Night fell. Atop the Heavenly Tower, while all the disciples departed, only the white-robed, white-haired National Teacher of the Heavenly Tower remained, standing by the railing.
The void beside him was like a mirror, reflecting all that had occurred in the Qin Manor that day. Naturally, the Buddha Mouth’s every move did not escape his divine eye.
“The Six Powers of Buddhism.”
The National Teacher murmured to himself, then frowned slightly. If this Buddha’s mouth really evolved from closed mouth meditation, why can it use Mind power among the six powers of Buddhism?
“It seems this Buddha’s mouth conceals many secrets,” he murmured, gazing up at the starry sky.
A translucent projection shot out from his body, manifesting in the deep firmament. To the National Teacher, the vast earth seemed to fit within his palms.
Beyond the borders of the Four Realms of the Great Qian, a darkness akin to an abyss stirred, constantly encroaching upon the realms’ boundaries.
A sigh drifted through the starry expanse.
Meanwhile, through crevices in the void, a bloody specter flitted, fleeing southward.
It glanced back towards the Imperial City, still trembling with fear.In the Western Region, on the desolate mountains, a burly figure wearing a straw hat and cassock was heading towards the west.
He seemed to blend into the shadows, and no one could see him clearly unless it was illuminated by the mottled moonlight between the trees.
Despite being in the woods, not a creature stirred nor a bird sang, and the silence was unsettling.
Ferocious beasts hid, fiendish man-eaters subdued their usual ferocity.
It was an instinctive avoidance of this terrifying presence. Yet it seemed there were exceptions.
The massive figure suddenly halted, turning to regard the treetops where, bathed in moonlight, stood a middle-aged man.
The Thirty-Six Stars Talisman at his waist reflected a starry, silvery radiance.
“You killed many Demons and Ghosts along the way, and also massacred a mountain village. I have been following you for a long time.” The middle-aged man said coldly.
Under the bamboo hat, a hoarse voice sounded: “So?”
“Today is the day you die.” The Vigor Qi condensed in the middle-aged hand was of a Third Stage Divine Warrior. This was the confidence for him to speak!
Yet in mere moments, the battle’s outcome was decided.
The middle-aged man lay prone, bleeding from behind where his lower body had vanished, the peculiar shape of the wound suggesting it had been gnawed off!
Were he not a divine martial warrior with vigorous bloodline and astounding vitality, such injuries would have killed him instantly.
“Who are you?” The middle-aged man raised his head with difficulty, his eyes reflecting shock and terror.
Through the scattered moonlight, he was able to see that there were actually three Buddha heads growing under the opponent’s straw hat.
This was none other than the Ghost Buddha who had vanished from the Ninefold Prison, though what entity now possessed its body remained unknown.
Its skin was cracked and flayed, its appearance grotesque and dreadful.
The central Buddha head opened its mouth wider and wider until the gape was taller than a person!
Just like that, it swallowed the middle aged man of Thirty-Six Stars directly into its belly, and the crunching sound seemed extremely clear and harsh that night.
“Why have you stopped?” A voice suddenly sounded.
Ghost Buddha opened his palm, and there was an eyeball in the center of his palm.
“If food is delivered to your door, why not eat it? I have browsed this person’s memory. The Demon Slaying Department’s Thirty-Six Stars are considered a good combat power for the human race.”
“However, his memories contain little information about the Western Extreme. Are you certain that thing will be there?”
The eyeball replied, “Of the Four Realms of The Great Qian, apart from the Western Realm, the other three all have foreign races stationed there. Only the Western Realm does not.”
“And the encroachment of the Western Extreme is the slowest, so there must be something there obstructing it.”
“I see.”
“Also, you should be more careful. This breach of the realms is no simple matter. There was a reason the Immortal Realm’s Gods and Demons failed to descend in past times.”
“The enforcer of the heavenly mandates and dao can foresee the future no worse than I. He clearly knows the Western Extreme holds no foreign threat, making it highly dangerous, yet on the surface he has not dispatched any powerful forces to guard it.”
“Perhaps there are powerful human forces there.”
The Ghost Buddha scoffed coldly, “In human terms, to me, the existence of this breach is like ants.”
Seeing this, the eyeball said no more and slowly closed.
The births of Qin Xiao and Qin Lan naturally ensured the Qin Manor was enveloped in a joyous atmosphere these past few days.
Even the Second Mother had a smile on her face every day and her sadness over Father Qin’s passing gradually faded.
Qin Feng had initially hesitated about informing her of Father Qin’s situation in the underworld, but seeing this scene, he temporarily put those thoughts aside.
After all, the realms of the living and dead are separate. He did not wish for Second Mother to harbor any impractical fantasies – it was best she could live on peacefully like this.
The Dragon Clan Ancestor had not left, instead remained at the Qin Manor playing and frolicking with Qin Lan all day long.
He seemed just like a playful elder, and seeing this, the Qin Family greatly lowered their guard towards the Dragon Patriarch.
All was harmonious within the Qin Manor, though the same could not be said for the entire Imperial City.
The commotion caused by the birth of Qin Xiao and Qin Lan was too enormous, naturally drawing the attention of everyone in the city.
Some highly ranked and influential people only needed to make some inquiries to learn that the abnormal celestial omens and the arrival of formidable entities were all because of Qin Feng’s two children!
In fact, eight or nine out of ten topics of discussion in Imperial City were related to the Qin Family.
“Do you know about Master Qin’s two children?”
“How could I not know about such a major event? I heard from the grapevine that not only did Tribulation Lightning strike at Master Qin’s children’s births, but they were born at the sixth rank!”
“The sixth rank?!” Everyone gasped in astonishment upon hearing this.
Even for Liu Jianli, considered the most talented person in Imperial City’s history, she only reached the sixth rank after over a decade of cultivation.
Even though the cultivation speed has been greatly increased in the current changes, it still takes at least a decade of effort to reach the sixth rank, and it’s unimaginable to do it from birth!
Yet look at Master Qin’s two children – they were over a decade ahead from the moment they were born, truly arousing envy in others.
“With such talent, their future prospects are limitless!”
“Of course! You may not know, but many of the court’s nobles and officials, upon learning this news, immediately wanted to marry their daughters into the Qin Family.”
“Some even went so far as to insist on betrothing their newborns to Master Qin’s children!”
Though exaggerated, people could understand the sentiment.
When Master Qin first shook Imperial City with his fame, many wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Qin family, but were deterred by Liu Jianli and the Dragon Clan woman, and finally gave up.
But now, even if they know that their girls are not as good as Master Qin’s two lovely wives, they still have to try their luck.
Leaving aside Master Qin and his wives’ talents and strength, just the future prospects of those two infants alone were worth everyone clamoring to join the Qin Family.
Beyond that, there was also the Dragon Clan!
The simple clash between the Ancient Dragon Patriarch and the Divine Guardian caused quite a stir among Imperial City’s top experts.
Though neither secured a decisive victor, the fact the Dragon Patriarch could sever a lock of the Divine Guardian’s hair spoke volumes about his might.
Moreover, behind the Dragon Patriarch stood the entire Dragon Clan – an enormous presence unmatched in the world!
With all these factors combined, many people simply couldn’t contain themselves.
Not long after the joyous family days, the gates of the Qin Manor were besieged by officials bringing gifts.
A constant stream of visitors arrived bearing all sorts of large and small tributes, completely filling the manor’s storehouses.
With Father Qin gone and the Second Mother being just an ordinary housewife, how could she handle such a situation? Naturally, Qin Feng and Qin An had to step forward to receive them.
“Congratulations, Lord Qin! I can tell at a glance that these two little ones are no ordinary beings-they are destined to soar to great heights!”
“Many thanks for your auspicious words.” Qin Feng responded with a smile.
He had heard the same platitudes countless times before – his ears were nearly calloused from them.
The visiting official noticed Qin Feng’s perfunctory manner and wished to say more, but was hurried on by the people queuing behind him: “If you’re done congratulating him, then quickly make way! Don’t you see there’s still a huge crowd waiting?”
The officer turned to look back, his expression hardening. The line stretched like a dragon around the corner of the street, with a constant clatter of hooves beyond it – no telling how many more carriages awaited there.
Whether they could board this grand ship of the Qin Family hung in the balance. If they didn’t seize this chance, how could they be satisfied?
Ignoring the urgings behind him, the official hurriedly said: “Young Master Qin, I don’t know if you have considered taking a concubine? I happen to have an eighteen-year-old daughter at home, beautiful as a flower. She’s versed in the scholarly arts of zither, chess, calligraphy and painting.”
Qin Feng quickly cut him off, then apprehensively glanced back to confirm his two wives were still tending to the children and hadn’t heard, before exhaling heavily in relief.
Seeing his demeanor, the others exchanged strange looks and began whispering furtively.
“There are always rumors in Imperial City that Master Qin fears his wives and dares not philander recklessly. I originally didn’t believe it, afterall, what woman could truly rein in a man of his caliber? But seeing this today, I finally understand…”
The unspoken words hung clear – those rumors were no baseless gossip. Master Qin truly fears his wives!
‘You understand nothing. I don’t call it fear – I call it cherishing them.’ Qin Feng coughed dryly. “Thank you for your kind intentions, but I am content with my two wives and have no plans to take a concubine.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd waiting behind revealed disappointed expressions.
The official gritted his teeth and tried again: “I know Young Master Qin’s devotion to his two beautiful wives. But they ultimately are no ordinary women. Young Master surely needs a capable wife to manage the household and child-rearing.”
“My daughter may not be cultivating the path of literary saints, but the Qian family is still a respected literary household. Such duties will surely be well within her capabilities.”
Before he could finish, a chilly voice cut him off: “The Minister truly has some nerve. With so many areas of Imperial City in need of repair, instead of overseeing that at the Ministry of Works, you’re idling here to propose marriage.”
“Who speaks?” The minister’s eyebrows furrowed as he turned around, then widened his eyes. The one who arrived wore a white palace gown, beautiful and breathtaking, with a dignified demeanor – it was none other than the reigning Princess Anya!
No wonder the noise behind him suddenly quieted down. It turned out that the princess had arrived.
“This minister did not realize it was Your Highness. Please forgive any offense.” The Minister bowed deeply, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead.
Anya gave him a dismissive glance before turning to the queuing officials. “Don’t tell me you’ve all come here to propose marriage as well?”
With the lessons learned from the Minister, how could they still dare to admit it?
Their situation was akin to skiving off during work hours only to be caught by the boss’s daughter.
Even if Princess Anya didn’t directly reprimand them to Emperor Ming, they would surely face docked salaries and a stern rebuke at minimum.
Amidst this chaotic demonic era, it was all thanks to the reigning Emperor’s financial acumen that The Great Qian’s coffers remained everflowing.
He could always find some pretext to extort their wealth.
Realizing this, the officials immediately claimed they had merely come to congratulate Young Master Qin on the births, nothing more.
Anya gave a slight nod, reasonably satisfied with their answers.
At that moment, an eerie voice rang out: “This Humble One has yet to join the Qin family, so how dare you all come here and cause trouble?”
“Ah, so that’s what you’ve been thinking. You’re very scheming, very crafty indeed.”
Hearing this, a flicker of panic flashed across Yaan’s eyes. She searched for the source, wanting to identify who dared to speak her innermost thoughts and carelessly misrepresent her. Her gaze fell on the awe-inspiring, weathered face of the Dragon Ancestor, and the mouth and single eye of the Buddha on his forehead!
‘The Mind Reading, one of Buddhism’s Six Spiritual Powers!’ She was shocked and swallowed all the words she had originally thought of.
The other officials were terrified by the Dragon Patriarch’s presence, their faces drained of color as they unconsciously took a step back.
This God of Death was a being who treated the myriad gods and demons like candy, he was not a simple person.
But fear aside, their attention was drawn to Buddha’s Mouth, and they began to recall what the other party said before.
There are no walls that do not leak. Rumors had long circulated in the palace that Princess Yaan harbored affection for Young Master Qin and was constantly visiting the Qin Manor under any pretext, while Emperor Ming turned a blind eye.
Combined with the Buddha’s mouth words and the Princess’s behavior, the truth or falsity of those rumors seemed self-evident.
Feeling everyone’s eyes on her, especially a certain gaze from Qin Feng, Yaan’s cheeks flushed hot as her heartbeat quickened.
“Utter nonsense! Would you actually believe the ramblings of some demonic freak?”
Even as she rebuked, she turned her head to glare at Qin Feng. “Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you believe its senseless drivel?”
“This…” Qin Feng didn’t know how to respond.
At that moment the Buddha’s mouth spoke again: “The minister makes sense. Jianli and Feilan are fine, but a household still needs a woman to handle the wife’s duties. But if I take a concubine, would my two wives flay me alive?”
“Eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot – such is the nature of human males. How lewd, indeed, truly lewd.”
Everyone turned astonished eyes towards Qin Feng upon hearing this.
He hurriedly defended, “Do not listen to its ramblings, everyone. It is but a manifestation of Buddhist closed-door meditation. It can only spout nonsense. Do not take it seriously!”
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