The gods began by supporting Guo Jing to become emperor

Chapter 361 The demise of Buddhism, the rise of Taoism, and the subjugation of demonic forces

The royal court's golden tent.

The tribal leaders of DTZ gathered in the main tent, with a middle-aged man sitting at the very top. He had high eyebrows, broad eyes, a hooked nose, and sharp eyes, and his appearance was five parts similar to that of Jieli Khan, who was far away in Luoyang.

He is Ashina Bulishe, the current Khan of DTZ, and the younger brother of Jieli Khan. After learning that his brother had been defeated in Luoyang and his entire army had been wiped out, he quickly took over the power, status, women and property left by Jieli Khan.

At this moment, he sat on the throne, examining the Imperial Seal of the State in his hand. It was four inches square, with five dragons intertwined on the top knob. One corner was missing, which was filled with gold. The front was engraved with eight seal characters: "Received the Mandate of Heaven, May it last forever."

The more he looked at it, the happier he became. He kept playing with the imperial seal, his fingers tracing the seal characters. "The imperial seal of the emperor of the Central Plains has actually fallen into my hands. Doesn't this mean that I am the chosen one?"

The Mandate of Heaven?

Putting aside the Yuwen clan members here, even the leaders of the grassland tribes would have doubts upon hearing such words. Would you dare to say such a thing in front of the emperor of the Central Plains?

Besides them, the experts of DTZ looked at the He Shi Bi with great fear, keeping their distance. This was because if they got too close, their internal energy would boil, their mental will would become chaotic and violent, and they would almost suffer a qi deviation.

Only untrained warriors like Wuran Khan, who knew nothing of martial arts, and ordinary people were unaffected. The more skilled a martial artist was, the more sensitive they were to the He Shi Bi, and the stronger their reaction to it.

When Wuran Khan first ascended to the throne and acquired the He Shi Bi jade, he was immersed in joy and completely forgot that there was a formidable opponent in the south.

……

Hexinglong Shops.

A well-dressed, plump man stared at the figure that had suddenly appeared in the shop, his heart trembling. Tears welled up in his small eyes, and his voice trembled as he asked, "Brother Shi, you... you've recovered?"

Turning around from behind, he revealed that familiar face. "Anlong, it's me. I'm back."

With his spirited figure and reassuring voice, Anlong felt as if he had returned to decades ago, when Shi Zhixuan had just debuted and had already shown unparalleled talent, which attracted the suppression of the four great monks of Buddhism.

He grew stronger with each battle, breaking through his limits under immense pressure and becoming a grandmaster unparalleled in the demonic sect. It was during this process that Anlong was captivated by him and wanted to follow him to build a great career.

And then, that was the end of it...

Anlong knew that Shi Zhixuan was not the same Shi Zhixuan as before. Although his cultivation level had recovered, he was no longer the spirited man he once was. So he tentatively asked, "Brother Shi, did you come to see me this time to reunify the two sects and six paths of the demonic sect?"

Shi Zhixuan chuckled and shook his head slightly. "Unifying the Demonic Sect? There's no need for that! What I need to do now is a greater undertaking than unifying the Demonic Sect. Anlong, I want you to help me."

An Long's eyes lit up, but then his expression fell again. "Brother Shi, now that the world is unified and Wu has two Grandmasters in charge, if the Demonic Sect doesn't unify and continues as it is, it will be wiped out sooner or later. We should stick together for mutual support."

"You have been in Shu for a long time and rarely set foot in the Central Plains, so you are unaware of the grandeur of the court in Luoyang." Shi Zhixuan smiled slightly, exuding a dignified aura. "To tell you the truth, I am already an official in Wu, under the alias Pei Ju."

what?
Anlong was completely dumbfounded. The Tianlian Sect originated from merchants. In ancient times, the emphasis on agriculture and the neglect of commerce led to merchants being ostracized by mainstream society and having a low social status. The Tianlian Sect's cultivation method focused on the mind's aperture, making it an anomaly among the demonic sects. Although its strength was far inferior to the Yin Kui Sect, it still knew quite a bit about the Wu Kingdom.

Pei Ju's name was renowned even in the Sui Dynasty. Moreover, he had already risen to the position of Prime Minister in the Wu Kingdom, making him second only to the emperor and holding a very high position of power.

It took him a long time to calm down, and his eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Shi Zhixuan. "So that's how it is. No wonder you're Brother Shi."

Shi Zhixuan continued, “My identity is not a secret among the Wu Kingdom’s high-ranking officials. The Demonic Sect is nothing to me. Even if I were to unify the Demonic Sect, how could it compare to holding the power of a country in my hands, leaving my name in history, and establishing a great career?”

With just a few words, Anlong understood his thoughts. How could a genius like Shi Zhixuan be content to hide in the shadows and do treacherous things? The position of the Demon Sect Master alone could not satisfy his ambition.

Anlong let out a long sigh, forced to accept the fact. "Brother Shi, given your current status, how can I possibly help you?"

"Help me arrange a meeting with the other branches of the Demonic Sect. His Majesty is broad-minded and tolerant of all things, and the imperial court is also inclusive and seeks talents without being bound by convention. I wish to act on behalf of the imperial court to carry out the matter of offering amnesty."

As he spoke, Shi Zhixuan stared into his eyes with a very solemn expression. "This is an unprecedented opportunity since the founding of the Demonic Sect. If the Demonic Sect does not cleanse itself, it will be submerged in the long river of history sooner or later."

Anlong was extremely tempted. Over the years, the Demonic Sect had often been at a disadvantage in its struggle with the Buddhist Sect. This was not only because the Demonic Sect was fragmented and prone to internal strife, but also because the Buddhist Sect was backed by the imperial court.

Therefore, the Demonic Sect also actively participated in politics, attempting to gain influence in the court. However, thinking of the current state of Wu, An Long sighed again, "Brother Shi, the people of the Demonic Sect act without any taboos and have no sense of awe. If they enter the court, it will probably be more of a disaster than a blessing."

After listening, Shi Zhixuan only sneered, "You have delivered the message. The rest is up to them to choose. A wise man knows when to yield and a capable man knows when to back down. The court has already given them face. Don't be stubborn and ask for trouble."

"The Wu Kingdom now has not only two Grandmasters, but three. Do you understand what I mean?"

"hiss!"

Anlong's eyes were filled with terror. He felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. An ordinary power would have one Grandmaster to stand firm, but the Wu Kingdom now had three.

Not to mention, none of these three grandmasters are weak. Putting aside Yu Daoren, who is the number one in the world, Song Que, the Heavenly Blade, is a master of military strategy. If he were in a military formation, no one could defeat him. Shi Zhixuan carries the inheritance of the Flower Sect and the Heaven-Mending Pavilion. He was once the number one assassin in the world. Now, after being broken and rebuilt, he will only be stronger than before.

No force in the world could withstand such a combination.

In an instant, Anlong changed his mind and quickly declared, "Brother Shi, I will definitely convey your message. The Heavenly Lotus Sect is willing to serve the imperial court."

That's right. Now that Shi Zhixuan has come ashore, the first thing he needs to deal with is the Demonic Sect. Having once been a member of the Demonic Sect, he knows better than anyone how dangerous it is. Although the various sects of the Demonic Sect may not seem strong, they are a first-rate force in the martial arts world.

If they hide in the shadows and stir up trouble, they can cause the imperial court a lot of headaches. The Demonic Sect is not good at direct combat, but their behind-the-scenes conspiracies and schemes should not be underestimated.

Moreover, these demonic sects, having pledged allegiance to the imperial court, would certainly need a powerful backer. Apart from Shi Zhixuan, no one else would dare to do so. For him, this not only eliminated the hidden dangers of the demonic sects but also expanded his own power, making it a win-win situation.

Shi Zhixuan's methods were commonplace throughout history. The most famous example in later generations was Kublai Khan, the founding emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. Before entering the Central Plains, I was called Kublai Khan; after entering the Central Plains, please call me Liu Bilie. First, he built the Great Wall, then led a group of Han lords to conquer Karakorum, wiping out those poor relatives. No one understood the Tatars' nature better than him. He marched south to capture the dragon, sealed the wolf's lair, and his achievements were maxed out.

Anlong's actions pleased him greatly. Then, he added, "In addition, hand over your Heavenly Lotus Sect's secret manual on the Heavenly Demon Strategy to me. Perhaps, in the future, we can recreate the complete Heavenly Demon Strategy."

"Alright, I will personally deliver it to you in Luoyang in a few days."

With the current strength of the imperial court, obtaining the secret manual of the Demonic Sect would be a piece of cake. Putting aside everything else, with Shi Zhixuan's strength, he could easily slaughter the two sects and six paths of the Demonic Sect without making a sound.

Since the Heavenly Lotus Sect has already submitted to the imperial court, what harm is there in offering up some secret manuals?

Putting everything else aside, the legacy of the Jade Daoist, Song Que's Heavenly Blade, and Shi Zhixuan's Undying Seal Technique make the incomplete Heavenly Demon Strategy seem insignificant.

……

Soon, Anlong sent a message to the remaining sects of the Demonic Sect. In fact, there were hardly any people left in the Demonic Sect. The strongest sect, Yin Kui Sect, had already surrendered. Shi Zhixuan had long since pledged allegiance to the imperial court. The stances of Butian Pavilion and Huajian Sect were self-evident.

Zhao Deyan, the Demon General of the Demonic Image Sect, was killed by Zhu Yuyan, and Zuo Youxian, the True Transmission Daoist, died under Xu Ziling's sword. That leaves only the Lao Jun Temple, the Extinction of Emotion Dao, and the Evil Extreme Sect.

Regarding the imperial court's offer of amnesty, some of the three families were terrified, some were disdainful, and of course, some wanted to submit to the court; opinions were divided. After delivering the message, Anlong took the Tianlian Sect's resources to Luoyang, where he was about to go ashore and clean up his act.

……

On the ninth day of the second month of the second year of the Kaiyuan era of the Great Wu Dynasty, Emperor Song Que issued an edict to rectify Buddhism. The court introduced a series of restrictions, including but not limited to: abolishing the tax exemption and labor exemption privileges of temples, confiscating temple property, limiting the size of temples, forcing monks and nuns to perform labor, destroying temple buildings, punishing monks and nuns, and burning Buddhist statues and scriptures.

In a short time, a vigorous anti-Buddhist movement was launched throughout the Wu Kingdom. Millions of monks and nuns were forced to return to secular life. Local officials raided temples and monasteries, seizing countless amounts of money and grain, and more importantly, a large amount of land controlled by the temples.

The once-thriving Buddhist community suffered a severe crackdown from the authorities. A large number of lawless monks were investigated, and all those who committed crimes were executed. The size and number of temples were strictly limited, and they could no longer accept land for tax exemption. The use of precious metals such as copper to make statues in temples was also strictly limited.

More importantly, the number of monks was strictly limited and could not be expanded indefinitely.

Besides Buddhism, Taoism was also subject to certain restrictions. The imperial court set up a special office to handle matters such as the selection, promotion, and registration of monks and Taoists.

In the south, at Qixia Temple.

The monks watched as the government officials moved the bronze Buddha statue from the temple, their eyes filled with anger. The younger novices wept incessantly, unaware of what was happening. Only the older monks stood still, their eyes closed, chanting Buddhist scriptures.

News of the calamity at Jingnian Temple had already reached the south. Everyone knew that once the imperial court had freed up its resources, it would never let go of the lucrative opportunity that was Buddhism. How could Buddhism possibly have a good ending when it opposed the imperial court?
In this world, there are genuine practitioners who are devoted to Buddhism, but there are many more who are scheming and greedy, using the name of Buddhism to amass wealth, and are bloated with stupidity. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Buddhism can be considered to have a period of peace.

"Amitabha Buddha, everything is preordained."

Although the imperial court cracked down on Buddhism, it did not completely eradicate it. Major Buddhist sects such as Huayan and Chan were invited to Luoyang to compile Buddhist scriptures.

With a combination of force and incentives, as long as the scriptures continue to circulate, Buddhism cannot be completely eradicated. Song Que and the court officials have a clear understanding of this: only by holding the power to interpret scriptures in their own hands can they put shackles on Buddhism.

Song Que was the founding emperor and could promote the ban on Buddhism, but later emperors would not continue this policy indefinitely. Moreover, if the suppression continued for too long, these Buddhist forces would not give up easily and would inevitably rebel, which would be worse than causing a civil unrest.

These forces are afraid of power but not morality; only by defeating them can we bring them under our control.

……

At the foot of Longhu Mountain, a group of disciples from the Celestial Master's Mansion stood in front of the mountain gate to welcome the imperial envoy.

The old Celestial Master, dressed in a Taoist robe, with white beard and hair, exuded an air of otherworldly grace. Today marks the beginning of a great resurgence for Longhu Mountain.

Before long, an imperial envoy arrived and read out the imperial decree, bestowing upon Longhu Mountain the title of Southern Celestial Master and granting him an official position, allowing him to participate in the management of Taoist sects throughout the land.

Not only Longhu Mountain, but also Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan, Qingyang Temple, Maoshan Taoism, Louguan Taoism and many other famous Taoist sects received the imperial court's commendation.

The Song dynasty, adhering to the ideology of the Han imperialists, aimed to unify the north from the south and bring order to the world. They considered themselves the orthodox Han people and naturally sought to change customs and rituals, starting with folk beliefs. Even if the Taoist sect did not participate in the struggle for the dragon, the Song dynasty would still support the Taoist sect and suppress the Buddhist sect.

This was an inevitable choice. Buddhism was a foreign religion, and its development was intertwined with the invasion of the Hu people. When the Hu people's regime was in power, it was also the beginning of the gradual rise of Buddhism.

For the imperial court, the change in folk beliefs was only the first step. The Song dynasty had seized power and dominated the Central Plains with its strength. Naturally, it had the resources and ability to gradually assimilate the barbarians into the Han Chinese and restore many customs.

……

“Master, I have decided to go to Zhongnan Mountain to seek enlightenment and cultivate myself.”

Inside the Taoist temple, Su Ming stood in the courtyard, hands behind his back. "Xiao Ling, have you thought it through?"

"Yes, disciple has seen the way forward. Please grant my request, Master." Xu Ziling stood in front of Su Ming, his handsome face full of determination. After speaking, he took out a scroll from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Master, this is the Longevity Manual." After Song Que returned to the capital, he and Kou Zhong went south together to dig out Fu Junzhuo, who had been frozen in ice, and reburied her. They also retrieved the Longevity Manual that they had buried.

Su Ming took the scroll and opened it. He saw that it was covered with dense oracle bone script and numerous annotations. The material was also extremely special, cast from black gold thread, which was waterproof and fireproof. In addition to the oracle bone script, there were seven human figures, none of them facing the same direction, and guided by various symbols such as red dots and arrows, seemingly describing some kind of cultivation method.

"You should also forge your own path. Go ahead."

(End of this chapter)