up on for

"Old Feng."

Li Muxiu sat stupefied in the courtyard, his mind buzzing and somewhat out of sorts.

He never expected that his old friend, who had gallivanted through the Jianghu for half his life, would actually get caught by the Buddhists.

His Heaven and Earth Traceless Skill, not even he could catch up to.

His Divine Stealth Breathing Skill, enabling him to transform into flora, whether entering a bustling market or traversing mountains and rivers, was like a fish entering the sea, hard to find.

Even the Imperial Palace, guarded by a million Imperial Guards, was a place he entered and left as he pleased, without a sound.

But now, to think he was caught by the Buddhists.

The news came from a lower-ranking disciple of Mount Wuliang, credible beyond doubt, making it impossible for Li Muxiu not to believe.

Old Feng, how could you have slipped up!

Li Muxiu slowly clenched his fists, his eyes moistening, an extreme pain spreading in his heart, seemingly tearing at his chest.

He sat alone for a half of an incense stick time, then he stood up and walked out of the courtyard.

First, he went to the ancestral hall, where he saw Old Wu, Li Qingzheng, sitting alone in front of the chessboard outside.

Li Qingzheng, who was playing chess by himself, also looked at Li Muxiu.

Their eyes met, a trace of sorrow flitting through both gazes, before they quickly contained their emotions.

When they used to meet in the past, most times there was that lively young figure by their side, but now, it was no more.

"Second Brother, how come you have time to come by?" Li Qingzheng forced out a small smile.

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Li Muxiu's expression was solemn as he said, "I came to see our ancestors, to ask for their forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Li Qingzheng's gaze hardened.

Li Muxiu slowly approached the ancestral hall, his footsteps heavy, walking very slowly. When crossing the threshold, he paused for a moment, but eventually, he stepped over.

Li Qingzheng didn't speak, just gazed intently at him, as if he realized that his second brother, who had rebelled and had not been favored by their father in his youth, was about to do something again.

"The undeserving descendant pays respects to the ancestors."

Li Muxiu reached the stelae of the ancestors with their Golden Bodies, knelt on the cushion, and gently bowed his head.

The stelae trembled slightly, but no ancestor appeared; after all, appearing would consume the remnants of their Soul Power, reserved only for major issues.

"What matters?"

A commanding voice echoed, belonging to an unknown ancestor.

In the previous battle at Qingzhou City, many ancestors burned their spirits. Some had dissipated, some had their remaining Heroic Spirits' power withered, falling into slumber; now, only a handful of stronger spirits remained awake.

Li Muxiu's face trembled slightly and finally, he explained his purpose.

"You want to leave the Li Family?"

Upon hearing Li Muxiu's words, that ancestor was shocked.

Li Qingzheng, upon hearing this, was also stunned and then stared blankly at Li Muxiu.

"Foolishness, what are you talking about?!"

Another golden spirit figure emerged from the stelae, tall and burly, full of rage:

"Weren't your youthful indiscretions enough? Having just taken charge of the Li Family for a few years, are you starting to act up again? Do you want me to discipline you in front of our ancestors?!"

"Father."

Li Qingzheng, upon seeing this spirit, swiftly changed from sitting to kneeling, a rare hint of fear appearing in his aged eyes.

Even though he was now over eighty years old, in the presence of his father, he was still as trepid as in his youth, a reverence engrained in his bones.

Li Muxiu, hearing the angry voice from above, seemed to feel a cold snow blowing around him; it took him back to that snowy night when he knelt in the courtyard, outside the staircase to the main hall, listening to his father's reprimands from inside, along with his mother's pleas and his other siblings' requests on his behalf.

Back then, his heart was untamed and resentful.

But after many years, he had let go, knowing he was not blameless.

That night, the elder brother whom he had once envied, after leaving their father's dining table, secretly brought him a steaming bowl of braised meat noodles.

Years later, reflecting upon it, it was still one of the tastiest meals he had ever eaten.

The other two unforgettable tastes were the grilled fish from that lakeside boy and the soup made by that girl when he was injured from vanquishing evil spirits in his younger years.

The flavors he could never forget.

Thinking of that snowy night, he thought of the figure of his older brother fading away in the distance, and Li Muxiu's eyes grew even wetter. He bent his body tighter, pressing his forehead as close to the ground as possible, inhaling the dust from the floor into his nostrils with each breath, encountering a strong scent of earth.

"Father, I must do this, I promised that old friend, I can't let him down..."

"But he is a thief!"

The golden spirit said angrily, "Weren't your associations with useless friends in your youth enough? Using your connections, they exploited the name of the Divine General Mansion, wreaking havoc everywhere, rampantly extorting wealth. Haven't you suffered enough losses?!"

"That was when I was young and didn't understand people's hearts. But this time it is different, he is different. Although he is a thief, he has never misused the name of the Divine General Mansion to cause trouble or seek benefits for himself, he is different..."

"But he is a thief!"

The golden spirit argued: "If his nature were pure, how could he become a thief? Stealing the hard-earned possessions of others, can he be a good person?"

Li Muxiu lifted his head, his face now streaked with old tears, yet his eyes stared directly at the face full of rage, which was, even more, filled with sorrow and heartache:

"Father, there are eight million ways to live in this world, half righteous and half villainous. Although he chose a different way of life from us, he has never harmed the common people, never bullied the weak, nor ever harmed me."

"Some lavish nobles and great families renovate and rebuild, making commoners run back and forth, using righteous methods to extract their wealth, causing them to live a life of displacement, a practice that is even worse than outright theft."

"You are helping a thief justify his actions. I'm beginning to think you are turning into one yourself!"

Li Muxiu felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and suddenly he remembered what an old friend had once said. He spoke in a low voice:

"He who 'Steals Heaven' is a Saint; he who steals hearts is an Emperor; he who steals a country is a Marquis; he who steals jewels is a thief... He has his own principles, he is different."

"You, you haven't changed at all. Right now, the Divine General Mansion has just suffered chaos, with demons running rampant. The Desolate God has been defeated and will surely come back for revenge. By leaving the Divine General Mansion now, how can you face your brothers, your mother?!"

Li Muxiu, pained, closed his eyes and bowed deeply again:

"I wish to save him, but not by dragging the Divine General Mansion into this. If the Divine General Mansion ever faces trouble, I will be the first to step out, the first to fall!"

He said, pressing his forehead completely to the ground.

The golden remnant soul was furious and wanted to say more, but it was interrupted by another voice.

"Let him go."

"Father!"

The golden remnant soul turned its head to look, slightly stunned.

"The children are burdened with too much. Don't deny a child even the right to make friends. Being able to not let down a friend, to be loyal to a dear friend, is also a rare and valuable trait, isn't it?" said the other, blurry golden remnant soul in a gentle voice.

Li Muxiu, hearing these words, dampened the ground where his forehead rested.

He clenched his teeth hard, bowed deeply three times, then lifted his head to look at the towering golden remnant soul. He saw a complex expression on the other's face, a look filled with anger and deep sorrow.

"Since your grandfather has said so, just go. Don't spout any more nonsense about leaving the Divine General Mansion. Finish your business and come back. If it comes to it, I will put my life on the line to clean up after you!" the golden remnant soul said through gritted teeth.

Li Muxiu's heart trembled, and he bowed his head, saying, "Your son will definitely return to atone for his wrongs."

After speaking, he bowed deeply once more, then quickly left the ancestral hall without daring to linger, afraid that the guilt in his heart would tie down his steps.

"Second brother, you must come back alive."

Li Qingzheng sent a telepathic message.

Li Muxiu heard it, but did not stop. He took out a black iron mask from the Heaven and Earth Space and put it on his face.

This mask was a Divine Weapon, capable of concealing his aura, revealing only his bloodshot, moist red eyes. The sadness in those eyes gradually receded, becoming sharp and filled with a wild killing intent.

At this moment, he suddenly regretted, why had he not resolutely stopped that young man from leaving home two years ago and demanded justice on the spot?

The ties to the Divine General Mansion had indeed held him back.

...

...

Mount Wuliang was situated on the frontier of Qingzhou.

But this borderland was also richly auspicious, despite its position at the junction of two provinces.

The mountain range formed ridges, with peaks towering into the fog.

From the lofty mountains, the tolling of Buddhist bells carried, resounding and lasting.

Stone paths were laid out all over the mountains, like white dragons winding their way from different peaks, merging together toward the far-off distance, extending out in all directions like a spider's web.

And this expanse was also known as the Brahma Pure Land World.

From all over, pilgrims came in an endless stream, coaches transitioned from muddy stretches and dusty roads to the well-maintained stone paths. This contrast endeared the place to visitors from afar. Drawing closer to the group of peaks, the chanted scriptures resonated more deeply, invoking a feeling as if entering the Brahma Pure Land World, calming the hearts and minds.

At various peaks where the fog lifted intermittently, golden rays of Buddha's light shone forth – the gleam of Buddhist Divine Weapons.

News about Mount Wuliang had spread not long ago, and people who heard it were still on their way.

But in the skies above Qingzhou, a blazing red figure, enveloped in raging flames, approached with a roar.

Soon, the flaming figure swept through, entering this land of Buddhist teaching.

In nearby cities and towns, Buddhist halls stood tall and unassailable.

Demons had previously invaded Qingzhou, but this area remained unscathed, having avoided the fate of simultaneously provoking the Divine General Mansion and one of the supreme powers of Dayu, Mount Wuliang.

This made the people in the hundred miles of urban and rural areas even more reverent and grateful for the protection of the Buddha Lord.

Whoosh!

Li Hao and the Candle Flame God bypassed the outer gate, when a Divine Formation appeared, blocking their path.

But the Candle Flame God extended the Dao Domain over them, concealing their presence, and easily crossed through the Divine Formation without being repulsed.

Li Hao used the Dao Domain to cover Xiyan, facilitating their smooth passage.

Once they passed through the Divine Formation, they were greeted by a vast expanse of peaks, shrouded in clouds and fog, with a huge mountain towering high in the distance amidst the surrounding peaks.

That was the Spiritual Sacred Mountain where the Buddha Lord sat.

The Candle Flame God, with fire under its hooves, roared towards it.

Meanwhile, within the Divine Mountain Spirit Realm, the Buddha Lord sitting on the Purple Gold Lotus Platform, with golden Buddhist scriptures swirling around him, suddenly paused for a moment.

His eyelids opened slightly, and he looked towards the exterior of the Spiritual Buddha Hall, seemingly through layers of barriers, and noticed the uninvited guest.

"Our guest has arrived; go greet them," the Buddha Lord said with a peaceful smile as the Golden Wheels turned in his eyes.

The three Bodhisattvas around him were slightly surprised, chanting a Buddhist mantra in response before flying out of the Spiritual Buddha Hall. Their Divine Souls immediately sensed a powerful momentum rapidly approaching from afar.

"The Candle Flame God!"

"It's that young man."

"He really came."

The three Bodhisattvas exchanged glances, and Lin Wujing's eyes showed a hint of shock, but they quickly turned to smiles.

They had not expected the young man to truly come for a thief, just as the Buddha Lord had predicted.

Instantly, the three figures flashed out, vanishing from the Divine Mountain.