chapter 43

Before noon, the road leading to the Shaolin Temple had been paved. With this road, it was much easier to go up and down the mountain.

The importance of this road to the Shaolin Temple was immeasurable.

In the afternoon, the craftsmen and laborers received their wages and went back to spread the news that Shaolin was going to hold a Dharma Assembly in the afternoon.

They spread the news to all the towns and villages within a radius of 20 miles.

Xuan Yuan was very generous with the money spent on publicity.

After all, this was the first time Shaolin was going to hold a Dharma Assembly. It was of great significance to the development of Shaolin.

If the publicity was not done well, there would be a negative impact on the Dharma Assembly if no one came.

To hold a Dharma Assembly, the Shaolin Temple had to make a name for itself.

In addition, Xuan Yuan and Xuan Gang also went to the Fallen Immortal Town to spread the news that Shaolin was going to hold a Dharma Assembly for the first time.

The publicity was done well.

In the afternoon, there were many pilgrims who came from the official road one after another due to the fame of the temple.

With the stone tablet at the entrance, it was majestic.

With the newly paved road, pilgrims passing by the official road were willing to go up Shaoshi Mountain to take a look.

Moreover, the Shaolin Temple was easy to find. One could see the stone tablet at the entrance from the official road.

They just had to climb up the newly paved road.

In this world where Buddha was revered, as long as there was enough publicity and free time.

Even if it was a long way, the people would still come.

At this moment, a luxurious carriage covered in silk and inlaid with gold and jewels passed by on the official road.

The person driving the carriage was a strong man with an expressionless face.

"Yuan Fang, go and see what is going on."

Sitting in the carriage was an old man in green with a head full of white hair. He exuded a scholarly aura.

There was a soul-stirring charm in his eyes.

His every move was majestic, and a sense of righteousness was emitted from his body.

"Yes."

This man called Yuan Fang was obviously the guard of this old man in green.

After cupping his fists in greeting, he swiftly got out of the car and walked toward the people gathered around the stone tablet at the mountain gate without any hesitation.

After some investigation.

Not long after, this guard called Yuan Fang returned.

"My Lord, this is the boundary of Shaoshi Mountain. There is a temple on the mountain called Shaolin Temple."

"The Shaolin Temple is holding a Dharma Assembly today. These people are all worshippers who came to Shaoshi Mountain to participate in the Dharma Assembly."

After reporting the basic information, the cold-faced guard called Yuan Fang stood motionlessly at the side.

"Shaolin Temple?"

The green-robed old man was taken aback. He stroked his beard elegantly, got off the carriage, and walked towards the stone tablet.

The group of commoners gathered one after another, following the newly paved mountain path up Shaoshi Mountain.

"If one were to compete, the world would fall into chaos, the world would lack a ruler, the three realms would fall, the Dao of the Three Realms would be extinguished, and Hell would be overturned. War horses would gallop, the Divine Land would be in chaos, and demons would rise …"

"Faking the picture and accepting the seal, protecting the truth, riding the goose and flying wheel, honoring the great treasure. Therefore, we can communicate with the head of the Li Dynasty, transforming Chan into a forest. Since we have come to Su, we will all receive the favor of the other shore … "

The green-robed old man looked at the inscriptions on the stone tablet. Gradually, his eyes lit up, and he stood there in a daze.

He was motionless, his hand pinching his beard, as if he had been frozen.

"My Lord, it's getting late."

"The eminent monks of Baoguang Temple are waiting for us in the temple. Do you think it's time for us to go?"

Seeing the green-robed old man standing there for a long time, becoming more and more obsessed, the guard called Yuan Fang could not help but remind him respectfully.

The eminent monks and mighty figures of the Baoguang Temple were still waiting for him there.

Don't delay too long, or you will be late.

"Hiss …"

"This Shaolin, this stone tablet, this inscription seems to be …"

The green-robed old man gasped, and the righteous energy in his body inexplicably surged.

At this moment, another carriage came on the official road.

It stopped by the side of the road.

The people who came down from the carriage were the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhan, and his son, Xiao Huohuo, the prodigy of the Xiao family.

"Xiao Zhan of the Xiao family of Fallen Immortal Town greets Elder Du."

"Greetings, Elder Du!"

Xiao Zhan's face was filled with shock. He hurriedly walked over, clasped his fists, and knelt down to pay his respects.

He was incomparably respectful and humble.

Xiao Huohuo, who was at the side, was also shocked when he saw this. He immediately knelt down with his father.

"Xiao family?"

"Oh …"

Obviously, this green-robed old man, who had a noble status and made Xiao Zhan kneel down in shock, had no impression of the so-called Xiao family.

However, it was not strange for him to be treated with such respect.

"Get up."

Elder Du nodded. The scholarly aura exuded by Elder Du made Xiao Zhan gasp in admiration.

Xiao Zhan stood up, trembling with fear.

He stood aside obediently and humbly.

"You are going to Shaolin Temple to participate in the spiritual assembly, right?"

The green-robed old man looked at the stone tablet, then turned to look at Xiao Zhan and Xiao Zhan.

"Elder Du, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, Master Xuanxin, has a profound understanding of Buddhism. He is a divine monk."

"Xiao Zhan and my son are related to Shaolin …"

Xiao Zhan was indeed worthy of being the head of a family. In front of this big shot Elder Du, he not only introduced his son Xiao Huohuo, but also promoted the Shaolin Temple.

"Profound understanding of Buddhism?"

"Yuan Fang, let's go and take a look."

Stroking his beard, the green-robed old man looked at the stone tablet. He was surprised and immediately decided to go to Shaoshi Mountain to take a look.

"Sir, the eminent monks of Baoguang Temple …"

Seeing that Elder Du was going to go up the mountain, the guard Yuan Fang immediately reminded him again.

If he went up the mountain to take a look, how long would it take?

"It's okay. It will only take half a day."

With a wave of his hand, Elder Du, who had a scholarly aura, stepped up the Shaoshi Mountain directly.

When the green-robed old man and his guard Yuan Fang were far away.

Xiao Zhan, who was trembling on the side, finally let out a sigh of relief and stood up straight.

"Father, who is he?"

At this moment, Xiao Huohuo was full of curiosity. As a prodigy, he was extremely proud.

He was naturally very resistant to kneeling to others.

But his father, upon seeing this green-robed old man, knelt humbly. As his son, it was impossible for him not to kneel as well.

"That's Elder Du, Du Tongfu. He's a First Rank Lord Protector of the Great Zhou Empire."

"He was once the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet, an important official that the late Emperor relied on."

"Before the New Year, he just retired and returned to his hometown …"

Xiao Zhan also slowly calmed down. The reason why he recognized this green-robed old man as the former Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet.

Because before the New Year, when Du Tongfu retired and returned to his hometown, he had seen such a big shot from afar at the Tongming Residence.

He had only seen him once and firmly remembered him.

"Do you know how strong that guard beside him is?"

Seeing that his son Xiao Huohuo beside him had a stunned expression, Xiao Zhan continued: "That guard is in the same martial arts realm as my Xiao clan's ancestor, Xiao Yuanshan."

After saying this, Xiao Zhan turned around and quickened his pace, following the newly paved mountain path up the Shaoshi Mountain.

"Hiss …"

"My Xiao clan's ancestor, Xiao Yuanshan, is …"

Xiao Huohuo sucked in a breath of cold air, his eyes wide open in shock. A martial arts expert in the same realm as his Xiao clan's ancestor, Xiao Yuanshan.

And it's actually just a guard!