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"Sir, are we going to keep laying siege without attacking?"

Inside Lyuzhou City, as the commander of the Lyuzhou siege, Tian Liang was leading ten thousand Western Sea Army soldiers and five hundred Four Holy Army soldiers to encircle the city’s only Buddhist Temple. Yet, no attempts to attack had been made, leaving the subordinates increasingly anxious.

The elixir’s side effects not only drained future life potential but also induced emotional volatility due to the burning of one’s vitality. Tian Liang sometimes struggled to suppress the irritation within himself, but he knew he must not act recklessly.

The task assigned to him by the higher-ups in Lyuzhou was crucial. It was more than simply destroying this Buddhist Temple.

Should he succeed, Third Master Shen had promised that the Commander-in-Chief position at Nanyang City’s Hell would be his!

"There’s no need to rush. We must wait for the right opportunity," Tian Liang reassured his subordinates as best as he could. "Rest assured, the merits won’t elude you all. Even after the Buddha is executed, the military accomplishments will be credited to each of you."

"This..." Several deputy generals glanced at each other and found themselves momentarily speechless.

Tian Liang’s rapid rise through the ranks naturally sparked dissatisfaction among those under him, a fact that Tian Liang was fully aware of.

Without hesitation, he distributed the military accomplishments as goodwill.

With Third Master Shen’s promise, Tian Liang felt assured that he wouldn’t be deceived.

In Jiangnan, trust is essential to one’s standing, and should he succeed, his value would be evident to Third Master Shen.

"Well..." A few deputy generals hesitated before conceding, "That may be unnecessary. Military merits are earned collectively. You... sir, you’ve always had strong opinions. Whatever you decide will be what we follow."

The few men clearly felt satisfied now, as most had come to recognize Tian Liang’s military prowess over the years. If not for suppression by certain prominent branch families, Tian Liang would have already held a Thousand Households position; there’s no denying he was more capable than themselves.

Thus, temporarily appeasing his subordinates, Tian Liang patiently awaited what was to come.

Glancing outside, he could no longer spot the Thousand-Faced Fox’s figure. Having already witnessed her abilities, the thought that his thoughts and memories could be entirely probed by her sent chills down his spine—such a power was too dreadful.

Yet, when such a being is an ally, it instills an unusual sense of reassurance.

At this moment, she was concealed among the troops, merely waiting for an opportune moment to strike. Tian Liang was acutely aware that this battle’s outcome was never truly in his hands—it hinged on this formidable Demon Fox and the enemy beyond.

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"What a prosperous city..." The Buddha Lord sighed bitterly, now disguised to resemble a down-on-his-luck Farmer. Yet, beside him, the King of Qin appeared visibly exasperated. "Master, spare us the somber face. Even the farmers here do not perceive their lives as bleak!"

"That’s because they are still lost in the allure of false prosperity.

" The Buddha Lord spoke with solemn compassion, his gaze sweeping across the laughter-filled streets, his face still imbued with sorrow. "All beings suffer; they just remain unaware. Look at them now, their faces alight with joy, for they’ve escaped their former hardships. But this joy is fleeting—soon, desires will burgeon, and they won’t simply feel content with food in their stomachs anymore. "

"They will begin to question why others ascend to success and prominence, while they linger in mediocrity. Why some can indulge in lavish feasts while others are left with mere meat porridge."

"At the beginning, they may express immense gratitude for that bowl of meat porridge. But eventually, they’ll despise it, for they are confined to it while the fortunate feast upon rare delicacies."

"Master, are you trying to twist logic here?" The King of Qin sneered coldly. "Human desires are insatiable—it’s an intrinsic truth of all existence. If someone thrives while you falter, that’s simply because you’re incompetent.

Must others reduce themselves to your level, matching meals to ensure worldly fairness? "

"Moreover, Master, you speak with grandiosity. Is your Buddha Kingdom truly a paradise? Is it a realm of absolute equality?"

"Why can Buddha Lords enjoy everything while others suffer the cycles of reincarnation? Why do some Buddhas ascend to become Venerated Ones, while others are relegated to labor as mere Arhats?"

"The past was flawed." The Buddha Lord replied, still sorrowful. "Paradise requires time—to correct the errors of yesterday before embracing a future of true bliss."

"Ha!" The King of Qin laughed aloud. "You predators who exploit everything under heaven dare to claim recognition of past mistakes? A future of paradise? Surely, only you of the Buddha lineage will taste such paradise!"

"The benefactor is clinging to appearances," the Buddha Lord remarked quietly.

"No, you’re talking nonsense!" the King of Qin snapped icily. "Such hypocrisy—it’s almost refreshing. At least the Siao Family lad faces his ambition head-on. I don’t agree with his methods, but unlike you lot, he doesn’t try to pass off shameless actions with moral pretension!"

"The benefactor lacks understanding of Buddhism or insight into how this world might achieve perfection. Someday, benefactor will understand."

"Someday?" The King of Qin shot him a glance, this time choosing not to argue, only letting out a faint sneer as his gaze shifted forward.

"Could the Thousand-Faced Fox be hiding amidst this bustling city?"

"It’s not impossible..." The King of Qin casually replied, "She could appear anywhere, after all. Her expertise in this domain is unsurpassed—it would be foolish to compete with her in such matters."

"Then what does Your Majesty suggest?"

"Strike decisively!" The King of Qin declared ominously. "Once hostilities erupt, the fox will have no recourse but to remain concealed within the army—only then can she seize control over the most critical individuals, like you... or me!"

"She can’t control King Level experts, can she?"

"That remains unconfirmed. I wouldn’t make guarantees..." The King of Qin chuckled softly.

Hearing this, the Buddha Lord fell silent. Indeed... no one could confirm that the Thousand-Faced Fox couldn’t control King Level experts. After all, she had already reached the Transcendent level. If Chen Qing covertly granted her the means to ascend to King Level, how could this be ruled out?

In Jiangnan, resources were abundant; many beings required only a catalyst to ascend to King Level. And for Ali, her ascension to King Level was extraordinarily simple.

That catalyst... was union with a King.

Chen Qing was already King Level. If he chose to be ruthless, allowing Ali to absorb his Vital Essence, Ali would ascend to King Level—a trait inherent to the Thousand-Faced Fox.

But once Ali reached King Level, even Chen Qing would fall within her domain of control. Would Chen Qing take such a risk?

No ruler would willingly make such a gamble.

But Chen Qing...

The Buddha Lord closed his eyes. In times long past, he had clashed with Chen Qing many times. That man’s character... defied all conventional expectations. What others could not bring themselves to do... Liu and Elder Long would shy away from... but he would see through without hesitation.

"If the Demon Fox has already ascended to King Level, what are we still doing here? Waiting to die?"

"Before coming here, didn’t your Buddha Lord proclaim you were a prominent figure in the Buddha Kingdom? And now you falter?"

"Even the most prominent figures must avoid such beings when faced with them," the Buddha Lord replied flatly, entirely unapologetic.

"Indeed... great figures always fear death," the King of Qin chuckled. Chen Qing’s explanation seemed ever more apt.

"Some aspects of the Thousand-Faced Fox’s abilities may be unknown to others, but I am fully aware. Controlling you won’t be as simple as she might think."

"Oh?" The Buddha Lord regarded him with intrigue. "Do share your insight."

"She has a weakness..."