Chapter 25: You Have a Fated Connection with the Buddha

Xu Yingying knew Xia Huanjiao all too well; she realized almost instantly that the little dumpling before her was blaming herself.

She spoke up immediately, "No."

"It has nothing to do with the Sect Leader."

Her voice was quick and hushed, shielded by a barrier. Unless someone present possessed a cultivation level higher than Xu Yingying's, they could not possibly hear her words.

"The items given by the Sect Leader had long since turned to ash. Their deaths have no connection to the Sect Leader."

"It was their own greed that invited the demonic cultivators."

Hearing this, Xia Huanjiao felt no better. Perhaps because those beggars had never seen anything of value in their lives, they mistook the bedding for "celestial" treasures. Jealousy and darkness resided in every heart. It was truly a tragedy that they had lost their lives over such trifles.

However, such thoughts only flitted through Xia Huanjiao's mind before she was distracted by other matters.

Last night, hadn't Yuan Yuan said she hadn't seen any other children? How then had their bodies appeared today? Was she lying?

And... Xia Huanjiao glanced at Xu Yingying beside her, feeling a sense of unease. Xu Yingying had been different last night, as if she were hiding in the shadows. But seeing her today, Xia Huanjiao felt that perhaps it had been a mere illusion; Xu Yingying seemed entirely like her usual self.

Xia Huanjiao shook her head, trying to dispel the baseless speculation. Perhaps it was just a lack of rest that had caused such a misconception.

Below them, the discussion grew louder and more aggressive. In their mouths, the cultivators were nothing but bloodthirsty, heartless demons! They claimed that the cultivators had long since abandoned the mortal realm and cared nothing for the lives of commoners.

These words were excessive, yet most cultivators couldn't be bothered to argue. After all, those with different paths do not seek common ground. Moreover, how would a wild goose in the sky care for the insults of an ant on the ground?

However, some cultivators were not so temperamentally inclined. A sharp blade slammed into the table, accompanied by a fiery voice from outside the door, so imposing that it silenced the room instantly.

"Slanderous filth, sheer nonsense!"

The youth who entered had red hair, and a flicker of orange light danced in his dark eyes. He appeared to be no more than ten years old, though in the world of cultivation, one could never judge by appearances. Someone who looked like a child might, in reality, be an ancient entity who had lived for thousands of years.

His fire-elemental talent was on full display; as soon as he entered, the temperature in the room rose significantly.

"When we fight against demonic creatures, you lot do not wear such faces!"

"No matter how unbearable the Buddhist disciples may be, they would never, as you claim, intentionally lure disaster upon others!"

"Why do you not realize that it was your own greed that attracted the demonic creatures, leading to your undoing!"

Having said this, he narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing: "A bunch of wretches!"

His words were merciless, revealing his direct and forceful nature. Xia Huanjiao did not know him and whispered to Xu Yingying, "Yingying, do you know him?"

The little dumpling’s palm-sized face was full of curiosity, her soft frame leaning against Xu Yingying’s arm like a sweet rice cake.

Xu Yingying, who had always been fond of the little dumpling, reached out and playfully pinched Xia Huanjiao’s cheek before replying, "A guest elder of the Blade Sect, Liang Duoyue."

Xia Huanjiao rarely sensed killing intent from a name alone, but "Liang Duoyue" sounded inherently murderous and threatening. Yet, remembering her status as the Sword Sect Leader, she maintained her composure, whispering, "Then why does he look like a little child?"

The little dumpling spoke in a milky voice, with a trace of unnoticeable envy. Xu Yingying caught this subtle emotion instantly. Sighing, she patted the little dumpling’s head and said gently to soothe her, "His cultivation went awry."

"Liang Duoyue is over a thousand years old and is at the first level of the Tribulation Transcendence stage."

"He isn't particularly gifted, but he is very diligent."

Xia Huanjiao felt a headache at the mention of the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Venerables at this stage were never to be trifled with. They were more than enough to handle those below them, yet still felt a sense of insufficiency compared to those above. They were often volatile and difficult to get along with.

However, this Blade Sect elder, Liang Duoyue, did not seem entirely unreasonable. The Blade Sect differed from the Sword Sect; their disciples prioritized physical prowess over meditation. Their primary requirement was a strong, powerful physique. After all, the higher the rank of the blade, the heavier it was; without stamina, one could never wield it.

Sword cultivators were mostly seen as ethereal and immortal-like, while blade cultivators were notoriously rugged and unconstrained. The two formed a stark contrast, representing two extremes that the cultivation world loved to discuss.

As Liang Duoyue finished his declaration, a chant came from behind him.

"Amitabha, virtuous, truly virtuous."

"Many thanks to Daoist Liang for defending my disciples."

Liang Duoyue turned to find three monks standing behind him, his expression changing instantly. He summoned his blade, letting it land before him to draw a line, forbidding the monks from advancing further.

He blustered, "Stay back!"

"I am sick to death of you bald donkeys!"

"Pfft." Xia Huanjiao couldn't help but giggle. "Bald donkey"—what a fitting description.

The various sects in the cultivation world despised one another. The number of promising talents was limited, and every year, the sects fought over them. The Buddhist sect was the most well-known in the mortal realm; while their strength was not necessarily the greatest, their ability to indoctrinate was second to none. Many reclusive geniuses were snatched up by the Buddhists before they even reached the foot of another sect's mountain. Who wouldn't be angry at that?

Regardless, Xia Huanjiao had no patience for them.

Just then, a young novice stepped out from behind the monks, his eyes filled with compassion, holding a string of prayer beads.

"Amitabha. As monks, we hold compassion in our hearts. It is impossible for this humble one to commit such evil deeds."

"I hope you all will not break the vow of speech for the sake of momentary satisfaction."

The mortals present dared not speak back to these powerful cultivators. They could only exchange glances and, finally, flee in a panic. Soon, the once-noisy hall fell into a dead silence.

Xia Huanjiao was just preparing to tiptoe away with Xu Yingying—as this was not the right time for them to make a scene—when, the next second, she heard their names from the lips of the head monk.

"Two patrons, please stay."