Chapter 1317: Another Encounter with the Lord of the Charnel Ground

Zhang Yi had originally planned to use the Prayer Festival to try and locate those few Epsilon-level individuals he encountered that night.

Now, he could roughly confirm the identities of two of them.

One was the Lord of the Charnel Ground, the other was the Snow Mountain Divine Eagle.

But there were still two others he couldn't confirm at all—who they were or where they came from.

However, in the morning, the several chieftains had all gone to attend the ceremony, and the venue was simply too vast, densely packed with people everywhere.

He couldn't pick out who might be suspicious from such a massive crowd.

So, the entire morning passed in a rather relaxed manner.

As noon approached, monks came out pushing carts laden with many insulated containers.

And many of the devout believers kneeling outside Sangha Monastery, weakened by the extreme cold, had collapsed.

The monks moved among the believers, opening the insulated containers and ladling out bowl after bowl of thick, viscous soup porridge.

It was pitch black, and there was no telling what it was made of.

This was the midday meal distribution. Instantly, the entire square surrounding Sangha Monastery was filled with a strong smell of food.

Zhang Yi also felt a bit hungry, so he called Zhou Ke'er and the others to the back to find a spot and eat first.

But soon, someone from the Pagyi Family came over, saying that Sangha Monastery had prepared meals for all distinguished guests.

Zhou Ke'er remarked, "The food prepared by such large temples is usually handled by master chefs. It's often very good."

Zhang Yi, however, sneered coldly. "Of course it's handled by a master chef. I saw Luodan bring a pile of kitchenware today."

Everyone instantly felt a chill run down their spines.

Zhang Yi told the Pagyi Family member to go back and report that he would manage his own meal and didn't need to be called over to eat with them.

So, the group found a side hall. Zhang Yi retrieved food from his Dimensional Space—still steaming hot—and everyone feasted heartily.

Meanwhile, in a certain Buddha hall within Sangha Monastery where a banquet was being held.

Luodan, dressed in white, stood elegantly with his hands clasped before him, bowing as he introduced today's dishes to the esteemed high-ranking guests seated at the feast.

"Respected Khenpo, esteemed chieftains, and venerable monks. What I have prepared for you today is the most delicious roasted suckling lamb."

His large hand gestured towards the dining table, which was piled high with food, almost overflowing.

In the center were two large silver platters holding piles of meat—crispy and browned on the outside, tender and snowy white inside.

An intensely rich, almost bewitchingly strange aroma had long since permeated the entire room.

"The selected meat comes from lambs under a hundred days old, born from ewes we have meticulously raised."

"Such meat is extremely tender and flavorful, carrying a milky fragrance, and melts in your mouth."

Those seated at the feast could hardly contain themselves any longer.

The sounds of throats bobbing and swallowing saliva rose and fell continuously. Everyone gripped their knives and forks tightly, their gazes fixed greedily upon the table full of delicacies.

As soon as Luodan finished speaking, they rushed forward, tearing meat from the platters and stuffing it into their mouths.

It was hard to imagine that these nobles of the Snowy Plateau Region, these so-called venerable monks, could display such an unsightly appearance.

They looked nothing like a group of people, more like a herd of domestic pigs scrambling for food.

Watching this scene, Luodan's lips curved slightly upward. He gave a slight nod and then withdrew.

...

After finishing their meal, Zhang Yi and the others waited inside the monastery for the afternoon to arrive.

According to what Pagyi Gesang had told him, the formal activities of the Prayer Festival would begin in the afternoon—that was when the Lord of the Charnel Ground would personally preside.

Zhang Yi walked outside the hall. It was bitterly cold outside, while the interior had complete heating facilities.

The Buddha statues could never be allowed to get cold; otherwise, how could they sit on their cushions and chant scriptures with compassion for the world?

Heavy snow drifted from the sky. In the depths of winter, the snowfall was heavier than usual.

The ancient esoteric sect-style palaces were incredibly tall. The outer red pillars were three or four people high, requiring two people to wrap their arms around.

Zhang Yi leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, quietly watching the heavy snow outside.

Zhou Ke'er followed him over. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhang Yi, she softly sighed with emotion:

"With this snowfall, who knows how many more people will die!"

Thinking of the tens of thousands kneeling outside, Zhang Yi let out a scornful snort.

"Those who've survived until now, even if they aren't superhumans, have probably developed some cold-resistant mutations!"

"Survival of the fittest. That's the law of the world."

Not long after Zhang Yi finished speaking, a deep, gentle voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Esteemed donor, your words are mistaken. If all living beings relied on the strong bullying the weak, then order would cease to exist, and the mortal world would be plunged into misery and suffering."

Curious, Zhou Ke'er turned to look in the direction of the voice. The smile on Zhang Yi's lips grew even more pronounced as he also slowly turned his head.

Very few people could approach him without a sound—not even the esoteric sect's Lord of the Charnel Ground.

From a corridor not far away, a young man dressed in luxurious Dharma robes walked over unhurriedly.

He was tall and well-built. While his features couldn't be called handsome, he carried an aura that brought inner peace to those around him.

This wasn't Zhang Yi's first time dealing with him; the two had met twice before.

Zhang Yi nodded towards him. "You must be the Lord of the Charnel Ground."

The Lord of the Charnel Ground lifted his head, about to speak with Zhang Yi, but his gaze, as if iron drawn to a magnet, involuntarily shifted to the side of Zhang Yi.

Standing next to Zhang Yi was Zhou Ke'er.

Having just finished eating, she hadn't wrapped herself up tightly in her combat suit.

Thus, her beautiful face was clearly visible.

Even through her clothes, it was hard to conceal her perfect figure proportions.

Describing Zhou Ke'er as "city-toppling beautiful" might be an exaggeration, but her stunning looks were certainly on par with top-tier movie stars. Coupled with the demeanor of a young lady from a prominent family, few people could look at her without stealing a second glance.

And here in the Snowy Plateau Region, she was in a league of her own, far ahead of anyone else.

Even the Lord of the Charnel Ground, who was supposedly detached from worldly affairs, couldn't help but be momentarily distracted.

Although he quickly shifted his gaze away, this subtle movement did not escape Zhang Yi's eyes.

"Hmm? It seems this young Lord of the Charnel Ground isn't as pure-minded as Pagyi Gesang claimed!"

Zhang Yi sneered inwardly, reaching out to wrap his arm around Zhou Ke'er's waist, pulling her close to his body in a declaration of ownership.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground stopped not far from Zhang Yi and performed a Buddhist salute.

"Esteemed donor, we meet again."

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, unsure which encounter the Lord of the Charnel Ground was referring to with "again."

Did he know Zhang Yi was there that night?

Zhang Yi wasn't sure in his heart, but even if he was guessed, he didn't really care.

Everyone knew why so many Epsilon-level individuals had suddenly appeared in the Snowy Plateau Region. He didn't really need to disguise himself much.

"I've long heard of you."

Zhang Yi said flatly, neither warmly nor distantly.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground inquired, "Has the esteemed donor taken lunch?"

Zhang Yi nodded, saying he had already eaten.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground smiled, saying he had also just eaten and was out for a walk.

Zhang Yi asked curiously, "You're already finished?"

He had assumed the Lord of the Charnel Ground would dine with Pagyi Gesang and the others.

Hearing this, the Lord of the Charnel Ground gently shook his head.

"I'm not very accustomed to eating with them."

Author's Note