After listening to Yuan Gong's ridicule of the Three Arhats from the Demon Buddha Temple, Tao Qian remembered several other matters and replied,
"It's not necessarily that they are stingy, or that they failed to seize the provisions. These three old bald thieves have taken over Qiantang with great ambition. Not only do they want to cultivate the eighteen Great Compassionate and Merciful Transcendent Bodhisattvas, but they also seek to help Cheng Arhat step into Ultimate Happiness. If they managed to give the town's people a moment of relief, they likely did their best."
"That makes sense. There are numerous small groups within the Demon Buddha Temple. The main schemer here should be Kongchan, and the strong enforcers are probably Shipi and Lian Sha. The mastermind behind them is the Nirvana Demon Buddha. Although this old bald person cannot appear in the world, he is troublesome to deal with, so be careful. If it really comes down to it, we'll just flee to avoid disaster..."
Just as Yuan Gong was prattling his warnings.
Suddenly, outside the provincial city, a bell sound came rushing.
Just about to re-enter the banquet, everyone simultaneously turned their heads toward that direction.
They saw beyond the tranquil river outside the city, atop a mountain that was stunning in its spiritual beauty, a thousand-year-old temple where the Buddha bell echoed.
The soul-soothing sound of the bell seemed to stretch boundlessly, carrying with it a miraculous Source Power that calmed the previously jubilant citizens, all of whom turned to look in that direction.
At that very moment, a bright moon rose, illuminating the earth.
It seemed like the Taiyin Star from the Outer Realm had suddenly entered this world.
Above Han Mountain, there was a trapping array; however, illuminated by this moon, the dark energy dispersed, and a majestic and dominant Qingluan Phoenix shadow surged toward the sky.
The scene was indeed picturesque.
It moved the mortals and alarmed the cultivators.
Yet, just at that time, someone wanted to spoil the scene.
"How bold, you wretched maid, thinking of escaping?"
Cheng Arhat suddenly bellowed angrily.
Those present also realized that the Heavenly Phoenix shadow was none other than Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen, who had drawn the attention of countless warlords and strong people across the world.
And that moon, was it possibly the Great Abyss Zen Master, aiding Yuan Mingzhen to break free from the array, possibly allowing this Devil Concubine to escape?
Just as this thought emerged in everyone's minds, at that moment,
the Qingluan Phoenix shadow burst into a radiant light and, ultimately, transformed into a Divine Treasure that made many strong people in the Little Leiyin Temple go crazy.
It was, astonishingly, a War Chariot.
Crafted from bronze, the design was simple.
With nine dragons leading the front and nine phoenixes singing together in the back.
Additionally, there was a golden flag, engraved with various Secret Divine Chapters.
"The Spring and Autumn Chariot!"
It was still Cheng Arhat, the greasy and corpulent monk, his eyes now emitting a greedy glow.
Most people in the temple looked the same.
At this time, within the seventy-two provinces, almost no one could resist the temptation of the Ancestor God Treasure.
Not to mention, atop that precious chariot stood a woman driving men mad.
Her beauty surpassed all in the world, dressed in an Empress gown, a teardrop mole under her eye, which appeared quite enchanting... Mixing it all together, many in the hall, especially the men, were breathing heavily, their desire to possess that woman wildly erupted, utterly uncontrollable.
Even Tao Qian, who had been surreptitiously watching the Beautiful Corpse and Lady You Rui, had their attention directed at that woman.
The Beautiful Corpse spoke directly, licking her lips, "What a great beauty, what a Devil Empress. I won't contend with you gentlemen, but tonight, I intend to share her bed."
Lady You Rui, not someone who longed for both men and women, simply exclaimed, "How can this sister be so good-looking? Rich yet not too heavy, enticing yet not lewd, as if she embodies all the spiritual aura of the world. It's just a shame she's not a man; otherwise, I'd try my utmost to also make her succumb beneath my skirts."
It can be said, at that instant, all eyes were drawn to Yuan Mingzhen.
Immediately following her appearance, and all heading toward the Little Leiyin Temple, as the crowd that included Master Shenxiu of Free Temple, Great Abyss Zen Master, over a hundred Vajra Monks, Xie Lingzhu, cultivators from the Guanyin Temple, and many others, were all ignored.
Yet it also made sense, seeing as even Tao Qian and Yunrong were looking at Yuan Mingzhen.
Tao Qian had observed her from afar before, and now, he was officially meeting her.
Yunrong suddenly transmitted her thoughts, casting remarks that made Tao Qian raise an eyebrow.
"I used the Taizhen Secret Technique to peek at her. This woman's background is indeed mysterious. How did the Xie Family manage to extract a trace of almost imperceptible Spiritual Resonance, place it into the belly of a Taiyin Heavenly Phoenix from the Outer Realm, and then using the Conception Secret Technique from the Guanyin Temple, they were able to conceive her? She's both human and phoenix. If the timing is right, it would only be natural for her to become an Empress."
"Dear husband, your sister here is increasingly looking forward to meeting Senior Sister Lingji in the future."
"This woman has only received a bit of Lingji's spiritual aura, and she's this good-looking. Wouldn't Senior Sister Lingji's true form be the World's Most Beautiful Woman? Yunrong is so looking forward to it."
Although there was no jealousy or such messy drama, this turn of events still left Tao Qian unsure how to react.
In his heart, he couldn't help but feel slightly melancholic, thinking, "It's natural for a beauty to adore another beauty, just hope that I won't end up having my wife stolen by Senior Sister Lingji or something even more melodramatic..."
As Tao Qian entertained thoughts from his past life, ideas like Yuri that this realm's people couldn't understand at all,
the group from Free Temple, in a blink, stepped into the provincial city and descended upon the Little Leiyin Temple.
"Lord Cheng, three Daoists, we have come as promised."
The speaker, naturally, was the Great Abyss Zen Master.
This ascetic-like Zen Master was indeed as exceptional as Yuan Gong had mentioned.
Originally, the focus was on Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen!
Yet, now that he stepped forward, everyone instinctively looked toward him.