Wuxin’s sharp gaze made Ao Qian feel very uncomfortable, so with a “whoosh”, she hid behind Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng patted Ao Qian’s little head, then looked at Wuxin expressionlessly.
Wuxin smiled faintly and pressed his palms together in salute.
“Daoist friend, allow this poor monk to explain. I am Wuxin from the Great Dragon Temple in the Western Regions. I specialise in the World-Honoured One’s Nine Imperial Great Virtue Dragon King Wondrous Dharma Sutra.
This sutra is not a method to subdue dragons, but one to cultivate together with dragons, reaching the other shore side by side. A true dragon can become a great virtue dragon king in Buddhism, with status no less than a bodhisattva.
This dragon girl has pure bloodline and extraordinary talent. If she enters my sect and cultivates the true sutra with Shang Kun, her cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds, far faster than practising dragon clan methods on her own. In a hundred years, she could gain thousands of years of dao. Would that not be a wonderful thing?”
Lu Zheng blinked. Feeling Ao Qian tightly clutching the hem of his clothes from behind, he had no interest in wasting words with Wuxin and said directly, “Since you say it is so good, go straight to the East Sea and discuss cooperation with the four great dragon clans. Qian Bao’er is my little sister. You can forget about it.”
“Yes, yes. If your Wondrous Dharma Sutra is so wonderful, go directly to the true dragon clans. Surely they would agree. Why set your sights on a little girl?” Du Yueyao and Wang Xiaowan chimed in together.
Wuxin was speechless.
How could he admit that they had once gone to the East Sea to convert the dragon clans, only to be thoroughly thrashed by the major dragon clans?
The most important point Wuxin had omitted was that after cultivating the World-Honoured One’s Nine Imperial Great Virtue Dragon King Wondrous Dharma Sutra, though a true dragon could cultivate quickly and wield Buddhist methods, its innate true dragon power would be refined into pure Buddhist force.
In this way, the true dragon would lose most of its bloodline inheritance, essentially changing sects. Though cultivation would be faster, the upper limit might not match dragon clan methods, and lifespan would be shorter than dragons of equivalent cultivation.
Thus, exceptionally talented true dragons would never trade for faster progress and Buddhist techniques by cultivating this method with Great Dragon Temple monks.
The few true dragons that had joined Great Dragon Temple in history had mostly received great favours from its monks or been directly subdued.
Lu Zheng’s direct question struck the core, leaving Wuxin unable to respond.
Yet Wuxin would not give up. True dragons were rare, especially a true dragon young female in the Central Plains.
“Amitabha!”
Wuxin restrained his gaze and spoke gently. “Daoist friend Lu misunderstands this poor monk. There are few methods in the world that aid true dragon cultivation. Great Dragon Temple is one of them. This dragon girl is exceptionally talented, but the path of cultivation is fraught with dangers. Entering my sect, protected by the World-Honoured One, cultivating great virtue Buddhist dharma to attain dragon king bodhisattva fruition, is truly for her own good.”
Hearing this, Ao Qian poked her little head out from behind Lu Zheng and spat. “Nonsense. You are not doing it for my good at all!”
Liu Qingyan stepped forward to Lu Zheng’s left. “So the Master’s meaning is that all of us, her many family members, care less for her than a stranger you have just met?”
Shen Ying came to Lu Zheng’s right. She lightly raised a hand. A crystalline peach blossom bloomed in her palm. She said clearly, “The Master is from the Western Regions Buddhist sect. Coming to the Central Plains to abduct someone, I fear that will not wash.”
Yue Honghai narrowed his eyes. He raised his steel whip and serrated knife in both hands, ready for round two.
…
The Western Regions Buddhist monks had only just appeared and exchanged greetings when the atmosphere turned tense because of Wuxin and Ao Qian. No one had expected this.
One side had not anticipated a true dragon among Lu Zheng’s companions. The other had not expected Wuxin to covet her.
“Senior Brother Wuxin!” Zong’ai from Luosha Temple called out to him.
“Amitabha!” Wuxin’s brows rose as he proclaimed the Buddha’s name.
Huinan and Zong’ai nodded, but unexpectedly, Wuxin suddenly asked Ao Qian, “Little dragon girl, are you a golden dragon or a jade dragon?”
Ao Qian blinked. “Jade dragon.”
Wuxin nodded, then turned to Zen Master Dejie nearby. “Master, a jade dragon clan dragon girl has entered the Central Plains. I wish to convert her and take her west. This has nothing to do with Central Plains Buddhism.”
“Amitabha!” Zen Master Dejie glanced at Wuxin. “Our Buddha is compassionate. The three poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion must not be indulged.”
Wuxin said calmly, “Great virtue heavenly dragon, without desire, without defilement, without attachment.”
Zen Master Dejie said, “Karmic retribution neither dissolves with virtue nor shifts with time.”
“Amitabha! Wuxin is instructed!”
Wuxin saluted Zen Master Dejie with pressed palms. “Wuxin’s resolve is set. Thank you, Zen Master, for your fulfilment.”
Zen Master Dejie shook his head, looking at Wuxin with pity, then stepped back and said no more.
Lu Zheng’s eyes sharpened. He chuckled, then stood squarely, protecting Ao Qian, Liu Qingquan, and the other women behind him.
Vitu, Shang Kun, and Hongjue, the three young monks, exchanged glances. How had it come to blows over a disagreement?
“Daoist friend Lu, the dragon girl is clever and talented, with abundant Buddha nature. I wish to convert her into a great virtue dragon lady, entering Buddhist bliss. Please, daoist friend, grant this fulfilment.”
His answer was a sword!
Silver Feather Blue霞 Sword. Sword qi was sharp, blue霞 filled the sky, thrusting straight at Wuxin’s brow.
“Sword cultivator?”
Wuxin had not expected that besides cloud methods and thunder methods, Lu Zheng also wielded flying swords.
“Break!”
Wuxin shouted sternly. He stepped forward, swinging his fist. Buddhist light blazed intensely. His fist seemed wrapped in tangible golden skin.
Wuxin actually intended to meet Lu Zheng’s flying sword bare-fisted.
“Clang!”
“Slash!”
The sword tip struck the fist. The flying sword slid lightly aside, evading Wuxin’s grasping left hand. Yet from his right fist, specks of golden light scattered, falling to the ground as vivid red blood.
In one exchange, Wuxin suffered a light injury.
“Good flying sword!”
Wuxin praised. Buddhist light flashed over his hand, sealing the wound.
“Good golden body!”
Lu Zheng also praised. Though he had slight advantage and injured Wuxin, the sword qi had not invaded the body, expelled entirely by the opponent’s Buddhist force.
“Great virtue heavenly dragon! Supreme World-Honoured One!”
Wuxin proclaimed the Buddha’s name. He leaped, dodging the shuttling flying sword and charging straight at Lu Zheng.
“Please, daoist friend Lu, step aside temporarily!”
Wuxin’s calm voice rang out. His fist already reached Lu Zheng’s face.
“Well come!”
Lu Zheng’s eyes focused. He reached out and grasped.
True dragon intent spread, as if extending a dragon claw to meet Wuxin directly.
“Bang!”
In the next moment, a peach branch brushed from Wuxin’s left towards his temple. Three fox tail illusions swept towards his legs.
Wuxin’s pupils contracted. He leaped back, only to see a steel whip smashing down from above.
“Bang!”
“Slash!”
Wuxin punched away Yue Honghai’s attack, but unexpectedly, the flying sword streaked past. Though he avoided a vital neck strike, the clash with Yue Honghai disrupted his protective Buddhist force. The flying sword slashed a wound on his shoulder.
Wuxin: “…”
In one exchange, though his cultivation was slightly higher, he was no match for the combined four. Let alone converting Ao Qian.
“Amitabha! Senior Brother Huinan, Junior Brother Zong’ai, please lend Wuxin your aid.” Wuxin said solemnly.
