Chapter 130: Chapter 120: National Treasure Stolen, Struggle for the Relic, Capital City Melee

News of the Buddha’s Relics quickly spread throughout the Imperial Capital by way of a Court decree.

The story of the Silver Frost King sending an envoy to present this treasure also circulated among the people, becoming a popular topic of conversation for commoners and Cultivators alike.

Many people, drawn by the fame, came to the Golden Body Temple to offer incense and hopefully catch a glimpse of the Buddha’s Relics.

Most were unable to elicit even the slightest reaction from the Relic and were turned away.

A few Monks from the Vajra Temple could make the Relic glow, but ultimately, they couldn’t claim it, which meant their Opportunity had not yet arrived. They could only leave in regret.

In the main courtyard of the Golden Body Temple, a Silver Frost Envoy watched the bustling crowd and couldn’t help but turn to the White-robed Monk holding a Zen Staff behind him and ask respectfully:

“Saint Monk, must we really do this? This is one of the Seven Ancestors’ Relics, after all—it’s priceless. With it, you might be able to break through to the Thirteenth Realm. If you hadn’t refused to claim it, this Relic would have long since become one with you.”

“Amitabha Buddha.”

Jiang Shan shook his head. “This Relic contains the lifelong insights of one of the Seven Ancestors. If I, a humble monk, were to seize the Buddha’s fortune, I could certainly break through to the Thirteenth Realm and attain the rank of Bodhisattva. However, my future path would inevitably be that of the Seventh Ancestor, and I would never be able to surpass him. It would only place a limit on my Zen Heart.”

“I could cultivate to the Fourteenth Realm at most, but I would never reach the Fifteenth Realm, nor would I be able to truly spread the Buddhist Technique throughout the world.”

Though his words were plain, they were filled with absolute confidence.

Hearing this, the surrounding envoys revealed expressions of deep admiration.

’He relies on no external forces, only his own single-minded devotion. He is truly worthy of being the Saint Monk personally appointed by the King. He will surely become the Imperial Tutor of our Silver Frost Country one day.’

Outside the Golden Body Temple, two groups of people arrived.

One group was led by a young master in a Cyan Python Robe, who had a gentle, jade-like temperament. His features were well-defined and exceedingly handsome. He was followed by many people, the one closest to him being an old, white-haired Sword-Carrier Slave.

Beside him were also a Martial Artist holding iron fists, a woman wearing a purple veil, and several other characters who looked like trouble.

They were also accompanied by several monks with their palms pressed together.

The other group was led by a portly man in a bright yellow Python Robe who looked like a businessman, his thin mustache giving him a shrewd air. He was also followed by many Monks, among whom a tall, scar-faced Monk with a fierce and menacing expression was particularly conspicuous.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Eighth Brother?”

The portly man in the bright yellow Python Robe spoke first, his eyes, barely visible slits in his fleshy face, crinkling with a smile.

Of course, he recognized the person before him—who else but the Eighth Prince, Lu Yunqing, the man of the hour in the Capital City.

“Seventh Brother.”

Lu Yunqing’s youthful face showed little surprise. He simply nodded in greeting.

“Are you also here to claim the Buddha’s Relics?”

He was the Seventh Prince, Lu Yunwan. The two of them had no significant conflicts and weren’t particularly close; they were merely nodding acquaintances.

“Since it is a Sacred Object, why not come and try? It’s always good to test one’s luck.”

The two groups converging caught the attention of the White-robed Monk in the distance.

Jiang Shan thought to himself, ’Those must be the two Princes of Great Yan, the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince.’

The Silver Frost Envoy next to him transmitted his voice, a hint of excitement in his tone, “I’ve long heard that the Emperor of Great Yan is gravely ill, and the Princes under him are fighting tooth and nail, making it impossible to decide on a successor to the Emperor’s Throne. Great Yan is also at war with the Holy Netherworld. This could be a great Opportunity for our Silver Frost Country.”

“No.”

Jiang Shan immediately refuted him. “Silver Frost has only just suppressed the Junior Frost King. Even if the Emperor of Great Frost’s Momentum is weak, it is not a good time to mobilize troops. At the very least, we cannot let Great Yan become an enemy of Silver Frost. Siding with the Emperor of Great Frost would only hinder Silver Frost’s rise.”

“Great Yan is already at war with the Holy Netherworld on the border, with a Prince named Prince Zhenbei leading the troops. If Silver Frost acts rashly, we could still be ambushed by Great Yan’s elite forces.”

“The Emperor of Great Yan is not yet dead, so the hearts of the military and the people are still with him. Although Great Yan is not as powerful as it was a few years ago, it is still an existence that smaller nations today cannot afford to provoke.”

The Silver Frost Envoy listened and found his reasoning sound.

Great Yan was not to be trifled with. Its military might was formidable; since its founding, it had annihilated countless nations, and few dared to provoke it.

While they were speaking, the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince had already emerged from the temple.

No Buddha’s Light emanated from the Relic, nor were there any strange phenomena. They had clearly failed.

This was all within Jiang Shan’s expectations; he was not surprised.

As dusk fell, still no one had been able to claim the Relic.

But the incense offerings at the Golden Body Temple in a single day already surpassed what it usually received in an entire month.

This undoubtedly strengthened Jiang Shan’s confidence and determination to spread the Buddhist Technique in Great Yan.

’If I could do it in Great Frost, I can do it in Great Yan as well.’

When he went to the Golden Body Temple to check on the Buddha’s Relics, his eyes narrowed.

“Saint Monk, what is it?”

The Silver Frost Envoy asked, seeing his strange expression.

Jiang Shan replied calmly, “The Relic is gone.”

“How is that possible? Wasn’t it right here? This object cannot be taken away without a special Technique.”

The Silver Frost Envoy pointed at the foot of the giant statue of the Great Buddha, where a dim Relic, its power sealed, rested in the center of a prayer cushion. It looked completely intact.

“This is a fake.”

Jiang Shan picked up the Relic and crushed it in his hand. The Relic disintegrated into a pile of dust.

“What?!”

The Silver Frost Envoy was utterly shocked, never imagining the Relic was actually gone.

How could a real Relic be so fragile as to shatter at a touch? But from its appearance, it was indeed very similar—a perfect replica.

“Saint Monk, what should we do?” the Silver Frost Envoy asked anxiously.

But Jiang Shan was surprisingly calm. His eyes showed not a ripple of emotion as he said, “It’s fine. If it’s lost, it’s lost. I will retrieve it in a month. Although this object has not become one with me, I am familiar with it. I can still sense it and will be able to track it down.”

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