sound Temple, White Horse Temple, and Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple will hold a Buddhist Debate in three months!"

"A Buddhist Debate?" Qin Wudao’s brow furrowed, his expression turning solemn. He recalled an ancient record stating that in the Second Era, the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and founded Buddhism. It later splintered into three major temples, each autonomous. An unspoken agreement existed among these three: unification through a Buddhist Debate. During specific periods, the three major temples would hold a grand Buddhist Debate. The victor, as the orthodox head, would become the World Honored One of Buddhism, ruling over all three temples.

The West Border is about to unify! Qin Wudao murmured gravely.

If the three temples unite to reform Buddhism, they will consolidate the Fortune of the entire West Border. When the great wave of Heaven and Earth’s Fortune arrives, they will reap the greatest benefits. Clearly, the three temples would not let this opportunity pass.

"Your Majesty, should we intervene?" Li Ru asked with a respectful bow.

The relationships between major powers were exceedingly complex. However, one thing was certain: no one wished to see another surpass them.

"The three temples wouldn’t dare hold a Buddhist Debate without confidence. We are farthest from the West Border; let’s focus on managing our own territory," Qin Wudao mused for a moment before waving his hand dismissively. The Qin Dynasty already had enough enemies. Besides its nemesis, the Eternal Temple, there were also the Myriad Demon Saint’s Court, Beidou Palace, and Taiyi Saint’s Court. Antagonizing a powerful, unified Buddhist faction would be unwise.

"Understood!" Li Ru nodded, paid his respects, and swiftly departed.

I imagine some people must be getting restless now! Qin Wudao thought, leaning back in his chair and gazing at the empty hall with a cold smile. Even if the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty did not interfere in the Buddhist Debate, other powers would—especially the Eternal Temple.

「The Buddhist Debate!」

Within a pitch-black hall in the Eternal Temple, Soul Emperor stared at the newly received intelligence, a chilling killing intent emanating from him. The unification of the West Border was certainly not good news for the Eternal Temple.

Putting down the intelligence report, the Soul Emperor commanded loudly, "Attendant, summon Elder Soul Annihilation!"

A moment later, Soul Annihilation entered the hall and saluted respectfully. "Pavilion Master, you summoned me?"

"Those bald monks from Thunder Sound Temple are preparing to hold their Buddhist Debate," the Soul Emperor said, getting straight to the point. "You are to proceed immediately to the West Border, mobilize all forces of our Western Division, and ensure that this Buddhist Debate does not occur!"

After the three great temples were established, they signed a pact: only by determining a victor in the Buddhist Debate could one inherit the title of World Honored One of Buddhism. As long as the Buddhist Debate was disrupted, the West Border could not unify.

"Understood!" Upon receiving the order, a murderous glint flashed in Soul Annihilation’s eyes. Having suffered successive setbacks against the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court, he harbored a bellyful of rage, and the West Border seemed the perfect place to unleash it. He vowed to drench the Golden Buddha Statues with the blood of those bald monks! He would send those monks to their Western Paradise, transforming their Land of Bliss into a veritable hell!

Besides the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court and the Eternal Temple, other major sacred land powers also received news of the Buddhist Debate. However, considering their current alliances, none reacted excessively.

「Year 3014 of the Ninth Era, the ninth day of the ninth month.」

In the West Heaven Mustard Seed World, Buddhist chants lingered in the air, and myriad rays of auspicious light filled the sky. Monks who had attained enlightenment in the Buddhist Dao sat cross-legged, their bodies enveloped in golden light, their Buddha light illuminating all around.

Within the Mahavira Hall, ten thousand Buddhas chanted sutras, their faces benevolent, offering salvation to the world. To the left of the hall stood ten thousand ascetics in ragged robes—enlightened high monks of Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple who cultivated by comprehending suffering beyond ordinary endurance. Opposite them were the high monks of White Horse Temple: Arhats, their minds and bodies pure, transcending life and death; and Bodhisattvas, who guided sentient beings from suffering with compassion. All radiated powerful auras. Follow current novels on novel★fire.net

Suspended above the assembled Buddhas were three golden lotuses. Seated upon them were the Law-Enlightening Buddha from Thunder Sound Temple, the World-Suffering Ascetic Monk from Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, and the World-Saving Bodhisattva from White Horse Temple. Behind these three figures stretched a boundless ocean of Buddha images, obscuring the sky. Within this ocean, three immense and majestic Buddha phantoms manifested. Their Buddha light was infinite, their faces veiled, transcending all laws—powerful and sacred.

One Buddha proclaimed: The Buddhist Law is boundless! Another declared: One must cross the sea of suffering! A third affirmed: Buddhas save the world’s people!

"Amitabha!" From the Buddha throne in the hall, Abbot Ru Yuan of Thunder Sound Temple announced loudly, "The Buddhist Debate officially begins!"

Countless streams of profound Buddha light surged skyward. The entire Heavenly Universe of the East Border turned golden. White clouds transformed into auspicious omens, golden lotuses rained down from the heavens, and the Buddha’s light spread throughout the world, echoing in the ears of innumerable beings.

"The Buddha has manifested!" exclaimed the faithful.

Outside the West Heaven Mustard Seed World lay the famous Buddha City of the West Border, adorned with ten thousand Golden Buddha Statues, where incense burned ceaselessly. Learning that the Buddhist Debate had commenced, countless devout Buddhist followers embarked on their pilgrimage. They prostrated themselves every three steps, resting on the ground when exhausted, only to resume their arduous journey upon waking. Their sole destination: Buddha City.

Upon hearing the ethereal Buddhist chants, the crawling pilgrims all knelt, listening intently, their faces alight with smiles as if their very souls were being elevated. For a time, it was as if a Buddha had been born in every household across the West Border.

Just then, hundreds of black figures streaked across the sky, exuding powerful auras as they sped towards Buddha City.

Clearly, these were not pilgrims.