Chapter 87 Examination

Su Baiwei silently retreated behind Princess Yuzhen.

"I have done what I was supposed to do; we are even now."

"Your Highness, please rest assured. This commoner is not someone who breaks her word."

Princess Yuzhen let out a laugh, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"Since the Emperor does not fancy you, you had better return to Qingqiu as soon as possible and stop staying in this Chang'an City."

Su Baiwei lowered her head in acknowledgment, then cast a glance out of the corner of her eye toward the monk Jianzhen, making no further movements.

Jiang Chen felt a slight shift in his heart and looked toward Princess Yuzhen. He saw nothing unusual, only Princess Yuzhen raising her cup to him from afar, while Su Baiwei behind her was quietly admiring the moon.

Jiang Chen raised his cup to return the gesture.

At this banquet, it would be inappropriate for Jiang Chen to substitute tea for wine, so he was drinking the imperial wine.

It was said to be a fruit wine brewed from mulberries, a type of imperial wine. The liquid was slightly yellowish, and it tasted three parts sweet, three parts spicy, three parts sour and astringent, and one part slightly bitter.

It had a unique flavor, was not unpleasant to drink, and had a low alcohol content, but the aftereffect was quite strong.

By now, Jiang Chen had already seen more than a dozen people passed out from drunkenness.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, what does the drink in your cup taste like? It looks like tea, can I drink it?"

Jianzhen looked eagerly at the wine in Jiang Chen's cup. As a monk, he naturally received special treatment.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had specifically arranged for tea to be prepared for the Buddhist Disciples present. It was high-quality tea, but Jianzhen found it bitter and unpleasant to drink, feeling it wasn't even as good as honey water.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly: "Fellow Daoist, you know full well that this is wine, yet you pretend not to know. Are you trying to break your vows?"

Having his thoughts exposed, Jianzhen sheepishly picked up the teacup on his own table.

The wine in Fellow Daoist Jiang's cup smelled so fragrant; it must be delicious!

"Your Majesty!"

Just then, a voice rang out from below the stage.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang looked down and saw that it was Zhang Gaoxian of Mount Longhu.

"So it is the young Immortal Master Zhang. Is there something you need?"

Zhang Gaoxian was in high spirits: "Your Majesty, today the heroes of the world are gathered here. I am filled with joy and yearn to compete with these heroes. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to do so as a performance for Your Majesty!"

"Oh? And who do you wish to compete with?"

"I have long heard that Grand Master Sima Chengzhen of the Maoshan Sect has taken in a new Disciple. I am untalented, but I wish to exchange pointers with Fellow Daoist Jiang. Fellow Daoist Jiang, would you be willing to offer some guidance?"

Jiang Chen put down his wine cup and looked up at Zhang Gaoxian with a hint of confusion.

He hadn't expected to encounter internal strife within the Daoist Sects here. The various Buddhist Sects were right next door; wasn't he afraid of becoming a laughingstock?

"Hahahaha, young Immortal Master Jiang, what do you think?"

"This humble Daoist has no objections."

"Very well..."

"Report!"

Before Emperor Xuanzong of Tang could finish his sentence, a loud shout came from outside the garden.

At this moment, a Jinwu Guard rushed in.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang put down his wine cup and feigned displeasure: "What is the panic? Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I am here gathering with my beloved officials. Unless it is an urgent matter, speak of it tomorrow!"

The Jinwu Guard said urgently: "Your Majesty, it is an emergency! There is a great drought in the Jiangnan Circuit and the Huainan Circuit, and it is suspected that a great demon has emerged. Refugees have already fled to the Hedong Circuit!"

Clang! Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's wine cup crashed directly onto the table.

Hearing the sound of the falling cup, the officials below, even those still feeling tipsy, were startled awake and collectively focused their attention on Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

"What did you say? Say it again, say it loudly!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is a great drought in the Huainan Circuit and the Jiangnan Circuit, and it is suspected that a great demon has emerged to cause chaos. Refugees have already fled to the Hedong Circuit!"

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang rubbed his forehead, and the officials all fell silent.

"It is truly 'Heaven blesses the Great Tang'—on this Mid-Autumn Festival, such a shocking event has actually occurred."

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang laughed at himself, and immediately an official stood up and said.

"Your Majesty, is this not a sign of Heaven blessing the Great Tang?"

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's gaze suddenly sharpened, staring straight at the speaker, General Yang Sixu.

"Official Yang, with a great drought in two circuits and the people unable to make a living, you dare to say it is Heaven blessing the Great Tang? If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, do not blame me for punishing you for the crime of reckless speech!"

General Yang Sixu slowly said: "Your Majesty, if not for you hosting a banquet to entertain the masters of the profound Sects of the world, how could so many masters be gathered here today?"

"And what if they are gathered here?"

"Why not let the masters go to the two circuits to pray for rain and subdue the demons? It would also be a perfect opportunity for the masters present to distinguish who is superior. Whoever can pray for more rain and subdue the demon faster will naturally be the winner."

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he looked directly at the pavilion where the Profound Sects were located.

"You all have heard, what is your opinion?"

Zhang Gaoxian was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, I think it is very appropriate. We of the Profound Sects naturally take regulating wind and rain and slaying demons as our duty. This prayer for rain will allow us to compete with the Fellow Daoists present, and it will also benefit the world. We are duty-bound!"

"Good, I shall use this as an examination. If you can pray for rain for the common people of the two circuits, I will not only post a notice to tell the world of your achievements, but I will also reward you heavily!"

The many Buddhist and Daoist Cultivators present were all moved upon hearing this.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's reward was a minor matter; if this feat could be publicized, letting all living beings in the world know of their achievements, the benefits brought to the Sect would be infinite.

"Your Majesty, this move is still flawed." At this moment, Vajrabodhi, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly stood up and said.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's brows darkened for a moment, but he concealed it well, letting no one notice, and continued to look at Vajrabodhi gently.

"Master Vajrabodhi, what is the flaw?"

"This poor monk is over sixty years old. If I were to compete with these Juniors, it would inevitably seem like bullying the young. Why not let us go to subdue the demons, and let these Juniors go to pray for rain?"

In fact, Vajrabodhi was not skilled in rain-prayer Spells. Although the Esoteric Domain also had rain-prayer Spells, they generally involved communicating with local Dragon gods to pray for rain.

But in the Great Tang, he lost this means, so he naturally chose to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang nodded upon hearing this.

"The Master's words are reasonable. Let us proceed with this plan. I will post a notice in the city to proclaim it to the world. Anyone with cultivation can go to the Huainan and Henan circuits to give it a try!"

The hearts of the Buddhist and Daoist Cultivators were all shaken, realizing that this time the Saint might truly be making a major move.

By posting a notice to proclaim it to the world now, if the matter were to fail in the future, it would not only ruin one's own reputation but also implicate the Luck of their dharma lineage.

Vajrabodhi and the others felt a slight chill; if it were done this way, those participating would likely not be limited to just the people present.

Of the Buddhists and Daoists present, he, Subhakarasimha, and Zhang Huaiyi had the highest cultivation, all standing in the Sea of Suffering.

But with this notice out, it was possible that even some people at the Heavenly Bridge realm would make a move, although in the present world, apart from Zhang Ciyu of the Way of the Celestial Masters, Zhi Shen of the Dacien Temple, and Shi Daoxuan of the Vinaya School, there were almost no others at the Heavenly Bridge realm.

But Vajrabodhi's heart still felt a slight, unconscious sense of urgency.

He came to Chang'an to spread the dharma; this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, and he absolutely could not miss it!

After Emperor Xuanzong of Tang finished speaking, all the Buddhists and Daoists responded.

"I wonder, Your Majesty, how will you evaluate the magnitude of our achievements?" someone from the Profound Sects asked.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang said: "I will dispatch Imperial Agents to accompany you all. All that you do in the two circuits will be recorded in a register by the Imperial Agents, and at the appropriate time, it will be sent back to Chang'an for me to review and evaluate!"

"Excellent!"