In the capital city of the Great Li Dynasty.
Linglong Pavilion.
As the largest restaurant in the capital, Linglong Pavilion was always bustling with people.
Visitors from afar and locals alike filled the establishment.
Who wouldn't seize the chance to taste the renowned dishes of Linglong Pavilion?
Bam!
In the center of the restaurant, atop a raised platform, a storyteller was animatedly recounting a 'story.'
"Ten years ago," he began, "within the Buddhist sacred ground of the Great Zen Temple, a young Bodhisattva was born, embodying the qualities of many Buddhas. It's said that at his birth, the golden body of the Buddha appeared above the temple, casting its radiant light over dozens of miles, curing the hidden ailments of many under its glow."
"Now, ten years later, that young Bodhisattva..."
The storyteller paused, cupping his hands toward the audience.
"Dear listeners, that's all for today. If you wish to know what has become of this young Bodhisattva, please return tomorrow."
The crowd erupted in murmurs of disappointment.
They were entranced by the tale and eager to learn more about the Bodhisattva's fate, only to be cut short.
"Here's your tip, keep going," said a burly man, tossing a silver ingot onto the platform.
Other listeners began throwing coins and other valuables.
"Hehe, honored patrons, I shall continue at once," the storyteller chuckled, resuming his seat.
He knew well how to captivate an audience, leaving them hanging to fuel their curiosity—and his pockets.
"By now," he continued, fanning himself, "the young Bodhisattva should be about ten years old, undoubtedly reciting scriptures and delving into Buddhist teachings at the Great Zen Temple."
The crowd let out a collective sigh.
They hoped for more exciting revelations about the Bodhisattva's extraordinary feats.
If only they had noticed the young monk in gray robes sitting in a corner, looking bemused.
"Am I really part of a story now?" Lin Yuan shook his head.
For him, this was not unexpected.
The Great Zen Temple, being a sacred Buddhist site and a beacon of martial arts, naturally garnered attention from the world.
As the disciple of a grandmaster like the Long-browed Old Monk, Lin Yuan could hardly avoid being watched.
Since the temple heads hadn't sealed off any news, over time, whispers turned into countless versions of rumors.
After enjoying a taste of local delicacies at the Linglong Pavilion, Lin Yuan left some silver coins on the table and strolled out.
He walked along streets paved with bluestone, filled with bustling crowds and vendors' cries.
Nothing stood out about him in this throng.
But as Lin Yuan went deeper into the heart of the city, the crowds thinned, and the presence of patrolling soldiers increased.
He arrived at the foot of a towering gate, guarded by sharp-eyed soldiers.
Behind the gate lay the Great Li Imperial Palace—the absolute core of the dynasty.
Even from outside, glimpses of its magnificent palaces could be seen.
Just then, a slow-moving chariot emerged from within the palace.
The soldiers stepped back, opening a path.
Inside the chariot, a middle-aged monk in a crimson robe was massaging his temples.
This monk, known for his wisdom, had gained favor with the Dowager Empress, who revered Buddhism and often invited monks to the palace.
"The Dowager Empress's questions are getting trickier," the monk murmured, feeling troubled.
"Are we outside yet?"
He pulled aside the curtain for a casual glance, but his eyes widened in surprise.
"Is that..."
Fixated on the young monk standing not too far away, the middle-aged monk's heart skipped a beat.
"Bodhisattva?"
A disciple from the Great Zen Temple himself, the middle-aged monk had stayed in the Great Li capital for years yet maintained ties with the temple.
A few years back, the temple had sent him a portrait of the young Bodhisattva, urging him to remember the face and heed any instructions if they crossed paths.
The likeness was undeniable.
Quickly, the middle-aged monk exited the chariot and approached Lin Yuan.
"Bodhisattva?" he asked cautiously.
"You know me?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Twenty years ago, I too was a monk at the Great Zen Temple," the middle-aged monk revealed his background in just one sentence.
"I see."
Lin Yuan nodded lightly.
The influence of the Great Zen Temple extended beyond Mount Shaoshi.
The Universal Salvation Temple that Lin Yuan passed earlier, and this middle-aged monk, were proof of that.
"What brings you to our capital, Bodhisattva?" the middle-aged monk asked curiously.
He hadn't received any word from the temple about Lin Yuan's arrival, suggesting that even the temple heads were unaware.
"I wish to visit the Martial Hall in the palace," Lin Yuan replied.
The Martial Hall in the Great Li Palace was a repository of martial arts tomes.
When the Great Li's Grand Ancestor founded the dynasty, he placed all the martial arts he'd compiled into that hall.
It’s said the Palace's collection dwarfed the temple's Scripture Pavilion tenfold.
"Visiting the Martial Hall might prove difficult," the monk admitted, frowning.
Typically, only members of the royal family had access to the hall—a rule set by the dynasty's founder.
Distinguished officials who made significant contributions to the dynasty could also gain access.
But Lin Yuan met neither of these requirements.
As a martial arts-centric nation, the Great Li Dynasty valued its collection immensely.
They would never let an outsider into such a revered site so easily.
"Yet, it's not impossible," the monk mused.
"The security in the palace is impenetrable, sneaking in is not an option," the monk continued, looking a bit apprehensive.
As a frequent guest in the palace, thanks to the Dowager Empress, he had some insight.
The eight thousand imperial guards were handpicked and trained in secret royal techniques, and the two hundred vice-commanders were powerful martial artists at the Innate Stage.
The eighteen commanders were formidable warriors at the peak of the Innate Stage.
Even a grandmaster would struggle against such a force.
Moreover, the monk had overheard the Dowager Empress mention that esteemed masters guarded key spots within the palace.
He guessed there were at least four grandmasters within.
Four grandmasters.
Eighteen peak Innate experts.
Two hundred Innate martial artists.
Eight thousand at the pinnacle of the Postnatal Stage.
This was the best hand the Great Li Dynasty had to play.
Even in times of chaos, the dynasty could hold its ground, not to mention that more forces lay beyond the palace, ready for royal commands.
"Bodhisattva," the monk began.
"Here’s my plan: accompany me to meet the Dowager Empress. With my introduction, she’ll surely look upon you favorably. Over the next three months, you’ll need to visit her often to establish familiarity. Then, at the emperor's sixtieth jubilee, with the Empress's support, you could join the celebration. There, I’ll present a precious Buddhist artifact. Upon making the emperor happy, you could request to enter the Martial Hall. Success would be likely."
It was the monk's painstakingly thought-out plan—the only feasible one he could offer.
While outsiders couldn't enter the Martial Hall on their own, the emperor himself could make it happen.
If Lin Yuan impressed the emperor, entry would hardly be a problem.
Lin Yuan only wanted a glimpse inside, nothing would be lost in granting that.
"What do you think, Bodhisattva?" the monk asked, a tad nervous as Lin Yuan stayed silent.
"It's a good plan," Lin Yuan acknowledged.
The monk had put in genuine effort, and his strategy seemed likely to work.
"But…" Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
"But what?" the monk asked, a hint of anxiety in his voice.
"Too much trouble," Lin Yuan remarked, gazing towards the palace not too far off.
"Trouble?" the monk was puzzled.
The plan seemed as straightforward as possible to him—using the Empress to sway the emperor.
Going straight to the emperor wasn't feasible without a proper introduction.
"Speaking plainly will do," Lin Yuan declared, stepping forward to face the palace's direction.
"Reverend Huizhen wishes to visit the Martial Hall," he announced loudly.
As he uttered "Reverend," his voice was ordinary, but as he continued, his volume increased, turning formidable by the fifth word.
By the final "Hall," it was as if heaven and earth crashed and thunder boomed.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!!!
In an instant, the entire palace was engulfed in overwhelmingly powerful sound waves.
The eight thousand elite guards felt their ears explode and their minds go blank.
The eighteen primal commanders bled from their seven orifices, falling to their knees helplessly.
Deeper within the palace, five grandmaster-level auras flickered, attempting to resist the deafening Buddhist sound.
But after a few breaths, their energy dwindled rapidly, leaving them defenseless.
The once-impressive guard of the Great Li Palace crumbled, collapsing like a house of cards.
"This…" the middle-aged monk's jaw dropped.
(End of Chapter)