Chapter 363 Then I Shall Deepen Your Fear
"Thanks to the Dharma Appearance Buddha Child."
After paying their respects with palms pressed together, everyone sat down.
When the Buddha Child landed on the high platform, the lotus beneath his feet vanished. He turned his head and glanced at the seated princes of the Baoxiang Kingdom.
One of the princes stood up, bowed to the Buddha Child, then stepped onto the Dharma altar. After surveying the assembly, he spoke, "Layman Mo Luo greets fellow Daoists. This Water and Land Dharma Assembly shall be presided over by this king…"
A moment later, Dharma King Mo Luo paused before continuing, "Commence the first rite of the assembly—sprinkling purification water."
At his words, dozens of monks took up clear water and sprinkled it around the altar, symbolizing purification of the space, severing worldly dust, and creating a serene atmosphere for the gathering.
An hour later, the first rite ended.
"Send envoys to erect banners."
The second rite of the assembly began.
The third rite—inviting the sages.
…
Three days later, the assembly reached the sixth rite—granting absolution.
During these three days, none of the cultivators present had left the grounds. For them, three days passed like the blink of an eye.
Dharma King Mo Luo proclaimed in a loud voice, "Invite the Dharma Appearance Buddha Child to read the absolution edict."
At once, all the cultivators present shouted together, "We respectfully invite the Dharma Appearance Buddha Child to read the absolution edict."
Amid the cheers, the Buddha Child descended from the main seat upon the high platform. Taking the edict from a monk, he began to read it aloud, granting forgiveness to all wandering souls.
Several hours later, the sixth rite concluded, and the highlight of this assembly was about to begin.
"Next is to invite the Buddhas to descend."
Dharma King Mo Luo paused, then continued, "Before inviting the Buddhas and gods to hear the monks preach, our Baoxiang Kingdom has one more important matter to present before all as witnesses."
The guests attending the assembly immediately grew attentive at these words.
Even Nie Xiuyuan, seated quietly in a corner, slowly opened his eyes and thought, At last, it begins.
A guest seated at the front rose and said, "Amitabha. May I ask what matter the layman wishes us to witness?"
This was a question asked knowingly, yet none present sought to expose it.
Dharma King Mo Luo smiled and said, "The new king of our Baoxiang Kingdom shall be crowned under the witness of the Buddhas above."
With that, he respectfully addressed the Buddha Child, who had just returned to his main seat. "May the Buddha Child bestow the crown on behalf of the Buddhas."
"Very well."
The Dharma Appearance Buddha Child responded and once again stepped onto the altar.
King Jinlun and his consort Lady Wuxia followed, standing reverently behind the Buddha Child.
A high monk of Foyin Temple handed a decree to the Buddha Child. After receiving it, he slowly unfurled it and read aloud, "From the royal house of Baoxiang, Jin Miao, titled King Jinlun, upright in conduct, humble in nature, bearing a heart for the world…
"Hereby appointed as King of the Baoxiang Kingdom. Does anyone raise objection?"
After speaking, the Buddha Child did not immediately hand the decree to King Jinlun. Instead, his gaze swept over all those present.
This was the tradition of Baoxiang Kingdom's enthronement—where the Buddha's authority surpassed that of the king.
Of course, the throne of any ruler in Baoxiang was always predetermined by Foyin Temple, usually chosen from among the direct royal heirs.
The case of King Jinlun, as collateral substituting for the direct line, was a rare exception.
"We have no objections!"
Hearing this unified voice, both the Buddha Child and King Jinlun could not help but allow faint smiles to curve their lips.
But just as the Buddha Child was about to hand over the decree, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
"I object!"
Hiss—
Everyone present gasped inwardly. As they prepared to see which reckless fool dared to disrupt such a moment, a terrifying pressure descended upon the entire assembly.
Immediately, a massive phantom appeared above the grounds. The dreadful aura it carried caused many present to tremble in fear.
Before the crowd could even react to what was happening, that same voice rang out again.
"Dharma Appearance Buddha Child, King Jinlun seduced another man's wife and slaughtered her entire family. Tell me, how can such a man be called upright in conduct?
Lady Wuxia was already married, yet she conspired with her lover and caused the deaths of over a thousand members of her husband's household. How can such a woman be worthy of serving as the mother figure of Baoxiang Kingdom?"
Just these two accusations alone sent the entire assembly into an uproar.
"What is going on?"
"Could that terrifying figure be telling the truth?"
"It's true. I recall hearing my master mention it a century ago."
"…."
King Jinlun's face turned ashen. As the one directly involved, of course he knew the matter well. One could say that this incident had been the key turning point that allowed him, a collateral branch prince, to rise and claim the throne of Baoxiang Kingdom.
Even though more than a hundred years had passed, he still felt immense gratitude for the choice he made back then.
Without it, in this lifetime he would not only have missed the throne—even reaching Nirvana would have taken another hundred years.
He did not regret it. Even though, after his rise, people whispered behind his back for decades, all of it had vanished once he stepped into the Nirvana realm.
King Jinlun had long thought the matter forgotten. Even if some still remembered, who would dare mention it before his face?
Yet now, on the day of his grand coronation, someone dared bring it up. His fury burned uncontrollably.
"Who dares disturb the Water and Land Dharma Assembly of my Baoxiang Kingdom!"
"Hmph!"
Nie Xiuyuan let out a cold snort. "What, do you and your adulterous wife not dare admit it?"
As he spoke, his aura grew even more terrifying. The phantom body condensed, and a giant formed of true intent stood in the midst of the assembly.
The giant held a sword in its left hand and a wine gourd in its right, radiating a carefree and unrestrained air.
"True Intent Manifestation—this is the Great Perfection of True Intent!"
"What kind of terrifying existence has King Jinlun provoked?"
"…."
The crowd cried out in alarm and scattered, fearful of being caught up in the storm.
"Y-you… who are you?"
When King Jinlun saw the giant formed of true intent, his fury vanished instantly. If he did not know there were great sages guarding the Buddha Child, he would already have fled. How could he dare to keep questioning?
"You are afraid."
The giant paused, then continued, "Since that is so, let me deepen your fear and show you my true face."
With those words, the giant vanished. A figure slowly stepped into the air.
"It's you, Nie Xiuyuan!"
"Impossible! You worthless wretch—weren't you already dead?"
King Jinlun and Lady Wuxia exclaimed at the same time when they recognized the figure.
Though their words differed, the shock in their voices and the terror in their eyes were the same.
Even the Dharma Appearance Buddha Child, standing beside them, revealed a flicker of astonishment the instant he saw Nie Xiuyuan.
The once clamorous assembly hall instantly f
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