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Chapter 147: The Bet

Looking at Zhong Shan, Mud Buddha calmly replied, "The Ten Thousand Shadows Scripture, a heavenly-level technique. Do you know how to practice it?"

"I took a look last night," Zhong Shan said.

"Took a look? Just a look, huh? No one understands this technique better than I do because it once fell into the hands of my ancestors. This technique is extremely difficult to practice, almost impossible. It\'s too hard; it turns people into shadows. The requirements are extraordinarily harsh. You\'ve seen Ying Wuxie\'s appearance, right?" Mud Buddha asked.

"I\'ll consider it," Zhong Shan was not frightened by Mud Buddha\'s words, especially since his hidden body had already mastered the first level and produced two shadow clones.

"Hehe, you don\'t know its horrors. The Ten Thousand Shadows Scripture is an unequivocal demonic technique. Practicing it requires the blood of thousands of infants and the placentas of pregnant women. It leads to mass slaughter and unimaginable cruelty. It even causes practitioners to lose their true nature and become outright murderers," Mud Buddha said.

Zhong Shan frowned, staring at Mud Buddha for a while before saying, "Rest assured, senior. I won\'t practice it."

Looking at Zhong Shan, Mud Buddha naturally didn\'t believe him. Even if Zhong Shan didn\'t practice it, wouldn\'t he find someone else to?

Sighing deeply, Mud Buddha said, "Alright, I\'ll be honest. Destroying that mirror is a mandate from my sect\'s founder. When my ancestor went mad and slaughtered millions, he woke up and realized the evil of this technique. From then on, he established a rule that any disciple must destroy it if found. If Tian Xingzi hadn\'t been dying that day, I would have destroyed it on the spot. I hope you can understand."

Looking at Mud Buddha, Zhong Shan squinted and said, "A technique is a technique; a mirror is a mirror. Your ancestor went mad because of practicing it. Why destroy the mirror?"

"Because it\'s impossible to practice without the hidden body. My ancestor, with his extraordinary talent, gathered the materials for this mirror, and countless practitioners forged it together. It is this \'Shadow Mirror\' that separates and creates clones. Without this external aid, the technique becomes useless. It wouldn\'t matter if it existed," Mud Buddha explained.

Hearing this, Zhong Shan widened his eyes. Why didn\'t his hidden body need the mirror? Could it be due to the unique nature of his hidden body?

"Is that true?" Zhong Shan asked again.

"Absolutely," Mud Buddha confirmed.

Staring at Mud Buddha, Zhong Shan felt a strange sensation.

"If you destroy this mirror, I am willing to set up ten Feng Shui formations for the Great Yin Dynasty to ensure its prosperity for a hundred years," Mud Buddha offered as an incentive.

"Perhaps senior doesn\'t care about my Great Yin Dynasty, but I still want to try. Would you be willing to stay and help my Great Yin Dynasty grow?" Zhong Shan asked sincerely.

Shaking his head, Mud Buddha said, "I\'m heading to Shenzhou soon. There will be no chance to meet again, so how can I assist your Great Yin Dynasty?"

"No, one day, the Great Yin Dynasty will also enter Shenzhou. We will meet again then," Zhong Shan said confidently.

Looking at Zhong Shan, Mud Buddha smiled slightly, "If I hide, no one in the world can find me."

Seeing Mud Buddha\'s confidence, Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow. He was, of course, very confident in himself. Clenching his fists, Zhong Shan said, "How about this, let\'s make a bet, senior."

"Oh?" Mud Buddha looked at Zhong Shan.

"Should we meet again in the vast lands of Shenzhou, would you join my Zhen Kingdom?" Zhong Shan\'s eyes gleamed with determination.

"Are you so confident you\'ll find me again?" The Clay Bodhisattva shook his head slightly.

"Gold will shine wherever it is. I believe that one day, I will find you again. If you are so confident, why not make a bet with me? As a gesture of good faith, I will destroy this mirror right in front of you. Whether or not we meet again will be left to fate." Zhong Shan stared intently at the Clay Bodhisattva.

The Clay Bodhisattva gazed at Zhong Shan for a while before softly saying, "Fate? Very well, fate it is. As long as we meet again on the lands of Shenzhou, I will join your Zhen Kingdom."

"Thank you, senior." Zhong Shan\'s excitement was palpable.

Zhong Shan was not worried about the Clay Bodhisattva breaking his promise, as he had immense confidence in himself. Similarly, the Clay Bodhisattva was equally confident that Zhong Shan could never find him again.

With a flip of his hand, Zhong Shan took out a small mirror. The mirror held little use for him now; with the ability to conceal himself, he no longer needed it. If this small mirror could be exchanged for the allegiance of the Clay Bodhisattva, even if it was just a future possibility, Zhong Shan deemed it a worthy trade.

"Senior, please do it," Zhong Shan said straightforwardly.

The Clay Bodhisattva looked at Zhong Shan, slightly surprised, but quickly turned his attention to the small mirror—the \'Shadow Mirror\'. He reached out, took the mirror, and with a slight pinch, confirmed it was the correct mirror. Then, with a gentle squeeze between his fingers, the mirror shattered into fragments, falling onto the stone table. With a flick of his sleeve, the fragments turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared.

"Farewell," the Clay Bodhisattva said softly as he stood up.

"Take care, senior," Zhong Shan stood up to see him off respectfully.

The Clay Bodhisattva nodded and turned to leave.

Watching the Clay Bodhisattva\'s departing figure, Zhong Shan felt a sense of achievement—half of his plan was complete.

In the skies above the royal city of the Great Zhen Dynasty, more than a dozen figures were flying high.

Leading them was Bao\'er, her face full of nostalgia. Behind her were the three elders of the Tai Dan Sect and several disciples.

"Sect Master, it\'s right there. I can sense it. Though it\'s covered, the internal aura remains unchanged." Elder Yao Yu pointed towards a square within the palace, which was covered by numerous curtains.

Bao\'er ignored Elder Yao Yu and instead furrowed her brows, filled with worry. This place was different from before. It should have been the Zhong Residence in Xuancheng, her home. What had happened here? Where was her father? He must be safe.

Clenching her small fists, Bao\'er, filled with anxiety, flew towards the large square with the group.

At the Wolf Temple, Qingyun Wolf General squinted his eyes and walked out, looking towards the group flying in the distance.

A group of immortals suddenly appeared above the royal city?

This quickly caught the attention of the royal guards, especially Yinglan, who was stationed there.

Recently, Yinglan had been preparing for the campaign to the western region. Although the wolf cavalry would be there, conquering that area would take time. Thus, she had been frequenting the palace to spend time with her uncle.

As Yinglan was making her rounds, she noticed the shocked expressions of the guards. Following their gaze, she looked up and saw the scene in the sky, her eyebrows rising in concern.

Under the protection of the Tai Dan Sect members, Bao\'er finally arrived at the square where the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Cauldron was stored. As they approached, Elder Yao Yu waved his hand, and the covering cloths fell away, revealing a massive cauldron, ten zhang tall.

"Boom! Boom!"...

Ying Lan, mounted on a giant wolf, charged into the square with a large contingent of guards.

"Who dares intrude upon the royal palace?" Ying Lan shouted, raising her weapon. Despite facing a group of immortals, her entourage followed her lead, weapons ready.

The disciples of the Tai Dan Sect were equally furious. Seeing the Heaven and Earth Cauldron clarified everything—the deaths of fifty-three Tai Dan Sect members could now be avenged.

Everyone glared angrily at Ying Lan and her soldiers. However, no one made a move, waiting for their sect leader\'s command.

Bao\'er looked at Ying Lan, and Ying Lan\'s eyes suddenly widened as she stared back at Bao\'er.

The Tai Dan Sect members misinterpreted Ying Lan\'s expression as fear, but what did fear matter? Blood debts demanded blood repayment.

"Grand-Aunt!" Ying Lan suddenly called out.

The unexpected shout made both sides falter, nearly causing Ying Lan\'s guards to stumble, while the Tai Dan Sect members were equally shaken. Enemies exchanging pleasantries?

The Tai Dan Sect members stared wide-eyed at Ying Lan.

Bao\'er was slightly puzzled.

"Grand-Aunt, it\'s me, Ying Lan!" Ying Lan quickly sheathed her sword and exclaimed.

"Ying Lan? Are you Ying Lan?" Bao\'er finally remembered, recalling that Ying Lan had been just a child when she left.

At the Wolf God Hall, Qing Yun, the Wolf General, had been preparing to intervene when the situation suddenly shifted, leaving him stunned. Were they related?

"Where\'s the Master? Is your granduncle alright?" Ying Lan asked urgently, her voice full of hope.

"Sect Leader," an elder called out, frowning.

"Bao\'er~~~" A voice suddenly called out excitedly from the distant Longevity Hall.

Bao\'er immediately turned to see Zhong Shan running towards them. The young Zhong Shan—Bao\'er recognized him at once. The Master, it was the Master.

"Master~~~" Bao\'er, disregarding everyone else, darted towards Zhong Shan like a butterfly flitting through flowers.

At that moment, the Tai Dan Sect disciples, the three elders, Qing Yun the Wolf General, and the palace guards were all stunned. Except for the envious and excited Ying Lan, everyone watched this scene in disbelief.

Just moments before, the two sides had been on the brink of battle, but in an instant, the tension dissolved as the leaders of both sides stood atop a palace, embracing each other as if no one else existed.