The Investigation

The cultivators of the other four states were afraid of being implicated in too much karma which would affect their future ascension, so they left this kind of thing to the emperors of each country.

The lunatics of the [Eastern State] didn’t care about these things. The Buddhist sect was originally the enemy of the Taoist sect, so what karma? They were even worried that they didn’t kill enough and lacked achievements.

After [Li Zijie] destroyed three temples, he began to search for fish that slipped through the net in the city.

The Buddhist believers were trying their best to hide the monks, which made [Li Zijie] and others very depressed.

Suddenly, a ragged, dusty monk walked towards them on the street.

The surrounding commoners were whispering for him to leave quickly.

The monk was unmoved, lowered his head, watched his feet, and walked steadily towards [Li Zijie] and the others.

"Elder Li, this seems to be the ascetic monk that the upper mentioned, a group of people who really cultivate and suffer for the sake of sentient beings."

"I know, you all be polite to him."

Just as the commoners mourned for this monk and couldn’t bear to see his miserable state, a magical scene appeared.

Those cultivators actually saluted this monk.

"Master..."

The monk put his palms together: "Patron, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, Master please go on."

[Li Zijie] made a please gesture.

The monk saluted again, lowered his head and continued to walk steadily forward.

The commoners were very puzzled. Weren't they killing monks? Why didn't they kill that monk?

"What's going on here? Why are they so respectful to that monk?"

"I don't know either!"

"Why don't you go ask?"

"I don't want to die yet."

[Li Zijie]'s eyes lit up and he said, "Fellow villagers, don't be afraid. Aren't you very curious why we didn't kill that monk?"

The commoners nodded again and again.

"That's the real monk, the real cultivator."

"They believe that the suffering in the world is predestined, and if they suffer more, the people of the world will suffer less."

"Look at those temple monks again, they themselves have six impurities, do you still expect them to save people through hard work?"

A commoner spoke up: "I don't believe them. I didn't see any change in the common people. I only saw their temples get better and better, their clothes get better and better, and their bodies get fatter and fatter."

Another commoner chimed in: "Yes, yes, yes, I always felt that they were a group of liars."

[Li Zijie] said, "Fellow villagers, you have to open your eyes. Don't be fooled by a bunch of fake monks. Real monks don't want money, and their temples don't accept incense money either."

A commoner asked, "Elder, you won't lie to us, will you?"

"Cheat you, what good will I get? What good did those fake monks get from cheating you? Think about it carefully."

A commoner said, "Elder, we hid a few monks at home. At this time they were still being picky about food! If it wasn't for my wife stopping me, I would have kicked them out long ago."

More and more commoners began to expose the hiding places of monks.

"Fellow villagers, go to the square later to see their true colors."

"Good!"

When a group of fat, big-eared, fair and delicate monks were caught and escorted to the square, the commoners also began to gather in the square.

[Li Zijie] stood on top of the high platform, pointing to the kneeling monks on the ground, "Fellow compatriots, look, look carefully, what kind of people are these?"

"I don't want to talk nonsense. Just see if they can save themselves."

With a sword [Li Zijie] beheaded a monk. The other monks were so scared that they begged for mercy.

Some even wet their pants directly.

"What are you afraid of? Aren't you going to the Pure Land after death? You should be happy."

After beheading several monks in a row, the begging, crying and shouting of the other monks filled the entire square.

Seeing that the effect was achieved, [Li Zijie] gestured to his disciples.

The disciples drew their swords at the same time and dealt with these people.

"Did you all see clearly what kind of people they were?"

"Saw clearly."

"Very good, I think you should know what to do."

The commoners shouted in unison: "Eradicate Buddhism." Of course, this was guided by people planted in the crowd.

This purge operation lasted a full year until all the temples were cleared out.

Of course, those truly cultivated temples were kept.

After all, they would not seduce others to join. Everything depended on one’s own will. Those who have not seen through the red dust may not be able to endure that suffering.

The cultivators of the other four states now had a deeper understanding of the ruthlessness of the [Eastern State] people.

The Holy Masters of the four states couldn’t help sighing: What hatred, what resentment could lead to such insanity.

This purge was bloody, but it was also successful. The hundred years of plotting by Buddhism was washed away.

For this reason, Buddhism launched several more attacks, but they were all repelled by [Tang Xiaoxue].

Buddhists and Taoists formally entered into a tug of war, fighting whenever they had a chance.

The cultivation of subsequent power became the most concerning issue for Holy Masters like [Tang Xiaoxue].

In the past, ordinary people went to sects to take part in selections, but now sects went to cities and towns to check for potential.

Spirit root and aptitude were the primary consideration, after all this was the most direct.

Then, people who could be imparted Taoist methods were selected from them. This no longer looked at personal aptitude, but at character, willpower, and affinity.

In the past, even evil cultivators could cultivate, that was the opportunity given to them by the Taoist Patriarch.

Now, the Taoist Patriarch basically wouldn't appear again, which also meant that if you wanted to cultivate the Taoist Patriarch’s methods, you had to look at affinity.

Every five years, major sects and holy places would send disciples to their respective cities and towns to check the spirit roots and aptitudes of children eight years of age and above.

In [Middle State], [Fengxi Sect], which was now the holy land of [Eastern State].

In the main hall, [Tang Xiaoxue] asked [Yang Xue], "Is the tenth inspection about to begin?"

"Yes, Holy Master."

Anyone who had followed [Tang Xiaoyu] was transferred to [Tang Xiaoxue]'s command, including the entire [Fengxi Sect], which was why [Yang Xue] appeared here.

"Then work hard. Let the disciples be more careful not to miss good seedlings because of their emotions. Don't be afraid of trouble. Give every child a fair chance," [Tang Xiaoxue] exhorted.

[Yang Xue] smiled and said, "Holy Master, don't worry! The disciples sent out this time are still the same ones as before. There won't be any problems."

[Tang Xiaoxue] nodded in satisfaction: "That's good, go busy yourself! I'm going to visit my brother's grave. I haven't been there for a long time."

"Leave the holy land to my cousins ​​and the others to manage! Tell them for me."

[Yang Xue] nodded: "Say hello to the Abbot for me."

"I'm sure he'll be very happy in the other world," [Tang Xiaoxue] said with a smile.

[Tang Xiaoxue] didn't go to [Eastern State], but flew to the place where [Tang Xiaoyu] died.

She rebuilt a new grave there because she felt that was the only place with her brother's presence.

A day later, [Wenwen] and [Shanshan] set off to recruit disciples. They were responsible for inspecting [Lingyu City] and the surrounding towns.

They first checked all the eligible children in the city, which took three days to complete inspection of all eligible children.

The result was barely satisfactory. There were only five suitable for cultivation.

"Sister, where should we go next?"

[Shanshan] thought about it: "Let's go to [Qingyu Village]!"