Chapter 1307: Local Customs

When the Lord of the Charnel Ground was mentioned, Pagyi Gesang straightened his expression.

"Mr. Chaos, the Lord of the Charnel Ground's power comes from the esoteric sect. It is a secret beyond our understanding."

"Similarly, his strength within the Southwest Region is like that of a deity. With just one glance from him, we wouldn't even have the power to resist."

"So... I'm afraid we cannot provide much intelligence regarding how to deal with him."

Zhang Yi thought for a moment, everything that happened that night resurfacing in his mind.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground's immense power was one aspect; a terrifying Black Chariot-level combat power index of 20,000 points was indeed horrifying.

But even more frightening than that was his ability to borrow a certain power from the distant Sangha Monastery.

The injuries he sustained could be rapidly repaired, and the expended superhuman abilities could be replenished.

This point was extremely terrifying.

In other words, unless he could be instantly killed, the Lord of the Charnel Ground could not be slain on this land of the Snowy Region.

But who could instantly kill a Black Chariot-level superhuman?

Probably only someone possessing strength like the Gatekeeper of the Netherworld, or perhaps Houtu who had fulfilled her curse conditions, could possibly achieve it.

"Tell me about that Lord of the Charnel Ground! I want to know, what kind of person is he."

Perhaps through his life experiences, they could learn about his weaknesses.

There were no outsiders in the room, so Pagyi Gesang immediately nodded.

"This isn't a secret. As the nominal leader of the esoteric sect, his entire life is publicly celebrated by the Sangha Monastery. Throughout the Snowy Plateau Region, his main life experiences are known."

Pagyi Gesang explained in detail to Zhang Yi.

To put it bluntly, the so-called Lord of the Charnel Ground, for over a century now, has merely been a religious symbol for the esoteric sect, holding no actual power.

The real power lies in the hands of the Khenpo and the four great chieftain families.

For such a mascot, the best way to cultivate him is—to raise him into a useless person.

And religion has a perfect procedure to achieve this goal in an impeccable manner.

That is, the study of Buddhist scriptures.

Pagyi Gesang said, "This Lord of the Charnel Ground's original name was Yasha Langtai Jue Guo. Although he is a member of the Yasha Langtai family, he is only from a distant collateral branch. His parents were herders who tended cattle and sheep."

"He awakened when he was eight years old. After the Sangha Monastery received the news, they immediately sent people to take him away."

"From then on, he has almost never left the Sangha Monastery."

"For the first ten years, he followed various venerable monks and great masters within the monastery to study all kinds of Buddhist scriptures until he reached adulthood."

"Afterwards, he was arranged to enter a meditation room within the Sangha Monastery and underwent five years of isolated seclusion."

"During this process, he could not leave the meditation room for even a step. Every day, someone would bring him food and scriptures."

Hearing this, Fatty Xu couldn't help but exclaim with wide eyes, "Huh? Calculating it that way, didn't he spend a full fifteen years inside the monastery as a lama?"

Pagyi Gesang said, "Correct. He could not go out casually. Even though he was just a mascot without real power, in the hearts of the people of the Snowy Plateau Region, he is still the incarnation of a deity."

Zhang Yi sneered, "Once such a person leaves the Sangha Monastery and develops any special ideas, with just one wave of his hand, he would probably have thousands responding to his call, with countless people willing to die for him, right?"

"That way, it certainly wouldn't be convenient for you to manage."

Pagyi Gesang didn't refute this, just nodded with a smile.

Old You sighed, "It's just... it seems somewhat too cruel."

No one denied this point.

An eight-year-old child, after entering monastic life, spent a full fifteen years accompanied only by the dim lamp and ancient Buddha.

How boring and lonely must such a life be?

But Pagyi Gesang shook his head.

"Cruel? Not necessarily."

"He has always lived within the monastery. The education he received taught him that practicing Buddhism is the most meaningful thing. So not only would he not think the outside world is wonderful, he actually finds joy in it."

At this point, Pagyi Gesang couldn't help but smile bitterly:

"That's why I say he is the purest person in this world, and the most devout to Buddha."

Zhang Yi sighed.

"Indeed, imprisoning a person in the name of faith. Restraining a person with a gilded cage, making him unaware he is in a cage. This method is truly masterful."

"However," he raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat playfully at Pagyi Gesang, "giving an overly pure person immense power is actually quite terrifying too."

The bitter smile on Pagyi Gesang's face deepened.

"That's why I live in fear every single day!"

Zhang Yi pondered Pagyi Gesang's words carefully, trying to imagine that person's temperament through his introduction of the Lord of the Charnel Ground.

He didn't believe saints existed in this world. As long as one is human, they must have flaws.

Right at this moment, a report came from the guards outside.

It was the chef, Luodan, delivering food.

From far away, Zhang Yi and the others could already smell that strangely enchanting aroma.

He and Liang Yue's expressions changed slightly.

Zhang Yi said to Pagyi Gesang, "This dish doesn't suit our taste."

Pagyi Gesang slapped his forehead, "Apologies, apologies. We are accustomed to this kind of food, so we were momentarily neglectful."

Pagyi Gesang had said that in the Snowy Plateau Region, this was something only the major nobles were qualified to eat.

And it was difficult to enjoy even on ordinary days.

He hurriedly instructed a servant, "Tell Luodan to take that delicacy to my room at the back!"

Suolang Deji and Chodak quickly looked at Pagyi Gesang.

Pagyi Gesang smiled, "Our distinguished guests aren't used to it. Later, you two come with me to the back to enjoy it."

Only then did understanding smiles appear on their faces.

At this moment, Liang Yue, who had remained silent until now, finally couldn't hold back.

She couldn't turn a blind eye to this because she had personally witnessed the source of those ingredients.

The silver chopsticks in her hand were bent out of shape by her forceful grip.

She looked at Pagyi Gesang and asked coldly:

"Chief Pagyi, I would like to ask. A person of your esteemed status shouldn't lack for food to enjoy. So why must you eat this particular thing?"

Pagyi Gesang and the other two, questioned directly by Liang Yue, had their expressions change slightly.

However, Liang Yue was a great contributor to defeating the Allied Forces, so the three had to treat her well.

Pagyi Gesang chuckled.

"Miss, you think we are cruel, right?"

"Isn't that obvious?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Liang Yue said coldly.

Zhang Yi didn't stop Liang Yue; he wanted to know the answer to this question too.

But Pagyi Gesang was unhurried and began to tell her a story from the past.

"In ancient times in the Snowy Plateau Region... well, saying 'ancient' might not be quite right, as it wasn't that long ago."

"Back then, when a person died, they would use sky burial. The corpse would be cut up and fed to vultures."

"We, the people of the Snowy Region, believe in reincarnation. After death, the soul separates from the body and is reborn again."

"And sky burial is a form of self-sacrificing almsgiving, allowing the body to return to nature."

He looked gently at Liang Yue and the other four.

"We face this matter with an attitude of gratitude."

"When that catastrophe arrived, over ninety percent of the population in the Snowy Plateau Region died within just one month!"

"We had to try every possible means to solve the problem of survival."

Author's Note