At this point,

Zhou Xuan understood what this divination was about.

"But you're asking me to inquire about the Ancient Buddha? Where is the Ancient Buddha?"

"This… I'm not sure."

Seven Leaves Venerable looked dispirited and added, "If sir helps me discover the truth, I will offer my Buddha Artifact treasure to you."

"What kind of Buddha Artifact treasure?"

"Seven leaves."

Seven Leaves Venerable said, "My former Buddha name was Seven Leaves Venerable, because I controlled seven leaves. These seven leaves were formed at the time of primordial chaos between heaven and earth. Linked together, the seven leaves form a world—it's one of Jing Country's rare Magic Artifacts."

"Alright, I'll help you ask, but I can't guarantee anything. No one knows where the Ancient Buddha is."

After speaking, Zhou Xuan put away the Washing Guilt Talisman Book.

Without this talismanic script, Seven Leaves Venerable's mental consciousness became extremely unstable. After Zhao Wuya yawned, he returned to normal.

"Did I fall asleep again?"

"You didn't fall asleep. The Buddha inside your body woke up."

"Is it Maitreya Buddha?"

"No."

"All Marvelous Guanyin?"

"Also no."

"Then it must be Long-Eyebrow Arhat. Ever since I was young, I loved wandering temple halls, and the slouched pose of Long-Eyebrow Arhat appealed to me the most."

"It's Seven Leaves Venerable, Wuya."

"..."

Zhao Wuya was disappointed—very disappointed. He thought there was a Great Buddha inside him, but it turned out to be a "Sinful Buddha" who had committed grave wrongs and had been properly subdued.

"Oh, boundless skies, why are you so unkind to me?"

Zhao Wuya sighed deeply and stopped mentioning his "Great Buddha destiny."

"Don't be so discouraged. Seven Leaves Venerable, at least, was once a Great Buddha above the Heavenly Dome."

"Brother Xuan, enough of this Buddha talk. I, Zhao Wuya, am born with divine fate."

"You can't be like this. Just because your body doesn't host a noble Buddha doesn't mean you should forsake Buddha for Dao."

Zhou Xuan found Zhao Wuya unusually candid.

"I'm going back to cry a—rest for a bit. You all can keep chatting."

Zhao Wuya almost let the truth slip. Dusting his Daoist robe, he headed toward the Old Painting Pavilion.

After Zhao Wuya left, Zhou Xuan asked Yun Ziliang, "This divination seeks to inquire about the Ancient Buddha. Where can we find the Ancient Buddha?"

"You're asking me? How would I know?" Yun Ziliang poked at his own nose and said, "According to the folklore passed down over the past two thousand years, Jing Country's roaming spirits are all searching for the Ancient Buddha's head, hoping to gain its power,

but they've searched for so many years, and forget the Buddha's head—they haven't even seen a ghostly trace.

If you ask me… the Ancient Buddha has surely perished and dissolved into the Dao. Where could you find it? You won't find it anywhere."

"Then for this divination, if there's no result, what happens to me?"

"Not much will happen, really. After all, you didn't refuse the divination master."

Yun Ziliang said, "Every time King Yan selects a divination, it's a major opportunity. If solved successfully, the incense offering grows rapidly. If not solved... it remains unsolved. That's just the way it goes. Otherwise, wouldn't all the Dragon Seeking Taoists of Hidden Dragon Mountain have incense offerings skyrocketing?"

"Still, this particular divination carries immense opportunity—Seven Leaves Treasure Buddha Artifact…"

"What's the story behind this Buddha Artifact?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"In Taoist sects, City Gods possess numerous Magic Artifacts, and those City Gods who are naturally gifted at handling Magic Artifacts are skilled at transcending the incense realm to kill. Take Lu Yusheng, whom you previously defeated—he was known as the Cross-border King of Mingjiang Prefecture.

But the Jing Country's Incense Fire Divine Dao is composed of blood, flesh, spirit, and Dao. Among this quartet, blood, spirit, and Dao have their own profound techniques. Although they possess Magic Artifacts, they don't depend on them.

The only exception is flesh-based Buddhist sects, where their profound arts are actually a shortcoming. They can only cultivate Golden Bodies and utilize Magic Artifacts. Over time, in this realm, they've developed a truly unique specialization.

Buddhist sects' treasure Magic Artifacts are the most powerful and mysterious in Jing Country,

and Seven Leaves is the treasure of treasures. If you acquire it, paired with your Heavenly Gods Divination, at your six-incense-stick combat strength, you could easily thrash someone at seven-incense-stick strength."

As Yun Ziliang thought of this, he slapped his stool and said, "Why are we dreaming of this? Clearly, this divination can't be completed. Since it can't be completed, let's treat it as a fleeting dream.

Go to sleep early, wake up tomorrow, and forget about it—it's as simple as that."

"Hmm, well said. Destined-to-fail matters shouldn't be dwelled on; it's purely a waste of brainpower."

Not wanting to discuss the matter further, Zhou Xuan dismissed the topic.

Seven Leaves Treasure? Surely a great treasure, but it doesn't seem like it's in the cards for me… Asking about the Ancient Buddha? Where could I even find such a figure?

Carrying a stool, Zhou Xuan went indoors.

He had plans for the night… writing "Liang Zhi" tales, and tomorrow evening, he would perform storytelling in the Metropolitan to forge the "Will Heavenly Book."

...

After the drizzle over East Market Street during the day, the evening turned clear. The clouds in the sky, unlike the usual gloomy haze, shimmered with magical flowing light.

Many shop owners and small business folk, once free from work, would gather their juniors under the eaves, set up a few plates of appetizers and a small jar of loose wine, and chat while enjoying the flowing clouds.

The reason for this unusual cloud phenomenon was none other than Peng Sheng.

Currently, Peng Sheng had reached the Heavenly Vault God Level, and wherever he appeared, celestial phenomena altered accordingly.

"Mr. Peng, aren't you going back to the Tattoo Forbidden Land?"

Yun Ziliang, hosting a banquet in his shop, drank and conversed with Peng Sheng, asking why Peng Sheng hadn't returned to Peng Town.

Peng Sheng, as a Heavenly Dome Level deity, was welcomed by the gates of a Divine Country above the Heavenly Dome.

However, with only eight-incense-stick cultivation and not nine, leaving aside the human-world challenges from nine-incense-stick figures upon entering the Divine Country that he couldn't fend off,

he simply lacked the cultivation to ascend to the Heavenly Dome.

Thus, for Peng Sheng and others like him—low-incense deities—it was better to remain in the human world, surrounded by abundant incense energy for protection.

"The monitoring Gu Ding of Mingjiang Prefecture is still functional. Any disciple from a Tangkou with over six-incense-stick cultivation entering Mingjiang Prefecture will be detected by the Gu Ding.

Right now, Mingjiang Prefecture is as safe as Peng Town. I figure staying on East Market Street a few days wouldn't hurt—I can enjoy the leisure of the human world.

"That's fine. For the next couple of days, join me at the mahjong parlor for some mahjong."

"Sounds good. We'll win all those gamblers' money."

Peng Sheng replied.

Yun Ziliang nodded approvingly. After all, if people don't have dreams, aren't they merely salted fish?

It was already late when Lv Mingkun returned as well. He joined Peng Sheng and Yun Ziliang at their table, adding a pair of chopsticks. Together, they listened to the gramophone, chatted, and drank.

During the meal, Lv Mingkun called to Zhou Xuan, "Little junior brother, come have a drink!"

"No thanks, I'm working on the Liang Zhi."

"What kind of Liang Zhi? Let me take a look." Lv Mingkun, being a fan of Zhou Xuan's storytelling during his days in the Zhou Family's Troupe, loved hearing Zhou Xuan's tales.

Now that Zhou Xuan was penning new Liang Zhi, Lv Mingkun naturally wanted a peek.

He walked to the counter, picked up a draft, and read aloud.

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Lv Mingkun couldn't help but remark, "Little junior brother, your writing is truly sharp. One sentence captures the inevitability and sighs of life."

His interest was piqued, so he continued reading: "My name is Bai Jie, and I graduated from a common teacher's college…"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan quickly snatched back the draft, laughing awkwardly. "This piece is a bit indulgent—it's not quite suitable for public performances. Take a look at what I'm writing now instead."

He picked up another manuscript and handed it to Fifth Senior Brother.

Lv Mingkun glanced casually at the page—Qingyun Sect, Han Li.

After closer reading of a few paragraphs, he found it fascinating. He asked Zhou Xuan, "What's the title of this Liang Zhi story?"

"Oh, 'A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality.'"

"It's pretty good."

Lv Mingkun held the manuscript, reading intently under the lamplight. He finished one chapter, picked up another, and read on, totally absorbed. After finishing all available pages, he still wanted more and urged Zhou Xuan,

"Little junior brother, hurry and write more. I'm waiting to read it!"

"Not writing anymore—I'm heading to bed."

For the first time, Zhou Xuan felt the pressure of being "chased for updates…"

"Then I'm taking tomorrow off—I'm heading to the Metropolitan to hear your storytelling. Just reading this Liang Zhi feels captivating."

Lv Mingkun called upstairs.

"Thank you, Fifth Senior Brother, for your support…"

Zhou Xuan replied cheerfully…

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