Legend of the Great Sage

fell silent, and everyone’s gazes gathered on Xiao An.
Who didn’t know what “Monk King” signified?

The Dauntless monk said, “If you want to rely on your willpower to overcome your afflictions, then please take a step back.”

A while later, not a single monk stepped back.
The Dauntless monk nodded in satisfaction.
At least they were all aware of their own limits.

“You don’t have to feel any disgrace for relying on a foreign object.
I just tried the blade myself, and the Seven Treasures Monk King from the Spirit Kṣetra temple had benefited greatly too.
The effects of the Affliction Severing blade are only momentary, but as long as you remember the feeling at that moment, remain with a clear and open mind and find your true self, it’ll definitely bring great benefit to your cultivation!”

As a result, the monks took turns to accept swings of the blade from Xiao An.
Li Qingshan watched on from one side and lamented a little inside, She really has changed.

 ……

On the “left shoulder” of Great Buddha mountain, in a quiet courtyard, Li Qingshan pushed through the circular gate and gazed at the rising and falling mountains in the distance, but he felt a little perturbed inside.
He suddenly looked back and asked, “You’re all done?”

“Yes.” Xiao An stood quietly beneath the bodhi tree in the courtyard.

“That’s good then…”

The courtyard suddenly fell silent again.
Only the moonlight poured in quietly.
Li Qingshan mulled over his words, but he did not know how to start the conversation.

“Qingshan, are you blaming me for arbitrarily changing the plan?”

“I’m not blaming you.
You’re doing it for my sake after all, but we are both indebted to the Golden Cicada Spirit King.
Wouldn’t this just be biting the hand that fed us?”

Li Qingshan frowned.
He had always kept clear tabs on his debts, but Xiao An’s plan had sold out the Golden Cicada Spirit King, which went against his principles severely.

Xiao An walked over to his side slowly and leaned against him gently.
“Helping the Golden Cicada Spirit King ascend successfully is also a part of the plan.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have a total of two objectives.
The first is to help the Golden Cicada Spirit King, while the second is to kill the Soaring Locust King.
However, the Soaring Locust King isn’t that easy to kill.”

Li Qingshan nodded.
A great Daemon King without a bottom line was simply disgusting.
“But if we work together, we’ll have a seventy to eighty percent chance of success.”

“No, it’s not that high.
I am the greatest factor in this.
The Green province is not located over the ocean.
When the Golden Cicada Spirit King faces the tribulation, he’ll definitely draw over all of the great cultivators.
Meanwhile, once I unleash my Path of White Bone and Great Beauty publicly, there will be no buddhist sects that can allow me to exist any further.
I’ll definitely be viewed as a great enemy by the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, and it might end up as a chaotic battle, but I don’t wish to kill anyone from the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga.”

“And if the Golden Cicada Spirit King wishes to ascend successfully, it’s very likely for the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga to become an obstacle only second to the Soaring Locust King.
I’m certain what the Dauntless abbot hopes for the most is for him to perish with the Soaring Locust King, so instead of accepting fate, we’re better off reducing the variables as much as possible.”

“I’ve already told the Dauntless abbot about the fact that the Golden Cicada Spirit King would want to eliminate the Soaring Locust King even if it comes at the risk of his ascension failing.
It’s not difficult to believe in this given what the Golden Cicada Spirit King has done in the past.
He’s handed over the Affliction Severing blade too, which can be viewed as a proactive attempt at peace.
I believe the Dauntless abbot will make the correct choice.”

Xiao An’s eyes shone with an intelligent light.

Li Qingshan was immediately rendered speechless.
Not only did her planning and preparation increase their chances at killing the Soaring Locust King, but it also provided the Golden Cicada Spirit King with a greater chance at ascending successfully, and they did not have to fight either.
And gloriously enough, it did not let down the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, nor did it let down the Golden Cicada Spirit King, let alone him.

He pulled her into his arms and said gladly, “I see.
So I’ve been over worrying.” Then he shook his head.
“Though, I suddenly feel like I’ve eaten the Fruit of Wisdom for nothing.”