570: Shaoshi Mountain is really lively

On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the Double Ninth Festival, all of Dengfeng became bustling.

From across the land, Buddhist Disciples, Daoist lay practitioners, great Confucian scholars, and various Loose Immortals all surged toward the direction of Shaoshi Mountain.

However, not everyone was fortunate enough to reach Mount Song; after all, the matter of Master Sanzang engaging in a "Dharma Duel" with the Buddhist and Daoist sects was not something just anyone could get close enough to watch.

The imperial court issued official travel permits to all registered Buddhist and Daoist Cultivators; this was the only official method provided to enter the vicinity of Shaoshi Mountain to watch the "Dharma Duel."

Of course, those true immortals who came and went as they pleased were not subject to this restriction, but they were able to spontaneously organize themselves, allowing only those of true virtue and prestige to enter the Shaoshi Mountain area.

Shaolin Temple was bustling with activity, the entire mountaintop chaotic yet orderly.

As early as yesterday, Wu Zhen had come to inform the abbot, Monk Shenxiu, that there was no need for elaborate preparations; they only needed to clear a patch of ground in the open space outside Damo Cave behind the mountain for her Master to sit on.

As for those immortals and Buddhas, they all possessed magical powers and could simply sit on clouds; there was no need to prepare anything for them.

Although Shenxiu hesitated, considering that this person's Buddha Dharma was profound, he did not say much more; instead, he led his fellow Disciples to roughly clear away the rocks and trees from the open space behind the mountain, at least ensuring it wouldn't look too cluttered.

Outside Shaoshi Mountain, led by personnel from the Si Tian Jian, along with the people from Shu Mountain and Cultivators serving the imperial court, they set up layers upon layers of barriers and restricted zones, forbidding pilgrims from ascending the mountain to offer incense.

Although many were dissatisfied, the group used the excuse of protecting their safety to turn them all away.

Indeed, they were also protecting the safety of ordinary people; after all, this was not just a debate of Buddha Dharma, it was very likely that a great battle would break out.

As the saying goes, when immortals fight, Mortals suffer; they had to control the impending disaster within the small range of Shaoshi Mountain as much as possible.

Otherwise, once both sides started fighting, it would inevitably be a disaster for the Mortal world.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please slow down, slow down! This old servant can barely keep up with your pace!"

Zhang Anan smiled bitterly as he used light-body techniques to chase from behind, while Li Chengqian in front, like a kite with a broken string, leisurely flew toward Shaoshi Mountain.

Li Chengqian had started practicing the Dao, and he had entered the Dao through martial arts!

It must be said that the resources of an Emperor were far more abundant; coupled with the strong support from the people of the Du Xin Domain, the careful instruction of military generals, and the Ghost Immortal White Impermanence occasionally transferring a strand of True Qi into his body, Li Chengqian's cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, even surpassing Zhang Anan, who had reached the limit of a Martial Artist.

Having gained ability, he naturally wanted to show off, so for this mountain ascent, he only brought a dozen or so attendants and Zhang Anan.

As for Chang'an, he simply played the role of an absentee manager, handing all government affairs back to his father, Li Shimin.

This Emperor had no way to deal with his willful child and, in desperation, had to give up his leisurely life once again...

Li Chengqian truly wanted to see with his own eyes the grand feat of this Holy Monk of the Great Tang challenging the entire Immortal Realm and the Buddhist realm single-handedly!

"Your Majesty is here..." Guarding the mountain gate were none other than General Xue Rengui and the young Daoist Xingyunzi.

Seeing Li Chengqian arrive with great vigor, reaching them in the blink of an eye, they prepared to bow.

Li Chengqian laughed excitedly: "Enough, enough, just keep watch here... Hmm, has the Holy Monk come out yet?"

"No, the gods and Buddhas of the heavens have not arrived yet. I think... hmm, those guys will definitely appear with a grand display of power to crush the Holy Monk's Aura..."

General Xue Rengui said in a deep voice, "This matter must be guarded against. Your Majesty, should I dispatch troops to help boost the Holy Monk's presence?"

Li Chengqian thought for a moment, then shook his head: "No need. Without the Holy Monk's consent, doing such things would only make those gods and Buddhas think we are afraid of them... Rest assured, the Holy Monk will definitely be fine... Hmm, have the people from the Du Xin Domain not arrived yet?"

"Elder Sun said he would appear at the appropriate time... Hmm, Your Majesty, should we accompany you up?" Xingyunzi asked.

"No need... Hmm, Zhang Anan and the others are with me. Moreover, I am here as an ordinary Cultivator this time. Everyone, do not disturb others; I am heading up the mountain. You keep a close watch and do not let foreign spies in... Hmm, actually, it doesn't matter if they get in; there is nothing to hide anyway. Just watch out and don't let ordinary people wander in and get hurt!"

The two bowed and acknowledged the order.

Li Chengqian excitedly continued running up, while Zhang Anan and the others arrived behind him, inevitably exchanging pleasantries with the two.

Li Chengqian laughed heartily as he arrived at the back of Shaoshi Mountain, only to see that almost every small hill was packed with people.

Among them were Daoists, monks, as well as some great scholars and lay practitioners of the Mortal world.

It was truly bustling with activity; as they conversed, they would occasionally cast their gazes toward the direction of Damo Cave, seemingly waiting for the appearance of Tang Ku.

"I haven't seen this Fellow Daoist before. May I ask where your immortal home is? Why have you only just arrived, and you haven't found a good spot yet?" Suddenly, a Daoist carrying a huge peach-wood sword bowed to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian was about to put on his imperial airs, but suddenly his eyes rolled, and he also bowed and laughed: "My apologies, my apologies. My Master is an imperial appointee, and I have been helping with the defenses at the foot of the mountain, so I was delayed a bit. If you, brother... Fellow Daoist, don't have anyone else here, could you allow me to stand here for a moment?"

The Daoist laughed: "As fellow Cultivators, we should open the door of convenience. Besides, this is just the wilderness; whoever stands here owns it, no problem, no problem!"

Li Chengqian chuckled: "Sorry to bother you! Hmm, have those gods and Buddhas not arrived yet? Has the Holy Monk not appeared either?"

The Daoist stroked his beard and laughed: "They are the true immortal type, so it's normal for them to have big airs. If I were to achieve Immortal Ascension and the Dao, I would have even bigger airs than them!"

Li Chengqian thought to himself: "No wonder you haven't achieved Immortal Ascension yet..."

Just as he was about to ask something, his heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but look up; he noticed in his peripheral vision that everyone else had also started looking up.

In mid-air, ten thousand auspicious clouds suddenly descended; countless bald monks, Buddhist novices, and a host of Buddhist followers stood upon the clouds.

Following that, lotus thrones slowly appeared one by one, and various True Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and others slowly appeared before the world...

"Truly a grand display..." Li Chengqian curled his lip in disdain, "Flashy but lacking substance; it's like heaven and earth compared to our Great Tang's Imperial Preceptor!"

"Shh, Fellow Daoist, keep quiet. Don't let these baldies make things difficult for you. Although they are not as good as our Daoist sect, their magical power is top-notch!"

The Daoist hurriedly tugged at Li Chengqian's sleeve and warned him in a low voice.

"Oh, is that the people from our Immortal Realm's Daoist sect appearing over there..."

In the northwest, colorful clouds accompanied by a rainbow suddenly appeared in the sky, followed by Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in golden helmets and golden armor, as well as a host of different immortals...