Jinzhou City.
After Liang Sheng left, the atmosphere in the city became increasingly tense. However, for some unknown reason, the Liang Family still stubbornly expanded their influence into the territories of both the Gao and Wu Families, even after facing strong resistance from them.
It was well-known that the Wu Family had been an ally of the Liang Family, and they had even formed marital alliances in the past to jointly resist the pressure from the Gao Family, which had two Postnatal Nine Realms experts.
So, the recent actions of the Liang Family were somewhat puzzling to outsiders, making them wonder what the Liang Family's true intentions were.
Why go to such lengths?
Although Liang Ying was considered a prodigy in martial arts and might even have innate potential, there would still be bottlenecks for every realm promotion after reaching the high level of martial arts.
Otherwise, why would the patriarchs of the Wu Family and the former patriarch of the Liang Family, Liang Ping, be stuck at the Post-Natal "Eighth" Level for so long without any progress?
However, no matter what, the Liang Family's current expansion of influence was indeed making the situation in Jinzhou City increasingly tense.
Not to mention the Gao Family's two Postnatal Nine Realms experts, even the strength of the Wu Family was on par with the Liang Family. What benefits could the Liang Family gain from their actions?
This was the thought of most of the common people in Jinzhou City, as the three prominent families had been standing in Jinzhou for hundreds of years and each had their own foundations.
Even the Gao Family shared this view. After some probing, they actively retreated and sat on the sidelines, watching the Liang and Wu families fight each other, hoping for both families to suffer losses.
However, reality was somewhat embarrassing as the Wu Family was continuously defeated by the Liang Family, making them appear to be no match for the Liang family at all.
...
Gao Family.
At this moment, the head of the Gao Family, Gao Yuqiang, couldn't help but roar loudly: "How can the Wu Family be so useless? They're so weak!"
At this moment, the people underneath didn't dare to say a word, and Gao Yuqiang's Postnatal Nine Realms' pressure also made it difficult for them to speak.
"Second brother, go to the Wu Family today and subtly tell them that our Gao Family will help them a little.
These useless people are of no use to us, so we'll have to give them a hand in secret, or else our previous retreat would have been a joke."
Gao Yuqiang's plan at this moment was actually quite obvious. He couldn't let the Wu Family fall so easily, and it would be most advantageous for the Gao Family if the Liang and Wu families continued to exhaust each other.
By that time, Jinzhou City would belong to the Gao Family!
...
Jinshan Temple.
Liang Sheng was not concerned about the increasingly tense situation in Jinzhou City; instead, he was rather enjoying his time at Jinshan Temple.
Whoever dared to say that plain tea and rice were bitter days would upset him. At least the vegetarian meals at Jinshan Temple were exceptionally delicious.
However, during his time at Jinshan Temple, he also walked around the surrounding area and asked the neighboring farmers about their farmland, only to find out that all these lands were actually private property of Jinshan Temple.
Jinshan Temple was incredibly wealthy, and if not for seeing it with his own eyes, Liang Sheng would never have known that apart from the three great families in Jinzhou City, there was such a low-key yet powerful force.
And apart from the abbot and a few other Xuan Generation high monks he had never met, including Abbot Xuan Nian of the Scripture Repository, all of the Xuan Generation high monks were high-level martial arts practitioners, and Liang Sheng could not see through their realms.
Even if they hadn't reached the Postnatal Nine Realms, they were most likely more numerous in their high-level martial arts practitioners than the combined total of the Liang, Wu, and Gao Families.
This situation was terrifying to think about.
After all, with such strength but little fame, Jinshan Temple must have big plans, according to the saying from his previous life in China.
But what did this have to do with him?
"Early greetings, layman."
Outside the Scripture Repository, the novice monk guarding the entrance saw Liang Sheng approach with paper and pen and quickly greeted him with palms pressed together.
Liang Sheng smiled and returned the gesture, then walked straight to the first floor of the Scripture Repository, found the desired Buddhist scripture on a familiar bookshelf, and began copying the scripture at a nearby table.
Since he had already claimed to have come to Jinshan Temple to copy scriptures for peace of mind, he had to put on a full act.
Especially after discovering the complexity of Jinshan Temple, he had to be even more cautious; otherwise, he might arouse the other party's suspicion, which would be a bad situation.
Inside the Temple, Liang Sheng wasn't actually free to roam around. For example, at this moment, he could vaguely sense a gaze watching him intermittently.
If it weren't for him being only a Second Level of Post-Natal Realm wastrel under his disguise, the other party would be even more cautious, and he wouldn't be able to detect them at all.
That's why he speculated that the person monitoring him was likely Abbot Xuan Nian of the Scripture Repository.
In the beginning, the other party kept a watch from all directions. However, after a few days, they seemed to gradually dismiss their doubts and no longer kept an eye on him all the time.
At this moment, on the second floor above, just as Liang Sheng thought, Xuan Nian was looking at him. However, he wasn't alone – Xuan Ji, the Abbot of Discipline Hall, was also by his side.
"It appears that Liang Sheng truly came here for peace of mind. We don't have to worry about any ulterior motives anymore. At most, he's a bit cunning, seeking fortune and avoiding evil."
Xuan Nian heard Xuan Ji's words and nodded, "He shouldn't have any problems. After observing over the past few days, it's clear he hasn't even thought about going to the second floor. He's an intelligent person.
Yet, even if he made it to the second floor, with his martial arts talent, what can he do even after seeing our Jinshan Temple techniques?"
Xuan Ji initially seemed bemused before shaking his head and chuckling. After all these years, he had become too careful; it had become a habit.
"Regardless, it's better that he has no hidden intentions. Anyway, we're still in hibernation now. Once Abbot Elder Brother breaks through the innate level, we won't have to bear this much frustration.
It's about time the Dayan dog emperor repays his debts. If our sect's technique was still intact, with the abbot's talent, would he suffer until now?"
"Junior brother, mind your words. You're violating the Temperance Precept. Don't speak wildly."
Xuan Ji reprimanded softly, and Xuan Nian sobered up, quickly reciting, "Amitabha Buddha."
"However, just in case, have Hongzhi spend more time chatting with him, his secular relative. I always feel that the situation in Jinzhou City recently is a bit strange. Getting closer to him would be a harmless move."
"Yes, senior brother, don't worry. I will handle this."
Xuan Nian then excused himself and left without drawing attention from the scripture-copying Liang Sheng downstairs. Xuan Nian glanced at Liang Sheng on the first floor, unsure why something felt wrong.
Sigh, perhaps it's just because Abbot Elder Brother's breakthrough is imminent, and his heart was feeling restless.
With that thought in mind, he, like Liang Sheng downstairs, began copying Buddhist scriptures. In this sea of human suffering, how many can find peace of mind?
Just then, Liang Sheng stood up, having finished copying the Buddhist scripture in his hand. So, he prepared to find another scripture to copy.
At first, his copying of the scriptures was just a cover, but now he had genuinely started to immerse himself in the process.
He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but copying the scriptures indeed made his heart more peaceful, so much so that he even felt the Grand Circulation running faster during his night practice.
Since the copying had some effects, Liang Sheng naturally wouldn't refuse. He put the Buddhist scripture back on the shelf and noticed an old yellowed book beside it, titled "Unmoving Ming King Tathagata Sutra." Without thinking twice, he picked it up.
When it came to copying scriptures, it was all about fate. However, after half an hour into copying the scripture, his body suddenly tensed up.
Huh?
There's something wrong with this scripture!