I Can Extract Divine Power-Chapter 133 - 99: Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, Wild Buddha Sect
’Accepting this gift would mean owing Xuanxin Temple a favor. If something were to happen in the future, even just out of consideration for the Buddha’s Six Wheels, I’d have to help them out.’
As the two of them spoke, a figure was guided to a seat not far from Shen Bai.
Shen Bai felt a gaze fall upon him. Following the line of sight, he saw a Daoist who was carefully sizing him up.
’Who’s that?’
Everyone passing by, whether they were independent Jianghu People or members of a Jianghu Influence, bowed with deep respect as they went past the Daoist.
This respect had nothing to do with the Daoist’s strength; to Shen Bai, their reverence seemed to come from the heart.
Wuhua sighed at the sight. "One of the nine survivors from the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple... Alas..."
Sensing there was a story there, Shen Bai voiced his question.
Wuhua put his palms together and said slowly, "If the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple hadn’t had its foundation damaged in that catastrophe, there would be no Qingyun Cloud Temple to speak of now. Donor Shen, have you ever heard of the Fenglin State Bloody Night?"
Shen Bai shook his head. "I haven’t been in Fenglin State for long, so I haven’t heard of it. Please tell me about it."
Wuhua explained, "Many years ago, the Wild Taoist Sect and the Wild Buddha Sect joined forces. They colluded with at least half of the other powers in Fenglin State in a bid to overthrow the entire state. That battle was a storm of blood and gore. Lord Liu of the Observatory led countless masters from various factions in the Resistance."
"But at that time, the Wild Taoist Sect and the Wild Buddha Sect possessed a Deceitful Object that could control people’s minds. It caused people on our side to fall, our enemies grew more numerous, and Fenglin State fell into a life-or-death crisis."
Hearing this, a curious look appeared in Shen Bai’s eyes. "Something like that actually exists?"
’If what Wuhua said is true—that a Deceitful Object capable of controlling minds exists—then that battle must have been horrifically brutal.’
Wuhua sighed. "At that time, no one could save us. All the factions believed we were on the brink of annihilation."
"It was then that the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple stepped forward. They were the largest Daoist temple in Fenglin State, and they followed the principle of ’ascetic cultivation in times of peace, vanquishing demons in times of chaos.’"
"The Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had a Secret Technique. It used the lives of all disciples who cultivated the Celestial Purity Secret Skill as a catalyst to condense a Supreme Dao Fruit."
"In the end, the Temple Master consumed the Supreme Dao Fruit. Overnight, he tore the Wild Taoist Sect and Wild Buddha Sect asunder. But by the time we found him, the Temple Master had already passed away."
"Only nine members of the entire Celestial Purity Daoist Temple survived. Overnight, the greatest power in Fenglin State had nearly all perished for the sake of the state itself."
As he said this, the reverence in Wuhua’s eyes deepened.
After a brief pause, Wuhua continued.
"Lord Liu was deeply moved by the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple’s actions. He once declared that if anyone in Fenglin State were to disrespect the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, the Observatory would execute them first and report it later."
"Those factions that survived are now deeply-rooted powers in Fenglin State. They also made a vow: whatever the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple asks, they will grant."
"Theirs is an influence forged from life itself... They truly embodied the Daoist School’s principles of non-contention and contention."
Hearing this, Shen Bai’s gaze toward the member of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple also filled with a measure of respect.
He was reminded of his past life, of an event that had involved the entire nation.
Many great Daoist masters had taken up their swords and descended from their mountains, shedding their blood for the people. There was one temple that had been left with only a handful of survivors.
Shen Bai was no hero. He was afraid of death, and he didn’t think he had what it took to be one.
But that didn’t stop him from admiring those who marched to their deaths.
While the two were talking, the young Daoist hesitated for a moment before unexpectedly standing up and walking toward Shen Bai and Wuhua.
Shen Bai was slightly taken aback.
Although he didn’t know why the man from the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple was approaching, he stood up from his cattail cushion as well.
The young Daoist slowly approached and said, "Lord Shen, greetings. This humble Daoist is Chongling. It is an honor to meet you."
Shen Bai clasped his hands in a salute. "Daoist Chongling, may I ask why you have come over?"
Wuhua also stood up and gave a salute of his own.
Seeing this, many of the Jianghu People also turned their attention toward them.
Although the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had declined because of that event, no one dared to look down on them.
To put it bluntly, with the protection of Liu Wufeng and the many factions from that time, if the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple wanted to, they could walk sideways through Fenglin State without any trouble.
But this Daoist Sect truly focused only on ascetic cultivation, just as their guiding principle stated: seclusion in times of peace, emergence in times of chaos.
Today, Daoist Chongling had actually sought out Shen Bai, and everyone present was puzzled as to the reason.
The young Daoist Chongling thought for a moment, then asked, "This may be a bit rude, but this humble Daoist would like to ask: does Donor Shen know a Daoist Cultivation Method?"
Shen Bai frowned. "Where did you hear that, Daoist?"
Daoist Chongling didn’t hide anything. "The Qingyun Cloud Temple once came to the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, saying Lord Shen had injured their disciples at the city gate. They asked us to intervene on their behalf, but we refused."
"The Celestial Purity Daoist Temple has never involved itself in such power struggles. We only wish to cultivate in peace. However, we did make some inquiries about you, Lord Shen, and learned that you likely know a Daoist Cultivation Method."
Their conversation drew the attention of the crowd.
When they heard that Shen Bai also knew a Daoist Cultivation Method, they all gasped in astonishment.
"He... he actually knows Cultivation Techniques from both the Buddhist and Daoist Schools? If he cultivates like that, isn’t he afraid of ending up a jack of all trades and master of none?"
"I don’t know, but from what we’ve seen, it seems he’d have no problem beating us."
"Daoist Chongling hasn’t spoken this much to anyone in a long time. I wonder what this is about."
...
Shen Bai listened to the surrounding chatter and smiled. "That’s right, I do know a thing or two. That Qingyun Cloud Temple really doesn’t know when to quit."
Daoist Chongling shook his head. "We will not involve ourselves in the Qingyun Cloud Temple’s affairs. In fact, they have already strayed from the true nature of Daoist cultivation. This humble Daoist came here only because I have a request for you, Lord Shen."
