This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 264 Schemes from Both Sides

The next morning, around 9 a.m., Zhuang Lin and his group met with Duan Kang and his group again, but this time not at the Imperial Observatory building, but inside a building in the same base area.

The meeting room was quite large, but very few people participated. Moreover, to avoid appearing disrespectful, there was no video feed; only recording equipment was present.

What was supposed to be just a perfunctory meeting turned into a huge surprise for Zhuang Lin and his colleagues.

Indeed, Liu Hongyu had explained many things very clearly beforehand and had also expressed his hope that the Bureau of Investigation could help study some reasonable and feasible plans. However, he did not expect it to happen so quickly and so aggressively.

"So you mean, control the Taihang Mountains?"

In the meeting room, Liu Hongyu couldn't help but ask the question. Kuang Wenlan, who had just finished explaining the content, answered in a calm tone with a bit of excitement.

"We compared the changes in maps and historical records from the Taiyuan era to the present day, spanning 1,600 years. We also conducted simulations and comparisons based on the information and basic graphics you provided, and concluded that that part of the area will disappear soon."

Kuang Wenlan paused as she spoke, and subconsciously glanced at Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao, who were sitting there listening attentively.

This is a truly living myth; even just sitting there gives people a sense of transcendence.

"At least after the fall of the Jin Dynasty, that part of the region disappeared, which also led to many gaps and unverifiable historical records, indicating that there was once a large and active population there."

"Your description of controlling the Taihang Mountains is not accurate. It should be said that you understand and try to guide and control the historical process of the Taihang Mountains and other areas, and from the perspective of an ordinary person, the influence has developed from local to comprehensive."

"After all, based on previous information, the faith of mortals seems to be a very crucial force, so there is room for maneuver in it. Given the complexity of the situation, we hope to conduct a comprehensive infiltration operation before the start of the war!"

Kuang Wenlan spoke eloquently for a while, though she didn't fully explain the specifics, but Zhuang Lin roughly understood her intention: she was going to actively intervene in history.

Aren't you afraid that changing history will have unpredictable consequences?

When Kuang Wenlan heard Zhuang Lin suddenly speak, she immediately looked at him, bowed slightly, and then continued.

"Of course we're afraid, but when it comes to historical events, we tend to favor one viewpoint among many possibilities."

"Given the inevitability and immutability of history, we investigated the hairpin you provided, Mr. Zhuang, and even found its original collector. We had in-depth conversations with him, and he provided information about his family's collection history and the origin of the hairpin."

"When you gave me that hairpin a few years ago, the collector had already collected that artifact for more than 20 years. That is to say, it already existed before the hairpin was forged by the craftsmen of Hidden Immortal Valley. The purpose of forging it was to give it to that ship owner in your hands!"

"Of course, there is a paradox here. After all, hairpins cannot appear out of thin air, and we cannot prove whether history has deviated. In fact, everything may change after the deviation. But many people tend to believe one view."

"The past is what it is, but the future can be changed!"

Zhuang Lin listened quietly, while Xi Miao looked at the older female scholar and spoke.

"But for people living in ancient times, what changed was not the past, but their future!"

Xi Miao added in her heart, "This is also her future."

Kuang Wenlan smiled.

"So, just like the cyclical power of the Heavenly Dao, everything is an arrangement of fate!"

"And what about us?"

Liu Hongyu suddenly asked a question.

"Is it possible that we are someone else's past?"

Kuang Wenlan looked at Liu Hongyu and answered the question very seriously.

"That proves that we have ultimately succeeded; otherwise, how could there be a future? Don't you think so?"

As she spoke, Kuang Wenlan added another sentence.

"Of course, we hold it in awe, in awe of history and in awe of the unknown. We will follow the course of history no matter what, but we hope to offer more suggestions and assistance!" "What I just said is based on a controlled variable method for the Obon festival a few years from now!"

"If the cultivation of gods and Buddhas relies on the existence of incense and the power of vows, then there must be divine avatars stationed in temples in various places to collect the power of incense. There will be a focus on different aspects, and there will definitely be a periodic gathering and aggregation of these offerings!"

Kuang Wenlan, speaking as an ordinary person, calmly explained the analytical results of the collective wisdom of the elites of the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations.

"We believe that, at least within Buddhism, the important Ullambana Festival you mentioned earlier is the most likely scenario. At that time, all the Buddhas will surely gather the power of incense offerings, either traveling in person or returning in incarnation."

"But in either case, attention will definitely be focused on the Hungry Ghost Festival itself and the places where incense is most concentrated, and that's what we want to emphasize."

“Shamen Tianwang certainly doesn’t have many followers in the Taihang Mountains area. By reducing his influence in the Taihang Mountains area and amplifying his influence in other areas, we can divert his attention.”

After hearing what Kuang Wenlan had said, Zhuang Lin understood that their so-called control of the Taihang Mountains was not the kind that would completely influence history, but rather served the purpose of that particular operation.

As Liu Hongyu had previously stated, the Five-Colored Divine Peak was an extremely important place, and a place that Hidden Immortal Valley was determined to obtain, as it was related to the secret of the previous master's death.

The previous master mentioned here refers to the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations, that is, before the Confucian immortal Zhuangzi, another immortal who intended to break through the barrier between heaven and earth.

However, the immortal's demise midway foreshadowed a great crisis and the existence of a powerful and unknown enemy.

The Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations thus made a reasonable deduction, realizing that the Confucian Immortal's past hiding was not only for preservation in the modern era, but also out of fear of his adversaries.

"So what do you plan to do?"

Zhuang Lin asked this question, and Kuang Wenlan looked around. Many of the people from the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations had relatively calm expressions.

"We will try to influence the faith of the Shamen Tianwang in the Taihang area by taking all necessary measures. At the same time, we will create a stronger faith in a place far away from that side, or in other words, operate a number of Tianwang temples with thriving incense offerings."

Does this really work?

Zhuang Lin looked at Xi Miao, who was slightly stunned for a moment before realizing what was happening and nodding slightly at Zhuang Lin.

"This might actually work! And this kind of thing is indeed best suited for ordinary people."

Xi Miao and her master had a close relationship with the Second Heavenly Sound Bodhisattva and a comprehensive understanding of Buddhism there. If she said it was useful, then it must have been useful.

"Alright, I trust you and will provide assistance when necessary. However, I must remind you that ancient times can be quite dangerous."

"You'll understand what the danger we referred to in the information we provided earlier really meant later. After all, seeing is believing!"

Zhuang Lin looked at Duan Kang as he spoke, and the latter stood up to express his opinion.

"Rest assured, quality is more important than quantity. Our people are self-aware, and we will do our best to design everything perfectly!"

"Master Zhuang, we have finished discussing our initial plan, and the planning for the modern era is also underway. Now, could you tell us about Ms. Ximiao's calculations from yesterday? We are very curious about them!"

Zhuang Lin nodded, then looked at Xi Miao. The people from the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations had finished speaking. They hadn't planned to hide what happened yesterday anyway, but since it was being brought up directly, they decided to let Xi Miao tell the story herself. This would save them the trouble of providing any documents or reports later, and let the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations summarize it themselves.

Instead of sitting, Xi Miao stood up and spoke, just like Kuang Wenlan and the others.

"This matter is related to the current trend of the universe's destiny. I won't explain the complexities, because it would take a hundred years to understand. I'll just summarize it in simple terms."

"For some time now, my husband and I have been studying the Five Sacred Mountains of our time, or mountains of similar scale, in order to comprehend a way to break through the current predicament. I don't know if you've heard of Mount Buzhou?"

Compared to merely engaging in minor actions in ancient times, Xi Miao's words were a grand chapter on a modern level, making many people in the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations feel a slight chill down their spines.

At the Great Yan level, constructing an unparalleled array would inevitably consume a massive amount of human and material resources.

Especially some spiritual items, but it's obvious that these things must be brought from ancient times!
(End of this chapter)