514: Chapter 514 As expected of a wise prince

"Amitabha."

The Sweeping Monk pressed his palms together and said, "Your Highness, all living beings possess Buddha-nature. Although Ruoshui has committed evil deeds, his original nature is not lost, and there is still a possibility for him to reform and turn towards goodness."

"What a fine 'all living beings possess Buddha-nature.' Should you also add that all living beings have their destinies? That those women harmed by Ruoshui were all destined to suffer?"

Lin Xiao's gaze grew colder. "If I hadn't appeared, you would probably still feel that you've done nothing wrong, and that everything happening is just the manifestation of all beings, a matter of course, right?"

"If Your Highness wishes to unleash your thunderous rage, I am willing to suffer the consequences in Ruoshui's stead."

The Sweeping Monk had a look of compassion on his face as he slowly sat on the prayer mat, appearing as if he were saying, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?'

"Stop that act. Don't think I can't tell that your Great Grandmaster cultivation has been stuck in a bottleneck for many years."

"Your life span is nearing its end. Even if I don't kill you, you won't live much longer."

Lin Xiao said disdainfully, "You want to sacrifice yourself to become a Buddha, but I won't give you that chance!"

"For the remaining years of your life, I not only want you to live, but to live every single day in regret!"

After saying this, Lin Xiao ignored the Sweeping Monk's look of bewilderment, turned around, and disappeared from the Scripture Pavilion.

Not long after, in the backyard of the Buddhist Sect, at the courtyard where Abbot Ruoshui resided.

*Boom!!*

A loud explosion attracted the attention of a large number of Buddhist Sect experts, and many monks came running over.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, the group of monks discovered that it was actually the patriarch, the "Sweeping Monk," who had come out of the Scripture Pavilion!?

The loud explosion just now was caused by Abbot Ruoshui's house being directly collapsed by a massive surge of internal energy!

And Abbot Ruoshui had a look of terror on his face.

"Master... you... why..."

He didn't understand why his old mentor, who had not meddled in worldly affairs for many years, had suddenly come out and was so furious with him.

"Ruoshui! You used hundreds of women as cultivation vessels to forcefully practice the Indestructible Golden Body, discarding their remains at the bottom of the backyard canyon. This is a great sin!"

"Colluding with the Prince of East Sea and acting in cahoots, turning this pure Buddhist land into a pit of iniquity—you deserve to die many times over!"

When these words were spoken, the surrounding Buddhist Sect monks were in an uproar!

The few high-ranking members who actually knew about Ruoshui's issues were all as quiet as cicadas in winter.

They had thought the Sweeping Monk was giving his tacit consent and couldn't be bothered with Ruoshui. Could it be... that the Sweeping Monk really didn't know?

"Master, your disciple has been wronged..."

Ruoshui was panicked, but even more confused; the tone of the "Sweeping Monk" before him felt a bit off.

Could it be... an impostor!?

Just as the thought surfaced, the "Sweeping Monk" took action!

"Today, I shall let you witness what the true 'Indestructible Golden Body' is!"

Lin Xiao gave Ruoshui no chance for nonsense. With a strike of the Great Mercy Hand, he struck down as violently as a mountain collapsing!

Ruoshui's face turned pale. He gathered all his power, attempting to block with the Indestructible Diamond Body.

But under Lin Xiao's Great Mercy Hand, backed by thousands of years of cultivation, his knock-off golden body was naturally insufficient!

*Pfft!*

Ruoshui felt as if an outer shell had been shattered. His whole body shook violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!

"The... Indestructible Golden Body!?"

Ruoshui's mind was reeling. He was now completely certain that this was not the Sweeping Monk!

Because the Sweeping Monk had said that if one wanted to practice the Indestructible Golden Body properly, they had to be at least at the Earth Immortal realm to start.

Only an Earth Immortal has a life span of over 500 years. Only with a sufficiently long life is it possible to truly master it.

Mortals cannot learn it because their life span is simply not enough.

"You are not..."

Ruoshui's eyes widened in anger. Just as he was about to say something, another Great Mercy Hand fell, slamming Ruoshui directly into the dirt!

The monks on the scene were silent!

Is this the strength of the Sweeping Monk Patriarch!? It's too astonishing!

Lin Xiao scanned the crowd and called out the dharma names of several high-ranking Buddhist Sect members:

"Ruoyu, Ruoku, Yongjie, Yongming—the four of you, your cultivation is hereby abolished. From this day forward, leave Tianyin Mountain!"

The four high-ranking members' faces turned pale, but none dared to disobey, silently complying.

They were all Ruoshui's confidants and had helped him commit many evils over the years.

The "Sweeping Monk" had caught them all at once. Not taking their lives was already considered an act of mercy.

After one night.

The massive upheaval in the Buddhist Sect caused the entire East Sea City to shake!

The "Sweeping Monk" had personally purged the sect, and Abbot Ruoshui was actually a lackey of the Prince of East Sea?

This explosive news put Prince of Donghai, who was already under heavy criticism, in an extremely disadvantageous position!

The Prince of Zhenbei sent his army to suppress the Japanese pirates regardless of the cost.

Yet you were busy harming innocent women along with the abbot of the Buddhist Sect?

If someone else had broken this news, it might have been one thing, but this time it was the highly respected Sweeping Monk who came forward. The evidence was as solid as a mountain!

Inside Prince Zhao's Mansion.

When Prince of Donghai heard this news, he couldn't believe it was true.

After all, the Sweeping Monk had not made a public appearance for decades and had long stopped caring about the mortal world.

Why, at this critical moment, did he start disciplining his disciples and rectifying the Buddhist rules!?

"That old bald donkey! This is outrageous!!"

Prince of Donghai angrily smashed several priceless vases in his study, his expression extremely ugly.

"Your Highness, please do not let your anger harm your health."

Feng Yue said softly, "That Sweeping Monk insisted on kicking us while we're down. Could he have secretly colluded with the Prince of Zhenbei?"

"What do you mean?"

Prince of Donghai's expression changed. "Are you saying Lin Xiao has been in East Sea City this whole time!?"

Feng Yue frowned. "I sent almost all the secret agents from the Qinhuai Pavilion to investigate the Northern Border and the Yan Region, but none found any trace of Lin Xiao."

"Now it seems he might really be right under our noses..."

Prince of Donghai's expression flickered between light and dark, a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Your Highness, what Lin Xiao is best at is decapitating enemy generals amidst ten thousand troops. Why don't you hide in the secret room for a while?"

Prince of Donghai waved his hand dismissively. "Impossible! If he assassinates me, he would be the one in the wrong! I am not like Prince Bai; I haven't started a rebellion. Would he dare to make a move!?"

"Your Highness, because of the Ruoshui matter, those commoners are all speaking ill of you."

"Even the scholars who received benefits from us are all playing dumb."

"With the recent series of unfavorable rumors against Prince Zhao's Mansion, it's hard to guarantee that Lin Xiao won't take the opportunity to use public opinion to carry out an assassination."

"It would be better for Your Highness to avoid it for now. Once the rumors have passed, we can think of some strategies to win back public opinion before coming out again," Feng Yue advised.

Prince of Donghai hesitated for a moment, but the fear in his heart eventually won out.

As long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about lack of firewood!

"Very well, then I will stay out of the spotlight for a while..."

Half an hour later.

An inconspicuous carriage departed from the back gate of the mansion, circled around a few times, and left through the west gate of East Sea City.

Inside the carriage, Prince of Donghai, dressed in plain clothes and lightly disguised, had a gloomy expression.

"Feng Yue, send a message on my behalf to Commander Guo Youning of the Dan Province Navy. Tell him to move the navy to the west to Zhanshui for a month of training and not to give the Zhenbei Army any support."

"Then send a secret letter to Centipede Island and tell Yamamoto Ryuichi that as long as he wipes out the Zhenbei Army's navy, I will give him three more islands!"

Feng Yue frowned. "Your Highness wants... the Zhenbei Army to suffer a great defeat?"

"Exactly. As long as the Zhenbei Army loses the war, the more glory Lin Xiao has now, the harder he will fall later!"

Prince of Donghai sneered. "Ultimately, no matter how much momentum you build, you still have to win the war!"

"Your Highness is truly a Virtuous Prince. To say such treasonous things about selling out the country for personal gain without a hint of shame..."

Feng Yue's face was cold, her eyes filled with sarcasm and contempt.

Prince of Donghai suddenly realized something was wrong. "You... what did you call me!?"

Before he could finish his sentence, the carriage driver in front suddenly reached out a large hand, dragged Prince of Donghai out, and threw him off the carriage!