The relationship between the Yao Ting and Shen Shan is somewhat similar to that between Da Qian and Tianyao Shengdi. After Ye Tinglan personally became the Guoshi and became deeply involved in the politics of Da Qian, the two relationships became even more alike.

Originally, it was a relationship where imperial power and religion cooperated.

The people of Tianyao Shengdi are not all ascetics; their asceticism is an active choice after reaching a certain level of cultivation, to transcend the mortal world, with not much religious significance. However, there are secular Guoguan, which must attract the faith of the common people and even high-ranking officials, not just those involved in cultivation.

Imperial power and religious power often clash. If Ye Tinglan had not personally taken up the position of Guoshi, the Guoguan would have gradually been controlled by Gu Zhanting, becoming a mouthpiece for imperial power. When Ye Tinglan personally became the Guoshi, it became a powerful check and balance on the monarch.

That was when Ye Tinglan had no worldly ambition; she only cared for the people and could not allow Gu Zhanting to act recklessly. This alone made Gu Zhanting uncomfortable.

What if she had ambition?

Then Gu Zhanting would have a bone stuck in his throat.

Originally, the relationship in the Yao Yu would have been much healthier than in Da Qian.

Shen Shan is regarded as the source of all Yao. Previously, Long Qinghuang also told Lu Xingzhou that it was difficult for plants and animals in Da Qian to become Yao, but it was common in the Yao Yu. This was due to the influence of Shen Shan’s ley lines, making the mountain itself sacred and ancestral to the Yao.

The imperial family of Da Qian only outwardly respected Tianyao Shengdi, but secretly, it might not have been the case. In the Yao Yu, however, the leaders of many tribes believed in the Shen Shan and would listen to its mediation during times of war, including Long Qinghuang.

Although Long Qinghuang did not have faith like others, she had respect. This was because Shen Shan was not only the ancestral home of the Yao脉 (Yaomai), but also, due to its doctrines, it did not involve power struggles and had no political system like a Buddhist kingdom. Despite Shen Shan having supreme-grade cultivators while many Yao tribes did not, Shen Shan never sought to rule them. This was an exceptionally clear stream in the wild Yao Yu.

Ultimately, the Yao Yu was unified by the Dragon Clan, and Shen Shan never hindered this process. After unifying the Yao Yu, Shen Shan also contributed significantly to its stability.

Long Qinghuang’s relationship with Shen Shan was roughly equivalent to Gu Zhanting trusting and respecting Ye Tinglan, a state Ye Tinglan could only dream of.

Unfortunately, it was Shen Shan that caused trouble here, as not everyone is Ye Tinglan.

No matter how much Long Qinghuang liked Lu Xingzhou and trusted his wisdom, it was difficult for her to believe, even temporarily, that Shen Shan had problems. If there were problems, they would have appeared earlier, possibly delaying the Dragon Clan’s unification of the Yao Yu indefinitely during wartime. Why would problems arise now?

However, Lu Xingzhou became increasingly certain that Shen Shan had issues.

He could perceive qi.

The hidden dark qi on Shen Shan… what it signified, he needed to investigate further.

It was like how he sensed a ley line that would lead to a lack of heirs when he stayed in the imperial palace; this was hard to explain.

During a brief conversation with the Zhike Seng, the temple abbot, leading a group of high-ranking monks, hurried out to greet them, demonstrating that Long Qinghuang was still the leader of the Yao Yu.

Lu Xingzhou secretly thought that Ye Tinglan could not have achieved this kind of display. Perhaps the reason Gu Zhanting had always been critical of Tianyao Shengdi was that they didn’t give him the sense of control he, as emperor, desired?

Speaking of which, the abbot should also be a Yao, but his cultivation was stronger than Lu Xingzhou’s, so Lu Xingzhou couldn’t tell what kind of Yao he was. It seemed fine for a Yao clan’s sacred place to be a Buddhist temple; even a Black Bear Spirit could be an abbot and steal cassocks.

“Amitābha,” the abbot bowed with his congregation. “We did not expect Your Majesty’s visit and apologize for not greeting you sooner.”

Long Qinghuang smiled, “Did you all hear what Young Master Lu said? Which hall is in charge of marriages? We’ll go and worship there.”

The abbot also smiled, “Who can manage Your Majesty’s marriage? We can only offer blessings.”

Look at how well he speaks.

Lu Xingzhou then said, “Is Buddhist Dharma boundless, yet it cannot manage this? Does this mean Buddhist Dharma is not that strong?”

“Because Buddhist Dharma was not created to control people,” the abbot intoned a low Buddhist chant. “I have seen the Sheng Longzi.”

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Seeing Lu Xingzhou’s expression, wanting to speak but stopping, then wanting to speak again, Long Qinghuang chuckled. “His official title should be Danxia Xianzi. Sheng Longzi is merely a jest and not fit for formal occasions.”

The abbot bowed, “Yes.”

The group stopped chatting and ascended the steps, heading towards the majestic main hall above.

Lu Xingzhou asked, “How should I address the abbot?”

The abbot replied, “This old monk is Pudu.”

“…That’s quite a grand Dharma name.”

Pudu smiled, “It was my master’s expectation for me, a gift from my esteemed teacher, so I must accept it regardless of its grandeur.”

Lu Xingzhou said, “I addressed you as abbot, and you did not object… So what about the name ‘Jisi’ (priest)?”

“I am an abbot in the temple and a Jisi among the Yao clan; there is no conflict.”

“Am I asking too many questions?”

“The Xianzi has just arrived from Da Qian and is unfamiliar with the Yao Yu’s situation, so it’s normal to have many questions.”

“May I ask one more question?”

“Please, Xianzi.”

“What race is the abbot?”

“This old monk’s true form is merely an old turtle.”

“Do you have any illegitimate children?”

“The Xianzi jests. This old monk is infertile, how could I have illegitimate children?”

“You said you had one hundred and seventy-four?”

Pudu: “?”

Lu Xingzhou said, “So, neither the ley lines of Yao multiplication on this Shen Shan nor the vast Buddhist Dharma of the temple can cure the abbot’s infertility?”

Long Qinghuang’s eyes narrowed.

But then Pudu said, “This old monk actively chose sterilization; it is unrelated.”

The surrounding high-ranking monks showed expressions of anger. Clearly, Lu Xingzhou’s questions were very malicious and impolite, but Long Qinghuang did not stop him, and they dared not scold her man in front of her… Even if he wasn’t her man yet, he was an envoy from Qian, and only the Yao Huang could administer justice.

Their faces were all very unsightly, frequently stealing glances at Long Qinghuang.

Long Qinghuang also looked at Lu Xingzhou thoughtfully, sensing that Lu Xingzhou, usually elegant and refined, was rarely so aggressive, even a bit ill-mannered. She wondered what results he intended to achieve by asking these questions… But regardless of any doubts about Shen Shan, Long Qinghuang would not undermine her young man; she would not stop him.

As a result, Lu Xingzhou became even more arrogant: “Does the abbot also need to actively sterilize himself to achieve a calm mind? That indicates a lack of cultivation.”

Pudu still didn’t get angry, but merely sighed, “The ley lines of Shen Shan are unique; staying here for too long can easily provoke the desire to procreate.”

“Then why must a temple be built on Shen Shan?”

“Shen Shan always needs people to protect it.”

“Then, how about the abbot building a temple in the Yao Du, and Your Majesty sending others to protect Shen Shan? To spare the abbot from needing to ‘cut the chicken’?”

Long Qinghuang’s heart stirred slightly.

This temple had been on Shen Shan for a very long time, seemingly an integral part of it, which created a blind spot in thinking. No one had considered that they could actually move locations. Of course, this idea couldn’t be implemented casually; relocating the Jisi’s sacred ground might elicit unpredictable reactions from various tribes and would require strong suppression. If the temple itself showed strong resistance and backlash, it would be even harder.

It’s common human nature that even with relocation compensation, most people aren’t keen on moving, let alone a temple where generations have resided.

Lu Xingzhou truly dared to think. But his words were incredibly alluring to an emperor; once the thought arose, there was a certain restless desire.

Why was such an important reproductive ground like Shen Shan not under imperial control, but entrusted to a group of monks and Jisi? Even if they outwardly respected the Yao Huang, there seemed to be a layer of separation.

At least now, it was hard to say whether the sacred place in the eyes of the Yao Yu was the mountain itself or the temple.

There was a difference.

Theoretically, Shen Shan was originally just the mountain, the source of the Yao multiplication ley lines. But now, in people’s minds, Shen Shan seemed to be the temple. Even Long Qinghuang herself had thought so until now, and only after being reminded did she suddenly realize that this sacred place had been subtly conflated…

Long Qinghuang was contemplating, and Pudu was clearly anxious. He could no longer maintain his benevolent smile, his expression becoming serious. “The Xianzi jests. Our temple has resided here for generations, and we have no plans to move.”

As he spoke, he frequently glanced at Long Qinghuang, who smiled slightly and finally smoothed things over. “The mountain is a bit high; we’re just chatting along the way. Why is the abbot so anxious?”

Lu Xingzhou knew she was also considering the idea, so he smiled slightly and said no more, instead beginning to chat about the unique plants along the roadside.

He could have said these things to Long Qinghuang privately, and it would have been easy to stir up an emperor’s desire to control Shen Shan. His choice to be so publicly aggressive, without the manners expected of a guest, clearly had another purpose.

Anuo, holding Lu Xingzhou’s hand, walked up, her little head turning from side to side, reading minds all the way.

With so many monks, surely some of them were plant spirits? Even if their cultivation was too deep to read, in this unguarded state, it should be possible.

As a result, the gossip she “ate” along the way almost made her burst, and goodness knows how difficult it was to maintain an innocent, sightseeing demeanor. It was a huge loss that Sheng Yuan-yao hadn’t come.

The atmosphere along the way became somewhat heavy. Pudu dared not speak much to Lu Xingzhou, fearing that if he opened his mouth, Lu Xingzhou would either mention his “chicken-cutting” or tell him to move, with no appropriate reply possible.

Finally, they reached the main hall, where a colossal Buddha statue stood. It was unclear if it was the Rulai. The monks looked at Lu Xingzhou with some trepidation; insulting the abbot was one thing, they could endure that, but if he insulted the Buddha, how were they supposed to react?

“Your Majesty is protecting her male favorite; the Yao Yu is about to be in chaos!”

However, this time, Lu Xingzhou was very polite, solemnly lighting incense and bowing to the Buddha, clasping his hands and prostrating.

Most people in the country who visit temples do this, whether they believe or not.

He sighed a little, noting that this was the second time he had bowed to Buddha in this life, both times surrounded by enemies… The last time was in a temple in Meng Gui Cheng, surrounded by infant ghosts, Huo Lu, and a little demoness.

This time, he was in enemy territory, surrounded by either ancient spirits or demon monks, and a big dragoness.

Last time, when he bowed to Buddha, he silently prayed for the Buddha to help him “capture this little demoness,” and it was very effective; he even lost his “first blood.”

This time, he also mumbled a prayer, asking for successful dragon taming. He wondered if it would still work?

This attitude made the tense monks, who had expected trouble, breathe a long sigh of relief, and also made Long Qinghuang feel that Lu Xingzhou was showing her respect. Everyone was happy. Long Qinghuang smiled and whispered, “What did you wish for?”

Lu Xingzhou smiled, “Guess?”

“Guess? Of course, it’s what you said before: ‘Juan Qi Mei’ (to have a harmonious relationship with one’s wife, where she lifts the tray to the level of her eyebrows, showing respect).”

Long Qinghuang’s eyes curved in a smile, “I guess all your wishes will come true.”