The Prince of Xiang gazed at the distant platform, a cold light flitting through his eyes.
The Wu clan head and the Old Lady of the Mutuo clan were as calm as ever, as if they had heard nothing.
Gou Hanshi shook his head at Bai Cai, indicating that he should be patient.
The Vice Principal of Scholartree Manor slightly arched his brows, a look of surprise on his face.
People like them had long ago predicted that the Li Palace would oppose the closing of South Stream Temple and that Chen Changsheng would stand up and speak.
The two martial grandaunts of South Stream Temple were too agitated and believed that they had a deep understanding of Chen Changsheng's personality, so they had not thought of this.
But the will of South Stream Temple was unified, so what could he do?
Chen Changsheng's method was very simple.
No one asked him, so he answered his own question.
His answer was two words.
"No."
This sight made Tang Thirty-Six recall that mahjong game in the old estate in Wenshui City, and he couldn't help but sigh.
When the Tang Old Master had said that he could kill Tang Thirty-Six, Chen Changsheng had also said two words.
"No."
Whether it was then or now, Chen Changsheng's voice had always been very soft, but it was even louder than the simultaneous shouts of ten million people, like thunder descending from the heavens.
Because he was the Pope. His words were divine decrees, followed by millions of believers.
"They will not go to the Orthodox Academy or the Li Palace."
Chen Changsheng pointed at the kneeling girls and said, "Because South Stream Temple will not close, and this is the place where they will live and cultivate."
Huai Bi saw how unyielding his words were and angrily said, "This is a matter of my South Stream Temple. I ask that Your Holiness not interfere."
No matter the time, Huai Ren's expression was always calm and gentle, even when it seemed like the closing of the temple was a foregone conclusion. She had already predicted that Chen Changsheng would stand up, but she had not expected Chen Changsheng's attitude to be so direct, even crude.
"Your Holiness the Pope, what I said to Your Holiness last night was only out of respect for Your Holiness. It does not mean that the affairs of South Stream Temple require Your Holiness's consent."
Huai Ren solemnly said to Chen Changsheng, her voice gentle but her attitude firm.
Holy Maiden Peak had originated from a schism within the Orthodoxy.
From the moment the first Holy Maiden established South Stream Temple, the Li Palace had no right to speak about the Daoist faith of the south, let alone the affairs of South Stream Temple.
Even the Pope had no right to manage the affairs of Holy Maiden Peak.
This was history, history that everyone had to respect.
Upon hearing Huai Ren's words, many Tian Nan cultivators on the plateau repeatedly nodded their heads. Even Gou Han Shi felt troubled and didn't know how to deal with Chen Chang Sheng.
At this time, another person who no one expected stood out.
The Vice Principal of Scholartree Manor smiled and said, "Senior's words are incorrect. In these past few years, Senior has wandered the four seas and paid little attention to worldly affairs. You probably do not know of the relationship between His Holiness and the Holy Maiden, but who in the entire continent does not know? This Holy Maiden Peak is half his home, so how could the affairs of South Stream Temple escape His Majesty? "
The Prince of Xiang slightly creased his brow, the Old Lady of the Mutuo clan silently smiled, the head of the Wu clan repeatedly shook his head, and the other cultivators all had rather strange expressions.
Putting aside that marriage contract that had shaken the continent, just after the battle at the Bridge of Helplessness, a rumor had arisen in the capital that Chen Changsheng had once again developed feelings for Xu Yourong and that he intended to renew the marriage contract. At the time, the common people might have believed that this was a one-sided decision on Chen Changsheng's part, but in the Boiling Stone Summit at Mount Han, Xu Yourong had saved Chen Changsheng from Guan Bai's sword. Quite a few people had personally witnessed the events that had taken place on the journey from Mount Han to the capital. If not for the coup of the Mausoleum of Books, the entire continent would have been discussing this matter for the next two years. Who did not know that Pope Chen Changsheng and Holy Maiden Xu Yourong were in love, that they were Daoist companions made in heaven?
The frivolous words of the Vice Principal of Scholartree Manor made Huai Bi so angry that her face flushed red. Her eyebrows shot up as she yelled, "Impudent! Whoever dares to ruin the Holy Maiden's pure reputation will have to ask my sword! "
The chatter on the plateau gradually died down.
Huai Bi gripped the Daoist sword and harshly yelled at Chen Changsheng, "Your Holiness the Pope, do you really want to force this old body to spill three feet of blood?"
Chen Changsheng countered with a question, "Are you threatening me?"
Even the Prince of Xiang, this person who had already stepped into the Divine Domain and held the highest authority in the Imperial Court, had to pay his respects when he saw Chen Changsheng, not daring to show the slightest disrespect in front of so many people, much less threaten him. Although she was an extremely senior martial grandaunt of South Stream Temple, how could she have the courage?
Huai Bi was furious, but she could not use her sword. With a hum brimming with resentment, sword intent left the sheath and cut countless cracks into the surrounding stones.
In her anger, she almost suffered an internal injury. Huai Shu hurriedly supported her, sending a pure strand of true essence to help her guard her Dao heart.
Huai Ren looked into Chen Changsheng's eyes and said, "The demons have already retreated for the time being. South Stream Temple wishes to close the temple only because it wishes to remain uninvolved, unwilling to be used by some ambitious person. Once the Holy Maiden emerges from seclusion, the temple can be reopened at any time. Just what is wrong with this old body's actions?"
"Last night, Your Holiness said these words, but I did not have the time to answer. My answer is no."
Chen Changsheng looked at her and said, "Even if all of you agree to close the temple, it is still no. The affairs of the temple and the closing of the temple are two different matters. Yourong has temporarily given the affairs of the temple to the two of you, but that does not mean that you have the right to decide something as important as the closing of the temple. No disciple of South Stream Temple has the right to decide. "
He then turned to Huai Ren and Ping Xuan and said, "Of course, that also includes the two of you."
Huai Bi sneered, "Then who has the right? Could it be Your Holiness the Pope? "
Chen Changsheng replied, "No, I also do not have the right. The only person with the right to decide on the closing of the temple is Yourong."
The Prince of Xiang, who had maintained his silence this entire time, suddenly said, "Your Holiness's words are reasonable. On such an important matter, we truly should ask the Holy Maiden to emerge from seclusion and make the decision."
A hint of wariness appeared in Chen Changsheng's heart.
Yesterday, in front of the stone wall at the summit of Holy Maiden Peak, he had vaguely sensed that there was a problem. Now, it seemed that the problem was gradually beginning to appear.
Did the Imperial Court and his master want to use this matter to forcefully interrupt Xu Yourong's seclusion?
Everyone knew that if a seclusion was forcefully interrupted, it was highly likely to cause massive harm, and she was doing something that no one had ever attempted before.
"There's no need. I'll handle it."
Chen Changsheng did not give the Prince of Xiang any chance to make a fuss. He turned to Huai Ren and continued, "I am well aware of just how important Holy Maiden Peak is to her. She is currently in seclusion and cannot continue her promise to her teacher to take care of Holy Maiden Peak and the disciples living here, so this matter should naturally be handled by me."
A large part of the reason Xu Yourong had entered seclusion was for his sake, so he naturally had to shoulder the responsibilities that should have been hers, like guarding this mountain.
Huai Ren harshly said, "Could it be that the rules of my Holy Maiden Peak also need Your Holiness to judge them?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "The Holy Maiden comprehends the monoliths, the Pope interprets the laws. For countless years, this has always been the case. Or does Your Holiness believe that Holy Maiden Peak is not a branch of the Orthodoxy?"
Just a moment ago, Huai Ren had wanted to use the rules of history to force him to back down. Now, he wanted to use the rules of history to force her to accept his words.
Although Holy Maiden Peak was part of the southern sect, in the eyes of its millions of believers and disciples, it was naturally a branch of the Orthodoxy.
Let alone these three martial grandaunts of the South Stream Sect, even the successive Holy Maidens would not dare to deny this point.
Huai Ren fell silent, no longer speaking.
Seeing her senior sister like this, Huai Bi became even more anxious. She yelled, "At the very least, we are not subordinates of the Li Palace, so why should we be under your jurisdiction?"
Thinking of the venerable Daoist's promise, she was so anxious that even her form of address became rude.
Chen Changsheng looked at her and said, "I am the Pope, and I interpret the laws of the church. Could it be that Holy Maiden Peak is not a part of the Orthodoxy?"
It was the same question, repeated once more, making it seem even more unyielding.
Huai Bi's Dao heart was unsteady from the pressure. Extremely irritated, she yelled, "Even if it isn't, so what?"
Chen Changsheng looked into her eyes and said, "If Holy Maiden Peak is not a branch of the Orthodoxy, what right does it have to comprehend the Heavenly Tome Monoliths? Tomorrow, I will announce this matter to the world, and then I will send the cavalry of the Orthodoxy to surround Holy Maiden Peak and take away the rubbings of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths, severing the legacy of South Stream Temple. I will let you know what it means to truly close the temple. "
Huai Ren recalled the conversation from last night, and her expression suddenly changed.
She had said to Chen Changsheng that South Stream Temple had three kinds of closing.
What Chen Changsheng was currently speaking of was naturally the last kind.
South Stream Temple severed its legacy and merged with the Li Palace, returning to the orthodox lineage of the Orthodoxy!
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