Huai Ren couldn't convince Chen Changsheng.
Similarly, Chen Changsheng had also failed to convince this martial granduncle of South Stream Temple.
Huai Ren said, "You should know very well that the Holy Maiden won't be able to come out in a short period of time. It could be ten years, twenty years, or even longer."
Chen Chang Sheng was indeed very clear. In the letter that Xu You Rong wrote to him, she had already explained everything clearly.
Holy Maiden Peak required a true Holy Maiden. Only this way could it maintain its sacred status in the Orthodoxy and the south.
Similarly, the Orthodoxy needed a true Holy Maiden. Only this way could it have an even stronger right to speak in the confrontation with the Imperial Court.
The south also needed a true Holy Maiden, only then could it reverse the disadvantage it had over the northern experts of the Divine Domain after Su Li and the previous Holy Maiden left.
If Chen Changsheng could enter the Divine Domain, he could resolve many problems.
But he was the Pope, required to lead the Orthodoxy and its millions of believers.
The Holy Maiden Peak was far away in the Southern Heaven, so there weren't many matters to attend to. She had more time and energy than Chen Chang Sheng.
Thus, Xu Yourong decided to enter seclusion and attack that high threshold, striving to enter the Divine Domain as quickly as possible.
In the records of history, the vast majority of cultivators that entered the Divine Domain required at least several hundred years of cultivation, like the Elder of Heavenly Secrets.
Even those truly talented geniuses needed at least one hundred years of bitter cultivation, like Bie Yanghong.
Putting aside those records from too long ago, the fastest people to enter the Divine Domain in the last one thousand years were probably Zhou Dufu, Chen Xuanba, Emperor Taizong, Su Li, and Wang Po. However, regardless of whether it was Su Li, Zhou Dufu, or Wang Po, they were all only able to see that wisp of heavenly secrets after the age of forty.
Even Chen Xuanba, who was rumored to be talented enough to shake the entire Star Sea, had to wait until he was thirty before he had a chance to cross that threshold.
Xu Yourong possessed the bloodline of the Heavenly Phoenix and was undoubtedly one of the most talented cultivators in history. However, she was not stronger than these legends of the previous generations.
Based on this calculation, even if she were like Chen Xuanba, her seclusion to break into the Divine Domain would require nearly ten years before she could emerge.
"You said that this matter needs to be decided by the Saintess. She can't come out of seclusion, so what should we do? In the end, South Stream Temple has to face this multiple-choice question. "
Huai Ren replied, "I do not have the intelligence to make this choice, so I will have South Stream Temple close for ten years and wait for the Holy Maiden to emerge from seclusion before making a decision."
Chen Chang Sheng said, "You should know what she would choose if she wasn't in seclusion."
Huai Ren replied, "Even if the Holy Maiden agrees, I will still think of a way to prevent Holy Maiden Peak from becoming the vanguard of the Orthodoxy's war with the Imperial Court."
Chen Changsheng asked, "Has Sir not realized that not a single one of the several hundred disciples of South Stream Temple supports your decision?"
After a moment of silence, Huai Ren said, "That's because they're still young and don't know the horrors of war."
Chen Chang Sheng said, "The difference between warlike and fearful of battle is clearly written in the Scrolls of Way. I don't want to repeat it."
Huai Ren said, "I have already expressed South Stream Temple's stance very clearly. I do not wish to repeat it."
Night suddenly fell, and more than ten mountain peaks turned the color of ink.
As this negotiation entered its most crucial and tense moment, the flowering tree was suddenly illuminated by lanterns. Ping Xuan hurried over with several female disciples.
Ping Xuan bowed to Chen Chang Sheng and said to Huai Ren, "Master, a message came from the foot of the mountain, saying that the royal court's diplomatic mission has arrived."
Chen Chang Sheng's expression slightly froze. He didn't expect the people of the Imperial Court to arrive so quickly.
Huai Ren asked, "Who is the leader of the diplomatic mission?"
Ping Xuan replied, "The Prince of Xiang."
Upon hearing the Prince of Xiang's name, Huai Ren's expression did not change, but she actually felt much more relaxed.
She had braved the danger of angering the Li Palace to forcefully push for the closing of the temple, enduring enormous pressure. This conversation with Chen Changsheng had left her utterly exhausted. At this moment, the Imperial Court's diplomatic mission had arrived, and the one who had come was the Prince of Xiang who had just entered the Divine Domain. Presumably, he would be able to share much of South Stream Temple's burden.
Chen Changsheng found it rather strange that he had not heard Wuqiong Bi's name.
Huai Ren had asked who was the leader of the diplomatic mission, but if Wuqiong Bi was in the diplomatic mission, a female disciple like Ping Xuan, who was well-versed in worldly affairs, would assuredly mention her.
No matter how loathsome Wuqiong Bi's personality was, she was still one of the few experts of the Divine Domain on the continent. If she was not mentioned, it could only mean that she was not in the diplomatic mission.
Outside Wenshui City and when Xiao Zhang saw her, Wuqiong Bi had been with the Prince of Xiang. Where had she gone now?
Soon after, even more news was sent from the mountain gate.
The Longevity Sect had sent representatives, as had the Mutuo Clan and the Wu Clan. The Vice Principal of Scholartree Manor had also come. All the major sects of the south had sent representatives.
"Your Holiness, please forgive me. I must go to the mountain to welcome them."
Huai Ren apologetically said to Chen Changsheng and left the cliff.
South Stream Temple naturally had people arrange for Chen Changsheng's party, led by the violet-clothed Daoist nun Huai Shu.
From her appearance, one could guess that this Daoist nun had an extremely fiery personality, but she said nothing as she led Chen Changsheng's party.
With Chen Changsheng's status, South Stream Temple naturally had to give up the best and most honorable kitchen, the Ming Courtyard.
Ye Xiaolian and the other disciples hurriedly tidied up the kitchen. Tang Thirty-Six explained on the side how to do this, but he was unwilling to lend a hand.
"This temple has not been opened for many years, so it is inevitable that there is some dust. Your Holiness, please wait patiently for a few moments."
Huai Shu added, "Because it has been many years since the Pope has visited Holy Maiden Peak."
Chen Changsheng replied, "Please instruct me."
"The Orthodoxy is the Daoist faith, but the Daoist faith is not the Orthodoxy. At the very least, Holy Maiden Peak has never enjoyed the treatment of the Orthodoxy, so no matter how our fellow disciples in the capital view this matter, no matter how the scriptures of the church describe the differences from back then, in the end, the Li Palace has never thought highly of us."
Huai Shu looked at him and said, "The Li Palace is in danger and needs us, so Your Holiness has come and wants to use us. Does Your Holiness think this is appropriate?"
… …
… …
Night gradually fell. After eating the evening meal, Chen Changsheng stood in the temple courtyard and gazed in the direction of the Tong River, at that barely visible silver belt. After a moment of silence, he said, "The investigation can be put aside. Right now, the most important thing is to stop the closing of the temple. If these three are still so determined, we can promise not to mention the matter of returning."
It had been a very long time since they had left Wenshui City and arrived at Holy Maiden Peak. The Li Palace had not received any news of the return of the three martial grandaunts and the closing of the temple. This was a matter worthy of extreme vigilance. It seemed that Daoist Baishi's sudden death could not completely resolve all problems.
Hu Thirty-Two accepted the order and left. He naturally had a way to use the fastest method to send Chen Changsheng's order back to the capital and the nearby Daoist churches. By the time he returned from the temple courtyard, he had already received the latest news. Just an hour ago, people from the Li Palace had finally arrived at the base of Holy Maiden Peak. It was said that Mao Qiuyu had urgently dispatched people.
This news somewhat relaxed Chen Changsheng, but there was still one problem that he did not understand. Where had Wuqiong Bi gone?
Tang Thirty-Six also found it very strange. "That old Daoist nun loves to participate in this sort of excitement. There's no reason for her to leave midway."
Chen Changsheng recalled that unease he had felt at the stone wall on the summit, and his heart grew heavier and heavier. Unable to sit still, he left the temple courtyard and walked out.
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